Archive for March 4, 2019

Seniors & Social Security Scares

Do you know someone who was among the 35,000 seniors who lost over $10 million in 2018 (according to the FTC) by responding to a phone call from “Social Security”? Yes, that many people and that much money!

Scammers target seniors because Social Security is, for most of them, the difference between homed and homeless, eating and malnutrition or starvation, quality of life and despair. Their fear of being cut off from the Social Security money they earned makes them very vulnerable.

If this is you or you have a loved one who might be in such danger, remember this–and pass it on to every senior you know. The real Social Security Administration will never 1) call without warning, 2) threaten or say that your benefits will be cancelled, or 3) say that the problem can be solved if you send money or gift cards to a location they give you.

If you have any doubts that what the caller is saying could be true, hang up and call the real Social Security at (800)772-1213.

This One is for the Dogs

Recycle and make your pet happy.  Create a pet bed out of an old blanket put into an old suitcase.  Your scent on the blanket will give him sweet dreams.

[For more easy, money-saving, Earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]

Think You Can Unplug?

Tonight we begin a National Day of Unplugging (March 1 into 2). During this annual event, we’re urged to take an electronic Sabbath, a day of rest from anything that’s plugged into the wall—or into our ears, whether through ear buds or that invisible cord leading from a device into our minds: phones, iPods, computers, tablets, TVs, etc.  The period is sunset to sunset, so it won’t interfere with work for most of us.  Doing this will remind us how dependent we are on electronic devices, how much they control our lives and often take precedence over interacting with other people.  So, slow down your hectic world, and enjoy it more.  Share an uninterrupted dinner with your family, undivided attention at your child’s ball game, more focused listening to what your spouse is saying, more time to read that little one to sleep, a chance to discover what’s going on in the lives around you, the peace of just being.  The plugged-in addiction isn’t easy to de-tox from, but…who knows?  After doing it once you might want to make it a weekly habit.