Face it: You have to put a case around your iPhone, unless you like peering at your text messages through a banged-up screen. So why not get a case that doubles the battery life of your phone? Meet the Juice Pack from Mophie. It’s a thin, lightweight case that encloses a rechargeable external battery. Even better, the Juice Pack doubles as a virtual speaker box, vastly increasing the sound quality of the iPhone’s built-in speakers; $79.95, Mophie.com.
Clean TV
Sure, we all like a little sex and violence in our entertainment — but not so much when grandma’s over for a visit. With the Clearplay DVD Player, simply set the levels for nudity, foul language, violence and other such fun things, download the custom filter to a USB drive, insert into the player and it will automatically filter objectionable content out. If only it worked for home movies…$79.99, ClearPlay.com.
Retire Smart
As the population ages and Americans are living longer than ever before, the need for long-term care services has emerged as an important element to a comprehensive retirement plan. The 2008 New York Life Insurance Company Survey of Nursing Home Costs indicates nursing home costs averaged $76,416 a year nationally, and these costs inflate every year. Do you have enough in your retirement to pay for the high cost of long-term care services? Without a proper long-term care plan in place, your assets and income can be significantly depleted. This could leave you and your family in a difficult financial situation. What would happen to you and your family if you have to pay out-of-pocket for your long-term care? With the long-term care insurance options offered at New York Life Insurance Company, you will have peace of mind, knowing that you have taken control to protect your hard-earned retirement assets. The sooner you begin your long-term care planning, the better. The cost of waiting can be expensive in several ways. The younger you are when you purchase long-term care insurance, the lower the premiums will cost. As you age, premiums are higher if you purchase an equivalent policy and you may qualify for a lesser class-rating due to health changes. You could pay thousands more in premiums over the life of the policy, just by waiting a few years to purchase. Or, you may not be able to qualify for coverage at all. The worst part about waiting is that you may not have coverage in place when you need it most. With long life comes long-term planning. Make a plan for you and your family today.
Laura San Nicolas is a native South Floridian who is an agent with the New York Life Insurance Company. For a consultation, call her at 305.496.5681 or visit NewYorkLife.com.
Brain Boosters
It might be made up of a bunch of squishy grey tissue, but the brain works just like a muscle: The more you exercise it, the more it can do. To keep yours in top condition, try these brain-boosting activities.
Parle Vouz?
Tired of the monolingual life? Not only will learning a new language impress your friends and open up travel options, it also adds structure and improves the brain’s speech centers.
Good Fight
When’s the last time you had a good argument? And no, we’re not talking about who forgot to close the freezer door. A real debate increases your ability to apply knowledge to verbal situations.
Breath Tip
Feeling unfocused or drowsy? Try taking 20 very deep breaths. Deep breathing delivers more oxygen to your brain, which helps with alertness and concentration. It also helps you calm down!
