novemeber newsletter!
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This month's issue of Around the House is here!TRANSCRIPT
©November 2011 Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc. http:/www.357ac4u.com Lic#OK-82223
NOVEMBER 2011 NEWS THAT HELPS THE FAMILY.
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Inside This Issue:
Is Your Credit Score Dropping? Is Semi-Retirement A Good Thing? It’s November. Are You Thinking About
Spring?
Plus much, much more!!!
Get Your Tax Break On Assisted Living Expenses
Our Services Include Professional Installers
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warranties available
More than a million seniors live in assisted living communities in the U.S. Many pay
their monthly fees with their own money. For others the cost is paid by their adult
children.
Some or all of the costs may be tax deductible. They include one-time entrance fees
and monthly fees under the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA). They should be reported on Schedule A. If a resident doesn't require
medical care, a percentage of the costs will count. The taxpayer must itemize
deductions, and expenses must exceed 7.5 percent of the taxpayer's gross income.
An adult child can deduct the medical expenses of his or her parent if providing 50
percent of more of the parent's support costs. Exercise may protect the brain from
stroke, dementia
Older people who regularly exercise at a moderate to intense level may have a 40
percent lower risk of developing brain damage linked to stroke or dementia, and fewer
mobility problems.
A report in the journal Neurology says MRIs of those who exercised at higher levels
showed they were significantly less likely to have blocked arteries that interrupt blood
flow to the brain.
Exercise lowers blood pressure, bad cholesterol and insulin levels, risk factors for
strokes that cause brain damage. Some brain damage is not reversible.
Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc.
©November 2011 Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc. http:/www.357ac4u.com Lic#OK-82223
Even if you pay all your
bills on time you could be
bringing your credit score
down without realizing it
The main factors
considered in creating your
credit score is whether you
pay your credit cards and
bills on time.
But some factors that can
shave points from your
score are not as obvious
and not as well known.
They include:
* Ordering several new
credit card accounts in a
short period of time. Maybe
you're just taking advantage
of low-interest offers, but
to credit scorers, it looks
bad.
* Transferring a balance to
a new card, then closing the
Paying Your Bills and Your Credit Score Drops?
Page 2
old card account. It's OK to
transfer the balance, but
keep the old account open.
If you close it, you won't
have as much total credit,
and your credit-utilization
ratio will increase. At
CreditSmart.com, they
remind you that the amount
of debt you have is
calculated for balances on
individual accounts, as well
as your overall credit limit.
* Charging a lot to a
department store credit
card. Say you have a
$4,000 credit limit. You are
buying new furniture, so
you charge $3,500. Before
that, you only owed $100
on your store card.
Now, you owe $3,600 on a
$4,000 card, which means
available credit on that
account will be way down.
It's not good for your credit
score. And the store
charges high interest rates.
Here's a better solution. Get
a line of credit at your
credit union or bank and
charge the furniture on that.
* Other situations you
might think are not related
to your credit score include
library book fines, parking
tickets, back rents, medical
bills and any other fees or
charges you put off paying.
In time, they will be turned
over to a collection agency.
Even after you pay them,
the collection will stay on
your credit report for seven
years.
Around The House Newsletter
Regardless of what it says
in your will or any
beneficiary designation
form, your current spouse
is automatically entitled to
all of the proceeds in the
account. If you want to
leave the account to
someone else, your spouse
must file a written
statement waiving rights to
it.
That applies to 401(k)
accounts you have from
previous employers as well.
In most cases, the spouse
becomes the beneficiary the
moment you say "I do."
Any prenup does not count.
The spouse still gets the
Who Inherits The Proceeds Of Your 401(K)?
money.
Who inherits your IRA
accounts?
In most states, your will
does not affect who inherits
any of your IRAs at the
time of your death. The
person who gets the cash
will be the one named on
the beneficiary form. It
doesn't matter how long
ago you named the
recipient. A spouse you
divorced 30 years ago will
get the money if you
haven't changed the
beneficiary.
Caution: Once you are
married, you can't transfer
the assets of a 401(k) to an
IRA, but it can be done
before you marry.
Who gets your life
insurance?
Whoever is named as
beneficiary gets the
proceeds of life insurance,
regardless of any will or
remarriage. It's important to
check your beneficiary
every few years.
©November 2011 Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc. http:/www.357ac4u.com Lic#OK-82223
Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc.
Around The House Tip of the Month:
“Thinking About Next Spring?!”
Page 3
Manufacturers of artificial turf say their sales are growing. Homeowners are tired
of spending precious leisure time on their lawns.
Artificial grass for both backyards and front yards is becoming a viable choice,
especially for smaller yards. It is an alternative to xeriscaping, where the yard is
made over with rocks and drought-resistant plants.
Trevor Brooks of NewGrass at Scottsdale, Ariz., says most of their sales are in the
southwest, but the turf is generating a lot of interest in New York and in many
areas where water conservation is an issue.
"It's a little more expensive up front," Brooks says. "But there's no maintenance.
No water costs. You don't have to mow the lawn. In the long run, turf pays for
itself in three years."
The new turf is a far cry from that used on athletic fields. Blades are shorter and
give the look of a manicured lawn. They are green all year and free from allergens
that weeds and grass can cause.
Most companies have several styles of grass to choose from including rye, fescue,
and sports grass.
At Toronto-based Design Turf, they say artificial grass is a good solution for parts
of the yard that are deeply shaded by trees. It is almost impossible to grow grass in
these areas, but they look beautiful with turf that blends in with other parts of the
lawn.
Some people threaten to pave over their yards but there are other ways to save
work and time.
Around The House Newsletter
"HANDY STEEL
WOOL"
The editors of This Old
House say:
Packing steel wool into
gaps around pipes forms a
barrier mice can't chew
through.
To secure a screw in an
oversized hole, master
carpenter Norm Abrams
tucks steel wool into the
hole before inserting the
screw.
Steel wool with a little
water can gently lift black
heel marks from a vinyl
floor.
Going camping? Touching the terminals of
a 9-volt battery to a wad
of steel wool will spark a
campfire.
©November 2011 Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc. http:/www.357ac4u.com Lic#OK-82223
Around The House Newsletter
Page 4
©November 2011 Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc. http:/www.357ac4u.com Lic#OK-82223
Around The House Newsletter
Images of retirement years include travel, visiting with kids and grandkids, fishing and
maybe playing a weekly round of golf. But how would you feel after you've done these
things and still have a ton of free time?
More Americans are going back to work. This time, they choose a less-hectic schedule or
part-time work. They earn some money, contribute to society and feed the economy.
Keeping our seasoned workers in play is good for America.
And it's good for you. Social interaction that the workplace brings can help you feel
connected. It gives you the opportunity to share your experience with others. And you may
enjoy keeping up to date on what's happening in your industry or field. Part-time work is a
great way to stay "in the loop," say advisors for AARP.
Today, people are retired for a long time. When Social Security was first introduced, life
expectancy at birth was 58 for men and 62 for women. We can now live 20 years beyond
that age.
Baby boomers are especially interested in "encore careers," but those who are retired can
think about it even more. The sweet spot is when you ask yourself what you love to do so
much you'd do it for free. Then find a way to get paid for it.
Semi-Retirement: Good For America, Good For You
Looking for a less-expensive moving company, one man signed up with an online
company that quoted about $1,850.
When his stuff was loaded, the mover told him he had to pay more than $5,000, half
of which had to be paid now and the other half before they unloaded.
Moving scams are a growing problem, according to the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration. Here's some advice on how NOT to be a victim:
1. Don't book a company online without talking to someone in person.
2. Get written estimates from at least three different companies.
3. Check for the ProMover logo, indicating the company passed an annual check for
felony convictions and improper advertising, and that it has a good Better Business
Bureau rating.
4. Get references from customers.
5. Check protectyourmove.com to see a company's complaint history, its safety
record and how it compares with companies nationally.
There are thousands of people offering moving services to anyone who will hire
them, according to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, and some are
scammers. When you get a quote that's far lower than that of other companies, the
end price will never be a bargain.
Get Three Quotes For Your Upcoming Move
FIGHT BELLY
FAT, EAT
VEGETABLES!
The type of fat
around the
middle that's
most harmful is
called visceral fat.
It's deep fat that
surrounds
internal organs
and leads to
diabetes and liver
disease.
Increasing
consumption of
plant foods that
contain soluble
fiber can reduce
the presence of
visceral fat, which
is more
dangerous than
fat just under the
skin, according to
studies described
in the journal Obesity.
Page 5
©November 2011 Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc. http:/www.357ac4u.com Lic#OK-82223
Around The House Newsletter
Page 6
Ankle Sprain's Not Serious? Maybe It Is
If you've sprained your
ankle and are writhing in
pain, it's time to go to the
emergency room. You
could have a broken bone
or torn ligaments, making
the sprain far more than
common. A complete tear
of one or more ligaments
can cause damage to the
ankle itself.
With luck, the doctor, after
x-rays, will classify your
sprain as Grade 1. That
means the RICE will work.
Rest the ankle, no walking,
Ice it for 20 minutes at a
time,
Compression, use an ace
bandage to immobilize it,
but not too tightly,
Elevate the ankle for 48
hours.
For a Grade 2 sprain, which
is worse than a Grade 1,
RICE will work, but the
sprain will require more
time for healing. The
doctor may use a device to
immobilize and splint the
ankle.
A Grade 3 sprain can cause
permanent instability if not
properly treated. Surgery is
rarely needed, but a short
leg cast or cast-brace may
be used for two to three
weeks.
The Grade 3 sprain calls for
rehabilitation to decrease
pain and swelling and to
prevent chronic problems.
Ultrasound and electrical
stimulation may be used.
At first, rehabilitation
exercise may involve range
of motion or controlled
movement of the ankle
joint without resistance.
Lower extremity exercise
and endurance activities are
added as tolerated.
Proprioception training is
very important.
Proprioception is defined as
the ability to establish a
sense of position in space,
especially at a joint.
Without proper treatment,
the ankle may become
permanently unstable,
resulting in many ankle
sprains in the future.
Call Today To Learn
About Our Fall and
Spring
Preventative
Maintenance
Program!
(918) 357-2248
The American Cancer
Society wants to help you
quit smoking. On Nov. 17,
the day of the 36th Great
American Smokeout, they
encourage you to begin
their 10-day plan.
By doing it, you will take
an important step to a
healthier life. If you want
to plan ahead, pick a day
to quit in a week or two.
Either way, you can get
some extra support from
the American Cancer
Society.
When you download the
society's Countdown
Clock on a PC, you'll
receive daily tips on your
desktop that will help you
prepare to quit. To find
the clock, search for Great
American Smokeout
Desktop Helpers and
download it from the
American Cancer Society.
When your quit day
arrives, the Countdown
Clock will continue to
provide practical support
tips for your first month as
a nonsmoker.
Over 70 percent of adult
smokers say they would
like to quit, but don't have
faith in their ability to
stop. But it can be done,
and this program can help.
Your circulation will
improve right away.
Take Part In The 10-Day Quit Program With Email Support
©November 2011 Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc. http:/www.357ac4u.com Lic#OK-82223
Around The House Newsletter
WANTED!
More Customers like YOU!
Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc. launched a new Customer Referral Program last spring! It’s a chance for us to thank you for
sending customers just like you to us.
Any existing customer who refers a new customer to Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc. for any type of work, we will reward with a
token of our appreciation once the work is completed! Keep referring, and you’ll see discounts and free gifts. It’s our way of saying
thank you for your loyalty and for sending us more customers just like you.
Be certain to tell your friends that when they call us to set up an appointment they let us know that they were referred
by a friend. They will need to have your name and address handy to give to the operator.
Page7
SEND A REFERRAL: GET A PRIZE
For every referral you send our way that becomes a client, you will receive $25 for service call referrals or $50 for equipment sale referrals: Cash! Or A credit toward your next repair with Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc!
By referring your family, friends & neighbors, you’ve helped our business grow. Offering these special rewards is our way of saying, “Thank you, you’re the best!” Without you, we couldn’t do what we do. To take advantage of our Referral Reward Program, just fill out the enclosed referral sheet and either fax or send it in. That’s all there is to it!
ROCKET REFERRAL REWARD PROGRAM!
©November 2011 Superior Service of Broken Arrow Inc. http:/www.357ac4u.com Lic#OK-82223
Around The House Newsletter
$$$$$$$$Take Advantage of Our $$$$$$$$
OUR NOVEMBER SPECIAL
20% OFF Present this coupon to any of our service technicians and receive 20% OFF your Service Call. * (YES! This
includes warranty copay’s)
Expires December 1st, 2011
*Equipment Sales, Repairs and Cleanings are EXCLUDED. **This offer is not to exceed $15.00 ***Not valid with any other offer.
Limited to our service area only
1216 E Kenosha St #245
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
Phone: 918-357-2248
Fax:918-770-8210
Email:
Website:
http://www.357ac4u.com