This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Elder Living directory.

A new Boomerater post appears here each Friday.  This week Boomerater interviewed the guest relations folks at Disney World and added insights from Boomerater members about: how to get the most out of your Disney World family vacation.

Are you thinking of visiting Disney World in Orlando with your grandchildren, or maybe taking the whole family? Keeping a promise to give them a magical vacation, while keeping the cost down, can be quite a challenge.  We spoke with the folks at Disney World about their 2010 promotions and also got great advice from Boomerater members about how to make the most out of your trip to Disney World.

“Give a Day, Get a Disney Day”
This 2010 promotion is one of the best deals around for a number of reasons.  Everyone who volunteers to work at a charity listed on the official Disney site will get a free pass to a Disney Park for use on a specific date before December 15, 2010.  Just go to this link and type in your zip code to find out all of the available volunteer opportunities.  What a great way to teach the importance of volunteering to members of your family.  And in some cases, children as young as 6 can participate, so you can get your grandkids involved in helping their community.  There are lots of different charities, depending on where you live.  Everything from helping seniors to building houses to tutoring children to working at a wildlife center.  There is a limit of 1 million passes and 600,000 have already been issued, so sign up soon.  Also, if your plans change and you can’t make it to Disney, your volunteer efforts will still be rewarded.  Not only will you be helping others, but you may also donate your free pass to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Florida, as detailed on the site.

Other Discounts…

• There are two promotional deals currently available if you book by March 31^st and travel by August 14^th.  You can receive a gift card when you check in at the resort (of escalating value depending on the resort and duration of your stay), or you can receive a discount of 25 – 45% off the price of your room.  Black out travel dates for this promotion are 3/28 – 4/10.  If you book by calling Disney make sure you ask for the special offers… the phone operators are not permitted to suggest them to you.

• New offers typically are announced on the site http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ mid April to early May for the rest of the year.  Definitely check the site before booking a summer, fall or winter trip.  Historically these deals have been great money-savers.  And remember if you book over the phone that you must specifically mention the offer you are interested in at time of booking.

• If you have other questions, you can always call 1-407-W-DISNEY and talk to a rep. They are very helpful with giving information and pricing.

Tips from Boomerater members who are frequent Disney visitors:

• If you want to go ala carte and book things separately, the best place I’ve found to get park tickets is undercovertourist.com.
• For great Disney hotel deals, check out Travelzoo.com.
  • One great benefit of staying at Disney is the free shuttle from Orlando Airport, “Disney’s Magical Express.”
  • Take advantage of “Extra Magic Hours” where each day a different park either opens an hour early or stays open three hours late for on-site guests.
  • We love “The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World” and its associated website Touringplans.com. Using their advice we never waited more than 15 minutes for anything, and saw everything we wanted to see.
  • We have been to Disney in Orlando 4 times and each time we rented a house within 10 minutes of the parks. Each came with 3 bedrooms, a full kitchen and a private pool. The price for the whole house was less per night than the cost of one room at a Disney resort. Two sites I use are VRBO.com (vacation rental by owner) and Rentalo.com.
• Though it is tempting to buy souvenirs for your grandchildren at the parks, you can get Disney character keepsakes at all of the area drugstores, grocery stores and discount stores.  You will save a lot of money, AND you won’t have to tote them around the park all day.

This is just a small selection of tips available in the article on Boomerater about making the most of your Disney vacation. Go to the article to learn about:

• A special perk for AAA members (in addition to the 15% discount)
• The best time to visit the parks
• How to keep kids safe in the parks
• What are the best “unofficial” sites to get the scoop on discounts and attractions
• A phone number to call to make sure your group is booked in the same area of the resort.  Without this info you could be located on different floors, in different weeks.
• Tips on types of rooms, character breakfasts, celebrating special occasions at the parks, etc.

We also hope you will add your own Disney tips at Boomerater.com.

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Senior Housing directory.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday.

In this week’s post, Boomerater members suggest online resources for financial information that can save you time and money.  Making wise decisions regarding finances can be confusing, especially in a volatile market.  Add changes in tax laws, credit card rules, stimulus incentives, social security questions, financing medical and education expenses, and it can be overwhelming.  Here are web sites suggested by our members to help you find the information you need.

Free online financial “webinars”- NAPFA gives free online Webinars for consumers. They are held every month, sometimes several times a month. The Consumer Webinar Series is for everyone – no matter how in tune you are with personal financial issues. Some topics are basic in order to give you an overview of a specific topic while others are slightly more advanced to dig a little deeper into a topic.  For more information and to see upcoming seminars go to: http://www.napfa.org/consumer/UpcomingSessions.asp

A wealth of info about health benefits – For a financial education on health benefits check out www.planforyourhealth.com. This site has information about health benefit planning for every stage of life, including empty nesters, retirement, the newly widowed, updated COBRA changes for the recently unemployed, etc. The “Health Insurance 101” section offers great descriptions of different kinds of health benefit policies and what they cover. You can also get a free copy (by mail or download) of “Navigating Your Health Benefits for Dummies.” The site also has a calculator to help plan future health expenses based on age, health care needs, medical conditions, prescriptions, etc.

Making sense out of Social Security- The place to go for information on your social security benefits is http://www.ssa.gov. Not only can you determine what your benefits will be using the site calculator, there is also information on practically everything imaginable.  The Q&A section covers benefits, disability, Medicare issues and supplemental Security Income.  An Information section is broken down by groups, for example women, self-employed, school teachers, etc.  Additional links provide further information on every stage of life or condition that could affect your benefits.

A highly-rated real estate site- Whether you are buying or selling a house, or investing in commercial or foreclosed real estate, knowing the financial ins and outs of real estate can be tricky. biggerpockets.com is a free site that that has a real estate and investing FAQ, info on property management and tenant screening.  Under “tools” you’ll find real estate investing abbreviations, a term glossary, info on credit reports and legal services and a mortgage calculator.  They also have info on real estate auctions and a Foreclosure Resource Center where you can learn about the foreclosure process, bank REO listings and state foreclosure laws.  If you are interested in enrolling in a school to learn about real estate, the site also offers a directory of schools and what they offer.

Which sites would you recommend? Share with us your favorite financial info websites and learn about several others.

Boomerater is looking for your answer to:  “HAVE YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER EVER USED A MEDICAL ALERT MONITORING SYSTEM?”  Many of us worry about an older family member or friend who lives alone with a medical condition. “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” has been drilled into the collective Boomer conscience.  If you have experience with a medical alert monitor please let us know which product, and what were the results?  Please help others by sharing your thoughts about medical alert monitoring systems.

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find a financial advisor, research retirement destinations and more. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Senior Living directory.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share suggested resources and trip ideas for traveling with your pet.

With more of us looking for inexpensive vacation ideas, many of us are opting for car trips.  Without having to worry about flying or train travel, it’s easier to bring along the family pet.  Not only can it be great fun for everyone, it can save the cost of a kennel or pet sitter.  One Boomerater member requested information about websites that offer information about pet-friendly hotels, parks, airlines, etc.  Here are some of the responses offered by Boomerater pet lovers.

Replies:

• I have used a number of resources to find dog-friendly accommodations and activities for traveling with my golden lab, Lucy. My favorites include tripswithpets.com and dogfriendly.com (it has city dog travel guides.) Petswelcome.com is also a great source for all kinds of accommodations and fun things to do with your dog.

  One of my favorite dog-friendly destinations is Newport, Rhode Island. The downtown area is a mecca for dog owners walking their pups. In good weather it’s common to see dogs sitting tableside at outdoor restaurants. I especially like OBrien’s pub on Thames Street that allows dogs on the outdoor patio and H20, also on Thames, with outside tables and a Martini Bar. An absolute must do activity is the Gansett Cruise (Gansettcruises.com). Run by true dog-lovers, this 90-minute harbor cruise invites four-legged friends on the main deck. The trip is about $25.00 for people with no charge for pups, plus they get a blanket and a treat.

  There are lots of other cool outdoor activities for dogs in Newport. You can walk them on a leash along the breathtaking 3½ mile historic Cliff Walk. On one side is the Atlantic Ocean, on the other side some of the most famous mansions of Newport. Dogs are allowed off leash in a fenced area at Newport Dog Park. And on Easton’s Beach leashed dogs are permitted during off season (after Labor day before Memorial day.) The next time I go I am also going to take Lucy to nearby Jamestown. I heard that the East Ferry wharf allows dogs and there’s also dog friendly dining on the wharf. The Hyatt Regency, one of the most luxurious hotels in Newport, accepts dogs up to 75 pounds. It’s on its own private island and is only half mile from Downtown Newport. There’s a $75 one-time fee for your dog for the entire stay which pays for a deep cleaning of the room or suite.

  If you want something less expensiv,e the dog travel websites I mentioned before list a lot of alternatives both in Newport and Middletown, which is just across a bridge from Newport.

• My best friend gave me a copy of “Traveling with Your Pet: The AAA Pet Book”. It is fabulous! It has over 13,000 hotels that accept pets, campgrounds, dog parks and other pet-friendly establishments. And believe it or not it’s less than $3.00 on Amazon.com – a Great Deal!  Also check out Petsonthego.com

• If you travel often with your dog fit him with a microchip. It’s the sure way to get him back if he wanders off in new territory. You will need to register your pup with a recovery service. The American Kennel Club (AKC) offers the service for a one-time fee of only $12.50.  But you should check about fees to keep the service active.
• Thinking about a longer trip, or even moving your pet to a new home? Try Pet Airways, petairways.com.  This is the airline that flies only pets, all in the main cabin, not in the cargo area.  We spend winter months in Florida and can’t bear to leave our Sophie for 3 months each year.  We use to drive, but the long trip was tough on everyone.  We were thrilled when Pet Airways opened up a route from New York to Ft. Lauderdale. We dropped Sophie off at the NY airport in Farmingdale (about 30 miles from JFK) and picked her up at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport when we arrived. She seemed very happy, not agitated at all.  The people that work at Pet Airways were very nice and professional.  The cost varies by size of the pet. Sophie’s ticket is $166 each way. We used frequent flyer miles for our flights out of JFK, so the expense of the trip for all of us was reasonable without the hassle of a long road trip.  We are enjoying the Florida warmth and happy to have Sophie with us.

What historic city is famous for catering to four-legged furry guests?  Hint: In this town you and your pet will soak in history while following one of America’s most revered trails, nosh at a sidewalk café, play in America’s oldest park, be welcomed travelers on its famous subway system and choose from a selection of great water adventures.  Find out about this pet-friendly destination, plus discover which up-scale NYC stores invite dogs, learn valuable pet travel tips and share YOUR favorite pet websites and travel ideas at Boomerater.

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Retirement Homes directory.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, the Boomerater staff asked its members “What are your ABSOLUTE FAVORITE products?” We wanted to learn about those products boomers recommend to others because they are SO fantastic they want everyone else to know about them!

Here are some products boomers swear by and suggest you try:

• “I heartily recommend the ShamWow towels “As Seen On TV.” They do everything the ads say plus more. One large towel is more than enough to dry off our large dog — we keep one at each door. I spilled an entire glass of juice last week, and one towel completely sopped up the mess. Also, my husband uses them to dry the car after washing it. They not only absorb the water, but they also have a soft finish that won’t scratch. They wash well, but don’t dry them or they will shrink. We have had a set for four years and they work just as well as when they were new, and we have saved a bundle by not using so many paper towels.. A great Green alternative. I bought them for a friend and my father-in-law this year and they can’t believe how well they work. My guess is that this product is successful because satisfied customers spread the word and buy them for friends… it can’t be because you need to replenish your own stock — they last too long!”

• “One of the best purchases you can make are the Bose Headphones. Not only is the sound quality fabulous, these headphones completely drown out all outside noise. I use them when I mow the lawn and wouldn’t think of getting on a plane without them. The quality is what you would expect from Bose. They are worth the price.”

• “We had to clean up my father’s house before we could sell it. The dog smell from his pets had permeated throughout and I knew it would make it hard to sell. A friend suggested I try ZORBX Odor Remover to eliminate pet odors. It was like a miracle. I bought the unscented version on line and it absolutely absorbed the odor in the house and left it smelling like fresh air. A friend told me her daughter’s dog had gotten ’skunked’ and had rolled on the carpet. They thought they would have to replace the carpet. I gave them what was left of my bottle and, believe it or not, the ZORBX removed the odor. It is also great to eliminate (not just cover up) the smell of smoke. And it’s safe to use around pets and children. I bought mine on line, but their website also says that Lowes and Ace Hardware stores sell it. I have also mixed it with Fabreeze to use as a room, clothing and sneaker deodorizer.”

• “When I was going through the “change,” I suffered terrible hot flashes at night. I saw the Chillow Pillow advertised, and though it isn’t cheap ($39.95), I would have paid anything to get a good night’s sleep. I don’t know how it works, but I know it works like a miracle. Every OBGYN should stock these in their offices. I bought them for Christmas for all of my gal pals and they raved about them. They also recommend their use for sunburn and fever, which I will definitely try if needed. Sure beats a dripping ice bag.”

For other products suggested by boomers, such as the Tom Tom Navigation system, Velcro plant tape, Omron HEM-790IT Automatic Blood Pressure monitor and Crocs Sandles, check out Boomerater’s shopping database.

Do you have a product you recommend to other Boomers? The staff of Boomerater would like to know about your “Absolute Favorite products.” Add your own recommendations and we’ll pass the word along to help other boomers!

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater.com, a free online resource for Baby Boomers with advice on everything from retirement planning to family adventure vacations. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Memory Care facilities directory.

In your budgeting for 2010, have you considered the cost of long-term health care?  Often overlooked, this cost can take a huge bite out of an otherwise well-thought out retirement plan.  Here is the question from a Boomerater member about long-term health insurance and responses from other Boomerater members.

Question: I’d like to hear some thoughts about paying the high premiums for a strong Long Term Insurance plan or simply investing the money wisely to be used later when needed. Some people think the huge amounts of money spent on premiums could be put to better use.

Replies:

1. No one expects to have a chronic illness or a severe disability that requires long term care (LTC).  But it happens, and nursing home costs are expensive and are escalating every year.  It is not unusual to pay $100,000 or much more a year, depending on the level of care needed.  Even if you just need assistance in bathing or dressing, you may find your health insurance policy does nothing to pay for those necessary, everyday expenses.   Medicare will barely make a dent in those expenses and Medicaid won’t help offset costs until you have depleted all other funds, and at that point you may find you are stuck with whatever option they decide for you.   The cost of long term care depends on your age when you buy the policy and how much care you anticipate you will need.  Buying in your 50s, or younger will ensure a lower rate.  If you wait to buy at an older age the price will be much higher – or even prohibitive.  Once you purchase a policy you may have a waiting period (typically 60 or 90 days) before the policy will pay expenses.  Also, whether or not they will pay on your policy is determined by a number of factors, including your condition and the tasks you can or cannot perform.  Also, cover all contingencies by making sure your policy covers care at home, in an assisted living facility and in a full-care nursing home.
   
2. I have my father in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s. It is an expensive proposition to have to stay in a nursing home. Insurance costs are function of what it costs to maintain viable policy. Most of us have health insurance which is also very expensive when you start paying for yourself rather than the company you work for. I think investing in LTC is a good way of insuring against large expenditures when they become necessary.
3. Insurance is just that. Insuring against something you can’t otherwise afford. At least consider insuring a part of the future cost of possible care costs.
4. The biggest issue you face if you wait is that the need for LTC is typically unexpected. At $7,000 per month, nursing home care will quickly drain your estate. Similar to life insurance, LTC insurance is intended for estate planning and preservation purposes, as much as for the insurance side. Do consider it carefully before dismissing it out of hand.
5. If you are in your 50’s and you purchase a policy that includes a 5% compound inflation protection feature, you would have a pool of benefit dollars to spend on care that would be far more robust than you could hope to achieve in any kind of investment.

Add your own suggestions about long-term health insurance or find out what other boomers have to say. Or learn first-hand information about finances, travel, family and relationships, shopping, interests and passions, health and fitness and careers, all from the boomer perspective at Boomerater.com.

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from an investment advisor to great vacation ideas. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Assisted Living directory.

Is one of your 2010 resolutions to find new ways to lower costs and save money?  Boomerater members have good news you can use; try these seven tips offered on Boomerater.com.

Tip 1: Save through online discount sites.

“My favorite site online to save money is www.dealslip.com! They have tons of great online coupon codes for 500+ stores.“ Learn more about other online discount sites.

Tip 2:  In addition to saving money, how about finding it?

“At http://missingmoney.com/main/index.cfm you can search for money you may have forgotten in banks, with utilities, rent deposits, etc. It doesn’t cost anything to see if you have ‘found’ money waiting to be claimed.”

Tip 3:  Your memberships can save you 10 – 15% on products and services.

“AAA is a great way to save money. Most people initially get the service for emergency road assistance, but a lot of national companies will give you a discount when you give them your AAA number. We have saved at Target, UPS, Marriot, Barnes & Noble, and Hertz. We never book a hotel without asking first if they offer the AAA discount.  We also have an AARP membership and often save when using their card.”

Tip 4: Bartering can be a real money saver.

“I started by swapping my landscaping services with members of my church (we publish a list of anyone willing to barter services.) I also tried Craig’slist but didn’t see anything in my area I wanted to trade for. ITEX is a more flexible alternative. You sell a product or service and get ITEX virtual $$ in your account. Then you can use those $$ to buy another product or service from an ITEX member. I have traded landscaping for computer services, and have gotten new clients in the process. The only drawback is they charge a 6% fee to both parties in the deal.”  Find out how other Boomers are saving by bartering.

Tip 5:  Explore ways to save when paying bills and managing finances.

“If you don’t have a mortgage, or pay very little on yours, you may be able to bunch itemized deductions into every other year, taking the standard deduction in the non-bunching year. When you drop non-cash items off to charity, you can deduct the value of items in good condition if you itemize. See goodwill industries website for help with valuation.  Also, if you are in the range where your social security payments are starting to be included in your taxable income, your effective marginal tax rate is higher than you may know. See if you can do something to either stay below it, or go way above it some year to avoid it in future years.  Lastly, many people pay too much on investments – yours may have built in expenses you don’t know about.”

Tip 6:  Cut your phone bill.

“I don’t really have much of a clue about phone networks, but I know they aren’t very cheap. My son showed me a site called FishText.com which is 90% cheaper than normal networks. It may not seem like great savings, but it just gives me that little extra change in my pocket!”

Tip 7:  Frugal shopping pays off.

“I was recently laid off. Very little savings and no clue about frugal shopping. Now I am a pro. Amazing how need can be such a strong motivator!  I save $92 a month on my prescription and my neighbor saves over a hundred. We have a nationwide discount card. I save $70 a month on groceries and save $37 on pet food. To me, saving on these things is like earning money every month.” Learn more about other tips on how to save on prescriptions.

Add your own money saving tips, or learn advice from Boomers about finances, travel, family and relationships, shopping, interests and passions, health and fitness and careers at Boomerater.com.

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from the top financial advisors to the best cities in the United States. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Elder Care directory.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share their experiences about Alaskan Cruises.  With cruises considered one of the most economical travel options, and a favorite destination for seniors, this week we offer two of the several responses to this question posed on Boomerater.com about the pros and cons of large and small cruise ships to Alaska:

Question:  I’m thinking of taking an Alaskan cruise and am debating a small or large ship.  Large windows are important.  I assume balconies are not available in that climate.

Reply #1: We recently returned from an Alaskan cruise on the Celebrity Infinity. Before we went on the cruise I was extremely skeptical; all I can say is it was wonderful. I believe the ship holds 2,000 people, but we never felt like we were a number. The staff was phenomenal, the food quality and presentation were fabulous, the spa/fitness facility was great and the excursions (off ship) were super.

We left from Seattle, went to Ketchikan, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau and returned via Victoria BC and then to Seattle. Take the helicopter glacier tour at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau and if you are up to it take a zip line tour in Ketchikan. Simply breathtaking.

We had a family cabin with an adjoining room for my 10 year old twins. The balcony was over-sized and we had great, ever-changing, expansive views. My advice — book it and do it!

Reply #2: When we went on a May cruise to Alaska, I wanted to see Alaska close up and was more interested in the view than the “big ship” cruise experience. The ship we went on from Glacier Bay Cruises, which specializes in small ship cruises, held a maximum of 50 passengers. It was a Catamaran design ship.

Every room had a big window for enjoying the scenery. The rooms were fine — no smaller than a normal cruise ship. Our room had a small fridge and also a TV with a VHS player (they had movies if you wanted to borrow them).

There was a big front lounge area where the entire front was a window for watching the scenery. There was also a main outside deck for viewing.

The back room was the dining / kitchen area.  It smelled like home on the ship as you could always get a whiff of what was cooking in the kitchen. The meals were good — family style and you sat wherever you wanted each night so you got to spend time with different passengers. No formal nights or dressing up. If you’re looking for bars, dancing, casinos, and a night life and big buffets, this isn’t for you. If you want to experience Alaska in a unique up close way, however, then you will love it.

Being in a smaller ship, we got to get in closer to see nature. Wherever there was something exciting or interesting to watch, the captain would stop and let us look and enjoy. They offered shore excursions and since there weren’t as many people on the ship, tour groups were usually small and more personal. They also woke you up at 5 a.m. if you asked so you could see humpback whales.

We took the nine-day repositioning cruise. We left from Juneau and stopped at Haines, Sitka, Skagway, and Ketchikan. We also went up Tracey Arm Fjords, cruised both arms of Glacier Bay, and stopped at Glacier Bay National Park. We ended up in Vancouver. Some of the other passengers did a land tour before getting on the ship.

I loved it and thought it was the best way to see Alaska from a ship. Yes, if the weather is bad, you’re stuck on a smaller ship with not as much to do as on big ships.  Also, you hope you have a nice group of passengers since it’s hard to avoid them. We lucked out on both — great weather and nice people. For a true Alaska cruise experience, I highly recommend Glacier Bay Cruises.

Find out what others had to say about their Alaska cruises on the Celebrity Summit, Coral Princess, and Holland America, or give your own advice about Cruisin’ Alaska on Boomerater.com.

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from a financial planner to the best retirement towns. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Alzheimer’s Care facilities directory.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, Sam DeLuca, a financial advisor on Boomerater, offers advice to a Boomerater member about how to leave belongings to your heirs without causing a family dispute.

Question: I’m preparing my will and am looking for suggestions about the best way to leave my personal belongings to my heirs. I don’t have children, but have nieces and nephews I have been close to over the years. I know of a few items that I want to give to them individually, but I’m at wits end about the distribution of the rest of my estate. I don’t want anyone to be upset or feel that I didn’t care as much for them as another relative. I’m hoping for advice about how to solve this problem.

Answer: If your will says your furniture, china, and other household contents will be “left to my nieces and nephews equally,” you won’t be there to see it, but many a family feud has started over that phrase. Animosities can also flare when you bequeath items without providing reasons for your decisions — for instance, if your nephew, who got the nut bowl, doesn’t understand why you left the silver service to your niece. You should bring them to the decision-making table, avoid hurt feelings, and ensure that they actually get what they want. A valuable piece can make everyone but the receiver let down, so let everyone know why a certain niece or nephew is getting it.

According to a poll conducted for Allianz Life Insurance Company, only 31% of those ages 65 or older have discussed inheritance issues with their kids. Depending on how well your nieces and nephews get along; you can bring all the members together for a discussion or speak separately to each one. A good way to start is to ask them for wish lists along with reasons why they want particular items. One popular method of distribution is the round robin. You can flip a coin to decide the order in which heirs get to select items. Some families conduct auctions, in which each heir is given the same amount of play money to spend on the possessions they want.

It’s a good idea to separate the sentimental items that have little financial worth from those with substantial monetary value. You may want to have some expensive pieces appraised first so that everyone can feel they were treated fairly. Also, you could decide to reward a child who helped you financially or to provide a special gift to a caregiver.

Once you’ve made your decisions on how to dispose of your possessions, you can pass on some of them as gifts before you die. If you no longer need your china or a necklace, giving items away on birthdays or anniversaries can be a meaningful experience for the entire family. For the items that you will give away after your death, write a letter describing who gets what and then refer to the letter in your will. That enables you to change the list without having to change the will each time. However, such a letter is morally — not legally — binding because the bequests are not listed in the will. You might also want to make a video that will identify the items, so there will be no confusion over which ring or painting you’re assigning.

Families who can’t resolve their differences should seek the help of a facilitator. Such a neutral outsider could help a family, especially one with substantial wealth, work out disagreements over inheritances and other money issues. Make sure the facilitator has experience in the fields of social work, counseling or mental health. By talking to your nieces and nephews about the symbols of family memories, you can leave a legacy that money can’t buy. And you might just ensure that they get along with each other when you’re gone.

~ Sam DeLuca, CFP^TM is a Registered Investment Advisor and Certified Financial Planner and is a featured advisor in Boomerater’s Santa Fe financial advisor directory.

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from a financial advisor to the best places to retire. Seniors for Living’s properties are featured in Boomerater’s Assisted Living Facilities directory.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share their experiences about the gift of volunteering.

Calling all volunteers! ‘Tis the season for helping others. Volunteering can be a great way to make new friends and learn new skills, all while helping your community. A reader from Denver, Colorado posed this question: “I am interested in working less and volunteering more. I’ve recently relocated to a new area and think it would be a good way to give something back and meet new friends. Any suggestions of volunteering success stories would be greatly appreciated.”

Here is a sampling of volunteer opportunities suggested by members of Boomerater.com.

Holidays straight from the heart

The holidays are a great time to become a first-time volunteer. Do you have the calling to be a bell-ringing-Santa helping the Salvation Army solicit funds? How about gift wrapping at your local mall to benefit a worthy cause? I’ll bet your community has a local thrift or consignment shop whose profits benefit a local charity. Mine does and it’s a hotbed of holiday spirit! Ever consider volunteering at your local hospital gift shop? Helping a friend or loved one choose a gift for someone confined to the hospital over the holidays is a service straight from the heart.

Back to school

Tutors and teaching assistants are valued by elementary, middle and high schools. And with the tax crunch now, it’s even more important to recruit qualified volunteers to help control costs. Your school system can probably help you find a volunteer program. You can also be sponsored through a company in your field of expertise. This is especially true in scientific and technical fields.  Also, for people 55 and over the Experience Corps link on www.civicventures.org is a good place to learn about volunteer opportunities at local schools.

Check out your local library

My friend’s mom relocated across the country to be near her daughter. She found great fulfillment volunteering at the local library. If that doesn’t interest you, think about what does. Chances are you can contribute to that cause whether it’s coaching, hospital work, museums.

Get connected through your church or temple

A natural place to start if you are a member of a church or temple is to check with their volunteer group or mission committee. I’m a member of the United Methodist Church in northern New Jersey and I find their efforts to assist with the homeless and at walk-in shelters are especially rewarding. They are also very involved with Habitat for Humanity. This year we also organized a drive to send 330 care boxes to our soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Others to consider are your local chapter of the American Red Cross, your local library and hospital. I am training my golden retriever to be a pet therapy dog and look forward to having her visit area hospitals and nursing homes. Whatever you decide to do, volunteering is extremely rewarding.

Join the club

You might also check out your local Kiwanis Club, committed to helping children and communities with shelters for the homeless, food for the hungry and care for the sick. The Lions club is another wonderful volunteer opportunity. It is recognized worldwide for its service to the blind and visually impaired.

Find out what others had to say or add your suggestions for volunteer opportunities on Boomerater.com.

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from advice on where to retire to the best vacations for seniors. Seniors for Living contributes its properties to Boomerater’s Assisted Living directory.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share their ideas about having fun while staying fit.

As we get older it often gets harder to stay in shape. Particularly during retirement, the day-to-day physical demands of our jobs are often replaced with more passive activities. Getting enough physical activity can be a challenge, so why not make it entertaining? Even if you can’t afford a membership at a spa, gym or fitness center, there are a number of ways Boomerater members have found to make fitness fun. And the more fun it is, the more likely that you’ll stick with it!

“I’m 56 and work from home and know I’m not getting enough physical activity,” a Boomerater member wrote. “I’ve heard that some of the new video games have fitness programs. I wouldn’t mind investing in one if they really work without getting too monotonous. Also interested in good tapes or TV fitness shows that are geared toward the 50s crowd. I’d like to hear of any ideas for ways to stay fit without going to a gym.”

Other members shared their tips:

Reply #1: Wii Fit is a good one to try. I’ve played it with my granddaughters and I will tell you that it kept me entertained as well as huffing for air. It has yoga training and different “games” that make exercising fun. It combines basics (tracking your weight, balance) with strength training, yoga, and games that help you work on balance and coordination. After taking your BMI, weight and balance readings, it calculates your “Wii Fit Age” which varies from day to day. You create a “Mii” that’s also used for other Wii games, and you get to choose a male or female trainer (I thought the woman was kind of mean and bossy, so I switched to the man).

Besides chiding you for not doing it enough, it also provides helpful reminders (“Did you know that Dad’s birthday is in 3 days? Have you considered doing something special like a surprise party?”).

I love “competing” against my family on the ski jump game to see who can go the farthest. The tightrope game is a bit nerve wracking but fun. It also rewards you at different levels by unlocking new games to add to your routine. Yoga is relaxing and challenging, and the strength training exercises are actually challenging.

Reply #2

A few years ago I found the flashing lights and pounding music at my gym’s exercise classes really beginning to bug me, so I looked into home video exercises tapes, and found Collage Video.

They are real experts on exercise tapes and DVDs for all ages, fitness levels, etc. In addition to Kathy Smith, Denise Austin and other well known exercise series, Collage has a great selection of videos including dance for fitness, seated exercise, programs tailored to “senior” exercise, arthritis, back pain etc. The web site lets you search by lots of options and the listing for each video are quite detailed. But what I really like about Collage is how knowledgeable and pleasant the customer service people are. When you call, you get actually get a real live person on the phone! And one who is really knowledgeable about what’s on each different tape, can match you with a single tape or series to fit your needs, likes (or music dislikes!), they are friendly and don’t look down their nose at you if you aren’t a 20 something year old looking to perfect your six pack!

Add your own advice and find out what others had to say about fun ways to keep fit on Boomerater.com.