Now that many of us are starting to plan for our retirement, we’re also starting to look for financial solutions to the mess that the current economy and housing market has left us in. If you’re thinking that the only solution is to skimp on your life or maybe take a part-time job as a Walmart greeter, though, think again.
One thing I truly believe is the saying that chaos has to happen before we achieve great brilliance. Well, we’ve got the chaos alright-tanking property values, shaky investments, and job security gone the way of the dodo!
But the great brilliance is right in front of us, too. In some cases, the tools of this brilliance was invented by our generation, the Baby Boom generation. So why shouldn’t we take full advantage of the benefits these tools offer us?
With that in mind, here are some solutions I suggest for building a financial future that will see you through the rest of your life comfortably.
First, start thinking about unconventional ways to earn more money. This solution means looking into online businesses, for example. Did you know that you can start an Internet business for less than a few thousand dollars? That’s a fraction of what it would cost you to go into a brick-and-mortar business by yourself! And, unlike that brick-and-mortar business, your Internet business will contribute to your finances 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Are you living in a house that’s grown too big for you? My stepson is out on his own and teaching, so I know the feeling. A solution you can look into is downsizing your life into a smaller house, or even an apartment. Rent costs a fraction of the cost of owning, and then you can spend the time and money you’re spending now on household maintenance and use it for things like travel and investing!
Another solution I recommend to people is to find and follow a sound system for managing their own wealth. We know we can’t trust the financial services sector, and why should you pay anyone who doesn’t really care about you to take care of this area of your life? And don’t let anyone tell you you’re not experienced or intelligent enough to manage your own finances.
The professionals just tell us that because they don’t want to lose our business. But the fact is that I’ve found a financial management system that has totally solved my retirement income worries!
The other thing I try to caution people about is that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed from time to time when we’re dealing with our finances, particularly when we first start taking total responsibility for them.
Just think of any of the other turning points in your life-heading off to college. Enlisting in the military. Getting married and/or having kids. I bet you felt overwhelmed by these life changes, too, right? I know I did! But so far, we’re doing pretty well, aren’t we?
Why should it be any different with our finances as we start preparing for our second lives?
Our generation is likely to live much longer after retirement than the generations that came before us. We’re looking at life spans of 80, 90, and maybe even 100 years-that’s a lot of years to plan for!
But if we use sound financial solutions to get and keep ourselves out of debt, manage our own wealth, and create multiple streams of income, we won’t just be secure in those years. We’ll be able to make our second lives even better than our first!
About the author: Joyce Becker is a successful marketing entrepreneur living in New Jersey with her husband of over 30 years. Joyce is also a trailblazer. As a woman and a Baby Boomer, she has broken molds, working in a variety of careers and providing inspiration to countless women whose lives have been touched by her spirit and energy through her website at http://YourSecondYouthBlog.com.