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How to Take the First Steps into Retirement

By WTOP Staff

Saving for retirement typically requires a lot of hard work and sacrifices. And leaving a job often means saying goodbye to co-workers who have become friends. But like every other transitional period, it is also the start of something new.

It is best to launch your retirement on a positive note. It makes sense to have a clear idea of what you will be doing on the first day of retirement. Retirement holds the promise of redirecting the rest of your life toward pursuits that stimulate your heart and mind. But setting up a fulfilling and engaging retirement often takes some effort. Before I take my first steps into my second act, I am considering the following questions:

Will I want to work part time? I know that I do not want to work full time during retirement, but part-time work deserves some consideration. Many retirees miss their interactions with co-workers. After spending eight hours a day with a group of people for years, strong bonds are often established. Finding yourself suddenly without these social connections can be a shock for the newly retired. I am open to part-time employment as long as it involves doing something I like or feel is worthwhile. A part-time job would get me out of the house for about four hours a day where I can engage with others, keep my mind sharp and bring in a little additional cash. On the other hand, life with no work also sounds quite attractive. I don’t have a definite answer to this question yet.

Can we retire in place? My wife and I have picked the spot where we want to retire. It’s a small community with lots of sunshine near a cozy downtown and a short drive to the coast. I would like to live here for a long time, but sometimes wonder if we will be able to stay here as long as we want. Baring some economic crash, we should be OK financially. We chose a one story home to avoid having to climb stairs. The community has a good support network for older folks including activities and public transportation. And there is always something going on within a walk or short drive. It’s a good idea to make sure your current home and community will continue to meet your needs as you age, and to have contingency plans in case your health declines.

What can I do to feel productive? I love the idea of relaxing and doing nothing. However, I also enjoy the feeling of accomplishment you get from doing something worthwhile. When I was working full time, my need to be productive was satisfied on a regular basis. But once retired, what will I do to find that same satisfaction? I plan to pursue a few avenues that help fulfill this need, including blogging, learning to speak (or at least better understand) French, taking a number of online courses and dedicating time every day to exercise and health maintenance. But will that be enough for the next 20 or more years? I plan to investigate volunteering, and we are considering living abroad for some period of time. Maybe I will take up painting or some other artistic expression.

What are my top 10 to-dos? If I want to get something done, I put it on a list. Before I retire, my goal is to have a list of the top 10 things I want to do now that I have the time. My hope is the exercise of generating the list will help me better identify what I really enjoy and how I can best spend my time. The beauty is I have the flexibility to add, delete or modify this list at any time. My list is a work in progress, but I do have a few options jotted down, including living in France for a month or two, writing a fiction novel, cultivating an awesome home garden where we walk outside to pick fresh tomatoes, apples and lemons and discovering the secrets of what entertains my grandchildren most. I have no grandchildren yet, but it sure is fun to imagine.

My wife and I want to take the right first steps when we begin our retirement journey together. We are trying to identify and cover all our bases ahead of time. For us, the key is to sustain an ongoing curiosity and willingness to explore new things. We hope our list can provide an overview while our imaginations fill in the blanks.

Dave Bernard blogs at Retirement-Only The Beginning .

More from U.S. News

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10 Retirement Lifestyles Worth Trying

10 Ways to Reduce the Cost of Retirement

How to Take the First Steps into Retirement originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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