21 June 2007 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA                                        

Summer Begins Today

Summer has arrived but the weather here in Jacksonville has been so erratic lately. For most part of this week, there have been rain, widely scattered showers and a thunderstorm. The last couple of days, we had a good pour of rain and that somehow helped to quiet down the fire in the neighboring county. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 70s; it is so humid outside that sometimes I just want to coop inside the house. Thank goodness we have air conditioner that runs 24/7!

So with wet weather these days, our daily routine has changed. Rather than taking a stroll in the neighborhood and playing tennis after dinner, we have been hitting the gym more frequently this week.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rhebs@xxxx.net
Date: 2007/06/20 Wed PM 02:43:26 EDT
To: Tony@xxxxx.net
Subject: I Love You So Much!

Darling Love,

I changed my mind. Rather than do Pilates at Atlantic Beach location, I am going to Baymeadows tonight to do BOSU Abs (5:15-5:30) and Power Pump  (5:30-6:30) If you get off early today, how would you like to meet me out there instead?

I Love You and Only You Always & Forever
Rhebs


From: Tony@xxxxx.net
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 4:29 PM
To: Rhebs@xxxx.net
Subject: Re: I Love You So Much!

I LOVE YOU TOO SO MUCH, MY LOVE. TSUP! TSUP! TSUP!
I don't think I will be getting off early today my Love. I am still waiting for a Dr to do one more procedure.

I am and I will always be your true loving devoted husband forever
Tony

Aren’t we sweet? ;-)

Anyway, the best thing about being a member of Bailey’s PowerHouse Gym is, we have unlimited access to the gym’s amenities including  all group fitness classes  and sauna in any locations at no additional cost. Other service like having a private personal trainer, you have to pay separate for that.

Just to give you an idea: Fitness Personal Trainer, one-on-one costs $59 per hour or a package deal of 9 sessions; 1 hour per session is $441 (if you do the math, that’s $49 per hour). In comparison, Pro Tennis Trainer from country club ranges from $65 to $85 per hour while Tennis coaches/Instructors from colleges/universities during summer usually charged between $25 to 35 per hour for a private (one-on-one) lesson. Don’t they sound like a pretty lucrative career though? I wonder how much one Fitness Trainer makes from his/her celebrity clients. Makes me want to switch career if it is that easy :-P

So you see it’s not cheap to get fit and healthy. Needless to say, my attitude has changed for good: I’d rather spend money and be broke yet fit for life than save money and die early because of bad health. Bottom line is, as long as you live and in good shape, you still can make money but once you die, you can never replace life.

So guys, make every effort to live a healthy lifestyle.   Life is priceless!!!

    17 June 2007 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA                                        

My Daily Routine

I talked my boss into giving me a flexible schedule to go in early so I'll be able to beat the traffic. So for almost 4 months now, my daily commute has been a little stress-free because I now can drive to and from work approximately 30 to 45 minute time compared to the typical one hour and a half drive during the regular office hours.

I tell you, I never did this much cooking in my entire married life until a week after I came back from my trip in Michigan last February.  We used to dine out a lot, thanks to Buffet resto, microwavable ready to eat/frozen foods, Chinese take-out, fast food drive-through and pizza delivery--no wonder we are fat!) That was my wake-up call but that's another long story. I will be making another post about that when the right time comes ;-)

Monday to Friday

5:00AM - 6:00AM  - Get-Up, Out for a brisk walk and run
6:00AM - 7:00AM  - Cook, Breakfast, Clean-Up, Prepare to go to work
7:00AM - 7:30AM  -  Drive to work
7:30AM - 4:30PM  -  At Work  (With 1 hr lunch; Two 15-minute break in mid AM and mid PM)
4:30PM - 5:15PM  -  Drive home
5:15PM - 7:15PM  -  Cook, Dinner, Clean-up
7:15PM - 8:30PM  -  Alternate: Stroll, Play Tennis or Strength Training Work-Out
8:30PM - 9:00PM  -  Watch TV or Go Online
9:00PM - 5:00AM  -  Go to Bed/Asleep

Saturday

6:00AM - 8:00AM  - Get-Up, Cook, Breakfast, Clean-Up
8:00AM - 10:0AM  - Play Tennis
10:0AM - 12:0PM  -  Rest
12:0PM - 1:30PM  -  Cook, Lunch, Clean-Up
1:30PM - 3:00PM  -  Watch Movie
3:00PM - 5:00PM  -  Nap Time
5:00PM - 7:00PM  -  General Cleaning while DH mowed the lawn
7:00PM - 8:00PM  -  Cook, Dinner, Clean-Up
8:00PM - 10:0PM  -  Watch TV or Go Online
10:0PM - 7:00AM  -  Go to Bed/Asleep

Sunday

7:00AM - 9:00AM  - Get-Up, Cook, Breakfast, Clean-Up, Get Ready to Church
10:0AM - 11:0AM  - Church
11:0AM - 1:00PM  -  Run Errands, Grocery Shopping & etc
1:00PM - 3:30PM  -  Cook, Lunch, Clean-Up, Watch TV
3:30PM - 5:00PM  -  Nap Time
5:00PM - 7:30PM  -  Do Laundry while DH fires the grill for bbq
7:30PM - 9:00PM  -  Dinner, Clean-Up, Fold Clothes
9:00PM-  5:00AM  -  Go to Bed/Asleep

Well, I need to go on a solo getaway again sooner or later to get a break from this daily routine as this has been going on for quite sometime now. LOL   For now, DH and I have been relishing the time we spend together after work and take pleasure in doing stuff, playing and living a healthy lifestyle.  I had to put my school on hold and decided not to get a part-time job anymore so I’ll be home in time to cook and sit down for a hot healthy meal with DH. After dinner, we're off for a holding-hands stroll in the neighborhood for an hour or so… if not, we play tennis or do strength training work-out.  By the time we head back home it’s almost bedtime already. So you see, we don't have the luxury of time to be a couch potato anymore. Life is good and I couldn't be any happier ;-)

 

    1 June 2007 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA                                        

Social Security Basics

As we all know Social Security is a hot topic these days. There are some alleged claims that social security benefits here in the US may not even be there when we need it 20-25 years from now thus we must save a sufficient amount for retirement. Well, let’s put financial worries aside for a moment and pretend that Social Security is going to be there when we retire.   So how much do you know about your social security benefits?  Again, I didn’t quite fully understand this topic until after my financial planning class was over.

Here’s what I learned not so long ago. Excerpts from http://www.socialsecurity.gov:

Everyone born in 1929 or later needs 40 credits to be eligible for retirement benefits.  Therefore, since you can earn four credits per year, you will need at least 10 years of work covered under Social Security to become eligible for retirement benefits.

During your working years, earnings covered by Social Security are posted to your Social Security record, and you earn credits based on those earnings.  We use these credits to determine your eligibility for retirement benefits and for disability or survivors’ benefits if you should become disabled or die.

In 2007, you receive one credit for each $1,000 of earnings, up to the maximum of four credits per year.  For 2006, you received one credit for each $970 of earnings. 

You can start drawing Social Security benefits at age 62 but the full retirement age is 65.  If you can not work because of a physical or mental disability before age 62, you may be entitled to collect disability pay from The Social Security Administration.  The number of credits needed depends on your age at the time that you become disabled.  Regardless of your age, a minimum of six credits is required.

For the amount of earnings needed for credits in past years, log on to the following Internet address:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/COLA/QC.html
 

Just so you know, here in the States, if you work for a federal, state or local government and passed their medical exam, you are automatically enrolled under the government pension plan based on earnings hence you do not pay Social Security taxes.

So I shouldn’t bother about social security remunerations then because if ever I retire from my current job 25 years later, I’ll be drawing only government pension rather than social security benefits right?   

Federal government employees and employees of State or local government agencies may be eligible for pensions that are based on earnings not covered by Social Security.   If you didn't pay Social Security taxes on your government earnings and you are eligible for Social Security benefits from your other jobs, the formula used to figure your benefit amount may be modified, giving you a lower Social Security benefit.

Aha, since I only worked 6 years (my first job) under the employer that withholds/pays Social Security taxes, that means I am disqualified to collect any social security benefits when I retire.  However, if I continue working part-time for the next 4 years to earn enough Social Security credits  (i.e., 40 credits or 10 years of work in employment covered by Social Security)  then I would be insured for social security benefits which means I am eligible to collect both pension and social security benefits when I retire. Cool!!!   Hmm, I think I am going to go back to my part-time job at CompUSA as soon as DH hits his weight goal.

Another question:  What about those people who failed to earn enough Social Security credits to be insured for benefits or those who have never worked because they chose a career to be a full-time homemaker?  Well, if you are not married for at least one year to someone who earned 40 credits or 10 years of work in employment covered by Social Security , sorry, you are out of luck honey.

If you never worked but your spouse has, yes, you can be entitled to as much as one-half of your spouse's benefit amount when you reach full retirement age at 65. If you want to get Social Security retirement benefits before 65, the amount of your benefit is reduced permanently. The amount of reduction depends on when you will reach full retirement age.  However, if you are taking care of a child who is under age 16 or who gets Social Security disability benefits, you get full benefits, regardless of age.  Your spouse must file for benefits before you can begin receiving them on his or her record.

You can get Medicare when you reach age 65 or, if you are disabled or have permanent kidney failure, you can get Medicare if you are younger than 65.  Medicare provides hospital insurance, medical insurance and prescription drug coverage. Hospital insurance, sometimes called Part A, covers inpatient hospital care and certain follow-up care. Your spouse already has paid for it as part of his or her Social Security taxes while working. Medical insurance, sometimes called Part B, pays for physicians' services and some other services not covered by hospital insurance. Prescription drug coverage, sometimes called Part D, helps pay for medications doctors prescribe for treatment.  Medical insurance and prescription drug coverage are optional, and you must pay monthly premiums.

If you are already getting Social Security benefits when you turn 65, your Medicare starts automatically. If you are not getting Social Security, you should sign up for Medicare before your 65th birthday if your spouse is at least age 62 and has worked long enough. 

When each member of a married couple works in employment covered under Social Security and they meet all other entitlement requirements to receive Social Security benefits, their lifetime earnings are calculated independently to determine their Social Security benefit amount.  Therefore, each spouse receives a monthly benefit amount based on his or her own earnings.  Couples are not penalized simply because they are married.

If one member of the couple earned low wages or failed to earn enough Social Security credits to be insured for benefits (i.e., 40 credits or 10 years of work in employment covered by Social Security), that member may be eligible to receive benefits as a spouse.  The receipt of spouse’s benefits by a husband or wife does not reduce the benefit of the primary wage earner.  Generally, a spouse must be married to the worker for one year (or nine months if a widow or widower) before he or she can get benefits on the primary wage earner’s record. 

For your convenience, we are providing you with an overview of benefits that are available to a spouse.

Your current spouse cannot receive spouse’s benefits until you file for retirement benefits.

If you don’t have a child in your care, you must be age 62 or older to get benefits, when your spouse becomes disabled or retired.  A spouse receives one-half of the retired worker’s full benefit unless the spouse begins collecting benefits before full retirement age (FRA).  In that case, the amount of the spouse’s benefit is permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months before he/she reaches full retirement age. 

If your full retirement age is 65, you can get 37.5 percent of your spouse’s unreduced benefit at age 62;
If your full retirement age is 66, you can get 35 percent of your spouse’s unreduced benefit at age 62;
If your full retirement age is 67, you can get 32.5 percent of your spouse’s unreduced benefit at age 62.

If your full retirement age is other than those shown here, the amount of your benefit will fall between 32.5 percent and 37 percent at age 62.

The amount of your benefit is higher at later ages up to the maximum of 50 percent at full retirement age. 

For example, based on the full retirement age of 66 (i.e., the full retirement age for people born in 1943 through 1954), the amounts payable follow:

Age            Percent Payable

62                  35%
63                  37.5%
64                  41.7%
65                  45.8%
FRA                 50%

However, if a spouse is taking care of a child who is under age 16 or is disabled and receiving Social Security benefits, a spouse receives full benefits (one-half of the worker’s), regardless of age.  When the child turns 16, child’s benefits continue to be paid to the child, but the spouse’s benefits stop unless he or she is old enough to receive retirement benefits (age 62 or older) or survivor benefits as a widow or widower at least age 60 (50 if disabled). 

You can access our Web page, “Social Security Full Retirement and Reductions by Age,” at the following Internet address:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/agereduction.htm

If you are eligible for both your own retirement benefit and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefit first.  If your benefit as a spouse is higher than your retirement benefit, you’ll receive a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse’s benefit.

You and your spouse will have Medicare hospital insurance at age 65 if he or she will be eligible for monthly benefits, and you both can sign up for medical insurance.  You will have Medicare at age 65 even if your spouse is younger than you are and still working, provided he or she is at least age 62 and will be entitled to benefits when he retires.  We generally advise applicants to file for hospital insurance three months before they reach age 65. 

While the wage earner is working, he or she earns credits toward Medicare protection for his or her family in the event any of you ever needs dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant for permanent kidney failure.

If you are receiving Social Security disability or retirement benefits on your own account, marriage should not adversely affect your benefit.  Survivor benefits, on the other hand, may be terminated if you marry before age 60 (50 if disabled).  If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income, your payment may also be affected. 

If you will receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security (such as government employment), any Social Security benefits you may be eligible to receive on your spouse's record may be reduced.  This type of benefit reduction is called Government Pension Offset (GPO).

Social Security Administration assigns a “full retirement age” for collecting your full benefits amount.  Your full retirement age is 65 if you were born before 1938 or up to age 67 if born later.  For every month you delay the start benefits beyond your full retirement age, you earn “delayed retirement credits” that increase your monthly benefit amount.  You may earn these credits until age 70.

You lose some benefits if you work and simultaneously collect social security before your full retirement age. For months just prior to your full retirement age, you lose $1 in benefits in every $3 earned in excess if $2,870 per month ($34,440 annually).  Before the year of your full retirement age, you give up $1 in benefits for every $2 of earnings above $1,080 per month ($12,960 annually).  These earnings-based reductions stop in the month you reach full retirement age.

So there when it comes to retirement, timing is the key :-)