the complete report, click here. ( http://www.research.aarp.org/consume/d17192_longdis.pdf )

Since deregulation, there are literally dozens, if not hundreds, of calling plans available in market today. This has been a windfall for consumers but unfortunately all of various plans and options can become very confusing for most consumers – particularly our elderly who grew up during AT&T only reign. Please read on if you or one of your family members fall into this category. We offer these tips to help cut through some of confusion and ease burden (pain) of selecting a calling plan that will save them considerable sums over time.

• Telemarketing Issues: Telemarketers and receiving spam email are one in same, as far as I am concerned. With unwanted email you can hit delete key; with telemarketers simply hang up. Besides, selecting a calling plan should be done with full knowledge and disclosure and reading fine print. You cannot do that over phone and you can rest assured that telemarketer is not going to be terrible forthcoming. As drug commercials say, just say no – then hang up.

• Peak versus Off-Peak Rates: You need to look for a calling plan that delivers same low price, any time and all of time. Although there are numerous plans out there that offer different rates for different times and weekends, they have tendency to mystify and bewilder mere mortals such as you and me.

• First Steps: Start with people you know and trust; family members, close neighbors and business associates if appropriate. Ask who they use and why; what their rates are and if there are any limitations. Check with them on whether there are monthly fees and minimums with their calling plan and most important, whether they are satisfied with their service and would recommend their carrier to others. Answers to these types of questions will get you pointed in right direction at least. Also, if you hear same company recommended by more than one friend then you need to look into their plans first.

• Primary Considerations: Unfortunately, getting right calling plan requires a little work on your part. You need to study your telephone calling behavior, check for patterns, times, particular cities that you call more frequently and so forth. Do you make most of your calls locally, within State or State-to-State? Are you a large consumer of International calls? Once you understand your personal calling habits and patterns you can begin to focus your attention on which carrier will best meet those need and meet your expectations with most competitive price. Match your calling pattern with recommendations you received from others in first step above. Is there a good fit? If so, pursue them further.

The average person has shoeboxes and dresser drawers full of photos that are a jumbled mess. Many people have years and years’ worth of photos that have never even made it out of film developer’s envelopes! Even worse, some people have even stopped taking pictures because they feel so guilty about their already out-of-control photo “collection.”

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your photos, then start by taking these simple steps to find joy in your photographs once again:

1. Practice Photo Safety

If you were to ask someone to name their most prized possessions, they would likely tell you that their photographs and keepsakes were most important. And yet, most people are unknowingly damaging these very items that they consider most valuable!

How about you? Are you damaging your precious photographs? If you have any photographs in shoeboxes, magnetic albums, manila folders, plastic baggies or standard film developing envelopes, then your answer is YES! If you have ever written on back of your photographs with a ballpoint pen, then your answer is YES! That is because all of these items expose your photographs to three biggest hazards: Acid, Lignin and PVC. Here's a quick explanation of these hazards:

* Acid: A chemical substance that can weaken paper and cloth, causing it to brown and become brittle. * Lignin: An organic substance that is present in wood pulp. It becomes more and more acidic as it deteriorates. (The yellowing effect of a newspaper is an example of lignin.) * PVC: (also known as polyvinyl chloride) A chemically active plastic that, when combined with moisture in air can emit hydrochloric acid.

This may sound complicated, but you don't need to worry about remembering details. Just remember that acid, lignin and PVC will damage photographs! Whenever you purchase photo albums and scrapbooking supplies, be sure that they are acid-free, lignin-free and PVC free.

You also need to protect your photographs from hazards in environment, such as excessive heat, light and humidity. For ultimate safety, you should store your photo collection in a windowless closet away from water pipes and heat sources.

This may seem like extra work, but practicing photo safety should first step in any of your photo organizing projects. The greatest organizing systems are useless if your photographs are destroyed in process!

2. Gather everything in one place.

It’s hard to organize your photographs if you don’t know where they are! Having everything in one place will bring an immediate sense of peace, and it will make it easier for your family to enjoy your precious photographs. There’s a security benefit, too! If unthinkable happens and you need to evacuate your house, you will be able to quickly gather your treasured items.

3. Don’t get hung up on “big picture”.