Monday, January 8, 2024

2024 Tax Filing Guide: Key Changes and Mistakes To Avoid

Title: 2024 Tax Filing Guide: Key Changes and Mistakes To Avoid

Article Snip: "...Each year with tax filing season comes changes and updates. Being aware of these changes is important as you begin your year-end tax planning and gathering information for the preparation of your 2023 tax return. Here’s a look at how certain tax thresholds, deductions and credits will shift for the 2023 tax year: There are seven federal tax brackets, and they will remain the same as 2022 — 10%, 12%, 22%..."

Reference: www.thestreet.com





The Income Gap Jeopardizing Retirement for Millions

Title: The Income Gap Jeopardizing Retirement for Millions

Article Snip: "...the inequities between the very bottom and the top of income distribution,” said Jack Chapel, the lead author of the study, an economist and doctoral candidate... “We wanted to look at the middle class, where people are struggling.”

Drawing on data from the national Health and Retirement Study between 1994 and 2018, the researchers found “a bifurcation” among Americans in their mid-50s, he said.

In effect, they now divide into two middle classes: the ...
"

Reference: www.nytimes.com
Destruction of the Working Class,Destruction of Retirees,Destruction of Social Security,






Here’s What It’s Like to Retire on Almost Nothing but Social Security

Title: Here’s What It’s Like to Retire on Almost Nothing but Social Security

Article Snip: "Four retirees with limited incomes open up about how they make it..."

Reference: www.wsj.com
Wisdom (Retirement),






Sunday, January 7, 2024

92-year-old sets world record with trek across Grand Canyon

Title: 92-year-old sets world record with trek across Grand Canyon

Article Snip: "...Alfredo Aliaga Burdio, 92, set a Guinness World Record when he made a 24-mile hike across the Grand Canyon last October. ...Burdio's takeaway from the hike is that it is never too late to try something, even at old age.

"I began living a healthy lifestyle really at age 76," he said.
"

Reference: www.foxnews.com
Alfredo Aliaga Burdio, 92 Year Old, Guinness World Record, Grand Canyon, Hiking,Things to do in retirement,Exercise,Health,super-agers,





Saturday, January 6, 2024

1099-R | When will i get my 2023 1099-R from OPM to file my taxes?

1099-R | When will i get my 2023 1099-R from OPM to file my taxes?

1099-R
Article Excerpt: "Watch the mail in late January for your 1099R. OPM will mail your 1099R in the last week of January, using the address they have on file for you as of the second week of December. If you have not received your 1099R by the first week of February, they may not have your current address. Sign in to Services Online or call us at 1-888-767-6738 to update your mailing address. Your 1099Rs will be available online on Services Online by January 31. You can print the current year and two previous years’ 1099Rs on Services Online, using these instructions. ..."



Resource: OPM via Federal Retiree

2023 1099-R





Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Writing About Your Life: A Journey into the Past | Paperback

Title: Writing About Your Life: A Journey into the Past | Paperback

Writing About Your Life: A Journey into the Past |  Paperback
Article Snip: "...Written with elegance, warmth, and humor, this highly original "teaching memoir" by William Zinsser--renowned bestselling author of On Writing Well gives you the tools to organize and recover your past, and the confidence to believe in your life narrative. His method is to take you on a memoir of his own: 13 chapters in which he recalls dramatic, amusing, and often surprising moments in his long and varied life as a writer, editor, teacher, and traveler. Along the way, Zinsser pauses to explain the technical decisions he made as he wrote about his life. They are the same decisions you'll have to make as you write about your own life: matters of selection, condensation, focus, attitude, voice, and tone. ..."

Reference: Amazon
Writing About Your Life: A Journey into the Past






Monday, January 1, 2024

Federal Retirement: How to register for a LOGIN.gov account through services online

Title: How to register for a LOGIN.gov account

How to register for a LOGIN.gov account
Article Snip: The public’s one account for government. Use one account and password for secure, private access to participating government agencies. You must have a LOGIN.gov account to login for OPM Services Online for OPM pension actions. You can use the same username and password to access any agency that partners with Login.gov. This streamlines your process and eliminates the need to remember multiple usernames and passwords.

Login.gov is used to secure your account when you apply for:

Federal jobs (USAJOBS - Office of Personnel Management)
Global Entry (Trusted Traveler Programs - Department of Homeland Security)
Small business loans and disaster assistance (Small Business Administration)
And more…

""

Reference: YouTube
How to register for a LOGIN.gov account






Friday, December 29, 2023

Equal COLA Act Needed as Federal Retirees Continue to Get Different COLA Rates

Title: Equal COLA Act Needed as Federal Retirees Continue to Get Different COLA Rates

Article Snip: "Social Security beneficiaries and Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) retirees are expected to receive a 3.2% COLA for 2024, while Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees, those hired in 1984 or later, will only see a diet COLA of 2.2%.

That’s because of the way COLA is calculated for FERS.

Under current law, the COLAs for Social Security, CSRS, and FERS are all calculated based on the rate of inflation as measured by...
"



Reference: www.afge.org
Equal COLA Act Needed,Age-Based Discrimination in COLA application (FERS vs CSRS),FERS vs,CSRS vs FERS,






Bidenflation Archives

Title: Bidenflation Archives

Article Snip: "...From denying inflation and claiming it was “temporary,” to passing the buck with “Putin’s Price Hike,” the White House and congressional Democrats are out of touch with the challenges Americans face. The typical family now has to spend $450 more per month to buy the same goods and services they did a year ago, prompting more Americans to rely on loans and credit cards to make ends meet, even as the Federal Reserve makes borrowing more expensive. ..."

Reference: waysandmeans.house.gov
Bidenflation Archives, Bidenflation,Inflation,






For Three Years Biden Has Forgotten Social Security Retirees While Favoring Illegals

Title: Biden's 2020 Promised Lies for Social Security That Never Happened

Article Snip: "He would expand some benefits while not reducing any, reducing economic hardship. ...Biden would raise benefits for long-term low-wage workers, widow(er)s from dual earner-couples, caregivers, government workers, and long-term beneficiaries. My colleagues and I have long argued for increasing Social Security benefits for people..."

Reference: www.taxpolicycenter.org
Social Security, Biden's Lies,Biden Legacy,Destruction of Retirees,






Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Facing Financial Ruin as Costs Soar for Elder Care

Title: Facing Financial Ruin as Costs Soar for Elder Care

Article Snip: "...daunting life choices — and potential financial ruin — as the escalating costs of in-home care, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes devour the savings and incomes of older Americans and their relatives. “People are exposed to the possibility of depleting almost all their wealth,” said Richard Johnson, director of the program on retirement policy at the Urban Institute. The prospect of dying broke looms as an imminent threat for the boomer generation..."

Reference: nmindepth.com






Thursday, December 21, 2023

‘No greater honor’: Federal retirees proud of public service in survey

Title: ‘No greater honor’: Federal retirees proud of public service in survey

Article Snip: "“My dad [imparted to us] from the time we were little on that this nation educated us. This nation gave us all kinds of privileges. With that came responsibilities of giving back as much as you could,” said the second-generation American. Taska Elin, a veteran and a retired federal firefighter of nearly 30 years with the Navy... About 35% worked in defense-related agencies, and a third said they also received veterans benefits..."

Reference: www.federaltimes.com
Serving America, Patriots, Public Service, Federal retirees,






Tuesday, December 19, 2023

‘Unconscionable’: Baby boomers in America are becoming homeless at a rate ‘not seen since the Great Depression’

Title: ‘Unconscionable’: Baby boomers in America are becoming homeless at a rate ‘not seen since the Great Depression’

Article Snip: "...Many baby boomers across the country are now coming to terms with the hard reality that working for your entire adult life is no longer enough to guarantee you’ll have a roof over your head in your later years. ...the over-50 demographic represents half of the homeless single adults in the U.S. — with no sign of their numbers slowing, leaving baby boomers (those aged 57 to 75) particularly vulnerable. “Elderly homelessness has been rare within the contemporary homeless problem. We’ve always had very few people over 60 who’ve been homeless historically. ...older adults on fixed incomes are struggling to scrounge up what they need to cover basic necessities."

Reference: yahoo.com
Bidenomics,Inflation is destroying Social Security recipients,Destruction of Seniors,Destruction of the Working Class,






Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Learn Origami | Easy Origami: over 30 simple projects

Title: Learn Origami | Easy Origami: over 30 simple projects

Easy Origami: over 30 simple projects
Article Snip: "Created by origami master John Montroll, this easy and fun collection of 32 simple projects with step-by-step instructions is perfect for the beginner origami hobbyist.

Discover the wonderful world of origami with this traditional Japanese collection of 32 simple projects, perfect for novice origami hobbyists. Clearly illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions make even the most challenging projects achievable. Start with basic items like a hat, cup, and pinwheel, and work your way up to projects like a penguin, pelican, and piano. Also included are figures of a swan, lantern, cicada, pigeon, fox, rabbit, and other popular origami subjects. By completing these projects, you'll be on your way to mastering the fascinating ancient art of origami, which has been around since the invention of paper itself. No matter your level of expertise in origami crafting, Easy Origami makes it possible for anyone to create beautiful artwork in an enjoyable and fulfilling way. ...
"



Reference: Amazon
Learning,Education,Hobby, Art, Origami,Things to do in retirement,Gift Ideas, Books,Amazon,






Unable to Travel? Ride along with youtuber 'RVerTV' and travel the country

Article Title: Unable to Travel? Ride along with youtuber 'RVerTV' and travel the country

RVerTV
While searching for articles that might be of interest to retirees, we ran across RVerTV on youtube. This gentleman travels the country and keeps the camera on while doing so. The videos give great insight to places you might want to visit in your retirement travels. Additionally, economically or physically, you may not be able to travel, if that is the case, go to youtube and ride along for beautiful views of America.

Reference Source: RVerTV

Monday, November 27, 2023

Will the Stock Market Dip Once Boomers Take Out Retirement? Here’s What Experts Say

Title: Will the Stock Market Dip Once Boomers Take Out Retirement? Here’s What Experts Say

Article Snip: "...Boomers — individuals born between 1946 and 1964 — represent 21% of the U.S. population, according to Axios. And as The Washington Post reported, from now until 2030, 10,000 baby boomers each day will hit retirement age. In turn, this has had and will continue to have many ramifications for the economy. ..."

Reference: yahoo.com
Baby Boomers






Thursday, November 16, 2023

Meet the postal worker, 90, who has no plans to retire and 'turn into a couch potato'


Meet the postal worker, 90, who has no plans to retire and 'turn into a couch potato'


'Leroy Brown was just about to start his career with the United States Postal Service. His first day: Dec. 31, 1955. ...He's still going strong, working in the Los Angeles International Service Center, a USPS processing center. The 90-year-old is in his 70th year of service to the federal government, including a two-year stint in the U.S. Army...Retirement doesn't seem to be in the nonagenarian's plans. He's healthy, he's active, he loves being around other people and, well, he's not really sure what he'd do anyway. "I don't want to turn into a couch potato," Brown said. "I don't just want to sit around in one place."...'


Reference: www.jsonline.com
Tags: ...a retired postal worker,Postal Retirement, 70 years of Federal Service,Leroy Brown, Retirement,


Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Retired postal worker wins lottery again!

Racetrax Lottery game delivers big win to retired postal worker from Hagerstown

Maryland Lottery
From the article: "...The retired U.S. Postal Service employee and U.S. Army veteran has visited Lottery headquarters several times with winning tickets over the years, but those past wins pale in comparison to the better than $100,000 he just won, according to a news release from the Lottery. ..."


Article Reference: yahoo.com
Lottery Winner,retired postal worker,Maryland Lottery,

Monday, November 13, 2023

Bidenomics Fail | Moody’s Cuts Outlook on U.S. Credit Rating

Title: Moody’s Cuts Outlook on U.S. Credit Rating

Article Snip: "...Investors Service changed its outlook on the U.S.’s credit rating to negative from stable late Friday. The ratings firm cited the federal deficit as a “key driver” behind the action. ..."

Reference:
Bidenomics,U.S. Credit Rating, Federal Deficit (2023), Moody’s,






The Average Retiree Spends $4,345 on Monthly Expenses

Title: The Average Retiree Spends $4,345 on Monthly Expenses

Article Snip: "...Health spending makes up $7,030 in annual spending for retirees. One way to cut costswhen health issues arise is to get easily affordable preventative care. That means staying up to date on screenings and vaccinations. Exercise also appears in study after study as a top measure to lower the risk of many diseases. Even an...average American 65 years of age and up earns an annual pre-tax income of $55,335, and that same group spends $52,141 yearly, or $4,345 a month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)."

Reference: moneywise.com
Average Retiree Expenses (2023 Article)