Making Savings Last, Drinking Wisely, and Planning Your Estate

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One of the biggest financial questions people face after they stop working isn’t how to build wealth — it’s how to make it last. With longer lifespans and rising costs, even a comfortable nest egg can shrink faster than expected without a clear plan.

The first step is knowing what you actually spend. Track a few months of expenses to see which costs are flexible (like travel or dining out) and which are fixed (like housing, insurance, and healthcare). Once you understand the baseline, you can create a sustainable withdrawal plan — many planners use the “4% rule” as a starting point, meaning you withdraw roughly 4% of your total savings per year, adjusting as needed for inflation and market changes.

Diversifying where you pull money from matters just as much as how much you take. Using a mix of accounts — taxable, tax-deferred (like IRAs or 401(k)s), and tax-free (like Roth IRAs) — can help control how much you owe each year. Delaying Social Security until full retirement age (or beyond) can also increase your guaranteed income, which helps preserve your investment accounts longer.

Finally, remember that flexibility is key. Spending patterns change as we age, and what you want in your 60s may not match your needs in your 80s. Revisiting your plan every year or two helps keep everything in balance.

If you’d like a licensed professional to review your situation and create a customized long-term plan, reply “financial planning consult” for a free consultation focused on making your savings last.

💌 If you found these ideas helpful, forward this newsletter to a friend — retirement planning is easier when you compare notes with someone on the same path.

“The Old Workshop”
From the life overview of Gordon L., 81, Richmond, VA. Shared with permission.

My father’s workshop was a place of magic long before I understood that it was. The air always smelled of sawdust, varnish, and engine oil, and sunlight slanted through the dusty windows in golden beams that made the floating particles look like tiny stars. Tools hung neatly on pegboards, each one familiar yet mysterious, waiting to be picked up and put to use.

I remember the day my father let me handle the lathe for the first time. My hands shook as I held the piece of wood, feeling its grain under my fingertips. He guided me, not with force but with patience, murmuring instructions that I only half understood. Yet somehow, the wood began to take shape as spirals curled away like ribbons. I felt a surge of pride and awe that I’d never felt before.

Later, when I built my own workbench, I tried to replicate that feeling. Now, I spend hours there, sanding, sawing, and shaping, listening to the hum of old machines and the soft clatter of wood on the floor. Sometimes, I pause and breathe in the familiar smells, remembering the laughter and quiet lessons that my father shared when he was standing beside me.

The workshop is more than a place for projects; it’s a map of memory, a sanctuary where patience, curiosity, and the joy of creation linger in every corner. It reminds me that life, like wood, can be shaped with care and attention—and sometimes a little bit of love.

***

Craft in America
PBS’s Craft in America series celebrates the beauty of handmade work—woodturners, quilters, glassblowers, and more—through intimate documentary storytelling. Each episode highlights artists who find meaning in materials, reminding viewers that craftsmanship can be both a skill and a philosophy.

The Poetry Center Digital Archive
San Francisco State University’s Poetry Center Digital Archive preserves over six decades of recorded readings and interviews with poets from around the world. From Allen Ginsberg to Audre Lorde, the collection offers a rare chance to hear great voices read their own words—alive, unfiltered, and deeply human.

The Virtual Uffizi Gallery
Florence’s Uffizi Gallery offers a beautifully curated online collection where you can explore Renaissance masterpieces from Botticelli, Leonardo, and Michelangelo. High-resolution images and thoughtful commentary make it feel less like scrolling a website and more like wandering the museum’s marble halls after hours.

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Slow internet can happen for a lot of reasons—signal strength, interference, or simply an aging router. Here’s how to get your Wi-Fi running smoothly again.

Start with the basics: unplug your modem and router for 30 seconds, then plug them back in. This quick reset clears small errors that often cause slowdowns. Make sure your router isn’t tucked behind furniture or inside a cabinet; Wi-Fi signals travel best when the device is in the open and elevated.

Next, check how many devices are connected—smart TVs, tablets, and phones all share bandwidth. Turn off Wi-Fi on anything you’re not using. You can also run a free speed test at speedtest.net to see if your provider is delivering what you pay for. If your speeds drop only at night, it may be due to high neighborhood usage; call your provider to discuss a faster plan or updated equipment.

If you’re comfortable with settings, log into your router by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into your web browser. From there, check for firmware updates to keep performance and security up to date. You can also change your Wi-Fi channel to reduce interference from nearby routers—many models have an “auto” or “channel” option you can adjust.

If your router is more than five years old, consider upgrading to a dual-band model like the TP-Link Archer AX21 or mesh system such as Eero 6 or Google Nest Wi-Fi for better coverage in larger homes.

With a little fine-tuning, your Wi-Fi can feel brand new—no tech jargon required.

Cruise deal of the day: 3 Nights Mexico Cruise - departing January 13, from $169

Unmissable American gem: Nestled between serene lakes and a vibrant downtown, Madison, Wisconsin offers seniors a gracefully paced getaway filled with botanical gardens, historic architecture, lakeside walks and welcoming cafés.

Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object! Be the first to reply with the correct answer, and we’ll send you a free gift in the mail.

Today’s clue: Spin-off where a dry-cleaning mogul moved “up” in the world.

EHT FSEFROJENS

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