😊 RetireHub Daily — 5/09/24 😊

It is Thursday, May 9th, 2024

Dear RetireHub Daily Readers, today’s daily theme is Hobbies and Interests. 

As many of you pointed out yesterday, you wish there was more time for hobbies that don’t involve staring at our phones.

So every Thursday we’ll focus on different hobbies, crafts, and interests that keep us active and engaged in our retirement years.

As always, please send us any suggestions for hobbies you’d like us to talk about—or tell us about your hobby and how you got into it!

RetireHub

Deal of the Day

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RETIREHUB POLL

Being retired can mean a lot of free time.

And that’s a blessing and a curse. If we don’t find ways to fill that free time, we’re in danger of loneliness, boredom, and a loss of physical activity.

Hobbies are the perfect way to fill time in retirement. They keep us focused, keep our brains sharp, can be a great way to socialize and help us learn handy new skills.

So, if you want a hobby but don’t know where to start, here’s some senior-friendly hobbies you can try:

• Cycling—cycling has become a popular retired past time. It’s low-impact exercise, is a great way to explore, and there are often clubs available to add in some social time. Read a senior cycling guide here.

•  Writing—They say everyone has at least one novel in them. Writing can be therapeutic, helping us process our thoughts and make sense of our lives. It can also be fun to let your imagination run wild. You can even start a writing group with friends. Start by journaling and go from there.

• Photography—It may be easier than ever to grab your phone to take a quick photo, but there’s a whole world of photography to discover. Second-hand shops and online marketplaces are full of old camera equipment to get started.

• Gardening—Retirement is the perfect time to start a garden. Growing vegetables takes up almost every season if you plant fall veggies and grow your own seedlings in late winter/early spring. Add in your own chickens or bees to take things up a level!

• Learn a language—Why not? Learning a new language is just practice and is a great exercise for your brain. Apps like DuoLingo can help turn it into a fun daily habit. And then you can travel to test your skills!

• Upholstery/restoration—Folks are always throwing out old furniture that need minor repairs to look great. Have fun restoring items for yourself or even make some money reselling them for a profit!

And remember, if one hobby doesn’t work for you keep looking—there’s a hobby out there for everyone!

Yesterday’s Poll Results - How often do you play online games (through your smartphone, tablet, or computer)?

Over three-quarters (77%) of RetireHub Daily readers play online games, with 55% playing as a regular hobby. As many comments point out though, some folks think they play too much. So let’s remember to enjoy in moderation and try some of the other hobbies listed above.

Thanks to everyone who voted and commented!

Our Favorite Comments:

We love hearing and sharing comments from our polls! While we can’t publish them all, we do read and appreciate every comment.

• “I play words with friends! And I play with actual friends not internet only friends! It's a fun way to keep in touch!”

• “I definitely need to put this phone down and go about my daily business, walks, crafting projects etc but instead I'm on my phone playing games, really bad habit.”

• “I like to play to keep my mind sharp, games where you search for objects and try to solve puzzles also word games.”

WHAT WE’RE READING

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SENIOR LIVING NEWS

Cooking for One: Why Cook at Home if it’s Only Me?

Be honest: have you asked the question above to yourself or to a friend? If you have, please go back and read the words. It’s only you? What does that say about your worthiness to be well-nourished?

If you are someone who has cooked for a family or a spouse for many years and find yourself alone, it might seem like a welcome relief. It would be easy to come in from a long day and grab a bunch of chips and a little hummus and tell yourself you’re getting some protein, so what’s the big problem?

• Read the Article

Can I Get a Loan Against My Pension?

You’ve probably heard of asking for an advance on your paycheck. But what if you could get an advance on your retirement savings?

Key Takeaways

•Pension loans are legally allowed in many cases, but plan sponsors determine whether they’re allowed.

•If your employer does allow loans, it will likely be limited to a percentage of the balance up to a fixed amount.

•Your loan will have a repayment period during which regular, on-time payments will need to be made, with interest.

• Read the Guide

LONGEVITY TIP OF THE DAY

Add some chia seeds to …anything!—Chia seeds are thought to have many health benefits, from improved bone health to supporting weight loss. The great thing is, they can easily added to anything: smoothies, oatmeal, or even as an alternative to eggs in baking!

Slang of the Day

Word: “Petfluencer”

Definition: If you regularly see a particular animal online, that pet’s owner could be a “petfluencer”, using their pet to gain an online following.

Used in a Sentence: “He posts so many pictures of his dog on Facebook he’s basically a petfluencer.”

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY

14-Year-old Saves The Day After School Bus Driver Passes Out with Foot on the Gas

An eighth-grade Wisconsinite is being hailed as a hero after grabbing hold of the wheel of his school bus after the driver lost consciousness.

His heroics have earned him plaudits from the mayor’s office, city council, fire and rescue, and the police department, and the young man has said the incident has made him feel more confident.

…Read More

Street Librarian Raises Money For Free Book Vending Machine

Three years ago, Araba Maze was reading a book to her niece on the front stoop of her Baltimore home in a perfectly ordinary fashion.

But as the pages turned, the number of local children gathered around for “stoop storytime” increased until Maze had to take notice. ‘What are they doing?’ she thought.

Little did she know, but those fateful minutes of reading time launched Maze’s career as a librarian and influencer who champions a cause of getting books into the hands of urban children with no access to libraries.

• …Read More

RETIREHUB TRIVIA

Our goal is to grow RetireHub to over 1 million members — with this, we’ll have the leverage to get even better discounts from the likes of Netflix, Amazon, and others.

To help incentivize referrals, we’re giving away 12 months of your favorite streaming service for free! Simply forward this email to a friend (and cc [email protected]) and you’ll be entered into the drawing on May 15th! (Maximum $20/month streaming service).

Each additional friend you send the email to will count as an additional entry (25 person max).