ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

8 Causes of Memory Loss

That ARE NOT Alzheimer's

Worried about dementia? There may be other explanations.

It's hard not to think of Alzheimer's disease when memory loss or a memory lapse darkens your day. After all, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are constantly in the headlines -- and of the more than five million affected Americans, 200,000 are under age 65. But many other situations can also produce this worrisome symptom.

Memory loss is just one Alzheimer's warning sign. Others, for example, include personality changes and problems managing money.

Your safest bet: "If you're concerned about memory issues, see a specialist," says psychiatrist Gary Small, director of the UCLA Center on Aging and author of several books about memory and cognition, including The Naked Lady Who Stood on Her Head. An evaluation will examine the type of memory loss, its timing, environmental factors (such as injuries or drug use), and other symptoms. 

The Eight following conditions are among the non-Alzheimer's causes of memory loss to consider:

#1 Cause of Memory Loss,

Chronic stress:

Why it happens: When the body goes on hyper-alert to face a crisis, a series of biochemical changes takes place that fuels the fight-or-flight response system. The chemical cortisol increases in the brain, for example, to mobilize energy and alertness. That's great when a saber-toothed tiger is chasing you. But when tension and anxiety become chronic, as with work or family problems, the system is overloaded with substances that are intended for emergency use only.

Result: The brain actually loses cells and has trouble forming new neurons. This creates problems with cognitive thinking, especially with regard to retaining new information.

What else to look for:

• Is your sleep disrupted, or are you getting less of it? Sleep deprivation compounds the effects of stress on the brain, because memories are sorted and organized during normal sleep.
  
• Are you multitasking your way through a stressful period? Straining the attention system drains memory, too.
  

#2 Cause of Memory Loss,

Depression:

Why it happens: Depression is usually linked to low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter connected to the arousal system. Concentration and focus are affected, impairing the ability to properly store new memories. It doesn't help that some depressed individuals dwell on sad events of the past, which can contribute to a lack of attention to the present, which in turn makes it harder to store short-term memories.

Three groups especially vulnerable to depression: older adults, caregivers, and people with dementia. When depression symptoms are treated, memory problems mistaken for dementia often disappear. In people with dementia, symptoms often improve with treatment (they may even go away completely for those with mild-stage dementia).

What else to look for:

• Are other common signs of depression present? These include a sense of hopelessness, loss of interest or pleasure in formerly enjoyed activities, and changes in appetite or sleep.
  
• Can you drive or pay bills? Someone with depression may not feel like doing such tasks, but they can, says psychiatrist Anton Porsteinsson, director of the Memory Disorders Clinic at the University of Rochester. Someone with Alzheimer's can't.
  

#3 Cause of Memory Loss,

Medication:

Why it happens: Drugs affect the entire system, and some interfere with the ability of brain cells to communicate. Sometimes this effect is produced by dangerous interactions between two different drugs -- a common problem for older adults, who often have multiple prescriptions. The average number of prescriptions filled per person of all ages, per year in the U.S. is 12.6 (refills and new), according to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study.

What else to look for:

• Have you started a new prescription recently? Be sure all your doctors know about all your medications. Don't be shy about reporting worrisome symptoms back to the prescribing physician.
  
• Has there been a change in dosage? What seems like a small adjustment can have big effects.
  
• Are you taking one of the drugs that cause memory loss? These include statins for high cholesterol, sedatives, anti-anxiety drugs, and medications for incontinence.
  

#4 Cause of Memory Loss,

Malfunctioning thyroid:

Why it happens: In hypothyroidism, the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone, which regulates metabolism. The entire body, including the brain, is affected when metabolism runs too slowly. Cognitive problems are often an early warning sign of thyroid issues. Researchers are also investigating a possible connection, among women, between Alzheimer's and too high (hyperthyroidism) or too low (hypothyroidism) amounts of the thyroid hormone thyrotropin. (The association hasn't been seen in men.)

What else to look for:

• Are you experiencing the other symptoms of hypothyroidism? These include fatigue, lethargy, weight gain, dry skin and hair, a loss of libido, irregular menstrual cycle, sensitivity to cold, and muscle cramps. Memory problems tend to happen in tandem with several of these other symptoms, although it's a common initial complaint.
  

#5 Cause of Memory Loss, 

Pregnancy or Menopause:
Why it happens: Changing estrogen levels at key points in a woman's reproductive life can affect other brain chemicals estrogen interacts with. Hence, the so-called "fuzzy brain" of pregnancy and the "brain drain" of perimenopause. A 2010 study at the University of Bradford in England found that maternal memory problems are worst from the second trimester through three months postpartum, though not all women are affected.

What's more, these life passages are also times when women tend to be distracted by other intense symptoms (from excitement and nausea in pregnancy to menopausal hot flashes and the multitasking of being a sandwich-generation adult). Distraction adds to forgetfulness because information is not attended to, and therefore never stored.

What else to look for:

• Are you feeling blue? Researchers believe that depression coinciding with pregnancy or menopause may also have a role in memory problems.
  

#6 Cause of Memory Loss,
Excessive drinking:
Why it happens: Heavy drinking doesn't just damage the liver and kidneys. Imaging studies have shown proof of brain impairment, too. Shrinkage is worst in the frontal lobe, which governs higher intellectual functions, although other structures are also affected -- including those involved in memory.

Long-term excessive drinking can cause a condition called Korsakoff syndrome, a form of alcohol-induced dementia.

What else to look for:

• Do you have other signs of alcoholism? These include a history of falls, excessive sleep, drinking alone to cope with difficult emotions, tardiness at work (due to hangovers), and morning drinking.
  
• How old are you? The ability to metabolize alcohol declines with age. So two or three beers for a 70-year-old have the same effect as four or five beers did at age 50.
  
• Are you drinking and taking prescription medications? Certain drug and alcohol combos can be toxic to the brain, even at relatively low levels of drinking.
  

#7 Cause of Memory Loss,
Concussion And/Or A Head Injury:
Why it happens: It's little surprise that, although the brain is protected by a thick skull, brain tissue is vulnerable to trauma. Traumatic brain injury (TMI) can be caused by the brain tissue slamming into the skull itself during a fall or sharp blow, or by an object piercing the skull -- a more obvious explanation for memory loss. The force of impact can cause direct damage or bleeding that causes more widespread problems.

What else to look for:

• Have the cognitive problems come on suddenly? Alzheimer's disease develops slowly, but memory loss from head trauma can trace to the single incident.
  
• Are there other signs of brain injury? These include numbness, excessive drowsiness, severe headache, weakness in arms or limbs, dizziness, dilated pupils, and slurred speech.
  
• Do you participate in contact sports? Sometimes athletes suffer concussions in knocks and falls they consider mundane.
  
• Has there been a recent car, bicycle, or motorcycle accident? These are among the most common situations for head injuries, especially if the person wasn't wearing a seatbelt (car) or helmet (cycle).
  

And Finally the #8 Cause of Memory Loss,
Normal aging:
Why it happens: Memory lapses aren't always a sign that something's wrong. Sometimes they're normal. After all, the brain starts its gradual decline as early as during one's late 20s and early 30s. By the late 40s and early 50s, most people get that "now why did I come into this room?" feeling and have occasional trouble remembering names of new acquaintances or items on shopping lists.

Dementia, such as Alzheimer's, isn't a normal part of aging. But occasional forgetfulness does tend to increase as we get older.

What else to look for:

• How old are you? The risk of Alzheimer's increases with age. The likelihood of developing it doubles every five years after age 65, according to the Alzheimer's Association. About one in two people over 85 have it. Of course, this means half don't.
  
• Are you finding it harder to learn new things? That can happen normally with age, as the ability to form new memories sometimes slows. But with Alzheimer's, following multiple steps is difficult-to-impossible, and new knowledge isn't retained well because these memories don't get formed. Also with Alzheimer's, memory troubles tend to affect not just new tasks but old familiar ones as well.
  
• Are you scared? The irritation of forgetting an appointment is different from the deeper fear inspired by, say, forgetting how to use the telephone, says University of Wisconsin geriatric psychiatrist Ken Robbins.
  
• Are others mentioning their concern to you? People with Alzheimer's are often unaware that they're even having memory troubles -- so if you're worrying, you may be just fine, experts say.
  
• Can you still pretty much carry on your everyday life? With Alzheimer's, the answer is clearly no.
  

-Birdy

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

5 Signs of Alzheimer's

That Sometimes Show up Before Memory Loss

Memory loss is the symptom everybody worried about Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia seems to focus on. After all, it's distressing -- and increasingly obvious. Yet there are other common symptoms of Alzheimer's or dementia that can turn up even earlier, researchers say.

Sometimes, according to memory experts, even doctors miss early dementia signs because they're focused on memory loss to the exclusion of other symptoms.

In fact, in 2011 Spanish researchers found that more than a third of adults who go on to develop early-onset Alzheimer's (the kind that appears before age 65) have the following symptoms early in the disease, even before memory loss is apparent. These symptoms can also be the first to appear among adults who develop Alzheimer's after age 65.

Of course, if you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to have them checked out by a doctor, psychologist, or other expert in cognition and the brain.



Early sign of dementia #1: Personality change
A warm, friendly loved one may seem to morph into a bit of a grouch -- at first occasionally, and then increasingly. A gregarious person still jokes and talks a lot but begins to say inappropriate things or make odd accusations. A mild-mannered loved one begins cursing. All of these are examples of the kinds of personality changes that can predate memory loss in someone with dementia. Often, it's only later that friends and family look back and realize that behaviors they found off-putting or upsetting weren't intentional but related to the Alzheimer's.



Early sign of dementia #2: Problems with executive functioning
Trouble carrying out basic, familiar tasks can creep up slowly but surely. The person may, for example, have difficulty doing something that involves multiple steps, like following written directions or instructions. A longtime cook may avoid complicated recipes. A hobbyist may simplify the form of his or her craft.

Other hallmark trouble areas: making plans and not following through, whether for a vacation or an activity. Not tracking bills. Not being able to solve simple problems, such as mending a broken piece of machinery he or she could once fix easily.

Early sign of dementia #3: Vision problems
Problems with depth perception or visual-spatial coordination can precede memory problems. The person may have trouble driving or even walking well without tripping on stairs. It can be hard to judge distances or see contrasts between like colors, which can lead to accidents. In a more severe example of a perception problem, the person may not recognize himself or herself in a mirror or when passing his or her reflection in a building or window on the street.

Early sign of dementia #4: Language problems
Word retrieval and getting out the right words can become apparent before friends and family notice the more common communication problem of repeating stories or questions. For example the person having trouble may stop in the middle of a sentence, unable to think of the next word. (This can happen to anyone, but when it's a sign of dementia, it happens with alarming frequency, and sometimes the person isn't even aware of doing it.) Or the wrong word may come out -- "mouth cleaner" for "toothbrush" or "picture stick" for "TV remote control."


Early sign of dementia #5: Social withdrawal
Early in Alzheimer's disease and other dementia's, the person is often well aware that something is amiss, even if he or she isn't exactly sure of the source of the problem. It can be frightening to feel that you're not quite in control of your faculties all of the time. This can cause the person to use more and more energy to stay in self-command. That leaves less energy to interact with others. Sometimes the person isn't even aware that he or she seems to be losing interest in friends and family, because he or she is concentrating so hard on just getting through the day



-Birdy

IS YOUR COMPUTER UNDER THREAT?

The language used to describe the types of threats that your computer may be vulnerable to can often get confusing. Here's a quick list of the types of threats that you'll find.

Drive-by Downloads

A drive-by download is computer code that takes advantage of a software bug in a Web browser to make it do something that the attacker wants—such as run malicious code, crash the browser, or read data from the computer. Software bugs that are open to browser attacks are also known as vulnerabilities.

Phishing Attacks

A phishing attack occurs when an attacker displays Web pages or sends emails that claim to be from a trusted company. These pages or emails solicit sensitive information from an unwitting customer.

Spyware

Spyware is any software package that tracks and sends personally identifiable information or confidential information to third parties.

Viruses

Viruses are a type of malicious code, or malware, typically spread by other computers through email, downloads, and Web sites that are not safe.

Heuristically-Detected Virus

A heuristically-detected virus is found based on the malicious behaviors that it exhibits. These behaviors may include attempts to steal a person's sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers

Worms

A worm is another type of malicious code, or malware, that focuses primarily on spreading to other vulnerable computer systems. It typically spreads by sending out copies of itself to other computers, either via email, instant messages, or some other service.

Unsolicited Browser Changes

An unsolicited browser change occurs when a Web site or program changes the behavior or settings of the Web browser without the user's consent. This may result in the home page or search page changing to another Web site, often one that is designed to serve ads or other unwanted content to the user.

Suspicious Browser Changes

A suspicious browser change occurs when a Web site attempts to modify the list of trusted Web sites. A Web site may be trying to get your Web browser to automatically download and install suspicious applications without your consent.

Dialers

A dialer is any software package that changes modem settings in order to dial a high cost toll number, or requests payment for access to particular content. The result of this attack is that the owner of the phone line is charged for services were never authorized.

Trackware

Trackware is any software package that tracks system activity, gathers system information, or tracks customer habits and relays this information to third-party organizations. The information gathered by such programs is neither personally identifiable nor confidential.

Hacking Tools

Hacking tools are programs used by a hacker or unauthorized user to attack, gain unwelcome access to, or perform identification or fingerprinting of your PC. Some hacking tools are used by system or network administrators for legitimate purposes, but the power they provide can also be misused by unauthorized users.

Joke Programs

A joke program is one that alters or interrupts the normal behavior of your computer, creating a general distraction or nuisance. Joke programs are programmed to perform various actions like causing the CD or DVD drive of your PC to open at random.

Security Risk

A security risk is a condition in which a computer is more vulnerable to an attack. This condition can be created when an otherwise innocent program contains an error that reduces the security of your computer. These errors are usually unintentional. Using such a program could increase the risk that your PC will be attacked.

Suspicious Application

A suspicious application is one with behavior that represents a potential risk to a computer. The behavior of such a program has been examined and determined to be unwanted and malicious.

Cybersquatting

Cybersquatting is the practice of acquiring a site name to attempt to deceive people about the identity of the organization running the site. Cybersquatting makes use of deceptive practices to mimic trusted brands or otherwise confuse users. Typosquatting is one form of cybersquatting in which name spelling variants are used.

Hard to Uninstall

These programs are difficult to uninstall. When they are uninstalled, they may leave behind files along with registry keys that cause the files to be run even after uninstallation.

Computer threats

Items such as viruses and worms that load directly on your computer, with the potential to do harm to your computer.

Identity threats

Items such as spyware or keyloggers that attempt to steal personal information from your computer.

Ecommerce safety threats

Suspicious ecommerce activities, such as selling counterfeit goods.

Annoyance factors

Items that don't necessarily do harm, but are a nuisance, such as joke programs or a site that isn't what it seems.

Pay per Click site

This indicates a Web site that includes the brand name in the Web site name, but is not affiliated with the brand owner and contains mostly advertisements or links to pages containing advertisements.

Money Saving Tips

We all know someone (or are that person) who drives miles upon miles in search of better gas prices, wasting time and money to save - at best - a nickel per gallon. Your focus on saving money can be so narrow at times that it can actually end up costing us down the road.

Here are some more common financial traps when someone aims to be too frugal.

Falling for 'Free'

It’s one thing if we go for a no-strings-attached free promotion, but buy-one-get-one-free deals or “free shipping with a $150 purchase” advertisements are just marketing gimmicks to get us to spend money we really shouldn’t. As behavioral economist Dan Ariely writes in his best-selling book Predictably Irrational, when something is free, it suggests to the consumer (incorrectly, as it happens) that there is no downside. Unless you had already budgeted for those two hand lotions from Bath and Body Works, that third free bottle is not really a deal.

Overdosing at the Dollar Store

Dollar-store stocks have been outperforming the broader market lately, as consumers seek bargains. But not everything in a dollar store is worth the price tag - and according to Consumer Reports, some items found at dollar stores can actually be dangerous. For example, researchers found that extension cords, lamps and other items may have fake UL labels certifying their safety. Over-the-counter remedies like aspirin may also be on shelves past their expiration date.

Buying in Bulk

The per-unit cost of an item at a Sam’s Club or Costco may be less than at a grocery store, but unless you can consume it all, it’s a waste of money. And although this might be a stretch, I have to think that the growth in the storage-unit industry is thanks to our culture’s obsession with excess. Today, one in 10 households rents a self-storage unit - up 65% over the last 15 years - for which they pay more than $8 per square foot. Are your bulk-buying habits leaving you crowded out of your house?

Excessive Couponing

At the beginning of April, the TLC show Extreme Couponing launched its second season. The coupon experts live in homes filled with gallons of housecleaning supplies, closets filled with dry goods and cabinets bursting with toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss and anything else you can find down aisle 7 in CVS. Much of this stuff they got for a fraction of the price - maybe even for free. But I do wonder if all this running around and stocking up is really efficient. After adding up all the hours and gas mileage spent hunting down coupon deals, what’s your net profit? And do you really need 18 boxes of laundry detergent just because your coupon let you save 75%?

Fast-Food Dining

Dollar menus and fast food may satisfy your hunger for less today, but over time this behavior can carry a much higher price tag. A report by the Cancer Project found that most items advertised on Value Menus are high in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. And many items were linked to an increased risk of cancer. And researchers at the Dept. of Agriculture found medical costs stemming from obesity-related problems are about $10,000 higher than they are for those with a healthy weight.

Making Repairs Yourself

Sometimes it’s just cheaper to pay a professional, especially for services that take up a lot of your quality time or that require some serious expertise. Some big examples: reflooring or recarpeting your house, changing your car’s oil and estate planning.

-Birdy.

Here are my top picks by category. {From iTunes}. Please share yours in the comments section.

Money Management: Budgeting

• Pageonce: This personal finance app lets you organize your various bank and credit accounts to monitor your balances, something that can come in handy before swiping your debit card. The app also alerts you when bills are due, when your frequent flier miles are set to expire and how many minutes are left on your cell phone. Cost: Free 
  
  
• Mint.com: If you want to get a better handle on your spending and stick to a budget, Mint is a better fit than Pageonce. For example, if your goal this year is to buy a house, Mint will tell you how much you need to start saving. Cost: Free 
  
  
• iExpense It: For individuals and especially business travelers who want a more robust application to review daily expenses, iExpenseIt comes highly recommended by my techie friends. It lets you store digital photo receipts and convert your expenses into different currencies. It can also help you with daily budgeting. Cost: $4.99
  

Transportation Savings

• GasCubby: This app helps you save gas and then some. It will alert you when you need to change your oil, tracks mileage, stores vehicle data such as the VIN and creates charts based on your gas expenses. Cost: $4.99 
  
  
• CheapGas: Find the cheapest gas station wherever you are. Station pricing is provided by GasBuddy.com. Cost: Free 
  
  
• RepairPal: Whether you need roadside assistance or a tune up, this app will find you the nearest help. If you’re thinking about a repair, it will also give you some pricing advice. Cost: Free 
  
  
• Carticipate: It’s the “carpool app.” With this nifty tool you can organize carpools or rideshares in your neighborhood. Just tell it where you’re going and when and it will help coordinate your plans with others in the area. Cost: Free
  

Grocery Savings

• GroceryIQ: Helps you build your grocery list from a database of more than 130,000 items, instantly find coupons and review grocery products all while you’re perusing the aisles. Cost: Free 
  
  
• CardStar: This grocery app stores all your loyalty, reward and club membership cards so you don’t need to dangle them all on your key-chain. Once they’re stored you can scan right from your iPhone’s screen at participating merchants (CVS, Block Buster Video, Best Buy, etc.) Cost: Free
  

Bargain Hunting/Comparison Shopping/Coupons Galore

• SnapTell: While you’re in Borders, snap a photo of any book, DVD or video game and see ratings, price comparisons and descriptions within seconds. Cost: Free 
  
  
• RedLaser: Known for its incredibly accurate bar code scanning, RedLaser will tell you if the item you’re considering has lower-cost versions elsewhere. It uses product results from Google, eBay, Half.com and others. Cost: Free 
  
  
• Yard Sale Mapper: Find a yard sale near you with this app, which bases its listings on Craigslist ads. Cost: Free 
  
  
• Save Benjis: This app gives you both on-line and in-store cost comparisons. Cost: 99 cents for basic and $2.99 for Save Benjis+ which allows you to scan bar codes with your phone to review prices. 
  
  
• CouponSherpa: No need to clip coupons for hours on a Saturday. With thisyou can bank on its active database of exclusive coupons and store-specific coupons found online, all while you shop. Just present the code from your phone to redeem the discount at checkout. Cost: Free
  

Social Savings

• Drink Specials: Updated by users, this app will tell you where to find those half-price margaritas. So far it lists more than 50,000 specials in more than 1,000 cities and towns. Cost: Free 
  
  
• MatchPin: Find out about promotions and special offers at local restaurants and bars. Also, earn loyalty rewards points at certain eateries each time you dine. Right now the app only works in San Francisco, San Jose and Salt Lake City but coming soon: Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. Cost: Free
  

Enjoy!


-Birdy.

Money Saving Tips

I started us off with a few of my favorites:

• Displace water in your toilet’s tank. Place a capped plastic bottle filled with some sand or pebbles in your toilet’s water tank. The bottle should displace enough water to save half a gallon to a gallon each time you flush, or up to about 10 gallons a day in a typical home. A typical family of four might save 16 gallons of water a day with this little trick - and that should save you about $90 a year on your water bill.
  

• Stock up on meat when it goes on sale. You can find discounted turkeys around Thanksgiving, as well as ham around Easter and Christmas. Stock up and freeze to save up to hundreds of dollars a year on meat. You may need to invest in a stand-alone freezer, but if your family eats a lot of meat, the appliance should pay for itself over time.
  

• Request appetizer portions of entrees. Eating out? Ask your server if you can get an entrée as an appetizer or “half-sized” portion. Portions are so large these days anyway you’ll not only take a healthier route but also save up to half the cost.
  

Meanwhile, here are a few of the tips That I have gathered:

I keep a can in the laundry room and charge myself for doing laundry. When the can fills up with cash, I bank it. That way, when an appliance breaks I have the cash to pay for it.
Get a dollar bucket. Any singles you have in your pocket go into it at the end of the day.
There is no need to pay for checked bags or parking, at the airports, thus saving $20 to $30.
People who use the gym to watch TV while they work out. [They] cut out cable, and then Redbox/Hulu/Netflix/watch online for everything else.

Get your hair done at a beauty school. For free a visit vs. the $150 for a standard salon, and it gives the students a chance to practice

Go on-line to: Restaurant.com for certificates when they go on sale for $2, for great deals on discounts.

Get almost all of your reading material from the library! Why is this peculiar? Because in this day of immediate gratification, waiting one’s turn for a book, DVD or magazine is hardly what anyone cares to do - but it saves a ton of money!



-Birdy.

Nine Tips for Surviving the Supermarket

• Check inventory before you go. This is my weakness. I came home with a bag of grapefruit, and I already had one going. Oops. Could have saved there.
  

• Look out for loss leaders. “Every supermarket has items that are deeply discounted, they’re designed to bring people in to the store and show a point of difference versus another retail chain.. The shopper has to have enough knowledge to be able to recognize a good price when she sees one. That comes from years of experience and doing your homework — reading circulars and checking the store’s website before you go. As you research, pull your coupons together.
  

• Read the fine print. Look at the price per ounce. The best deals aren’t necessarily on the end-cap where products like cookies or soft drinks are prominently displayed. Companies pay for their goods to be there.
  

• Be flexible about brands. Every week, either the Cheerios or the Cornflakes are on sale, either Coke or Pepsi is on sale. Never at the same time. Embrace the store labels, which are a lot better than they used to be.
  

• Set a budget and stick to it. Many people say they tally the bill as they shop, which cuts down on impulse purchases. Stop & Shop apparently gives customers a scanning wand, which allows them to add up the bill (and bag their groceries) as they go through the store.
  

• Eat “planned overs.” Make a double recipe of something on the weekend that you can freeze and pull out during a busy weekday. You’ll save yourself the $10 on the large pizza you would have ordered instead, plus all that the cooking time.
  

• Plan to splurge. Americans have been suffering from “frugality fatigue,” how many times can pass up the rib-eye and have meatloaf? At some point, treat yourself to the rib-eye. But anticipate the treat, and budget for it by cutting back elsewhere.
  

• Avoid the paper towels and the light bulbs at the grocery store. You’ll find lower prices for these items at Wal-Mart or Target, or Amazon Subscribe & Save. I, personally, make this mistake all the time. I'm running low on laundry detergent, say, and I’ll pay a few dollars more for it at Walgreen rather than make another stop someplace cheaper. Oops could have saved there.
  

And My All Time Personal Supermarket Time-Saving Advice:

• Always get in a line with a female cashier, preferably in her 30s or older. Women cashiers memorize produce codes; men don’t. It is so annoying when a guy is hopelessly scrolling through his computer screen looking for the code for snap peas.
  

-Birdy.

ATTENTION - SCAM

Fake check scams are the most pervasive fraud in America, hitting virtually every demographic group with some permutation of the same clever con, according to the National Consumer's League.

"Fake check scams are an equal opportunity fraud," says John Breyault, director of the National Consumers League Fraud Center. "Scam artists are savvy, networked and know every button to push to get consumers from all walks of life to fall for their schemes."

There are multiple permutations of the same con. But the basic way it works is this: You get a check for a relatively large amount of money and are asked to refund or pass on a portion of the amount to the sender or a third party. By the time you find out that the check is fake, your money is long gone.

The typical victim loses between $3,000 and $4,000 in the scam, says Susan Grant, director of consumer protection at the Consumer Federation of America. "Once you send money to a crook, it's almost impossible to get back."

Tragically, the scam works partly because of common misunderstandings about how banks clear checks. Financial institutions are required by federal law to give you credit for checks deposited in your account within a set number of days. The precise timing depends on whether the check issuer is local, national or international. Most consumers assume that when the bank makes the funds available, it has determined that the check is good. But that's not the case.

It can take weeks to discover a good forgery. At that point, the bank will reverse the credit it gave you for the fake check and you're on the hook for any checks you wrote against it. Worse, many banks will consider you the crook, close your account for "suspicious activity" and enter your name into a database that will make it more difficult to open another bank account, says Grant.

Consumer experts have been warning about this growing con for years. And yet, the crooks are so clever and convincing that they are believed to have conned more than 1.3 million people. Here are the five most common ways that they do it, and the tip-offs that help you know it's a scam:



Be A Mystery Shopper
You're looking for a job and answer an advertisement for mystery shoppers. The company sends you a check supposedly to cover the items you'll be buying and to "test" Western Union's services. You get to deduct your pay from the check too.

Tip-offs that this is a scam?

1. The check is for more than $1,000 and the company says you can keep a $200 or $300 fee for the job. Real mystery shoppers get paid $10 to $25 per job.

2. They paid in advance. Legitimate mystery shopping jobs pay only after you've turned in your review.

3. Review Western Union? If the con artists were to be believed, Western Union would be the most mystery-shopped company in the world. They want you to use Western Union because sending this draft is the same as sending cash. Once it leaves your hands, it's gone.
   

Sweepstakes
You have won an international lottery! Congratulations! Here's a $20,000 check for just a portion of your winnings. To claim the additional hundreds of thousands of Euros or dollars that you've won, all you have to do is send a personal check for the taxes due on your winnings.
Tip-offs?

1. You didn't enter an international lottery. (I swear, you would remember if you did.)

2. Taxes are collected after you receive income, not before.

    3. Governments collect taxes, not lotteries.

Account Manager
You've been hired as the account manager at a major international distributor. You can work at home. Your only responsibility is to handle remittances. You get checks, deposit them into your own account and pass them on, subtracting your fee. Your fee is substantial.

Tip-offs?

1. International corporations have no problem opening their own bank accounts. Why do they need you to use yours? Oh ... because they're not an international corporation and if they used their own accounts, they couldn't steal your money.

2. Jobs that require very little work for high pay don't exist unless you're a corporate Chief Executive Officer. And to get a job as a CEO, you need to know how to golf.

Overpayment
You are selling your car/puppy/chest-of-drawers and have placed an advertisement on the internet. You get contacted from somebody who just loves English Bull Terriers (or whatever you're selling) and is desperate to pay full price. Just one problem. The buyer is from overseas; hasn't yet opened a U.S. bank account; and can only pay with a third-party check -- maybe even a paycheck. If you take that check and deposit it, you can pay yourself and just give them cash for the overpayment, right?
Tip-offs?

1. Opening a bank account with a paycheck is pretty dang easy. It might take a few hours, but the Bull Terriers can wait. If you cash this check, you are the bank and you have your first bad debt. (Congratulations. Maybe you can apply for a government bail-out.)
   
   
2. Your Bull Terriers are clearly the cutest in the world, but there are others in the world -- even others in your state/city/county. Your buyer is generating a sense of urgency -- I've got to have one and I'm afraid they'll all be sold before I get my account opened! -- just to scam you. Tell them to let you know when their account is opened, and you'll put them on the list to have first pick of the next litter if this litter is, indeed, all spoken for by the time their bank account is opened.
   

Grant
You get an official looking letter saying that you have won a $100,000 grant from the government or some foundation. But to claim the grant money, you need to send a "processing fee."

Tip-offs?

1. You didn't apply for a grant.

2. You are not a scientist.

3. Government agencies and foundations that provide grants send you money. They don't ask you to send them money (unless they're soliciting donations ... and that's not the kind of letter you got).

-Birdy

MISSING MONEY

Does This $197 Billion Belong to You? 5 Ways to Find Missing Money

Do you know whether any of your former employers - or your spouses’ employer - offered a pension? If not, it may be time to check. The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. is holding $197 billion on behalf of 36,000 people. One of them could be you.
And they’re only one of several agencies that could be holding your money wondering whether you’re ever going to claim it. There are at least five places to find missing money.

• The Internal Revenue Service has billions in unclaimed taxpayer refunds, for instance. Some are the result of returned mail — possibly because the taxpayer moved or the IRS got the taxpayer’s address wrong. Additionally, the agency suspects thousands of taxpayers who never filed returns are probably also due refunds they paid federal income tax withholding, but didn’t earn enough to owe tax. (Many people — often young adults with part-time jobs and seniors with pensions — don’t need to file tax returns because they earn too little to have a filing requirement. But if they don’t file returns, they lose the hundreds of dollars paid in withholding by employers and pension administrators who issued their checks. After three years, the government gets to keep this money.) Think you could be due a refund? Here’s where to check: Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or go to the agency’s web site at www.irs.gov.
   
• The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. is the home of pension money gone astray, when a company closes or loses track of a former employee. The average missing pension is worth about $6,500, PBGC officials say. But at least one individual is owed a stunning $676,436. To find out if you’re on the list, go to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp’s online search directory and plug in your name (or the name of the beneficiary that you think may have lost track of their pension). If there’s a company that you lost track of, you can search by the company’s name too. If you can’t find your pension in the directory, but think you’re owed one, it could be that your former employer is still operating. The PBGC only takes over pensions that have been abandoned by the company or their owners. If the company is in business and you didn’t disappear into the Witness Protection program, the company should be holding your pension money rather than the government. If you lost track of the company, try a Google search. 
  
  
• The U.S. Treasury keeps track of savings bonds — even when you’ve forgotten all about them as millions of people apparently have. If you find a bond in a drawer or safe deposit box, you can get a current value for it — or even replace a bond you’ve lost — through the government’s TreasuryDirect service. To claim a lost bond, you’ll need their form 1048. You can search for it on the site. 
  
  
• MissingMoney.com is the place to start searching for looking for forgotten rebates; deposits; state refunds and investments that you — or a long-deceased relative — have lost. It’s a national database of state “abandoned property” records. It’s particularly helpful for people who have a relative who was financially secretive, who now can’t fend for themselves. Surviving the Great Depression made my grandmother a little funny about money, for instance. She’d stash $20s inside the pages of books and put her savings account passbook in the back of the sock drawer. Years after she died, after searching “Missing Money” it was discovered that she also had a safe deposit box and several bank and brokerage accounts that no one ever knew about. So, one of the things that made this site so invaluable is that my family has moved several times and the site allows you to check most state unclaimed property databases with one search. 
  
  
• State Abandoned Property databases aren’t all registered with the Missing Money site, so if you think an account or check that you’re owed has disappeared, don’t stop searching until you’ve also checked the state abandoned property databases for every state in which you’ve lived. The massive California unclaimed property database and New York’s missing property division (which is holding an astounding $10.5 billion), are not listed on Missing Money. Can’t find your state’s unclaimed property division? Missing Money offers links to every state database, plus a few in Canada, Guam and the Virgin Islands, even when it doesn’t include their data in its directory.
  

Remember it's not what you have that counts, but what you could possible have...

-Birdy.

10 FREE THINGS FOR YOU

1. Free checking. Last week we wrote an article about how, at many banks, free checking was soon to become fee checking. But plenty of banks still offer free checking accounts. SunTrust, for example, offers a free plan with no minimum balance required. And you get free online and ATM service too. Wachovia and U.S. Bank still have their own version of free accounts. Chase even offers $100 for opening such an account. Indeed, a host of banks and savings and loans offer free checking. So far. When you’re looking for lower fees, including free checking, always to look to smaller local banks and credit unions.

2. Free credit reports. You can go to AnnualCreditReport.com for a free look at your credit history once a year. If the Financial Regulatory Reform bill passes, you might also one day get a look at your credit score.
3. Free cash. If you can’t find an ATM near you for a free cash withdrawal, no worries: Plenty of stores will give you cash back with no fee when you use your ATM card to make even a small purchase. You can buy a candy bar or a Diet Coke and get back up to $100 in cash from Wal-Mart. Target will give you back $40 if you use your ATM card for a purchase. Grocery stores also offer cash back.
4. Free information calls. Google 411 will get you information numbers free, so don’t get ripped off by your cell phone provider. When you need directory assistance, dial 800-GOOG-411.
5. Free scholarship search. Plenty of websites offer free searches for scholarships, such as Fastweb. There’s even a company called Free Scholarship Searches that offers links to 40 websites that offer free scholarship searches.
6. Free baggage. Sure, nearly all airlines are charging to check baggage but at least one doesn’t: Southwest.
7. Free entertainment. Your local library and parks offer lots of free fun, from books to movies to concerts. Join their e-mail list to see what’s up. And of course, there’s the Internet, offering free games as well as magazine and newspaper articles. Just go to the website of your favorite periodical.
8. Free Water. While technically not free, tap water is about as close as you can get. If you’re concerned about water quality, buy a filter. But don’t ever pay for water again at a convenience store.
9. Free TV. Thanks to sites like Hulu, you can now watch many popular television shows online for free. If your favorite shows are free on the web, why pay for cable or satellite?
10. Free telephone calls. Services like Skype and AIM let you communicate with other users for free. Always calling a loved one long distance? If you both get copies of something like Skype, you can talk all you want without paying a dime.
    
    
    -Birdy