One of the most tragic things I learned in my journalism career is about a child whose esophagus was destroyed when they swallowed lye that was being used to make soap. So every year, I write about National Poison Prevention Week, which is the third full week in March. More than 2 million poisonings are reported each year to the nation’s poison control centers.
On Monday, I went with my daughter to arrange my funeral. Now, I’m a senior who’s spry, as my daughter says, so this is just advance planning not the need for a funeral soon. Should you arrange a funeral in advance? Not unless you have some safeguards in case the funeral home goes out of business or won’t help you if you move away.
The Super Bowl ads this year followed a similar pattern of previous years: just a few good ones, many bad ones, a lot of silly ones, and my biggest complaint – violence being used to sell products and services. Years ago, I didn’t like Betty White being tacked onto the ground to sell Snickers bars and seniors being victimized in ads.
I know, I know. As a consumer and personal finance journalist, I should have had my will prepared a long time ago. I’ve had a handwritten will for years that was witnessed by two friends. It’s not sufficient, but it was something. People need to have a will because if they don’t, their assets, if any, will be distributed according to state law.
It’s a topic I’ve written about many times. Get familiar with funeral costs before you expect you may need to arrange a funeral. Funeral directors can take advantage of consumers who aren’t informed. And it can cost you a lot of money. A first-time, undercover investigation by the FTC showed that some funeral homes didn’t give accurate price information over the phone.
Winter is the pits. In the Seattle area, where the weather is usually moderate, we had a week of 20-degree weather and snow – just a skiff where I Iive but in Bellingham, Washington, near the Canadian border, snowfall totals varied across western Whatcom County, with some areas reporting more than 10 inches on the ground.
It’s that time of year again. It’s unbelievable that 2023 has rolled by so fast. That means that the 2024 election is getting even closer and closer, an election with so many consequences for consumers and their financial lives. As usual, I’m one of the few reporters writing about the top consumer and personal finance stories of the year, research that I enjoy.
About 50 percent or more of price increases driving recent inflation is caused from price gouging. On Thursday, finally, President Biden called out the pharmaceutical industry for raising prices too much. Dozens of pharmaceutical companies will be required to pay rebates to Medicare for outrageous price hikes on prescription drugs.
It’s a flurry of activity getting ready for the holidays. I’ve purchased my plane ticket to California, started my shopping, and am contemplating decorations. My daughters came for an early Christmas last year and the year before. I “decked the halls” with a living Christmas tree, got out the nice China and red table runner, and we cooked up a storm.
