Money is Tight: More seniors are working longer

If you're a senior you may know this already.

"The number of seniors with employment is on the rise, due in part to financial necessity."

Sure, I like to tell people I work a bit on the side because I love to work up a sweat, but - truthfully - the roof on my house needs fixing and the first quote (for metal; I'm thinking long-term) came in at $12,500.

I also read that "more seniors are staying in the work force for longer and working harder, according to government figures, triggering renewed calls from one of the country's biggest unions for pension reform." (July 22, London Free Press)

Sure, pension reform is needed (e.g., workers need to put more aside for future use, retirees need to take out less wherever possible), but reform is needed in another important area - the North American lifestyle.

We seem to be chewing through our planet faster than necessary.

Smaller homes, smaller furnishings and appliances (e.g., smaller refrigerator with room for fewer bottles of salad dressing on the inside of the door), smaller cars, driveways, yards, etc. would not only be healthier for the planet but put less strain on our wallets.

If we want to work less and pay less we need to live smaller than we are at present.

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It seems to be getting hotter outside.

Would a smaller lifestyle also help the weather?

Most of us know the correct answer to that.

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