The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Shredding paper was my best consumer experience this week, while dealing with my electrical utility was frustrating

By Rita R. Robison

My paper shredder works now, which makes me happy. However, talking to my electrical utility is less than inspiring.

My best: Getting my paper shredder to work

Years ago, I bought a paper shredder from Office Depot. It’s never worked very well. Twice, I’ve taken it back to the store to see if they could show me how to get it to work. Both times, the sales associates were able to get it to run. The second one showed me a lever that needs to be in a certain position for the shredding to occur.

When I got home, I figured it out and shredded lots of paper. I was extremely happy. I shredded about a third of the recycling bin full of paper I needed to do.

However, I had a problem. When I was shredding receipts, I put too many in. It jammed the shredder.

I left it for a couple of weeks, but finally couldn’t stand the paper shredder on my dining room table or the recycling container in my rec room.

I got out a skinny fork to scrape out the jammed receipts, then a skewer. Finally, I used one of the ends of a large paper clip. It worked.

I finished the bin full of paper and dumped the shredded paper into my recycling barrel.

What a great accomplishment. I’m glad I persisted for years. I paid about $65 for the shredder and didn’t want to spend money another one.

My worst: Having a missing check

When I received the bill from my electrical utility, it said I owed twice the amount of my monthly payment plan. When I called about it, the company said my last check hadn’t been received.

The investor-owner utility’s service has declined since a foreign conglomerate purchased it. So I asked the sales associate whether the company lost my check. She was indignant, saying it wasn’t possible.

Maybe I misplaced the check before I mailed it. Maybe it was lost in the mail. However, it’s possible the utility lost it.

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

Top tips for travelers for the Thanksgiving holidays

By Rita R. Robison

Across the state and country, more consumers will enjoy their Thanksgiving feast at a table away from home this year, according to AAA's annual travel forecast.

Nationwide, 42.5 million Americans will travel over the holiday, a 4 percent increase compared to 2010.

Sixty percent of travelers state that the economy has either no impact on their travel plans or that things have improved for them since last year. The remaining 40 percent of travelers state that they will scale back as a result of current economic conditions.

For many, the Thanksgiving holiday is about reconnecting with friends and family. The top five travel activities include: dining, 72 percent; visiting friends/relatives, 67 percent; shopping, 49 percent; touring/sightseeing, 43 percent; and/or going to the beach/waterfront, 27 percent.

If you’ll be traveling in your car, be sure to be prepared for winter by using these tips:

Basic winter safety gear

• Make sure you have an ice scraper, a snowbrush, a small shovel, tow chain, jumper cables, and chains.

Breakdown kit

• Assemble blankets, gloves, boots, warm clothes, a flashlight, food, water, a first aid kit, extra batteries, road flares, and emergency cash.

Information about conditions

• Watch weather forecasts.

• Call your state transportation department’s information line.

• Check the Internet for winter information about conditions on roads before you leave.

Safe driving

• Drive for conditions – use slower speeds, slower acceleration, slower steering, and slower braking in winter conditions.

• Use your headlights at all times

• Remember, four- and all-wheel drive vehicles won’t stop or steer better in icy conditions.

• Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on slick or snow-covered surfaces.

• Leave extra room between your vehicle and the vehicles in front of you. Look farther ahead in traffic. And remember, big trucks take longer to stop.

• Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges, or shady spots.

• Slow down and be extra cautious near the chain-up and removal areas.

• Stay behind well snowplows until it’s safe to pass.

If you’re traveling by air, follow these tips to make sure you get to the airport and your plane on time: 

• Call your airline's customer service number or visit the airline’s website to confirm your flight prior to coming to the airport, especially if severe weather is predicted.

• Print your boarding pass before coming to the airport. Some airlines also offer electronic boarding passes.

• Place identification tags on both the inside and outside of your luggage.

• Place a label on your laptop computer and another on the carrying case.

• Have a viable plan for where you’re going to park at the airport or which shuttle service you’ll hire.

• Put spare lithium batteries for cameras, laptops, and cell phones in carry-on luggage and make sure they are in the original packaging or separate protective cases or have tape across the battery’s contacts to isolate the terminals and prevent short-circuiting.

After you're on the plane, Luis Navarro, M.D., director of the Vein Treatment Center in New York, offers these tips on how to avoid poor blood flow from sitting too long on an airplane or train:

• Avoid prolonged periods of sitting and standing. Walk up and down the plane/train every one to two hours, when possible, for five to10 minutes.

• Get exercise. Do ankle and lower leg exercises, such as ankle rotations.

• Wear graduated compression stocking, preferably knee highs with open toe, which are 15-25mm/hg or 20-30mm/hg.

• Stay hydrated. Double your water intake when traveling. Buy bottled water before you board the plane and start drinking before takeoff. It will take a while before flight attendants will bring water to you.

• Avoid alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates your body so avoiding alcohol a few days before taking a long trip would be a good idea.

Best wishes for a great Thanksgiving trip. And remember, don’t drink and drive.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Tips on cutting the cost of your Thanksgiving dinner

By Andrea Woroch, Consumer Writer, Kinoli Inc.

Guest Blogger

That big turkey dinner won't just put you to sleep this year; it'll also cost you an arm and a wing.

The price of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner will rise 13 percent this year, according to a recent survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation. That means an average meal for 10 could set you back $49.20, up $5.73 from 2010.

Tom Turkey is the main culprit behind the biggest increase in 26 years. A 16-pound bird will run $21.57, up more than 22 percent from last year.

If you're a perennial chef, or just cooking your first turkey dinner, consider the following tips to avoid economic indigestion:

1. Smaller can be better

If you're not a fan of leftovers, buying a smaller turkey will save you some cash, since guests often fill up on side dishes anyway.

2. Buy early

Got extra space in your freezer? Then buy the bird now. Supermarkets tend to stock up early, then offer some excellent prices per pound. Shop early sales and keep an eye out for printable grocery coupons at websites like CouponSherpa.com.

3. Go traditional

You can either end up with a wine cellar full of hostess gifts or ask guests to bring their favorite dish instead of a bottle. If you're cooking the big bird, they might be willing to help with the smaller sides.

4. Be a borrower

Borrow serving dishes and specialty cookware, instead of purchasing them. That particularly applies to that tin-foil turkey roaster you end up buying each year to avoid cleaning.

5. Bulk up your drink purchases

Stock up on wine and beer from bulk retailers such Costco. They have a great selection and may offer deals of up to 30-percent less than grocery stores. Do price comparisons before you buy, however. Some bulk retailers don’t carry cheaper wines.

6. Bring nature indoors

Use decor inspired by nature, such as pinecones and intertwined twigs. Pumpkins spray-painted gold offer a festive touch, one that would cost over $30 if purchased at a specialty store. Plus, they're cheaper after Halloween. Or you could cut holes in fruit, insert tea lights, and create a natural and inexpensive centerpiece. Check out FreshHomeIdeas.com for more ideas. 

7. Do it yourself

Avoid prepared foods, which are typically marked up over 40 percent. Besides, you didn't really believe boxed stuffing tastes as good as the real stuff.

8. Save at Dollar stores

Buy paper goods, napkins, and favors at dollar stores. You'd be surprised how many party fixings you can buy for just $1 apiece.

9. Do your own preparation

Buy your veggies whole and do the preparation yourself. Pre-cut and pre-sliced produce are more expensive and often not as fresh. You can enlist a friend to help handle all the preparation and chat while working.

10. Homemake dessert

Pre-made desserts are marked up 100 percent, so it really pays to make your own. Try this Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie recipe from SimplyRecipes for down-home goodness.

11. Stick to your list

It's easy to get caught up in the holiday spirit while shopping for Thanksgiving goodies, and supermarkets guide you in the direction of overspending with these sneaky strategies. Before heading to the store, make a detailed list of what you need and stick to it. And also fix yourself a sandwich; there's nothing more dangerous than holiday grocery shopping on an empty stomach.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

By Rita R. Robison

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: Having a place to store paper towels and toilet paper

Although I’ve seriously cleaned out my garage two or three times, work still needs to be done.

However, when my daughter came to visit this summer, she sorted her boxes in my garage and helped me sort some of my boxes, too.

One positive result is that I now have space to put the paper towels and toilet paper I buy in cases on the shelves. That works better than leaving them in boxes on the floor.

My worst: Safeway telling me how to vote in a sign on its front door

In Washington state, citizens will vote Tuesday on Initiative 1183, a measure that would privatize liquor sales thus allowing supermarkets to sell it.

When I went to my local Safeway on Halloween, a sign on the front door said “Yes on 1183, Benefits Taxpayers & Vital Public Services.”

 When I asked the assistant manager about it, he said his store received the poster from Safeway’s corporate headquarters. The instructions that came with it said to post it on the front door.

The assistant manager didn’t seem concerned when I told him that I, a 30-year customer, would be taking my business elsewhere.

On Tuesday, I wrote a post about it on my blog, the Boomer Consumer, a reader blog on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer website. Wednesday, I called Safeway’s corporate headquarters to request a comment from its CEO Steven A. Burd on Safeway’s policy for putting political advertisements in its stores.

It’s Sunday, and I’ve received no reply, although I called about it on Friday and send an e-mail to the Safeway Press Office.

I’m outraged that Safeway has the audacity to tell citizens how to vote.

We all know corporations rule the world, but when my neighborhood grocery store tells me in a sign on its front door how to vote, it’s too much.

I oppose I-1183 because it would make more places where under-aged teens could buy liquor and I don’t trust corporations not to jack up the price when they get control.

After Costco, Safeway is one of the biggest contributors to the Vote Yes on I-1183 campaign, with a $50,000 contribution. Costco’s contributions are so enormous, a record-breaking $22 million, they’re currently being featured in the advertisements against I-1183.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How do Americans celebrate Memorial Day?

Americans across the country are celebrating Memorial Day with remembrance events, barbecues, trips, personal reflection, and shopping.

President Barack Obama took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

AAA estimates that about 34.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home on Memorial Day, a slight increase of 0.2 percent – or 100,000 travelers – from the 34.8 million people who traveled one year ago.

Shopping is the third most popular activity over Memorial Day weekend, with 43 percent of Americans hitting stores and outlets, according to a recent AAA/IHS Global Insights study. The study found dining was first on the list, 59 percent, with visiting friends and relatives second, 52 percent.

I’m spending Memorial Day visiting with my daughter and her family. We made potato salad, and now we’re eating watermelon.

I’ll also be working on my photos and remembering the past and loved one who are now gone – my parents and most of my aunts and uncles. I’ll also be remembering my uncle Frank Gilliam who died in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.

Best wishes to you and your loved ones on Memorial Day. 

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What was your best and worst consumer experience this week?

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

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: Getting help with tree trimming

In my backyard, I have a mulberry tree that’s too close to my house. I tried to keep it pruned back so I could enjoy the mulberries. However, I couldn’t keep up with it. If I didn’t prune the tree twice a year or more, it would grow so big it was difficult for me to saw down the big, thick branches.

In addition, last year the tree didn’t have many berries.

I asked a friend who’s handy with a chain saw to cut it down. He also trimmed some evergreen branches that were hanging over my roof in the front yard.

My worst: Receiving a cut on a plastic package

Several years ago, my daughter gave me a great present – a label maker. It will come in handy to put labels on my 50 notebooks of photos – plus the additional 50 or more I’ll be making.

Since I’m converting my photo room into a guest room, I have stacks of notebooks on my dining room table and several chairs. I got out my label maker to label the notebooks before I put them back on the shelves.

I started to get the device out of the heavy plastic package I’d cut open on three sides. Unfortunately, I cut myself.

I understand manufacturers want to display their products by hanging them on pegs. However, it’s so frustrating that the plastic packages are so hard to open. This one even caused an injury.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Top 10 tips for celebrating Easter

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Whether you’ll be celebrating with just your family or inviting a crowd, here are tips for having an Easter that’s terrific:

1. Planning and organizing

Keep it simple. Use plastic eggs to avoid mess and waste. Plan a simple menu or arrange a potluck. For more suggestions, see “Top 10 Tips for a Great Easter.”

2. Decorating

Choose pastel colors, yellow and green, for example, that complement each other for your table. Select or create a tall dramatic arrangement. See “Top 10 Tips for Easter Tables" for more ideas.

3. Easter eggs

Use natural items such as onionskins, beet juice, spinach leaves juice, and turmeric for dying Easter eggs. For details, go to “How to Dye Easter Eggs Using Natural Materials.”

4. Memories

Make a list of your favorite Easter memories. Ask your family or your guests to share their memories, too. Visit “What’s Your Favorite Easter Memory?” for ideas.


5. The hunt

Select safe places to hide the Easter eggs. Mark the area of the hunt with flags or tape so that children spending a lot of time searching areas where there aren’t any eggs. Visit “Top 10 Tips for an Easter Egg Hunt” for more suggestions.

6. Safety

Separate age groups so that the large kids aren’t knocking over smaller children. Or enforce a no running rule. Visit “10 Safety Tips for Easter Egg Hunting” for more ideas.

7. Non-sugar treats

Select stickers, small age-appropriate toys, and dried fruit to put in plastic Easter eggs rather than candy. Go to “Ideas for Non-sugar Easter Treats” for additional suggestions.

8. Activities

Take a walk in the park or go to a beach. For other ideas, see “Top 10 Fun Things to Do With Your Kids This Easter.”

9. Family traditions

Follow your favorite family traditions. Attend a church service, go to your favorite quiet spot in the great outdoors, or visit a nursing home.

10. Green Easter

Think of ways you can “green” your Easter such as using real grass clippings or recycled paper in Easter baskets, buy Easter baskets you can use for many years, and look for farm raised eggs. See “Green Tips for Easter Sunday” for more information.

Whatever your plans, have a wonderful Easter celebration.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Top 10 tips for baby boomers seeking a career change

With the economy sputtering along, you may doubt whether this is a good time for a baby boomer to make a career change. However, if you think it through and plan carefully this could be the right time for you to make that important career move.

Kerry Hannon, author of “What’s Next? Follow Your Passion and Find Your Dream Job,” offers these 10 steps, which she says are essential to launch a new career:

1. Identify your skills and talents.
2. Find your passion.
3. Set a flexible time frame.
4. Network.
5. Apprentice or volunteer.
6. One step at a time.
7. Get training.
8. Shape-up spiritually and physically.
9. Get financially fit.
10. Downsize.

See this post on career changes on The Boomer Blog for details on these steps.

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Watch out for Valentines Day scams

It’s sad but true. Even when preparing for Valentines Day, you need to be an alert, informed consumers and beware of scams.

ConsumerAffairs.com offers this list of possible problems that could occur. Scammers may try to:

• Get your financial information by sending a fake e-mail message that your flowers can’t be delivered unless you reenter your credit card number.

• Send an eCard, hoping you’ll open it so that a virus can be installed on your machine.

• Send a message saying you need to update your Flash player to view an eCard.

Other tips for protecting yourself as a consumer during your Valentines Day activities include:

• Pick a restaurant that you’re familiar with in terms of food and costs so you don’t get a disappointing surprise on your romantic evening.

• Ask friends and relatives where to buy flowers, and avoid doing business with florists that don’t list a street address with their phone number.

• Shop around and compare prices if you’re buying jewelry and use a major credit card when you pay.

• Be careful when meeting people through online dating Web sites because scam artists use these sites to meet people and pressure them for money after they get to know them.

See the article “Don’t Let Your Heart or Wallet Get Hijacked This Valentines Day” for details on these scams. Be a happy boomer consumer on Valentines Day, not a discouraged one.

My next post will be "Top 10 Romantic Gifts for Valentine's Day."

Copyright 2010, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist