Seven ways to simplify life at 70

I had been looking forward to being 70, as I would be receiving my monthly pension from the Government Service Insurance System. I had envisioned a leisurely life with a monthly income without the hassle of going to work. But being 70 in this fast-changing technology-driven age also has many challenges.

In this complex world, I’ve realized the need to simplify certain aspects of my lifestyle, especially in seven areas: 1. Credit cards, which are necessary conveniences I can’t do without. I used to have five of them but now I have only two: one for installment payments and another for regular charging. I have never maxed out my credit limit so there is no worry of not being able to pay. What is frustrating though is keeping track of the due dates for payment. Now with only two cards, I have further simplified the payment scheme by enrolling my installment payments with the electronic bank transfer app.

2. Information technology (IT) gadgets. Tech gadgets are supposed to make our life easier with a click of the finger, but with so many gadgets that I thought I needed, it’s no longer fun and healthy. When I retired, I still bought a new laptop since I wanted to continue being productive. I had two cell phones, one for each major network, and a tablet, plus a portable landline phone. When I go out, I used to carry a big handbag that got heavier as it contained my power bank. I decided to streamline my phone use to only one network using a higher plan and an iPad that I would not have to bring around. I’ve stopped my cable subscription and now rely on the internet for my entertainment.

3. Passwords/Personal identification number (PIN)—You’d think that passwords are ancient and mainly used for spy work? Today, passwords are your security and your gateway to almost all technology-related aspects of your life. Your password is your new alias, your secret identity, your PIN in a code. IT specialists advise that you keep your passwords to yourself and to change them every so often. How easy is that when we’re plagued by senior moments and have little patience for such details? For my own security, I use a strong password, a very long one. As for remembering it, I use a constant word-number code attached to whatever IT source requires the password.

4. Money—As a pensioner, do I still worry about money? Yes, a lot! One’s pension does not grow, and its value diminishes with inflation. So I worry if I’d have enough for the inevitable medical emergencies or chronic diseases that seniors are heir to. The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. benefits are a mere drop in the bucket of hospitalization bills for a dreaded disease. Emergency money should be easily accessible and available when you need it. That means I must be liquid at all times. I have also limited my bank accounts to three to make saving more manageable. And most importantly, I limit my investment. I’m afraid of financial scams, with scammers often targeting the elderly pensioners. So I shun easy money ventures, especially high earning-low investment opportunities.

5. Monthly bills and annual dues—Thanks to electronic transactions, I no longer go to banks or payment centers to settle my monthly bills and annual dues. I have scheduled two days in a month: one for the one to 15 due dates and another for the 16-30 payment deadline to do electronic payment or fund transfers. This way, I don’t miss out on my monthly payments. Another way to facilitate payment is to enroll credit card accounts so there is only one payment schedule, though not all subscriptions can be enrolled. Nevertheless, my monthly utility bills are down to the basics: water, electricity, internet, and communications.

6. Housekeeping—I no longer need a stay-in housekeeper. Having had my fair share of domestic helper issues, I’ve switched to on-call service for once a week cleaning. There is less drama in dealing with not-so-trustworthy house helpers. Besides, at 70, it’s not healthy to be idle so I do the housework myself, like light laundry using the washing machine, or preparing my food. For heavier laundry, like linen, maong pants, trousers, etc., I send them to a laundry shop or have them picked up by my trusted laundromat.

7. Organizing records, documents, and other things—When I retired, I brought home a lot of my office stuff: personal records of years in government service and corporate work, mementos, framed certificates and plaques, unique trophies for awards, etc. I have set up a small corner for my memorabilia and asset documents and financial transactions. Perhaps this is the most tiring and cumbersome post-retirement activity I’ve had to do. Serendipitously, today’s technology offers options for managing important records and documents. Converting them into PDF and other formats and storing them in cyberspace or in one’s gadgets are particularly helpful for easy retrieval and safe storage, barring any cyber attack. As for the rest of the memorabilia and other things, I think I have to master the Marie Kondo Method of decluttering. Haist!

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Ma. Nerissa Navarro-Piamonte is a human rights advocate, a retired public servant, part-time professor, and a freelance writer. She recently turned 71 years of age.