International Travel Tips for Senior Citizens

One of the activities which many Baby Boomers look forward to when they retire is the ability to travel, often to countries they only dreamed about while working.  Without work or school to hinder them, they have a wide variety of ways they can pursue this dream. A number of companies cater to senior citizens who want to travel abroad.  In addition, many people choose to simply explore the world on their own.  Whether you travel in a group or privately, there are a few things everyone should know before they set out on their great adventure.

This week, I have invited Sean Turner, a well-traveled health and life insurance expert, to share his expertise and tips for senior citizens who plan to travel overseas.  Hopefully, this information will help them avoid some of the more common pitfalls which can arise with international travel.  Below is the article from Mr. Turner.

5 Tips for Seniors Traveling Internationally

There are several obstacles which seniors may face, which younger people might not, when it comes to traveling overseas, aside from the normal health risks, such as getting waterborne or food borne illnesses after drinking and eating at local restaurants. As a result, we want you to be prepared for your exciting trip overseas and hope you have some incredible and memorable experiences.

Consequently, we have compiled a list of tips for traveling internationally:

1.    Medicare will not cover you outside of the United States 

Original Medicare provides zero coverage as soon as you step off American soil. Even if you have a Medicare Supplement policy, it is likely to only have an extremely limited amount of coverage. This is why we recommend shopping for senior health insurance for international travel. Health insurance for traveling overseas is much more flexible than insurance used here in the States, primarily because there are claims administrators and coordinators who work with citizens in the country to which you are traveling. They understand the language and are familiar with local healthcare.

Travel Health Insurance is important because health emergencies can be more likely to occur overseas than at home. This is because you may be traveling to new places and consuming unfamiliar food and beverages. One way to prepare ahead of time is by purchasing the appropriate travel health insurance policy.

2.    Store Your Prescriptions in Several Locations

Packed swimsuit. Check. Packed phone charger. Check. Packed prescriptions. Check.

What you may want to double check is where you pack your prescriptions. If you rely heavily on specific prescriptions, you may want to consider packing duplicates in both your carry-on and checked luggage.  If you are overseas and lose a prescription, it may be impossible or nearly impossible to get it filled at a pharmacy outside of the U.S.  If you pack the prescriptions in multiple places, and one bag is stolen or lost, it is likely you will still have enough of your prescriptions in your other bag to figure out your next step.  

It is also a good idea to carry a copy of your written prescription from your physician with you. This will make it easier to get certain prescriptions refilled in a foreign country, if you need to.

3.    Look up the US Embassy or Consulate’s Contact Information

Before your trip, search for the closest US Embassy in the country to which you are traveling, and take their contact information with you. If a U.S. citizen is seriously injured or falls ill while in a foreign country, representatives from the embassy will assist in finding providers or healthcare professionals. While the U.S. Embassy will not recommend any one provider, they can provide a list of physicians to help with your specific injury or healthcare problem.

It is also a good idea to check the State Department's website for travel warnings and advisories before you leave on your trip, so you know if there are any areas or specific situations you should avoid.

4.    Take Your Time and Enjoy Your Travels

When you travel overseas, you may be hauling around one or more large suitcases full of clothes, sunscreen, souvenirs you have purchased, and other gadgets “you might need."

Many airlines have begun charging steep rates for checked bags. Before you know it, you are spending an outrageous amount of money just to get you and your stuff from one place to another. Here is our suggestion: Once you have landed at your international destination, you may look into traveling by train or rail to your next destinations.

Rail travel has become increasingly popular and inexpensive in many countries. You usually can carry on one or two bags and check another two at no cost. Some other benefits of traveling by rail are that you can enjoy playing card games in the observation car, view the beautiful landscapes, and even grab a meal in the dining car.  You may also get an opportunity to meet foreigners and learn a little about the country through which you are traveling.  Many people enjoy being unofficial "tour guides" and proudly pointing out interesting locations as you pass by. You will see much more of the countryside between destinations if you travel by rail rather than flying from location to location.

Also, if you are in places such as Europe, train travel is discounted for students and seniors.  Be sure to take along your student ID, or passport, when purchasing your tickets.

5.    Avoid Peak Seasons

Just as in the U.S., when the peak travel season is from June to August (when school is out), other parts of the world have peak travel seasons, as well. Typically, Baby Boomers have more freedom to choose the time of year which is best for travel. We recommend you consider choosing a low season rather than a peak season, when it works for you, because plane tickets and hotels can be much less expensive and the crowds will be smaller.

Low Seasons for Several Countries:

China – November to January

Ecuador – December to June

Europe – October to February

Indonesia – October to May

           

The only downside to traveling during low seasons are that the weather may be cooler and wetter than during the peak seasons, so be prepared to pack appropriate jackets and other clothing. Also, some attractions, such as museums, may be open to the public for shorter hours. Be sure to do your research ahead of time.

Conclusion 

While international travel is often about exploring new cultures, new people and languages, and seeing great places, it may be easier to enjoy it if you have used the above tips to prepare ahead of time. If you have any great tips from your travels, share them in the comments below.

About the Author 

Sean Turner is a licensed health and life insurance agent for Buffer Benefits. He has had the privilege of traveling to over eight different countries. You can learn more about travel insurance at https://bufferbenefits.com


I hope my readers found the above guest post helpful.  If you are interested in getting more information about travel, where to retire, financial planning, common medical problems, Social Security, Medicare and more, use the tabs or pull-down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credits:  Photo of Sean Turner supplied by him
Photo of Ecuadorian Art courtesy of morguefile.com

Awesome Work-From-Home Jobs

One way to earn extra money is to sell your best photos.

A large number of Americans have discovered that it is absolutely essential they work after they have begun to collect their Social Security. It is simply not possible for many retirees to survive without supplementing their Social Security income. However, they may not have the energy and stamina to work full-time outside the home like they did when they were younger. The question becomes, what can they do to earn a little extra money from home?

Many retirees and younger adults have been pleased to discover there are a variety of ways they can supplement their income, regardless of their age, even if they find it difficult to get out.  For example, you can sign up on sites like AirTasker to help people in your community with different tasks such as house cleaning, assembling furniture, gardening or handyman services.  However, this is just the beginning of the ways you can earn extra money during retirement. 

As a result, I have invited guest blogger, Good Nellie, to share her very useful list of work-from-home jobs.  Not all of these ideas will appeal to everyone.  Many of them require some knowledge of how to use a computer; a few require no computer use at all.  However, even if just one or two of these ideas works for you, the extra money could make your retirement more comfortable.  Below is the guest post from Good Nellie. Most of the suggestions have one resource where you can find additional information about how to pursue that possibility.  You may also find other ideas online.

10 Awesome Work-from-Home Jobs for Retired Persons

Working after retirement needs to be something which brings you pleasure, rather than causing you to be stressed out. Many people have discovered they need to earn extra money for a better lifestyle or to repay some of their debts, but they still want to enjoy their later years.

Whatever your situation, there are ways you can earn money by working from the comfort of your home.

So, does it mean you will only be able to earn a small amount?  No, in some cases you can earn quite a significant amount in your golden years by working from home, depending on the time you put into it.

Before discussing ways to make money after retirement, first let's look at the advantages of working after retirement.

●      Undoubtedly, you can work towards financial stability and paying off debt, if any.

●      You can take advantage of the increased Social Security benefits you will receive, especially if this helps you postpone collecting your benefits until the age of 70.

●      People working after retirement may stay more active and more socially connected, which can result in better health.

●      You can choose to work part-time and enjoy your leisure time instead of working full-time.

●      You can explore new fields (which do not require specialization and extensive education) which you may have always wanted to try.

But, the question is, what are some of the ways senior citizens can earn money from home? Let us find out.

10 Work from home ideas for retired people

1.     Being a tutor

One of the best ways to make money after retirement is to use your lifelong experience to earn extra income. If you like teaching from the comfort of your home, consider becoming an online tutor.

You will be able to guide students of all ages, review materials, etc. Moreover, teacher certifications are not necessary. Think about how satisfying it will be if you help someone learn a subject.

Reference: Online Tutoring Jobs

2. Enjoy professional blogging

This is one enjoyable way to make money online. Share to your heart’s content on any topic which interests you with your readers. You never know, your blog might become one of the popular ones (such as this blog: baby-boomer-retirement.com.)

And, if your blog becomes a popular one, you can easily have a steady income from the advertising revenue on it. It is not too difficult to earn a couple of hundred dollars a month by working flexible hours from the comfort of your home. Not too bad, right?

Reference: How to Start a Blog

3. Become an online juror

Have you been a fan of detective stories and you love analyzing situations? Have you ever thought this could help you earn money?

Yes, you can use your analytical mind to serve as a mock juror online. All you have to do is be analytical and enjoy processing large amounts of evidence and give your opinion.

Reference: Becoming an online juror

4. Reviewing a website

If you’ve always loved to analyze things critically, you can become a website tester. By becoming one, you will review websites and analyze them critically.

It is one of the best ways to get income in retirement since you don’t need to have any specialized knowledge. You will review a website just as a normal person might.

You simply have to browse through the websites and share your experience so the websites can be made user-friendly.

Reference: Earn Money byReviewing a Website

5. Being a search engine evaluator

This is somewhat similar to the last money-making idea. You can make money online by being a search engine evaluator.

To do this, you have to browse through certain topics in various search engines and report errors so that the technical persons can fix them.

Reference: Be a Search Engine Evaluator

6. Organizing your photos and selling them

You may have lots of photographs on your phone or computer. Now is the time to organize them and pick out the very best ones.

There are websites for stock photos where you can sell your photographs and earn a decent amount of money when other people purchase them to use on their blogs or articles.

This may also be a fun opportunity for baby boomers to roam around, click pictures, and earn money.

Reference: Sell Photographs Online

7. Earn by doing paid searches

There are companies which employ people to do paid searches. When you do, you earn points that you can redeem for a gift or even cash.

Though you can’t make a large amount of money, it is not a bad option for a side gig.

Reference:  Top 14 Legitimate Sites That Pay for Searching the Web

8. Taking advantage of knowing multiple languages

Do you love different languages? Now is the time to use that to your benefit. Become an online translator and earn extra income.

Frequently, your work will be conducted by phone or video.

When doing so, you can also nurture your love for that language. There are several companies which hire translators.  One is listed below.  You may also find an opportunity to tutor or teach a second language in your community.

Reference: Professional Translations

9. Renting the unused space in your home

You may even earn money without doing anything. How is it possible? Simply rent out any unused portions of your home to someone who needs storage space or who wants to rent a bedroom in your house.

You may even rent out your unused garage. When you are retired, you may be able to manage with only one vehicle.  If so, you can rent your extra garage space.  Advertise in your local newspaper or let your neighbors know you would be willing to rent out your garage.  They may have an extra car or a bunch of boxes they would love to store in your garage.

If you live in an area where basements are common, you may also find you can rent out a part of your basement to store boxes or furniture for someone else.  You earn extra money without the need to do anything.

10. Become a brand advocate for a company

It sounds lucrative to be a brand advocate of an organization, doesn't it? Yes, life may truly start at sixty!

You can become an online brand advocate for a product or a brand and answer online queries about that product.

You will have to know the products well so you can offer advice and recommend them to the target customers.  This could be a great opportunity if you have retired from a large company, but would still like to earn a little extra income by advocating for the products you know so much about.

It will help you if you have been loyal to a brand and its particular products. You will enjoy the job even more.

Reference:  What is Brand Advocacy?

Not only are these ideas great retirement income streams, but you may also being doing something noble. Imagine how many people you could be helping out with your knowledge and experience.

The average pay for the above retirement jobs begins at about $10 per hour. However, it can go up to $22 per hour or more, depending on the type of work and your experience. In addition, the more time you devote, the greater your opportunity to earn more.

When you are searching for how to make money at age 60 or older, you may not want to only search for work-from-home opportunities.  If your health permits you to work outside your home and you enjoy that, then you should also look for part-time opportunities in the community, working in local shops or part-time for neighborhood businesses. However, if possible, do not opt for a stressful job; this is the time to enjoy life. Do not just focus on the money. Do whatever you like to do.

So, go ahead… Enjoy your golden years, earn a decent amount, and have a great lifestyle!

Author Bio:

Good Nelly analyzes financial happenings and writes articles to help her readers plan for their financial future. She has been associated with Debt Consolidation Care for a long time. However, she has contributed articles to other websites, too.

If you are interested in more ideas about financing your retirement, where to retire, common health issues, Social Security, Medicare and more, use the tabs or pull-down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:  author

Camper and RV Travel Jobs - How to Survive Financially on the Road

While most Americans managed to survive the last recession and move on with their lives, there are still many people, especially senior citizens, who never recovered.  A large number of Americans in their 50s, 60s or older are leading nomadic lives in RVs, trailers or vans, moving from place to place, just trying to survive by working in temporary jobs around the country.

As these older Americans approach the age when they can collect Social Security, it is likely many of them will continue to work in low-paying, temporary jobs in order to supplement their benefits. Most of them do not have home equity, retirement savings, pensions or other assets which they can use to supplement their Social Security as they age. However, even though their situation is difficult, at least many of these people have found a way to survive in their own RV, travel trailer or camper.  If you are struggling to get by, one of the suggestions listed below may help you or someone you know survive, as well.

Financial Survival in an RV or Camper

If you are considering living in an RV or a similar vehicle in order to survive, or even if you just want to live a nomadic life during retirement, there are companies which will hire you and, in many cases, provide a free place for you to park your RV.  In some cases, the hours are long and the work is hard.  In other cases, you can have fun by volunteering or working part-time in a national park in exchange for free camper parking. If you are looking for a way to survive financially in your RV until you can begin to collect your Social Security (or even after you are collecting your benefits), one of these jobs might help you bridge the financial gap.

Workamper.com: This website can connect you with a wide variety of jobs which are available to people who are willing to travel to different locations for work.  They have jobs available in all 50 states, so you may not have to move very far in order to be hired for a job as a campground host, RV Park groundskeeper, campground maintenance worker, housekeeper, or doing office work and making reservations for campgrounds and RV Parks.  Both part-time and full-time jobs are available.

AGS Guest Services Guides: Get paid to travel and earn a living.  You are not stuck living in one campground.  Whenever you change assignments, you have the opportunity to travel the country and do a little sightseeing along the way. 

U.S. Forest Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Army Corp of Engineers:  If all you need is a free place to park your RV and you are willing to do volunteer work in exchange for your RV parking, then volunteering for one of these agencies could be fun and rewarding.  You may work in daily operations, camp hosting, or maintenance at one of our majestic national parks. In addition to free RV parking, you may eventually find a paid position as well, especially after you have gained experience as a volunteer. These positions may be the perfect gig for someone who loves the great outdoors.  You may also find similar opportunities in the state parks in your area, so be sure to contact the state department of recreation in the state which interests you.

Amazon CamperForce: According to an article on MarketWatch titled "Many Older Americans are Living a Desperate, Nomadic Life," Amazon hires "seasonal employees who can walk the equivalent of 15 miles a day during Christmas season pulling items off warehouse shelves." The article goes on to describe harsh working and living conditions, saying the workers return "to frigid campgrounds at night. Living on less than $1,000 a month, in certain cases, some (of the campgrounds) have no hot showers."  These are not easy jobs.  However, if you are in good health and you are looking for a free place to legally park your camper and earn an hourly wage, you may want to apply for one of these temporary Amazon CamperForce positions.

Life in free Safe Parking Lots:  This may not seem very romantic, but there are communities which provide free overnight parking for low-income people who are living in their vehicles.  These arrangements are called Safe Parking programs.  In an L.A. Times article titled "Living in a Parking Lot Amid Santa Barbara's Wealth is a Kind of Middle-Class Homelessness," this lifestyle is becoming more common in expensive areas, such as you might find in parts of California.  Under the program, people are allowed to sleep overnight in the parking lots of churches, nonprofits and government offices, as long as they do not arrive until after 7 pm and will leave early in the morning, often by 6 am. 

Why do people stay in these expensive communities?  Often they feel connected to the community because of other family members and relationships, or they have low-paying jobs which provide them with a basic income.  If you are interested in seeing if there is a Safe Parking program in your area, call the local police department and ask if there is a safe place where you can park and sleep in your vehicle overnight. 

In one story I saw on our local California news station, they reported how one woman was working in Santa Barbara, but could not afford to rent an apartment there.  She slept each night in her car in a Safe Parking Lot.  In her case, she could still afford the monthly dues to be a member of a local gym where she would go each morning, work out, shower, dress and apply her makeup.  No one she worked with knew she was living in her car.

Other Types of Jobs for People Traveling and/or Living in an RV:  With a little creativity, there are other types of jobs for people who want to travel or live in an RV, although in some cases you may need to be able to promote yourself, either in person or on the internet.  Among the types of jobs you might consider are:  festival and amusement park workers, artists, musicians, other types of entertainers, tattoo artists, photographers, tour guides, tax preparers, farm workers, temp workers and those who are interested in teaching English as a second language (for those who would like to live for awhile in other countries.)

For more ideas on where to retire, financial survival, Social Security, Medicare, common health problems and more, use the tabs or pull-down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo Credit: Public Twitter account of LeisureVans

SSI Supplemental Security Income - Do You Qualify?

If you do not qualify for Social Security benefits, or if your benefits are exceptionally low, and you do not have other sources of income such as a pension, it is possible you may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).  This program makes small monthly payments to you if you are age 65 or older, you are legally blind, or you are disabled.   For many people, this extra income can help them survive, especially when combined with food stamps, energy assistance, Medicaid and other forms of public assistance.

What are the Income Limits to Qualify for SSI?

Income limits for SSI vary slightly from state to state.  However, you can call the Social Security Administration office in your area to find out the exact income limit for your state.  They do NOT count the following in determining your income limits:

*  The first $20 of income each month;
*  The first $65 a month in earned income and only half the amount of earned income over $65;
*  The value of your SNAP or food stamps
*  The value of shelter provided by a nonprofit organization
*  The value of your home energy assistance

If you are married, they will consider your spouse's income and resources.  If you are under age 18, they will consider your parents' income and resources.  If you are a sponsored non-citizen, they will include some of the income and resources of your sponsor.

On the other hand, if you are a student, some of your wages and scholarships will NOT be counted.

They also will not consider some of the expenses you may have, such as the portion of wages a blind person uses for transportation, or the value of a wheelchair if you are disabled.

Asset Limits to Qualify for SSI

The Social Security Administration does consider your assets and other resources when deciding if you qualify for SSI.  This includes the value of your real estate (other than your home), bank accounts, cash, stocks and bonds.  The total value of those assets must be $2,000 or less.  A couple may still qualify if their total assets are valued at $3,000 or less.

In most cases, the Social Security Administration does not count the value of your home, your car (within reason), burial plots or up to $1,500 in burial funds.  They also do not count life insurance policies with a face value of $1,500 or less.

Other Requirements to Qualify for SSI

*If you are eligible for Social Security or other benefits, you must apply for them before applying for SSI.

*  If you live in a city or county halfway house, jail, prison or similar public facilities, you usually will not qualify for SSI, although there are exceptions for places such as educational or job training facilities, emergency shelters, etc.

*  You may qualify if you live in a facility and more than half of your expenses are being paid by Medicaid.

How to Apply for SSI Supplemental Security Income or Disability

If you believe that you or a family member would qualify for SSI, below are the ways you can apply for SSI by yourself:

www.socialsecurity.gov/applyforbenefits

www.socialsecurity.gov/disability

Call 1-800-772-1213 and ask to speak to a Social Security representative

You May Need Professional Help Getting Benefits

Unfortunately, many people have discovered that they need to repeatedly apply for Social Security Supplemental Income benefits before they are approved.  It is very common to be turned down when you first apply.

If this happens to you and you are convinced you qualify, it may be worth it to you to hire a special disability attorney or advocate.  According to the Disability Benefits Center:

"You should approach the application process with the full understanding that your initial application is likely to be denied, even if you have everything in order. Having a disability advocate help you file can give you a bit of an edge in this process, since they know what it takes to qualify for disability benefits under SSA guidelines and how to best present the evidence of your disability. A disability advocate will even work directly with your doctor regarding the verbiage to use in order to best present your medical condition to the SSA. Additionally, should you need to go through the appeals process your disability advocates will already be familiar with the details of your case."

Learn more from these websites:

If you want to know about about how to qualify for SSI or disability, you will want to check out the following sources:

file:///C:/Users/Deborah/AppData/Local/Temp/EN-05-11000.pdf  (This is a brochure from the Social Security Administration)

https://www.disabilitybenefitscenter.org/supplemental-security-income/how-to-apply  (The website for the Disability Benefits Center).

If you are interested in learning more Social Security benefits, Medicare, common health problems as you age, where to retire, financial planning and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit:   Google Images