(NewsUSA) – It’s time to stop worrying that your adult, out-of-work kid may never find a job that lets him move back out of your house, and instead think of him the way the IRS potentially does: as a big, fat tax deduction.
That’s right, one consequence of the sputtering economy is that it’s turned otherwise distressing family circumstances — those “boomerang kids,” for instance — into windfalls for deduction hunters. Another bonanza, via the tax code? So many senior citizens have seen their nest eggs battered over the past few years that an estimated 9.7 million adults over age 50 are now providing some level of potentially deductible care for their own parents.
“In many cases, you’re looking at three generations living under one roof,” says Elaine Smith, master tax advisor at H&R Block. “And those caregivers — the so-called ‘sandwich generation’ — are seeing their expenses rise as a result of their increased responsibilities.”
Just how much of a windfall are we talking? And who’s eligible? Read on for some tips:
* The $3,700 exemption. That’s the reduction to your taxable income you’ll realize for each qualifying child or relative. The IRS is quite specific about the definition of “qualifying,” but — in the case of returning adult children — one thing you definitely need to keep in mind is that their total annual income must be less than $3,700.
* Aging parents. Unlike your child, your mom and dad needn’t live with you to qualify as dependents. If they’re in a nursing home or assisted living facility, say, the IRS feels your pain if you’re footing more than half their bills. In which case, the medical expenses you pay are deductible on your return. “You could easily be looking at about $40,000 in expenses racked up at one of those facilities,” says Smith, “which translates into thousands of dollars in savings on your tax bill.”
* Adult children. Staying on the subject of medical expenses, don’t forget any extra after-tax premiums you may be paying to keep qualifying offspring on your insurance plan.
The IRS says the average taxpayer needed 23 hours to do their 2010 tax return. If that sounds too torturous, you might want to consider using a professional preparer like H&R Block (www.hrblock.com), which offers guaranteed in-person services at its retail offices nationwide as well as the only face-to-face online preparation through Block LiveSM.
Oh, and don’t feel too smug if your adult kid hasn’t boomeranged on you yet. According to a Twentysomething Inc. poll, 85 percent of 2011 college graduates surveyed said they planned on moving back home with their parents.
Tax Relief for the Sandwich Generation
Bed Bug Encounters Spike in Public Spaces
(NewsUSA) – The past few years have seen a disturbing resurgence in bed bug infestations, but a newly released survey shows the problem is only growing worse.
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) annually surveys pest professionals across the country to track the escalating pest issue. New data show the nationwide pandemic is spreading — 99 percent of pest control companies treated bed bug infestations in the past year. Survey respondents say bed bugs remain the most difficult pest problem to treat. Furthermore, more pest professionals are finding the pests in a variety of public places.
“Of most concern are the places where pest professionals are encountering bed bugs, such as schools, hospitals, hotels and motels,” says Missy Henriksen, NPMA’s vice president of public affairs.
The numbers of pest professionals who treated college dorms, hotels, nursing homes, office buildings, schools and daycare centers, hospitals, public transportation and movie theaters for bed bugs have all increased compared to last year; in some cases by as much as 30 percent.
Bed bugs are equal-opportunity pests — they don’t care whose condo they invade or whose vacation plans they ruin. NPMA offers the following tips to help you stay free of bed bugs:
* When traveling, use a hard-shelled suitcase. These have fewer folds, seams and overall cloth where bed bugs can hide. Inspect your hotel room thoroughly, including the mattress, boxspring, behind the headboard and picture frames, and furniture. If you find the bugs or their tell-tale black spots anywhere, ask to be moved to another part of the hotel.
* At home, inspect your luggage away from furniture and sleeping areas. Check pockets, linings and seams. Vacuum or steam clean the suitcase, and wash and dry all clothes on the hottest setting possible or have them dry-cleaned.
If you suspect an infestation, call a pest professional right away. Most self-attempts to control a bed bug problem are ineffective and potentially dangerous. To avoid putting your family or property at risk, call the experts.
For more information about bed bugs, go to allthingsbedbugs.org.
America Gets Ready to Celebrate Engineering
(NewsUSA) – February 19-25, 2012, is Engineers Week, or EWeek, a celebration of the engineering profession and a focal point for public awareness programs showcasing engineering and technology. This national event is held each year during the week of President George Washington’s Birthday; many consider George Washington to be the nation’s first engineer.
Schools, corporations, museums, government and media groups and technical organizations across the country will join together in the outreach effort, sponsoring various programs and activities to spotlight engineering and promote careers in the field.
A focus of EWeek 2012 will be science, technology, engineering and math education awareness, better known as STEM education, and many organizations will carry out programs that aim to create visibility for the profession in the precollege education sector. For instance, ASME (the American Society of Mechanical Engineers) will conduct the Inspire Innovation workshop, which will bring together engineers and K-12 teachers for a daylong program of fun, enrichment and knowledge-sharing.
“A thrust of the workshop is to motivate K-12 students to consider careers in the engineering profession, and also to inspire K-12 teachers to incorporate engineering into lesson plans as well as learn about tools and resources that can influence effective classroom instruction,” said Victoria A. Rockwell, the president of ASME.
In another Engineers Week 2012 program, ASME is launching the “DiscoverE Educator Recognition Awards” to teachers in grades 6-12 who demonstrate success in inspiring students to discover engineering. The awards will be presented in Washington, D.C., site of other EWeek events, including the Future City competition.
While the nation’s capital will host several Engineers Week 2012 activities, towns and communities everywhere are encouraged to join in the celebration. Other staples of Engineers Week include “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” and the announcement of the “New Faces of Engineering,” which features rising stars of the profession.
Experts believe that the United States is facing a shortage of scientific and engineering talent and skills required to develop next-generation technologies enabling the U.S. to compete in the global market. Engineers Week goes a long way toward solving this problem, while also celebrating the many ways that engineers and engineering contribute to the betterment of our quality of life across the world. For information, visit www.asme.org.
See the Light: Protect Your Eyes From Summer Rays
(NewsUSA) – As you slather on sunscreen to protect your skin this summer, don’t forget to protect your eyes. Unlike other parts of your body, your eye’s lens does not repair itself when damaged by the sun’s rays — eventually this can lead to permanent eye damage.
“While intense UV exposure can cause temporary ‘sunburn’ on the eye’s surface, an even graver concern is cumulative, long-term effects,” said Richard P. Mills, MD in Seattle, Wash. “UV-A and B rays actually penetrate the cornea and damage the lens and retina, leading to increased risk for cataract and macular degeneration, so protection and getting an eye exam are vitally important.”
EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, provides eye exams and care at no out-of-pocket cost to people 65 and older. The eye exams are provided by a corps of nearly 7,000 volunteer ophthalmologists across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. To see if you are eligible to receive a referral for an eye exam and care, visit www.eyecareamerica.org. This online referral center also enables friends and family members to find out instantly if their loved ones are eligible to be matched with one of EyeCare America’s volunteer ophthalmologists.
“I’m a low-income senior who needed an eye exam after many years of neglecting myself. Economically embarrassed, I was referred by EyeCare America, and received excellent, fast and courteous service,” said, Mr. Hansen, a recent EyeCare America patient. “I worked hard all my life and never dreamed I would be in a position of not being able to afford a simple exam.”
To protect your eyes this summer, EyeCare America offers the following advice:
When to wear sunglasses
Sunglasses should be worn anytime you are outdoors, particularly under these circumstances:
* During the summer, when the level of ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB) is at least three times higher than during the winter;
* When at the beach or in the water;
* When participating in winter sports, especially at high altitudes;
* When using medications that can cause photosensitivity.
Taking measures to protect your eyes from the sun, as well as getting eye conditions detected early through an eye exam, can help slow or prevent total vision loss from diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. But not everyone has insurance or can afford eye exams, so visit eyecareamerica.org to see if you are eligible for an eye exam and care at no out-of-pocket cost.
Gadget-Free National Family Pajama Night Is a Must
Family dinners aren’t what they used to be – football games are blaring in the foreground, and parents must remind children to turn off their phones, and struggle to keep their own fingers from itching to check their email.
Internet technology has caused family dynamics to change rapidly across the country. Family structures aren’t the same, communication has been irrevocably altered and family time doesn’t look like it used to.
PSA Contest Aims to Help One Lucky School Win Funds for Science
(NewsUSA) – School funding across the nation has taken its lumps. Now, any little amount will help — even if it comes via a public service announcement contest.
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA), through its children’s educational website PestWorldforKids.org, will hold its third annual national competition for students (grades 4 through 
to win a $3,000 grand prize to benefit one school’s science program. The contest challenges entrants to create a 30- or 60-second educational public service announcement (PSA) that highlights the health and property risks posed by household pests such as rodents, cockroaches, bed bugs and stinging insects.
PestWorldForKids.org even presents a PSA lesson plan to encourage teachers to participate. All entries must be submitted by teachers online or sent to the official address listed.
The Pest PSA Contest officially runs through Dec. 23, which is the last day to enter. Other than the grand prize, the top five finalists will be recognized as top-performing schools, and their entries will be posted on PestWorldForKids.org.
The NPMA acknowledges depleted funding for public schools and found a fun, educational way to lend a helping hand.
PestWorldForKids.org is a free, educational website developed for teachers and students in grades K through 8. The site features a pest glossary, pest guides, downloadable factsheets, a report writing center, science fair projects, lesson plans and games designed to teach children about insects and rodents in their natural habitats, and the health and property risks posed by pests once they find their way into the home.
For contest rules and regulations, check out www.pestworldforkids.org. To find other information about pests or rodents, visit www.pestworld.org.
Combat Childhood Sleep Problems With Outdoor Fun
Parents are hearing a lot these days about the hazards of today’s “indoor childhood,” with kids spending countless hours on electronic media. But one consequence may be going undetected. National Wildlife Federation’s new parent guide highlights the connection between the time kids spend playing outdoors and sleep deprivation.
According to NWF Guide, young children and teens are losing anywhere from 10 to 14 hours of sleep a week. Sleep deprivation can stunt physical growth, impede performance at school, lead to anxiety or depression and contribute to future health problems like obesity. Making matters worse, children are generally bad judges of the amount of sleep they really need.
7th Heaven Star and Safeguard My Meds Advocate Prescription Safety
If used moderately and as directed, prescription medicines help ease many health conditions and cure others. But some people don’t know the risks of keeping medications unsecured in the home, especially medications that have a high potential to be abused, such as stimulants, tranquilizers and pain relievers.
Easy-to-find medicines can be abused by anyone entering a home, especially teens and young adults. Catherine Hicks, 7th Heaven star and parent advocate, is working with Safeguard My Meds to tell Americans what they can do to help prevent prescription medicine abuse and potential addiction.
Save Money With Free Software for Your Computer
(NewsUSA) – Looking to save money? There are ways to leverage great technology without burning a hole in your wallet.
Here are some safe, secure options — all of them free — that can help make your computer more productive, useful and fun:
* Firefox Browser:
(www.GetFireFox.com) — Get onto the Internet with this alternative to Windows Internet Explorer that is compatible with both Macs and PCs. It is fast and secure and allows you to download lots of free plug-ins that provide information, social media integration and multimedia capabilities.
* TweetDeck:
(www.TweetDeck.com) — This free program enables you to easily manage, monitor and post to all of your social media networks, including Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, from one place.
* Trillian:
(www.Trillian.im) — Not everyone uses the same instant message service. You might use AOL while your friend uses Yahoo. Trillian lets you combine all of your instant message accounts — AOL, Yahoo, MSN, ICQ and IRC — into one program. Recently updated, it can integrate your Facebook and Twitter accounts, too.
* LogMeIn:
(www.LogMeIn.com) — The free version of LogMeIn lets you securely access your computer from anywhere in the world. Want to check your home computer while you’re on the road? Go to a web browser from any Internet-enabled computer or mobile device, and log in to your account to instantly connect and access any programs, files, photos or music on your desktop.
* Windows Live Desktop:
(www.WindowsLive.com/desktop) — Windows 7, which will be loaded on many new computers and mobile devices this year, does not include its own email program. Instead, Microsoft offers a mail program as a free download from this site, along with other programs, including a photo organizer and an application for creating videos.
* Picnik:
(www.Picnik.com) — Picnik is a free alternative to Photoshop and offers photo-editing capabilities such as cropping, resizing, sharpening and red-eye reduction. You can add special effects, fonts, or various shapes to turn your precious memory into a work of art. Google’s Picasa is another good option for free photo-editing software.
Any or all of these programs will immediately add value to your Mac, PC or laptop — at absolutely no cost.
Do your homework first and check out product reviews from reputable technology sites such as CNET’s Download.com to find out more about free and safe software options before you install them on your computer.
Dive into Video Contest to Earn $10,000
Are you creative? Do you have a video camera? Well, you can now use this to make your own commercial and win some big money. Hayward Pool Products is giving their Facebook fans a chance to win $10,000 and have the winning video used for a Hayward commercial. The contest is called PoolSide Stars.
Contestants may enter the contest via Facebook at www.facebook.com/HaywardPool?sk=wall#!/HaywardPool?sk=wall. Participants must first ‘like’ Hayward’s page, and entries may be submitted until Sept. 30. Videos can be up to a minute long, and depict any pool- or lifestyle-related subject. However, the clip must be evaluated and deemed respectable and suitable for the Hayward brand.
