| Rise and shine, RetireHub community! ☀️ Your Wednesday newsletter is here! | Today we’re sharing smart tips on Understanding Software Updates: Why They Matter, along with the best deals, fun trivia, and more! |
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| | | | What We’re Reading | Get these e-book deals before they're gone. | | Tragedy in Triplicate | By: J.M. Wicklow | In a small city like Deerfield, everyone has their secrets — but some are much more dangerous than others. This contemporary crime novel follows three residents occupying vastly different spheres of an idyllic, picturesque city whose stories intersect in the most unexpected way. What unfolds is a chilling tale of duty, revenge, and entitlement — and no one is prepared to deal with the fallout. | Get it for just $14.99 today! |
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| | Chasing Money (Marty Schott and Bo Bishop Book 1) | By: Michael Balter | Marty and Bo were just trying to keep their struggling business alive when they met Nico Scava. He had money, connections in the art world, and a few too many secrets. Now Nico’s dead—and if the two friends don’t find a mysterious missing painting and $10 million, they’ll be dead too. Winner of 5 gold medals for crime fiction—start the series now! | Get it for just $0.99 today! |
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| | | High Bluffs (High Bluffs Trilogy: Book One) | By: Sally Royer-Derr | After her husband’s tragic death, Joanna finds herself grappling with dark secrets in her small, seemingly idyllic town in Maine — and falling into an unexpected romance with Rick, a younger man. An “entertaining” and “well-paced” series starter where “the intriguing murder mystery is balanced with sexy encounters” (Kirkus Reviews). | $5.99 — Get it for just $0.99 today! |
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| | Death Mask | By: Eric J. Gates | Zoe Davis, late-thirties, bookstore owner, now living with a new family in Albuquerque, NM. Ordinary. Unremarkable. So why are Special Ops elite soldiers trying to kill her? Perhaps Zoe isn't who she seems to be... | $5.99 — Get it for just $2.99 today! |
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| | The Indian Summers of My Life | By: G. Lee Romans | The collected tales of G. Lee Romans and his life growing up in the Midwest. His street was tar and pea gravel covered without curbs in a semi-rural, reclaimed cow pasture subdivision, in a small factory town. His home in East Peoria Il. was a converted two stall garage, with no central heating. It was a small four room house shared with two brothers, mom, dad and a dog. Born on Christmas eve, one week before 1949. Gary's distinctive voice in the vignettes and essays engages the reader | $12.97 — Get it for just $6.97 today! |
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| Dear Joanne | Your questions, her wisdom — Joanne’s here with thoughtful advice, warm humor, and a listening ear for whatever’s on your mind. | | This weekend I attended a baby shower for a young woman I’ve known since she was in kindergarten. A lovely young woman who attended grammar school with my son, and the two have remained friends all these years. My first observation: I wasn’t the oldest person there, but I was pretty close to the top of that list. | As I watched the festivities unfold, I couldn’t help comparing today’s baby showers with those of years gone by. Let’s just say they’ve changed a little. | Back in our day, a baby shower was held in someone’s living room. Folding chairs appeared from every corner of the house. There were bowls of mixed nuts, little sandwiches, and a sheet cake from the local bakery with slightly crooked lettering that read, “Welcome Baby.” The print was usually in green since no one knew if they were having a boy or a girl. The decorations consisted of pink and blue streamers. | Back then, the mother-to-be opened gifts while everyone shouted suggestions. “It’s a blanket!” “No, it’s a towel!” “It’s both!” Today, it is asked that you bring the gift unwrapped and placed on the gift table – no opening of the presents needed. | When the invitation came, I scanned a QR code to be connected to the online registry and found items to buy with names that sound like luxury European sports cars. We got them the “UltraFlex Infinity Travel Sleep System.” | Let’s talk about that. When we brought our babies home, they rode in a car seat that consisted primarily of hope and optimism. Today’s parents have safety systems, monitoring devices, cameras, apps, sensors, and gadgets that can apparently track a baby’s breathing, movement, temperature, mood, and future college prospects. The nursery often has more technology than Mission Control had during the moon landing. | Then there are the games. I was never into shower games, so I sat this part out and chit-chatted with other moms who were sitting with me at the “moms table”. I sat with former grammar school moms I hadn’t seen in years – and we had the best three hours ever! We were catching up, laughing, exchanging phone numbers, and promising we would all get together for a girls’ night out. | We spent most of the afternoon saying things like: “I remember the school dance when they all went together in a limo.” “Didn’t we just attend their graduation (12 years ago)?” “How is she old enough to have a baby (she is 30)?” “How are these kids growing up before our eyes and starting families, but we haven’t aged a bit!” | But here’s the wonderful part. No matter how much baby showers change, the reason for them is still exactly the same. Friends and family gather to celebrate a new life and support someone beginning one of life’s greatest adventures - starting their own family. | The strollers cost more than our first cars. The decorations are grand. But the excitement is still the same. | For those of us in retirement, there’s an added bonus. We get to sit back and watch another generation begin the very journey we once started ourselves all those years ago. | And the best thing about attending a shower in a venue? We also got to leave before cleanup, which may be the greatest retirement perk of all. | Been to an event that has changed over the years? Email me at [email protected] and tell me your experience. | Have a great week! | Joanne | |
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| | | On this day in 1962, James Meredith became the first Black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi, known as "Ole Miss," after a federal court ordered the school to integrate. His enrollment sparked riots on campus, prompting President John F. Kennedy to send in over 3,000 federal troops to restore order. Meredith's courage marked a pivotal moment in the American civil rights movement, demonstrating the federal government’s commitment to enforcing desegregation in the face of intense resistance. |
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| Understanding Software Updates: Why They Matter | If you've ever hit "Remind Me Later" when prompted to update your device or software, you're not alone. But behind those seemingly minor updates are essential improvements that help keep your devices running safely, smoothly, and efficiently. | At their core, software updates are digital tune-ups. They correct bugs, patch security vulnerabilities, improve performance, and sometimes add new features. Developers release updates to respond to emerging threats, fix glitches users have reported, or simply make things better behind the scenes. | Security is one of the most critical reasons to update. Hackers are constantly finding new ways to exploit outdated software. Updates often include security patches that close these loopholes before they can be used against you. Whether you’re updating your smartphone, computer, smart TV, or even your Wi-Fi router, staying current helps protect your personal information and online accounts. | Beyond security, updates can enhance usability and performance. You may notice your device running faster, lasting longer on battery, or having a smoother interface after an update. Some updates also make your apps more compatible with others, improving everything from video calls to file sharing. | Many people hesitate to update because they worry about learning new layouts or losing access to features they’re used to. While that’s understandable, most updates are designed with gradual change in mind—and skipping them can leave you vulnerable or cause older apps to break over time. | For seniors, it’s helpful to set devices to update automatically, where possible. You can also ask a tech-savvy family member or neighbor to help check your settings. Think of updates like routine check-ups for your digital health: they’re rarely exciting, but they keep everything working as it should. | In short, updating your software isn’t just about getting the latest features—it’s about staying safe, supported, and in sync with the modern world. So next time you see that notification, consider hitting “Update Now” instead. | How Do You Approach Software Updates? | |
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| From the RetireHub Archives: How do you use your credit card? |
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| | It looks like most of you are savvy spenders—a whopping 71% pay off your credit cards every month to build rewards, which is a smart move for both your wallet and your credit score. A smaller group uses credit for big-ticket purchases or carries a manageable balance, while a thoughtful handful is considering cutting back altogether. However you swipe, we appreciate you sharing your approach with the community. These little glimpses into how others handle everyday money decisions are always so helpful—and reassuring too. | OUR FAVORITE COMMENTS | “I would like to build credit after bankruptcy to purchase a condo in future.” “I will never pay the exorbitant interest rates for not paying off my card every month if I can’t do that, I won’t buy.” “Paying off my balance every month allows me to gain rewards without increasing debt.”
| | Friendships After 60: Why They Matter More Than Ever | As life changes—kids move out, jobs retire, homes relocate—the natural social circles we once relied on often shift or shrink. Yet after 60, friendships don’t just fill gaps: they become lifelines. In her piece, Perley‑Ann Friedman offers six powerful reasons why friendships are essential in later life. | First, friends are emotional anchors: they bring joy, comfort, and a listening ear when life feels uneasy. The emotional support they provide is one of the strongest defenses against loneliness or depression. Next, friendships literally support our physical health—people with strong social ties tend to live longer, recover faster, and stress less. Getting out for a walk or cooking a meal with a friend benefits both body and spirit. | Friends also keep us curious and engaged. Whether it’s introducing us to a new hobby, a different book, or a new café, these shared experiences expand our minds. As our life roles shift—children grow up, work life ends—friends help maintain identity beyond those labels. They see us as ourselves, not just as “mother,” “retiree,” or “caretaker.” | Perhaps most importantly, friendships build resilience. During illness, loss, or life transitions, friends offer presence rather than solutions. Their support helps us face adversity with more courage. Finally, they enrich life with simple, everyday moments—shared laughter, quiet walks, meals, or stories. In many ways, friendship becomes not a luxury, but a necessity—a source of meaning, connection, and richness in the years ahead. | READ MORE | |
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| Slang Phrase of the Day | Phrase: Out of pocket | Meaning: When someone is acting wild, inappropriate, or unexpected. This usage is informal and humorous, often said when someone says something a little shocking or silly. | In a sentence: “My grandson said I was ‘out of pocket’ the other day just because I added a little whiskey to my tea—he meant it in a funny way!” | |
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| Good News of the Day | 12-yo’s Annual ‘Diaper Drive’ Delivers 30,000 Diapers Off at Arizona Food Bank | Employees at a food bank in Phoenix were left scratching their heads when they saw an entire Uhaul truck of donated diapers arrive at their location, knowing that a middle-schooler was behind the enormous load. It was the collected proceeds of 12-year-old Sloan’s 5th annual “Diaper Drive,” an event she has been organizing since she […] | READ MORE | |
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| | A library card for your Kindle | Kindle Unlimited works like a library: borrow from a huge catalog of ebooks and magazines, read on any Kindle or the free app, and return them when you're done. There's a free trial, and you can cancel anytime. | | |
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| Other Publications We Like | Check out these other email newsletters we think you’ll enjoy! | | |
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| | Want more trivia? Play our “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our site! We add fresh questions daily, so there’s always something new to test your knowledge.
Not into trivia? No worries! We’ve got plenty of other fun games to enjoy, like: | |
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| The Mary Tyler Moore Show is set in which U.S. city? | | The jazz standard “Take Five” (1959), recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, was composed by whom? | |
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| Who hosted the original American Top 40 radio countdown beginning in 1970? | | A QUICK ASK: First off, thank you for reading RetireHub every day. It fills our cup that so many thousands of people get joy from our little publication. | As you know, good content costs money. In order to continue supporting ourselves and to continue delivering the content you enjoy every day, we need to pay our writers. If you can, we ask you to subscribe to our paid account (for $5/month - less than a cup of coffee!) below. | If you choose to purchase a paid subscription, please know you’re supporting not only our publication, but tens of thousands of other 50+ year old Americans that get joy, entertainment, financial tips, and more from RetireHub every single day. | If you don’t join the paid plan (or can’t), no worries at all. We know times are tough. Thank you for being a part of our tiny, joyful part of the Internet. | - Jay | → Support Our Writing ← |
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