Show Second 40 i Dear Miss Brookfield Early next year my husband will reach the age of 65 and due to company rules will be forced to retire So many couples seem to retire without financial stress if all the articles I read about their CUShio cushions of f pensions stocks bonds ties and savings are t t. f But after raising and educating three children were we're broke We dont don't even own property MY HUSBAND plans to seek employment and earn what he can legally while collecting Social Security benefits The children want to help but as they are married and have their own problems we refuse to burden them further Due to illness I cant can't work I know ou cant can't solve this problem for us But can you tell me whether were we're in ina a minority If not how do others manage retirement On a budget CM Buffalo N N. N Y Dear CM That's a good question But Butto Butto Butto to paraphrase an old joke when you face retirement rich is better MANY RETIRED couples however do seem to manage on low incomes A survey released by the US U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that living costs for retired couples are generally lowest in the Southern South South- ern cities like Baton Rouge La and Atlanta Ga Atlanta registered costs about seven to nine percent below US U.S. urban averages Spending by retired couples was highest in Honolulu Hartford Hartford Hartford Hart Hart- ford Conn Seattle Wash Buffalo N. N Y San Francisco Francisco Francisco Fran Fran- cisco Calif and other Northern North North- ern mainland cities THE SURVEY came up forthe for the first time with US U.S. average figures for high moderate and low budgets of retired couples These were respectively and 2671 The survey did not disclose how two people manage on 2671 2671 2671 2 yearly but possibly they walk around barefoot Concerning your question on budgets on a limited fixed income without savings savings sav sav- ings or other means of financial fi financial financial fi- fi security we do not happen to believe anyone can prepare and stick to a budget unless hes he's a hermit without family responsibilities or friends WE WOULD like to meet the housewife in such a situation situation situation sit sit- who can forecast costs involved in every emergency or unexpected expenditures How does she know ahead of time that the car will breakdown break breakdown breakdown down a tooth will start hurting hurting hurting hurt hurt- ing Aunt Bessie will drop in for a visit a friend invites invites in invites in- in vites her to a wedding or even that the cost of coffee and potatoes will go up say six months hence If readers have any suggestions suggestions suggestions sug sug- we would welcome them t Dear Miss Brookfield Can you give me some advice advice advice ad ad- vice concerning my mother She is 49 Is it possible she is going through the menopause menopause menopause meno meno- pause Lately she is extremely extreme extreme- ly irritable and nervous We argue constantly if I come in late She doesn't particularly like my friends either There is no pleasing her lately If it is the menopause menopause menopause meno meno- pause will she get over this HD St. St Paul Minn Dear H. H D. D Only a doctor can answer your question so stop arguing with mom long enough to suggest suggest suggest sug sug- gest that she visit him for a checkup HER nervousness and ir irritability irritability irritability ir- ir can be due to any number of causes If her condition condition condition con con- is menopausal her doctor doctor doctor doc doc- tor can tell her so and can help treat it if necessary Inso In Inso Inso so many women as insufficiency insufficiency insufficiency of a hormone estrogen arou around d the time of the menopause menopause mEmo mEmo- meno meno- pause leads to such symptoms symptoms symptoms toms as irritability nervousness nervousness nervousness nervous nervous- ness hot flashes and night sweats For almost 30 years however women have obtained obtained obtained ob ob- ob- ob relief from these symptoms symptoms symptoms toms with medication known as estrogen replacement therapy Only a doctor can prescribe it But it relieves the symptoms symptoms symptoms toms by correcting the imbalance imbalance imbalance im im- im- im balance of hormones PS ARE you yon sure that your mothers mother's criticism of the lateness of your hours and of your your- friends isn't justified Think ab about t it t. t Be Because se an effort on your part to accept sensible rules plus her visit to the doctor may together work wonders for your mothers mother's mental health |