The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Last-minute Mother’s Day gifts for your mom

By Rita R. Robison

Mother's Day is Sunday, and it's crunch time to get mom that perfect gift.

It’s getting too late to order from the Internet, but you can check out dealnews.com for ideas and to see what stores are offering bargains and coupons.

If you still haven’t bought Mom a gift, dealnews.com advises avoiding the traditional. That’s because, for the past two years, dealnews.com has seen a lot of jewelry styles actually increase in price at the beginning of May.

Your favorite department or discount store may be offering good last-minute bargains. Here are some examples:

Sears

• 50 percent off spring clothing.
• Up to 75 percent off on jewelry, plus 20 percent off diamonds and gemstones.
• Save 15 percent on Teleflora orders with use of your Sears card by using promo code: MOM15.

RitzPix

• 8 x 10 photos for $1 each.
• 20 percent off personalized photo books.

Nordstrom

• Jewelry, clothing, sleep wear, summer hats, purses, belts, scarves, and cosmetics suggestions for mom for under $50.

FTD

• Up to 25 percent off on Mother’s Day orders of flowers.

Best wishes with your last-minute shopping. And, I hope you and your mom have a good time on Mother’s Day, if you live close enough to visit her on her special day.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Better Business Bureau: Check out firms before you buy your Mother’s Day gifts from them

Flowers, candy, gift baskets, jewelry, and spa treatments may be at the top of the Mother’s Day shopping list, but consumers need to be careful.

“Mother’s Day shoppers should be thinking about ‘when’ and ‘where’ to buy, especially with online orders and last-minute purchases,” Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington, said in a statement. “Whether it is days or months in advance – or even after the holiday – BBB can help buyers screen sellers.”

The BBB has had the following inquiries in the last 36 months:

• 6,609 on “Florists – Retail”
• 5,362 on “Candy & Confectionery – Retail”
• 7,785 on “Gift Baskets & Parcels”
• 71,335 on “Jewelers – Retail”
• 9,537 on “Day Spas”

Smart start: Search retailers, shops, and other services on bbb.org.

Online orders: Review guarantees, shipping policies, delivery dates, and charges on “rushed” orders. Provide contact information so companies can confirm shipping status.

Store shopping: Inspect products thoroughly and keep track of all purchase paperwork – including gift receipts.

Payment protections: Collect customer service information, save receipts, and pay by credit card when possible.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Facts and figures on moms for Mother’s Day 2012

By Rita R. Robison

The average person celebrating Mother' Day is expected to spend $153 on gifts, up from $141 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $18.6 billion, the National Retail Federation said in a statement.

Consumers will give mom special meals and/or outings, clothing, electronics, flowers, and more. Two-thirds will buy flowers, spending a total of $2.2 billion, and nearly one-third will treat mom to a new blouse or sweater, spending $1.6 billion on clothing and accessories.

Those buying electronics, 13 percent, will spend a total of $1.6 billion on tablets, digital cameras, and more, and more than half of all celebrants will treat mom to a nice dinner or brunch, spending $3.4 billion. In addition, consumers will spent $1.8 billion on gift cards and $1.3 billion on personal services such as a trip to a day spa.

Mobile and tablet owners will keep an eye out for deals this Mother’s Day as nearly four in 10 smartphone owners and just over half of tablet owners plan to use their devices to research products/compare prices, redeem coupons, look up retailer information, and purchase gift items.

For who American mother’s are, the U.S. Census Bureau offers these statistics:

How many mothers

85.4 million

Estimated number of mothers in the United States in 2009.

4 million

Number of women between the ages of 15 and 50 who gave birth in the past 12 month.

53%

Percentage of 15- to 50-year-old women who were mothers in 2010.

81%

Percentage of women who had become mothers by age 40 to 44 as of 2010. In 1976, 90 percent of women in that age group had given birth.

How many children

2.5

The total fertility rate or number of births in 2009 per woman in Utah (based on current birth rates by age), which led the nation. At the other end of the spectrum is Vermont, with a total fertility rate of 1.6 births per woman.

94%

The percentage of the 37.8 million mothers living with children younger than 18 in 2004, who lived with their biological children only. In addition, 3 percent lived with any stepchildren, 2 percent with any adopted children, and less than 1 percent with any foster children.

20%

Percentage of all women age 15 to 44 who have had two children. About 47 percent had no children, 17 percent had one, 10 percent had three, and about 5 percent had four or more.

Recent births

4.13 million

Number of births registered in the United States in 2009. Of this number, 409,840 were to teens 15 to 19 and 7,934 to women age 45 to 54.

25.1

Average age of women in 2008 when they gave birth for the first time, up from 25 years in 2006 and 2007. The mean age from 2007 to 2008 reflects, in part, the relatively large decline in births to women under age 25 compared with the small decline for women in the 25-39 age bracket.

55%

Percentage of mothers with a birth in 2010 who were in the labor force. This decreased from 57 percent in 2008.

27.3%

The percentage of mothers who had given birth in the past 12 months who had a bachelor's degree or higher. Among states, New Hampshire had the highest percentage of recent mothers in this category with 48 percent. Mothers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Maryland also had percentages higher than the national average.

83%

Percentage of women age 15 to 44 with at least a high school diploma who gave birth in the last year. For women age 30 to 44, the figure was 90 percent.

Jacob and Isabella

The most popular baby names for boys and girls, respectively, in 2010.

Spring apparel, candy to send Easter sales past $16 billion, survey says

Americans will spend an average of $145 on everything from apparel and candy to food and decorations this year, up 11 percent from $131 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $16.8 billion.

“Though the price of gas is on everyone’s mind, Easter is one of the few holidays some consumers are willing to stretch their budgets, especially because many children look forward to treats and new outfits on Easter morning,” said National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay.

Consumers celebrating Easter want to buy for candy and new spring clothes, according to a federation survey.

Nearly half will head to the stores to take advantage of spring sales on fashions and accessories, with total spending on those items expected to reach $3 billion. Most, 89 percent, will buy more than $2 billion on traditional favorites such as chocolate eggs and jelly beans. The average person will spend more on these items as well: $26 on apparel, up from $22 last year, and $20 on candy, up from $19 last year.

Americans are also set to spend more on their Easter meals with the average person expected to spend $44, up from $40 last year for a total $5.1 billion. In addition, consumers will spend an average of $21 on gifts for their friends and family, $11 on flowers, and $9 on decorations for their home and office. Half will buy greeting cards, spending an average of $7.

More than half of tablet owners celebrating Easter will use their device to research products and purchase gifts and other merchandise. In addition, 43 percent of smartphone owners celebrating Easter will use their mobile device to research and/or purchase items.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Banks, telecoms, electronics, retailers among companies requiring forced arbitration

If your bank, cell phone provider, employer, or other company that you conduct business with violated your rights or cheated you, would you want to be able to take them to court?

Many companies are now using fine print to stop consumers from taking legal action, according to Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group.

Below is Public Citizen’s listing of some of the largest corporations that have placed “forced arbitration” clauses in their terms of service. Forced arbitration blocks consumers and employees from holding companies accountable in court because they must take their claims to private, secretive tribunals that often favor the companies, the consumer group said in a statement.

Telecommunications: DirectTV, Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, Sprint, T-Mobile, Clearwire, Time Warner Cable, Tacfone.

Consumer banking and credit: Wells Fargo, US Bank, Regions Banks, BB&T, Discover, PNC Bank, Chase.

Student loans: Sallie Mae, Citibank, Chase, Discover.

Consumer electronics: Sony, Dell, Gateway, Electronic Arts, XBox Live.

Nursing homes: Candansk, Covenant Dove, Driftwood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Kindred Nursing Center, Manor Care of Florida, OP Winter Haven, SA-PG Sun City Center, Triad Health Management of Georgia.

Home builders: D.R. Horton, Pulte Homes, Centex Corp., Lennar, KB Home, Hovnanian Enterprises, NVR (Ryan), The Ryland Group, Beazer Homes.

Gift cards: Starbucks, Pep Boys, Gold’s Gym, Ticketmaster, Crocs, In-N-Out Burger, Red Mango, Patagonia, Discover.

Ecommerce and entertainment: amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Netflix, Hulu.

Employment: Hooters of America, Forever 21, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus Group, Macy’s West Stores, Yahoo! Inc.

Miscellaneous: New Leaf Academy, Orkin.

Public Citizen asks consumers to add more companies that are taking away their rights with forced arbitration by sending an e-mail to action@citizen.org.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Do you know a senior mom who’s hungry on Valentine’s Day?

Barb Anderson, founder of Mom's Meals, and her mom

By Rita R. Robison

Valentine’s Day can be a lonely holiday for many seniors.

Instead of giving chocolate this year, you may want to consider giving your aging parent or relative a gift that could make a difference on a daily basis – nutritious meals, says Mom’s Meals, a company that offers meals delivered to the home by FedEx.

It’s startling that:

• Poor nutrition and malnutrition occur in 15 to 50 percent of the elderly population. About 2,000 to 3,000 seniors die from malnutrition annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
• More than five million older Americans are at risk of hunger, and each day millions of older adults have to choose between buying groceries and the medications they need.
• Americans 75 years of age and older have a 40 percent rate of being underweight. Underweight people are 40 percent more likely to die in the first month after than patients who are overweight, according to a study in the Archives of Surgery.

Obesity in America is getting a lot of attention. However, hunger and nutrition issues among seniors don’t get much coverage. It may be a good idea to check out what’s in the refrigerator of your elderly loved ones and see what can be done to help out.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What do women want for Valentine’s Day?

By Rita R. Robison

This year, the Consumer Electronics Association is saying women want electronics for Valentine’s Day. However, a blog article I read said that said women don’t want electronics – that men buy them for their female loved one because they’ve been nagging them to learn the device and “gifting” the item will get them to use it.

Today, RetailMeNot.com, a coupon site, sent me information on its Valentine’s Day Survey, which found that men don’t seem to be in tune with the wants and desires of their significant other this holiday. The greatest disconnect being men who plan to purchase their partner either candy or a romantic night out on the town. 

The survey showed that 33 percent of men intended to buy their significant other candy, with only 20 percent of women actually wanting this for Valentine’s Day – a 13-point gap. A similar disparity existed for men planning to take their partner out for a romantic night on the town, such as dinner and a movie – 38 percent of men said that they would do it this year, with only 25 percent of women wanting a night out. 

While men are overcompensating with gifts of candy and dinner reservations, they are falling short in terms of buying jewelry. The survey shows 21 percent of women preferred gifts of jewelry, while only 16 percent of male respondents said they intended to purchase jewelry for Valentine’s Day.

On flowers, 32 percent of men intended to purchase flowers for Valentine’s Day for their significant other, while 27 percent of women want flowers.

For cards, 38 percent of men said they intend to buy a Valentine’s Day card, and 36 percent of women said they wanted a card for the holiday.

Not unexpectedly, 12 percent of respondents to the survey reported that they “do not have a significant other” for Valentine’s Day.

I think a discussion about what you want to do and receive on Valentine’s Day makes sense, especially in these tight money times. See my article, “What Does Valentine’s Day Mean to You?” for suggestions on thinking through your Valentine’s Day spending if you’re having financial problems.

The sluggish economy is still a factor in consumer’s gift-giving plans, according to the RetailMeNot survey. Nearly a fourth of consumers said that they don’t intend to spend any money this Valentine’s Day on their significant other, and more than 50 percent intend to spend $100 or less.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Watch out for ‘sweetheart swindles’ if you’re looking for love on Valentine’s Day

More people are turning to the Internet to find Mr. or Ms. Right through online dating services, pop-up ads, or email.

A mid-West Consumer Fraud Task Force warns those who use the Internet to find love that, while online dating has resulted in some successful relationships, criminals also troll the sites for victims who will send them money.

Task Force partners get thousands of complaints every year from people who have lost money to someone they met on dating sites.

Some criminals say they’re in the military and stationed overseas. Others may claim to have a sudden emergency, such as medical bills for a sick relative, or they claim they’re in need of cash because they’re stranded or behind on their bills. 

Often the “emergency” occurs after weeks or months of online chitchat, often filled with flattery that makes the victim feel as if he or she has found true love.

A woman in Washington state got a 46-month prison term for swindling an elderly doctor out of $2.2 million by faking an online romantic relationship over several years ending in 2010.

A study in the United Kingdom found that more than 200,000 people in Britain had been conned by scammers posing as potential romantic partners online. The victims lost about $379,600.

A lawsuit filed in Dallas in December 2010 claimed that more than half the profiles on a leading dating site were “inactive, fake, or fraudulent.” In some cases, the profiles link to scammers in other countries, often in Africa or Eastern Europe. For that reason, it can be difficult for law enforcement or other agencies to make arrests or recover victims’ money, the Task Force said in a statement.

The Task Force urges anyone who uses an online dating service or answers an unsolicited romantic email to be extremely cautious before committing to meet the person or send them money, tickets, or anything else of value.

Some tips and red flags to watch for include:

• Find out whether the dating service does any background checks or fraud scans before a person’s profile is posted.
• Be cautious if the person claims to be recently widowed or says he or she is an American stationed overseas, possibly in the military.
• Be cautious if the person immediately asks you to communicate on an e-mail or messaging system outside the dating site. Some dating sites monitor exchanges for signs of fraud, and a fraudster may be anxious to lure you away from the site.
• Do a Google search on the person. You can even paste the text of the e-mail, profile description, or pictures into Google and search to see if similar text, pictures, or descriptions are used by others. Some criminals create multiple profiles and use the same information over and over.
• Be suspicious if the person hints that they’re in financial trouble or have another sudden need for money. If the person asks you to wire money – such as by Western Union, MoneyGram, or Green Dot MoneyPak – it more than likely is a scam.
• Check the person’s name in online databases of sex offenders, which are available in many states. 
• Go to a place where there are large numbers of people and where you feel safe, if you decide to meet the person. Consider taking someone along with you.

The Task Force is a coalition of local, state, and federal government agencies and nonprofit business and consumer groups in Missouri and Illinois that work together to protect consumers against fraud.

For information, or if you think you may be the victim of a scam, contact these Task Force members:

• Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois – 314-645-3300; www.bbb.org.

• Federal Trade Commission – 877-382-4357; www.ftc.gov.

• Illinois Attorney General – 800-243-0618; www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov.

• Missouri Attorney General – 800-392-8222; www.ago.mo.gov.

• U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Missouri – 314-539-2200; www.usdoj.gov/usao/moe.

• U.S. Postal Inspection Service – 877-876-2455; postalinspectors.uspis.gov.

• U.S.  Secret Service – 314-539-2238; www.secretservice.gov.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?

By Rita R. Robison

Does Valentine’s Day mean buying a gift for your partner or taking him or her out to dinner? How about flowers and candy?

The average person celebrating the holiday will spend about $126 on Valentines Day, up 8.5 percent over last year’s $116, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. That’s the highest in the survey’s 10-year history. Total spending is expected to reach $17.6 billion.

Consumers will spend the most on their partners, with the average person planning to spend $74 on their spouse or significant other, up from $69 last year. In addition, consumers will spend an average of $25 on their children, parents, or other family members and $7 on friends. For pets, the average consumer will spend about $5 on their pets.

The survey also found the average male is expected to spend $169 on clothing, jewelry, greeting cards, and other items this year. That’s nearly twice as much as women who are expected to spend an average of $86.

What do consumers plan to buy?

More than eight in 10 will buy jewelry, up from 17.3 percent last year and the highest percent in the survey’s history. Other Valentine’s Day items: 13 percent will buy gift cards, up from 13 percent last year. In addition, half of all celebrants will buy candy, 36 percent flowers, and 36 percent an evening out.

Total Valentine’s Day spending is expected to reach more than $17.6 billion.

What should you do about Valentine’s Day if you’re having financial problems?

Consumers who are having financial distress or on the cusp shouldn’t feel compelled to spend. It could put their economic well-being at further risk.

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling suggests that consumers consider the what love isn’t as they shop for their Valentine:

• Love isn’t spending more than you can afford on a gift. Regardless of the motive, being overly generously when money is tight is really no gift at all, to the recipient or the giver.
• Love isn’t being a pretender. Honesty, including financial honesty, is key to any relationship. Don't pretend that you have money you don't by playing the big-spender role.
• Love isn’t making financial decisions with the heart. Even though emotional spending can give a temporary high, it can also lead to guilt and buyer's remorse.
• Love isn’t avoiding the financial realities. Burying your head in the financial sand and living as if there were no money problems only digs the financial hole deeper.
• Love isn’t giving a gift that will soon be forgotten. Most people can’t remember what they received last Valentine's Day. Making a purchase simply to have a gift in hand will be equally forgettable and a waste of money.

"Spending irresponsibly is no way to say 'I love you,'” Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the foundation, said in a statement. “However, showing that you are financially reliable is a tangible expression of that sentiment. It's a gift that's meaningful, always in style, won't wilt or add pounds.”

If you need help finding extra money in your budget, consider contacting a credit counseling agency. To locate an agency near you, call 800-388-2227 or visit www.DebtAdvice.org

Great photos provide a good consumer experience this week, while a big furnace bill disappoints

By Rita R. Robison

I’m getting joy this week in working on a photo project with a friend. However, I’m grumpy about paying a big furnace bill because the power outage wrecked a part in my furnace.

My best experience: Making a photo book for a friend

I noticed Kits Camera is having a sale on 12-inch by 12-inch photo books.

For years, I’ve wanted to make one for a friend who designs exhibits. We’re working on the book together. It’s fun and brings back a lot of great memories.

My worst experience: A big furnace repair bill

Several days after a power outage due to a huge winter storm, I came home and smelled something like electrical wires burning. A while later, my smoke alarm came on and off twice.

I called the fire department, but the firemen couldn’t find a fire. However, we figured out that when the furnace came on, the smell occurred.

Fortunately, a repairman was able to come that evening. I paid an extra $75 for an overtime cost.

The entire bill was $610. The power outage burned out a part in the furnace.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist