55 Reasons it’s Okay To Be 55

I am 55 today.

Inspired by John at Frugal Rules here are 55 thoughts about turning 55.

1. It’s a cool number.
2. Freedom 55 was the super sweet early retirement age talked about when we were in our 30’s.
3. Boy that 25 years went by real fast!
4. I have one friend who is 55 who retired this year.
5. My Dad worked until age 71, I can’t see working for another 16 years, myself.
6. I never thought I’d be a grandmother at 55.
7. But I’m delighted, I am!
8. The body is starting to feel a little old.
9. But the mind is still in my 30’s.
10. Feel happy to still be able to enjoy doing lots.
11. Even if some days, I feel it.
12. I can still ride my bike.
13. Even though I fell off it last year trying to run a yellow light.  #mybad
14. Thinking about trying running again.
15. If my knees and hip will cooperate.
16. Maybe I need to think about swimming instead.
17. It’s tough to go out in the winter though.
18. I’m happy to have a fall birthday.
19. Even though I don’t really make a big deal out of them.
20. I’m happy to be a Libra.  It suits me.
21. Even though I don’t follow astrology.
22. I stopped reading my horoscope after finding out it was not encouraged by my faith.
23. Didn’t really get a lot out of it anyways.
24. I get more from the Holy Trinity.
25. If I were to die tomorrow, I would be content.
26. Though I still feel I’ve got lots more living to do.
27. I would like to live with less stress.
28. Good thing for shingles vaccine these days.
29. And flu shots too.
30. When I was a kid we aspired to have cable TV and no party line.
31. Now we are back to having OTA TV again and rarely answer the phone.
32. My University is still trying to hit me up for donations.
33. Will they stop now that I’ve turned 55?  #doubtit
34. Despite signing up to block our number from telemarketers, we still get a lot of calls.
35. My husband can block them on the software for our Ooma.
36. Ooma quality is not good enough for me to hold conference calls for work on it.
37. But yet I can talk through my computer on Microsoft Lync to work colleagues around the world.
38. I had my hair shorter for a bit.
39. But it’s getting near my shoulders again now.
40. It’s amazing how much growth you go through even in the short space of a year or two.
41. And I’m not talking about my hair now.
42. Sometimes you stagnate a bit, when you are going through a period of rejuvenation to prepare for regrowth.
43. That usually happens around a life changing circumstance.
44. Sometimes reading the thoughts on post secret is really insightful and you almost learn something about yourself with each one.
45. All the time it is insightful.
46. I’m so thankful for my husband and family.
47. Even though I may not say it or show it in a big way.
48. I wanted to be a veterinarian and then later a cop when I was a kid and a teenager.
49. But I don’t think accountants are boring, after all.
50. I still think the flat Tim Horton’s boxes are bunk.
51. I wrote a letter to complain about them when they first came out.
52. I don’t even think I got a free donut.
53. I’ve managed to get through this list without talking a lot  about personal finance.
54. I think that’s okay for today.
55. It means I’m not letting my debt define me.

Debs’ Devotions #4

Favourite articles I’ve read recently a while ago:

Not smoking could save me over $5,000 a year — wish me luck ~ Quitting smoking is hard.  I don’t have first hand experience but I equate it with trying to lose weight and giving up your comfort food.  Financially speaking and healthwise, it’s a no brainer.

Why I Will Never Make Additional Mortgage Payments ~ okay it’s not a secret now that I like to consider other views that are contrary to my own.  It’s how I learn.  I’m a big fan of paying off a mortgage in 15 years after being burned by consumer debt and stretching our mortgage into 27 years but I have to agree these arguments are compelling.

Five Tips for Making Budgeting Fun for Creatives ~ I’m a colour geek (<– uh, ya, look left please) and Liz’s ideas are after my own heart!  Who’s says budgeting can’t be fun?

Debt Free at Last: Our Debt of £41K Has Been Paid Off! ~ Okay this post is recent and it’s such great news I had to share!  I’ve been following Hayley’s blog since I first started and she’s been a great inspiration to me.  Hayley leads by example and for those of us hurting from debt horror stories it helps to know we’ve got supporters cheering us on!

Thanks to other awesome bloggers for recently linking some of my posts:

Dan @ Our Big Fat Wallet ~Weekend Reading: Market Meltdown Edition

Myles @ Myles Money ~ Smart Money # 4

Blogger Classifieds ~ How to Blog Carnival – Create a Blog That Makes Money

Financially Savvy Saturdays #59 pick of the week which is very appropriate as it was the year I was born

I’ve been guest posting or featured here since my last Debs’ Devotions:

Cash Cow Couple ~ Women Crush Wednesday

Canadian Budget Binder ~ To Take or Not to Take Early CPP

So I’m excited to tell you that yesterday, Erin’s guest post here was featured on Globe & Mail site, Carrick on money.  Isn’t that awesome?  It’s so wonderful to have your work profiled on a large site and I couldn’t be happier for her.  I’m also happy for me as my traffic hit it’s highest at 980 views (more than double my highest) yesterday (about 725 unique views)!  How’s that for a nice birthday present?!

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