The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Baby Boomer get through Labor Day as they have other parts of covid-19 life

On Labor Day in my community, we usually celebrate Harbor Days. I go to the waterfront and take photos of the boats, people, and booths selling food and typical summer fair items.

This year, in the era of the coronavirus, we had Harbor Days Lite. No tug boat races were held.

People were encouraged to construct Lego tugboats, make a maritime display in their yard, enter a beach photo contest, see tugboat paintings online, go to an art show in the windows of a historic fire station, and watch videos of maritime music.

I didn’t bother to go to the waterfront. I took my own advice from the articles I wrote for Labor Day: Stay close to home for the holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, baby boomers are writing about:

Best wishes on Labor Day

It’s a tough year for American workers. Millions of jobs have been lost due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The United States has more coronavirus cases and deaths than any country in the world – 6.29 million cases and 189,000 deaths.

An inadequate response from the federal government means health care workers have gone and are going without adequate PPE and there isn’t enough testing. In addition, retail and restaurant workers, who work for low wages, put themselves in danger every day because they can’t afford to miss a paycheck.

Facts and figures for Labor Day 2020

As Labor Day approaches, it’s a time to celebrate American workers and take a look at how they’ve been impacted by the covid-19 pandemic. Although the United States is slowly regaining lost jobs, the national unemployment rate is still higher than normal at 10.2 percent as of July 2020.

The high level of unemployment, along with the continued spread of coronavirus and its huge economic impact, has led many American workers to be concerned about whether they’ll get laid off.

In these difficult times, WalletHub conducted a survey, which found that  The survey also had questions about people’s plans for Labor Day.

Below are highlights from the survey:

Source: WalletHub

Copyright 2020, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Baby boomers trying to figure out a new normal in the coronavirus era

As cases of coronavirus spike and scores of people ignore the pandemic, boomer bloggers are venturing out into the new world we have now.

It’s tough. You have to weigh the risks of going out and continually be on the lookout for people not wearing masks. That includes people walking in your neighborhood without masks.

Now, I have to figure out how long covid-19 aerosols hang in the air.

Artificial Christmas trees are being recalled by Willis Electric due to burn hazard

Willis Electric is recalling about 99,000 Home Accents Holiday artificial Christmas trees in the United States and 5,100 in Canada.

The Christmas tree’s foot-pedal controller can overheat, posing a burn hazard. The firm has received 509 reports of incidents of overheating involving the foot-pedal controller, including one report of a burn.

This recall involves mode-switching foot-pedal controllers included with 2019 Home Accent Holiday 7.5-foot and 9-foot artificial pine Christmas trees. Model numbers W14N0126, W14N0127, W14N0148, W14N0149, and W14N0157 and SKU NUMBERS can be found on the product label on the Christmas tree’s cord and are listed as follows:

As summer begins, baby boomers still sticking pretty close to home due the pandemic

It’s strange. The weather’s been cloudy and rainy here in the Seattle area. Then, to celebrate July Fourth, I worked on my taxes instead of hosting a party with lots of red, white, and blue.

Yes, with the 2020 pandemic, things are all mixed up.

Through it all, baby boomer bloggers keep on writing. Some of their latest articles are about:

Facts and Figures for July Fourth 2020

It's an unusual year for the annual July 4th celebration in the United States. The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything, and now that cases throughout the nation are spiking, it's time to rethink things again.

The best plan for celebrating is to stay home. If you invite people for a barbecue, keep the number small and have them bring their own food and drinks. Set tables up in your yard with social distancing.

Hopefully, things will be better by next year.

Source: WalletHub

Copyright 2020, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Fourth of July Sales and what to buy and not buy in July

What are your July 4^th plans?

This year, three-quarters of consumers plan to celebrate Independence Day, down from 86 percent in 2019, according to a survey conducted for the American Retail Federation. Much of the decline is because fewer consumers plan to go to traditional celebrations such as a fireworks show. Only 24 percent said they plan to celebrate the Fourth by attending a community celebration, compared with 41 percent last year.

Consumers plan to spend $76 on average, which about the same as previous years. And more than half of consumers expect to plan a cookout or BBQ.

Independence Day sales

July 4^th sales are underway. It’s a good holiday for discounts and brings savings on many items, according to DealNews.com.

Facts and figures for Father’s Day 2020

The first Mother's Day was celebrated in 1914, but a holiday honoring fathers didn’t become official until 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson declared that the third Sunday in June would be Father's Day. President Richard Nixon made this proclamation permanent in 1972. However, Father’s Day was celebrated before then.

The idea for Father's Day is attributed to Sonora Dodd, who was raised by her father after her mother's death during childbirth. While listening to a sermon at church on Mother's Day, she thought about all her father had done for her and her siblings and decided fathers should have a day, too. Because Dodd's father was born in June, she encouraged churches in her area, Spokane, Washington, to honor fathers that month. The first Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane in 1910.

Over the years, the idea spread, and people lobbied Congress to establish the holiday.

Shopping

This year three-quarters of consumers say they plan to celebrate Father's Day, according to the annual survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. While fewer consumers expect to take their dads out for Father’s Day, they’re planning other ways to celebrate.

Tips for Father’s Day 2020

My dad was really good at guessing what was in his presents. One time, to fool him, I bought him a magazine subscription and I put it in a toy jack-in-the-box. When he turned the handle, boom. The clown delivered a note about the present. He was really surprised.

This year, in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, a lot of the activities we’d usually do with our dads, wouldn’t be a good choice for this year. For example, getting on an airplane to visit your dad is risky. Also, going to a restaurant with a large group of people isn’t advisable. Nor or hugs, unless you’ve been staying at home together.

But, you can order a present and make plans for a get together later.

Some gift ideas include:

• Tech gadgets. Apple iPad, Kindle or Nook, digital camera.
• Tools. Drills, rakes, hoes.
• Clothing. Shirts, ties, t-shirts, jackets. (For some dads, but not others.)
• Sporting goods. Book on sports, sports paraphernalia, new gear.
• Books. Check AARP’s list of summer reads.
• Music. Smart speaker, Apple AirPods.
• Photos. Favorite family photos, digital photo frame, photo book.
• Gift basket. Golf, fishing, grilling, baseball, brewing, coffee, beer, wine.
• Gift card. O.K. if you’re out of ideas.
• Limited funds. Small pocket knife, coffee mug with your photo, framed photo of you and your dad.