Retirement Options

Retirement Options

Do you ever think about your retirement? We do. We’ve been working so long that it becomes a puzzling question of what shall you do now for the rest of your life? Work gives us routine and something to aim for, but retirement seems to take all that away. That’s what it might seem like on the surface especially to people who haven’t done proper research into their options. Retiring for many people seems scary because it’s like a confirmation that they are heading into their twilight years. However, retiring from the workforce and living your own life without any worries of a 9 to 5 should be uplifting. Now you get to do all the things you never thought you could and really spoil yourself post retirement. 


 Using Your Senior Skills

Many people above the age of 70 still retain a lot of enthusiasm for their profession. In fact look around the world and you see many people in their 70s in the most senior positions of business and many other jobs. This is because they have a lot of experience, knowledge, and have made the right decisions to become a senior figure in their industry. If your parents are looking to retire and are one of these people or you believe that they have such great skills that they shouldn’t be wasted, speak to them about working for themselves as a consultant. Consultants are basically like freelancers, they offer their skills and expertise to anyone that is willing to listen and pay them.

You don’t have to do anything that is tiring or requires a lot of legwork. Your wisdom and words are the only thing people want. These people that would hire you would be entrepreneurs that want knowledge of special tactics, small business owners that want to grow and expand, and of course corporations that need cool and calm experienced heads in their boardroom. Many c-suites will use senior consultants as their personal advisors and these positions can easily fetch a cool six-figure salary. So if you have parents that are retiring from a busy office, tell them that if they still have passion for their industry, they might want to become a freelance consultant. 

 Low Stress High Reward

Much like the consultant work, there are teaching jobs you can take on to pass on your knowledge. If you are someone looking to retire from the workforce and just take each day as it comes and slowly relax into old age, you can still find pleasure in teaching. For example, if you are a professor in a university and you just want to stop marking coursework and exams, as well as teaching full classes but still love your work, then look towards tutoring. Why should you stop working just because your body is ageing? If your mind is fresh and loves your subject so much that you want to impart knowledge into the world, then look toward becoming a private tutor.

Firstly, it’s far less stressful as you’re only dealing with however many clients you wish. You pick the days you want to work and the hours you want to put in.  Since you’re dealing with clients on a one-on-one basis, you can take your time to explain the intricacies of your work and the things they need to understand. You can tutor at your home and have no need to meet up anywhere. It’s simple, it’s relaxed and it’s still mindfully engaging.

Retirement With Care

If you’re someone that is looking to retire but you would still like to enjoy the things in life you have now, then you have many options. Those that know they are physically unable to wander around and go see things they would like to, often find themselves in the house a lot. For that you have options for carers to come visit you at home and perform all sorts of tasks. Take a look and compare the live-in care options that you have regarding your own city. The website offers a directory to many services and then compares them to see which might be best for you. The feedback that each service receives is also taken into account so you can make the best choice from previous users. We’re not quite at this stage yet but it’s good tobe able to have such info to pass onto relatives.

Retirement is far from boring, not in this day and age. That old image of a gloomy few final years is but a stereotype that needs knocking on its head. Now you can still work, but absolutely to your own wishes and probably make more money as well. You can tutor privately, passing on knowledge to the next bright young minds. You may want to take up private consulting so you can help executives in their companies while playing a less stressful role.

 

Planning Elderly Mischief

eldery, elderly entertainment

When it comes to looking after the older members of our societies, Italy has it just right. Rather than being seen as an encumbrance, older members of the family are revered for their years of work, sacrifice and knowledge. In many areas around the world merging households with parents and other older relatives is something that happens often; I like this. We should cherish our elders, after all, without them there would be no us.

Roy and I were discussing our retirement plans the other day. We have a fair few years to go unless we win the lottery however these things should be planned or at least considered in advance. We talked about pensions, where we would live and so on. What this conversation did bring up was doubt about what social and entertainment facilities and opportunities are available for the elderly (we may have gone off topic a little by this point).

If you think about your local area, what is in place to entertain you or your family in their twilight years?

Retirement and Elderly Stage Fun

Personally, I’d like to volunteer when I retire. There are some fabulous organisations locally who offer befriending opportunities for those with a few hours spare to spend on something fulfilling for all involved. The idea of this appeals to me.

Our local library is entirely volunteer-run after the council withdrew a couple of years ago. Forty willing volunteers work to a rota to keep this valuable resource open for all and they have to fundraise tirelessly in order to pay for the library overheads. Once I’ve retired I’d very much like to take a volunteer place here.

What about when I’m a little older and perhaps don’t want to volunteer or visit regularly? How will I occupy my time and what will keep me busy and out of trouble? There are a number of factors to consider here. Transport is going to be a big thing for me. I don’t drive now and never have. I can navigate public transport fairly easily in order to get where I need to go. Will I want to walk to the train station or a long way to the nearest bus stop when a little older though? Bus services are being cut left, right and centre and the cost of rail travel is rising fast. I’m doubtful whether I’ll want to spend so much of my pension on travel alone.

Again, there are numerous sporting activities, befriending groups and social activities organised in our lovely rural town of Thirsk but what about elsewhere?

The more we discussed our plans, the more we realised that as a society we need to look at the way the elderly are treated in terms of community events, access, transport, affordability and more. I have grand plans for mischief and mayhem when older however I don’t want to work too hard to find ways to enjoy myself. Maybe we’ll move to Italy…

In Summary

I don’t think that hitting a certain age means you can no longer go to the cinema or means you are no longer able to be active, far from it! Did you know for example that over 25% of over 60s have watched Game of Thrones. That’s pretty hardcore viewing. Our elders don’t suddenly ditch fun and frolics for custard creams and comfy slippers. That’s a very inaccurate stereotypical view. What I would like to see more of, and now, are more opportunities for the elderly, more ways to get out and about, or enjoy time at home without too big a pinch on the purse. My concern is that after a certain age too many individuals who still have so much to offer are being put out to pasture.

What do you think? How do you see yourself enjoying your later years and what obstacles do you think might get in your way?