Looking back in his memoir You Never Know, Selleck made it pretty clear. “The Sacketts was a high-profile miniseries, and I was a key part of the cast,” he wrote. “It’s no exaggeration to say that The Sacketts changed me. I had done a solid piece of work, and people would actually see it. I had found a genre where I was sure I belonged. I had been exposed to a lifestyle that I had never really considered but I wouldn’t soon forget. That job changed my professional opportunities and my whole outlook on what my appetites might be—and not only as an actor. In all of my life. This life should be a part of my life.”

It’s a pretty amazing statement, particularly because Selleck wasn’t talking about fame, ratings, awards or career momentum. He was instead talking about the basic idea of simply belonging. Somewhere between the horses, the landscape and the people surrounding him, he discovered something that resonated deeply.

That realization might have surprised the young actor who arrived on the production. A newspaper profile published during that period described Selleck as Detroit-born and Los Angeles-raised, hardly someone whose background suggested he was destined to become one of the most recognizable Western stars of his generation. In fact, acting itself had not been the carefully mapped-out ambition many fans might assume. Reflecting on those early years, Selleck admitted, “I got into the business by accident.”

His path to the West

Before acting took hold, he had attended college on a basketball scholarship and was still trying to figure out what direction his life would take. Westerns weren’t part of some grand master plan, nor was the notion of him becoming a television icon. Like so many turning points in life, the opportunity simply appeared. And what The Sacketts offered was more than a starring role. It offered an education.

Years later, while preparing to enter the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Hall of Great Western Performers, Selleck reflected on the company he found himself keeping during that production. “When I started doing Westerns, it was my friend Ben Johnson,” he recalled. “And what a way to start a Western with him next to you most of the time in The Sacketts. And Slim Pickens was in that movie. Jack Elam was in that movie. Buck Taylor was in that movie. I could just watch people and learn.”

That cast list reads like a Western Hall of Fame. Ben Johnson had worked as a rodeo cowboy before becoming an Academy Award-winning actor. Slim Pickens came directly from the rodeo circuit. Jack Elam and Buck Taylor were already beloved figures within the genre. For a younger actor still finding his voice, simply observing these men at work became a master class.

Author Louis L’Amour’s presence added another dimension. While Selleck was not initially a devoted reader of his novels, he quickly developed a deep appreciation for both the material and the man behind it. More importantly, they had introduced him to a genre that suddenly felt like home.

“I’ve always enjoyed the Western genre,” Selleck later explained, “but I got hooked on Westerns with The Sacketts.”

That word—hooked—appears repeatedly whenever he discusses the project. It wasn’t simply another acting job or a stepping stone toward future opportunities. Something fundamental had happened, and the more Selleck reflected on that period, the clearer it became that The Sacketts affected him on multiple levels at once.

One of those influences involved authenticity, a concept that would become increasingly important throughout his career. Even in 1979, Selleck appreciated the production’s effort to avoid a polished Hollywood version of the Old West. Discussing the filming experience, he remembered, “It’s an old-fashioned Western, but it is also realistic. We don’t sell slick and processed up, because I was in a section dealing with a cattle drive. I wore the same outfit—and so did the others in the scenes—for six weeks. If I didn’t, it wouldn’t have had the same feel.”

The comment may sound minor, but it hints at something that would become a recurring theme throughout his life. Selleck cared about the details, wanting things to feel genuine. As the years passed, that commitment would extend to saddles, firearms, hats, horses and virtually every other aspect of Western filmmaking.

Yet perhaps the most profound impact of The Sacketts occurred away from the cameras altogether. Years later, speaking to Country Living, Selleck revealed that the production planted an idea that never left him. “When I got The Sacketts,” he said, “it’s where I realized that, if I ever could afford it, I’d like to have a ranch and some land and horses.”

It’s one of the most revealing comments he has ever made about the project because it moves beyond acting and proves that the production was influencing the life he wanted to build. Long before he owned a ranch, and long before he spent his days caring for horses and working the land, the seed had already been planted.

At the same time, the professional benefits were impossible to ignore. The Sacketts demonstrated that Selleck looked comfortable in the saddle and believable in the Western world, which is something that producers noticed. One profile from the era observed that after seeing him in The Sacketts, producer Ernie Frankel knew he had found the right actor for another Western project, Concrete Cowboys. Opportunities began arriving with increasing frequency.

And even more importantly, the friendships continued. Among them was a friendship with Louis L’Amour that would soon lead to another memorable Western adventure, one built around a promise made by a group of actors and a novelist who hoped they might someday ride together again.

Louis L’Amour, ‘The Shadow Riders’ and learning the craft

If The Sacketts opened the door to the Western genre for Selleck, it also introduced him to relationships that would last for decades. Chief among them was Louis L’Amour, whose novels had inspired the miniseries and whose friendship would leave a lasting impression on the actor.

The bond that developed among the cast and creative team during The Sacketts was strong enough that they made an unusual promise to one another. Looking back in You Never Know, Selleck recalled, “During The Sacketts, Ben Johnson, Jeff Osterhage, Louis L’Amour, Sam Elliott and I had made a pact that if we got another chance to work together in a Western, we would all show up.”

At the time, nobody knew whether that opportunity would ever come. But Louis L’Amour had other ideas. While the Sackett family stories became tied up in legal complications, preventing immediate follow-up adaptations, L’Amour simply created a new family and a new adventure. “With Louis’ Sacketts tied up in some kind of litigation,” Selleck wrote, “he created a new family, the Travens, in his next book, The Shadow Riders. CBS jumped at the chance to make it a movie.”

Just like that, the old gang was back together. “So our band of brothers,” Selleck remembered, “and, oh yes, a new sister, Katharine Ross, were all in Sonora.”

The phrase “band of brothers” is telling. When Selleck discusses Westerns, he often talks about the trappings as well as the people. The friendships formed during these productions clearly mattered to him. In Sam Elliott he found a lifelong friend, n Ben Johnson he found a mentor and in Louis L’Amour he found someone whose respect meant a great deal.

After The Shadow Riders wrapped, L’Amour presented Selleck with a gift that remains one of the most meaningful acknowledgments of his career. “After we finished,” Selleck wrote, “Louis L’Amour gave me a leather bound edition of The Shadow Riders. He signed it: ‘To Tom Selleck. You make my people live. What more can I say? Louis.'”

For an actor portraying characters created by one of the most successful Western novelists in history, there was probably no higher compliment. L’Amour wasn’t simply praising a performance, but rather he was telling Selleck that he had successfully brought his fictional world to life.

That validation came at a time when Selleck was becoming increasingly invested in Western storytelling. The genre had stopped being something he occasionally visited and was becoming something he actively studied. Years later, he would describe how his understanding evolved. “The more I’ve learned,” he said, “the more particular I’ve become.”

As his Western career continued, Selleck developed a reputation for paying extraordinary attention to details that many viewers would never consciously notice. He cared about hats, saddles, firearms, wardrobe, horse tack and period accuracy. The more he learned about the history of the American West, the harder it became to ignore mistakes that Hollywood routinely accepted. “I’ve gone for accuracy,” he explained.

That commitment became a philosophy. Speaking during his Hall of Great Western Performers induction weekend, Selleck explained how he approached creating characters. “I’ve always found the accuracy of that stuff really important,” he said. “The way I learned my craft as an actor, props and wardrobe are extremely important. If you’re cast right and then your wardrobe furthers who the character is and your props do, you’re about 90 percent there. Then you only screw it up by acting.”

It’s a funny line, but it reveals something significant about how he works. Selleck doesn’t treat costumes and props as decoration, but instead as extensions of character. The right hat tells you something about a man while the right saddle adds to that story. The right revolver, rifle or pair of spurs helps create someone who feels real rather than manufactured.

Entertainment

The History of 'The Magnificent Seven' Western Franchise (Exclusive)

The upcoming MGM+ television version of The Magnificent Seven is only the latest reminder that this particular Western simply refuses to ride off into the sunset. More than 60 years after the original film debuted in theaters, the franchise continues to reinvent itself through sequels, television and remakes, while somehow always circling back to the […]

Over time, he became deeply involved in those choices. During the same interview, he enthusiastically discussed custom-built saddles, historically accurate spurs, period firearms and the painstaking research that went into productions like Monte Walsh and Last Stand at Saber River. What emerges from those comments isn’t the portrait of an actor casually passing through the genre. It sounds more like a collector, historian and preservationist rolled into one.

And others noticed. Director Simon Wincer, who would eventually collaborate with Selleck on several Westerns, understood just how much the actor enjoyed that side of the process. “Tom’s fantastic with that sort of stuff because he loves it all,” Wincer observed.

Actress Laura San Giacomo came away with a similar impression. “The detail was so amazing,” she recalled. “I remember Tom being so proud of the detail that was in all the props and the guns and the period stuff.”

What’s fascinating is how naturally all of this seems to have grown out of The Sacketts. The young actor who arrived on that production hoping to do good work gradually became someone who wanted to know why a particular saddle was used, whether a rifle was historically correct or how a horseman of a certain era would have dressed.

And that curiosity never left him. As a matter of fact, it appears to have deepened with every Western he made. Looking back, Selleck often returned to the same thought.

“I was very lucky to get cast in The Sacketts,” he said. Then, almost as if he were summing up the entire experience in a single sentence, he added: “I got hooked on the genre.”

By the end of the 1980s, that passion would lead him to perhaps the most iconic Western role of his career—a sharpshooter named Matthew Quigley, a sprawling adventure set in Australia and a film that would give him both a signature role and a horse that would remain part of his life long after the cameras stopped rolling.

‘Quigley Down Under,’ Spike and bringing the West home

By the time Quigley Down Under arrived in 1990, Selleck had already achieved something many actors spend entire careers pursuing. Magnum, P.I. had turned him into one of television’s biggest stars, his face was instantly recognizable around the world and he had successfully moved between television and feature films. Yet despite all that success, Quigley Down Under represented something special. Looking back years later, Selleck admitted that he had long carried a particular ambition. “I was thinking the other day that I probably had two fantasies as an actor,” he recalled. “And one is to do a Western, which I just did, and the other would be to do a baseball movie before I get too old and have to play a manager.”

The comment might seem surprising considering that he had already appeared in The Sacketts, Concrete Cowboys and The Shadow Riders. But Quigley was different. This was a large-scale theatrical Western built around a larger-than-life hero, the kind of role usually associated with the giants of the genre. 

“When I found the script, it had already been through a lot of hands, one of them being Sean Connery’s, but I just absolutely loved it,” he reflected. “It was this bigger-than-life, iconic character, the kind of role you would want to cast John Wayne in.” The appeal was undeniable, but so was the pressure. Years later, Selleck admitted that stepping into the role wasn’t entirely comfortable. “I found it a little intimidating starring in Quigley because I said, ‘I think I would have cast John Wayne in this.’ And he would have done better, but I had to get over that.”

When he accepted a Western role, more than taking a job, he was stepping into a tradition that he respected deeply and wanted to honor. And helping him achieve that was director Simon Wincer, who would become one of Selleck’s most important collaborators. Reflecting on the production years later, Selleck praised Wincer’s instincts and understanding of the material. “I think Simon really got that picture,” he said. “He’s Australian, but he also understands horses.” The Australian setting gave the film an added dimension as well. Rather than simply retelling familiar frontier stories, Quigley Down Under placed a classic American Western hero in an unfamiliar landscape. Selleck thought that contrast was part of the film’s enduring appeal. “I think the idea of a fish out of water, particularly a cowboy, going somewhere else has a great allure.”

The film would ultimately become one of the most beloved Westerns of Selleck’s career, and he remains proud of it decades later. “It’s passed the test of time and is still very, very popular,” he said. The affection audiences continue to have for the film is undoubtedly connected to the care that Selleck and Wincer invested in every aspect of the production. When promoting the film in 1990, he was asked about Matthew Quigley’s famous Sharps rifle. Rather than offering a brief answer, he immediately launched into a discussion of its history and technical specifications. 

Years later, he was still discussing that rifle with obvious enthusiasm. “Simon and I worked very hard to make this Sharps rifle a character in the script,” he said. In Selleck’s view, the weapon was part of the story itself, something audiences needed to understand in order to appreciate who Matthew Quigley was. “The Sharps rifle was literally the instrument of this Avenging Angel,” he explained. The effort paid off. Fans still quote dialogue from the film and still associate him with the character. “It’s tied to me,” Selleck said. “I’m proud of that.”

Part of what attracted him to projects like Quigley was the opportunity to learn. “I enjoy learning or acquiring or just doing the kind of special skills that different characters have in a movie,” he explained. Westerns offered those opportunities in abundance. They required horsemanship, marksmanship, physical confidence and an understanding of environments far removed from sound stages and studio lots. For Selleck, it was all an ideal fit.

The production also introduced him to one of the most enduring companions of his career. The horse Selleck rode in Quigley Down Under was named Spike, and long after filming ended, Spike remained part of his life. “Spike is still in my barn,” Selleck would share. The horse eventually made the trip from Australia to California and even appeared in another film. “Spikey’s been in two movies,” Selleck joked. “He’s a big time movie star.” The story is amusing, but it also illustrates how completely Westerns had become woven into his life. The productions didn’t simply end when filming wrapped. In some cases, they literally followed him home.

The Selleck ranch

In fact, that process had begun years earlier while filming The Sacketts. Reflecting on that experience, Selleck recalled, “When I got The Sacketts, I was just hooked. It’s where I realized that, if I ever could afford it, I’d like to have a ranch and some land and horses.” Amazingly, what began as a passing realization eventually became reality. Selleck purchased a ranch in Ventura County and embraced a lifestyle that would have seemed unlikely to the young man who grew up in suburban Southern California. More importantly, he never described the property as merely a refuge from Hollywood. When discussing the ranch, he usually talked about the work involved. “I do most of the grunt work around the ranch, and 65 acres is a pretty big piece of property for around here.”

The connection between the ranch and the Westerns wasn’t something biographers invented after the fact. Selleck made the connection himself as the Westerns introduced him to horses, ranches and landscapes he had never experienced growing up in Sherman Oaks. Most importantly, they introduced him to a way of life that clearly resonated with him. The dream that first surfaced while filming The Sacketts eventually became part of his everyday reality. By the time Spike was standing in a barn on his California ranch, the line between the Westerns he made and the life he lived had become remarkably difficult to separate.

As the years passed, another realization began to emerge the power of “place” and how landscapes, open space and the connection between people and the land meant something.  And that realization would shape some of the most meaningful work of his career, including a project that many fans consider his finest Western performance.

‘Monte Walsh’ and Why He Never Stopped Wanting to Ride

If there is one idea that surfaces repeatedly whenever Tom Selleck talks about Westerns, it’s the importance of landscape and the role it plays in shaping both stories and the people who inhabit them.

Looking back on his years making Westerns, Selleck once reflected, “This sense of place has become very important and was instilled in me when I started doing Westerns.” It wasn’t an isolated comment. In another interview, he expanded on the thought and explained what attracted him to certain Westerns over others. “The kind of movies Westerns I prefer doing are not really towny Westerns,” he said. “They’re movies where the land is a central character. Vast open spaces, I think audiences really respond to that, particularly nowadays.”

He made a similar observation while discussing the appeal of the genre more broadly. “In the kind of Westerns I like, the land is usually a central character in the movie. It’s like one of the actors.”

That perspective helps explain many of the projects he chose throughout his career. Whether it was the frontier settings of The Sacketts, the Australian Outback of Quigley Down Under or the sweeping vistas of later Western productions, the locations themselves were often as memorable as the characters riding through them. Selleck wasn’t drawn exclusively to action-oriented Westerns. He was drawn to stories that immersed viewers in a world and allowed them to experience it alongside the people on screen.

As Western production slowed in Hollywood, he became increasingly vocal about missing the genre. “I hope I’m not done doing westerns, though, as they are now very hard to get off the ground. I so miss it,” he admitted. Then he explained why those projects continued to matter so much to him. “More than any other experience I’ve had in film, these movies create a sense of place.” And there’s that word again.

That appreciation found perhaps its purest expression in Monte Walsh, the 2003 television adaptation of Jack Schaefer’s celebrated novel. The story follows aging cowboys confronting a rapidly changing world, watching as the life they love slowly disappears around them. It isn’t a Western built around shootouts or spectacular action sequences. Instead, it’s a story about change, loyalty, friendship and identity.

Not surprisingly, Selleck connected with it immediately. Discussing the film, he offered a simple explanation for its appeal. “Monte Walsh is a simple morality story, as most great westerns are.” The statement is revealing because it cuts directly to what he consistently admired about the genre. Westerns, at least the ones he valued most, weren’t primarily about violence or adventure. They were about choices, responsibility and the people trying to live according to a code even when circumstances made that difficult.

Those themes appear repeatedly throughout Selleck’s comments over the years. During a discussion of his involvement with the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the Character Counts program, he highlighted six values the organization sought to promote: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. He spoke passionately about the importance of character and personal accountability, observing that “people who do the right thing tend to be self-governing and they need less laws…”

It’s difficult not to hear echoes of the Western heroes he admired in those comments. The values he described were often the same values embodied by characters such as Matthew Quigley, Conn Conagher, Rafe Covington and Monte Walsh. They weren’t perfect men; in fact, in many cases they were deeply flawed, but what mattered was that they kept trying to do the right thing.

Selleck found something especially relatable in Monte Walsh himself. Reflecting on the character years later, he offered one of the most personal observations in any of his interviews. “Because he was so dedicated and in love with the life, as I wished I could be, maybe I was born in the wrong era.”

Selleck wasn’t simply praising the character, he was expressing affection for the values Monte represented and for a way of life that had fascinated him ever since The Sacketts first introduced him to it. Even when he stepped away from traditional Westerns, those influences continued to surface in his work. Discussing the Jesse Stone films, he repeatedly emphasized character over plot. 

“Jesse is a labor of love,” he said, describing the series as “completely character driven.” He praised stories that focused on people rather than spectacle and noted that “character driven stuff is hard to find in feature films.” At another point, he suggested that Jesse Stone could easily exist in a Western setting. The clothes might change, the vehicles might replace horses and the setting might move from the frontier to modern-day New England, but the essential character remained familiar.

The same could be said for Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods. Although separated from the Old West by more than a century, Reagan’s concerns often revolved around duty, responsibility, integrity and family. The setting changed, but many of the values that attracted Selleck to Western heroes remained present. And yet, despite decades of success in other genres, Westerns never loosened their grip on him.

By 2024, Blue Bloods was ending and Selleck had spent nearly half a century building one of television’s most durable careers. He had become a household name, earned countless accolades and created a gallery of memorable characters. Still, when asked what kind of project remained on his wish list, the answer came easily.

“A good Western’s always on my list,” he said. “I miss that; I want to sit on a horse again.”

In some ways, that simple statement feels like the perfect ending to the story. The young actor who stumbled into The Sacketts in 1979 couldn’t have known where the experience would lead. He couldn’t have known he would become friends with Louis L’Amour, learn from Ben Johnson and Slim Pickens, star in beloved Westerns, develop an abiding fascination with authenticity or eventually own a ranch filled with horses. He certainly couldn’t have known that one day he would be inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers.

Yet when he accepted that honor, Selleck acknowledged the journey in a way that felt characteristically humble. Speaking about the recognition, he reflected on his unlikely path from suburban Southern California to one of the highest honors in Western entertainment. “For a kid who grew up in a housing tract in Sherman Oaks, California, it’s kind of nice to be accepted in this way.”

As he wrote in You Never Know, “It’s no exaggeration to say that The Sacketts changed me.” After listening to Tom Selleck tell the story in his own words for nearly 50 years, it’s difficult to reach any other conclusion.

Is the Fitbit Air worth it for sleep tracking?

If you want detailed sleep data without a monthly fee, it’s the most accessible option out there right now. Pre-orders opened May 7, 2026 and the device ships May 26 at $99.99 with no required subscription for core features.

Google announced the Fitbit Air with a screenless design, 7-day battery and tracking for sleep stages, heart rate variability, SpO2, skin temperature and atrial fibrillation alerts. According to Android Central, its updated algorithm is about 15% more accurate than the previous version. The screenless design means no numbers buzzing at you during the day — you see your data only when you open the app.

One important note: it’s not a medical device. If you suspect sleep apnea or another issue, the data is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a diagnosis.

Aging

The Smartest Health Devices for Women 50+: What to Buy Based on Your Needs

When it comes to wearables, it’s hard to know which one is the best fit for you. The countless options, metrics and price points make choosing one feel daunting, but the decision is easier than you think!  Bob Arnot, MD, best-selling author and former chief medical correspondent for NBC News, says that wearables are revolutionizing […]

What is orthosomnia, and can sleep tracking make insomnia worse?

Yes, for some people it can — and that’s exactly what orthosomnia describes. The term was coined in 2017 by clinical psychologist Dr. Kelly Baron of the University of Utah to describe an unhealthy preoccupation with achieving perfect sleep, often triggered by consumer trackers.

A 2024 cross-sectional study in Brain Sciences found that wearable users scored significantly higher on sleep anxiety measures than non-users. A 2025 review in the Indian Journal of Sleep Medicine found that obsessive concern with tracking can paradoxically worsen sleep quality. Researchers took the issue seriously enough to publish the first validated measurement tool for it in a 2025 Frontiers in Sleep study.

The pattern is easy to fall into. You wake up feeling fine, check the app and see a low score, and suddenly you don’t feel fine anymore. That worry raises cortisol, which makes tonight’s sleep harder, which produces another bad score. The tracker becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Should you track your sleep or step back from it?

The most useful frame is this: a sleep tracker is a diagnostic tool, not a solution. It can tell you how you slept and it can’t fix why. The body’s sleep-wake cycle is regulated by light exposure, temperature and timing, not by data.

Tracking tends to help when you’re trying to identify a real pattern, like waking at the same hour every night or symptoms that could point to sleep apnea, and when the data leads to a concrete change you can actually make.

It tends to hurt when checking the app is the first thing you do each morning, when a low score colors your whole day regardless of how you actually feel, or when you’re chasing a perfect number instead of paying attention to how rested you are.

A middle path works well for many people. Check the data once a week rather than every morning, look for trends across several nights rather than single-night scores, and treat the tracker as feedback on changes you’re already making. The Fitbit Air’s screenless design supports this approach naturally — there’s nothing on your wrist nudging you to look.

What Is Circadian Lighting? This Daily Light Schedule Can Change How You Feel Everyday

These aren’t vanity projects with a famous name slapped on the door. The properties reflect their owners’ personal travel preferences, design taste and approach to wellness, with the celebrities often hands-on in operations or design.

Celebrities that own wellness retreats

Hugh Jackman is a co-owner of Gwinganna Health Retreat, set inland from Queensland’s Gold Coast. Guests start the day with sunrise qi gong — a practice similar to tai chi — often held outdoors among local wallabies. Daily activities include boxing, hiking, water polo and yoga, and meals are built around clean eating, with much of the produce sourced from the retreat’s organic gardens and served on the outdoor dining deck.

Olivia Newton-John co-founded Gaia Retreat & Spa in 2005 with partners Gregg Cave, Ruth Kalnin and Warwick Evans. The 25-acre property near Byron Bay takes its name from the ancient Greek mother goddess of the earth, and offers personalized wellness packages keyed to guests’ health and fitness goals. Residential-style rooms and villas overlook the New South Wales countryside.

Life

Women Over 40 Are Leading the Solo Travel Boom

Maybe it started with an empty nest. Maybe it was a divorce, a career pivot or simply a morning when you woke up and thought: What do I actually want? Whatever sparked the feeling, you’re not imagining the pull toward solo travel—and you’re far from alone in feeling it. Why women over 40 are driving […]

“The best breakfast in the world is at Gaia,” Newton-John told Forbes in 2020. “I can tell you that. I have eaten all over the world at every fancy restaurant, and the breakfast at Gaia is the best breakfast in the world.”

Celebrities that own boutique hotels in the U.S.

Robert De Niro opened The Greenwich Hotel in TriBeCa in 2008. Its individually designed rooms draw inspiration from locations such as Manhattan, Milano and Mumbai, and guest-only access to the lounge, spa and pool keeps the focus on privacy. Designer David Rockwell built the property around De Niro’s taste, which the actor defines as “masculinity and comfort, executed with meticulous, refined craftsmanship.”

“It was a really good, collaborative project,” Rockwell said, per the hotel’s website. “Bob (De Niro) wanted the hotel to fit into the fabric of TriBeCa, so we started looking at brick treatments, among other elements.”

The hotel also houses Locanda Verde, chef Andrew Carmellini’s restaurant, which offers private dining. De Niro’s hospitality footprint extends further through the Nobu Hospitality brand.

Shopping

European Travel Brand Is Redefining Smart, Stylish Packing

Whether it’s a long-awaited family visit or a bucket-list trip, what you pack and what you pack it in matters. The right luggage can make traveling smoother, lighter and a whole lot more enjoyable. And while it’s not yet available stateside, one European luggage brand is quietly becoming a favorite among stylish, savvy travelers. Meet […]

Richard Gere owns Bedford Post Inn in Westchester County, New York, alongside ex-wife Carey Lowell and friend Russell Hernandez. The eight-room property sits about an hour from Manhattan on wooded grounds with a pool and yoga studio. The former couple discovered the vacant 1762 stone farmhouse on a horseback ride. Rooms designed by Lowell and decorator Tiffany Vassilakis feature muted interiors, fireplaces and claw-foot tubs.

Clint Eastwood purchased Mission Ranch Hotel & Restaurant in Carmel, California, in 1986 — the same year he became mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, a role he held through 1988. The property is known for its rustic cottages, romantic atmosphere and tennis club.

Gloria Estefan owns Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa on Florida’s Vero Beach. The resort offers oceanfront accommodations, sunrise yoga, cocktails and fresh seafood, with a strong focus on beachfront relaxation and spa experiences.

If you want to bring that dreamy, cinematic vibe into your home without spending like you’re decorating an actual movie set, Dollar Tree is a surprisingly good place to start.

The discount store is packed with budget-friendly finds that can help you capture the look—from elegant drinkware to subtle, eye-catching decor pieces that feel straight out of a film scene. Keep reading to explore what the Sofia Coppola aesthetic is all about and discover the stylish Dollar Tree decor that can help you recreate it on a budget.

What is the Sofia Coppola aesthetic?

The Sofia Coppola aesthetic is all about creating a dreamy, romantic, softly feminine space. It leans into a delicate, almost cinematic mood, with pastel tones, gentle textures, and an overall feeling of effortless nostalgia. It’s often compared to the coquette style, but with a more film-inspired, slightly nostalgic twist drawn straight from Coppola’s iconic movies.

To recreate it at home, start with your color palette. Think soft pinks, baby blues, lavender, and creamy neutrals—shades that instantly make a space feel light and airy. From there, focus on maximizing natural light with sheer curtains, and layering in flowing fabrics like lace, silk, or velvet to add softness and movement.

The goal is a space that feels bright, romantic, and almost like a memory of girlhood.

Once your foundation is set, bring in playful, film-like details that feel straight out of Coppola’s world. Polaroid photos, fresh flowers, and whimsical statement pieces—like a disco ball reminiscent of Marie Antoinette—help bring personality into the space. Florals are essential, and subtle patterns like soft stripes can add just enough visual interest without overwhelming the aesthetic.

Shopping

Dollar Tree Coastal Decor Is the Perfect Way to Ward off Winter Blues

From seasonal pieces to festive favorites, Dollar Tree has long been a go-to destination for budget-friendly home decor—but this season, their charming coastal collection is making serious waves. Think breezy blues, seashell motifs, nautical touches and beach-inspired textures that instantly brighten any space. And while it may be the middle of winter, there’s actually no […]

Dollar Tree Sofia Coppola aesthetic

Pink candle holder

This pink glass candle holder is one of our favorite products from Dollar Tree and it’s perfect to nail the Sofia Coppola vibe. Not only does the color match the theme but the elegant glass design adds a fancy touch to the space. The $1.25 piece can hold your tea lights, votives and taper candles, so you can use it however suits you best.

One happy shopper shared their review of the product, writing, “Great quality and beautiful looking! For $1.25, can’t beat the aesthetic and value for these very beautiful candle holders. They are about the same quality if not better than Urban Outfitters or Target… Highly recommend for the price!”

Cool pink glasses

These drinking glasses are a stunning pink that works nicely for the Sofia Coppola aesthetic and with prices like $1.50 each, you can’t go wrong with the purchase. You can choose between the cool pink tumblers and the stemless wine glasses (or grab both for a full pink set) and enjoy your favorite beverages from them.

Whether you’re serving guests or sipping a cocktail on your patio, these glasses are just what you need to sell the aesthetic and stick to a budget.

Colorful disco balls

This disco ball is the perfect finishing touch for a Sofia Coppola-inspired space—think Marie Antoinette energy brought to life. And the best part? Dollar Tree offers a few fun, budget-friendly versions, including pink, yellow and pink-and-yellow disco balls.

At just $3, you can choose a style that fits your space, whether you want a soft pop of color or a playful mix of both.

Lightweight and decorative, this disco ball adds just the right amount of sparkle. It nods to the whimsical glamour of Marie Antoinette while standing out beautifully in an otherwise soft, feminine and airy room.

Megan Evans sat at home in Wickliffe, Ohio, writing cards for children at the local Ronald McDonald House.

A year earlier, Megan had survived a car crash that left her with a traumatic brain injury. Months of physical therapy followed — she had to relearn how to walk and talk.

Life

This Teacher’s Creative Pug Letter Project Is Helping Kids Learn

The sound of thrilled giggles filled the classroom as Sharon Latek passed out letters to each of her first-grade students at Wescott Elementary School in Northbrook, Illinois. The children’s faces lit up as she placed a carefully addressed envelope on each desk. It was finally “Pug Mail” delivery day. Thirty years earlier, Sharon’s husband had […]

While on the road to recovery, Megan was stamping envelopes one day when she thought, I wish I’d received more cards like this when I was at my worst.

The thought kept tugging at Megan’s heart until finally she decided to act.

“There are many campaigns to send cards to sick kids and seniors,” she posted on Facebook. “But what about the rest of us who need a few words of comfort? A reminder that someone is thinking of them?”

With that post, Megan launched a Facebook group she dubbed Random Acts of Cardness, where she invited users to share names of friends and relatives who might appreciate a kind card. The response was overwhelming.

“My cousin has a sick child—she could use some love,” wrote one member.

“My neighbor is about to celebrate her 50th anniversary,” wrote another.

Life

A Pair of Fuzzy Socks Turned Into Hope for 3,000 Women

When a neighbor gave Traci Fotorny a pair of fuzzy socks, she never dreamed the gesture would spark a mission touching thousands of women battling breast cancer! Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World. When Traci Fotorny’s neighbor knocked on her Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, door with a warm casserole, she was touched — but […]

“I love sending cards, only I rarely get the chance — at least not until now,” wrote a third happy new group member.

Megan soon found herself on the receiving end of a surprise “carding” from a friend, Rene, with the simple inscription, I’m thinking of you.

Megan’s group grew with members nominating people to receive cards and others ready to send them.

“I love sending and receiving cards,” smiles postal worker D’Anne Olson, who joined Random Acts of Cardness after learning about the group from a woman whose post box kept filling with greeting cards. “I’ve made carding friends around the world. We’re one big family.”

Sandy Hainlen has also sent thousands of cards to friends and strangers. After signing each card, Sandy uses a special hole punch to notch a heart shape into the paper.

“I keep the bits in a jar to remind me how many smiles I’ve put in the mail,” she says.

Life

She’s Legally Blind—and Has Donated 3,000 Quilts to Those in Need

Sonya Smithart, who is legally blind, learned to quilt from a TV program. Now, at 86, she has sewn and donated more than 3,000 quilts to people in need. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World. Clutching a pad and pencil, Sonya Smithart sat close to her TV as she watched Quilt in a […]

Today, Megan leads an army of more than 12,000 card warriors sending Random Acts of Cardness to all 50 states and 37 countries in the world. Megan herself mails over 100 cards every month.

“We’re bringing something tangible into people’s lives — something touched by human hands and sent with love. It helps us know we aren’t alone.”

And Mrs. McCann, who Jen still visits when she’s back home, wasn’t Jen’s only book-loving influence. Her mom, Pat, made time to read with Jen nightly (the pair took turns reading pages aloud!), a comforting habit they kept up into Jen’s tween years. It allowed the future actress, entrepreneur and mom-of-three to explore new worlds on the page while staying strongly connected to her own family. “I felt like a different person because of that,” she shared in an interview about her favorite books. So what titles are in the unofficial Jennifer Garner Book Club? Keep reading to find out.

The book that inspired a starring role

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

The tale of Hannah, a woman whose new husband mysteriously disappears, leaving her only a cryptic note reading “Protect her” — referring to his distrustful teen daughter from a previous marriage. “You can’t stop turning the pages because there is… this engine of, ’What is going to happen?’” she says. “She manages to give you a twist at the end of every chapter.” 

Jennifer was so wowed, she wrote a very persuasive letter and got herself cast as Hannah in the Apple TV+ adaptation. “I was talking about the ways that somebody can disappear on you and it can bring out the best in you,” she recently shared on the One Nightstand podcast. 

Jen’s also a fan of The First Time I Saw Him, which she called “a must-read sequel.” And both books make a nice companion to the two seasons of The Last Thing He Told Me, now streaming on Apple TV+.

The book series she’s read again and again

Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The adventures of the Ingalls family as they head to the American West barely need an introduction. “I’ve probably read the whole series 15 times, 20 times, easily,” revealed Jen, whose grandmother was born on a covered wagon and whose mom grew up on a tiny farm “back when the feed sacks for animals were made out of calico and that calico she would use to make their clothes.” 

Even after Jen’s daughter wrote a college paper pointing out harsh realities of settler life glossed over by the books, Jen still adores “the romanticism of what this family went through… to be pioneers in this beautiful, incredible country of ours.” And if you’ve also read the series before, it’s a great time to dip in again. It’ll be fresh in your mind when the new Little House series launches on Netflix in July.

The book that sparked self-discovery

The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad

Essays from 100 celebrated writers and thinkers—like Elizabeth Gilbert, Ann Patchett and John Green—are paired with writing prompts designed to help us use journaling to uncover our truest selves. Jen had completed dozens of the mini-journaling exercises before sitting down to chat with the book’s author. “The beauty is seeing what you keep repeating,” she shared with Suleika. “Eventually, you can’t help but ask, ’How can I shift this for myself?’”

Entertainment

Dolly‘s Desert Island Book Pick Will Warm Your Heart

Dolly Parton, 80, loves her family, songwriting, philanthropy, glitz, glamour—and books! That’s right! The Queen of Country has a lesser-known nickname: the Book Lady. “I mean, I must read at least about 50 books a year,” the icon told Jenna Bush Hager on her podcast, Open Book With Jenna. In addition to being a book […]

Entertainment

Colleen Hoover, Sarah J. Maas & More Best-Selling Romance Authors Reveal the Love Stories They Can’t Get Enough Of

Find out which love stories enchant Colleen Hoover, Sarah J. Maas and more

The book that connects her to her mom

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Jen’s mom made her an ardent lover of this classic that follows Anne Shirley, an irrepressible red-haired orphan mistakenly sent to live with an elderly brother and sister who had requested a boy to work their Prince Edward Island farm. What unfolds is a charming coming-of-age story, as Anne wins the hearts of her reluctant guardians and an entire community with endearing proclamations like “I’m so glad to live in a world where there are Octobers” and “Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it yet.” 

“My mom keeps it by her bed. She reads a little bit of it at night like the Bible, and she quotes it like the Bible,” Jennifer shared on One Nightstand. “I can’t even think of how many sayings from my childhood come from Anne.” 

The book she thinks is ‘perfect’

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

One of literature’s most enduring portraits of sisterhood, this beloved novel follows the four March sisters—practical Meg, fiercely independent Jo, gentle Beth and romantic Amy—as they navigate poverty, ambition, love, and loss while their chaplain dad is off tending to soldiers during the Civil War. 

“It is a perfect book,” Jen recently enthused on One Nightstand. “It has love, it has intrigue. It has the country kids doing okay. It has the missing father and the promise of him possibly appearing. It has the perfect blessed mother. It has the scare of the illness, and then it has tragedy. It has real tragedy. Is there anything more sad?” Yet it also reaffirms our faith in humanity—and there is nothing better than that.

The history book so vivid ‘you feel the fabric of their clothes’

John Adams by David McCullough

If you want history that comes to life, look no further than the late Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough. “I’ve tried to branch out and read other historians’ work, but nothing sticks with me or gets the pages turned as quickly as his books,” Jen once dished to O. “John Adams is incredibly, meticulously researched; you feel as if McCullough has gone back and felt the fabric of their clothes, smelled the paper that they wrote to each other on. It’s not only facts—you get a real sense of his subjects’ lives.”

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Stanley Kubrick built ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ on real science

At a time when science fiction films were dominated by spectacle, monsters or pulp adventure, Kubrick rejected the conventions of alien invasions, space battles and heroic protagonists. Instead, he crafted a film with minimal dialogue, long deliberate sequences and an emphasis on visual storytelling. Scientific accuracy was treated as essential rather than optional: spacecraft moved in silence, obeying the laws of physics, and the production design drew heavily on consultations with engineers and experts.

Rather than relying on major stars, Kubrick assembled a relatively low-profile cast, including Keir Dullea as astronaut Dave Bowman, Gary Lockwood as Frank Poole and William Sylvester as Dr. Heywood Floyd. The most memorable “performance” came from Douglas Rain, whose calm, measured voice brought the onboard computer HAL 9000 to life.

Entertainment

Vintage Photos of the Original 'Star Trek' Cast You’ve Never Seen

By the mid-to-late 1970s, Star Trek was about as far removed from just being a canceled television series as you could get. Yes, NBC had pulled the plug on the original show in 1969 after three seasons, but the fans —as their letter-writing campaign to get the show renewed for its third year had proven—refused […]

What ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ got right about space travel

Despite its speculative leaps, 2001: A Space Odyssey remains strikingly accurate in many scientific details. The film meticulously depicts the physics of space travel: spacecraft move in silence, obeying inertia, and astronauts navigate zero gravity realistically. Its rotating space station demonstrates centrifugal artificial gravity, reflecting concepts studied by real aerospace engineers. HAL 9000’s calm, logical interactions with the crew presaged later discussions about human-computer relationships. The spacecraft interiors, mission protocols and long-duration isolation of astronauts were grounded in real engineering and psychological research.

According to NASA-related sources, the movie is considered “perhaps the most thoroughly and accurately researched film in screen history with respect to aerospace engineering,” with advisers from Marshall Space Flight Center contributing to its depiction of space travel and artificial intelligence.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson wrote in a New York Times op-ed on January 1, 2001, comparing the film’s predictions to reality: “We’ve already invented such things. They are called robots, and they conduct all of our interplanetary exploration.”

Where Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001’ predictions missed the mark

Not every prediction came true, of course, and that’s part of what makes revisiting this film so fascinating. While Kubrick and Clarke got an impressive amount right about the science behind space travel, they also imagined a future where humanity had taken far bolder strides beyond Earth. The real year 2001 looked quite different from the one on screen, and even now, some of the film’s most ambitious visions for space exploration remain well out of reach.

By 2001, humans had not established lunar bases, nor were there routine commercial flights to orbit or massive rotating space stations. The film depicts a human mission to Jupiter, yet only robotic probes had reached the planet. The story’s speculative elements, such as the monoliths accelerating human evolution, were purely philosophical rather than scientific.

The lasting cultural impact of Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’

The historical impact of the film extends far beyond its initial reception. The film fundamentally altered how science fiction was perceived in Hollywood. Before its release, the genre was often considered secondary — commercial, imaginative but rarely prestigious. After 2001, science fiction could be serious, philosophical and artistically ambitious.

The film’s practical effects became a benchmark for realism, directly influencing later films such as Star Wars and Interstellar. Released just one year before Apollo 11, it contributed to a cultural atmosphere that took space exploration seriously — not as fantasy, but as an achievable frontier. Scientists, engineers and designers have cited it as an inspiration, and NASA has acknowledged its role in shaping public imagination about space.

Kubrick offered one of the clearest insights into the film’s intent: “You’re free to speculate as you wish about the philosophical and allegorical meaning of the film.”

Clarke put it more directly: “If you understand 2001 completely, we failed. We wanted to raise far more questions than we answered.”

Fifty-eight years after its release, 2001: A Space Odyssey remains a defining work in both film history and science fiction. Its predictions about the early 21st century were only partially realized, but its deeper insights into technology, intelligence and human evolution continue to resonate.

Why are are Earthy, warm tones all the rage?

Warm earth tones are inspired by nature, reflecting the soothing hues you see outdoors—think mossy greens, olive shades, terracotta, deep browns and soft tans. Their muted, gentle quality creates a calming, grounded atmosphere, which is why these colors are so popular in home design.

They pair beautifully with natural materials like wood, stone and linen, further connecting indoor spaces to the tranquility of the outdoors. Avoid bright or loud colors, as they can disrupt the serene, harmonious feeling that these tones naturally evoke.

Add Earth tones to your home from Dollar Tree

Floral moss

This is a simple but effective way to bring warm, earthy tones into your spring decor. Add Dollar Tree’s floral moss to any vase or planter to instantly create that natural, grounded feel and highlight warmer hues. At just $1.75, this faux moss is a fun, affordable way to enhance your plants or floral arrangements with a fresh, springtime touch.

Terracotta Earth tone starter pots

Get your spring plants growing early with these terracotta starter pots. These pots will bring that rustic charm to your plants. They’re perfect for herbs, succulents or flowers, plus you can get them in different sizes. Whether you prefer a 12-pack of smaller pots or a 6-pack of larger ones, you can use these whatever you needs are.

For just $1.50 per pack, these pots are perfect to bring that warm, organic feel and with its terracotta clay finish, they will really bring your space together.

One review for the terracotta starter pots reads, “Get these! The smaller ones are great for seed starting and the larger ones are great for seedlings before potting up.”

Shopping

Dollar Tree Coastal Decor Is the Perfect Way to Ward off Winter Blues

From seasonal pieces to festive favorites, Dollar Tree has long been a go-to destination for budget-friendly home decor—but this season, their charming coastal collection is making serious waves. Think breezy blues, seashell motifs, nautical touches and beach-inspired textures that instantly brighten any space. And while it may be the middle of winter, there’s actually no […]

Vanilla air freshener

These brown vanilla sugar air fresheners are perfect to get that Earthy vibe while also making sure your home smells incredible.

These gel air fresheners are perfect to blend the sweet scent of brown sugar and creamy vanilla, filling the air with its warm comfort. The fragrance and tan color of the jar brings those earthy tones and adds to that warm atmosphere. Choose between the gel air freshener and the crystal beads, both available in the brown sugar vanilla scent.

Pop open the $1.50 9 ounce container anywhere—from bathrooms to bedrooms—for freshness and a delicious fragrance. Shop on a budget while also getting that Earthy look for spring.

Wooden picture frame

Spotlight your favorite photos with this adorable 5×7 brown photo frame. Designed with a warm, natural wooden finish, this frame incorporates those cozy earthy tones, perfect for the spring months. Whether you display this frame on your desk, counter or vanity, it is sure to add a touch of rustic elegance to any space. For just $1.50, you can elevate your space with this homey-feeling picture frame.

Small straw baskets

Add easy texture and practical storage with the 6.3-inch  Weaving Straw Basket from Dollar Tree. Its simple straw‑style weave in three earth tones—beige, brown, and natural—adds a cozy, rustic look that blends beautifully with boho, farmhouse or minimalist interiors—for $1.25 each!

Head into Dollar Tree to grab these Earthy-toned products and spruce up your space for spring without overspending!

Early Monday morning, NICU nurse Pam Kays was listening to the charge nurse give a report to a trainee when a wave of nausea and heat rushed through her body.

I must be coming down with something, she thought. But then her jaw clenched and her chest tightened painfully.

Pam recognized the symptoms and headed into the practitioner’s office. “I’m having a heart attack,” she calmly stated as her arms and legs began tingling.

“Quick! Chew an aspirin!” her manager instructed and summoned the hospital’s emergency team.

In the ER, doctors started an IV, but Pam soon went into full cardiac arrest.

Life

Couple With Spina Bifida Finds Perfect Adoption Match in Child Like Them

When Kelly and Larry Peterson — both born with spina bifida — first applied to adopt a child, they were heartbroken to be turned away. Some agencies told them their disability disqualified them from becoming parents. But the couple never gave up hope. They knew they had the love, experience, and determination to raise a […]

A calming voice

Pam suffered a “widowmaker” heart attack and a surgeon had to open her blocked artery with a stent.

Pam was on a respirator hours later when she awoke. She motioned for a pad and pen and wrote: Is the respirator in correctly? How long will I be on it?

The cardiac ICU nurses scurried about, trying to calm Pam and answer her questions. But then Alison Hoit, the unit’s nurse practitioner, appeared.

Realizing Pam was terrified, Alison gave a warm smile. “Don’t worry. We’re going to take good care of you,” she said, and her words settled over Pam.

The next morning, Pam was strong enough to breathe on her own.

By Alison’s next shift, Pam had already been transferred to another unit. It was common for Alison to treat patients and never know their outcome.

Happily, for Pam, the outcome was excellent. After only four days, she went home and started cardiac rehab. Three months later, she was feeling like herself again and back at work in the NICU.

Life

California ER Nurse Saves a Mother‘s Life In Yoga Class

"You didn't just save me ... you saved my kids, and my husband, too."

The miraculous reunion

A few months later, Pam approached a new patient, an infant born six weeks premature. “How are you?” she asked the woman sitting nearby.

“This is my granddaughter, Maddie,” the woman explained, clearly anxious.

The two women continued their chat as Pam checked the baby’s monitors. “My daughter also works for Cleveland Clinic—in the cardiac ICU,” she said, and Pam broke into a smile.

“Really? I was a patient there a few months back,” she said — and just then, the baby’s mom returned to the floor.

It was Alison, who stopped short, pointed and exclaimed, “You’re Pam!”

Just then, Alison broke down in tears. “I’m so scared,” she sobbed. “I can hardly keep track of what’s going on.”

“It’s going to be okay,” Pam echoed the words Alison herself had spoken to her in her darkest hour. “We’re going to take good care of Maddie.”

Pam and Alison spoke nearly every day. “Is this okay? Is that normal?” the worried mom would ask, and Pam always made her feel calm and hopeful.

After six long weeks, Alison got to take Maddie home. She’s doing great, and today Pam and Alison remain close friends.

“It was fate,” Alison insists. “Pam and I were meant to meet when each of us needed the other most.”

Pam agrees. “Alison gave me comfort and courage during a scary time. I’m so grateful I was given the chance to do the same for her!”

This story first appeared in the March 30, 2026, issue of Woman’s World magazine. 

Life

Never Worked Outside the Home? You May Still Get Social Security. Here’s How

When it comes to Social Security, a common misconception is that only those who have a traditional job can claim monthly benefits. As it turns out, that’s not entirely true. People who have never worked outside the home can claim Social Security—as long as they meet certain requirements. To learn what they are, keep scrolling.  […]

Does Social Security count as income for SNAP?

To qualify for SNAP, Americans must have a gross monthly income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty line, meaning they must make $1,729 or less a month, and have under $3,000 in assets. 

Chris Wu, a finance expert who specializes in helping families navigate government-assistance programs, explains, “SNAP is a means-tested program, which means eligibility depends on gross and net household income. Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and survivor benefits are usually included in income.” 

Wu also notes that because of a program called the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Combined Application Projects—a partnership between the Social Security Administration, state agencies and the Food and Nutrition Service—some people might be able to get SNAP benefits without a lengthy application process. Most of the time, this happens by eliminating the face-to-face SNAP interview and uses the SSI application process instead. 

Currently, residents of Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina and Washington all prequalify for this program.  

Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Virginia also offer a version of the Combined Application Project, but the rules for qualifying in these states vary so it’s important to check in with your local SNAP office to see if you can benefit from the program.

Life

SNAP Restricting Foods that Qualify for Benefits Starting in 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that they would be removing “unhealthy foods” from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in several states next year. It’s part of the Trump administration’s larger “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, and according to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, this change will help restore “SNAP to […]

Other ways seniors can qualify for SNAP

If a senior isn’t on Social Security, Wu says they can use other sources of income to qualify for SNAP. 

“These sources can include pensions, retirement-account withdrawals, part-time earnings, SSDI, veterans’ benefits and certain types of annuities,” he explains. “SNAP also takes allowable deductions into account, which can make a significant difference in whether you’re eligible. Seniors can deduct out-of-pocket medical costs above a certain threshold, housing expenses and utility bills. Making these deductions can decrease net income figures and increase the chances of qualifying.” 

Do the new work requirements impact seniors’ eligibility for SNAP? 

Many states are either working to or have already introduced new SNAP work requirements. For example, in New York, adults ages 18 to 64 without disabilities or dependents under the age of 14 must work, volunteer or train for at least 80 hours a month to keep their SNAP benefits. This means seniors who take Social Security at 62 will have to volunteer, work or train to keep their SNAP benefits, unless they are exempt. 

The good news? “Most individuals aged 60 or over are expected to be exempt,” Wu assures. “As always, seniors should check the latest guidelines in their state, because how these are implemented can vary.” 

How to apply for SNAP benefits

If you’re interested in applying  for SNAP, follow these steps to get started:

1. Visit the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) SNAP State Directory or call 1-800-221-5689 to find your state’s SNAP office. 
2. Gather your documents: You’ll need proof of identity, Social Security number, proof of income (including Social Security statements) and information about your housing costs and medical expenses.
3. Submit your application online, by mail or in person. 
4. Attend your phone or in-person interview with a SNAP caseworker.

   Most states process applications within 30 days and if you’re approved, you’ll receive an EBT card, which works like a grocery store debit card. 

Other food resources for seniors who don’t qualify for SNAP

If a senior doesn’t qualify for SNAP, Wu recommends looking into the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), which is administered by the USDA and provides monthly food boxes to low-income seniors. For more information on this program, click here. 

“Local food banks and community pantries continue to be critical resources. Many communities also have senior-specific meal programs through organizations like Meals on Wheels, which provides prepared meals to homebound older adults,” he continues. “Some states and municipalities also administer senior farmers market nutrition programs, which issue vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables.” Finally, he adds that many faith-based organizations and community centers provide meal services or support to supplement these programs.

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