12 ways to spend Social Security increase
Retirees, if you haven't already heard the good news, you'll be getting more from
Protect your identity. Scammers and identity thieves often target seniors. One way to prevent your personal information from falling into the wrong hands is to shred statements and other documents containing vital details such as account numbers after you no longer need them. A good cross-cut shredder costs about
Modify your home to help you age in place. You can add a grab bar in a bathroom for about
Make a wise investment. Kiplinger recently pinpointed nine stocks with significant growth potential. Among our picks is Facebook, which is now trading at about
Take a defensive driving class. You can update your driving skills and perhaps even earn an auto insurance discount by taking a refresher course from organizations such as
Buy discounted gift cards. You can score instant savings by using discounted gift cards to purchase things you regularly buy. Gift card resale sites buy unwanted cards and sell them at a discount to face value. For example, we recently found a
Purchase a home safe. You need a secure place to store important documents, such as a will. A fireproof safe is the answer. We saw a two-hour fireproof Hollon safe for sale on ValueSafes.com starting at
Write a will. If you die without a will, state law will determine who gets what from your estate. It doesn't have to cost much to craft this important document. Downloadable forms are available from websites such as Nolo.com, which sells the Quicken WillMaker Plus for
Buy a tablet computer. These lightweight, inexpensive alternatives to laptop computers can offer you access to the Web so you can send emails, keep up with family and friends on Facebook and even watch movies. Kiplinger's pick for "best tech value" for a tablet is the Amazon Fire HD 6. The 8GB model sells for
Fill gaps in your homeowners policy. Most standard homeowners policies don't include sewage-backup coverage, but you can purchase a rider that will pay for
Fund a Roth IRA for your grandchild. Give your grandchild a jump- start on retirement savings by helping him or her open a Roth IRA. Children with earned income from a job - even if it's from lawn mowing or baby-sitting - can contribute to a Roth. Schwab will let a parent open a custodial IRA for a minor for just
Prepare for an emergency. Stock up before bad weather strikes so you can get by if the power goes out. For example, the Duracell DPP- 300EP Powerpack 300 (about
Preserve old photos. Scanning photos allows you to create digital copies that you can easily archive and share with family. Good scanners start at about
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