It seems that I have grown to be very satisfied. There isn’t much that I need or even want beyond what I have or can procure easily at this point of my life.

I was glad to be reminded of this when I benevolently agreed to listen to the sales pitch of a young man last week. After assuring him that I was familiar with his product and would not be purchasing anything, he still wanted to give it a go since he would earn scholarship credit for any presentation he made.

I gave him my time, and he did a decent presentation. I was happy to help him towards his scholarship, if that was, indeed, the real gain for him.

The best part of my time investment in this young stranger was to realize that, while he did have a good product and I might have enjoyed adding one or two of his knives to my kitchen collection, I am perfectly content with the slightly inferior ones I have that function well enough.

That bit of interaction made me think of other relatively simple items I own and use that I am perfectly content to have. Here is a list of some of my favorite (and simple) enjoyments:

Podcasts

I enjoy listening to podcasts to make my long walks more interesting. I took my young webmaster’s suggestions and downloaded Player FM from my play store and have been enjoying all sorts of information since. Some favorites include:

• Moth Radio Hour, a good story is always a good thing
• Typology, the enneagram is a new interest of mine, building on years of DiSC behavior style training
• Serial, a longer, multi-episode story
• This American Life, more stories
• TED talks, of course
• I find Restoring the Soul (Christian related trauma healing and emotional health) to be interesting and insightful
• A PhD neighbor (epidemiology) and her friend produce a series called, This Podcast can Kill You. It’s about epidemics past and present and is both entertaining and a little unnerving

The list of topics and options is endless, so no need to feel like one needs more variety in the choice of listening.

Ginger

I love ginger, in any form:

• juice (from Ginger People),
• tea (in various combinations of ginger and turmeric, ginger and cranberry, ginger and white tea),
• fresh (minced into roasting veggies, added to smoothies, sliced or grated, and tucked into almost any baked good),
• and candied ginger for tummy settling and to ease any sweets craving.

Leggings

I will be so sad when leggings are ‘out’. Walking into the grocery store recently, a woman about my age was waiting for a ride and was sitting comfy-like in leggings and a sweatshirt in the chilly weather.

“Won’t we be sad when leggings are no longer ‘in’?” I asked her. “I’m never giving them up!” She countered. I liked her attitude. Comfort has its merits.

Long Shirts

To go with leggings, we need long shirts. I will definitely be sad if tunic tops and longer tees are ever viewed the way bell-bottoms and shoulder pads are now. Surely, the comfort and camouflage that we enjoy with longer tops will bring sane longevity to fashion sense.

Matcha Tea

I have become a fan of Matcha tea!

“One serving of Matcha tea is the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea. (…) Matcha powdered green tea has 137 times more antioxidants than regularly brewed green tea. (…) Matcha tea is an easy and simple way to add powerful health benefits to your everyday diet.”

Or, so Matchasource.com tells me.

I like having a small canister of Matcha powder on hand for a concoction I invented and make at home. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• A teaspoon of Matcha power,
• ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder,
• another ½ teaspoons of cinnamon powder,
• ginger powder or juice,
• a squirt of agave
• almond milk, as much as you need to fill your glass/bottle,
• ice (optional).

Directions

Simply mix the powders together, then add the ginger juice mixed with agave, and top with the milk and ice.

I should say that a recent blood pressure check (after taking this Matcha beverage) revealed a slightly higher values than normal. Caffeine tends to do that, so I am unconcerned about the temporary rise. My next check (sans Matcha or coffee beforehand) showed I was back within low-to-normal range.

A Place to Hang My Hammock

I love when I find the perfect spot to hang my hammock and a moment or two to enjoy laying in it. There is just something about being horizontal and off the ground that makes me smile. And sigh. And relax.

A Wood Burning Fire

Indoors or outdoors, burning firewood is special to me. My son, Joel, who has Down Syndrome, was with me in front of our fireplace the other day, simply gazing and thinking. “I could do this forever,” he said. I suspect he has learned that from me.

Trader Joe’s Visits

Our small city is not large enough to warrant a TJ’s, so we have to settle for occasional trips to this iconic American grocery store in Chicago or Indianapolis, a 2-hour-plus drive. I like to stock up on shelf-stable whipping cream for the impromptu caloric splurge of homemade ice cream.

And their “Unexpected Cheddar Cheese” that defies defining. And their lavender salt scrub (even though I’ve been told that the salt will dry my skin). And a number of other organic items that make a list too long to mention.

Of course, maybe most importantly of all, we stock up on Charles Shaw wines… the infamous Two-Buck Chuck ($2.00 a bottle in California, their state of origin; $3 in Illinois, due to added taxes).

I feel fully justified in my enjoyment of Two-Buck Chuck after seeing it served at a semi-fancy, private event in Santa Barbara years ago.

All in all, I find that I very much enjoy being very satisfied with simple pleasures in my 60s… and as I approach my 70s. My ‘old’ knives cut my veggies well enough that I can withstand a convincing sales pitch.

I have my own dietary preferences that I have simplified to ensure health and pleasant tastes. I am less concerned with others’ opinions of my style, so I can be comfortable while stylish enough. And I’ve found some simple pleasures that I know will give me joy.

What are some of your favorite things? How do you find yourself being satisfied with what you have? What might be a splurge for you? Please share in the comments below!

The legendary Magellan mutual fund manager, Peter Lynch, once said, “Everyone has the brain power to make money in stocks. Not everyone has the stomach.” When it boils down to it, successful investing is both personal and emotional.

A friend’s investment success does not affect your portfolio value one dollar, but psychologically it can have a huge effect. One example? Fear of missing out on big returns can lead you to stray from your risk tolerance. You need to keep in mind that emotions and investing cannot be separated, just like a professional athlete will have nerves at critical game moments.

Money and Emotions

The more we can be aware of our emotions related to money, the greater our chances of investment success. But it is easier to not react to market swings when you still have income coming in to pay your bills.

When people stop working, their relationship with their money often changes. Since they no longer have income coming in, they view their retirement savings from a scarcity mindset.

The investing mindset that got you to retirement is not the same mindset that will get you through retirement.

Managing your money in retirement means managing your emotions and knowing the real purpose behind your money. Complex emotional dynamics related to scarcity, fear and greed can come at a great cost when it relates to your retirement, both monetarily and health wise.

Case Studies to Consider

Many people will correctly point out that over the long-term (10 plus years), the market historically has gone up, so ‘just ignore’ daily fluctuations. That is great advice on paper, but people’s time horizon and risk tolerance are not simple things. Let’s look at examples of how this can play out:

Jane and the Shrinking Portfolio

Jane retires at 65 and wants to plan for a 25-year retirement. She knows her $1,000,000 portfolio has to last her for 25 years, so her natural inclination is to want to protect her money from losing value. She looks around at the world and sees problems: a pandemic, a hugely indebted government, and geopolitical tensions.

Not feeling any comfort, she decides to invest very conservatively. The problem for Jane is that conservative investments like CDs and savings accounts are paying less than 1%, while inflation is more than that.

So, in an effort to preserve her precious retirement savings, she takes little risk and receives little return. As the years tick by, Jane’s portfolio gradually becomes less valuable because it is not outpacing inflation, and her spending is eating into principal. This creates a vicious cycle where she feels she has to protect her smaller and smaller portfolio, perpetuating its shrinking.

Robin and the Fear of Missing Out

Robin retires at 62 and is very social and active in her community. She loves to travel and while on a trip with friends, she overhears them talking about several stocks where they made 50% in a year, some even higher.

She checks her portfolio later that night and sees that she is up a fraction of her friends’ returns. Feeling disappointed and left out, she starts taking stock tips from those friends. At first, she does well and sees her portfolio going up, so she adds more.

This goes on for a while until the business cycle changes, and her stocks plummet and she loses 50% in a 2-week period. In a panic, she sells out for a slight loss.

Countering These Two Scenarios

These two examples represent common pitfalls that you will not read about in personal finance books. They are psychological phenomena that drive people to make decisions that are not in their long-term best interest.

The most effective antidote is to have a financial plan which clearly identifies your required rate of return and risk tolerance.

Jane might have identified (before retiring!) that her target rate of return in retirement is 4% per year. Based on low interest rates and her risk tolerance, it might have meant that she needed a larger percentage allocation in stocks than she was comfortable with, making her realize that she had to work one or two more years.

Robin’s decision was a result of fear of missing out on spectacular returns. It highlights the importance of having a plan and knowing what rate of return you need to live your retirement lifestyle. Knowing your neighbor’s return has nothing to do with your goals.

Being aware of the emotional biases at play with your money gives you an advantage to make smart decisions that align with your long-term goals.

Do you like the look of your financial portfolio? Was it easy to get there? How do you see your investments now that you’re retired (or close to retirement)? Has your money mindset changed? What about your emotions? Have you felt the fear of mission out when it comes to investments? Please share how you counter it!

Who doesn’t like free stuff? Unfortunately, criminals know the allure of “free” and use it to get people to commit to trials for products or services they really don’t want or need. Before you know it, you’ve been roped in and start receiving an endless slew of products you never really wanted.

What’s worse, many of these scams target older folks who might not realize that they are being automatically billed for these useless products. Here is what you need to know about free trial scams and how to protect yourself.

What Is a Free Trial Scam and How Does It Work?

A “free trial” scam offers a person some sort of free product or service. Once you agree to the trial, the criminals sign you up to join a weekly or monthly club or subscription program, with or without your consent. Any number of products may be offered through these models, including:

• Streaming service
• Books
• CDs
• Magazines
• Movies
• Cosmetics
• Undergarments

Sometimes by accepting a free gift, you are agreeing to enroll in a club and receive more products. You will continue to be billed before you cancel, or you may be agreeing to a subscription that automatically renews each year.

In one example, the operators of an online subscription scheme agreed to settle a complaint from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for $74.5 million after it was alleged they lured consumers into a free trial offer for cosmetics and dietary supplements and then enrolled those people in subscriptions without having their permission.

Who Are the Victims of Free Trial Offer Scams?

While anyone can be targeted by these scams, older individuals more often fall for such schemes. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) states that financial institutions reported more than $6 billion in suspected fraud losses over a recent five-year period. According to the CFPB, older adults aged 70 to 79 lost an average of $45,300 due to financial fraud.

Boomers are often targeted by financial fraudsters for a number of reasons, such as:

• Many of them may not be technologically skilled, so they may not access their accounts online and may rely on outdated paper statements only.
• They may suffer from memory loss or other cognitive difficulties.
• They may not have anyone looking out for their interests.
• Often, they have stable income that is attractive to scammers.

How Scammers Use Social Media to Carry Out This Scam

Some of the free trial offers are perpetuated on social media, through texting, and the use of other mobile apps. For example, The U.S. Sun reported that a popular scam offering “free trials” of Netflix was being advanced by sending hundreds of thousands of social media, text, and WhatsApp messages.

These messages promised three months of free Netflix streaming because of the coronavirus pandemic. It is believed that once recipients click on the link included in the message, scammers are able to hack into phones and get personal details.

What Is Law Enforcement Doing to Combat This Fraud?

Law enforcement agencies have received an increasing number of complaints regarding these senior financial scams and free trial offers. Complaints to the FTC more than doubled between 2015 to 2017.

Victims of just 14 resolved FTC cases lost $1.3 billion. Additionally, the most recent data for the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center shows nearly 2,500 complaints regarding free trial offers, totaling more than $5.6 million in losses.

Several national and international law enforcement agencies have issued consumer warnings about these offers. They are also asking the public to report bogus products to them to help further combat the fraud. Some states have responded by passing special laws that prohibit auto-renewals.

How You Can Protect Yourself from Free Trial Scams

The best way to protect yourself from becoming another victim of a senior financial scam is to be proactive. Here’s what you can do:

Avoid Free Offers

The famous saying goes like this: “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” While the free offer may seem enticing, it usually has strings attached that are worth way more than the “free” thing you were offered.

Research the Company

If you are still considering doing business or accepting the free product, thoroughly research the company online. If you spot stories from customers about being charged without their permission, you know to avoid these offers.

Read the Fine Print

Be sure that you understand all of the terms and conditions of any such free trials, including how to cancel, when you will be billed, and how much time you have to reject products.

Look for Pre-Checked Boxes

Some of the offers online may automatically check a box that allows the company to keep sending unwanted products and to bill you if you don’t uncheck it.

Enroll in Online Banking

Since you might not get your credit or debit card statement until more than 30 days after some transactions are processed, limit this gap by enrolling in online banking. This way, you can quickly see if a company is charging you for an unwanted subscription or membership.

Set Up Account Alerts

You can go a step further by setting up automatic alerts on your account to let you know when you have been charged for something.

Don’t Click on Links

If you receive an offer from a stranger or even a friend through email, avoid clicking on the links included in it. This can be a phishing scam. This kind of email may contain links with viruses that can corrupt your device or may send you to a phony site to store your personal details.

Wrapping Up

Knowing about these free trial scams and what might make you or a loved one vulnerable is the first step to protecting yourself online. The strategies listed above can help you avoid these scams and help you keep your hard-earned money for yourself.

Have you heard of ‘free trial’ scams? Or perhaps you’ve seen them for yourself? What service or product was offered to you? How did you respond? Please share your story.

Not only have acne treatments come a long way in recent years, so have skincare campaigns. While we used to see perfectly clear skin in images pushing pimple cream, now faces are looking a little bit more like real people who have, you know, pores. Just take a look at Peace Out’s new Acne Champs campaign to go along with its new skincare set. Each of the “champs” are showcasing skin positivity, something that’s been blowing up on social media. Because all skin is good skin, you know?

“Social media has had an interesting impact on skin positivity and the beauty industry as a whole,” Peace Out founder Enrico Frezza tells STYLECASTER. “On the one hand, it paved the way for Facetuning, editing, and creating an unrealistic representation of ‘beauty’ because you’re not always seeing real life. You’re seeing what people want you to see and that can be airbrushed. On the other hand, social media can be a vehicle for education, empowerment and community. It’s a platform for people to speak their truths and connect with others who are sharing a common experience and finally, people can see they’re not alone, even if they’re connecting with someone across the country or across the globe.”

Source: Instagram

Frezza wanted to create a safe space at Peace Out to allow customers to feel comfortable in their skin, as well as give them the tools to get their most healthy skin ever. “We want to empower consumers and destigmatize acne, and ultimately, encourage people to feel confident,” he says. “We hope more brands will follow suit and normalize acne by showing people/community members showing their unretouched REAL skin.”

Source: Instagram

As a longtime acne sufferer himself, Frezza set out to create products he wished he had. “I always wished I had access to and understood the importance of a daily routine for acneic skin and sticking with it!” he says. “So, I’m thrilled to now offer this effective routine to people everywhere in one simple set.” This set includes the brand’s three-step acne routine to cleanse, treat and target acne.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Peace Out.

The affordable kit includes a 10-pack of the bestselling Acne Healing Dots, mini Acne Serum and new mini Blemish Balm Cleanser. These three will help you exfoliate dead skin cells with salicylic acid, eliminate and heal acne while soothing skin, as well as brighten dark spots with vitamin C and niacinimide.

“Skincare shouldn’t be scary or complicated,” continues Frezza. “We believe in promoting positive experiences, starting with your face, and creating simple easy to use products. All of our formulations are clean, easy and designed to be uncomplicated.” So, whether you’re traveling soon and want an easy-to-use kit to help keep your skin clear, or you just want to try out this acne routine before purchasing the full-size bottles, shop the new Acne Champs now.