Baby Boomer Going Like Sixty – Baby boomer man humorously looking at mid-life, retirement in Costa Rica, and memories.

Here’s What it Takes to be Successful at Personal Investing

Posted on September 5, 2018 by goinglikesixtySeptember 5, 2018

We lived in Costa Rica for a while from 2011 to 2017 to stretch our retirement savings plan a little. It worked. But if moving to Costa Rica isn’t in your future consider this:

Believe it or not, there was a time when $30,000-$50,000 a year meant you were doing pretty good. Nowadays, having a combined income in this range means you’re considered “the working poor.” If you want to make it in this day and age, you’ve got to be smart about your money. More than just budgeting and saving, you must essentially learn how to make the most of the income you have.

Investing is one of the most popular ways to do this. Putting your money in the right account, stock, mutual fund, tangible item, or real estate can increase your finances by leaps and bounds. Here’s a look at how to be successful at personal investing.

Choose a Strategy

To blindly start putting your money everywhere would be a mistake. Not all investment strategies are designed for every person. Each method you consider will have a different set of requirements, rules you must follow, the money you must invest, and strategies you must employ to grow your wealth. You must first determine which investment strategy is right for you based on your long- and short-term financial goals. Some of the most common investment strategies include real estate, foreign currency, mutual funds/stocks, and tangible items like gold or antiques. Research each of these methods and see which best suits your needs.

Create a Plan

After researching and selecting the right personal investment strategy for you, it’s time to create a plan. Let’s say you decided that you were interested in investing in the stock market. There is a lot that needs to be understood before getting started, so educate yourself on things like stock market terms, predictions, stock market holidays 2019 (or whichever year you intend to start investing), and the risks involved. Then you would need to determine whether you’re going to manage your brokerage account on your own or if you’re going to need a lot of assistance. Next, you’ll need to open a brokerage account, set a budget, and select stocks to invest in. Coming up with a stock market strategy is also ideal.

Stick to It

Here’s what you must know about personal investments – you’ll have to put in work and there are risks involved. If your chosen investment strategy is real estate, then you know you have to find properties at a decent value, find the resources to invest in that property, and then decide whether you’re going to sell it for a lump sum of cash or rent it out for passive income. Through this process, there will be bumps in the road that can make you feel discouraged. Having to pay more for a house as a result of a bidding war, finding out there is more damage than you budgeted for, not being able to find buyers right away, or having problematic tenants can all occur. In these instances, you lose money, but sticking to your plan and remaining consistent is often the key to overcoming these occasional temporary setbacks.

Diversify

Chances are you’ve been told at least once in your life that you shouldn’t put all of your eggs in one basket. This is a very true statement when it comes to personal investing. As you know, there are a lot of factors that play into your success with any strategy. A slow rental or real estate market, the ruined reputation of a company you have shares in or a decline in market value on items you own can reduce your earnings. That’s why having more than one source (diversification) is pertinent to your success. Find more than one way to invest your money, create a plan, and stick with it.

Achieving long- and short-term financial success through personal investments is one of the smartest things you can do to grow your wealth. If you’re considering investing as an option, be sure to review the various types, educate yourself on the pros and cons, select the strategies best suited for your needs, create a plan of action, and stick to it even at times it feels like a setback. In doing so you’ll find that whatever you earn in a year will last a lot longer.

5 Devices Designed to Assist People with Limited Mobility

Posted on August 22, 2018 by goinglikesixtyAugust 22, 2018

Welcome to Florida – the home to mobility assistants.
The ability to walk is not something everyone possesses. Even those who have walked their entire lives can find themselves struggling to remain mobile as they age and the body weakens. While canes and walkers can help some, there are many more devices designed to assist people with limited mobility that provide better stability and support.
Portable Wheelchair
A compact portable wheelchair has long been used as a way for people who can’t walk to get around. Though the option has been used for some time, the designs and features have changed over the years. People now have the option of using the Zinger chair that folds up for easy storage and is compact in size so it can get right up to a kitchen table or desk. Individuals who once had to sit in their wheelchairs to eat or work can now do so next to everyone else, easing the feeling of loneliness.
Lift Chair
Some people may be able to walk around fine, but their struggle comes when it’s time to get up from a seated position. Sitting in a reclining chair for even just a short time and then attempting to get back up again can be a major feat for some. It can take a great deal of effort and determination before a person can manage to get themselves up and out of that seat. With the help of a lift chair, individuals having a hard time getting up no longer have to struggle. The chair lifts up and tilts forward to give someone sitting that push they need to get up easier.
Stair Lift
Making the way from the bottom of the stairs to the top, or vice versa, is a huge burden for some people. Older adults tend to struggle with steps as each one places pressure on their knee joints. Instead of struggling to get up or down each day, people can have a stair lift installed. This lift gets added to the railing and resembles a chair. The person needing to use it simply sits down and uses the control to transport themselves up and along the railing. There are some self-installable options or homeowners can choose to have a professional put the lift in to ensure it’s in properly and is safe to use.
Mobility Scooter
Much like a wheelchair, mobility scooters allow people to get around who otherwise wouldn’t be able. These are better designed for people who want to get outdoors. They also allow for better maneuverability over wheelchairs, making it possible for even those with limited arm strength to get around.
In-Home Elevator
Most people see elevators at businesses and malls. In-home elevators are also possible, allowing people to make it from one floor of their home to the next with ease. This is a more expensive option than a stair lift, but it also allows people to take their wheelchair or scooter with them if needed. A professional will need to install this, with some changes made to the home to make it possible.
Mobility becomes a major concern as people age. Finding devices like these that help make it easier to get around is one of the best things a senior can do for themselves. It allows them to continue their same lifestyle and feel as though they’re still mobile and able to manage on their own without assistance from another person. Try one or all and see how much easier they make things.

9 Ways to Reduce Caregiver Stress

Posted on August 7, 2018 by goinglikesixtyAugust 7, 2018

There are millions of people today who are acting as familial caregivers to their parents, spouses or loved ones. Being a caregiver can be a very rewarding experience, but it can be a very stressful time as well. Caregiver stress is a very real and very serious problem for many people today. Stress brought on by caregiving for a loved one can happen due to the emotional and physical strain that it can cause.
Many caregivers feel extremely overwhelmed by their responsibilities. They need to be “on call” 24/7 and suddenly their entire life becomes focused on the needs of the person they are caring for. Many caregivers stop looking after their own needs, stop enjoying their hobbies, and stop spending time with their friends and family. The stress of caregiving can not only have an emotional toll on caregivers, but it can also eventually have physical ramifications as well.
Caregiver stress can lead to high blood pressure, headaches, extreme fatigue and insomnia in many individuals. This is why it is so important for caregivers to understand the best ways to handle caregiver stress. With proper stress management, caregivers cannot only experience fewer symptoms, but they can continue to enjoy a better quality of life while they are acting as a caregiver.
The following infographic highlights different stress management techniques that can help. These caregiver stress management approaches can assist caregivers in managing their stress symptoms and regain a better sense of balance in their day-to-day lives. Managing stress will not only help caregivers with their personal lives, but it will also help them be better care providers to their loved one. After all, if a caregiver is happy and healthy, then he or she can to do their job to the best of his or her ability.
Check out the tips in the following infographic by SeniorAdvice.com and consider implementing them in your everyday routine. They can go a long way in helping you manage your caregiver stress one day at a time.