According to some estimates, people who are age 50-plus account for nearly 80 percent of all leisure travel spending. We travel more often, go farther, and stay longer than people in any other age group. No wonder the travel industry is constantly looking for new ways to attract our business. This step-by-step guide will help you find the best senior travel discounts available.
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I heard some amazing news from the Social Security Administration: In the next 20 years, 80 million boomers are expected to apply for Social Security benefits—at the rate of 10,000 per day.

It's no wonder that working Americans are concerned about the future of Social Security, and whether there will be enough money in the fund to pay the kind of Social Security benefits that current retirees receive.

In addition to worries about whether or not Social Security will be solvent when you retire, there's the question about how much money you could expect to receive in Social Security benefits, based on the current system. This is where the Social Security benefits calculator comes in handy.

Then you have to determine when to apply for Social Security benefits. The Social Security break-even calculator will help you decide if it makes more financial sense to start receiving benefits as soon as possible (at age 62), or whether you'll make more money in the long run by putting retirement off for a few extra years.

And with 10,000 boomers applying for Social Security benefits every day, you can imagine how hard it could be to make an appointment with a Social Security representative to complete your application. Not to worry...you can skip a trip to your Social Security office—and those long lines—by applying for Social Security benefits online. The process has been streamlined, and it shouldn't take you more than 20 minutes from start to finish.

One of the biggest questions facing Americans planning for retirement is when to apply for Social Security benefits. Do you apply as soon as you are eligible and take reduced benefits for life, or delay your benefits for a few years to ensure a bigger Social Security check each month? The answer varies from person to person because it depends on individual issues including your likely longevity, and how long you plan to keep working. The Social Security Administration offers a handy "break-even age" calculator that helps you determine whether it's best to apply for Social Security benefits as soon as you reach age 62...or wait a few years.
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When you work for decades and the work stops, it can be hard to get accustomed to a different daily routine, and to find ways to fill your days. A reader named Leo wrote for advice on how to cope with being retired and bored, so I gave him a few ideas. One great way to fill extra time is to meet new people who share your interests. New friends make life more interesting and, according to researchers, friends actually increase longevity.
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