It’s a tough landscape for saving out there. Higher costs for housing, groceries, fuel, and life in general make it very hard to squeeze out a few bucks to earmark for your post-work future.

However, having been the brother of a very frugal sister, Save with SPP has seen what a little tightfistedness on the spending side can do for one’s piggy bank. Let’s take a look at some frugality tips from the experts.

The Little House Living blog offers up some “frugality outside the box” ideas.

One is to “meal plan for an entire month.” With this idea, you’d not be eating out at restaurants, and would know what to shop for at the grocery store.

Another radical idea – “get rid of the cell phone and go with landline.”

“So few of us truly NEED a cell phone, we’ve just become spoiled to the idea we do. Also, extreme? Get rid of the TV and thus the streaming needs. With all that, do you need internet,” the blog asks.

Wow. That’s extreme frugality!

A final one from this blog that we’ve not seen before is “shop the perimeter of the store… it literally cuts grocerying in half.”

The A Dime Saved blog features some tips that “people laugh at, but actually work to save money.”

The blog suggests making your own condiments. “You’d be surprised at how easy—and cost-effective—it is to whip up your own condiments. Salad dressings, flavored vinegars, or even your own ketchup—once you get the hang of it, you’ll never want to buy those pricey store versions again,” the blog notes. We recall our grandma in New Brunswick making her own mayo, among other things.

What about cutting your own hair, asks the blog.

“For some, the idea of cutting their own hair is terrifying, but with a little practice and the help of online tutorials, you can easily save on salon visits. A trim here and there can make a huge difference, and you might just find you’ve got a hidden talent for it. Worst case? You save money,” the blog explains.

Finally, a more familiar one – grabbing a few toiletries when you stay at a hotel.

“From soaps to toilet paper to tea bags, those small items are already factored into your hotel bill. Why not take advantage of them? It’s one less thing you have to buy when you get home,” the blog concludes.

Finally, GoBankingRates provides a few tips for retirees.

First, the blog suggests, review your streaming subscriptions and cut back. “If you take a close look at your monthly bills, you might be surprised to see how many recurring charges you rack up every month,” the blog warns. There are cheaper and even free streaming options out there, the blog adds.

“Comparison shop,” the blog advises. “Nearly any product or service you’re interested in is likely offered by a number of different vendors, so you can pick and choose the combination of price, service and quality that works best for you.”

As well, retirees who are also empty nesters should consider moving to a smaller house, or an apartment.

“Frugal living tips can go a long way toward saving for retirement or living your best life once in retirement,” the article concludes.

If you are able to squeeze some savings out of your monthly spending, then for sure retirement saving is a good place to direct those loonies to. If you are saving on your own for retirement, take a good look at the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. SPP takes the hassle out of retirement saving by making it simple – you contribute however much you want, and SPP invests it in a low-cost, professionally managed pooled investment fund. At retirement, your options include collecting a lifetime monthly annuity, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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You continually read stories, or watch TV interviews, about people who are 100-plus, sharp as a tack mentally, and still living life to the best.

What are they doing that the rest of us aren’t? Save with SPP decided to take a look-see.

The Mental Floss blog offers up 100 pieces of advice from folks who are 100 years old or more.

“Don’t look at the calendar,” begins one tip. “Just keep celebrating every day.”

“Travel while you’re young and able,” suggests another. “Don’t worry about the money, just make it work. Experience is more valuable than money will ever be.”

A third tip – “most times, things will figure themselves out.” Another tip is simply “forgive.”

And this bit of advice – “have a pet. Life gets lonely sometimes. Pets are a reminder of how we’re all living things.”

The Life Extension blog serves up a few more ideas.

“Eat meals with loved ones,” the blog advises. “The important ingredient here is the people, not the food.”

A second suggestion, also a simple one, is to “laugh… laughter nourishes your soul. It brings levity into your day and helps lower stress levels, crucial to healthy aging.”

Learning new things, the blog continues, will “keep your mind sharp and your soul happy for the long run. When you start a new hobby, master your chess game, learn a new language, or stir up a new recipe, it opens your world to different experiences, increasing your joy, widening your social circle, and improving your quality of life.”

A final thought from this blog is to “live in the moment.”

“Studies suggest that adults who practice mindfulness tend to experience less stress, pessimism, and regret as they age. Practicing present-moment awareness is a wonderful way to stay grounded and focused on the life you’re living now, so you can make the most of every moment—from daily tasks to big events,” the blog adds.

An article from People magazine provides us with some additional insights.

Lucia DeClerck, 105 when interviewed, suggests “prayer, prayer, prayer. One step at a time. No junk food.”

Arlena Labon of Ohio, who was 108 when interviewed, advises us to “love one another” and “treat one another good.”

On the scientific side, People quotes Don Buettner, who has studied the so-called “Blue Zones” where people seem to live the longest, sees activity and diet as important. According to his research, the article says, citizens of Sardinia currently live the longest and “are mostly shepherds – a job that requires a lot of physical activity.” As well, Buettner notes in the article, they tend to “eat a plant-based diet, as eating meat is considered a luxury. Still, most of the people in Sardinia still enjoy a glass or two of red wine with dinner.”

We don’t know today if a long, long life is in the cards for us. But more and more of us are living longer lives. That makes another tip worth mentioning – be sure to save for your retirement, as it might last as long, or longer, than the time you spent working.

A great saving partner is the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. The plan is open to individuals or groups – SPP can serve as your organization’s pension plan. SPP will carefully invest your retirement savings dollars in a professionally managed, low-cost, pooled fund. At retirement, your options include the security of a lifetime monthly annuity payment, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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Let’s face it – it’s not easy to go through the checkout line at the grocery store these days without having a sharp intake of breath when it’s time to pay. There seems to be less and less money left over after the bills are paid.

Is this impacting Canadians’ ability/desire to support charities? Save with SPP decided to do a little digging.

According to The Financial Post, citing research from the Fraser Institute, Canadians are “turning more stingy” when it comes to charity.

“The number of taxpayers who gave to charitable causes dropped to 17.7 per cent in 2021 — a 20-year low, according to the Fraser Institute’s annual report measuring generosity in Canada,” the newspaper reports. “Charitable giving hit a high in 2004, with 25.4 per cent of tax filers making donations, but gifts to charity have dropped each year since. Twenty-three per cent of taxpayers gave to charity in 2011.”

Not only are fewer people making donations, but those who do are giving less, the article adds.

“People are also donating less money, the study said, with the total amount given dropping to 0.55 per cent of income in 2021 from 0.58 per cent in 2001,” the article continues. Jake Fuss of the Fraser Institute, a co-author of the report, tells the newspaper “the data shows Canadians are consistently less charitable every year, which means charities face greater challenges to secure resources to help those in need.”

CanadaHelps, an organization that assists charities in gathering charitable donations, also sees a downward trend in charitable giving.

The organization’s Giving Report provides a couple of reasons why people are donating less these days. First, the group says, Canadians aren’t joining as many groups as they once did and are volunteering less.

“Canadians are increasingly disconnected, and their social networks have shrunk; this correlates with lower rates of giving. From 2013 to 2022, the number of Canadians with six or more close friends has declined by 40 per cent (from 37 per cent to 22 per cent), and those who feel a very strong sense of belonging to their community have dropped by 12 percentage points. More than 80 per cent (84 per cent) of those with many close friends donate, while just over half (53 per cent) of those with very few close friends donate,” an article on the CanadaHelps website explains.

Similarly, CanadaHelps sees a disconnect between causes we all say we value, and the actual cha-ching coming out of our pockets in the form of donations. An example is the environment, the group says.

“Only 1.5 per cent of donations made through CanadaHelps are directed to environmental charities, despite 32 per cent of Canadians saying climate change or protecting the environment is a top cause for them, and almost half (48 per cent) of Canadians expressing anxiety about climate change on at least somewhat of a regular basis,” the group charges.

So, at a time when “more than half of charities are unable to meet current levels of demand,” fewer of us are donating. The CanadaHelps article concludes by noting that “one in five Canadians was using charitable services to meet essential needs in 2023.”

As an example, reports the CBC, Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank saw about 55,000 client visits each month before the pandemic. Since then, the monthly client visits have nearly tripled to 130,000 visits per month. Donations, on the other hand, have not tripled, the article says.

If there’s a takeaway here, it is that times are tough for everyone but are even worse for those of us just scraping by. Consider making more charitable donations – bump up any you might be making, or start doing some, perhaps via automatic withdrawals from your bank account. Alternatively, volunteer some of your time. Every dollar and hour of donated time will help.

Have you got a retirement savings plan in place? If not, take a look at the Saskatchewan Pension Plan, a voluntary defined contribution pension plan open to any Canadian with registered retirement savings plan room. With SPP, you decide how much money to contribute, and we do the rest. Your precious retirement savings dollars are investing in a professionally managed, pooled, low-cost fund. They’ll grow while you work, and when work is done, your retirement income options include getting lifetime monthly annuity payments, or the flexibility of our Variable Benefit option.

Check out SPP today!

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We’ve read a ton of books on retirement/saving for retirement/living in retirement, and there’s one common thread that runs through all of them – the need to have a budget (and to stick to it).

Save with SPP decided to search for easy ways to get a budget in place, for those of us who either don’t currently budget or have given up due to fears it will be too complex and difficult.

At the Money Canada blog, writer Sandy Vong advises that if “you consistently look at your bank balance and wonder where the money goes then it’s time to take charge of your funds – and that starts with making a budget.”

“The good news is that it doesn’t have to be scary or time-consuming. But having a budget is critical. A budget gives you a big picture of your spending and saving habits and it’s a great way to take charge of your finances,” writes Vong.

Vong’s budget plan involves five steps – understanding and rating your values, setting your financial goals, tracking income and expenses, creating a budget and then regularly reviewing it.

The “value” idea is a bit unique.

“Values are those intangible measures of a good life. For instance, good health may be a value, as it a fulfilling career, or a place to call home. By starting with your values, you’re able to understand what value you are helping to support when you spend or save your money,” Vong explains.

The budgeting part itself, Vong notes, is fairly simple – track every expense and all of your income.

“Tracking your income and expenses is a simple exercise that takes a few minutes every day, but will quickly show you what your lifestyle is like and what areas you are spending the most on,” Vong notes.

“You can keep track of your income and expenses by using a note-taking app like Evernote.

However, there are more sophisticated budgeting apps such as YNAB (You Need A Budget). Whenever you go to purchase an item, whether online or in-store, record the date, the name of the store and the amount you spent. This way, you will have a full summary of where your money comes in and where it goes out at the end of the month,” Vong concludes.

There are other budgeting strategies.

Writing for GoBankingRates, Caitlin Moorhead explains the 75/15/10 budgeting approach.

“The 75/15/10 rule is a simple way to budget and allocate your paycheck. This is when you divert 75 per cent of your income to needs such as everyday expenses, 15 per cent to long-term investing and 10 per cent for short-term savings. It’s all about creating a balanced and practical plan for your money,” she writes.

She sees the 15 per cent as going for your future.  “By putting 15 per cent of your income into investments like stocks or real estate, you’re not just saving — you’re growing your wealth,” she explains. The 10 per cent should be used to build up an emergency fund that can cover up to six months of expenses, she concludes.

Another, somewhat similar approach is the “50/30/20 method,” reports Linda Howard of The Daily Record.

In this approach, she explains, 50 per cent of your money is earmarked for “essential spending such as bills and food shopping,” with 30 per cent going to fun “non-essentials, such as eating out and style and beauty,” and the last 20 per cent going into savings.

The great Gail Vaz-Oxlade has long proposed a “cash jar/envelope” budgeting system, covered via the Smart Canucks blog.

According to the blog, Vaz-Oxlade’s approach “recommends that of your total income, 35 per cent goes to housing, 15 per cent to transportation, 25 per cent on `life’ (everything from groceries, pets, kids etc.), 15 per cent to debt and 10 per cent to savings.”

As we all remember from her many TV shows, she encouraged people to actually set aside cash for each category in jars or envelopes. If there’s no money left in the jar, you need to wait until the next month.

You can figure out your own budget approach, but the chief idea is to spend less than what you earn. To do that you need to see what you are making and know what your bills add up to.

If you are developing a budget, be sure to put some money away for long-term savings, such as retirement. If you don’t have a retirement program at your workplace, consider the Saskatchewan Pension Plan as your savings partner. Open to any Canadian with registered retirement savings plan room SPP is like an RRSP that has, when you retire, built in options to turn savings into income. You can, for example, convert your account balance into a monthly lifetime annuity payment. Or you can select the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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A new year – 2025 – is upon us. Traditionally, it’s a time for making resolutions – maybe to hit the gym more often, to finally quit smoking, and so on.

Save with SPP, often with money on the mind, took a look around to see what sort of resolutions people are considering making when it comes to saving money.

The folks at the GoBankingRates blog have a few ideas; the first is to bump up your retirement savings by one per cent.

“One simple way to improve your long-term finances with minimal effort is to bump up your retirement plan contributions in small increments,” the blog explains. Let’s say you are earning $50,000 and contributing five per cent towards a retirement savings account. In Canada, that could be a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP), Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA), a Saskatchewan Pension Plan (SPP account) or any other savings vehicle where you control how much goes in.

Bumping that up by just one per cent means “you’ll be kicking in an extra $41.67 per month,” the blog explains. “That’s a money-saving resolution you could easily keep,” the blog continues.

Other ideas in this article include starting an emergency fund and the golden rule of “eat all the food in your house” to avoid food waste.

“Having an emergency fund is essential for keeping yourself out of debt when you face unexpected expenses,” the blog advises. Start small – maybe put away $100 a month. “Within a year, you’ll have $1,200…. enough to cover most short-term emergencies you’ll face.”

“If you want to save money… simply check your refrigerator every day for what you have and what might be going bad soon and eat that instead of picking up something new from the grocery store or a restaurant,” the blog advises. This “eat all the food in your house” rule is one our mother used to swear by; we would “use up” the food in the fridge before going out to buy more groceries, avoiding waste.

The Positively Frugal blog over in the UK offers up a few more ideas.

Getting out of debt is the blog’s number one resolution.

“Without a doubt, one of the absolute best financial goals to make this year is to get rid of your debt once and for all! I am a huge proponent of being debt free — not only is it good for your finances, but it’s good for your psyche,” the blog tells us.

“This year, challenge yourself to lose the burden of some of your debt. If you want to take it up a notch and brave the task of setting one of the best long-term financial goals, set a resolution to become completely debt free,” the blog advises.

Other suggestions – in the New Year, start paying off your credit cards in full each month (if you haven’t already begun doing this). “The amount you will save in interest and fees can add up to a nice little pile of cash, which can be used to kick start a savings account,” the blog suggests.

Another money-saving resolution offered up by the blog is to try and eat out less.

“If there is one area where most people can shape up their finances, it’s on the amount they spend eating out,” the blog notes. “You don’t have to completely eliminate eating out, but you can make a money resolution this year to spend less on the meals you eat at restaurants,” the blog adds.

Finally, the gang at Nerdwallet provide us with a few retirement-related savings resolutions.

First, the blog recommends, you should set a “goal retirement age.”

Figuring out when you want to retire will help you to estimate how much money you’ll need to have saved up by the time that day rolls around,” the blog tells us.

“Let’s say you’re 30 years old now and you want to retire by age 65. That gives you 35 years in which to save. So how much money will you need to retire at age 65,” the blog continues.

“A common rule of thumb is to aim to save at least 70 per cent of your annual pre-retirement income. Then, multiply this number by 25. Why? Because another rule of thumb says it’s a good idea to plan for 25 years of life after retirement — perhaps more if you retire early. Finally, you’ll want to subtract any pension income you plan to receive,” the blog states.

The blog also suggests that you automate your retirement savings.

“Once your (retirement saving) plan’s in place and accounts picked out, your next step should be to automate contributions. This ‘set it and forget it’ way to save ensures you’re constantly putting money towards your retirement plan with no little effort required on your part. It’s perfect for those who might be forgetful or be tempted to spend extra funds if they’re not allocated immediately,” the blog advises.

“Automating contributions to your retirement accounts should be easy, with financial institutions allowing you to set it up online. You can choose how much you want to contribute and at what frequency,” the blog adds.

Final word from Nerdwallet is to get started – today!

“It’s never too early to start thinking about retirement. The sooner you start, the more time you’ll have to save, and maximize those savings through registered plans, investments and tax-free accounts,” the blog concludes.

One savings tip we will add is one learned from one of the books reviewed for writing this blog. Let’s say you look at your existing budget, and find there is no room to save anything. The book suggested taking one per cent of your take-home pay off the top and putting it into savings, then managing the bills. Once you’ve managed that for a while, bump it up to two per cent, and so on. This one worked for us back when we were still grappling with a mortgage and debt.

The Saskatchewan Pension Plan is a defined contribution pension plan open to any Canadian with available RRSP room. Like an RRSP, your contributions to SPP are tax-deductible. SPP takes your savings and invests them in a low-cost, professionally managed pooled fund. At retirement, SPP members can choose among such options as a monthly lifetime annuity payment or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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“The man from the bank was very nice,” said Grandma over the phone one Monday evening. “He said he just wanted to run a security check, so I ran and got my card.”

Oh no, we thought. We were quickly able to contact the bank to verify that all was OK with her account. She hadn’t been able to see all the numbers (she’s 92) and began to think something was up when the “bank man” started yelling at her.

When we got her on the phone with her actual bank, they reassured her that the bank would never make a “security check” call like that; it was a scam.

Save with SPP took a look around to see what other scams are out there that we – particularly the older and more vulnerable among us – should watch out for.

According to the Toronto.com website, “Canadians have lost a staggering $447 million through various scams and fraud through the first nine months of 2024.”

Of that total, the article continues, $228 million was lost in “investment fraud alone from January to September of 2024.”

An investment scam, the article notes, occurs when “the scammer may try to get you to buy digital currencies, stocks, bonds, or real estate, or to invest in a business directly,” the Competition Bureau Canada states in the article.

“Fraudsters often use social media, dating apps, online ads or websites telling investors to act now while promising high returns,” the article adds.

The Globe and Mail notes that $45 million has been lost “to phone-initiated fraud” like Grandma experienced. That figure “captures only a fraction of the suspected financial carnage,” the Globe notes. “The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre estimates that a mere five to 10 per cent of victims actually report” the fraud.

In addition to investment scams and phone fraud, the Asterisk blog warns about “social media scams” which often consist of “false advertisements… that promise job opportunities, discounted merchandise, or free trials.” Clicking on these could lead to “identity theft and stolen passwords,” the blog warns.

Another category is called “spear fishing,” Asterisk reports. “Be aware of texts and email messages, which appear to be from a legitimate source, that say someone is trying to access your account. Never respond to the text or email, and do not click on any links.”

These messages may purport to be from someone you do business with – the bank, the post office, Amazon, or the government.

“The golden rule is that if you’re unsure, don’t click. Opening a fraudulent link can potentially infect your device or compromise your data. Instead, reach out to the government agency directly by looking up their official contact information,” the blog advises. “If you’re concerned about these messages, especially if they are ongoing, call your financial institution directly to find out if they’re trying to get in touch with you.”

Another category is employment scams, Asterisk continues.

For example, the blog reports, “Instagram direct messages that claim someone received your resume through a job posting site and is interested in hiring you. It is common for scammers to ask for personal details, financial information and even pretend to send you an advance ‘digital payment.’ However, after you deposit the money, you’ll get a call from your financial institution that the cheque was counterfeit,” the blog warns.

Similar scams involve “car wrapping,” being hired as a “financial agent” to help process invoices or offers for you to be a mystery shopper or personal assistant, the blog cautions.

We’ve all heard (and friends have experienced) the “grandparent scam,” where someone calls saying it is your grandson and that he needs bail money quick to get out of jail. Or the Canada Revenue Scam where a recorded voice says you are about to be arrested for tax evasion unless you contact a random number first. Artificial Intelligence can make any scam sound plausible.

The takeaway is to be skeptical about the reality of any unsolicited call. It costs you nothing to hang up – it might cost you plenty to stay on the line. As our parents used to say, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true.”

Are you among the millions of Canadians who does not have a retirement program through work? There’s a handy resource you should be aware of – the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. SPP is an open, voluntary defined contribution plan that any Canadian with available registered retirement savings plan room can join.

Sign up and start contributing, and SPP will do all the rest, investing your savings in a professionally managed, low fee pooled fund. At retirement, you’ll have options, including the possibility of a lifetime monthly annuity payment or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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Decades ago, a colleague – during a chat about retirement – told us that her in-laws felt that the best retirement decision they ever made was to leave work as soon as they could, at age 55.

They had enjoyed a very long retirement and did all the things they wanted to – and they looked back at it all fondly now that they were in their 80s.

Save with SPP decided to look around to see what other people think are the best, or most important, retirement decisions they can make.

The Motley Fool blog offers up a few key decisions.

One is to “make retirement a priority,” because “the sooner you decide to make retirement a priority, the more time `the force’ (the power of compounding) will work in your favour,” the blog tells us.

Another decision is to “explore your core pursuits,” the blog advises. “The happiest retirees report entering retirement with an average of 3.61 `core pursuits.’ Unhappy retirees have less than two,” the blog notes.

A related idea is to set retirement goals, the blog states.

“Something as simple as writing down three goals for your first year in retirement can work wonders in giving your time structure, purpose, and meaning. Of course, these goals will change over time — the important thing is devoting time to exploring them and following through,” the blog concludes.

The folks at Forbes offer up a few more.

Your health, the publication suggests, should be a top consideration.

“`Good health’ is the factor often cited by retirees as a top reason for happiness in retirement,” the publication notes. “As you’re considering the `when to retire’ question, you’ll want to find a way to balance your health goals with your financial goals, since money worries can be a significant cause of stress, which can in turn negatively affect your health. This can be another reason to consider working part time for a while—you’ll get more time to achieve your health goals while also improving your finances.”

The publication also suggests that delaying your retirement date may qualify you for larger retirement benefits.

Finally, the Kiplinger team brings up some important decisions on retirement you don’t want to get wrong.

Don’t “relocate on a whim,” the article advises. “Too many folks have trudged off willy-nilly to what they thought was a dream destination only to find that it’s more akin to a nightmare,” the article adds. Consider renting in your new, desired location before you decide to buy there, the article adds.

Don’t “not plan” to retire. Huh? Kiplinger says that 55 per cent of U.S. workers plan to work “after they retire,” meaning, essentially, continuing to work indefinitely. “That plan could backfire,” warns Kiplinger.

Changes in your health, or that of a spouse, could mean you’ll be retired before you planned to be. “Assume the worst and save early and often. Only 34 per cent of baby boomers surveyed by Transamerica have a backup plan to replace retirement income if unable to continue working,” the article adds.

Finally, Kiplinger cites “putting off saving for retirement” as a related, bad decision. Surveys found this was the biggest regret amongst U.S. boomers.

“The good news for investors (in their 40s and 50s) is that they may still have enough time to change their savings behavior and achieve their goals, but they will need to take action quickly and be extremely disciplined about their savings,” states Ajay Kaisth of KAI Advisors in New Jersey in the Kiplinger article.

If there is a single takeaway from all this, it’s the idea of planning. You will almost certainly reach a point in life when you are no longer working or able to work. If you thought about this long ago and saved, or joined a retirement program at work, you will have more options than if you didn’t.

If you don’t have a workplace pension plan or retirement program, the Saskatchewan Pension Plan may be just the ticket for you. SPP is open to any Canadian with available RRSP room. You make tax-deductible contributions to SPP at any rate you wish – and you can transfer funds into SPP from other RRSPs. Once your savings are entrusted to SPP, we will invest them in a low-cost, professionally managed pooled fund. At retirement, your choices include income for life via an SPP annuity, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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What are our older folks getting up to these days?

We continually read and hear that there are more seniors than ever, living healthier and longer.

That’s great, but what are all these folks up to with their free time? Save with SPP decided to try and find out.

The Age Space blog has a list of 50 activities! Here’s a small sampling.

Crafts. “Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas,” the blog post states. “You can make some beautifully creative decorations for your home all year round.”

Another pastime – getting back into cooking. “Dig out an old recipe book or watch a cooking show and choose a meal you’ve never made before. The more unusual the meal, the better!”

Farther down the list is an interesting one – the virtual coffee club. “Have a weekly coffee morning video call with your friends. This can be even more fun if you bake the day before, and you can have a little treat with your coffee – and share the recipe!”

The PrimeCarers website offers up a few more.

The first – putting on walking shoes. “Walking is a simple but helpful way for elderly parents to stay active. It makes their hearts healthier, muscles stronger, and bodies more flexible.” There are often walking trails and parks nearby, the article encourages.

Gardening, the site suggests, helps older folks “enjoy nature… it can help improve their hand skills and give them a sense of achievement as they care for plants and watch them grow.”

Another classic activity is birdwatching, the site notes. “Help (seniors) set up a bird feeder in their garden or take them to local parks or nature reserves. Birdwatching can encourage them to spend time outside, enjoy nature, and sharpen their observation skills,” the site adds.

The Great Senior Years blog says group exercise classes “are an excellent way for seniors to stay active and maintain their fitness levels.” A side benefit, the blog adds, is that the classes also provide “a social and enjoyable experience.” Options include yoga class, which benefits flexibility, balance and strength, and for older seniors, chair exercise.

Our mother-in-law, now 92, takes part weekly in the next activity suggested by the blog, Wii sports. Her specialty is bowling, and she often gets the high score in this interactive, “motion sensitive” video game that allows seniors “to participate in sports they may have enjoyed earlier in life or (to) even try new ones.”

A final suggestion from the blog is art class. “Art classes provide a wonderful opportunity for seniors to explore their creativity, develop new skills, and foster a sense of connection with others. Engaging in artistic activities has been shown to have numerous benefits for the elderly, including improved cognitive function, reduced stress levels, and enhanced emotional well-being. Whether it’s painting, drawing, sculpture, or ceramics, art classes offer a diverse range of mediums for seniors to express themselves and engage in a fulfilling hobby,” the blog concludes.

Our circle of seniors do many of these activities, as well as dancing (line and square), playing bridge, darts and pool, cycling, singing groups, working out at the gym, travelling and cruising, and much more. Once you join the ranks of the retired you will wonder, as they say, how you ever squeezed in the time to actually work.

If you don’t belong to a workplace pension plan, and worry you lack the expertise to invest your retirement savings, take a good look at the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. Members of SPP can contribute any amount they want, right up to their annual registered retirement savings plan limit. Then SPP takes on the heavy lifting of investing and growing those savings in a low-cost, professionally managed pooled fund. At retirement, SPP can convert some or all of your savings to a lifetime monthly annuity payment. There’s also the more flexible Variable Benefit option.

Check out SPP today!

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Tips provide ways you can have a happy and financially secure retirement

What sorts of things do we need to think about to have a happy retirement – fun and financially secure?

Save with SPP decided to take a look around the Web to see what sort of retirement tips there are for those of us who are still working away.

The Wellington Advertiser in Ontario offers up several tips.

First, the newspaper suggests, you need to “get your finances in order.” As you prepare to retire you need to “plan out your finances ahead of time… people heading towards retirement should look into paying off any outstanding debts, and organizing their money, so they know what to expect come retirement and how much they will be living on.”

The Advertiser’s second tip is to “take it slow.”

“Going from working full time to not working at all can be a harsh adjustment for some, slowly working into retirement is a great way to smooth out the transition. Those heading towards retirement should consider easing off their workload over the course of several years or months,” the newspaper notes.

The article’s other tips include being active, and “getting out” as well. “It’s important to stay mentally active as well, volunteering, clubs, committees and community events are all great ways to stay connected in the community.” That involvement can ease any feelings of loneliness you may have post-work, the article concludes.

The Kiplinger website offers up a few more ideas.

“Happy retirees find a clear sense of purpose,” the site explains. Sometimes, the article continues, golf, strolling the beach and reading don’t provide enough “purpose or meaning.” Many retirees go back to the workforce, not only for the money but for the social connections and sense of purpose, the article adds. Others like to volunteer, which “keeps the brain healthy and active” and prevents “loneliness and isolation.”

The article notes that happier retirees “never stop learning.”

“Experts believe that ongoing education and learning new things can help keep you mentally sharp. Plus, exercising your brain may help prevent cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia,” the article reports.

Finally, the folks at Kiplinger extoll the virtues of having a “furry friend” in retirement.

“It turns out that Fido can provide more benefits to you than grabbing the newspaper. Older dog owners who walked their dogs at least once a day got 20 per cent more physical activity than people without dogs, and spent 30 fewer minutes a day being sedentary, on average, according to a study published in The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Research has also indicated that dogs help soothe those suffering from cognitive decline, and the physical and mental health benefits of owning a dog can boost the longevity of the owner.

At Forbes Advisor, the importance of having money in retirement is raised.

“Strive to save 10 per cent (or more) of your gross income in a tax-advantaged retirement account,” the article suggests. In Canada, this would include things like a registered retirement savings plan, a company pension plan, a Tax Free Savings Account, and so on.

The article also suggests you “spend smarter” in retirement. Huh?

“Cost and value are not the same thing. For example, if two couples took the same trip of a lifetime, stayed in the same level hotel, and booked the same class of airfare, it would be fair to say that they got the same value from the trip. But if one couple paid full price and the other couple booked at a discounted rate, like my mom always does when she travels, there would be an obvious difference between the cost for each couple. I will give my mom credit; she is the queen of stretching a dollar,” author David Rae writes.

So let’s recap. You’ll want to plan ahead for retirement and set up a budget to handle the fact you will probably be living on less income. The more you save before retirement, the closer your post-work income will be to what you are making now.

Ease into retirement, rather than jumping headlong. Stay active, get out and do things with new people. Have a sense of purpose – maybe volunteer or join a group. Keep learning. Spend smart.

If you don’t have a retirement program through work, a great resource that may be of interest is the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. Join the more than 30,000 Canadians who are members of this voluntary defined contribution pension plan that not only helps you save but can help turn those savings into retirement income.

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The idea behind savings has always been to put a little money away today, and in the future, you’ll be covered for any little emergency that arises.

But these days, people are raiding their savings to pay for day-to-day, non-emergency expenses. Is there anything we can all do to prevent that? Save with SPP took a look around to see what others think.

The GoBankingRates website offers up a number of interesting strategies.

One idea is to put your savings in “a separate, online savings account” that “is not directly linked to your chequing or overdraft, or that can be used with a debit card,” the article suggests. We have an account with Alterna Bank that isn’t hooked up to any card, and yes, it’s a piggy bank that’s sort of hard to get at.

A similar idea is to “make savings inaccessible,” perhaps by putting them into a registered savings account (such as a registered retirement savings account) or brokerage account where you can’t get the money out immediately, or without a penalty or tax consequences, the article explains.

At the How To Money blog, one thought is to “focus on your goals,” and to remember why you opened the savings account before dipping into it.

“Do you want to own a home? Become financially independent? Finally go on that big trip you’ve always dreamed of,” the blog asks. “Having a bigger goal to weigh your purchases against can help you think twice before transferring money out of your savings, or making an impulse buy. Once you have a solidified goal, you can think about just how much you could accomplish if you cut out mindless spending,” the blog continues.

A second idea recommended by the blog is creating “sinking funds,” or essentially pre-paying, for things you know you have to spend on.

“A sinking fund for gifts is a common example. We all know we need to buy gifts at the end of the year for the holiday season. But if we don’t plan ahead, we won’t have the money to buy anything. That leads to dipping into savings. Instead, if we create a sinking fund and contribute $50 per month into it starting each January, we’ll have $550 by the end of November for gifts,” the blog explains.

Okay – make the money hard to get at, remember why you’re saving before dipping in, and create little dedicated “sinking funds” to prepay for known, upcoming expenses (again, instead of dipping in.) Are there other ways to work this?

The Balance blog suggests an oldie-but-goodie – using cash.

“Set up auto debit for all your bills and savings contributions, then see how much money you have left over. That’s how much you have to spend. Take out that amount each week or month, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. When you are using cash only for your spending, it takes a lot more work to overspend since you have to actually take the money out of the bank,” the blog suggests.

Another good idea, the blog adds, is to set up an emergency fund – for real emergencies – rather than dipping into your long-term savings.

“If you have a separate emergency fund to handle unexpected expenses, then you will no longer need to dip into your savings account to cover unexpected expenses like car repairs or medical bills,” the blog explains. “Although using your emergency fund may seem like you are dipping into savings, you really are not because you have earmarked these funds ahead of time to cover these expenses.”

The takeaway for all this is that your savings cookie jar should be as hard to get to as possible, so you can’t dip into them for an impulse purchase.

Members of the Saskatchewan Pension Plan can’t dip into their accounts for non-retirement purposes, because SPP is a “locked-in” pension plan. You can’t access the funds until you are age 55 or older, when you are deciding what you are going to do to turn your SPP savings into income. Options include receiving a monthly lifetime annuity or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

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