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Book of the Day
The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls
The Glass Castle is the astounding memoir of Jeannette Walls, who grew up in poverty under the care of brilliant but deeply flawed parents more devoted to adventure and idealism than to stability. Moving constantly from desert shacks to abandoned mining towns, Walls and her siblings learn self-reliance amid neglect and chaos. With raw honesty and luminous detail, she recounts a childhood both heartbreaking and fiercely beautiful, ultimately revealing how love and resilience can emerge from even the most shattered foundations.
Find it here
Do red cars cost more to insure?
You may have heard the myth that red cars cost more to insure, often with varying reasons why. The truth is, the color of your car has nothing to do with your premium. Insurance companies are more interested in your vehicle’s make, model, age, safety features, and your driving history. What’s not a myth, though — is that people really can save a ton of money by switching insurers. Check out Money’s car insurance tool to see if you could, too.
The Benefits of Decluttering in Retirement
Retirement often brings more space—both in time and in life—to reassess what really matters. Decluttering isn’t just about tidying up; it’s about simplifying daily living, improving safety, and creating a home that supports your current lifestyle and priorities.
1. A Safer, Easier Home to Navigate
Start by removing trip hazards—extra furniture, old rugs, or piles near walkways. Clear countertops and keep everyday items within easy reach.
Rearrange furniture to improve mobility and lighting, and consider donating or selling items that no longer fit your needs.
2. Less Stress and Mental Clarity
A clean, uncluttered space helps reduce mental noise and creates a calm environment. Try focusing on one drawer or closet at a time to avoid overwhelm.
Embrace the “one in, one out” rule—whenever something new comes into the home, something old leaves. This helps maintain long-term order.
3. Easier Home Maintenance
Fewer belongings mean less dusting, cleaning, and organizing.
Streamline your storage systems—label containers clearly, donate duplicates, and keep only what’s functional or meaningful.
4. Emotional and Family Benefits
Passing along cherished items now allows you to share the stories behind them with loved ones.
Create an inventory of sentimental pieces and document their history. This not only declutters but preserves your legacy.
5. Financial and Practical Freedom
Selling unused items can bring in extra income or fund small home improvements.
For those considering downsizing, decluttering early simplifies the move and helps you focus on what truly matters.
Decluttering in retirement isn’t about letting go of your past—it’s about creating room for the present and the years ahead. Each small step toward a lighter, more organized home makes daily life more peaceful and purposeful.
💌 If these ideas inspired you, share them with a friend. Sometimes clearing our space is the first step toward clearing our minds.
On Health
Healthy recipe: The perfect tomato soup recipe
Helpful health gadget: Landline Personal Emergency Device
On Finances
Useful financial product: Goodbudget is a budgeting tool that uses the envelope budgeting concept (virtual envelopes) to help manage different spending categories and avoid overspending.
Quick Poll (vote to see the anonymized current results)
Grandkids Corner
Top Personalized Gifts for Grandkids That Show You Care
A personalized gift is more than just a present—it’s a keepsake. Adding your grandchild’s name, birth date, or a special message turns something ordinary into something they’ll treasure for years.
Basic: Thoughtful and Easy Personalized Gifts
Name Puzzles
For younger children, a wooden name puzzle like the Fat Brain Toys Personalized Name Puzzle is both fun and helps with letter recognition.Engraved Jewelry or Keychains
Teens may appreciate something more mature, like an engraved bracelet or custom keychain from Etsy.Photo Gifts
Services like Shutterfly offer mugs, blankets, and calendars with your favorite family photos—perfect for reminding them of shared memories.Stuffed Animals with Your Voice
Build-A-Bear’s Record Your Voice feature lets you record a personal message—ideal if you live far away.
Advanced: Unique Gifts for Tech-Savvy Grandparents
Custom Video Books: With Heirloom Video Books, you can upload a video message that plays automatically when your grandchild opens the book.
Personalized LEGO Sets: LEGO’s Pick and Build and Mosaic Maker allow you to create designs with their name or photo.
Customized Apparel: Order matching sweatshirts or pajamas with your grandkids’ names from Personalization Mall.
On Tech for Seniors
Zoom Has a Live Transcription Feature
If you use Zoom to chat with family, attend church groups, or take online classes, there’s a feature you might not know about that makes conversations easier to follow: live transcription. It automatically displays subtitles of what’s being said in real time.
Basic: Turning On Live Transcription
Update Zoom
Make sure you have the latest version of the Zoom app. You can download or update it here.Start or Join a Meeting
Once you’re in a meeting, look at the bottom toolbar for an option labeled “Show Captions” or “Live Transcript.”Enable Captions
Click it, then choose “Show Captions.” You’ll instantly see text appear on your screen as people speak.Adjust Font Size
If the words are too small, click the arrow next to “Show Captions” and select “Caption Settings.” You can make the text larger for easy reading.
This works for both free and paid Zoom accounts, and it can make a huge difference if you sometimes miss words or if the audio isn’t clear.
Advanced: Extra Features for Power Users
Save the Transcript: If you’re the meeting host, you can choose to save a full transcript for later review—great for classes or family interviews.
Use Live Transcription in Other Languages: Some paid Zoom plans offer real-time translation into over a dozen languages.
Combine With Headphones: Using a good headset like the Logitech H390 can improve clarity and make captions more accurate.
Accessibility Settings: If you have hearing loss, you can enable automatic captions in all your meetings by default in your Zoom settings.
Fashion Over Fifty
Talbots – Charming Floral Paisley Cardigan (approx. $70)
Ann Taylor – Linen Blend Cutout Dress (approx. $64.94)
Everlane – The Box-Cut Tee in Essential Cotton (approx. $38)
Boden – Trim Double Cloth Dress - Navy (approx. $99.99)
Marks & Spencer – Linen Rich Printed Midi Swing Dress (approx. $115)
Unscramble
Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object! Be the first to reply with the correct answer, and we’ll send you a free gift in the mail.
Today’s clue: 1977 film that began an epic intergalactic franchise.
RAST WSAR
Want to Earn in Retirement?
Help a life story get told, earn thousands: Refer someone to MemoirGhostwriting.com and earn 12% of what they spend. Find out more here
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