Retirement Common Sense

How many people plan to spend their golden years working at the Golden Arches, if you get my drift? It may sound funny, but when it comes to retirement you have to cross your 'T's and dot your 'I's. Otherwise once you sign on that dotted line and leave your job for the leisure life, you may find that the money you have won't sustain you.


This is why you'll probably retire twice, since your first retirement will run out quick. Lets set aside my pet peeve of spending money on gambling and scratch-offs, and think about miscalculations. It is best to start early, but conventional wisdom says that most people won't start saving in their 20s or 30s, and some will procrastinate beyond their 50s.


The earlier you start saving or investing for retirement, the less it will cost you in the long run. Relying on only that carrot known as Social Security Income may be a pipe dream unless you have other sources of income. SSI has been increasing their full retirement income age and many will be happy to take a pay cut of 25% by retiring at 62. This is great if you live to be 70 because after that you may regret retiring at 62.


Nowadays, people should realize that times-they-are-still-a-changing and this isn't your mommy or daddy's retirement. Financial planning for retirement means adjusting to unforeseen circumstances. Pay a planner if need be.


In conclusion, before you retire and give up work through self-termination, make sure you don't have to go back to work, when you retire!

Shopping Savvy

We all need to shop for groceries and other material goods to fulfill our needs. Although I may have plenty to say about saving while grocery shopping, we should come to understand the tricks that are manipulating us.


I often find that the best deals for most things can be found online. Have you realized how the prices of razors has shot up over the years? It's no accident. Just ask Gillette. Try this instead. Cheaper razors and cartridges and just as good as Gillette's new and pricey monstrosity!

Find more online deals here, here, here, and finally here. There are sites in there that find local deals which can save you money.

Saving money when shopping is finding the best bargains on things we need. Look beyond the popularity or what the Joneses are buying and just buy what you need at a savings.

Financial Journal 1

This is the start of a financial advice journal that combines everything from saving to budgeting to retirement and beyond.


Want to retire with a million dollars? Although it may not be too late, it may be best to start young.






April is a special month that affects our finances. beyond tax-time.


April should be the first month to get a free credit report. Notice I said "a" as in "one" credit report. Since you get a free report a year from each agency, get one from each one every 4 months.






What if money came with rules? If we lived by these rules we may be prosperous. Well money does have rules to live by.




Are you putting off financial obligations until 'someday'? Well someday never comes and here are financial tasks that need immediate attention.




Here's a site that offers tips and techniques to tweek your finances.


I use both banks and credit unions for my banking needs, I even bank online and take advantage of higher interest rates. Here's a way to find the right financial institution for your needs.

Beyond Retirement

If we knew exactly how many years we have on earth after retiring, we probably could predict how much money we will need to get there comfortably. A good piece of advice is to assume you will live to be 100. A good move would be to retire later or save enough to last until then.


It's never too late to enact strategies to boost your retirement savings. If you need to you could make extra money doing a leisure task. Most rental car agencies have jobs perfect for retirees such as moving and picking up rental cars from other locations.


Never underestimate the power of volunteering. It tends to open doors and connections to affluent people that can help you in the long run.


Steady income stops at retirement unless we have multiple streams of income. Learn more here. The point is to have other income to rely on and making your money work for you. Rewards are greater if multiple sources are started earlier in life. Some are almost too simple.


If there is ever a time to be frugal, it's when we retire. Frugal living isn't a bad idea at any age. The name of the game is not to run out of money, especially in retirement. More on frugal living here and here.

Free Financial Online Courses

Throughout our lives we must make financial decisions that can make or break us. If we save and prepare for any financial pitfall we may be able be able to weather any storm that comes our way. If we live paycheck-to-paycheck we may find ourselves on the road to ruins.


Since financial planning is a lifelong task, the more we know the better off financially we would be. Makes me wish I had taken more business courses in college. Too bad, because most of us need financial planning. So, I thought, why not go back to school for free.


When you begin a college course you start at 101, so Money 101 is where to start. I like this site because it covers every financial aspect that will last a lifetime. You will find that Money 101 is a recurring theme throughout the links.


USU offers a course to help with family finances. Make no mistake, this also helps individuals. You can find more free courses here.


If you are a Generation X-er, you might profit from these courses.


You can find more financial courses here.


So there you have it. Take free financial courses that will make you money!