This is such a busy time of year. What will the New Year mean to you?
A new diet?
A new attitude?
A new business?
New Year’s resolutions are easy to make, but hard to keep.
Whatever you decide to do this coming year, I wish you success.
Happy New Year
Living Wills ~aka~ Advance Health Care Directives
Two years ago, my aunt was in a nursing home. She was bedridden, weakened by years of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and rheumatoid arthritis. It was the first time I heard about a living will. My aunt didn’t want to sign a living will, even though her health was failing. There were no medical procedures or medicine that could help her. She understood that, but I believe her will to live was very strong. So, for months, we continued to spend hour after hour at the nursing home with her. We fed her, made her as comfortable as possible and made sure the nurses and aides were doing all they could for her.
I just took a survey for a Twitter friend. Marijke is a nurse turned blogger. She’s looking for information that tells her how many people have living wills, who doesn’t and what may be holding back people from drawing one up.
Do you need a Living Will? It’s also known as an Advance Health Care Directive. Do you know what it is and how it works?
Click here to take the survey. It only takes a few minutes and it will help Marijke.
Click here to follow Marijke on Twitter.
When you connect with Marijke, let her know you read about her living will survey on Health Talk Today Blog.
Merry Christmas
From our house to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas on this blessed day.
We’re celebrating in Orlando, Florida with family from all across the country. It’s a fun filled 10 days, so there’s plenty of time to catch up on what everyone’s been doing.
Christmas Fun:
Animated Christmas Card by Jacquie Lawson
Calculate Your Way Back to Financial Health
The first step to financial health is knowing where you are today . . .
- Assets – What do you have?
- Income – What do you earn?
- Debt – What do you owe?
- Expenses – What do you spend?
The next step is to set realistic goals . . .
- Live within a budget
- Pay off credit cards
- Save for retirement
- Create a college fund for children/grandchildren
The hardest step is finding a way to get from where you are to where you want to be.
Chase has several online planning tools to help. You don’t need to be a Chase customer to use the calculators. Chase Calculators.
For even more help, click on the Financial Education Library at the bottom of the Chase page.
5 Ways to Reduce Stress During the Holidays
1. Set Realistic Expectations
The Holidays can make anyone frazzled. Find shortcuts to save time and you can spend time doing the things you love. Here are a few ideas . . .
Holiday parties – You don’t need to be the first one at every party and the last one to leave. Arrive fashionably late and leave early enough to get a good night’s sleep.
Cooking – Buy some foods ready to serve or consider a caterer.
Cleaning – Hire someone to clean the house just this once.
Shopping – Shop online and save the driving and standing in line time.
2. Delegate
Even though we like to think we can do it all, it’s more enjoyable to share the work and share the fun.
3. Set a Holiday Budget and Stick to it
You’ll love yourself when the January credit card statements arrive.
4. Act, don’t react
Set the tone, smile and stay possitive. It takes two to tango. Don’t give anyone a reason to argue.
5. Christmas Card Strategy
Buy Christmas cards half price at the after Christmas sale. You’ll have them on hand to address early next year. Sign and address all your cards during the summer. Closer to Thanksgiving, add personal notes. Play Christmas music to set the mood.
And finally . . .
Take a deep breath. It will all be over in a few weeks. But, you’ll always have the memories.
