INFORMED SENIORS

Self Defense Products For Seniors

Hi Folks,

It has been a while since we talked about self defense for seniors. So let’s revisit this topic again.

Every day you can read in your  local paper about someone getting mugged and robbed and more times than not that person is a senior citizen.

Seniors are everwhere: biking, shopping, walking along trails, in parks, sidewalks, and parking lots. There are a lot more  active seniors these days, out and about, visible for the baddies to see and target. And of course seniors are perceived as easy targets.

Read more…

Debit Card Safety Tips

Hi Folks,

For seniors, using our debit card is a such a simple, hassle-free way to make purchases, get cash, and make deposits that, for most of us, they have become our preferred way of taking care of everyday money matters. But we can become so accustomed to using them that we become careless.

Here are some safety tips for using our debit cards that, if we follow them, can prevent a whole lot of problems. Read more…

Bad People (convicted felons) in Your Neighborhood

Hi Folks,

Once or twice a year I like to tell you how to learn if there are any baddies (convicted felons) living in your neighborhood or your family’s and friend’s neighborhood. 

There is a web site entitled Felon Spy and all you have to do is pull up the site, scroll down to Begin Search, type in the street name, city, and state that you want to search, push the search button and up pops a map with flag pins pointing to where convicted felons live near by.

This is particularly important for people with children and grandchildren (and great grandchildren).

Read more…

Social Networking on the Internet: The New Way to Make Friends and Have Fun

I have  just posted the following article on social networking on my other blog, Woody’s Retirement Blog, but I thought you might like to read it without having to click over there. It’s a good read.

Hi Folks,

Read more…

Save Energy Save Money: Driving and Car Maintenance

Hi Folks,

The following post is number two in a series of articles on saving money while saving energy. None of the tips in these articles is rocket science - mostly common sense. The trick is following them.  

I hope you are having a great day,
Woody Read more…

Eight IRA mistakes to avoid at tax time

So retirees if you have friends that are still working please pass this article along to them, they may thank you for it.

Read more…

HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FRAUD ALERT

HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FRAUD ALERT

01/13/10—The FBI today reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.

Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:

Read more…

Medicare open enrollment: time to make sure you’re in the right plan

Read more…

Free Credit Report? Be Very, Very Careful!

Hi Folks,

Be very wary of TV commercials that offer free credit reports. The small print says that you will be billed a monthly fee unless you cancel the subscription, generally within seven days. 

If you would like to receive a truly free credit report (three reports a year) go to www.annualcreditreport.com.

Read more…

Feds Get Raise – Seniors Don’t!

Hi Folks,

Those of you who are regular readers of this blog know that I generally stick to the “positive side” of things. I believe there is more than enough negative talk out there without my adding more however I just received an email with, what I consider, negaitive news that I feel I should pass along to you:

President Obama recently approved a 2% salary increase for all federal employees effective January 1, 2010.  Members of the  executive, legislative and judicial branch are due for an automatic pay increase in January as well. All this on the backs of seniors who will not incur any COLA increases for several years.                                                             
                                                                           
For the first time in history, the Congress will not allow an increase in the social security COLA (cost of living adjustment).  In fact, The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation predicts there may not be any COLA for the next three years. However, the per person monthly Medicare insurance premium will be increased from the 2009 premium of $96.40 to $104.20 in 2010 and to $120.20 for the year 2011.

Read more…