The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Baby boomers are thinking about vacationing, shopping, surviving earthquakes, and finding contentment

Last week was the Fourth of July, and so it shouldn't surprise anyone that boomers had their minds on vacations. But, then, finding joy was among their writings, too.

Topics include:

• Saving money on meals during a vacation.
• Dealing with summer safety issues, including fireworks.
• Buying a new car.
• Surviving the Southern California earthquakes.
• Finding that magical place that sustains, restores, and comforts us.
• Taking a vacation from constantly comparing our life to other people's ... because no matter what their Facebook page says, they’re facing challenges as well.
• Seeing that true contentment is really a deep-seated sense and appreciation self. 

This is the Best of Boomer Blogs #604 as reported by Tom Sightings of Sightings Over Sixty. Click here to get the links to the articles. As you peruse them, be sure to let the boomer bloggers know your opinions. We enjoy hearing from our readers.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Let’s celebrate our democracy on July Fourth

Happy Fourth of July.

It’s a good day to celebrate our democracy and remember that it needs to be cherished and protected.

In America, we’re free to take part in government and make our voices heard, or not. We can write letters, join organizations that lobby, and protest, or not. We also can run for office, or not. We can vote, or not.

Although it often seems like things have changed in Washington, D.C., recently for the worse, we the people are the government. It’s ours. Rather than railing against it, as the right-wing media advocates, citizens need to participate and help to make government as strong and productive as possible.

Decide today on what action you can take to help make our democracy work well for everyone.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Top places to travel for July Fourth 2019

For a list of unique places to celebrate the Fourth of July, see Trip Advisor’s “10 Ideal July 4^th Destinations to Celebrate (With or Without Crowds).”

1. New Orleans
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
4. Boston
5. Philadelphia
6. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
7. Sonoma, California
8. Newport, Rhode Island
9. Camden, Maine
10. Brian Head, Utah

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Personal Finance Writer

July Fourth facts and figures for 2019

Source: WalletHub

Celebrate July Fourth with these safety and health tips

Do you want to have a Fourth of July that’s fun yet safe? Check out these tips from the Environmental Working Group.

Holiday barbecue

Before you head to the grocery store, check out the EWG’s resources on the healthiest foods, the cleanest produce, and the safest and most humanely produced meat and dairy. While you’re shopping, check out the hot dogs. To avoid nitrates and nitrites, which can cause cancer, choose natural hot dogs, or select a different protein. You can also make safe, healthy menu planning easier with EWG’s Healthy Living App, which lets you check in the store how well a product rates.

In addition, make sure you avoid charring meat to decrease your risk of cancer, and use a food thermometer to make sure it’s fully cooked so you can avoid food-borne illnesses such as E. coli.

Happy Father’s Day

This year, about 80 percent of Americans will be celebrating Father’s Day.

I hope you’ll be able to share an activity with your dad, if you live close enough to get together. If your dad lives far away, maybe you’ll be able to talk to him through Skype or Facetime.

I’m missing my dad, Minor H. Slingsby, today. He was an important figure in my life. Carefully watching every penny, my dad taught me to be an informed, alert consumer. I’m a personal finance writer because of him.

Here’s a tribute I wrote to my dad.

So happy Father’s Day to the dads of American and their kids. About 60 percent of men aged 15 and older are fathers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Personal Finance Writer

Facts and figures for Father’s Day 2019

It’s that time of year again. When the flowers bloom and the trees leaf out, it’s time to recognize those important guys in our families – our dads.

Spending

Americans are expected to spend a record amount on gifts for Father’s Day this year, according a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. Total spending for the holiday is estimated to reach $16 billion, up from last year’s $15.3 billion.

Father’s Day spending has grown 70 percent, about $6.6 billion, since 2009. The biggest drivers of Father’s Day spending are growth in spending by consumers ages 35 to 44, and spending on clothing, special outings, and gift cards. This year, 75.9 percent of people plan to celebrate and are expected to spend a record $138.97, up from last year’s $132.82, and up from $91 in 2009.

Best wishes on Flag Day – a day to commemorate the adoption of the American flag

Flag Day is June 14 each year, but it’s not an official federal holiday. It's a day to commemorate the American flag.

On June 14, 1777, Congress authorized a red-white-and-blue flag with stars and stripes as the national symbol of the USA.

On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson established the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 by issuing a proclamation.

On Aug. 3, 1949, President Harry Truman signed a law designating National Flag Day on June 14.

Carnival fined after admitting dumping garbage in the ocean, again

Princess Cruise Lines and its parent, Carnival Cruise Lines, were ordered to pay a $20 million criminal penalty Monday and will be under more supervision after admitting to violations of its probation related to dumping waste into the ocean.

Princess was convicted and sentenced in April 2017, after pleading guilty to felony charges after dumping oil-contaminated waste from one of its ships in the ocean and then covering it up. While serving five years of probation, all Carnival ships using U.S. ports were required to comply with an environmental compliance plan, including audits by an independent company and oversight by a court monitor. Many violations have been identified by the company, the outside auditor, and the court’s monitor during the first two years of probation, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Carnival admitted it was guilty of committing six violations of its probation. Two of the violations involved sending teams to ships to prepare them for inspections during probation. When the court found out about this in December 2017, a federal district court judge ordered that the practice to be stopped and additional inspections were ordered. However, a second program was started shortly after that. The purpose of the programs were to avoid adverse findings during the inspections.

Baby boomers embrace June and summer fun

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer, although it officially begins June 21. When the weather is good, people enjoy barbecues, picnics with family and friends, outdoor fun at home, and travels elsewhere.

For Memorial Day, I was in Madrid visiting my daughter and her family. The following day we went to  the Manzanares el Real Castle, 45 minutes from Madrid. Close to La Pedriza at the foothills of Sierra de Guadarrama, the castle was restored three times in the 20^th century.

The boomers in our group have been busy and start the season with ideas readers will find interesting. Articles include:

• How to create a "no" list to get time in your life for what’s important.
• How to cultivate friendships.
• Recommendations for TV shows from among those nominated for Emmys.
• The top 100 most frequently asked questions.

Meryl Baer of Six Decades and Counting writes about these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #599. Click here to get the links to the articles. And, be sure to let the boomer writers know your thoughts. We love, love, love to get comments from readers.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Personal Finance Writer