Featured
Stories
In This
Issue
Traveling Soon? Avoid These Travel Mistakes
Every year, Rick Steves’ Europe travel agency takes 30,000 people on small-group tours. "Checking your luggage" is one of the worst mistakes.
Ask Larry: "Should I Take Social Security At 62?"
Depends upon your financial and health situation. If healthy and happy with your job, it may make sense to wait until 70 to take social security. Otherwise, age 62 may be your best choice.
It's What You Do. Not When You Do It
You're never too young or too old to do things. If you've got talent,
age has little to do with ability. Just do it.
Tips To Help Relieve Stress
To name a few: connect with others, get active, eat a healthy diet, laugh more, spend time outside. For more ideas, go to: pmgmd.
Enter "Pet Of The Month" Photo Contest
Pets bring such joy to our lives. In honor of our pets, we're having
a "Pet Of The Month" photo contest. Free to enter. Winners featured in the Scoop and on the A050 website.
What's a Retiree To Do?
When it comes to finances, always expect the unexpected. That’s why, in addition to all the typical savings buckets from cash to IRAs,
a safety net might include home equity and cash value life insurance.
Looking For Independent Senior Living?
per month. Home-style living with meals included.
Beware Of This Scam!
When leaving a bank, be aware of your surroundings. If you're in your vehicle and someone wants you to come out and look at something, don't do it.
Be Kind
Let me know what kind of stories you prefer to read in The Scoop,
the leading email marketing publication for boomers and seniors in
the SF Bay Area. Please feel free to forward this issue to your family and friends. Subscribe today. It's FREE!
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Rick Steves' Top Travel
Mistakes To Avoid
Rick Steves never checks a bag when traveling and he strongly encourages all of his fellow globetrotters to do the same.
“It’s more important than ever to travel light,” he said. “Two weeks, two months, man, woman, winter, summer, it doesn’t matter, you just need a carry-on bag.”
Steves is known for his popular European guidebooks, tour company Rick Steves’ Europe and public television travel show. As a professional international traveler, Steves is an expert at avoiding common travel mistakes like lost luggage, overbooked restaurants and crowded sights.
While a few travel problems are inevitable, Steves advocates for flexibility, which is at the core of his travel philosophy. In a recent interview with Travel + Leisure, Steves shared some of his best tips to help alleviate frequent travel issues and reduce trip anxiety.
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Ask Larry
"Should I Take Social Security
At 62?
--Marie, San Jose, CA
Not an easy decision. Depends upon your financial and health situation. If healthy and happy with your job, working longer for higher social security benefits may make sense. However, if in declining health and unhappy with your job, taking early SS may be a no brainer.
Keep in mind the different ages when considering taking out SS benefits.
Age 62 is when you can officially begin accepting SS.
Age 66 or 67--(67 for those born after 1960) is your “full retirement” age and when you’ll need to work to qualify for the full monthly benefit.
Age 70 is the age when the maximum retirement benefit kicks in.
If you claim before the age of 70, you’re not getting your full entitlement. Your benefit claimed at 62 is about 30% lower than it would be at age 70.
Before claiming SS, check with your financial advisor and your local Social Security Administration office: ssa.gov.
Q: While shopping at a Walmart, someone stole my purse from my handbag in my shopping cart. What to do?
It wasn't your fault. Sounds like you have been the victim of an organized gang who prey on older adults, especially women because handbags are often an easy target of opportunity.
Immediately, cancel all your credit cards. This will protect you from being financially responsible, Also, notify the police at once and give them a detailed statement.This is important. By filing a report, the police then have the authority to obtain and view the store's video to help solve the crime.
Got a Question? Or Comment? Ask me anything. If I don't know the answer, I'll ask someone who does. Ask Larry is written by Larry Hayes, publisher of A050. Email: larry@activeover50.com. Visit: ActiveOver50.com
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It's What You Do. Not When You Do It
Benjamin Franklin was a newspaper columnist at 16 and a framer of the United States Constitution when he was 81.
Golda Meir was 71 when she became Prime Minister of Israel.
Nat Hickey, 45, was the oldest to ever play in the NBA.
Mickey Mantle, age 20, hit 23 home runs his first full year in the major leagues.
Joe Biden was 78 when he became president of the United States.
William Pitt was 24 when he became Prime Minister of Great Britain.
George Bernard Shaw was 94 when one of his plays was first produced.
Mozart was just seven when his first composition was published.
You're never too young or too old if you've got talent. Let's recognize that age has little to do with ability. Just do it!
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Enter "Pet Of The Month" Photo Contest!
Pets bring such joy to our lives and are beloved members of our family. In honor of our pets, we're having a "Pet Of The Month" photo contest. Winners will be featured in the Scoop and on the A050 website.
Entries are FREE with the following guidelines:
• One pet per photo
• Name of pet, breed, gender, age and how long a member of your family
• In 100 words or less, tell us why your pet brings happiness to your life
• Photos must be clear
• No professional photographers
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May Is National Stress
Awareness Month
Tips To Help Relieve Stress
Since 1992, Stress Awareness Month is observed with the intention of increasing knowledge about the impact of stress in our lives. In honor of Stress Awareness Month,
it is time to discuss some facts about stress, recognizing stress in yourself and how to better manage or prevent it from affecting your physical and mental well-being.
Stress that is ongoing or left unattended can have serious consequences. The truth about stress is that it affects the entire body and can negatively impact your well-being. Ongoing stress is a risk factor for heart disease, dementia, stroke, accelerated aging, depression, anxiety, insulin resistance and prolonged digestive
issues and disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Tips to help relieve stress
• Connect with others
• Get active
• Eat a healthy diet
• Try breathing exercises and meditation
• Laugh more
• Get enough sleep
• Address the root cause
• Develop hobbies
• Get musical and be creative
• Spend time outside
• Seek counseling
Talk with your Physicians Medical Group primary care physician about adapting healthy coping skills and finding stress management techniques that work for you.
Physicians Medical Group of San Jose is the largest independent physician’s association in Santa Clara County. We have been part of the community for 40 years with more than 1,000 doctors in 460 offices plus we speak 30+ languages. Call 888-988-8682 or visit pmgmd.com for more information.
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What's a
Retiree To Do?
By Evelyn Preston, The Money Lady
What’s a retiree to do? Our plans are set and investments growing; emergency funds sit in the bank “just in case.” We’ve followed financial wisdom that says…in addition to Social Security, it’s safe to take about 4% total from mutual funds, 401Ks, 403Bs, 457s, to live happily ever after.
As these funds continue increasing, that 4% will kick out a larger chunk of money to cover rising costs and aging needs. Annuities and real estate can offer an extra cushion, old-timers and teachers might have a set-in-stone pension so, most people plan ahead on their own diverse smorgasbord of savings.
Q: What could go wrong?
The Economy, Silly! High and prolonged inflation, a depressed stock market, skyrocketing energy costs and the “black swans” of a foreign war and worldwide pandemic.
When it comes to finances, expect the unexpected. That’s why, in addition to all the typical savings buckets from cash to IRAs, a safety net might include home equity, cash value life insurance, even some valuables to sell in a pinch.
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Your morning mood will perk up after savoring your coffee from a humorous mug from John Donaghue, an award winning creative art director and creator of Under Cardiac Arrest Comics. On sale for $8.97 at Zazzle. Great gift idea.
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Beware Of This Scam!
When leaving a bank be aware of your surroundings. Do not sit in your car and look at your money or even just stay in the area.
If you are in your vehicle and someone knocks at either your driver's side or passenger side window and motions for you to come out and look at something on the ground, Don't Do It! If you feel compelled to look at whatever the person is motioning at, Lock Your Car while you are doing this.
Scammers are bunching up a couple dollar bills and a few coins and pointing at them (thrown on the ground on the passenger side of the vehicle) in a way to get the driver to get out. The driver is confused and while the driver is confused, a second person gets into the vehicle and takes the money, purse, wallet, etc. from the vehicle and then runs away to a waiting vehicle.
While the now victim may give chase to the person who was in the vehicle, the other person, the one who knocked on the vehicle window, moves away and into a crowd.
Stay alert and safe.
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Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Cupertino is one of the best places to live in CA--home to world famous Apple company.
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