Is "Retirement" The New Bad Word?
Does your heart lie to you? Do you feel your age? Most people don't. I feel 28 until I look in the mirror. Then I suffer from PTSD!
We get so busy living our lives, trying to stuff as much as we can into each day! Time is just flying by too fast, (and goes faster as we get older!) so fast that most of us aren't thinking about retirement.
Stop! Don't run! I know you want to live in denial as long as you can regarding retirement, but at some point you are going to have to take your head out of the sand, hopefully before you are walking out of your office or work environment holding a box of your stuff wondering, "what now"?
Besides, I am a proponent of denial in certain situations, but I'm trying to help you here!
Here are a few Baby Boomer facts for you. According to Statista, do you realize that 57% of those surveyed say that financial hardship is one of the biggest concerns they have in regard to retirement? In a very recent article by the Columbus Dispatch, The Insured Retirement Institute's latest survey shows only 27% of Boomers are confident they have enough saved to help them make it through retirement, as opposed to 40% in 2011. Ouch!
I Am A Baby Boomer In Denial!
My husband and I are Boomers, I was the one who preferred denial, while my husband has been more retirement focused. To some degree anyway. We haven't been great about saving, but at least he has a 401K and a pension. According to the Federal Reserve, the median amount of money held in savings for retirement is $60,000.00. Ouch again! Not nearly enough!
We would have been in a better position if I hadn't had a recurrence of a chronic health condition that knocked me on my butt. I had been working full-time in a job I really loved, investing in a 403(b) with my company, and I was going to school part-time trying to get a degree so I could advance. Life happens. Do you know what I mean?
There is a lot of debate about whether Social Security will be around for us when we hit retirement age. If you fall into the Baby Boomer category, I think we will be ok. Our kids, though? That's another matter. Maybe you should share this blog with them!
It's never too late to start saving, to talk to a financial planner or to win the lottery. As far as the lottery, I wouldn't invest too much in THAT high risk venture! The trick is to have enough for a great today AND a great tomorrow. It's never too early to start saving either!
Life Is Like A Three Course Meal
Retirement should be like dessert don't you agree? It is supposed to be the time in our lives when we get to live the way we want to, not answering to a boss, climbing out of bed whenever we feel like it, exploring the world, you know, doing things we love to do! What if you could have an early retirement, kind of like eating dessert first!
As I prepared to write this article I found PLENTY of articles bemoaning the Baby Boomer retirement issue, negative, negative negative! Aside from all the reports that say we will need to really cut-back our spending in retirement, down-size and all that rigamorale, let's look at a few tips we should be thinking about:
*How do you want to live in retirement? In other words, are you happy to stay at home and putter in the garden, taking walks and playing with your dogs, or do you want to travel, experience new things, and eat exotic foods?
*Do you want to leave any kind of legacy for your children or grand children? By the way, as a side note here, a trust is the way to go! Kids don't have to worry about probate and they aren't that difficult or expensive to do.
*Is your health good? Any family history of anything you need to think about as you get older? We need to consider that we are living longer. Healthy or sick, there's a good chance we will be around longer, much to the chagrin of our kids I'm sure! Just kidding, but we need to realize we might have to have long-term care.
Here is a fun little tool to play with. This retirement calculator shows you what you will need to retire. Don't freak out! There are a lot of variables to consider, but we do need to remember that inflation will impact how much we need.
Thinking About Retirement Doesn't Have To Be Like Watching A Preview For A Horror Flick!
But, I'm not here to share all bad news. Like I said, I really do want to help. We have options thank goodness, and it's not working at Walmart as a greeter or McDonalds! Yikes!
Have you thought about starting your own business? I'm not talking about building yourself a job! Been there, done that! Missed a lot of time with my grandkids when they were babies! No thank you!
You see, it's not just about money, it's about lifestyle. Imagine, sitting in a lounge chair with your laptop, the ocean in front of you, margarita at your side, working in a way you really enjoy. Impossible? Have I lost touch with reality? No!
Consider a business that intersects the power of the internet with the proven systems of a franchise. That's a sweet spot! What if you discovered a company that could not only customize your training based on your goals, but allowed you the flexibility to earn while you learn, and work whenever or wherever you wanted?
What if the cost was a fraction of the cost of a franchise? Have you looked at the prices of popular franchises lately? Outrageous!
By the way, I'm not talking about some MLM or Network marketing deal. No offense if you are in one. Been there and done that too! I really just wanted to be invited back to my friends and families houses!
As long as we have options we don't have to feel stressed or hopeless. We should however, keep our eyes and our mind open! The digital age is upon us and those that are willing to look at new ways of doing things will succeed no matter what life throws at us.
So, if you think you might:
*be the least bit entrepreneurial
*have a good work ethic
*have 6-12 months to invest in yourself and your education . . .
. . . you won't have to worry when it comes time to retire. You will have been pro-active, thinking outside the box and getting ready for the best time of your life! Happy Retirement!
Sound good? CLICK HERE to receive a 7 video boot camp series on becoming an internet business builder yours free. Meet Stuart, co-founder, mentor and successful entrepreneur and see what I'm talking about. No strings attached, but we do need your email to send you the video series!
http://livingwellforsuccess.com/great-today-great-tomorrow/
I want to create a grass-roots movement toward becoming radical encouragers and positive thinkers in the public and business realms. As William Wallace (Mel Gibson) cried out in Braveheart, "FREEDOM"! We want freedom from the negative thoughts and lies that keep us stuck. Stuck in unhealthy relationships, bad jobs, stuck in our own heads, or stuck in a rut.
I have been married for almost 34 years to the same wonderful, supportive, loving - yet sometimes taxing man! He would say the same of me! We have two fantastic kids whom we love with all our hearts and are very proud of, five super special grand kids, (I am a "Mimi" I have bragging rights) and two adorable canine adopted kids that let us live in the house with them. Not to mention many fish and corals that are part of my addictive reef keeping hobby.
I have a passion for business and anything entrepreneurial. I believe that small businesses of all kinds are the foundation of this country. I have, in fact, owned a brick & mortar business, and am now mastering internet marketing. I know how hard it is for small businesses to compete in this world economy. It takes a special type of person to be an Entrepreneur.