Is Your Lifestyle Retirement Ready? Why Rightsizing Makes for Better Life After Work
A s you approach retirement, it is important to make sure your lifestyle is tailored to fit the end of your working life. This concept, known as “rightsizing,” canmake your savings last longer, which provides you with the freedom to enjoy your later years. Kathy Gottberg, author of “Rightsizing: A Smart Living 365 Guide to Reinventing Retirement,” defines the concept as a “conscious choices for a better lifestyle that more closely fits your new needs in retirement.” The earlier you can begin rightsizing, the more prepared you’ll be for the days when you no longer have an income from your job. For most of us, what really matters when we retire is spending time with loved ones and having memorable experiences. Nobody’s greatest regret is not having enough stuff. With that inmind, here are a few tips that will prepare you for a fruitful and fulfilling retirement. Clear Out UnneededGoods If you’ve been in the same home for years or decades, you probably have more stuff than you need. Start by discarding anything that’s broken, damaged, or simply not getting any use. You should also make sure you’re not acting as a storage unit for friends or family members. If they don’t have the space for something, it shouldn’t be your job to hang on to it. Eliminating clutter will free up your space and allow you to treasure what you have.
Move Into aHouse You Can Fill Once all of your children have left the nest, you’ll often find that you don’t need as many rooms. Selling your home and moving into one that isn’t half- empty will generate some extra cash and help you to live more efficiently. As an added bonus, you’ll often find that a cozier home increases happiness. The less time you have to spend on home maintenance, the more you can devote to the activities you love. Change YourMindset Too often, we suffer from the urge to “keep up with the Joneses.” If our neighbor buys something, we want it too. But to really rightsize, you should resist the urge to meet other people’s standards. Retirement should help you make the most of your life, not anyone else’s. Before you make a purchase, especially a large one, ask yourself what’s motivating your decision. If it’s not going to make your life better, leave it on the shelf. When all is said and done, you will have successfully rightsized. But keep in mind rightsizing needs regular maintenance. It’s about forming habits, not making a one-time change. When you can change your habits and keep those habits, you’ll find they become easier over time, and before you know it, you’ll be living a lifestyle that truly makes sense for you!
Slow Cooker Raspberry WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE
(Recipe inspired by SlowCookerGourmet.net.)
Ingredients • 1 cup white
• 2 tablespoons
chocolate chips • 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk • 2 cups heavy cream, divided • 3 cups milk (any variety will do)
powdered sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 4 tablespoons raspberry liqueur or syrup
Directions 1. In a slow cooker, combine white chocolate chips, condensed milk, 1 cup cream, and milk. Cover and heat on low about 2 hours. 2. In a large bowl, mix remaining 1 cup cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. 3. Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until stiff peaks form. 4. Serve mugs of hot chocolate with about 1 tablespoon of raspberry liqueur or syrup to taste and a dollop of whipped cream.
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