Personal Financial News that you can use. The following are a few helpful financial and health tips.
Reduce blood pressure while you sleep by taking a low-dose aspirin at bedtime. Recent finding: People who took 100 milligrams of enteric (coated) aspirin before going to sleep had their systolic pressure (top number) drop by five points and their diastolic pressure (bottom line) fall by three points, on average. There was no change in blood pressure readings when they took the aspirin in the morning. If you are using low-dose aspirin to control or prevent high blood pressure, ask your doctor about taking the aspirin before bed rather than in the morning.
Beware of Safety Deposit Boxes – Are you aware that when the owner of a safety deposit box dies, the bank often seals the box until after the estate settles. That makes it impossible for the heir’s to access the contents of the box. You wouldn’t think that would be a big deal…except that often times the box contains important papers that would help the heirs collect on life Insurance policies or papers that the heirs need to file a final tax return for the deceased (to avoid penalties and other costs to the estate)…just a couple of examples of things that could go wrong if the safety deposit box weren’t titled properly.
A mid afternoon nap does not make up for a poor night’s sleep, and it may make it more difficult to sleep the next night. To determine if afternoon naps affect your night-time sleep: Take a nap every day for a week . Each morning, document how well you slept each night. Compare each week’s sleep patterns. If you find that napping does help your energy level and alertness without hurting your nighttime sleep, nap for only 20 to 30 minutes in the late morning or mid afternoon.
Brain injuries account for half of all fatalities due to falls among elderly people annually. Older people fear breaking a hip when they fall, but a more serious consequence is hitting their heads. Aging causes veins and arteries to tear more easily from a blow to the head. Self defense: Exercise to improve balance and leg strength, which helps prevent falls.
Roll to a Roth. Starting this year, workers can roll assets from company plans to Roth IRAs if they have adjusted gross incomes of $100,000 or less. (The cap ends after 2009.) The rollovers are taxable, but no 20% withholding is required.
Max out your retirement accounts. You can trim your tax bill by maximizing pretax contributions to retirement accounts. For 2008, you can contribute up to $15,500 to your 401(k) or 403(b); if you’re not maxing out already, try to steer all or part of your year-end bonus to your account.
If you don’t have a workplace retirement plan, contribute up to $5,000, plus another $1,000 if you’re 50 or older, to a traditional IRA. You can contribute before filing your 2008 return in spring.
I hope you find this personal financial news helpful and the health tips something you can implement right away.
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