Tag Archives: tips

Life, Lifestyle

Preparing for Retirement in the Right Ways

Leave a comment
retirement, aging, tips, advice, family, income, money, finances
Source – CC0 License

As a parent, you may very well worry about the future on a near-constant basis. But the fact is that the future is far away, and there is nothing you can do to change it, apart from being prepared. You need to sort your head out, but also think about what you would like to achieve. You may want to make sure your children have everything they want, or you may worry about your financial situation. When it comes to your finances, it can feel like you are potentially living paycheck to paycheck. And this means there is no chance of saving for retirement anytime soon. But what can you do to actually save and prepare for retirement in the right ways?

Decide on Your Goals Now

Do you really know what you want to achieve from your retirement? Some people think about retirement as the opportunity to finally unwind. But some people have more grandiose ideas. If you decide you want to retire to a Palm Spring property in Malaysia, are you able to put the wheels in motion? Maybe you decide to move into a house next to a beach with a calming sea front view. Or maybe you want something surrounded by mountains like the lakefront retirement communities in Tennessee, it’s important to know what you want and plan ahead. If you do not decide on tangible goals, you’ve got nothing to aim for. Retirement is what you make it. 
 
If you do decide to move home, you are going to need to sell your current home to help pay for this new chapter in your life. You can go the traditional real estate agent way, or you can look at selling your home for cash. Just looking up “sell my house fast atlanta” for example, can help you find what you need.

Know How Much Time You Have Until Retirement

As far as preparing in a practical sense is concerned, you’ve got to determine the time horizon. In other words, how long until you actually need to retire. The sooner you know when you’re going to retire, the better. When you start to estimate how much you would need to retire, you have to remember that when you put a figure on it, this can be incorrect. The big mistake many people make when saving up for retirement is that they think they will spend the same amount of money every week. The reality is that it gradually decreases due to old age. But when you set yourself a deadline of the age, or if you want to be specific, the day you retire, you know how much time you have left.

If You Can’t Put Anything Away, Try and Put Something Small Aside

You know you should be saving for retirement, or even a rainy day. And you might not think much would come of saving a little bit here and there. But the fact of the matter is that now there are plenty of opportunities to put a little bit of money aside, and for it to accumulate. The most common example these days is the wide variety of money saving apps. There are apps that can squirrel however little money you have and you might be surprised how much you can save over the course of the year if you put a couple of bucks into an app here and there.

Think About Small Investments

Investing is, for many people, an incredible risk. Many people believe that investing is not worth it because they don’t know what they’re getting into. But when you start to think about investments in the wider scheme of things, there are so many big and small investments that could net you a significant return. Of course, it’s not guaranteed. But when it comes to your investment portfolio, you’ve got to think about diversifying it, because this will result in a happier retirement. There are so many different ways to invest. Bitcoin has seen a resurgence recently, and there are people who use stocks and shares through many popular apps. Make sure to compare the best Bitcoin trading exchange for you before getting started, you can find the beste deutsche Bitcoin Börse here. But also, if you have assets like your home, you need to think if you will actually be using this when it comes to retirement. Your home is one of the biggest investments you will have ever made, but it could be one of the most lucrative. You have to decide now whether you will stay in this property. And if you are looking to save a significant amount of money, selling your home and downsizing could be the answer.

The moral of the story is if you are planning to retire, you really have to decide now what you want to achieve in your retirement. It’s important to remember that many people get bored in retirement, and you may not be able to stick to it for long. However, if you are also thinking about the future of your family, but also your long-term happiness, you’ve got to start now.

Life, Parenting

How to Appreciate Yourself More as a Father

Leave a comment

You’ve worked hard to provide a comfortable life to your family, your kids and wife adore you, and you are always there to help and encourage your friends and relatives. But do you ever pause and think about yourself? When is the last time you appreciated or took care of yourself? Every day, your wife tells you what a great husband and father you are and your boss is always smiling at you. This indicates that you are doing a great job in every area of your life. Most responsible men do an excellent job of meeting everyone else’s needs but theirs. Today take the time and do something for yourself, not your family or your boss.

father, parenting, fatherhood, parenting, family, life
Photo by Craog Mckay from Pexels

Buy Yourself a Gift

Probably the only gifts you receive are from your family and close friends but think about gifting yourself. Buy yourself something you love, or go on a vacation or do anything else you’ve always wanted. Don’t feel guilty about spending money or time on your happiness. If you love cars, check out Hyundai Santa Fe for Sale, buy yourself a better car, or great shoe or outfit. Whatever gift would make you happiest, go for it. You don’t have to consult anyone, but let your family know that you gifted yourself. You’ve been working hard, and a little self-appreciation is essential.

Stop Being Harsh On Yourself

You probably had goals and a timeframe, but you haven’t achieved all of them on time. Instead of judging yourself harshly, look at the accomplishments and understand the reasons that hindered your progress. If you wanted to buy a bigger house for your family in five years or start a business but haven’t, there is still time to do it. Maybe you gave yourself little time, or other responsibilities such as the arrival of a baby hindered or slowed down the progress. You can still go back to your goals and work hard to achieve them but most importantly, appreciate yourself for what you accomplish every day. You’ve managed to bring up a happy family, that’s more than enough.

Accept/Receive Appreciation

It’s not easy to accept appreciation. Most times, you feel like you don’t deserve it. If you’ve worked hard and your boss rewarded you with a few days holiday or a complimentary ticket to a destination of your choice, don’t feel guilty spending all that time and money on yourself. If others acknowledge your hard work, internalize the appreciation and believe you deserve it. Don’t brush off a compliment but smile, say thank you and believe you earned it. It will boost your self-worth.

Appreciate Your Life

You are in good physical, financial, emotional and mental health, and you have a happy family living a comfortable life, appreciate that every day. Take time to identify the blessings in your life and be thankful. Play and admire your kids, reflect on the progress you’ve made over the years and even embrace the mistakes because they are learning platforms. Appreciating yourself means you don’t have to wait for others approval or praise. You know your worth and don’t tear yourself down when you make mistakes or take too long to achieve your goals.

Life

9 Signs of Human Trafficking and What to Do if You Spot It

Leave a comment

Human trafficking is a real problem throughout the world. It destroys a countless number of lives and families. When a person is forced to perform sex acts against their will, they are victims of sex trafficking. Perhaps you’ve wondered what you can do about this global issue or asked, “What can I do to be more aware of trafficking, and what do I do if I suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking?” Here are some warning signs to look out for and what you can do about it.

1. A Controlling Adult

This person can be a “sponsor,” guardian or any other title. The victim will rarely be alone and will say very little when their handler is around. This person also monitors the victim’s communications, spending and whereabouts. You can offer to reach out to a sex crime lawyer on their behalf.

2. Works in the Sex Industry

Everyone who works in the sex industry is not a victim, but those who are in this industry are more likely to be a victim of sex crimes. It is much easier for these individuals to be pressured into performing sex acts.

3. Owe Money to an Employer

Victims of labor trafficking sometimes owe money to their employer because the employer is exploiting the victim. Oftentimes victims are underpaid and not paid the wages they were promised.

4. Work in Isolated and Dangerous Conditions

Laborers who are isolated from their support system are more easily exploited. Not only are working conditions dangerous, victims do not have the proper safety equipment to do the job and living conditions are often deplorable. You can report this to the National Human Trafficking hotline.

5. Express a Want to Leave Sex Industry

Strippers, prostitutes and other sex workers that disclose to you that they would like to quit the sex business but don’t think they can for fear of retaliation or losing their life could be a trafficking victim.

6. No Control Over Their Identifying Documents

If someone doesn’t have control of their ID, passport or visa, they may be a victim. Traffickers will remove identification from their victims to make their escape difficult and as a way to coerce them into illegal activities.

7. Signs of Physical Abuse

Far too often trafficking victims are physically abused. Their traffickers aren’t concerned about a victim’s well being, and abuse is a tool used to keep victims in line. If you notice bruises or other abrasions, ask if they need help. If they do, you can notify local law enforcement.

8. Scripted Responses

When conversation seems rehearsed and unnatural, there may be a problem. Victims are instructed to attract as little attention to themselves for a reason. That’s why knowing what to say is important to victimization.

9. Underage Prostitute

Minors who are in the sex industry are victims of trafficking according to the law. So if you spot an underage prostitute there is definitely trouble afoot.

If you come across a person you think is benign trafficked, you can call the NCMEC, notify law enforcement or contact an attorney. You are not powerless in this fight.