Tips to Save and Spend Wisely in 2017 

By StatePoint

Did you get carried away with the holiday spirit this past season? On the heels of hefty spending, the New Year is the best time to take stock of personal finance habits and make beneficial changes for the year ahead.

Here are some useful tips and tricks to spend and save wisely in 2017. 

Think Long-Term

Don’t neglect the future. It’s never too early to save for retirement. In fact, the sooner you start, the better off you will be. Invest through a company-sponsored plan if possible. If not, look into IRAs that can help you grow your wealth exponentially.

Create Categorized Funds

Consider the 52-week savings challenge. In the first week, save $1, followed by $2 the second week, all the way through week 52, when you put aside $52. Sticking to this plan results in $1,378 saved at the end of the year, as well as any interest you’ve earned.

Creating a savings account for a specific purpose is a perennially sound savings strategy. Look for banks that are fee friendly, such as Ally Bank Member FDIC, ally.com, which allows you to open an Online Savings or Money Market account with no minimum and no monthly maintenance fee. You can deposit money easily through e-check deposit, direct deposit and you’ll earn interest compounded daily on your savings. In addition, putting this money in a separate account allows you to track your spending against the account balance.

Use Shopping Apps

It is incredibly easy to save money with a little online research. With a few minutes effort, you’ll find discount codes, loyalty programs or cashback websites that track your purchases and reward you for the extra step of navigating through their shopping portal instead of going straight to the big name retailers’ websites.

Reap Rewards

While no personal finance expert would advocate running up credit card bills one can’t afford, savvy consumers know how to take advantage of credit card reward programs for hotel points, airline miles or just straight cash in their pockets.

“Use credit cards that reward you for the things you buy the most,” says Diane Morais, chief executive officer and president of Ally Bank, the direct banking subsidiary of Ally Financial Inc.

There are often offers for opening a new credit card with a minimum spend, such as the Ally CashBack Credit Card, which provides a $100 bonus when you make $500 in eligible purchases during the first three billing cycles, and offers two percent cash back at gas stations and grocery stores, and one percent cash back on all other purchases — as well as 10 percent bonus on rewards that are deposited into an eligible Ally Bank account.

If you don’t want to open a new account, check your current credit cards for promotions or cash back offers, which can add up quickly on everyday purchases.

With a little homework, savvy consumers can make 2017 the year they spend strategically and save more.

By StatePoint

In this digital age, you may go days without using a pen and paper, but there are many reasons to skip the devices and stick to writing things down. From staying organized to planning your week to tracking career growth, here are a few things to take note of when it comes to taking notes.

• Taking notes in longhand can help you retain more information, suggests a study from Princeton and UCLA, as taking notes makes you more likely to process the information and reframe it in your own words. Not only that, your notepad is likely to contain fewer distractions than your laptop, tablet or phone.

• Look professional and stay organized at your next interview or meeting. Taking notes will make you look engaged and interested in what is happening, and a professional planner and/or notebook are must-have workplace accessories. Brands like AT-A-GLANCE offer professional, yet stylish planners, matching desk pads, notepads and wall calendars in a variety of styles and formats. Visit MyAtAGlanceStory.com for organizational inspiration.

• Making comments in your notebook or planner helps you become the publisher of your story, capturing your life’s moments along the way. These are tools that help you look back on events in a tangible way.

• Rid yourself of the ever-present stress that comes with a busy life. Seeing everything written down will give you a sense of control. You will feel confident in knowing you have it all set, and keeping a record of your tasks in one location gives you an easy, organized way to get a grasp on your days.

• Using a planner to track your schedule can actually help you find missing time. You will have a better grasp on what is coming up and may even see a break that leaves you time to schedule dinner with a friend, try that new recipe you’ve been craving, or time to search for that special birthday present you need for the party this weekend.

• Increase productivity by maximizing the 24 hours that you have. Seeing everything on paper will help you plan and prioritize. Having “scheduled downtime” can help you to know when to go full steam ahead and when to take a break and unwind for a bit.

• Tracking in one place can also help prevent committing to things you can’t do. Wall calendars for the house are a great tracking tool for multiple schedules, helping day-to-day tasks run smoothly.

• Whether you’re planning a wedding or a work conference, a planner is among the most important assets you can use to aid your efforts, helping you keep track of all the details, large and small.

• Find a favorite pen and a favorite planner, and get back to basics. It may have been a little while since you relied on paper, but you may find that writing things down helps you keep better track of all of life’s little details and makes you the publisher of your own story.

How Caregivers Can Provide Better Care for Both Their Loved Ones and Themselves

By StatePoint

More than 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 years old every day, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. This growth in the aging population has led to an increased number of people who care for loved ones in their homes.

“While many people are happy to take care of aging loved ones, playing this caregiver role can still be physically, mentally and emotionally draining,” says Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president, Sam’s Club Consumables and Health and Wellness. “As a result, it can be easy for caregivers to forget about caring for themselves at times.”

To help, Turner-Mitchael and the Sam’s Club Pharmacists are offering time-saving, stress-reducing tips to help caregivers support their loved ones while also maintaining their own well-being.

• Focus on food and fitness. Maintain a healthy, energy-boosting diet that includes organic fruits and vegetables, lean protein and vitamins. Try to stay active, as well. To keep yourself accountable, consider using a wearable device that tracks your daily diet and activity level.
• Log on. To save time and effort, shop online when possible. In today’s digital world, it’s easy to get everything you need with the click of a button. Companies like Sam’s Club provide everything from groceries to personal care products online for those who don’t have time to make it into a club.
• Give yourself a break. Convene a family meeting to discuss any challenges that you’re facing and see what others can do to lighten your load. Identify someone who can fill in for you for periods of time, so you can take breaks outside of the home to relax and refresh. Doing so will likely help you return to your role with even more energy.
• Seek support. Find a caregiver support group that can help you make connections with others who understand your perspective. Seek out other existing resources that are designed to support caregivers, as well.

For example, Sam’s Club recently launched a new program for family caregivers, including a dedicated webpage that helps members find the products, expert advice and savings they need to make caregiving easier. Visit SamsClub.com/caregiving or the kiosks in select locations around the country for more information.

“As the number of caregivers rises, so does the importance of offering resources that make their lives easier,” says Turner-Mitchael. “As a club of the community, we are working to do just that, so caregivers can focus on what is most important – the health of their loved ones and themselves.”

• Engage your employer. Around 42 million Americans act as caregivers while also working outside of the home, according to AARP. If you are juggling work and home responsibilities, ask your manager about perks or policies that may help you find balance, such as flexible work schedules, emergency time off or on-site eldercare.

Neglecting your own health does no one any favors, so don’t let caregiving mean the end of self-care. With the right resources and resolve, rest assured that you can provide the best care possible while also maintaining your own health.

Tips to Overcome Personal Struggles and Achieve Goals

By StatePoint

When faced with tough challenges, it can be tempting to throw in the towel. But experts say the power of goal-setting is fierce and the discipline behind it can help anyone overcome obstacles.

“Failure has the power to break you or it has the power to push you forward,” says Scout Bassett, a U.S. Paralympian in track and field. “Use your experiences as an opportunity to reevaluate your goals and move forward from there.”

Having lost a leg early in her life in China, Bassett spent her early childhood in an orphanage before being adopted by an American family. She came to the United States at the age of seven just wanting to fit in. As a child she discovered a love of running and set off on a path to qualify for the Paralympic Games. In her first attempt in 2012, she came in dead last and did not qualify for the team. She briefly considered giving up her dream.

This year, she is relishing the progress she has made. As a member of Team USA who competed in Rio, she’s showing off her skills on a global stage and participating in Citi’s “#StandForProgress” program to inspire all Americans to think about the progress they want to achieve in their lives.

Bassett offers the following insights into goal-setting.

• “Progress” doesn’t always come in the form of a medal or an award. Sometimes progress means you have to take a few steps back, go back to the drawing board, see what worked and what didn’t, and find a way forward from there. Most of us experience setbacks, disappointments and even failures sometimes, but ultimately those moments can be the greatest motivators.
• The biggest struggles you face may not be the ones handed to you by fate or outside forces. They may be the battles you fight within. Look past your own inner voice discouraging you from your hopes and dreams. Developing mental fortitude is a continuous process.
• You can’t change the past but you can help write the future. Embrace and focus on what you have gained, not what you have lost.
• Don’t let naysayers hinder your progress or cause you to lose faith in yourself. The beauty of being underestimated is you have an opportunity to defy the odds. Use pessimism to motivate you.
• No one can do it alone, so don’t be afraid to rely on the help of others. Even at times when you don’t believe in yourself, there may be others who do.

Citi’s Stand for Progress program explores how all of us define progress, set goals, overcome obstacles and support and inspire others to do the same. Americans can share how they stand for progress by using #StandForProgress and posting their own goals on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Whether it’s eating healthier, saving money for a house, or spending more time with loved ones, it helps to clarify your goals by writing them down.

Can Healthy Habits Contribute to Financial Security?

By StatePoint 

When it comes to feelings about finances, working Americans are practically split down the middle, according to a recent study.

Fifty-five percent of employed Americans feel they are on the right track to achieving financial well-being, while the other 45 percent feel they are not headed in the right direction, according to the 2016 Lincoln Financial Group Measuring Optimism, Outlook and Direction (M.O.O.D.) of America study.

So what are those individuals on the right track doing so well? The study found five key factors — behaviors and influencers — in their lives that correlate to positive feelings about money.

“Right trackers” differ from their counterparts who are not on the right track because:

• They are more likely to have created formal financial plans — more than 70 percent of them, in fact.
• They are forward-looking in general, with nearly 100 percent saying they are focused on the future. Also, 90 percent of those in the “right track” camp say they feel in control of their lives.
• They exercise more. Those with positive feelings about money tend to be active. About 80 percent of this group exercises at least once a week, and typically more often. Compare that with those who are not on the right track — just 60 percent of that segment works out on a consistent basis. Physical health can correlate to financial health.
• They’re more likely to feel good about themselves. Financial health and emotional health go hand-in-hand, too. Those on the right track are more likely than their counterparts to say they are optimistic because they feel good about themselves and their relationships with family and friends. They’re also positive about their careers and their relationships with coworkers.
• They take advantage of workplace benefits. Indeed, the more benefits you enroll in through the workplace, the better you will feel financially, suggests the study.

Beyond health insurance and retirement savings, “right-trackers” are enrolling in insurance plans to cover dental and vision care, as well as life insurance and disability insurance (which can help replace a portion of your paycheck while you recover from an injury or illness). They’re also taking advantage of other nonmedical benefits that can help boost financial security, such as accident insurance and critical illness insurance, which can help cover expenses that medical insurance does not, like high deductibles, or day-to-day expenses such as food or mortgage payments.

The future is unknown, but certain insurance coverages offered at work can help safeguard you against a broad scope of unexpected expenses, and can help you feel and be more financially secure. This is something to think about during annual open enrollment for medical insurance and beyond.

For more insights and tips to help you take control of your financial future, follow Lincoln Financial Group on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Feeling good about your finances is about the big picture, not just your bank account. From a healthy lifestyle to a positive attitude, taking a cue from those who are on the “right track” may help you get your footing on the path to financial well-being.

By StatePoint

Parents care for and guide children into adulthood. But as parents age, sometimes the roles are reversed.  Establishing a plan will help everyone feel more at ease about the years ahead. Here are four common concerns you may face with aging parents and tips to manage each conversation.

Plan Living Arrangements

Multi-level homes and complicated floor plans can make everyday living difficult and dangerous for seniors. However, convincing parents to move into a more manageable home or assisted living may be tough. Suggest the transition early, while parents are still active to help them ease into the idea. If they insist on staying put, consider homecare and installing assistive equipment, like handrails.

Focus on the Road

Driving can be a sensitive topic because for many, it’s a key part of remaining independent.

Take 90-year-old Vivian Cash who started driving in 1949. While always priding herself on her safe driving — in fact, she’s never had an accident — she recently pulled into her driveway and stopped too close to a telephone pole, ultimately needing help moving her car. That was when she decided it was time to stop driving.

“If I’m driving and I had a problem, I could hurt someone or myself. It just isn’t worth it,” explained Cash.

Of course, not everyone will be willing to hang up their keys, so approach the topic before noticeable problems surface, such as with vision or dexterity, and agree to certain warning signs that might indicate it’s time to rethink transportation.

When it is time for parents to stop driving, help them map out ways to get to all their activities.

Update Important Documents

Most people don’t like discussing wills and life insurance. As a result, they’re often written and not revisited. However, both need to be updated periodically, especially when major life changes take place, like marriage, death or divorce.

Ensure your parents have a will that’s been updated in the past five years. If not, it should be revised to reflect their current wishes. Establish who will be in charge of executing the details, and determine where documents will be stored.

Any updates to wills need to be reflected in life insurance policies, since beneficiaries take precedence over whatever the will specifies. Consider working with a trusted advisor who offers both life insurance and retirement planning, such as an Erie Family Life insurance agent, to ensure parents and family members are covered for the future every step of the way.

Gather Financials

Finances need to be discussed — from retirement planning, debt consolidation and payment to logistics like where important documents are placed (digital and hard copies). Even if parents don’t want to divulge all their information, getting a general sense of the situation will make things easier when decisions need to be made.

Help your parents create a list of bank, benefits, pension and other accounts, as well as usernames and passwords. Keep this information in a safe place, such as a fire-resistant safe. Know where items like tax files, car titles and the key to the safe are kept.

Aging isn’t easy. Address everything now to leave your family at ease for the changes ahead.

How to Manage a Common, but Embarrassing Health Problem

Photo courtesy: StatePoint

By StatePoint 

If you have experienced hemorrhoids, you know just how uncomfortable this condition can be. On top of the pain, you may have experienced feelings of embarrassment when discussing or addressing the symptoms with your doctor. But remember, an estimated 10 to 23 million individuals in the United States suffer from the same condition, and it is particularly common among pregnant women.

Hemorrhoids, which may be caused by constipation, diarrhea, straining while going to the bathroom and increased pressure on veins, or hormone changes during pregnancy, are enlarged blood vessels around the anus, located either externally or internally.

Luckily, there a few key habits you can adopt to help you alleviate the associated pain, itching and discomfort, as well as treatment solutions that offer quick relief. Here is what you need to know:

Healthy Living

For starters, proper nutrition is key. Diets low in fiber may be a contributing factor to hemorrhoids, so be sure to incorporate fiber-rich foods like flax seeds, beans, avocados and brown rice in your daily diet. Try adding flaxseeds into your smoothie each morning for a fiber boost — they won’t affect the flavor. Opt for whole grains over processed enriched breads and rice.

Keep your body properly hydrated. Doing so will help your metabolism operate at peak performance and avoid hemorrhoids caused by constipation. Prioritize hydration, because it’s not only helpful for avoiding constipation and in turn hemorrhoids, but it’s essential to overall good health.

Exercise regularly. Exercise not only aids the digestive system, it can help you maintain a healthy weight — an important consideration as excess weight in your abdomen can increase your chances of developing hemorrhoids. This is especially important if you have a sedentary job and sit most of the day.

Treat the Problem

Unfortunately, following every wellness tip in the book won’t always keep hemorrhoids at bay. When symptoms do flare up, be prepared to treat them. If you are prone to the condition, be sure to keep a portable kit with you that contains everything you need to manage the condition effectively and hygienically.

A convenient option found at most major pharmacy retailers is the RectiCare Complete Hemorrhoid Care System, which is recommended by colon and rectal surgeons. It contains a cream and eight individually packaged wipes. Both are formulated with the highest strength over-the-counter ingredients available without a prescription. Lidocaine 5%, a local anesthetic, allows for fast pain relief, and phenylephrine HCl helps shrink swollen hemorrhoidal tissue. The cream is ideal for use at home and a supply of 10 “finger cots” promote hygienic application, while the wipes are not only discreet, but medicated for on-the-go relief, no matter where you are. More information can be found at RectiCare.com.

Whether your pregnancy is causing you a temporary struggle with hemorrhoids or you have been suffering for years, don’t ignore the pain and discomfort. Simple solutions can help you avoid symptoms and treat them quickly when they do occur.

By StatePoint  

Running a household can be stressful, so finding a way to streamline your routine is a must. While you may have short-cuts and tricks already in place, stocking your home with the best supplies and most innovative products will help to make each day even easier.

How can you find the best products for your family? “Product of the Year,” the world’s largest consumer-voted award for product innovation backed by the votes of 40,000 consumers, is a great source for learning about great products introduced each year. The list of winners can serve as a helpful guide when navigating store aisles, and here are some of this year’s highlights:

• Keep your car looking great for the daily commute with a multitasking cleaner. The Turtle Wax Dash & Glass, the Car Care category winner, uses a proprietary formula for streak-free cleaning of both dashboards and windows.
• Don’t cover laundry odors, neutralize and prevent them. The new Downy Fresh Protect helps you get more out of each load by infusing fabrics with motion-activated technology to keep clothes smelling fresh no matter how active you and your family are each day.
• With the right tools, you can skip the prices and the lines of the salon. Buff away thick and stubborn skin, extending the life of pedicures with the Amopé Pedi Perfect Extra Coarse Electronic Foot File with Diamond Crystals, which exfoliates to reveal beautiful feet.
• Pack a protein punch on the fly with a healthy grab-and-go snack. The Gold Emblem Abound Unsalted Pistachio & Almond Blend meets the American Heart Association’s criteria for heart-healthy food and tastes delicious.
• Simplify family dinners on busy days with easy side dishes like Ore-Ida Bold & Crispy Fries. They are easy to prep and add great flavor to any meal.
• Pack an extra dose of nutrition into your dog’s daily diet. The new Purina Beyond Purées are easy to serve with your dog’s everyday food. Different varieties target a healthy immune system, digestive system or skin and coat.
• Maintain an active lifestyle each day. The Playtex Sport Collection, winner of the Feminine Care category, is designed to move with the body so women feel confident and protected while exercising and on-the-go.
• Want to indulge without the guilt? The Skinny Cow Dipped Ice Cream Bars fulfill ice cream cravings for only 190 calories each.
• Satisfy your family’s sweet tooth with a new twist on a classic. The SweeTARTS Soft and Chewy Ropes are bendable and chewy with a fruit-punch filling, combining sweet and tart flavors.
• Stay well-rested with Emergen-Zzzz, an innovative dietary supplement that includes melatonin, vitamin C and key antioxidants and helps you fall asleep naturally. Take it approximately 30 minutes before bedtime to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Visit productoftheyearusa.com for more information about this year’s winners.

When the going gets tough, seek out the supplies you need to make life easier.

What to Know about Your Gut Health   

Photo courtesy: StatePoint

By StatePoint

Your gut health affects more than just how your stomach feels. Recent scientific breakthroughs have uncovered links between the state of the gut microbiome and a range of human health issues such as obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, cardiovascular disease, immune system disorders, asthma and even cancer and its treatment.

Experts say that understanding the gut microbiome may change how these diseases are diagnosed and treated. Additionally, specific microbes have been linked to good digestive health.

“The gut microbiome is currently subject to intense and growing interest within the medical and pharmaceutical industries, but is also of great interest to average people,” says Michael Farrell, PhD, Managing Director of Biome360, an emerging biotechnology and probiotics company.

Farrell says that with the right tools and knowledge, anyone can positively influence and manage his or her own gut microbiome in the pursuit of better overall health. He is offering the following tips:

• Assess your existing gut health and monitor changes over time. New tools, like the Gut Microbiome Sampling Kit, from Biome360, make it possible to do so at home. The sample collection process requires no training or preparation and the Biome360 dashboard allows users to learn about and explore their gut microbiome, and compare it to age and gender-matched healthy peers.
• Supplement your gut health with targeted probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus. Probiotics support digestive and immune health, can aid in weight loss and can lower the bad bacteria in your body that can cause infections and other problems. Probiotic supplements are especially important after a course of antibiotics.
• What you eat matters. Make sure you get high-quality fiber in your diet — the recommended daily intake of 25 to 38 grams — and take steps to limit processed carbohydrates. Include fermented foods in your diet, which are packed with beneficial bacteria. Good choices include yogurt, cottage cheese, kimchi, tempeh, natto, kambucha, sauerkraut, miso, milk kefir and pickles.
• Exercise early and often. Exercise, early in life, can alter microbial communities for the better, promoting healthier brain and metabolic activity over the course of a lifetime, according to recent research at the University of Colorado.

You may not realize how much control you have over your own health. With the right information at your fingertips, you can learn more about what is happening inside your gut, and take informed action to improve your health.

4 Key Factors That Can Improve Your Quality of Life As You Age

By Toni Tantlinger  

When it comes to aging, Americans harbor plenty of concerns: Going broke, succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease, Spending the final lonely years in a nursing home, etc.

But there’s no need to think that grey hair and wrinkles automatically translate to a dreary existence.

“There are a number of things people can do right now that will increase the odds that their senior years will be healthy, productive and rewarding,” says Chris Orestis, a senior-care advocate and author of the books “Help on the Way” and “A Survival Guide to Aging.”

Orestis, CEO of Life Care Funding (www.lifecarefunding.com), has worked for years with families to help them afford the costs of long-term care, something that about 70 percent of people over 65 eventually need.

But he says it’s also important to help seniors and their families make the most of what should be the best years of their lives.

A healthy diet and exercise are two of the better known ingredients for improving the chances you’ll lead a long and fruitful life. Others include:

• Attitude. Life hands everyone challenges, but it’s how you deal with those challenges that makes the difference. “Keeping a positive attitude is important,” Orestis says. “Do you approach each day with zeal or with dread? Are you active or sedentary? It’s critical to live life with a purpose because it will make you strive to be healthy of mind, body and in your attitude.”
  • Adaptability. People change as they age and so does the world around them. “You need to be prepared to manage a whole host of changes in a positive way,” Orestis says. “Your body changes. Your mind changes. There are changes in your career, in the community you live in and in the technology we all use every day.” Those who do the best job of adapting are the ones most likely to thrive, he says.
  • Relationships. People who nurture relationships are more likely to live higher-quality lifestyles. “As we age, relationships will change and it’s important to stay engaged, whether in person or from afar,” Orestis says. “We also need to build new relationships throughout our lives.”
  • Activities. Filling your time with activities – coaching a youth soccer team, learning guitar, traveling – can help give you a more meaningful and healthy life. “One of the keys to people who live long lives is that their life continued to have meaning,” Orestis says. “Hobbies, volunteer work, learning new skills or getting more involved with your family are all paths to an active and meaningful life.”

“Aging shouldn’t be a one-way ticket to poor health, loneliness, boredom and a declining quality of life,” he says. “The key to enjoying a long and fulfilling life is in your own hands.”