Put It Off
Put off getting old as long as possible!
Some say aging is in your head, until you forget where you are. Then comes the panic! But aging has more to do with how you feel than your ability to think.
Joints may give out but you can get them replaced. I have two new knees, and I am glad I do. It is important to keep moving and work through the pain of aging.
Getting old is not for the weak of heart!
The trap comes when you allow yourself to feel old, when you stop moving because of a little pain.
Just find the cause of your pain and address what to do about it.
Chart your path to avoid the traps!
You Will Pay for Aging
I must warn you that this old saying is not far from the truth, “It takes a lot of gold to get you through your Golden Years!”
Medicare Part A only covers 80% of hospital stays. Medicare Part B only covers 80% of doctor and specialist visits. Therefore, you must carry supplemental health insurance to cover most of that 20% exposure.
You need to talk to a good insurance agent, with “the heart of a teacher”, who can explain your options for supplemental coverage. Premiums will vary depending on carriers and deductibles.
I do hope you are saving a lot of money for your Golden Years!
Do You Want to Age?
Some do what they can to cover the grey hair and age spots. But those are things we cannot hide from.
Here are some other things to consider as you age:
- Your metabolism slows down and losing weight gets harder.
- Your career will show signs of age discrimination and work opportunities will dry up.
- You will have more reasons to see the doctor. Unless you have never gone outside, you will need to see a dermatologist. Annual physicals are required. You may develop sleep apnea. And the list goes on!
Eat well. Use sunscreen. Exercise.
Conditioning to Grow Old
You need to start early with conditioning for old age.
If you just let yourself slow down and allow a few extra pounds to be added on, trying to do things in retirement will be exhausting! Then atrophy will set in while you do more streaming on TV and recovery from injuries or surgery will be slowed down.
If you have let your attention to health wain, be cautious about trying to get back into good physical condition. A gradual improvement will be more beneficial with less discomfort along the way.
Remember old age is a trap! So do some physical preparations to help you get around better than most.
Saving Your Cents Makes Sense
People with modest salaries tend to be more conservative to be able to save. Those with higher salaries will tend to have comfort with borrowing because they can afford the payments. But they lose out on a great opportunity to save for their future!
The reality is that buying used vehicles, etc. will allow more free cash for savings which can grow over time to ease the demands of old age!
Make saving a habit and a way to avoid paying interest on loans.
Think Ahead While You Can
Read and study about things you do not understand. Seek out advisors to help you plan a better future.
Keep your mind active. If you feel you are having problems thinking, try seeking out brain health stimulants, like gingko biloba, etc.
Make the most of today. But think ahead, make plans, while you can!
Love Your Family
Treat your family well and they will treat you well when you can no longer take care of yourself.
Do what you can to avoid that condition. Take care of yourself as long as you can!
Spend your working years preparing for old age. But do not hide from living.
Take time to enjoy life and your family. Love your family and maybe they will show love to you.
If They or You Can Afford It
We all wish the world would become a peaceful place.
But poor people become desperate and steal from those who have things. Some kill. Frustration shows up in road rage, shootings, drug usage, and alcoholism.
Governments seek more control out of greed. Inflation comes with instability. Wars erupt as a ploy for control. Recent events are an example.
Maybe you are doing okay right now. But I must ask, will your salary double in the next 10 years? You might need to increase your pay that much to keep pace with the cost-of-living increases.
That is another trap for those growing old.
I want you to enjoy your Golden Years. However, you will need a lot of gold. Have you started saving yet?
The rules changed with the enactment of laws surrounding Section 401k of the Internal Revenue Code. The government wants you to be less dependent on the Social Security System and more dependent on your willingness to save for your retirement!
You must act! I know that sounds like a hollow reflection of every news article about retirement. But only roughly half of the population have started seriously saving for retirement. That is a concern. Are you in that group?
Have you fallen into the trap of Social Security dependency?
Old age will look like a trap to you if you cannot afford it!
It Is Never Too Late to Act
I may have scared you. Good. You need to face the facts. Your action is needed!
No matter how desperate or frustrated you feel, you still have options. And, yes, you might need some counseling or a place to stay while you get back on your feet. But those places exist. Ask. Seek and you will find.
Savings is a discipline that you must make a habit!
Make savings one of your primary goals when you are young so you can make major purchases with cash when you retire!
It will be your actions now that will help you afford old age!