Sunday, November 27, 2011

Shopping Safety Tips for Senior Citizens

Use Caution When Gift Shopping
(photo by morguefile.com)
At any time of year, senior citizens can be particularly vulnerable when they are out shopping in malls and stores.  They are easy victims of pick-pockets, purse snatchers, muggers and similar criminals.  It is sad that some criminals will take advantage of people who appear to be frail, but it is an unfortunate reality.

During the holidays, it is particularly easy to become busy and distracted. As a result, people of any age may forget some basic rules of shopping safety.   Whenever we are out in public, we have to be aware of our surroundings and particularly careful.  We all have to keep our wits about us, especially when we are shopping.

How to Stay Safe While Shopping in Malls and Stores

* Be aware of your surroundings.  Notice anyone who may be watching you or following you while you are doing your holiday shopping.  If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, ask for a store or mall security guard to escort you to your car.

* Whenever possible, go shopping in groups.  Whether you take family members with you, or go with your friends, there is safety in numbers.

* Do not flash around a lot of cash.  Be careful about putting your credit cards and debit card away after each transaction. Take your time.

* Do your shopping during daylight hours and park your car close to the store.

* Be cautious about leaving packages in your car.  When you have made some of your purchases, do not simply load your packages into the trunk of your car and go back into the mall to buy more.  Someone could be watching the parking lot, and they might break into your car while you are gone.  Instead, take that load of packages home.  If that isn't possible, get in your car and drive to the other side of the mall, where any observers will not know that your trunk is full of gifts.  Then, re-park and re-enter the mall.  Do not leave any packages in plain site inside your car.

Only use ATM's in well-lit areas, and take steps to make sure your PIN number cannot be observed.

By being cautious and aware while out holiday shopping, you should be able to protect your purchases and avoid being attacked or injured during a robbery.  Don't let criminals ruin your holidays or other shopping experiences.

If you are looking for additional information for Baby Boomers and Senior Citizens, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this article to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Monday, November 21, 2011

Gratitude at Thanksgiving


Pecan Pie
(photo by photoxpress.com)

Happy Thanksgiving to all Baby-Boomers!

Times have been tough for many Baby Boomers during the past few years.  However, it is important to take a few minutes at Thanksgiving to remember all the aspects of our lives for which we can be grateful.

For many of us, our families are extremely important.  Yes, we may have spoiled our children and grandchildren, or disagreed from time to time with their decisions, but we still delight in watching them grow and mature.  Our family dinners may not be as formal as the ones our parents prepared, but we still enjoy getting everyone together for a holiday meal, or even to just gather around the television and watch a good holiday movie or football game.  Despite all the ups and downs of family life, we love our own families the best.

We also can be grateful for the amazing lives that many of us have lead.  We have traveled more widely than any generation before us.  We have seen inventions that seemed inconceivable when we were young.  We have witnessed major transformations in our society as far as the acceptance of different races and religions within our communities.

The majority of Baby Boomers have also had the opportunity to own at least one home during their lifetime.  They have been able to indulge themselves in ways that their parents could never even imagine, with everything from big screen TVs to home computers and amazing cell phones.

According to the federal website getinvolved.gov, Baby Boomers have made meaningful contributions to our nation.  About one-third of Baby Boomers volunteer for a formal organization each year; on average we each volunteer about 51 hours a year.  Baby Boomers actually increase the amount of time they spend volunteering during the years immediately after they retire.  We enjoy giving back to our communities and trying to improve life for future generations.  Boomers have a lot to be proud of! 

When I look around at my family, my quality of life, the places where I have traveled, and the ways in which I have served my own community, I feel very grateful for the life I have lived.  Consequently, when I wake up on Thanksgiving morning, I want to start the day off by saying “I have been blessed beyond measure.”  Because, despite all the ups and downs of the economy, as well as the disappointments and setbacks I have faced over the years, I am still able to feel truly blessed by this wonderful life that I have lead!  I hope you will, too.  Happy Thanksgiving!

If you want to stay up-to-date with summaries of news articles and other information pertinent to our generation, add the Baby Boomer Retirement blog to your favorites list, or subscribe to email updates.  The blog can be found at http://Baby-Boomer-Retirement.blogspot.com.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Las Vegas Weddings for Seniors

Famous Little White Chapel
in Las Vegas is one place
you can marry, but there are
many more!
Las Vegas is the perfect wedding location for many people who want to keep their marriage plans simple and affordable.  It is ideal for Baby Boomers thinking about getting married or re-married.   Vegas has long been known as a delightful place to have a fun wedding, without the necessity of inviting lots of people or planning a big, formal affair.  Thousands of people from all over the country go to Las Vegas each year to have a private wedding with just a few friends or family members.  If you are thinking about getting married there, here are some of the things you need to know.

This article will give you an overview of what you need to know about getting married in Las Vegas.  However, if you want to learn more and plan a wedding there, you will want to get a copy of the Amazon book:  Your Guide to a Fabulous Las Vegas Wedding.  It tells you about the laws, chapels, restaurants, how to get discount show tickets, and much more.  It is available in both Kindle and paperback editions.

Las Vegas Marriage Laws: 

The basic laws for getting married in Las Vegas are simple.  Just go to the Clark County Marriage License Bureau (any cab can take you) and show your driver's license, passport or other ID that proves you are both over 18 years old.  The current fee is about $60, although that changes from time to time.  You are best off if you plan to pay in cash.  Sometimes you can pay by credit card, cash or cashier's check; other times, they will not accept credit or debit cards.

If you have been divorced, you need to provide the date, city and state where the divorce was finalized.  You don't need to show your divorce decree.  If you have been widowed, you must provide the date, city and state of your former spouse's death.  There is no waiting period, and you do not need a blood test.  The Marriage License Bureau is open from 8:00 a.m. until midnight 365 days a year.  Once you have your license in hand, you are immediately ready to get married.

Where to Get Married:  

Your license is good for a year; however, most people use it within the next day or two.  There are many chapels throughout Las Vegas that provide fun wedding venues.  You can get married at the Mandalay Bay Wedding Chapels, the Graceland Wedding Chapel or the famous Little White Wedding Chapel where many famous people, including Joan Collins and Michael Jordan, have been wed.  Most of the major hotels also have wedding chapels.  I have seen a wide variety of nuptials performed in Las Vegas, and enjoyed them all.  You can usually call a chapel for an appointment and get married the same day.  For some of the fancier places, such as the Mandalay Bay, you may want to call a few weeks in advance.  The book I mentioned above contains information about a number of other chapels, too.

What to Do in Las Vegas:  

If you have never been to Las Vegas, you may be surprised by all the possible activities you can enjoy during your stay.  There are spectacular golf courses, tennis courts, lovely swimming pools, casinos, incredible restaurants, shopping and the famous Las Vegas shows.  If you decide to go to a show, go to a Tix4Tonight booth first.  They are located throughout Las Vegas and they are a great place to get 1/2 price tickets for shows on the evening of the day you purchase your tickets.

Baby Boomers are looking for ways to save money and simplify their lives.  Planning to have your own wedding or the wedding of one of your children in Las Vegas is one way to keep your life simple!

Whether you are planning a wedding, wondering how to maximize your retirement income, or find out about the latest medical advances, you may want to add this blog to your favorites list, or sign up to have Google email notices of the latest posts.

The Baby Boomer Retirement blog is located at http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com.

(photo courtesy of photoxpress.com)

Thursday, November 17, 2011

New Rules for Grandparents of New Babies

 New Rules for Changing Diapers!
(photo by morguefile.com)
Are you about to babysit for a new grandchild for the first time?  Or, are you about to become a grandparent?  If so, be prepared for some careful instructions from your adult children.  New research over the past 20 years has created several changes in the way we need to care for those precious grandchildren, and their parents will want you to educate yourselves, and heed this new advice.

Yes, somehow we managed to raise our own kids without knowing about all this research.  However, if you want to get along well with the parents of that new baby, you had better be willing to learn this updated information.  It is one of the best ways you can begin to build rapport within your growing family.

Here are some of the changes that have been made to parenting guidelines since we were raising our own children:

Make sure your whooping cough shot is current.  Many pediatricians are telling young parents not to let anyone around their newborn who does not have a current whooping cough vaccine, and this remains true for the first year of a child's life, until they are vaccinated themselves.

Do not put a baby to sleep on its tummy.  This increases the chances of sudden infant death syndrome.  Instead, doctors recommend that babies be put to sleep on their backs.

Do not use talcum powder when you change a diaper.  New parents now use diaper cream, instead.

Don't push the new parents to begin feeding the baby cereal when they are only a few weeks old. Evidence indicates that babies are better off waiting until they are about six months old to begin eating cereal or other solid foods.

Take a grandparenting class.  Many hospitals now offer grandparenting classes for the parents and in-laws of expectant mothers.  Find out if one is offered in your area, and take it.  It doesn't matter how many children you have already raised.  Just showing up for the class will enhance your relationship with the new mother, and increase her confidence in your willingness to be a supportive grandparent who will encourage her, rather than try to undermine her.

Learn how to install a car seat in an automobile correctly.  They can be very tricky, and you want to make sure you do it right.  The last thing you want to have happen is for the child and the car seat  to flip over if you need to slam on your brakes!

Finally, the most important thing you can do is learn to curb your tongue.  You may not agree with everything the new parent does.  However, if you want to maintain good family relationships, and get to really enjoy spending time with your grandkids, make a sincere effort not to make suggestions.  They will be considered criticisms, no matter how gentle you try to be!

For more information about retirement, family relationships and other issues as you age, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of this page to find links to hundreds of additional articles.

If you are a Baby Boomer and you are looking forward to retirement, you may want to follow the Baby Boomer Retirement blog at http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com for more information on how to enhance your senior years.