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America’s finances are about to get much worse

Amid so many crises around the world, it’s easy to forget the scale of America’s debt problem. But a new report from the Congressional Budget Office puts the stakes in sharp relief: Even under the best circumstances, America’s finances are on track to get much worse. The CBO’s Budget and Economic Outlook provides forecasts for spending and revenue over the next decade, and the latest findings are dramatic. This fiscal year the government is projected to suffer a $1.9 trillion budget deficit, which translates to 5.8 percent of gross domestic product. In ten years, the gap will ...

A family wedding minus one

Dear Annie: Am I being too sensitive? My niece’s son is getting married this year. I always believed I was close to her family, but when the “save the date” and shower invitations went out, my daughter was not included -- although all the other cousins were. My daughter rarely attends family functions, so when one of my sisters asked why “Charlotte” wasn’t invited, the answer was, “We didn’t think she would come.” Charlotte is my only daughter, and I feel that the least they could have done was mention this to me beforehand. Instead, I stood at a family gathering and ...

Find healthy snacks for children

Dear Heloise: To Susan L., as a retired registered dietitian who specialized in pediatrics, I absolutely do not recommend popsicles as a snack. They are high in simple sugars and can be high in added sugar, with limited vitamins and minerals and no fiber. There are numerous other healthy snacks that are not high in sugar, such as hummus with vegetable sticks or cheese with whole-grain, low-sugar crackers. Although fresh fruit contains natural sugar, it is not sticky and has vitamins and fiber. -- Dena G., via email NO PROCESSED FOODS Dear Readers: We have another reader who ...

Living under the threat of divorce

Dear Annie: I am a 69-year-old man who is still totally and madly in love with my wife of 49 years. I know many people would say I’m foolish for feeling this way after she cheated on me several times during the early years of our marriage. At the time, I blamed myself. We were young, I felt responsible for providing for our growing family, and I threw myself into work. I came from a broken home, and my wife came from poverty. I was determined that neither of us would ever go through that again. Looking back, I think my long hours may have left her feeling lonely. After that, I made ...

Avoiding unnecessary purchases

Dear Heloise: I used to come home from the store, only to realize I’d bought spices that I already had tucked away in the cupboard. To solve this problem, I came up with an easy system that works every time. Whenever I buy a new container of a spice that I already own, I place a rubber band around the older container. This way, when I look in my spice cabinet, I can quickly see that I have a backup and don’t need to buy more. The rubber band acts as a simple visual reminder, saving me from buying duplicates and wasting money. This method doesn’t require labels, lists or special ...

Seeking rest and relaxation at last

Dear Annie: My husband and I are at a full-blown spring break standoff, and the kids are watching it like it’s a sport. He wants to take our two kids skiing. He’s already talking about “fresh powder,” early lift tickets and how this is the perfect chance to make “core memories.” He grew up skiing, and it’s his happy place. I can see how excited he is, and I’m not trying to be the villain who cancels joy. But I want to go somewhere warm. Not “a light jacket” warm, but genuinely warm. Sun. Sand. The kind of weather where you can sit outside with coffee and feel your ...