Retirement tips and links
Retire On The Cheap
The statistics are bleak. IRAs and 401ks have collapsed. Home equity has shrunk. Jobs have evaporated. For many, the American Dream seems to have vanished. Boomers need to take heart. This is the generation that came of age during sweeping social revolution.
The tumult and exhilaration of the 60s and 70s may seem like long ago, but that spirit of adventure is still there. Every day is filled with opportunities to save money. Begin anywhere—food, clothing, housing, transportation, medical expenses, entertainment, and the list goes on. Retire on the cheap with Linda's articles on our Cheap Places to Retire Blog.
More Retirement Tips
Retirement Community Visitor Programs - How to Visit Your Favorite Retirement Communities
By Carol Fena
Retirement community visitor programs makes it easier and more economical to visit your favorite retirement communities. Do you dream of a weekend trip to a warm spot on the beach. Do you picture a villa in the mountains, ocean or desert with perhaps a lazy lush green golf course steps from your door. Maybe a warm pool is your desire with a massage after your swim.
Is it almost time to leave your job and retire to a more exotic space--perhaps warmer and less congested. Don't put off visiting your favorite retirement communities any longer. Here are some ideas on traveling to retirement spots to make that important decision.
1) First, go to your favorite websites about where they are. That is the great thing about the internet--you can "travel" anywhere and preview them before going. Take advantage of great websites that list retirement areas and communities and visit the community websites.
Next, make a list of priorities of what you want in a retirement community. Eliminate as many communities as possible from the information you glean after viewing the websites. This will leave you with a few favorite choices.
2) Plan your trip. What will it cost to visit your top 2 or 3 choices. Make your choices the top 3 areas or top 3 communities in an area. Keep it simple. Start small but please get started.
After you consider the costs, you may suddenly feel that it is hopeless. The cost of gas and hotels makes even a weekend trip seem impossible. For instance, a visit to your top area would take longer than a weekend unless you fly and rent a car and that isn't in your budget right now.
What to do. Don't be discouraged. If your favorite community offers a visitor package, it may make it more economical and possible for you to go.
3) After you have decided on your favorite 2 or 3 communities and how much it will cost to get there, check if there are any visitor programs offered at the community.
Off-seasons, when things are slow, are good times to go. At these times, there are even more offers to tour communities and stay overnight at their facilities. These offers to visit a community are called by different names such as visitor package, getaway package, discovery tour and many more. Call your favorite community right now and ask them if they have any visitor or discovery packages.
These usually have special rates for you to spend the weekend, sometimes longer, at the community or a discounted rate at a nearby hotel when you are interested in purchasing in the community. Programs vary. These programs are offered because builders know that in most cases it is advisable to "try out" the community before moving there when people travel great distances and are not familiar with the area.
Usually you are not under any obligation to buy while on the trip but go over any restrictions thoroughly. If accommodations are not available when you want to go, book them for when they are available in the future.
Remember, you will have to attend presentations about the community but that is why you are going--to learn more.
And as for those really expensive trips to faraway places--ask the community if they have a program to reimburse your travel expenses if you make a purchase of your retirement home while on the trip. I have seen many programs that pay for airfare and accommodations if you purchase. Always review any restrictions on these programs carefully.
Visitor packages when offered make it more economical to "discover" places and communities. You can also choose to drive instead of flying if it is a lower cost way to get there, or as one person I know does it, they drive halfway, leave their car at the airport and fly the other half. Try to be creative.
You may have to make many mini-trips like this to make your final decision so you want it to be economical. You may also prefer to go there on vacation in the summer season but you may have to book earlier. Visit my website to find retirement communities and over-55 retirement communities, www.bestguide-retirementcommunities.com.
Carol Fena, Realtor and Webmaster for http://www.bestguide-retirementcommunities.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Fena
http://EzineArticles.com/?Retirement-Community-Visitor-Programs---How-to-Visit-Your-Favorite-Retirement-Communities&id=976465
Five Ways to Keep your Marriage Alive after Retirement
By Annie O'Neill
Divorce statistics for the over 50s continue to rise steadily. It has been speculated that the most common triggers for this are children leaving home or retirement. Couples suddenly feel they have nothing in common any more and marriages that have lasted for 25 years or more come to an end. Don't become another statistic. Follow these steps to keep your marriage alive and happy.
1. Talk to each other. It sounds simple but it is amazing how many couples no longer have meaningful conversations. Discuss your day, current affairs, your interests, share anecdotes you have heard on the radio and remember to talk about your feelings. If one of you does something that annoys the other then talk about it, don't bottle it up and resent the other.
Make a point of eating your evening meal at the table and talking to each other, rather than eating in front of the TV. This will not only improve your relationship, but also your digestion.
Couples who have strong marriages tend to be friends as well as lovers. "People who play together, stay together" is an old and true saying.
When asked about the secret of her long marriage, Jilly Cooper said "Having enjoyed being married to Leo for 42 years, I can say that the secret of our marriage is bedsprings creaking, not so much from sex but from laughter at a million private jokes that hold us together".
2. Look for common interests. Find at least one hobby or interest that you can enjoy doing together. Do something different. Try something new together, maybe learn to dance, take up bowling or tennis, or join a club. Meet new people and acquire new skills.
Once you are both retired, share the household chores. It is only fair when both partners are at home to split the housework, cooking, shopping and gardening. Make the chores fun, see who can come up with the most interesting recipe from 5 set ingredients, who can plant the most bulbs in 20 minutes, who can clean the kitchen floor the quickest.
It is also important to have individual interests. Find at least one hobby or interest you don't share. This will give you some precious time apart as well as something different to discuss. It also creates the chance to form new friendships with like-minded people.
3. At least once a month go on a date. Have dinner, go to the cinema or theatre, visit a museum, take a walk in the country or along the beach. Ensure the date is planned in advance, is in both your diaries and is never cancelled. Take turns to decide what you will do.
Maybe even go away for the weekend occasionally. This gives you the opportunity to stay in a hotel where you won't be disturbed by people phoning or 'popping in'. You get to eat all your meals out, a great opportunity to talk and the chance to explore somewhere new.
4. Practice positive thinking. Happy couples stay together. If you make a habit of thinking positively you are more likely to be happy.
Count your blessings. Be grateful for what you have. List at least 6 positive things that have happened during the day before you go to sleep at night. (A beautiful flower, a bird singing, a lovely sunset, something someone said, a new piece of knowledge, a delicious meal, a good deed, good health, a task completed).
Positive thinking also has a beneficial effect on your health. Research has shown that patients with a positive mental attitude recover more quickly from surgery or trauma and that people with positive attitudes are more likely to conquer diseases such as cancer.
Check in with your feelings regularly and be aware of negative thoughts. Where focus goes, energy flows. Focus on what you do want, not what you don't want.
5. Spice up your sex life. Just because you've been married for a long time, it doesn't mean you can't try new things. You don't have to be athletic, maybe cuddle in a different position or make love in a different place. How about being spontaneous on the sofa? All too often lovemaking becomes a habit and we don't vary our positions or foreplay. Pretend you have only just met and explore each other's bodies all over again.
Take a candlelit bath together or massage each other - rekindle the romance.
It is sad for all concerned when a long-term marriage breaks up so follow these simple steps and rekindle your relationship.
If your relationship is not working despite trying these ideas then it is worth making an appointment with Relate (www.relate.org.uk). Splitting up after many years together is devastating both emotionally and financially.
'Ten Secrets to a Successful Divorce' is a practical step-by-step guide designed to help you to start redesigning your life right away. And it's yours free just for visiting my website - http://www.newhorizons-divorcecoaching.co.uk
If you found this article helpful you might like to visit http://newhorizons-divorcecoaching.blogspot.com/ where you will find more free articles to help you start transforming your life today.
I am a qualified Divorce Coach and NLP Practioner. I can work with you to redesign your life after divorce.
I have been divorced and widowed. I understand the emotions associated with being on your own after being in a long-term relationship. I have had to reinvent my life on two occasions and am proof that it can be done. I am now self-employed, with a job that I love. I am also married again, very happily.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Annie_O'Neill
http://EzineArticles.com/?Five-Ways-to-Keep-your-Marriage-Alive-after-Retirement&id=784875