The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Celebrating, traveling, and shopping on Saint Patrick’s Day 2019

In 1991, the U.S. Congress designated March as Irish-American Heritage Month.

Saint Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century, and Saint Patrick’s Day was originally a religious holiday to honor him. It has evolved into a celebration of being Irish and Ireland. On March 17, 1762, New York City hosted the first Saint Patrick’s Day parade. Irish soldiers serving in the English military were featured. President Harry Truman attending the parade in 1948, and it has become an annual event.

Spending

Consumers plan to spend an average of $40 for Saint Patrick’s Day this year, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. Unlike other holidays where consumer spending has grown, the average amount consumers spend has stayed the same even as the nation recovered from the Great Recession.

How to buy a winter coat

Why am I writing about this when spring is approaching? Because winter coats are on sale now and it’s a good time to get a bargain.

I like long, warm wool coats, especially red ones. My niece brought the coat in the photo as a present for me. It fits perfectly. I get lots of compliments on it. However, I’m looking for a new one to have when my red coat wears out. Today I saw a cobalt blue coat at Macy’s. What was remarkable was that it had a hood. I liked it a lot, but it wasn’t long enough and it didn’t fit snugly around my neck.

What are the best airline frequent flyer programs?

With U.S. airlines expected to carry more than 800 million passengers on domestic flights this year, consumers are interested in figuring out how they can save money on airline costs this year.

Do frequent flyer programs help consumers cut travel costs? They’re beneficial for me. My daughter lives in Madrid, and I’ll be using a free ticket this spring with the airline miles I’ve accumulated.

WalletHub, a personal finance website, released a report Wednesday on “2019’s Best Frequent Flyer Program.” It ranks the 10 largest domestic airlines based on 23 key items, ranging from the value of a point/mile to blackout dates for rewards flights.
 
Highlights from the report are:

What presidents are celebrated on Presidents’ Day?

What are your plans for Presidents’ Day? Enjoying a day off? Exercising? Reading? Binge watching TV programs? Shopping? Working? Cleaning house?

I bet not many people are thinking about their favorite president today or about citizen participation to help our government work better.

Again this year, I’ve been seeing the Mount Rushmore presidents on a Presidents’ Day articles. In addition to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, many people are adding the two other Mount Rushmore presidents, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt, to honor.

Best Presidents' Day sales this year

Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day sometimes fall within a few days of each other, so sales covering both holidays often are offered.

Presidents’ Day is a big sale holiday, and it’s a good time to stock up on home goods, electronics, and clothing.

DealNews offers the following list of what to expect from Presidents’ Day sales this year:

Facts and figures for Valentine's Day 2019

Source: WalletHub

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How is your Christmas Day going?

Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate this day, the annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Nine-in-ten Americans — and 95 percent of Christians — say they celebrate Christmas, according to a Pew Research Center survey. These figures have generally held steady in recent years. Today, 46 percent of Americans say they celebrate Christmas as primarily a religious rather than cultural holiday.

Consumers spent about $1,007 for the holiday season this year, up 4.1 percent from the $967 spent last year, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. Hopefully, you kept your receipts so you can return clothes that don't fit or gifts that didn't meet their mark in terms of pleasing the recipient.

Best cities to celebrate Christmas

Christmas is a fantastic time of the year, but some places for celebrating it are better than others. That’s because America’s favorite holiday is also one of the most expensive. From decorations and food to gifts and travel, there’s a long list of expenses to prepare for during the year.

In 2018, Americans are expected to spend up to $720 billion over the holidays, according to the National Retail Federation. The average person plans to spend $1,007.24. If you don’t have a reasonable holiday budget – or enough self-control – then your Plan B should include celebrating in the cheapest Christmas destinations. Overspending is a common mistake committed by consumers during the Christmas shopping season and one of the top sources of holiday stress.

Typical Christmas activities include shopping, dining out, and attending holiday events. Many people also are likely to attend church services.

WalletHub considered these factors to determine cities where you can enjoy a great Christmas. It compared the 100 largest U.S. cities based on 31 key indicators of a festive and affordable Christmas, such as traditions, shopping, and costs.

Facts and figures for the 2018 holidays

It’s that time of year. The holidays are upon us. Hanukkah has been celebrated and today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the day with the least daylight and the longest night. Christmas is approaching rapidly as is Kwanzaa, Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

Celebrants

Nine-in-ten Americans — and 95 percent of Christians — say they celebrate Christmas, according to a Pew Research Center survey. These figures have generally held steady in recent years. Today, 46 percent of Americans say they celebrate Christmas as primarily a religious rather than cultural holiday.

Are you a luxury boomer traveler?

Lately, I’ve been reading financial and boomer blogs to see that others are writing about in the blogging world.

I ran across a blog called My Itchy Travel Feet and an article on “Best Luxury Travel Tips: How to Get the Most for Your Money.”

I left a comment that I didn’t know if telling people to no longer bother about being in a frequent flyer airline club was a good idea. I said I travel to Madrid a couple of times a year and often get a free ticket every few years.

Donna Hull send me an email in reply to my comment: