Money, Money, Money

“Money has never made man happy, nor will it. There is nothing in it to produce happiness. The more of it one has, the more one wants.” Benjamin Franklin

“Money is not a synonym for happiness, but life is rough and tough without it.” Dr. T.P. Chia

No matter how much you have or don’t have, money is a topic that touches us all. I remember many conversations with my twin sister Jill about this very subject. I admitted that I was at times envious of her lifestyle, of her husband’s money and generosity. Jill’s response was as follows: “I would trade you my money and material possessions for your health any day!” Jill was so right. She suffered with chronic fatigue syndrome for ten years with the debilitating pain and weakness and then succumbed to cancer at age 59. Good health trumps money always! I know that now.

But it is January; time for setting goals (I don’t like the term making resolutions), along with the beginning of a new decade. Couple that with credit card bills coming in after holiday gift giving, December real estate taxes due and help!!!!!!

Moreover, I have a money confession to make. My wallet is very disorganized. Some of my bills are folded, some shoved in carelessly. I remember hearing Oprah say that this shows a person who does not value and appreciate money. Each bill must be lovingly placed in your wallet in the same direction. How else can we remain in a state of “enoughness”, e.g. remembering that there is more than enough to go around. We must treat what we have in the moment with care and respect.

Now, I’m not sure if the cause is the state of my wallet, or the fact that I am a single retiree on a fixed income, and it’s January, but I need to get a job!

You may be thinking–but who is going to hire her at her age? I did some research and there are many part time opportunities for women over 60.

Remember Robert DeNiro in the 2015 movie “The Intern”? He played a 70 year old widower who discovered retirement wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. He seized the opportunity to become a senior intern at an online fashion site. His charm, wisdom and sense of humor made him quite popular. The tagline for the movie was experience never gets old. I love it!

Like the intern, I have wisdom, charm and experience. In fact, we are the amount of our skills and knowledge so begin exploring what you know. The advice I found was to tap into what you do well and your knowledge. Blend your professional skills with what you love.

Think about what you want to gain from the job. Do you want to turn your passion into a day job, work part-time hours or give back to the community.

Check out online job boards–see available jobs and which skills and qualification hiring managers are looking for. Decide your non-negotiables e.g. working hours or commuting distance.

Connect with friends and colleagues. Ask for help, advice, referrals to help guide you in the right direction. My son just advised me that he may have some special projects for me in his insurance brokerage firm. Hooray. He is the best boss–so complimentary and even provides free lunch.

Set yourself up on LinkedIn. It is the ultimate social media tool for professional people of any age to stay connected to the latest employment opportunities.

Read up on your rights. If you are in your fifties, sixties, or beyond, no one can legally turn you away from a job based on your age. If you are treated unfairly, seek help from the Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service. This is an independent and free government funded service which offers advice in the area of employment law.

Don’t lose your positive attitude. Remind yourself how much you have to offer.

Whether you want to teach creativity, yoga or Spanish classes, or become a dog walker, virtual assistant, or graphic designer or turn your jewelry making or knitting hobby into a business on ebay or Etsy, there are unlimited opportunities for part time work. Uber anyone? Remember you are mature and reliable, which qualities are always in demand and sometimes in short supply today.

Have you heard about the gig economy where there are numerous opportunities for us over sixty. I have to admit this was a new term for me. I always thought of the term “gig” in the context of musicians as an engagement at a bar or restaurant for a group of musicians or a singer. The gig economy now refers to part-time or freelance work and applies more specifically to platforms on the internet that facilitate linking part-time workers with people wanting work done. These are opportunities this economy opens up for entrepreneurs wanting to work flexibly in their retirement. The pros are flexible hours; age is not a factor; you can choose the jobs you want to take and ignore those you are not interested in; the platform does the marketing for you; you can work anonymously with clients from around the globe.

It is estimated that by 2027 in the U.S. alone, 60% of workers will be independent professionals. Joining the gig economy offers the opportunity to set up a small business and work flexible hours without anyone asking your age. I recently purchased an online proofreading course which will help me set up my own proofreading business once I have mastered the class. I am excited.

My new year, new decade affirmations about money:

I am growing, protecting and nurturing my financial life with diligence, wisdom and care.

I am spending money within safe bounds and joyful intention. (I promised myself not to purchase anything in the month of January. I will let you know how that goes!)

Happy New Year my friends. Please let me know how you feel about working in retirement.

Resources

The Pros and Cons of Working in the Burgeoning Gig Economy After you Hit 60 by Hilary Henderson Sixtyandme.com

Flexible Jobs for Women Over 60/Amazing Jobs for Seniors Sixtyandme.com