The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Boomer Guide joins Blogging Boomer Carnival for weekly reports on boomer happenings

By Rita R. Robison

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.

For about five years, a web community of boomer bloggers has been covering the boomer scene and posting weekly about what their blogs are covering. They call themselves the Blogging Boomer Carnival and last week, I joined their ranks.

This week, Anne Maxfield at Accidental Locavore is hosting the roundup with “Blogging Boomer Carnival 259: A Celebration of Mother’s Day.”

Anne reports on blogs about grandmotherly advice for teenagers, what working mother’s want, and tips for stressed out moms.

Other members of the Blogging Boomer Carnival are: 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

How are you celebrating International Women’s Day?

By Rita R. Robison

Today is International Women's Day, a global day celebrating the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future. In some places, such as China, Russia, Vietnam, and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.

Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. The word “suffragette” comes from the word "suffrage" meaning the right to vote.

International Women's Day honors the work of the suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds people of inequities still to be redressed.

The first International Women's Day event occurred in 1911, and 2011 was the Global Centenary Year.

See the International Women’s Day website for events planned in different countries.

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

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

What are great Halloween costumes for baby boomers this year?

By Rita R. Robison

With Halloween costumes getting more and more risqué and bazaar, what’s a good, age-appropriate costume for baby boomers to wear to upcoming parties?

Kate Forgach, a baby boomer consumer writer for Kinoli Inc., offers these suggestions:

Men

Muammar Gaddafi

You'll need a black curly wig, red fez, checked scarf, and homemade T-shirt emblazoned with "I Love Libya." If you're going with a gang, add a few Nigerian soldiers to do your bidding throughout the evening. You also might want to carry a journal filled with love notes to Condoleeza Rice and several photos of the former Secretary of State.

Zach Galifianakis in Hangover II

A fake beard and a baldhead or bathing cap are all you'll need to recreate Mr. Alan Garner.

Hangover II - Part II

If you're dressing as Zach and going with a buddy, he'll need to create a Mayan face tattoo then add wire rim glasses and stodgy clothes to give him the unique style of Ed Helms as Stu Price. The last member of your wolf pack need only wear khakis, a white dress shirt, and look dashingly handsome.

Harold Camping

Harold Camping predicted the world would end in 1994. He again foretold the End Times would happen May 21, 2011. To portray the preacher, don fluffy sideburns, a powdered white wig, and a sports jacket and take a fat book to thump as you preach to all within range.

Charlie Sheen

You can create your own outfit or go with a mask, wig, and "Winning" hat.

Women

Mummy

If you're still shuttling kids to soccer and band practice, take on the dual role of a mommy mummy. Pick up some high-waisted mom jeans at Goodwill, along with an appliquéd shirt or sweater. Wrap yourself in toilet paper and carry a soccer ball.

Babe Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

The movie "Abe Lincoln, Vampire Hunter" is coming out in 2012, but women can dress as the president who freed the slaves and, apparently, slew the bloodsuckers. You'll need a stovepipe hat made from construction paper, a formal black coat, fake beard, and a short skirt with high heels. You can also carry a bloodied stake.

Bridesmaids

The wild chicks of Judd Apatow's summer comedy are easy to replicate with thrift store bridesmaids' costumes, preferably in Pepto Bismal pink, and a meringue-pie wedding gown with a matching pink ribbon for a waistband.

Elizabeth Bennett, Zombie-style

The "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" novel offers a grisly twist to a period costume. Pick up a long, empire-waist dress at a thrift store or create your own using a puff-sleeved tee shirt and floor-length skirt. Arrange your hair into a conservative bun, then dishevel the entire look with random blood spatter and zombie makeup.

Couples

Prince Charles and Camilla

You can play the prince and his wife for just $2.01 each with masks from Discount Costumes. Or, try the Queen Elizabeth mask for a discounted $1.26. Shipping and handling are $5.95.

Jack and Jill

Take two T-shirts. Write "Jack" on one and "Jill" on the other. Create a broken crown for Jack out of poster board and add fake blood, then create bruises on Jill with black-and-blue face paints to indicate her role as "She who came tumbling after." Make sure you both carry pails of water and trip occasionally. 

A Pair of Blue Jeans

Both of you wear blue clothes. His nametag reads "Gene" and hers says "Jean." You also can add blue skin paint.

Baby Boomers

The costume requires a box of Depends and a baby-doll top. You might use scrub tops covered in duckies or another childish pattern then add a big bow around the neck. Props could include giant baby/water bottles and your social security cards.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How sisters and brothers shape our lives

By Rita R. Robison

Being the youngest of three girls, sibling relations always intrigue me.

When I saw Jeffrey Kluger ’s book, “The Siblings Effect: What the Bonds Among Brothers and Sisters Reveal About Us,” I wanted to learn more.

Kluger, a senior writer and editor at Time Magazine, wrote the book because he believes sibling relationships are, in many ways, the most important relationship in our lives. They’re also, he said, the last unexplored frontier of family relationships.

It was only in about 2005 that the field of sibling research began to develop. The more he read about it, the more Kluger thought that it was a field worth exploring.

This led to two cover stories he wrote for Time – one in 2006 on sibling science and one in 2007 on birth order.

Among the findings in Kluger’s book:

• Firstborns are smarter. If you’re a firstborn, chances are you’re the smartest sibling in the family, with a 3-point IQ advantage over the second born. The second born, in turn, has a 1.5-point advantage over the third. But don’t worry if you’re the last of 12: The IQ decline flattens out after three or four children.

• Men with sisters are better listeners. Men who grew up with sisters are generally rated by female dates to be better listeners than men raised only with brothers. Women who grew up with brothers, similarly, are considered by male dates to be tougher and more easygoing than women who grew up with only sisters.

• Younger siblings are more empathetic. If you’re the youngest or physically smallest in your family, you may be better than your siblings at intuiting other people’s thoughts and feelings. This kind of interpersonal antenna is what psychologists call a “low-power strategy” – a way of countering the high-power strategy of a bigger or older sibling.

• The benefits of siblings helping to raise siblings – and why some cultures benefit more than others. Older children help to co-parent their younger siblings in all cultures. But, that tradition has remained much stronger in some cultures than in others, and both older and younger siblings benefit as a result. Among native Hawaiians, for example, co-parenting siblings not only improve their academic performance and their parenting skills, but also learn primal lessons about empathy, generosity, and selflessness. Chinese Americans benefit in similar ways and have also been shown to develop less depression in their teen years than kids who have been given little or no responsibility for their younger siblings.

• Smoking, alcohol, drugs – and especially pregnancy – are contagious.  The presence of an older smoking sibling makes a younger one four times likelier to start. The same is true of drugs and alcohol. For teenage pregnancy, the problem is even worse: A younger sister is five times likelier to be a teen mom if her older sister is one already.

• Why athletes and actors follow scholars. Good students don’t necessarily skip generations, but they may skip birth-order spots in nuclear families. If a first-born is a straight-A student, a second-born may excel at something else – sports or theater, for example. This so-called de-identification is a way of being recognized for something unique to you.

• Singletons aren’t deprived. Singletons who tend to double-down on their relationships with their friends and cousins usually make up for the lack of in-house peers. Singletons also tend to develop better vocabularies and more sophisticated senses of humor since conversation and TV choices in the home are likelier to reflect the parents’ preferences. In addition, studies show that they do as well, if not better than, children with siblings by virtually any measure.

• Birth order can be dangerous to your health. Surveys show that younger siblings are less likely to be vaccinated than older ones. Kids with at least two older siblings are 50 percent likelier than other children to be taken to an emergency room with asthma-related breathing problems, probably due to infectious agents brought into the home by the older children. Second and third children also have a higher risk of diabetes than their firstborn siblings, with a 43 percent increase in cases for every five years of maternal age at birth.

• Keep up your sibling relationships – they’re the only ones that last a lifetime. As life spans get longer and more people are making it into old age – often having lost a spouse – sibling relationships are more important than ever. If your relationships with your siblings are good, keep them that way. If they’re not, work to repair them.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What’s happening on Labor Day 2011?

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What are your plans for Labor Day? Traveling? Flipping burgers at a barbecue? Going to the zoo, park, or other fun place in your community? Resting? Or, heaven forbid, working?

Here’s what’s going on around America.

Travel

About 31.5 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles away from home between Sept. 1 and Sept. 5, according to AAA, an organization for motorist. That's down 2.4 percent from last year, when 32.3 million Americans traveled for Labor Day.

"AAA is projecting a decrease in the number of Labor Day travelers as some Americans react to recent economic uncertainty and increasing air fares," said Glen MacDonell, director of travel services.

The bleak economy is responsible, according to the AAA’s analysis. Its report says consumers' discretionary income hasn’t gone up enough to keep up with rising travel costs.

Shopping

dealnews.com predicts great sales on apparel, sneakers, and sandals from some retailers. So if you need clothing, it could be a good weekend to buy late-season apparel. Remember to look for Labor Day coupons that will take an extra discount from existing markdowns. 

To prevent overspending, figure out how much you can afford to spend then make a list of what you need. Be sure you know the regular price range of what you plan to buy so a “fake” sale doesn’t trick you.

Facts and figures on workers 

Who is the American worker?

Here are the numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau:

About 153.2 million people 16 and older were in the American work force in July 2011. Nearly 85 percent of them had health insurance.

There are more bankers, 117,405, than telemarketers, 55,733. Teachers, with 3 million employees, outnumbered janitors and building cleaners, 1.5 million strong.

The median earnings for men is $47,127 and $36,278 for women.

Just over 76 percent of workers drive alone to work, taking an average of 25 minutes to get there.

More than 6 million people work from home.

Whatever your plans, have a great Labor Day.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Girls and teens shouldn’t wear high heels

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

For years, I’ve written about how bad high heels are for women’s feet, especially baby boomer women’s feet.

But women keep wearing them, and high heels get taller and taller – and more dangerous.

High heels, especially those with heels higher than one inch, put the foot in an unnatural position. High heels change how you walk and change pressure points in certain areas of the feet.

A high heel three inches or more puts seven times more pressure on the ball of the foot. Wearing heels may also increase the risk of back pain, sprains, and shortened calf muscles.

Now young girls and teens are wearing higher and higher heels, as part of the trend that is sexualizing females at younger and younger ages.

The recent media attention surrounding French Vogue’s advertisement featuring 10-year-old model, Thylane Loubry Blondeau, in extremely high heels, has brought attention to this alarming trend.

Neal Blitz, M.D., chief of foot surgery at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, questions the appropriateness of young girls wearing high heels.

From a medical point of view, young girls wearing high heels and pointy-toed shoes is a concern because their bones are more malleable and can be structurally deformed as they grow, Blitz said in The Huffington Post article “How Young Is Too Young for High Heels?”

“Simply put, bone growth occurs from a cartilaginous precursor that becomes calcified and hardened,” he said in the article. “The softer growing bone can be deformed and misshapen by external forces, such as high heels. This is the physiology behind the Chinese foot binding.”

Until young girls stop growing, there is a significant risk to cause bone and joint deformations within the foot, Blitz said.

“From a purely bone-related standpoint, females reach skeletally maturity around age 14,” he said. “This does not mean that this the proper age for one to begin wearing high heels, nor am I indicating that high heel wearing is safe at all for young girls and adolescents. But parents should strongly consider avoiding shoe gear that can have a life-long impact on the foot prior to maturity of the foot.”

In his article, Blitz also reminded women of all ages that, even after skeletal maturity, the risk of developing foot problems from wearing high heels still exists.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Elizabeth Taylor memorabilia sold at premium prices likely to decrease in value

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Be extremely careful if you’re going to buy Elizabeth Taylor memorabilia and commemorative items following the death of American movie star icon, warns the Better Business Bureau.

For more information, see my article on AOL’s Consumer Ally “Planning to Buy Elizabeth Taylor Memorabilia? Don’t Do It for Investment.”

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

2011 Academy Awards nominated movies often too violent, dark

Last year, I wrote that the movies getting the Academy Award nod didn’t live up to the potential of what the powerful movie industry, one of the main purveyors of American popular culture, could achieve.

This year, it’s more of the same. It seems as though Hollywood executives sat around and thought about what kind of violence they hadn’t shown yet, then made their selections. Again, the emphasis often was on movie topics that appeal to young males.

Here are my picks among what was nominated for Academy Awards in 2011:

Best picture: “The King’s Speech.” Although I liked “The Social Network,” too, British historical movies are a favorite of mine. I realize the movie had historical inaccuracies.

Best director: David Fincher for “The Social Network” and Tom Hooper for “The King’s Speech.” They both did a good job on complicated, nonviolent movie topics.

Best actor: Jesse Eisenberg for “The Social Network. I agree with many commentators who said Eisenberg nailed the role of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Best actress: No pick. I didn’t see “Rabbit Hole” or “Blue Valentine.” “Black Swan” was the worst movie of 2010; the prima ballerina slipped into madness while her mother watched. “Winter’s Bone” was slow and disturbing. I couldn’t figure out what Hollywood was trying to say in “The Kids Are All Right”; lesbian families can be wrecked by male interlopers?

Best supporting actor: Geoffrey Rush in “The King’s Speech.” Rush did a great job as King George VI’s speech therapist. “The Town,” about bank robbers, had twists, but was too violent. “The Fighter” was O.K., but watching boxers plummet each other, get injured, and bleed isn’t my idea of entertainment.

Best supporting actress: Helena Bonham Carter in “The King’s Speech.” Bonham Carter did a spirited job playing the Duchess of York and Queen Elizabeth. “True Grit” was a Western remake, with way too much violence. “Animal Kingdom,” about a criminal family in Australia,” was slow and full of senseless violence.

Costume design: “The King’s Speech.” “I Am Love” actually was a story about something besides killing. “Alice in Wonderland,” about the teenage Alice,” wasn’t for children with its excessive violence. I heard an interview with the director on NPR. He said his grade-school age children could handle the violence in the movie. Children shouldn’t be expected to mature enough steel themselves against violent “entertaining” assaults.

Animated feature film: No pick. I saw two of the three movies nominated, but I didn’t think either was a superior movie for children. “How to Train Your Dragon” wasn’t too bad, but again, a lot of violence for children. “Toy Story 3” was way too dark for young children.

Visual effects: “Inception.” About manipulating dreams and dreams within dreams, it was interesting, but filled with fighting, explosions, and killing. In addition, it had the added visuals of worlds of dreams tipping and collapsing. “Iron Man 2,” with lots of fighting, explosions, and killing, was a bit entertaining with Robert Downey Jr. as the self-centered head of Stark Industries. However, I don’t quite know what to think about the movie’s comment that Iron Man brought peace between the East and the West.

Original song: No pick. I saw three of the movies nominated in this category, but I wasn’t watching them to evaluate the music. “Tangled,” a typical Hollywood story for kids, had lots of fighting between the good guys and the bad guys.

Sound mixing: No pick. I think the sound in most movies is too loud. Also, I don’t like the way sound editing is done when more sound is added to things, such as footsteps, as was done in “I Am Love.” I watched “Salt” because it was nominated for this award. The overly violent movie was unrealistic with an extremely thin Angelina Jolie overtaking dozens of burly men.

Sound editing: No pick. I saw four of the movies nominated for sound editing, but wasn’t watching to see which one had the best sound. “Unstoppable” was a pretty good movie; plenty of action and drama, but not about people killing each other.

Adapted screenplay: Aaron Sorkin for “The Social Network.” I thought the writer was creative in thinking up a way nerdy computer scenes could be entertaining. I’m interested in finding about how much of it was true. I checked Wikipedia to find out after I saw the movie, then I had to laugh. Reading a site written by thousands of people, including those who have a vested interested in a topic, was an Internet age irony. “127 Hours” was gruesome, although it was about something that really happened.

Original screenplay: David Seidler for the “The King’s Speech.”

Hopefully, movies will improve in the next year as Hollywood realizes baby boomers are returning to the theaters and want to see something beside topics that appeal to teenage males.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist