Are you retired and bored?  Are you looking for something to do with your time or to supplement your retirement income a little?  Well here are some easy jobs for you to consider that will do just that but still leave you plenty of time to enjoy your retirement years.

1. Flower Delivery – If you are retired but still able to drive safely this may just be the job for you.  A flower delivery person is able to get outside and bring joy to people with the delivery of flowers or gifts for that special occasion.  These jobs pick up around certain holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day and you will be quite busy.  However, for most of the year the deliveries will be at a much slower pace.

2. Flea Market Sales – Here isSW Florida we have several flea markets to choose from and they are perfect for seniors.  If you have a lot of old junk that you want to get rid of or are connected to a vendor for small products, the flea market will provide you with an opportunity to get out on the weekends (generally Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and sell at your leisure.  At the flea market you can set your own hours and be your own boss.  You can control what you sell, when you sell it and how much you sell it for.  You can earn a little extra money and still spend quality time with the family.  The markets are also partly seasonal with the primary season open from November through March. 

3. Crossing Guard – Contact your local school district to find out about working as a crossing guard for the local school.  You will get to meet the children and help them get to school safely.  There is not as much flexibility as you will be required to work during the school opening and closing hours, but these are short hours during the school year.  You will still have free time during the day to do what you enjoy doing while giving back to your local community.  There will be some training and probably a background check required.

4. School Bus Driver – Can you still drive?  Contact your local school board about opportunities driving school buses.  The hours will be similar to that of the crossing guards, maybe a little longer.  However, you will have the safety and security of the bus – especially nice in rainy or cold weather.  Again, the hours may not be as flexible as other part time jobs, but you will still have plenty of free time to enjoy your retirement while giving back to the community.

5. Catering – The field of catering can be fantastic for seniors.  You can work as much or as little as you want.  You can simply fill in when needed or work full time, early mornings or late evenings.  Or you can offer to work just the special events that you want to work.  Anything from a dinner party to a full line buffet for a community event can be worked.  Contact a local catering agency and find out what opportunities exist that will fit your schedule.

There are plenty of opportunities out there for seniors and retirees to work to supplement their income or, simply give them something to do to help pass the time.  Find out what your interests are and be creative.  The opportunities are there.

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We all love to dance. Whether it’s in public or alone in the living room – we all do it. And what it you were told that there are health benefits to dancing? Would you do it more? Here are the top four health benefits of dance.

1. Flexibility

Flexibility is just as important to being healthy as a good diet. And if you have ever danced before you understand that dance requires a great amount of flexibility. Most dance classes begin with a warm-up including several stretching exercises. Dancers must strive to achieve full range of motion for all the major muscle groups. The greater the range of motion, the more muscles can flex and extend. Most forms of dance require dancers to perform moves that require bending and stretching, so dancers naturally become more flexible by simply dancing.

2. Strength

Dancing builds strength by forcing the muscles to resist against a dancer’s own body weight. Many styles of dance, including jazz and ballet, require jumping and leaping high into the air. Jumping and leaping require tremendous strength and flexibility of the major leg muscles.

3. Endurance

Dance is physical exercise that requires endurance. Endurance is the ability of muscles to work hard for increasingly longer periods of time without fatigue. Regular dancing is great for improving endurance, especially vigorous dancing such as line and ballroom dancing. Elevating the heart rate can increase stamina. Just as in any form of exercise, regular dancing will build endurance.

4. Sense of Well-Being

Dancing is a social activity. Studies have shown that strong social ties and socializing with friends contribute to high self-esteem and a positive outlook. Dancing provides many opportunities to meet other people. Joining a dance class can increase self-confidence and build social skills. Because physical activity reduces stress and tension, regular dancing gives an overall sense of well-being.

So get out there and dance and stay healthy!

Photo Credit:  Photobucket

The Most Flattering Swimsuits for Women Over 50

We have all been to the beach or local swimming pool and seen what people are wearing these days. It’s frightening what some people call swimsuits and are willing to go out in public wearing. Here are some tips for picking the right swimsuit for you.

1.  Bathing Suits for Your Body Type: No matter how skinny a woman was in the 60s or 70s, she’s going to need to put more thought into what she wears to the beach, in this brave new world. Fortunately, women have the internet to see them through this ordeal. Do a web search for bathing suits or search for the national retail chain stores and browse in the privacy of your own home. Then when you find something that you like, catch the name and stock number and hit the store. This will save you some time as well as possible uncomfortable situations dealing with the salesperson.
2. Swimsuit Type Tips: It is extremely important to get swimwear in a good color that flatters one’s skin tone. Brilliant blues (electric blue, cobalt blue, teal, perky navy) and deeper, darker pinks (magenta, fuchsia, coral) are almost always flattering. Both black and white can look sickly against pale skin, but they are often great colors once a woman gets a bit of a tan.

A swimsuit’s fabric must be good. Anything shiny will show fatty bulges, while a good camouflaging print (floral, swirl, leopard) will hide many flaws. Or, a gal can try hiding tummy imperfections with ruching or slightly-textured fabric.

After 40, most women need swimsuit tops that provide good support. Large breasts need a bathing suit with a built-in bra and thicker straps. Smaller breasts need a perfect fit and, sometimes, a built-in push-up.

• Swimwear Necklines: When a woman reaches a certain age, the neckline of her swimsuit becomes more important than ever. It’s easy to cover oversized hips, stomachs, and backsides with sarongs, when out of the water.

So with these easy tips, hit the beach or pool. The weather is beautiful, wish you were here.

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How to Organize a Successful Yard Sale

‘Tis that time of year when the weather is nice enough to have a garage or yard sale.  Here are some tips on planning for and having a successful yard sale.

Set the Date

• Estimate how much time you think it will take to get your sale ready. Now triple that, and set your sale date for a convenient weekend afterward.
• Conventional small-town wisdom, where your buyer pool is limited, is to plan your yard sale for the first weekend of a month. Buyers on fixed incomes will be the most flush at that time. It doesn’t seem to matter as much in a larger city.
• Once you’ve set the date, go ahead and get a permit if your city requires it. You might forget once you get busy preparing for the sale.

Gather the Merchandise

• Except for large items, go ahead and corral the things you’re sure about selling into one area, a garage or seldom used room if possible. They’ll be out of your way, physically and mentally, while you deal with the iffy items.
• For the items you’re unsure about selling, ask yourself these questions:
• If I didn’t already own it, would I buy it again today?
• Do I care what happens to it or who buys it? If you’re worried about who gets it, you aren’t ready to part with it.
• If I regret selling it, can it be replaced?

Price the Merchandise

• Pick up some neon-colored price stickers. Some come preprinted with various prices.
• If you aren’t using preprinted stickers, use a Sharpie®, or something similar, so the price is easy to read.
• Price everything. Make it easy for your customers to buy. It’s annoying to have to ask for a price on everything of interest, and some shoppers just won’t bother.
• Don’t rely on complicated systems, where customers have to refer to a price chart that may be obscured by the crowd. Even if the view isn’t blocked, they’ll drive you crazy asking for prices anyway. It will take more prep time, but you’ll be glad things are less hectic on the day of the sale.
• If you’re selling something with some value, but you aren’t sure how much, do a completed item search on eBay.  Then, price it for a little less.
• Don’t overprice.
• Don’t expect to get what you paid for something unless you bought it at a yard sale. If you want top dollar, sell it on eBay with a reserve or put it in a consignment shop.
• Be aware that people will expect to haggle. Think about the lowest amount you’re willing to take, and then price 10 – 20% higher on things with value.
• Write the word “Firm” on tags of large items if you aren’t willing to negotiate. Some will ask anyway, but not as many.
• Place ads in your local newspaper and on Craigslist. Serious shoppers plan in advance. If your sale starts on Friday, start your newspaper ad on Thursday. If the sale is Saturday, start the ad on Friday. Start your Craigslist ad a couple of days in advance. Spend the extra money and list your prime merchandise. Don’t forget your address, the date, and the starting times.
• Signs are just as important as your newspaper listing. Use neon-colored poster board and thick, thick black lettering. Place them at main intersections near your neighborhood, and at all the turns leading to your house. Point the way with thick, black arrows. Put your signs out the night before the sale.

Set Up the Sale

• If you’re having the sale in a garage, start setting up a few days in advance. If you’re having it outside, have everything ready and get up early.
• Expect to have shoppers show up while you’re setting up outside, well before your starting time. Send them away if they bug you, but know that early birds usually come to buy, and they still have all their money in their pockets.
• Other than folding tables, don’t display merchandise on anything you don’t want to sell. It seems to be understood that folding tables aren’t up for grabs, but drag a table out of the dining room and shoppers will drive you crazy asking if it’s for sale.
• Arrange things logically. Put all the books in one place, all the clothes, all the dishes, etc.
• Display any valuable items close to the house, or close to the inside door if the sale is in a garage, where you can keep an eye on them.
• If the sale is in your garage, try to remove anything not for sale. If that isn’t possible, rope them off and use “Not for Sale” signs.
• If the sale is in the yard, use “Not for Sale” signs or stickers on any statuary, lawn ornaments, planters, etc.

During the Sale

• Make sure you have plenty of ones, at least one roll of quarters, and a handful each of dimes and nickels to start.
• Unless you have a designated cashier, with no other duties, who sits at a designated table, do not use a money box. Otherwise, you will accidentally leave that box unattended at some point during the hectic day.
• If you have no designated cashier, wear a fanny pack or apron with large pockets. The apron is best. You don’t have to worry about a zipper and it helps shoppers identify the proprietor of the sale.
• Have some plastic grocery bags handy for shoppers who purchase multiple items, newspapers too if you have them. It’s fine to give them a bag and some paper and let them pack the merchandise themselves.
• Say hello and smile. Shoppers will know who is running the sale when they have questions and get ready to pay.
• After you greet people, leave them alone and let them shop. They are on the hunt and don’t have time to chat. If someone is really eyeing something, it’s okay to drift that way in case of questions, but resist the urge to try to sell.

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If you fly a lot then you understand that it is becoming more and more expensive to travel each time you book your flight.  Fees are now popping up for food and beverage services, picking your seat, etc.  And not to mention the notorious baggage fees.  Now most Airlines charge you to check your bags.  And if your bags are overweight, then you pay even more.  So what are your options?  One option that is gaining more credence is to ship your bags via FedEx, UPS or some other shipping company to save money.

Most domestic flights the major carriers now charge about $25 each way for the first checked bag and between $30 and $35 for the second. Prices can really take off if you’re traveling in a group or as a family.  You could book your flight with one of the carriers that doesn’t charge a baggage fee like Southwest Airlines or JetBlue.  But if you can’t, you’re stuck with the fee.

If you are charged a fee of $25 to check your first bag and $35 or more for additional bags, plus any fees for overweight baggage, well, you get the picture.  A quick check with FedEx we discovered that from Chicago to Orlando, you can ship your bags for $40 each way.  That’s a lot cheaper.

So it’s something to consider the next time you fly.  Take a look at your luggage and do the quick math to see which way might save you some money.  And something else to consider: FedEx and UPS may also do a better job keeping track of where your luggage is.

Photo Credit: Photobucket