Collecting Or Investing

If you grew up in the 80s (or even the 50s, 60s, or 70s) you may have shoeboxes filled with things you thought might be worth millions or billions one day. If you’re like me, you thought that every week you earned an allowance or earned money if you ran to the baseball card shop or comic book shop, you were investing in your future. (I thought buying every single Darryl Strawberry rookie card would guarantee enough money for a mansion.) Or at least a big enough house for the 6 kids I planned to have.

Sometimes, I’d buy extra packs and keep half of them sealed since my dad always said they would be worth more if left unopened. I did the same with comic books, stamps, superhero action figures, books, toys from my favorite horror movies, vinyl, and I still do this to this day. I “invest’ in a lot of different things from my favorite bands, movies, I even started investing in stamp collections for my kids. Not to mention, they get to inherit the baseball cards and comic books I have stashed away in shoeboxes and those nice albums with the pockets and pages. The problem is, every time I look something up, it isn’t worth anything. Sure, the hockey jerseys and autographs from our favorite players are worth something to us and you never really know if they make it big, that stuff could go for quite a bit of money. I also wonder if I’ll ever really sell it anyway, even if it ends up being worth a lot. I also wonder how much money I would have available had I saved the money I spent collecting things.

I think my most favorite part of collecting these things are the memories each item holds. I have a story for every single thing I bought over the years and it’s nice to be able to hold onto those memories! There are times when you find out those toy collections you had as a kid would be worth a fortune but, you reached a certain age and ended up selling everything at a flea market or yard sale. (My husband did this with his GI Joe and He-Man collections.) But, there are still ways to manage your investments whether it is in the form of collections or maybe investing in something such as gold or bitcoin or stocks. Or maybe you prefer to collect “grown-up” things like rocks, paintings, gemstones, or watches.

Even if you collect toys and comic books, you may want to check into the laws regarding the amount of money you might earn from your investments. Unfortunately, there are tax laws and you could be hit with a whopping 28% tax. That’s pretty huge when you consider you aren’t allowed to deduct anything for your collectibles. However, if you were investing in stocks, you would be taxed at the same rate but can offset capital gains with losses. Another grown-up thing to think about is homeowners insurance. It isn’t too easy to find a decent policy that will give you your monies worth for every single thing you own. If you have a lot of prized possessions, you may need to bump up your insurance policy. If you want to list each item separately and insure each piece individually, you will need to pay a bit more for your policy and be very thorough in your record keeping. Otherwise, you could just insure the contents of your home with a blanket policy and set the limit for each item. If something unfortunate happens, you may not get the price you paid or the value for it but, you will be able to escape the high prices that come with itemized coverage.

I’ve found that when I check online to try to find what things are worth, what collections are holding up in value, it is a little hard to find a direct answer unless you know what you’re looking for. Sure, people can post on eBay and claim that the Beanie Baby collection they’re selling is worth $50,000 but, is it really? You can say it’s worth whatever you want but if people aren’t buying it, it’s probably not worth much of anything. If you find yourself stuck with a bunch of sports cards and toys and a savings account with a balance of $5, how do you plan on purchasing a house or a car or any of the other cool things your collections were supposed to buy?

While I wouldn’t ever consider getting rid of my collections or even selling them. I may consider if the price is right. Until then, I intend on keeping these things and passing them onto my children in the future. Whatever you choose to do with your investments, you can contact The Associates Home Loan Of Florida to ask for help when you’re ready to buy a home. There are so many ways to earn money these days, especially with the Internet!

If you did make good decisions on your investments and you decided to invest in artwork or diamonds, you’re in a great spot for your future and most likely your children’s future and their children’s futures! There are so many different things to buy and invest in and so many ways to earn money and save money and so many different types of situations and nontraditional income anymore. It’s always super helpful to find advice for your own unique situation. Plus, you don’t have to be a billionaire to buy a new home.

As for your collections, whether they are worth monetary value to anyone or not, you should still find joy in collecting! It would be boring if you had friends over for a few games of pool and you had nothing on the walls or on your bookshelves to look at. Besides, everybody needs a hobby and I am still waiting to find out what happens when we grow up. (and I’m 45!)

Should You Sue After An Injury

I can think of a few times over the past couple of decades where I have been injured due to someone else’s negligence but, ultimately, decided I should just “deal with it” and move on. After a few of these injuries on top of a few bone and joint issues, I already had, I ended up being permanently disabled after all. I’m not sure what a lawsuit would have done in all of my cases or even one of my cases. But, I do wish I would have thought things through a little better. At least in a couple of cases.

I used to think it would be rude or maybe I just didn’t necessarily have to “go after” anyone for injuries that I otherwise would not have had had it not been for an unlicensed driver or a job that didn’t care about countless employees with similar injuries or the surgeon who failed miserably and ended up making matters far worse than what they were, to begin with. I figured I would be OK and would just eventually get better. It turns out, I was wrong and I could have possibly won a personal injury lawsuit and maybe at the least, had medical bills paid or my missed income paid for. So, what constitutes a legitimate personal injury lawsuit? If you would have asked me years ago, I would have said, “Oh, I imagine a case such as being run over by a truck and having your legs amputated.” Or “Having surgery and the surgeons do the wrong surgery that was actually meant for the patient in the room next to you.” If you would ask me now, I would say that you should seek legal help immediately after any injury, period. Why? Because, like in my case (cases), you may not have any idea how bad that injury could possibly be. Now, I would seek legal help right away, just in case I will need it.

You’re Injured, Now What?

Seek medical attention, of course! That’s a given! But, while the injury and the steps that led to that injury are still fresh in your mind, you should take the time to write everything down for your own records. Include any evidence you may have whether photos or witness names. The more information, the better. Continue to keep that notebook with you at all times so you can write down and record any phone calls, conversations, medical records, keep track of lost wages, anything that may help you when you confront the person, the insurance company, whoever is responsible for your injury.

Depending on the type of injury or accident, you may be unsure of exactly who is responsible for your injury. Naturally, auto insurance will be responsible for auto accidents, property insurance for an injury that happened on someone’s property, and so on. As soon as you determine who will be responsible, it’s probably best to go ahead and contact that person to let them know you have been injured. Depending on your state, or the state this happened in, you may only have a year from the date of the injury to file a claim so you should do this fairly quickly. Remember to log all of the conversations, letters, calls, jot down anyone and everyone you spoke with and dates and times. This will be extremely important whether you have an attorney at this point in time or not.

Contact a personal injury lawyer to help no matter how small you think your injury may be. They will be able to help you make decisions whether it will be in your best interest to seek legal action or possibly settle out of court. KFB law has an online chat set up as well as a number for you to call anytime so you can put your mind at ease!

Why Should I Consider A Personal Injury Lawsuit?

You may assume that your injury just isn’t so bad or that you should recover in no time and be able to manage on your own. As I mentioned earlier, I felt the same way in every incident I was involved with. Now, I am still fighting for disability, (I am currently on my 5th appeal.) and I have monthly doctor visits and medication even when I don’t end up with a new injury or issue. I wish I had thought ahead rather than assuming I’d be OK.

Consider the future and what type of injury you have. Did you end up with nerve damage? Did you break bones? Will this injury end up causing more pain and more medical problems in the future? Will you end up with arthritis or require surgery? There are so many things to consider! Has your quality of life been affected? Will it be affected by all of the medications, ongoing procedures, surgeries, and doctor’s office visits? How much will your co-pays be? How much income did you already miss? Will you be able to perform at your current job or will you need to be trained in another field or even worse, will you be able to work at all?

One of the most important things that a life-changing injury can affect quite severely, is your family. There really isn’t a way to put a price on something like this. But if you require things such as scooters, wheelchairs, braces, a medication that will help you get through your day, whatever you may need to be able to live your life to the fullest, you may want to consider discussing this with an attorney.

While I can still drive and take my kids to their after-school activities, games, lessons, whatever they are involved with at the time, I am out for several days afterward. The lack of mobility, pain, and swelling are enough to knock me out, almost literally! But, you have to do your best to live a “normal” life and give your children, grandchildren, spouse, your family, a “normal” life. Over the years, I have found so many ways to entertain and spend quality time with my children that don’t necessarily require me to leave the house and run around the block or walk to the park. I miss those things but, I do what I can. I lucked out in a sense considering I can still somewhat get around on a “good” day. But, often times, not everyone is as lucky. These are the things you need to focus on when trying to decide if a personal injury lawsuit is really worth it.

Grey Divorce Is On The Rise

While you may have read that divorce rates have been declining, you may not have known that divorce after 50, AKA grey divorce or silver or diamond splitters, is on the rise. Personally, I would have thought that the older you get and the longer you’re together, the better your chances are at staying together. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. I recently read an article about this very thing and so I started reading a little further.

Top Reasons For Grey Divorce

I’d like to think that after spending so much time with someone, you wouldn’t possibly consider leaving or cheating or causing any kind of drama that would end up in a divorce. Especially after your kids that you raised together are finally grown and out of the house. I totally get the whole, “empty-nest syndrome” but, in some ways, this is your opportunity to be “free” and come and go as you please. Not to mention, you could be a little better off financially since your kids are now all grown and working and handling their own financial issues in their own homes! But, sure enough, the stress and pain from “empty-nest syndrome” could also end up causing a lot of heartaches.

From what I’ve been reading, a lot of the reasons people after 50 choose to divorce are very similar to the typical reasons anyone divorces. There could be issues with infidelity, money problems, or simply not getting along. Some couples end up having been so busy all of their lives with raising their children, working, doing all of the things that life requires of us to lead “happy” lives that they end up sitting there, staring at the person they married years ago, wondering, “Who is this person?” Maybe to find that they don’t particularly like the person they married whether it’s due to their partner changing or even themselves. Either way, I think a good lesson learned here would be to try to slow down a little more and focus on the things that matter in life rather than being too busy to pay attention.

There are so many stories out there about money problems and I believe this has always been one of the leading causes of divorce. Apparently, this doesn’t change for couples over 50 either. Especially if you are now living on a limited income since retirement or maybe since you’ve been so busy with raising a family and working to get where you are that you didn’t realize that your partner has been shopping and spending everything you thought you had saved for your later years! You could also run into issues with the spending habits either getting worse or staying the same. Research shows that marriages grow stronger when the husband’s income increases but grows weaker when the wife’s income increases.

No matter what the reasons for wanting a divorce after spending so many years together, and no matter how old your children are, divorce will always take a toll on your children. Tampa divorce attorneys can help with not just the emotional toll but, they can also help with all of the legal and financial burdens that divorce brings.

Sure, you may think that waiting until your children graduate, move out, have their own families, is a selfless act but, they will still be as lost and as sad as they would have been when they were younger. Sure, there won’t be any bickering over visitation, child support, and no wicked custody battles. But, expect an emotional strain on your grown children and even your grandchildren. One of the top worries among families with “Grey divorcees” would be trying to determine who will be there to take care of the parents as they get older and may be in need of help due to injury or illness.

Take time to consider what your children and grandchildren may be going through too! While they will almost certainly understand that you and your spouse have ‘grown apart” or one of you just decided to renew yourself and change your lifestyle completely, remember that they are also struggling to understand.

In-Home Care Options For Aging Family Members

 

You may be one of many people who have come to the difficult realization that your beloved family member is no longer able to live independently. Your senior relative may have trouble with day-to-day tasks or remembering to take medications. As a close family member, you may feel responsible for care but might not have the time or skills necessary to provide in-home care. Assisted living facilities are not the only option. If you're interested in senior home care Massachusetts, consider the following information as you decide whether or not it is right for your loved one.

Benefits of Staying Home

Many seniors find it stressful to move to assisted living facilities. Some seniors may still be living with a spouse or other family member in the home. Some are concerned about being separated from pets or memories of children growing up in the home. Seniors who do not want to go to an assisted living facility may be happier, less stressed, and healthier with in-home care.

Available Services

In-home care includes transportation to doctor’s appointments, meal preparation, companionship, and light housework. Caregivers can also help with medication schedules, bathing, grooming, mobility, and toileting. If the senior suffers from dementia, a caregiver will ensure the person in his or her care does not wander away from home.

Costs of In-Home Care

Some in-home care programs are federally funded and may be covered by Medicaid. These programs could end up costing less than an assisted living facility.

Familiar Family Routines

With help from an in-home care giver, families can continue with familiar routines. Oftentimes, the caregiver becomes like part of the family and a valued companion to the senior. If a loved one is having trouble caring for himself or herself but does not want to go to an assisted living facility, in-home care may be the right choice.

Facing the fact that a loved one may no longer be able to remain independent is difficult for all parties involved. For many families, in-home assistance is an ideal option due its mix of professional care and familiar surroundings.

Hair Restoration Systems: The Wig Of The 21st Century

Hair loss is a condition that affects both the physical appearance and, at times, the mental health of a person. Even during ancient times, people tried to find natural remedies to hair loss, including some products still in use today like coconut oil and aloe vera. While these old remedies help to make present hair grow healthier, thicker or longer, they can't replace hair that is missing. Permanent hair loss has many underlining causes, but there are now just as many options when looking for hair restoration in St. Louis. Hairpieces for men have become customizable and lifelike, making a person feel more confident. Read on to learn about these hair restorations or wigs for men St Louis.

Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss, medically called alopecia, can be caused by many factors. Genetics has the biggest role in hair loss. Age is another natural reason for hair loss. Medical conditions can also cause alopecia in men and can include testosterone issues, thyroid disease, anemia and treatment with chemotherapy.

Innovative Hair Restoration

Hair restoration and hair replacement systems are like wigs, but they are more customizable to the person. These non-invasive systems can be made to match surrounding hair, and sometimes, length and style can also be chosen by the person. Unlike hair transplants, hair replacement systems require no surgery to complete. Instead, a bonding agent is used to attach a perfectly customized piece to the head so that it blends in naturally. This option is also easier on the paycheck than surgery and can be used for light or heavy hair loss.

Wigs have come of age in the 21^st century, and hair replacement systems allow a man’s confidence to return without having to go under the knife. By getting a hairpiece completely customized to a person’s preference, hair restoration can be an easy and enjoyable process.

Ultimate Goliath Easter Basket Giveaway

Welcome to the Ultimate Goliath Easter Basket Giveaway!

1 Winner - 1 of each game listed below

This giveaway is part of our Spring/Easter Gift Guide – Stop by to see all the giveaways and great products.

Host is Michigan Saving and More

My co-hosts for this giveaway are Deliciously Savvy, SaraLee’s Deals Steals & Giveaways

Below is a list of all the bloggers involved in the gift guide giveaways.

Bargnhtress, Deliciously Savvy, Giveaway Gator, Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains, Java John Z’s, MarksvilleandMe, Michigan Saving and More, My Crafty Zoo, My Silly Little Gang, SaraLee’s Deals Steals & Giveaways, Tales From A Southern Mom

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This giveaway's Sponsor is:

GOLIATH GAMES

WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ YOU TUBE ~ INSTAGRAM ~ AMAZON

Pressman Toy

WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ INSTAGRAM ~ AMAZON

Lucky Ducks Game

See the review HERE.

Available on Amazon

Giggle Wiggle

See the review HERE.

Available on Amazon

Jumping Jack

See the review HERE.

Available on Amazon

Catch The Fox

See the review HERE.

Available on Amazon

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THE GIVEAWAY

This giveaway/sweepstakes is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to United States residents only, Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event will end at 11:59 PM (EST) 4/08/19. The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to las93063 at gmail dot com or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to spam. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited! By entering you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form below, this information is used only to contact the winner! No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the Giveaway Tools program. The sponsors are each responsible for shipping of the above prizes. No blog associated with this contests are responsible for prize fulfillment. If you would like to be a sponsor in a giveaway like this please email Laura Smith at las930 (at)gmail (dot) com. If you take an entry you must stay following for the entire contest or you will be disqualified.

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook! If you like our blogs on social media it helps us bring you only the best giveaways and more of them! Don't forget to stop by for your daily bonus entries.

Enter below and Good Luck!

 

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Staying At Home As You Age

Staying at Home As You Age

 The aging of America is well underway. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 40.3 million Americans aged 65 or older at the time of the last census in 2010. The continued graying of America will very soon lead to a new demographic milestone. By 2035, older adults will outnumber children for the first time. The Census Bureau predicts that the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to hit 78.0 million.

 

Aging in Place

Not surprisingly, many Americans strongly desire to stay in their own homes as they get older. This is called “aging in place.” Aging Americans that are concerned about personal safety and other daily life tasks now have viable options that make staying at home and living independently possible. Successful alternatives to assisted living centers and nursing homes do exist. Some of the home care services Massachusetts offers include adult foster care (AFC) and other care that coordinates meal prep, errands and shopping, socializing and housekeeping. There are both non-medical services and skilled medical services available.

 

Non-Medical Home Care

 People who wish to age in place have varying levels of need when it comes to the services that will allow the individual to remain in his or her home. Non-medical care primarily consists of custodial care rendered by a home health aide (e.g., bathing, dressing, and eating); homemaker services (e.g., grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and laundry); and companionship services.

 

Skilled Medical Care at Home

By contrast, in-home medical care consists of actual home health services given to patients by medically trained and licensed professionals as an alternative to receiving skilled care in an assisted living facility or a nursing home. This can include a wide variety of services, including monitoring vital signs, wound care, administering medications, blood work, and a host of other possibilities.

 

There are a wealth of home-based services that can allow you to age in place in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. Doing so can ensure that you have the peace of mind that comes with living in a warm, familiar environment throughout your life.