Help elderly avoid paying bills for unwanted services

Dear Abby: I visited an elderly neighbor recently while she was writing her first-of-the-month checks. She was complaining about an account balance that kept going up, even though she never bought anything.

I was "nosy" enough to ask to see the statement, and I was appalled at what I saw. The woman was being charged for supplementary house insurance she didn't need, there was a fee for membership to an auto club - even though she hasn't driven for more than five years and doesn't own a car - and she was paying for credit card protection "should she become unemployed." Abby, this neighbor is more than 80 years old and long retired. If only I had looked sooner, I might have saved her many hundreds of dollars.Other older people may be caught in similar traps. Abby, please warn those who care about their elderly friends and relatives to investigate when they complain about bills they do not understand. Please do not reveal my name or town because it would embarrass my neighbor.

- Nosy Neighbor With a Purpose

Dear Neighbor: Bless you for helping your neighbor. While what you describe may be more likely to happen to elderly consumers, anyone who doesn't understand a bill should either discuss it with the company that issued it or have someone else help them clarify the charges.

Dear Abby: This letter is for "Hurting in Whittier, Calif.," who thinks that wrinkles on her face are keeping her from getting a second look from men. There is nothing that will make people respond to her more than a sincere smile. It will make her wrinkles essentially disappear. Not only will it make her feel good, it will brighten the day for everyone she greets.

Abby, there is no guarantee that having a man in her life will make her feel any better. Believe me, I have had more to smile about since my husband of 27 years left town with another woman. I look younger, feel younger, and my morale has improved 100 percent. I have the same wrinkles I had when he was here, but no one notices them because I smile so often.

To paraphrase a quote from Nathaniel Hawthorne: "Happiness is like a butterfly - the more you chase it, the more it will elude you. but if you turn your attention to other things, it comes and softly sits on your shoulder."

I hope "Hurting in Whittier's" shoulders will soon be loaded with butterflies of happiness. Sign me . . .

Alone But Not Hurting Now,

Danville, Ky.