Treat Medicare Part B Like It’s Gold…
UNITED STATES—Dear Toni: I have decided to retire when I turn 65 in September and will need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B with a Medicare Supplement and Part D prescription drug plan.
My husband, Tom is 67 and he enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B when he turned 65 because he has a heart condition. Tom...
The 9-1-1 For Oleander Plants
LAUREL CANYON—Oleanders -“Napoleon is said to have lost a hundred troops to a dinner of meat roasted on oleander wood. In some versions of the story, it was a group of American boy scouts in the 1960s.” The Bible referred to them as “desert roses” - that’s how long they’ve been around. One thing is certain, oleanders have a...
Turning 65… Help Me Enroll In Medicare With SSA.gov!!
UNITED STATES—Hi Toni: I am turning 65 in June and am not working full-time with employer benefits. I was surprised when I called Social Security and the Social Security rep told me to go online to SSA.gov to enroll in Medicare. Due to the Pandemic (COVID-19), there is not a local Social Security office open that can help me...
Fourth Of July Grilling
UNITED STATES—The Fourth of July for many people is considered the official kickoff to grilling season. However, I beg to differ, I think Memorial Day is the actual kick-off, but when July comes around people really begin to grill and have that cookout. I am a fan of the cookout, but at the same time, I am not. With...
The Cost Of Food
UNITED STATES—I have a bone to pick with the consumer industry: why is the price of food so high? Yes, buying groceries is no game. It’s pricey and it appears every single week prices are constantly on the rise. The one thing about food is that we all need it to survive. But what can we actually do to...
Watching Kids Ain’t Easy
UNITED STATES—Look, I’m not a parent, but I have endured the chaos of watching kids, particularly my nieces and nephews throughout my lifetime. I’ve been deemed the cool uncle who spoils them relentlessly; they know if they can’t get it from their parents they might be able to get it from me. With that being said, I’ve learned a...
A Long Overdue Break
UNITED STATES—I know I cannot be the only American, who counts down the days when they have a long overdue vacation that they have been eagerly waiting to arrive. I mean the notion of having a week or for those who are lucky, 2-3 weeks off of work, its unlike anything. Why? It allows you to have a second...
Buying Online To Return, Then Why Buy?
UNITED STATES—I see this often and wondered if this was just me or a trend that is happening more in America now than ever before. You buy something, and you immediately return it. I do tend to see this transpire a lot more with women than men, but that doesn’t mean guys don’t do it well. We are NOT...
My 2020 Aspirations
UNITED STATES─I am really happy to say goodbye to 2019. There were an unbelievable amount of challenges I faced. Rather it was family, personal, work or school, I was tested in more ways than I ever imagined. Was it challenging? Anything in life worth fighting for always is. However, I am so looking forward to 2020 because there are...
The Cost Of A Warranty?
UNITED STATES—Let me ask you a question: how often are you asked about a warranty when you purchase a product? Hmm, like, all the time. Have you ever asked yourself the question: why is that? What perk do you get out of purchasing a warranty to begin with? In all due honesty, a replaceable product, but why should you...