Boomers and our future, moulah wise

My story:
Divorced dead beat husband with terrible money ideas. I came out okay, but still owe some money. I got myself seperated from his income tax some four years before divorcing, Thank God. It was a mess and I surely would have been stung by it. I suggest wives taking an interest in what hubby is doing with the taxes.
I started an investment program two years before divorcing, I still have it and it is growing now.
I work at a day job, but last year started my own business on the side so I will have something to retire to that I will enjoy. I will retire just as soon as I can, I can't wait! So life is good ladies, I am looking ahead and making plans. Please don't think you don't have to. Life changes and then there you are with no plan B.
Oh yeah, and he was five years younger. Maybe next time I will go for ten years younger. Ha!
Renegade

Hi friends, here's my question. I am 51 with a bachelor's in social work. That means I get to work as a case manager with too many cases and too little pay. I can go back to college to get a master's in social work, which will permit me to be a clinical social worker, ie. mental health specialist. The program costs lots of money. It doesn't even start until I'm 52. So, 1 year at school, 2 years getting licensed. I'll be 54. Is it worth investing the money in education now for only 10-12 years of work? I believe that no education is a waste. At the same time, my preferred method of making a living would be through art and writing. But I haven't broke even on the investment for my book. I live off my husband and he subsidizes my work. In other words, it's his money that puts gas in the car so I can volunteer. It's his paycheck that gives me the freedom to do presentations for free to agencies that don't have a speaker's budget. What to do, what to do, wish I knew. LLL

Lynn, Weighing the pros and cons almost makes a balance here.

If you left out the what if's, what do you see as your ultimate choice?

You certainly have the drive and energy, do you have the desire as a passion?

If your preferred method of living is through art and writing, lets start a brainstorming session. Maybe all our heads together can hit on something or conjure up an idea that will work for you.

"It only takes ONE idea to spin a change that hasn't come yet" (Hey, I just thought that up, lol)

Let me stir up some braindust and start i.e., How can you get some paid presentations....is there a 'workshop" you could create for (medical,police,???) personnell that need to know more about DV and your book?

Can you access funding to help get this pilot project off the ground?

I am sorry I focused more on this and not college(I believe in Education too at any age) but I like the idea of confronting violence against women. Wished we lived closer, we'd be a team...and find a way.
Good Luck girlfriend, I am here to help in any way I can. There has to be a way to do what you're doing and make a living too. Nothing is impossible, we just don't know how to do it yet.(I didn't make that one up, but I believe it)

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL++++++++
chick

renegade, I enjoyed your post. 10 years younger...ya think What is your side business?
chick

[ July 29, 2005, 12:50 AM: Message edited by: chickadee ]

renegade, good for you for tinking ahead. Is your other job selling your art? Please tell us more.

chick, great idea to brainstorm for Lynn.

Lynn, go with your passion. If you go to school, will you graduate and still be involved with domestic violence? I know that's where you're already making a difference.

Have you journaled about this? I think this is the perfect time to humker down in prayer with a journal and get at the core of your being to see what you are being called to do.

I like chick's ideas of creating ways for you to make money at lecturing. Can you position yourself as a domestic violence expert and begin writing press releases, or submitting articles to major magazines for recognition?

Thank you all! To answer Dotsie and Chick--I formed an artists group to promote contemporary abstract art in my area. It took off great guns and this year we applied for our non-profit status. We are service oriented in that we provide professional gallery space for upcoming artists to show their work, with very low commission. New artists are intermingled with professional established artists. Everybody learns and benefits. We are looking at providing an agent's service as well, setting up shows. It's great fun and I get my art out as well. I write poetry and short fiction too and submit that wherever and whenever I can.
Unique it is great to hear from you... I have no one in mind right now, seems my time is pretty booked. However, if someone who looked like Johnny Depp came through town, I would make time. Whoo-Hoo!
R.

Lynn,
For what its worth, I agree with Chick and Dotsie. If you WANT to lecture and work in the field of domestic violence, why would you consider anything else? If making money is part of the equation, then I would take the "passion" career and figure out a way to make money doing that.

This sounds easier said than done, and is something I'm doing right now, so it may not work. If it doesn't, I'll simply get a job. If it DOES, and I believe it will/is, then I'm doing what I love and making a difference in people's lives. Even if it is just making them laugh.

GO WITH YOUR PASSION. YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT!

JJ <stepping down from soapbox)

Lynn329, call me old fashioned but you keep saying about your situation, his money, his paycheck. Are you not partners, does he not want to help you realize your dream. My husands 1 & 2 were both supportive and helped me realize my dream then they too lived well from what I was able to contribute as I am sure your husband will when you have realized your dream. I don't think any age is too old to be learning. You may make it to 90 something, who knows? Go for it!

Hello all and thanks for the responses. Chatty, my husband has been so supportive of me. I have more of a problem with "his" money than he does. He does not resent one red cent. Yes, we are partners. Today we asked each other where we want to be in January 2007 (about 18 months from now) I heard myself say, "I want to be on a lecture circuit making money by talking about SA & DV. I want to be selling my watercolors." Then I see Renegades post, and I have already visited her site. It appears as if I have a gallery to approach right here in my own back yard of Colorado. Truth is, I do a lot of ABSTRACT art that symbolizes emotions! Yes, Dotsie if I went to school for a Masters in Social Work I would certainly be working as a counselor to those victimized by SA and DV. Chickadee has in mind for me what I really have in mind for me. So today I decided NOT to go back to college, although I enjoy education. I have to establish myself as an author and an artist! Love and Light, Lynn

Lynn, I think your decision is just that, your decision. You just needed a little online conference to help out.

I think a "brainstorming session needed" should be added to our site Dotsie, for those who want to discuss such important issues as Lynn's. Not advice on what to do but ideas on what can be done. Two(ten)heads are better than one.

Speaking of conferences, Lynn, are you associated/familiar with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence?
You can consider applying for Board Membership. They come together at least three times yearly (at no expense to Board Members.)
OR
Their next conference takes place on July 9-12, 2006, in Atlanta, Georgia. (close to Queenie and Dianne)
Theme: To be announced
They are calling for """workshop"""" proposals in the late summer of 2005.
Keynote speaker sounds about right too, Lynn.

The 2004 Conference was: 2004 – Radical Organizing for Change Denver, CO .

Hey maybe you need an agent???

Lynn, blessings sprinkled on you.(I borrowed that one from Dotsie but she won't mind)

chick

lynn329,
Just in case your decision isn't final -- my 86-year-old mom has a good friend who got her MSW when she was in her 60s or 70s. She's now in her 80s and specializes in elder abuse cases, is really good and it and loves it. I was 30 when I got my bahcelors, 40 when I got my master's, and 50 when I got my Ph.D. during which time I raised 4 kids also. I paint and write as well and sold articles as well as paintings during those years. I was usually the oldest in the class, but I was also usually the best student!

DJ, allow me to commend you on your accomplishments, Wow, as well as your Mom's friend who is an elder abuse specialist. I would like to see your writings and paintings if you have them available for viewing.
I painted ONE picture in my lifetime. It should be worth a fortune now. It is a "limited" edition in the strong sense of the word, don't you think?
I am going to start again, with watercolours...maybe I've gotten better with age?

chick

Chick, I don't have any of the stuff I sold saved digitally but thanks for asking.

Tell you what I learned, though == _very_ few people support themselves solely on either freelance writing or painting. Not only that, but I found that magazine editors expected a heck of a lot for the measley sums they were willing to pay. Rewrites, reedits, go back and find out this or that, etc.

My son in law, who's an excellent artist, was counseled by an art teacher that unless he had a trust fund, he shouldn't think he could support himself with fine art.

Making crafts is another story, but also very tough.

Also, Chick, as to your original question, during my divorce was when I started my IRA, with investment advice from my dad. That was 9 years ago. I since converted it to a ROTH IRA. And I didn't have money to spare, that's for sure. My future was very uncertain and I didn't have a full time job.

I invest in the stock market. One thing to look into is Direct Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs). You can find information on line. These are stocks you buy directly, without a broker. They're better than savings accounts -- if you watch over them and choose the right ones.

Because I don't invest in blue chips, I didn't suffer much during the 2001 crash. I didn't sell off, but held on, and everything bounced back.

Chick, it seems that my decisions are never final. I am a woman of ambivalence versus a woman of conviction. I get equal amounts of validation for what I am doing as well as reasons for doing something else, or adding on. And DJ, you got your PhD in your 50s? That was my original goal when I was 15. There is a program in CO that offers a combination master's and Ph.D in one 5 year program in elder care. I'd considered it, but I need a trust fund or lottery winnings to afford it. If I won the lottery, I would still do what I am doing in regards to writing and painting, AND I would complete the education to the doctorate level. In my forties, I was one of the oldest in each class, especially in the stupid 101 requirements. But it was such an enriching experience! I really admire your continuing education. Do you use your doctorate? If so, what kind of work do you do? Was it expensive? Chick, if you enjoy the process, why not try watercolors again? You can visit mine at http://www.homepage.mac.com/woodyt1. I did hear from Renegade and she says some of my paintings may fit in her gallery, so we are going to meet! 29 years ago I visited Estes Park, Colorado, and I told myself that someday I wanted my own artwork to be in a building there! And Renegade's gallery is in Estes Park! DJ, good for you on what you do as far as investment. I wonder if we want to start an investment how-to on BWS. Does your son earn a living from his art, despite what his teacher said? My parents said the same thing about my writing, which has held me back. Chick, I am a member of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Abuse, and I will check out the National Coalition of DV that you mentioned. Keynote? Me? I barely get through my Toastmaster's speeches, but I'm working to improve my speaking skills! And yes, I need an agent, a publicist, a marketing specialist, an image consultant, a make up artist, a personal assistant, a media consultant...but most of all I need the support and encouragement that I get from BWS! Love and Light, Lynn

Lynn,
I tried to go to your webpage listed in the above response. All I could get is that is is unavailable or does not exist. Maybe you should check it out.

Sandpiper

Sandpiper, make sure you don't copy the "period" at the end of the web address when you cut and paste it. I had no trouble going right to it.

JJ

Hi Sand P, Phew, you scared me! I checked it out and it worked right away. Thanks for the heads up. We would all want to know if/when our links don't work. LLL

Lynn329
I paid as I went. It took a few years. I think I was using a home equity at the time -- which is like a loan but you can deduct the interest on taxes.

Considering that I had no full time job, it has been worth it. I have a teaching position now. Before that I taught as an adjunct, which is exploitation to the max! Adjunct profs get paid per course, I was paid $2000 per. So in a semester I could can comfortably teach 12 credits (4 3-credit courses) so I could make $24,000 a year IF I got the contracts. Sometimes I got a summer class. Often adjuncts have to scramble among campuses. You work like a dog and with no benefits, by the way.

I did that, and had 2 or 3 other income streams (10 hours per week working with schizophrenic adults, freelance garden design, translating Italian for the public schools, occasional editing and writing gigs)AND went to school at night, once or twice a week (commuting an hour each way)AND still had a teenage son at home (ex-hubby was then traveling to exotic splaces with his new lover and didn't want to watch our son when I was at school).

But now I have the perfect job with the perfect colleagues at the perfect place and hope to be there as long as possible.

DJ, I am in a whirlwind just reading all you've gone through. But to be able to say you have the perfect job is such a reward for you, and for me to hear. You are certainly multi-talented. What do you teach? Do we call you Dr. DJ? LLL

indeed, I am Dr. At the moment I can't type. Cut finger. 5 stitches. Chat later.

DJ, you've transformed yourself! Kudos on turning your life towards where you wanted it to be

thanks meredith. considering i was once on general assistance, i certainly have worked very very hard to get where i am now.

yesterday i cut off my fingertip, left pinky. i actually put it in a baggy and took it to the er and they sewed it back on. pain meds today

but i can type while daintily holding my pinky above the keyboard.

drip plans are dividend reinvestments. stock tips are tough. look for the ones that pay good dividends. There's a lot of info on line -- good dividends would be 5 % or more. They pay per share. i bought duquesne, a utilities company. not so great. a good one is duke realty. McDonalds was good but i don't know how it's doing. I struggle with the idea of being socially responsible vs. making money. I don't eat mcDonalds so why buy it? my kids used to like it though. i bought exxon 9 years ago. For a while it was doing badly, now it's rising like a star. procter and gamble looked good for a while but i never bought any. All these are available for direct purchase. try googling DRIP

see if costco is available. also apple computer might be good. a friend of mine bought martha stewart. you need to do reearch. btw, my ex is a broker. there's a lot of mumbo jumbo involved. no one really can predict the market. research a company. Go with what you know. reinvest the dividends. buy and hold -- don't use it to gamble. i can tolerate some risk. after 911 people panicked and sold everything and lost money. i hung on and my stocks came back.

My broker keeps saying "Diversify" so I have a combination of tax free income producing bonds, blue chip, and growth stocks.

The broker also says "sell" one day and "Buy" the next. Of course he only gets a commission if I do one or the other so mostly I just ignore him. I pray and try not think about it. So far so good.
smile

Dr DJ, I am still curious as to what your doctorate is in. What do you teach? That is amazing to go from general assistance to a Ph.D. Awesome. How's your little pinkie? I pictured the pinkie at the keyboard ala tea cup style LLL

Hello Hello, speaking of financial future, I am trying to decide how much to charge for a beginner's workshop in journal writing. I posted the question of what to charge in another forum, and got some ideas. But I'm greedy for more ideas! How much would you pay for a workshop that runs one time for 2.5 hours that tells you the benefits and 3 principles of journal writing? Thanks a bunch. LLL

Lynn,

In the future you might want to add a teleclass on the same subject. That way you have a large range of students that would be interested.

I am sorry I cannot help you as far as the fee is concerned. Do you have an adult learning center where you live? If you do you may find their schedule at a library, then you can get an idea of what the fees would be.

Cheers,
Cathi

I would pay $20.00 for such a class of that time frame. Anyone should be happy to pay that especially if the class is a good one. Just a thought.

DJ, how did you cut your finger? OUCH!! Of course, it wouldn't affect my stellar typing skills as I only use 3 fingers, total.

My husband's occupation/avocation is managing our portfolio. Every month he draws up a spread sheet accounting for every penny we own. Personally I think he overdoes it, but it keeps him happy. Every month he calls me in to review our entire financial staus, to the detail. I am kinda sorta aware of what he's doing but am honestly not that interested.

The only thing I'm interested in, somewhat, is choosing my personal investments. I won't buy anything unless it's socially conscious. Probably my highest earner right now is Whole Foods.

well, this friend of my son's is representing cutco -- a knife company in NY. I agreed to look at the entire set to help her gain points in some sales competition. These knives are SUPER sharp. The chef's knife is 9 inches long. Before using it I called the rep and left a message that I wanted the 7 'inch one instead. Anyway, to cut through some rather soft cheese I needed to hold down the pointy end with my left hand. And voila!...
*[caution -- the following contains graphic material...]*
I actually cut a little sliver of my fingertip -- it was stuck to the knife like a piece of raw chicken. First i tried to slap it on my finger and hold it there. I worried though that it might be upsdie down and my fingerprint would look weird. Anyway it didn't work. my husband put bandaids on but the bleeding didn't stop.

I put the finger flesh into a baggy -- EWWWWWWW-- and stuck it in my purse and went to the ER. Drove myself becuase we were expecting about 20 guests in about 40 minutes. I grossed out the nurses with the baggy flesh and I think that got me seen in a hurry. The doctor sewed it back on with 5 stitches. we'll see it if "takes."

oh, and the rep brought mw the 7" knife and a get well card. my question now is whether or not to keep the knife? my mom says I only have 10 fingers. maybe they're too sharp?

btw Whole Foods is trading above 100 now, i believe.

[ August 03, 2005, 10:54 AM: Message edited by: DJ ]

DJ, Cutco knives? Oh boy. Those are the sharpest dang things. Their scissors cut pennies. I guess you saw that in the demonstration. I cut my finger with one too while cutting a bagel. but no stitches. Ross ran out and got us a bagel cutter. Another friend ended up in the ER after slicing her fingtr with a Cutco too.

We've had many guys do their presentation for us. Just had another rep sell me more about a month ago. I love helping out the kids.

Your finger story reminded me of the time my daughter's finger got slammed in the door. It's the only time we had one of our kids in a car, not in a car seat. I held her on my lap with one hand, and her fingertip on with my other. They didn't stitch it. They repositioned it, covered and taped the heck out of it. It was such a traumatic day for us. When we finally arrived home from the hospital we put her down for a nap. When she awakened she had torn the whole dang thing off. After calling the ER, we repositioned it, re-taped, put a sock on top, taped that, blah, blah, blah. Her fingertip is a little crooked today, but at least it's there!

Hope you're healing.

This is certainly a "diversified" thread. We have stock tips, fee tips, class tips, tele tips, and finger tips. DJ I am going to die of curiosity if I don't get to know what you Ph.D is in. Perhaps you can give me some graduate school tips! Love and Light, Lynn

I asked hubbo about Whole Foods and he said $138 and change. He knows all this stuff by heart.

DJ's and Dotsie's stories are NOT selling me on Cutco knives.

yeah and my sis in law bought it years ago when it was affordable.

I'm not keeping the knives. just the "free" scissors because i looked at the knives (boy, did I!)

Lyn 329 -- my ph.D. is in intercultural communication. maybe I can give tips?

DJ,
My sympathies in the finger wound. Sounds painful.

I was wondering if you could tell us more about your PhD. I have been pursuing a doctorate in Literature, but recently decided I simply cannot read another classic as long as I live!

Having been raised in a cross cultural environment, Intercultural communication sounds especially interesting. Can you tell us a little about what it involves study wise, etc.?
smile

i wasn't raised in an intercultural environment but i lived abroad as a young adult. I'm very much a WASP.

I went about my studies rather lackadaisically and never planned on going for it -- I was a college drop-out and took 10 years to finish undergrad when I had two small children. my undergrad studies were in media. It would've been journalism but I didn't start as a freshman and at the school where i went you had to go full time days to do j-school. I worked briefly in publishing, instructional tv and some radio.

Got my masters and started teaching adjunct just for fun and still never intended to go further.

When i was getting divorced, my lawyer said i needed to find a way to further my career if i wanted to get support (i.e., alimony) so I checked around. As far as studying media, I didn't think there was much more to learn about it. In the 90s mass media seemed to fall apart.

Intercultural communication seems like the discipline of the future, starting now. I studied interpersonal as an undergrad as well, which is interesting, but doesn't go far enough. I went to an historically black college which was one of the best in the country in intercultural with some of the top professors in the field.

Intercultural comm grew out of rhetorical studies, and also involves some anthropology and sociolinguistics. It has roots first in feminist studies -- women were the first to methodically study communication styles and point out how they were excluded. African Americans adopted a lot of the early feminist research. It looks at each of us as cultural beings -- we all bring our different backgrounds to every encounter -- sex, race, socioeconomic level, class, nationality, education, ethnicity, etc. We build our identities and develop our value systems largely by imitating those around us. We arrange ourselves hierarchically depending on who's in power and how much we resemble them.

That's a thumnail sketch (oops -- i'm trying not to think about fingers).

DR DJ, thanks for the thumbnail sketch on your degree. You sound multi-faceted, and your degree sounds so interesting!

so, lynn, smile -- what were your questions about getting a doctorate?

Dr DJ, thanks for asking, but I don't have any questions at this time. You have done an awesome job with your education, and using it to help others. LLL

Anyone still watching this? Chickadee: A family member did what you are thinking of doing and now loves her job. I am 55 and just finishing a post-bac certificate in a new field. Posted this in the education thread but would like to know, financially speaking, if anyone has taken early retirement (by choice, thus cutting way down on the monthly payout amount)and started a new career in a new field (where salaries are lower because you are a newbie)?