Blog Title: The Boomer Chronicles

Friday Links Variety Show

Retired people are worried about their savings (duh!), says the New York Times. Some people park their big RVs on the street and may be ruining things for other RVers. Boomer job seekers: here are some online resources to help with your job hunt. Are your parents boomeranging back into your house?

12 Tips on How to Negotiate the Best Price on Electronics

If you’ve been paying attention, you will recall that I recently wrote about haggling and bartering. Now I bring you advice on negotiating prices on electronics. The advice comes to you from a real salesperson! Thanks, Free Money Finance.

Malcolm Gladwell Has a New Book

The author of one of my favorite books, The Tipping Point, has a new book out, Outliers. Malcolm Gladwell, 45, a popular New Yorker magazine contributor, is known for popularizing intriguing theories about life. He calls his books “intellectual adventure stories.” The Tipping Point, which I’ve read twice, explains how certain kinds of people can read more..

If Your Grown Kids Got Laid Off, Would You Bail Them Out?

Yet another sign of the times: The New York Times reports that the Consumer Price Index fell by 1 percent in October. This represents the steepest single-month drop in the 61-year history of the index, which measures how much Americans pay for groceries, entertainment and other goods and services. So, I have a question for read more..

This Webcam Lets You Watch a Guy in his Boston Apartment

Apropos of absolutely nothing, I thought you might want to check out Orman. He lives on Beacon Hill in Boston. (Click on the third bubble down on the lefthand side of the page to see Orman himself.)

Newspapers Are (Were) My Life

When I was a kid my dad owned a couple of businesses he inherited from his father, a liquor store and a news store. The news store sold newspapers, magazines, comic books, candy, greeting cards, lottery tickets — you get the picture. I went to college on money earned from basically selling newspapers and the read more..

Celebrities Turning 50: Joan Jett

Everyone knows that Madonna turned 50 this year, but punk rocker Joan Jett, too!? Yep. In September. If you go to her official site and read her biography, she leaves out her birth year. But that’s nothing new. Most celebrities do that. What the bio does reveal is that Jett has been performing since she read more..

I See Famous People: Joan Kennedy

As a longtime newspaper and magazine reporter and basically nosy person, I have had the opportunity to meet a number of celebrities and public figures. Back in the mid- to late-1980s when I was 20-something I had a great little newspaper job. I put together the calendar listings and wrote features for a new weekly read more..

I Am Ranting Today on… Housing

I’ve never been a fan of capitalism. I just think there’s a better way. I can’t spell out exactly how a new system would be designed, but I do know this: houses and other life necessities should not be part of the open market. They should not be subject to speculation or investment schemes or read more..

My Brief Trip to Vermont

I missed the spectacular foliage season in Vermont this fall, but I did go up last weekend for a friend’s housewarming. The house is located in scenic Charlotte, Vermont, and it was situated in view of the Adirondack Mountains. What a great way to live. While I was up there I was checking on the read more..