(Edition 10)
Dear Friends,
Looking ahead to a new year often brings mixed feelings. Most of us aren’t trying to get rich; we just want our money to last, our bills to stay manageable, and fewer surprises along the way. I hope you had a happy holiday and were able to enjoy some time to pause and reset.
This edition is a special one. It’s our 10th edition, and we’re growing fast — thanks to you. To our longtime O55 Report readers and to those who’ve recently joined us, I want to say a sincere thank you for being part of this community.
In the Featured articles, you’ll find a free 2026 planner, bill-cutting checklists, and ways to manage spending, all designed to help you feel more confident and in control.
Nothing here is complicated. You don’t need special skills or big changes. These are small, steady steps meant to help you feel more prepared and more at ease about the future.
Here’s to a strong finish to this year and looking ahead to a great 2026 together.
With gratitude and a whole lot of hope,
Mike Bridges
Founder, The O55 Report
The heart of The O55 Report is all about helping people — providing ideas, tips, and hacks on how to be financially smarter.
Practical money-saving hacks
Smart catch-up strategies after 55
Creative income and career reinventions
Motivation, health, and lifestyle tips
Plus one new tip each week that saves you money, guaranteed
Featured Articles
Medicare is meant to protect your health, not quietly drain your retirement. Yet many seniors overpay every year simply because plans change, rules are confusing, and small mistakes go unnoticed. This article breaks down the most common Medicare missteps that cost retirees money and shows you how to spot them early, fix them, and keep more of your savings where it belongs.
The 50/30/20 rule has been around for years, and for many people, it worked well at one point in life. But as we get older, life changes, incomes shift, medical costs rise, and priorities look very different from what we did before. That raises an important question: Does this popular budgeting rule still make sense, or is it time to adjust it for today’s reality?
Overspending usually isn’t about lack of discipline; it’s about money being too easy to reach. When bills, daily spending, and savings all come from one place, it’s hard to tell what’s safe to use and what should be left alone. That’s where the 3-Pocket System comes in.
Consumer studies show that loyalty often costs seniors more. Most never reviewed their bills unless money became tight. This article introduces a once-a-year Bill-Reduction Checklist designed to help seniors quickly review common expenses, spot overcharges, and identify savings opportunities. We also provide a printable checklist so you can work through it calmly in under an hour.
If you’ve been wanting a simple way to keep track of your money each month without complicated apps or confusing charts, this one’s for you. The Budget Buddy is an easy, step-by-step tracker designed to help you see exactly where your money goes, what you can adjust, and how to stay in control of your spending.
Many of us grew up using pen and paper, and this tool brings that same clarity… just organized in a friendlier format.
Eight juicy gems a week of fascinating nuggets, insider tips, and strong workable strategies to help you save and gain money
We want this newsletter to feel like it’s ours — not just ours to write, but ours to build together. What would you like us to talk about next?
