7 Secrets to a Happy Retirement

(Picture not part of original article)

I'm still about 27 years from retirement, but its never really too early to start thinking about it right?! The earlier we plan, the better/happier (hopefully) our retirement will be).

by Sydney Lagier
Thursday, July 22, 2010

Original article found here

Some folks transition seamlessly into a happy retirement and get right to the business of enjoying their new lives. But other people have a tougher time entering the retirement years. Some of these folks may wonder whether they are really cut out for retirement at all. Here are seven traits happy retirees share.

Good health. Enjoying good health is the single most important factor impacting retiree happiness, according to a 2009 Watson Wyatt analysis. Retirees in poor health are nearly 50 percent less likely to report being happy, trumping all other factors including money and age.

A significant other. The same study found that married or cohabiting couples are more likely than singles to be happy in retirement. The news gets even better for couples enjoying retirement together. Retirees whose partners are also retired report being happier than those with a working partner, according to research conducted earlier this year at the University of Greenwich.

A social network. The Greenwich study also found that having friends was far more important to retirement bliss than having kids. Those who have strong social networks are 30 percent happier with their lives than those without a strong network of friends. Having kids or grandkids had no impact on a retiree's level of contentment.

They are not addicted to television. After you retire you will have lots of time to fill. If you want to be happy in retirement, don't fill that time with endless hours of television. Heavy TV viewers report lower satisfaction with their lives, according to a 2005 study published by the Institute for Empirical Research in Economics in Zurich. The same results were found again in 2008 by researchers at the University of Maryland. In that study, a direct negative correlation was found between the amount of TV watching and happiness levels: unhappy people watched more TV and happy people watched less.

Intellectual curiosity. Adults over 70 who choose brain-stimulating hobbies over TV watching are two and a half times less likely to suffer the effects of Alzheimer's disease, according to Richard Stim and Ralph Warner's book Retire Happy: What You Can Do Now to Guarantee a Great Retirement. Not only will shunning TV make you happier, it will make you healthier. Good health will in turn make you happier -- a not-so-vicious cycle.

They aren't addicted to achievement. The more you are defined by your job, the harder it will be to adjust to life without it. According to Robert Delamontagne's book The Retiring Mind: How to Make the Psychological Transition to Retirement, achievement addicts have the most difficulty transitioning to retirement.

Enough money. Of course you'll need enough money to support your chosen lifestyle in retirement. But beyond that, more money will not make you happier. The Watson Wyatt survey found that the absolute amount of money you have for retirement is less important than how your retirement income compares to your income before retirement. If you have enough to continue your pre-retirement lifestyle, you have enough.

If you don't have the traits necessary for a happy retirement, don't despair. There's good news for you, too. Consider a retirement that includes a little work. Researchers at the University of Maryland found that retirees who go back to work either full or part-time are healthier. The benefits don't depend on how many hours you work. Even temporary work has the same positive impact on health. If you can't find a paying job, don't worry. A growing body of research shows that retirees who volunteer reap the same benefits of health, happiness, and longevity. And since a happy retirement is a healthy retirement, you'll be set up to enjoy both.

Obama signs bill aiding long-term unemployed

U.S. President Barack Obama signs jobless benefits extension legislation at the White House in Washington July 22, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:14am IST

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday signed a bill to restore aid for about 2.5 million jobless Americans after being handed a setback in his fight against unemployment when initial claims for benefits surged.

Obama signed the benefits bill for the long-term unemployed just a hours after the U.S. House of Representatives passed it on a vote of 272-152. The Democratic-led Congress passed the bill after the Senate on Wednesday ended a weeks-long partisan stalemate over the $34 billion cost of the measure and its impact on deficits and the economy.

"Americans who are fighting to find a good job and support their families will finally get the support they need to get back on their feet during these tough economic times," Obama said in a statement.

Before Congress cleared the jobless aid bill, the Labor Department reported that initial claims for state unemployment benefits surged by 37,000 to a seasonally adjusted 464,000 last week.

Financial markets had forecast claims rising to 445,000.

The report provided little hope to Obama and his fellow Democrats of an improving jobs market ahead of the Nov. 2, congressional election.

Slow job creation in the tepid economic recovery, where five unemployed workers are vying for each job opening, is worrying voters, giving Republicans an edge in their bid to win control of Congress from the Democrats.

The unemployment rate stood at 9.5 percent last month and economists say it could take years to recover all the jobs lost in the financial crisis and recession.

In normal times, benefits expire after 26 weeks, but after the recession hit in late 2007, Congress expanded the program to cover up to 99 weeks of benefits.

The bill approved on Thursday continues the long-term jobless aid program through November and retroactively restores benefits for about 2.5 million long-term unemployed whose payments ran out since the program expired at the end of May.

UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS

"This action should have occurred two months ago," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin, a Democrat, who blamed Senate Republicans for delaying final passage.

"They stood not on the side, but in the way of millions of Americans and during those six weeks over 2.5 million unemployed Americans exhausted their benefits and struggled to stay afloat while continuing to look for work in this difficult economy," Levin added.

Nearly half of the 15 million Americans out of work have been jobless for more than six months, the highest level of long-term unemployment since the government began keeping track in the 1940s. Nearly a quarter of the unemployed have been out of work for more than a year.

The $1.4 trillion deficit and more than $13 trillion debt are also major issues in the run-up to November and Republicans argued that the benefit extension should be paid for with unspent money from the economic stimulus that Congress passed last year.

"Instead of supporting this economy and getting Americans back to work, jobs have been lost, our debt continues to spiral out of control and the Democrats' only solution is to add $34 billion in new spending," said Representative Charles Boustany.

Democrats argued the $34 billion in emergency aid to the unemployed will be spent quickly and help boost the fragile economic recovery.

(Reporting by Donna Smith; Editing by David Storey and Sandra Maler)

Unemployment Extension a Win for Obama, Democrats

Jobless benefits are sure to be an issue during the 2010 election campaign

By Caitlin Huey-Burns

Posted: July 22, 2010

Original article found here

After weeks of Republican deadlock and stalling at the final hour, the Senate Wednesday passed a $34 billion measure to extend benefits to jobless Americans whose insurance ran out in June.

[See 5 Things Republicans Can Learn From the Unemployment Bill.]

The legislation passed minutes before 9 p.m. by a 59-39 vote. The Senate took the full 30 hours to vote on the final passage, a standard rule that members usually wave. Two Republicans from Maine, Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins voted in favor of the bill, days after the pair strayed from their party to vote for financial reform. Lone Democrat Ben Nelson voted against it. "I support extending unemployment benefits for Nebraskans and Americans who remain out of work," he said in a statement Tuesday. "However, I opposed the Senate's unemployment bill today because it should have, and it could have, been paid for." [See who donates to Snowe.]

The bill will restore benefits to about 2.5 million people who have been unemployed for the past six months, according to recent numbers released by the Department of Labor. Since jobless insurance ended on June 2, the benefits when passed will be retroactive, and will last through November. Depending on the state's unemployment rate, benefits can last up to 99 weeks. [See which industries give the most to Congress.]

The House gave final approval to the measure today and sent it to the White House. Obama is expected to sign it quickly. If he does, this will be his third bill signing this week.

The Senate broke a month long filibuster Tuesday night, thanks to Snowe, Collins, and the chamber's newest and youngest member, Carte Goodwin of West Virginia. Just minutes after he was sworn in to the Senate to replace the late Robert Byrd, Goodwin cast his first roll call vote to help give Democrats the 60 votes needed to end debate.

Republicans said they wanted to pass unemployment benefits, as they had under the Bush administration, but were concerned about adding to the growing federal deficit. They suggested using leftover funds from the stimulus and other spending bills to offset the costs. Democrats cited the nation's 9.5 percent unemployment rate as reason to pass an emergency insurance bill. "Millions are waiting for a fraction of their old income in checks that will help them keep food on the table this week, and keep a roof over their heads this month and keep the air conditioning on this summer," said Majority Leader Harry Reid on the Senate floor. [See which industries give the most to Reid.]

Congress will recess in about two and a half weeks, but the politics surrounding the passage of jobless benefits will likely resurface on the campaign trail during the break.

Unemployement Extension News

This blog is in no way meant to be a political blog. However, I cannot hope and pray that the Republicans open their eyes and hearts to the unemployed. God, please help the unemployed. Here is some news on the unemployment extension.

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2010 Unemployment Extension: Is Passage Assured?

18 July 2010

Original article found here

Congress Unemployment Extension

It seems that the 2010 unemployment extension is assured with the appointment of Carte Goodwin as the interim Senator of West Virginia after the passing of Robert Byrd. Goodwin is expected to vote yea which would be the vote needed for passage if every other vote remains the same. The 1 vote would be enough to break a Republican filibuster if indeed the Republicans would be so out of touch to try one.

Goodwin has to be sworn in first Tuesday afternoon so the vote on the unemployment extension bill Hr4213 would not take place until later that afternoon. The tier 5 unemployed also known as the 99ers are not covered in this bill. They would have to be considered in another bill, S33520 which does offer tier 5 assistance of a sort. Whether this tier 5 bill will be considered is not known as the Senate will have their debate and anything is possible.

Even if the unemployment extension bill hr4213 is passed by the Senate, it has been changed substantially from the bill that the House sent over so probably would have to go back to the House for yet another vote. This unfortunately for the unemployed is the process. The timing on this process is critical because The House adjourns from August 9th until September 10th. If the bill is not acted on and passed by the House by August 9th then woe be to those unemployed who are in perilous financial condition as this would be a fatal blow to many.

So the process will play out on this 2010 unemployment extension, an excruciating wait while our elected Congress seems not to be in any hurry.

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Obama and Unemployment Extension: He Says Pass the Bill!

17 July 2010

Original Article Found here

Obama Unemployment Extension

The 2010 Unemployment extension bill HR4213 remains unpassed, but come Tuesday, July 20 it will be up for vote on the Senate floor with the newly appointed replacement West Virginia Senator Carte Goodwin expected to bring the 60th yea vote for passage of the bill.

This has been a long drawn out affair with both parties playing politics as usual. All coming at the expense of the masses of unemployed who wait and watch this circus go on. Where was our President up until now? His voice needed to be heard long ago when this issue became a real problem but we did not hear from him. The Congress, mainly the Senate did what they do very well, argue and play political games while the American people suffered during his silence.

Obama has now entered the fracas and admonished the Republicans for blocking the bills passage. He told the Senate to consider this unemployment extension as an “emergency expenditure” noting that Congress has used this language in the past during exceptional times.

For all those unemployed let us hope that the 2010 unemployment extension gets passed and also that the tier 5 99ers don’t get left out in the cold. They deserve to be included in the bill, if they aren’t then a new bill directed specifically at them should be crafted.

This 2010 unemployment extension has been very divisive and has pitted hard working Americans against their government for looking the other way while family financial ruin takes place. This is unacceptable in many Americans eyes. Let’s get this employment extension passed on Tuesday.

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Unemployment Extension Gets Attention From Obama as He Blasts Republicans

17 July 2010

Original article found here

Unemployment Extension Obama

President Obama blasted Republicans about the 2010 unemployment extension bill. He says that they are blocking it while saying it “was the only way to make ends meet while searching for work.”

The President said that most economists say that unemployment insurance benefits is a very cost effective way to jump start the economy. He goes on to say “It puts money into the pockets of folks who not only need it most, but who also are most likely to spend it quickly.” This is true but these unemployed need it to just survive not necessarily to spend it on consumer goods. They have to pay for groceries and house payments and rent and medical expenses. If he is just thinking about the positive effect on the economy he and the Senate have missed the point. These unemployed are seriously in jeopardy. They needed this unemployment extension months ago, they needed the Presidents voice then.

Read some of the comments of our readers, they are desperate as can be expected considering this hold up at their expense.

James says, “I have read many of the comments that others have posted. I agree with all of them in that those who have been elected to represent us are more concerned about who is in control in DC than they are about those who put their butts in those cushy jobs. To me what is most frustrating is that it doesn’t seem to matter how many people voice their opinion. I guess “For the people. By the people.” doesn’t apply in this day and age. Today it’s by the money, for the money. To be honest I don’t see it ever changing. While we are begging for scraps to get by from week to week they take week long vacations.”

Born in the USA says, “Its all about the money…not WE THE PEOPLE.It is time the real Americans band together and stand up to these crooks and let them know,”YOU WILL NOT DICTATE THE FUTURE OF OUR LIVES ANY LONGER”.

The Senate had better do their job this Tuesday and pass the unemployment extension bill.

Life is an Improvisation

Life is an improvisation. Life is what happens to you while you're making others plans.

-from the book "Bouncing Back: I've survived everything... and I mean everything... and you can too" by Joan Rivers

Inspirations Sunday Quotes

"Success is not permanent. The same is also true of failure." - Dell Crossword

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." - Vincent T. Lombardi

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." - Herman Cain

2010 Unemployment Extension Benefits Bill And July 4th Celebrations

GOP Blocks Unemployment Insurance Bill, Senate Leaves for July 4th Recess

July 1, 2010 - by Donny Shaw

For the fourth time in a month, Senate Democrats on Wednesday night failed to win enough votes to overcome a Republican filibuster of a bill to extend unemployment insurance benefits (H.R. 4213). After the failed vote, the Senate adjourned for recess until July 12th.

“It is beyond disappointing that Republicans continue to stand almost lockstep against assistance for out-of-work Americans – especially since many of these same Republicans spent months protecting Wall Street and preserving tax cuts for CEOs who ship American jobs overseas,” Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid [D, NV] said after the vote.

The final tally was 58-38. 60 votes were needed under Senate rules to pass the motion on breaking the filibuster known as “cloture”. Majority Leader Reid voted “no” on the bill in order to preserve his right under Senate rules to bring the bill up again in the future for another vote, so the Democrats were actually just one vote shy of passing the motion. Republicans Sen. Susan Collins [ME] and Sen. Olympia Snowe [ME] voted with Democrats in favor of the bill. Conservative Democrat Sen. Ben Nelson [D, NE] crossed the aisle to vote with Republicans agains it.

Sen. George Voinovich [R, OH] said after the vote that he would have provided the one vote Democrats needed to pass the cloture motion if some of it was paid for with money from the stimulus bill. “In order to move forward, yesterday I told Leader Reid that I would support extending unemployment insurance if Democrats would be willing to use some of the estimated $40 billion in unspent stimulus monies to help offset at least half of the stand-alone unemployment insurance extension," Voinovich said. “He flatly rejected this request even though Democratic Leadership was going to take $10 billion from the stimulus to help pay for business tax breaks just last week.”

After the vote, Reid said that the Senate will not vote on the bill again until a replacement for recently-deceased Sen. Robert Byrd [D, WV] is seated in the Senate. West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin (D) is in charge of appointing a replacement and he will likely do so over the July 4th recess.

By the time the Senate reconvenes on July 12, data from the Labor Department suggests that more than 2 million unemployed Americans will see their unemployment insurance benefits cut off due to the Republicans’ objections to the extension bill. Benefits began expiring for people on June 1st when the last extension of the benefits expired. Before then, unemployed individual were eligible for up to 99 weeks of unemployment benefits under an extended, four-tier federal program created by the 2009 stimulus bill. Now that the federal program has been allowed to expire, newly unemployed individuals are eligible for a maximum of 26 weeks of state-provided benefits.

Still, people who have had their benefits cut off in the past month should expect to become eligible once again for the full 99 weeks and to have their lost benefits paid back to them retroactively. Wednesday’s vote makes it clear that as soon as a replacement for Byrd is seated in the Senate, the Democrats will have the 60 votes they need to overcome Republican opposition and pass the bill.

Original article found here.

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Unemployment Extension Passes House, But the Bill is Now Stuck in Limbo

July 1, 2010 - by Donny Shaw

As expected, the House of Representatives this afternoon passed their stand-alone unemployment insurance extension bill (H.R. 5816). The vote wasn’t even close. 270 congressmen voted in favor of the bill, including 29 Republicans, and only 153 voted against it. The full roll call details can be viewed here.

Among those voting “no” were 11 Democrats — Brian Baird [D, WA-3], Robert Berry [D, AR-1], Bobby Bright [D, AL-2], Jim Cooper [D, TN-5], Baron Hill [D, IN-9], Betsy Markey [D, CO-4], James Marshall [D, GA-8], Mike McIntyre [D, NC-7], Walter Minnick [D, ID-1], Glenn Nye [D, VA-2] and Heath Shuler [D, NC-11].

The bill would extend the filing deadline for extended unemployment insurance benefits until Nov. 30, 2010. It does not contain the extra $25 per month from the Federal Additional Compensation program that was passed in the 2009 stimulus bill. It also would not create a fifth tier of benefits; 99 weeks would still be the maximum amount of time a person coud receive benefits payments. It would, however, pay benefits back retroactively to individuals who have seen their payment cut off since the deadline for filing for new tiers of benefits expired on June 1.

Despite the House’s vote today, the bill is not likely to be signed into law until mid July when the Senate returns from their recess. Both chambers must pass the bill before it can be sent to Obama to become law. When the Senate returns on July 12, the Democrats should have the 60 votes they will need to finally overcome a Republican filibuster of the extension because West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin (D) is expected to have appointed a replacement for Sen. Robert Byrd [D, WV] by then.

The Iowa Independent reported earlier in the day that another Senate vote was possible tonight under an emergency session called by Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid [D, NV], but that does not appear to be panning out. It looks like the Senate will, in fact, stay adjourned until July 12.

Original article found here.

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Cannot believe a DEMOCRAT actually blocked the extension of the UI!!!! I am so frustrated that I do not even want to post it here. But for those who want to read the article on why Sen Ben Nelson (D, NE) "crossed the aisle to give the Republicans the final vote they needed to block the UI extension, click here. Grrrrrrr.

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Saturday, July 3, 2010

2010 Unemployment Extension Benefits Bill And July 4th Celebrations

Although the 2010 unemployment extension benefits bill didn't pass, and the unemployment extension 2010 of benefits won't happen until at least when the Senate reconvenes after their holiday the unemployed should still try to celebrate Independence Day.

After all, it's unfortunate the bill didn't pass, but it's not a reason to let YOUR holiday be ruined. It's hard to put your worries aside, but with a little thought and creativity you could possibly have the best Independence Celebration of your life. Here's a thought on how.

Gather all your unemployed friends together. Have everyone bring a dish - this way you can have one big meal that didn't cost any one person a considerable amount of money.

Come armed with your laptops, air cards, cell phones, printers, paper, envelopes, and stamps, Celebrate your right to freedom by bombarding your Senators with letters, emails, and voicemails about the unemployment extension.

Thank your lucky stars that you live in a country where you can do this without repercussions. There are some countries out there where you would be in big trouble for speaking your mind to a government official. In America we have a right to think and a right to be ticked off.

After you are satisfied with the amount of mail you have produced for your representatives, spend the rest of the time helping each other apply for jobs. Help each other spruce up your resumes.

IF you really want to go all out, have everyone bring some of their career clothes that don't fit any more or that you are tired of. Have a clothing swap to help each other get a new career wardrobe.

All this may sound silly to some, but without the unemployment benefits extension many people are at a loss on the Fourth of July weekend. Use your anger, discontent, and other negative feelings and try to spin them into something positive.

Original article found here