Education Could Be the Key to a Sound Financial Retirement

There's been a lot of talk lately about the poor state of many peoples' retirement futures. This of course leads to debates about whether or not to delay retirement for several years or if retaining a part-time job to bolster retirement finances might be the way to go.

Personally, I'm fine with the thought of working part-time in retirement. I think I'd get bored pretty quickly just sitting with nothing but leisure time on my hands. As long as I have some say in the work I do, I don't think a little part-time role would be all that bad in order to earn some extra spending cash in retirement. But sometimes (especially by the time we retire), an educational refresher course or two might be needed to help ease us into a role in which we can make (or save) some money but that allows us to enjoy our retirements at the same time.

Being self-employed, I'm often left to my own devices when it comes to continuing education. This led me to think of ways and subject matter that could help retirees improve their ability to make more of their money in retirement through just a class or two, but without having to obtain a full degree in a particular field.

Wine Classes

From wine making to learning about various types of wines and wine tasting, a course or two in wine education could set you up for fun and trendy work during your retirement. Making your own wine could be an interesting and unique hobby, and working part-time at a wine bar or winery might provide fun work in a laid-back environment in which you can socialize and teach others about the wines they are enjoying.

Internet Basics

There are be all kinds of ways to make money from the Internet during retirement, but being online can be intimidating if you aren't sure exactly what you're doing. A basic Internet course that teaches you the ins and outs of using the Internet, or a web design course, could help you feel more comfortable understanding and utilizing the Internet to make money through an online business, eBay, a blog, or similar activities.

Personal Finance

Hopefully by the time you hit retirement, you've attained a basic understanding of personal finance. However, the ways people save, spend and invest are constantly changing. Taking a course or two to learn about the latest and greatest tools, tips and techniques to manage your money, could end up helping you to make wiser decisions with your retirement finances.

Horticulture

You may already have a green thumb when it comes to growing things, but increasing your abilities might allow you to make a little money from your hobby. From fruits and veggies to plants, trees and flowers, there are all sorts of options to earn extra income by growing things. A class in horticulture could hone your skills, teach you some new techniques, and maybe even help you grow those grapes you'll need to make the wines you learned about in the wine class.

Culinary Courses

You may not be the next world famous chef, but learning how to cook or cook well might make you healthier, maybe a little more popular among your dinner party friends, and save you money as well. A culinary course can teach you to make meals from various ingredients with which you may not be familiar. Such a course could also provide you with better and healthier meal options and might even help you save money by allowing you to eat more of your meals at home rather than at a restaurant or fast food joint.

Other Educational Options

For some retirees, heading over to the local community college to sit with a bunch of 20-year-olds, might not leave them feeling very comfortable. However, with the proliferation of online learning, that aspect of feeling like the odd person out may largely be eliminated.

And if taking a college course or two either online or in the classroom isn't exactly your thing, you find such classes a little too costly, or you just don't like having homework, you might consider other learning options. Many local libraries or community centers offer educational classes and seminars that are free or provided at greatly reduced costs and that may not carry the stress, pressures or time constraints of college coursework.

More From This Contributor:

Passive Income Opportunities to Pad My Retirement

How I Survived Long-term (Regular) Unemployment

How I Fight Inflation

Disclaimer:

The author is not a licensed financial or retirement professional. The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. For financial advice, readers should consult a licensed financial advisor. Any action taken by the reader due to the information provided in this article is solely at the reader's discretion.