Here’s to Being Average and Getting the Job Done

My daughter graduated from high school a few weeks ago. She’s my oldest, and it’s the first time we’ve been through all the pomp and circumstance. The day before graduation, the school held its honors convocation. While some students made the trek across the stage time and time again to receive awards and accolades, my…

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How to Get Home Maintenance Help Without Getting Ripped Off

This article originally appeared on Sixty and Me. If you haven’t already discovered this gem of a website, please head over to check out their community of vibrant women. It wasn’t until after my husband died that I realized how much I relied on him for home maintenance tasks. Whether it was unclogging the toilet…

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5 Things Widows Need to Know About Income Taxes

It’s that time of year again: time to think about taxes. While there is plenty we could say on the topic, let’s try to keep this manageable. Here are five things I think you need to know if you’re a new widow (or widower). And of course, this comes with the disclaimer that I don’t…

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5 Reasons to Pay Full Price for Gifts this Year

I’ve long prided myself on my ability to stretch a dollar. Pay full price? Never! In years past, I viewed the holidays as a prime time to hone my money-saving skills. I would scour message boards and deal sites for the latest hot coupons (remember all those $20 off $20 codes?) and then spend an…

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Surviving the Post-Election Fallout

How have things been in your world for the last week? Do you still have all your friends? Over here, in the wake of the election, I seem to be doing my best to alienate plenty of people. It hasn’t been on purpose, and I’m not super happy about it either. But trying to figure…

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How to Help Your Mom and Dad When They Don’t Want Help

This article originally appeared on Sixty and Me. If you haven’t already discovered this gem of a website, please head over to check out their community of vibrant women. My aunt, 83, is like my third parent. She taught in schools around the world and spent every summer living with us. Always single and with…

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Medicare Open Enrollment: Your 3 Options Explained

While I am many years away from being Medicare eligible, many widows do rely on this government program for their health insurance coverage. If you’re one of these women, then you probably already know its Medicare open enrollment season. Your first hint as to the time of year was the bevy of fliers landing in…

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4 Comments

    1. Hi Maryalene,
      Just a note to thank you for the article I found when trying to decide how to help my wife as she fixes to file for Medicare/ SSI.. The article was http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2015/12/04/say-goodbye-to-the-social-security-file-and-suspend-strategy .. My brother did this when his younger wife was wanting to start drawing SSI and he was still working. This morning my wife and I spend 45 minutes waiting to see someone at the SSI to ask about this.. and he had to “research” it and came back saying it had just been repealed.. and after 30 minutes with him I still had lots of questions, but was obvious he would not be able to provide assurance or prompt answers.. Your article told me volumes more than he could and now I feel confident.. Thank YOU!

    1. I just read your article about seniors not spending their nest egg. I would like to see how you feel when you are over sixty five and don’t have, and can’t get, long term care coverage! My wife and I have never been able, for medical reasons, to obtain coverage. You should also price what twenty four hour home health care cost,

      1. Hi Roy,

        Yes, long term care is crazy expensive, and insurance coverage is out of reach for so many people. As you say, many seniors can’t afford/obtain coverage through no fault of their own. The one silver lining is that some life insurance policies now include provisions to allow a portion of the death benefit to be used in advance for long term care needs. However, not everyone has a policy with that option, and I can certainly see why seniors would hold onto their money to ensure they can pay for their future care!

        Maryalene

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