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News:
- Plymouth "Old Timers" retiree group
  - meets at 11:30 on the last Friday of each month at the Plymouth Elks Club on Ann Arbor road. Lunch (optional) cost is $8.00. Drinks are extra. No program, just socializing and visiting.
Helpful Tips:
- Canadian Drug Stores:
  - Have been told that Minit Drugs at www.pharmacy-online.ca is a source for drugs at lower prices in Canada.
- Comcast Cable Users:
  - Call Comcast and select the option that you are thinking of changing or discontinuing service. You will then speak to a 'retention' representative. Tell then that you are investigating lower cost alternatives such as WOW, DSL etc. and you want to know what they can do to give you a more competitive price. Cable TV and Internet costs can quickly get to $110-115 and they have given as much as $30 'customer loyalty' discounts. Also watch for deals from the others and see if they will match the competition. You have to do this each year or at the end of a promotion discount period.
- Discounts
  - Ask for Senior citizen discounts (some start at age 55, some at 60, some at 62, etc.) Or ask for "retiree" discount, some will give discount without regard to age.
- Golf Deals
  - Golfers, check Tuesdays back page of the Detroit News Sports Section for courses offering "deals"
- Homeowners Insurance
  - Talk to your homeowners insurance carrier about lowering your costs (increasing deductibles, not working, etc.)
- Phone Charges
  - Check your phone bills for high usage and charges for local and zone calls,. If so, check out other services that offer free and unlimited local and zone calls. An example is Talk America www.talk.com (Several of us use this service and got significantly lower phone bills for both local and long distance.)
- AntiVirus
  - Instead of paying for Norton Antivirus subscription service, buy a new copy each year through www.pricewatch.com (select SOFTWARE and search for Norton AntiVirus - should be able to purchase for under $15 including shipping). New copy comes with 1 year of virus updates AND you get the latest version.
    
    Also consider the free AVG antivirus software at www.grisoft.com.
- Water Filters Cartridges
  - Check out this site for possible savings: http://www.waterfiltermart.com/
- Spyware
  - Install a spyware checker on your PC. Free ones are available at www.microsoft.com, & www.lavasoftusa.com,
- Kim Komando tips for PC users
  subscribe to Kim's email newsletters as she has a daily one that is pretty good. www.komando.com
  - MY 3/27/04 WEEKLY COLUMN: 10 Free Cool & Essential Downloads
    
    Computer prices are so low, just about everyone can afford one.
    The expensive part is stocking the computer with software.
    Fortunately, there are many great free programs. They may have fewer features than their paid counterparts, but they often work as well.
    
    Unfortunately, much free software contains adware. These programs track surfing habits and tailor ads to your interests. The publishers of the programs are paid to include the adware. The programs in this column do not include adware, according to their user agreements.
    
    1. So let's start with the Internet. Threats there are serious and growing. But free software can put a wall around your computer. For instance, you simply must have a firewall. This makes your computer invisible to hackers' probes.
    
    ZoneAlarm and Outpost provide basic protection for Internet users.
    First-time users should go with the default settings. Both are available for Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP. In addition, Outpost is available for Windows 95 and 98.
        ZoneAlarm: http://www.zonelabs.com
        Outpost: http://www.agnitum.com
    
    2. A firewall cannot protect your computer from viruses or Trojan horses. For them, you need anti-virus software. AVG Anti-Virus by Grisoft scans your hard drive and e-mail. Virus definition updates are free as well. AVG Anti-Virus is available for Windows 95 and higher.
        AVG Anti-Virus: http://www.grisoft.com
    
    3. You need software to scan for adware. In addition to tracking your surfing, these programs sometimes hijack your Internet home page.
    
    Ad-aware and Spybot Search & Destroy are adware killers. Both programs work on Windows 98, ME, 2000, NT and XP. Spybot Search & Destroy is also compatible with Windows 95.
        Ad-aware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
        Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org
    
    Now that your computer is safe for surfing, here are some programs to make your computing experience more enjoyable.
    
    4. Pop-up ads are often delivered by adware. One of the best pop-up blockers is included on the Google Toolbar. It not only blocks pop-up ads; it also gives you numerous search options. It's available for Windows 95 and higher, for use with Internet Explorer 5.5 and higher.
        Google Toolbar: http://toolbar.google.com
    
    5. If you chat with friends, you know how cluttered your desktop can get. It's not uncommon to have two or three instant messaging programs open at the same time.
    
    Trillian Basic allows you to chat with AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, IRC, MSN and Yahoo! users simultaneously. Trillian is for Windows
    95 and higher.
        Trillian: http://www.ceruleanstudios.com
    
    6. PowerToys are additional programs that extend the functionality of Windows. One of the most popular PowerToys is Tweak UI. With it, you can clear your Internet tracks, manipulate mouse functions, get rid of arrows on shortcut icons, and more. Tweak UI is available for Windows 95 and higher.
        PowerToys: http://www.komando.com/bestshareware.asp#powertoys
    
    7. Microsoft's Outlook Express is a popular e-mail program. Outlook Express doesn't have a built-in spell checker. It relies on the dictionary from Microsoft Word or Works.
    
    If you don't own Word or Works, Spell Checker for OE can help. It's a stand-alone program and works on Windows 95 and higher. It requires Outlook Express 5 and higher.
        Spell Checker: http://www.geocities.com/vampirefo
    
    8. Free software sometimes can substitute for expensive software.
    Office programs fall into the "expensive" category. Word processing and spreadsheet software can cost several hundred dollars.
    
    You can open, create, and save Microsoft Word and Excel documents with 602PC Suite. It also comes with a basic photo editor and organizer.
    It's compatible with Windows 98 and higher.
        602PC Suite: http://www.software602.com
    
    In addition to adware, free programs often have other downsides.
    Documentation is sometimes sparse, so you may have to experiment to master them. Technical support is limited or non-existent. If there's a problem, you may be on your own.
Senior Tips (taken from MSNBC May,2003)
One of the great things about getting older is the tremendous freebies and discounts for seniors! But they don’t come without the asking...there are thousands of ways to see the world, shop at beautiful stores, eat at wonderful restaurants.... and all at great discounts or some even for free! Here are some tips to remember so you can get......”the biggest bang for your buck” !!!!
- TIPS
  - Don’t be afraid or nervous to ask if an establishment has a senior discount, sometimes they don’t advertise it...many places have every day specials, but they offer even a deeper discount for mature adults!
  - Always ask for the discount before purchasing a ticket or paying the entrance fee.
  - Make sure you always carry an ID to prove your age (since we all look so young for our ages!!!), and if you have one — a membership card to a senior’s discount club (example: AARP).
  - Visit venues on “Senior Day”, it usually falls during the week and during the daytime (off peak hours), when others are working.
  - Plan ahead...call and ask for discounts and if available, check the Internet specials too! Check local newspaper for theatre shows, concerts and museums for special hours and prices for seniors.
  - Don’t send or give your credit card number or checking account info to a company just because they are offering a “limited time” discount and you want to jump on board...find out the details first!
  - Compare prices—to ensure you are getting the best deal, call and ask for the regular price, then ask for the seniors price, if you found a lower price elsewhere — get them to match it!
  - Never pay the advertised price for travel (especially cruises!) unless it comes with special extras. Seniors can always receive a better rate.
  - Be flexible, if you are willing to go at a different time than everyone else. You will be able to travel, eat, and visit venues for less money!
  - Lots of times place offer “Grandparent-Grandkid” discounts too. It is a great way to spend time with your grandchild and pay a lower price!
  - Most important — READ THE SMALL PRINT — don’t forget the old saying “nothing comes for free.”
- OFFERS
  - Amtrak travelers aged 62 and over receive a 15% discount off the applicable adult rail fare on most Amtrak trains. (Discount does not apply to first-class accommodations or the Auto Train.) Most major airlines usually offer great discounts as well. http://www.amtrak.com/savings/seniors.html