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🩺55 & UpSides #0029: Signs of high blood pressure | Your property tax too high? | Winter road hazards?

🩺55 & UpSides #0029: Signs of high blood pressure | Your property tax too high? | Winter road hazards?

Ronnie Mac James
January 10th, 2025

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Good morning, 55&UpSiders - I wanted to share this short video I found on signs of high blood pressure…

Let’s hop right into the best stories I could track down for you…

Top News

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🕙  Dumbest Criminal Ever: Guy Breaks Into Corvette & Can’t Get Out (w/ Video)

🕙  If You Move To The Sunshine State, Watch Out For “Florida Man”

🕙  CNBC Shows How To Muscle Up Your 401k In 2025

🕙  These Are The 35 Healthiest Foods To Keep In Your Kitchen

🕙  The 7 Travel Trends That'll Shape 2025 (Including Nostalgia Travel)

🕙  Save Over $100 (Every Year) By Making This Simple Change To Your Streaming Subscriptions

🕙  Watch: Breaking Down Net Worth Averages By Age Group

Like donuts & coffee? See how to grab some below (on me).

🍩Reply to this email with “donut” for a shot at a Dunkin’ Donuts gift code! Weekly drawing. 🍩

Next up, laughter pays off…

How Much Does Laughter Matter?

I’ve worked for some folks like that hyena before. Jekyll & Hyde types. Anyway, laughter does make a difference, according to science. So try to laugh more if you want the following benefits:

Laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn over 40 calories
Enhances social bonds
Even short bouts of laughter can boost brain function, allowing clearer, creative thinking
A 2018 study found laughter therapy effectively delays cardiovascular complications in people with type 2 diabetes
Laughter has been shown to raise pain thresholds, making it a natural pain management tool

See all 10 benefits plus the sources here.

Today’s Feature Story is below & covers property taxes.

Feature Story

55+ People’s Property Taxes

The problem is...

Property taxes can be a financial burden for retired folks
Rising property values lead to increased taxes, potentially forcing seniors out of their homes
Many seniors are unaware of tax relief programs

3 resources that can help you

Roadblocks

Complex eligibility guidelines varying by state & county
Paperwork can be overwhelming
Income restrictions disqualify some seniors from relief programs

Upsides & ways to beat roadblocks

Potential savings of hundreds or thousands of dollars annually on property taxes
Many states offer increased standard deductions for seniors over 65
Some communities provide complete property tax exemptions for qualifying seniors
Seek help from local senior centers or tax professionals on the application process
Set reminders for application deadlines & keep important documents organized
Explore alternatives like senior living communities with built-in tax benefits

Property taxes are rough. I know two sisters who recently lost a property because they couldn’t agree on how to sell it & divide the funds. So they got behind on property taxes, then the land got auctioned off to the highest bidder. They walked away with zero. A real shame.

Keep reading for Facts & tips for winter driving, the average age people give up driving, & more.

Face The Facts (then punch ’em in the nose)

Know the facts so you can overcome or take advantage of them.

5) About 156,000 crashes occur annually due to icy roads (The Zebra)

4) Who is the most liked American actor? Answer: Morgan Freeman with an 84% positive opinion rating.

3) Northeast residents dominate the U.S. as the highest savings region: Connecticut led with the highest average savings of $545,754 (others of note. New Jersey $514,245. New Hampshire $512,781)

2) Average age people give up driving is 75. However, 82 years old is the age drivers & former drivers 55+ said they planned to or stopped driving (AARP)

1) Daydreaming helps with thinking up new ideas & people who daydream have a deeper sense of compassion

👊Let’s punch winter driving accidents in the nose.

I’ve driven in bad winter weather when I shouldn’t have. But there are ways to avoid having to drive in bad winter conditions. See the 4 below:

Order groceries, medications, & other necessities for home delivery
Keep essential supplies at home to reduce the need for urgent trips during bad weather
Arrange rides with others who have more experience or better vehicles for winter driving
Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle just in case

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The upside’s always worth looking for,
Ronnie Mac James

P.S. For new readers. I’m a retired business owner who ran a house painting business for over 38 years. My wife & I have experience dealing with the health decline of our elderly parents since 2017 (Alzheimer’s, falling injuries, & cancer). I started this newsletter to give you information that helps you overcome the challenges we all endure after age 55, with ourselves & aging parents.

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