How to Live to Give
Preparing Financially for the Decades – Part 3
In the previous installment we covered the financial implications found in the earning decades. By the time one reaches the returning decades, his or her financial worries should literally be behind her or him. In fact, the goal for this phase of life is to no longer have money worries. In other words, this is the time one has reached financial freedom. As I think about it, this is something we all should look forward to. Let’s take a peek at each decade of the returning phase of life (decades 8-10) to see what we have or could have in store. Disclaimer: allow me to restate this, there are very few individuals we have to turn to as good role models in this instance.
Decade 7 (60-69) – Plant for the Harvest You Wish to Have in the Future.
I know what you’re thinking isn’t decade-7 a part of the earning phase? Yes. However, we need to revisit it for the financial impacts that occur in the returning phase of life. With that said let’s begin.
Most people can visualize what their finances are going to look like in decade-7. This is normally the age of retirement. We hear people use this language our entire life: pension, social security, retirement funds, and 401k. While all of these things are good to have, we shouldn’t think that these items alone will provide the type of life we desire to have when we reach decade-7. In fact, I plan to live like my dad and Pamela’s dad when we reach this decade. These two men along with their wives (our mothers) retired making more money or having more resources available to them than they did when they were a part of the workforce. What I like the most about their accomplishments is this. They put in the work, saved for this time, and are now reaping the harvest they planted. My takeaway from these two is that we should plant now for the harvest we plan to have in the future.
Decade 8 (70-79) – Enjoy the Well-Deserved Fruits of Your Years of Labor.
Again, I’d like to take a lesson from our parents who are now in decade-8. They are in good health and are able to enjoy the fruits of their years of labor. But what if they’d not planned wisely for this time? They would have ended up living as we often hear, with limited resources or a “fixed income.” Or they’d have to rely on their children [us] to take care of them. Would you like to set yourself up to be in a position where you’d not have to rely on your children to care for you financially? Instead, when you live well and plan for the years ahead, you can truly live a full life. My Bible says it this way, all your days He will fulfil. [1] When you do your part, you can count on God to do His. With that make plans and execute your plan to enjoy the well-deserved fruits of the years of your labor.
Decade 9 & 10 (80+) – Live to Give.
I need to tell you about dear aunt Ruby. I met Aunt Ruby when she started decade-9. You’ve heard of people who dream of having that rich great-aunt or uncle who dies and leaves them a fortune. Well, in my family not such a person exists that I’m aware of, but Pamela has an Aunt Ruby who is such a person. Again, I met this wealthy Aunt Ruby while in her 80s and she is an amazing woman. She began creating this dream-level of wealth (for lack of a better way to say it) when she was in decade-7. Or at least it began to become visible to the rest of the family. You see Aunt Ruby, was a custodian for the local grade school who now in decade-9 and beyond owns more than 6 houses and a number of properties. What I discovered and admire most about Aunt Rubyis, she lives to give.
When I got to sit down and speak with her, I wanted to know all she was willing and able to share. For one day, I’d like my life and Pamela’s life to model hers. Her lessons and advice will aid us in preparing our plan for the day we enter decade 9 and beyond. A person will not be able to live this way without a plan to. I see decades-9 and beyond as the decades where we can live to give, really give.
Everything we write and produce at kerryaclark.com is intended to help you do life, your life better. Our goal is always to help you take your life which is your business to the next level. Using the decade-calendar with a focus on finances is just one way to do it. Envision what you’d like your decades to be like financially and use everything you’ve got at your disposal to help you get there. I’d rather you fall short in reaching your goal rather than not getting in the ballpark altogether. This is how you take your life to the next level in preparing financially for the decades.
Question: how would you like to see yourself financially in the returning decades of your life?
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Find out more about the Family plan here.Reference #1: Exodus 23:26 KJV, Bible.com, accessed March 16, 2022, https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.23.26.KJV
All Scripture references used by permission, see our Scripture copyrights.
