A great place to retire

Sebring, FL is a great place to retire. Although Real Estate prices have gone up. like almost everywhere else, they are starting to go down! There is new modern construction available, along with older homes. Highlands County is second in the state of Florida and third in the county in population density of those 55 and older. There are several communities that are 55 plus active seniors; there are new developments that are transitional into assisted living, and of course there are the traditional "mixed" neighborhoods.

What is a big indicator of growth is the boom in commercial construction. In the last four years, there have been ten new commercial buildings within a five mile radius from where I live, and seven more are under construction right now, including a brand new shopping mall, complete with an Olive Garden restaurant.

Retirement Scrap Booking

My mom is a retired school teacher for that last year and was constantly telling me how bored she was. So one day I had heard about making a scrap book. She loves taking pictures and collecting things we have done when children so why not suggest it to her.

So what I did was a gave her one of my computers (my husband is a technician) and showed her how to search and write emails. She loved this idea . She constantly would send me emails every day. Sometimes 3 times a day.

Well it was Christmas day. I will never forget it either because it was the most memorable one that i have had. We arrived at her home as usual . We were taking our coats off and she said I have something I want you to open right now. So I sat down and proceeded to open what looked like a shape of a box. I couldn't believe what i saw. A beautifully made scrap book of all the things we have done as children, my kids have done as children, and some of the awards and other accomplishments my dad had done though out the years. (my dad had passed away 2 yrs b4) I just looked at her and started crying. I said mom this is the best gift anyone could of given me. We sat that day and went through everything and to this day I still have it.

Money101 Lesson 13: Retirement

1. Save as much as you can as early as you can.

Though it's never too late to start, the sooner you begin saving, the more time your money has to grow. Gains each year build on the prior year's - that's the power of compounding, and the best way to accumulate wealth.

2. Set realistic goals.

Project your retirement expenses based on your needs, not rules of thumb. Be honest about how you want to live in retirement and how much it will cost. Then calculate how much you must save to supplement Social Security and other sources of retirement income.

3. A 401(k) is one of the easiest and best ways to save for retirement.

Contributing money to a 401(k) gives you an immediate tax deduction, tax-deferred growth on your savings, and - usually - a matching contribution from your company.

4. An IRA also can give your savings a tax-advantaged boost.

Like a 401(k), IRAs offer huge tax breaks. There are two types: a traditional IRA offers tax-deferred growth, meaning you pay taxes on your investment gains only when you make withdrawals, and, if you qualify, your contributions may be deductible; a Roth IRA, by contrast, doesn't allow for deductible contributions but offers tax-free growth, meaning you owe no tax when you make withdrawals.

5. Focus on your asset allocation more than on individual picks.

How you divide your portfolio between stocks and bonds will have a big impact on your long-term returns.

6. Stocks are best for long-term growth.

Stocks have the best chance of achieving high returns over long periods. A healthy dose will help ensure that your savings grows faster than inflation, increasing the purchasing power of your nest egg.

7. Don't move too heavily into bonds, even in retirement.

Many retirees stash most of their portfolio in bonds for the income. Unfortunately, over 10 to 15 years, inflation easily can erode the purchasing power of bonds' interest payments.

8. Making tax-efficient withdrawals can stretch the life of your nest egg.

Once you're retired, your assets can last several more years if you draw on money from taxable accounts first and let tax-advantaged accounts compound for as long as possible.

9. Working part-time in retirement can help in more ways than one.

Working keeps you socially engaged and reduces the amount of your nest egg you must withdraw annually once you retire.

10. There are other creative ways to get more mileage out of retirement assets.

For instance, you might consider relocating to an area with lower living expenses, or transforming the equity in your home into income by taking out a reverse mortgage.

Guide to opportunities in retirement : Directgov - Over 50s

Being retired may mean you have more time to do the things you've always wanted to. Or you might want to look for new ideas to do things you never knew you'd enjoy. In any case there are a range of opportunities you can enjoy in retirement.

Learning for fun

Learning can be fun and a great way to relax and socialize. It doesn't have to be formal and you don't have to learn for a qualification. Free courses are easy to find and if you're learning just for fun, you can choose anything you find interesting – whether it's a new interest or a subject you already know something about.

Leisure

When you're retired you'll probably have more time for your favorite leisure activities, or you may be looking for a new interest or activity to enjoy in your spare time.

Voluntary work

Voluntary work can be a good way of working in a way that suits you. It's also a great way to use your skills and experience to help others, and at the same time learn something new. There are many volunteering opportunities so it's worth thinking about what you want to do and what you want to get out of it.

Become a coach or mentor

Older people's skills and experience are highly valued in communities. You can put your work experience to good use by becoming a mentor or coach. In return you can develop your own inter-personal skills and remain active and involved in your community.

Retirement Quotes, Sayings about Retiring

"The trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off. ~Abe Lemons

When a man retires and time is no longer a matter of urgent importance, his colleagues generally present him with a watch. ~R.C. Sherriff

When a man retires, his wife gets twice the husband but only half the income. ~Chi Chi Rodriguez

A retired husband is often a wife's full-time job. ~Ella Harris

Retired is being twice tired, I've thought First tired of working, Then tired of not. ~Richard Armour

Retirement: It's nice to get out of the rat race, but you have to learn to get along with less cheese. ~Gene Perret

I'm retired - goodbye tension, hello pension! ~Author Unknown

Retirement: World's longest coffee break. ~Author Unknown"

The question isn't at what age I want to retire, it's at what income. ~George Foreman

Retirement means no pressure, no stress, no heartache... unless you play golf. ~Gene Perret

Golf is played by twenty million mature American men whose wives think they are out having fun. ~Jim Bishop