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7 Things to Try Before You Retire

By U.S. News & World Report

Almost everyone hopes they will be able to retire someday, but many people are surprised that retired life isn’t as good as they thought it would be. Part of the problem is that some people retire to escape from an unpleasant career, rather than to begin a whole new lifestyle. Before you make the mistake of resigning too soon, consider these moves if you are experiencing burnout.

Look for a different source of income. No one who is already overworked and overtired wants to hear that they need to continue to work even harder. And finding new streams of income isn’t always easy. But when you successfully find new ways to make money, you will be able to quit your old boring career and spend more of your time on something more exciting and fulfilling.

Try to start another career. You may have to take a pay cut when you switch jobs, but it can still pay off if you enjoy the job enough to continue working longer than you would have stayed in your previous career. Perhaps you would like to work in an entirely new field or do similar work for a different industry. Either way, the unfamiliarity is likely to be refreshing enough for you to feel excited to learn again.

Switch companies. If you don’t have the desire or resources to change careers, switching to a different company in the same field could give you a bit of an energizing boost. Every company has its own culture, and you may find that you fit better into a new firm. Just because you are unhappy at your current job doesn’t mean you are not fit for work anywhere. Don’t give up. Find a place that’s doing amazing things that you feel excited about.

Spend to make life easier. Taking more vacations could help you to ease burnout. Hiring a few helpers around the house to do chores can also help you to feel less overwhelmed. Since you are staying at your job longer, you can afford to spend more of what is coming in to make life a little easier. You may think every frustration is work related, but feeling more relaxed because you have fewer chores and more time off may give you enough extra breathing room to have a better outlook when job tensions flare up.

Make your work environment suit your lifestyle more. Speak up at work if there’s a situation bothering you. Too few people are bold enough to voice their opinions, but chances are good that you aren’t the only one with the same concern. Management may even appreciate your candidness. At the very least, your coworkers will show you more respect because you will become a voice of reason in a sea of messy corporate shenanigans.

Find a hobby that forces you to exercise. I can’t stress enough how much exercising helps. The long-term health benefits of exercise are well documented, and the increased energy can help you cope with the challenges of the everyday grind. Plus, exercising stimulates endorphin production, chemicals released by your body that trigger happiness.

Try to climb the corporate ladder. Yes, there’s still time to do this as you approach retirement. A job higher up in the hierarchy often means more autonomy at work, giving you power to make the work environment suit your personality. The increased freedom is at least part of the reason quite a few small business owners never want to quit. These individuals spent years finding people that work well with them, so there’s no point leaving a job that meets their needs.

Retired life can be incredibly rewarding, but that doesn’t mean you should quit your job right away. If you are tired of the grind, try a few strategies to stay in the working world before you call it quits. Sometimes, a change of scenery is all it takes to inspire yourself to work a few years longer.

David Ning is the founder of MoneyNing.com .

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7 Things to Try Before You Retire originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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