The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Giving to others on Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is a time of love and joy, when we gather with family and friends to give thanks for our many blessings.

Although you may be busy with holiday preparations and money is tight for most of us, it’s a good time to remember, for those who are able, those who are less fortunate.

Here are some ideas for giving to others on Thanksgiving:

• Donate a Thanksgiving meal or food items to your local food bank.

• Visit older relatives or friends who are in nursing homes. If your relatives are far away, call a local nursing home and ask about residents who would be cheered by visitors.

• Make a donation to your local women’s shelter.

• Find out if you have any farms nearby that have community supported agriculture programs and join one. Consumers buy shares in the farm and in return receive boxes of produce during the growing season.

• Volunteer at a Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless and others in need in your community.

• Volunteer your time and vehicle to deliver meals or to drive people to community Thanksgiving dinners.

• Donate items or money to second-hand stores.

• Do research and find out ways you can help Native Americans in need.

• Organize a fund-raising effort at work to help those in need on Thanksgiving or donate if a program or project already is in place.

• Invite extra guests to your Thanksgiving dinner, people who are alone or neighbors who may have lost their jobs.

• Be sure to check out any organization you’re considering donating to at the Better Business Bureau Web site and the agency in your state that registers charities.

Have a joyous Thanksgiving Day and holiday.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were the best and worst consumer experiences you had this week?

Recently, I launched a best and worst consumer experience feature on The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.

I think looking weekly at these experiences helps us learn from our successes and mistakes.

Here are my most and least successful consumer transactions for this week:

My best consumer experience: Buying a puzzle for my grandchildren

 

T.J. Maxx has good prices. I was able to find a large puzzle for my twin grandchildren, age 5, for $6.

It’s a large puzzle, three feet by two feet, that you put together on the floor. It’s called Let’s Learn Numbers. One side is brightly colored. The other side has the same pattern, only it’s black and white. Washable color crayons are included to color the black-and-white side.

The twins, now in kindergarten, said it would be too tiring to color it now. They’d wait until they have more time during Christmas vacation. The twins such fun and such a joy.

My worst consumer experience: My metal shingle roof

 

I’ve written before about the problems I’m having with my Custom-Bilt vail metal shingle roof.

When the first roof was installed, it leaked due to a manufacturing defect. The replacement roof leaked in the same way. However, Custom-Bilt isn’t willing to stand behind its product.

Now I’m trying to find a knowledgeable roof inspector to inspect the roof.

The consumer complaint goes on.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Cities where you’re most and least likely to find a job

 

Are you having difficulty finding a job in your city?

Indeed, a job search Web site, offers this ranking of cities based on the number of unemployed persons per job posting for the 50 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States. They are:

1. Washington, D.C. – 1 to 1
2. Baltimore – 1 to 1
3. Salt Lake City – 1 to 2
4. San Jose – 1 to 2
5. New York – 1 to 2
6. Oklahoma City – 1 to 2
7. Boston – 1 to 2
8. Hartford, Conn. – 1 to 2
9. Seattle – 1 to 3
10. Austin – 1 to 3
11. San Francisco – 1 to 3
12. Denver – 1 to 3
13. San Antonio – 1 to 3
14. New Orleans – 1 to 3
15. Virginia Beach, Va. – 1 to 4
16. Richmond, Va. – 1 to 4
17. Pittsburg – 1 to 4
18. Milwaukee – 1 to 4
19. Dallas – 1 to 4
20. Cleveland – 1 to 4
21. Columbus – 1 to 4
22. Houston – 1 to 4
23. Indianapolis – 1 to 4
24. Atlanta – 1 to 4
25. Charlotte, N.C. – 1 to 4
26. Philadelphia – 1 to 4
27. Phoenix – 1 to 5
28. St. Paul – 1 to 5
29. Kansas City, Mo. – 1 to 5
30. Cincinnati – 1 to 5
31. Providence, R.I. – 1 to 5
32. Chicago – 1 to 5
33. Nashville – 1 to 5
34. San Diego – 1 to 5
35. Birmingham, Ala. – 1 to 5
36. Louisville, Ky. – 1 to 6
37. Tampa – 1 to 6
38. Jacksonville, Fla. – 1 to 6
39. Buffalo – 1 to 6
40. Memphis – 1 to 6
41. Orlando – 1 to 6
42. St. Louis, Mo. – 1 to 6
43. Portland, Ore. – 1 to 7
44. Las Vegas – 1 to 7
45. Rochester, N.Y. – 1 to 7
46. Los Angeles – 1 to 7
47. Sacramento – 1 to 7
48. Riverside, Calif. – 1 to 9
49. Miami – 1 to 11
50. Detroit – 1 to 17

For details, see "Job Market Competition: Unemployed per Job Posting."

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What to buy a baby boomer dad for father’s day

About 17 million baby boomers are fathers.

I e-mailed six boomer dads and asked what they’d like to receive for a Father’s Day present.

Computer gadgets and a Sirius satellite radio were two of the requests.

Another boomer dad wants Bill O'Reilly’s newest book, a stainless steel sauté pan, a new putter, and a barbecue with his two daughters.

One dad said it would be great if his two sons volunteered to work for three days on clean up activities for the family’s vacation cabin.

A boomer dad with young children wistfully envisions a nice quiet day with a tasty steak and cold beer at the end of the day.

Similarly, another boomer dad wants a day at the beach on his Hobie Cat 17 sailboat, good winds, a great lunch, lots of sun, and no work.

More gift ideas

Amazon.com suggests giving your dad CDs from the 1960s and 70s. Their Web page Great Gifts for Your Baby Boomer Dad also recommends books including “How to Retire Early and Live Well With Less Than a Million Dollars” and “Eight Weeks to Optimum Health: A Proven Program for Taking Full Advantage of Your Body’s Natural Healing Power.” A Canon PowerShot S100 2MP Digital ELPH Camera Kit w/ 2x Optical Zoom is another suggestion.

You can also choose from books on a list of Books for Grownups recommended by AARP and Publishers Weekly. Among the offerings are “Do-Over: In Which a Forty-Eight-Year-Old Father of Three Returns to Kindergarten, Summer Camp, the Prom, and Other Embarrassments” and “Closing Time: A Memoir.”

If you want to give your dad electronic gadgets, the article “11 Affordable Father’s Day Gifts Dads Will Want” on mint.com offers suggestions for under $100.

A different kind of gift

Probably the most unusual gift suggestion I came across in my consumer research is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In its article, “Top Five Father’s Tips From USDA,” the department recommends giving your dad a food thermometer to make sure food is safe.

Other Father’s Day suggestions the department offers are: visit a local farmers’ market, explore a local forest or park, plant your own garden, and cook a healthy meal with dad.

Father's Day spending

Americans are expected to spend an average of $91 on gifts for dad, down slightly from $95 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $9.4 billion, the Nation Retail Federation reports. 

Other highlights from the federation’s annual survey include:

• Consumers will spend the most – $1.9 billion – on a special outing such as a dinner or a sporting event. 

• Clothing still ranks high among gift givers who are expected to spend $1.3 billion on new socks, slacks, and ties.

• Others will treat dad to a gift card – $1.2 billion; electronics – $1 billion; books or CDs – $548 million; home improvement items – $522 million; and sporting goods – $502 million.

More Father's Day gift resources for consumers

“Perfect Father’s Day Gifts for Baby Boomers” – Associated Content

"Father’s Day Gifts Under $50” – NBC Philadelphia

“Father’s Day Gift the Cheapskate Can Endorse” – The Cheapskate Blog on Time

Best wishes with your search for a present for your dad and your Father's Day activities. I hope you'll be able to visit with or talk with your dad on Father's Day.

My next post will be "A Tribute to My Dad on Father's Day."

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Who are our nation’s dads? Facts and figures on dads on Father’s Day

Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Wash., conceived the idea of Father’s Day while she listened to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909.

Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children by himself on a rural farm.

June was chosen for the first Father’s Day celebration – proclaimed for June 19, 1910, by Spokane’s mayor – because it was the month of William Smart’s birth.

The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.

Father’s Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent.

On Sunday, millions of families will be gathering on Father's Day to recognize their dads and the contributions they are making and have made.

Who are these dads, how many children do they have, and how many are single dads?

Here are facts and figures about fathers and Father’s Day from the U.S. Census Bureau:

How many fathers

66.3 million
Estimated number of fathers across the nation today.

26.5 million
Number of fathers who are part of married-couple families with their own children under the age of 18.

Among these –

• 21 percent are raising three or more of their own children under 18 years old.

• 11 percent are under 30.

• 5 percent are 55 and older.

• 2 percent live in the home of a relative or a nonrelative.

• 65 percent have an annual family income of $50,000 or more.

2.3 million
Number of single fathers, up from 393,000 in 1970. Currently, among single parents living with their children, 18 percent are men.

Among these fathers –

• 10 percent are raising three or more of their own children under 18 years old.

• 42 percent are divorced; 38 percent have never married; 15 percent are separated; and 5 percent are widowed.

• 15 percent live in the home of a relative or a nonrelative.

• 21 percent have an annual family income of $50,000 or more.

Stay-at-home dads

98,000
Estimated number of “stay-at-home” dads. These are married fathers with children under 15 years old who have remained out of the labor force for more than one year primarily so they can care for the family while their wives work outside the home.

Among these stay-at-home dads –

• 29 percent had their own children under 3 years old living with them.

• 63 percent had two or more children.

• 40 percent had an annual family income of $50,000 or more

Child-Support

4.6 million
Number of fathers who provide child support. All in all, 84 percent of child-support providers are men, who provide median payments of $3,600 annually.

Remembering all dads

Neckties lead the list of Father’s Day gifts. Number of men’s clothing stores: 10,416.

Other items high on the list of Father’s Day gifts include tools such as hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers. Number of hardware stores in the nation: 14,755. Number of home centers: 5,280.

Dads also often like items such as fishing rods and golf clubs. Number of sporting goods stores: 23,018.

Nearly 69 million Americans participated in a barbecue in the last year. Many of these may have taken place on Father’s Day.

Nearly 95 million
Number of Father’s Day cards expected to be given this year in the United States, making Father’s Day the fourth-largest card-sending occasion.

Fifty percent of all Father’s Day cards are purchased for dads. Nearly 20 percent are purchased for husbands, with the remaining bought for grandfathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and “someone special,” among other categories.

So happy Father’s Day to you fantastic 66.3 million dads in America. I hope your day is great and that you’re able to have a wonderful celebration.

My next post will be on “What to Buy a Baby Boomer Dad for Father’s Day.”

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What to buy a baby boomer mom for Mother’s Day

About 35 million baby boomers are mothers.

What kind of gifts do baby boomers like to receive on Mother’s Day?

Flowers, chocolates, and perfumes are always popular as are jewelry, candy, clothing, housewares, and gift certificates.

Books, music, or an MP3 player also may be good selections. Amazon.com has a special category listing these gift ideas called “Great Gifts for Your Baby Boomer Mom.”

From their list, here are some gifts that I thought would make good Mother’s Day presents:

“Herstory: Women Who Changed the World” by Deborah Ohran

“The Beatles Anthology” by Beatles

“Connections and Reflections: Mothers and Daughters in Their Own Light, in Their Own Words” by Catherine Koemptgen

“A Hard Day’s Night” DVD ~ Lionel Blair

“Gutsy Women: Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road (Travel Tales) (No. 1) by Marybeth Bond

“Boomer Babes: A Woman’s Guide to the New Middle Ages” by Rosemary Rogers

“Flashing on the Sixties” by Lisa Law

Personal Handheld Organizer by Palm

MP3 Player

“Blue” by Joni Mitchell

Thinking about getting your boomer mom a toaster? Think again. The worst Mother’s Day presents, according to a survey reported on in the article “Mother’s Day: Outside-the-Box Gift Ideas,” are:

• Nothing: 16 percent

• Household appliances: 11 percent

• Cooking/cleaning supplies: 7 percent

• Socks: 6 percent

• Non-fitting clothes: 6 percent

These articles on Mother’s Day gifts also looked useful:

“How to Create a Gift Basket for a Baby Boomer (Female)” – eHow.com

“Books for Grownups April 2009” – AARP and Publishers Weekly

“Mother’s Day Gifts: Recession Friendly Digital Gifts for Mom and Grandma” – Demystifying Digital.com

“Creatively Simple, Inexpensive Mother’s Day Ideas” – Stretcher.com

“Mother’s Day Gifts to Dazzle Mom” – News4Jax.com

“How to Celebrate Mother’s Day” – eHow.com

“How to Give the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift” – News4Jax.com

“Buy Beverly’s Book” – Boomer Diva Nation.com

“Top 10 Mother’s Day Gifts for Business Women” – About.com

I hope these ideas are helpful.

Just under half – 48 percent – of those whose mothers are alive will send cards for Mother’s Day while 47 percent will buy their moms a present and the same number will call their moms, a 2008 Harris Poll reports.

Three in ten – 29 percent – will take their moms to lunch or dinner while 26 percent will buy or send their moms flowers.
 
One in ten will cook for their moms while 2 percent will take them to a museum, show, or event and 5 percent say they’ll do nothing for their moms.

More than half of women – 53 percent – will buy their moms a present compared to 41 percent of men. Half of men will call their moms as will 45 percent of women.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How do baby boomers celebrate their birthdays?

My son-in-law is Spanish. In Spain, after age 10, birthdays aren’t celebrated. He thinks the American custom of making a big deal out of your birthday is strange.

For a recent birthday, I celebrated with family and friends. I had a great six-layer, yellow cake with scrumptious butter cream chocolate frosting. Among the presents I received was an organic towel.

At Johnny Rocket’s, I was given a free balloon. At a Greek restaurant, I was served a free piece of cake and an after dinner drink.

How do you celebrate your birthday? Do you celebrate the same way you’ve celebrated in recent years or have you found a new, fun way to mark the special day?

Do you enjoy birthdays more or less as the numbers climb?

Let me know what makes your baby boomer birthday special.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Tips on how to have a great Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day!

It’s a day for lovers, partners, and spouses to honor and acknowledge the one they love and their relationship.

I hope you’re able to enjoy a terrific celebration together and you receive much joy.

People will be spending less this Valentine's Day on each other, an estimated $20 less. That’s $103 each, down about 16 percent from last year.

For 2009, it’s estimated that $14.7 billion will be spent, according to the article “Valentine’s Day Shoppers Expected to Spend Less in 2009” on USA Today.

If you’re still debating about what to buy for a gift or need ideas for reducing your costs but still buying something nice, see the articles below.

If you’re marriage or your relationship isn’t going like you want right now, you may want to try using Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to call a truce, put some romance back into the relationship, work together on a project, or think about ways you can reconnect. See the article “How to Avoid Divorce and Save Your Marriage” on eHow for ideas.

If you’re single and don’t like seeing all the red decorations in stores and people making plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day, see my article “A Challenge for Singles on Valentine’s Day: Getting and Keeping a Cheerful Attitude.”

One of the suggestions in the article is to plan a fun activity for yourself.

When I typed “baby boomer” and “Valentine’s Day 2009” into Google, I received dozens of hits about boomer get togethers for singles on Valentine’s Day. Sounds like fun to me.

See these articles for tips for your Valentine’s Day shopping:

“Valentine’s Day Gifts for the Book Lover” – The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

“How to Buy Last Minute Valentine Gifts” – eHow

"Valentine’s Day Gifts: Green Love for Everyone" – Treehuger

“Valentine’s Day Gifts That Don’t Put You in the Red” – 50 Plus.com

“10 Tips for a Fun – But Frugal – Valentine’s Day" – msnbc.com

“10 Gifts That Don’t Cost a Thing” – Shine From Yahoo

"Don't Expect to Find Bargains on Valentine's Day Chocolate" – Consumer Reports.org Blog

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Companies fail to deliver holiday cheer

How successful were your holiday gifts from a consumer point of view?

ConsumerAffairs.com offers this list of troubling consumer goods and services based on a review of the thousands of consumer complaints it received about holiday gift giving:

• Pyrex items that exploded.

• American Express gift cards that didn’t work or weren’t received.

• Target’s restrictive return policies.

• Toys ‘R’ Us’ restrictive return policies.

• 1800Flowers orders that weren’t delivered.

• Xboxes that didn’t work for long.

• Federal Express late or lost shipments.

• UPS late or lost shipments.

• US Postal Service late or lost shipments and low-quality customer service.

For details, see the article “How the Grinches Stole Christmas ... Again.”

 Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Merry Christmas to all

I hope your Christmas Day celebrations are wonderful. It’s such a great time to be with family, friends, and loved ones.

 

We had a great Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. The children loved opening their presents this morning. I had fun receiving presents, too. One was a great new cookbook. I’ll blog about it tomorrow.

 

Merry Christmas to you and those near and dear to you. I hope if Christmas Day is a day you celebrate it’s a fantastic one.

 

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist