Columns

Savvy Senior: Is Social Security Income Taxable?

Dear Savvy Senior, I understand that a portion of my Social Security benefits may be taxable when I retire. Can you tell me how to calculate this? Ready to Retire Dear Ready, Whether or not you’ll be required to pay federal income tax on your Social Security benefits will depend on your income and filing status. About 35 percent of Social Security recipients have total incomes high enough to trigger federal income tax on their benefits. To figure out if your benefits will be taxable, you’ll need to add up all of your “provisional ...

Organic Potatoes

Dear Heloise: I like to buy organic potatoes that come in a bag but always heard not to store potatoes in the refrigerator. How can I keep them from growing sprouts if they can’t be refrigerated? — Vivien W., Sherman Oaks, Calif. Vivien, organic potatoes will start to sprout anywhere from 30 to 140 days after being harvested. They need to be stored in a cool area with a temperature of 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit and about 85% humidity. Examine them once a month to remove any sprouts. Be sure to discard any soft or mushy potatoes or those with black or green spots. Have you ...

Busy Mom Fights to Prevent Frustrations From Exploding

DEAR ABBY: I’m a 24-year-old woman who has been married for four years. My husband, “Jerry,” and I have two young boys. Jerry is military. I stay at home with the kids and work part time online on an associate degree. We struggle financially, but our basic needs are met and, overall, I’m happy with my life. My problem is I’m finding myself struggling to control a very strong temper. The kids or my husband may be getting on my nerves, or I’m late turning in an assignment, or I’m unable to get housework done — these frustrations build up inside and make me want to throw ...

Online Bullying

Dear Heloise: Back in the day, bullying and intimidation by kids and classmates used to STOP the minute a child stepped off the school bus. Today though, with social media, it can perpetuate. Kids can post demeaning, humiliating and, most importantly, UNTRUE things about classmates online, 24/7, for everyone to see. This is why I take my kids’ phones from them when they get home, and all of their activity is reviewed. I trust my kids, but I want to make sure they understand how much words matter. — Cindy W. in Illinois Cindy, such an important lesson to learn. Thanks for your ...

Mom Threatens Divorce After Teens Find Their Dad’s Stash

DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are going on 19 years of marriage and have three teenage girls. We have had multiple rounds of marriage counseling, mostly with good results, although the benefits seem to be short-lived. Most of our problems have stemmed from my husband’s drinking or smoking pot. He’s not abusive, he’s a good provider, but he just likes to get high. Thank God it’s not often, but I’m not nor have I ever been OK with it. Our girls recently found his pot stash and helped themselves. When I questioned them about where they got it, they admitted they found their ...

Charity Scams

Today’s Sound Off is a warning about Charity scams: Dear Heloise: In this colder weather, many charities will be asking for donations to help the homeless and the needy. Many are reputable agencies whose only goal is to help others. However, it’s also a time when some scam artists try to make their bogus phone calls and emails sound legitimate, but they’re really out to help only themselves. Don’t let them pressure you to give right now. It’s a warning sign that they are scammers. If they request payment in cash, gift card or wire transfer, it’s another sign of a scammer. ...