Boomer News

Welcome to this weeks Boomer News.

Boomer Finance:

With the loss of mortgage revenue many banks are lowering the standards for credit cards, increasing the limits and marketing them heavily.  Today we owe over $500 billion in credit card debt.  What will be the results of this activity?  It is predicted that there will be increased defaults, bankruptcies and asset write-offs in 2009.  What is the health of your credit card debt?

Tour director jobs are a great job for boomers.  Over 50% of them are 50+ years old.  Get certified and then enjoy being paid to travel.

Boomer Family:

Are your children picky eaters?  Are you a picky eater?  Did you teach your children by example to be picky eaters?  A new study indicates that being a picky eater is based upon 78% genetics and 22% environmental.  Blame it on your genes.

Many boomers will look to adult communities for their retirement.  Do some research before you buy.  

• Choose a location
• List your wants and needs
• Budget
• Visit
• Observe closely during your visit
• Does it offer transportation for residents?
• How far for shopping
• Is there security

Look before you leap.  This is a long term decision and there can be waiting lists.

Boomer Technology:

Shopping carts that read the bar code and then explain about the product.  Also can keep track of what you have placed in the cart.  Can alarm that you have purchased too much junk food.  Sound unreal?  Well be prepared as companies are almost ready to produce them.  I just will not scan my junk food.  I don't want the alarm to go off.

Social media sites for Boomers:

• Facebook
• Eons
• BOOMJ
• LavalifePrime
• SisterWoman
• CafeMom
• MothersClick

There are many others but this is a list of some of the sites Boomers are using today.

Microsoft Health Vault has opened.  You may place your private health information on the site and share it or parts of it with who ever you allow.  Is it secure?  Yes says Microsoft.  Who enters the information – You do.  Will you trust your information to Microsoft?  Will the doctors trust the information on the site?  Who will be first to try this?  All good questions with no answers yet.  I know I will not be one of the first.

Video Chats are fun, cheap and easy.  More and more Boomers are using them to talk with family and friends.  I am looking forward to my daughter getting a web-cam so I can see my granddaughter.  What do you need?

• Computer with Internet connection
• Preferably a high speed Internet connection
• Web-cam for under $40.00.  I go mine on sale for $10.00.
• Microphone.  Many web-cams have a microphone built in.
• Software to conference with.  I use Skype.  It is free to contact other Skype users.

Install the software and web-cam.  Add your friends and relatives addresses to your software.  Call them.  It is easy and fun.

Boomer Health:

HIPPA is a federal law designed to protect your private health information from being shared with anyone you don't want to share it with.  Recently George Clooney had a motorcycle accident and went to the hospital.  Now 40 hospital employees are being investigated for accessing his private health information.  27 individuals have been suspended for accessing his information and sharing it with the press.  I for one am glad these people have been found and punished.

Over the counter and prescription drug long term effects.  We are all getting older and living longer.  What we don't know is the long term effect of the drugs we are taking today.  This was not a real problem until we started to live longer.  There are not many studies long enough to help us understand the potential effects.  So don't take that pill unless you really need to.  Ask your doctor why you need each prescription and ask if you would do OK without it.  But remember if you need it take it.

For more information listen to this podcast: