This is Baby_boomster's Typepad Profile.
Join Typepad and start following Baby_boomster's activity
Baby_boomster
Recent Activity
It's amazing what people will do to bilk others for money. You have to be so careful. Tip: Don't post your vaccine card on social media.
Imposter scams, online shopping top FTC’s fraud list for 2020
Fraudsters were busy in 2020. The Federal Trade Commission received more than 2.2 million complaints about fraud, with people reporting they lost nearly $3.3 billion. The top fraud of 2020 was imposter scams. The FTC received nearly 500,000 complaints about imposter scams, and people reported ...
Fun stuff this week. Thanks, Rita
Bloggers look at health and social issues
On Saturday, I received a call from a friend to remind that nine glowing monoliths would be displayed in a local park after dark. She thought I might want to go and take photos. Glowhenge is an art project created by Dave Sederberg owner of Pacific Stage, a lighting, sound, and general staging...
It's awful that there are so many scammers out there. I think the biggest one is the person who is holding up the bill right now. But, luckily, he's going away.
Watch out for scammers, again, for the second round of pandemic stimulus checks
At last, Congress has finally passed a second bill to help the people who are having financial problems due the pandemic. Some people will be getting money by check or direct deposit. The timing and details are still to be determined. As usual, scammers are keeping up on the latest happenings....
I hadn't heard of that app so it's good to know about. I like the convenience of not using checks but know it's important to be careful.
Watch out for scams when you use CashApp
Since people want to avoid using cash during the pandemic, app-based payments are becoming popular. One that’s being widely used is CashApp with 30 million downloads in 2020 so far. Con artists are finding ways to abuse app-based payments because users are unfamiliar with them, the Better Busi...
It's alarming and shameful to think of what many families are going through this year especially as we enter the holiday season. So much could have been avoided.
Survey on Halloween spending and financial fears for 2020
About 22 million more people are having nightmares about money problems this year than last year, and that about 13 million more people are scared about their kids’ financial future, a survey by WalletHub, a personal finance website, shows. The survey also includes findings that 39 percent of...
Your tips apply to all charities. There are good ones and many bad ones. Some non-profits use their proceedings to benefit themselves. They live off them. You really have to be careful.
Watch out for scams during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Every October, countries across the world observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month to increase support for and awareness of this disease. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among U.S. women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one in eight U.S. women, a...
That's so good to know. I love that I live in California and this is just another reason why.
California bans 24 toxic chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products
Twenty-four toxic ingredients, including mercury and formaldehyde, are now banned from cosmetics and personal care products in California. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act on Wednesday. These ingredients are already prohibited in cosmetics and other personal care products ...
Online shopping these days can be shady especially ordering from a site that ships from a country like China. I ordered what looked like a beautiful dress and received a butt ugly puke green sweatshirt. It took months to get a refund after threatening to out the company on social media. Another time I ordered a dress and received something that didn't look anything like the original image. Because it was during the pandemic there wasn't a way to return it. For now, it's better to stick to "made in the USA - well-known brands."
Covid-19 complaints flood FTC, other agencies as cases of coronavirus mount
Consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission on the coronavirus have grown to more than 200,000, with a total of more than $140 million in fraud losses. Since the coronavirus outbreak began, the top complaint categories are online shopping, travel, credit cards, banks and lenders, and ...
That's sad to hear. We depend on Amazon often so we don't have to go out. I've found Big Lots or stores like it offer some good stuff if you are brave enough to walk in.
Price gouging persists on Amazon, consumer group reports
Despite U.S. PIRG Education Fund calling out Amazon and other online retailers for allowing price gouging in their online websites at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, a new analysis shows that the problem is still serious. Six months later, U.S. PIRG Education Fund revisited whether ...
Great shopping tips.I can imagine there are some great travel deals especially for domestic travel.
What to buy at Labor Day sales
When Labor Day comes, many of us think about the end of summer. This year of the pandemic is so different. Rather than having a big barbecue, we’ll probably have a gathering with our small social group. And, as for shopping, it’s likely that we’ll be looking for bargains online rather than goi...
Renting a room in a house I have about 12" of space in the refrigerator so it definitely cuts back on snacks. Love omelets with tons of vegetables. So yummy!
35 tips for reducing your food costs
Like many people these days, you’re probably feeling the pinch of tough economic times. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your food costs, here are 35 suggestions: Go through your checkbook and credit cards to see how much you’ve spent in the last one to three months on food eaten at hom...
I'm driving a Prius right now but it's a 2007. Still, love the gas mileage. So glad I don't have teenagers anymore.
Consumer Reports, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety team up to offer list of best cars for teens
Photo: Kevauto Teenagers are among the riskiest drivers, but they often end up with vehicles that don’t provide adequate protection in a crash. Often, they drive old cars that lack modern safety features such as side airbags or electronic stability control. And, when teenagers do drive a new...
It's so insane that people without a good insurance plan have to pay up the nose for drugs. I hope this gets taken care of once and for all because people in pain or at risk of death shouldn't have to stress out about medication payments.
Trump’s executive orders on prescription drug costs are weak, consumer group says
Unable to come to an agreement with Congress on how to curb rising prescription drug prices, President Donald Trump announced four executive orders last week that he said would lower prescription drug prices to American consumers. The orders: Direct federally qualified health centers to pass ...
Thanks for the roundup, Rita. Great posts.
Pandemic continues to alter lives of baby boomers
One of the big things that’s been canceled in my life due to the pandemic is all the celebrations that were being planned in my community to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women winning the vote in the United States. Events and parades have been canceled. So, some scenes with themes were o...
My tax preparer is the brother of one of my high school friends so he's been doing my taxes for a long time. So far, only 1 mistake where I ended up paying more than he had estimated. He is retiring but said he'd still continue to do my taxes. I'm surprised that H & R Block is so expensive.
How to choose an income tax preparer
If you have someone prepare your income taxes, make sure you choose wisely. A paid tax return preparer is largely responsible for the accuracy of your return and, by law, is required to sign the return and include their preparer tax identification number or PTIN on it. Although the preparer al...
Our neighborhood exploded with fireworks even though all the public displays were canceled. It was like a war zone. The next day, I sat in a yard with a couple of friends and we had a little BBQ. Spread apart, of course. It was a nice break until I realized the mosquitos had gotten me.
Facts and Figures for July Fourth 2020
It’s an unusual year for the annual July 4th celebration in the United States. The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything, and now that cases throughout the nation are spiking, it’s time to rethink things again. The best plan for celebrating is to stay home. If you invite people for a bar...
And, as expected a crisis brings out good entrepreneurs and shady entrepreneurs who benefit from it. Good to know about it. Thankfully, the sanitizer I ordered isn't on the list.
FDA advises consumers not to use some hand sanitizers from Mexico
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to use any hand sanitizer manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico, due to the potential presence of methanol, wood alcohol, a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin or ingested. The FDA has identified the...
Good idea to check credit reports often. For a number of reasons.
Make sure a scammer isn't getting employment benefits in your name
In Washington state where I live, scammers have stolen hundreds of millions of dollars in employment benefits. The state, in a hurry to get payments to people needing funds during the pandemic, didn't have adequate safeguards in place to stop crooks. Now, the process has been slowed down to d...
I believe all of this. So many lives could have been saved and we may not have had to lock down and shut down businesses if it were nipped in the bud much sooner.
Trump sped up spread of covid-19 in 12 ways, consumer group says
Just three months after the first reported coronavirus-related death in the United States on Feb. 29, the confirmed covid-19 death toll in the nation has surpassed 100,000, far exceeding the number of confirmed deaths in any other country. Since the beginning of the pandemic, President Donal...
It's alarming to see people blatantly ignore warnings feeling their freedom is more important. Does that give them the right to infect others? Of course not. I've taken some walks. Being in nature is nice. Most people have been going with the program in Los Angeles, which is nice.
How to celebrate Memorial Day during the coronavirus pandemic
Memorial Day, a day honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military, is Monday. Normally, most communities have gatherings and people often travel in what has become the unofficial beginning of summer. Last year, nearly 43 million Americans took a Memorial Day weekend tr...
I use them because they make things easier but it's usually for people I know and clients. Good to know, though.
Most of Americans unaware of dangers of using payment apps, survey shows
Seven in 10 people rely on peer-to-peer payment apps to transfer money in a quick and easy manner, according to an AARP survey. It also found that about half believe they’re able to reclaim money sent in error. While the platforms are convenient, the difficulty of recovering funds sent through...
All of the posts were so interesting and fun to read. I really enjoyed reading them.
Baby boomers offer coronavirus pandemic reports
Who could have guessed a few months ago that the world would suddenly be plunged into a pandemic that would require months of staying at home? I’m doing well. I’m able to pick up an order of groceries weekly from my local food co-op. I’m grateful to be able to get most of the organic foods tha...
I don't understand why people think going to church during the pandemic will protect them from getting the virus which could potentially kill their family members. Although I'm glad most of the people in my area are complying with the stay at home order.
Staying home due to covid-19 is affecting Easter plans and spending, survey shows
About 68 percent of Americans who observe Easter say their Easter spending will be affected by the coronavirus this year, according to WalletHub’s “Coronavirus Easter Survey” released Monday. Highlights of the report include: Worshippers don’t want to stay home: 56 percent of Americans w...
It's always great to have a list like that to refer to especially when it comes to charities.
Don’t get tricked by a charity scammer during the COVID-19 pandemic
Fraudsters are always busy trying steal your money. When a new emergency comes along, they look in their bag of tricks and repurpose scams that have worked in the past or they dream up something new. With social media reaching so many people and even the ability to text millions, consumers nee...
Some great posts this time. Wonderful ideas and stories.
Baby boomers contemplate grief, quarantine, hoarding, and love
You never know what's going to happen next in life. One day, you could lose someone you love or you could be in the middle of a pandemic. So, enjoy every day to its fullest. That's the recommendation of our boomer blogging group. This week's articles are as follows: Over at A Healing Spirit,...
More...
Subscribe to Baby_boomster’s Recent Activity