Organize Your Legacy Life

Seems like our lives unfold in stages.  Throughout them all — a plan put in place eases worry.  Finances are always at the center of that planning but each stage brings its own set of goals for the future.  I like to start a plan with the focus on organizing my finances   — always knowing where I stand each year with income and debts.  

  • College and Your 20’s 

  • Family/Mid Life

  • Retirement Years

List of Goals and Dreams

College and Your 20’s — the most important thing is to know what your income is and what your expenses are.  Student loans can last a lifetime and if you can get through your education without them, all the better.  Buying a car or taking on credit card debt will lead to less freedom to take the job you love.  Keep track of your income and expenses with software that is easy to use.  Review monthly and stay out of the trap of wanting things before you have a solid income. 

Freedom to Explore

Family/Mid Life — Making commitments is a large part of this stage of life. Finding a partner and having children leads to compromise and making sure that decisions are good for all involved.  Career choice becomes critical because spending long hours at a job that is not the right fit is life altering.  Finding your career passion is one of the best ways to ensure satisfaction in your every day life. Bring that passion home and create a fun atmosphere for all who live with you.  

This stage will be the most expensive and requires strategic planning for purchases such as homes, cars, furniture and furnishings, landscape design and maintenance, sporting and vacation toys as well as essential daily life needs — these are expensive and not easily walked away from.  You are in charge of your feeling of success — the things you purchase do not fulfill that dream.

Estate and legacy planning should be a part of your financial plan as well.  Family Trusts, Wills, Medical and Financial Powers of Attorney, Life Insurance, Guardians for Children, retirement 401k plans and attacking debt are places to start.   Find a drawer or a file box to help put documents and instructions in one place.  It can be reviewed each year to make sure goals are in sync with your family members. 

Your Home Is You!

Retirement Years —

This will be a time to consider retirement and debt reduction is essential to relaxation during this part of your life.

Enjoy all you have accomplished without losing your adventure and exercise regimes. The quote I live by is: “It Is Never Too Late To Be What You Might Have Been.” (George Eliot/Mary Ann Evans) Live happy and stay moving — try to not get mired down in negativity and complaints.  You alone are responsible for your choices, if you need to make changes, make them.  

Make sure you have your Estate Planning Documents up to date.  Meet with the family and tell them what to expect.  Keep your executor up to date on how to manage your finances if the time comes to take over certain aspects of your life.  Make your wishes are known for — powers of attorney and directives on end of life treatment.  Once you have done this — keep living, don’t sit.  Create one place to put your documents — a drawer or the Family Box of your choice and revisit it once a year updating your executor at all times. 

The Journey

Organize Your Office Space

One of the first steps to wanting to sit down at the computer, is to create a fun space that is: comfortable to sit in, organized so you know where everything is and set up to have a spot for each activity. 

My initial step is to clear the room.  Get everything in a nearby hallway and design the space before anything goes back in.  It’s a good time to toss old items that have no meaning for the work/fun you will be doing there.  

If you need to clean and paint — do it while empty.  Slowly fill it with what you want and need.  Files can be labeled so that finding an item is easy.  Desks, chairs, file cabinets and cupboards will make you want to be in there.  Hobbies can be set up in their own space — it doesn’t matter how small. You can add music easily which brings energy to the room.  

Make it yours — no one else can set it up like you!  

My Inside Office

My Outside Office

 

Technology — How Not To Hate It

It is tough to keep up with online technology.  It’s not going away — it is only getting more intrusive.  Here are a few ideas on what to learn: 

  • Computer Navigation 
  • Wireless Set Ups
  • Bluetooth Set Ups 
  • Paperless Statements
  • Online Banking
  • Passwords 
  • Virus Protection Software 
  • Cell Phone Set Up and Use 
  • Streaming Networks for TV 
  • Scammers and Hackers (How to identify them)
  • Social Media 
  • Taking Control of Your Subscriptions (they can add up!) 
  • Estate Planning Documents 
  • Legacy Box (For your heirs)
  • Photo management/scrapbooks/your stories 

You can live in a day to day life where you have the freedom to do things your way.  There are great and simple ways to exist with technology and not lose your mind.  

Once you put the time in and set certain goals for your life — make it a fun journey.  Fight the feeling of not wanting to face your financial position — knowing what you have grants freedom from constant worry.  It allows well thought out decisions that keep regret at bay.  Finding your purpose in life and being organized in daily life — opens the door to joy.  

It starts with a notebook…. 

 

Start a Notebook