Tag Archives: Lifestyle Decisions

Retire and then Go Back to Work

We are vacationing in Palm Springs California for several months and have had the fortunate experience of meeting people from all walks of life. Most are retired, although a few are still working and just spending a week or two here. Several have indicated they will retire and then go back to work. They all are renting condo’s in the property where we are. It is called La Palme, on El Ceilio Road. There are 225 units, 6 pools, 6 hot tubs, 3 tennis courts and lots of above ground parking.  A nice place and very enjoyable, but then I digress. Retire and then Go Back to Work! What? That is what I really want to talk about today in this post.

Retire and then Go Back to Work

One couple we met at the pool retired when he was 51. He had started a company and as it turned out was very successful. The company made a lot of money when he sold out and basically from a financial perspective will never need to work again.

He told me that he did nothing really for the first five years other than investing his cash from the sale of his business. He found that after five years he really missed the challenge, the social element, the technical aspects of his business etc. Most of all he was worried that his mind was getting stale and he was forgetting things.

Many of us focus on exercising our bodies to stay in shape and feel better about ourselves. We forget that our brains are just another muscle and need to be exercised as well. He was worried that if he did not do something he would lose it. This individual also needed the challenge in his life. He wanted to feel that he could still make a contribution in life.

He decided not to go back to work, but he did decide to get involved as a consultant to several companies and he volunteers on several organizations in the community. This approach made him feel worthwhile again and people recognize his contributions as well. This is what worked for him. While it may not be right for everyone, the point is that you cannot just retire and do nothing.

Get involved and support your community, go back to work part time, focus on your investments and retire and then Go Back to Work or do wherever your interests take you. For more thoughts about lifestyle issues in retirement, click here.

A Great List of Concepts to Keep in Mind as We Age

A Great List of Concepts to Keep in Mind as We AgeMany of us are between 60 and death, i.e. getting old.  Some people enjoy their lives in retirement more than others. Alan S. Bame created this excellent list for aging. This is a great list of concepts to keep in mind as we age and really for all ages.  I think there is some good advice in here to try to incorporate into our thinking! This is a great list of concepts to keep in mind as we age and how to get more out of life.

Concepts to Keep in Mind

Our first nine items on our Great List of Concepts to Keep in Mind as We Age are as follows:

1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it.  Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.

2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.

3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.

4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together.

More to Consider

5. Don’t stress over the little things . You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.

6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: “A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection.”

7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.

8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style . There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.

9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.

More – A Great List of Concepts to Keep in Mind as We Age

10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism , and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.

11. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now . As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.

12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.

13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.

Additional Areas To Think About

14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. Consider adopting a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.

15. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.

Chose any or all of these items to help get the most out of life. A Great List of Concepts to Keep in Mind as We Age continues.

16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are . Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.

Even More

17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.

18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone – apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.

19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.

* 20. Laugh. Chuckle A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones *. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.

21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!

AND, REMEMBER: “Life is too short to drink bad wine.”

For more about Lifestyle Decisions to improve our lives in retirement, click here. If you know of additional ideas that we can add to our Great List of Concepts to Keep in Mind as We Age, please leave a comment. We would be happy to add them to the list.

 

Living a Nomadic Semi Retired Lifestyle

There is a disturbing trend that appears to have developed since the 2008 depression and the real estate crash. Many people are living a nomadic semi retired lifestyle. Many people lost their homes due to foreclosure, loss of jobs and also loss of savings. The value of homes plummeted and many found that their home was less than what they originally paid and less than their mortgage. Many chose to walk away.

At the same time, the stock market fell over 50%. If you sold your investments you locked in your losses and never recovered. with so many companies going bankrupt and cutting back, many lost their jobs. Whats left for these people. They rent homes, they have low paying jobs and some live in RV’s and follow the temporary job route.

Living a Nomadic Semi Retired Lifestyle

These seniors do not have sufficient savings to retire. They buy older RV’s and live in trailer parks or other temporary locations around the country. They need to work and will go wherever they need to go to find temporary work.

Of course they would like something more permanent, but these kinds of jobs are long gone. They work at seasonal jobs for companies like Walmart and Amazon, or worse in the fields planting and picking crops. Hard work and they walk many miles every day.

These folks are trying to survive and live as nomads traveling around the country, many living on less than $1000 a month. They lost their 401k investments in the market, they do not have a pension and they are too young in many cases to collect state and federal handouts. They need to work and survive on little money where ever they can.

This is a rough life for seniors Living a Nomadic Semi Retired Lifestyle or really anyone at any age trying to get by with this lifestyle. For more lifestyle related posts, click here.

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Senior Nomads Living in AirBNB’s

Just read a post about a couple that rented out their home and then began traveling. They have traveled for the last 4 years staying in AirBNB’s the entire time in over 68 countries. They are living a dream life, touring, meeting people and running a blog about their travels. These are Senior Nomads Living in AirBNB and living their dream travel life. The picture on the left is of one of the BNB’s they stayed in. They try to stay in locations that are interesting and also under $100 a night.

For many seniors this is a dream they may never follow. For one reason or another, seniors may not have the money, they may find it too risky or they may be afraid to travel to other locations. Like exercise, you cannot run a marathon without training for it. Travelling and staying in air bnb’s should start small and gradually increase as you become more comfortable with the approach.

Senior Nomads Living in AirBNB ‘s

We have recently stayed in an AirBNB in Montreal Canada. It is located in the plateau area near Laurier St, close to restaurants and shopping. A beautiful treed street within a block of everything you might need. A grocery store, drug store, local coffee shops, liquor store, and restaurants. The metro is only a 5-minute walk. Visitors can travel all over the city.

Montreal, like many cities is a bike friendly city and of course you can rent bikes on the street. There is a bike rental location just around the corner.

Travelling and staying in other people’s homes can be fun and safe. Only rent from AirBNB hosts with a 5-star rating to ensure that the cleanliness and quality are superior. The AirBNB we stayed at can be found at – Click Here

For more posts about lifestyle and senior living, click here.

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Retirement is a Dangerous Time for Many People

Retirement is a Dangerous Time for Many PeopleThere are many factors that consumers should consider when they retire whether it is by choice or they are forced to retire through downsizing or economic upheaval. Suddenly they are not going to work any longer. They do not see their friends and they may have lost their reason for being. Their self-image was tied too much to the job and now they are stuck at home with nothing to do. Sure there are hobbies, golf and the repair jobs around the home. These run out over time and perhaps are boring when there is no challenge. This is when retirement is a dangerous time for many people! They gain weight, their blood pressure goes up and they are stressed for no apparent reason. These are all indicators of health problems that may get worse.

Retirement is a Dangerous Time for Many People

Common sense says that humans cannot really sit around and do nothing without getting into some kind of trouble. In this case, we are discussing a retired person without anything to do, not stimulated, bored and letting their activity level decline. This is a recipe for going to a senior home or worse.

Every person knows themselves the best. If you do not have hobbies and do not want any, go back to work or volunteer. Gain the personal interaction back that you crave. You may even make a little bit of money while doing this work. If your volunteering, you never know where it will lead.

The writer is a retired person and is busy investigating what works for them.  Teaching myself to first code HTML and then later build websites with a content management system like WordPress was the challenge and stimulation I needed. Although it is a hobby that interests me, it also pays a little bit as well. Enough for my coffee in the morning!

The point is to find something that keeps your mind working, your body exercising and something you find challenging. This is the best way to avoid the Retirement is a Dangerous Time for Many People syndromes.

For more posts about life style and seniors, click here.

The FUTURE is approaching NOW

the future is approaching nowThe FUTURE is approaching so fast that they cannot handle it. Many people who read science fiction, will already realize that some of the things that were mentioned in science fiction books a few years ago are now a reality. The FUTURE is approaching NOW and we better hang on to our hats because it will only speed up! Technology will change everything. If you brought someone from even 50 years ago into the present time, they would be shocked at the devices we have and how our lives have changed.

In 1998, Kodak had 170,000 employees and sold 85% of all photo paper worldwide.
Within just a few years, their business model disappeared and they went bankrupt.

What happened to Kodak will happen in a lot of industries in the next 10 years and, most people won’t see it coming. Did you think in 1998 that 3 years later you would never take pictures on film again?

Yet digital cameras were invented in 1975. The first ones only had 10,000 pixels but followed Moore’s law. So as with all exponential technologies, it was a disappointment for a time, before it became way superior and became mainstream in only a few short years. It will now happen again with Artificial Intelligence, health, autonomous and electric cars, education,3Dprinting, agriculture and jobs. Welcome to the 4th Industrial Revolution. Welcome to the Exponential Age.

The FUTURE is approaching NOW

The software will disrupt most traditional industries in the next 5-10 years.
Uber is just a software tool, they don’t own any cars, and are now the biggest taxi company in the world.

Airbnb is now the biggest hotel company in the world, although they don’t own any properties.
Artificial Intelligence: Computers become exponentially better in understanding the world. This year, a computer beat the best Go player in the world, 10 years earlier than expected.
In the US, young lawyers already don’t get jobs. Because of IBM’s Watson, you can get legal advice (so far for more or less basic stuff) within seconds, with 90% accuracy compared with 70% accuracy when done by humans.

So if you study law, stop immediately. There will be 90% fewer lawyers in the future, only specialists will remain.

Watson already helps nurses diagnosing cancer, its 4 times more accurate than human nurses.
Facebook now has a pattern recognition software that can recognize faces better than humans. In 2030, computers will become more intelligent than humans. (NEVER!/Albert)

Autonomous cars: In 2018 the first self-driving cars will appear for the public. Around 2020, the complete industry will start to be disrupted. You will not want to own a car anymore. Consumers will call a car with your phone, it will show up at your location and drive you to your destination.

You will not need to park it, you only pay for the driven distance and can be productive while driving.

Our kids will never get a driver’s license and will never own a car.

It will change the cities because we will need 90-95% fewer cars for that. We can transform former parking spaces into parks.

Fewer Accidents

1.2 million people die each year in car accidents worldwide. We now have one accident every60,000 miles (100,000 km), with autonomous driving that will drop to 1 accident in 6million miles (10 million km). That will save a million lives each year.
Most car companies will probably become bankrupt. Traditional car companies try the evolutionary approach and just build a better car, while tech companies (Tesla, Apple, Google) will do the revolutionary approach and build a computer on wheels.

Many engineers from Volkswagen and Audi; are completely terrified of Tesla.
Insurance companies will have massive trouble because, without accidents, the insurance will become 100x cheaper. Their car insurance business model will disappear.

Real estate will change. Because if you can work while you commute, people will move further away to live in a more beautiful neighborhood.

Electric cars will become mainstream about 2020. Cities will be less noisy because all new cars will run on electricity.

Electricity will become incredibly cheap and clean: Solar production has been on an exponential curve for 30 years, but you can now see the burgeoning impact.
Last year, more solar energy was installed worldwide than fossil. Energy companies are desperately trying to limit access to the grid to prevent competition from home solar installations, but that can’t last. Technology will take care of that strategy.

Desalination of Salt Water

With cheap electricity comes cheap and abundant water. Desalination of salt water now only needs 2kWh per cubic meter (@ 0.25 cents). We don’t have scarce water in most places, we only have scarce drinking water. Imagine what will be possible if anyone can have as much clean water as he wants, for nearly no cost. (wishful thinking???!!!)

Health: The Tricorder X price will be announced this year. There are companies who will build a medical device (called the “Tricorder” from Star Trek) that works with your phone, which takes your retina scan, your blood sample, and you breathe into it.

It then analyses 54 bio-markers that will identify nearly any disease.. It will be cheap, so in a few years, everyone on this planet will have access to world-class medical analysis, nearly for free Goodbye, medical establishment.

3D printing: The price of the cheapest 3D printer came down from $18,000 to $400 within 10years. In the same time, it became 100 times faster. All major shoe companies have already started 3D printing shoes.

Some spare airplane parts are already 3D printed in remote airports. The space station now has a printer that eliminates the need for the large number of spare parts they used to have in the past.

Smarter Smart Phones

At the end of this year, new smartphones will have 3D scanning possibilities. You can then 3D scan your feet and print your perfect shoe at home.
In China, they already 3D printed and built a complete 6-story office building. By 2027, 10% of everything that’s being produced will be 3D printed.

Business opportunities: If you think of a niche you want to go in, first ask yourself: “In the future, do I think we will have that?” and if the answer is yes, how can you make that happen sooner?

If it doesn’t work with your phone, forget the idea. And any idea designed for success in the20th century is doomed to failure in the 21st century.

Work: 70-80% of jobs will disappear in the next 20 years. There will be a lot of new jobs, but it is not clear if there will be enough new jobs in such a short time. This will require a rethink of wealth distribution.

Agriculture

There will be a $100 agricultural robot in the future. Farmers in 3rd world countries can then become managers of their field instead of working all day in their fields.

Aeroponics will need much less water. The first Petri dish produced veal is now available and will be cheaper than cow produced veal in 2018. Right now, 30% of all agricultural surfaces is used for cows. Imagine if we don’t need that space anymore.

There are several start-ups who will bring insect protein to the market shortly. It contains more protein than meat. It will be labeled as an “alternative protein source” (because most people still reject the idea of eating insects).

There is an app called “moodies” which can already tell in which mood you’re in. By 2020 there will be apps that can tell by your facial expressions if you are lying. Imagine a political debate where it’s being displayed when they’re telling the truth and when they’re not.

Lifestyle Guidelines

The following statements are a series of lifestyle guidelines that more and more people are beginning to think about as they age. Health becomes more important than bling. Family has tremendous importance as well. What are your priorities?

As we grow older, and hence wiser, we slowly realize that wearing a $300.
or a $30.00 watch – – – – – – – they both tell the same time

Whether we carry a $300 or a $30.00 wallet/handbag – – – – – – – the amount of money inside is the same

Whether we drink a bottle of $300 or $10 wine – – – – – the hangover is the same

Whether the house we live in is 300 or 3000 sq. ft. – – – – – – loneliness is the same.

You will realize, your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world.

Whether you fly first or economy class, if the plane goes down – – – – – you go down with it

Therefore. I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven & earth ….. That is true happiness!!

FIVE UNDENIABLE FACTS OF LIFE:
1. Don’t educate your children to be rich.

Educate them to be Happy. So when they grow up they will know the value of things not the price.

2. Best awarded words in London …

“Eat your food as your medicines – otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food.”

3. The One who loves you will never leave you because even if there are 100 reasons to give up he or she will find one reason to hold on.

4. There is a big difference between a human being and being human. Only a few really understand it.

5. You are loved when you are born.

You will be loved when you die. In between, You have to manage!
If you just want to Walk Fast, Walk Alone!

But if you want to Walk Far, Walk Together!

lifestyle guidelines – SIX BEST DOCTORS IN THE WORLD:

  1.   Sunlight
  2.   Rest
  3.   Exercise
  4.   Diet
  5.   Self Confidence and
  6.    Friends

Maintain these lifestyle guidelines in all stages of Life and enjoy healthy life  The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for

Plan for Healthy and Unhealthy Retirement Years

Plan for Healthy and Unhealthy Retirement YearsAnyone thinking about retirement in the next few years needs to plan. Plan for Healthy Retirement Years and unhealthy ahead of them. You may be healthy now, plan to golf every day or pursue some other activity that you have always wanted to do. If you are healthy now, there is a really good chance that you will be able to do just that. But there comes a time when our health changes. We may need to change our lifestyle. As a result, we need to be prepared to pay for the kind of support we may require.

Baby boomers are retiring in droves.. Many plan to lead healthy active lives for many years to come. However not planning for the unhealthy years may leave them in a situation that prevents them from enjoying a high quality of life.  The transition to retirement is filled with many issues. For more information on this topic, click here.

What Steps Should You Consider

What are some of the steps that baby boomers can take to plan for retirement years? When is the best time to put these steps into action and who should you talk to?

The answer is to take the action immediately when you still can and are of sound mind. Involve your family in the decisions. Make sure that they are informed of your intentions and desires. Typically this is done through what is called a living will. This is a document prepared by you and your lawyer. It provides instructions to your caregivers while you are still. A living will covers who should look after your finances. More importantly, make decisions about your health care. A power or attorney or living will is a legal document. It should be given to your family or at least the person you designate as the person who will look after you when you cannot.

You may also include specific instructions about health care, your financial situation and what is to be done with your home, car, etc while you are incapacitated. Take into account the availability of the person you appoint. a Family member who is thousands of miles away vs. one that is living in the same town seems more practical. Do they have the right attitude and are they sufficiently mature to handle the decisions that are needed?

Plan Retirement Years – Power of Attorney

There is no sense in appointing someone who is of the same age or older than you are. Someone who is younger and has a higher probability of being available when needed is probably a better choice than your older brother or sister or an older attorney.

Finally, baby boomers need to also plan financially for the time frame when they may have higher health-related bills. Work with a financial adviser to ensure that you are positioned for both the healthy years as well as the unhealthy years. Plan for Healthy Retirement Years as well as years where you may need support.

Retirement – It is not just the Money

Retirement - It is not just the MoneyMost people only focus on money when they think about retirement. Yes, you need to have sufficient money to enjoy your retirement. However many are not ready to retire and are being forced out. Or perhaps you have not mentally prepared for retirement. It really does not matter how much money you have. Retirement will not be what you thought it was going to be until you have mentally adjusted to being retired.

For many people, being busy and maintaining your self-worth are important attributes. Some people will turn to golf as an alternative to keep busy. Many will have hobbies that will keep them busy. Many will also just go back to work to seek the social life that they miss when they are not working. Let’s assume that you have the money thing figured out. What is the other part of the planning activity associated with retirement that must be considered?

Retirement – It is not just the Money

You have drawn up your financial plan and have discovered you could retire today with the pension you will receive and the savings that you have been able to put away. It sounds like a good news story and it is. But what will you do on your first day of retirement, the 10th day, then 100th, and so on?

We believe that you may not need to draw up a detailed plan. But you really should give some thought to how you will spend your time. Will you travel and do you have the money for that? What about volunteering? Will you golf and take out an expensive membership? These are just a few of the things that many people will consider. The bottom line is that you now have 40+ hours to fill each week that you spent commuting to work and working.

Every person will have a different plan and it will be very personal. Develop yours and then be prepared to adjust it as you gain experience with the things you like to do and even perhaps the weather or seasons. Be flexible and you should have a nice long successful retirement. Remember that someone who is active physically, engaged with other people, and participating in a variety of activities stands a much better chance of living long and in a healthy manner than someone who does not strive for these types of things.

Matching your finances for the type of lifestyle that you are looking for is also important. If you plan to travel a great deal on expensive trips, for example, then you may need to have a stronger financial plan that can provide you with the funds that you need to support your travel plans.

Retirement NINJAs

Retirement NINJAsRetirement NINJAs – No Income, No Jobs, and No Assets!

This is quickly becoming the situation that many Americans and Canadians are facing. No jobs, no income, and no assets to sustain them. This happens when they are out of work let alone approaching retirement. This is a dire predicament for many consumers these days. They struggle to put food on the table and a roof over their head. They may not be old enough to retire. However, they are effectively retired and have no way of generating income for themselves.

If there are no jobs and no way of making money, many consumers will turn to family and friends to help them out. This works for a while but then they become a burden on their families as well.   Seniors may need to move in with family members to control or eliminate housing costs that they cannot afford. It can turn into a very desperate situation with seniors going hungry and cold in the wintertime.

Low Paid Jobs are Not the Answer

There has been a lot of talk about people having low-paid jobs which are essentially minimum wage jobs which are insufficient to save for retirement and basically insufficient to live on as well. They need to pool their income with other people, they’re living with, their families etc. in order to be able to live a decent style of life. It often means for larger families living together and pooling their assets and income.

When you are making minimum wages you also need to work many hours just to survive. It is not uncommon for many consumers to work 50 and 60 hour weeks just to make ends meet for tier families and themselves. One wonders just who is looking after the kids in a situation like this? They are home alone and we all know that idle hands usually mean trouble of some kind. The TV and video games do not provide a useful learning tool and our kids also end up with a very skewed view of the world.

No Income, No Jobs and No Assets – Retirement NiNjA’s

These people also have exhausted all of their assets trying to make do on no income or at best a minimum wage that just does not measure up to what they need to support themselves and their families.  Once your assets are gone, the only thing left is to live with your family and try to find a job that pays better. Don’t give up, work hard, and pool resources and you will eventually get out of the pit you are in. After all, the family is the most important asset that we all have.