As we prepare for the Fourth of July holiday and take a moment to reflect after a difficult 15 months, we can see the American Dream is evolving. For decades, the rhetoric and messages we have received have been about the importance self-reliance—that being self-made and independent is simply part of being American. But when the pandemic made the formal and informal social connections and communities in our lives instantly inaccessible to us, the repercussions were severe. We learned that perhaps being “independent” isn’t always in our best interest. 

We’ve all internalized the narrative that to be successful we need to do things on our own, but we know from experience that success is rarely if ever achieved in a vacuum or on an island. Even though we know we need each other, we insist on denying our interdependence. We judge and shame others and ourselves for needing help—even though all of us need help at some point(s) in our lives. How much better would our world be if we could embrace our interdependence and let it inspire us to create solutions that benefit us all? 

We’re long overdue for a redefinition of “retirement.” According to the U.S. Census, the percentage of Americans at the traditional retirement age of 65 or older has more than doubled since 1950—and, with the Baby Boomers reaching their golden years, that percentage is projected to continue to increase.

If you are among the 63% of Americans who are unsure about the sufficiency of their retirement savings, you may be wondering what you're supposed to do as age 65 approaches (or is already in your rearview). After all, the average Social Security payout of $1,177 is a far cry from the 80% of current annual income that the IRS recommends having saved to comfortably retire.

To make things even more complicated, the definition of “comfortably retiring” has changed over the years. Especially after COVID-19, we’re acknowledging that our health and relationships are the most important things in life. Retirement isn't about life on the golf course or walks on the beach for most people—it's about finding creative ways to stay financially stable, socially connected and a valued and contributing member of society.

For many of us in 2020, our homes have never seemed more like protective fortresses. Even in our protection, however, far too many of us are still feeling the financial impact of this unprecedented time. If you’re one of the 1 in 3 Americans who’ve found difficulty covering usual household needs this year, this should come as no surprise.

Thankfully, your home can protect you from more than just the elements – in fact, it’s an incredible asset. Homesharing is a great way to earn passive income while also benefitting from social connection with a compatible housemate.

When I spoke to the Torchlight team on their Eldercare Illuminated podcast, I kept the impacts of the pandemic in mind. Beyond the finances, there’s a lot to gain from homesharing for those of us nearing retirement or caring for a loved one. Let’s take a look at five discussion points from the interview that felt most pressing for today. We were only able to cover a portion of the podcast topics in this blog, but please click here if you’d like to listen to this special episode of Eldercare Illuminated in its entirety.

For most people, our homes are our biggest tangible assets. So it seems like a no-brainer to put them to work and make a little money if we can. Airbnb is a big success story, but not everyone wants to rent out their homes for vacationers. Luckily, turning your house into a short-term vacation rental isn’t the only way to make money with your extra space—and we’ve got five creative ideas that prove it.