Boomers who are empty nesters typically have a pet or two who have become their surrogate children. We used to have four (two dogs and two cats), but the older dog and cat passed away last Fall. I told my wife "no more pets," as they do tend to tie us down and make travel difficult...and having four pets was just a little too much after we had downsized to our retirement home.

But she was very attached to the older dog that had recently died - a sweet female Shih Tzu - and grieved for her. That's why I wasn't surprised to see her show up over the weekend with a six-week-old baby male Shih Tzu. She bought him from a family selling puppies outside of Wal-Mart. It was love at first sight. And of course, I fell in love with the little guy too, who is now named "Prince."

So, we have this little furball hopping around the house, peeing and yapping and wanting to play with our other dog and cat (it's going to take a while - they just roll their eyes at the puppy). He is really cute and easily captured our hearts. I already know he is going to compete with me for pillow space at night.

The thing I worry about is that we are now in our mid-sixties and dogs live a long time. I'm afraid the puppy might outlive us. Or, we could get wacked in car accident or some other accident.

I see older pets being promoted all the time by animal shelters where they wound up after their owners died and no relatives want to take them. I can't imagine a worse fate for a beloved pet. How they must miss their "mommy" or "daddy!" I think of the confusion and utter depression these animals must suffer. If I had a huge property, I would take them all so they could live out their days peacefully. Otherwise, I know that most of them will ultimately be euthanized. That is why my wife and I have made arrangements for the care of our surviving pets with extended family members just in case something happens to us.

So now we have two dogs and an ill-tempered cat. I told my wife, "That's enough." She nodded her head and agreed. But I'm not holding my breath.

It seems like every discussion I have lately with Boomer friends eventually touches on our mutual concern about the economic outlook for our grown children. We are afraid that their world is going to be much harsher with fewer opportunities than our generation enjoyed.

My son will be thirty-nine this year. He has a college degree in business and a good-paying corporate job. Yet, his world is fragile. He puts in 50-60 hour weeks, which is expected if you want to keep your position. Being "on call" for weekends is the norm. After all, employers can always replace you with someone else if you don't like it. Job security and employee appreciation appear to be a thing of the past. And I hear the same complaint from his friends and just about every person under forty.

The younger generation has no faith that Social Security or Medicare will be there for them in 25-30 years. They see a country in danger of becoming insolvent and wonder how the Fed can keep printing money without concern for inevitable devaluation of the dollar and rampant inflation.

Regardless of their political affiliation, they feel disenfranchised from government and view it as a rigged game where the rich and special interests win while the public has no seat at the table. To them, our grid-locked government is dysfunctional and no longer capable of resolving critical issues. 

Many are burdened with student loans they will be paying off well into middle age. They no longer trust 401K's (or the stock market in general) or investing in homes. What savings they can muster are going towards paying off debt and buying "survival" instruments like silver and gold.

The bright spot is their surprising confidence. Viewing their future form a different perspective, our kids are formulating strategies for a rapidly changing world. Many are embracing the global aspect of today's economy and seeking multinational positions. Others are desperately learning new skills. A large number are evaluating entrepreneurial pursuits as means of escape from harsh corporate environments and gaining self sufficiency. All seem to recognize that a global economy has altered the nature of things.  Our children understand they must adapt to flourish (or simply survive) in this still evolving "brave new world."

While we older Boomers have sometimes seemed paralyzed or focused solely on survival or retirement during recent economic upheaval, out kids have become more realistic in their outlooks. They are finding their way and learning to do what has to be done to carve out a future. It won't be the one we enjoyed, or even the one we wish to leave them.

The next generation is finding a voice. If we listened closely we can hear the drumbeat of building frustration and a growing sense that the wheels have come off America. Their time is coming. I daresay in our lifetime we will see our children step up and take this country in a new direction. one that better masters the realities of our re-shuffled 21st century.

Fifty-plus Baby Boomers are becoming empty nesters as their kids go off to college or move on. More and more, these Boomers see the wisdom of downsizing to prepare for - or survive during - retirement.

Downsizing living accommodations has several advantages. First, it cuts expenses...dramatically. Why heat, cool and provide utilities for a 2400 SF home when only two people are living there? Get a smaller place and put the savings on utilities, insurance, landscaping and home maintenance into your pocket.

Second, downsizing frees up more time. Instead of mowing a large lawn, now you have time to go on a bike ride, see a movie, read a book, play golf or give attention to a home-based business. Many Boomers change their lifestyle entirely during retirement, using a downsized abode as just a way station for whenever they take a break from traveling.

Some Boomers get creative. They sell a large home, move to a smaller house in a location of their desire, and also purchase a winter home elsewhere.

And those who can't sell their home because it is "upside down" often rent it out to allow the flexibility of relocating to a cheaper area of their choice. Boomers are using this strategy to pick up retirement homes at a bargain price in areas like Florida, Arizona, Nevada or southern California. They are making "lemonade out of lemons" in this economy.

Another benefit of downsizing is that couples find themselves spending more time together and getting to know each other all over again. In a smaller home, there's less room to hide.

Whether it is for financial reasons or just planning your retirement lifestyle, downsizing your home is an option that older Boomers should consider.

I woke up this morning and didn't realize it is Easter until I read the paper. It got me thinking about how far people of my generation have strayed from our upbringing. When I was a kid, my parents made a big thing of Easter, coloring eggs, and getting us candy-filled baskets. My wife and I did the same thing when our son was little. Now, I have pretty much abandoned traditional religion and Easter is just another Sunday.

Looking at Facebook and talking to friends and relatives in different parts of the country, my impression is that religion is pretty much geographically allocated. The South and Midwest are strong reserves of Christanity; not so much elsewhere.

Just because the rest of us have drifted away from traditional religion does mean that we are not spiritual. Many Boomers found that rigid religions don't fit them anymore and embraced other forms of spirituality.

The important thing is that most Boomers are spiritual in nature. We have been through a lot in our lives and seek answers to the glimpses we occasionally see behind the veil. Boomers believe in life, loving, giving and being thankful for our blessings. Seems like a good formula for getting along no matter what our beliefs or what religion we embrace.

Most 50+ Baby Boomers I know do not intend to fully retire. Many simply can't - they need supplemental income just to survive. ...

It gets harder and harder to define "retirement" these days. Use to be, it meant not having to work, living off your savings in a paid-off home, travel, playing golf, visiting the grandkids...basically a carefree life. It is still that, but now something more - survival. And a surprisingly side effect is that Boomers who continue to work part-time during their "retirement" or start a home-based business have found that it adds spice to their golden years.

10,000 Baby Boomers are retiring everyday. A recent study by the Urban Institute concluded that 30-40 percent will not have sufficient savings and financial resources to support themselves in the same lifestyle lived during their earning years. Due to the devastating recession, I believe that figure is higher for leading edge retirees, ...

If there is any way you can swing it, now is the time to buy a retirement home or invest your money in low-priced rental properties. Older Boomers are fortunate to have this window of opportunity, which is an ironic benefit of the Great Recession.

Outstanding buys on retirement homes can still be found in southern California, Arizona, Nevada and Florida. Baby Boomers can now afford a larger, nicer home in a better location than was possible just five or six years ago. And in many cases, sellers are open to carry-back financing. Plus, banks and other lenders have huge inventories of foreclosed homes that will hit the market this year. So, if you have been delaying making a purchase decision, now is the time to take action.

Why not just rent instead of buying? That may be a good strategy for many Boomers, depending on the location. However, because so many people have suffered financial setbacks and cannot qualify to purchase a home, rental demand is soaring and rates are going up, up, up. Those fortunate to to buy a home with minimal down payment can lock in their "rent" at a fixed price, usually enjoying monthly payments considerably lower than local rental rates. And 50+ Boomers quickly grow to understand that retirement is all about monthly cash flow.

That is why investing in rental property is a great idea now. When you can generate monthly passive income with a high return on investment, it sure beats the 1/2 to one percent return seen today on CDs! And rental demand is only going to increase in the future as the social fabric of home ownership is revamped. Going forward, there will likely be fewer homeowners and more renters.

2012 is the year for older Boomers to take advantage of the real estate opportunities that will abound this year. You can still "make lemonade out of lemons." Need some free advice or help in finding a good Realtor in your target location? Let us know - we would be glad to help.

If you are like a lot of 50+ Baby Boomers this new year, you are looking for ways to save money. Every dollar saved is another dollar you have in your pocket. Well, there are four easy changes you can make that will result in hefty savings this year.

Cut your Cable TV Bill


The cable TV companies play this game where they bundle everything, making it difficult to subscribe to just the shows and channels you want to watch. The result? More money for them and frustration for you.

You would be surprised how many people are abandoning cable TV in favor of much less expensive online entertainment:

Deliotte, an accountancy firm that follows business trends in media, released the results of their sixth State of the Media Democracy earlier this week and it doesn’t forecast sunnier skies for cable companies in 2012. According to the press release:
 
A number of Americans have already cut, or are exploring cutting their pay TV connection entirely. Deloitte’s survey found that 9 percent of people have already cut the cord and 11 percent are considering doing so because they can watch almost all of their favorite shows online. An additional 15 percent of respondents said that they will most likely watch movies, television programs, and videos from online digital sources (via download or streamed over the Internet) in the near future.
 
Moreover, the number of people citing streaming delivery of a movie to their computer or television as their favorite way of watching a movie rose to 14 percent from 4 percent in 2009.
 
Source: http://www.webpronews.com/deliotte-media-study-2012-01

Because of Netflix, Hulu and a variety of other online entertainment sites, canceling your cable has become a viable alternative. Experts state, however, that just downsizing to the basic (~$30) monthly program is probably best to avoid penalties, especially if you still have Internet services with the cable company. But taking this simple step can typically save you anywhere from $70 to $200 monthly!

Consolidate your Insurance

I just did this myself and saved a bundle. By consolidating your home, car and any rental unit insurance under a single carrier, you will enjoy lower rates and discounts. Shop around and you will see what I mean. In my case, a few phone calls resulted in a savings of over $100 monthly without giving up the quality of my insurance coverage.

Get Rid of your Land Line

Most of us still have a telephone landline. This is usually part of a Cable TV package. Others maintain one in the belief that it will still function if a disaster hits and cell towers cease to function. With today's typical phones sets, the type that use batteries for ancillary phones elsewhere in the house, this is not necessarily true. Read the fine print and you are likely to be surprised.

Going strictly to mobile phone use is already a major trend among younger people. Millions are already doing it, and this trend will become the norm over time. If you are honest with yourself, you probably already use your mobile phone much more than your landline. I know that the majority of landline calls I get are from solicitors, wrong numbers or bill collectors trying to reach someone who previously had my number.

Cutting out a landline can save $25-35 monthly. Think about it.

Cut your Grocery Bill

This tip is very easy to implement. You can enjoy major savings in your monthly grocery bill simply by using coupons and buying house brands. And there are tons of online sites that offer free coupons for EVERYTHING! Just google "coupons." Taking this simple step can result in amazing savings with little effort on your part. 

The Bottom Line? More Money for You in 2012!

So, if you take advantage of these four easily attained savings, you will quickly see several hundred dollars more of spendable money in your pocket every month without really having to make any sacrifices. Life is good, and 2012 is going to be a good year for older Boomers.

As the Holiday Season draws to a close and the New Year looms, I urge 50+ Baby Boomers to take time out to reflect on this year's events and set goals for 2012.

I do this every year. I look at my successes and failures during the current year, then craft my goals for the next year. This document becomes my guide, reminding me of the important things I want to accomplish as the following year progresses. It is my roadmap.

My goals are both personal and business. I look at health objectives (somehow, losing ten pounds always makes the list!), personal relationships, family, travel objectives, activities and my business goals. I try to be as specific as possible so that I don't succumb to the "weasel room" pitfall. Whatever makes my list is something I really want to accomplish during the coming year.

I also do something unusual. I list events that I feel are likely to happen during the coming year. Last year, I predicted that our two older pets might pass on. Unfortunately, I was right. But I also look at possible national and international events and how they might affect me, my family and my friends. This exercise has often positioned me to be better prepared for circumstances that catch others by complete surprise. Occasionally, my prognostications have saved my butt because I had at least taken minimal steps beforehand "just in case." So far, my predictions are batting about 50 percent.

Give it some thought. If you want your life to become productive, then envision where you would like to be this time next year - Slimmer? Richer? Happier? There's an old saying, "If you don't know where you're going, how will you ever get there?"