The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?



Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:



My best consumer experience: Balancing my checkbook

My paycheck came in this week and so did my mortgage payment. I balanced my checkbook.

I sat down and paid my bills. Then I balanced my checkbook again.

There wasn’t much money left. A good thing to know to keep from getting overdraft charges.

I belong to a credit union and have an overdraft protection plan. The fee for checks is only $2, but I still want to avoid a series of those charges.

Many banks are hiking overdraft fees along with other fees and interest rates.

Some banks charge as much as $39 when customers overdraw their bank account by even a few dollars.

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My worst consumer experience: Trying to figure out Verizon’s cell phone offers

When I learned that my cell phone is on the high end of the scale in terms of the radiation it emits, I decided it’s time for a new cell phone. See the article “Are You Using a Cell Phone That Emits High Levels of Radiation?” for information about cell phone ratings by the Environmental Working Group.

I checked out the iPhones, and disappointedly, they’re also on the high end of the scale. Beside, if I bought an iPhone, I’d have to deal with AT&T.

Verizon has given me good service, so I’d like to stay with them.

When I saw I could get a Blackberry for free if I signed up a two-year Verizon contract, I was excited. And, more importantly, the BlackBerry in the ad was on the low end of the radiation emissions scale.

When I called Verizon, my hopes were dashed. You have to pay a $30 monthly charge for a data package if you get a BlackBerry. That would make my cell phone costs about $75 a month, which is too costly.

Verizon should certainly put this information in its ads. It felt like “bait and switch” advertising.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Journalist

Tips for saving more money in tough economic times

Want to know how to cut your spending?

An article "How to Get Everything for Less" in the October issue of Good Housekeeping caught my eye. It offers five helpful suggestions for consumers.

The tips offered include:

1. Stack discounts and store sales.

Look for Web coupons, Web codes, and other discounts to use when you buy items on sale. Get on the frequent-shopper mailing and e-mail lists of stores you shop in frequently.

2. Shop in high-income zip codes.

Check out the second hand stores in these areas.

3. Learn the sales cycle.

Ask at stores what day of the week new merchandise is put out and older items marked down.

4. Weigh how to pay.

Pay in cash at thrift stores, and use a credit card for liquidators and other stores where sales are final.

5. Do some post-purchase research.

Sign up for price drop alerts, at sites such as priceprotectr.com, after you’ve made a major purchase.

For details on these money saving suggestions, get a copy October’s Good Housekeeping at your local newsstand, supermarket, or bookstore, or check your local library for a copy.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Valuable handbook offers latest tips for consumers

 

Today I receive a great treat. A copy of the “2009 Consumer Action Handbook” arrived in the mail.

This 169-page handbook, published annually by the Federal Citizen Information Center, provides the latest information that you need to be a savvy baby boomer consumer.

You’ll find information to help you manage and stretch your money such as preventing identify theft and filing consumer complaints.

Topics of special interest to baby boomers include:

Buyer beware

• Before you buy

• Identifying and stopping fraud

Banking

• ATM/Debit cards

• Prepaid cards

• Unsolicited checks and credit offers

Cars

• Leasing a car

• Repairs

Credit

• Credit reports and scores

• Dealing with debt

Employment

• Employment agencies

• Work-at-home companies

Food and Nutrition

• Healthy food choices

• Food safety

Health care

• Choosing a doctor

• Prescription drugs

Housing

• Avoiding foreclosure

• Home improvement and repairs

Internet

• Prevent online fraud

• Spam

Investing

• Online trading

• Financial brokers and advisors

Phones

• Slamming and cramming

• Cell phones

Privacy protection and identity theft

• Reporting identity theft

• Online privacy

Travel

• Resolving air travel problems

• Passports

Wills and Funerals

Information is included on how and where to file consumer complaints. You’ll also find public resources and contact information as well as a consumer assistance directory with contact information for corporate offices, consumer organizations, trade groups, and government agencies.

Get your copy of the handbook today to help you increase your consumer power. You can order it online.

Or a searchable version of the handbook is available at www.ConsumerAction.gov and in Spanish at www.Consumidor.gov.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Is the Internet interfering with your family life?

Americans spend 32.7 hours a week online.

As a result, they’re spending less time with their families.

In a survey, 28 percent of Americans said they’ve been spending less time with members of their households, the Annenberg Center for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California reports. That's nearly triple the 11 percent who said that in 2006.

A 10-year-old girl told how her dad spends a lot of the little time he has at home on the computer, on the NPR program “Daddy, What’s a Facebook?” She described how her little brother throws tantrums to get his dad’s attention when he’s using the computer so long.
 
What’s happening in your home? Are your family relationships being affected negatively by computer use? Is the problem worse since Facebook and Twitter have become so popular?

Do you have limits on how much teens can use the computer? Do your teens have their own laptops?

Write a comment below and let me know if soaring Internet use is causing squabbles in your home.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison

High-income earners moving their businesses to resort towns

It’s appealing to many baby boomers these days.

Move your business to Florida, Colorado, Nevada, or Wyoming, resort towns and ski areas that once were seen as places to vacation or build your second home.

The Internet, wireless technology, and the availability of airline flights are making it possible for high-income earners to move from city centers to fabulous vacation spots.

Personal income data released in April by the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows tourist towns are becoming more wealthy, the Associated Press reports.

Here are the top 20 high-income counties in the United States, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis:

1. Teton County, Wyo. – $132,728
2. New York – $120,790
3. Loving County, Texas – $99,593
4. Pitkin County, Colo. – $93,465
5. Marin County, Calif. – $91,483
6. Fairfield County, Conn. – $81,576
7. Westchester County, N.Y. – $74,878
8. San Mateo County, Calif. – $71,753
9. Morris County, N.J. – $71,713
10. San Francisco, Calif. – $71,342
11. Somerset County, N.J. – $70,949
12. Alexandria, Va. – $70,632
13. Arlington County, Va. – $68,270
14. Fairfax County, Va. (includes Fairfax City and Falls Church) – $67,909
15. Montgomery County, Md. – $67,525
16. Bergen County, N.J. – $67,125
17. Hunterdon County, N.J. – $66,449
18. Sully County, S.D. – $64,352
19. Blaine, Idaho – $64,207
20. Collier County, Fla. – $63,276

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Top 10 baby boomer challenges

What are the top 10 difficulties baby boomers face today?

With the recession continuing, many boomers are stressed about money, jobs, and housing.

Here’s my take on the top 10 things worrying boomer consumers these days:

1. Setting a retirement date

With investment returns and housing prices down, many boomers are postponing retirement.

2. Keeping a job

Older workers are often the first to be laid off, so boomers have concerns about being able to remain in the workforce. Or, they’re unemployed and looking for work.

3. Declining health

As boomers get older, the chances of becoming ill – including developing a serious illness or having a heart attack – increase. 

4. Rising health care costs

Health care spending has risen about 2.4 percent faster than GDP since 1970. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services project that by 2018 health care spending will be more than $4.3 trillion or $13,100 per resident and account for 20.3 percent of GDP. Meanwhile, the quality of health care diminishes, including an increased risk of getting an infection when you go to the hospital.

5. Dwindling home values

In 2008, home sales prices fell an average of 9.5 percent, the largest annual decrease in 39 years.

6. Handling family relationships

Tough economic times make it more difficult to visit with adult children and their families who are spread across the country. Or, adult children may need to move back home due to job losses and financial setbacks. 

7. Increasing costs and the inability to pay off debts

Costs are continuing to rise while raises and promotions disappear, making it more difficult to pay off credit card debt.

8. Decreasing leisure activities

With money tight, the opportunity for vacations and health club memberships are reduced. 

9. Increasing stress levels

More demands at work, less time to spend with family and friends, and the intrigues of social networking make it difficult to find a time to relax.

10. Increasing declines in environmental quality

Although the Obama Administration has plans to turn around the environmental destruction of recent years, the sweeping changes needed aren’t yet in place.

Let me what’s of concern to you as a baby boomer. 

Tomorrow’s post will discuss “Top 10 Reasons for Baby Boomers to Be Optimistic.”

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Twitter rapidly rolls in consumer information for baby boomers

As a baby boomer, how can Twitter help you become a better consumer?

Sign up on Twitter and look for consumer groups to follow.

That’s what I did after I found that my friends and family weren’t on Twitter yet.

I started out by following Consumer Reports, The Consumerist, and Public Citizen. When I asked what other consumer groups I should follow, I received the suggestion to follow FDA Recalls, CDC Emergency, and Food Safety.

Now, when I check Twitter several times a day, I have dozens of message of up to 140 characters on: Consumer Reports’ articles and activities; articles and reports about upset and happy consumers from The Consumerist; food recalls; and information on how to prepare for emergencies from the Centers for Disease Control.

While I like the blog ideas, the food recalls are amazing. I saw peanut butter cookies sold by my local food co-op roll by.

I'm also following a few boomers on Twitter.

What is Twitter and how does it work? See my article “Baby Boomers and Twitter,” which appeared on Boomer411 this week.

In response to my article, Going Like Sixty said he’s “having a ball on Twitter.” He also said he’s following @JaneFonda, and she writes neat tweets. “She doesn’t write like a celeb,” he said, adding he enjoys her blog, too.

Going Like Sixty said Twitter is like instant messaging, only with a party line.

My handle on Twitter is @BoomerGuide, so follow me if you’re tweeting.

Here are some other reports on Twitter and baby boomers:

“Baby Boomers on Twitter” – Boomer Café

“Baby Boomers Jump into Twitter" – Boomer Café

“How to Tackle Twitter as a Baby Boomer” – Boomer Diva Nation

“Seven Ways to Use Twitter for Profit and Fun” – The Baby Boomer Entrepreneur

To join Twitter, go to www.twitter.com. It’s free.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Baby boomer consumers need to know about product recalls

What you don’t know about product safety could kill you.

When I began writing for consumers in 1977, I was on the mailing list of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. I received a news release about a shop light that had killed people and was being recalled.

I showed the information to a family member. Sure enough! It was the recalled light. It was returned to the store for a refund.

It’s important for boomer consumers to regularly obtain information on consumer recalls for their safety and the safety of others in the household.

The question is “How do you keep up with recall information?”

It’s a big task. I’m going to blog weekly about a recall, and include a link for the federal government’s recall site at www.Recalls.gov.

The site offers information on consumer products, motor vehicles, boats, food, cosmetics, and environmental products. You can search by type of product, company, or a specific product.

You can also sign up to receive e-mail recalls from five government agencies.

This week’s recall is stuffed animals and creature toys sold at Old Navy whose eyes can detach and pose a choking hazard for young children. Children should not be allowed to play with the toys. The toys should be returned for a refund.

See the news release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission for details.

My next post will be on "What Do You Need to Do About the Peanut Recall?"

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide celebrates its first anniversary

The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide is now one year old!

It’s been an amazing year. It’s fun to do research and writing about baby boomers.
 
I’ve learned so much. And I’ve “met” so many interesting and wonderful people who’ve read my blog and given me tips and feedback.

When I decided to become a blogger, I wanted to offer a place where boomer consumers could obtain information to help them get what they want in their lives.

After 288 posts and 271 comments about boomers, we’ve been able to create the conversation place that I’d hoped for. Thank you so much for your interest and support.

To celebrate the first anniversary of this blog, I’d like to share with you some of the comments I’ve received from readers. That’s what blogging is all about; learning and interacting in this new world-wide communication era.

Here are readers’ comments:

General

• GREAT Blog!  Full of excellent and useful information! Phil

• Thanks for a well written blog. I enjoyed browsing through it. I love how the Internet brings us all together… Marilyn

• I stopped by your blog and am really impressed... Beverly Mahone
  

• What a resource. Love your blog... Nana Connie

• I was very impressed with your blog... Stephanie Stangl

• Rita, I read all your posts -- like your flow and timing and content. I didn’t know about your extensive journalism background. Fun -- thanks for putting yourself out there! Paul Knox

• I'll be a regular reader of your blog.  Very cool! Jan

Consumers

• Wow - This is a great site for information about consumer information. Joe

• Great list [on the top consumer stories of 2008]. The economy tops it all, doesn't it. James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

• Great list of resources [on green Web sites]. I added a few of them to my own required reading list. Birney Summers

• Excellent post/article [on Martin Luther King Jr.], Rita. Fitting for this inaugural week that features the swearing in of our first African American President and the commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr., also. Marvin D. WilsonM

Boomers

• What a comprehensive post [on baby boomer women and holiday spending]. Thanks for sharing your expertise. I will be back often. Rosie

Holidays

• Great suggestions [on surviving Thanksgiving Day with relatives].and sometimes we forget the reason for Thanksgiving...Be grateful for all we have...and then some. Carol Stanley

Retirement

• These are some very good tips [on using retirement planning techniques in this financial crisis]. So many boomers are having to delay their retirement due to the current state of the economy – these tips come in very handy! ... Isabella Coldivar

Food

• Thanks to your post [on the best containers to store food in]. I've checked all of my plastic containers. Luckily they are all No. 5 plastic! Lisa

• This [article on becoming a vegetarian] is fantastic! … K.T.

Housing

• You do a great job of breaking down this decision [on purchasing windows] into its integral parts. Many times the wrong window is selected because people don't know what to exactly look for; but if the steps you outlined are followed, the proper window can be selected with ease. Utah Windows

Health

• Totally! I've been using acupuncture for years. The first time I ever had a treatment, I had suffered with chronic pain for years. One treatment and it was gone forever! I love acupuncture and recommend it to everyone. Rhea

• This is a helpful post [on finding a qualified provider for testing and fitting before you buy a hearing aid] as was the earlier one on hearing loss. This gave me some insight as to why my mom had such a difficult time with the hearing aids she was given. She never took the time to retrain the brain. Mary

• Great tips [on flattening your belly instantly]. I've (almost) given up diet soda, although I fall off the wagon two to three times a month, but I used to be a two-diet coke a day consumer. And I find peppermint tea soothing. Beth

Travel

• Being amongst the oldest Boomers myself I was delighted to discover your blog. Although I live in England, we post War babies are facing the same challenges wherever we live. Thanks for relating your daughter's home exchange experiences and also for drawing attention to the tips from the Independent Traveler. I have been running Home Base Holidays from London since 1985... Cheers, Lois Sealey

Thanks again for your support. I'm looking forward to more exciting boomer consumer research, writing, and conversation.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How to buy last-minute Christmas gifts

With storms ravishing most of the northern parts of the country, the mid-West, and the Rocky Mountain states, the best advice on buying last-minute Christmas gifts is probably calling your favorite catalog company and requesting express mail service.

Internet shopping at this point is risky. Even though delivery by Christmas day is promised, Internet companies may miss the date. While you could get a refund, you’ll be without a gift for your special someone.

If you’re able to get out of your house, make a list to save time. If you’re able to buy three gifts at one store, you won’t waste time going from store to store. Try shopping at local stores rather than the malls because malls are likely to be crowded. Put stores on your list that offer unique and inexpensive gifts. Don’t expect to find popular, big-ticket items this late in the season. You may, however, be able to find items such as Christmas ornaments or decorations offered at substantial discounts.  

Think about whom on your list might like a basket of gift items. Chocolate, coffee, and soaps and shampoos made without harsh chemicals are some of the choices available.

If you leave your Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve, start early in the day. Many stores close early, so if you begin at 5 p.m. you may be out of luck.

If all else fails, buy a gift card. Be sure to read and understand the terms and conditions of any cards purchased as described in my article “Beware: Gift Cards May Not Be What They Seem” on Boomer411.

For last-minute gifts items you can make at home – such as babysitting for your friends’ children, making a collage of photos, or offering a beauty treatment – see the article “Last-minute Christmas Gifts” on allthingchristmas.com.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist