| The best advice I ever got. |
| When it comes to financial advice, the best I ever got was from my mother who told me that saving and investing was a natural part of life. She's always been a saver and an investor. To my great appreciation, my mother got me started with stock investing at a young age by giving me 10 shares of her favorite public utility, Idaho Power Co. The beauty of utility stocks is their generally higher paying dividend. What other higher dividend-paying stocks might be good investments in these days of economic unease? |
| Clark County volunteer work opportunities |
Hi all,
Marguerite Hills with the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge asked me to put up a blog topic on volunteer work opportunites. So here goes. "We have some very interesting volunteer positions at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for those interested in photography, cultural history, birds, children and nature, and social activities," said Hills. "We would love to hear from anyone looking for some meaningful work with other like-mined people." For more go to www.ridgefieldfriends.org.
Thanks, Marguerite. Are there additional suggestions? - Julia
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| Debt makes everything worse |
| How much debt are you carrying on your credit cards? According to a recent AARP Foundation survey of 2,500 women, those ages 45 to 59 are carrying an average of $11,141 in revolving debt. These "dangerously high levels of debt" make it difficult to save for retirement. Have any of you faced up to credit card debt and won? How'd you do it? Hey, I've given up Starbucks, I'm not buying an "new" clothes for six months (consignment doesn't count) and I'm cutting back on entertainment, a category that covers a multitude of sins. In our recent 60 & Single workshop, Karey Schoenfeld handed out a monthly budget work sheet. There were some surprises for me. OK, I'm going to start balancing my check book every week, then maybe I'll know what financial planet I'm on. |
| Social Security Web sites |
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Hi all
Many who attended the 60 & Single workshop asked about Social Security benefits, who qualifies, when do they qualify and what payments might be. Karey and didn't have many answers. Until we host another workshop, here are several Web sites that Karey is recommending where some of your Social Security questions can be answered.
General information http://www.forefieldkt.com/kt/trns.aspx?xd=GB-CORE-01&il=a2&xsl=content
Overview of the Government Pension Offset (when government earnings may offset your Social Security benefits): http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10007.html
The effect of working prior to reaching your full retirement age while also receiving Social Security benefits: http://ssa.gov/retire2/whileworking.htm
We would also be interested in knowing what your experience with Social Security has been like. What suggestions you might have for others? This could be the start of a useful Columbian business cover project that would help others. That's the whole idea...helping each other.
Also please suggest what other topics you'd like to see discussed on this blog. E-mail me at julia.anderson@columbian.com - Julia Anderson |
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| OK, one of the several topics that generated discussion at the 60 & Single workshop was how much people can save by using coupons when buying stuff at the grocery store etc. So here's a confession: I've never had time for coupons and sort of don't like those people in front of me in the check out line who slow things down when they sort through them with the checkout clerk. I need facts and encouragement for why coupons are a good deal. I'm willing to be convinced. Anybody? Anybody? - Julia Anderson |
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Six weeks before my husband of 17 years told me he was leaving me, we took his three grandsons on a big trip to Orlando. I thought it was money well spent and I still do. But as my marriage has disintegrated over the past 11 months and craters toward divorce, I am facing some tough financial issues: How and when can I retire on a single 401k? Will my savings and Social Security be enough? What's the best way to be saving money, now? What kind of budget do I need to develop? Can I handle a mortgage payment meant for two incomes, not one? In working through this difficult process I've learned that many women my age (61) face equally or more difficult financial issues. The result was a workshop, "60 & Single: What (all) Women Need to Know About Retirement" co-hosted with Vancouver CPA Karey Schoenfeld last Saturday. The turnout was great. The energy in the room was invigorating. Questions flowed. Many attending asked for a blog Web site that would allow them to offer suggestions and comment --- an Internet gathering place for women planning for retirement. So here we go. - Julia Anderson. |
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