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Show DAILY N E R A Tuesday, March 20, 2007 t, 0, Funer al'DreDiannin Tjds to know This doughnut ' Savvy Senior, husband and both in our 70s and have been talking about getting our funeral and burial arrangements taken care of. Do you have helpful suggestions on this JimMiller Dear Savvy Senior carefully. The price list lets you choose only the products and services you want. it matter? Still Kicking m Note: If state or local law requires you to buy a. particular service, the funeral provider must disclose it on the price list, along with a reference to the law. Dear Kicking, Planning your funeral in advance is a smart idea. Not only does it give you time to make a thoughtful decision on the type of service you want, it also allows you to shop around to find a good funeral provider, and will spare your family the stress of making these decisions at an emotional time. Here are some suggestions to consider. Casket shopping at You can save big least 50 percent by purchasing a casket from a casket store versus the funeral home, and the funeral home providing your service must accept it (it's the law). To locate casket stores and online stores visit www. casketstores.com and click on "Store Directory" or see www.funerals.orgcaskets. htm. Another good shopping resource is Costco (www. costco.com), which offers its members a large variety of caskets and urns at discounted prices. Compare providers Choosing a quality funeral provider is your first step and most important decision in preplanning your funeral. No matter what type of funeral or memorial service you envision for yourself, it's wise to talk with several funeral homes so you can adequately compare the different services and prices. Savvy Fact According to the National Funeral Directors Association the average cost of a funeral today is around $6,500, not including cemetery charges. Funeral rule Are you aware of the "funeral rule," a Federal law that requires funeral directors to provide you with an itemized price list of their products and services? Be sure to ask for it and review prepay too, but if you are considering paying in advance, be cautious. Prepaid plans are not regulated by Federal law and state regulation is uneven. Before you sign anything, here are some areas you need to be very clear on: I Be sure you know exactly what you're paying for. Get a detailed itemized price list and compare with other funeral providers before committing. I Are the prices "locked in" or will an additional payment be required at the time of death? I What happens if you move to a different area or die while away from home? Some prepaid funeral plans can be transferred, but often at an added cost I Are you protected if the funeral home goes out of business or if it's bought out by another company? I Can you cancel the contract and get a full refund if you change your mind? If you do decide to prepay, get all the details of the agreement in writing, have the funeral director sign it, and give copies to your family so they know what's expected. - is also available immediately at the time of your death without the delay of probate. And if you're concerned about Medicaid eligibility, Savvy Tip: The Funeral Consumer Alliance is a good resource that provides a variety of free online funeral planning publications (www. funerals.org) that are very helpful. They also offer an e planning kit called end-of-lif- March 13, the opening para graph listed an incorrect phone number. It should be fapufkminitmtionl love So Much More ers tot papers you won't be irctrara use. Vacation usins reading The Daih Hen to local sciools. WeTi make certain moo e easy mm Then Just a Vfvlirim 1 awai nie mat n"1V' V a dozen doughnuts and.then blame the doughnuts, Eat just one," Harris said. If only he meant one dozen. Harris plans on expanding his retail operation to super- markets across the country, with the East Coast and Midwest next in his sights. He's also borrowing a page from Wheaties by putting sports figures on his doughnut boxes. Right now, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward has the honor of gracing the Total calories: 240. Fat 13. Fiber: 1 gram. Carbs: 24 grams. Manufacturer's suggested retail price: $2.99 for a box of six, available in the frozen-foo- d aisle at select supermarkets in Pennsylvania. But here's the weird, and kind of wonderful, thing about Super Donuts. They're also available in school cafeterias in all 50 states, plus nursing homes, hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country and at military bases around the world. "Our mission was first to make a doughnut that tastes like a doughnut. We're not pretending that this isn't a doughnut it is. But it's a grams: JkHjEmW , '.Poni dp that People eat . f donate the t's . compliment. I also ate a few all hot and sticky from the microwave!. Ooh, those are dangerous. 1 ould eat the whole box, no l, Sweat. And no servatives and no trans fats. And it still tastes like a legit doughnut. Does the sun still rise in the east? Here's the blueprint of a Super Donut: enriched flour, water, sugar, palm oil, cottonseed or cariola oil, yeast, wheat protein, milk protein and a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals Current Events 101 yv . Super Donuts have no artk1 ficial colors or flavors, no pre- Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www. savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of "The Sawy Senior" books. said Here's the tricky part. Harris says right on the box, even "enjoy just ONE Super Donut a day!" Good luck with; that. You're supposed to let iem thaw at room temperature or nuke them for 12 sec- onds in a nricrowave. Who can wait? I ate a couple of them frozen (I also eat Sara Lee pound cake frozen). Super Donuts tasted like ful-- , ly loaded and bloated dough-j- s huts that have absolutely no nutrition and will make you a high a big, fat tub :u.,i ,either. ... fayou mhrikrto value," Harris - ?. Gourmet Drive-thr- u f CORRECTION: In the Savvy Senior column "Social Security: When to start your benefits" printed Tuesday, (800)772-121- Ken Hoffman minerals, vitamins arid pro- - is tein?" said Harris, who studied food service and adrninistra-- . ' tion at Perm State University' v; before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972. Each Super Donut packs' 14Z s minerals, vitamins and protein ; 7 grams of protein, in fact while delivering all the J, " sugary sweetness, calories 'n' carbs, fabulous fat and greasyY goodness we love in a dough- - - "Before I Go You Should Know" for $10. To order a kit, call There are other ways to set aside money for your funeral, rather than giving it to a funeral home. You can set up a payable-on-deator POD account at your bank, naming the person you want Preplanning your funeral doesn't mean you have to week I reached out whoa a and protein-packe- d glazed, frozen Super Donut that's actually good for you (well ... let's just say not horribly bad for you), made by former pro football superstar Franco Harris. "I started my company, R Super Foods, in 1990 with the goal of improving the doughnut. Instead of demonizing the doughnut and eliminating it from our diet, why couldn't we make one that gives you This check the laws of your state. Some states will exempt POD accounts if they're set up as irrevocable trusts. Other options Should you prepay? is nutritious and delicious to handle your arrangements as the beneficiary. With this type of account, you maintain control of your money, so if you need funds for medical expenses or something else, you can withdraw it at any time. This type of fund glazed. "It was always my dream to combine sports and good nutrition," Harris said "We're going to use a different criteria to pick our athletes for the boxes. They have to be MVPs off the field, too. We want to honor athletes for their contribution to the community, and in return we'll donate a portion of the proceeds from the doughnuts to that athlete's fa- vorite charity or foundatioa" Hines' Helping Hands Foundation focuses on boosting literacy among young people and fights discrimination against biracial kids. It's a doughnut that has nutritional sweet cause. 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