Welcome to Weekend Wellness!  Each Friday I share tips, ideas or knowledge on four of my favorite F-words – finance, fitness, food & fun – offer a new recipe, and feature some great posts from around the web. Today we discuss retirement savings time.

Finance – Retirement Savings Time

Whether you believe Social Security will be around for you or not in retirement I suggest you still track your estimated benefits. While SS is not available for retirement until the age of 62, it does provide benefits in certain situations – disability and family survivorship – before that. Good information to know. Visit my Social Security to establish an account, verify your earnings record (which can be fascinating in itself), and check estimated benefits.

Fitness – With the warming weather in Michigan, I’m seeing more walkers and joggers out and about. Time to dust off those athletic shoes. Ease in gently if you’ve been away from it for a while or are just starting out.

For establishing a new running routine, many find it beneficial to start with a moderate-paced warm-up walk for 5 minutes and then three cycles of a 2-minute brisk walking & 2-minute jog (start with a 1-minute jog if two is too much) followed by a 5-minute cool down walk. As the weeks go on, add longer jogging times and shorten the walk cycle; 2-mins walk/3-mins run; 2-mins walk/5-mins run; 1-min walk/5-mins run, etc. Continue to warm-up and cool-down with a 5-minute walk.

Food – Upping your exercise game requires upping your nutrition. Our body needs carbs to provide the right energy for activity. Just make sure they are the right kind. Refined carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, cereal and processed snacks are lacking in nutrients and leave us hungry again a short time later. Complex carbohydrates from foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes contain fiber and nutrients that fuel us and help us feel full longer.

If you can find it in nature (as opposed to a package with a long list of ingredients), it’s a pretty safe bet it’s a good choice. Pair a fruit with some seeds or nuts for a healthy snack.

Fun – Anyone up for getting a little dirty this weekend? I mean, someone ready to get some dirt under their fingernails? Get the family together and start a vegetable garden or plant some flowers to brighten up your yard,  apartment balcony or patio. Excellent opportunity to teach kids not only about various plants, soils, and even worms but also about planning, responsibility, and patience. Who doesn’t love playing in the dirt?

Feature

There are many excellent blogs on the internet, and I enjoy reading quite a few. These great articles below are just a few I discovered recently. They focus on preparing for retirement and retirement savings time. The sooner you start the better, but it’s never too late. If you’ve not yet started, I urge you to do so today!

Fritz, at the Retirement Manifesto, did some significant research and compiled the current state of Retirement Readiness. The bad news, the stats aren’t pretty. The good news, it’s entirely possible to reach retirement financially prepared even if you are starting at $0. It may not be easy, but it’s possible.

For the younger generation, I found 7 Lifestyle Choices to Make to Save More for Retirement written by David Chen, of Millennial Personal Finance, guest posted at Retirement Savvy, a blog run by fellow blogger and author James Molet.

NewRetirement provides a wealth of information for retirement preparation on their site. Time to Catch Up! provides steps to take now to get prepared for the future. Their Simple Retirement Calculator appears to be a great tool.

Actionable advice is provided by, Laurie, of The Frugal Farmer, for those with little to no savings thus far. Check out What to Do if You’re Late to The Retirement Savings Game and get saving!

It doesn’t get much better than hearing savings advice from someone who retired early. Learn how ESI Saved Money to retire at age 52.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Be Well,

Amy

Mushroom & Asparagus Frittata

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 6 egg whites and 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten in bowl
• 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 cup asparagus spears, sliced diagonally into 2-inch pieces
• 1 green onion, white and green parts chopped fine
• Olive oil spray or one tablespoon olive oil
• Sea salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
• 2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (use 1-2 tablespoons dried if you don’t have fresh)
• Fresh melon, seasonal fruit slices or sliced tomatoes (optional for side garnish.)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

• In a non-stick oven-proof skillet, heat oil and sauté mushrooms and asparagus until asparagus starts getting crisp (about 3-4 minutes.)
• Add in green onion and continue to sauté another minute.
• Salt and pepper lightly then pour in the egg mixture.
• Sprinkle the basil on top.
• Place the skillet into the oven and bake for about 5 minutes until center of frittata is “set” and the edges easily pull away from the skillet.
• Remove skillet and slide frittata onto plate or cutting board.
• Let cool for a few minutes then slice into wedges.
• Serve with sliced fruit or tomatoes on the side.

Notes

Note: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. It is provided to educate you about nutrition, exercise, and personal finance, and as a self-help tool for your own use. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. This information is to be used at your own risk based on your own judgment. For my full Disclaimer, please view here.