Women and Money

Notes From the November Women Building Wealth Meeting-Retirement Planning the New Realities

Posted on Nov 8, 2011 in Plan Retirement, Social Security, Women and Money

Retirement Planning- The New Realities

We had a great group for our November meeting in which we discussed the new realities of retirement. First, each of us discussed our vision of retirement as well as a model that we had experienced through our parents and/or grandparents. Many expressed that their parents had had to retire earlier than anticipated and that it was a hardship for them. Some had parents who adapted quite well to retirement and pursued hobbies that they were passionate about while some had parents who struggled with their newfound freedom. Job dissatisfaction and health can lead to a decision to retire early that will result in financial stress. Another common concern was health care in retirement especially in the latter years when most of the costs are incurred. Several studies show that the average retired couple will need approximately $200K in today’s dollars to cover their out of pocket medical expenses throughout the remainder of their lives and that does not include long term care.

Why Marriage is a Good Investment

Posted on Nov 3, 2011 in Budgeting, Cash Flow, Video, Women and Money

Kim Kardashian is making headlines with her quick change of heart regarding her recent nuptials. Her lavish televised $10M+ wedding made many viewers secretly wish they could experience such a romantic, extraordinary experience. Of course, as Hollywood often reminds us, the longevity of the marriage is not necessarily correlated to the price tag of the wedding. I discussed this recently with Nat Roers and Curtis Wilson on WLTX.

My own wedding over twenty years ago cost roughly $3,500. My husband was just out of medical school and I had just changed jobs in order to move with him to Philadelphia for his residency. He and I planned a beautiful occasion that didn’t break the bank and are happily married over 21 years. I want to share some tips for how to save money on a wedding, but first let’s discuss the benefits of marriage.

Reconciling Money Differences-Tips to Achieve Financial Harmony with Your Loved One

Posted on Oct 16, 2011 in Budgeting, Cash Flow, Family, Uncategorized, Women and Money

Did you know that 71% of Americans admit that they keep secrets and lie to their spouse or partner about money? Many couples struggle with money differences due to their backgrounds, beliefs and habits surrounding money. Here are some tips for being on the same page as your spouse or partner.

Yummy Recipe for Healthy Muffins

Posted on Sep 14, 2011 in Food, Just for Fun, Women and Money

Here is the recipe for the excellent carrot muffins we enjoyed at our recent Women Building Wealth meeting.
Thanks again, to Debbie for bringing them.

Marjorie’s Brunch Muffins
Combine:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
¾ cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt

Combine in second bowl:
3 beaten eggs
½ cup canola oil
½ cup milk
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients

Fold in:
2 cups chopped peeled apples (I leave skin on them)
2 cups grated carrots
½ cup flaked coconut
½ cup raisins
½ cup sliced almonds
Lightly spray muffin tins for easy removal. You may fill tins fairly liberally. If you make mini muffins cook at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. This recipe makes 50+ mini muffins. For larger muffins bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Great for luncheons and children of all ages.

Another Recipe from the Women Building Wealth-Bow Tie Pasta

Posted on Sep 14, 2011 in Food, Just for Fun, Women and Money

Charlene’s Bow Tie Pasta

8 oz pkg of bow tie pasta, cooked and drained

½ green pepper, diced

½ red pepper, diced

1 celery rib, sliced

1/3 cp feta cheese, crumbled

12 Kalamata olives, pitted and quartered

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

¼ cp Italian salad dressing

Combine pasta, veggies, cheese, and seasonings. Drizzle with salad dressing and toss gently. Chill for at least 2 hrs.

This is the basic recipe but the variations are endless. I use multi- grain pasta and usually add chopped red onion and shredded carrots. This is a visually appealing and fresh tasting salad.

Retirement Planning for Women-Why It’s Different

Posted on Sep 13, 2011 in Plan Retirement, Women and Money

I recently was interviewed by Geobeats to talk about financial planning issues that are specific to women. Women live longer, tend to have shorter careers and lower Social Security benefits and they also tend to be more conservative investors. Here are some tips savvy women should consider to maximize their chance of success in retirement.