Project Lifting Spirits

We all say "Support the Troops" but what are we doing to actually support the men and women who sacrifice for our freedoms? Project Lifting Spirits aims to show our warriors just how much we appreciate their efforts.

Project Lifting Spirits has been providing blankets, games, books and more to wounded service members at the VA and at Eisenhower hospital at Fort Eisenhower since 2007. They've have also done lots of other amazing things like purchasing and distributing Girl Scouts cookies.

The organization has also organized greeting card signings with local elementary schools for the Veteran's Day Augusta Green Jackets game, as well as creating and delivering cards, posters, bookmarks, and drawings from elementary schools and daycare facilities all over Columbia County. These items are then provided to the service members as small tokens of appreciation to let them know that they serve a grateful nation.

For some warriors, their toughest battles still lie ahead of them, with surgeries and perhaps years of rehabilitation. Sometimes, the scars that take the longest to heal are those that are unseen. Often a small act of kindness can make a huge impact. The cards, especially the ones handmade from children, touch these troops in a very special way.  While to some it seem like a trivial gesture, for others it can make the difference of letting them know they are seen, heard and cared for.

It's the goal of Project Lifting Spirits to provide these cards and gifts to local wounded troops as well as care packages to deployed and wounded troops on a regular basis throughout the year. Currently, they are providing items to Fort Eisenhower Army Base, the Fisher Houses and the Veterans Administration Hospitals in Augusta and you can help!

Project Lifting Spirits is an ongoing effort and as such is always in need of donations and volunteers.
Check out the PLS website to find out how you can be a part of Project Lifting Spirits and give back to the ones who give us so much of themselves!

Have you ever wondered how much money you need to retire? It's a big question and has a complicated answer. But, there are some ways to estimate how much money you'll need to retire comfortably. So, how much do you need to retire?

Before we get into those numbers, let's look at how the age at which you retire impacts how much retirement you currently get from Social Security. What is the maximum Social Security retirement benefit payable? According to Faq.ssa.gov, the maximum benefit is dependent on the age you retire. "For example, if you retire at full retirement age in 2024, your maximum benefit would be $3,822," they state. "However, if you retire at age 62 in 2024, your maximum benefit would be $2,710. If you retire at age 70 in 2024, your maximum benefit would be $4,873." Also, when you want to apply for retirement benefits, you can do so using their online retirement application here.

You're able to apply for your monthly retirement benefit as early as 62 years old. You can apply any time between age 62 and 70. The government calculates your payment by looking at how much money you've earned during your entire career. "The amount will be higher the longer you wait to apply, up until age 70," they explain. "The timing is up to you and should be based on your own personal needs." They also have a handy tool to estimate how much you'll get when you apply at different ages. Find the tool here. They also have a chart here where you can look at various dates and see how much retirement you get if you were born in those years. Wow. I have a ways to go, looking at those dates.

So, how much do you need to retire? Let's look at what some experts say and how to find out your needs.

The age you want to retire can have a massive impact on the amount you need to save. If you delay your retirement, it gives your savings longer to grow, and your Social Security benefit will be higher. So, the longer you can delay, the better. In other words, working longer will make it easier save enough money to retire.

Do you want to really live it up in your retirement, or will you be frugal? If you think your expenses might go up in your retirement, you have to save for it. But, if you plan to downsize, you can retire on less.

The AARP sources a 1998 study from Trinity College in Texas, which attempted to "find the most sustainable withdrawal rate from retirement savings accounts over various time periods." In conclusion, the study stated that "an investor with a portfolio of 50 percent stocks and 50 percent bonds could withdraw 4 percent of the portfolio in the first year and adjust the withdrawal amount by the rate of inflation each subsequent year with little danger of running out of money before dying."

Fidelity has a handy calculator that will help you figure how how much you need to retire. First, they ask, what is your age? Then, what is the age you expect to retire? Finally, what do you think your lifestyle will be in retirement? Use their calculator HERE, and they'll give you some useful estimates.