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Joan’s Boomer Blog

Helping Boomers Find Wealth, Health and Happiness in the Second Half of Life

Archive for the ‘Finding Your Passions’ Category

Create Retirement Income - Earn Blogging Money!

Posted by JE Jones on Oct-18-2009

Visit www.TheNicheBlogger.com

About a year ago, I decided to try my hand at blogging for money. I love writing but what I needed to know is the nuts and bolts of how to build a self-hosted WordPress blog from scratch. Earning blogging money is easier than you think, no matter what your level of expertise - even if you aren’t sure of your writing or computer abilities. The most important thing, if you want to earn money from blogging is to have a solid plan of action to help you earn a good income from your blogs. It’s not enough to just put a blog up and hope that the money will soon show up.

Blogging can create retirement income for you. What will you do in retirement? Travel? Volunteer? Play with your grandchildren? Are you still working and saving? All of these make great blogging topics.

So, you think you want to earn money blogging - now how do you find the right plan of action to help you earn as much money as possible? By finding a mentor or model in someone who is already a successful niche blogger. Niche blogging is the art of creating a successful blog in one small subject area. Do you know something about gardening? Where to find great coupons on the internet? Birding? Nostalgia? Just about any topic you can come up with has a small niche waiting to be filled.

The source I used to help me create several successful niche blogs is called “The Niche Blogger!” This is a complete program that was put together to help new people get their own start in blogging.

This will cut down on your learning time and help to ensure that you don’t make mistakes that will prevent you from making money. The program covers just how to set up a self-hosted Word Press blog, how to choose a successful topic and write about it, what plugins you need, how to promote your blog and much more.

One note of warning, if you join The Niche Blogger, you are going to have to dedicate yourself to it. You need time each and every day to devote to the program, which takes you step by step. There is also a great forum for asking any questions you may have.

One of the problems with trying to earn money blogging is that there are many different methods out there. The trick is to choose a good model from the very beginning, making it much easier to dedicate yourself to it because you know you will be able to succeed.

You should also realize that even though you can start earning very quickly, you won’t become rich overnight. Building a successful niche blog takes time but it’s also fun and you can enjoy the process as well.

Blogging money will begin to trickle in and then build upon itself over time. Before you know it, you can be earning a great part or full-time income from your blogs! And, once your blog is set up, the income becomes relatively passive. All you need to do is write a blog posting 2-3 times a week.

Earning money from blogs gives you a great second income, retirement income or passive income.

All you need to do is make sure you find follow The Niche Blogger instructions, and that you dedicate yourself to it until you are successful. You may well remember the moment you became a niche blogger as one of the decisions that changed your life for the better.

Blogging money is truly the way to go for passive income!

The Niche Blogger - Make Money Blogging


I’ve read many articles lately about how Americans are scaling back their lifestyle because of the economy. They are using coupons, shopping sales and expecting price cuts before they will shop. Americans are now cooking at home more to save money, buying items at Goodwill and finding out they don’t need as much money to live. Another article I read said that many looking for new careers or are changing careers, now opt for making less money but creating or taking a job that is more spiritually fulfilling to them personally.

I really think the current economy is offering people a glimpse of a new way to live their lives. Perhaps the economic downturn forced many to cut out eating in restaurants several times a week or shopping for expensive clothing, but I believe people are discovering a certain financial freedom in being able to live on less money and not risk falling into debt again. Eating home cooked meals around the family dinner table, learning to shop sales and find bargains or finding a designer jacket at a yard sale or a Goodwill store creates a satisfaction in people that their lives were missing before in the mindless rush to spend more and more money.

Now the economic downturn is perhaps offering people a second chance to do something fulfilling with their lives. They are taking jobs that pay less but offer more satisfaction like working with non-profits or volunteering. I know of some women who lost their jobs recently and so decided to pursue other, more artistic careers. One woman lost her management job but now knits and crochets baby items to sell on the internet. Another sells things she makes at craft fairs and art shows after losing a better paying job through lay offs. Now that they have learned to live on less through necessity, they are thrilled that they scaled back their lifestyles. This has allowed them to do what they truly love.

Baby boomers have also been forced to rethink their retirement plans, remaining in the workforce for longer. If they find work they love to do, though, this could help them actually live longer, more fulfilling lives. My husband and I have scaled back our retirement plans but we’ve decided we would rather live on less and be financially secure in our senior years.

I know another person who couldn’t find a job, trimmed back his lifestyle to the bare bones and now he is able to work part time and volunteer with local animal shelter groups. Another took a less paying job working with a local non-profit.

Some of these people thought they would scale back temporarily and then go back to their previous way of life once times were better. However, now that they have found more satisfaction in life and the way they manage their finances, most say they would never return to working only for money and finding their life’s satisfaction in spending sprees.

From what I’ve read, economists and businesses don’t really expect people to ever return to the spend, spend, spend lifestyles they had before. To me, this seems like a good thing.

Perhaps the bad economy will spur people to rethink how they live their lives and help them find more satisfaction, both spiritually and financially.

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How to Make Your Own Recipe Book with Tastebook

Posted by JE Jones on Sep-6-2009

Would you like to make your own recipe book in minutes? Are you looking for a unique home business, fundraiser or holiday gift idea? Do you have dozens of family recipe favorites or your own creations you’d like to share with family or sell on your cooking blog or website? Even if you don’t have your own recipes with Tastebook, it’s always easy to create your own recipe book to sell or give as a gift.

With Tastebook, you can also create your own recipe page and browse through thousands of recipes from contributors and Tastebook partners like Southern Living, Food Network and Better Homes and Gardens.

Tastebook also offers a terrific recipe website. Sign up with Tastebook is free and includes a free recipe newsletter too.

There are over 50 million foodies and culinary enthusiasts on the Internet, creating a ready market for you to sell the cookbook your cookbook. With Tastebook, you can:

  • Create and Publish beautiful hardcover cookbooks in minutes.
  • Create a widget to sell your cookbook on your blog or website. Recipes book prices start at $19.95 and you receive a 15% commission on all your sales.
  • Also, if you upload recipes to the site, you get links back to your blog or website for each recipe.
  • Or Make your own recipe book and give the gift of your family recipes to friends and relatives.
  • Create a Tastebook recipe books as fundraisers too!
  • Shop from other Tastebook users cookbooks as well.
  • Create your own recipe box on Tastebook to organize all your favorite recipes.

Now is the time to start making a unique holiday gift for friends and family - and for yourself too. Organize those family recipes and make your own recipe book for relatives, your children and grandchildren. Plus, a Tastebook is a great way to make some extra money with those family favorites.

Join Now - It’s Free - and start creating your own Tastebook Recipe book in minutes.

Natural Arousal Aids for Low Libido and ED

Posted by JE Jones on Jul-30-2009

Baby boomers are at an age when women are troubled with low libido or men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Arousal aids can be helpful in marriage or relationships for improving libido and adding a new dimension to a pleasurable experience. Nature’s Inventory Wellness Oils offers several natural, organic Wellness Oil Arousal Aids for both men and women. Combine Enhanced Desire for Women with Enhanced Duration for Men with Sensual Massage for a dramatically different, more pleasurable experience.

Be sure to scroll down for discount codes or contact me for the latest discount code information. Nature’s Inventory offers many money saving discounts each and every month.

Would you like to try these natural arousal aids free, with no obligation? Try it for problems with ED or low libido and discover the power of essential oils. Just click on the link to get more information on these products and other wellness oils from Nature’s Inventory.

Find out more about how essential oils work

Free Sample of Enhanced Desire with Free Shipping

Here is product information on the individual arousal aid products from Nature’s Inventory:

Enhanced Duration for Men This is an all natural male performance enhancer which is helpful for men with ED or for any man looking for more enjoyment.

Enhanced Desire for Women works for increasing libido or enhancing the sexual experience.

Enhanced Duration for Men and Enhanced Desire for Women Gift Set

Discount codes for Nature’s Inventory:

FREESHIP for Free shipping. shipping is always free for orders over $35
SUMMER for 20% off your entire order

Sample Sizes of Many Nature’s Inventory Wellness Oils

Wellness Oils for Seniors

Looking for natural menopause relief? Try Nature’s Inventory Wellness Oils for Menopause:

Menopause Rescue Wellness Oils

Using the Power of Your Own Mind for Self-Healing

Posted by JE Jones on Jul-8-2009
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Want to know the *real* reason why we fall sick and end up losing our quality of life?

Are you suffering from fibromyalgia, diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease? Perhaps even cancer? Whatever the state of your health at the present, self healing IS possible. You simply need a guide to help you develop the power of your mind.

A friend sent me this video - at just the time in my life when I really needed a self-healing guide of my own. I’m hoping by passing it along to you, it may come at a time when you could use it too.

Watch this video:

Things aren’t always what they seem, and the truth may shock you.

It doesn’t matter if you’re suffering from one of these diseases now, or if you’re completely healthy -
the TRUTH is something all of us must know, for the sake of our future (not to mention our loved ones). Knowing the truth can set you on the road to self-healing.

If you are in need of healing from some serious health issue, discuss the Silva Method self healing methods with your doctor. Whatever medication and treatments you are undergoing, using the power of your mind for self healing can only enhance conventional medical treatments.

Sign up for the free demo and newsletter
to learn more about this amazing self-healing method, recommended by health gurus like Dr. Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra. The Silva Method can also be used to harness the power of your mind for other areas of your life you’d like to improve. Would you like to live a happier life, financially secure AND healthy too? The Silva Method can help you.

I signed up for the free information and then the one dollar, one week trial. I was so impressed by the help offered by the Silva Method, I decided to sign up for the complete program and have been using it daily with great success.

New Resource for Baby Boomers Wanting a Career Change

Posted by JE Jones on May-12-2009
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Are you a baby boomer who wants or needs a career change? Have you lost your job or just want more fulfilling work for your boomer years? I recently found out about a new resource for baby boomers called WhatsNext.com. This site offers help and advice to anyone over 50 who wants to change careers, find more fulfilling work, improve their work-life balance and achieve financial security.

What’s Next features great resources for your career change, including:

  • Inspiring stories from those over 50 who have managed satisfying career changes.
  • Advice for those who want to change careers - ask your own question of advisors too
  • A directory of financial advisers, career and life coaches
  • Retirement planning
  • Blogs by people currently in the middle of career transitions

The What’s Next directory gives advisors and coaches a chance to develop an in-depth profile of themselves and their practices. Users can search by name, location, certifications, areas of expertise and other criteria.

Here’s an example of some of the topics discussed relating to retirement and career change:

  • Five things to remember if you lose your 401k match
  • Will social security be there when I retire?
  • I’m 60 years old - how do I find a job?

Tools include:

  • Self assessment tests to help guide you to the right career
  • Financial planning calculators
  • Job listings for baby boomers

This baby boomer site also attemps to verify all professional credentials claimed by listers, providing a stamp of verification when possible. This stamp is visible on the listings so users have a level of confidence about the background and professionalism of anyone listed there.

WhatsNext.com hopes to become the destination site for people thinking about career change and better life balance. If you’re a baby boomer and thinking about a career change, check out the resources on What’s Next.


In the current bad economy, one of the money making ideas that is on the rise is work at home or direct selling. I saw a news report this morning that women especially, who have lost their jobs, are turning to direct selling and work at home businesses like Avon and other companies. Here are some tips on choosing the right work at home opportunity money making idea for you and a couple of ideas:

1. What are you interested in?

Do you like cooking and baking? Companies like Watkins offer quality cooking and baking products, as well as eco-friendly cleaning products. Avon offers quality skin care and make up, plus a wide array of other products. Are you interested in health? There are many great health and wellness products out there that truly help people live healthier, happier lives, and the sale of health products is on the rise, even in this bad economy.

2. Once you choose 4-5 companies you’d like to promote, check out the sign up fees involved.

If you’re building a new business, even if it’s working at home, you’ll have a few start up costs. However, don’t invest hundreds of dollars in any business until you find out if it’s for you and if you can be successful at it. Certainly don’t spend money on business building programs or advertising right away either. There are many ways to promote your business for free so try these before you spend any money.

Some work at home business opportunities are free to join, others have a fee (Avon, for instance, costs just $20 to join as a representative), whether it’s a one time cost or an annual fee to belong to the business. Decide what you can spend, if anything, and stick to that. You may want to invest in a few catalogs or perhaps a website (some businesses provide free websites), if you plan to sell on the Internet but again, many of these money making ideas can be done on a shoestring budget. For instance, you can create a blog to promote your business for free.

Using health as an example, you could create a health tips blog like mine chat with others who also love health or are looking for ideas for healthy weightloss for instance, or healthy recipes. Blogspot blogs are free to create and you can put ads on them with no problem.

Some business opportunities offer free websites, just for joining, and the moment you sign up, you have your own business website.

3.  Check out the company’s reputation. How long has it been in business? Check with forums to see if there have been complaints about the company. I was recently researching Acai berry products and found several people talking about the downside of belonging to MonAvie - namely the products are expensive and the ingredients are undisclosed. Look for an honest and straightforward company to deal with.

4. How do you want to market your business? Do you like giving home parties or would you prefer to sell your products online? Watkins has an entire set up for home parties, called “Good Tastings” and even awards for representatives who have the most in a month or sell the most products. Mary Kaye and Tupperware also offer home party systems for selling.

You can also sign up for a company website and then link it to your blog. Be aware that these “replicator” sites do not do well in the search engines so you need a blog or website with original content to hook your business site to.

Most companies have policies about what you can say about them on your blogs or websites so read these thoroughly before deciding on either the company or an internet promotion as a way of doing business.

5. What is your personality? Do you like people and selling? If you’re passionate about your products and you like talking to people, you’re well on your way to a great money making idea. or you like the idea of running your own business and working for yourself, making your own hours? If you aren’t a self-starter, then working at home isn’t for you.

Despite the economy and perhaps because of fears about what is happening with health care reform, more and more people are interested in health products, especially alternative health. More people are also cooking at home so businesses like Watkins and Tupperware are doing well. Avon also does well as women seek to save money on skin care, make up and other products.

6.  What sort of products to you use and enjoy? With the right money making idea for you, you can also get your own products at a discount. One reason I joined Avon as a rep is because I use and enjoy all their products.

7.  Consider affiliate programs for products you use and would enjoy promoting. Are there products you like? The company probably has an affiliate program which will offer you links and banners to post on your website or blog. Companies like Linkshare and Commission Junction have hundreds of companies to choose from and your earnings go into one lump sum to be paid to you, rather than many small checks.

If you’re looking for money making ideas, (and who isn’t?), it’s even possible to create multiple streams on income from several different sources, like I have. Just remember, though, to be successful at working at home, you must be ready to commit time and energy to making it work. No money making idea works by itself but it is possible to earn several hundred dollars a month to supplement income with about 25 hours a week.


I love free resources and am always happy tell my readers about free ebooks or where to go for good
Nanette Geiger, best selling author on the Law of Attraction

Nanette Geiger, best selling author on the Law of Attraction

information. Nanette Geiger, a Law of Attraction based relationship and life coach, is offering a free ebook on her website called 5 Secrets to Create and Attract the Life You Want and I highly recommend it.

When I first started reading about the Law of Attraction, it made sense to me. I’d always believed we could create our own lives with our thoughts and here were movies, books and websites, telling us all how to do just that!

Having read many resources on the Law of Attraction, I found Nanette Geiger’s ebook to be a thorough, concise review of the law of attraction and how you can make it work for you. Summary points every couple of pages recaps important information in a clear, easy to understand way.

Nanette talks about being honest with yourself so you can find your “emotional set point” and from there you help yourself feel better, one step at a time. Once you feel better, you increase your vibration so you can attract the things you most want in life.

If you’re interested in the Law of Attraction and creating the life you desire, no matter what your age or what your life is like currently, visit Nanette’s website and download her free ebook.

Nanette is a Law of Attraction based relationship and life coach. You can sign up for her ezine and find articles, interviews and a spot to download her free ebook, Create the Life of Your Dreams here -
Nanette Geiger - Life Mastry Coaching

Nanette Geiger is also the author of another book about relationships and the Law of Attraction which received many great reviews on Amazon.com.

Create the Love of Your Dreams: The Essential How-To Relationship Book using the Law of Attraction

Find out about more free law of attraction resources.

Boomer Years - 10 Tips for a Creative Retirement

Posted by JE Jones on Oct-28-2008
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Baby Boomers Want a Something Different in Retirement

Baby boomers don’t just want to retire. They want a creative retirement. After years of working for someone else, toiling 40 hours a day or more, baby boomers look forward to being able to pursue some of their own passions and create a unique personal retirement to fit their needs.

Planning for your creative retirement is a must or you’ll find yourself sitting around like the kids saying “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.”

Here are 10 retirement ideas to help get your creative juices flowing. Before you start reading, give a few minutes thought to what your own goals are for retirement then get a notebook and jot down any thoughts that occur to you while going over the list.

10 Tips for a Creative Retirement

1. Get a retirement job or work part time - do something you find meaningful without having to think about your pay check. This retirement job will help you stay active and you can meet new people. Consider what you know and like to do and see if a business idea pops into your mind.

2. Start a home business – Many baby boomers are online. Find a cool product to promote. A network marketing business can be done online or off.

3. Volunteer – When you were working didn’t you used to wish you had time to volunteer at your favorite charity? Nonprofits always need volunteers to give time to the projects and you’ll find that volunteering does more for you than those your are helping.

4. Join an exercise and fitness program – Now you finally have time to exercise and it’s never been more important than your retirement years. You can set up your own program at home or join the local YMCA or rec center program. Most have special programs for seniors which also help you make friends.

5. Take up a hobby – Do you already have a hobby you didn’t have time for when you were working or perhaps something you’ve always wanted to try? There are hobbies out there for every interest imaginable.

6. Teach a class – If you have an area of expertise from your working life or perhaps you’re already an expert at some hobby, try giving a class at the local community college or rec center or maybe mentor at your church or a youth group. Someone out there wants to benefit from your experience and you can make a little money too.

7. Take a class yourself – Learning new things keeps the mind healthy and active and you may discover new passions and interests that you never had time to pursue before retirement.

8. Start your own blog or website and write about your passions. Become an expert in your niche. If you monetize your blog or website, you can even make money or you could write an ebook and sell it on your site.

9. Organize a club or group around an interest you have – get people together for discussions on books, travel, or a hobby. You can gather and share thoughts and ideas, get guest lecturers in to speak and make new friends.

10. Check out your community and see if there is a need for service. Join the local city council or school board. Get active in your community. Chances are there is a big need for your time and interest and those who are retired have much to give. Many small towns have more than one political volunteer position that goes unfilled.

The most important thing about a creative retirement is that it is unique to you – you can at last do whatever you want to do to find fulfillment. But it’s also very important that you keep your mind and body active and engaged in life. Make new friends, try new things, get up every day with a sense of purpose and loving life.

Your retirement can indeed be the best years of your life.

Related articles:

Turn Your Passion Into Profit

Retirement Jobs - Turn Your Passion Into Profit

Posted by JE Jones on Oct-1-2008


Would you like to wake up with enthusiasm every day and leap out of bed knowing your dream retirement job awaits you? Think of the hours you currently snatch for enjoying the things you love? In retirement, you can turn this passion in to profit.

What’s your dream? Do you have a passion or hobby only pursue a few hours a week? If you’re a baby boomer getting ready for retirement, chances are you’re still going to be working at something, whether it’s out of pleasure or financial necessity, so why not make a midlife career change by combining your dreams and passions into a fulfilling retirement job?

Ambition To Meaning Expanded DVD

You’ve earned an enjoyable retirement but can you afford it? If you can’t enjoy life when you retire, when will you? Studies show that those who work in a job that they enjoy are healthier and experience fewer stress related illnesses. When you’re a baby boomer, it’s very important to stay healthy and avoid stress!

Think of the people you do business with. Don’t you value those who are passionate and excited about their business? Wouldn’t you rather do business with someone who truly enjoys what they are doing? Your retirement job can be something YOU are passionate about – making money is just the extra icing on the cake.

How to Create a “Retirement Job” from Your Dreams and Passions

Get a notebook to take a personal assessment of your interests, abilities and passions. Start by making some lists of:

1. Your interests – do you love travel or photography? How about writing or model trains? Do you love hiking and the outdoors? Write it down.

2. Your abilities and strong points – Are you an organizer? Can you write? Can you teach others? Are you patient or do you like things to move quickly?

3. Your experience – write down everything you can think of. Did you help build a Habitat for Humanity house when you were 18? Have you ever volunteered? Maybe you love Golden Retrievers and you’ve read dozens of books about them.

4. How do you currently spend your time when you aren’t working? Which of these things makes you feel happy, inspired, joyful? Think about times in your life when you truly felt passionate. Is there a common thread in your memories? Were you learning, teaching, risk taking, helping others, having fun, problem solving?

5. When we are children we are the closest to our true nature. What things did you love as a child? (I know it was long ago, but bear with me?)

6. Do you have a secret dream job? A job you never really thought you could pursue? How would it make you feel if you could make your living doing that job?

What Kind of Retirement Job Do You Want? What are Your Goals?

What is your ideal job? Dream big here. If you’d like to make $2,000 a month working 20 hours a week, write that down. If you’d like to earn and travel so you need a mobile career, write that down too. Really define what you see as the perfect retirement income. It’s a known fact that those who write down their goals are more likely to achieve them.

By now you should begin to get a sense of what type of retirement job you can feel passionate about. Next spend some time researching your interests on the Internet. What are others doing in this area? Are there blogs and websites out there about it?

The way passionate people make money from their passion is to share what they know with others. If you have expertise, others will pay to know what you know. What have you learned about your hobby that other people would like to know? You can help others avoid the learning curve you had and become an expert like you!

Let’s say you love model trains. Not only do you love model trains, you’re crazy about them. You’ve built some models, you attend model train shows when you can, maybe you’re a member of a model train group (or you’d like to have time for that.)

Here are some possible ways to make money in a retirement job using our model train example.

Build a Website or Blog to Create Retirement Income

1. Build a website with model train information on it. Include how-to articles like where to find hard to find model parts. Include an events calendar. Interview some other enthusiasts about their tips for model train building. You’re the expert, what did you read about to learn about model trains?

Once your website or blog is up and running, you can monetize it by putting up Google adsense or model train affiliate ads.

2. If you’d like to include travel and photography in your business, take trips to model train events, interview people and take photos. Lots of tax write offs here for your travel expenses, your camera, your computer, even model train books and magazines.

3. If you decide to build a blog to make money with your passion, look into The Niche Blogger give you step by step instructions to achieve your goal.

Teach Others about Your Passion - Give Classes on Model Trains and Model Train Building

1. Contact your local senior or community center or community college. Ask them about teaching some model train classes on the subjects of your choosing.

Write a Book or Ebook

Share your expertise with others by writing an ebook and marketing it on your blog or website or through your model train community.

If you’re not quite ready for that midlife career change or retirement job, this is the perfect time to begin finding a way to pursue what you’re passionate about right now. By doing your personal assessment and looking for ways to profit form your passion, you’re inviting ideas into your consciousness to help direct you.

There is a saying “Do what you love and the rest will follow?” Live your passion and be joyful in your retirement pursuits and creative ideas will begin flowing. You’ll suddenly find your life filled with others who share your passion, others with ideas and helpful information.