By Rita R. Robison, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Guest Blogger

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, a celebration that often brings great joy as baby boomer families and friends gather to share their lives and give thanks in traditional ways.

Thursday, boomer consumers will plunge into the holiday season

Often times, the holiday season becomes so busy that excitement and joy turns into stress and even depression.

Here are tips for reducing holiday stress that I’ve used throughout the years:

• Make a budget for the holiday season and stick to it. It will help reduce financial worries and stress. Since we’re in a severe recession, family members and friends may be more willing to talk about scaling back on present giving costs.

• Buy as many gifts as you can before those last store-crowded shopping days, and use the Internet NOW for shopping before you’ll be required to pay high shipping costs. If you shop on the Internet, you can compare prices and find coupons. See my articles “Tips for Baby Boomers for Holiday Shopping” and “Opportunities Abound for Baby Boomers to Cut Costs With Internet Coupons.”

• Evaluate your holiday plans to determine if you can find ways to cut costs or stressors. Give up on the idea of buying the perfect gift for everyone, and ask family members to bring side dishes for the big celebration dinner.

• Remember to carry out and establish new, easy traditions. I like to buy one ornament for the tree each year. It’s fun to talk about when the different ornaments were purchased and which is the favorite of the children and grandchildren.

• Take time to rest and relax. If you’re exhausted and the big day is still a couple of weeks away, reevaluate. Cut out projects or events, put your feet up, and unwind.

• Be flexible. Things may be changing for you as a boomer because your parents or grandparents aren’t able to host holiday gatherings or they may have passed away. Adult children may live around the country, so it’s not possible to celebrate together. Your spouse or partner may have died, or you may be divorced or single. You’ll need to think of new ways to find joy and establish new traditions.

• Figure out a way to help others. Buy food or gifts for a needy family, or find organizations that people here or abroad and make a contribution.

• Say no if you’re beginning to feel panicky. Work to get done what you can each day, and delete tasks and eliminate events to reduce stress.

• Be sure to experience much joy and fun. It’s what the holiday season is about.

Here are articles with more suggestions to help boomer consumers enjoy holiday season by reducing stress and depression.

“How to Avoid Holiday Stress and Depression” – eHow

“Avoid Holiday Stress – Start Now!” – Dr. David Posen

“Three Ways to Avoid Christmas Stress with Your Aging Parents” – Aging Parents Authority

“Stress, Depression and the Holidays: 12 Tips for Coping” – MayoClinic.com

“Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress” – WebMD

“Avoid Holiday Burnout: Four Keys to Sane and Healthy Holidays” – MedicineNet.com

“How to Avoid Three of the Top Causes of Holiday Stress” – Ezine Holiday Articles

“Managing Holiday Stress” – Cleveland Clinic

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By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Guest Blogger

Economic times are tough for boomer consumers.

By planning ahead and using smart shopping techniques, you can avoid debt and unneeded stress during the holidays.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission offers these tips when you’re holiday shopping at the mall, online, or by phone or mail:

Getting started

• Make a shopping list, including the people you plan to buy gifts for and the type of gifts you plan to buy.
• Create and stick to a realistic budget to avoid post-holiday debt.
• Add to your budget the cost of cash gifts, holiday travel, extra food, wrappings, decorations, greeting cards, and postage.

Shopping the holiday sale ads

• Shop around, to make sure the “sale” price is really the best.
• Read sale ads carefully and look for terms such as “quantities limited,” “no rain checks,” or “not available at all stores.”
• Call before you go shopping to make sure the item you want is in stock.
• Consider your time and travel costs by adding these costs to the price is you have to go across town for buy the item.
• Look for price-matching policies that some stores offer to meet or beat a competitor’s prices.
• Check out Web sites that compare prices.
• Keep shipping costs and delivery time in mind when you shop online.
• Consider carefully bargain offers that are based on purchases of additional merchandise, for example, “Buy Three, Get One Free” or “Free Gift with Purchase.”
• Use coupons if they’ll save you money on what you’re already planning to buy and if you’ve checked any restrictions.
• Ask about sale adjustments, for example, if you buy an item at regular price and it goes on sale the next week, can you get a credit or refund for the discounted amount.

Staying on track

• Keep track of your spending.
• Save your receipts because you’ll need them for returns and exchanges.
• Ask for gift receipts.
• Ask about refund and return policies because stores are allowed set their own policies.
• Keep good records, whether you’re ordering by mail, phone, or online.
• Ship early to avoid heftyt last-minute fees, if you’re sending gifts to out-of-towners, factor in extra time for shipping.
• Keep an eye on your wallet and purse and get your credit or debit cards back as quickly as possible during transactions.

Using layaway programs

• Use layaways if you don’t want to charge it and if you don’t have the cash to pay for the item.
• Get the store’s layaway policy in writing, including the terms of the layaway plan and the refund policy.

For more information, visit www.ftc.gov and www.MyMoney.gov.

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By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Guest Blogger

Record voter turnout is expected throughout the nation as Americans face one of the most exciting elections in history.

Most people have made up their minds by now who they’ll vote for president.

However, there are many important state and local races on ballots throughout America. Among them are governors, members of Congress, attorneys general, treasurers, state legislators, judges, and local government officials. And, in many states, ballot measures are offered on state and local public policy issues.

Where can you find information about these candidates and ballot issues further down on the ballot?

The League of Women Voters of the United States offers a Web site Vote411.org. It provides general voter information such as:

• Voting in your state.

• Finding your polling place.

• What’s on your ballot.

• Stay informed.

To find out information about candidates to help choose a one to vote for, you can:

• Make a list of issues important to you. Research the voting history of each candidate. Eliminate candidates that don’t match up to the issues that are important to you.

• Ask knowledge friends, co-workers, and relatives.

• Read the candidates’ statements in your state and local voters’ guides.

• Visit candidate Web sites.

• Review newspaper endorsements. However, be careful here as in some cases newspaper endorsements reflect the interests of the business community rather than consumer interests.

• Visit the Web site of your political party.

Among the ballot measures across the nation are:

• Massachusetts – Decriminalize marijuana.

• California – Renewable energy standards, bond issue, gay marriage ban, abortion restrictions, additional penalties on crimes, and animal welfare.

• Washington state – Death with dignity, traffic, and health care worker requirements.

• Missouri – Home health care.

• Ohio – Paid sick leave.

• Montana – Children’s health care.

• Michigan – Universal health care and stem cell research.

• Arizona – Payday lending.

• North Dakota – Term limits repeal.

There are 153 ballot measures on the Nov. 4 ballot throughout the U.S., according to Ballotpedia.org.

To help you determine how to vote on a ballot measure, you can:

• Ask knowledge friends, co-workers, and relatives.

• Read the pro and con statements in your state and local voters’ guides.

• Visit the Web sites for the ballot measures.

• Review newspaper endorsements. However, as with candidates, be careful as some newspaper endorsements reflect the interests of the business community rather than consumer interests.

• Visit the Web site of interest groups who may have a position on the issue.

Good luck if you’re just beginning your research. Don’t be intimidated if your ballot is long. With the Internet, it easier than it’s ever been to gather information on candidates and issues.

Remember, it’s best to make the decisions in advance and not in the voting booth. Take a sample ballot with you so you can fill out your ballot quickly.

Enjoy voting and be sure to celebrate your investment in democracy and the public process when you’re finished.

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Wish you all A Very Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you will have a wonderful meal with family and friends.

Oh! by the way, have you ever wondered about how and when the turkey became the symbol of Thanksgiving celebration? or did you know that Thanksgiving celebration is not unique to just America? as is commonly thought; but has a long tradition of celebration. If this interests you, you may want to read this excellent primer on Thanksgiving celebrations from a wonderful website, howstuffworks.

Enjoy reading and again Wish You A Very Happy Thanksgiving and hopefully a good Black Friday shopping :~) from all of us at Boomer411.com.

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