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Thursday, July 22, 2021

AirBnB and VRBO: How Can You Find a Great One?



Personal vacation rentals are all the rage. Here’s how to find the right one to stay at … and how to know if you should become a landlord yourself.


During the pandemic, hotels went empty while private rentals filled up. People wanted to get away from more populated areas, or they trusted the enhanced cleaning protocols that many local rentals offered. What they discovered is what many already knew: personal rentals can be a fantastic way to vacation, and a savings on hotel prices. But not every rental is up to snuff nor the perfect match for your needs. How do you find a rental you’ll love?



Should You Run a Vacation Rental?

A little extra income never hurt anyone, and having your own vacation rental can be a good way to get some. Is it right for you? 

First, check with your local community government to see if it’s legal in your area. Most allow stays of less than thirty days, but some cities are cracking down on the practice. Second, consider whether you have a room and bath with a separate entrance. While single rooms in a house can be rented, it’s usually best for long-term tenants who you know. Do you have a camper or RV with an inside toilet? Parked outside, these travel vehicles are becoming popular as low-cost housing for vacationers of all ages. Will you mind responding to inquiries? Will you clean the place yourself or hire it done? Where will sheets and towels be laundered? 

Check this blog about The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act to see if you have any compliance issues. Bring up any questions you have with the people running your listing site, such as VRBO. They handle listings across the country and can advise you on current practices. You can also reach out to your local community of hosts for suggestions based on their experience.

Surprisingly, you don’t have to be particularly social to host. Most communications can be handled with text, and basic questions are answered for tenants before they book. In fact, most hosts never see their tenants during their stay. You can also collect a damage deposit that is refunded to guests after a damage-free stay. And sites like AirBnB have the kinks worked out. See their guide on how to start hosting for tips and tricks to getting started.


People are renting out everything from a room in their home, to a teepee or yurt, or even a camper parked in their driveway. Sometimes it’s an apartment they own, a casita or even an entire house. If you’ve only ever stayed at a hotel, you’re in for a treat. The vast majority of these places provide lovely, unique stays. However, it’s a good idea to run down the list of how to find a great place to make sure you’re matched with the cottage, or camper, of your dreams.

AirBnB, VRBO and Rentals.com are the big three private listing companies. Many properties are listed on all three, or at least the first two. So how do you go about searching for a place and ensuring it’s not a dud? 

  1. Map out the things you want to see on your trip, and find an area nearby. If you’re going to spend a lot of time in the French Quarter of New Orleans, for example, it makes sense that you’ll want to stay nearby. Being able to go out for dinner and drinks and then walk - or take a short Uber ride - home is worth paying more for. You don’t want to spend an hour or two every day traveling where you really want to be. If you want to experience Times Square, it makes sense to avoid the financial district. Even in a small town, the difference between walking to restaurants and having to drive can impact how much you enjoy your vacation.
  2. Enter the dates you want to stay. This rules out all the properties that are already booked. 
  3. Add filters for your visit. Do you need a washer and dryer? Will a pet be traveling with you? Are two bathrooms a priority? Do you want a full kitchen? Is Wi-Fi a must? Include only what you absolutely need to have on the first look so you don’t eliminate the place that lacks a washer/dryer but has a killer view off a balcony, for example. Will you be comfortable staying in someone’s spare room to save money? Do you want a whole house for a family vacation, or two master bedrooms with their own bath? Is there parking available on the property or will you have to hunt for a spot on the street? Is smoking allowed?
  4. Cast a critical eye on the photos. Don’t even consider a place lacking photos of the bathroom, or one that has five photos of the flat and 20 of nearby tourist attractions. Another red flag: multiple close-ups of individual furniture or a bouquet that are masking room size or overall attractiveness. Does the place look cluttered or comfortable? Is the furniture obviously worn
  5. Read the reviews. They should be overwhelmingly positive. Are there compliments about the owner’s helpfulness? Is the kitchen fully stocked? Is the place sparkling clean? Can you get in with a code? Is everything in working order? Is the mattress comfy? Was it quiet? Is it located next to a junkyard or jazz club? Of course, there’s always the guest who is impossible to satisfy. How does the owner handle negative reviews? If there are no reviews or if the reviews are all old, give it a pass. The only exception is for a new listing, which may be offered at a reduced cost until the owner has enough reviews to bring it up to market price. 
  6. Review the total cost. You may pay more than the average price per night if you’re renting in high season. If there is a local festival going on, expect rates to be considerably higher. Taxes, a service fee and a cleaning fee will also add to the final price. Unlike a hotel, most private rentals are only cleaned before and after your stay, so a longer stay at the same place will bring the daily price down. Be aware that some listers lower the price per day and then charge an exorbitant cleaning fee; pay attention to the total price.
  7. Check other rental sites for the same property. The same property could be cheaper on one site than another. If the owners have their own website, it’s almost certainly a bargain there because there is no fee to pay a hosting site. Some properties may actually be listed by property management outfits. Check their site as well to find the best deal. 
  8. Review the policies. Make sure that you are aware of check-in and check-out times. Do you need the code for a lock box? Are pets allowed on the furniture? Do you need to bag garbage at the end of your stay? Are children allowed? Is there an elevator to a third-floor apartment? While most private rentals provide sheets and towels, some (especially if you’re traveling internationally) do not. Will there be a crib for your grandchild?
  9. Ask questions. You have the option to ask a potential host anything at all about the property. Keep it short and simple. Most hosts also make available a list of nearby attractions. Remember that the host is not responsible for planning your vacation. He or she will rate you at the end of the stay, as well as you ranking the property. You want to be a considerate guest.

Do your homework before you commit, and pretty soon you’ll be raving about that cool hillside patio with the fire pit and hot tub outside of Taos, or the charming 20’s cottage with the vintage tub in Boston. Enjoy your travels!

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Monday, July 19, 2021

Are Shipped Meal Services Worth the Cost?

 

You get a box in the mail and half an hour later, dinner is ready. No planning, no shopping, and in some cases, no prep. But is it as good as it sounds?


Raise your hand if you’re tired of trying to come up with new recipes for dinner. The grind to find a new recipe, shop, cook and then figure out what to do with leftover cabbage and an entire bottle of Korean chili flakes can be mentally exhausting. In our busy lives, it’s often a lot easier to make another grilled cheese sandwich with a pickle on the side. But there are other options available to you.


Inexpensive Meal Options


Many older adults are on a fixed income that doesn’t allow for fancy meal delivery. Often, there are community-based alternatives that provide a hot meal at a small charge, or even for free. Meals on Wheels has a network that covers nearly every community across America. Check to see if your local senior center provides lunches. Many offer the socialization of a sit-down meal for about $4.50. Meals on Wheels also provides delivery of nutritious meals with a friendly visit and safety check. Meals are generally offered on a sliding scale, with no one turned away for an inability to pay. There may be a wait to get on the list for meals due to lack of funding for the program. 

Another option can be local churches, which may offer a meal once a week or once a month. Finally, Feeding America provides a network of food banks and information about the need-based, government Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Food banks provide free food, but check with your local outlet to see when it is open, as they often have specific days and times, especially if they offer fresh food. SNAP participants get a Benefits Transfer card that is used like a debit card at authorized retail food stores.



Boxed meals shipped straight to your door solve a lot of problems at once. A chef has planned a delicious, healthy dinner. Just enough ingredients to make the meal arrive fresh — and no more.  The prep takes 15 or 20 minutes at most. Follow simple, step-by-step instructions, and before you know it the smell of a savory dinner begins to rise from your stove. (Some companies specialize in microwaveable meals, or pre-prepped ingredients that only need to be combined and cooked.) You put some music on, leave the meal to simmer for a few minutes, and realize a smile is replacing the usual stressed dinnertime demeanor.

Is the Price Right?


However, this luxury doesn’t come cheap. The least expensive options run $5 per serving, with most in the $10 to $12 range. Is it worth the cost? The answer is elusive: it depends. A busy professional or senior who hates to shop may find them the perfect antidote to that grilled cheese. If the money is in the budget, it can be fun to choose from a wide variety of selections (usually around 25) that offer both familiar flavors and some that come from exotic parts of the world. They may be the right solution for older adults who have begun to default to crackers and peanut butter and just need a simpler way to put a healthy meal together. 

How often you have a box delivered is usually up to you. You may want a meal for four once a week, or dinners for two delivered on Tuesday and Thursday. Most companies give you the option to skip whenever you like, such as when you’ll be away from home but many companies do require e a minimum standing order.

Boxed meal delivery services offer a wide variety of specializations. Some offer only organic ingredients, others accommodate specific diets like paleo, gluten free, low carb, vegetarian, vegan, kosher, etc. Having such options can make sticking to a special diet, or just eating healthier, that much easier. 

If you do decide to give boxed meals a try, check for coupons online. Many of them offer a deal right on the website when you start the service. Below, we’ve listed a variety of companies (though certainly not all!) that offer boxed meals.

  • Blue Apron. About $10 per meal. Quality ingredients with meals sometimes created by celebrity guest chefs.
  • Dinnerly. About $5 per serving. The least expensive option.
  • Factor 75.  About $15 per serving. All meals arrive microwave-ready and are gluten free, soy free, non-GMO, and include zero antibiotics, hormones, or refined sugars.
  • Freshly. Starts at $50 per week. No refined sugar, gluten, or artificial ingredients.
  • Gobble. About $12 per meal. Each dinner can be cooked in a single pan, and is ready in 15 minutes. Gluten free, dairy free, low carb and vegetarian options.
  • Green Chef. About $7 per meal. USDA organic meals that can be tailored to any dietary need you have.
  • Hello Fresh. About $7 per meal. A great price for fresh, pre-measured ingredients has made it the No. 1 service.
  • Home Chef. About $7 per meal. An affordable option with meals that are ready in half an hour.
  • Marley Spoon. Starts at $62.93 per week. Martha Stewart is affiliated with this meal service.
  • Purple Carrot. About $12 per meal. Exclusively vegan, this could be a great way to add more plants to anyone’s diet. 
  • Real Eats. About $13 per serving. Responsibly sourced, junk-free, no-waste meals that are ready to eat in 6 minutes.
  • Sun Basket. Starts at $72 per week. All meals are USDA organic, with vegan, paleo, lean and clean, gluten free, and other options. 




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Friday, July 16, 2021

The Road Less Traveled




National parks are crammed full as Americans emerge from the pandemic raring to travel. Avoid the crowds in lesser-known places that offer scenic beauty and quiet.


Spending time sitting in your car with the motor idling as you wait in a long, long line isn’t anyone’s idea of enjoying the great outdoors. Yet more and more Americans are doing just that as a massive wave of post-COVID vacationers are bearing down on popular parks that can’t handle the overload. 

On a recent Thursday, Libby Preslock pulled up at Arches National Park in southern Utah only to read signs that said it was full and to try again in five hours. “Anywhere you go, there’s going to be a line,” she said after traveling down to nearby Canyonlands park, where the wait to get in was only half an hour. Arches had 194,000 visitors in April, up 15% from 2019. Other popular national parks are seeing similar or greater increases. 

This Land is Your Land


Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-managed lands offer camping experiences ranging from developed RV campgrounds to throwing a bivy sack down in the backcountry. Some campgrounds include facilities like restrooms and running water, others may have nothing but a fire ring. Most campgrounds charge a fee, but dispersed camping on these public lands is free. Be a good citizen by checking out rules and regulations before you go. 

Dispersed camping is legal camping in undeveloped campsites, and it’s allowed, with certain limits, in our National Forests. You won’t find any amenities except clean air and solitude, but it won’t cost a thing. Learn more about free camping in National Forests. 




What’s an outdoorsy person to do?


Hit the Road, Jack. In the U.S., we are blessed with a lot of gorgeous, undeveloped land. When the parks fill up, it’s time to turn our attention to more out-of-the-way places for recreation. Try AllTrails, a site (and handy phone app) where hikers rate public trails and write about the conditions of the road to get there, whether or not you can camp at the trailhead, if the trail is well-marked, and other handy information. 

Knowing how crowded Moab, Utah has become, a friend and I used AllTrails recently to plan a trip to a remote area outside of Delta, Utah. We navigated a four-wheel-drive road and camped at the trailhead for Notch Peak. The next morning, we headed out past ancient bristlecone pine and ponderosas on a trip to the peak. 

Nearing the summit, we were astonished to have a pair of F-35 stealth jets shoot by in extremely close proximity, apparently on a training run out of nearby Wendover Air Force Base. After that awe-inspiring experience, we continued up to admire a 365-degree view of the ancient lake bed below. The northwest face of the mountain holds the record for the second-highest vertical drop in the U.S. after Yosemite’s El Capitan. We hiked down to pass another night at the trailhead, which we had all to ourselves once again with a starry sky spread out above us.

You may think our adventure was a bit too strenuous for your brand of outdoor fun — but we discovered other activities that will bring us back in fall. Delta is home to the Topaz Museum, and you can dig for the gem at several local spots. Or perhaps you’d prefer to hunt for your own trilobite fossil, also offered nearby. You can check out the Great Stone Face geologic formation,  head to Fort Deseret State Park, poke around in The Bug House rock shop, or play a round at the Sunset View golf course. Rainy day? Duck into the Great Basin Museum for historical context. RV parking is available nearby at Antelope Valley RV Park.

It’s a lot of fun to pull up a map of an area you’d like to visit, then randomly select a spot and search the internet for trails and things to do in the area. Try searching “Best things to do in (name of town)” and see what comes up. TripAdvisor can be a good source of local activities. 

No matter where you live, or where you want to go, now is a good time to get a little bit out of your comfort zone and blaze your own trail. After all, it’s an American tradition. Summon your pioneer spirit and get off the beaten path for a unique experience.



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Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Famous & 65

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!


July 3 - Montel Williams, talk show host


Host of the long-running The Montel Williams Show, Williams currently hosts Military Makeover: Operation Career on Lifetime. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999 and is active with the MS Foundation, a nonprofit he founded. 

Williams served in the United States Marine Corps as well as the United States Navy. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a major in engineering and a minor in international security affairs. He went on to serve 17 years in active duty, followed by five years in the reserves. 

The Montel Williams Show ran from 1991 to 2008. Williams received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show host in 1996, and the show was nominated for Outstanding Talk Show twice. Self-declared psychic Sylvia Browne was a repeat guest throughout its run, leading to controversy related to a pair of kidnapping victims. 









July 9 - Tom Hanks, actor

You surely already know much about the film career of Hanks, so we’ve put together a few facts that you might not know about this cherished actor.

Hanks was generally disliked by students and teachers in high school, where he spent years as a “Bible-toting evangelical,” according to one journalist. Hanks himself says,” I was a geek, a spaz. I was horribly, painfully, terribly shy. At the same time, I was the guy who’d yell out funny captions during filmstrips. But I didn’t get into trouble. I was always a real good kid and pretty responsible.”

In his college years, Hanks says, "I spent a lot of time going to plays. I wouldn't take dates with me. I'd just drive to a theater, buy myself a ticket, sit in the seat and read the program, and then get into the play completely. I spent a lot of time like that, seeing Brecht, Tennessee Williams, Ibsen, and all that.”

As a little boy, Hanks wanted to be …. An astronaut! He’s a member of the National Space Society and produced the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. Hanks is also an honorary member of the United States Army Rangers Hall of Fame for his portrayal of a captain in Saving Private Ryan, and Hanks served as spokesman for the WWII Memorial Campaign.

He uses manual typewriters on a near-daily basis, and created the Hanx Writer app to allow users to mimic the experience.

 








July 25 - Frances Arnold, chemist


Arnold became the first American woman (and fifth woman in the prize’s 117-year history) to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2018 for her work in directed evolution. She currently serves on President Joe Biden’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. 


Arnold was never a conformist. She left home in high school, hitchhiking to Washington, D.C. to protest the war in Vietnam. Her independence led to a lot of missed days at school and subsequent low grades, although she aced standardized tests and was determined to attend the alma mater of her nuclear physicist father: Princeton. 

She achieved her goal, working on a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering and considered a career as a diplomat after taking Russian, Italian and economics. Instead, she took a gap year to work in an Italian factory that manufactured parts for nuclear reactors and came back to study energy and environmental studies. After graduation in 1979, she went to South Korea, Brazil and then Colorado to work in engineering, including designing solar energy facilities for areas out in the boondocks. 

Arnold earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering at UC Berkeley. She is the co-inventor of no less than 40 U.S. patents and cofounded both Gevo, a company that makes fuels and chemicals from renewable resources, and Provivi, which researches alternatives to pesticides for crop protection. 








July 26 - Dorothy Hamill, ice skater


Raise your hand if you got a bob after seeing Dorothy Hamill win the 1976 Olympic figure skating championship! “America’s sweetheart” started skating at age eight and gained national prominence when she won the novice ladies at the U.S. Championships when she was just 12 years old. A year later, she placed second at the junior level. Hamill wore the crown of U.S. champion in 1974, 1975 and 1976, when she was also World Champion in ladies’ singles. 

At the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, Hamill dominated her event. She came in second in figures, then won both the short and long programs to take the gold medal. This would be the last time a single skater would have an Olympic win without a triple jump. She did develop a new move, the “Hamill camel,” a camel spin that evolves into a sit spin. 

For the next seven years, Hamill headlined Ice Capades shows. In 1993, the Associated Press ran a national study to find the most popular athlete in America. It wasn’t Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Magic Johnson or even Wayne Gretzky. You guessed it: Hamill, along with fellow Olympian and gymnast Mary Lou Retton, topped the list. 

Learn more about Hamill in her autobiographies On and Off the Ice and Skating Life: My Story.







Sources:

https://www.wikipedia.org

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors
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Monday, July 12, 2021

Six Tips for Seniors Dealing With Financial Troubles

 


For seniors, retirement can come with personal finance challenges. Some struggle to adjust from working full-time and earning a hefty salary to living on a fixed income. Others may not have had the opportunity to save as much for retirement as they would have liked, and once they leave their jobs, they have trouble paying their bills. And while these issues are common, many seniors feel embarrassed about asking their loved ones for help.

Thankfully, seniors who are dealing with financial troubles have options and places to turn to for guidance. Whether you’re interested in seeking assistance from a qualified financial professional or you’d like to revise your budget and boost your income with part-time work, these tips will help you feel confident about managing your finances.

1) Work with a Financial Consultant

If you feel truly overwhelmed when you think about personal finance, you don’t need to try navigating through financial decisions on your own. Instead, consider seeking out the services of a financial consultant who can help you with everything from paying down your debts to creating a realistic budget.

While you can work with a financial consultant that is employed by a firm, choosing a freelance consultant can lead to a more personalized experience. In order to choose a consultant who will understand your lifestyle and financial needs, you’ll want to check out his or her qualifications, background, reviews, prices, and the services the consultant offers. If possible, try to find a consultant that specializes in working with seniors — he or she will have an in-depth understanding of your situation!

2) Go Over Your Budget

Whether you have decided to hire a consultant or you would prefer to tackle your personal finance choices on your own, you’ll want to go over your budget before you make any other changes. If you don’t have a budget, you can create one by writing down how much income you get from specific sources each month, and then note your fixed and variable expenses on a spreadsheet or down on paper.

Next, analyze your spending on variable expenses, like groceries, utilities, and entertainment. Could you go to a cheaper grocery store and use coupons to save on food? Would you be able to switch to a new Internet or phone provider that offers cheaper rates? The Motley Fool also recommends replacing expensive hobbies with free or low-cost activities, like visiting museums that offer free admission, visiting the library, or going to free local concerts.

3) Downsize Your Home

Many seniors find that retirement is the perfect time to downsize. Perhaps you love your family home but maintaining a large property has become difficult. High bills for necessary home maintenance projects can eat into your budget, and you might have difficulty going up the stairs or navigating rooms with slippery flooring.

Downsizing and moving into a smaller home will help you save substantially every month. If you’ve decided that you’re ready to downsize, Farm Bureau Financial Services recommends decluttering every room and investing in some low-cost upgrades, like fresh paint and new bedding, to stage your home for potential buyers. Before you begin house-hunting, figure out how much space you’ll need and which features you want in your new home. For instance, if you love gardening or have pets that need room to play, you may want to move into a small home with a backyard. If you rarely have visitors and love to travel, consider buying a condo or apartment instead.

4) Secure Part-Time Work

Perhaps you have gone over your budget carefully and realized that you couldn’t reasonably cut any of your expenses without sacrificing your quality of life. Or maybe you do spend a lot of money on property taxes at your current residence, but you have no desire to downsize and move. If these scenarios sound relatable to you, you may want to consider working part-time. A part-time job will increase your income and grant you more flexibility. Working just ten to fifteen hours a week can make it much easier to cover all of your expenses!

5) Find Assistance

What if you’ve already done everything you can to cut expenses and bring in some extra money, but you’re still coming up short at the end of every month? It may be time to look for assistance. For some seniors, moving in with a loved one could be an option — this will allow you to drastically reduce your spending on housing costs and utilities. In addition, you can apply for assistance programs that provide financial support for low-income seniors.

Depending on your income and assets, you may qualify for Medicaid, which can help lower your healthcare spending. You might be eligible for food stipends or free meal deliveries. There are also public housing programs and home repair grants that are open to seniors. Get in touch with representatives of senior assistance programs to see if you might be a candidate and find out what paperwork you would need to submit to be approved.

6) Safeguard Against Fraud

Finally, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t become a victim of identity theft or fraud. People with bad intentions often target seniors in financial scams, and you can lose a chunk of your nest egg if someone gets access to your savings accounts. Talk to a trusted loved one or your financial consultant about signing up for identity theft protection services, and do not make any major purchases or big investments without talking to your consultant first. Taking a few simple precautions can give you peace of mind.

Many seniors worry about their finances in their golden years. The cost of living in retirement can be higher than anticipated and finding a way to live comfortably while spending less can take some time. With these tips, you can cut down on your spending, protect your assets, and even find a part-time job that grants you a little more wiggle room in your budget!

Do you need guidance when it comes to handling your finances in retirement? Find a trusted financial professional with a specialist focus on older adults through the Society of Certified Senior Advisor’s CSA Locator. 

 

About the Author
Jim Vogel and his wife, Caroline, built Elder Action after becoming caregivers for their aging parents.

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Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Four Daily Exercises for Seniors




These easy exercises you can do at home will quickly improve your strength, mobility and balance if you do them every day.


It can be frustrating when we notice a decline in our physical ability as we age. Maybe it used to be easy to put the bag of dog food in your shopping cart, and now it’s difficult. Perhaps we trip more often as we walk, or the stairs are making us get out of breath. It’s easy to chalk it up to getting older, but there’s a lot we can do to change the trajectory of our health. Incorporating a few simple exercises into our daily routine can make a world of difference in how we feel and what we’re able to do. Better yet, all of these can be done at home. You don’t need special clothing, and any flat shoes (or bare feet!) will work. 

Keep On Walking


One way to keep fit that almost everyone can do is to walk more. Most people can aim for 10,000 steps per day, but you can taper or increase that goal depending on joint pain and your level of fitness. A recent study found that people who average 10,000 steps per day lowered their 10-year likelihood of dying by nearly half. Walking makes your muscles stronger, and decreases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and colon cancer. Here are some ideas to help you reach your walking goals:
  • Park further away from your destination to add steps.
  • Find a race that welcomes walkers and train for it.
  • Find an audiobook or podcast to listen to while you walk.
  • Walk around your block or in a nearby park.
  • Go on several shorter walks each day instead of one long one.


Perform a few reps when you get out of bed in the morning, during a commercial break, or when you get up to move to another room in the house,” says physical therapist Ann Phelps. She advocates doing these foundational exercises every single day, even when you have a rest day from the gym. Why? They improve strength and balance, allowing older adults to stay independent longer. Talk to your doctor about any exercise routine if you have injuries or balance issues.

Often, the single most important skill for continuing to live on your own is the ability to get off a chair or toilet. “Standing up from a chair or other surface without using your hands is a good exercise for older adults to perform to maintain good health, fitness, and mobility,” Phelps says. 

Start by sitting on a sturdy chair with feet hip-width apart. Hold your arms straight out in front of you with fingertips extended. Pressing through your feet while holding your core steady, rise to a standing position. Then, return to a sit while continuing to hold your arms out in front and without moving your feet. That is one repetition. Work up to three sets of 10 reps per day. To increase difficulty, remove the chair while keeping movement the same. These full bodyweight squats should be performed with your chest up and heels on the floor.

Walking is an important activity at any age (see sidebar). This variation adds some weight in your hands to improve upper body and core strength at the same time. If you don’t have weights, you can use cans of food. 

Start with feet hip-width apart, palms facing toward you with a light weight in each hand. Walk forward, keeping your spine straight by imagining a string at the top of your head pulling you upward. Walk for 30 seconds or as long as you can. To increase difficulty, use heavier weights in each hand and extend how long you walk.
The tandem stance “can significantly improve balance and stability to increase function and decrease the risk of falls,” Phelps says. 

Stand up straight with your feet together. You may need to hold a sturdy chair, counter or a wall for balance, especially when you’re starting out. Imagine you are on a balance beam, and pick up one foot, placing your heel against the toes of your other foot. Stay in this position, heel to toe, for 30 seconds or as long as you can. Then switch feet and repeat. To increase difficulty, don’t use another object for balance. If you master that, add weights in each hand while you perform the exercise. Remember to use your core and stand tall.
This exercise will help you to walk and climb stairs, Phelps says, as well as finding and helping with any imbalance between your right and left sides. 

Stand tall with your feet together to start. Standing straight and holding a sturdy chair, counter or a wall for balance, lift one foot just off the floor so no part of it is touching. Imagine a string pulling your head and body upward as you avoid leaning to one side. Stay in this position for 30 seconds, then repeat on the other side. To increase difficulty, lift your foot higher off the floor until your knee is in front of the hip. You can make it harder still by straightening your leg and holding it out in front of you, and by bending it and holding to the side or behind you. 


Sources:




This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical decisions before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors



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Tuesday, June 22, 2021

What Is Really the Best Way to Draw Down Retirement Funds?


 

Taxes may be your biggest expense in retirement. A surprising twist on the usual withdrawal strategy may help you save thousands of dollars.


Nobody wants to give more of their retirement fund to Uncle Sam than they need to. But while taxes are a given, how much you will pay is not. Every dollar of taxes saved is another dollar that you can spend or keep in your nest egg to grow until you need it. 



Hidden Benefit of a Taxable Brokerage Account

If you have invested funds in a taxable brokerage account that lose money, you can sell them at a loss to reduce your taxes. This strategy, called tax-loss harvesting, allows you to reduce capital gains and apply up to $3,000 against ordinary income in the year of the loss.

Roth Conversions


Because gains in tax-deferred accounts will eventually be taxed at higher ordinary income rates instead of lower capital gains rates, it may make sense to take advantage of Roth conversions. A conversion takes money (or assets) in an existing IRA or 401(k), and places it in a Roth IRA. You are required to pay ordinary income tax on converted funds or assets in the year the conversion occurs, but then they can grow tax-free in the Roth and be tax-free upon withdrawal. 

You do not have to have earned income in order to convert from an IRA to a Roth. Another benefit is that a lower account balance in your traditional IRA will reduce RMDs once you turn 72 since there is no withdrawal requirement for Roth funds. Converting funds may be particularly attractive to individuals with large balances in IRA accounts. Also, Roth IRAs pass untaxed to heirs, while new rules require that traditional IRAs must be distributed to non-spouse heirs over a period of no more than 10 years, potentially incurring taxes when heirs are in a high tax bracket. 

However, putting money in a Roth requires you to pay ordinary income taxes up front, which reduces the amount that can compound and grow. This analysis is best done with a financial advisor’s help. To get a very rough idea if a conversion would benefit you, look at Schwab’s online Roth conversion calculator.  


No one can predict how tax laws may change over the course of retirement. However, it’s important to work with a tax professional to plan as you go along and strategize as rates change. The rise of 401(k) plans (vs. pensions) has left many baby boomers with an oversize tax-deferred account, and smaller taxable and Roth savings. 

These three types of accounts receive different tax treatment, offering investors different options to reduce taxes. Traditional IRA and 401(k) withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income, taxable brokerage account withdrawals after sale of most investments incur capital gains, and Roth IRAs get special treatment. Since you paid tax on Roth deposits when you funded the account, you can make withdrawals tax free once you turn 59 1/2 and the account has been open at least five years. There are no required minimum distributions on a Roth like there are for a traditional IRA, when you must take out a prescribed percentage beginning at age 72.

The Right Investments in the Right Accounts
First, let’s look at what assets are appropriate for the different accounts. 
  • Stocks in a taxable account will be taxed at a lower rate than those in an IRA. Stock appreciation and qualified dividends (which does not include dividends from REITs) in a taxable account are taxed at lower capital gains rates, rather than as ordinary income.
  • Charitable donations can be made “in-kind” from a taxable account to a nonprofit. This means you can gift stocks directly, receiving tax benefits twice: once for the entire amount of the charitable gift, and again for the capital appreciation the asset has accrued. This is not true of stock held in an IRA. However, you can donate up to $100,000 from an IRA directly to a qualified charity after age 72 and lower your required minimum distribution, and taxes, which are not paid on the donation.
  • Currently, stocks in a taxable account receive a step-up in basis upon the death of the investor. In effect, the capital appreciation disappears without being taxed. Stock held in an IRA does not get a stepped-up basis, and the account is taxed at ordinary income rates.
  • Buying bonds for your IRA will likely lower future required minimum distributions because they tend to grow slower than stocks. (However, municipal bonds belong in your taxable account since they are already tax free.)
  • Bonds held in an IRA enjoy tax-deferred interest, which makes it a better place to hold bonds; the interest is taxed at ordinary income rates regardless of whether it is in an IRA or taxable account. 

Withdrawing Funds


Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all plan for taking out money in retirement. Everyone has a different risk appetite, and no two retirees have the same percentage of funds in their retirement accounts. People retire at different ages, and can spend vastly different amounts of time in the retirement phase of life. Add on to that Social Security or pension income (or perhaps an annuity or insurance instrument) and the potential for changes in tax law, and it can seem impossible to plan properly. 

However, it is possible to make some general recommendations knowing that you will need to reassess every year or so depending on how your investments are doing and what is happening on Capital Hill. Traditional theory has retirees withdrawing first from their taxable account, then their tax-deferred IRA, and last from the tax-free Roth. The thought is that this will allow tax-deferred assets to grow longer, and tax-free accounts can keep on increasing the longest of all. Makes sense, right?

However, it’s possible that withdrawing funds from all three accounts proportionally every year may lower your tax bill. If your RMD is less than what you will withdraw, this strategy can beat the conventional wisdom. Using a traditional strategy results in a tax bump over the years when only the tax-deferred account, which is taxed at ordinary income rates, is drawn down. Let’s look at a hypothetical retiree to compare the two strategies. 

Joe is 62 and single, with $200,000 in taxable accounts, $250,000 in a 401(k) and IRA, and $50,000 in a Roth IRA. He had a good job, and gets $25,000 every year from Social Security. He wants to get $60,000 after taxes in retirement. We will assume a 5% annual return on investments. 

With a traditional withdrawal approach, Joe will take money from one account at a time, starting with his taxable account and ending with the Roth. His savings will last a little more than 22 years, and his total tax bill will be $70,000.

But what if he takes out proportional withdrawals instead? He will access all three accounts every year, and withdraw funds in proportionally equal amounts. His tax burden becomes spread out equally over his retirement, resulting in a total tax bill of $43,000. That $27,000 savings stretches his retirement funds an extra year.

For more details on this strategy, go to Fidelity Investments. 

Capital Gains


If you have capital gains in a taxable account, it can be beneficial to take them in years when your income is low. For many, this can be the time frame between retirement and the start of required minimum distributions. For instance, a married couple with up to $80,000 of income will owe nothing on long-term capital gains, although ordinary income tax on that amount is 12%. However, be aware that the long-term capital gains count as income for the year in which they are taken.

Making withdrawals from retirement accounts may be as much an art as it is a science. So many variables change over the years as different investments fare better than others, tax laws change for better or for worse, and the financial needs of individuals change. A tax advisor or other investment professional can help guide retirees through these obstacles to ensure the best use of their precious nest egg.







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Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Job Hunting

 

Here are some top tips for landing a job as an older adult, whether you’re changing careers or supplementing Social Security.


Let’s face it: job hunting is never fun. It can be even more stressful, and more difficult to find a new job, as you advance in years. But whether you’re a professional seeking a career boost, a blue-collar worker looking for your next solid job, or a retiree trying to make some pocket change, there are a variety of tactics that can increase your chances. 

Finding a new job is not the same for an older adult as it is for someone in their twenties. Ageism is real, but so are the skills you have honed over a lifetime. We need to take a new approach to everything from writing a resumé to negotiating salary and benefits. And we have to make sure that we’re up to date for the industry we want to work in. 



The Gig Economy

Many older adults turn to the gig economy to make some money on a flexible schedule. While you give up benefits like a 401(k) or guaranteed wages, you may find that you love what you’re doing more than any corporate job in a cubicle. Here are four common opportunities:

Driving. 

Via 

Chores. 


Deliveries.  


Corporate. 



Valuing Yourself


One idea is to look for sectors where your age will be viewed as an asset. Older clients often prefer an older professional, so is there a company that specializes in working with older adults? How about retirement services or healthcare? Or would you prefer guiding youth who could benefit from your experience and wisdom? Good fits might be nonprofits serving underprivileged schools or communities. Don’t underestimate your value.

Writing a Resumé


This obstacle alone can keep many seniors from getting a new job, but there’s a lot of help on the Internet these days. Remember that you are highlighting skills, not listing every job you’ve ever had. In fact, job experts suggest you concentrate on the last 10 to 15 years, and drop the year you graduated. Changing careers and wondering how you’ll make accomplishments relevant in your new field? Try this article on switching jobs that has links to a host of helpful tips, as well as a sample CV.

Using Contacts


One thing older adults have in their favor is contacts. Research shows that 80% to 85% of jobs are landed because of networking. Don’t just forward your resumé and cross your fingers. Tell acquaintances what kind of job you hope to find, and leave as much room as possible for a different field or application of your skills. Cast a wide net, but do provide your contacts with a list of talking points that detail how you fit roles that match your experience, says Adrian Turner, MBA and career coach. 

Using a Career Coach


If you are looking for an advanced position, it may well be worth your while to hire a career coach. A good job coach can polish your presentation, open you up to consider new jobs, offer insights into your skills, and boost your confidence. He or she can offer training to advance your career, or just telephone time to get you up to speed and approaching interviews with new vigor and self-esteem. 

Keeping Your Chin Up


There are few things more deflating than to hear “no” over and over again. Margaret Mitchell would know: Gone With the Wind was rejected 38 times before finding a publisher. Research psychologist Robert Baumeister said that it “takes four good things to overcome one bad thing.” Celebrate the smallest triumphs: forwarding your new resumé to three people, practicing for an interview, watching a youTube video about interviewing, remembering to feed your cat, not losing your mind. (And keep your sense of humor!) It’s okay to take a mental break and watch some really stupid TV or bake bread. Listen to a podcast on positivity (Happify, or HappiJar) or try slowing down your mind with some meditation. Write affirmations daily in a journal — it’s scientifically proven to boost mood.

Staying Current


You can’t expect to move smoothly into a new workplace without an up-to-date knowledge of trends in your field. If you haven’t been reading the latest books, try listening to 15-minute summaries on Blinkist, an app that offers thousands of recent and classic non-fiction books in the business world. Review trade journals, and know all of the insider social media, including podcasts and apps, that industry insiders are using or discussing.

Job Boards


Everyone knows about Monster and Indeed, but were you aware that AARP has a board with jobs for seniors? Also, take advantage of AARP’s job resources for older adults that offers a plethora of tips and opportunities for people on the hunt for work, from scientists and engineers to laymen. Don’t forget to search out local and regional job boards, which can be easier to use than the national listings. For example, the go-to site is www.nonprofittalent.com for any nonprofit job in the region, from the highest to lowest level. 

State Department of Labor


Especially for folks who need some training, there’s no better place to start than your own state’s Department of Labor. For example, the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE) collaborates with the local Colorado Workforce Centers to offer free or supplemental support training and educational opportunities through grants and federal funding. Some of the training programs offered are apprenticeships, educational programs and Pell Grant, Trade Adjustment Act (TAA), Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA), and Unemployment Insurance (UI) approved training programs.

Training can include higher-paying jobs. One senior received her paralegal certificate, fully funded, through the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) in her home state of Florida. The Sunshine State also has a Professional Placement Network that funds Career Source https://careersourcebroward.com/ppn  branches. This network will provide a comprehensive program: defining your career goals, creating your personal sales pitch, effective interviewing and negotiation strategies, relationship building and social networking, etc. You may locate similar programs in your state.  

Supplementing a Fixed Income


Sometimes you don’t want or need to work 40 hours a week, but some extra cash would sure come in handy and you’d like the camaraderie of fellow employees. In the age of the $15/hour job, you may find that a local position in retail is the perfect fit. Look for unexpected perks. One woman worked at fancy kitchen shop Williams Sonoma; the hours were inconsistent and the pay minimal, but she got a 40% employee discount and outfitted her dream kitchen. 

Job hunting as an older adult can be exciting as opportunities you’d never considered present themselves. It’s hard work to make a change, and it can be an exhausting process. But learning new skills, reaching out to old acquaintances and putting forward your best self can have lasting benefits.






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Friday, June 11, 2021

Entertainment Apps for Seniors


Older adults with time on their hands can turn to apps for learning experiences, mind games or to up their happiness quotient.


Recently, a woman I know told me how much she loved the decorating app Redecor where players can redecorate real rooms from around the world. “I use my creativity, some strategy ‘cause it's competitive, and it's relaxing since I am working with beautiful things,” she says. Before this, she had turned her nose up at games on her phone or iPad.


Guggenheim and MoMA Apps


Although they don’t offer games, these two famous New York City art museums, the Guggenheim and the Museum of Modern Art, offer virtual tours of current exhibits complete with audio. Use a phone or tablet to learn about art history or the current counter-culture revolution. There are descriptions to lead blind users on an art journey in the Guggenheim’s award-winning app. Curators and artists discuss the MoMA’s collection in its audio app, with a special version for the grandkids. 



The pandemic may have accelerated the trend toward electronic entertainment. Many older adults discovered the extensive array of games on AARP, the majority of which are free. You can choose from card games, crosswords, Mahjongg and many more. An AARP membership unlocks a treasure trove of more puzzlers, as well as the Staying Sharp set of games meant to exercise your brain. 

Lumosity offers “daily exercise for your mind.” These challenges are linked to your ability after an initial baseline test. The software offers harder versions as you improve, and tracks your scoring. But you won’t feel like you’re in school again; the games are definitely entertaining.

Journaling has known benefits, and the Five Minute Journal can prod you to practice gratitude using the principles of positive psychology to make you happier. It comes in free and advanced versions. While this isn’t a gaming app, it is one that can be used daily to provide reflection. Another fine choice in this arena is the award-winning Journey journaling app and diary.

Seterra offers a series of geography quizzes from regions all over the world and in the U.S. Don’t worry, you can start simple and take the same quiz again and again to learn and improve your score. Besides, you’re only competing against yourself. Better yet, it’s free.

24/7 Sudoku offers the iconic math puzzler in four difficulty levels, but there is plenty more on this free app. Try poker, backgammon, crosswords and a host of other games. The app automatically keeps track of your best score at each level.

For an iconic game that anyone will enjoy, download Mario Kart Tour, Scrabble Go, or the Kahoot quiz game. 

Consider whether or not you’d like to be competitive with someone besides yourself. Many of the above apps are entirely non-competitive, some offer a beat-your-own-best-score philosophy, and others show global  scores. In my friend’s decorating app, she has the opportunity to compete with real interior designers or just enjoy creating: the walls, flooring, furniture finishes, paint and metals. An added bonus if you join the app’s Facebook group is meeting like-minded people from all over the world. You can keep busy, creative and connected. 




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Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Harvest Host Offers Free Camping




Vineyards, farms and other small businesses are welcoming self-contained campers and RVs to sample their wares and spend the night.


America’s seniors are fond of their recreational vehicles (RVs). More than 10.5 million U.S. households have one or more RVs, leading to lives often filled with travel near and far. There are a lot of upsides to RV camping: it’s quick and easy, and avoids the hassles of tent camping. Who wants to stay in a tent when it’s raining? Plus, you can install a good mattress in an RV and enjoy the convenience of a refrigerator and stove while still using electronic devices. Now, there’s one more reason you may want to get an RV (or camper van) to enhance your travel: Harvest Host.

Useful RV Information


For a list of useful resources, including campgrounds, check out Go RVing. You’ll find tips and inspiration, including stories from a multitude of diverse people who have taken up RVing for fun and adventure. Don’t forget that the National Parks America the Beautiful senior pass offers Americans 62 or older a lifetime pass for $80 that gets a carload of people (up to four adults) into the 108 of 422 National Park Service sites that charge entrance fees. Better yet, it offers half-price camping for the life of the cardholder. 



Started in 2015, Harvest Host offers a network of campsites. For an annual charge of either $99 or $139, you can park overnight at any of more than 2,000 golf clubs, wineries, museums, breweries, farms and country clubs across the U.S. and Canada, as often as you like. It’s a lot more fun than parking at Walmart, and a lot cheaper than paying campsite fees every night. How does it work?

You have to stay in a self-contained vehicle. All classes of RVs are accepted, as are towed trailers, fifth wheel campers, travel trailers, toy haulers, camper vans and truck campers. Cars and tents are not part of the deal; you must have your own toilet, water tank and indoor cooking to qualify. Water, sewer, electric and restrooms are normally not included at host sites, although a few places may offer electric and/or water. 

Campers are expected to spend $20 at their host’s business, although it’s not required. You’ll have over 500 farms, 200 breweries and distilleries, 500 vineyards and wineries, 300 museums and other attractions, and 300 golf courses and country clubs (on the pro plan) to choose from.  Stays are for one night only, although the host may choose to offer another night to individual guests. Young and old are welcome, and give Harvest Hosts 98% positive reviews on the Apple App, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/harvest-hosts/id1321631420
perhaps due to making friends at each stop — this is often with hosts, but it can be with fellow RVers, although Harvest Host camping areas tend to be much less crowded than traditional sites and you may be the only one there. 

What if you don’t have an RV but you’d really like to participate? You can rent one on Outdoorsy,  RVshare or RVezy. Renting allows you to try out different models and brands to see what fits your lifestyle and usage. A million Americans live in their RV year ‘round. 

One night you may check into a date farm in southern California (try their shakes!), another may find you outside a vineyard further north. You could spend an entire summer sipping wine at a different winery every night with new friends, or golfing on a new course each day. Even if you don’t drink or golf, every locale is peaceful, quiet and offers a beautiful view. Bring a bottle of wine home for friends, or purchase breakfast at the golf club and you’ve helped out your hosts while getting a great gift or delicious meal in return. 

Try using code HHFRIENDS15 at checkout for 15% off a new Harvest Hosts membership (coupon valid at the time of this posting).



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Thursday, June 3, 2021

Famous & 65

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!


June 6 - Björn Borg, Swedish tennis player


Between 1974 and 1981, Borg had the distinction of winning 11 Grand Slam titles, although he never triumphed at the U.S. Open in spite of four appearances. His wins include five Wimbledon titles. The Swede so dominated tennis in his time that fellow competitor Ilie Năstase once said, “We’re playing tennis. He’s playing something else.”

Borg had a distinctive style, using jerky but consistent strokes with topspin and a two-handed backhand. His superior conditioning sometimes meant that he wore down competitors. In a 2008 poll of tennis analysts, writers and former players, ESPN.com asked who they would choose to build “the perfect player.” Borg was the only one called out in four categories, and he was chosen as the top pick in both footwork and mental toughness. 

In spite of that mental edge, or perhaps because of it, he was known for his calm demeanor on court, earning the nickname “the Ice Borg.” But he had enormous drive under that placid surface. Borg’s first wife, a Romanian tennis star, noted that her husband was “always very placid and calm, except if he lost a match — he wouldn’t talk for at least three days. He couldn’t stand losing.” Which made it all the more baffling when, in 1981, after losing at Wimbledon Borg said, “What shocked me was I wasn’t even upset.” He subsequently retired from the sport that year at the age of 26 after being ranked No. 1 in the world for 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980. Arthur Ashe later told Sports Illustrated, "I think Bjorn could have won the US Open. I think he could have won the Grand Slam, but by the time he left, the historical challenge didn't mean anything. He was bigger than the game. He was like Elvis or Liz Taylor or somebody."








June 9 - Patricia Cornwell, American author

Crime novelist Patricia Cornwell is most well known for her series featuring medical examiner Kay Scarpetta. The books feature evidence based on forensic science, inspiring a spate of TV shows such as the CSI series and Cold Case Files. The Scarpetta series itself is based on a group of actual murders that occurred in Richmond, Virginia. 

Cornwell has plenty of credibility for authoring the novels, including previous work as a crime beat reporter, a technical writer, a computer analyst at the office of the Medical Examiner of Virginia, and as a volunteer with the Richmond Police Department. The novels feature a complex set of intertwined plots and characters, including colleagues and staff, and confrontation with the killer. 

Cornwell has also penned several other crime novels, and a book that proposes that British painter Walter Sickert was the man behind the historical Jack the Ripper killings. Her books have sold more than 100 million copies. 








June 11 - Joe Montana, NFL quarterback


Joe Montana, aka “Joe Cool” and “the Comeback Kid,”  is the winner of four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers football team. He still holds career records for most passes without an interception (122). Montana played with the 49ers for 14 seasons and then the Kansas City Chiefs for another two years after winning a national college football championship his senior year at Notre Dame. 

Growing up outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Montana excelled at football, basketball and baseball. He helped his high school team win the state AAA crown, becoming an all-state player. Montana was also the starting quarterback for his high school team his junior and senior years, after which Parade chose him for their All-American team. He wanted to play both basketball and football in college, but finally took a football scholarship at Notre Dame where boyhood idol Terry Hanratty had attended school.

Although Notre Dame’s policy banned freshmen from playing on the varsity team, Montana made a name for himself in a pair of fourth-quarter starts as a sophomore. With his team down 14-6 against North Carolina and then 30-10 vs. Air Force a week later, Montana calmly came on the field each time and passed his team to victory. His last game for Notre Dame was the famous “Chicken Soup Game.” At a frigid January 1 Cotton Bowl against Houston, Montana suffered hypothermia; his temperature dropped to 96 degrees. Extremely concerned, the staff kept him in the locker room after the start of the second half, gave him warmed IV fluids, covered his body in blankets and fed him hot chicken soup. He finally returned to the field with Houston ahead 34-12. The revived Montana led the Fighting Irish on three touchdown marches, the final one occurring as the clock expired, and Notre Dame won 35-34. 

The rest of his career is no less legendary. He earned spot #4 on the NFL Network's The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players, with other awards too numerous to name here. 








June 23 - Randy Jackson, record producer, American Idol judge


Bass guitarist Randy Jackson is also a singer, record producer, entrepreneur and TV personality. He may be best known for serving as a judge on American Idol and being the executive producer for America’s Best Dance Crew. He hosts a radio top 40 countdown called Randy Jackson’s Hit List.

Jackson has worked with a host of famous bands and celebrities including Journey, Mariah Carey, Keith Richards, Billy Joel and many, many more. In 2003, Jackson lost 113 pounds after gastric bypass surgery. He announced in 2008 that he has type 2 diabetes. 






Sources:

https://www.wikipedia.org

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors
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