This is a guest post by Karen Ho Fatt.
Winter is the season of treachery – dark nights, cold temperatures and slick surfaces increase the risk of injuries from falls and accidents. Indoors, the risk of fire goes up from heating sources, and seniors are three times more likely to die or be injured in a house fire than younger populations, according to MSN News.
This winter, make a plan for staying safe, warm and dry. You’ll enjoy winter more and reduce the risk of injury. Continue reading
‘Nothing is certain but death and taxes’, according to Benjamin Franklin, but in saying that he was perhaps too pessimistic, particularly for seniors. Although taxes can be a major burden for the young, seniors often benefit from the breaks that society wants to give them. However to so benefit it is important to complete a tax return. Even for that, help is often available to elders.
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If you are a frequent visitor to this blog, you may have noticed the small panel in the left sidebar that indicates this blog is for sale. I thought you deserved a few words of explanation.
This is a guest post by James Lander.
If you’re like most people, you’re probably dreaming of relocating to a new place for your retirement. We all want to take off to some warmer, quieter place when we finally get freedom from jobs that tie us down to one place. It can be hard choosing a place to retire so you really need to give it careful thought and planning before you make a decision.
According to an article in JS Online, SMART is an acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. When you stop and think about it, those are exactly the qualities any good resolution should have. Let’s take a look at each of those steps individually.
When your resolution is just to ‘improve my financial life’, you’re not being specific. You need to narrow that down into precise goals, like reducing credit card debt, starting or growing your retirement savings, or paying off $5,000 of your children’s student loan this year.
When you have specific goals, you can measure your progress. When June arrives, you need to be able to see how much you have accomplished so you know if it’s necessary to tweak your strategy so you can achieve your goal by the end of the year.
If you set a goal that isn’t attainable, you’ve already defeated yourself. If your resolution is not to spend any money on new clothes this year and you’re a fashionista, you’ll never make it. A more manageable goal is to cut the amount you spent on clothing this past year by 25 percent. That allows you to indulge your passion for fashion and reduce your spending at the same time.
Attainable and realistic are basically the same concept. If you set your goal too far out of reach, it won’t be long before discouragement takes over and you stop trying, so keep it real.
Unless you have a specific time frame for accomplishing your goal, it’s easy to put it off. Break that goal down into even smaller goals. Instead of saying you’re going to eliminate your past due medical bills by the end of the year, figure out how much you will need to pay each month to make that happen and then build it into your monthly budget. That way you get started heading in the right direction without procrastinating.
The article at JS Online is an excellent one, but when it comes to financial resolutions, there is one addition you need to make. Instead of calling it a SMART plan, change it to a B SMART plan. The B stands for budget. You won’t be able to accomplish financial goals without one. If you’re unsure how to make a budget that fits your income, there are several websites that will teach you. One that is especially helpful is The 50/30/20 budget fix. That article clearly breaks down the divisions you need to make a workable, realistic budget no matter what size your income.
The majority of New Year’s resolutions end up forgotten and scattered like so much confetti after the big party on December 31. Don’t let that happen to your financial resolutions. B SMART and make it happen.
George Gallagher is a finance and education writer and blogger. He also has a knack for helping parents figure out their private student loans for their children.
This is a guest post by Sam Peters
If you have been watching any daytime television over the past fifteen years, you know there is strong competition for your mobility dollar. Your government sponsored healthcare is willing to spend big money on your increased mobility and companies are in a marketing war to receive those benefits. Gone are the days of walkers and manual wheelchairs and in are the days of power scooters and wheelchairs. It is easier than ever to keep an active lifestyle.
This is a guest post by Teena Celis. Although it applies to US citizens, citizens in most other countries will find the ideas useful.
The rising costs of everyday commodities are causing people all over the world to cut back on their expenses. Disposable incomes are getting limited; it’s getting tougher for people to make ends meet. 59% of available senior income is going towards housing and health care. This means there’s not much left over for food, transportation and other needs. How does a senior person save money in this kind of scenario?
This is a guest post by George Gallagher
As 2012 approaches, many people will take time to sit down and think about the goals they want to accomplish next year, things they want to change and improve. If you’re in that number and your list of New Year’s resolutions includes improving your financial forecast, why not do it the SMART way?
This is a guest post by Kimberly Wilson.
Let’s face it. As we continue the holiday season, more consumers are piling on more debt that they are already having trouble paying. It can be a tough situation because you want to make your loved ones feel special, but sometimes the seemingly best gifts can come at a high cost. Fortunately, it is more than possible to save money over the holidays and make your loved ones feel appreciated; it won’t even have to take a Christmas miracle.
This is a guest post by Tess Mathews
They say that the only thing constant in life is change and if you feel young and fit now, then it is likely to change as you age. It is one of the reasons why people are afraid of growing old. They are afraid of being cast out, of being sick and tired and lonely. You cannot do anything but accept the change, but there is one sure thing you can do – being brave and facing the life ahead.
