A very good friend of ours sent us a rather long message about living our lives to its fullest. It was a good reminder for Art and me. We have lived our lives frugally since we married over 40 years ago. We grew up in times that we would now consider ourselves poor although we didn't feel it acutely as children since everybody in our community was in the same boat. However, the feeling of needing to economize is ingrown and difficult to shed.
Art loves to travel but he makes sure we are doing so as economically as we can. He will then keep track of every expenditure both abroad and at home.
LIVING A FULL LIFE
Some of us are between 65 and more i.e. old.
1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and
enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices
you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or
daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital.
Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if
it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is
a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.
3. Keep a healthy
life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every
day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder
to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be
aware of
your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your
doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.
4. Always buy the
best, most beautiful items for your significant other.
5. Don’t stress
over the little things, like paying a little extra on price quotes. You’ve
already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but
the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t
let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be
forgotten.
6. Regardless of
age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family,
love your neighbor and remember: A man is not old as long as he has
intelligence and affection.
7. Be proud, both
inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails,
go to the dermatologist and the dentist. Keep your perfumes and creams well
stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel
proud and strong.
8. Don’t lose
sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s
nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among
youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you, keep it
and be proud of it. It’s part of who
you are.
This is a rather long piece so I'm going to stop here. The rest of the piece advises you to be social, staying up to date with current events, respecting the younger generation, living in the present, embracing your golden years, not living with your children but having someone else live with you if you don't want to be alone, keeping your hobbies, not dwell on your pain, forgiving people, enjoying your faith but not foisting it on others, laugh, and not worry about what others think.
It's a lot to think about and be reminded of.
Ummm... there's a couple of things I've been thinking about getting. I believe now is the time. And yet...
I still think it's necessary to save because you should see what retirement/nursing homes cost these days in Hawaii!
That is all good advice but it is still a priority for me to be able to leave something to my children as my parents did to me.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful advice! I still have trouble spending on non necessities, I doubt I will change but I will try lol, for some reason I don’t know why but I have no problem spending on my children and grand children, or on my husband but not so much on him because he is frugal just as I am! Good advice though,
ReplyDeleteSound advice indeed. I don't deprive myself, but I also find my needs/wants have simplified greatly. I do want to feel alive for as long as I am living and part of that is having a generous spirit for family and causes I embrace. That can mean time as well as money.
ReplyDeleteVery good advice. I do try to do most of these things, and I have never bought much other than for my outdoor activities. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, but you still have to be yourself.
ReplyDeleteWonderful advice that we could all use and moderate to our life styles.
ReplyDeleteWe lived with my grandfather who was well off. We weren't. As a kid, I had one pair of shoes and 3 dresses for the school year. Now I'm afraid I spend way too much on clothes and books as an adult. I buy used tho. No advice is any good unless you can relax and just live. Those books are my relaxation.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to relax and enjoy life is a wonderful thing. I realize not everyone has that luxury. And the world is in such turmoil right now.
Delete:-)
ReplyDeleteWe can get obsessed about the amount of money we will need in the future.
ReplyDeleteThanks I read the whole thing to my hubby who hates to spend money on himself or his dreams...
ReplyDeleteThank you for this good advice. Yes, once frugal one remains so. Good advice to enjoy more and worry less, Kay
ReplyDeleteIt is all about balance, is it not?
ReplyDeleteWell, let's see. I can save of the perfumes and lotions and cosmetics, since they are not my style, nor are the latest fashions. That will free up money for buying plants and taking day trips. Much of the rest I pretty much do. We have helped our kids quite a bit, but now I think both are stable enough that they won't need or want that help anymore. I would like to help pay for college for my two grand kids. We'll see. I think our big trip travel days are behind us, since physical conditions may make it harder to travel the way we like to. But you are right, Kay, providing for those declining days at the end of our lives could be quite expensive.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this Kay, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy aunt passed at 100 she was wealthy and miserable..Many said to me to be kind and do things for her she might leave me something..well she left money to despicaple people and I am glad she did not include me in any inheritance..She was my Mom's only sister and the total opposite, my mother died young and pennliness..My dad took to drink and we were taken away..I had to fight for anything..She did leave money to the deaf society and orphans but left money to members of the tribe I am so called from who are con artists and cruel..I say where there is a will there is family...I only have my hubs and my only child I would never treat anyone like my wealthy aunt...She had no filters whatsoever and told people what she thought and usually it was not pleasant..I say enjoy yourself and don't worry about anything money cannot buy a person love and affection only humans can do that..To be so frugal in life like my aunt was a cringe to watch..just saying on the mainland!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete100 and miserable? Wow! That's pretty pitiful. What a sad person she was. I'm glad you have a much happier life in Vancouver. This is Mary, right?
DeleteSpeaking of heirs, my oldest brother Steven told my mother that he doesn't want a share of what's left when she passes. He's been the most successful that he really doesn't need or want it. Even with her house, whatever she will have left will be meager. Even split into three (and not four) it won't be much.
ReplyDeleteThe funner question is who is getting Grandma's house. It's actually tiny but it's in a great real estate area (I literally did not believe the value until I looked it up) but she has three living daughters, and plenty of grandchildren. I have about 5% confidence it will fall into my hands and that's considering it going through my mom's hands first. It will be most likely a fun battle between the sisters. I can't wait to see that drama unfold lol.
This is why everybody needs to have a will prepared. I've seen quite a bit of discord over money after someone passes.
DeleteSounds like good advice. Will be interesting to see what lies ahead as my future needs are unpredictable, housing values and the economy are, too, so maybe something will be left for children and maybe not.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for posting this, some things to think about!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I love this article. I already told my kids that they aren't getting anything (though that isn't true) except for the one that is taking care of me IF I need taking care of at home.
ReplyDeletePlanning for my years when I do get too old to live independently is something that I am thinking about a lot nowadays. Retirement homes are terribly expensive. We just visited Arcadia in central Honolulu - and though the rooms are small, the services, amenities, and commitment for life that it offers just blew me away.
Your mom is very fortunate to have such a good daughter such as you with such loving support from Art.
What will our lives be like when we are in our 90's?