The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Stress about debts mounting in tough economic times

Americans are under increasing stress about their debts due to rising prices and a sluggish economy.

The mounting pressure is leading to an increase in stress-related illness. Medical professionals are calling the phenomenon debt-stress syndrome.

Recently on the CBS program The Early Show, Dr. Alan Manevitz, a clinical psychiatrist with New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, offered suggestions on how to handle debt stress.

When you're constantly worrying and stressing over your debts, you put your body in a constant state of alarm, said Manevitz. It responds by releasing stress hormones, which increases your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing pace, muscle tension, and inflammation, and the dumping of fuel – glucose and fats into – the bloodstream.

This results in an increased risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease and infections such as a cold. Stress can also exacerbate preexisting conditions, from chronic pain to cancer, by undermining the body's ability to repair or care for itself, he added.

Other related health problems include muscle tension, upper and lower back pain, ulcers, digestive tract problems, migraines, insomnia, tension headaches, and severe anxiety, Manevitz said.

Three things people need to do to manage debt stress:

• Don’t deny it.
• Be proactive.
• Get help.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How many credit cards do you have?

In the United States, the average cardholder has seven credit cards and two debit cards, according to www.cardtrak.com/, which provides consumer information about credit cards.

That’s too many, according to Bill Hardekopf, chief executive officer of www.lowcards.com/, a Web site that helps consumers compare credit cards.

"There is the temptation of using them and charging more and more," Hardekopf was quoted as saying in “Credits Cards: How Many to Have?”, an article that appeared in the Contra Costa Times. "Why tempt yourself with that situation?"

Do you have seven credit cards? If so, how many of them do you use? Is your debt level manageable or are you overextended with credit card debt?

Tomorrow's post will discuss "Stress About Debts Mounting in Tough Economic Times."

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Google steals most reputable title from Microsoft, as oil companies, airlines, and automakers tumble

Google is the most reputable company in America, according to a Harris poll.

In the 2008 listing, the top 10 companies are:

1. Google
2. Johnson & Johnson
3. Intel Corporation 
4. General Mills 
5. Kraft Foods 
6. Berkshire-Hathaway Inc.
7. 3M Company 
8. The Coca-Cola Company 
9. Honda Motor Co. 
10. Microsoft

Google stole the No. 1 spot from Microsoft, which fell to tenth place, according to ConsumerAffairs.com, which reported on the poll. At the bottom on the list were: Royal Dutch/Shell, Chevron Texaco, ExxonMobil, Citgo, and Halliburton.

Airlines also were unpopular in the survey. Positive perceptions of the airline industry fell five percentage points from the last survey, and insurance and financial services were down four percentage points, ConsumerAffairs.com reported. Technology ranked first in terms of an overall positive rating among consumers, followed by travel and tourism, retail, consumer products, telecom, and automotive.

Honda's ninth-place ranking was far ahead of other automakers. Toyota was No. 15 in the poll, while Chrysler (No. 51), GM (No. 52), and Ford (No. 54) lagged way behind.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Sale of manual, electric mowers growing as gas prices skyrocket

Have you ever used a lawn mower that doesn’t run on gas?

When I was growing up, we had a manual mower for years. It was heavy and hard to push for a kid.

When my dad bought a nonmanual mower, it was an electric one. I remember you had to be careful not to mow the cord.

I think my dad didn’t want to have a gas can in the car and in the shed. Probably a good safety idea.

Sales of manual and electric lawnmowers are up 60 percent to 70 percent over last year at American Lawn Mower Co., according an Associated Press article in The (Tacoma, Wash.) News Tribune.

Every year, about 300,000 push reel mowers are sold in the United States, with about 300,000 electric mowers also being sold. Americans buy about 6 million gas-powered, walk-behind lawnmowers annually.

Push reel mowers are lighter – 19 to 34 pounds – and they’re easier-to-push. Prices are about $100 to $250.

Nonriding, gas-powered mowers cost $150 to $400, with the nonriding, self-propelled variety costing $200 to $900.

Clean Air Gardening, a Dallas retailer that sells push reel and electric lawn mowers, said sales are up 27 percent this year, while sales of electric mowers made by Towson, Md.-based Black & Decker Corp. have increased more than 20 percent this year, according to the article.

What’s your lawn like? Would a manual or electric mower work for you? Are you likely to buy one to save money on gas?

Reducing polluting exhaust is another reason people are buying manual and electric lawnmowers. Is that a factor for you?

What about exercise? Does mowing your lawn with a manual mower provide good exercise?

Photo: American Lawn Moving Co.'s 1815-18 American Deluxe Reel Mower

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Don’t keep driving around with the fuel light on

It’s not a good idea to make a habit of driving around with little gas in your tank, according to an article in The (Raleigh, N.C.) News and Observer, “Playing Chicken With the Fuel Light.” You might have to pay someone to bring you gas and you could seriously damage your car.

Rust, dirt, and other debris collect at the bottom of the fuel tank. When the gas in the tank gets low, the fuel pump can become clogged, damaging the fuel injector and fuel filter. The problem is difficult and costly to fix.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Sky rocketing fuel costs resulting in surcharges, higher prices, with no way to tell what’s fair

Companies from many industries are adding fuel surcharges to or increasing the costs of what they sell.

Although Americans are cutting costs for food, gas, and vacations, little attention is being paid to many small and indirect ways consumers are paying for gas, according to the Washington Post article, “Consumer Pain Goes Beyond the Pump.” How fuel surcharges are calculated and carried out generally aren’t regulated.

Companies need to disclose to consumers upfront if a company intends to collect an added fee for fuel or energy.

Some examples of surcharges included in the article:

• $10 for mowing a lawn.

• $2 for delivering a pizza.

• $1.70 to ship a package.

• $1.58 to deliver groceries.

• 1 cent to mail a letter.

Carnival and Royal Caribbean cruise lines agreed to refund $61 million to customers who were billed for fuel surcharges after they booked their trips, the article states.

If a fuel surcharge hasn’t been disclosed to you or you think a price has been unfairly increased due to fuel costs, contact the Attorney General’s Office or the state agency in your state that handles consumer complaints. See the Web site of the National Association of Attorneys General for a directory of state offices.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Facial exercises worth a try to reduce wrinkles

When I was writing about wrinkle creams, Botox, and plastic surgery, I read that facial exercises can help reduce wrinkles and tighten the skin on the neck.

When I was looking through articles on Boomer411, I ran across a video by Carole Maggio author of the book “Facercise.” It showed Maggio leading classes doing facial exercises. Photos were also shown of people who had used her exercises achieving improvements in five days.

I decided to buy Maggio’s book.

I tried the exercises for the first time today. You do them for 20 minutes five times a week. I exercised muscles in the face and neck that I didn’t know I had. I hope I’m doing the exercises correctly. It’s more complicated than I thought. I’ll look for videos to make sure I have the right techniques.

I keep you posted on the results.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

E-mail announces national prize for newsletter

It was great to receive this e-mail from the National Federation of Press Women:

Congratulations! You have won First -- 50A in the 2008 NFPW Communications Contest.

We hope you will make plans now to attend the NFPW Conference September 11 - 13, 2008, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to receive your award in person at the Saturday evening Awards Banquet.

Again, congratulations!

Karen Galanaugh, Contest Director

Wow! The prize is for a 2007 issue of About Growth, a newsletter that I edited for the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. The newsletter won first place in the newsletter category in the Washington state contest, then was sent to the national competition.

It’s the first national-level prize I’ve received, although I’ve won regional and state awards. It’s very exciting.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

It’s best to pay off your mortgage before retirement

Michelle Singletary, financial writer and advisor, was shocked about a survey that found boomers aren’t in a rush to pay off their mortgages before retirement.

Singletary was taught and she thinks it makes good sense to get that major expense out of the way before retirement income drops.

In her article, “Don't Drag That Mortgage With You Into Old Age,” which appeared in The Washington Post, she quoted Jim Bell, founder and president of Bell Investment Advisors, about the company's survey:

Contrary to conventional wisdom, mortgages can actually be a wealth-building tool for boomers throughout their retirement years. In addition to their tax benefits, mortgages help free up funds that otherwise would be tied up in property ownership for investment in equities.

The finding was part of the third annual "Affluent Boomers at 60" survey conducted by the firm.

I agree with Singletary. If at all possible, get your mortgage paid off before you retire. It will help you meet expenses as costs continue to rise…and rise.

Visualize having a big party to celebrate really owning your own home. Invite everyone you know. It will be a great day for you and your family.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

More ways to cut food bill

Since food and gas prices keep rising, I’m looking for more ways to cut my expenses.

I already use most of the techniques I listed in my post “35 ways to cut your food bill.”

However, I’m taking a closer look at one of the items, eat less meat.

One of my health care providers suggested that since I tend to have low blood sugar, I should eat protein the size of a deck of cards at each meal. He's an advocate of the low carbohydrate diet.

Another health care provider said since I have type A blood, I should be on more of a vegetarian diet. He suggested eating more lentils.

When I was shopping at my local food co-op today, I bought organic green lentils at $1.32 a pound rather than organic red lentils, my usual purchase, at $1.57 a pound.

I bought organic small navy beans at $1.29 a pound, rather than organic baby Lima beams at $1.54.

The organic green split peas at 91 cents a pound were my choice instead of my usual purchase of organic yellow split peas at $1.39 a pound.

When I was at the co-op earlier in the week, I bought about half a bunch of celery out of the reduced produce bin, which cost 50 cents a pound. So I bought a jar of almond butter to spread in the celery. I thought it would make a good protein snack to eat when I’m blogging.

I selected the nonorganic 11-ounce jar for $8.14. I wasn’t sure I could eat the larger jar for about $12. I’m being more careful about wasting food in these high-cost food days.

I was surprised when I wrote my blog on worm composting yesterday about how much food is wasted in the United States. We waste 96 billion pounds of food yearly.

While I was pleased to be making savings in my food shopping trip, I worried I might have blown my good work. I bought an impulse item on sale; a box of cold cereal, Raspberry Ginger Low Fat Crisp – Raspberries With Crispy Corn Flakes, Oat Clusters, and Tangy Ginger. The cereal is 73 percent organic. I paid $3.29 for seven servings, that’s 47 cents a serving.

When I checked the cost of the organic kamut cereal I cook myself, it’s $1.44 a pound, or 48 cents a serving. Kamut is a type of wheat. I think barley is cheaper, so I’ll get that next time.

My treat, which I ate with much joy as I wrote this post, organic bing cherries for $5.98 a pound. They’re so good. The bing and Rainier cherries are only available for a short time in Washington state, even though we grow them in the state and 70 percent of the cherries grown in the U.S. come from the Northwest. I heard on NPR today cherries are Washington state’s third largest crop, and they bring $500,000 million to the state each year.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist