Sunday, August 18, 2019

4 Frugal Retirement Party Ideas for the Aging Adult



After decades of hard work, it’s finally time for your friend or family member to enjoy the wealth they’ve earned and finally retire. Retiring is a big deal, and you should make sure that the party you throw leaves an impression on your friend or family member. 

You want to make sure that they feel loved and appreciated on their special day, and choosing a party theme that they will adore is one way to accomplish that. Here are four fun and affordable party theme ideas for a retirement party.

Hire Year


Add a lighthearted element to the retirement party by basing the activities and decor in the first year your retiree started working. Have guests dress up in the uniform of the retiree’s first job and serve snacks and appetizers that were popular that year. 


You can also create a timeline or gallery wall of old and new photos to compare their first positions with their current successes. This might cause some tears, so don’t forget to bring lots of hugs and tissues.

Party of the Future


Is your retiree planning to move or go traveling with their new freedom? If so, you can pull inspiration from their plans by decorating with items they would find in their planned destinations. 




For example, if they are moving to Nevada, you can decorate the house with casino accessories, play poker as a group and serve a cake slot machine. You can also serve food that their new location is known for.

Vacation Party Theme


Transform your venue into a tropical getaway. This is a popular retirement party theme because it celebrates the retiree finally getting the time for rest and relaxation that they deserve after all their years of work. 


There are a lot of decorating options for this idea, but one of the simplest is to find some tropical birthday decorations. Serving fruity cocktails also compliments this theme well and is a crowd-pleaser.

Party Based on Hobbies


A lot of retirees plan to spend their new-found free time focusing on hobbies they didn’t have the time to explore in the past. Whether it’s a hobby they’ve loved all their lives or a new area they’re exploring, you can use your retiree’s hobbies as a foundation for their party. This is an excellent theme if attendees are planning to bring gifts but need some ideas.

Your loved one’s retirement is an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and successes, but there’s no reason to overspend on the party. There are plenty of ways to show your retiree that you are proud of them.


Thursday, August 15, 2019

How to Tell Which Life Insurance You Need and Which You Don't



Life insurance is more complicated than you might realize. Though it's absolutely a necessity, it can be hard to figure out what kind of coverage you really need. Instead of just going with the first ad you see, it might be a good idea to figure out how to tell what type of life insurance you need and which types you don't. 

Below are a few questions you should ask yourself to get the right answer.

How Old Are You?


The first factor which you are going to contend is your age. Stop and think about the life goals that you want to accomplish and what impact your death might have on your family or loved ones. 


It's relatively easy to get insurance in your 20s, but you're looking at an investment that isn't likely to pay off in the near term. Getting coverage in your fifties or later is much more expensive, but it's often seen as a more realistic near-term expense.

How Healthy Are You?


Your health is also something to be concerned about, at least insofar as life insurance policies are concerned. The better your overall health, the less of a risk you pose to the insurer and thus the lower your payments. 



If you are in poor health, on the other hand, you might have to pay more because the insurance company assumes it will have to pay out soon. As a consumer, you need to look for insurance that's likely to pay out in the situations that you're more likely to encounter.

What is Covered?


It's also a good idea to look at what's covered. If you buy term life insurance, you're getting a benefit only if your coverage vests (i.e., you die) during the stated term. This isn't usually a reliable choice for younger people, but it can cover emergencies. 


Whole life, on the other hand, tends to be more expensive but it will cover you no matter when you die. You'll also want to look at the overall value of your coverage, mainly if 'sell my life insurance' is part of your long-term financial planning.

Can I Afford It?


Finally, look at affordability. Both term and whole life insurance are relatively inexpensive, but the coverage you need still needs to fit in your budget. If you are young, single, and have no family, your money might be better spent elsewhere. If you have a family or those who rely upon you, you may not be able to afford to skip this type of coverage.

Don't be afraid to ask the tough questions about life insurance. Think about where you are in life, then think about the coverage you need. Once you figure out the type of coverage that makes sense for you, you'll be able to choose the product that suits your lifestyle.


Wednesday, August 14, 2019

What is a 401k Plan and How Do I Calculate It?



401k plan is an employer-sponsored retirement plan in the U.S and several other countries. It was named after a section of the United States International Revenue Code. Money put into the 401k account is usually deducted from the individuals' taxable income.

The amount is only taxed when withdrawing which happens after the age of 59. If the money is to be withdrawn any earlier, both income and an extra charge of 10% penalty are owed. About 401K earnings It's never too early to begin saving to secure a comfortable retirement.

You should know that the sooner you can start saving and invest in a 401k account, the more you are able to accumulate interest over the year. It is advisable to keep a keen eye on how you are doing by calculating your earnings occasionally. 





This can be helpful since you might need to make changes on your investment based on your tolerance for risk, age and the number of years before you retire. Calculate your earnings One of the best tools you can use to secure a comfortable retirement is a 401K plan.

A 401K plan provides you with 2 very important advantages. First, all your contributions and earnings are never subject to tax. the second advantage is that many employers often provide matching contributions to your account which ranges from 0% to 100% of your personal contributions.


Here is how to calculate your 401k earnings




1. You will need a copy of your most recent 401K statements. These statements are mostly sent quarterly. 

2. Note the initial balance, the amount your employer contributed to your account and the amount of contribution you made. Sum up all these factors to get their total.

3. Subtract the total you got from step 2 above from your end balance. The amount you find is your gain for that period.

4. Divide the amount from step 3 above (Your gain) by the total calculated from step

5. Multiply the result you got by 100 to find the percentage gain for your 401K account for the specific period.

Example: If your initial balance plus total contributions are $15,000 and you got your gain as $500, your percentage gain for that period will be approximately 3.33%. If you have a quarterly statement, then you will multiply the figure by 4. You will get an annual percentage gain of 13.32%.

You can also calculate your income tax on your 401K withdrawal. Here is how to do it and estimate your expected amount.

1. Estimate your annual taxable income. To do this, add up all your taxable income for the year like salaries, wages and interests then subtract any taxes such as standard deductions.

2. Find your tax bracket in the IRS publication 17 based on the estimated taxable income.

3. Multiply the amount in your 401K account with your marginal income tax rate.

4. If you are taking a non-qualified distribution from your federal 401k plan, add a 10% penalty to the amount of your federal taxes. Do not make any exception. All non-qualified distributions are distributions before the age of 59 1/2.

5. Multiply your 401k plan withdrawal amount by your tax rate.

6. Finally, add your federal and taxes with an early withdrawal penalty to get your total taxes on your 401K withdrawal amount.

If you want to research private pension funds and 401k in private on a shared computer, then use miglior VPN to hide all traces of your activity.



Tuesday, August 13, 2019

3 Ways Bundling Saves Money on What You Already Use



The thought of having to make another phone call and haggle another price might seem overwhelming to you. However, bundling your packages isn’t really haggling. Providers already exist who are ready to make your life easier and your budget more flexible. You aren’t even adding new services or products into your life. Instead, you are taking what you already use and getting a better price.

Cell Phones


If everyone in your household has a separate cell phone plan, you are almost definitely paying too much money. The first step is to agree upon one provider to use. Of course, what you’ll probably want to do is call around or visit the stores to see which entity will provide you with the best deal. 


Providers have all different types of family plans that you can pursue at lower costs. Keep in mind that this option is not necessarily limited only to those individuals with whom you live. A number of people have these types of cell phone plans with extended family members.

Car and Home


When you own a car or a home, you need insurance; if you own both of these entities, you need insurance for both. Having separate plans is likely costing you money. Instead, speak with your car or home insurance provider to see what the price would be if you switch both of the plans to be on the same plan. 




These types of insurance policies often come with their own set of discounts, so ask about any other reductions that apply to. For example, car insurance prices are often lowered for students with good grades or for drivers who are willing to have their driving habits tracked by a device in their cars.

Cable, Internet and Home Phone


These three items practically go together as many people have already taken the step to bundle them. In these modern times, you may wonder what the point of the home phone is. Do keep in mind that in an emergency situation, you may want to have an additional line to use. 


Also, when you’re already bundling the cable and internet together, you’ll likely find that the phone is a truly marginal cost, especially for extra peace of mind at home. Ultimately, however, you could opt for a package that includes cable and internet-only and skips out on the phone element.

As you can see, you aren’t adding new products and services to your life. Instead, you are saving money on items that you are going to use anyway.



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