Expenses you might be able to eliminate in retirement

From Yahoo Financials -

Although retirement can mean the cessation of some forms of income such as earned compensation, it can also mean the elimination of certain types of expenses. Although some studies have indicated that the cost of living for retirees is just as high as it is for younger taxpayers, there are still many everyday expenditures that may disappear at some point. Here are the expenses you might be saving once you hit your golden years.

See the list here

People who move into retirement communities more likely to live fully and age successfully

FACT: People who move to retirement communities tend to be “planners” and want to take the right actions so they can continue to live fully and age successfully.

Making the move to a reirement community is often not a decision that is quickly made, many people spend years trying to decide when the time is "right" to make this MAJOR MOVE. 

The most successful transition moves are those moves that happened when  the older adult felt they had control over the process and the decisions they made.

Almost everyone who has made the transition will tell you, "Too soon” is better than “too late.” As we age, the older we get, the harder it is to make the tranistion. Additionally, as you age, you will need more support in the process and afterwards.

Move while you are still together as a couple, before major health issues happen so  you are able to move together... it's much easier than moving alone.

Remember, moving sooner rather than later, gives you the opportunity to make decisions that feel right to you, not decisions that feel right to your adult children. It's your life and by moving sooner you have control over it.

Plan ahead... clean out the attic, learn to recognize what things you truly love and want to take with you and what things you can give away or live without. Make a list and revise it as you go forward with your plans to downsize.

Visit retirement communities often, walk through them, talk to the people who live there.... they will tell you, over and over, they are so glad they made the move!  If you ask them for advice, most likely they will say -"Move now while you are still able, don't wait until your kids have to move you, we wish we had made the move sooner!"

If you think you might want to move there, ask about the process of putting your name on their waiting list - as a rule, that doesn't obligate you, it just lets them know you are interested  and when one becomes available they let the people on the list know about it first.  If you are not interested, the next person on the list is called... and you'll remain on the list to hear about other openings as they become available.

At Brethren Retirement Community, we are always happy to show you around our beautiful campus and introduce you to our residents and the benefits of living in a retirement community. 

For those who prefer a location closer to Dayton,  please visit our location in Union, Ohio, Mill Ridge Village, just off Sweet Potato Ridge Road between St Rt 48 and St Rt 49.

Senior Citizens Prime Target for Identity Theft -Medicare Card

Did you know that one of the easiest ways for your identity to be stolen is if you lose your Medicare card?

When you turn 65, everyone receives their Medicare card.  Did you know your Medicare number is tied directly to your social security number – something identity thieves just love.

Identity theft is on the rise and senior and elderly populations seem to be a prime target for the thieves.

One of the ways seniors can lose their identy is by losing their wallet with their medicaid card -  First thing you need to do is to keep your Medicare card in a safe place. Security experts recommend you do not carry your Medicare card or your social security card with you. What if you should lose your wallet? There’s your social security number. All it takes is one of these cards to steal and/or sell your identity.

There is no reason for someone to carry a social security card in your wallet. Keep it at home in a safe place.

To keep your Medicare card safe,  make a copy of the Medicare card and blackout the last 4 digits of the number and keep that with you. This just shows someone that you are covered by Medicare should you need any type of medical help.

It is recommended that you make a few extra copies of your  Medicare card and keep those copies in a safe place too. Make sure to give one to an adult child who may need that information if you are hospitalized and unable to give that information.

Should you need to visit a doctor, all they need is the copy of your Medicare number. You don’t have to hand them your original card and risk forgetting to get it back.

Salt Shockers Slideshow: High-Sodium Surprises

Sodium: it plays a vital role in maintaining the body's fluid balance and we need it for our muscles and nerves to function properly but most of us consume way too much of it.

Many people are quick to say they never salt anything but are surprised to learn how much "hidden" sodium they consume from processed foods and other items we buy at the grocery store.

Click on the slide show to see how sodium sneaks into our bodies through our food choices.

Salt Shockers Slideshow: High-Sodium Surprises

How Old do YOU Feel?

The answer to this question depends on your age.......chances are the older you are, the younger you feel. As we age, the beginning of OLD AGE moves further and further away from where we are in our aging journey.


Click here to read an article in the New York Times about the largest study ever done in the US to gauge American's views on aging.  Be sure to click on the names on the left hand side to hear their views on old age.

Cell Phone Information for Seniors

This site has a lot of information on cell phones and is geared towards senior citizens - features they use and those that might make using a cell phone easier for them.

Check it out - Click here.

Crispy Fried Green Beans with Bacon


4 servings

1  pound green beans, washed and sorted with stems removed
1/4 pound sliced smoked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1small yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
3 TBSP red wine vinegar
2 tsp. granulated sugar
handful coarsely chopped Italian parsley - optional
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

(Optional - handful of pine nuts)

Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare an ice water bath by filling a bowl halfway with ice and water.

Place beans in the salted boiling water and cook until crisp tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and place in the ice bath to cool. Drain and set aside.  (Can do this earlier in the day)

In a large frying pan set over medium heat, cook bacon until it starts to brown. Add onion and cook until it caramelizes and turns golden.

Add reserved green beans, (pine nuts) vinegar, and sugar and cook, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Mix in chopped Italian parsley and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

MEDCottage ‘Granny Pod’ - Is it the Wave of the Future? Would you live in one?

We are all aware that America is aging and more and more people are desiring to "age in place".  Granny Pods have been popular in Australia and on the west coast for several years. 

"Granny Pods", are modular homes that are temporary. They are often placed in the backyards of family members, allowing the seniors to be close to family with their own "home". They connect to the house much like an RV would and have gray water holding tanks.

Now, a new test to the Granny Pod has entered the market - the MEDcottage, an invention of the Reverend Kenneth Dupin, leader of a small Methodist church in Sale, Virginia. The Washington Post recently covered a story on the MEDCottage (Va. launching portable housing for aging relatives) concept. This is no ordinary grandmother’s cottage; it is outfitted with the latest technical advances in the industry, including dynamic smart robotic features. It offers remote monitoring capabilities via Internet for the caregiver through their PC in real time. Some of the areas monitored include security, communication, environmental controls, telemetry, and medication dispensing. At a fraction of the cost of a nursing home, the Medcottage provides a flexible solution for family managed care of a loved one during rehabilitation or recovery.

The company, N2Care, has won public grants to continue to fund development of the project but is still searching for investors to fund its operations past its current development stage. The company believes that a unit could be leased for $2,000 per month and provide a variety of technology solutions for senior care as well as entertainment.

For more information, visit their web site - http://www.medcottage.com/medcottage/about.html  and be sure to visit their YouTube link on their site.


What are YOUR thoughts?  Would you live in one?

Trends in Senior Living

Every year, different trends take the forefront in the world of independent living.  In 2010, there are several interesting new trends coming down the pipeline. The most significant ones are highlighted below for your convenience:

1.Urban Retirement – Thanks to the centralized proximity of daily necessities like grocery stores and pharmacies, the convenience of public transportation and the nearness of many prime entertainment opportunities, you can expect to see more seniors retiring to urban areas than ever in 2010. Urban retirement is a trend to watch, and the independent living industry is already taking notice. The suburbs will continue to be the predominate location of most independent living service providers, but urban areas will see a definite upswing this year.

2.Technological Amenities – Although many people consider modern technology to be the province of the young, more seniors than ever are getting into high tech gadgetry and other products. Modern technology can benefit independent living in a number of key ways, with communication being one of the primary areas. Thanks to modern forms of communication like email, social networking, text messaging and others, communication can be more easily incorporated into an independent lifestyle than ever.

3.Adventure Activities – Where trips to the mall or to the casino used to predominate in the world of independent living activities, today’s seniors are becoming more adventurous in 2010. This year, expect to see a variety of active team sports increase in popularity; track and softball are two prime examples. More and more independent living facilities are expected to offer programs in more extreme activities like sky diving, white water rafting, skiing, parachuting – and many others – in 2010.

4.Co-Housing – For seniors who aren’t ready or willing to live in an assisted living facility – but for whom total independence isn’t quite realistic – co-housing is becoming a more popular trend in the upcoming year. In a co-housing arrangement, individual seniors enjoy their own apartments or townhouses while sharing common areas with a group of other senior citizens. In this way, they have a built-in community of people who they can turn to for friendship and help while still maintaining a large amount of privacy and independence.
5.Green Building – Green – or eco-friendly – building is something that has been emerging as a trend within the independent and assisted living industries for some time. Its roots lie in the increasing awareness of people around the world about saving the planet and reducing their impact on the environment. Interestingly enough, the current economic climate is going to propel the green building movement forward significantly in 2010, since renewable energy and reusable resources – along with overall sustainability – are excellent ways to cut operating costs and save money. Independent living facilities around the world will be placing a greater emphasis on green building well into the future.

6.Low-Income Housing versus High-Income Housing – Affordable senior housing is in limited demand these days. In 2010, an increasing demand for reasonably-priced senior housing is going to surge; for that reason, it is quite likely that low-income housing facilities will be developed at a more rapid rate in the upcoming year.

7.Campus Senior Housing – An exceptionally interesting trend in independent living – and in senior housing in general – is campus senior housing. Originally started to help alumni maintain their roots with their college or university, such programs are becoming popular ways to keep senior citizens active and involved well into their golden years. For the independent living industry, this trend presents many prime opportunities and could help some facilities branch out in new and exciting ways. Thinking outside the box is definitely a trend in 2010, and you’ll be able to find evidence of it throughout the independent living industry.



http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm

State of Ohio Launces "Take Action- Protect Yourself from Fraud" Initiative

Agencies Arm Consumers and Mature Ohioans with Tools to Protect Themselves from Fraud

COLUMBUS - The easiest weapon people can use to protect themselves from fraud is to recognize it when they see it - before their money lines somebody else's pocket.

The State of Ohio today launched a new Take Action: Protect Yourself from Fraud initiative that educates consumers about insurance fraud and financial exploitation, said Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson.

"There are growing trends in insurance and annuities fraud especially targeted at older people," Director Hudson said. "This initiative is a proactive step to arm all Ohioans with knowledge to help them avoid financial exploitation. It also serves as a resource so people know where to turn to report fraud across the state. Together, we can arm consumers with information to help them protect themselves and garner the information we need to track down the perpetrators."

Take Action initially will focus on alerting consumers to types of deceptive sales practices and schemes currently occurring in annuities, living trusts, stranger-originated life insurance (STOLI), reverse mortgages, Medicare sales and health care fraud. Take Action also assists Ohioans in safeguarding their online information and warding off unwanted telemarketers and spammers. The Ohio Department of Aging assisted in creating Take Action resources and plays a key role in the outreach to older Ohioans.

"During Older Americans Month, we encourage all older Ohioans to age strong." Ohio Department of Aging Director Barbara Riley said. "When it comes to consumer issues, this means being your own advocate. Know what you want, what to look out for and where to turn for help, should you need it. This initiative aims to give all Ohioans tools and habits they can use to be wise consumers and help stop consumer fraud for everyone."

A free consumer guide provides background facts on areas where people are exploited and serves as a workbook listing important questions to ask. The guide is available at www.takeaction.ohio.gov, an interactive Web site filled with tips on how to recognize, avoid and report fraud. Consumer stories about fraud and successful encounters overcoming it will be published on the Web site.

The Web site also directs consumers to the right offices and agencies within Ohio's state government. For instance, anyone making an investment decision needs to contact the Ohio Department of Commerce to ensure the broker is legitimate and the security is registered.

"Taking action to protect yourself from financial fraud means keeping your hard-earned money where it belongs -working for you," Ohio Department of Commerce Director Kimberly Zurz said. "Before making an investment or financial decision, call the Division of Securities at 1-877-N-VEST-411 to investigate any opportunities and avoid potential pitfalls."

In addition, senior groups and associations can request a speaker for a workshop or ask for a panel of government experts to talk about fraud. Representatives from the Ohio Department of Insurance, the Ohio Department of Aging, the Ohio Department of Commerce, the Office of Attorney General Richard Cordray, the Office of State Treasurer Kevin Boyce and the Ohio Consumers' Counsel will participate on panels.

"We are exploring ways to reach out to consumers by collaborating with other state offices, agencies and organizations," Director Hudson said. "We are all concerned about consumer protection, and this effort shows efficiency and effectiveness in government."

Seniors and their caregivers will be the target of the awareness campaign because statistics show that seniors attract 30 percent of reported fraud and are three times more likely to become fraud victims. The boomer generation will reach 71 million over the next several decades - a huge population ripe for financial exploitation.

Director Hudson emphasized that while most insurance agents are reliable and trustworthy, the small percentage who are not can have their insurance licenses revoked by the Ohio Department of Insurance. In addition, anyone posing as an agent can also face criminal or civil charges. Ohioans are also warned to watch for identity thieves, telemarketing scammers, online spammers and anyone offering deals that seem too good to be true.

Ohioans can visit www.takeaction.ohio.gov to read or order copies of the Take Action: Protect Yourself From Fraud consumer guide, stay informed on the latest fraud news and alerts, get their personal fraud stories published and e-mail the program coordinator, Dottie Howe, at takeaction@ins.state.oh.us. Consumers with specific insurance questions and complaints can call the Ohio Department of Insurance consumer hotline at 1-800-686-1526.

About ODA - The Ohio Department of Aging provides leadership for the delivery of services and supports that improve and promote quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. Working with 12 area agencies on aging and other community partners, the department offers home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit http://www.aging.ohio.gov/.

Benefits Check Up - Video - Find programs to help you with bills and expenses

Did you know that the government has many programs to help low-income seniors find additional resources to help with medical bills, food bills, utilities etc. ?

Click here to learn more

Strawberry Limeade

This recipe comes from Ingredients, Inc. - just in time for fresh strawberries.


Prep: 10 minutes

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

1 (16-ounce) container strawberries, stems removed
     (don't have fresh?  Use frozen without sugar )

1 (12-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate, undiluted

5 cups cold water

Fresh strawberries, fresh mint (optional)

Preparation

1. Combine strawberries in a container of a food processor; light pulse until smooth. Pour in a strainer to strain pulp. Combine limemade and water in a large pitcher and stir until limeade dissolves. Stir in strawberries; pour over ice and garnish with fresh strawberries and mint, if desired.

A Caregiver's Guide to Adult Day Care - by MetLife

This is a great resource from MetLife  for caregivers considering Adult Day Care for their loved one.


Brethren Home Community Services recently opened the Shuff Adult Day Center on our campus.

Our beautiful, home-like center is open 5 days a week
from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.

We'll take care of your loved one - and your worries.
To learn more call us at 937-547-7600.

WikiHow

wikiHow, as it says, is an editable How-to site with 40,100 articles contributed by volunteers from different parts of the world.

Click here to see an example of WikiHow - I did a search for how to garden in a small space

To do your own search - use the search bar located in the upper right-hand corner.

YouTube

YouTube.com is a site I use often.  It is a video-sharing website and registered users can upload, share and view videos.

From Wikipedia- The company is based in San Bruno, California, and uses Adobe Flash Video technology to display a wide variety of user-generated video content, including movie clips, TV clips, and music videos, as well as amateur content such as video blogging and short original videos.


Most of the content on YouTube has been uploaded by individuals, although media corporations including CBS, the BBC, UMG and other organizations offer some of their material via the site, as part of the YouTube partnership program.

Unregistered users can watch the videos, while registered users are permitted to upload an unlimited number of videos.

A little trivia - Three former PayPal employees created YouTube in February 2005.[1] In November 2006, YouTube, LLC was bought by Google Inc. for $1.65 billion, and is now operated as a subsidiary of Google.

Click here to go to YouTube.Com - once there, all you need to do is type in what you want to search for ... such as "How to use chop sticks" or something just for fun like this how to fold your shirt video.

 

How Stuff Works

Over the next few days I am going to post many web sites that are great resources for information.


How Stuff Works is probably the best known How-to tutorials site. It has has a vast and diverse collection with topics ranging from food, health, computers, etc.

One of the best things about this site is that it explains even the toughest tutorial in a very simple and easy to understand language.

Lost Generation - Palindrome - From AARP

This is a 1 minute, 44 second video, and it is a palindrome, reading the same backwards as forward.




This video was submitted in a contest by a 20-year old. The contest was titled "u @ 50". This video won second place. When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause. So simple and yet so brilliant.



To view the video, click on the following link:


Changes Related to Aging

It's inevitable - if we are blessed with the opportunity to grow older, we will experiences many changes as we age.

Contrary to popular belief, most American seniors live independently while maintaining strong relationships with family and friends. Research shows that our personalities remain relatively stable throughout  our lives. Depression occurs less in uninstitutionalized seniors than among young adults.

Normal age related changes do occur. These may include:

Hearing impairment
Failing vision
Osteoporosis
Increased likelihood of arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension,
Mental process changes the speed at which information is processed and the speed of responding to changes in the environment

Our long term memory may decline
Our Word finding ability declines
Visual decline
Decreased reading speed
Seeing acuity in dim light decreases
Reading fine print becomes more difficult
Sensing peripheral changes - becomes more challenged

These changes may lead to difficulties in interacting with one's living environment. These include:
Decreased mobility and dexterity
Decreased strength and stamina
Reduced sensory acuity: vision, hearing, thermal sensitivity, touch, smell

However some functions tend to remain the same with advancing age and changes differ between people.

While seniors tend to process new information slower, daily social and occupational functioning ability remains stable

Most language related skills also tend to remain stable with age. Most notably, creativity and wisdom continue at strong levels.

In addition to physical changes, seniors experience social changes that may be disruptive. These include: isolation from family and friends, loss of peers children living far away and a changing neighborhood

The majority of seniors learn to adapt to their changing situations and lead happy and productive lives.

Physical Changes of Aging

Physical changes of aging are the easiest to recognize. Diseases that effect the elderly are not the same thing as changes which occur as part of the aging process.

Want to better understand some of the changes that accompany aging?

Vision - Look through a pair of glasses sprayed with hairspray.
Ninety percent of people over age 65 experience some changes in their vision. They may experience decreased visual acuity.Sharpness of vision, especially as tested with a Snellen chart. Normal visual acuity based on the Snellen chart is 20/20.

They gradually lose the ability to distinguish details and shapes of objects. , decreased tolerance to glare, difficulty in night driving, and decreased peripheral vision peripheral vision. Colors  look different to older people. The blues, violets, and greens are seen less well, and the reds, yellows, and oranges are better seen. Sometimes this is a problem with seniors driving because they may not see a green light as readily.


Look through the wrong end of binoculars and try to follow a right turn line on the ground.


Touch -    Put un-popped popcorn kernels in your shoes or try to turn the pages of a book wearing cloth gardening gloves.

Taste -  Wear a blindfold and a nose-clip and try to tell the difference between a barbecue potato chip and a plain one.

Usually people experience some decrease in the ability to taste with age. While this decrease may begin after age 40, it usually is not perceptible until a person is over 60. We have taste receptors for salt, sour, sugar, and bitter, and they tend to disappear as we get older. Our foods contain a mixture of those tastes, and sometimes we find that older people will over-sweeten or over-salt their foods because it takes much more seasoning to get the same taste.


Another change in the mouth involves a decrease in saliva output, which can lead to an inability to moisten food adequately. Home care aides can recommend seniors drink fluids with their meals to improve the moistening effect and prevent choking.

Hearing  - put cottonballs in your ears

First, seniors may lose the ability to hear some high-pitched sounds. Women and children, whose voices are higher-pitched, may be harder to understand for all older people. To compensate, speak low and slower, you can lower your voice.


People should learn to not raise their voices when they believe someone is having difficulty hearing them. When people raise their voices, their pitch goes up. Instead, they should speak lower. Eliminating background noises when speaking to an elderly person helps as well. Also, directly face the person because often people can lip read, even if you dont recognize that theyre doing that, she says.

Ability to Smell - Typically after age 50 or 60, people begin to lose their sense of smell; this affects men more than women.. This might present itself as a person who uses too much perfume or aftershave.
Some people may not be aware of their own body.


Temperature Sensitivity - The loss of some fat beneath the skin also may cause an elderly person to be more sensitive to cold. Thats why the elderly are at greater risk for hypothermia hypothermia.



Also, similar problems may occur in the summer. Because elderly people lack some fatty insulation, they are at greater risk for heat stroke, their bodies dont cool and warm up the way they used to.

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly - a HUGE bargain with a ton of uses

Can you think of a product that will seal a gasket and keep it from cracking, prevent rust from forming on car battery terminals, or prevent diaper rash on your baby's bottom? If you said petroleum jelly, you were correct.

In 1870 Cheseborough opened his first factory in Brooklyn, New York, under the brand name “Vaseline” as an ointment for skin injuries

This amazing ointment is a huge bargain, and you can purchase it in a tiny tub, which costs less than $2! And it will last a long time because even with all its uses, a small amount goes a long way.

Vaseline® Petroleum Jelly, on its company website, states that its ingredients are a mixture of mineral oils, paraffin, and microcrystalline waxes. It has a melting point just above body temperature, and that's why it acts so well to protect from weather and exposure and keep the water in our skin. Let's look at some of the uses of this "miracle" product.

Feet cracked and sore? Work some petroleum jelly into clean feet before bedtime, put on socks, and wake up the next morning with soft, smooth feet. It's a lot cheaper than the fancy foot cremes available in stores. You can also use it on pets' pads to prevent damage from harsh weather conditions like snow and ice.

Keep lips kissing soft. For you who use lip balm regularly, save your money. Petroleum jelly works just as well and stays on longer. Put lipstick on underneath it for a bit of color.

Take care of squeaky door hinges. If you have squeaky door hinges, don't buy lubricating oil. Place a small amount of petroleum jelly on them and the squeak will disappear. As a bonus, it won't drip like oil.

Use as shoe polish and conditioner. Need to shine your shoes but don't have the right color polish? Just apply petroleum jelly to leather (or faux leather) shoes, then wipe and shine with a soft cloth. At the same time, it conditions the leather. You will also save money because you won't have to buy shoe polish in different colors.

Keep candle wax buildup from being a problem. One of the worst household jobs is prying wax out of candleholders. It takes time to pry it all out and get the candleholders clean for further use. Before you insert the candles into the candleholders, swipe a bit of petroleum jelly on the lower part of the candle and the inside of the candleholder. Used candles will easily lift out, and there's no residue to clean.

Make fire starters. Did you know you can easily and inexpensively make your own fire starter? Put a little petroleum jelly on cotton balls or dryer lint and store them in a waterproof container to take with you when you go camping.

Use as face cream. Ladies, compare the price of petroleum jelly with the expensive face creams on the market, some running into hundreds of dollars. And because it is so pure, you won't have to worry about allergic reactions. Don't forget to put some on hands and elbows, too.

Protect skin from hair dyes. If you dye your hair at home, put a thin film of petroleum jelly around your hairline. It will help you avoid embarrassing stains from the dye on your skin.

Remove water stains. If you have water rings on your wood furniture, rub some petroleum jelly into them and leave for a few hours or overnight. Wipe it off with a soft cloth and not only will the stain be gone, but also your furniture will have a lustrous shine.

Combat lipstick stains. When you do your laundry, apply petroleum jelly directly to the stain and rub it in. Toss the item into your wash, and the stain will be gone. If not, repeat. There is no need for costly stain removal products.

Unscrew stubborn light bulbs with ease. Coat the threads of light bulbs with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, and they will easily unscrew for changing. This is particularly helpful for outdoor and hard-to-reach bulbs. No more wasting time trying to get a broken bulb out of a socket or getting injured.

Foil pesky squirrels. If you are bothered by squirrels that keep getting at the food in your birdfeeders, try rubbing the outside of the feeders with petroleum jelly and watch the squirrels fall to the ground.


Water Rings on Wood Furniture: Rub petroleum into damaged area with your fingers and let stand for a few hours or if possible overnight. In the morning remove excess jelly with a paper towel and buff with a soft cloth.

Super Glue Cap: Often after it’s first use, the super glue cap ends up stuck fast to the tube and can’t be used again. Put a thick coating of jelly inside the cap threads to keep it from gluing itself shut. This will work on any cap or lid that may stick.


No matter what the chore, if it is messy rub on Petroleum Jelly before you begin. It will keep paint, stain, car grease, and garden dirt from embedding in your skin. It will soften your hands while protecting your skin. Just wipe off with paper towel or an old rag for clean up.

Nail Polish: Rub Petroleum Jelly on the skin around your nails before polishing. If you make a mistake it can be wiped off when your nails are dry and it softens cuticles at the same time.

Paint Cans: Petroleum Jelly forms an air tight seal when applied around the inside edge of the can.

Frozen Locks: To keep your locks from freezing, smear Petroleum Jelly on the shaft of the key and insert it into the lock. Work the key and lock 4 or 5 times to lubricate the tumblers. This is also a good remedy for keys and locks that just don’t seem to work smoothly together.

Sticky Drawers: Apply petroleum Jelly along the runner on a sticky drawer to make it slide more freely

Makeup Remover: Use as you would any makeup remover. It removes makeup safely while softening your skin.

Diaper Rash: Use in place of expensive ointments and creams to prevent rash.

Grandpa’s Bald Head:  Gives a glistening shine for those special occasions. Just apply and polish.

Nuts and Bolts: Keep nuts, bolts and screws from rusting by coating with Petroleum before using

Tight Finger Rings: Apply to your finger and the ring will slide off.

Use on your refrigerator door, to keep the seal lasting longer. Also apply on your storm windows to slide better and not stick.

Apply to the runners of your sliding glass doors and for the sliding screen door especially.

Also great for keeping the rubber around removable car tops from becoming brittle.

Use it on my hummingbird feeder to keep the ants away - apply it to the hook, the top, and around the tip of each feeding cup. It also keeps the syrup from dripping out.
 
When replacing washing machine hoses. Put a little on the inside and outside of each end. Goes on the machine and the pipe easily. No more rust or corrosion, even if you have hard water. And, if you ever need to take it off, comes off easily also.

Fishing/Boating/Diving:

Smear it on anything with a zipper (even the plastic zippers) Works great on tackle bags, Bimini top zippers, etc. Never have a stuck zipper again! Smear a thin coat on your fishing knives before storage and they will be rust free the next time you reach for them…even if it’s not unitl next Spring! Divers…pack the sheath of your dive knife with it and your knife will stay rust free for years! (old Navy Diver trick I learned years ago.)


My sister had breast cancer. At the Mayo Clinic in New York they told her to use Petroleum Jelly under her arms as deoderant. I have been using it for two years and it works fantastic. I have tried the essential oils, almond oils but vaseline works really well. Try it you will be surprised. I have never had a problem with my clothes either.

No more shampoo tears -Thinking of buying special no-tears shampoo for your child? Forget about it. If you have some petroleum jelly, you have the solution. Rub a fair amount into your baby's eyebrows. It acts as a protective shield against shampoo running down into his eyes.

Mask doorknobs when painting - You're about to undertake painting the family room. But do you really want to fiddle with removing all the metal fixtures, including doorknobs? Petroleum jelly rubbed on the metal will prevent paint from sticking. When you're done painting, just wipe off the jelly and the unwanted paint is gone.
Seal a plumber's plunger - Before you reach for that plunger to unclog the bathroom toilet, find some petroleum jelly. Apply it along the rim of the plunger and it will help create a tighter seal. Whoosh, clog's gone.

You can also use it to make dance make up…. I’m a Cheer coach… instead of spending tons of money on expensive glitter makeup you can take Vaseline and dump craft glitter in and mix well and use as costume makeup.. its also good to use over your teeth in a performance or photoshoot it keeps your lips/inside of your mouth from sticking to your teeth… I’ll swear by this I do it to every cheerleader i have.
Why it's best:


Young children love stickers. It seems that they all go through a stage where they put them on everything. What the children don’t realize, of course, is that the sticker adhesive can be very difficult to remove from wood, glass, and stainless steel surfaces. Scrubbing the surface with an abrasive cleanser can scratch it and ruin its appearance forever. Instead of marring your furniture, remove sticker adhesive with petroleum jelly.

Petroleum jelly is gentle, soft, and can be used on virtually any surface. To remove sticker adhesive with petroleum jelly, dab on a generous amount directly onto the sticker and allow it to sit for several hours. Then, using plastic putty knife or credit card, gently scrape the sticker until it is removed. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and then polish. TIP - This tip also works to remove price tag stickers on new merchandise. Follow the steps listed above to remove price tags from mirrors, picture frames, and so on.

Petroleum Jelly is extremely flammable….so DON’T use it around candles etc.


How to Save Money on Body Wash

Save money! Many body washes  are WAY over-priced and cost twice as much as shampoo, so this is a simple way to save money.

Soap is basically soap no matter how it is bottled or named. You will find that most body washes and shampoos have mostly the same ingredients.

Go to the store and compare the ingredients in Body Wash with Shampoo (preferably the same brand)

The closer the ingredients are to one another the better but pay particularly close attention to the first three to five ingredients. Chances are, they are very close to one another.

Try an off-brand baby shampoo... they are gentle.... Try it out for a couple of days -  chances are you will find that using shampoo is just as good as using body wash.

You can always go back to using a bar soap and a mesh pouf.