When I was looking (through a photo service I use) for a picture of an older couple, this was an interesting choice. Why?Well, sometimes I think younger people see us oldsters as doing exactly that - sitting on a bench, looking at a sunset at the lake.
Wake Up America! Senior Citizens are having most of the problems you are having, particularly financial worries.
When you are younger, you think of being retired and doing interesting things, enjoying life and having no worries. In today's economy, that is just not happening!
What is happening is that the money set aside - hard-earned savings - have dwindled and IRAs and various portfolios are down to pitiful amounts. Company and Government pensions sometimes are indexed but not anything very helpful.
One thing I find really discouraging is broken promises. Let's call them that. I have a prescription that I have taken for a very long time. It is a generic drug and so under the supplemental insurance I have, suddenly, it is not generic and I am paying full price for it.
The amounts we pay for supplemental insurances are very high indeed and they increase every year.
We pay the same amount as younger people for everything including our groceries, pharmaceutical necessities, transportation, auto upkeep, lawn maintenance, cleaning supplies, etc.
In the years when we should be truly enjoying ourselves, we are working harder than ever to manage what we have.
In the years when we should have no worries at all, we have as many or more than we had when we were young.
When we were young, we always had the hope of pay raises and promotions.
One thing most people would not think about is the cost of being old. Hmm. Did you know that the rate for a month in an Alzheimer's unit or special care unit of a nursing home or healthcare center is $5,000?
What are things we can do, to help ourselves to a better retirement? First off, if you are still young, try, try to put aside money in very safe vessels like bonds and CDs. (That comes under the category of "I wish I'd listened to my Momma!")
As seniors, we have a strong organization fighting for the right of people over 50 - AARP. Make sure when you turn 50 that you join and keep up your membership over the years. AARP is definitely "Grey Power" at work.
Another thing to do is to go to www.whitehouse.gov and write a note to the President, telling him of the things that are causing you to worry during your so-called retirement!
www.aarp.com
www.whitehouse.gov
