Just a quick note to recommend an email newsletter. The Dollar Stretcher is filled with ideas and help for saving money. But for those of us in the 'home stretch' I recommend After 50 Finances from The Dollar Stretcher. Great tips and articles with an emphasis on retirement.
Here's an example, Questions People Ask Before They Retire. This one is written by the founder of The Dollar Stretcher however there are tons of articles from on various experts in their field.
Take a look and sign up if you like what you see. I am not sure the regularity of the email but it is not overwhelming.
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Social Security When? When? When?
With around 10 years to go before I retire, it's too early to make a firm decision on when to start taking my Social Security, but it's not too early to think about it. And research.
This link takes you to the US government social security site. You can find out what you will make at different ages.
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmPPYBRCgARIsALOziAO7iymCvI5lQ5c_ES4yhglIpgtzJwfumqC7L4isXG-fOu3Af3qHCOoaAv8kEALw_wcB
This is a good article from Money.
http://time.com/money/5279549/best-age-social-security/?utm_source=time.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-brief&utm_content=2018061013pm&xid=newsletter-brief&eminfo=%7b%22EMAIL%22%3a%22D7sgtkV3c6F7Mf4O5NYcEA%3d%3d%22%2c%22BRAND%22%3a%22TD%22%2c%22CONTENT%22%3a%22Newsletter%22%2c%22UID%22%3a%22TD_TBR_AFA5B3D0-55D0-4514-8FE8-C7C2285EC075%22%2c%22SUBID%22%3a%2224126250%22%2c%22JOBID%22%3a%22769803%22%2c%22NEWSLETTER%22%3a%22THE_BRIEF%22%2c%22ZIP%22%3a%22%22%2c%22COUNTRY%22%3a%22USA%22%7d
If you search you will find a plethora of articles on the subject. It's a little like gambling. Waiting will get you a bigger monthly check but will you live long enough to make up for the years you didn't take it? Will you make it to the "break even" point and beyond?
It's a good time to think about your health. As far as I can see, it goes hand in hand. If you are not super healthy, are you willing to aggressively do what is needed to keep yourself from falling apart?
I have a tendency toward high cholesterol and I have osteopenia. So I've changed my diet drastically and added supplements. I've joined a couple of Facebook groups centered on these issues because my doctor was useless. And I've changed doctors.
Other than those issues, I'm very healthy and have exercised regularly for quite a few years. My mother is in her mid-late 80's and going strong. So I fully expect to live a long life.
While I'm hoping to retire by 67, I would like to wait until 70 to start taking SS. I suppose it will all depend on my financial situation at the time but I'm tentatively optimistic that I will be able to do that.
This link takes you to the US government social security site. You can find out what you will make at different ages.
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmPPYBRCgARIsALOziAO7iymCvI5lQ5c_ES4yhglIpgtzJwfumqC7L4isXG-fOu3Af3qHCOoaAv8kEALw_wcB
This is a good article from Money.
http://time.com/money/5279549/best-age-social-security/?utm_source=time.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-brief&utm_content=2018061013pm&xid=newsletter-brief&eminfo=%7b%22EMAIL%22%3a%22D7sgtkV3c6F7Mf4O5NYcEA%3d%3d%22%2c%22BRAND%22%3a%22TD%22%2c%22CONTENT%22%3a%22Newsletter%22%2c%22UID%22%3a%22TD_TBR_AFA5B3D0-55D0-4514-8FE8-C7C2285EC075%22%2c%22SUBID%22%3a%2224126250%22%2c%22JOBID%22%3a%22769803%22%2c%22NEWSLETTER%22%3a%22THE_BRIEF%22%2c%22ZIP%22%3a%22%22%2c%22COUNTRY%22%3a%22USA%22%7d
If you search you will find a plethora of articles on the subject. It's a little like gambling. Waiting will get you a bigger monthly check but will you live long enough to make up for the years you didn't take it? Will you make it to the "break even" point and beyond?
It's a good time to think about your health. As far as I can see, it goes hand in hand. If you are not super healthy, are you willing to aggressively do what is needed to keep yourself from falling apart?
I have a tendency toward high cholesterol and I have osteopenia. So I've changed my diet drastically and added supplements. I've joined a couple of Facebook groups centered on these issues because my doctor was useless. And I've changed doctors.
Other than those issues, I'm very healthy and have exercised regularly for quite a few years. My mother is in her mid-late 80's and going strong. So I fully expect to live a long life.
While I'm hoping to retire by 67, I would like to wait until 70 to start taking SS. I suppose it will all depend on my financial situation at the time but I'm tentatively optimistic that I will be able to do that.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
The Home Stretch
A bit about moi. I'm 56. 57 in July. I have a full time job that does not pay a lot. I have never made what anyone would ever consider a lot of money. But I like my job, I have decent benefits. And I hope to stay there until I am done with the whole working thing. Oh, I'm also an expert level saver and first class frugal-ian.
All my working life I assumed I'd just be working until I was dead. Then one day I was chatting with my financial guy and he said something like "blah blah blah you should start taking money out in blah blah blah years".
Take money out. This concept was so foreign to me. Money was for putting in, not taking out. And this...THIS tiny comment started me thinking about and planning to retire. Actually retire. Not work!
Now I think about it all the time. All. The. Time. When I'm swimming, I'm counting my investments. When I'm on the treadmill, I'm picturing getting up in the morning and not going to work. Yes, I think I can handle that.
My goal is to retire as early as 65, but really hopefully not later than 67. And I want to wait until 70 to take social security (pipe dream?)
I read any article that comes my way about retirement. And one of them said the last ten years is "the home stretch". Hence the name of this blog.
So join me on this journey.
All my working life I assumed I'd just be working until I was dead. Then one day I was chatting with my financial guy and he said something like "blah blah blah you should start taking money out in blah blah blah years".
Take money out. This concept was so foreign to me. Money was for putting in, not taking out. And this...THIS tiny comment started me thinking about and planning to retire. Actually retire. Not work!
Now I think about it all the time. All. The. Time. When I'm swimming, I'm counting my investments. When I'm on the treadmill, I'm picturing getting up in the morning and not going to work. Yes, I think I can handle that.
My goal is to retire as early as 65, but really hopefully not later than 67. And I want to wait until 70 to take social security (pipe dream?)
I read any article that comes my way about retirement. And one of them said the last ten years is "the home stretch". Hence the name of this blog.
So join me on this journey.
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