Social Security Recipients Are On Track For the Biggest Raise In 4 Years

Social Security recipients are in line to receive a 3.5% COLA increase in 2027, raising the average benefit payment from $1,941.76 to $2,009.72. While the projected increase will be the highest in four years, it’s still not enough to offer a stable retirement. Many retirees have a fixed income with little opportunity to increase what they earn each month, leaving them more financially vulnerable to rises in cost-of-living. The Social Security Administration calculates cost-of-living increases by comparing the average inflation rate from July to August to the same period last year. That method has led to increases ranging from a low of 1.3% to a high of 8.7% in the past six years. The largest COLA ever awarded was in 1980, when seniors received a whopping 14.3% increase. Senior Citizens argue that because the government typically raises the cost of Medicare along with the COLA raise, it’s as though they’re getting nothing.

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There's a Good Reason Why Aging Brains Might Forget Smaller Details

As we get older, our brains prioritize wisdom over remembering little details, and for good reason. A recent study revealed that forgetting little things — like where you put your car keys — could be your brain’s way of adapting to prioritize bigger-picture thinking, rather than a sign of decline. So, if you suspect you’ve become slightly more forgetful as you’ve gotten older, this research should be rather comforting. In a nutshell, the University of Arizona researchers argue that the aging brain doesn’t cognitively decline, but rather shifts its priorities. The goals of an older brain are quite different than the goals of a younger brain. The study suggested that older adults’ brains rely less on the hippocampus — the part of the brain responsible for forming new memories and learning details — instead relying more on the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with higher-level thinking and emotional regulation. Scientists now believe the strengths of the aging brain should be embraced and nurtured by society. People see older individuals and look at them as not being on par with younger individuals, but older people have brains that have been active for several decades, and there’s tremendous value there.

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If You Find This Rare Pyrex Pattern, It Could Be Worth $10,000

Few kitchen objects are as instantly nostalgic as vintage Pyrex. Maybe it’s the blue mixing bowl your mother used for pancake batter or the green baking dish your great aunt brought to every holiday dinner. Pyrex, the Corning brand best known for its heat-resistant glass bakeware and kitchenware, became a staple in American kitchens in the 20th century. Today, vintage Pyrex has gone from kitchen cupboard staple to collector’s item, with certain patterns and pieces selling for hundreds — or, in some cases, thousands — of dollars. Suddenly, that old casserole dish isn’t just holding dinner — it might be holding a little nest egg. That old dish isn’t valuable simply because it’s old — you need to look for the pieces collectors covet. If there’s one pattern that has achieved mythical status among Pyrex collectors, it’s Lucky in Love (pictured above). The 1959 casserole dish features green grass, four-leaf clovers and pink hearts. It’s the undisputed holy grail of Pyrex, with one selling in 2017 for a whopping $5,994. An authenticated example can fetch from $4,000 to more than $5,000, depending on the condition and intensity of its discoloration. In the collector’s market, it’s not unheard of for one to go for a staggering $10,000. What other patterns and pieces could be worth a bundle? Here’s a graphic that shows the coveted Pyrex items that having collectors opening their wallets.

 

 

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Fall’s Big Debate Settled: Is It Okay to Eat an Apple Right Off the Tree?

They’re red, delicious, and ripe for the picking, but is it okay to eat an apple right off the tree when apple picking? Technically, no — it’s not ideal. Even though that apple may look clean, it’s been growing outdoors and can be exposed to bacteria from animals, soil, water, or even people handling the fruit. If you’re at an orchard, there may also have been pesticide sprays used on the trees. The best-case scenario is that you consume something……well…..yucky. The worst case, of course, is that you get sick. That’s why rinsing the apple first is the best way to go. What about if you go to an organic farm that doesn’t use pesticides? Still, no. Organic versus non-organic doesn’t change the risk of bacterial contamination. So, is there a proper way to clean apples off in the orchard so they’re safe? The answer is yes. The old “rinse ’n’ rub” is enough to reduce dirt and bacteria on the surface of the apple. Many orchards have washing stations available, sometimes right in the picking area. Plain running water is best. If you’re going apple picking, consider bringing a bottle of water or a small spray bottle so you can rinse the apples before eating them. For those of you who are wondering if you have to rinse apples you buy in the grocery store, the answer is still yes. Even if apples were rinsed during packing, they can still pick up dirt or bacteria during transportation or at the grocery store.

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