Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
In the last year mentioning the word "retirement" often generates a pause or a snigger; it might even seem like you've made a sick joke. As in, "What retirement? My 401k has blown up, my job gone, and along with that my retirement dreams."
{GOOGLE_AD}True enough, millions upon millions of baby boomers are asking hard questions about their retirements. Sadly for many of us, the new reality is here - we won't have enough to retire on comfortably. For others the day of reckoning is all too close; they never saved enough. Even if there hadn't been a global economic meltdown, they were never going to retire in the lifestyle to which they had become accustomed.
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Published on July 6, 2009
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Category: Active adult communities
Our latest installment, "When Active Adult Communities Go Bad", might have put the fear of the Lord into many of our readers. This week's article is intended to provide the basic steps you can follow to minimize your risk in buying into an active adult community, and help you take advantage
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Published on July 13, 2009
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Category: Home and Garden
The current recession has had no end of side effects. Now a study from the American Institute of Architects finds another one - the era when giant McMansions dominated the face of North America appears to have come to an end.
The Home Design Trends Survey polled architects to find out what their clients are interested in building. It determined that buyers are interested in smaller, more energy-efficient homes than in years past. Large entry foyers with high ceilings appear to be out. What is in are enhancements to existing homes that increase living space from the existing footprint without impacting energy consumption. Indoor/Outdoor areas such as patios and outdoor kitchens, finished basements and attics, and other types of improvements are popular.
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Published on July 13, 2009
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Category: Singles and Retirement
The best retirement places for singles: where are they?
Updated Nov. 2023. Note: This original article dates back to 2009 - wow! It has proved to be very popular over the years, especially because of the many interesting comments and observations by our Members. In preparing for this "re-release", we contacted some of the folks who have commented and asked them for an update. They have been added as Comments at the end.
It makes sense that the search for the best retirement places for singles should use different criteria than those used by married couples.
Before you start your search, retirees should consider these factors for the best retirement places for singles:
Bigger is better
Town or active community
Depends on what you do when you get there
Look for places where there is a lot to do
Find a community with an activity director
Where do the most single seniors live?
Look for a college town
What is the biggest concern about finding the best retirement places for singles
The Best Reading Lamp - $12.59
The most common, and certainly understandable, fear that single people have about retirement is that they will wind up in a community where most of the people are paired off. A retirement place where singles are at best ignored, at worst discriminated against. Fortunately with some careful planning and research you can find a retirement town or active adult community where single people are included and feel completely integrated in that lifestyle.
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Published on July 21, 2009
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Category: Financial and taxes in retirement
Update - July 31: As of today the Cash for Clunkers Program has been so unexpectedly successful that 250,000 cars have been sold. Result: the program has run out of money, and the New York Times reports that the Transportation Department told dealers to stop taking new applications. But today (Friday) the House added $2 billion to the original $1 billion level. The Senate has not yet voted on it, but government officials said the program will continue running at least through this weekend.
{GOOGLE_AD}July 27 - The program to take gas-guzzling cars off the road while stimulating new car purchases was so successful in Europe that it is now in place in the good old U.S. The law was signed by President Obama in late June and went into effect on July 27, after the resulting regulations were published in the Federal Register on July 24.
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Published on July 27, 2009
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