It’s the big day for sweethearts.
Fewer people are celebrating Valentine’s Day this year, 50 percent which is down from 55 percent last year.
Of those celebrating, 18 percent are giving the gift of jewelry; 34 percent, an evening out; 18 percent, clothing; 35 percent, flowers; 52 percent, candy; 15 percent, gift cards; 44 percent, greeting cards; and 25 percent, a gift of experience, such as an event or a trip to a spa.
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Like most people, I love chocolate – any kind of chocolate. A box of chocolate from the supermarket or drug store are fine with me. However, I really enjoy Belgium chocolate when I visit my daughter in Madrid.
So, since I’m not a chocolate connoisseur, I read a dozen articles that recommended the best chocolates.
Most often rated highly in the articles are Godiva Chocolatier, Jacques Torres Chocolate, L.A. Burdick Chocolates, La Maison du Chocolat, Lindt, Michel Cluizel, Recchiuti Confections, and Vosges Haut-Chocolat.
Continue reading "What are the best chocolates to buy for your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day?" »
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Romance scams are different from other scams. Fraudsters prey on lonely people looking to connect with someone, and the scam can often take months to develop to the point where money changes hands. The emotional harm to the victim can be even more painful than the money lost.
The use of online dating sites and apps has made romance fraud easier. Victims in the United States and Canada report losing nearly $1 billion over the last three years, and the Better Business Bureau estimates there may be more than a million victims in the U.S. Because most people don’t file complaints about romance scams with the BBB or law enforcement, this may a small number of those affected.
The BBB’s study, “Online Romance Scams: How Scammers Use Impersonation, Blackmail, and Trickery to Steal from Unsuspecting Daters,” looks at how romance scams work, who the scammers are, and what’s being done to combat them.
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It’s a new year and time to think about fresh starts, new goals, and another year under our belts.
No matter life’s ups and downs, the baby boomer bloggers in our group keep writing articles and booming along.
This week they’re writing about travel, names for grandchildren, holiday spending, menopause bellies, work stress, and visioning.
Jennifer Koshak of Unfold and Begin writes about these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #579. Click here to get the links to the articles. And be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer Bloggers love to hear from readers.
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About 93 million Americans, or 37 percent, overspent over the holidays, and 46 million people, or 18 percent if Americans, regret at least one holiday purchase, according to WalletHub’s 2019 Post-Holiday Shopping Season Survey.
“Buyer’s remorse is especially common when a purchase is made on impulse,” said Paul Rose, interim dean of the School of Education, Health, and Human Behavior at Southern Illinois University. “Many people procrastinate when purchasing gifts, and run out of time in December to carefully consider their purchasing options.”
There’s also a cultural connection between the holidays and shopping. Three in 10 people say that spending more makes the holidays happier, while two in 10 say that the holidays are worth accumulating credit card debt for.
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About a third of American consumers returned holiday gifts last year. Hopefully, you kept your receipts and aren’t on a long vacation so you can take care of your returns efficiently and promptly.
The Better Business Bureau offers these tips for your holiday returns:
The seller’s return policy. If you don’t recall what the seller’s return policy is, check its website or the back of the receipt. If you have questions, call the store to ask about what you want to return. Retail stores may have different return policies than the company’s online website.
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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.
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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.
Continue reading "Facts and figures for the 2018 holidays" »
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Do you, your partner, or a family member have a birthday in December?
Rebecca Olkowski of Baby Boomster’s birthday was Sunday, and it was a big day in many ways because she turned 65. Olkowski reports as a December baby, she’s used to sharing her birthday with all the holiday traditions that take place during the month. In some ways, it’s fun, Olkowski says, because it’s a festive time of year, but December birthdays always get mixed up with everything else. December babies are used to receiving combo birthday–Christmas–Hanukkah presents. It’s part of the deal, she says.
Olkowski reports, in the Best of Boomer Blogs #577, that boomer bloggers are writing about the holiday topics of how to create new holiday traditions and how to handle grief at the holidays.
Continue reading "Baby boomers, the holidays, and thoughts for December" »
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