Dear Heloise: For many years, I have given my grandchildren cash for their birthdays, with this caveat: They can spend one-third however they wish, one-third is to save, and one-third is to donate to their favorite charity. The one-third that excites them the most is their donation, and they cannot wait to tell me which charity it is, plus this gets them into the habit of regular charitable giving when they are older. – Big Al, Farmington, Connecticut
Dear Annie: My middle-aged confirmed bachelor brother-in-law is a frequent and welcome dinner guest at our house. Lately, when no one is here but his brother and me, he’s begun cleaning his plate with his finger and then licking his finger. Sometimes he just licks his plate.
WASHINGTON – It is not unprecedented to see tornadoes this late in the year. But the ones that ravaged Kentucky and neighboring states Friday, killing at least 74, are likely to end up the most powerful and lethal December storms on record. They were fueled by unusually warm air – temperatures in the area were more than 20 degrees above normal, creating atmospheric conditions more like April than the weeks before Christmas. Meteorologists say the path of the jet stream was another key factor.
It’s no secret that social media is taking a toll on teenagers, especially girls. Filters and photo editing create the facade of a seemingly perfect life and put an emphasis on unrealistic beauty standards and constant comparison. This often leads to decreased selfesteem and to body image concerns.
If your parents are getting close to retirement age, or are already retired, it may be time to talk with them about financial and aging issues, some of which may involve difficult conversations. For the sake of everyone in your family, don’t avoid these “taboo” topics.
Somehow, it’s December already and Christmas is mere days away. If you are still looking for gift ideas for any of the children in your life, don’t forget the gift of education and contribute to their MOST 529 Education account.
While you’re working, you may be contributing to an individual retirement account (IRA), which can provide a taxadvantaged way to save for your future. So, is it ever a good idea to tap into your IRA before you retire?
Dear Readers: Thank you for all your responses to “Letting Go Is Hard to Do.” We have undeniably wonderful parents among our readership. Here are two of my favorite letters.
Dear Readers: Instead of cramming everything into your suitcase, you can pack it more efficiently if you take the following five steps. 1.
PSALM 139;, 1 – 4 O Lord you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely , O Lord.