All pensions are annuities, but not all annuities are pensions. What’s the difference?
Pensions offer retirees life income and benefits can be shared with a spouse only. At retirement most employer plans will offer a single choice from “six standard payout options.” Option one pays the most money monthly, but only to the participant until death; options two through six pay less, with the spouse getting a continuing fractional amount until death. Live long, get a lot. Die together a day after retirement begins, payments cease. Providers smile when liability ends and plans retain all your unpaid money.
Annuities offer more choices, to include life and time specific payouts. Beneficiaries other than spousal can also receive monetary benefits. Most important, every provider pays out at a different rate based on each $1,000 of value in the plan. To be able to shop for an annuity provider with highest rates can mean as much as double the income each month from the same plan balance. Bank savers shop interest rates. Retirees should shop payout rates with all structured settlements to see who will pay the most for life.
Get information from several qualified annuity specialists. This irrevocable decision lasts a lifetime.
SEE THE NEED AND THEN PROCEED, TO BE PREPARED.
Emergency Preparedness – Pensions and Lifetime Income Annuities.
December 14th, 2006Emergency preparedness – The Myths of Lifetime Guarantees.
December 14th, 2006“Buy this one,” the wife said. “It’s only $30 more, but it has a lifetime guarantee.”
“Whose lifetime,” her husband questioned? “I’m 78 and have lived 3 years more than I was suppose to.”
A lifetime guarantee is generally considered to be no longer than 10 years for any manufactured product. Of course, certificates with fine print can exclude important components, and unless you retain sales slips mere possession may not be sufficient to prove ownership. Warrantees expire generally when 80% or less of the life expectancy of an item has been reached. In most cases, ‘new and improved’ will have made your model obsolete by the time it dies, especially if it is an electric or electronic product.
And what’s to say that the dealer, distributor, or factory will still be around when you need them? A most amazing fact is that 95% of all new businesses in the US fail in the first 5 years. Even long established reputable companies appear in the newspaper over night for being in trouble. As a mechanic said: “It’s hard to break a drop-forged wrench, whether I buy cheap or expensive guaranteed tools. I’m more likely to loose it first. I’ll buy two cheap ones, and then get the new and improved one in a couple of years. It saves me money and my temper when I mow the lawn and find my wrench right where my kid left it years ago.
For more information on tools, contact (your emergency preparedness specialist).
SEE THE NEED AND THEN PROCEED, TO BE PREPARED.
Bigger May Not Be Better
September 30th, 2006Emergency Preparedness – Bigger May Not Be Better.
“Perhaps the only reason you are taking this class is so that you learn to read labels,” said Mr. Bench, my Provo High School chemistry teacher. I hated chemistry, other than what I’m about to share.
On a can of spray paint, the fine print read: l.5% pigment, and 98.5% inert ingredients. Another can had 3.5% pigment and 96.5% inert ingredients (“inert” ingredient means “water”).
He said: “These cans cost the same, but one holds more than twice the paint than the other. It gets worse with weed killer. This gallon of ready to use spray has .5% active ingredient, with 99.5% inert, but this pint has 35% active and 65% inert ingredients, and only costs twice as much. Are you willing to add your own water to get over 4 1/3 gallons of spray that will store in 1/8th the space, and costs less than 1/4 as much?”
I think at that moment is when I became a bargain shopper. I learned that “more can be less.”
My two favorite Ice Creams were on sale at the same price this week. But one has reduced the size of their container from ½ gallon to 1.75 quarts. I only have one favorite Ice Cream now. Hey, no brainer! ! !
For more information contact (your emergency preparedness specialist).
SEE THE NEED AND THEN PROCEED, TO BE PREPARED.
The 25-Cent Breakfast, by THERMOS
September 30th, 2006Emergency Preparedness – The 25-Cent Breakfast, by THERMOS.
Grains and legumes can easily be cooked while you sleep, if you know this simple procedure. Only grain, a 32 oz. wide-mouth Stainless Thermos bottle, and boiling water are needed. Follow these steps:
- While boiling 3 cups of water, put ¾ cup of grain(s) in the Thermos.
- Add ¾ teaspoon salt and 1 Tbs. sweetener (sugar, molasses, honey, syrup, etc.)
- Pour in boiling water up to ½ inch of the bottom of the screwed-on cap, and shake the Thermos.
** If the grain(s) or legumes(s) are not fully cooked after six hours (legumes may not be) simply drain the water off and replace with new boiling water, and a little salt. Thermos cooking possibilities are endless.
With a cup of sugar your cereal can taste just like store bought. Better yet, add raisons, nuts, and other dried fruits for different texture, flavors, and food value instead of extra sugar. It will curb hyperactivity.
For more information contact (your emergency preparedness specialist).
SEE THE NEED AND THEN PROCEED, TO BE PREPARED.
The 25-Cent Breakfast
September 30th, 2006Emergency Preparedness – The 25-Cent Breakfast.
When you pay big money for prepared breakfast cereals, why not consider 2-3 times the nutrition for less than 1/10th the cost as incentive to change. Instead of eating Wheaties, Rice Krispies, and Cheerios, whole or rolled cereal grains are an easy substitute. Wheat, rice, oats, barley, millet, rye, triticale, buckwheat, and even legumes are as simple as 1,2,3 to put on the table.
- Get a stainless steel, 32 oz. wide-mouth THERMOS jug. . . so you can get a spoon into it.
- Learn how to boil water – on the stove, in a microwave oven, or Dutch oven.
- Prepare breakfast before you go to bed so you can sleep while it is cooking.
Breakfast is ready when you are, for pennies a serving. In the THERMOS, you can even take it with you.
Prepared cereals cost around $3 a pound; basic raw grains 15 cents. Now you can afford store milk, too.
For more information contact (your emergency preparedness specialist).
SEE THE NEED AND THEN PROCEED, TO BE PREPARED.
Tool Time
September 30th, 2006Emergency Preparedness – Tool Time.
“The hot water was dripping, so we called a plumber. Can we send you the bill,” asked the renter?
“You called in a plumber on a Sunday night because of a drip,” replied the landlord?
For well under $110 anyone can buy a $30 wrench and a $.25 washer to fix a faucet drip problem. Thereafter, the wrench can be put to other excellent uses, saving its purchase price countless times.
Home heating, cooling, lighting, sprinkler, disposal, drainage, laundry, dishwasher, stereo, pet, telephone, alarm, furniture, carpet, window, computer, wall, door, floor, chimney, roof, indoor, outdoor, cabinet, musical instrument, battery operated, small engine powered, recreation, automobile, bicycle, tricycle, moped, roller blade, etc., etc., etc., items need tweaking or repair at times. Having pliers, screwdrivers, saws, wrenches, hammers, glue gun – simple tools to get the job done is a worthy investment. If the first experience costs $30 for a tool, $1.50 for parts, and three hours time to do what a professional could in 20 minutes, do-it-yourselfers become self-reliant for life in that thing – if you don’t loose the tool. Best free education is at your local home center, hardware store, or the neighbor that had your problem last week.
YOU CAN DO IT. Buy your wife a lawn edger for her next birthday, and be prepared to use it.
For more information contact (your emergency preparedness specialist).
SEE THE NEED AND THEN PROCEED, TO BE PREPARED.
Thinking Outside the Box?
September 30th, 2006Emergency Preparedness – Thinking Outside The Box?
“A rut is an open-end grave,” said A. Theodore Tuttle to a young missionary in South America. “Do something interesting and different every day of your life, that you have never done before,” he counseled.
In a techno society, imagination is the greatest ingredient to innovation. But, before you start thinking outside your preparedness box, think about what is in it. Item #1 – self-sufficiency is having the where with all to overcome life’s unexpected disruptions and continue providing living essentials, and Item #2 – response-ability says you have a plan and can get immediately into action to meet those needs.
“I have my 72 hour kit,” is a common comment. However, what will you have to work with after 72 hours? The home preparedness life style suggests that an emergency could last for more than a week, month, or a year. “If you faced a year without a harvest, how much food would you store,” asked a consultant? Can you see the need for a minimum two year supply to get through to the next harvest?”
‘Set and forget’ programs spoil, or waste on the shelf. Everyday is practice day for dooms day. Before you start thinking outside the box, use all you have in your box. THEN, GET A BIGGER BOX.
For more information contact (your emergency preparedness specialist).
SEE THE NEED AND THEN PROCEED, TO BE PREPARED.
Would You Like Calamari or Squid?
September 30th, 2006Emergency Preparedness – Would You Like Calamari or Squid?
Ever since Generic Brands came on the scene, product sellers have been pitching product quality more and more in major brand ads. In the world of marketing, many manufacturers produce multiple labels applied to exactly the same product. While working for two major canned goods manufacturers the labeler operator put five different labels on the same can of green beans, and three labels on identical dehydrated fruits and vegetables. Each label was marketed by one or more organizations and, of course, at as many different prices. It would appear that some manufacturers want to be their own competition.
One man’s bait squid is another man’s expensive restaurant calamari. Price per pound and sales pitch are the only differences. “Organically grown and untouched by human hands” may not be a true quality.
How can you tell what is good, better, and best? Let your taste buds do the talking. “Prove all things and hold fast to that which is true.” There are highbrow, lowbrow, and bargain basement stores. Some shoppers feel they need to pay the high price for quality. I’d rather find it “at the lowest dollar cost.”
Get the whole family involved in bargain hunting, and share discovered resources. You can pay $.25 each for chicken nuggets or as little as $.05 a piece. It only depends on where you buy them.
For more information contact (your emergency preparedness specialist).
SEE THE NEED AND THEN PROCEED, TO BE PREPARED.
“Living Better on Less” DVD Seminar
May 15th, 2006A complete 2 hour DVD on “Living Better on Less” by W. Glen Weeks is available for mail ordering. The cost is $15 per DVD. This cost covers materials and mailing expenses only. To order please send a check or money order to:
W. Glen Weeks
C/O Cory Weeks
2843 W. Allred Circle
Salt Lake City, UT 84118
* Please allow between 2 and 3 weeks for delivery.
Index of Articles
May 15th, 2006NEWSPAPER RELEASE INDEX
* Articles can be received (3 articles per page / 3 pages per file) by e-mail from wglenweeks@comcast.net
Water Storage – the #l strategic resource.
(Water, Purpose)
Water Storage – the (4) elements of water storage.
(Food, Perspective)
Smart Shopping –Comparison-shopping to guard expenses.
(Water, Process)
Value – the price of anything is . . .
(Perspective, Principle)
Old Habits are Hard to Break – the drive-up window.
(Food, Perspective)
Diet – Store what you eat. Eat what you store.
(Food, Principle)
Vanity – Luxuries become the next generations’ necessities.
(Perspective, Principle)
A Word of Wisdom – The staff of life is about roughage and regularity.
(Food, Principle)
Getting Started – Purchase a case of something on sale.
(Food, Principle)
Pain Remedies – Food, clothing, (debt) freedom, daily scripture study, and inventory.
(Process, Perspective)
Emergency Procedures – Expect change.
(Transportation, Perspective)
Be Safe – Anything out of place is FOD.
(Safety)
When the Light Switch Fails PARTY!!!
(Perspective)
Poison Control – Imagine having to forage for all your needs.
(Food, Principle)
Servants or Suckered – Free forever to act and not be acted upon.
(Perspective)
Medical Moments – The powers of faith, or the skills of physicians.
(First Aid, Principle)
Something is Better than Nothing – Having enough and to spare.
(Perspective)
Let Your Light So Shine – Kenneth Weight taught me (gardening) by his example.
(Food, Principle)
Personal Welfare = Hard Work – The Bishop’s Storehouse offers . . .
(Perspective, Principle)
Funk – Do something and do it now for your preparedness program.
(Perspective, Principle)
Getting Out of Debt – Adding just $100 a month to your house payment.
(Finances)
Tools of the Trade – Useful tools save time and money.
(Perspective, Finances)
LDS Employment Resource Center – People helping people through networking.
(Principle, Employment)
Old Fashioned Goodness – Learning self-reliant head, hand, and heart skills.
(Food, Principle)
Home, Home Goodness, and Home Runs – Do it, do it right, and do it right now.
(Principle)
Mayday – Pachyderm 37 is Going Down – Will we do the things we pray for?
(Perspective, Principle)
Living in a Car – No bills, no need for income.
(Principle, Finances)
Life or Death – Life is a process, not a profession.
(Principle)
On Roughage and Ammunition Storage – Ye shall not fear if you are on a high roughage diet.
(Food)
Brown Enriched Flour – Insects are 9 times more nutritious than beef.
(Food)
Heat, Light, Moisture and Air – Windowless north side insulated basement storage rooms.
(Food)
Potty Talk – Waterless sewage disposal procedures.
(Sanitation)
Armed Services – In Switzerland every home is a fortress.
(Principle)
Being Qualified in the Workplace – Landing a 747 in the Baghdad Airport war zone.
(Employment)
Little Understood Miracles About Honey – The basic five storage items.
(Food)
Go Bananas – Home dried bananas are the best.
(Food)
Go Bananas – More — Banana candy recipe.
(Food)
Comfort Zones – Perspiration can kill you in cold weather.
(Clothing, Shelter)
Weather Report: Still and Clear – Layering, good materials and calm control moisture.
(Clothing)
“Oh Rats” – Critter control after natural disasters.
(Food)
‘Unto What Were Ye Created?’ – Be self sufficient as a creator. . . for eternity.
(Principle)
Getting Along in Life – Home is the place to create goodness in all areas.
(Principle)
Win a Million Dollars – Luck never makes a winner, work does.
(Finances, Employment)
Handywomen – Learn how to maintain a home while you still have him.
(Principle)
Fire and Water – Think through equipment and fire safety procedures.
(Safety)
WMDs – Food has been the most effective WMD in history.
(Food)
The Full Meal Deal – Invitation to the Feast of Fat Things.
(Principle)
Obsessive Compulsive – It’s an Attitude. – Our abilities do not define who we really are.
(Principle)
Aviation Mystery: Who First Hovered? – God keeps us straight and level.
(Principle)
Simple or Complex – Take Your Pick — Standard Works standards work.
(Principle)
Procrastination – No one becomes the perfect gardener overnight.
(Principle)
Who Wants to be a Millionaire? – At 4% inflation prices double in 18 years.
(Finances)
A Year’s Supply? – Hummingbird or human, how much is enough?
(Food)
Living With a Mean Mother – Alaska’s earthquakes and the need for preparedness.
(Safety)
Debt Danger Signal Quiz – 10 questions on debt attitudes.
(Finances)
Shrinking Net Worth – Equity losses from inflation, devastation, and debt.
(Finances)
Tools or Toys? – Keep your costs low and your life uncluttered.
(Finances)
The Almighty Dollar – The domestic and Eurodollar supplies are devaluing the dollar.
(Finances)
One Nation Under God – You are only as free as your resources allow you to be.
(Principle)
Vote, To Be “One Nation Under God.” – Freedom depends on our actions.
(Principle)
Sweet and Sour Interest – Early repayment is your best investment.
(Finances)
The Staff of Life is Good and Cheap – Recipe for Microwave Granola.
(Food)
Amzanig, huh? – The collecting is more important than the order of things.
(Perspective, Principle)
Gold or Dross? – A prepared peculiar people vs. the misunderstanding world.
(Principle)
AAA Planning For the Highway of Life – Every journey requires a play.
(Perspective)
Location, Location, Location – Indoor or outdoor gardening is a useful hobby.
(Food)
The Wisdom of the Ages – Word of Wisdom do’s and exercise.
(Food, Fitness)
Be Prepared in your Leadership Role – Prepared church members are one in a million.
(Principle)
Déjà vu, All Over Again – World conflicts are always religious. We must do His will.
(Principle)
Add A Little Spice to Your Life – Store spices for good eating pleasure.
(Food)
The Dept. of Repetitive Redundancy Dept. – Preparedness = home systems redundancy.
(Shelter, Perspective)
A Perfect Love Casteth Out all Fear – Leaders: use your ward specialist to teach skills.
(Principle)
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure – Timely PM for yard and cars.
(Food, Perspective)
Employment Times – They Are a Changin – Future cast for the job market.
(Employment)
Love or Money? – Marshall Field sought these employee qualities. Get to work.
(Employment)
Sunshine Has A Price – Florida hurricanes, and will you have enough and to spare?
(Shelter)
Behold Your Little Ones – Kids die for lack of opportunity. Take every work opportunity.
(Principle, Employment)
Support Our Troops – The great work of the USO. The military and missionaries.
(Safety, Perspective, Principle)
Combat Multipliers – Deacons are essential communicators if prepared with 72 hr kits.
(First Aid, Communication, Safety)
First Responder Kits – Eight essentials of 72-hour kits in the next 8 articles.
(Food, Clothing, Shelter, First Aid, Communication, Safety)
#1 Water – Carry it and know how to process raw water.
(Water)
#2 Food – Low or high tech foods, be sure to have enough.
(Food)
#3 Clothing – Moisture and salt are your enemies. Have socks and clean underwear.
(Clothing)
#4 Shelter – Hooded poncho or motor home, consider heat for warmth and cooking.
(Shelter)
#5 Sanitation – Stay clean with disposables.
(Sanitation)
#6 First Aid – Get supplies where the paramedics do.
(First Aid)
#7 Communication – Get into a net with know how and equipment.
(Communication)
#8 Transportation – If you can’t call for help, be able to go get it.
(Transportation)
72-Hour Emergency First Responder Kits – Conclusions — You are on your own.
(Principle)
Self Sufficiency or Social Security? – Pretax programs under personal control beat FICA.
(Finances)
Who Needs the PBGC? – Under funded programs are no guarantees.
(Principle, Finances)
Taxes, Value and Cost – Value added taxes effects and adding equity at low cost.
(Finances)
“That the church may stand independent above all other creatures” – thru prepared members.
(Principle)
Feel Good Debt; Good, Better, and Best – Invest in self first and be debt free.
(Finances)
The 50 Year Home Mortgage is On Its Way – Mortgage interest calculator and website.
(Finances)
Family Values – Teaching children to be financially diligent and plan expenses.
(Finances)
Chill Out – Wayne Dyer’s thoughts on eliminating stress.
(Principle)
What Food “Sell-By” Dates Really Mean – Let your eyes and nose indicate freshness.
(Food)
The Large Print Giveth, and the Fine Print Taketh Away – Warning about prepayment penalties in debt contracts.
(Finances)
Born 1930 to 1960 – Check that your immunizations are up to date.
(Fitness)
Diets are Really Getting Ugly – Announcing the new Gay and Lesbian Cable Channel.
(Food, Fitness)
Make a Dirt Stove – Tin can technology with dirt and Jet A/B kerosene.
(Food)
Take the Stairs, Not the Elevator – Low tech alternatives in an emergency mean survivability.
(Perspective, Fitness)
What is the Definition of Globalization? – When systems break down, have enough storage.
(Food, Perspective)
“I’ve got all the money I’ll ever need, if I die by 4 o’clock” – Money can’t buy everything.
(Food, Finances)
Command and Control – This Baby Ruth will keep me in command and under control.
(Process, Perspective)
“Live From the Gulf Coast” – The Mormons and LDS give Hurricane Katrina service.
(Perspective, Principal)
Real Relief or Donation Scam? – Fraudulent websites promoting hurricane victim relief.
(Perspective, Finances)
Microwave Ovens – Tool or Trouble? – Safe, efficient, cheap, fast foods.
(Food, Perspective)
HUMINT, SIGINT, OR PHOTINT? – Human Intelligence gather is the best way to learn.
(Perspective)
Express Checkout (15 items or less, please) – Inventorying case goods is easiest way to shop.
(Food, Finances)
Turning Off Telemarketers – www.donotcall.gov and (888) 382-1222 enrollment info.
(Perspective, Finances)
Self-sufficient Servants Survive – Survivors focus outside themselves and live for others.
(Perspective, Principle)
Simplicity is the Key to Survival Success – Small achievable steps help survivors adapt.
(Perspective)
Good Bedside Manners – Never tell injured how badly they are hurt. Humor is First Aid.
(First Aid, Perspective)
Is Your Spare Flat? – Overlooked resources are underused blessings. Have a rotation plan.
(Food, Perspective)
“I Never Have Enough Time To Get Things Done.” Make a 10 items priority list each day.
(Perspective)
Infants Farewell – Hurricane Katrina SITREP on early shortages for special needs people.
(Food, Sanitation)
Unimix and Atmit – mild grain based rejuvenation foods for the metabolically distressed.
(Food)
Things We Keep – Waste means affluence, not a happy, important life. Make do, gratefully.
(Perspective, Principle)
We Have to Pay Taxes, Don’t We? – Tax deductible charitable giving options for young/old.
(Principle, Finances)
Give Big Rig Truckers a Brake – Trucking statistics and our dependency on big rigs.
(Perspective)
10 Safety Musts for the Home – suggested list of most needed safety items in the home.
(Safety)
Good Foods Sustain Good Health – common foods with the most medicinal value.
(Food)
Infectious Diseases – most common disease causing bacteria and sanitation needs.
(Sanitation, First Aid)
If You Can’t Eat Bread, You Might Try Cake. Whole wheat bread can kill you.
(Food)
Great Bread at 15-Cents a Loaf – Great Harvest Whole Wheat Bread Recipe.
(Food)
Whole Wheat Angel Food Cake – Recipe from Wheat for Man, p. 97. (out of print.)
(Food)
www.seniordirectories.com — Senior Services everyone will eventually need.
(Communication, Process)
Anyone Need an Abacus? – Simple foods simple to prepare keep life simple.
(Food)
Think a Gallon of Gas is Expensive? – Higher cost products per gallon make gas cheap.
(Water, Perspective)
Understanding the Evils of Weevils. – Critter control processes in stored foods.
(Food)
Wheat May Not Be Good For You, Man! – Warning about gluten intolerance.
(Food)
Of Power Outages and Pipes. – If the electricity fails, keep water systems from freezing.
(Water)
Toiletology 101 – The importance of a back up waterless, contained, refuse system.
(Sanitation)
Imagine Life Without a Toothbrush – 20th century oral hygiene advancements.
(Sanitation, Perspective)
Sizable Seismic Events – www.earthquake.usgs.gov reports daily world activity.
(Food, Clothing, Safety, Shelter)