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Foil Pack Recipes for Grilling Season
Learn how to make grilled foil pack recipes (aka hobo packs) for a great taste and easy cleanup. Plus, try our best recipes in foil packs. You no longer have to spend your beautiful summer nights washing dishes or cleaning the grill.
By Wini Moranville and Sheena Chihak
We love foil packs for their wrap-it and cook-it ease (not to mention the fast cleanup—even faster than one-pan recipes because zero pans are required). We also appreciate the way cooking foil packs on the grill keeps what's inside moist and flavorful. Just about anything you can cook on a grill can be grilled in a foil pack, including meat, fish, vegetables, and seafood. Make these grilled foil pack meals to enjoy throughout grilling season.
How to Make Foil Packs
Use these three steps as your master plan for making all kinds of foil packs for dinner. Entrées, side dishes, and even desserts all follow these basic guidelines.
1. Precook if Needed
Cooking hobo packs on the grill is easiest when you choose ingredients that require the same amount of cooking time. That way you can wrap all ingredients together and toss them on the grill. However, some ingredients in foil pack grilling recipes will take longer to cook than others. This is often true with potatoes, which you may have to precook if you're wrapping them up with other quicker-cooking ingredients such as fish.
2. Divide Food Among Foil Sheets
Place one portion of the recipe in the center of a foil sheet that's been cut to the size directed in your recipe. Often, recipes will call for at least a 12-inch square sheet of foil to make foil packs
3. Wrap and Grill
To wrap and seal your hobo foil pack, bring up two opposite edges of foil; seal with a double fold. Fold remaining edges together to enclose, leaving space for steam to build. Grill as directed in your recipe.
Grilled Foil Pack Recipes
Grilled Foil-Pack Philly Cheesesteak Hash
We'll start with our current favorite, grilled steak and potato foil packs. It's our favorite because your entire meal is inside. No need to worry about cooking up veggie kabobs or other grilled side dishes. Plus, cheese. You can never go wrong when you add a slice of cheese.
Luau BBQ Chicken Foil Packs
Sure, grilled chicken is great, but pineapple chicken foil packs add an enticing tropical twist to your grilled dinner. With plenty of veggies packed inside, simply add a side of grilled bread or another starch to round out the meal.
Red Snapper and Vegetables
Here's one of those foil pack dinner ideas we mentioned earlier where a bit of precooking comes in handy. Even though you're cutting tiny new potatoes into quarters, the snapper still cooks much faster. Use the recipe directions for cooking potatoes in the microwave before adding to the foil packs.
Lemon-Veggie Foil Pack
These seasoned veggies prove sometimes simple is best. Just a bit of salt and lemon-pepper season the vegetable medley. A burst of sour from a few slices of lemon tucked inside ensure no one has to suffer through bland side-dish veggies, this recipe will have everyone asking for seconds.
Spiced Apple Hobo Pack
Try this recipe on a late summer or early fall day when apple desserts are all you crave and the grill hasn't been put away for the season. Fresh apples paired with autumn's best spices—apple pie spice, cinnamon, and cloves—creates a fruit-forward dessert that we like to top with whipped cream
( All recipes Courtesy BH&G)
3 Steps to Help You Get out of Debt
How to get control of what you owe
by Ingrid Case, AARP, April 30, 2019
For Gail and Tony Dean, the crisis came as they approached 50. Living in South Florida, they decided to move north, near Orlando, where they bought land and began to build their dream home. Then the debts piled up.
The couple — she worked for Disney, he was in law enforcement — had a construction loan for their new place. The tenant whose rent was covering the mortgage on their old home skipped out. They also carried a second mortgage on the old place, a car loan and credit card debt. In all, they owed more than $250,000.
"It was horrible,” says Gail, now 69. “We were drowning and couldn't find our way out."
Tales like the Deans’ are increasingly common. The share of households led by older Americans that carry debt has risen steadily over the past two decades. The problem is especially bad for households led by people 75 and older. In 1989, 21 percent of these households owed money; by 2016, half of them did. The amount of debt has gone up, too, even after adjusting for inflation.
That's clear to groups that counsel debtors. “It used to be that we had a younger demographic, but we've seen it shift to include older people over the last few years,” says Melinda Opperman, executive vice president of Credit.org, a nonprofit debt-management and budgeting organization in Riverside, Calif.
Debt can be more manageable for young adults looking forward to long careers and rising incomes. Older Americans have less time and earnings power, but still can lighten the burdens of multiple loans.
The Deans, for example, cut their spending, directed bonuses and tax refunds to their debts, and sold their old home. By the time they hit their 60s, all they owed was the mortgage on their new place, now down to a $75,000 balance.
"The weight of the world was taken off our shoulders,” Gail says.
Massive debt can feel paralyzing. But inaction is a bad idea, Opperman says. Based on input from counselors and advisers who have worked with debtors, here are some effective moves you can make.
Step 1: Stop the Bleeding
Start with the obvious: You can't lower debt if you keep adding to it. So don't let your debts increase any further. One proven tactic is putting your credit cards on ice —literally.
Take any cards out of your wallet or purse, put them in a cup of water and stick them in the freezer. The hassle of pulling out this block of ice later on, and thawing it, can help put the brakes on using plastic for an impulse purchase.
Do a lot of online shopping? Visit your go-to sites and delete any credit card or other payment method on file. (No more one-click ordering!) Don't commit to taking on a larger debt, like a car payment, until you have remedied your situation.
Next, look at your finances to see how much money is going out each month and how much is coming in. To do that, sit down with a pad of paper or a blank document on your computer to tally it all up.
"We've had people print out 12 months of bank account statements to figure out where the money is going,” says David Bizé, a financial planner with First Allied Securities in Oklahoma City. Alternatively, use a smartphone app like Mint to track your spending — or use the low-tech option suggested by Opperman: Carry around a small notebook and write down every purchase.
If your cash outflow exceeds your inflow, you now see exactly how much spending you need to cut — or how much more income you need. Going out to eat or drink less often is an easy place to start. Some other ideas:
Your goals for repayment are simple. You want to satisfy creditors, minimize the interest you pay and retire each debt, one by one.
Keeping creditors happy is key: Once you default on a loan, the trouble begins. You can lose a car to repossession or a house to foreclosure; you might also face legal consequences. So calculate the cash you'll need each month to make the minimum payment on each of your debts. With that number, you can build a plan (using the previously mentioned tactics) to free up enough cash each month to keep each debt in good standing.
Next, focus on credit cards, since they have the highest interest rates by far — around 18 percent nationally, compared with about 5 percent for car loans. Experts often suggest one of two methods for reducing card debt when you carry balances on more than one card:
Step 3: Work on the Rest
If you have an auto loan, rethink your transportation needs. If your car is worth more than the loan, consider selling it and buying a lower-cost used car with the proceeds. You'll remove one of your monthly debt obligations, and your insurance costs will drop, too.
Roughly 16 percent of consumer credit reports reveal overdue medical obligations, one study reveals.
Don't sign a car lease, since that's a monthly payment you can't shed. “If you just roll one lease into the next,” Opperman says, “you'll never own free and clear."
Finally, consider just getting rid of a car. With the growing availability of ride-hailing apps and hourly car rentals, this won't necessarily be a sacrifice.
Now turn to any medical debt you may have. Negotiate payment terms with providers, letting them know about the challenges you face. Make it clear that you want to make good on your debt, but you need time.
Investigate the charity and financial-hardship care offered by many hospitals. Medical debt rarely carries interest payments, but it gets handed over to collection agencies relatively quickly. It's much harder to get a bill reduced after it goes into collection, says Mychal Eagleson, a financial planner at An Exceptional Life Financial in Indianapolis.
Next up is student loans. If yours are federally backed, you probably have a low interest rate. Make regular payments until you've paid off your higher-rate debt. Investigate loan consolidation, which can lower both your rate and your monthly payments.
Your mortgage is usually the last spot to direct additional funds. “Just make the payments. Don't put in anything extra,” says Dennis Nolte, a financial planner at Seacoast Investment Services in Winter Park, Fla.
Bolder Steps
Get professional help
What if all the corner cutting, negotiating and strategizing doesn’t help? You might work with a credit counseling agency, which can consolidate and reduce your monthly card payments. Avoid for-profit counselors asking for upfront fees; look for ones belonging to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or the Financial Counseling Association of America.
Bankruptcy is your last resort. An attorney can help you explore the difference between Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which can free you from many impossible debts, and Chapter 13, which can help you set up a workable payment plan. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy stays on your credit record for seven years; a Chapter 7 filing, 10 years. Any loans you can get during that time will be expensive. But that might be the price you pay for a fresh start.
Allergies Getting Worse? Blame the 'Pollen Vortex'
As seasonal allergen counts rise, more adults may have symptoms
by Sarah Elizabeth Adler, AARP, April 26, 2019
It's not your imagination: Year after year, pollen counts are rising, resulting in aggravated symptoms for seasonal allergy sufferers — and increasing the likelihood that previously allergy-free older adults may notice symptoms for the first time in their lives.
"We are seeing increased pollen counts with the change in climate,” says Janna Tuck, M.D., an allergist and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Pollen is not only appearing earlier in the season, she says, but it's sticking around longer, too.
A study published in March in The Lancet Planetary Health found that airborne pollen counts have gone up around the world in recent decades. Analysis of 17 locations across three continents found that the majority have seen an increase in both the amount of pollen and the duration of pollen season over the last 20 years.
That uptick, which can result in what Tuck calls a “pollen vortex,” could mean increased risk for those who are already genetically susceptible to the pollen allergies that plague millions of Americans each spring.
"I see people of both sexes and of all ages presenting with new-onset allergies,” Tuck says. “It's profoundly confusing to people."
According to the National Center for Health Statistic's 2017 National Health Interview Survey, approximately 10 percent of adults ages 65 to 74, and 8 percent of those 75 and older, experience hay fever, another term for pollen allergies, or what experts call “seasonal allergic rhinitis.”
If you're uncertain whether you're experiencing seasonal allergies for the first time, watch for symptoms — such as itchy eyes — that distinguish allergies from other ailments like the cold and flu.
Another allergy hallmark that experts point to is recurrence. If you've noticed that you always seem to catch a lingering cold in May, for example, allergies may be the true culprit.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, grasses are the most common cause of seasonal pollen allergies, which can occur through the spring, summer and fall, depending on the allergen. Ragweed and other weeds, as well as the pollen from certain tree species, including oak, birch and cedar, can also be highly allergenic.
For new and longtime allergy sufferers alike, age-related changes such as drier nasal passages, can affect how symptoms manifest. According to board-certified allergist Ronald Saff, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Florida State University College of Medicine, older adults are more likely to experience postnasal drip, nasal drainage and coughing, while younger people have more frequent sneezing and itchy noses.
As with any ailment, both Tuck and Saff say that any troubling symptoms, or those that don't get better with over-the-counter treatment, warrant a trip to the doctor or allergist.
Is It an Allergy, a Cold or Something Worse?
How to figure out what's behind your sniffles and sneezes
by Sarah Elizabeth Adler, AARP, April 26, 2019
April showers bring spring flowers — as well as sniffles, sneezes and other uncomfortable symptoms for the millions of Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies. But with cold and flu viruses still circulating, how can you be sure what's causing your respiratory symptoms? Here are a few clues
.
The nose knows
A stuffy, runny nose is common for both cold and allergies (not so much for the flu). If your drainage is clear, says Janna Tuck, an allergist and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, that may be a sign of allergies, rather than a cold, which tends to produce greener hues.
Eyes
Eye irritation is a classic allergy symptom. As pollen counts go up, immune cells on the eye's surface can go into overdrive, resulting in eyes that are itchy, watery, swollen and red. A variety of treatments, including lubricating eye drops and medicated eye drops, can offer relief.
Sneezing and sore throats
Sneezing is another allergy hallmark, but a sore throat is more often a cold symptom. And while allergy symptoms tend to ramp up and then stay the same, colds follow a common progression, typically beginning with a sore throat before congestion and coughing set in.
Coughing
Coughing can come with a cold, allergies and (sometimes severely) the flu. If you suspect allergies are making you cough, look out for any accompanying wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness. These symptoms can be a sign of underlying asthma (which is often triggered by allergies), according to board-certified allergist Ronald Saff, an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Florida State University College of Medicine.
Timing and severity
Allergy symptoms will last as long as you're exposed to the allergen, which can be several weeks. They also tend to recur at the same time each year. Cold and flu typically resolve within two weeks, but can make you miserable in the meantime — particularly the flu. Despite their persistence, people with allergies generally still feel well enough to go to work, Saff says.
Fever
If you find yourself with a sudden fever you've probably come down with a late-season flu. Don't delay a visit to a health care provider for treatment (other flu symptoms include body aches and severe fatigue).
The bottom line
Left untreated, allergies can lead to a range of complications, including sinus infections, ear infections and asthma. For any new, persistent or severe symptoms, Tuck and Saff say that visiting your health care provider is never a bad idea.
Etiquette Rules Even Experts Don’t Follow Anymore
Lauren Cahn
The rules of etiquette change with the times. Here’s what you need to know right now.
Etiquette for etiquette’s sake alone
According to etiquette expert Peggy Post, times change, but manners, which she defines as a “sensitive awareness of the feelings of others,” remain constant. “If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use.” The rules of etiquette are there to help smooth social interactions, but they aren’t intended to take the place of “manners.” That’s why etiquette rules that cease serving smooth social interactions eventually cease to exist.
A man must stand to greet a womanIt wasn’t all that long ago that it was proper etiquette for a man to stand when greeting a woman entering the room. But nowadays, standing up is proper etiquette whenever anyone greets anyone. The body language of standing sends a signal to the person you’re greeting that you’re eager to greet that person, etiquette expert, Maralee McKee explains. Consider it “rising to the occasion,” whatever your gender. Once you sit back down, don’t forget these other important table etiquette rules.
Ladies are served firstTraditional etiquette holds that at a seated meal, women are served first, going clockwise around the table. The men are then served, also going clockwise. But as you may or may not have noticed, the restaurant industry is quietly redefining the etiquette surrounding who gets served first to a more gender-neutral and overall efficient model, reports Eater, and that will likely affect the order of service in private homes as well as in restaurants.
Don’t shake a woman’s hand unless she offers
It used to be that “a man has no right to take a lady’s hand until it is offered,” as was noted in one Victorian-age guide to etiquette. And it wasn’t all that long ago that people still followed this rule. In fact as recently as 2000, in GQ’s guide to handshake etiquette, the rule is clearly stated: “What’s proper is for the woman to offer her hand first.” This is no longer the case. “Today, a man does not need to wait for a woman to offer her hand before he extends his. Whether you are a man or a woman, always remember to shake hands,” advises Emily Post. It’s a simple gesture that can make a big impact, just like these little party etiquette rules that will definitely get you invited back.
You have a year to send a wedding gift
It used to be that the rules of etiquette permitted you to wait a full year after attending a wedding to send a wedding gift to the “newlyweds.” And why that was isn’t even clear to etiquette experts, like Thomas Farley who wondered aloud on the Today Show whether the idea was to wait to see if the couple made it through the first year of marriage. Nowadays, it’s proper to send a wedding gift within a month (or sooner!) after the wedding.
The man pays for the meal
Gone are the days of men being obligated to pay for the meals of the women with whom they dine. Going “Dutch” is entirely appropriate, particularly when two equals mutually make a plan. Otherwise, the rule is that whoever does the inviting pays for the meal, according to the Emily Post Institute.
A man must hold the door for a woman
It’s not that chivalry is dead, explains McKee. It’s that nowadays chivalry, like everything else, has moved into a gender-neutral territory. And so now it is no longer customary for a woman to move aside so that a man can open the door, especially if he’s a stranger. Rather, the first person at the door should open it and then hold it open for the next person. And when you do hold the door, be sure to stand in a way that allows for maximum room for others to pass.
No elbows on the table
The “no-elbows-on-the-table” rule made a lot of sense in the days when tables were makeshift trestles covered with cloth because a misplaced elbow might mean the collapse of the table. But those days are long gone. In fact, these days, leaning in toward someone who is speaking, which might including resting on one’s elbow, is a sign of interest and attention. So, you can stop following the “no-elbows” rule… except when you have a plate of food in front of you, according to McKee. Because that’s just inviting a mess.
The man should walk on the left side of a woman
The fact that this etiquette rule even requires a mention in today’s world is astonishing when you consider it stems from the Middle Ages, when knights wore their swords on the left side of their bodies, making it uncomfortable and potentially unsafe for a “lady” to walk beside him on the left. It’s no longer the rule. In fact, there really is no rule about the “sides” that men and women should walk on vis a vis one another..
“Dear sir or madam”
It seems a common theme among all these etiquette rules that are no longer followed is that they make presumptions about gender that can no longer be made. Here is another one. At one time, “Dear sir,” was the default greeting when corresponding with a stranger. Nowadays, it’s almost nonsensical, and adding “or madam” doesn’t help (considering the many possible ways in which people identify). If you don’t have or can’t find a name, use the title of the position (eg. human resource manager) or “To Whom It May Concern,” Grammarly suggests.
Adults addressing other adults as Mr. or Ms.
“We no longer need to call other adults who are approximately our same age by Mr. or Ms. and their last name until they ask us to call them by their first name,” McKee assures anyone who is still in doubt. “Unless it’s your corporate culture to do otherwise, as an adult you’re safe to call someone you’ve just met by their first name.” But please note that this advice is specific to the United States. It may not apply in other countries
Offering toasts requires drinking alcohol
No. Just no. The silly etiquette rule requiring those not drinking alcohol to refrain from raising their glasses in a toast came entirely from superstition, dating back to the Ancient Greeks (involving a river of water symbolizing death). Etiquette experts such as Letitia Baldridge disagree with any such rule, advising, “If you are avoiding alcohol for any reason at all, feel free to hoist your glass of soda, water, or juice. You can also hold it to your lips without sipping, or raise your hand as though holding a glass.” Now that you know which etiquette rules are completely outdated, brush up on the 50 etiquette rules you should know.
Pan-Seared Halibut with Heirloom Tomatoes
Halibut
Ingredients:
Per Serving: 170 calories, 11 g total fat (4 g saturated fat), 47 g carbohydrate, 9 g dietary fiber, 39 g protein, 115 mg sodium.
Heirloom Tomato Topping
Ingredients
Per Serving: 10 calories, 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 1 g carbohydrate, 0 g dietary fiber, 0 g protein, 20 mg sodium.
Garlicky Greens and Mushrooms
Ingredients
Per Serving: 50 calories, 2.5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 6 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 3 g protein, 120 mg sodium.
Herbed Farro
Ingredients
Per Serving: 230 calories, 2.5 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 39 g carbohydrate, 7 g dietary fiber, 10 g protein, 410 mg sodium.
Dish Totals
Per Serving: 460 calories, 11 g total fat (4 g saturated fat), 47 g carbohydrate, 9 g dietary fiber, 39 g protein, 665 mg sodium.
Author: Sonja Goedkoop, MSPH, RD, is the Manager of Nutrition and Wellness at Zesty, Inc. She is passionate about helping others improve their health through diet and physical activity and believes eating nutritious food should be easy and taste great. You can follow her on Twitter @SonjaGoedkoopRD.
(Courtesy AICR)
Learn how to make grilled foil pack recipes (aka hobo packs) for a great taste and easy cleanup. Plus, try our best recipes in foil packs. You no longer have to spend your beautiful summer nights washing dishes or cleaning the grill.
By Wini Moranville and Sheena Chihak
We love foil packs for their wrap-it and cook-it ease (not to mention the fast cleanup—even faster than one-pan recipes because zero pans are required). We also appreciate the way cooking foil packs on the grill keeps what's inside moist and flavorful. Just about anything you can cook on a grill can be grilled in a foil pack, including meat, fish, vegetables, and seafood. Make these grilled foil pack meals to enjoy throughout grilling season.
How to Make Foil Packs
Use these three steps as your master plan for making all kinds of foil packs for dinner. Entrées, side dishes, and even desserts all follow these basic guidelines.
1. Precook if Needed
Cooking hobo packs on the grill is easiest when you choose ingredients that require the same amount of cooking time. That way you can wrap all ingredients together and toss them on the grill. However, some ingredients in foil pack grilling recipes will take longer to cook than others. This is often true with potatoes, which you may have to precook if you're wrapping them up with other quicker-cooking ingredients such as fish.
2. Divide Food Among Foil Sheets
Place one portion of the recipe in the center of a foil sheet that's been cut to the size directed in your recipe. Often, recipes will call for at least a 12-inch square sheet of foil to make foil packs
3. Wrap and Grill
To wrap and seal your hobo foil pack, bring up two opposite edges of foil; seal with a double fold. Fold remaining edges together to enclose, leaving space for steam to build. Grill as directed in your recipe.
Grilled Foil Pack Recipes
Grilled Foil-Pack Philly Cheesesteak Hash
We'll start with our current favorite, grilled steak and potato foil packs. It's our favorite because your entire meal is inside. No need to worry about cooking up veggie kabobs or other grilled side dishes. Plus, cheese. You can never go wrong when you add a slice of cheese.
Luau BBQ Chicken Foil Packs
Sure, grilled chicken is great, but pineapple chicken foil packs add an enticing tropical twist to your grilled dinner. With plenty of veggies packed inside, simply add a side of grilled bread or another starch to round out the meal.
Red Snapper and Vegetables
Here's one of those foil pack dinner ideas we mentioned earlier where a bit of precooking comes in handy. Even though you're cutting tiny new potatoes into quarters, the snapper still cooks much faster. Use the recipe directions for cooking potatoes in the microwave before adding to the foil packs.
Lemon-Veggie Foil Pack
These seasoned veggies prove sometimes simple is best. Just a bit of salt and lemon-pepper season the vegetable medley. A burst of sour from a few slices of lemon tucked inside ensure no one has to suffer through bland side-dish veggies, this recipe will have everyone asking for seconds.
Spiced Apple Hobo Pack
Try this recipe on a late summer or early fall day when apple desserts are all you crave and the grill hasn't been put away for the season. Fresh apples paired with autumn's best spices—apple pie spice, cinnamon, and cloves—creates a fruit-forward dessert that we like to top with whipped cream
( All recipes Courtesy BH&G)
3 Steps to Help You Get out of Debt
How to get control of what you owe
by Ingrid Case, AARP, April 30, 2019
For Gail and Tony Dean, the crisis came as they approached 50. Living in South Florida, they decided to move north, near Orlando, where they bought land and began to build their dream home. Then the debts piled up.
The couple — she worked for Disney, he was in law enforcement — had a construction loan for their new place. The tenant whose rent was covering the mortgage on their old home skipped out. They also carried a second mortgage on the old place, a car loan and credit card debt. In all, they owed more than $250,000.
"It was horrible,” says Gail, now 69. “We were drowning and couldn't find our way out."
Tales like the Deans’ are increasingly common. The share of households led by older Americans that carry debt has risen steadily over the past two decades. The problem is especially bad for households led by people 75 and older. In 1989, 21 percent of these households owed money; by 2016, half of them did. The amount of debt has gone up, too, even after adjusting for inflation.
That's clear to groups that counsel debtors. “It used to be that we had a younger demographic, but we've seen it shift to include older people over the last few years,” says Melinda Opperman, executive vice president of Credit.org, a nonprofit debt-management and budgeting organization in Riverside, Calif.
Debt can be more manageable for young adults looking forward to long careers and rising incomes. Older Americans have less time and earnings power, but still can lighten the burdens of multiple loans.
The Deans, for example, cut their spending, directed bonuses and tax refunds to their debts, and sold their old home. By the time they hit their 60s, all they owed was the mortgage on their new place, now down to a $75,000 balance.
"The weight of the world was taken off our shoulders,” Gail says.
Massive debt can feel paralyzing. But inaction is a bad idea, Opperman says. Based on input from counselors and advisers who have worked with debtors, here are some effective moves you can make.
Step 1: Stop the Bleeding
Start with the obvious: You can't lower debt if you keep adding to it. So don't let your debts increase any further. One proven tactic is putting your credit cards on ice —literally.
Take any cards out of your wallet or purse, put them in a cup of water and stick them in the freezer. The hassle of pulling out this block of ice later on, and thawing it, can help put the brakes on using plastic for an impulse purchase.
Do a lot of online shopping? Visit your go-to sites and delete any credit card or other payment method on file. (No more one-click ordering!) Don't commit to taking on a larger debt, like a car payment, until you have remedied your situation.
Next, look at your finances to see how much money is going out each month and how much is coming in. To do that, sit down with a pad of paper or a blank document on your computer to tally it all up.
"We've had people print out 12 months of bank account statements to figure out where the money is going,” says David Bizé, a financial planner with First Allied Securities in Oklahoma City. Alternatively, use a smartphone app like Mint to track your spending — or use the low-tech option suggested by Opperman: Carry around a small notebook and write down every purchase.
If your cash outflow exceeds your inflow, you now see exactly how much spending you need to cut — or how much more income you need. Going out to eat or drink less often is an easy place to start. Some other ideas:
- Cut off the kids. “People jeopardize their own retirement by giving adult children money, covering cellphone bills, making their car payments or student loan payments,” Opper-man says. “Some have adult children who live with them but are not contributing to the mortgage or other expenses. Show them that you're in the red and you need to stick to a budget."
- Cull your charges. Cancel subscriptions you can do without, whether it's the health club you rarely visit or the 57 TV channels you never watch. Investigate the costs of bundled and unbundled television, internet and telephone services.
- Shop mindfully. “Pay attention,” says Karl Leonard Hicks, a planner at the Leonard Financial Group in Riverside, Calif. “Don't spend on things that don't mean anything to you and don't rationalize that something is necessary when you know it isn't.” Don't even window-shop; “just looking” is a slippery slope.
- Assess your insurance. Increasing the deductibles on your car and home insurance can reduce your premiums dramatically. If you no longer need your life insurance, you might think about taking the cash value of a whole life policy or stop paying premiums on a term policy.
- Moonlight. Consider taking on a short-term “debt repayment” job — a part-time role with a paycheck directed solely toward the balances you owe
Your goals for repayment are simple. You want to satisfy creditors, minimize the interest you pay and retire each debt, one by one.
Keeping creditors happy is key: Once you default on a loan, the trouble begins. You can lose a car to repossession or a house to foreclosure; you might also face legal consequences. So calculate the cash you'll need each month to make the minimum payment on each of your debts. With that number, you can build a plan (using the previously mentioned tactics) to free up enough cash each month to keep each debt in good standing.
Next, focus on credit cards, since they have the highest interest rates by far — around 18 percent nationally, compared with about 5 percent for car loans. Experts often suggest one of two methods for reducing card debt when you carry balances on more than one card:
- The avalanche. Line up your credit card bills from the one with the lowest interest rate to the highest. Make just the minimum monthly payment on all the cards other than the one with the highest interest, then put as much as you can (more than the minimum, that is) on the highest-rate card. When it's paid off, repeat with the card that has the next-highest rate, without cutting the total monthly dollars you spend on reducing debt. This strategy minimizes the interest that you pay.
- The snowball. Put the most you can toward the card with the smallest balance and make minimum payments on the rest. Once you've paid that off, repeat with the next largest balance — again, without reducing your total monthly card payments. By attacking the smallest debt, you'll speed up the time it takes to get that first satisfying feeling of cutting one of your balances to zero. “It's a big boost when you can start scratching accounts off your list,” Opperman says.
Step 3: Work on the Rest
If you have an auto loan, rethink your transportation needs. If your car is worth more than the loan, consider selling it and buying a lower-cost used car with the proceeds. You'll remove one of your monthly debt obligations, and your insurance costs will drop, too.
Roughly 16 percent of consumer credit reports reveal overdue medical obligations, one study reveals.
Don't sign a car lease, since that's a monthly payment you can't shed. “If you just roll one lease into the next,” Opperman says, “you'll never own free and clear."
Finally, consider just getting rid of a car. With the growing availability of ride-hailing apps and hourly car rentals, this won't necessarily be a sacrifice.
Now turn to any medical debt you may have. Negotiate payment terms with providers, letting them know about the challenges you face. Make it clear that you want to make good on your debt, but you need time.
Investigate the charity and financial-hardship care offered by many hospitals. Medical debt rarely carries interest payments, but it gets handed over to collection agencies relatively quickly. It's much harder to get a bill reduced after it goes into collection, says Mychal Eagleson, a financial planner at An Exceptional Life Financial in Indianapolis.
Next up is student loans. If yours are federally backed, you probably have a low interest rate. Make regular payments until you've paid off your higher-rate debt. Investigate loan consolidation, which can lower both your rate and your monthly payments.
Your mortgage is usually the last spot to direct additional funds. “Just make the payments. Don't put in anything extra,” says Dennis Nolte, a financial planner at Seacoast Investment Services in Winter Park, Fla.
Bolder Steps
Get professional help
What if all the corner cutting, negotiating and strategizing doesn’t help? You might work with a credit counseling agency, which can consolidate and reduce your monthly card payments. Avoid for-profit counselors asking for upfront fees; look for ones belonging to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or the Financial Counseling Association of America.
Bankruptcy is your last resort. An attorney can help you explore the difference between Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which can free you from many impossible debts, and Chapter 13, which can help you set up a workable payment plan. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy stays on your credit record for seven years; a Chapter 7 filing, 10 years. Any loans you can get during that time will be expensive. But that might be the price you pay for a fresh start.
Allergies Getting Worse? Blame the 'Pollen Vortex'
As seasonal allergen counts rise, more adults may have symptoms
by Sarah Elizabeth Adler, AARP, April 26, 2019
It's not your imagination: Year after year, pollen counts are rising, resulting in aggravated symptoms for seasonal allergy sufferers — and increasing the likelihood that previously allergy-free older adults may notice symptoms for the first time in their lives.
"We are seeing increased pollen counts with the change in climate,” says Janna Tuck, M.D., an allergist and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Pollen is not only appearing earlier in the season, she says, but it's sticking around longer, too.
A study published in March in The Lancet Planetary Health found that airborne pollen counts have gone up around the world in recent decades. Analysis of 17 locations across three continents found that the majority have seen an increase in both the amount of pollen and the duration of pollen season over the last 20 years.
That uptick, which can result in what Tuck calls a “pollen vortex,” could mean increased risk for those who are already genetically susceptible to the pollen allergies that plague millions of Americans each spring.
"I see people of both sexes and of all ages presenting with new-onset allergies,” Tuck says. “It's profoundly confusing to people."
According to the National Center for Health Statistic's 2017 National Health Interview Survey, approximately 10 percent of adults ages 65 to 74, and 8 percent of those 75 and older, experience hay fever, another term for pollen allergies, or what experts call “seasonal allergic rhinitis.”
If you're uncertain whether you're experiencing seasonal allergies for the first time, watch for symptoms — such as itchy eyes — that distinguish allergies from other ailments like the cold and flu.
Another allergy hallmark that experts point to is recurrence. If you've noticed that you always seem to catch a lingering cold in May, for example, allergies may be the true culprit.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, grasses are the most common cause of seasonal pollen allergies, which can occur through the spring, summer and fall, depending on the allergen. Ragweed and other weeds, as well as the pollen from certain tree species, including oak, birch and cedar, can also be highly allergenic.
For new and longtime allergy sufferers alike, age-related changes such as drier nasal passages, can affect how symptoms manifest. According to board-certified allergist Ronald Saff, M.D., an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Florida State University College of Medicine, older adults are more likely to experience postnasal drip, nasal drainage and coughing, while younger people have more frequent sneezing and itchy noses.
As with any ailment, both Tuck and Saff say that any troubling symptoms, or those that don't get better with over-the-counter treatment, warrant a trip to the doctor or allergist.
Is It an Allergy, a Cold or Something Worse?
How to figure out what's behind your sniffles and sneezes
by Sarah Elizabeth Adler, AARP, April 26, 2019
April showers bring spring flowers — as well as sniffles, sneezes and other uncomfortable symptoms for the millions of Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies. But with cold and flu viruses still circulating, how can you be sure what's causing your respiratory symptoms? Here are a few clues
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The nose knows
A stuffy, runny nose is common for both cold and allergies (not so much for the flu). If your drainage is clear, says Janna Tuck, an allergist and spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, that may be a sign of allergies, rather than a cold, which tends to produce greener hues.
Eyes
Eye irritation is a classic allergy symptom. As pollen counts go up, immune cells on the eye's surface can go into overdrive, resulting in eyes that are itchy, watery, swollen and red. A variety of treatments, including lubricating eye drops and medicated eye drops, can offer relief.
Sneezing and sore throats
Sneezing is another allergy hallmark, but a sore throat is more often a cold symptom. And while allergy symptoms tend to ramp up and then stay the same, colds follow a common progression, typically beginning with a sore throat before congestion and coughing set in.
Coughing
Coughing can come with a cold, allergies and (sometimes severely) the flu. If you suspect allergies are making you cough, look out for any accompanying wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness. These symptoms can be a sign of underlying asthma (which is often triggered by allergies), according to board-certified allergist Ronald Saff, an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Florida State University College of Medicine.
Timing and severity
Allergy symptoms will last as long as you're exposed to the allergen, which can be several weeks. They also tend to recur at the same time each year. Cold and flu typically resolve within two weeks, but can make you miserable in the meantime — particularly the flu. Despite their persistence, people with allergies generally still feel well enough to go to work, Saff says.
Fever
If you find yourself with a sudden fever you've probably come down with a late-season flu. Don't delay a visit to a health care provider for treatment (other flu symptoms include body aches and severe fatigue).
The bottom line
Left untreated, allergies can lead to a range of complications, including sinus infections, ear infections and asthma. For any new, persistent or severe symptoms, Tuck and Saff say that visiting your health care provider is never a bad idea.
Etiquette Rules Even Experts Don’t Follow Anymore
Lauren Cahn
The rules of etiquette change with the times. Here’s what you need to know right now.
Etiquette for etiquette’s sake alone
According to etiquette expert Peggy Post, times change, but manners, which she defines as a “sensitive awareness of the feelings of others,” remain constant. “If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter which fork you use.” The rules of etiquette are there to help smooth social interactions, but they aren’t intended to take the place of “manners.” That’s why etiquette rules that cease serving smooth social interactions eventually cease to exist.
A man must stand to greet a womanIt wasn’t all that long ago that it was proper etiquette for a man to stand when greeting a woman entering the room. But nowadays, standing up is proper etiquette whenever anyone greets anyone. The body language of standing sends a signal to the person you’re greeting that you’re eager to greet that person, etiquette expert, Maralee McKee explains. Consider it “rising to the occasion,” whatever your gender. Once you sit back down, don’t forget these other important table etiquette rules.
Ladies are served firstTraditional etiquette holds that at a seated meal, women are served first, going clockwise around the table. The men are then served, also going clockwise. But as you may or may not have noticed, the restaurant industry is quietly redefining the etiquette surrounding who gets served first to a more gender-neutral and overall efficient model, reports Eater, and that will likely affect the order of service in private homes as well as in restaurants.
Don’t shake a woman’s hand unless she offers
It used to be that “a man has no right to take a lady’s hand until it is offered,” as was noted in one Victorian-age guide to etiquette. And it wasn’t all that long ago that people still followed this rule. In fact as recently as 2000, in GQ’s guide to handshake etiquette, the rule is clearly stated: “What’s proper is for the woman to offer her hand first.” This is no longer the case. “Today, a man does not need to wait for a woman to offer her hand before he extends his. Whether you are a man or a woman, always remember to shake hands,” advises Emily Post. It’s a simple gesture that can make a big impact, just like these little party etiquette rules that will definitely get you invited back.
You have a year to send a wedding gift
It used to be that the rules of etiquette permitted you to wait a full year after attending a wedding to send a wedding gift to the “newlyweds.” And why that was isn’t even clear to etiquette experts, like Thomas Farley who wondered aloud on the Today Show whether the idea was to wait to see if the couple made it through the first year of marriage. Nowadays, it’s proper to send a wedding gift within a month (or sooner!) after the wedding.
The man pays for the meal
Gone are the days of men being obligated to pay for the meals of the women with whom they dine. Going “Dutch” is entirely appropriate, particularly when two equals mutually make a plan. Otherwise, the rule is that whoever does the inviting pays for the meal, according to the Emily Post Institute.
A man must hold the door for a woman
It’s not that chivalry is dead, explains McKee. It’s that nowadays chivalry, like everything else, has moved into a gender-neutral territory. And so now it is no longer customary for a woman to move aside so that a man can open the door, especially if he’s a stranger. Rather, the first person at the door should open it and then hold it open for the next person. And when you do hold the door, be sure to stand in a way that allows for maximum room for others to pass.
No elbows on the table
The “no-elbows-on-the-table” rule made a lot of sense in the days when tables were makeshift trestles covered with cloth because a misplaced elbow might mean the collapse of the table. But those days are long gone. In fact, these days, leaning in toward someone who is speaking, which might including resting on one’s elbow, is a sign of interest and attention. So, you can stop following the “no-elbows” rule… except when you have a plate of food in front of you, according to McKee. Because that’s just inviting a mess.
The man should walk on the left side of a woman
The fact that this etiquette rule even requires a mention in today’s world is astonishing when you consider it stems from the Middle Ages, when knights wore their swords on the left side of their bodies, making it uncomfortable and potentially unsafe for a “lady” to walk beside him on the left. It’s no longer the rule. In fact, there really is no rule about the “sides” that men and women should walk on vis a vis one another..
“Dear sir or madam”
It seems a common theme among all these etiquette rules that are no longer followed is that they make presumptions about gender that can no longer be made. Here is another one. At one time, “Dear sir,” was the default greeting when corresponding with a stranger. Nowadays, it’s almost nonsensical, and adding “or madam” doesn’t help (considering the many possible ways in which people identify). If you don’t have or can’t find a name, use the title of the position (eg. human resource manager) or “To Whom It May Concern,” Grammarly suggests.
Adults addressing other adults as Mr. or Ms.
“We no longer need to call other adults who are approximately our same age by Mr. or Ms. and their last name until they ask us to call them by their first name,” McKee assures anyone who is still in doubt. “Unless it’s your corporate culture to do otherwise, as an adult you’re safe to call someone you’ve just met by their first name.” But please note that this advice is specific to the United States. It may not apply in other countries
Offering toasts requires drinking alcohol
No. Just no. The silly etiquette rule requiring those not drinking alcohol to refrain from raising their glasses in a toast came entirely from superstition, dating back to the Ancient Greeks (involving a river of water symbolizing death). Etiquette experts such as Letitia Baldridge disagree with any such rule, advising, “If you are avoiding alcohol for any reason at all, feel free to hoist your glass of soda, water, or juice. You can also hold it to your lips without sipping, or raise your hand as though holding a glass.” Now that you know which etiquette rules are completely outdated, brush up on the 50 etiquette rules you should know.
Pan-Seared Halibut with Heirloom Tomatoes
Halibut
Ingredients:
- Two 5 oz halibut fillets
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. butter
- 1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
- Juice of ½ lemon
Per Serving: 170 calories, 11 g total fat (4 g saturated fat), 47 g carbohydrate, 9 g dietary fiber, 39 g protein, 115 mg sodium.
Heirloom Tomato Topping
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb. heirloom tomatoes, chopped (juices saved)(or sub regular tomatoes)
- 1 tsp. fresh basil, chopped
- 1 tsp. shallot, minced
- 1 tsp. chives, chopped
- 1 tsp. white balsamic vinegar (or sub regular balsamic)
- 1/2 tsp. olive oil
- Dash of salt
- Black pepper, to taste
- Combine the tomatoes and their juices with the shallots, garlic, vinegar, chives, basil, and olive oil in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Pat dry the halibut fillets with paper towels to remove extra moisture, and season with salt and pepper.
- In a medium nonstick skillet, heat 1 tsp of olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the halibut and cook until browned on the bottom (or skin has turned crispy), about 5 minutes.
- Flip the fillets and add the butter, lemon and thyme to the skillet; spoon the liquid over the fillets as they cook, about 2 minutes longer.
- Add farro and greens to plates (recipes below).
- Transfer the halibut to plates over the grains and greens, and finish by spooning 2 Tbsp of the the tomato mixture on top of each filet.
Per Serving: 10 calories, 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 1 g carbohydrate, 0 g dietary fiber, 0 g protein, 20 mg sodium.
Garlicky Greens and Mushrooms
Ingredients
- 1/2 bunch Swiss chard, chopped
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 1-2 cloves garlic (depending on your preference)
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- Salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- Sprinkle of crushed red pepper (optional)
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large non-stick skillet.
- Add garlic and crushed red pepper (if using) to pan and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add mushrooms and chard and cook, stirring frequently, for an additional 5 minutes.
- Add spinach and cook until just wilted, about 1 minute longer.
- Flip the fillets and add the butter, lemon and thyme to the skillet; spoon the liquid over the fillets as they cook, about 2 minutes longer.
- Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Per Serving: 50 calories, 2.5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 6 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 3 g protein, 120 mg sodium.
Herbed Farro
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup farro
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth (or sub vegetable broth or water)
- 1 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves, chopped
- Bring broth, garlic and herbs to a boil.
- Add farro, cover, and reduce heat to simmer.
- Cook until water is absorbed, about 40 min.
Per Serving: 230 calories, 2.5 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 39 g carbohydrate, 7 g dietary fiber, 10 g protein, 410 mg sodium.
Dish Totals
Per Serving: 460 calories, 11 g total fat (4 g saturated fat), 47 g carbohydrate, 9 g dietary fiber, 39 g protein, 665 mg sodium.
Author: Sonja Goedkoop, MSPH, RD, is the Manager of Nutrition and Wellness at Zesty, Inc. She is passionate about helping others improve their health through diet and physical activity and believes eating nutritious food should be easy and taste great. You can follow her on Twitter @SonjaGoedkoopRD.
(Courtesy AICR)
