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MY SUN DAY NEWS

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April 11, 2013

Frugal Forum

More on ‘Sun City Discounts’

In my last column I shared the brainstorming discussion that I had experienced during a social gathering of neighbors who were concerned about the continual increase in rates from service providers like Comcast. I floated the idea of having a designated person from our community to act as a liaison with common service providers.

Negotiating rates for products and services

In one of our recent neighborhood social gatherings, one of my neighbors mentioned an experience they had with Comcast. They noted that their monthly Comcast bill had increased from December to January. However, they had not changed their level of service or purchased any optional services during the month.

How did the fiscal cliff deal impact seniors?

As we approached the end of 2012, we were all left hanging on the edge of the fiscal cliff, awaiting legislation to prevent us from falling. New Year’s Eve came and went, and we started slipping off the cliff. Finally on the dawn of the New Year, our legislators enacted the Taxpayer Relief Act. Happy New Year!

The most precious gift of all: time

This holiday season, we seem to be struggling to get into the holiday spirit. The concerns over the economy, the fiscal cliff, unemployment, rising costs of living, and no hockey have us all stressed out. Not even the early Black Friday (that started on Thanksgiving), nor cyber Monday seemed to get us in holiday gear.

Concerns over the approaching fiscal cliff

The term “fiscal cliff” refers to the effect of current laws which, if unchanged, could result in tax increases and government spending cuts beginning in 2013. These laws include tax increases due to the expiration of the Tax Relief Act of 2010 and spending cuts under the Budget Control Act of 2011.

Are extended warranties worth the cost?

I use my exercise bike almost daily. It is an important part of keeping in top physical shape. For those of you who know me, you know I am not in physical shape. However, if I didn’t use the bike, I would be much worse off. I purchased my current bike about four years ago. It was one of the better (not the best) brands at the time. The salesperson convinced me to take the extended warranty because it included at-home repair service.

Perceived value and brand loyalty

Did you happen to catch the segment on 60 Minutes (October 7) entitled “Sticker Shock: Why are glasses so expensive?” The segment covered the world’s largest eyewear company, Luxottica. The Italian firm began making eyeglass frames from goat horns and has grown to dominate the world market.

Fees have replaced Free

Oh for the good ole days when some things were free. I remember running home from school to turn on the TV which still had the test pattern showing because “Howdy Doody” and “Buffalo Bob” hadn’t started yet. I wondered why we had rabbit ears on the top of the TV in those days. Today those rabbit ears would be worth about $75 a month in satellite or cable fees. It is truly amazing when we consider what we pay in fees today for stuff that used to be free.

Taxation without representation

Whenever I meet new acquaintances and tell them that I live at Sun City, I get the same reaction. They always ask, “How do you like it?” It is usually a fairly long response as I share with them how pleased we are with the community, the amenities, and the facilities. I usually sum up the conversation by describing Sun City as the Adult version of Disney World.

The proposed Debt Free America Act

Have you ever heard of Congressman Chaka Fattah from Pennsylvania? He is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. This committee is responsible for setting spending priorities for over $1 trillion in annual discretionary funds.

The value of friendship in difficult times

It is easy to get frustrated and depressed when we contemplate what we are experiencing in our current economy. Gas prices are on the rise again, not only due to the price of oil, but also the cost of ethanol which is produced from corn. Recent estimates state that our food bills will increase an average of $300 per year due to the terrible drought this year.

Ice cream, the practice is worth it

The hot spell we just went through brought back memories of my teen years when I worked at my uncle’s ice cream store. I can remember the long lines of customers waiting in the heat for their ice cream cones, sundaes, and shakes.

Do you owe Illinois sales/use tax?

In 1955, Illinois passed the Use tax Act. A use tax (more commonly referred to as a sales tax) is imposed on the privilege of using, in this state, any kind of general merchandise, food, drugs, or medical appliances that are purchased anywhere at retail from a retailer.

Eating healthier and cheaper

Losing weight has been a lifelong venture for me. I have probably lost my total body weight about 10 times during my life. Of course those tasty suggestions and restaurant reviews from the Geezer don’t really make it any easier. Somehow I always seem to take more calories in than I work off with exercise.

Do we really need all that Life Insurance?

When I was in my teens, I remember getting advice from my favorite uncle that I should buy life insurance while I was young because the premiums would be very low. He took me to his savings bank where he had opened up a savings account for me years before. He introduced me to his banker, who sold me a whole-life policy. He explained that I not only had an insurance policy in the event of an untimely death, but I also had a built-in savings plan within the policy.

Why do we shop where we shop?

While sitting at the table last Sunday morning during breakfast, I browsed through the stack of ads for sales at various retail establishments. I didn’t really have any specific item or product in mind. I just flipped through page after page until something caught my eye. This is a ritual that I have performed faithfully every Sunday morning for years. I have my favorite stores for hardware, food, electronics, office supplies, clothing, etc.

Debunking some common myths on credit ratings

I read a recent article in Forbes magazine entitled: “Top 6 credit score misconceptions.” I’ll provide a brief summary of the six misconceptions reported in the article.

Another resource for frugal ideas and how to save on gas

I am always looking for new frugal ideas. Sometimes the ideas come from conversations with friends and neighbors or from students in one of my classes at the university. But it never hurts to expand your horizons and keep looking elsewhere. Surfing the web is a pretty efficient way of finding what you are looking for.

Managing your utility costs

I recently received an email from a fellow Sun City resident indicating that every year they get a letter from Nicor asking them to enroll in a fixed bill gas program. They asked me what I thought of the fixed bill plans. This is an interesting question. Gas, like electricity and telephones, is a regulated utility service.

Getting old has its advantages

This was the first year that I realized that getting to 65 has its advantages. I got my reduced fare permit and have enjoyed traveling on the Metra and CTA transportation at significant savings over my rides at 64. Although I am quickly reminded by my elder neighbors that I missed out on the last few years when it was “free” for seniors. That’s okay. I knew that wouldn’t last forever and getting older faster wouldn’t be worth it.

It could be worse

As I write this column, gasoline prices at the nearby pumps are at $4.37 per gallon. In 2008, we were in shock because the price of gas broke through the $4-per-gallon barrier. Here we are again setting record highs.

Battling Inflation one small purchase at a time

A recent article in MSN Money reviewed a report issued by the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) on the EPI Index, an index of everyday prices. The EPI index measures the changes in everyday prices people pay for food, gas, electricity, child care, and personal care items like shampoo and toothpaste.

Another option for electrical power

Our electric bill shows up each month from ComEd and we pay it. Since we have been in Sun City, we have enjoyed a consistent supply of power. We have been impressed as to how quickly ComEd gets power restored after storm outages. Of course, we “manage” our electrical usage by turning off lights when not in use and employ other power-saving techniques as we can.

Good to the last drop

Each morning, the routine seems to be the same. I rise before Sue and get her the first cup of coffee. There is an unwritten rule in our house. No communication transpires before she has her first cup of coffee. There have been very few times in our 41-year marriage that I have broken that rule. When I did, I paid for it.

The retirement state of our state

Did you have an opportunity to hear Gov. Pat Quinn deliver his State of the State speech before the Illinois Assembly earlier this month? The commentary that followed was quite critical, asserting that the Governor missed the most critical issues – Medicaid and government pensions. “I felt like I was listening to a game of fantasy government,” said Tom Cross, House Minority Leader. Apparently, the big issues will be addressed by the Governor in a follow-up speech later this month.

My Favorite Free Smartphone Apps

A recent survey commissioned by Consumer Cellular (www.consumercellular.com), a leading provider of cell phones and cell phone plans to Boomers and the exclusive cell phone plan provider for AARP members, demonstrates that seniors and Boomers are becoming smartphone savvy and use their cell phones to connect with friends and family more than ever before. Ninety percent of the respondents indicated they taught themselves how to use the smartphone.