Retirement Living

How to Keep Yourself Fit for a Healthy Retirement

man and woman in kitchen cooking-keep yourself fit for a healthy retirement

All the advances in medicine and technology have created a dramatic increase in life expectancy. People are living longer than ever, including much more years in retirement. We all hope for a happy and healthy retirement, but unfortunately, getting older comes with concerns over health.

Making an active effort to stay healthy will not only allow you to live longer but will increase your chances of having a more fulfilling and energetic retirement doing the things you love.

So how do you keep yourself fit for a healthy retirement? The best advice is to start planning for it today.

In this article, I will look at the problems related to physical, mental, and emotional health and find ways to improve each.

Find time for physical activity

Whether you are planning to retire in a few years or already retired, get moving.

We all know that exercising is important. Studies have consistently confirmed that regular exercise reduces your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and even slows down the development of dementia. So, if you want to have a healthy and active retirement, then find time for regular exercise.

Many experts argue over how much exercising is healthy. But everyone agrees that some moderate exercise is better than none. Whether it is aerobics, lifting weights and doing sit-ups, or practicing yoga and gardening, we should all get engaged in some moderate physical activity.

The important part is to find the activity you like so you will keep doing it regularly.

Do not wait until you retire or do not wait until your health starts to decline. Choose something you would enjoy and make it part of your daily routine.

Many books and YouTube videos can help you to do a workout from the comforts of your home.

15 Best Quick and Easy At-Home Workout Moves

Here is my favorite home workout on YouTube. It only takes me 30 minutes to follow the workout playlist any time I want.

Family Fitness – 30 Minutes Body Workout

If you prefer to exercise with other people, you can join a gym or take group fitness classes. But if you do not want to spend extra money on expensive personal trainers or gym membership, walking, running, or cycling outdoor will be more than enough to stay in good physical shape for years.

Explore your local walking and jogging trails. Those 30 minutes a day you need to spend walking can be done in a local park or greenway path. Leave your car at home and walk or bike to the local store, bank, or post office. Gardening or decluttering are also easy ways to keep you active and fit.

Have a healthy diet

As you age you are more likely to have problems with health linked to nutrition. That is why a healthy diet is more important than ever.

Eating healthy is similar to exercising every day. And it works better if you plan for it. Plan your meals so you will not end up snacking up on ice cream before dinner because you are hungry.

If you want to eat a healthy diet avoid too many saturated fats in meat and dairy. Healthy people usually restrict the amount of sugar and salt in their diets, and they drink lots of water and tea.

According to various studies, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is linked to a reduced risk of obesity, diabetes, and cancer. So instead of eating fast food, you should choose to eat fresh food. For people over age 65, it is recommended to have five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

For me, the Mediterranean diet works as a great inspiration. People in the Mediterranean region live longer because they follow a healthy diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and low-fat dairy products. Their diet is low on animal products, and they prefer to cook fresh fish.

You need to make sure that you are always working on how to improve your diet by choosing foods that are good for you and cutting down on packaged food. Do not forget to shop smart and always read food labels to avoid foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat.

veggies and fish - healthy diet for retirement

I try to eat healthy every day and plan all our meals. I like to have a healthy breakfast – orange juice, oatmeal, fruit, and green tea. I try to eat less at dinner because I watch my calories and do not want to gain extra weight. I prefer to eat meat or fish during lunch. And I serve all our meals with at least one green vegetable or salad.

And the main thing, I try to go easy on sugar (chocolate and ice cream are my weakness!) and drink plenty of water with lemon.

Learn new things

Keeping yourself fit in retirement is not only related to physical activity. In general, being fit means a combination of different factors including physical fitness and mental health. Staying sharp mentally is as crucial as staying physically fit.

When you are engaged in physical activities you focus on your muscle strength training. The same kind of training should go for brain activity. To stay mentally fit you need to challenge your brain with various exercises.

One of the best ways to keep your mind young and active is by learning new things.

Here is a list of ideas:

Learn how to play a musical instrument
Start (or join) a book club
Learn how to paint
Take a pottery class
Learn how to be a photographer
Take a cooking or baking class
Write a poem
Write and publish an e-book
Learn new digital skills – open an Instagram or Twitter account.

I believe that keeping our minds sharp is an important part of prolonging the time we can enjoy in retirement.

Monitor your health

Many health issues are age-related.

Our body gets weaker as we age. Many people will experience aging issues such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, dementia, osteoporosis, and more. That is why regular medical check-ups are a must.

You should visit your doctor regularly and do not skip any recommended health screenings and tests. If you are a woman, you need regular tests for breast and cervical cancers. If you are a man, your doctor should help you decide about a prostate cancer test.

Keep an eye on your blood pressure and cholesterol level to avoid a heart attack or stroke.

Maintain an active social life

People who have plenty of friends and enjoy a close relationship with their families, typically live longer than people who are lonely.

When you retire, you do not just leave your job, you enter a new stage in life.

Leaving the workforce will reduce your social interaction with colleagues. Friends and neighbors might retire and move away. Death can take a spouse or close friend. Those are all sad life events because loneliness is linked to poor health and early death.

We all know that having a strong social support system helps us deal with stress.

It is important to stay involved and engaged in life, so you do not feel lonely. Being engaged in a community gives people a sense of purpose, security, and connection. It is important to have a reason to get up every morning, go out, and do things.

Find new purpose in life

If you are ready to leave the working world, think about how you will spend the 40 + hours a week you spent previously at your job.

The reality is that you may feel ready to retire, but on the other hand, you may feel nervous and doubtful.

What are you going to do with all that free time? One of the best things you can do is create a plan for your retirement.

You need to decide what will be important in your new life and how are you going to spend your days and weeks. The minute you say goodbye to coworkers you need to know what is next for you.

It is not a secret that when you feel like your life has a purpose and meaning, you will experience less stress. And with less stress comes fewer negative health effects.

Having a purpose in life makes people stay more physically active and more willing to take care of themselves.

Finding Your Purpose in Life in Retirement

Find hobbies to fill your days

I think everyone had some interests in life before they were forced to put them on a shelf during their working years. We spend our lives doing things that we have to do – career, kids, family. But retirement gives us a new opportunity to start over again.

Many retirees struggle to feel useful after they stop working which can negatively affect their health. Instead of being depressed and unhappy, refocus your energy on learning something new and more interesting than your previous job.

I believe that desire to travel the world is a big factor for people wanted to retire. Travel is important at any time in life. But travel in retirement gives you a new opportunity to explore the world, learn a new language, and use your social and communication skills.

Another big factor is a desire to complete a bucket list. Creating a bucket list is a helpful tool to set up your retirement goals or have a list of things you want to complete at least once in your life.

15 Ideas on What to Do in Retirement

Work on your relationships

Retirement can be a challenging time for relationships. When you stop working you will leave most of your friends at work behind. Sadly, many will disappear from your everyday life the day you leave.

two women on a bench - friendship in retirement

Growing older could be lonely unless you have support, love, and even friendship from your family.

Do you have a good relationship with your spouse if you are married? Do you stay connected to your children and their families? Do you spend enough time with your grandchildren?

There are many things to do together as a family. Go to the game or concert with your kids and grandkids. Consider a family vacation together. Spend all holidays and other celebration times together.

Do you stay connected with other parts of your family like your brothers or sisters? What effort do you make to stay in touch with them?

Unfortunately, many of us spend more time on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to stay informed and connected with former classmates or colleagues because they post often rather than spend time with people who are important to us.

I recently read that one of the greatest regrets of people who are getting closer to the end of their lives is that they didn’t spend enough time with their loved ones.

Life is short! Make sure that you spend enough time with the most important people in your life.

Takeaway

Taking care of yourself and making your physical, mental, and emotional health a top priority in retirement is the best gift you can give to yourself and those you love.

How do you keep yourself fit and healthy? Share your ideas in the comments below.

If you enjoyed reading, share this post so that others can find it, too!

Top 4 Key Ingredients for a Successful Retirement

by Maggie Leave a Comment

happy couple on a beach-key ingridients to a happy retirement

Many people struggle to find happiness in retirement. Gone are the days when people would retire based on their age and then spend a brief period of life paying bills and watching TV before they die. And unfortunately, their short life in retirement did not look a whole lot different from their working years.

Luckily, that retirement lifestyle is not appealing to new retirees anymore. But if you want the final years of life to be a happy and fulfilling time, then you need to plan for it accordingly.

Most of us would like to retire at a certain age and stop working. Others would prefer to keep working as long as they can. There are still many people who plan to get a part-time job so they can transition to retirement.

The way your retirement looks will depend on your personal priorities and choices.

Here is the list of the top 4 key ingredients to make your retirement a success story:

1. Being healthy

Health becomes the most important part of our happiness in retirement as we grow older. If you want to stay active, you need to be healthy and fit.

The healthier you are the more you will be able to do with your free time.

During the years of working and raising a family, it is so easy to let your fitness slide. There is not enough time for everything so many of us allow our weight and diet to decline.

But once you have retired you will have plenty of time to improve your physical health and fitness.

Stay in shape.

There are still many retirees who spend days lying on a couch watching TV and snacking. Some people gain weight during retirement because they are not active. As a result, they begin to eat more because they are bored.

Being overweight and lack of exercise put retirees at great risk of many chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, cancer, and heart disease.

Importance of regular exercise.

We all know that eating healthy and exercising regularly is important. But research shows how it is especially important to retirees.

I just read that the recent study proved that regular exercise had the biggest impact on whether or not the participants developed dementia.

Exercise can take many forms – jogging in the mornings, hiking in the woods, biking to the grocery store, taking yoga classes, swimming in the lake. If you find a workout or physical activity that you enjoy, you should stick to it for a long time.

Many books and videos can help you to do a workout from the comforts of your home. But you can still join a gym or take group fitness classes if you want to exercise with others. Do not be afraid to try something new such as Pilates, Kickboxing, or Zumba.

This winter Roman and I started exercising more at home. Our daughter sent us a link to a wonderful home workout on YouTube. It only takes us 30 minutes to follow the workout playlist any time we want.

But I have already noticed that I started to feel more fit and energetic. After working from home for so long and gaining extra 10 pounds I hope I will lose more weight and stay in shape with regular workouts.

Eat healthy.

Besides exercising and staying fit, my other goal is to eat healthy. I am not living on a diet as I used to do when I was in my 30s and 40s. I just created a very simple plan and start taking consistent mini- steps every single day.

This winter’s goal is to cut on sugar. I stop buying any sweets regularly (even I have a sweet tooth) – no candies, chocolate, cookies, or pastries. Not having any sweets in our pantry helped me cut on sugar and develop a healthy habit.

Focusing on one healthy habit at a time keeps your health goals much more achievable.

2. Having a financial security

We all want to have the financial freedom to do things we love in life. Thus, financial security is one of the key ingredients having a happy and successful retirement.

The fear of not having enough to cover living expenses and outliving your money is one of the biggest worries of retirees and pre-retirees.

Good life costs money. You do not need to be rich to have a happy life, but you still need enough money to finance your retirement lifestyle.

As I have already explained in many of my articles, you need to figure out how much you actually need to retire and live a comfortable life. Obviously, that is a different amount of funds for everyone!

If you are close to retirement, have a clear snapshot of your retirement funds and where your money is going today. It can help you take control of your spending and saving habits.

If your numbers show that you will be able to cover living expenses and have enough left over to live a comfortable life, then you are on the right path. But if you have a significant shortage of funds you will need to cut your spending, save more, or even work for a few extra years.

Here are a few related posts you might want to read:

3. Having a purpose in retirement life

I like to think that we all should retire to something and not from something.

Retiring to escape your job will not bring your happiness. You need to have something on your calendar that you are passionate about and makes you get up every morning.

Find hobbies and interests to fill your days.

I believe that everyone had some interests in life before they were forced to put it on a shelf during their working years. However, retirement gives you a new opportunity to start over again by pursuing your passion.

woman photographer at the lake-learn something new in retirement

Do not consider yourself as ‘retired from life’. Refocus your energy on learning something new and more interesting than your previous job.

If you do not know what to do with your time in retirement, here are a few helpful articles you might want to read:

Expand your horizons.

These days traveling is a number one goal for most retirees.

Many people look forward to traveling after they retire because they are no longer are limited by the number of vacation days. You can go whenever you like for how long you want.

Many people (including myself) look at retirement as the best time of their lives, a time for adventure and travel. I believe that one of the biggest benefits of retirement is the freedom to explore the world and expand your horizons.

In today’s world, a new generation of adventurers has emerged – senior travelers. They are brave, resilient, and excited about fulfilling their childhood dreams.

Career obligations, family life, and financial matters prevented them from actually doing it. But retirement brings freedom, and they do not wait any longer to explore the world.

Do you have a retirement bucket list?

I have found it useful to create my retirement bucket list. That is a list of things I want to do and see in our local area and other countries.

I like to keep my bucket list updated with the name of new places I learned and the dates we want to travel there. Most of the time, Roman and I feel excited when discussing our travel plans and the places we want to visit.

A few ideas from my retirement bucket list:

Live in Paris for three months
Learn the French language
Plan the three months road trip across Italy
Take cooking class in Spain and learn how to cook paella
Write an e-book and self-publish it
Visit Brazil during the carnival and learn how to dance salsa
Learn how to grow a vegetable garden
Go on a Safari in Africa

Here are a few related posts you might want to read:

Learn something new.

Many pre-retirees are afraid to be bored in retirement, and I can relate to that feeling.

Most of us spend our lives dedicated to responsibilities. We often forget how to live outside of our comfort zone.

I read that learning something new every day is an important part of personal growth. Retirement gives us the freedom to get out of that comfort zone and add something new to life.

If you are getting ready to retire, think about how to structure your days. Plan to allow yourself of trying something new and even uncomfortable like going back to school or learning a new language.

Here is a list of ideas:

Learn how to play a musical instrument
Start (or join) a book club
Learn how to paint
Take a pottery class (a photography class)
Take a cooking or baking class
Write a poem or an e-book
Learn new digital skills – open an Instagram or Twitter account.

4. Spending time with friends and family

Retirement can be a challenging time for relationships.

When you stop working you will leave most of your friends at work behind. You have spent many hours with colleagues at work. Unfortunately, many will disappear from your everyday life the day you leave. It will take a lot of effort from both sides to keep friendship, once the common purpose of work is gone.

Growing older could be lonely unless you have support, love, and even friendship from your family.

Do you have a good relationship with your spouse If you are married? Are you close to your children and their families? Do you spend enough time with your grandchildren?

Ask if you can go to the game or concert with your kids and grandkids. Consider a family vacation together. Spend all holidays and other celebration times together.

Do you stay connected with other parts of your family like your brothers or sisters? Do you keep in touch with them regularly if they live far away? What effort do you make to stay in touch with them?

Unfortunately, many of us spend more time on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter to stay informed and connected with former classmates or colleagues because they post often rather than spend time with people who are important to us.

I recently read that one of the greatest regrets of people who are getting closer to the end of their lives is that they didn’t spend enough time with their loved ones.

Life is short! Make sure that you spend enough time with the most important people in your life.

What is the most important part of your retirement? Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments.

If you enjoyed reading, share this post so that others can find it, too!

How Do I Decide When Best to Retire?

by Maggie 2 Comments

a couple in Florence - when is best time to retire

When do you want to retire? Deciding when is the best time to retire can be one of the biggest decisions in your life.

Everyone has different reasons for retirement. There are always financial decisions behind this question but often the time of retirement is based on your emotions.

When people approach retirement age there is often a combination of excitement and anxiety. The anxiety often comes from figuring out how much you can afford to spend. But the excitement comes from having more free time and being your own boss.

However, what will I do with all that free time? All these emotions are related but money is the most reasonable concern.

Most of us who are close to retirement are worried about having enough money to maintain our lifestyle in the next 20 years. And yet, money is not a remedy for a successful retirement. Having enough of it to feel financially secure is important but there is more to it than just money. Besides having a solid financial plan, you need to have a plan for how to stay active and engaged.

Below are my answers to the question of “How do I decide when best to retire?”

Figure out what is important to you.

Besides getting closer to retirement age, everybody has their own reasons to retire.

You need to figure out what is most important to you. Is your financial security most important or your personal time with family? How is your health? Are you healthy enough to keep working?

I write a lot about financial security in retirement and how to achieve it, but I am confident that with age your time has become the most important commodity. And how you spend your time becomes more important as you grow older.

Let’s be honest and face the fact that when you have fewer active years left, you need to make the best use of them.

There is no need to rush to retirement if you are happy and finding meaning in your work. However, if you lost interest in your work and looking for other ways to spend your time that you think is more important, then you are ready to retire.

The Covid-19 has changed our lives. Everybody is talking about “The Great Resignation” in the workforce. Mass numbers of people quit their jobs and labor markets are shaking. According to statistics, the largest disruption is among those in their 30s and 40s.

But there is a big number of baby boomers who are retiring for reasons related to the pandemic.

When you are faced with working from home and learning new technologies on your own, and often forced to do more work with fewer colleagues, many people in their 50s and 60s decided to call it quits.

Especially it is related to nurses and teachers who do not want to continue working on the front line of the disease. Many had a wake-up call when they caught a virus and got motivated to retire and take care of their health.

Spend time with the most important people in your life.

Have you thought about who are the most important people in your life and if you spend enough time with them?

We all know that maintaining a good balance between work and personal life is important, however many of us get more focused on career and promotions.

Even outside of work we spend more time on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter to stay informed and connected with former classmates or colleagues because they post often rather than spend time with people who are important to us.

I noticed that many of my friends and colleagues start moving closer to family or friends after they retire so they can spend more time with them.

I have read that one of the greatest regrets of people who are getting closer to the end of their lives is that they didn’t spend enough time with their loved ones.

When we retire I want to move closer to my daughter so we can spend more time together. And when we have grandchildren, we will want to spend more time with them.

Are you healthy enough to keep working?

When it comes to deciding when is best to retire, we have to make the decision based on our personal circumstances. And health can be a big motivator to retire sooner and live the life you want to live. I had witnessed many people who worked too long and were forced to retire due to illness.

It is natural that your health is declining with age. But there is no reason to keep working if you suffer from work-related health issues like constant stress, anxiety, and headaches.

Improving your health is an important reason to retire before it is too late.

Both of my parents died young and had no chance to enjoy their retirement. Looking at their life I do not want to miss out on my happy times. I want to enjoy my retired life while I am still healthy.

Another strong incentive to retire is becoming eligible for Medicare at age 65. If you are working for an employer who does not provide health insurance, you might be ready to retire when you turn 65. Medicare Part A is free for everyone. And premiums for Medicare Part B, C and D are more affordable than paying for health insurance on your own.

Figure out what is your purpose in life in retirement.

The world has changed and people entering retirement today want fulfillment and purpose. Today’s retirees are more active and adventurous. They are more likely to be starting a new business, pursuing their passions, and exploring the world.

If you feel ready to leave the working world, think about how you will spend the 40 + hours a week you spent previously at your job. The reality is that you may feel ready to retire, but on the other hand, you may feel nervous and doubtful.

What are you going to do with all that free time?

One of the best things you can do is create a plan for your retirement. You need to decide what will be important in your new life and how are you going to spend your days and weeks. The minute you say goodbye to coworkers you need to know what is next for you.

retired couple is gardening - when is the best time to retire

When you have a retirement lifestyle plan ready it will make your transition from job to retirement is much easier.

Here are a few related posts you might want to read:

I believe that desire to travel the world is a big factor for people wanted to retire. Another big factor is a desire to complete a bucket list.

Do you have a bucket list? What is on your list?

If you do not have it maybe you want to create one so you will know what you want to do in retirement. Creating a bucket list is a helpful tool to set up your retirement goals or have a list of things you want to complete at least once in your life.

Write down a list of things you always wanted to do but never could because you did not have time, energy, money, or something else.

A few ideas from my retirement bucket list:

Live in France for a year
Learn the French language
Road trip through Italy
Take cooking classes in Spain and learn how to cook paella
Write an e-book
Visit Brazil during the carnival and learn how to dance salsa
Grow a vegetable garden
Design and build a lake house
Go on a Safari in Africa

The important thing to remember is that we spend our lives doing things that we have to do – school, career, kids, family. And spending enough time on the things you were dreaming about for a long time is more important than work. After all, life is short!

If you do not know what to do with your time in retirement here is a helpful article you might want to read:

15 Ideas on What to Do in Retirement

Do you have financial security?

As you are getting closer to retirement age you will have several big financial decisions to make:

When to stop working
When to take Social Security
How to pay for health care
How to generate cash from your retirement savings

These decisions are interconnected and could make a big difference in your retirement lifestyle.

As I said before, if you are happy and fulfilled at your workplace, there is no reason to rush to retirement because you can be more financially secure if you delay retirement for a few extra years.

People live longer and we need to have enough money to support our lifestyle in retirement.

One of the biggest factors with regards to expenses that will affect your financial security is where you live in retirement. If you are planning to relocate after retirement you need to remember that buying and selling a home often comes with additional expenses.

Where you will live and how you want to live in retirement will be one of the most important decisions you have to make. This decision will affect how much money you will spend on housing and how much you will have left to enjoy life.

Helpful post you might want to read:

But if you want an extra financial cushion, working longer for a few extra years gives you a chance to contribute to your savings, increase your Social Security income and delay withdrawals from your retirement funds.

What are your reasons to retire?

If you enjoyed reading, share this post so that others can find it, too!

Retirement Travel Tips for Planning a Vacation

by Maggie Leave a Comment

ocean beach with red umbrellas - retirement travel tips

Traveling can be a major part of your lifestyle If you are part of the baby boomer generation. With the children grown and gone, these empty nesters have all the freedom to spend their time and money exploring the world.

We all know that traveling can be exciting, but it takes time and effort to set up your travel itinerary and organize a whole trip. Even though it does take time, but it is well worth it because it will ultimately save your precious time when you are actually there to explore.

Here are some helpful travel tips to consider before planning a vacation or going on a long-term trip:

Prepare your home before going away.

It might be hard to leave your house when you are going away on a short or long trip. But creating a list of tasks needed to prepare your home is one of the most important tips.

When you check off each task accomplished, you can head off on your adventure knowing that your home is safe.

Clean out the refrigerator and freezer and get rid of all perishable goods.
Empty and wash all trash bins.
Empty the dishwasher and leave it cracked open, so any additional water in the system will evaporate.
Set the thermostat to practical temperature. For our winter trips, we always set the thermostat to 55 degrees. It keeps the house well above freezing and prevents the pipes from bursting.
Make sure that the smoke detectors are working properly.
Turn off the water valves to toilets, sinks, dishwasher, and washing machine. This can prevent any damage from water leaks. We usually turn off the main water line into our house before we leave.
It is recommended to turn off the water heater. There is no reason in maintaining a hot tank of water for months when you are away traveling.
If you are leaving for a very long time, I would recommend unplugging all electronic devices.
Arrange with the local post office to have your mail is forwarded or held. Mail can be held for 30 days or less, and you can do it through USPS.com. Although, our small-town post office can hold mail for three months. Also, reserving a P.O. Box from a local post office can be a good idea as well. Even though we pay all our bills online, we still receive a lot of leaflets and flyers in our mailbox. When you are away on a long trip you do not want a bunch of letters hanging out of your mailbox, shouting to the world that you are not home.
If you are planning a long-term trip, try to put on hold your cable TV and internet. Not all cable TV and internet service providers will allow you to do that, but some will. So, if it is possible put your expensive services on hold.
I like to leave my house clean before I go on vacation even though it is the last thing you want to do in the middle of packing. That is why I always thank myself and feel happy when arriving back to a clean and uncluttered home.
The ideal way to leave your car is parked in a garage out of everyone’s eyes. We do not have a garage, so we have to leave our cars parked in our driveway. Another tip is to disconnect the car battery to prevent drainage.
It is important to have trusted neighbors or hire a house sitter. When we travel, we leave a set of house and car keys with our trusted neighbors. We feel grateful to have good neighbors who help to keep our home safe while we are away.

Benefits of using travel apps.

There are apps for almost everything these days and it includes traveling. The rise of websites gives us direct access to hotel and airline booking.

But let’s face it – vacation planning can be overwhelming. You can spend hours browsing hundreds of travel websites and blogs researching destinations, accommodations, available flights, tours, and activities. You can go back and forth multiple times before ultimately choosing one.

But if you want to spend more time enjoying your trip and less time planning, you should consider using travel apps.

Even you do not use apps in your daily life, consider taking advantage of many helpful apps when you start preparing for your travels.

person holding a smartphone - retirement travel apps

If you are looking for a travel app to help to book your trip, Kayak is one of the best apps to make that part of travel easy. I prefer to use Kayak because it is a one-stop shopping app for browsing hundreds of websites for the best deals on hotels, flights, vacation package deals, and car rentals.

I like to use TripAdvisor while researching and reading reviews of restaurants, hotels, and destinations. The best part is you can make reservations directly from the app.

Yelp features reviews written by people who visited local eateries, cafes, diners, restaurants, etc. I even wrote several reviews and posted them on this website. If you are looking for a local flavor, this app might be your best bet.

Google Maps is one of the best driving directions apps available. You do not need to carry a printed map with you anymore. It might be not perfect, but it helps me to get around in places or towns I never visited before.

WhatsApp is one of my favorite apps to communicate with friends and family who live overseas. I use simple text messages, group chats, video chats, and phone calls to keep in touch with everyone when we travel. We can exchange photos and videos without SMS fees.

The Best Travel Apps from NomadicMatt

Benefits of using a travel agent.

The travel industry has changed over the last decade. These days many people prefer to plan their own trips because online booking makes it easy to book airline tickets, hotels, tours, or cruises without visiting a travel agency.

However, the traditional travel agencies have not entirely disappeared. Many have adapted to the modern era. And there are still some situations when you may want to work with a travel expert instead of doing it yourself.

Here are the top benefits of using a travel agent:

Travel agents are well-connected experts. They will do all the work for you if you do not like planning or have a complicated itinerary. If you are planning a big family vacation in another country, a travel agent can help to coordinate all the logistics. So, instead of spending hours on the computer searching for the best deals you will just pay the bill and show up at the airport.
Many travel agents specialize in a particular type of travel such as cruises, luxury tours, resorts, etc. Travel agents have established relationships with many travel companies. They can help you plan a trip that meets your budget and needs without wasting your time and money on the things you are not interested in at all.
Travel agents often have access to benefits that you might not be able to get on your own. Whether it is a hotel room upgrade without added expenses, better seats on the airplane, reservations to a popular tour, or event tickets, a travel agent can add some perks to your trip.
Using a travel agent can help you save time and money even you have to pay a fee for their services. Generally, all agents receive information about rates and discounts and access to promotions from the resorts, tour operators, cruise lines, and other travel industry providers that are not available to the public.
When you are working with a travel agent you can rely on her/his travel assistance if something goes wrong with your trip arrangements. You can call your travel agent if you need to rebook your flights or need assistance with the wrong hotel room or no scheduled transportation to a resort or a theme park.

Consider buying travel and medical insurance.

You do not have to be a frequent traveler to know that decent travel and medical insurance can save you time, money, and a lot of hassle.

We always buy travel insurance when we go on our overseas vacations.

But choosing travel insurance is not one size fits all process. You have to consider trip cancellation, medical emergencies, policy cost, exclusions, etc.

It is recommended to buy travel insurance within 15 days of making the first deposit on your trip, since buying early can qualify you for bonus coverages. You have to read through the insurance policies to understand what coverages are offered without an additional cost. Those bonus coverages may include:

Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions
Emergency medical insurance moved from secondary to primary
Additional accidental death coverage

The main thing to remember is that you must buy travel insurance coverage before it is needed.

Even though some travel medical plans are available for purchase after you have left, most plans with medical coverage are required to be purchased before departing. That means you cannot buy any medical coverage once you got sick and need medical help.

The same applies to all travel insurance coverage.

You do not need to be in perfect health to start traveling. But you need to be in good enough health to endure the stress of being on a road for a long-time. Therefore, if you have a chronic health issue, I recommend checking with your doctor before making long-term travel plans.

Keep in mind, that Medicare does not cover medical expenses happen outside of the US. That is why you will need to buy travel insurance to cover any medical emergency.

How to Find the Best Travel Insurance from NerdWallet

What to pack for long-term travels?

When packing for a long-term trip, the most important things to keep in mind are the length of your trip and the weather.

woman in boots with luggage bag - retirement travel tips

When I am preparing for a trip, I always start with a travel packing list, so I do not forget anything important. My general packing list includes:

Clothes – underwear, sleepwear, socks, T-shirts, a casual shirt, one pair of jeans, one pair of pants, shorts, a few dresses, swimsuits, a sweater, shoes, and sandals.
Accessories – a hat, sunglasses, an evening bag, a purse, a few belts, jewelry, and an umbrella.
Toiletries – toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, deodorant, hairbrush, curling iron, sunscreen, makeup kit, medications, bandages, a small bottle of shampoo and conditioner.
Electronics – cell phone, universal plug adapter, laptop, and electronic chargers.
Documents – passport, copy of passport, emergency contacts, list of medications, a printed list of passwords, credit cards/ATM card, money/ cash.
Misc. items in my handbag – house keys, glasses, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, earplugs, headphones, a book.

We all know that the pandemic has changed the way we travel. Make sure that you have your vaccine passport (vaccination certificate) or negative Covid-19 test results in your handbag. Many airlines require one of these forms to proceed. And do not forget to have a face mask on you and to keep a few extra in your handbag or carry-on.

Safe and Happy Travels!

Related Content:

What are your favorite tips when planning a vacation or a long-term trip?

Share this article if it helped you!

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Place to Retire

by Maggie Leave a Comment

old town-bridge-choosing a place to retire

The best thing about retirement that finally you can live anywhere you want. You no longer need to live closer to where your kids go to school or your work. Instead, you can move to a place with beautiful views, a better climate, a lower cost of living, or just a place you were dreaming about.

However, deciding on where to retire can be a difficult task. It will take a lot of time and effort. Unfortunately, one of the biggest mistakes people make when they choose a place to live in retirement.

You need to envision it, set up the priorities, do the research, make a list of areas, and then visit several places before you finally decide where to move in. Besides the financial issues such as cost of living and taxes, you need to consider the weather, amenities, environment, and how close you want to live to your family.

Planning to move in retirement can be exciting and stressful. However, some common mistakes can ruin even the most carefully planned retirement.

To help you make smart decisions, I came up with a list of 5 Common mistakes to avoid:

1. Not visiting enough places before deciding where you want to live.

Have you thought about your retirement priorities?

Do you like to live closer to the beach, golf course or near the mountains?
Do you want to move into an active adult community, a small town, or prefer rural areas?
Have you discussed your plans with your spouse or partner?

Every retirement website recommends doing detailed research before you commit to one place. The internet has lots of information on retirement communities, places to retire, and the cost of living there. It is a good idea to start planning early before you retire so you can avoid the costly mistake of moving around until you find the place you really like.

Start with creating a checklist of your priorities because it would help you narrow down the number of places you want to move in.

It will be smart to visit the places on your wish list if you are still working. Internet research is great, but often you need to see a place with your own eyes. Because while everything looks amazing online, a half an hour drive to the nearest grocery store can ruin the comfort of your daily life and would become a huge inconvenience.

My favorite go-to website is TopRetirements.com

This website provides you with tons of information for the best retirement communities, active adult communities, and places to retire. If you are at the beginning of your research, start with this website to get some ideas and then decide if you are ready for a visit.

When you travel, make sure to explore the town you like as a potential “best place to retire”. Drive or walk around and decide what you like or dislike about the neighborhoods. Take a tour through any active adult communities if there are any in the area.

It is always a good idea to talk to locals and ask questions about their life there. If you are planning to visit several neighborhoods do not forget to take notes so you can refer to them later. Recently I read that some people even prepare pros and cons spreadsheet while visiting retirement communities.

When you visit a place, do not spend all your time near the hotel. Walk around, visit neighborhoods to get a sense of people. For me, the ideal place to move in would be the place with:

Walkable streets
Close to shopping areas
Close to parks or green spaces
Short drive to the beach
Access to public transportation
Proximity to medical facilities

Another tip for avoiding common mistakes is to visit your favorite place during different seasons. Weather is an important factor, and you want to make sure that you like your new home in all seasons.

lake-snow-trees - choosing a place to retire

I do not like hot and humid weather, so even we want to move to Florida I cannot stay there during the summer. Because of that, we would need to have another place where we can escape the hottest months of the year.

Related Posts:

2. Not renting before buying a retirement home.

I am sure you heard the stories about retirees who regret that they did not live in the area before they bought their retirement home. It is so easy to get excited about the community or new development that seems to meet your dreams. But once you settled down it might be too late to realize that you miss the comfort and amenities of your old life.

It is hard to really know a place before committing to that area unless you rent it first. But if you do not want to rent a place before you buy it, make multiple visits during different seasons to get a feel of this area you will call home for a long time.

Renting a home in the neighborhood you like can help you live like a local. Also, renting make sense if you are considering a move to a new lifestyle. In retirement, we are planning to move from the suburbs to a city. It will be a huge change in lifestyle for us, so we want to test it out for a few years by renting an apartment and see if we like it there.

Renting can also be a temporary step if you are not financially ready to buy a house. More retirees are renting these days because they do not want to be in charge of maintenance or yard care.

Buying a home at any stage of life is a major purchase and not a quick decision. It costs a lot to move to a new home, so you have to plan wisely.

It is important to remember that your retirement life can last for 20 or 30 years. Therefore, you need to find a home with an understanding of your long-term needs. It is great If you healthy right now, but it might change in the future. If one of the spouses gets sick, you will want to live closer to the medical center for regular appointments rather than travel for hours to see a doctor.

The best advice is to rent before you buy because you will get fewer surprises in the future. Otherwise, it can be a costly mistake.

3. Moved to be closer to family.

Many people move to be closer to their children and grandchildren when they retire. In many cases, it is a great idea.

But the situation might reverse, and you will be chasing your children around the country if they choose to relocate. You do not want to be in situation when you move to the area and then find out that your family will be moving away.

grandma with granddaughter baking - moving closer to family in retirement

4. Not doing your due diligence before moving to a new place:

Moved to the wrong environment.

That is a common mistake for many retirees. That is why you need to make sure that the location meets all your needs before you move in.

Everyone knows that staying socially active makes you happier and healthier in retirement. But where are you going to meet new friends? Does a new place have social events, clubs, or gathering places? Is it close to a coffee shop, pool, library, or movie theater?

We live on the east coast. Here everything is close enough if we want to drive for a few hours to get to another state or town. But if we move to Texas or Arizona, I will miss the variety of New England scenery and proximity to a familiar environment. Everything will be far away if we want to have a change of scenery.

If you are planning to move to one of many retirement communities, make sure that it will be a good fit for you. I would recommend renting a unit and spend a week there. Go to the restaurant where everyone eats and see if you like the food and ambiance. Go to the games room, swim in the pool, and talk to residents about life in the community.

The best advice is to find a place that matches your lifestyle when choosing a place to retire. Hence, do not move to a rural area if you love going to museums and theaters.

Related Posts:

No access to good healthcare.

Keep in mind that access to good healthcare and medical facilities is a must when looking for a place to retire. When you are in your 60s and 70s, you are still active and healthy and probably need only routine doctor visits.

But as you grow older, you will need access to retirement facilities, home care providers, and transportation for people with disabilities. And you do not want to move to another place in search of better healthcare in your late 80s.

5. Not considering the design of your retirement home.

That is a common mistake for many retirees when they buy for today and not for tomorrow. You are healthy and active today, but unfortunately, your mobility will decline with age. That is why you need to consider the design of your home with the idea of how it might change in the future.

Everybody loves living in a new two-floor modern-designed home. But what happens if one of the spouses will lose mobility and will be in a wheelchair? How will you go around the stairs? It will be stressful to start looking for a single-level house while trying to sell and move out of your brand-new home.

Have you thought about if your house is accessible for your future needs?

You might not need it right now, but life can change very quickly in 10 or 15 years. It will add a lot of stress and money if you need to renovate your home later to fit your physical abilities.

The important thing to remember that if you are moving to a new place make sure that your house is a comfortable place to age. In the end, it can be expensive and difficult to remodel a place with lots of stairs, a second-floor master bedroom, tall kitchen counters, narrow doorways, and more.

Final Words

Choosing a place to retire may be one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. Hence, do not make it in a rush. Take your time and choose wisely.

But do not be discouraged by the amount of work you have to put in upfront. After all, you will benefit greatly by living and enjoying the retirement of your dreams.

What are your top retirement mistakes to avoid?

Share this article if it helped you!