Lately I’ve seen an ad on TV where people are carrying around a big orange number. The idea is that this number is the amount of money that person needs to save so he or she can retire comfortably. The ad generated a strange response in me - one of anger - and I wasn’t exactly sure why.

Then I realized it wasn’t really anger I was feeling, it was more of a sense of desperation and anxiety. My wife clued me in that that was exactly what this company wanted me to feel, so that I would be inclined to follow their advice. That’s what negative advertising is all about. It did get my attention, but I don’t think it generated the kind of response that the company was hoping for.

What this company wants is for you to sign up with them as financial advisors, and they’ll help you reach your number. While this might be a solution for some people, especially younger ones, I just don’t feel it applies to someone like me that’s in their fifties. I have put a little money away, but I don’t feel there is any way for me to save more than a million dollars by the time I’m 65! That’s the minimum amount of most of the numbers under the people’s arms.

What are people my age supposed to do? I’ve decided that I’m going to generate multiple streams of income coming into my bank account every month for the rest of my life. Furthermore, I think this is a great solution for most baby boomers. How do we really know what that number is, anyway, with the rising cost of gas and the decreasing value of real estate. These are uncertain times. So how do we generate those multiple streams? Here are a few ideas.

1. Get a reverse mortgage on your house. If you’ve got substantial equity in your home, you can refinance it with a reverse mortgage and take out a lump sum or monthly payments until the day you die.

2. Get a part-time job. If you have a pension and social security, maybe just a little extra will enable you to make ends meet. This might be accomplished by working part-time.

3. You can purchase a franchise. There are all kinds of businesses out there if you’re willing to put up the capital to get started. Some are very expensive, and some aren’t. Do some research, this might be a great option.

4. Start a traditional home business. Maybe there is something you’re good at and you can market that skill. It can be building something, making something, or even offering a service, such as bookkeeping. You can sell your product or service on Craig’s List or ebay.

5. An internet-based business. There are tons of merchants who pay affiliates to promote their products and then pay a commission on any sales that are made from those promotions. You don’t need to have and inventory, you don’t even talk to the customer, you just send them to the merchants website. This is a good option, because it frees up your time as it’s residual income that keeps coming in month after month.

6. A network marketing business. This is my top choice for the simple reason that it offers both leveraged incom and residual income. Leveraged income means that you sign up distributors underneath you, and you are paid a small part of any sales they generate for the company. Residual income is accomplished by setting up customers that continue to buy your companies products on a month-to-month basis, and you earn commission on every purchase they make.

These are a few ideas. Everyone is different: you’ll have to discover what works for you. But do something, it’s never too late!