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From Amazon Addictions to Asset Management: Redesigning Your Future · Aging ain't for Sissies

• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: Hello, and welcome to Aging Ain't for Sissies Podcast.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: My name is Marcy Backis, and I am your host.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my gosh.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_00: It's a good thing this isn't Aging Ain't for Sissies podcast because I completely forgot how my intro goes.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: I've only been doing this podcast for several years now, and I just froze.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Just so weird.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Anyways, hello, my fabulous friends, and welcome back to Aging Ain't for Sissies, the podcast where we laugh in the face of aging.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: Usually we'll try to find our readers, which are already on our head.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: So if that's you, you're in the right place.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: If it's not you, it might be your parents and you're still in the right place.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: So I am your host, Marcy, and today we're diving into a topic that's equally parts terrifying and liberating retirement.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: Now, before you think, oh, this episode isn't for me, I've got years before that, or I've already done it.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: Stop right there.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: Retirement planning is like colonoscopies.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: You may not want to think about it, but it's coming whether you like it or not.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_00: Now you would think at 65, and Craig is turning 70 in October, and I'm not 65 till January.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: I've just aged us.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know why.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: We're 64 and 69.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you would think we're retired, but we're not.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: I am, but I have delved myself right back into the land of volunteering.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes I wonder why, and other times it feels very fulfilling.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: If that's you, you know what I mean.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: I want to live a life without people expecting stuff out of me.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: That's what you think about retirement, right?
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: Like no more emails, no more this, no more that.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: But then when you have that, you're wondering, am I doing enough?
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: Or maybe that's just me.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: But I have, I've got myself back into I last year I agreed to do the stewardship campaign for the Cathedral St.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: James here that we belong to in Chicago, never having done stewardship in my life, and was doing it by the seat of my pants.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: And I agreed to do it again this year because, as I told my dean Lisa, I want to see if what I learned really works.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: And uh so far this year's going quite well.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: I I know what's expected, I'm on top of things.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: Whenever you have to count on others, it's always scary.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: But I have a good group of people surrounding me.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: Also, in the vein of church volunteering, when Craig and I moved here, Craig really wanted to start up a book group.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_00: So I agreed to help him.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: Well, who do you think is running that book group?
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: Not Craig, me.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and it's fine.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: Book group, it's fine.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: It's fine.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: I'm just gonna say it's fine.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: But the emails, the this, the that, the making sure things are in the bulletin, all of that has fallen on me, which is fine.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: It's fine.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Who am I convincing, you or me?
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and what else?
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: I feel like there's something else in my life that I'm in charge of.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I'm in, you know, I have to manage Craig and the house and everything else.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: And I there was a TikTok that came by this morning talking about that.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: It was kind of a little joke between a husband and a wife, a little satire they did in their bathroom.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: And he said, We're out of soap.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: And she said, Okay.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: And he said, Well, you know, where is it?
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_00: And we'll have to pick it up.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: It's like he just thinks it just shows up all the time.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: And I feel there's a lot of relationships, and it could be male, female, female, male.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not gonna put it on anybody, but in our relationship, I am the manager.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: I am the manager of all things.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: I am the manager of family, I am the manager of the children.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: Now, mind you, my children are 30 and 33.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I've aged my oldest.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: The guy will be 33 in October.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I am the manager of all things.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: Are you the manager of all things?
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: I'm the manager of everything.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: Craig's family, my family, our friend group.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, even Craig's friends.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_00: I know they have text chains about sports, but if it's about meeting up, if it's about dinners, if it's about anything like that, they come to me.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: I needed a cup of coffee, a sip of coffee, sorry.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so if you're the manager, you have my sympathy.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I'm also a control freak, so being in control of everything is is good.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_00: But what's really hard, and I'm gonna tell you this, Craig and I put an offer in and we're surprised it was accepted.
• 4:45
  SPEAKER_00: So we've it's thrown us kind of for a loop for a two-bedroom condo here in our building.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: 43rd floor floor, we're 36.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: I wanted to go higher.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: It hasn't it has everything I wanted.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I'm very excited.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_00: I'm very stressed.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: Craig moves at a snail's pace, and you can't make him move any faster.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: Our closing is on October 31st, and I am leaving out of town next week for six days.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: I come home, and on the 17th of October, we are leaving until the 29th.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_00: We will be in Dublin, Ireland.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: So if that doesn't stress you out, it stresses me out.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: But it doesn't stress Craig out, and that's a problem for me because there are things that need to get done, and he is a procrastinator.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: And it works well in his life, it doesn't work well in my life.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: So last night, before I went to sleep, because I needed a good night's sleep, I thought I I've told Craig everything.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: I can't control him.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_00: It's what's gonna get done, what's gonna get done.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: If we lose this condo because of some reason and we lose our deposit, it's not on me.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm gonna let go of that.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Craig has not failed me in my life.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: He gets things done.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_00: It may be the last minute, it may be behind the times, but he gets it done.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm just gonna have to sit back and let it happen.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_00: Now, one of the things is our 24 taxes.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, they've been done by our accountant.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, she needed a few more things by Craig.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, we paid them on time.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but they need to be filed in order for us to get our financing, and they're not filed yet.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I can't control this.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: This is something I don't have control over.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_00: He has the information that is needed.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_00: So deep breath, and I'm telling you all this so I can let it out because that's part of what helps me feel better.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: And that's probably why I love having a podcast and talking to all of you.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: I also have great girlfriends here in Chicago, uh, my bestie Lynn and Mary that listen to everything I have to say.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: And uh, so that's that.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: I am very excited.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_00: It's a beautiful condo, and yes, we are keeping the condo we're in, which is another thing.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: We remodeled this with all of our favorite things.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_00: It's a beautiful remodel.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_00: It's going to be a uh short-term lease property for us.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, if you're going to be in the Chicago area, it will be available November 1st.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: It's stunningly gorgeous, a minimum 30 days.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: If you know any traveling nurses that are coming through Chicago, let me know.
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_00: Hit me up.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_00: You can hit me up at um aging8forsissies podcast at gmail.com.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_00: You can also go to the webpage www.aging8forsissies podcast.com.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_00: You can reach me through there.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_00: If you're interested, I'm gonna start advertising that sucker.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_00: And if I don't have paid advertisement on this, it's gonna be advertising for my short-term lease every week.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_00: So get ready.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: It'll just remind you.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: Anyways, I hope your week is going great.
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_00: It is a beautiful, stunning week here in Chicago.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: Had some guests run through a couple a week or so ago.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um, the weather has just been stunning.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, we know it's coming.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: You all seem to want to tell us that, but we're gonna revel in this.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_00: So, speaking of managing the family aspect, we are going to my sister-in-law's on Sunday for the final pool day before she closes up her pool.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_00: It's supposed to be 80 degrees this weekend.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_00: Another final pool day at the end, like squeaking into October is awesome here in Chicago.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm looking forward to that.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: My job is to bring a charcuterie, which I love to do.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: I um I do love doing a charcuterie.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_00: I got some great little charcuterie boards and things.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna put that together.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: Where's your favorite place to buy things for charcuterie?
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_00: Mine is Trader Joe's.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I'm getting an Aldi up the street.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, it's going in where the old Whole Foods used to be Whole Foods Build, a beautiful store.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: So within my two-block radius, I have Trader Joe's, I have I will have Aldi, I have Whole Foods, I have a family-run market right up the street.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_00: Can't think of the name of it right now.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_00: I'm I'm surrounded by great stuff, but I think Trader Joe's is my go-to.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see what Aldi has to deliver when it comes.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it's owned by the same company.
• 9:16
  SPEAKER_00: A German company bought Trader Joe's, it owns Aldi.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_00: So there you go.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, I like to do a little candied bacon on my charcuterie.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: I like um some nuts.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: I like a little bit of dried fruit and some cheeses and some meats.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_00: Craig likes the meat part.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_00: So I will focus on that.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_00: The Bears will be playing this weekend.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: I lost my fantasy football game last weekend, so I'm two and one.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: My team's got some serious issues going on, but we'll see how we go.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: I might have to trade up some players, which I hate doing, but I might have to.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: These boys are not performing to their best, and I may have to just chuck them out.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I think I've told you enough about what's going on.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: So before um, oh sorry, lost my train of thought there.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_00: I've entertained you with my chaos.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_00: So we're gonna get down today's business.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: I stumbled across a great little article from our friends at AARP.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_00: It's called 10 Steps to Take Before You Retire.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: And because I know none of us want to read dry financial advice without a little sass, I thought I'd bring you the highlights with my commentary, of course.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: So hang in there, give me a minute, take a couple sips of my coffee, and I'll be right back with you.
• 10:42
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: Not just I'll relax.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_00: Be specific.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: Travel, grandkids, garden, salsa lessons.
• 10:50
  SPEAKER_00: What is it that you see in your retirement?
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and a reality check.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_00: Salsa Desson said salsa dancing sounds cute until you need ice packs for both your knees.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_00: Write down your top three dream retirement activities.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: I think this is a great idea.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's the first thing you should do.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: What is it?
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: Define your retirement.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um again, Craig's is working.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_00: He loves to work.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: I I don't know if Craig is gonna ever retire.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: I really don't.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: We manage to fit in our life within his working.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: His working isn't the nine to five grind or eight to five or eight to six grind that it used to be.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um, he works from home.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: He works at our cathedral right now.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_00: He's in he's the pro he's the project manager for the remodeling of St.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_00: James.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um, I thought he was gonna retire when that was done, but I don't think he is.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: I really don't think so.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know what it'll take.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: I I am guessing he'll he's gonna work till he's probably 75.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_00: And that's fine.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_00: He's in great shape.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: He runs, he does everything.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_00: And like I said, we fit in our life.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_00: My retirement is a podcast, two podcasts, by the way.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I have another podcast, Inside Marcy's Mind, and just a little commercial for that.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_00: This week's Inside Marcy's Mind, I am going to share my sobriety journey.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_00: I had a uh listener ask me if I would.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: And I've thought about it for the last few weeks, and I think I'm going to.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: Uh if you are my friend and you've known me a long time, you may not know my sobriety journey.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: I've shared it at many an AA meeting, but I don't think I've shared it.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: If you are my family, you may not exactly know my whole sobriety journey.
• 12:47
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and if you are a listener, you may not know.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_00: But I've been sober 37 years.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: I did not age that.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_00: You never age your sobriety because we're never guaranteed we'll be sober tomorrow.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: I have been, I will, January 11th, 1988 was my sobriety date.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_00: So I've been sober 37 years.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_00: So if you want to hear my sobriety story, listen to this week's Inside Marcy's mind.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_00: Back to retirement.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_00: Write down your top three dream retirement activities.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_00: Ours is traveling and we're doing that.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_00: Mine is making sure I stay physically fit so that if I ever get grandkids, that's one of the reasons, I will be a granny that can move.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, there was a point in my life when we first moved here to Chicago, I was in really poor shape, fat, out of shape, unhappy.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: I am happy to say I'm not as fat.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_00: I'm in way better shape and I'm very happy.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_00: And so, although people do say weight shouldn't dictate your happiness, unfortunately for a large portion of us out there, it does.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_00: I took J GLP1s to lose my weight, the greatest thing I ever did.
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_00: Um, maybe I'll talk about the GLP 1 journey.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_00: I've been off them since I started chemo because chemo was making me sick and the GLP 1s wasn't driving.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, today I start back on them.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_00: I put on 10 pounds.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not happy about it.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it's been a struggle to try to keep it off, and I don't want it to keep creeping up.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_00: And so today I go back on my GLP one shots.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I'll do an episode about that because I think they are the greatest thing that ever happened.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_00: And if you don't have a weight problem, you'll never understand.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_00: And if you do, you will.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_00: So next week we'll talk about that.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_00: So now you've got those three, your top three retirement activities down.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's important to really think about that.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, you may not want to quit working.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_00: I, you know, like FYI, you don't have to.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: And working's not a bad thing.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, look at Home Depot.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: You go in there, there's a bunch of guys in there that are retired, and they're not some of them may be working because they need the money or the benefits.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not gonna lie, that that is a definite.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_00: But I think a lot of people our age are out there working because of the love of the job and the fact that we are keeping ourselves happier and healthier.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_00: And the thought of not having a job and getting Alzheimer's is not exciting.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_00: And we do know, and I've talked to this about this on this podcast many times, keep that mind busy.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_00: And work does that.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: If I was back in California, I'd still be at my job at the city of Irvine.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_00: I love my friends there.
• 15:31
  SPEAKER_00: I loved my job.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_00: I was darn good at it, and it gave me a lot of fulfillment.
• 15:37
  SPEAKER_00: All right, take stock of your assets.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_00: Assets aren't just dollars, they're also skills, hobbies, and resources.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_00: Got a hobby, it might pay.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_00: Knitting, consulting, dog walking.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_00: If you've got 200 beanie babies in the attic, who knows?
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_00: You might have your retirement goal mine right there.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: So your assets are not just financial, they could also be all of those things.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_00: If you love dogs, become a dog walker.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_00: Make that extra money.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I've thought about it in this building.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: I do love animals.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_00: And there's people in this building.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_00: I can do pet sitting, and pet sitting pays very well.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_00: And I'm telling you, if this uh new venture of mine and Craig's of moving into a two-bedroom and having this uh having this furnished short-term rental doesn't work out, I might be walking dogs.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_00: Elevate your health.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_00: And I've talked about this again on my podcast.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_00: You are in charge of your health.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_00: No one else.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_00: No one take charge of it.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_00: You need to get the checkups, take the meds, eat the veggies.
• 16:41
  SPEAKER_00: Mental health counts too.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_00: My mental health over the last 20 years has suffered greatly through ups and through downs.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_00: And um you need to stay on top of it.
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_00: You need to take care of yourself, stay social, stay curious.
• 16:57
  SPEAKER_00: My doctor asked if I exercise, and I said yes, I walked to the fridge 12 times a day.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_00: They didn't laugh.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_00: That was three years ago.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: That's not me anymore.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_00: Five days a week at the gym for minimum.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: Three minimum during chemo.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_00: If I can do it during chemo, you can do it when you're not on chemo.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna use my cancer against all of you.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I made it to the gym at least three times, sometimes five, sometimes four, never less than three during my chemo treatment.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_00: And you know what?
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_00: It helped me get through my cancer and my chemo.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_00: And the doctor told me that I did very well through chemo.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I had problems, but not nearly the problems people could have.
• 17:37
  SPEAKER_00: And that's because I stayed active.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_00: Um, let's see, what's next?
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_00: Create a retirement budget, know your spending now, project your spending later, plan for 80% of your current income as a rough guide.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_00: And don't forget fun, wine, movies, cruises, grandkids, bribes, grandkid bribes, couldn't even say that together.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_00: Think of all of that.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um we're pretty good at that.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_00: I think we have some areas we need to tighten up and getting this two bedrooms a little scary.
• 18:09
  SPEAKER_00: But we can always sell it.
• 18:11
  SPEAKER_00: We can always sell this one.
• 18:12
  SPEAKER_00: So it's just another asset.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_00: And we're not retired yet.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_00: So Craig's still working.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_00: It's the time to do it.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: Decide when to start Social Security early at 62 equals smaller checks.
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_00: Wait until 70, you get bigger checks.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_00: You may not make it to 70.
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_00: You have to think about this.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_00: Or you may take it at 62 and invest it and make more money than you would get waiting till you get the 70 bigger checks at 70.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_00: Talk to a financial advisor or do your own research online.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_00: Online has great information from reputable sources.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_00: If you still work, watch the earnings cap before full retirement age.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_00: It's like dating, wait a little longer and you might get a better deal.
• 18:58
  SPEAKER_00: Decide if you'll keep working.
• 19:00
  SPEAKER_00: Work isn't just for money.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_00: We've talked about this a little bit earlier.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_00: It's for purpose.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe you consult, volunteer, or finally open that Etsy shop.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_00: Just don't tell your kids you're bored or you'll be babysitting every Saturday night.
• 19:13
  SPEAKER_00: Well, my kids don't have kids.
• 19:15
  SPEAKER_00: Um, as a matter of fact, I will be heading to California next week to go visit my oldest.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_00: And for those of you that know the ups and downs of my oldest, this is a great accomplishment.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_00: Kyle is excited that I'm coming.
• 19:27
  SPEAKER_00: Kyle is gonna spend time with me.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_00: And Kyle is turning 33 and I think has finally become the adult they want to be.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_00: So with that being said, them being happier equals a better relationship with me.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_00: Network online and offline, stay connected with old colleagues and new friends.
• 19:50
  SPEAKER_00: LinkedIn isn't just for 30-year-olds and skinny jeans.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_00: Retirement without friends is just you talking to your plants, which is fine until they start talking back.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_00: So make sure you stay connected, network with people.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_00: Um isolation and loneliness is the first step to uh really losing your mind.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sorry.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_00: It just is.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_00: We need they proved that during COVID when elderly could not communicate with people, remember, when we couldn't go in the retirement homes, so on and so forth.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_00: Well, it did not bode well for that group of adults.
• 20:29
  SPEAKER_00: And my mother-in-law was in that group, and it didn't, she was not a super social person, anyways, but the small amount of social she had in her life got cut away, and I don't believe it did Jenny any favors.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_00: Step eight, find ways to cut expenses.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_00: Audit subscriptions, unused gym memberships.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_00: Don't, you know what?
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_00: Don't cancel that unused gym membership.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_00: Get your butt to the gym.
• 20:52
  SPEAKER_00: Random Amazon habits, that is my worst habit.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_00: I've got to, I don't know what I need to do about Amazon, but I need to cut out Amazon.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_00: I I need to go on a 30-day Amazon.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, October.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_00: I'm saying it here and I'm saying it now.
• 21:09
  SPEAKER_00: In October, I am not going to order anything from Amazon.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_00: Can I do it?
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 21:15
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_00: Order a bunch of stuff today.
• 21:18
  SPEAKER_00: Um, no, um, I do have some things that automatically come that I need eye drops, just the household things.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna let those go.
• 21:27
  SPEAKER_00: I'm not gonna do any added purchasing from Amazon.
• 21:31
  SPEAKER_00: Can I do it?
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_00: Let's see.
• 21:33
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_00: Umsizing can mean more freedom.
• 21:38
  SPEAKER_00: I've told you this a thousand times.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_00: And while you are judging me for getting a two-bedroom now, we never planned on living in this.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_00: This was the place Craig and I are living in is our investment property that we've had for 23 years.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_00: Had we moved to Chicago and not had this, we would have bought a two-bedroom.
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_00: So we are upside, but we don't need to buy any more furniture.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: We have everything we need to fill that two-bedroom.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_00: So there you have it.
• 22:05
  SPEAKER_00: We won't be buying anything to fit in it.
• 22:07
  SPEAKER_00: We will just fit what we already have squeezed into this one bedroom.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_00: Okay.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_00: Funny aside, well, I am still paying for a yoga app I used twice in 2019.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_00: Not true, but kind of.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about getting rid of those apps.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_00: I've got to go through mine.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_00: I'll tell you, there is a really great app, Rocket Money.
• 22:29
  SPEAKER_00: If you connect all of your accounts to Rocket Money, it's like$5 a month.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_00: And it Rocket Money, if you're listening, I could use a um a sponsor.
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_00: Rocket Money is great, it categorizes all of your spending on its own.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_00: It keeps track of all of your um subscriptions to anything.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_00: It will also unsubscribe from things for you.
• 22:55
  SPEAKER_00: So that's Rocket Money.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_00: Again, I recommend the Rocket Money app completely.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_00: I've been using it for years.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_00: It tracks my spending.
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_00: And Rocket Money, listen up, you're not going to see any Amazon charges in the month of October.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_00: So ha ha ha.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_00: Let's see if I can do it.
• 23:11
  SPEAKER_00: I'm really, I'm excited about this, everybody.
• 23:13
  SPEAKER_00: I like a challenge.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_00: Plus, I'll be traveling for two weeks.
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_00: It'll make it easier.
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_00: But usually when I'm traveling is when I buy things before I go.
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see how I do.
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_00: Um, plan for emergency, emergency funds, insurance, wills, powers of attorney, boring, yes, essential, also, yes.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_00: Think of it like packing extra underwear for a trip.
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_00: You don't think you'll need it, but when you do, you're very glad it's there.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_00: Make sure all your insurance needs.
• 23:37
  SPEAKER_00: Get your life insurance, people, my young listeners, get it before you're old.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_00: I can't get it now.
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_00: Craig already has it.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_00: Um stick to the plan, but be flexible.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_00: Life will change.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_00: Update your plan every year or two.
• 23:51
  SPEAKER_00: Don't panic.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_00: If you slip, just recalibrate.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, flexibility isn't just for yoga, it's for your money too.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_00: So here are some reflections and takeaways.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_00: Those are 10 steps, and I I found them at through AARP.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_00: So you can go to their website and look at it in depth.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_00: Retirement isn't just about quitting work, it's about designing a life that you want.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_00: And that life may include work.
• 24:16
  SPEAKER_00: My sister worked for a long time, part-time doing little things.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_00: Um a lot of people do.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_00: My other sister, she runs a dog training business.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_00: She is incredible.
• 24:28
  SPEAKER_00: She does agility with dogs and she's doing great.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_00: My brother has fully retired, but I know he volunteers his time doing taxes for veterans and things like that.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_00: My sister-in-law as well has her volunteer opportunities.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_00: So everybody's retirement looks different.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_00: But make sure it's what you want.
• 24:49
  SPEAKER_00: We're still in the planning stages and we are 69 and 64.
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm excited about Medicare.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_00: Starts January 1st.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, I pay$1,500 a month for insurance.
• 25:02
  SPEAKER_00: So yes, I'm excited about Medicare.
• 25:05
  SPEAKER_00: All right.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_00: Your homework questions are which of those steps have you actually started?
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_00: Which do you dread the most?
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_00: And what does your dream retirement look like?
• 25:15
  SPEAKER_00: Seriously, if money were no issue, and we know that's not the case for most of us, it is for a lot.
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that's our show for today.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_00: My sassy survivors of time.
• 25:26
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, aging may not be for sissies, but it is for planners.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_00: If you like today's episode, share it with a friend who needs a retirement reality check or someone who thinks retirement planning means buying lottery tickets.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_00: Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and tell me what your retirement dream looks like.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_00: Next week, we'll tackle another juicy subject, one that might involve taxes, wine, or maybe a little creative cheating.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know what next week's episode is gonna be.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think about it until the week before.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_00: Every once in a while, oh wait, we talked about something on this episode.
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_00: What am I gonna talk about next week?
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna have to listen to remember what I said.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_00: Until then, keep laughing, keep planning, and remember you got this.
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_00: Go out there and do something positive.