The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Facts and figures for Halloween this year

More than 157 million Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year.

The average person celebrating will spend $74.34, compared with $77.52 last year, according to the National Retail Federation’s Halloween Consumer Spending Survey. Total spending on Halloween is expected to reach $6.9 billion.

Consumers celebrating Halloween plan to spend an average of $27.33 on costumes for the whole family, and a total of $2.5 billion on store-bought, homemade, large, and small costumes.

Baby boomer bloggers focus on travel, writing, pets, and health

Meryl Baer of Six Decades and Counting is the host of this week’s Best of Boomer Blogs #422.

Baer introduces Sally Wessely, new member of our group, who writes a blog called Retired English Teacher. Wessely, in her first offering, reports on her thoughts on blogging in retirement.

Other boomer bloggers write about how people continue to dress for the rest of their lives like they did in their thirties, the difficulties packing a suitcase for a trip, a writing get together with other bloggers, a new cat in a home that has a dog, and cancer rate increases in children who live in homes that use insecticides.

Check out our bloggers, leave a comment, have a great week, and enjoy the beautiful fall weather. It won’t last long – Vermont experienced its first snowfall this weekend.

Copyright 2015, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: PetSmart Top Fin aquarium heaters due to fire or electrical shock hazard

PetSmart Inc. is recalling about 112,200 Top Fin plastic aquarium heaters in the United States and about 4,800 in Canada.

About 33,000 heaters were previously recalled in August 2014.

An electrical problem with the aquarium heaters poses a risk of fire or electrical shock to the consumer, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The firm has received 13 reports of incidents, including four reports of minor shock, seven reports of the water tanks overheating, and one report of property damage from an electrical shortage resulting in fire.

This recall involves all 50-, 100-, 150-, 200-, and 250-watt Top Fin brand plastic aquarium heaters sold between August 2014 and April 2015 with model numbers: HT50, HT100, HT150, HT200, or HT250.

Tips for making Thanksgiving a happy holiday for your pets

 

Thanksgiving can be stressful for humans, but sometimes people don’t realize it can be challenging also for their pets.

The Seattle Animal Shelter offers holiday tips to help you make Thanksgiving a safe one for the pets in your family.

“Holidays are stressful enough,” said Mary Ellen Zoulas, D.V.M., medical director of the Spay and Neuter Clinic at the shelter. “The last thing you want to deal with after a long day of cooking, entertaining, and cleaning is a cat or dog that is sick from stress or overeating.”

FDA issues guidance on nanotechnology, but consumer groups say it fails to protect consumers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued three final guidances and one draft guidance Tuesday that the agency said would provide greater regulatory clarity for industry on the use of nanotechnology in FDA-regulated products.

One final guidance addresses the agency’s overall approach for all products that it regulates, while two additional final guidances cover foods and cosmetics. One new draft guidance addresses food for animals. 

But two of the consumer groups that sued the FDA in 2012 over its lack of regulation of nanomaterials said that the new FDA guidances won’t protect consumers. The lawsuit asked that: (1) nanomaterials be tested for safety before they’re used in food and cosmetics, (2) products containing nanomaterials be labeled, and (3) products containing nanomaterial be recalled until the new technology is proven to be safe.

"These are mere guidances from FDA and do not offer the substantial regulation we are seeking to ensure nanomaterials are managed safely and transparently,” Kate Colwell, spokeswoman for Friends of the Earth, said.

Baby boomer bloggers offer advice on aging well

Tom Sightings of Sightings From Sixty is the host for this week’s Best of Boomer Blogs #342.

In “It’s Snowing Advice,” Sightings describes what boomer bloggers have to say about getting older, something everyone – including a baby boomer – does.

Martin Rice of fifty2ninety.com is a language lover, and as such, simply can’t stand euphemisms such as “Male Menopause.”

Karen D. Austin at The Generation Above Me offers a window into Joseph Campbell and the power of myth with a discussion of the phrase "follow your bliss."

Amy Blitchok of Modern Senior asks whether new mobility technology is trying to reinvent the wheel with her article “Is a Smart Walker a Smart Idea or Technology Overkill?”

Sitings went to a fundraiser over the weekend for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and learned that Guiding Eyes has expanded its mission to include providing companion dogs for children with autism.

On my blog, I write about whether consumers should use their credit cards less due to security issues after the massive Target hacking, and 10 top tips for reducing the chemicals used in the home to improve health.

Be sure to take a look at this snowstorm of advice for boomers. And, tune in again next week to see what boomer bloggers are writing about.

Copyright 2014, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Related articles

Travel, emergencies, and midlife challenges are the topics for this week's Best of Boomer Blogs

Baby boomer bloggers offer tips on how to live better

Baby boomer bloggers take a look at 2014

Health and the holidays are grabbing the attention of baby boomer bloggers

Hot weather warning: Don’t leave children, seniors, or pets in hot car

When I was reading The Washington Post this evening, I came across that dreaded headline: “Baby Boy Dies After Being Left in Car.”

Kids and Cars.org says an average of 38 children die in hot cars each year after being trapped inside.

What sometimes happens is that an adult who isn’t the one who usually takes the child to day care gets the assignment, then forgets the child is in the back seat of the car.

Here are tips from Kids and Cars to avoid a hot day tragedy in your family:

• Put something you’ll need such as your cell phone, handbag, employee identification, or brief case on the floor in the back seat.

• Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to make sure no child has been left behind.

• Keep a large stuffed animal in the child’s car seat when it’s not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It’s a visual reminder that anytime the stuffed animal is up front you know the child is in the back seat in the child safety seat.

• Make arrangements with your child’s day care center or babysitter that you’ll always call if your child won’t be there on a day as scheduled.

• If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. If they’re hot or seem sick, get them out as quickly as possible. Call 911 immediately.

The child reported on in Friday’s article was an 8-month-old boy, who was apparently left in his mother’s car while she was at work in Arlington, Va.

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Tips for Easter and springtime for you and your pet

This spring, as people prepare to celebrate Easter or go on spring vacation, The Humane Society of the United States offers tips to keep pets safe and happy

Baby chicks and rabbits aren’t Easter gifts

Bringing a new pet into your home is a serious commitment that should only be made if your family is prepared to provide lifelong care for the animal. Some local and state laws regulate the ownership of animals such as chickens and ducks, and those animals aren’t always appropriate pets.

If you are sure about making this Easter the time to get a new family pet, consider adopting from your local animal shelter. Animal shelters are full of pets looking for homes, including rabbits and other animals.

Another consideration would be giving children a plush toy or a dark chocolate rabbit.

“Unless your entire family is committed to a pet who will need proper socialization, care, and companionship for many years, think twice before adding a baby animal to your Easter celebrations,” said KC Theisen, the society’s director of pet care issues.

After cats and dogs, rabbits are the animals most frequently surrendered to animal shelters, often because people acquire them as youngsters but aren’t prepared for the long-term commitment involved. Others are released into backyards by people who mistakenly believe they’ll be able to fend for themselves.

Unlike wild rabbits, domestic pet rabbits can’t survive on their own outdoors. Chickens also need dedicated, consistent care and far too many of them end up in shelters, rescues and sanctuaries. 

TheShelterPetProject.org or PetFinder.com lists rabbits, chickens, and other pets already in local shelters and rescues waiting for a new home.

The society’s resources on rabbit care and adopting and caring for backyard chickens can help you decide whether a rabbit or a chicken is the right pet for you. 

Air travel with your pets for your spring vacation should be avoided

The society encourages everyone to consider his or her pets’ travel needs carefully before departure day arrives. If at all possible, drive with your pets on your spring adventures or leave them at home with a trusted caretaker, as air travel can be dangerous for pets. Cargo space in an airplane isn’t designed to meet the needs of a dog, and many pets are lost or injured annually during air travel.

If you must take your pet with you in the air, consult the Department of Transportation’s "2015 Airline Consumer Complaints Up From Previous Year" for detailed information. Pets traveling in the airplane cabin must be screened through TSA outside of their carrier, so cats and dogs should wear a metal-free harness and leash during the security process. Passengers can also request secondary screening in a room with a door to reduce the risk of accidental escape.

Make travel easier by practicing with your pet’s accessories before you leave. Whether driving or flying, introduce the leash, carrier, and other new items well in advance, using lots of praise and treats. Practice putting the harness and leash on at home and walk around. This can reduce anxiety and make travel day much less stressful for both pets and their people.

Copyright 2013, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Blogging Boomer Carnival celebrates its fifth anniversary with travel tips, financial discussions, food and health issues, and pet love

By Rita R. Robison

Blog carnivals collect links pointing to blog articles on a particular topic. A blog carnival is like a special interest magazine. It has a title, a topic that flows through its postings, editors, contributors, and a focused audience. Editions of the carnival come out on a regular basis, often weekly.

A couple of weeks ago, I joined the Blogging Boomer Carnival. This week, the carnival is marking its fifth anniversary with a roundup by Laura Carter, blogging at The Midlife Crisis Queen.

Laura reports on using trout in salad, sightseeing in Dubai, helping adult children financially, hearing problems boomers face, challenging investment decisions, loving pets, and looming food shortages. See "Blogging Boomers Blog Carnival #260" for details.

Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are America’s largest age group so far, and a fascinating group they are.

Boomers are leading corporations, serving as governmental officials, heading up non-profits, worrying about retirement, and experiencing layoffs at a higher rate than younger workers. They’re also reinventing themselves in trying economic times, with some looking for their dream jobs to keep them happy in retirement.

At each stage in their lives, boomers have changed things. They’re continuing to make America different as they begin entering into their retirement years.

In addition to The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, members of the Blogging Boomer Carnival are: The Accidental Locavore, The Midlife Crisis Queen, Sightings at 60, Arabian Tales and Other Amazing Adventures, So Baby Boomer, Vaboomer, Empty House Full Mind, and Witty Woman Writing.

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Free shipping was my best consumer experience this week, while loss of my strawberry patch is upsetting

By Rita R. Robison

I was able to get free shipping from a firm that hasn’t offered any coupons or deals. That cheered me up. However, when the weather turned nice, my weeds bloomed.

My best consumer experience: Free shipping from New York firm

Since I have allergies, I order my shampoo and body soap, laundry detergent, and dishwasher detergent from N.E.E.D.S., a company in New York. That’s heavy stuff. Often, my shipping bills are high.

On my last order, I was able to get free shipping. The customer service representative also pointed out that the sale catalog I’d received had a $5 coupon. I dug through the recycling and found it – the last thing in the bottom of the barrel.

My worst consumer experience: Loss of my strawberry patch to weeds

I don’t use pesticides in my yard. Pesticides are harmful children, adults, and pets. I don't think consumers should use them.

So I pull the weeds in my yard by hand. This spring, when it finally warmed up, the weeds seemed worse than usual.

Last year, I had a nice strawberry patch.

Here’s a close up of some of the strawberries.

I picked these strawberries for a tasty treat.

This year, my strawberry patch has completely disappeared. In its place is a weed patch.

Maybe the cold weather killed the plants.

I have lots of weeding to do. Are the weeds worse this year, or did I not keep up with them enough in the fall?

Copyright 2012, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist