Newspaper Page Text
Smart
Fit Smart JORGE CRUISE
i
Why bootcamps work
“Class-baaed training is the wave of
the future,” says Jackie Warner, star
of Bravo’s Work Out. “It’s part eco
nomics because it’s cheaper to take
a group class than to get one-on-one
training. And people are competitive
by nature and draw'energy from other
people in a boot camp.”
Warner admits that boot camps
might not be for the faint of heart:
“They are not gentle. They’re based
on a military boot camp;
there will be screaming
and punishment if the
goals aren’t reached.
But when you push
yourself as a part of a
group and create a support
system, then you feel excited about
achieving something.”
Boot camps also offer fast results.
“They’ll change your body quicker
than if you are by yourself” says
Warner, who recommends adding an
eating plan for even faster results.
Visit jackiewamer.com for infor
mation on her popular boot camps.
Whose birthday
is today? (Hint: Turn to Who’s
News on page 2 of this week’s magazine.)
Or, even better, you can
check out USA WEEKEND’S
Birthday Book 365 days a year!
6
USA WEEKEND ■ Nov. 14-16,2008
Money Smart By SHARON EPPERSON
Give Roth IRAs another look
may help resuscitate your nest egg.
If you make less than SIOO,OOO a
year, consider converting your tra
ditional IRA to a Roth IRA You will
have to pay a one-time conversion
tax on your federal tax return, but
you aren’t dinged the 10% early
withdrawal penalty. And contribu
tions and earnings can be withdrawn
tax-free after age 5914 (for accounts
that are at least 5 years old), mak
ing it great for long-term sav-
Parent Smart w olsen
Ease shot fears
Shots, feared by children, are per
haps even worse for the parent who
i;
“Class-based
training is the
wane of the
■
future.
has to watch.
The bad news: Flu shot season
is here, and this year, the national
Centers for Disease Control and A
Prevention recommends that all M
children get the shot.
The good news: You can
help ease your child’s anxi
ety about those icky shots.
Texas pediatrician Ari
Brown, co-author of Baby
ill, says the first thing
Hj
BIRTHDAY I
5SS B «>Kf
To ask any USA WEEKEND columnist a question, visit usawaakond.com.
HELPFUL TIPS FOR YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
The stock market
carnage likely has
hit your retirement ac
count, but paying less
tax on your savings
Ur
SISII Wr
Wfm «T «
This 152-page spiral-bound
keepsake is perfect to record
life’s most important dates.
Plus, there’s celeb birthday
trivia, including which celebs
share your special day.
ings in this economy.
“Stock values are so low right
now,” says Ed Slott,
author of The Re-
’ f
X
tirement Savings
Time Bomb ...
and How to De
fuse It. “If you
convert to a
Roth now; then
when the mar
ket comes back,
those gains will
Tips from the pediatrician
■ Give your child a pain reliever 30
minutes before the appointment.
■ Spray a vapo-coolant product on
the skin before the injection. (Ask
your doctor's office staff if
|| they'll do this.)
1 ■ Give your child a
* spoonful of sugar. The
sweet taste can ease pain,
j For an older child, try
I lemonade or candy.
I
■ Apply a topical
l anesthetic cream
f to the skin an
hour before the
injection.
be tax-free forever.”
Barry Classman, a certified fi
nancial planner with Cassaday &
Co., says he sees clients every year
whose deductions exceed their in
come. His suggestion for people in
that situation (for example, if you
recently lost your job): Con
sider converting a portion of
your IRA to a Roth IRA “That
dk way,” he says, “you could in-
* p-
a.
1
H
I i
L * i
Ik A
kids ask her is whether they need a
shot “I play dumb,” she says. “I’ll say,
‘I don’t know, I’ll check the chart.’ ”
Then she changes the topic.
Brown offers these tips for kids
more than 6 months old:
■ DON'T give your child too much
warning. It’ll only make him anxious
for a longer period of time.
■ DISTRACT her by telling a joke
or making a silly face. For younger
kids, blowing in their face can help
take their mind off the moment.
■ OFFER a reward. If you brought
a snack, mention it just before the
needle appears so he can focus on
his treat instead, a
Not available in stores
Order |^/ a plus shipping
today at & handling
800-344-3872
(Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET)
or go to usaweekend.com
v —7
cur additional in
come without any
great additional tax
consequence.”
Ask your tax ad
visor if a Roth IRA
makes sense for you.
CNBC correspondent
Sharon Epperson is the
author o/The Big
|a_ Payoff
CHID. NONSTOCK/JUPfTEMMAGES