When we talk about investment, it does not essentially mean materialistic. Everything that we do is an investment on its own. From our home, to our health or even insurance or our family, we invest our time, energy, words, thoughts and even emotions. Protecting our investment is very important and here are a few things that you can do to ensure that everything goes just the way you want it to.
1. The most important investment is Your Home.
There are different kinds of home insurance, so it’s important to know the differences between each insurance policy and be aware of what each policy type does and does not cover. Homeowner’s insurance ($700-1500 per year) covers the damages caused by common disasters, such as fires, thefts, water damages and hurricanes.
A home warranty ($350-600 per year) covers systems in the house, such as air conditioning, heating and plumbing. If you’re a renter, you should consider renter’s insurance which covers your personal belongings inside your rental home or apartment, but not the home itself.
Too many people assume that all warranties are standard and reasonable, so make sure you take care to review the fine details of any contract before signing it. Ensure that the most important components of your home are covered and that the regular payments fit well within your expected monthly retirement budget.
2. Prioritize Maintaining Your Health and Mental Wellness.
Our health truly is the most important asset we have. There’s a powerful link between what we consume and how our bodies function. Especially as we age, the foods we eat have a dramatic effect on the overall quality of our health. Eating nutrient rich super foods like Kale, Spinach, Berries, and even adopting a more vegetarian diet has been shown in many clinical studies to slow aging and improve cognitive function while reducing risk of Parkinson’s.
For people with pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension, it becomes increasingly important to monitor your eating habits, as your body becomes less resilient and able to cope with your dietary restrictions. Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with these conditions, regulating your sugar intake and reducing the amount of HDL and LDL cholesterol in your diet will help keep your body functioning at its full potential.
Exercise is also an important aspect of maintaining healthfulness into retirement. Numerous studies have also demonstrated the importance of frequent exercise on reversing the impacts of aging. If you haven’t already found a way to bring exercise into your lifestyle, finding an activity that you especially enjoy especially if it’s reinforced with family and friends, can have a profound impact on maximizing your quality of life.
3. Get High Quality Healthcare Coverage.
This is a big one. As we get older and head into retirement, healthcare costs can get expensive. Making things even more challenging, healthcare costs across America have been rising every year. Investing in Medicare can help reduce these expenses, but even still you can be left with a lot of expenses including deductibles and medication costs. It’s important to be smart about this and invest in a compare your options to find a plans that afford maximum coverage and weigh the options you have, which vary by state and scope of coverage. Most healthcare companies won’t cover pre-existing conditions, which makes it all the more important to invest in quality healthcare coverage as early as possible.
4. Stay Active, Social, and Keep Your Mind Engaged.
Retirement shouldn’t be accompanied by a drop in mental stimulation and physical activity. It’s important to continue challenging yourself and maintaining an active lifestyle. It’s a great time to learn a new skill. Activities like charity work, ballroom dance, and group sports are twice as helpful because they keep your mind stimulated and bring exercise into your lifestyle. Even a 30 minute brisk walk can help keep your memory strong.
One often overlooked part of staying engaged is keeping a fixed schedule. Regular social lunches with friends, hobby projects, and group activities are a great way to reinforce daily rhythm.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
