Locking Credit Accounts

by Cynthia, posted in Taking Care of Business

Cynthia

Malicious access to personal data seems to flow in waves.  Recently we have seen yet another series of hacking (or more accurately named cracking) events. Unfortunately, unauthorized access is one of the challenges of our Internet-based society.  Most people are concerned about this type of activity when personal data is acquired.

Every element of information about ourselves and our lives is “out there” – and once posted your personal story will be on a server in perpetuity. The only safe electronic data, is stored on a computer that is turned off, unplugged, and disconnected from the Internet. The reality is that unauthorized access is a fact of digital life.

Some of the major financial institutions have recently experienced cyber attacks. Not long ago, TIAA, a major retirement fund, was hacked, as have some credit reporting agencies. What is an individual to do?

While we cannot prevent hacking, we can take precautionary steps to safeguard our data.  For example, using anti-virus software on our computers and phones; ensuring we don’t click on any links we are not familiar with; never giving out personal information on the telephone, text messages, or email; and keep personal information only in trusted sites.

Financially, we can lock our credit accounts so that new accounts cannot be opened in our name with our identifying information, such as social security number, birthdate, address, and credit card or bank account numbers.  Locking accounts is easy.

An individual can lock his/her account at no charge but may need to create an access account.  This is different from a credit protection account which will cost a monthly fee. Credit protection accounts are beyond the scope of this post but may also be helpful. Credit protection accounts are available from several companies, in addition to the credit reporting agencies.

To lock your credit account, go to each of the three major credit reporting agencies websites. These agencies are Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

From the Experian home page (Experian.com) scroll to Freeze or Unfreeze your Experian Credit File. You will need to “Create a free account.”

On the Transunion home page (https://transunion.com) scroll to click on Credit Freeze & Unfreeze, Get Started, then Add a Freeze.

On the Equifax site (https://equifax.com) scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on Place or Manage a Freeze, and click on Place a Security Freeze.

From there on each of the sites, follow the prompts. You may have to create an account on each, but you do not have to sign up for their security service.  You must freeze your account with each of the reporting agencies. Freezing your account on one site does not freeze your account on the others. Remember, also, that if you do freeze your account, no one can open new accounts with your PID (personal identifying data). To open a new bank account, credit card, or other credit account, you will need to unlock or unfreeze your accounts with the credit reporting agency your intended business uses.

All this sounds much more difficult than it is. You are just a few clicks away from protecting your data.

6-5-4-3-2-1 Grocery Shopping Tip

by Cynthia, posted in Reviews

Cynthia

Tik Tok is a platform for individuals and small groups to share expertise, experiences, and ideas in video form. People present challenges and those that catch on have a lot of activity – others commenting, trying the idea, or creating a similar but modified approach to the original post.

One such suggestion was by Chef Will Coleman. Chef Coleman presented a grocery shopping design in order to shop with intention. He believes subscribers will save money. He calls it the 6-5-4-3-2-1 method.  Using this approach, a shopper will purchase 6 vegetables, 5 fruits, 4 proteins, 3 carbs/starches, 2 sauces, and 1 item for oneself.

This is a clever idea and people on Tik Tok have embraced the challenge. Chef Coleman does not mention the excellent nutritional value to this approach but focusing on vegetables and fruits above protein is a healthy way to eat. In addition, people have become adept at discerning vegetables and fruits.

For example, some people are including peppers, eggplant, olives, squash, avocado, cucumber, beans and some nuts in the fruit category, as technically a fruit is an edible plant with seeds. Starches is another category that lends itself to interpretation and might include potatoes, bread, rice, pasta, and cereal.  In the protein category some are going for nuts and tofu in addition to or instead of poultry, beef, pork, and fish. When one thinks of food in this way, the variety is wide and the options endless.

Sauces could be prepared mayonnaise, catsup, or mustard or something more exciting such as a teriyaki sauce or pizza sauce. As for the 1 item for oneself, some people buy frozen pot stickers, ice cream, or supplement with additional pantry items. Possible combinations are up to an individual’s imagination.

The idea of the 6-5-4-3-2-1 method is admirable. However, to be useful and actually help save money, one must still shop judiciously. More importantly, one must have time and the creativity to cook. I have found the more I have cooked over the years, the more able I am to make a nice meal from ingredients I have on hand. But young professionals with budding careers and/or a small family may have more of a challenge.

For some, preparing a menu for the week and listing grocery items needed for that menu may ultimately save more money.  Individuals need to think through the options Chef Coleman presents. Maybe his method combined with a predetermined menu will help meal planning, meal preparation, and enjoying dinner time without overspending on groceries.

More Than a Gold Watch

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

 Mary Ann

When people used to retire, they were given a gold watch for their many years of service to their place of employment.  Many people today don’t even wear a watch anymore.  They use their phones to tell time.  In the end, a watch is not really a very good way to celebrate someone’s life’s work.  So, what is? 

We live longer now so retirement can go on for a very long time.  People see retirement as another chapter in their lives rather than an end.  What would be a better gift than a gold watch? We want to wish the retiree good health, wealth, and happiness. Now, how do you do that exactly?

My friend, Lisa, and I started a nonfiction book club when Covid started, and we explored a variety of subjects over the next four years.  We talk every Saturday about the reading assignments.  We have read over 60 books and have gained so much insight and knowledge from them.  From our reading, we have found books that focused on health, wealth, and happiness, and the following books are our all-star favorites that will give any retiree many nuggets of wisdom for their golden years.

Health – AARP has an excellent book on health called The Whole Body Reset by Stephen Perrine.  It is about living a healthy life rather than just a diet.  It is simple and a good guide to eating better in your senior years.  

Wealth – Jane Bryant Quinn’s How to Make Your Money Last, the Indispensable Retirement Guide is the bible for financial planning both before and after retirement.  Quinn has authored several books on finance and is an expert in her field.  My book is dogeared and underlined throughout.  It is a book that I constantly refer to for financial advice. I have gifted this book to both the young and old over the years, and it is always appreciated.  

Happiness – Julia Cameron is a writer who focuses on creativity. She is most famous for The Artist’s Way.  However, she has written a book for those who are retiring and how to live a more creative, fulfilling life.  It is Never too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond. This a book that can help a retiree to gain meaning for a happier life in retirement.

These books are so helpful, useful, and good reads.   All you need now is to wrap them up and give them to the retirees in your life.  I would tell them that each book represents good wishes for health, wealth, and happiness.  I put tags on each wrapped book explaining just that. These books are worth more in gold than any watch could ever be.  They would be a good gift to give yourself, and don’t we all want to live a life of better health, more secure wealth, and new opportunities of happiness in our own golden years. 

Recipes

by Cynthia, posted in Friends and Family

Cynthia

A friend sent me the most delightful recipe.  It was an easy but elegant appetizer designed for the winter holiday season but could easily be offered all year around. I was struck by not only the fact that she would take the time to mail something to me, but that she was aware of my delight in cooking.

This gesture reminded me of my early-married days. People would start chain letters with various reasons to participate. One such chain was the Recipe Share. I received a recipe in the mail, along with the letter that encouraged me to send one of my favorite recipes to the top five people on the list. I was to add my name to the bottom of the list, and if memory serves me, to send the “new” letter to five or ten of my friends. The idea was that eventually I would receive hundreds of recipes from people I may or may not know. The idea was fun. Yet, I never received additional recipes.

Those days of sharing recipes, clipping coupons, and taking cookies to the park to share with children of other mothers who were needing adult companionship have long since gone. Women entered the workforce, eliminating the ability to have “friend time” during the day. Fewer people cooked at home. Children attended day care or joined after school programs. Email replaced letters and cards.

Yet, now in my retirement, I find I delight in receiving a recipe in the mail. And I have time to whip it up and share with a friend. After all these years, women still enjoy sharing their love through their recipes.

Building Bones

by Cynthia, posted in Wellness

Just before retiring I decided I needed to have some baseline medical stats. Prior to that time I didn’t bother to go for an annual physical. For the most part, I am a very healthy 70-year-old. I rarely become ill with even a cold although I do suffer with allergies in the Spring. So one may imagine my surprise when I learned I have osteoporosis.

When my doctor recommended Fosamax I read about the side effects. To my dismay I learned that one of the side effects was bone loss in one’s jaw. In order to have dental work, you are supposed to quit taking the medication for a time period. Additionally, calcium and vitamin D supplements are recommended with the medication as long-term studies showed a 2% decrease in calcium in the first month.  Several more minor side effects are listed. I understand there is a risk in taking any medication. Being one of those people who shies away from pharmaceuticals, I began looking for alternative solutions.

My medical massage therapist recommended OsteoStrong. I gave it a try and love it! Focusing on the skeletal system, OsteoStrong uses four machines, each targeting a different area of the skeletal system.  A trainer works with each client to reach a target “weight” or pressure based on one’s personal needs. This wellness system is designed to improve bone density, balance, and overall strength.

Each week I attempt to beat my own record.  A graph is displayed while using each machine. The graph shows previous work, target goal, and peak.  I find it quite motivating to watch the graph climb as I push to do better each time. Some weeks are not as good, but that’s okay. And the trainer is super supportive and encouraging.  Not being big on exercise, I find this easy-to-use system to be a great option for me.

OsteoStrong centers are licensed to individuals in service areas and can be found around the world. Fans of Tony Robbins will learn that he and his wife are said to use the system.  The cost is comparable to many exercise facilities, but I recently learned that the Renew Active program that comes with some medical insurance includes OsteoStrong. I am looking forward to my one-year marker when I will take another Dexa scan to see if my bone density has improved. For now, I will continue to challenge myself and attend my OsteoStrong session each week.

Changing Insurance Companies

by Cynthia, posted in Uncategorized

Have you noticed the premiums for homeowner’s and automobile insurance continue to rise? The cost seemingly has become outrageous! As retirees with a fixed income and no opportunity to make extra on the side, something had to change! When one’s homeowner’s insurance premiums exceed a mortgage payment, one knows something is not right.

Beginning two or three months before the current policy is to expire will save some hassle in the long run. It was disappointing to learn that my current insurance company was unable to quote me a lower premium without significantly changing the coverage. Additionally, I was surprised to learn how long and how much effort it took to change companies. Even though I began early, everything was finalized just before my current policy was to expire.

My process was this. I went online to request quotes. I was surprised by the few responses I received. In my “research” I discovered one needs to be mindful of the sites you are using to request quotes. The safest choice is to go to actual insurance companies’ sites; not a generic “we will find you multiple quotes” sites, which often are scams.

Exploring options with the companies that responded, I was thrilled to learn my premium would be considerably less than what I was currently paying. Bundling homeowner’s with automobile and personal liability insurance saves money, also.

Importantly, I did my homework before making a final decision. The reviews on the new company were very positive, including a high rating with J.D. Powers.

I did learn from this experience, that even though it is not time to renew, one can still change companies. Once your new insurance is finalized and in place, remember to cancel the old. They are required to refund any prepaid yet unused premiums.

I am relieved to have this activity behind me … at least for another year. Staying on top of each and all expenditures helps a retired woman sleep better at night.

Get Good With Money Review

by sssmahh303, posted in Taking Care of Business

Mary Ann

During Covid, my good friend L and I did a non-fiction book club. We lived in different states, so this was a way to connect during our confinements.  It was only the two of us, and each Saturday morning, we talk for two or three hours about the reading assignments and life in general.  Even though we could have stopped when the pandemic ended, we have continued reading 60 plus books over the last four years. We focused on nonfiction that included topics on money, health, happiness, self-actualizing, retirement, getting ready to retire, etc.  We wanted to learn about topics that would help us in our lives.

One of the first books we read centered on finance.  I had retired, and L is going to retire at the end of 2024. We needed to get a handle on our money and know how to best support ourselves in the years to come.  The first finance book was How to Make Your Money Last – The indispensable Retirement Guide by Jane Bryant Quinn and is the bible of finance as far as I am concerned.  I frequently refer to this book.  Another finance book that I love is a gem of a little book called How to Retire with Enough Money and How to Know What is Enough Is by Teresa Ghilarducci.  It is the Cliff Notes of finance.  Both are excellent books and very well-written.

Recently, we have added a new book to our All-Star Finance List.  It is Get Good with Money – 10 Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole by Tiffany Aliche.  She is known as the Budgetnista.  Ms. Aliche breaks down money into categories and in simple terms explains how a budget works, how to invest, how to buy insurance, and how exactly is your credit score determined.  These elements among others add up to 100% and in the end gives individuals a blueprint to get their finances in order.  Topics are clearly explained, good examples are given for understanding concepts, and most importantly, Ms. Aliche has personally lived through most of what she recommends. She has made all the mistakes and knows what it is like to be penniless. Her firsthand experiences gives everyone hope. She also offers finance worksheets and the like in her book and on her website, getgoodwithmoney.com.

This book is a good gift to give your children and/or grandchildren. L and I have done just that.  I wish that Ms. Aliche would write a finance book for little old ladies like me that would advise elders about medical costs and a guide for signing up for Medicare- the ABCD programs can be so confusing and then you have the supplement alphabet!  Investments for someone retired is different from building retirement funds. I am sure that Ms. Aliche could help investors to help themselves. I gained so much information from Aliche’s book, but I could use some help with my retirement finances. 

All three of these books were written by women.  They all offer good financial advice regardless of gender; however, it is so nice to see women lead on finance.  I can remember years ago when that wasn’t the case.  Thank you, Ms. Bryant, Ms. Ghilarducci, and most recently Ms. Aliche!  You are making all the difference! 

Greetings

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

Mary Ann

When you open your mailbox and fight your way through the charity requests, monthly bills, and endless catalogs, you find a colorful envelop nestled amid the jumble of paper.  You pull it out and find that a dear friend or special relative had sent you a card. Then a smile crosses your face and for a moment you experience pure bliss.  Someone remembered you with a greeting card.  

Few things can give you such joy as a birthday card or thinking of you card. Holiday wishes are captured in a rainbow of colors throughout the year.  There isn’t a digital card, text, or email that can capture the same feelings that a splash of color discovered in your mailbox.  Someone had to go out of their way to write to you.  They had to find a card, address the envelop, locate a stamp, and sign the card possibly adding a few thoughts. And all of this done using real handwriting. Remember handwriting?  It all seems like a lost art. 

I love to shop for cards selecting just the right one for the person I intend to write to.  The browsing is such fun and reading the text is uplifting for me.  However, it can be an expensive endeavor, especially if you frequently send cards.  Some cards can cost as much as $5-$10 dollars each. That really can add up if you send several cards.  When you are on a fixed income, it is something you must consider. However, there are some options that makes this all affordable. 

I have a friend who is in a card-making club, and at the monthly meeting, they make various cards.  They are cute, colorful, and clever. What a great way to get together with friends and create cards to bring joy to others. It brings joy to you as well.  I have another friend who is a talented photographer, and she make cards from the photos she takes.  I love getting a card from her.  You can get blank cards at craft stores like Michaels or online from Amazon.  You can even print your own photos.  I like doing this as well and have put collections together of travels or flowers as a gift of note cards.  

My best kept secret for greeting cards is Dollar Tree.  They have American Greetings and Hallmark cards for a $1.00, and Hallmark has created a line for Dollar Tree which is the best bargain yet – two cards for a $1.00. They offer holiday cards, standard birthday cards or get-well cards, and unique cards for new grandparents, retirement, bride-to be cards, and on and on.  I leave with a stack of cards, and my bill is often under $10.00. The cards are made of high-quality paper, often are sprinkled with glitter, and the envelops are colorful. At times, you need to give the envelops a good lick.   Now, there is no reason not to bring joy to close friends or beloved grandchildren and not break the bank. You will bring joy to loved ones, and in the end you will bring joy to yourself.  

I Didn’t Know I Needed Girlfriends

by Cynthia, posted in Friends and Family

Cynthia

Several years ago I realized I spent most of my time working and did not have friends I could call upon in my “off” time. I had always heard, “to have friends, you have to be a friend.” As is customary, I took up the charge.

I made a list of women whom I had met at chamber of Commerce meetings, Rotary, and other such organizations and sent invitations to twenty women, asking if they would be willing to spend one evening a month with me and a group of others for one year. Ten responded.  I set a theme and a date and launched my goddess group.

The night before the first gathering I became nervous. Many of these women had beautiful homes, husbands, were visible in the community, and were involved in a lot of activities.  Was I an equal? Self-doubt kicked in. Yet, it was too late to back out.  The evening arrived. I welcomed the ladies with heavy hor d’oeuvres, wine, and a non-alcoholic option. We played a game I found at the Bullseye Boutique (Target) called Go Goddess! The game, as many others, encourages each player to answer questions, allowing the group to get to know one another. The night was a huge success!

Everyone gone, I was wound up and very excited, pleased that evening went so well. Beyond that I was extremely grateful that these women came and each said she looked forward to the next month.  I sat down and wrote each woman a personal note, indicating why I had invited her, what I admired about her, and thanking her for joining the group of girlfriends.

Fast forward several year. Last week I had coffee with one of those lovely ladies. Well into her seventies, she is still a practicing attorney.  She mentioned how delightful “the goddess group” was and suggested I pull together the group for a reunion. She said she never knew how much she needed female friends. She shared the note I had written was especially meaningful to her and she had carried it in her purse for years.

We simply never know the impact we make on others – both positive and negative. Yet one thing is certain. If we want to have friends, we must make the effort to be a friend.

Baby Shots

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann

When I was a little girl, I was not allowed to go to the community pool in the summer or participate in other activities where large groups gathered.  My mother was scared that I would contract Polio.  The fear was a nightmare at the time for our parents – death and withered limbs loomed large for them.  Then Salk and later Sabin developed vaccines that eventually eradicated polio from the United States and for the most part, the world. 

I can remember going to the local high school gym for a shot.  The lines were long and both adults and children got the shots. For most parents, they could at last exhale.  A few years later, we lined up again for a sugar cube that Sabin developed – so much better than a needle.  

Time passed and hardly anyone spoke of polio again.   We grew up and had children.  Our children and later grandchildren got a whole host of vaccinations.  They didn’t have to endure measles, mumps, or rubella and on and on.  I sat in a dark room when I had measles to protect my eyes – it may have been a wives’ tales, but my mother was not taking any chances.  There was a girl in my hometown who lost her hearing at the age of two from measles. There was danger. 

Then we became senior citizens and suddenly we have a whole new set of shots, our baby shots.  There is the annual Flu and Covid shots, RSV, Shingles, Pneumonia, Hep A Hep B, and you still need Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) every ten years.  If you travel, you may need Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Cholera, and so on.  On a trip to Africa, I had to get another Polio shot – they had had a recent outbreak.   At times, you feel like a human pin cushion.   

However, regardless of how uncomfortable the vaccinations may be, the alternative of getting the disease and possibly dying from it, is far worse.  With each shot, I can see my mother smiling at me for protecting myself with the new baby shots, just as she once protected me from polio.   I am thankful for these life-saving shots. They can make all the difference in my old age.