Blog
The Credit Card App | Personal BALC #75
Over 170 million people in the U.S. have credit cards, and the average card holder has 3.5 of them – not counting debit cards. In spite of the promise of mobile payments, plastic cards are not going away any time soon. We’re at the early stages of a massive wave of innovation in the payment [...]
“Young-Old” is the New Old | Personal BALC #74
Let’s talk about the taxonomy of aging. Once, turning 65 made you “old”. Now, demographers are identifying three separate groups: The “Young-Old”: age between 65 and 74 The “Old”: age between 75 and 84 The “Old-Old”: age 85 and older It has been said that faces of the Young-Old adorn the covers of active retiree [...]
Normal or Nuts? | Personal BALC #73
Who of us has never wondered if our nutty behavior or quirks means that we’re really crazy? Don’t most people have strange, graphic dreams? Aren’t we all a little compulsive? And who among us can remember everyone’s name all the time? Psychiatrists tell us that all behavior occurs on a spectrum. For example, some of [...]
One Secret to Long Life | Physical BALC #72
We started a conversation about oral health last week, and I’ve read some more research about the importance of good oral health. A new study published in Journal of Aging Research adds to mounting evidence that one of the simplest secrets of long life is taking care of your teeth. Conversely, neglecting your teeth can [...]
It could be worse | Personal BALC #72
It could be worse for Americans, and it is worse for many around the world. Gas prices have been increasing steadily in the past few weeks on skyrocketing crude oil prices, making the average price of a gallon of regular gas $3.57. While this is high here in the U.S., other countries are saddled with [...]
Hardwired for Risk | Personal BALC #71
When you see people who are successful at dealing with financial risks, you know you’re looking at the product of hard work and careful planning. But what you’re also seeing are people whose innate hard-wiring made them more likely to be winners at this kind of game. The past several decades of research into human [...]
We’re holding out for less | Personal BALC #70
A recently released study shows that many Americans are still holding off on buying homes in some of the country’s most expensive cities. On average, home prices nationally have fallen 23% since the housing crisis began, but the richest cities have experienced only modest home price declines – especially relative to their high home value. [...]
Stay Healthy & Save Money | Personal BALC #69
It’s time to get to the core of the matter. Yes, we need to stay healthy. Yes, most people can’t afford to spend a ton of money on high-priced “healthy” food. We need to be able to purchase things that are good for us at the regular grocery store, not the “fancy food store” as [...]
Energize Your Life – Part 2 | Personal BALC #68
This week we’re sharing more great news from health experts about the most exciting research of 2011. For the first part of this advice, refer to the the Personal BALC #67. More of my favorites: Keep your cool for a good night’s sleep. Insomniacs who wear a cap that keeps their brain cool not only [...]
Energize Your Life – Part 1 | Personal BALC #67
Health experts were surveyed on the most exciting research of 2011 and were asked for advice. The result: dozens of smart new ways to drop pounds, fight fatigue, feel connected and stay healthy for life. Below is a sampling of my favorites. Go ahead – drink more coffee. YES! Harvard Medical School researcher and professor [...]
