Senior tip.
Go back to school.
Get another degree.
Start a new career.
Become a teacher, mentor, anywhere.
Pass along wisdom and hope.
It is a great legacy.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Saturday, November 14, 2015
The secret to wealth accumulation is earn more, spend less, save the rest.
Senior planning advice. Open an excel spreadsheet and fill in the blanks with cash in and cash out. Fill in enough monthly columns to get you to 90.
I am inundated by offers of financial advice. Usually, they offer a free lunch or dinner to listen to their pitch.
Typically, there are numerous offers to show me clever ways to pay off my mortgage fast. In the end, the advice is simply pay more and your mortgage will be paid off faster than if you paid less. And for this they wish to charge me.
I receive numerous offers on how to save for retirement. In the end, the advice is spend less than you earn and save the rest. And for this they wish to charge me.
Of course, then there are the financial planners, with multiple letters after their name, who proclaim to have identified the holy grail in investing. They explain in excruciating detail that if you make 1% interest on your money, you will accumulate less than if you earn 5%. And for this they charge me. Of course I have respect for some financial planners, but an excel spreadsheet with a reasonable forecast of earning, saving and investing is effective. Every great financial plan begins with a forecast assumption of how long you expect to live, the one assumption that is indisputably unknown and makes the accuracy of precise arithmetic hopelessly speculative.
Then there is the absolute, indisputable, guarantee of wealth, if you will just follow the suggested plan, the world will be yours.
My advice is take the free dinner, walk out with a smile and file the advice, which often is a bit insulting to a person's intelligence. If you have been smart enough to accumulate a few million dollars for your final years, you do not need a financial planner, they need you to show them how you did it.
I am inundated by offers of financial advice. Usually, they offer a free lunch or dinner to listen to their pitch.
Typically, there are numerous offers to show me clever ways to pay off my mortgage fast. In the end, the advice is simply pay more and your mortgage will be paid off faster than if you paid less. And for this they wish to charge me.
I receive numerous offers on how to save for retirement. In the end, the advice is spend less than you earn and save the rest. And for this they wish to charge me.
Of course, then there are the financial planners, with multiple letters after their name, who proclaim to have identified the holy grail in investing. They explain in excruciating detail that if you make 1% interest on your money, you will accumulate less than if you earn 5%. And for this they charge me. Of course I have respect for some financial planners, but an excel spreadsheet with a reasonable forecast of earning, saving and investing is effective. Every great financial plan begins with a forecast assumption of how long you expect to live, the one assumption that is indisputably unknown and makes the accuracy of precise arithmetic hopelessly speculative.
Then there is the absolute, indisputable, guarantee of wealth, if you will just follow the suggested plan, the world will be yours.
My advice is take the free dinner, walk out with a smile and file the advice, which often is a bit insulting to a person's intelligence. If you have been smart enough to accumulate a few million dollars for your final years, you do not need a financial planner, they need you to show them how you did it.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Reunions are restoring, refreshing and motivating. Start your own.
Senior Tip - Go to your reunions.
I attended a reunion last week of my fraternity brothers from circa 1964. The bikers and swimmers seemed to be in the best physical shape with the tennis and avid walkers a close second. We had one brother who ran marathons and he looked genuinely healthy. Exercise works.
Alcohol consumption was controlled. It was not like the uncontrolled, reckless, wild drinking of 50 years ago. Moderation works too.
I am not a reunion enthusiast. However, I found the reunion to be absolutely inspirational. My fraternity brothers had traveled the world, were still active in tennis, swimming and biking, and were all doing interesting projects from restoring classic cars to learning new skills. They motivated me to up my pace, just like many of them did for me in college.
I came home ready to conquer a new mountain. It is never too late to start climbing.
By the way, if you do not have a reunion to attend, contact 20 of your old friends and have one.
I attended a reunion last week of my fraternity brothers from circa 1964. The bikers and swimmers seemed to be in the best physical shape with the tennis and avid walkers a close second. We had one brother who ran marathons and he looked genuinely healthy. Exercise works.
Alcohol consumption was controlled. It was not like the uncontrolled, reckless, wild drinking of 50 years ago. Moderation works too.
I am not a reunion enthusiast. However, I found the reunion to be absolutely inspirational. My fraternity brothers had traveled the world, were still active in tennis, swimming and biking, and were all doing interesting projects from restoring classic cars to learning new skills. They motivated me to up my pace, just like many of them did for me in college.
I came home ready to conquer a new mountain. It is never too late to start climbing.
By the way, if you do not have a reunion to attend, contact 20 of your old friends and have one.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
How many of us plan for the one event that all of us will attend, even if we will not know that we are there?
A few years ago, a relative died suddenly. He had been sick for awhile, but death, no matter how long the illness, is still sudden. The next day we were all gathered around a table at the funeral home planning the funeral and bereavement details. Who would do what? Flowers. Music. Announcements. What would the children do? What would the grandchildren do? If you have had a death in the family, then you have been to such a gathering for the final plans. It is no picnic.
Most of us have a will and a "pull the plug" conditional authorization. However, I have never seen a person plan all the excruciating details of a bereavement gathering, that is, until earlier this week. But when I saw the plan, I knew it was a thoughtful thing to do.
I will just review only the primary elements and you can imagine the rest. He prepared an estimate of the cost. His estimate was based on a menu of 12 cases of beer, ample peanuts and a modest amount of cheese. He called a local hall and and determined the cost of a 2 hour party. Jack, the fictionalized person, estimated his celebration party would cost $3,800. He gave that money in cash to his son. Jack assembled all the forms to rent the hall, to file his pre-written obituary with his pre-selected photo, and to donate his body to the local medical center. There would be no bereavement greeting lines. Everyone would be seated at tables for 8 people and the beer and food would be placed on the table. He planned all the details like a celebration party.
Then, and this is the part that impressed me the most, Jack meticulously assigned everyone a job. One son was assigned to buy the beer. One grandson was assigned to distribute the beer to the tables and so on, and so on, until all the children, grandchildren and relatives had a specific role to play in the final celebration. Everyone had a job including assignments to clean the hall after the celebration. Each person was told to go to the son with the cash to make the purchases. And yes, he preassigned speakers and gave each of them only 3 minutes each to talk. He picked the music and how it should be played. Jack showed me the print-out of the plan. I was impressed in that it allowed all the family members to participate in a way designated by Jack, relieving the burden of "What shall I do?" from others.
I hope that I have explained this in away that, with a little thought, illustrates the thoughtfulness of Jack. Unlike Jack, few of us plan for the one event that all of us will attend, even if we will not know that we are there.
What is your plan?
Webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Most of us have a will and a "pull the plug" conditional authorization. However, I have never seen a person plan all the excruciating details of a bereavement gathering, that is, until earlier this week. But when I saw the plan, I knew it was a thoughtful thing to do.
I will just review only the primary elements and you can imagine the rest. He prepared an estimate of the cost. His estimate was based on a menu of 12 cases of beer, ample peanuts and a modest amount of cheese. He called a local hall and and determined the cost of a 2 hour party. Jack, the fictionalized person, estimated his celebration party would cost $3,800. He gave that money in cash to his son. Jack assembled all the forms to rent the hall, to file his pre-written obituary with his pre-selected photo, and to donate his body to the local medical center. There would be no bereavement greeting lines. Everyone would be seated at tables for 8 people and the beer and food would be placed on the table. He planned all the details like a celebration party.
Then, and this is the part that impressed me the most, Jack meticulously assigned everyone a job. One son was assigned to buy the beer. One grandson was assigned to distribute the beer to the tables and so on, and so on, until all the children, grandchildren and relatives had a specific role to play in the final celebration. Everyone had a job including assignments to clean the hall after the celebration. Each person was told to go to the son with the cash to make the purchases. And yes, he preassigned speakers and gave each of them only 3 minutes each to talk. He picked the music and how it should be played. Jack showed me the print-out of the plan. I was impressed in that it allowed all the family members to participate in a way designated by Jack, relieving the burden of "What shall I do?" from others.
I hope that I have explained this in away that, with a little thought, illustrates the thoughtfulness of Jack. Unlike Jack, few of us plan for the one event that all of us will attend, even if we will not know that we are there.
What is your plan?
Webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Just when you think you have accomplished a lot, you meet someone who shames your ego.
Senior Tip - Look for others that still have a zest for life.
When words fail the task of describing it, you know you are in the presence of genuine talent. Yesterday, I was in just such a presence of talent. Awesome. Extraordinary. Inspirational. Fascinating. Motivational. None of these words adequately describe the talent of this 72 year old retired teacher.
He took a painting class. I saw a dozen world class ink painting he had done. He took a sculpturing class. I saw a dozen or more world class sculptured objects out of stone and wood. He took a class in welding and made several remarkable outdoor metal welding figures. His paintings, his sculptures and his welding objects are suitable for display in any art exhibit I have ever seen, and I have seen many from California, to New York to Australia. His name is Victor Druten and he attended the same high School that I did, however, he was a year behind me and light years ahead of me.
You can Google Victor Druten. Do it now. You will not be disappointed.
The image is a poor photo I took of his ink painting of Clint. I forgot to eliminate the camera reflection. My error.
After my visit with Vic, I am stoked.
He took a painting class. I saw a dozen world class ink painting he had done. He took a sculpturing class. I saw a dozen or more world class sculptured objects out of stone and wood. He took a class in welding and made several remarkable outdoor metal welding figures. His paintings, his sculptures and his welding objects are suitable for display in any art exhibit I have ever seen, and I have seen many from California, to New York to Australia. His name is Victor Druten and he attended the same high School that I did, however, he was a year behind me and light years ahead of me.
You can Google Victor Druten. Do it now. You will not be disappointed.
The image is a poor photo I took of his ink painting of Clint. I forgot to eliminate the camera reflection. My error.
After my visit with Vic, I am stoked.
Friday, September 25, 2015
If you can talk to the Lord, so can I.
Senior Tip - Humor is never quite dead, so I will beat it up once more..
There were several submittals for the shortest joke, which I will post next week. For now, here is a submittal for the longest joke. The originator of the story is Kansas Governor John Anderson Jr. He died a few years ago at 97. He was also Attorney General in Kansas, owned a large farm in Kansas and was known as a marvelous litigator. He used the other person's claims to make his own case. The following story is an illustration of this technique in a humorous way,
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There were several submittals for the shortest joke, which I will post next week. For now, here is a submittal for the longest joke. The originator of the story is Kansas Governor John Anderson Jr. He died a few years ago at 97. He was also Attorney General in Kansas, owned a large farm in Kansas and was known as a marvelous litigator. He used the other person's claims to make his own case. The following story is an illustration of this technique in a humorous way,
-----------------------
Farmer John hired a new man to help him on his farm as he had many times in the past. As part of his pay, the hired man and his family were allowed to live in the house behind the main house. As farmers are prone to do, especially in the busy time of the year, they work 7 days a week. Come Sunday, Farmer John was in the barnyard tending to things while waiting for Tom, the new hired man, to come out and begin the work day. After waiting quite a while, John went to the house out back where the hired man and his family were living. John knocked on the door to the house and Ethel, Tom’s wife, answered and the conversation went like this:
John: Good morning, Ethel. Where’s Tom ? Time to go to work.
Ethel: Oh, Tom’s not coming to work today.
John: What’s the matter ? He sick ?
Ethel: No. In a conversation with the Lord this morning, God told Tom not to go to work because it was the Lord’s Day.
John: Oh. What time did he talk with the Lord ?
Ethel: About 45 minutes ago.
John: Well, that explains that.
Ethel: What do you mean?
John: Well, not 15 minutes ago, and after you and Tom already had talked with the Lord, I too had a conversation with the Lord. Do you
believe that ?
Ethel: Oh, Yes, the Lord will speak to anyone who speaks to Him.
John: Well, anyway, I was having a conversation with the Lord and He said: “John, looks like rain, better go get Tom and get that hay up before it rains.”
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Clever?
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Thursday, September 24, 2015
What is the shortest joke you know?
Three brief jokes submitted by a Senior Tip reader that I market tested for humor.
A dyslexic man walks into a “bra”.
A priest, a rabbi and a minister walk into a bar. The bartender says: “ Is this some kind of joke ?”
A woman gets on a bus with her baby. The bus driver says: “That’s the ugliest baby I ever saw. “ The woman, fuming, goes to sit down and says to a fellow passenger: “ That bus driver just insulted me. “ The passenger says: “ You go on up there and tell him off. I’ll hold your monkey for you. “
Submit yours for our editors to review. Image is your blogger and wife in Japan.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Monday, September 21, 2015
What is so special about keeping books that you have read? Nothing.
Senior Tip- Send your books to your friends and relatives. Become book free and keep your books in transit.
When I moved into a smaller house about 15 years ago, I gave away more than 3,000 books to a local non-profit organization, As a result, I picked up a nice tax deduction. At that time, I vowed never to buy another print book. I have broken my vow and I now have accumulated more than 250 books.
But this time I have another solution, however, without the tax deduction. I am sending the books to people I know with the message to read and pass the book to another person. My goal is to send two books each day until all my print books are gone. I sent two books yesterday and I sent another two books today. I never read them the second time anyway and some books I have never even read the first time. Sure I have a few books that I read or consult from time to time and I expect I will keep those for awhile, but eventually I wish to be print book free. Now I keep my books in electronic form in my iBooks folder so that someday I can delete those books with a single click. As I write this blog, I have about 50 print books on the shelves behind my desk, I could not even tell you the name of any of them without looking. I do have a dictionary that has been trumped by spell check, grammar check and meaning check.
I have a book written and autographed by the grandson of Ty Cobb. I met him at a party in Palm Springs. That book will go to my grandson who is in love with baseball. I have another book autographed by a famous coach at UCLA, but I have forgotten his name. I have other books that will go to my sons and a few books that I am sending to my friends. You may get one from me. Some are autographed, but I do not read those again either. There is something special about having an autographed book on your shelf, even though I do not know what is so special about it. I suspect there is some mysterious, magical pride of book ownership that comes with knowing the author.
I have none of my books from school. I am not sure if I ever read those either. Yesterday, I took out a stack of paper and started to write down everything I learned from my school books. I could not fill a single sheet of paper. I need to accelerate my plan to go book free and spend more time at the beach.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
But this time I have another solution, however, without the tax deduction. I am sending the books to people I know with the message to read and pass the book to another person. My goal is to send two books each day until all my print books are gone. I sent two books yesterday and I sent another two books today. I never read them the second time anyway and some books I have never even read the first time. Sure I have a few books that I read or consult from time to time and I expect I will keep those for awhile, but eventually I wish to be print book free. Now I keep my books in electronic form in my iBooks folder so that someday I can delete those books with a single click. As I write this blog, I have about 50 print books on the shelves behind my desk, I could not even tell you the name of any of them without looking. I do have a dictionary that has been trumped by spell check, grammar check and meaning check.
I have a book written and autographed by the grandson of Ty Cobb. I met him at a party in Palm Springs. That book will go to my grandson who is in love with baseball. I have another book autographed by a famous coach at UCLA, but I have forgotten his name. I have other books that will go to my sons and a few books that I am sending to my friends. You may get one from me. Some are autographed, but I do not read those again either. There is something special about having an autographed book on your shelf, even though I do not know what is so special about it. I suspect there is some mysterious, magical pride of book ownership that comes with knowing the author.
I have none of my books from school. I am not sure if I ever read those either. Yesterday, I took out a stack of paper and started to write down everything I learned from my school books. I could not fill a single sheet of paper. I need to accelerate my plan to go book free and spend more time at the beach.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Friday, September 18, 2015
A flip on a senior tip.
However, what caught my attention was an article on "The Value of Older workers." It reminded me of that scene in Dumb and Dumber where Jim Carey says something like, " I see older people still can make a contribution to society." AARP also had an article on a new movie where Robert De Niro (71) plays a 70 year old senior intern at an e-commerce start up. I can only imagine the cheap comedy aimed at the prospective culture clash.
I love De Niro but I suspect I will be offended by the movie premise which is the same premise embedded in all the stories in the AARP newsletter. e.g. Surprise. Surprise. Older people can still work, contribute, learn new languages, and even help manage a new business. Before I tossed the newsletter in the trash, I saw an article on how older people can still adapt to the new technologies of smartphones. It is a good thing this article was not first or I never would have read any more.
There is a senior tip here somewhere, but I am not sure where. Maybe you can uncover it and let me know via my high tech email account. I agree the photo has nothing to do with this blog, or maybe it does and I just forgot.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
What are two great apps for traveling?
Light at the Ground Zero memorial taken from an apartment in Brooklyn on September 11, 2015.
Two things I learned on my trip to Ground Zero and the US Open in New York. First, I used an iPhone app called PinPoint Search to help me navigate and second, I used the Uber app to get me around without hailing a taxi in the middle of the street. A brief word about each app.
I loaded all the places I wished to go including restaurants and sites into my iPhone contacts. Then I used Pinpoint Search to place all of these contacts on my map so I could see where each place was relative to the other places I wished to go. That way I could easily visualize what was walkable and what was not and also what was the best sequence of restaurants and sites to see. It worked great.
I used Uber to call a car to pick us up and get us around town. They were never more than a few minutes away and always had comfortable cars. You do not tip Uber drivers and the receipt is emailed to you within minutes. There are some other advantages, but I leave that to discover for yourself if you wish. I loved it.
What apps do you use that make traveling easy for you?
Monday, September 14, 2015
Before you plan anything, check to see if there is an app that will make your planning easier.
Senior Tip - There is most likely an app for everything you wish to do when you travel.
My wife and I were in New York for some work and to attend the US Open. We took some time to see the ground zero memorial on September 11. The photo of the memorial light was taken from an apartment in Brooklyn.
The Ground Zero memorial was somber. I swear that when I visited the bottom floor of the memorial, where some of the people are still interred in the rubbish behind the memorial walls, I could smell smoke. Visitors like me shuffled around in respectful silence at the recovered debris and pictures of the tragedy on display. I was in the Office of a friend of mine, Robert Lastelic, when it happened. Like the Kennedy assassination, people remember where they were when the planes hit the towers.
There is an app for everything when you travel, the bus schedule, ferry boat tours, the subway schedule, food, shows to see and even the 9/11 memorial.
The Ground Zero memorial was somber. I swear that when I visited the bottom floor of the memorial, where some of the people are still interred in the rubbish behind the memorial walls, I could smell smoke. Visitors like me shuffled around in respectful silence at the recovered debris and pictures of the tragedy on display. I was in the Office of a friend of mine, Robert Lastelic, when it happened. Like the Kennedy assassination, people remember where they were when the planes hit the towers.
There is an app for everything when you travel, the bus schedule, ferry boat tours, the subway schedule, food, shows to see and even the 9/11 memorial.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Is this a happy thought?
Sometimes words are simply inadequate compared to a picture. I can stare at this picture for hours and the image takes me to a wonderful place.
You get the idea. Somewhere on a lake in Michigan.
Send me you favorite senior picture that speaks volumes.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Friday, August 28, 2015
If you do not ask, you do not get, so always ask.
Senior Tip - If you do not ask, you do not get, so always ask.
My wife and I are going to New York for a few days in September. I have some business there so my wife is going to join me and we are planning on attending the US Open. It is a tennis tournament to the uninformed. My business contact booked my hotel. It was more than $550 per night. It was New York so I assumed it was New York rates. However, since we would have to pay for the non-business related nights, my wife did a bit of exploring on her own.
After a few calls to friends of hers who are seasoned US Open attendees, she discovered that hotels have a special rate for USTA (United States Tennis Association) "members" that are attending the Open. If you play club tennis, you are most likely USTA members and we are. Walla! We called the Grand Hyatt hotel and armed with this information our hotel rate was reduced to $300 per night. I should mention also, with respect to my last senior tip regarding calling more than one person, that the first person I called told me - no Open discount unless you are a USTA "employee." We are USTA members, but not employees. The second person gave us the discount easily.
I was a bit chagrined. I should have known there was a special rate because my travel mantra is no one pays full retail. There is always a discount: senior, special events, AAA, AARP, Costco and so on. But if you do not ask, the reservation person, with the exception of a very nice one, is under no obligation to ask if you are a member of an organization that qualifies for a discount.
Ask and you might receive. Otherwise you shall pay full retail.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
My wife and I are going to New York for a few days in September. I have some business there so my wife is going to join me and we are planning on attending the US Open. It is a tennis tournament to the uninformed. My business contact booked my hotel. It was more than $550 per night. It was New York so I assumed it was New York rates. However, since we would have to pay for the non-business related nights, my wife did a bit of exploring on her own.
After a few calls to friends of hers who are seasoned US Open attendees, she discovered that hotels have a special rate for USTA (United States Tennis Association) "members" that are attending the Open. If you play club tennis, you are most likely USTA members and we are. Walla! We called the Grand Hyatt hotel and armed with this information our hotel rate was reduced to $300 per night. I should mention also, with respect to my last senior tip regarding calling more than one person, that the first person I called told me - no Open discount unless you are a USTA "employee." We are USTA members, but not employees. The second person gave us the discount easily.
I was a bit chagrined. I should have known there was a special rate because my travel mantra is no one pays full retail. There is always a discount: senior, special events, AAA, AARP, Costco and so on. But if you do not ask, the reservation person, with the exception of a very nice one, is under no obligation to ask if you are a member of an organization that qualifies for a discount.
Ask and you might receive. Otherwise you shall pay full retail.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Thursday, August 27, 2015
People, despite the old saying, are not created equal, some are more equal and helpful than others.
For example, my senior fishing buddy described his recent experience with Blue Cross on a health insurance issue. After enrolling in a new plan, Blue Cross canceled his policy for non-payment. Blue Cross had not even sent out a bill yet -- that takes 30 days. But new plans, even though my buddy has had BC for many years -- new plans must be paid in 15 days, hence the timing problem.
A call to BC resulted in a BC customer service person explaining that under the new rules, and after a lengthy discussion, because his policy was canceled, it must now be referred to another organization in the health insurance chain of approvals. In the meantime, he had no insurance. He hung up and called BC the next day.
The next BC person reinstated his policy over the phone. The person made the difference. What one person unequivocally claims can not be done, another person can do with a few key strokes.
Keep calling until you get the person that knows how to do it. People, despite the old saying, are not created equal, some are more equal and indisputably more helpful than others.
FYI--It is at least a 7 pound bass, or more, caught from a farm pond in Ottawa, Kansas.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Map me. Yelp it. Critical travel terms for seniors.
I have missed a few days for tips. I have been on a road trip with my wife to Dallas and San Antonio. But the trip gave me a few ideas for senior travel tips.
First, when you check into a hotel, even the upscale ones, do not unpack your bags ( ours were heavy) and hang your clothes until you have checked all the critical appurtenances, such as the TV, AC and the toilette. Why? Because if they do not work, you can still change your room without packing again. I did not apply this tip, at my recent Marriott stay, and we changed rooms twice.
Second, I suggest you do not ask directions of hotel staff, map everything with your smartphone and drop pins accordingly. Most hotel staff are typically courteous, but can be directionally challenged.
Third, do not eat anywhere with less than 50 reviews on Yelp.
Webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
First, when you check into a hotel, even the upscale ones, do not unpack your bags ( ours were heavy) and hang your clothes until you have checked all the critical appurtenances, such as the TV, AC and the toilette. Why? Because if they do not work, you can still change your room without packing again. I did not apply this tip, at my recent Marriott stay, and we changed rooms twice.
Second, I suggest you do not ask directions of hotel staff, map everything with your smartphone and drop pins accordingly. Most hotel staff are typically courteous, but can be directionally challenged.
Third, do not eat anywhere with less than 50 reviews on Yelp.
Webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Friday, August 14, 2015
Who takes French at age plus 73?
Senior tip - Learn a new language or brush up on an older one. This senior, who is older than I am, still takes educational courses to keep up on his French. I am inspired.
Recently I received the following comment from a senior reader. The comment referenced my blog on Osher educational programs for seniors.
"Bob, we don’t happen to have an Osher supported OLLI program right near us (I think KU is the closest), but our local University (Missouri Western State U.) offers a no-tuition option for seniors 65 & older.
We’ve taken advantage of regular university courses in French to try to keep up our skills in that language.
Lots of other options in virtually all fields. You have to pay the student fees, but no tuition and you can take the courses for credit or audit them which we have done. Your blog readers likely have access to local universities or community colleges that offer similar deals for seniors. Not only do you learn, but you get to meet some great folks in the teaching profession and spend class time with some pretty cool younger folks as well."
Recently I received the following comment from a senior reader. The comment referenced my blog on Osher educational programs for seniors.
"Bob, we don’t happen to have an Osher supported OLLI program right near us (I think KU is the closest), but our local University (Missouri Western State U.) offers a no-tuition option for seniors 65 & older.
We’ve taken advantage of regular university courses in French to try to keep up our skills in that language.
Lots of other options in virtually all fields. You have to pay the student fees, but no tuition and you can take the courses for credit or audit them which we have done. Your blog readers likely have access to local universities or community colleges that offer similar deals for seniors. Not only do you learn, but you get to meet some great folks in the teaching profession and spend class time with some pretty cool younger folks as well."
Do you have similar experiences you wish to share?
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
No homework. No tests. No Pressure. Just learning for the fun of it.
Senior Tip -- Take a look at Osher.
In my search for new resources and activities for seniors, I came across the Osher Institute at the University of Kansas. Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes offer noncredit courses with no assignments or grades to “seasoned” adults over age 50. Since 2001 philanthropist Bernard Osher has made grants from his foundation to launch OLLI programs at over 120 universities and colleges in 49 states and the District of Columbia.
The University of Kansas recently received a $1 million dollar grant and now offers 53 courses, at 21 sites in 10 cities across Kansas. The Kansas courses include local history, state wide excursions, art, music, famous politicians and the Frank Sinatra story. In other words, a wide range of subject matter. I am going to sign up for one of the courses in the fall on Winston Churchill.
Check it out in your state. Try this link.
http://www.osherfoundation.org/index.php?olli
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
In my search for new resources and activities for seniors, I came across the Osher Institute at the University of Kansas. Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes offer noncredit courses with no assignments or grades to “seasoned” adults over age 50. Since 2001 philanthropist Bernard Osher has made grants from his foundation to launch OLLI programs at over 120 universities and colleges in 49 states and the District of Columbia.
The University of Kansas recently received a $1 million dollar grant and now offers 53 courses, at 21 sites in 10 cities across Kansas. The Kansas courses include local history, state wide excursions, art, music, famous politicians and the Frank Sinatra story. In other words, a wide range of subject matter. I am going to sign up for one of the courses in the fall on Winston Churchill.
Check it out in your state. Try this link.
http://www.osherfoundation.org/index.php?olli
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Your grandchild, looks you in the eye, and says "You went to college didn't you papa?" "Yes, I did," you reply.
Senior Tip-- Get refreshed to answer any question from your grandchildren at Khan Academy.
Your grandchild, looks you in the eye, and says "You went to college didn't you papa?" "Yes, I did," you reply. At which point your grandchild asks, "Can you tell me the difference between the mean, the median and the mode?" Or what is barometric pressure? Or what is the Pythagorean theorem? Or what is an adverb? Or what is the difference between an isosceles triangle and a right triangle? And so on and so on.
If you have not been stumped by your grandchild, then your memory is truly fading. Of course, more than likely you knew the answers to these questions at some point in the past, but because you do not use these terms everyday you are not sure of their meaning.
What do you do? Ask your child to come back to you in 15 minutes. Then you jump on your computer and go the Khan Academy website, type in the question and a ten minute video will answer the question. With your memory refreshed, you can now respond to your grandchild in an intelligent manner. Khan academy is the best educational website for 10 minute refresher videos on just about every subject taught in school. It is the new college?
Go to www.khanacademy.com and take a look. It is amazing.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Your grandchild, looks you in the eye, and says "You went to college didn't you papa?" "Yes, I did," you reply. At which point your grandchild asks, "Can you tell me the difference between the mean, the median and the mode?" Or what is barometric pressure? Or what is the Pythagorean theorem? Or what is an adverb? Or what is the difference between an isosceles triangle and a right triangle? And so on and so on.
If you have not been stumped by your grandchild, then your memory is truly fading. Of course, more than likely you knew the answers to these questions at some point in the past, but because you do not use these terms everyday you are not sure of their meaning.
What do you do? Ask your child to come back to you in 15 minutes. Then you jump on your computer and go the Khan Academy website, type in the question and a ten minute video will answer the question. With your memory refreshed, you can now respond to your grandchild in an intelligent manner. Khan academy is the best educational website for 10 minute refresher videos on just about every subject taught in school. It is the new college?
Go to www.khanacademy.com and take a look. It is amazing.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Saturday, August 8, 2015
The point is go take a course in a subject that has always interested you - photography, explosive device manufacture.
Senior Tip - Take that community college course in ancient Egyptian artifacts that you only dreamed about when you were working every day.
I do take my own advice-sometimes. I flunked third semester English at Kansas University and I have wanted my revenge ever since. A few years ago, I took an on-line writing course and then I hired an expert writer to tutor me.
I did learn why I flunked college English. Why? Because I did not work hard enough and of course I did not have spell check or grammar check to make sure I followed most of the writing rules. In college, I always ended a sentence with a preposition only to learn later that "ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put." And comma placement was subjective. I have written a few books since I took the writing course, none of which have been best sellers, but they have all been fun.
The point is go take a course in a subject that has always interested you - photography, explosive device manufacture, brain surgery, biology, Iranian culture, nuclear physics, baking cookies, computer science, -- I have a friend who went back to school very late in life and became a Perl programmer just so he could understand what goes on in complex programs.
The more bizarre the subject the better. It will shock your brain into submission. Invest some time in yourself learning a new skill or discovering a new subject, after all you may live a lot longer than you think.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
I do take my own advice-sometimes. I flunked third semester English at Kansas University and I have wanted my revenge ever since. A few years ago, I took an on-line writing course and then I hired an expert writer to tutor me.
I did learn why I flunked college English. Why? Because I did not work hard enough and of course I did not have spell check or grammar check to make sure I followed most of the writing rules. In college, I always ended a sentence with a preposition only to learn later that "ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put." And comma placement was subjective. I have written a few books since I took the writing course, none of which have been best sellers, but they have all been fun.
The point is go take a course in a subject that has always interested you - photography, explosive device manufacture, brain surgery, biology, Iranian culture, nuclear physics, baking cookies, computer science, -- I have a friend who went back to school very late in life and became a Perl programmer just so he could understand what goes on in complex programs.
The more bizarre the subject the better. It will shock your brain into submission. Invest some time in yourself learning a new skill or discovering a new subject, after all you may live a lot longer than you think.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Friday, August 7, 2015
Stop making a video of your pets and start making videos of you doing something interesting.
Senior Tip - Make a video doing something you know how to do and post it on YouTube.
I was with a senior friend of mine at an up-scale Scottsdale restaurant. After dinner, I ordered an espresso coffee. Since I lived in Paris, I have always enjoyed an after dinner espresso and I believe it helps metabolize the food.
The waitress delivered the espresso with a slice of lemon on the plate. I asked what do I do with the lemon? She replied she did not know, but that most people rub the lemon slice on the edge of the cup. My friend explained that this was not correct use of the lemon slice and that the juice in the lemon takes the edge off of the sour espresso, but for that to happen the lemon slice must be handled in a special way. I asked what way is so special? He started to explain, then I cut him off, took out my smartphone, scrolled to video and proceeded to record and to video his explanation and demonstration.
He explained that the lemon slice must be held between the finger and the thumb in a certain way, then twisted to allow the juice to be extracted and dropped into the espresso. He demonstrated this technique over a candle that was at the table so we could see tiny drops of lemon juice hit the candle and cause it to flicker. I posted the video to YouTube. What fun we had just doing it and now I know the secret to properly extracting the juice from a lemon slice into my espresso. It is a legacy to a lemon slice.
Senior video possibilities- Correct lure fastening for fishing, baking a pie, grilling a chicken breast with a rotisserie, fixing a leaking toilet, putting, washing your car, frying an egg, painting a door, grilling a steak, a quick morning exercise and so on.
If you are interested, drop me an email and I will send you the lemon slice link.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
I was with a senior friend of mine at an up-scale Scottsdale restaurant. After dinner, I ordered an espresso coffee. Since I lived in Paris, I have always enjoyed an after dinner espresso and I believe it helps metabolize the food.
The waitress delivered the espresso with a slice of lemon on the plate. I asked what do I do with the lemon? She replied she did not know, but that most people rub the lemon slice on the edge of the cup. My friend explained that this was not correct use of the lemon slice and that the juice in the lemon takes the edge off of the sour espresso, but for that to happen the lemon slice must be handled in a special way. I asked what way is so special? He started to explain, then I cut him off, took out my smartphone, scrolled to video and proceeded to record and to video his explanation and demonstration.
He explained that the lemon slice must be held between the finger and the thumb in a certain way, then twisted to allow the juice to be extracted and dropped into the espresso. He demonstrated this technique over a candle that was at the table so we could see tiny drops of lemon juice hit the candle and cause it to flicker. I posted the video to YouTube. What fun we had just doing it and now I know the secret to properly extracting the juice from a lemon slice into my espresso. It is a legacy to a lemon slice.
Senior video possibilities- Correct lure fastening for fishing, baking a pie, grilling a chicken breast with a rotisserie, fixing a leaking toilet, putting, washing your car, frying an egg, painting a door, grilling a steak, a quick morning exercise and so on.
If you are interested, drop me an email and I will send you the lemon slice link.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Show these young whippersnappers how to do it.
Senior Tip- Start a new business and show these young whippersnappers how to do it.
I have been scouring the net for good advice for seniors. For the most part the advice is like vanilla ice cream, it tastes good the first time, but gets bland quickly.
Most of the advice on the net is on combating loneliness, slowing down the aging process, traveling with friends, visiting senior dating sites and selecting retirement housing. Frankly, this advice just annoys me to tears. It relegates being a senior to waiting around to be called upstairs. What about not going gently into that good night? Passion for business or for other things in life is not the exclusive pursuit of the young.
A senior friend of mine is diabetic and has had severe pains in his feet and hands. He explained to me that he found a lotion that helped him. After some research, he discovered the patent on the lotion had expired. I suggested he make it and sell it. He now has a business that sells his lotion to other people. No, he has not gotten rich yet, but the lotion has helped many people and he gets up in the morning with a passion to launch his lotion into new markets and check his Website for the latest sales. He has learned a lot about selling products over the Internet at his website. What fun?
What business have you always wished you had the time to start? Guess what? You now do? Your own business is the last tax shelter left for traveling to Hawaii for research for your new business venture.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
I have been scouring the net for good advice for seniors. For the most part the advice is like vanilla ice cream, it tastes good the first time, but gets bland quickly.
Most of the advice on the net is on combating loneliness, slowing down the aging process, traveling with friends, visiting senior dating sites and selecting retirement housing. Frankly, this advice just annoys me to tears. It relegates being a senior to waiting around to be called upstairs. What about not going gently into that good night? Passion for business or for other things in life is not the exclusive pursuit of the young.
A senior friend of mine is diabetic and has had severe pains in his feet and hands. He explained to me that he found a lotion that helped him. After some research, he discovered the patent on the lotion had expired. I suggested he make it and sell it. He now has a business that sells his lotion to other people. No, he has not gotten rich yet, but the lotion has helped many people and he gets up in the morning with a passion to launch his lotion into new markets and check his Website for the latest sales. He has learned a lot about selling products over the Internet at his website. What fun?
What business have you always wished you had the time to start? Guess what? You now do? Your own business is the last tax shelter left for traveling to Hawaii for research for your new business venture.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Monday, August 3, 2015
You can live without your phone.
Senior Tip-- Do not worry, we can live without our phones.
It happened to me yesterday. My phone would not charge. I tried different cables, various usb connectors, different A/C outlets, googled the issue and had critical discussions with trusted friends. Nothing worked. Then, I took a taxi to the Apple store. I explained to the scheduler that my phone would not work. I was in Baltimore when it happened.
There I was in a large mall with no phone. I was nervous. I could feel my blood pressure rising. I appealed to the Apple store manager who explained the next available genius was 2 hours away. He asked for my phone number so he could call me. I smiled and he understood.
So here I sit in the Apple store using their computer to write this blog. No one is calling me as far as I know and I do not need to call anyone, yet I still feel helpless, a victim of electronic malfunction. I have settled my nerves by recalling there were many years of my life when I had no phone in my pocket and I was just as happy as I am now.
So I can wait and I can do without. And no doubt you can too.
It happened to me yesterday. My phone would not charge. I tried different cables, various usb connectors, different A/C outlets, googled the issue and had critical discussions with trusted friends. Nothing worked. Then, I took a taxi to the Apple store. I explained to the scheduler that my phone would not work. I was in Baltimore when it happened.
There I was in a large mall with no phone. I was nervous. I could feel my blood pressure rising. I appealed to the Apple store manager who explained the next available genius was 2 hours away. He asked for my phone number so he could call me. I smiled and he understood.
So here I sit in the Apple store using their computer to write this blog. No one is calling me as far as I know and I do not need to call anyone, yet I still feel helpless, a victim of electronic malfunction. I have settled my nerves by recalling there were many years of my life when I had no phone in my pocket and I was just as happy as I am now.
So I can wait and I can do without. And no doubt you can too.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Everyone over 62 has a story to tell and special experiences to share.
Senior Tip - start your own blog.
Yesterday was great and 70 unique seniors viewed my post about Radio George. If you like what you read, please recommend it to your friends and send me any senior tips you wish to pass along. The more seniors that participate the more tips we can share.
Everyone over 62 has a story to tell and special experiences to share. A blog is a cathartic and a cheap way to do it. Once you get a Gmail account, you can start a blog on most any subject at blogspot.com. And for only a few dollars, blogspot.com, the free Google blog platform, will publish your blog (after you have blogged a bit) in book form for your friends or grandchildren.
Once it is in book form you can upload it to Amazon or iBooks where others can access and download it for free. It is a fun thing to do. I have encouraged and helped people get started blogging and once they get started they are usually hooked. Google's Blogspot is the easiest platform in my opinion. And for those privacy concerns, you can restrict who can read it.
There is simply no limit to the subject matter. e.g. Lessons I learned as a - teacher, lawyer, tax accountant, mother, father, con-artist, baseball coach, soccer mom, retail sales clerk, mechanic, hunter, sportsman, politician, world traveler, marathon runner, professor, scientist, doctor, ( I did one with a retired pediatrician that eventually he published as a guide to new mothers and a tennis professional that he published as Winning Secrets for Doubles Tennis), and so on. Start yours and have some fun.
Contact me at webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Start your own Internet radio station - George did.
Senior tip - Get a genuine hobby.
Ever since I started writing this blog, I have been scouring the Internet for advice for seniors. And I have found dozens of news letters, websites and blogs on the subject. The advice starts with advice on when to take your social security and ends with advice on how to prepare for your death and then advice for others on how to deal with your death. In the middle, there are plenty of suggestions on caregiving, exercise, insurance, tax thoughts, wills and so on. However, I have also found some advice that strikes me as humorous.
One new letter advised seniors - "Do not fall down." Wow, thank you for that advice because I had just retired and I was just about to "fall down." Another news letter suggested that you should not retire until you have saved more than $350,000 just for medical expenses, not counting the expense of just living. I will start saving this today.
A piece of advice that does not come up too often, but I believe is important is the significance of a hobby, which is not just about collecting things, but doing something you like and becoming good at it.
One Kansas senior likes the "golden oldies," music from the big band era. He started an on-line radio station that now has 135 channels of music. He has 5,000 pieces of music that are available on his Internet radio station. With a little effort, you can learn to do this on your own.
Want to listen, Google Radio George and pick a channel. He turned his love of music into a fascinating hobby.
Go to www.radiogeorge.com
You will not be disappointed.
Contact me at webtalkwithbob@gmail.com with your favorite senior websites.
Ever since I started writing this blog, I have been scouring the Internet for advice for seniors. And I have found dozens of news letters, websites and blogs on the subject. The advice starts with advice on when to take your social security and ends with advice on how to prepare for your death and then advice for others on how to deal with your death. In the middle, there are plenty of suggestions on caregiving, exercise, insurance, tax thoughts, wills and so on. However, I have also found some advice that strikes me as humorous.
One new letter advised seniors - "Do not fall down." Wow, thank you for that advice because I had just retired and I was just about to "fall down." Another news letter suggested that you should not retire until you have saved more than $350,000 just for medical expenses, not counting the expense of just living. I will start saving this today.
A piece of advice that does not come up too often, but I believe is important is the significance of a hobby, which is not just about collecting things, but doing something you like and becoming good at it.
One Kansas senior likes the "golden oldies," music from the big band era. He started an on-line radio station that now has 135 channels of music. He has 5,000 pieces of music that are available on his Internet radio station. With a little effort, you can learn to do this on your own.
Want to listen, Google Radio George and pick a channel. He turned his love of music into a fascinating hobby.
Go to www.radiogeorge.com
You will not be disappointed.
Contact me at webtalkwithbob@gmail.com with your favorite senior websites.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Senior note to scammers-- Seniors are smarter than you think.
Senior Tip -- To slow down unsolicited callers - Get call-back information like their name, phone number, office they are calling from, etc. Odds are good that if they're telemarketing or trying to scam you, they won't give you this information. If they give it to you, you can follow up on who they are.
A popular scam for seniors is a scammer calling and explaining that your grandchild is in jail. The scammer insists that you need to send a money order right away to bail your grandchild out. I can tell you that my grandmother, bless her heart, would send the money no questions asked. The scammer explains that your grandchild is incarcerated and can not call you so the scammer is calling you on their behalf. The caller seems to know something personal about your grandchild child, that they offer for credibility, which they likely learned in a casual conversation with your grandchild at a bar or a party. Scammers are clever.
However, if you're unsure, be smart and use common-sense tactics to protect yourself from scams when dealing with these calls. If someone calls you, and you're not sure who they are, don't give them any account information. A senior friend of mine was called by a scammer, impersonating an IRS agent, and asked for an immediate payment or he was going to jail for tax fraud. He sent no money because, as a senior, he knew from history the IRS does not call you or often do not even answer the phone when you call them, they send you computer generated letters.
You can usually report scams to your County District Attorney's office Consumer Protection Division.
You can report your ideas to me at webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
A popular scam for seniors is a scammer calling and explaining that your grandchild is in jail. The scammer insists that you need to send a money order right away to bail your grandchild out. I can tell you that my grandmother, bless her heart, would send the money no questions asked. The scammer explains that your grandchild is incarcerated and can not call you so the scammer is calling you on their behalf. The caller seems to know something personal about your grandchild child, that they offer for credibility, which they likely learned in a casual conversation with your grandchild at a bar or a party. Scammers are clever.
Current scams are: Grandparent scam, computer repair scam, charitable donation scam, health care fraud, travel scam.
You can report your ideas to me at webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Thursday, July 23, 2015
The survivor should consult with a lawyer.
Senior Tip - if you or your spouse die, the survivor should consult with a lawyer.
A few days ago a senior wrote me that his wife ran up large credit card bills. After she died, he called the credit card company and was told her credit card debt, in his specific case and after he had paid several thousand dollars on the the credit card, was not his responsibility. Another retired senior who read that senior tip , a retired lawyer, admonished me for not suggesting that a good senior tip in this situation was to consult with a lawyer. I correct that oversight today.
The retired lawyer offered the following areas where a Lawyer might have been helpful.
He wrote, "If that senior had called me, I probably would have answered his question over the phone, but suggested that perhaps he should come see me to make sure that he had everything in order following the death of his wife. For example, getting the death certificate and recording it to clear joint tenancy title on real estate; maybe putting together a transfer on death deed so that his real estate would pass to the person he wanted when he died; adding someone to bank accounts; making sure that he did not have to put his wife’s estate through probate or doing so, if necessary; changing beneficiaries on insurance and IRAs and so on; etc. – and for the phone call, I may not have even charged him as I did many times in my career."
All good thoughts.
contact me webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
$25 prescription sunglasses at Zenni optical
Senior tip- Check out Zenni sunglasses.
I was in California and I needed a new pair of sunglasses. ( do mot know why people refer to them as a pair). In any event, the local store wanted me to get a new prescription and the cheapest sunglasses were more than $300. I had a $200 discount certificate that the store had sent me in the mail, but there were no sunglasses in the store that qualified for the discount. I left in a tizzy. I told a friend of mine about my experience. She explained that I could buy sunglasses on line for less than $25 at Zennioptical.com.
I went to the Zenni site. I inserted my prescription numbers into an easy to understand interface, I selected my sunglass style, inserted my credit card information and pressed purchase. I now have 3 pairs of sunglasses and keep one in each car I drive and I am not worried if they break or if I lose a pair. A few weeks ago, I was in a golf club bar in Hilton Head. The bartender saw my sunglasses and asked, "Are those a Zenni?" I replied yes.
The word is out.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
I was in California and I needed a new pair of sunglasses. ( do mot know why people refer to them as a pair). In any event, the local store wanted me to get a new prescription and the cheapest sunglasses were more than $300. I had a $200 discount certificate that the store had sent me in the mail, but there were no sunglasses in the store that qualified for the discount. I left in a tizzy. I told a friend of mine about my experience. She explained that I could buy sunglasses on line for less than $25 at Zennioptical.com.
I went to the Zenni site. I inserted my prescription numbers into an easy to understand interface, I selected my sunglass style, inserted my credit card information and pressed purchase. I now have 3 pairs of sunglasses and keep one in each car I drive and I am not worried if they break or if I lose a pair. A few weeks ago, I was in a golf club bar in Hilton Head. The bartender saw my sunglasses and asked, "Are those a Zenni?" I replied yes.
The word is out.
webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Go visit those libraries - fountainheads of activities
Senior tip-- Get on your local library's email list.
A senior called me from his home on a lake Winnipesaukee.
He had just finished walking 4 miles and was about to do some boating or settle down with a good book. He politely chastised me for not mentioning more about library resources. I agree.
He explained that he and his wife love libraries and what they have to offer beyond just good books. I mentioned that it is a good place to take an afternoon nap because the libraries have such soft chairs, and he added that he and his wife donated a soft chair to the local library for just such naps and a bit of reading too, of course.
Here is his list, which is not meant to be exhaustive, of library resources: meet an greet sessions, book clubs, grandkid's programs, museum passes and if they do not have the book you want, they will get it for you. And we agreed that according to our combined experiences, library staff seem to be totally committed to helping you with any resource they have to offer.
You can contact me with your ideas and tips at webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
A senior called me from his home on a lake Winnipesaukee.
He had just finished walking 4 miles and was about to do some boating or settle down with a good book. He politely chastised me for not mentioning more about library resources. I agree.
He explained that he and his wife love libraries and what they have to offer beyond just good books. I mentioned that it is a good place to take an afternoon nap because the libraries have such soft chairs, and he added that he and his wife donated a soft chair to the local library for just such naps and a bit of reading too, of course.
Here is his list, which is not meant to be exhaustive, of library resources: meet an greet sessions, book clubs, grandkid's programs, museum passes and if they do not have the book you want, they will get it for you. And we agreed that according to our combined experiences, library staff seem to be totally committed to helping you with any resource they have to offer.
You can contact me with your ideas and tips at webtalkwithbob@gmail.com
Friday, July 17, 2015
Get a dog and write about it.
Senior tip--start your life journal.
Most of my senior friends are men. And one friend who lost his wife said that combating loneliness was his biggest problem until he got a dog. He also reminded me of the old joke about how to know who loves you the most your wife or your dog. Put them both in the trunk of your car for two days, then open the trunk and see which is happiest to see you.
I did some research on loneliness and the recommendations to combat loneliness are pretty vanilla such as, go outside and meet your neighbors, go to church, volunteer, get a hobby or join a senior group. Chances are that if you did not do any of those things pre-senior, you will not do them easily post-senior. I have recommended to many of my friends that they write their autobiography - their life story as they lived it and before they forget it all - and publish it on Amazon just for the fun of it. Writing is cathartic and a legacy building document for future generations of your family to read your story first hand.
I say give it a try and do not stop until you have at least 100 pages. After that the story writing will have a life or death of its own. I just finished editing one of those stories for a 75 year old friend of mine, 400 pages soon to be available on Amazon. He has already sold 25 autographed copies of the book to his friends. He told me that writing his story was the most fun he ever had, even more fun than owning his own jet. What a trip?
Everyone has a great story.
Most of my senior friends are men. And one friend who lost his wife said that combating loneliness was his biggest problem until he got a dog. He also reminded me of the old joke about how to know who loves you the most your wife or your dog. Put them both in the trunk of your car for two days, then open the trunk and see which is happiest to see you.
I did some research on loneliness and the recommendations to combat loneliness are pretty vanilla such as, go outside and meet your neighbors, go to church, volunteer, get a hobby or join a senior group. Chances are that if you did not do any of those things pre-senior, you will not do them easily post-senior. I have recommended to many of my friends that they write their autobiography - their life story as they lived it and before they forget it all - and publish it on Amazon just for the fun of it. Writing is cathartic and a legacy building document for future generations of your family to read your story first hand.
I say give it a try and do not stop until you have at least 100 pages. After that the story writing will have a life or death of its own. I just finished editing one of those stories for a 75 year old friend of mine, 400 pages soon to be available on Amazon. He has already sold 25 autographed copies of the book to his friends. He told me that writing his story was the most fun he ever had, even more fun than owning his own jet. What a trip?
Everyone has a great story.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
All debt is not the responsibility of both spouses.
Here is a tip from a professional senior sportsman that was sent to me yesterday.
He advises you to check it out, but this is an account of his experience.
He writes:
My wife Sharon died 13 years ago so this happened 13 years ago. She was a Credit Card Junkie---she built up debt to about $20,000 +. Moved balances from card to card etc....After death I started paying off all cards. Payed off about 12-15,000 debt and one time had some kind of question--so I called the company and the clerk told me that if I was not the "Primary account holder" then I was not responsible for the debt. I stopped paying off all balances and got a letter or 2 but no one denied that I was not responsible for the debt. I walked away without paying about 5-7000. (Of course this is after I had already paid off most of the debt) If this is still in effect and a spouse dies and is the primary card holder then that debt is not the responsibility of the other spouse.
Check it out.
He advises you to check it out, but this is an account of his experience.
He writes:
My wife Sharon died 13 years ago so this happened 13 years ago. She was a Credit Card Junkie---she built up debt to about $20,000 +. Moved balances from card to card etc....After death I started paying off all cards. Payed off about 12-15,000 debt and one time had some kind of question--so I called the company and the clerk told me that if I was not the "Primary account holder" then I was not responsible for the debt. I stopped paying off all balances and got a letter or 2 but no one denied that I was not responsible for the debt. I walked away without paying about 5-7000. (Of course this is after I had already paid off most of the debt) If this is still in effect and a spouse dies and is the primary card holder then that debt is not the responsibility of the other spouse.
Check it out.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
A recommended website to visit and a humorous sidebar.
Senior Tip - Take a look at www.reddit.com
I asked several younger folks who do not read newspapers anymore, just like me, what they do read? They responded Reddit. So I took a look. Reddit is a broad and deep news site that is aggregated by its readers. You can post stuff their yourself, if you have an interest, or you can just browse through the many stories on the site. This morning I compared the Associated Press stories with Reddit and I found Reddit to be more interesting. It has it all from finance to politics. Take a look at this site. Open your mind if you are skeptical and put it on your daily website visit list for a few days. I believe you will be hooked in a week. Almost all the seniors I know spend some time each day browsing the net for interesting stuff. It took me awhile, but Reddit is now on my favorites list. I did a search on Google-"advice for old people"- and a 2013 Reddit study came up. It was the result of a survey Reddit did of its readers that were over 60. You will no doubt find this study interesting with a bit of searching.
Here is a sidebar observation. Ads directed toward seniors are often condescending and arrogant. For example, I just listened to an ad on TV for medicare insurance by a popular insurance company. The ad proclaimed, in melodious baritone tones of confidence, that one of the superior advantages of this remarkable, once in a lifetime, insurance offer was that "You will be able to select your own doctor as long as they accept medicare insurance." If it is a duck, then by gosh, it is a duck. I hope you see my point. I suspect they will also claim that if your medical expenses are covered by this policy, then they will be covered.
I asked several younger folks who do not read newspapers anymore, just like me, what they do read? They responded Reddit. So I took a look. Reddit is a broad and deep news site that is aggregated by its readers. You can post stuff their yourself, if you have an interest, or you can just browse through the many stories on the site. This morning I compared the Associated Press stories with Reddit and I found Reddit to be more interesting. It has it all from finance to politics. Take a look at this site. Open your mind if you are skeptical and put it on your daily website visit list for a few days. I believe you will be hooked in a week. Almost all the seniors I know spend some time each day browsing the net for interesting stuff. It took me awhile, but Reddit is now on my favorites list. I did a search on Google-"advice for old people"- and a 2013 Reddit study came up. It was the result of a survey Reddit did of its readers that were over 60. You will no doubt find this study interesting with a bit of searching.
Here is a sidebar observation. Ads directed toward seniors are often condescending and arrogant. For example, I just listened to an ad on TV for medicare insurance by a popular insurance company. The ad proclaimed, in melodious baritone tones of confidence, that one of the superior advantages of this remarkable, once in a lifetime, insurance offer was that "You will be able to select your own doctor as long as they accept medicare insurance." If it is a duck, then by gosh, it is a duck. I hope you see my point. I suspect they will also claim that if your medical expenses are covered by this policy, then they will be covered.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Another vote for walking and a good book on Grandfathering.
Senior tip -- If you are a senior, then you might be a grandfather or know someone who is. Here is a good book on Grandfathering. It is appropriately titled Grandfathering by Dr. Dan Erickson. It is a 100 pages of easy reading content with some fascinating action oriented ideas. It is available on Amazon. I had lunch with Dr. Erickson last week and he is the genuine inspirational article. After lunch, I went home and wrote a letter to my oldest grandson. All grandfathers can use a bit of extra motivation once in awhile.
A Kansas lawyer, who is a Senior Tip reader writes: "Surprised that you have trouble remembering your prescriptions. I don’t. I write them down and keep the list in my wallet. They are always asking for them at the DRs offices, so I whip it out and have them make a copy and attach it to the form. Name, dosage, number of times daily, etc. I walk and have been walking 3-5 miles per day since at least Dec 1, 2014. I find that it keeps one’s weight stable, causes one to eat better and makes one more health conscious, while reducing blood sugar and blood pressure. When one realizes how long and far that one must walk to walk off that piece of pie, one refrains or takes just a bit or eats less of something else." I agree.
Know of any good books on being a senior.
A Kansas lawyer, who is a Senior Tip reader writes: "Surprised that you have trouble remembering your prescriptions. I don’t. I write them down and keep the list in my wallet. They are always asking for them at the DRs offices, so I whip it out and have them make a copy and attach it to the form. Name, dosage, number of times daily, etc. I walk and have been walking 3-5 miles per day since at least Dec 1, 2014. I find that it keeps one’s weight stable, causes one to eat better and makes one more health conscious, while reducing blood sugar and blood pressure. When one realizes how long and far that one must walk to walk off that piece of pie, one refrains or takes just a bit or eats less of something else." I agree.
Know of any good books on being a senior.
Monday, July 13, 2015
You pay for libraries, use them.
A California senior says beware of AARP. A senior from Iran wrote to me that the milk from two goats is beneficial to slow the aging process. True. He is a tennis buddy of mine and has dual citizenship with Iran and USA. He also provides security for Obama when Obama comes to Palm Springs to play golf. A Massachusetts senior writes that he likes the senior tips but is annoyed by the pictures of me. Today no picture of me. yesterday 72 people visited my senior blog page so I have a ways to go to get 100,000 visitors.
When I meet a senior, one of the questions I ask is have you been to your local library lately? Typically, the answer is I have not been to the library since college. And that was my answer too up until a few years ago.
My wife and I spend the winters in Rancho Mirage, California, which is located approximately 10 miles East of Palm Springs. I had occasion to go to the library to use their computer facilities. It opened my eyes and I was hooked in a few hours. First, as you know there are a lot of books in the library. But there are also DVD rentals, every magazine that is published, newspapers and what really sold me on the library was the extent of the free seminars offered almost daily on a variety of fascinating subjects hosted by experienced and super-knowledgeable other seniors. Libraries have email lists that you can subscribe too and receive the latest information on seminars, music presentations and more.
When I arrived back in Kansas City, I visited our local library and discovered that you can reserve rooms in your library for small conferences with friends and large rooms for groups of more than 100 people. It is all free, You can give your own seminar if your like and you can reserve a room to meet with your friends. I use these rooms to interview people for research for my books. It takes the place of a private office.
If you have some uses for your library that would be of interest to other seniors, please let me know. If you have not been to the library since your college days, go there now and explore the resources that local libraries have to offer.
One more thing. I found that libraries have comfortable chairs next to the magazine sections that are marvelous for an afternoon nap.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Use your phone to record special techniques for the things you like to do.
Every guide I have used has particular ideas on the correct way to rig your line for different fishing techniques. I use my phone to take pictures of special lures and tackle that professional guides use so I do not forget. The photo helps me remember what lure color we used on a particular day, cloudy or sunny and the GPS associated with the photo helps to recall what lake I fished.
Let me know what what special senior ideas you have for your smartphone.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Take pictures of your prescriptions for easy, quick and accurate reference.
I do not take a lot of meds, but the ones I do take have names that are unfamiliar and often unpronounceable to me. When the doctor asks me what I am taking, I pull out my smartphone, click on my photos and show the doctor a photo of the prescription on the bottle. And I can even enlarge it so I can read the fine print with the disclaimers on the side effects. The bottle that sits on my desk has a line of red print on the bottom of the bottle that must be in 6 point type, TDSFMTR, which translates to -- "to damn small for me to read." I have a number of bottles like that.
The photos are helpful to read the small print and show the doctor what I am taking. As an example, I just took a photo of my prescription on the front of the bottle on my desk. I enlarged it on my iPhone and it read avoid sunlight and federal law prohibits the transfer of this drug to another patient. I am in Kansas so I have no worry about the sunlight, it has been cloudy for the last few weeks. And with regard to the federal law, I do not even understand what "transfer the drug" means. I guess it means I can not give it to you even if it will save your life, so do not ask.
The pictures enable you to accurately email/text your prescription to someone who might need the correct information right away.
Insurance company's bet that you will live. Just bet with them and not buy insurance. Clear?
Life insurance tip. Put some cash aside for your bereavement party and use the annual life insurance premium you would have paid to take an extra vacation while you still can. Examine the policy fine print. Many policies guarantee you that they will insure you forever, but they often do not guarantee the annual premium you must pay, which is the most substantive part of the policy.
Insurance companies like AARP have massive direct mail campaigns to persuade seniors to purchase life insurance. Once you are on their list, you get quantities of unsolicited mail. For the record, I recently purchased a $50,000 life insurance policy for a premium of $225 per month or $2,700 per year. It was probably a mistake and I will no doubt cancel at the next premium increase.
It is perhaps better to set $10,000 of cash aside for a bereavement party and a modest funeral, than bet against the insurance companies actuarial statistics. Insurance company's bet that you will live. Just bet with them and not buy the insurance. Clear?
They have the right to raise the premium every 5 years. My guess is that when I am 85, the premium will be $10,000 per year. At the rate they can raise the annual premium and if I live to be 90, I will have paid them over $100,000 and they will still only pay out $50,000. I can only win if I die in the next few years.
Insurance companies, bless their little actuarial hearts, are profit directed corporations that capture wheelbarrows of cash. Insurance companies argue they help seniors build estate wealth after death. If you are worth more when you die, than while you are alive you likely have to much life insurance.
Of course when you are young and have young children, the bet is different. However, when you are a senior, the purchase of life insurance deserves extra careful almost sceptical examination. Put some cash aside for the funeral and use the annual premium you would have paid to take an extra vacation while you still can. It is a tip not a rule.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Apples are okay, but walking is better.
I just finished reading a treatise on the aging process. Of course, there are disagreements on what causes aging, but there are generally two theories that are advanced by doctors.
The first, and simplest is, like a car, our bodies just wear out from use. The second is each species has DNA genetically programmed to last a finite length of time. Cells stop dividing and the genetic process which keeps us going just stops. Each of these theories represent fascinating research projects, but the fact is we still get older, a bit crankier, our bones get weaker and the recovery time from all activities takes a little longer.
However, there is one thing that every treatise on aging does agree on. Physical activity is important in extending the aging process. I watch a woman in her 80's walk every day. She moves very slowly because she pushes her walker in front of her. I play tennis with people in their late 80's who recognize they cannot hit the ball as hard as they used to, but they can still hit the ball. I always admired a fishing/golf/tennis buddy of mine who is in his early 80's, but looks, acts and moves like he was 10 years younger. I asked him what was his secret? He replied, "I do 15 minutes of Yoga every day." Every article I have every read on aging confirms the importance of daily physical activity.
An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but exercise every day keeps old age at bay.
Walking works. I would write more, but I am scheduled to play tennis.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
California Comments On the Self Employment Tax
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I sure don't love the self employment tax for seniors employment, but there are ways to reduce its effect.
1) The employer part of the tax is adjustable on 1040 Line 27. You pay the self employment tax on 1040 Schedule SE and then the employer portion of the tax you paid on Schedule SE is adjusted away on 1040 Line 27. So the fiscal effect of the self employment tax is not 14.XX % of the self employment income.
2) Heath care expenses for seniors are normally not deductible on 1040 Schedule B unless those expenses exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income. And if you make enough money, that deduction is likely to be reduced or eliminated by the Alternative Minimum Tax (ATM). However, if you have your own business and pay the self employment taxes, you are also allowed to take the self-employed health insurance deduction on 1040 line 29. This is actually not a deduction ( the IRS uses the word deduction) but rather an adjustment to gross income that has the effect of reducing adjusted gross income. You can deduct the cost of health insurance, Medicare Part D insurance for pills and even long term care insurance costs. Read the rules carefully -- there are limits. In my case, the health care insurance adjustment on 1040 Line 29 effectively offsets the self employment tax I am paying on Schedule SE.
_____________
These are valuable insights into the tax.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Watch out for the self-employment tax.
However here is a cautionary tip.
Watch out for the self-employment tax. It will grab you at the end of the year and does not ever let go. No matter your age and no matter that you are already collecting social security if you work and a make a few hundred dollars or so, you must pay self-employment tax on your net income. And this tax does not adjust your social security check. These payments go to pay someone else who has not started collecting social security yet, so say the IRS. As seniors and receiving social security from previous employment taxes, we are still taxed if we employ ourselves- the self employment tax. It is a penalty for working.
Most seniors can use a few extra dollars for luxury vacations or other retirement purchases. Part time consulting work is normal and healthy. However, the self employment tax will take another 14.3% bite of your money. So be aware and be prepared and always keep track of your expenses. I researched my last book with a 5 week trip to Australia. If you have found a way to avoid this tax, please let me know so I can share it with others.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
The votes are in. Costco wins and watch out for the latest IRS scam.
The IRS imitator scam. A senior friend of mine was called by someone who claimed to be from the IRS. The scammer explained that my friend had filed an incorrect tax return and that he must clear the additional tax up immediately or face penalties or even worse jail. The scammer was persistent, threatening and seemed professional. My friend did not pay. Some less sceptical seniors are intimidated by this approach and send money. A real no no.
The tip is that if you get calls like that ask for their phone number and IRS employee number, then offer to call them back in a few hours when you have your tax return in front of you. Remember if they have your phone number, they may have other information that can sound very convincing over the phone. You can also suggest that the caller send you a letter explaining the situation to the address on your tax return and hangup. In any event, IRS does not call us, they mail us.
Send me your tip and I will pass it along.
Send me your tip and I will pass it along.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Shop around for the drugs you need.
Today's tip.
I explained to one of my tennis buddies that I was paying $100 per month for my blood pressure medicine. He replied that he was paying $10. I checked with my doctor and sure enough I had my prescription changed and now I pay $10 too. I understand the doctors should be more money conscious when they prescribe a drug, but they are not, unless you ask them. Then,you should also ask your friends to see what they pay.
I explained to one of my tennis buddies that I was paying $100 per month for my blood pressure medicine. He replied that he was paying $10. I checked with my doctor and sure enough I had my prescription changed and now I pay $10 too. I understand the doctors should be more money conscious when they prescribe a drug, but they are not, unless you ask them. Then,you should also ask your friends to see what they pay.
And if that is not enough, pharmacies have different charges for the same drug. In other words, check around with you friends and with your pharmacies and with your doctors to discover the most economic way for you to purchase the drug you need. Shop around the same way you shop for clothes or any other item you need.
I have friends in California who make a semi-annual trip to Mexico to purchase drugs at 1/2 cost of the same drug in the USA. There is actually a "party bus" that you can sign up for that takes 50 people at a time to the Mexican border where you walk across the border into Mexico and purchase your drugs.
Same of us our reluctant to discuss these personal issues with friends and many of us are also reluctant to ask the doctor for a less expensive prescription. Lose the pride and start asking, you may be surprised what you find that can help you reduce your prescription drug expense. Since I am on medicare I have changed my philosophy and I am willing share all the details of my health costs and I have discovered that others are willing to do the same. If possible, I prefer to shave a few dollars from my health care expense so I can afford more golf and travel.
Share your prescription drug purchasing stories with me and I will share them with others anonymously.
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