This is a guest post by Lloyd Burrell of officedeskreviews.com, an office desk website that knows the value of going green.

One of the joys of maturity is being able to spend more time in the garden, right? No occupation is as delightful as the culture of the Earth, agreed? So much for the stereotypes.

But what if you’re a senior with blue on your fingers from using your pen instead of green from caressing the plants? In these difficult economic times many seniors find themselves sitting behind a desk in a home office simply because they do not have the financial means to do otherwise, whereas for others they spend their days sat in their office through choice. For some it may be a place to get away from a nagging spouse!

Whatever your reasons are for spending time in your home office it is important that you consider your working office space to be part of the Earth. Living plants are vital to the health and wellbeing and survival of our earth.  Making sure your office is alive and green can do much to improve your personal well-being. Here are some tips and some points to consider….

Light and Food For Your Office Plants

What lighting do you have in your office? Do you have any windows where plants could be placed? Is there an area where special plant growing bulbs could be installed?

There are many species of plants out there and shade loving ones that usually grow in the wild under a rainforest canopy, will do well. There has to be some light, though, whether real or manmade.

How much space do you have where plants could sit fairly undisturbed? Who will water the plants (be sure not to over water) and fertilize them and sing to them? Plants respond to sounds. Scientists have determined that classical music works best. This also applies to humans (except teenagers). If you don’t have the time or inclination, there are plant services that will take care of the work for you.

Specific Plants for Certain Purposes

• Oxygen Provider — A broadleaf plant like Areca Palm or Dracaena. These types of plants can also remove chemicals from the air.
• Room Brighteners — Plants with flowers or variegated leaves. These usually need more light than darker green leaved plants.
• Budgets — The rarer the plant or the more maintenance it needs, the more costly it will be.
• Knowledge of Plants — How much do you know? Research a few plants and what they will look like when grown. Buy a ficus and it will become a tree. You don’t want your office space taken over, just enhanced.
• Exotics and Their Purpose — Plants exist, because they just are. But, what about gorgeous orchids or Bonsai trees? If you think that their needs are too complicated, then try a sturdy Philodendron or Pothos, even a Creeping Charlie.

If you feel the need to obtain some expert advice then the local home improvement or hardware store experts can help. You can even try nurseries. They’re good with plants. Buying plants with a specific purpose in mind, can get complicated, but it needn’t be overblown.

Here are a few more things to look for:

• Buy healthy looking plants from a local farmer’s market or nursery. You can usually tell if the plant is healthy, merely by looking at it. Another indication is that there may be brown leaves on it, which show either poor nutrition, or lack of water or light, or even that the plant is on its way out.
• If you buy a few plants online, then look for a guarantee in case the plants are dead when they arrive. Plants sent by mail are usually in their infancy, so to speak. They will need time to grow. This could be an advantage as it would give them time to acclimatize to your office
• The two best plants for cleaning your air of chemical pollutants are Peace Lily and Areca Palm. This could really help if your office and flooring and paint on the walls are full of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
• Rubber Plants, Ficus trees, English Ivy and Boston Ferns, Spider Plants and Moth Orchids are a few most recommended air cleaners. They also look pretty. Ficus trees shed their leaves every now and then (just a few) so don’t be alarmed. It’s only if you arrive back at the office the next day and suddenly all of the leaves have fallen off, that you need to worry.

Office Plants Need Special Consideration

If office space is tight but your office furniture is a large computer desk, then place a potted plant in one corner. A proper desk lamp could provide enough light.

Because plants need water to survive, you have to provide a strong and waterproof tray under them so that your furniture and carpets and flooring are protected. If the pot that the plant is in doesn’t have any holes in the bottom, then make one or two. Undrained plants can soon rot and they are very smelly. That defeats the purpose of cleaning your air, doesn’t it? Make sure that the plant tray is deep enough and that water doesn’t sit in the bottom. That can also be extremely odorous.

Above all else, have fun with plants. Despite their apparent lack of responsiveness, they really do interact in many ways with the people they live amongst. Treat them right, and they will return the favour. It’s never too late to get some green on your fingers!

About the Author

Former accountant and auditor in the city of London, Lloyd Burrell is the publisher of OfficeDeskReviews.com where he reviews a variety of desks ranging from office reception desks to more sophisticated executive office desk furniture. He may have let some plants die in his past due to lack of care but because of his two children and his cat, Lloyd has grown to become much more aware of his environment, both in the office and out in the world. He knows that plants feed us and inspire us but now he also knows how they can help shape our future earth.

After all, they are the "green" in greening. Lloyd likes to play the guitar in his spare time. His houseplants seem to appreciate the music, and can be seen now and then, moving their leaves to the soft guitar chords — but only when they think no one is looking or is it possible that that breeze coming in through the window is the cause?

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Tips on Making Your Senior Home Office Alive And Green

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• April 9, 2009 -- Paper Money Currency – Urstromtaler, Cheers Or Plenty – Take Your Pick (0)

Today is Elder Abuse Day in Canada as Sharon Singleton points out in her article, Seniors should focus on estate planning.

Canada will mark Elder Abuse Day on Tuesday, with concern about retirement and pension planning mounting as the population ages. Nearly half of all Canadians from the baby boomer generation have not saved enough for their needs, according to a poll carried out for the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.

As lawyer Les Kotzer of Fish & Associates suggests that’s a recipe for exploitation of their elders. In his book, Where There’s an Inheritance, he collates about 80 anecdotes on how a lack of estate planning, or mistakes in working out a will, have led to abuses.

Longer lives and reducing financial resources give a double whammy to those who have done insufficient retirement planning. That can affect both the boomers and their parents. The boomers are hoping to inherit from their recession-era parents who are in turn dependant on over-indebted kids.

Kotzer points out that some of the most common problems come from giving up control to the children, without having proper protection in place. He cites a number of examples:

Children who had convinced their mother that she could save them money on taxes when she died by transferring her assets to them. They then paid her an allowance, though when she overspent one month, her daughter yelled at her.

An 80-year old woman was pressured by her son to put the house in his name to avoid probate taxes. What he didn’t tell her was that his business was going bankrupt and his creditors sent her a letter laying claim to the house.

A 75-year-old woman worked two jobs. She had loaned her daughter $100,000 and her son $150,000 and when her husband died asked for the money back. Her daughter didn’t have the cash and her son claimed it was never intended as a loan and she’d have to go to court and sue him for it.

It is important to keep good records and these documents need reviewing on a regular basis to reflect changes in life. Wills should be drawn up and kept up to date as grandchildren are born, or children get divorced. Putting such documents away and forgetting them is a recipe for a family disaster.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Elder Abuse Day In Canada

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This is a guest post by Lloyd Burrell of officedeskreviews.com, an office desk website that reveals the secrets of home office organization.

From my time as company auditor I observed that very often companies that had the best financial systems and internal organization in place were very often also the most successful. Well it is my firm belief that in the realm of personal finance the same applies.

You don’t need me to tell you that it’s not because you’re a senior that all of a sudden the paperwork stops. For many of you being a senior could mean quite the contrary, it could mean a second lease of life with a home office business.

Whether you are running a home office business or just wanting to get your domestic paperwork under control you can make your home office perfectly meet your needs with the following simple strategies.

The Home Office Circle of Influence

Start by focusing on the physical area within arms’ reach.

At a minimum, this will include your desk, your chair and your computer. This is your immediate circle of influence, and the way that you organize and furnish this space will go a long way toward determining how productive you will be in your home office.

First, you must be comfortable. Simply put, you will be more likely to actually get things done when you are ergonomically able to work for long, focused periods of time without discomfort.

Make sure that your desktop is at a good height, and that the placement of your computer allows you to reach the keyboard and view the screen without hunching down. To avoid back pain, your chin should be level or even angled slightly upward while you type.

Whether you use a laptop or desktop computer, you’ll find a variety of desk designs exist to accommodate your specific needs. Look at Bush Furniture desks for a good example of the options available, including desks with ample leg room and raised monitor shelves to help you achieve a comfortable position while you work.

Your choice of office chair also influences your ability to stay focused while working. Whether it’s a simple task chair or a leather executive style seat, be sure that it offers the back support and height adjustment that you need. If you choose an office chair with arms, be sure to consider its fit with your desk: can you sit close enough to your desktop when the chair is adjusted to the necessary height, or do the arms interfere with your ability to pull close to the desk?

Access To Your Home Office Productivity Tools

Next, what do you need to have on hand?

Depending on the type of work you do at home, you may need frequent access to files, reference material, pens, paperclips, a phone, or more specialized office equipment. Whatever the answer is for you, make sure that you organize your home office so that the necessary items are readily available.

Many items may be stored in or on your desk, but do look for a desk and other office furniture that will allow you to store most items off of your actual desktop. Maintaining an open, clutter-free work space will be a practical and psychological aid to getting things done in your home office.

In addition to the desk itself, you can set up easy access to the items you need with file cabinets, supply caddies and bookshelves placed either under the desk or within reach of it. Don’t overlook wall space when designing your home office layout: shelving, file pockets and even mountable trays can be installed for easy access.

Your Home Office Space

The actual layout you choose for your home office will depend in large part on the space available. Whether you’re able to dedicate an entire room or need to carve out space from a shared living area, with a little research you’ll be able to find the office accessories you need to set up a focused work space.

When a separate room is available for your home office you’ll have the luxury of choosing whichever office furniture suits your style, needs and budget. However, there are space saving solutions that still make it very possible to work at home even when your “home office” is simply the corner of your kitchen, or half of the master bedroom.

Armoire style desks provide a dedicated work area that includes storage for office supplies. When not in use, just closing the doors allows them to seamlessly blend into the decor of a shared-use room. From compact and efficient computer desks to corner fitting L-shaped desks, you’ll find that even a limited amount of floor space can provide plenty of room to set up an organized home office.

If you’ll be meeting with clients, think about the impression that visitors will have of your business when they see where you work. Whether it’s elegant and traditional or modern and high-tech, look for a desk and matching office furniture that say what you intend about who you are. It’s easy to find quality office furniture at an affordable price by doing a bit of research online before you buy.

Whether you work at home or you just need to stay on top of your paperwork, the key to successful home office organization lies (literally) within your reach. Be sure that you invest the time to assess your needs, then do your research to find the furniture and accessories that will be the best fit.

About the author

First as an auditor and then as a holiday rental specialist, Lloyd Burrell spent many years working behind all sorts of different desks. Now he sits in front of a cherry computer desk where he edits the internet’s leading office desk website. To contact Lloyd and find your ideal desk visit officedeskreviews.com.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

The Senior Home Office For Financial Success

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A Power of Attorney specifies who will manage your property during your lifetime, in case you are unable to do so yourself.  As Daniel O. Tully, Eldercare attorney, points out you should start the conversation soon. 

No one wants to face the fact that our loved ones will not be with us forever. Facing our own mortality is frightening as well.  Don’t be afraid to start the conversation. Whether you are a parent talking to your children, a husband talking to a wife or an adult child talking to an aging parent, bringing up the topic of death and disability can be difficult, but it is an important conversation to have.

Although none of us wants to contemplate a time when we or a loved one might become disabled or die, it is important to be prepared. There are many steps families can take in advance of death or disability to avoid future conflicts or uncertainties.

You need to be covering:

• a power of attorney in case of disability
• a health care power of attorney giving someone else the authority to communicate your wishes about medical treatment, if you are unable to do so
• estate planning
• a will
• Funeral arrangements

You should also list information on the location of assets, such as bank accounts, property and stocks and bonds; the identity of important professionals who might have information about your estate; and the location of important records, such as loan, insurance and tax documents. The list can also contain things you want done immediately after you die, such as calling relatives or notifying employers.

It is important that Families must communicate and respect the designated Power of Attorney. A failure to do so can cause major problems.  A family member who is unaware of an existing Power of Attorney may grant rights to others that are counter to what has been authorized in the POA. 

When relatives are in declining health,  a POA should be registered with banks, investment firms, doctors, credit card companies and indeed any other company or institution they may have dealings with. Even their drugstore should have a copy.   Only in this way can the individuals rights and wishes be preserved and honored.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Power of Attorney – Get One Before You Need One

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Your retirement savings account may have been what you hoped would provide the retirement you dreamed about.  The first upsetting factor may be a good news / bad news issue.  You will probably live longer than your parents lived and than you may have envisaged.  Yet you are in great health and feel you can go on for ever.

The second factor has affected a large number of retirees and that is the major recession that is now easing but leaving many funds in much poorer shape than they were before.  For either or both reasons you may find that you are short on retirement funds.  Here is what Rob Carrick recommends.  Don’t panic:  it’s a time for some strategic thinking.

Anxiety about not having enough put away for retirement is rampant in this country. Fortunately, there are solutions. If you simply can’t contribute more to your retirement savings plan, you can work longer. You can also try ramping up the risk level in your retirement portfolio to achieve higher returns, and scaling back your retirement lifestyle aspirations to comfortable but not extravagant levels.

If you feel that it is only you that is affected by this, then consider a recent survey commissioned by BNN, CTV and Standard Life.  They found that:

• only 35 per cent of participants are confident of having enough money to live on in retirement
• 41 per cent have enough to live on, although their standard of living may decline or they will have to continue working
• 16 per cent said they will have to rely on the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security to supplement their savings, and
• 8 per cent said they will not be able to afford retirement at age 65.

Given this, many are considering working in their retirement years and thus extending their retirement savings.

If you have strong nerves then ramping up the risk level in your portfolio with more exposure to the stock market is an option to consider.  However it is a tricky way for beefing up your retirement savings, so approach it with caution.

The safest way of addressing your concerns about a retirement savings shortfall is to scale back your lifestyle aspirations for your senior years. It will be something like the economizing that’s necessary when you’re raising children and carrying a mortgage. And for your leisure time, develop affordable hobbies.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Retirement Savings Account

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Having a bank is a necessity in modern-day living, but unfortunately many people are dissatisfied with the available choices.  At the start of this year Forbes listed America’s Best And Worst Banks, but it was somewhat surprising to see what they analyzed.

With Bank of America and Citigroup buoying their balance sheets and repaying billions of dollars in taxpayer bailout funds, the casual observer might assume the banking crisis is just about over. The casual observer would be wrong.  Lots of banks are going under these days. Here are the best and worst among the 100 largest.

Busted banks are still keeping the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. busy. In the past two months, 41 went under, surpassing the total of 26 for all of 2008. What’s more, by some measures bank balance sheets are in worse shape today than they were at the height of the financial crisis.

It is of course necessary that your bank will still be there when you wish to get your money.  However that is a very minimal criterion in selecting a bank.

Unfortunately reports since then indicate that on other dimensions, banks are not doing very well. One title suggested that Customer Satisfaction With the Biggest Banks Plummets.

While customer satisfaction with banks over all remained unchanged in the fourth quarter of 2009 from the year-earlier period, customer satisfaction with some of the biggest banks has declined to the lowest fourth-quarter levels in years.  The results, from the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, back up similar findings from a Forrester Research report.  This found that customers of the biggest banks in the United States were the least likely to believe their financial institution did what was best for them as opposed to what was best for the institution’s bottom line.

A report from Reuters today shows that there is no improvement: Large bank customers  are even more dissatisfied.

Some of the largest U.S. banks were ranked very low for retail customer satisfaction.  A US marketing research company study by J.D. Power and Associates implies that as some of the biggest banks get bigger, customers may not be happy.  The three biggest U.S. retail banks — JPMorgan Chase & Co’s Chase, Citigroup’s Citibank, and Bank of America Corp’s Bank of America — consistently rank at or near the bottom for customer service in the regions they serve.

This dissatisfaction with banks and the service they provide seems to be the case wherever you look.  Here are some results from the UK on how different services rank for customer satisfaction.

According to a recent survey conducted by moneysupermarket.com, it is hairdressers and hotels that that we think provide the best service. While banks and estate agents are thought to offer the worst.  Restaurants, coffee shops, garden centres, supermarkets, clothes stores and entertainment centres such as the cinema and bowling alleys all scored highly with consumers.

Here below are the results for this year.  Compared to last year’s survey it would appear that the service provided by banks has actually got worse. Banks have dropped a place in this table.

The industries at the bottom of the table have all traditionally suffered a bad press. Most of them – banks, energy companies, estate agents – demand hefty fees of their customers and provide necessary and essential  services, rather than luxuries.

Unfortunately the attitude in many banks may be as Tom Peters said, that “we are no worse than the others”.  If you are looking for one of the best banks, hopefully you can find one that searches for banking excellence, which includes not only safeguarding your money but also delivering a high level of customer satisfaction.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Best Banks

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Most seniors look forward to a good life in retirement.  However there are now two key changes that mean that this only comes through careful financial planning for your retirement. 

• Seniors are living longer
• The major recession has depleted the funds they may have accumulated to cover their retirement.

In other words, you may have to trim your spending to make your savings last.  Just consider one of the examples quoted in the Star news item:

When Janet and Bob retired at age 55, they were earning a joint income of $400,000. Both were senior executives in the corporate world.  Now in their late 60s, they live more frugally. No longer do they own a cottage up north, buy new cars, eat in restaurants or rent condos in Florida with friends.  They live on a budget of $60,000 to $70,000 a year, which doesn’t include debt, to make their savings last.

Statistics Canada published a report in 2005, which detailed the spending patterns of older people:

• Households age 75+ spent 73 cents of each income dollar on personal consumption.
• Food, shelter and transportation made up the lion’s share (61 to 68 cents) of each consumption dollar.
• Households pay more for government and private health insurance plans than 20 years ago.  There are higher out-of-pocket expenses for health costs not covered by insurance, such as prescription drugs, other medical equipment, dental services and eye care.

Here are some of the ways you can stretch your savings.

• Live frugally and cut out unnecessary expenses
• Stay healthy and vigorous
• Give up the automobile and walk, take public transport or taxis as needed.  You’ll be much better off
• Keep working part-time or make money out of your hobby
• Use senior discounts to the maximum
• Sell items on EBay
• Learn to cook and cut down on prepared meals
• Grow fruit and vegetables in your garden
• Invite people to your home instead of dining out.
• Buy any needed items on Craigslist or at Value Village
• Sell unwanted belongings on Craigslist.
• Have a financial planner and meet say twice a year to see if  you are still on track

As a retiree, you have fewer work-related expenses, you pay less in personal income tax and you contribute less to public benefit programs.  Since there is no need to leave an estate, with careful living you can enjoy what you have to the maximum and hope to die when your time comes just a little better than broke.

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Good Retirement Planning

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This post started off with a draft title of A Senior By Any Other Name.  I was picking up the theme of a Montréal Gazette article I enjoyed entitled, What’s in a name? That which we call a senior …

The reason why my interest was piqued by that article was that I recognized the author’s name, Janet Torge.  It reminded me of pleasant evenings spent playing badminton in Beaconsfield many years ago since she was a member of the club there.

Janet mused about some of the existing names that are being used to describe seniors:

• Boomers
• Seniors
• Old people
• Elders
• Zoomers

All of them seem to have drawbacks and she came up with the pleasing alternative of Late Bloomers.

Avoiding the word plays that the Bloomers word might have suggested, I suddenly realized that there seemed to be an acceptance that what we are talking about here is a label for others to use about those of us who are over 50.

Since we are all living longer and staying healthier, I am not sure I will meekly accept a label that others might put on me.  Given many more years of productive and fulfilling life, it seems to me that a more proactive approach suggests we should not be looking for a Senior label.  A label is usually something you stick on an inanimate object.  What we need is a Senior Brand.

Why a brand?  Without a strong brand, others may assume the wrong things about seniors in general.  If we want to get more positive reactions, then we should not be shy about the positive contributions we can make.  The Senior Brand should certainly accentuate the positives.  Just think of some of the adjectives you might apply:

• Distinguished
• Experienced
• Knowledgeable
• Fund of memories
• Energetic
• Reliable
• Inventive

At the same time as guardians of the brand we must make sure that any possible negatives that people may assume would apply are never visible.  That means avoiding any suggestion that we may be:

• Weaker
• Forgetful
• Irascible
• Vision challenged
• Nodding Off
• In our dotage

Thinking along those lines you might come up with the following (or their female equivalents where appropriate) as possible contenders for the brand name:

• Chiefs
• Heads
• Sages
• Senators
• Authorities
• Gurus
• Nobles
• Statesmen
• Patricians
• Patriarchs
• Peers

Those are just to get your mental juices flowing.  If you can think of a more positive brand name for seniors, then why not add it in the comments.  This is really important because there are more and more of us every year who will be promoting that brand. Let’s find a brand we can be proud of.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Senior Label Or Senior Brand

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If we were only talking about the book, there would be little hardship involved. Unfortunately it could be used to label the latest Ponzi scheme in Canada as we read that Businessman missing as Dutch Canadians out millions.

At least 80 elderly Dutch Canadians trusted Harry Snoek Jr. with their life savings. But the money is gone. And so is Harry, possibly back in the Netherlands or maybe Qatar, leaving a trail of empty promises and despair in his wake.

By the latest tally of those who have come forward and who are trying in Ontario courts to recoup their losses, Snoek has absconded with more than $34 million. The total number of affected investors may be as high as 200.

Promissory notes and court documents obtained as part of a Toronto Star investigation, as well as interviews of investors and business partners, suggest Snoek ran a Ponzi scheme, where early investors are paid off from the contributions of later ones. The RCMP is looking into the case.

Troubling payment delays from Snoek started in 2007 with Snoek exploiting shared ties to motherland and church to ease anxieties and keep their money just a few months more, and then another few months more.

In a lawsuit filed in Brantford, a receiver was appointed who is combing through Snoek company files. The receiver may try to sell Snoek properties in Milton and spread the proceeds to investors. But it is believed that the land will fetch only a fraction of what Snoek owes.

Unfortunately paradise will not be regained.

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Paradise Lost, Milton

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‘Forever Young’ is the kind of magazine you will be seeing more of on city streets:

LAS CRUCES – It’s about “the joy of life after 50,” and you’ll find it on local newsstands today. Forever Young is a free monthly magazine catering to area seniors. “Las Cruces is a prime retirement community.  Our senior population is large, active and ready for adventure – that’s FY’s premise.  Too many seniors’ magazines are all about the woes of old age. Not us. We’re about people enjoying the life they’ve worked so hard to achieve.”

It is all part of the changing demographics.  Seniors are living longer, they’re staying fitter and they are traveling more.  Often that can be by coach but many wish to maintain their independence and travel by automobile.  Although a small car may be adequate for traveling in your local neighborhood, something bigger is more appropriate when covering the miles.  If so seniors may be renting bigger cars or RVs for greater comfort.

Even though they may be fitter and healthier than their parents, they should be aware that sometimes regulations and practices are not keeping up with the times.  For example there are often rental car age limits in Europe.  Before you commit to a driving trip in Europe, make sure all the drivers in your party conform to local requirements. Although those requirements are generally similar to what you find at home, a few may surprise you.

In several countries, some car rental companies impose maximum age limits for rentals, generally, or for rentals of some models of cars:

• Denmark: Some rental agencies impose a maximum age of 80.
• Slovenia: Some rental agencies impose a maximum age limit of 73, and renters ages 70 to 73 may face surcharges.
• Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Romania and Slovakia: Some rental agencies impose a maximum age of 70.
• United Kingdom: Some rental agencies apply an extra fee for travelers age 70 or over; some rental agencies apply a maximum age limit of 69 on some car classes.
• Ireland (Republic): Rental agencies bar anyone over 75 from renting a car

It’s all points to the need to carefully preplanned your trip.  For car rental you should make sure you are aware of all the suppliers who may meet your needs and seek out the car hire package that will work best for you.  You may well be ready for adventure but to enjoy that you should make sure that all your arrangements will fall into place without a hitch.

Post from: Senior Money Memos

Forever Young But Too Old To Rent A Car

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