When You Can No Longer Read

Newsline

Dear Linda:

       My mother is no longer able to see. She was an avid reader and really misses the newspaper. Is there anything I can do for her?

Robert in Richland Hills

Dear Robert:

       Yes, you can arrange the gift of information for your mom. Contact The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) about its electronic news service called NFB-Newsline. The largest accessible information service in the United States, it operates in thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia, and serves over 50,000 registered users.

       Created for people (blind or disabled) who can no longer read regular newsprint, this valuable service enables access to current events and in-depth coverage in several magazines and more than 200 daily newspapers from around the country.

       NFB-Newsline is a free service to all registered-users and has been available to the over 75,000 disabled residents of Texas since 1995. The Fort Worth Star Telegram and The Houston Chronicle are the two newspapers in Texas that are accessible.

       As a registered-user of the on-demand, telephone (touchtone) service, your mom can access the newspaper by calling a local or toll-free number on the day it’s published or at her leisure twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and she can choose to hear the whole publication or just the articles in which she is most interested.

       The cost of making this important program available to all the disabled people in Texas is only $40,000 per year. The funding had been provided by a federal grant, the Texas Commission for the Blind, and the NFB in Texas (an affiliate of the national organization). Last year, however, that funding was not forthcoming and the program in Texas was in jeopardy. Last minute donations postponed its termination and ensured another year of operation.

       Call 866-504-7300 to support this critical service and to request a brochure, an introductory cassette, a list of available newspapers in registered states, and the application for registration, which requires a letter certifying the subscriber’s disability.

Christmas Gifts for Those with Poor Vision

Dear Linda:
       
My Dad’s eyesight is failing. What can I get him for Christmas that will make life easier?
 
Holiday Helper

Dear Holiday Helper:

       Begin by taking your dad to the ophthalmologist for an eye exam. Be sure his eyeglasses are the correct strength, and that any disease is properly diagnosed and managed. If he hasn’t been screened for glaucoma, request that test be done. Left untreated, glaucoma can result in blindness. The doctor can also assess whether your father is suffering with dry eye, a culprit in poor vision and more common among seniors.

       Then fill his stocking with large-faced playing cards, a large-print check register and address book, low-vision puzzles, games and word searches.

       Think big for under the tree: a large button telephone, remote control and calculator, large-print books (including cook books), sheet music and calendars.

       Enlarge the world for him. Magnifiers come in every size and shape. There are magnifying mirrors — hand-held and for on the wall, and magnifying watches with built-in flashlights. There are magnifiers that can be used for over television and computer screens, books and magazines, and medicine bottles.

       Magnifiers can be hand-held or hands-free, lighted, page-size or as small as a credit card. Visit www.activeforever.com for a variety of products or call 800-377-8033.

       If an unexpected voice won’t be disconcerting, consider the value of things that talk: clocks, watches, timers, indoor and outdoor thermometers, scales and Caller ID to name a few. Simple software converts a computer into a talking machine, and talking frames can put messages from family members’ within reach.

       Buy books on tape and collections of music (including golden oldies and show tunes from old movies and Broadway). Old-time radio dramas and comedies are also entertaining. Visit www.wellhaven.com for other ideas or call 888-564-1500.

       Remember time spent with your dad is more important than any gift, so consider tickets to a holiday show. Get seats close to the stage and bring binoculars.

Dental Implants

Dear Linda:
       Over the years, I’ve lost several teeth, and my dentures are increasingly problematic. I’ve had sore spots and fungal infections under my dentures, difficulty with biting and chewing, and now trouble with my speech. Dental implants have been suggested. Should I consider this alternative?

Down in the Mouth in Arlington

Dear Down in the Mouth:

In addition to the problems you’ve cited, tooth loss changes facial structure resulting in muscle tone weakening and wrinkles, can result in jaw joint pain, and damage remaining healthy teeth because of excessive use, bite changes and defects in the bone.
      
According to Dr. Susan Hollar of Arlington (817-261-3392), “dental implant treatment has been recognized as a proven alternative to traditional methods of tooth replacement for over forty years, and has numerous advantages.”
      
Dental implants replace missing tooth roots, and form a stable foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Dental implants preserve the remaining bone by providing the stimulation previously provided by the natural tooth roots. They also improve appearance dramatically, and are easy to clean and maintain.
      
The dental implant treatment option makes it unnecessary to grind down adjacent teeth as is done for a bridge, or to fasten a partial denture to adjacent teeth with clasps or hooks that can eventually cause those teeth to loosen. Implant–supported replacement teeth spare patients many of the disadvantages of traditional false teeth including the pain of ill-fitting dentures and partials, the frequent need for denture relines, the fear of denture slippage, and the change in facial structure.
      
The consequences of complete or partial tooth loss are many. Diagnostic aids such as a CT scan and three–dimensional models of the mouth enable the restorative doctor and surgeon to determine the best treatment options. It is imperative to see a well-trained, professional. Careful treatment planning is necessary for good and lasting results.

Avoid Being Mugged at the Mall

Dear Linda:
       
I’m 78 years-old and a seeming target for violence. I’ve been mugged at the mall twice. What can I do to protect myself?

Scared to Death

Dear Scared:
      
The most unscrupulous in society prey on those they believe to be weaker. There are precautions to prevent being vulnerable and actions to take if attacked.
      
Remember nothing is worth risking your life. If someone wants your belongings, don’t refuse, but don’t just give them over. Toss them as far away as you can, then run in the other direction.
     
Make yourself a difficult victim. Before leaving the store, consolidate packages, so they’re manageable. Have keys in hand. Walk purposefully and quickly to your car. Check underneath and inside before opening the door. Get in, lock up and leave immediately. No one will have time to get in beside you with a weapon.
      
If someone’s in the car when you get in, don’t drive off, even if they have a gun to your head. Gun the engine and speed into anything. The airbag will protect you. When the car crashes, get out and run.
      
Refuse to be taken to a second location (where a person’s often tortured, raped and killed). Instead scream, spray maze, hit the other person’s body parts with your elbows (the strongest point on your body), kick where you know it will hurt. Be as uncontrollable as you can, so the perpetrator will give up.
      
Enter your car from the passenger door if you’re parked next to a big van. Serial killers pull women in as they are attempting to get into cars.
      
If you’re thrown into the trunk, kick out the tail lights, stick your arm out the hole, and wave like crazy. Other drivers will see you and report the car license and description.
      
If you’re at all uncomfortable, call a security guard or policeman to escort you to your car. Be paranoid, be careful and be safer.

Alone at the Holidays

Dear Linda:

       My spouse of 55 years passed away two years ago and both my children live out of state. They are unable to come home for the holidays, and I just can't afford extensive travel. I feel so very sad and am not sure how to handle it.

So Alone

Dear So Alone:
     
 The holidays are a special time for family members to gather, express their love, and pass on cherished traditions to new generations. Most of us spend a lifetime anticipating and treasuring these moments and the people with whom we share them, so it is perfectly understandable to feel mournful and even heartbroken when we suffer their loss.
      
Normally, these feelings of sadness during the holidays are temporary and don’t impact ability to function. If, however, you feel so sad that you’re losing interest in or withdrawing from regular activities, experiencing a lack of energy, inability to concentrate, or a change in your eating or sleeping patterns, consult your physician about the possibility of depression.
      
Clinical depression, which can also be caused by bio-chemical changes in the brain, interferes with performing the simplest tasks, erodes self-esteem, and can cause the affected person to question the value of life.
      
The good news is that treatment, including behavioral changes and medication is highly effective, dramatically so among seniors. Treatment should be carefully monitored and results vary, but there is marked improvement in 4-12 weeks.
       
Talk therapy is also beneficial. Surround yourself with supportive people who understand and sympathize, and seek out a good therapist. Contact the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) at 301-654-7850 or visit main@aagponline.org to request board-certified experts in your area.
      
Be kind to yourself, even indulgent. Buy that new outfit or bauble you’ve been wanting forever, have a spa day (manicure, pedicure or massage—perhaps all three), and invite a friend to go out with you to a new restaurant. You’ll feel special and will be adding new memories to your holiday recollections, perhaps even creating some new traditions.
      
Make sure you don't drink alcoholic beverages in excess. Alcohol is a natural depressant, and though you may have that occasional glass of wine or laced eggnog just "because" it's the holidays, over a period of time, too much alcohol will add to the problem.
      
Get out of the house and surround yourself with other people. Go to the park, see a movie, or go to a shopping mall for some people watching. Consider volunteering at a soup kitchen during the holidays. Helping others in greater need gives us perspective and reason to be grateful.

If you don't belong to a church, choose one. In addition to the inspiration and source of hope, churches often have groups and activities for single people. There will be others who will understand and empathize with your struggle.

Or, if you have a group of friends, organize a holiday meal for others who will be alone too.  It is far more difficult to focus on the negative when you are involved in doing something nice for others.

Give Me A Call

Dear Linda:

       My mom’s an ailing widow. Until now, I’ve been able to call everyday to make sure she’s okay, but I’m being deployed and won’t be able to for the next year. She wants to remain in her home and is well enough for that, but she needs to be checked on. The problem is that all her other relatives and friends have passed on. What can I do?

A Concerned Son

Dear Concerned Son:

       Your mother must be very proud. To have a son care so much about his mother and his country speaks volumes about the job she’s done raising you.

       Before you leave, be sure all her legal (i.e. Last Will and Powers of Attorney), medical (i.e. Insurance and Living Will and Directives), and financial (i.e. Trusts and Bank Accounts) documents are in order. Put all her important papers in a fireproof box. Make duplicate copies for yourself in case you need to confer about them long distance.

       Develop a Care Plan to accomplish her Activities of Daily Living (like trips to doctors, pharmacy, grocery store and hairdresser), and identify any special needs she has. Then ask for help from people in the community—her neighbors, her church, members of civic and social organizations. Contact the National Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116) for help in identifying local service and aging agencies.

       Her level of independence should determine the amount of support she needs. There are in-home agencies that handle housekeeping and meal preparation chores, personal care and grooming needs, and therapy and nursing requirements.

       If all she needs are phone calls, there are agencies that provide only that service. No special equipment is necessary. Any touch-tone phone can receive agency calls, and you should be able to choose call times—generally made twice a day. Follow-up calls should be made if Mom doesn’t answer, and the agency will need a contact list for emergencies. Contact Senior Caring Call at 866-396-4588 for information.

Getting Off the Couch!

Dear Linda:

     I used to be a ball of fire, but the older I get, the more sedentary I've become. I'm only 75, but I'm tired and uninterested in doing anything but watch TV. What's happening to me?

Unhappy couch potato

Dear couch potato:

     An inactive lifestyle impacts physical health adversely in four areas-strength, balance, flexibility and endurance. Being sedentary also puts you at risk for a variety of diseases and disabilities.

      Exercise is the prescription for maintaining good health. It improves lung, vessel and heart systems, increases muscle strength and bone density, and keeps the body limber. Those who exercise often look younger, have more energy, sleep better, and have fewer medical visits. They also have a positive attitude, because exercise produces endorphins and relieves depression.

      Begin with a complete physical exam, so other causes of your lethargy can be ruled out. Discuss exercise with your doctor, who can suggest the perfect program for your physical condition. Even small changes in your level of activity can be beneficial, like adding regular gardening, heavier housework, or chasing grandkids. Start slowly, but build to 30-40 minutes at least three times a week.

      Aerobic activity, like walking (with a goal of 10,000 steps daily), swimming, cycling, and dancing, improves overall health and builds stamina, enabling seniors to handle daily tasks and maintain their independence.

     Weight training builds lean body mass and increases strength, (promoting self-reliance), and it jumpstarts metabolism (keeping weight and blood sugar in check). Tai chi and yoga are effective for balance and staying flexible (avoiding falls and injuries).

      Call the National Institute on Aging, 800-222-2225 to order their exercise video with guidebook ($7.00), and visit www.nihseniorhealth.gov for exercises to try and free information.

      Exercise is vital in slowing down and even reversing the impact of the aging process. Greater physical strength is the best medicine for protecting health, staying independent, and keeping that zest for life.

Hospice Care

Dear Linda:
       As a result of multiple strokes, my 92-year-old father is in a long-term care facility suffering with various challenges. He's beginning to lose weight, sleep more, and talk less. When he does talk, it's clear that he's suffering with uncontrolled pain and depression. Should I be considering Hospice care?
Sadie in Fort Worth

Dear Sadie:

       The symptoms you describe are sometimes indicators of the beginning of the end, but no one has a crystal ball, and doctors will be the first to say so. All the family can do is ensure that their loved one's health and comfort is optimum.

       Hospice is an excellent program that is under-utilized and often called so late in the process that many beneficial services go unused. Though the purpose of Hospice is to provide compassionate support and extraordinary care for people in the final phase of a terminal disease, the program's goal is to enhance the quality of life regardless of its duration.

       Subscribing to a holistic approach, a Hospice team includes a medical director, physician, nurse, certified nurse assistants (CNAs), social worker, spiritual care coordinator, therapists and counselors. Volunteers provide companionship and emotional support to the patient and respite services for the patient's caregiver, including shopping, errands, childcare, and light meals.

       Begin with discussing your dad's condition with his doctor, who must certify to Hospice that he is no longer thriving or that his disease is terminal. Ask your physician to recommend the best Hospice provider or call the National Hospice Organization at 800-658-8898 or visit www.nhpco.org for valuable information and recommendations.

       Once a patient has been examined, records reviewed and medications evaluated, a care plan is developed. Then Hospice will provide all necessary equipment, supplies and medicines, whether the patient is at home or in a facility, and the cost is covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.

       The final phase of the journey need not be feared. With help and support, the last moments in our loved one's life can be peaceful and uplifting.

Giving Advice--Helpful or Hurtful

I’m struggling with knowing when to advise others or to keep my mouth closed. I know the best course of action is to wait until being asked before giving advice, but my dilemma with that wisdom, and I do believe it is wisdom, is what to do when the person making a mistake is unaware that they are doing so. Do I let them experience the consequences of their bad choices or try to help them avoid the inevitable pain?

The first difficulty with giving advice is presuming that we always know the best way…assuming there really is such a thing. If we realize that there are many paths to the right end, then we will take greater care in how we offer our solutions.

The second problem is that we don’t really know all the details of another person’s experience, so we should consider giving advice a great risk. If we don’t take great care, we can harm more than help.

And the third issue to consider is that the person may just want a listening ear and sympathy that comforts. Advice offered to a person in pain can be viewed as condescending and judgmental rather than helpful. We must also know that a person who is in pain can’t really hear what we’re saying anyway. You might have a chance at making an impact if you listen carefully to them first.

Author Uzi Weingarten has determined three simple steps for handling giving advice that I like very much:

1. Listen first. While this rule is true for all good communication, it is doubly true when we wish to give advice. Issues are often more complex than they initially appear. By first listening, we open a space for the speaker to more fully describe the situation and for us to more fully understand it. What is the point of offering advice based on partial information?

In addition, when we listen first, it makes it more likely that the other will then listen to what we have to say. In the words of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg, one needs “connection before correction.” It is empathic listening that establishes the connection.

2. Ask permission. Unsolicited advice is a major cause of grief among friends and family members. It can be experienced as unwelcome intrusion into personal business. It might also be seen disrespectful, as implying that a person is incapable of caring for himself and resolving his own issues.

Asking if our advice is desired shows respect for others and prevents resentments. Here is one way to do this: “As I listen to you, there are some ideas coming up for me that you might find useful. Would you like to hear them?” It is very important to ask that question without attachment, from a place that both “yes” and “no” are equally acceptable responses.

3. Offer without insisting. It is worth keeping in mind that even after we have listened, we can never know with certainty what is best for another person. There is so much that we are not aware of. So we should offer our insights, experiences and ideas, with the attitude that our advice is another point of view, and then we must trust the listener’s inner wisdom to discern what is right for him or her.”

Perhaps the most important thing for us to remember is that people need validation far more than correction, empathy more than solutions, and though I understand this all too well intellectually, emotionally I still feel the need to help. It is the way I show my love, and it is very much my personality to solve problems. So…I too must keep asking myself if, barring criminal acts, is there really anything that can’t be corrected with time?

If we shower the person we hope to help with love and sympathy, perhaps they will then be willing and more able to hear what can only be a suggestion that you have that may or may not be right for them.

That's my best advice on the subject. See...I just can't help myself!

Be Thankful for Friends

We will soon celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Besides turkey, all the fixings and my son's favorite chocolate mousse cake for dessert, my family has a tradition before eating. We pray and then share what we're most grateful for.

I took some time and thought about what else I had to be thankful for besides my family. I have a home that is lovely and a comfort to live in and share with others. I have work that I love and is a way to give back, and I have the physical health and financial security enough to allow me to live a full life. That's a lot to have, and I am truly grateful.

The most important thing to have though, as we grow older, is friends. As many of you have experienced: husbands come and go, children leave and forge their own lives, and even the most fulfilling work meets only some needs, but friends....ah, they can be the mainstay of our lives.

My oldest and very best friend of 42 years has been one of the most important constants in my life. Though she does not live close by, we talk weekly for several hours. She is the one person who knows all—the  good, the bad and the ugly, and she loves me anyway, and the reverse is true.

We have a relationship that allows telling each other the hard truth when it's been necessary, sharing in each others hardships, and earnestly cheering on the successes. It's a rare gift to have a friend such as this. Most of us can count on only one hand how often that type of relationship comes into our lives, and I am grateful to be one of them.

I am also grateful for my other girlfriends. Some I relate to often and others I see periodically, but all offer help, wisdom and laughter whenever I need it. As we grow older, it is critical to have a circle of friends on whom we can depend for these things, but, also as we grow older, having that becomes more and more difficult.

Friends we made when our kids had common activities often disappear when the activity stops. Friends move to other areas. Some of my very best friends live all over the country now, and sometimes friends are only that for a certain season in our life, and, for various reasons, the relationship stops, as sad as that can often be.

Forging and maintaining new relationships takes time and work, and often we don't have that time or the energy to do what it takes, especially when isolation is so much easier. This is dangerous thinking though especially as we grow older. It leads to fear, loneliness and depression. 

What should you do about it? 

Become a joiner: Bible study at church, the rotary if you've worked, the toastmasters group if you like speaking and listening to others, a book club if you like to read, or a social or dance group.

Don't stop learning: take classes at the college (they're often free to the older generations), learn a new craft, or take lessons in something you've always wanted to try. They say now that avoiding dementia and Alzheimer’s is as a result of learning new things. That’s what keeps the brain younger.

Make sure you have some fun: start a card group, a dinner club that forces your friends to gather regularly, and have movie parties. Don't watch your new video alone. Ask friends over, make some popcorn, and share the tears or laughter.

It doesn't take a lot of time to organize these moments, and maybe you'll be the only one of your friends who will. Don't worry about that. The dividends to you will be too great to wonder why you're the social director in your life. 

 

Ageism in the Workplace

Dear Linda:
 
My mother is 58, has worked at her company for 18 years, and had been promoted regularly throughout her tenure. Lately, promotions to which she was entitled were given to younger workers, often less qualified. We think it’s ageism. What are our options? 

Joan’s son

Dear Son:
 
Ageism is a bias against someone because of their age. If that bias impacts how an employee is treated, the employer has broken the law. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects applicants and employees who are 40-70 years old from employment discrimination based on age with respect to hiring, firing, promotion, layoff, compensation, benefits, job assignments, training, terms, and conditions. The ADEA applies to employers with 20 or more employees, to employment agencies and labor organizations, and to the federal government.
      
Despite the law, however, ageism has increased from 6-to-8% for workers overall, and from 11-to-16%  for workers 65 years and older according to the National Social and Quality of Employment Survey. Because firms are 40% more likely to interview younger applicants, 63% of senior applicants said they’d hide their age and 18% said they’d have plastic surgery before applying.
     
In the past two years, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has received more than 20,000 complaints of ageism. That number will grow dramatically as Americans, 65 and older, double in population to 70 million over the next three decades, and those over 85 (the fastest growing segment of the population) will surge from 4-19 million.
      
Though millions of dollars have been paid in settlements, attorneys say discrimination is difficult to prove. Only 1/7 of the cases have benefited the complainant thus far.
      
The International Longevity Center (ILC), administrated by Dr. Robert N. Butler, who coined the term ageism in 1968, is publishing a detailed study in February, 2006. Visit www.ilcusa.org or call 212-288-1468 for information.
      
Read The Older Job Hunter’s Guerilla Handbook by Gunthar Manusson for how to combat ageism, and contact the EEOC at 800-669-4000 to report cases.

Dementia

Dear Linda:
       My mother repeats stories, gets lost in familiar places, forgets to eat and bathe, and is often disoriented. I don’t know if she has dementia or Alzheimer’s. Can you explain the difference?
Confused Daughter


Dear Daughter:

       The classic symptoms of dementia include the ones you’ve identified and also impaired judgment, behavioral problems, mood swings, and difficulty with language and abstract thinking. Caused by changes in brain function in those over 65 years old, dementia (nerve cell mutation or destruction) affects a person’s ability to do Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s).

       The two most common types of dementia are Multi-infarct (vascular dementia caused by stroke) and Alzheimer’s (progressive disease destroying communication pathways). Neither condition is curable. Of those with vascular dementia, about half also have Alzheimer’s disease. Several drugs are effective in slowing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and in reducing associated anxiety, depression or problems with sleeping. With Multi-infarct dementia patients, physicians often prescribe medication to control blood pressure and prevent new strokes.

       Dementia is caused by many conditions. Some are treatable: high fever and dehydration, poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency, head trauma, medication reactions, and problems with thyroid gland. Seek diagnosis and treatment options.

       Emotional problems can be mistaken for dementia. Seniors face the loss of work, family and friends, and physical wellness. Adapting to these changes and resulting emotions—anger, sadness, loneliness, worry and boredom—can result in being confused and forgetful. These problems can be eased by supportive friends and family, a professional counselor, and appropriate medication.

       A physician can conduct a thorough physical examination (blood and urine tests), can assess medical history, prescription use and diet, and may recommend a neurological and/OR psychiatric evaluation. A CT scan may be ordered to rule out a curable disease and identify brain changes.

       Delay disease onset by keeping the mind sharp. Keep working or volunteer after retirement, stay involved in stimulating interests, maintain physical fitness and a positive attitude.

       Visit www.dementia.com and contact the the Alzheimer’s Association at 800-272-3900 or www.alz.org for more information and critical support services. 

65 Ways to Save Money

General Finances:

1.    Have a budget, review it often and live within it – www.spannet.com / www.credit.com

2.    Use a credit card with no annual fee to make all your purchases. It allows you to contest a charge, to track your spending, and to enroll in program that will credit you with airline mileage or refund money back to you. But you must  pay the bill off fully each month to avoid interest charges.  I was so emphatic about this rule that one of my children thought it was a law.

3.   Do not have more than two credit cards as it impacts your credit standing when you keep opening accounts, and having many cards allows for paying off one account with the another one--the most common way people get into terrible trouble. 

4.   Budget a certain percentage from every paycheck to be automatically deposited into a savings account. When a paycheck is automatically deposited, and bills are paid automatically from your account, and savings are automatically withdrawn before you have access to it, you will be less likely to spend money in a way that is impulsive, foolish or extravagant.

5.    If your full time job does not allow for saving, get a temporary or seasonal job to build a savings account and put every dime in the savings account.  

6.    Bank extra paychecks or pay down your mortgage. Even two paychecks a year pays down a mortgage significantly. If you can, refinance your 30 year mortgage to a 15 year one. When you pay off your mortgage, you will think you've gotten rich.

7.    Find a bank right for you and avoid all fees. If you have banked with them for a long time, call in to have the fees removed.

8.    Pay all bills on time and avoid late fees. Pay bills on-line to save postage and shipping.

9.    Save money by paying annually for things rather than monthly as they usually include service charges.  (Example:  Paying annually for insurance saves rather than paying monthly).

10. Have a special fund into which you save monthly for big ticket items like property taxes if you do not have a mortgage, holiday shopping, college and weddings. If you have money earmarked, you will be less likely to spend it on something else and you will be better prepared and less likely to charge what you can't afford.

Shopping:

11.   Set a certain dollar amount weekly for your shopping needs (groceries and toiletries) and  don’t exceed that amount. Include just a little for impulse buying so you won't feel you are  denying yourself constantly, but be wise about how much and don't spend more.

12.   Always ask the services clerks if there are any deals on the items you are purchasing.

13.   Be kind to sales/service associates as they will tell you about discounts and deals.

14.   Avoid shopping without purpose. Hobby or window shopping fosters impulse buying.

15.   Buy generic instead of brand names. Check the labels to see if they are the same products. If  you do not care for the generic product, return it to the store.

16.   You will save money if you buy in bulk. Go in with others to buy in larger quantity.

17.   Buy holiday and birthday gives all year around and when things are on sale. I would even wrap early to minimize the number of things to do at the time of the holiday. Keep a careful list of what you intend to buy and indicate when you bought it, so you will not overbuy.

18.   Use Coupons and go to the store on double coupon day.  Use only the coupons you need.

19.   Visit www.grocerygame.com  as it tracks sales with coupons for you. If you "join" grocery    stores online, they will send you the featured sales for that week.

20.   Always shop with a list and don’t deviate. Try to avoid processed foods (all those items on the shelves in the interior of the grocery store. They are the most expensive items in the store and the least healthy for you. You can buy all the fresh, natural foods you need just by shopping the perimeter of the store.

21.   Don’t’ shop when hungry. Impulse buying rises exponentially when you do and you make

       less wise food choice.

22.   Always do research and price check.  www.pricegrabber.com researches the product and price

       checks for you.

23.   Appliances – buy efficiency vs. price.

24.   Buy scratch and dent items when available.  They sell at a discount.

25.   Avoid disposable items (i.e. paper plates, forks, cups etc.).  Use and wash instead.

26.   Limit dry cleaning.  Buy things that don’t need dry cleaning.

27.   Grow your own vegetables and spices if you can.

28.   Invest in a water purifier instead of buying bottled water.

29.   Take snacks don’t use vending machines. 

30.  Prepare your lunch for work or school. The savings are tremendous and you can ensure healthier fare for less money.

31.   Before making any major purchase, wait for best times of the year to buy the product. The item will be on sale and you will have saved a great deal of money.

32.   Never order drinks when eating out.  Order water with lemon and you can put sweetener in it  for lemonade. Make sure they bring the lemon on the side. They are the dirtiest food in a restaurant, so clean off before putting in your glass.

33.   Go to matinee movies instead of evening.  Watch for promotions at the movies example:  dollar night.  Watch for free events sponsored by your town like concerts and openings.

34.   Don’t cook huge portions for meals unless you want left overs.  www.leftoverchef.com gives you ideas on  how to use your left overs.

35.  Get into the habit of going o the library not only to borrow books instead of buying but also for music and movie CDs. The children's offerings at the library are great. Make a weekly event of it. Attend story time, return read books they've selected and take out new selections. You and your child will get into the habit of using that resource and reading more.

Utilities:

36.   Never leave heat or cooling items running. Unplug whatever you can. If it is plugged in, it is draining electricity.

37.   Don’t over dry clothes.

38.   Shut off dripping faucets.

39.   Place a brick in the toilet bowl.  It makes it not use so much water when flushing.

40.   Run appliances in the evening, like the oven and dishwasher, so it doesn’t heat up the house. 

41.   Avoid the rinse hold option on the dishwasher. Open the door and avoid dry cycle.

42.   Change hot water thermostat to a lower temp.

43.   Check with the Utility company to see if they can conduct an energy audit on your home.

44.   Use caulking and weather stripping around the windows and doors to close air gaps.

45.   Use blinds or curtains to hold in/out air.

46.   Use compact flourescent lights instead of regular bulbs.  They are more energy efficient.

47.   To check the door gasket on the refrigerator, put a dollar bill in the door and close it.  If it is  easy to pull out, it is time to change the gasket.

48.   Ask your utility companies for average billing.  It makes the bill the same each month instead of high/low.

49.  Shred newspapers and magazines and use them in flower beds and pots.  Put them under the potting soil.  It holds the water on the plants longer and serves as mulch.

50.   Get on a cell phone plan that is good and disconnect the home phone.

51.   Bundles services when your able, and negotiate periodically with your company to achieve the best programs for the least amount of money.

52.  Negotiate for big ticket items like cars, appliances and furniture, but don't forget to try even at local stores. Ask for a discount or sale price. Be sure you've done your research about the price of an item. Know what it cost the company and add on a fair profit margin. If you go too low, they won't consider your offer, but if it is reasonable, they will be likely to agree.

Transportation

53.   Car pool or use public transportation or a bike when you can.

54.   Conserve gas by combining errands.

55.   Keep car well maintained and keep tires inflated.

56.   Vacation off season.  It’s less crowded and cheaper.

Health & Education

57.   Check with local community for free vaccines or hearing tests.

58.  If you do not have medical insurance, visit free clinics in your area.

59.   Take advantage of employment benefit offers. Check and see what your coverage dictates for procedures and vaccines. They may have reduced the cost of a vaccine you have avoided because you thought it was too expensive.

60.  Use tuition reimbursement offers.

Miscellaneous

61.   Become a product tester; you get free products.  (i.e. diapers)

62.   Don’t throw out items, sell them (ebay, garage sale)

63.  Never spend change.  Save it in a jar and then cash it in. Look for machines that don’t charge

       to cash in or take to sales clerk.

64.  Keep a gift closet. When someone gives you something nice that you can't use, regift.

65.  Keep your receipts and return items that are sub standard, break too soon or spoil too quickly

       including to the grocery or club store.