The Egg Dude

Bob is 70 years old and retired from managing a chicken hatchery five years ago.  He now works part-time selling fresh chicken eggs which he gets from the hatchery at a wholesale price.  Every Tuesday and Wednesday morning, he drives about 25 miles away from his home to the hatchery to pick up dozens of boxes of eggs which he pays for in cash.  He then drives around town to deliver the eggs to his customers on a cash basis which consist mostly of bakeries, diners, restaurants and households.

Bob has been doing his part-time work for years and is happy with the extra money he makes outside of his monthly pension.  He also likes the fact that after delivering the eggs, he gets to visit his friends and relatives while he is in town.  Since he is only working two days a week, he gets to play his favorite sport of tennis with his friends on other days of the week.

Bob says the work makes him active, and it does not require much physical nor mental effort on his part unlike when he was regularly working before retirement.  He also gets his supply of eggs for his own use at a lower cost.  During his rounds, a few customers would see him coming and they would refer to him as "the egg dude" but he doesn't mind.  He figures he will be doing this work for many more years.

Quote for today:

"The money's no better in retirement but the hours are!"

- Anonymous

What A Great Day

When I received the email and itinerary of a tour operator titled "Around Fabled Mt. Makiling," I immediately knew I wanted to join it. I therefore circulated the itinerary to my friends hoping I would have company. None seemed able to join, as they said they have appointments on that day. Some probably just didn’t feel like going out on trips anymore; after all, didn’t we have our tours from way back when? Or was it a case of "retired and tired" for some? Well, I couldn’t shake the tour off my mind so I thought what the heck, even without company, I would join it and enjoy myself. Besides, I could meet new friends there anyway.

On the morning of the tour, a coaster was waiting near RCBC Plaza in Makati from 8 am. When I opened the door to climb up, an elderly lady greeted and welcomed me with a big smile as if she knew me before. I thought she might be the coordinator or tour guide but I wasn’t sure. I learned later that she was one of the regular participants. We immediately hit it off. She was 69 but seemed younger; I believe it was because of her outlook. She said she didn’t want to be just staying at home (she lives alone) and unlike other people her age, she wanted to be proactive in her retirement. She got my number so she can call me when she joins other tours, and I thought that I was getting lucky.

One by one the others arrived, and most were senior citizens with a few junior citizens in tow. I never thought I would be among people who share the same interest and outlook as mine.

By 8:30 am we started our trip on the road. Half an hour later, our first stop was in Ayala-Alabang in a millionaires’ (or billionaires?) subdivision. The houses themselves were already a sight to see. Our destination was Lhuillier’s museum. Lhuillier as you know is a byword for pawnshops here. Well, I haven’t heard of this museum before and it isn’t all about gems. It was in a well-appointed place and we were welcomed by the curator, assistants and guards. The museum mostly housed a private collection of old religious paintings, sculptures, icons and other objets d’art. One who isn’t into religious stuff may not appreciate them, but the fact that these were as far back as the 16th century was something to behold. There were also many representations of Jesus on the cross. Picture-taking inside the museum was prohibited. To preserve the paintings, the place was airconditioned round the clock. The museum tour was a learning experience.

An hour later, we proceeded driving to Calamba, Laguna. We stopped by the Original Buko Pie Bakeshop (buko is coconut). I wondered if their pie is similar to Colette’s which has many branches especially in Tagaytay. Personally, I find Colette’s buko pie a bit sweet for my taste, the crust crumbly and the pie thin. Other buko pies I’ve eaten had extenders in the filling. I bought and tasted Original’s pie and I found it perfect! Not too sweet, the crust was firm and the buko slivers were not “bitin” (few pieces which leave something to be desired).

After buko pie shopping, we drove down to Makiling Greenheights Subdivision at the origami house of Tweetums Gonzales, a writer. Origami as we all know is the Japanese art of folding paper. The house was in a rural subdivision, out of the way maybe, but definitely a nice place to come home to if one wants to get out of city life. Well, the house was aptly called because of the shapes on the front of the house. The house (also called Lily Pad) was charming; there was a pond surrounding the lounging, dining and kitchen area. There were lilies floating and fish of different sizes in the pond; some were goldfish. The property’s area was about 1,400 sq. meters. The vegetation around the house was lush; the place exuded a country, homey and restful ambiance.

We were welcomed by the owner and her friend who is a herbal advocate and who looks into the food part of the tour. We were welcomed with a very refreshing, cold dalandan juice (dalandan is a local lime fruit, like the orange fruit but green), and an appetizer of crispy dried beef tapa (strips of dried beef similar to bacon but without the fat) and fried lumpia (a roll or wrap with veggies and meat inside). I am a vegetarian and shun meat, but when I tasted the beef tapa, I set aside my preference--the beef tapa was crispy and melted in the mouth. The lumpia was thick and equally good, a second helping was inevitable. The buffet lunch consisting of beef mechado, grilled fish, chicken caldereta, mushroom pasta and arugula salad was oh so plentiful and delicious--couldn’t ask for more! Dessert was pecan bars and leche flan (egg custard).

After lunch, we went up the house for a look-see. The owner seems to be a minimalist, but the simple and sparse furnitures were of old hardwood, most likely antique. The master’s bed had a canopy where a white cloth flows down similar to that of the Spanish era. It was inviting to sleep after the hearty lunch. In the spacious bathroom, the sunken tub which gives a good view of the pond exuded a nice feeling of a spa.

From Lily Pad, we left for Los Banos, proceeding to the campus of the University of the Philippines (UP). UP Los Banos or UPLB is about 5,000 hectares. Just like the main university in Diliman which is about 300+ hectares, UPLB is a self-contained community and it looked more like a town by itself. Jeeps ply the routes around the place. We stopped by the animal husbandry area where the Dairy Training and Research Institute is located and bought fresh milk--they have cow’s, carabao’s and goat’s milk. They also sell kesong puti (white cheese). I am not an avid fan of white cheese but this one tasted really good, not salty like the others. The other tour participants bought fresh fruits and vegetables from the couple of vendors under a tree. Cheap and newly harvested, a good deal indeed to us city dwellers.

We then proceeded to the National Arts Center at the foot of Mt. Makiling and home to the Philippine High School for the Arts. It was a nice drive uphill. The trees and greeneries all around can transform one’s mind to a higher plane and thus, the place is really suitable to nurture would-be world class artists (pianist Cecile Licad for one). As we all know, this place was built by former first lady Imelda Marcos. Going up the winding road we stopped by St. Marc’s chapel which is not built like a chapel in the traditional way, but just a simple bare edifice of a big cross. We drove some more to the Clubhouse where we were served chicken sandwiches and spaghetti (not that we need it after the big lunch in the origami house). The Clubhouse is overlooking Laguna de Bay, the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines, and one can see the Crocodile Island which as the name implies, looked like a crocodile from afar. The mountain ranges can also be seen and it was said the mountains looked like a woman lying--with the contours of her hair, face and breasts. Thus, the fabled name, Maria Makiling.

From UPLB we further hit the roads of Los Banos towards Tanauan, Batangas. We saw the International Rice and Research Institute (IRRI) along the road as well as the long geothermal pipes that stretch by the roadside which was quite amusing as they traverse the road upwards and downwards that looked like an arch. It was a long drive but very pleasant, very rural. The roads which were noticeably unlittered were lined with trees branching out towards the top of the road like a canopy. It was a nice green sight to the left and right of us. Obviously life seems slow in this place. What pleasure for the city dwellers!

Our final destination was in a small town called Natatas in Tanauan. There we entered a big gate towards Tarawoods. It is a private 18-hectare property planted to calamansi (a local lime fruit as big as grapes), mangoes, papayas, etc. The couple who owns the property built a house there to go home to, but has expanded into accommodations, swimming pool (for adults and kids) and other amenities for visitors. The house looks Mexican to me with a country ambiance. We were welcomed (again!) with cold calamansi juice and biko (a local delicacy made from sticky rice cooked in coconut extract). After we were shown around the place, we settled on the lounging chairs by the pool and took pictures. By 5:30 pm, we went to the dining area where merienda cena was served. Do not mistake merienda (snack), it was actually early dinner for us. The lady owner served us rice, baked fish, lengua (ox tongue), roast pork and chop suey. Dessert was dirty mango ice cream--dirty because it was handmade. It tasted good but definitely not dirty. By the way, the calamansi juice was great!

After the merienda cena, the owners took pictures of us in the garden. An assistant caught us unaware when he fired a gun which blew out colorful confettis above our heads. We were thrilled and enjoyed it all! After warm goodbyes, we boarded our coaster and the couple waved to us as we were leaving the place to go back to Manila.

All in all, it was an excellent tour. From the start of our trip, the tour guide with her microphone was telling us background stories related to the places we were touring up until our final destination. The food was good and the places we went to were quaint and not often offered by other tour agencies. This proves that sometimes, the road less traveled offers the best experience and adventure. Did I get my money’s worth? More than 100% yes. I couldn’t believe I got to see and experience a lot in a day for the amount I paid. Plus I gained friends who were kindred spirits. They were nice and friendly to say the least, and hoping I will join again. Next time, I will. Hopefully, soon.

Quote for today:

"If not now, when?"

- Zen koan (koan is a meaningful question in Zen)

She Came, He Saw, She Conquered, He Lost

This is a true story but I have changed the names of the people involved for privacy. I have made this story concise but comprehensive. I hope readers, especially men will learn from this. And no, I am not digressing from the topic of this site--just read on. Also, find out who the real “She” was.

Martha came from a fairly good family background--not exactly wealthy but well situated and educated. She was a teacher. She met Mike who was then a budding military officer. Mike’s family background was not as better situated, but his parents had ambitions for their children, and they did their best to educate them.

Martha and Mike had a fairy tale courtship. She wasn’t attracted to him at first, but he pursued her relentlessly like a soldier would pursue an enemy, going as much as to take a leave of absence from his very important job and beat the odds to follow her when she went abroad. She was won over, and they got married.

Over the years, they both got ahead in their careers. They bore three children. Mike was a disciplinarian but a very loving father and husband to his children and Martha. Being an officer, he was periodically assigned out of town. Martha decided to resign from her job as dean in a university to spend more time with the kids. They were generally speaking a happy, traditional family.

The couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. After this event, Martha noticed changes in Mike’s behavior--some bits of disconnection and new behavior patterns. Being a dutiful good wife, she took this as probably job-related, and therefore made his life even more comfortable, doubling her parenting duties to the children.

To make this long story short, one day Martha accidentally found out that Mike had a paramour half his age. She put the pieces of puzzle together of his new behavior and learned that the affair was going on for three years. She had evidences and confronted him, but he vehemently denied it. Martha’s world crumbled on her because she gave him all the love and support she could give him as a wife. She felt betrayed and angry, even thinking of avenging herself or separating from him. One thing that sustained her though was her spiritual faith; but the once happy family was never the same again.

Now, if you’re still reading up to here, don’t leave because this true story is just unfolding with the sudden turn of events.

Mike was being eyed by the police for questionable activities and found himself being accused of carnapping. He was arrested without warrant and put to jail. These events contributed to Martha’s distress. Through all this, she helped Mike by finding a good lawyer and got him out on bail. The press got hold of the situation and the allegations were publicized—a bigger blow on Martha’s hurts with the family’s reputation ruined.

The steps that Martha earlier initiated to separate from Mike was overturned and overwhelmed by the timing of these events. To add insult to injury, Mike had worked his way towards being financially broke because of his affair. He maxed out his credit cards and was not able to pay which made the banks ran after him. On top of that, Mike mortgaged their properties which were facing foreclosure. Martha was even more angry, distressed and aggrieved. Should she bail him out? The days spent to arrive at a decision was agonizing. (Now, to my female readers, what would you do in such a situation?)

Martha did help Mike, found money and settled the accounts. One in full, and the other in staggered payments. Also, one by one, the cases against Mike were dismissed for lack of merit, and were found to be harassment against him for job assignments he was undertaking. As a result of the dismissal of the cases, the full benefits due him for his 35 years of police service were given to him which would otherwise be suspended.

Yet, after the dust had settled, the family and the house were still not the same. Martha was still angry and that was understandable. It was not easy to forgive and much less forget. She needed time to heal, to shake off the lingering doubts, the betrayal. And Mike needed time to find himself, to deal with the shame and guilt of what his affair cost him, and the pain he caused his family. Thankfully, he severed his extra-marital ties, a first step to their healing.

Dear readers, I will not make judgment on Martha and Mike because that is not the purpose of this post. I am just telling you an age-old way to throw away your money and ruin your retirement. And did you guess who “She” was?

Quote for today:

"A good wife and health are a man's best wealth."

- An old proverb

To Be Single and Retired

There is a general misconception that a single person who is into retirement has an easier and much more comfortable life than a retired couple. This is not always true. A single person--either someone who has never married, divorced or widowed--has the disadvantage of facing financial decisions and challenges on his own, compared with retired couples with dual incomes.

Many singles especially when they’re young don’t save as much as they should for retirement; they spend more on things like entertainment, travel, cars and non-basic things. This is because they have more disposable income than married couples, especially those with children. They are less concerned in buying a home or investing for their financial future. If they do entertain this idea, it is usually later when they begin to realize they are not getting any younger. They then begin to set goals. This is self-defeating because the benefits of financial investment are usually reaped after some time. Instead of thinking, "I'm still young, why worry saving", they should think "I'm still young, the earlier I save, the less I worry later."

Singles should learn the basics of good money management and practice this skill as much as they can. Women especially should educate themselves on the basics of good money management in the event of divorce, disability or demise of their spouse. Many widows who suddenly find themselves alone fall prey to investment scammers and well-meaning relatives and friends who offer financial advice that may not work out in the long run.

It is crucial that a single person save as much as he can in his productive years so that in the event of inability to work, there is money to tide him over. Disability insurance, if he has one, will greatly help bridge the money gap in this event, along with health insurance in case of sickness. Even if a retired single person receives a pension, this is always less than what it used to be in pre-retirement, and for many, the amount may only be enough for the necessities of life, or maybe even less. If one can afford it, long-term care insurance should also be included in a single person’s arsenal to cover nursing home or home care costs.

A single person without dependents who is contemplating retirement may not need life insurance, but it is essential if he still has minor children. It would be ideal if the ex-spouse who is helping to support the children has life insurance as well. It is prudent to have a will to establish a trust and appoint a guardian for the children. A trustworthy friend or relative can be authorized to serve as trustee, preferably with a professional financial adviser in case the trustee is unable to carry out his responsibility or becomes untrustworthy. It is likewise prudent for a single person to authorize a qualified person to make medical and financial decisions on his behalf in case of physical or mental incapacitation.

Quote for today:

"You can be young without money but you can’t be old without it."

- Tennessee Williams, playwright

Changing the School Curriculum to Suit Real Life

When I was in high school, Physics and Algebra were part of the curriculum. All the other subjects were fine with me except the first two mentioned. I was a diligent and conscientious student. I love to read and study. But no matter how much I read the books and tried to study these subjects, I just couldn’t fathom the mathematical equations.

Some people say the kind of teacher will determine how one learns a subject. Well, my teachers were good, methodical, patient and professional. But I didn’t think they were the problem. The problem was me. My brain just wasn’t wired to comprehend those equations.

It is still a wonder to me how I passed those subjects. My quiz and periodic exam results were far from passing. I believe the teachers were kind enough not to give me a failing grade; after all, I was a good, diligent and conscientious student, and I behaved well. I attended a public high school, and I believe it was the reason that I graduated despite my lack of algebraic and physics talent—my teachers had compassion and sympathy for me for being a progeny of the less affluent class, but a “trying hard to improve my lot” type of progeny. Simply put, I didn’t have the resources to repeat the class, so that gave me points.

After high school, I worked by day and went to a public university at night. Horror of horrors, I was confronted with Calculus (higher Algebra) and Statistics! I had classes on Saturdays and I would go to the library and really put two and two together to understand those subjects. Try as I might I could not for the life of me solve the assignments—I was clueless! My quiz and periodic exam scores embarrassed me and everytime the teachers handed back the papers, I took them meekly like a wounded dog. To make a long story short, I passed the subjects because I believe the teachers had compassion on me being a night student, and that to them meant I was someone who was willing to sacrifice and exert extra effort to make my life better—someone who had ambition, but lacked subjective talent. Points again.

Even then I could not understand why I had to study those subjects that were my waterloos. I thought they had no place in my future vocation, let alone my daily life. I was learning commerce, not the vastness of the universe. Those subjects were a total waste of my time, effort and resources--I just felt and knew it. I understand that education is meant to discipline the mind, but those subjects oppressed my mind more than disciplined it.

No wonder many drop out of school--one possible reason being a part of the curriculum didn't suit the leanings of the mind and thus became boring and irrelevant. I wished the subjects which I dreaded were instead offered as elective subjects (those that students choose in addition to the regular curriculum). I certainly would not pick them. I remember my elective subject then was Spanish—not because I was crazy about it, but there were no other options for me (there were two actually, but the other one didn’t interest me either).

I worked in a school, insurance company and a bank, and I didn’t have to use Physics and Algebra, even Trigonometry, Calculus or higher Statistics in any of these places--the need simply was non-existent. I wished there were other subjects in high school (even if they were elective) on say, Entrepreneurship, Human Relations, Customer Service, The Art of Handling Difficult/Negative People, Stock Trading, Mutual Funds Investing, Foreign Currency Exchange Investing, How to Generate Creative Ideas, Homebased Business, Real Estate Business 101, How to be a Millionaire at Age 30 (or make it 40 if you think you can’t make that mark), How to Work Four Hours a Day and Still Make Decent Money, Family Relationships, How to Handle Money (which is needed by everybody), Nutrition 101, Weight Loss 101, How to Have a Balanced Life in an Unbalanced World, How to be a Good Marriage Partner, How to Enjoy Life and Still be a Responsible Person, or The Science of Taking Risks. The list is long but relevant to the daily life of probably a large part of the population--if not now, perhaps later.

Education is meant to liberate or enlighten the mind, not to confuse it. It should evolve with time and be more relevant to the needs of the majority, not of the few. What I’m saying is leave those subjects to students who have the aptitude for them. Note that I did not say, leave those subjects to would-be engineers, architects, astronomers, physicists, scientists and whatever occupations that might have use for them because nobody knows what vocation the young will go into, though some would have a pretty good idea already--hence, I used the word “aptitude”. Imagine a young person who would want to be a ballet dancer someday and made to struggle with complex mathematical equations just to "fulfill the requirements." In short, give the youth other options that they feel are relevant to them.

I have come across frontline salespersons who didn’t know how to deal effectively with customers—wouldn’t it be good for their own sake and the business if they were taught good Customer Service in school? Many people hesitate to dabble in the stockmarket, foreign currency exchange and real estate flipping because they don’t have a basic understanding of how these systems operate. Yet, all these people need and want to make extra money and would one day go into retirement, and wouldn’t it help if they had knowledge of these systems and were able to use that knowledge early in life instead of cramming later, and because of fear, they never take the plunge at all?

Up to my retirement, I don’t see any use for those school subjects that did not match my aptitude and interest and I will never see any use for them for the rest of my life. If you want to share your own experience, you are most welcome.

Quote for today:

“One can succeed at almost anything for which he has enthusiasm.”

– Charles Schwab, industrialist and financier

No Watch? No Problem

I had always worn a watch ever since I can remember. Didn’t matter if it was a simple, inexpensive watch. It was an indispensable accessory, a part of my dressing. Without it, I felt naked. It became even more of a necessity when I started working. It helped me keep tab of my morning wake-up time, commute, office lunches, meetings, deadlines and rush hours.

When I retired, I thought I didn’t have to wear my watch anymore everytime I leave the house, but I suffered from withdrawal symptoms; I therefore wore it on and off. Time came when I noticed I didn’t experience separation anxiety anymore. I finally can live without my watch, the little master who conducted my daily life but had now become dispensable.

Upon retirement, time became irrelevant to my daily existence. Oftentimes, I don’t remember what day it is--to tell, I go by a point of reference. For instance, there is a long queue at the supermarket so it must be Saturday or Sunday; if it is in the ATM machine, I assume it is Friday. Other times, I ask someone while walking down the street in my village what time or day it is. Or wait for the radio announcer to tell his listeners. I can tell it is time to get up from bed when the morning sun has risen and its warm rays penetrate my window; or it is time for supper when I hear the neighbor's car or kids coming home from work and school.

When I was working, the days before holidays and weekends were filled with great anticipation, and when those awaited days arrived, I sighed with relief and exhilaration. Nowadays, they don’t evoke such feelings anymore. Everyday is a Saturday. However, I noticed that time and days fly at the same speed in retirement like they did in pre-retirement. While a worker is concerned on completing the job for the day, I think of things to do with my day. I plan on doing a number of tasks but at the end of the day, I find I haven’t achieved my targets or I’ve only achieved them partially if at all. The only benefit I derived from this is that nobody complains, so I don’t feel bad, let alone guilty. I have officially become a loafer.

It is ironic that an employee is awarded a gold expensive watch for working that long in the company just when time doesn’t matter that much anymore. Nevertheless, I guess it will come in handy when money runs short.

Quote for today:

“Retirement is wonderful. It is doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it."

- Gene Perret, humorist

Retiring Early: Is it Right for Me?

Retiring early is not an easy decision to make. Once the decision becomes final and executed, the die is cast. Four years ago, I struggled on whether retiring at the age of 52 was right for me. I still had eight more years to go--eight more years of making decent money. The decision wasn’t made overnight or in a week’s time. It was about a year in the making.

After working my way hard for 23 years, I had a fairly good position and had earned the respect and trust of both my colleagues and supervisors. I was tasked with sensitive assignments and hardly ever had to be checked if I was doing a good job or not because they know I do. My bosses just had to skim through the work I’d done, did a little tweaking here and there and signed it off with confidence. It was a position most everyone at the entry level would want to be in someday. I was born of a poor family and always had to strive hard and now, my career was at its peak and afforded me to have the things that I needed and wanted (though I never really wanted much).

What made me finally decide to go on an early retirement? At the time, I had a housing loan I had been amortizing for nine years out of 19. I had credit card debts, but they were very few and far between, and always paid in full at the payment due date because I am averse to interest charges. Except for those, I had no debts, and I could pay my loan off should I retire. It was my second year of being eligible for a pension. Should I retire, I can take with me my company’s health plan though I would be paying the whole insurance premium including the company’s portion which they were paying for me being their staff. I had medical insurance for my mother. I had saved some. These seemed to be great reasons to enable me to go on an early retirement. However, these were just secondary.

More than anything, I was mentally exhausted and worn out. I wanted to claim my life back. Yet, I wanted the money that I would still be earning in eight years which would be pretty good. Although I had no kids to support, I was helping the economically challenged members in the family, which to me was a mission for I thought I was blessed comparatively speaking. I wanted to still be of help to those who needed my help, yet, I would be doing myself a great disservice if I was to think of others more than I would think of myself given the state of my corporate sanity (or insanity). I felt like a factory machine churning all day long, and the 23 long stressful years were taking their toll on me.

My mind went into a tug-of-war of “Should I” and “Shouldn’t I” retire. One day, it dawned on me that I would lose good money, yet, what good would it do to me if I was worn out to the point of not having a real life and being in a state of ill health? I wanted to enjoy the fruits of my long hard labor while I am young and still able to do it. I wanted to travel and see more places while I can. I wanted to read all the books that I missed; to enjoy my garden, to sleep in, to cease being a daily road warrior. It all boils down really to a simple choice, and why was I agonizing over it? I offer no further excuses for wanting to retire early, for to me, these were enough.

Now, four years after that “fateful deciding moment,” I look back and think if I made the right choice. It was one of the most courageous decisions I ever made. I have no regrets. My life is still not exactly perfect despite my retirement, but I never expected it would be. I am fully aware that retirement doesn't promise you a rose garden. I just feel I am more in control of my life now. If my life then was greatly affecting others in a positive way, I have not lost that perspective and mission, and I hope that by writing my thoughts, I still will be able to impact others in the same way.

Early retirement isn’t for everyone; people have different circumstances and life situations. If you are still at the stage where early retirement is not possible and feasible, just hang in there; if despite that you still want it for some good reasons, weigh your options and do what your heart tells you. Just don’t say I encouraged you if it doesn't work out for you.

Quote for today:

"Retirement: When you have given so much of yourself to the Company that you don't have anything left that the Company can use."

- Unknown wise person

Doing What He Loves in Retirement

Here’s someone who have found something to do in his retirement. I hope this will give you ideas if you want to engage in part-time work during your retirement.

Larry was a bookkeeper in a small pest control firm. He learned how to use a couple of software programs to carry out his job, two of which were MS Excel for his calculations and bookkeeping records, and MS Word to write his reports. When he retired, he wanted something to do to occupy his mind and time. He accepted bookkeeping work for a few people here and there but because he has been doing this for several years, he thought he wanted to do something else.

There was this big church that Larry goes to and the church had various activities for its members, both old and young. One of the activities was offering seminars on various topics like marriage encounters, youth leadership, counseling, and many others. He talked to the church administrator and offered to hold a 3-hour training for interested people to learn the 2007 updates on MS Word and Excel, and the administrator agreed. The church would not charge him for the use of its facility, but just a donation.

Larry created a nice poster announcing his first training schedule and displayed this on the church bulletin board and outside the church where passersby can see it. I saw this poster while walking by the road near the church going to the mall and I got interested because I use MS Word and MS Excel in my computer. Although the 2007 updates on these programs are available in the help section of my computer's browser, I thought I would learn quicker thru a classroom setting when something is demonstrated to me rather than reading the instructions by myself. Besides, the training fee was very much affordable, and I get to meet other people.

During registration Larry required the participants to bring their own laptops. For those who didn’t have one, he rented laptops from a computer shop for a fee and charged the participants an additional $1. He charged $8 for non-student participants, and $4 for student participants (remember, the class was just on learning the 2007 updates and the participants are assumed to already have the knowledge and skill in using the programs). About 50 people enrolled for his first 3-hour training held on a Saturday, including me.

The participants liked Larry's training and recommended him to other people, and last week while walking on the road by the church, I saw a poster advertising his next training schedule. Some people have asked him to teach them the software program itself. For this, he charged more. Depending on his client’s location, he holds the training at his place, while a few have asked him to come to their house for which he charged an additional fee for one-on-one training and gas expenses.

Larry said he wanted to be a teacher when he was young but he didn’t have the money to pursue the education. Now he is doing what he loves.

Quote for today:

"Choose a work that you love and you won't have to work another day."

- Confucius

The Retired Husband’s Syndrome

The subject of retirement is mostly centered on the financial aspect--savings, pension, investments and business. A person contemplating retirement is advised which stocks, mutual funds, time deposits and other investment options are at his disposal to make his retirement money grow. The subject of emotional ramifications of retirement is almost always not given much thought.

For one thing, in the workplace, the would-be retiree exercises control, enjoys respect from colleagues and is used to making decisions. His social network is extensive, varied and within his arms length. When he retires, the psychological transition from holding down the job to spending more time at home can produce depression as his social network is diminished. Furthermore, he now has to compromise, and is at an equal level of, if not submission to, decision-making at home. His previous identity which depended largely on his job is now gone and he feels the loss of this identity.

At home, the wife may suffer from what is called the retired husband’s syndrome (RHS). The symptoms are similar to some symptoms of stress: anxiety, rashes, irritability, ulcer even. The couple now have more time together but this time spent together isn’t exactly bliss. The wife who is used to being at home taking care of the kids and managing the home suddenly finds herself with an “intruder”. The husband, with nothing much to occupy him becomes listless and may begin to criticize what was once the wife’s normal routine at home which to her, is her territory. He may read the newspaper and leave it just anywhere he happens to be, or watch tv and fall asleep on the couch in the living room instead of heading to the bedroom, which the wife finds annoying. The husband may begin to assign himself as the financial manager which used to be his wife’s duty, thus making her feel resentful. In time, friction sets in as one’s spousal territory is "invaded" by the other.

Prior to retirement, couples should anticipate the fact that they will be spending more time together at home and would they really want to be doing everything together for much of this time? Depending on their lifestyle and attitudes, each one should give each other space to breathe and support each other to pursue their interests the way they prefer doing it even if it means going out separately either alone, with family or friends. Time apart is time well spent in terms of replenishing each other’s psychic energies.

Someone said that golf was probably invented by the wife of a retired husband. It may as well be. Retirement is the final phase in a couple’s lives, and this is a time to support each other more than any other while enjoying the journey.

Quote for today:

“A retired husband is often a wife's full-time job."

- Ella Harris

Money and the Rule of 72

Saving money during our working years will help finance our existence when we are no longer working. Whether it will be a meager existence or a great one will depend on how much money we save today (unless we win the lottery or inherit a great fortune). How long will it take to double that money saved? What rate of return (interest) should we be looking for to double that money in say, 5, 10 or 15 years? Let’s find out by doing a handy and simple calculation using the Rule of 72:

Supposing you invest $1,000 today at 3 per cent interest per annum. Divide 72 by 3 and it will give you 24, the number of years it will take to double the $1,000 (ouch!). Another example: invest $10,000 at 8 per cent interest per annum today. Divide 72 by 8 and it will give you 9 years waiting time (better?).

Another side of the equation is: If you want to double your $1,000 in say, 3 years and you want to know the rate of return to achieve this goal, simply divide 72 by 3, and it will give you 24 per cent that you should be looking for. Another example: invest $5,000 and double it in 4 years. Divide 72 by 4 and you are looking at an 18 per cent rate of return.

The Rule of 72 gives a fairly accurate result assuming that the interest is compounded annually and the rate of return is constant. Even an additional 1 per cent yield goes a long way and would be worth negotiating with the bank, especially if you are a preferred customer. The Rule however may not give a not so accurate picture as the rate of return increases above 20 per cent, but let’s not sweat this stuff for now, as high yields of this magnitude are rare. If you find one, don’t just jump on it, be an informed investor first. Income from a successful business is of course another story.

Quote for today:

"Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves."

- William Lowndes

To Biz or not To Biz

Want to go into business but haven’t got an idea what to sell? Well, a retired person can always sell his skills. One can teach his skills to willing learners or offer it as a consultant in an enterprise. Consultancy can be full-time or part-time. Decide how much time you want to work and communicate this to the business manager, and try to come up with an agreement that is workable for both sides. Also, check if you can work from home if that suits you and if it is feasible with the company.

A lot of businesses today are downsizing and offering separation packages to their employees in order to cut expenses. My previous employer is doing the latter although it is not strictly downsizing, as it is up to the employees to decide if they want to leave or not. I availed of this package four years ago, as I feel I’d like to have more time for myself.  Well, I'm doing one of the things I like now, writing.

If you prefer to go into real business and are looking for ideas, try The Business Fastlane. Perhaps a light bulb will turn on in your head after going through the many samples of business ideas conceived by other people from all walks of life and at different stages of their lives. Some have gone into their businesses by accident. Life is full of surprises, and it is never too late to start something you like to do. Who knows, you may find great fortune along the way.

Quote for today:

"When men reach their sixties and retire, they go to pieces. Women go right on cooking."

- Gail Sheehy, writer

Retiree's Itch

So you retired yesterday. You probably said to yourself when you woke up this morning, “At last, I’m free!” Free from waking up early, getting a quick shower, dressing up and dashing off to your car to beat the morning rush to your workplace. What a nice feeling indeed to be free from the daily grind! Then, the free days flew into weeks, and the weeks flew into months and now you’re beginning to feel useless and bored--from watching tv, tending the garden, playing golf or bridge with your neighbor, eating out at your favorite diner, and whatever it is you were eager to do before retiring. You begin to look for something more “meaningful” to validate your existence in this world.

Boredom and a feeling of uselessness are very common among people who retired. Some people do something concrete about it, some go about life wanting to do something about it but never get to it. What do “retired but not tired” people do? Well, they either think of pursuing interests like travel, painting, woodworking, etc.; participating in community or church service, or starting a small business. For some, it is time to clear up and organize the chaos in their attic or storage shed, and finally deciding to sell the unwanted/unneeded stuff in eBay--millions have done this and have made it their second vocation. Warning: it can be addicting especially when you see your positive feedbacks increasing. So you’re making a bit of money here and there--then, you say to yourself there is still hope for you to become a business operator if you would only try a bit harder.

I’m sure a lot of people have the secret desire to write about their life’s story. We all want others to know how we got the scar on our forehead, our first car, what we did with our first salary or how we managed to stay long in our marriage after all these years, would you believe it? Some would probably want to talk more about their dogs than their mates; some about their gadgets, or perhaps the places they visited last summer. Well, the time is now ripe to bring those stories into the open! Doesn’t matter if you don’t write professionally, just blog it anyway (to the uninitiated, blog is short for weblog, or a personal online journal). The internet has opened a lot of opportunities to people to become writers of different persuasions and intentions.

Quote for today:

"Retired is being twice tired, I have thought
First tired of working
then tired of not."

- Richard Armour, poet

Retirement Calculator

Retiring early is certainly not for everybody, especially when you have one or two remaining family members to support and big financial obligations to meet. Advance planning and preparation are needed, and calculating your future pension and other receivables now will give you an idea if you have sufficient income to live on during retirement.

First, why do some people go into voluntary early retirement? A few reasons may be as follows:

1. to spend more time with their family;
2. to have more time for self and be able to pursue their interests;
3. to go into business;
4. to reduce stress in their lives with a view to improve their mental and physical health;
5. to find a new boss because they can’t stand their current boss anymore (really!);
6. to pay their mounting debts out of their separation money and then look for another job; or
7. to take up an alternative opportunity that is more suitable to one’s skills and liking.

The next question will be: “Can I afford to retire in say, three, four or five years?”

In some companies with many workers, there is a system built in the computer for their workers where they can enter their names and the system calculates the workers’ estimated pension and other receivables at a certain age depending on a few criteria. The resulting figures are usually not exact but a good indication of what the workers will receive at a certain age. Based on the results, a worker may do some crunching of numbers on his own to see if the figures calculated will let him and his family live sufficiently (or insufficiently) for the years to come after retirement.

In the absence of this system in the workplace, free retirement calculators are available on the internet where you can project your future receivables, how much you need to save in order to comfortably retire in the future, and advice on what steps you can take to achieve your financial goal.

Quote for today:

"The question isn't at what age I want to retire, it's at what income."

- George Foreman, boxer

Early Retirement

I retired early by choice after leading a stressful corporate life of 25 years. My employer has a separation package in place for those who want to retire based on some criteria. When I became eligible for the package, I volunteered to retire.

I went through different phases after retirement. The first phase immediately following my last working day was a feeling of being free at last--from waking up early in the morning, hurriedly taking a shower, dressing up and grabbing a bite, catching my commute, dozing off or planning my work for the day while commuting, beating never-ending deadlines, attending meetings, being nice to not so nice people, asking for feedbacks or comments that never come without following up, doing extra hours on many weekdays and weekends, and all the hassles of corporate work.

The second phase was the feeling that I now have the time to catch up with things in my life that I seem to not have the time to do. Yet, I still miss the beautiful workplace, nice workmates and friends, lunches together, office camaraderie, Christmas parties, summer outings, appreciation of my work by colleagues, respect I have earned, and other non-financial rewards.

After organizing the cobwebs in my life (at least some of it), I went into doing the things that I wanted to do with more frequency: browse in the malls unhurriedly, dine out, watch movies, go to trade exhibits or fairs, and what have you. I also took care of my mother till her demise, visited abroad, met some people, rearranged the garden and the backyard, learned surfing the internet, and a host of other things a retiree might do.

Although I was hoping to do the tasks I could not do when I retired, I found that I still could not do everything--not because of lack of time or laziness, but because there is no urgency now to do them. That being said, my tasks can wait till I get the inspiration; meanwhile, I shall blog for no boss is looking over my shoulder.

Quote for today:

"When a man retires and time is no longer a matter of urgent importance, his colleagues generally present him with a watch."

- R.C. Sherriff, writer