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What We Are UP To: Holiday Edition

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Christmas tree ornament pink holiday flamingo with Santa hat

Disclosure: Occasionally we receive free products for review or include advertising links in posts, but no one impacts the honesty of our opinions. 

The holiday season is upon us. It’s a time to be thankful and giving. And when I say giving that doesn’t necessarily mean buying gifts. There are so many no-cost things we can give to others like our respect and attention. Keith and I are excited to be spending the holidays in our new home. And with a new place I’m sure we will start some new holiday traditions. 

Working On | A New Christmas Tree

> Our last home was a little smaller than this one and a full-size tree just didn’t look right. For the past few years, we’ve had a tabletop tree. In this house, we have a bit more space, so we’ve decided on a full-size Christmas tree. It’s decorated with our favorite things like donuts, pizza, and tacos. LOL!

Watching | Once Upon a Deadpool

> I will admit that Deadpool movies are a guilty pleasure. After the release of Deadpool 2, the movie was re-released in a PG-13 format with the addition of Fred Savage and a holiday theme. We can get our Deadpool fix and some holiday cheer at the same time. I fully expect the debates about whether it’s a holiday movie. Just like Die Hard, which is definitely a holiday movie. 

Reading | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

> I finally got my hands on book number three in the Harry Potter series. Just started the book (no spoilers, please!) We’ve also been playing the Harry Potter Wizards Unite game on our phones, so I’ve been very curious about the character of Sirius Black. Can’t wait to see how it turns out! 

Planning | 2020

> I can’t wait to start saying it’s the year 2020! When I was younger, the year 2000 seemed so far away. Remember Y2K?! We thought the whole world was coming to an end. The good news is that we survived the turn of the century. And now we have a new decade to celebrate. 

Feeling | Excited

> The thought of a new year is always exciting to me. I spend time thinking about my accomplishments and set goals for the New Year. Now that we’re settling into our new place, we have no excuses. It will be fun to see what the year has in store for us!

Loving | Uten.Silo

>  The Uten.Silo wall storage unit was created by Dorothee Becker in the 1960s. She said it was inspired by her father’s drugstore. There was a hanging bag full of fascinating things waiting to be discovered. I’ve been fascinated by the piece ever since I saw it. Now I’m thrilled to have one hanging in my new office. 

Geeking | Amazon Echo

> We have several Amazon Echo devices. It’s been fun setting them up for the new house. If you have a few Amazon Echo devices and haven’t checked out the routines feature, it’s quite cool. You can set up your device to do a series of commands – like turn on the lights, tell you the weather, and then play your favorite music station. 

Remembering | Self-Care

> It’s easy during the holidays to over-indulge. While I certainly don’t want to damper anyone’s holiday celebrations, do take time to rest, relax, and take care of yourself. It might be having a cuppa tea and reading a good book. Or sleeping in late. Self-care is important. You will be thankful that you did. 

What’s UP with you? Keith and I wish you the best of holidays. Thank you so much for supporting Unretirement Project and cheers to the New Year!

10 Tips For Working Caregivers

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this is what commitment looks like airport sign relating to caregivers

As we get older, one of the things we have to think about is caregiving. Not just caring for ourselves, but being caregivers to other persons. While we might initially think of caregiving as taking care of our parents or a spouse, it’s also possible that caregiving could extend to our siblings or other relatives. In fact, it’s possible that we might provide caregiving to a person who isn’t a blood relative but nonetheless a person very dear to us.

According to AARP, over 40 million people provide caregiving in some form. This translates to approximately 17% of today’s workforce. Because caregiving is such an important topic that affects a lot of people, AARP recently conducted a two-part webcast on “Tips for Working Caregivers from Working Caregivers”. It was a very interesting session that offered some things to consider. My big takeaway from the first session was to think about creating a caregiving guide. I can see where this isn’t one of those things that you should hold off until you need it.  

  1. Be prepared for the possibility of caregiving. You know your family situation. Is there a family member that might need caregiving at some point? Has there been discussions about how caregiving will happen? And who will be primarily responsible for it? All questions that are better asked and answered before the need arises.
  2. Talk to your employer. During the AARP webcast, they said that over 56% of caregivers have to make accommodations in their work, especially when it comes to time. Talk with your manager. Let them know your needs and give them some reassurances that your performance will not suffer as a result.
  3. Research caregiving-friendly companies. If you’re considering a job change, look for employers that offer caregiving benefits. At minimum, look for employers that are open to offering flexible schedules. Additional benefits might be available through health care insurance or the company’s employee assistance program (EAP).
  4. Understand the legal aspects. At some point, caregiving might include being responsible for the care recipient’s financial affairs and medical directives. Make sure any required legal documents are in place and that, as a caregiver, you have the confidence of everyone around.
  5. Set expectations with care receivers. I think this is an important one. Care receivers need to understand some of their responsibilities, like possibly wearing a monitoring device. Or if you’re a caregiver and work from home, that you aren’t there to entertain the receiver. Boundaries are important in care giving.
  6. Use technology to your advantage. This is another aspect that applies to both caregivers as well as care receivers. Care receivers might enjoy some freedom by learning how to use apps like Facetime, where they can quickly check-in and let a caregiver know they’re okay. Or allowing an internal camera to offer some peace of mind.
  7. Discuss finances. According to AARP, the average out of pocket expense for a caregiver is $7000/annually. While it’s possible that some community resources can provide financial assistance, there should be a discussion about how expenses will be handled.
  8. Get some medical education. You don’t have to earn a medical degree, but you do want to know some basics like how to move people from a wheelchair to a car and vice versa. The good news is that AARP offers some videos on how to handle everyday activities in their “Home Alone” section of their website.
  9. Be open about how you feel. Caregiving can make you feel overwhelmed and frustrated. It can also be an honor and very fulfilling. You’ll find that there are other individuals in the same position. Just having someone else to talk with can be a huge stress reliever.
  10. Learn how to ask for help when you need it. And, how to accept help when others offer it. Talk with the care recipient and your support system about what you’re prepared to do (and possibly not do). And don’t ever forget to take care of yourself. In return, consider paying it forward and helping others who are going through the same thing.

Caregiving responsibilities aren’t something to be taken lightly. No one wants to be hashing out details when a loved one is sick or in desperate need of care. The best time to talk about caregiving is now.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of Atlanta, GA 

Retirement Planning: 3 Money Moves to Help Everyone

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garden decorations alligators playing in a beach scene created with extra money

I’m not a financial advisor. I don’t like telling people what to do with their money. It’s a very personal decision. Keith would probably tell you that I spend too much money on shoes. But I did run across an article in Real Simple magazine about money and retirement planning that I thought could apply to anyone and at any point in their retirement journey. The three things the article mentioned were:

Set financial goals (and get a second opinion). First things first. One of the ways we reach our financial goals is by having some. Want to save money? Have a goal. Want to invest money? Have a goal. This doesn’t mean that our goals are etched in stone and won’t change. But having a goal staring us in the face can keep us on track. I remember when Keith and I faced the reality of needing a roof on our house. They’re expensive! So, we set a goal to save a certain amount each month. Some months we saved less and others we saved a bit more. In the end, we met our savings goal. 

The other big step we’ve made to help us with our financial planning was getting outside resources (i.e. accountants and certified financial planners). It’s important to build relationships with people you can trust. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything they suggest. Ask questions. Understand the answers. 

Learn more about investments. Accountants and certified financial planners can provide you with some education about the investment market. So can bankers and real estate professionals. Another place you can look for information is educational institutions. Years ago, Keith and I took a university course on financial planning. It wasn’t to become a financial planner. But to learn the basics of how investments work. For example, what’s an annuity and why someone might want to invest in annuities. Or how the stock market and bond market differ. Even if you’re not currently investing in these areas, it does make sense to understand them. Because what happens with the investment market impacts other things.

The next time your employer has a 401(k) meeting, make it a point to attend. Learn more about your options. Ask the representative covering the meeting where you can get some additional information. 

Be mindful about money. My takeaway from this is simple: think about how much money you’re making and how much you’re spending. Keith and I have a monthly financial meeting where we talk about not only our business expenses but our personal spending. We compare our spending habits over time. We talk about conducting experiments to see if we can reduce our expenses, like the time we started grocery shopping at Target versus the local chain and saved ourselves 50% on our food bill. (And that’s not a typo.) Granted, we haven’t totally “cut the cord” yet…but we did get rid of our landline when we moved to Gainesville. Life didn’t come to a screeching halt. I can’t imagine adding it back.

Being mindful about money also includes conversations about credit. How much credit is good to have? What are the best credit cards to hold? What’s our credit rating? It includes pulling our credit report annually – it’s free – and making sure our credit report is accurate. 

You work hard for your money. You want to know that your money is going to work hard for you. That means getting educated about how money can do that over time. All of the little money moves we make can add up to a big result. 

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring Duval Street in Key West, FL

Visit the Social Security Administration In Your Community

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lunchbox for retirement fund tips in addition to Social Security benefits at lunch counter

There is an official day for nearly everything and today is no exception – August 14 is Social Security Day. 

As a human resources professional, I attend a few conferences each year. One of them is the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) annual conference. This year’s event was in Las Vegas which is still one of my favorite places to visit! 

Almost every conference has an expo hall of sorts and, before the event, I like to plan out my expo hall strategy. One of the organizations that I try to visit whenever they are present is the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

Now I know what some of you might be thinking. Really? Social Security? They probably have a dinky little booth tucked way back in the expo hall and they’re not giving away any good swag. And all of that would be true. But the reason I visit SSA booth is because it’s like visiting the Social Security offices without an incredibly long wait. And the people working the booth are super nice and accommodating. 

I’m not saying that visiting the local offices are a waste of time, but let’s face it, none of us want to do it. We only go there when we have to. Or, we just take care of everything online. Visiting the Social Security booth at a conference is different because I can have a proactive and helpful conversation with them.

For example, this year, I was able to pick up three small booklets on:

Retirement Benefits

Understanding Social Security Benefits

How Work Affects Your Social Security Benefits

I also received information about my Social Security online account and what I can find online about my benefits.

Would I have driven across town and waited in an office to pick these things up? We all know the answer is “no”. But I quickly and easily got them at a conference. And I was able to review them at my leisure. 

So, the next time you’re at a conference or community event and see a government agency like Social Security exhibiting, go up and chat with them. Take the information they have to offer. Then, read it! This will make you more educated about the benefits you’re going to be eligible for at some point. 

Manage Your Digital Life with These Three Tools

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Out of Print Sign digital life and technology

We recently published a list of cybersecurity resources from TechCrunch and Google. If you haven’t seen them, it’s worth checking out.

As technology continues to fill our lives, we need to find ways to manage it. I’m not talking about taking digital vacations, although establishing boundaries is a good idea. When we use technology, we open ourselves up to risk. Even when we do all the right things, it’s possible we will have personal information exposed. Today, it could make sense to evaluate whether or not you need some helpful tools to manage your digital life. Here are three tools that we’ve added to make our digital life more secure. 

Password Managers

Consumer Reports published this informative article on “Everything You Need to Know About Password Managers”. And this article from CNET will give you some suggestions for “The Best Password Managers of 2019”. Personally, Keith and have been using LastPass with good results. They offer a family plan so you can make sure that a designated person can access your information in case of an emergency. 

While it’s not a exactly a password manager, I also recently purchased a Google Titan Security Key. This device provides a super-duper level of two-factor authentication to your accounts. I must admit, I’m still trying to figure it out, but I believe it is worth experimenting with. Oh, and if you saw those recent articles about a flaw in the Titan Key, Google is replacing them. Just contact them.

Identity Theft Protection Services

It’s sad to say that in today’s world we must think about this…but we have to think about this. Identity Theft is an issue. A big issue. According to a study published on ZDNet, around 15 million people in the U.S. have been impacted by fraud. To safeguard yourself, you have two options: you can do this yourself OR you can subscribe to a service. A third option would be waiting for a company to provide you with the service for free after your information has been compromised. (Please detect the cynicism in my last sentence.) I found this article on Nerdwallet that could help you decide “Do You Need Identity Theft Protection Services?”. 

CNET also put together a directory of ID monitoring services in their article “The Best identity Theft Monitoring Services for 2019”.

Virtual Private Network

A virtual private network (VPN) is designed to protect your private web traffic from being snooped by outside entities. The purpose isn’t because someone is doing something sinister. But let’s be real, it’s kinda creepy to know that somebody could be snooping around in my web traffic even if it’s nothing more than cute lemur pictures, shoe sales, and Randy Rainbow videos. 

If using a VPN interests you, this article from CNET on the “Best VPN Services of 2019” might be helpful. 

I really don’t like being cynical about the use of technology, but I do think it’s important to be realistic. Technology isn’t going away any time soon. We must be responsible technology users which means finding tools to help us manage our digital lives. 

Do you need to do these things? Maybe not. Personally, I’m finding this is one of those topics where I regularly ask myself, “Can I do it? Yep. Is this the best use of my time? Not really.” Maybe I need to find some tools to help.

Encore Careers – Part Four: Journal Your Experience

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Garden path as a metaphor for encore careers path

One of the takeaways I’ve tried to stress in this series about encore careers is that it is a path or process that takes time.

Whenever I’m working on a long-term process, I like to think about journaling as a way to keep track of my thoughts. Consider creating an encore career journal to help you document your decisions, skills, and future plans. Here are five things about journals to keep in mind:

  1. Pick a format that suits you. The great thing about journals today is that they can be paper or electronic. Use whatever works best for you. Personally, I love paper and like the idea of rereading my comments. It can help me make decisions. A Bullet Journal might be perfect for the task.
  2. Dedicate it to a single idea. If you already journal, then you might want to create a separate journal focused on unretirement or encore careers. That way all of your thoughts and ideas are in a single place. For a few years, I kept a secret board on Pinterest focused on “unretirement”.
  3. Stuff articles and reminders in them. This is kinda related to the last point. Whether you read an article online or via a paper magazine, you can cut/paste them into your journal. If you’re a visual person, you could create a vision board focused on your unretirement journey or encore career.
  4. Be flexible with your schedule. Because I suspect developing your encore career plan is going to take some time, a journal allows you to set it to the side when life gets busy and pick it up later. The important part is not to forget about it. That might be one advantage to a paper journal, it could stare back at you.
  5. Allow it to help you. What I mean by that is give yourself permission to not know everything. Your unretirement and encore career is a journey. Write down your thoughts and let them sit there. You don’t have to take action right away. At some point, you might want to share your journal with a family member or a retirement coach. 

Journals are an effective way to document your ideas, thoughts, and feelings about a subject. They give you time to think things through and organize information. Your retirement is one of the most important things you will do. It deserves a little planning. You’re never too young to start. 

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm in Maui, HI

Retirement Planning: 5 Reasons to Have a Stop Working Date

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park bench sitting, retirement, retirement planning, encore career

There’s an excellent read over on the Considerable blog titled, “How long will you be able to work?” Regardless of your current age, one of the questions that individuals should ask themselves is, “When would I like to stop working?” Picking a possible retirement date – and I do mean possible – allows individuals to have a starting point in their retirement planning. And that planning date is important for several reasons:

  1. Think about a Plan B just in case you need to retire before the date you’ve chosen. Let’s say you’ve decided to stop working at age 70. But something happens when you’re 65 and you might need to retire sooner. I hear stories of individuals retiring early to care for their health or the health of a family member. What does a Plan B look like? And can you kick it into gear should you need it?
  2. Consider having two dates: a part-time date and a full-time one. Instead of going from fully employed to fully retired, does it make sense to think about a phased strategy? You could transition to part-time at 65 and then fully retire at 70. Of course, I’m just throwing out ages here. You have to decide what makes sense for you. This could also make a lot of sense when trying to coordinate your retirement and your spouse or partner.
  3. Use a retirement date to map out the transition to an encore career. I know several people in their 40s who work insane hours and travel a lot. They love their lifestyle right now but at some point, want to find a different pace of work. Selecting a retirement date (or dates as in #2) could help with planning an encore or second career. Especially if that next career involves getting some additional education or a certification.  
  4. Reflect on how your retirement date impacts savings and spending. It goes without saying – but I’ll say it anyway, our decision to slow down or stop working impacts our finances. When retirement planning, we do have to think about how the bills will get paid and we can maintain our lifestyle. In fact, we might want to consider making some lifestyle decisions well in advance, so we can get used to them.
  5. Get yourself mentally ready for a change. I’ve always been a person who needs a full-plate of activity. I am getting myself ready for retirement to be a major change. It’s one of the reasons we started this blog. As you think about an approaching retirement date, ask yourself if you’re ready. Do you need to think about starting a hobby? I’m not joking. I do believe many people retire without a plan and get bored.

It’s very easy to simply pick the government’s age for collecting Social Security as your retirement date. But if I had a dollar for every person who turned 62 or 65 and said, “I’m not ready yet.” I would be retired right now. LOL! No one is holding you to that date. It’s simply a placeholder for planning.

And retirement planning is important.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby somewhere in North Carolina