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6 extra items to pack when travelling by yourself

Travelling alone can be a life changing experience, but it also requires a few extra precautions. Pack these six things to keep yourself safe. 1. Doorstop A simple wedge of wood or plastic can give you priceless peace of mind in a hotel room. Even if you lock the door, people might be able to break the lock or use a cloned key. A doorstop quickly and easily wedges it shut so you can sleep easy. If you want to go one step further, you can get special doorstop alarms that will emit a loud siren if anyone tries to force the door. 2. Extra lock There are endless uses for an extra padlock or bike lock-style cable. You can double up on your hotel door, secure your train carriage or ship cabin, double lock your suitcase or chain it to something sturdy. Compact, sturdy locks are relatively cheap and easy to carry with you, and will deter most thieves or intruders looking for an easy mark. 3. First aid kit If you don’t have a travel buddy to send down to the chemist, a simple first aid kit can be a lifesaver. Keep it stocked with band aids, basic bandages, pain killers, antibiotics, antihistamines and gastro meds, along with anything else you think will be useful. If you are really unwell, you’ll obviously need to see a doctor, but having the first line of defence within easy reach is always smart. 4. Whistle or personal alarm If you will be walking through unfamiliar cities at night (or even in the day), a whistle or personal alarm can give you a feeling of security. If anyone unsavoury approaches you, a loud noise will startle them and generally scare them off. It also draws the attention of other people and makes them aware of your predicament. 5. Small torch Never underestimate the power of a little light to make you feel safe. It’s great for finding your way through dark streets, looking for your keys in your bag or seeing the lock on your hotel door. You can get small lights that attach to a keychain or wallet and give out a surprisingly bright light. People are less likely to approach you if they feel they will be seen. 6. Fake wedding ring This one is for the ladies – in some countries an unmarried woman is seen as an easy target. Buying a cheap, fake wedding ring can give you a simple cover. Men may be less likely to approach you and, if they do, you can simply say your husband is in the next shop or waiting for you back at the hotel. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Obese woman sparks debate for not giving up extra seat for toddler

An obese woman has sparked debate online after refusing to give up the second seat she paid for to a fussy toddler. The 34-year-old booked the two seats for her cross-country flight to visit her family for Christmas because she was previously unable to comfortably fit in one seat. All was well until the young woman next to her demanded that she "squeeze into one seat" so her son could sit on the other. "I am obese," she admitted on the Reddit thread. "I'm actively working toward losing weight and I've made progress - but I booked an extra seat because I'm fat." She added that she insisted on keeping her seat because she paid for it, but the mum "made a big fuss over it, and she told the flight attendant I was stealing the seat from her son." "Then I showed her my boarding passes, proving that I paid for the extra seat. The flight attendant asked me if I could try to squeeze in, but I said no, that I wanted the extra seat I paid for." The woman claimed that the toddler was only 18 months old, so he didn't need his own seat and could've sat on his mum's lap for the duration of the flight. "I got dirty looks and passive-aggressive remarks from her for the entire flight and I do feel a little bad because the boy looked hard to control - but am I in the wrong?" she asked other social media users. Many shared their overwhelming support for the woman and slammed the mum and flight attendant for their "horrific" behaviour. "The mum is an a**hole for not buying a seat for her son and assuming someone else would give up a seat they paid for. Odds are she was hoping there'd be extra seats on the flight so she didn't have to pay and used the lap thing as a loophole," one commented. "What's even the point of the extra seat if the flight attendants are going to let entitled people bully others into giving it up?" another added. "People buy entire seats for high-end musical equipment. Not even people. Their lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on your part," a third wrote. However, there were a few others that said the woman was in the wrong for causing an inconvenience. "If you are so fat that you have to have more than one seat on an airplane then you are selfish," one said. "Flights overbook all the time especially during the holidays - how can you justify having two seats to yourself?" "How much room does a kid take up, seriously? Yeah the mum should've bought a seat but that doesn't mean you have to be selfish and cause two people discomfort," another commented. Image: Getty

Travel Trouble

Should I put more money into my super? What are the benefits and can I take it out before retirement if I need it?

Superannuation is never far from the headlines lately, with the government recently calling for <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/consultation/c2023-361383">views</a> from the public on what the objective of super should be. The basic idea behind super is you set aside a portion of your pay over your working life, so you can build up a nest egg to see you through your retirement years. But what if you’re worried you might not have enough super by the time you retire? Yes, you could top up your super now and watch the nest egg grow through the magic of <a href="https://moneysmart.gov.au/saving/compound-interest">compound returns</a>– but what are the downsides? If you’re considering putting more money into your super, and want to know more about how the whole system works, here are the basics. <h2>What are the rules about putting more money into my super?</h2> First, make sure you know where your superannuation actually is and how much you’ve got so far. This <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/forms/searching-for-lost-super/">page</a> from the Australian Tax Office explains how to search for any lost super. The next thing to know is there are <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/super/in-detail/growing-your-super/super-contributions---too-much-can-mean-extra-tax/?page=2#Understanding_contribution_caps">limits</a> to how much you can contribute into superannuation. There are two types of super contributions you can make. The first category is called “<a href="https://moneysmart.gov.au/grow-your-super/super-contributions">concessional contributions</a>”. These are taxed at 15%, which may be lower than the tax you’d otherwise have to pay on that money. So making these super top-ups can not only grow your nest egg, but save you tax. The amount of concessional contributions you can make is A$27,500 per annum. That figure includes all the super your employer puts in your super account and any extra contributions you make under a salary sacrifice scheme or where you are claiming an income tax deduction. The second category, known as “non-concessional contributions”, means money you pay into your super withoutclaiming a tax deduction. This could be, for example, money from savings, an inheritance or a lottery win. There is a limit of $330,000 over three years (or $110,000 per year), for these contributions. <h2>What are the benefits of topping up my super?</h2> Two words: compound returns. Compound returns are where you earn returns not only on the original investment you put in, but also on any returns on that investment. As the government’s <a href="https://moneysmart.gov.au/saving/compound-interest">Moneysmart</a> website puts it, “you get interest on your interest”. Over the years, this means you could earn a lot more than you would if you didn’t top up your super. How much more? Well, it depends on the investment return and fees of your fund. But as an example: thanks to compound returns, putting an extra $100 per month into your super from age 30 could <a href="https://www.calc.help/industrysuper/add-extra-to-your-super">mean you retire</a> with an extra $65,000 in your account (here, I’ve assumed investment returns of 7.5%, accumulation inflation of 4% and salary inflation of 4%). And the longer it is there, the more it will grow – so starting top-ups early might pay off. This is particularly important for <a href="https://theconversation.com/spirals-and-circles-snakes-and-ladders-why-womens-super-is-complex-103763">women</a>, whose super balances may look a bit feeble if they take parental leave or cut their hours while raising a family. Then there’s the tax benefits of super top-ups. If you would normally pay a net tax rate higher than 15% on investments such as shares, your money will grow more quickly inside superannuation than shares. You may also be eligible for government co-contributions that add to your balance if you make a non-concessional contribution during the year and your income is less than $57,016. <h2>So what’s the downside? Can I access my superannuation before retirement?</h2> Basically, no. You must meet a “<a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/super/in-detail/withdrawing-and-using-your-super/withdrawing-your-super-and-paying-tax/?page=2#Conditionsofrelease">condition of release</a>” before being able to access your superannuation. The most common is retirement, defined as reaching the age of 65 or leaving work after reaching “preservation age” (which is 60 for anyone born after July, 1964). There are some <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Super/Withdrawing-and-using-your-super/Early-access-to-your-super/">special circumstances</a> where you may be able to access your superannuation early. These are very narrow, and include serious financial hardship or necessary medical treatment that cannot be funded any other way. Death or terminal illness also qualify for release. <h2>But what if I need a deposit for a house?</h2> This is a dilemma for non home-owners. After compulsory superannuation guarantee deductions and HECS-HELP, it may be hard to save a deposit. One of the few circumstances where you access your superannuation early is through the <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/super/withdrawing-and-using-your-super/first-home-super-saver-scheme/">First Home Super Savers Scheme</a>. If you make voluntary contributions, you may be able to withdraw these contributions for a home deposit. However, this scheme is very tightly regulated. You can read more about the rules for this scheme <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/super/withdrawing-and-using-your-super/first-home-super-saver-scheme/">here</a>. <h2>So… should I put more money into my super?</h2> It depends. If you do, make sure you understand you will not be able to access that money until retirement. If you own your home (or intend to rent until retirement) you may want to put more into superannuation while you can afford it, knowing it is contributing to a secure retirement. But if home ownership is your goal, you should think carefully about choosing between superannuation and saving for a home deposit. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared in <a href="https://theconversation.com/should-i-put-more-money-into-my-super-what-are-the-benefits-and-can-i-take-it-out-before-retirement-if-i-need-it-201950" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Retirement Income

Parents leave baby at airport counter after refusing to buy extra ticket

A couple were checking in for a flight from Ben Gurion International Airport to Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday when they made the decision to leave their baby behind. Upon their arrival at the airport check-in desk in Tel Aviv, Israel, it was revealed that the baby did not have a ticket. Rather than address the situation and ensure their child’s safe travel, the pair opted to proceed to security without their stroller and its young occupant. The airline they were flying with, Ryanair, state on their website that "infants can be included in a flight reservation during the online booking process." Following their process for booking with an infant, a message will pop-up to let travellers know there is a €25 charge (approximately $39) for each one-way flight the baby participates in from an adult’s lap. If the adults want the baby to travel in a seat of its own with the proper equipment, a seat must be paid for. The parents, apparently, had not made such arrangements for their baby. The matter was referred to officials, as confirmed by a Ryanair spokeswoman. "These passengers travelling from Tel Aviv to Brussels presented at check-in without a booking for their infant,” she told CNN, “they then proceeded to security leaving the infant behind at check-in. "The check-in agent at Ben Gurion Airport contacted Airport Security, who retrieved these passengers, and this is now a matter for local police." Reports of the situation were confirmed by the Israeli Airport Authority, who provided a statement to CNN and offered some more information into what went on. "A couple and an infant with Belgian passports arrived for a flight at Terminal 1 without a ticket for the baby,” it read. “The couple also arrived late for the flight, once the check-in for the flight was closed. The couple left the infant seat with the baby and ran toward the security checks at Terminal 1 in an attempt to reach the boarding gate for the flight." A video allegedly from the airport at the time, staff can be heard expressing their sadness for the child. Another woman exclaims, “she left him there, I swear!” Ryanair staff also voiced their shock over the incident, telling N12, “we’re never seen anything like it.” Despite reports that the parents were detained, an Israel Police spokesman told CNN that the matter appeared to have been resolved by the time law enforcement arrived on the scene, stating that "the baby was with the parents and there's no further investigation." Images: Getty

Travel Trouble

Unpaid and unequal: women’s extra workload affects mental wellbeing

Women do the bulk of unpaid domestic work globally and the added burden has an impact on their mental health – but surprisingly there’s little independent empirical research about this. Now, there is data, which shows the double burden of paid and unpaid work results in increased depressive or psychological distress for women as unpaid labour increases. Researchers at the University of Melbourne reviewed the evidence for the gendered nature of unpaid work and consequences for mental health among employed adults, <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(22)00160-8/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">publishing</a> their results in Lancet Public Health. Public health researcher and lead author, Jen Ervin, says the research showed women were uniformly doing more unpaid work across every geographical and time setting. “What our review tells us is that, in addition to the economic penalty women experience carrying out most of the world’s unpaid labour load, there is a troubling mental health cost as well,” she says. While further research is needed, Ervin says the most widely acknowledged explanation for the impact on mental health is that the combined paid and unpaid workload triggers stress-related pathways. It also reduces time for activities known to be protective for mental health such as sleep, leisure and physical activity. The findings won’t come as a surprise to many, especially women, she says. Indeed. The study follows <a href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/news/47524-yet-again--the-census-shows-women-are-doing-more-housework.-now-is-the-time-to-invest-in-interventions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">census data</a> confirming (once again) that Australian women do more hours of unpaid housework than men. And <a href="https://cew.org.au/2022-cew-census-an-urgent-wakeup-call-ceo-gender-balance-100-years-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">another report</a> this week commissioned by Chief Executive Women indicating caring responsibilities in the pandemic held back progress on women’s workforce participation and leadership. For what seems like an intractable problem, what can be done to change things? Ervin says, “we believe that policies such as universal childcare and normalising flexible working arrangements and extended paternity leave for men can help in shifting the dial and driving greater gender equality in the division of unpaid labour and unpaid care. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p205326-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> “Some of these measures will also aid and facilitate the harder task of shifting some of the outdated attitudes and beliefs around labour division.” It’s important to note many men are taking a more active role in childcare and housework. But men can be limited in doing so by factors such as inflexible workplace arrangements or social stigma, she says. The University of Melbourne research focussed on employed adults, the ‘double burden’ effect of combining paid work with unpaid work, and how this subsequently creates issues of overload and time poverty. It found substantial gender differences. Of the 14 studies reviewed for the article – totalling more than 66,800 participants worldwide – five examined unpaid labour (inclusive of care), nine examined housework time and, of these, four also examined childcare. Overall, in 11 of the 14 studies, women self-reported increased depressive or psychological distress symptoms with increasing unpaid labour demands. For men, only three out of a possible 12 studies reported any negative association. An aspect not captured in the current review, Ervin says, is the difference in the gendered allocation of household tasks. For example, men often do less-time-sensitive outdoor or maintenance tasks such as mowing the lawn or cleaning the gutters. These jobs aren’t as time-pressured as feeding a hungry child or driving them to an appointment. And while more difficult to measure, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13668803.2021.2002813?journalCode=ccwf20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">other research</a> shows women are also often carrying more of the mental load of household labour. Unfortunately, Australia is lagging behind many other countries when it comes to key gender equality indicators such as unpaid labour division, Ervin says. This week a <a href="https://cew.org.au/2022-cew-census-an-urgent-wakeup-call-ceo-gender-balance-100-years-away/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> commissioned by Chief Executive Women drew attention to the lack of progress made by Australia’s top companies in appointing women to leadership roles. The report, prepared by management consultants Bain & Company, says 73% of executive roles in ASX300 companies are held by men, and 85% of line management roles. The report says COVID-19 set back women’s workforce participation, as they took on the bulk of the increased caring responsibilities. This is consistent with <a href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/news/47524-yet-again--the-census-shows-women-are-doing-more-housework.-now-is-the-time-to-invest-in-interventions" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">findings</a> from other University of Melbourne research showing the “catastrophic” impact of the pandemic on women’s lives, especially for mothers. Restrictions such as school closures and remote learning added to the domestic workload for everyone, but the gender gap remained. Women, more often than men, reduced their paid work to meet the increased demands. The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute also <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/mental-health-maternal-lockdown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> maternal wellbeing was profoundly impacted by the pandemic, finding a third of women experienced clinically significant mental health problems during Victoria’s second lockdown, with ongoing fatigue and parenting stress. <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=205326&title=Unpaid+and+unequal%3A+women%26%238217%3Bs+extra+workload+affects+mental+wellbeing" width="1" height="1" /> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/womens-unpaid-work-and-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/petra-stock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Petra Stock</a>. Petra Stock has a degree in environmental engineering and a Masters in Journalism from University of Melbourne. She has previously worked as a climate and energy analyst. Image: Getty Images </div>

Mind

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial at 40 – a deep meditation on loneliness, and Spielberg’s most exhilarating film

40 years ago this month saw the release of Steven Spielberg’s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083866/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial</a> – a film about a stranded alien, the boy called Elliott who discovers it and a bond of friendship that remains as magical and heartbreaking as it did back in 1982. We think of Spielberg movies today as thrilling roller-coaster rides, full of sharks, dinosaurs and swashbuckling archaeologists. Yet for me, E.T. remains Spielberg’s most exhilarating work: a deep meditation on loneliness, friendship and growing up in small-town America. Aided by John Williams’s Oscar-winning score and Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore’s touching performances, E.T. feels both of its time and for all time. As Spielberg <a href="https://www.contactmusic.com/pages/et2x21x03x02" target="_blank" rel="noopener">once said</a>: I think that E.T. is for the people we are, the people we have been and the people we want to be again. <h2>A child in need of a friend</h2> After the breathless trio of Jaws (1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Spielberg wanted to make a more intimate film about his isolated childhood in suburban Arizona <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/steven-spielberg-et-divorce-parents-anniversary-b2063879.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as he came to terms</a> with the divorce of his parents. At the same time, he had commissioned a script about a suburban family terrorised by a group of aliens with one befriending the family’s son. The DNA of both stories would make their way into this film. Like Spielberg, Elliott is a loner. He’s not playing sport, or going out with girls or getting into trouble. He is introverted and thoughtful. And in need of company. One of Spielberg’s great underrated talents is his direction of children. Many of his films feature young children at their centre – think The BFG (2016), A.I. (2001) and War Horse (2011). In E.T., Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore as brother and sister Elliott and Gertie bring credibility and pathos to their roles, fitting seamlessly into the southern Californian ‘burb culture recreated so fondly by the director. Spielberg’s grasp of childlike wonder is everywhere: notice how he shoots from the children’s eye level and shows adults only from the waist down. For the first time in his career, Spielberg rejected storyboards and <a href="https://ascmag.com/articles/spielberg-et-the-extraterrestrial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shot scenes chronologically</a>, allowing Thomas and Barrymore time and space to improvise. The domestic and school scenes (hiding E.T. from the mother, tempting it into the house with Reese’s Pieces, freeing frogs destined for dissection) all feel more real because of this. <h2>And what of our alien?</h2> Before E.T., Hollywood saw aliens as hostile critters intent on planetary carnage. The recent extra-terrestrials in Alien (1979) and The Thing (1982) had caused havoc and trauma. E.T. is different: partly modelled on the facial features of Albert Einstein, it is inquisitive, thoughtful, funny. In the delightful Halloween scene, Elliott throws a white sheet over it as a disguise, and E.T. suddenly spots a child dressed up as Yoda, excitedly repeating “Home! Home!”. From this moment, Hollywood realised the marketing potential of “cute aliens”; whether Ewoks, Grogu or Toy Story’s “Little Green Men”. It is small wonder that Variety <a href="https://variety.com/1982/film/reviews/e-t-the-extra-terrestrial-1200425287/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">praised</a> E.T. as the “best Disney film Disney never made”. The alien plays another role too: it fills the void of the absent father. Paternal lack and the strains it places on families is a familiar trope in Spielberg’s films, from Jurassic Park (1993) to Catch Me If You Can (2002) to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). All we know is that Elliott’s father is “in Mexico, with Sally”: left behind is a stressed mother and bickering siblings. Some contend that E.T. is a <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/4239568?seq=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">modern-day fairy tale</a> or <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/15/movies/l-film-mailbag-is-et-a-religious-parable-073792.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Christian parable</a>. For others, it is an illustration of “<a href="https://edoc.hu-berlin.de/bitstream/handle/18452/23096/9783631837801%20%E2%80%93%20Echoes%20of%20Reaganism%20in%20Hollywood%20Blockbuster%20Movies%20from%20the%201980s%20to%20the%202010s.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reaganite entertainment</a>”, upholding the sanctity of the nuclear family but distrustful of bureaucratic interference and governmental surveillance. <h2>Spielberg at his best</h2> E.T. earned US$800 million at the box office. Adjusted for inflation, four decades on, that is still the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_films_in_the_United_States_and_Canada#Adjusted_for_ticket-price_inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fourth highest grossing</a> movie ever. For some naysayers, its success was further evidence of the special effects-laden, high-concept spectacle film that was beginning to reign in mainstream film culture. But I think E.T. is much more than that: it is a movie with a heart. The special effects are minimal. What counts is the story, and the boy and his friend. Spielberg’s films are to this day <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/2011/12/critics-notebook-putting-steven-spielberg-on-trial-50244/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticised</a> as mawkish and overly sentimental, deliberately engineered to cynically manipulate our emotions. Not so in E.T.: the pleasure is genuine and the tears are earned. E.T. became a pop culture phenomenon. The shot of Elliott and E.T. on a bike, flying across the moon, remains an iconic image. “Phone home” has become part of our lexicon. Its message of peaceful coexistence between creatures from different worlds today seems more appropriate than ever. Aliens stranded on earth are a staple of contemporary cinema, from Under the Skin (2013) to The Iron Giant (1999). And Netflix’s current global hit Stranger Things contains a treasure trove of E.T.’s visual references. Spielberg may have made bigger, louder films, and more historically profound ones, but E.T. endures as his best. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/e-t-the-extra-terrestrial-at-40-a-deep-meditation-on-loneliness-and-spielbergs-most-exhilarating-film-183985" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Movies

Bride charges extra for uninvited guests - but there's a catch

A bride has shared on a popular Reddit forum that she charged one of her wedding guests for bringing two uninvited children to the reception. "It was a small wedding at a small venue that has a strict capacity due to fire codes," the bride explained the reasoning as to why the guest list was strictly kept to invitees only. "One of my guests showed up with her two children, who were not invited, not in the RSVP, and obviously not in the seating chart." "She came in, decided to seat them at her table, taking away the spots of my other guests who were actually invited," the bride continued. "A small commotion broke out when she refused to give those seats back, and the venue manager noticed and said that we'd be charged a fine for exceeding capacity, as stated in the contract." The bride says when she got the bill for the reception, which included the costs of the uninvited children, she sent it to the guest and asked that she pay. "She claimed that it is not her fault, and that I should have factored in unforeseen charges when budgeting for my wedding," the bride said of the guest's response. "And she couldn't find a babysitter, so she had no choice, and that I should be grateful she took the effort to attend my wedding anyway." Reddit users quickly sided with the bride, but there were some responses that had added nuances. "Your ex-friend is [the asshole]. Drop her like a hot potato," one user declared. "She definitely had a choice – she could have stayed home with her two kids. There shouldn't be unforeseen charges at a wedding, especially not ones involving people that were NOT invited. One user, however, said the bride had some responsibility for how the situation played out. "You should have kicked her out when she showed up with [plus two]," they wrote. "You let one guest take two other guests' seats. When a 'commotion' started, you should have booted her and the kids." Image: Getty

Relationships

Are you ready for a bit of extra pocket money?

Millions of Aussies will receive a bit of extra pocket money to help combat the rising cost of living. With the cost of petrol now sitting at $2.40 a litre, and fruit and vegetables having soared in price - Aussies are really struggling. As of March 21, singles under the age, disability support and carer payments scheme will receive an extra $20.10 a fortnight, adding up to $987.60. Couples under the same payments will receive an extra $30.20 a fortnight, adding up to $1,488.00. Senior Australians will also be able to access part of their pension earlier on as the asset test limit increases. For a single homeowner, it has increased by $6,750 to $599,750 and for a couple it has gone up by $10,000 to $901,500. Single Jobseeker recipients will receive a $13.20 jump in their pay up to $629.50, while those under Parenting Payment Singles scheme will get an extra $18.20 to $874.10. Help for renters will also be increased to $145.80 for singles a fortnight and $193.62 for families. Social Services Minister Anne Ruston described the 2.1 per cent increase to pension payments as the largest since 2013. “It gives us a higher weighting to fuel and transport costs in recognition of their significance to pensioners, which helps ensure the rate of the age pension maintains senior Australians’ purchasing power in the economy,” she said. Labor Leader Anthony Albanese however slammed the Federal Government for being out of touch and claiming the increase would help. “This government is so out of touch that they’re prepared to spin out there saying how well pensioners are going to be off,” he said. “When they get to the supermarket to buy products they find that everything‘s gone up. “The rise in the pension will not keep up with the costs of living. Pensioners are doing it really tough at the moment.” Image: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Why dogs often need extra magnesium

It’s well-known that dogs need all the vitamins and minerals we do and one of the key nutrients is magnesium because a lack of it can cause all sorts of symptoms in dogs - in fact every time your pet moves a muscle, experiences a heartbeat or has a thought, magnesium is needed to help them achieve this. It’s little wonder many of our pets are deficient in magnesium because they share the same deficiencies as their human masters. Magnesium is very very depleted in the foods we eat these days, especially when processed. We live in a fast-food world of packets and tins, where you can bet that this type of food provides little or no magnesium benefit. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4ebccce85d434292a659825f62146daa" />Even fresh produce can be lower in magnesium than it should be simply because the soils have become depleted of magnesium. You only have to add to this the fact that we humans and our animals lose more magnesium when we’re under stress and you can see why magnesium deficiency is very common. Many vets are aware of the importance of magnesium: <a href="https://www.shailenjasani.com/about-me/">Shailen Jasani</a> is a veterinary surgeon specialising in Emergency and Critical Care in the UK. He says magnesium can be used as a medication with an escalating role in critical care medicine, and: “Magnesium plays a pivotal role in cellular energy production and cell-specific functions in every organ of the body.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/85906281a5614ccabe340ad9dba28740" /><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844389/dog-magnesium-7-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/85906281a5614ccabe340ad9dba28740" /> Some symptoms of magnesium deficiency in dogs are: <ul> <li>Muscle weakness or trembling</li> <li>Hyperactive or improperly triggered reflexes</li> <li>Difficulty walking</li> <li>Muscle pain</li> <li>Heart arrhythmia</li> <li>Lethargy or abnormal behaviour</li> <li>Constant scratching or itching</li> <li>Difficulty sleeping</li> </ul> Causes of magnesium deficiency in dogs: <ul> <li>Excessive stress, trauma or injury</li> <li>Chemical and toxic exposures</li> <li>Malnutrition</li> <li>Diabetes</li> <li>Kidney damage</li> <li>Treatment with diuretics</li> <li>Digestion problems and disease inhibiting absorption of nutrients</li> </ul> <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c55421473c194494a9d4b17c12776f85" />More serious symptoms of heart arrhythmia: If you feel your dog is showing signs of magnesium deficiency, this should be checked out quickly to avoid serious problems. Take your dog to the vet and they’ll listen to your dog’s heart. If any abnormality is detected they’ll probably order an ECG. An ECG is a medical device which displays the patterns of your dog’s heartbeat on a screen using terminals taped to your dog’s chest. This is a simple machine and most vets have one. The classic signs of low magnesium are prolonged PR intervals, widened QRS complexes, depressed ST segments and peaked T-waves. Lower magnesium levels are also associated with hyperactivity, anxiety and agitation. You can tell if this applies to your dog if it’s hard for your dog to relax and calm down. Other minerals are also affected by magnesium deficiency in dogs Sure, there are other electrolyte minerals required by both humans and dogs. We need sodium, potassium and calcium as well, but these are all dependent to some degree on the action of the magnesium because magnesium underpins and leverages their effect. The main electrolyte team in addition to magnesium – sodium, potassium and calcium – is necessary for some very important functions, including muscle movement, proper heart function and nervous system signalling. For example, if you or your dog have plenty of magnesium, your body doesn’t need quite as much calcium to get the calcium jobs done because magnesium organises and controls calcium’s use in the body. It turns out magnesium is the ‘Master Mineral’ electrolyte regulator in the electrical system. If it drops too low, calcium can cause a lot of havoc as free calcium depositing where it shouldn’t, or over-stimulating muscle cells. Therefore, as magnesium drops lower, it can lead to the other three minerals losing effect. Studies have shown potassium suffers when magnesium is too low, as we can lose too much potassium due to membrane ‘leakiness’ when magnesium is deficient. If you lose too much potassium from inside the cell it can cause heart attacks. The potential knock-on effects are muscle weakness and tremors, as well as heart arrhythmias. As these issues escalate, they can become fatal. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.40454995054404px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844390/dog-magnesium-6-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c55421473c194494a9d4b17c12776f85" /><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9af68fa91aa74ea2b77b8d6ace500442" /> What does all of this mean for your dog? People who own racing dogs have seen how much magnesium helps. They often apply magnesium oil to the legs of their dogs so they can recover better from their events. Without the extra magnesium the dogs develop intense and involuntary muscle tremors and spasms. This is also a helpful strategy for all athletes who undertake extreme sports and gruelling training. If your dog is behaving strangely and seems to be in pain or having trouble walking, take your pet to a vet straight away so they can check exactly what’s happening. Sometimes it might be a toxin from a tick or snake bite which is causing these issues, because these types of toxins block the electrical system. Magnesium deficiency is something which tends to grow over time. You’ll be able to notice symptoms creeping in slowly, and escalating if left untreated. If you’re worried about your dog’s health because he/she is behaving strangely with symptoms like sensitivity to stress or noises, anxiety, muscle weakness and changes to gait, or skin issues with constant scratching not due to fleas, then your vet will likely order a blood electrolyte test. This measures the amount of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium in your pet’s blood, in addition to some other common electrolytes. So, once you’ve done this you’ll be able to see what your dog is low in. Treatment of magnesium deficiency in dogs If you’re feeding your dog with a variety of fresh food, but suspect magnesium deficiency (perhaps due to stress or exertion), then you can test this by applying magnesium as a magnesium spray, lotion or cream on the underbelly or legs – wherever you can get it past the fur to the skin. Avoid application of the cream to broken skin as it may sting, but rather apply to surrounding area. Apply regularly every day until the inflammation subsides. You can also add food grade magnesium chloride flakes to your dog’s drinking water every day. You can make these changes and then check to see if the symptoms they’ve been showing tend to ease. Or you can use a transdermal magnesium cream and find a way to rub this on your dog’s skin. Dogs usually love a massage so just rub in one or two teaspoons of <a href="https://www.elektramagnesium.com.au/shop/magnesium-pet-cream-50g-jar/">Magnesium Cream for Dogs</a> (Pet Cream). If your dog has developed magnesium deficiency, it’s best to keep applying the cream regularly, as well as adding the <a href="https://www.elektramagnesium.com.au/shop/magnesium-flakes/">Magnesium Chloride Flakes</a> to their drinking water, to prevent the magnesium deficiency symptoms from coming back. Images: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

Clean out your home and make some cash

Books “Books are one of the biggest antique goldmines,” says John Linden, lead designer at MirrorCoop whose work includes interior design with vintage and antique decor. “Collectors pay a lot of money for first-edition copies of certain books. A first-edition copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses, for example, is valued at around $US8,000; while there were only 1,000 copies printed, those books pop up all the time, says Linden. If you own one of these rare books, you’re sitting on a gold mine. Costumes and masks “Vintage Halloween masks and costumes are fun and collectible, but not worth a ton of money,” says Gary Germer, owner and appraiser with Gary Germer & Associates. A Darth Vader mask recently sold for $US47 on the estate sales website Everything But The House; a set of Star Trek shirts sold for $US91. Vintage holiday decorations can also be pretty valuable. Old microphones Some of us sang into hairbrushes while others used a real microphone. If you have a vintage microphone laying around, you could find a musician or music producer who would be willing to spend for it. Rare finds like the Neumann U-47 from the 1940s are worth tens of thousands of dollars online, Orkin says. But the vintage microphones most people are likely to find stashed away in a box is from a maker called Shure, which could probably fetch around $US50, Orkin says. Vintage cookbooks Take a closer look at the old cookbooks that have been handed down to you; even if they have been lovingly used in the kitchen, they could be worth some scratch. Linden says cookbooks that have gone out of print are highly valuable. And celebrity chefs like the beloved Julia Child are always in demand. “In fact, there is a 1961 first edition of Mastering the Art of French Cooking selling on AbeBooks for $US2,000 right now,” Linden says. Pedal cars You hung onto your grandpa’s pedal car for nostalgic reasons, but depending on the age and condition, it could be a goldmine. Even with a little rust on it, a 1930 Lincoln pedal car is worth about $US1,000, Germer says. Written by Lisa Marie Conklin. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/money/25-things-your-house-right-now-could-be-worth-money">Reader’s Digest</a>. Find more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="https://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA93V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.

Retirement Income

4 common resort extras – and how to avoid them

Below are the most common holiday rip offs and how to make your trip less costly and more enjoyable. 1. Avoid the Crowds, Spend Less If you’re planning a trip to a popular area, schedule your holiday for less popular times of the year. You’ll find the traffic, crowds and queues markedly reduced, and save a lot of money with the off-season rates. 2. Watch Out For “Resort Fees” Resort rates vary – some prices will include meals and activities, while for others these are additional. When you’re shopping around for your hotel, make a list of all the things you want to do, and get an all-inclusive price for easy comparison. 3. Don’t Get Overcharged For Drinks Don’t fall for the waiter’s “helpful” suggestions to order cocktails by the jug or try a special bottle of wine – you could be landed with a bigger bill than you expect. When asking for water, make it clear that you’re looking for tap water, which should be free (check it’s OK to drink), rather than bottled water, which can attract premium prices. 4. To Tip Or Not To Tip? Certain countries do not traditionally tip. For example, in Australia you will not be expected to leave anything whereas in America you may be chased down the street if a tip is not left, the pursuer demanding to know why their service was not satisfactory. In Spain it is not a custom to tip, however, staff may expect something from tourists. Don’t get caught out. Check before you travel and make sure you’re not leaving too much, or too little. Do you know of any others? Let us know in the comments! This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/tips/4-Common-Resort-Extras-and-How-to-Avoid-Them">Reader’s Digest.</a> For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN87V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Travel Trouble

Why Prince Louis’ christening will be extra special for the Queen

Prince Louis’ christening is right around the corner, with Kensington Palace releasing further details about the special day. The full statement reads: "The christening of Prince Louis will take place on Monday 9th July at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace. "Prince Louis will be christened by The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby. "The service will begin at 1600hrs and will last approximately 40 minutes. "Further information about the christening, including attendees and details of the service, will be released on the 9th July." <img width="403" height="227" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/992a147a3b8cd76853ce0826139c11e9" alt="The Duchess of Cambridge’s photo of her son, Louis. Picture: AFP Photo/Kensington Palace" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The Queen and Prince Philip, along with Prince Charles, Camilla, Harry and Meghan, will be attending the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s youngest son’s christening. But for the Queen and her husband the day will hold extra special meaning as it is the anniversary of their engagement announcement. The couple revealed their engagement on July 9, 1947, and married later that year. <img width="421" height="237" src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/7e36ada54ac1978f3bd1f0936f0fc638" alt="Elizabeth and Philip on their wedding day in 1947. Picture: Mega" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> On November 20, Her Majesty and Prince Philip will celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary. Little Prince Louis’ christening will also break with royal tradition with the baptism commending in the afternoon, whereas Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s christenings started in the morning.

News

The pantry staple experts say you should eat every day

A new study has found that three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) a day can prevent chronic disease and cancer. Brown University associate professor of medicine Dr Mary Flynn also found that three serves of EVOO with a plant-based diet can also help with weight loss. Dr Flynn, a specialist in breast and prostate cancer, studied the impact of a plant-based EVOO diet on prostate cancer and found that it was “extremely effective” at improving biomarkers for cancer and cardiovascular disease. The diet includes three tablespoons of EVOO a day to account for four to five servings of health fats that include nuts, olive and avocado. It also includes six to seven serves of wholegrain starch, minimum of four servings of vegetables, up to three servings of fruit, up to two optional servings of dairy and eggs, and 350g maximum of meat, poultry or seafood per week. The diet recommends for the red meat to be entirely eliminated, but if not, recommends no more than 170g a month. The diet removes cured meats, vegetable oils and margarine and mayonnaise with vegetable seed oils – saying they have an increased cancer risk. Dr Flynn compared the EVOO plant-based diet with the diet recommended by the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The Prostate Cancer Foundation diet recommends decreasing carbohydrates, sugar, high fat food, charred meats, while allowing vegetable oil, margarine and salad dressings but no EVOO. Men followed the two diets for eights weeks and then picked the one they wanted to follow for six months. Dr Flynn’s results showed that people with diets, including daily EVOO consumption, had lower rates of most chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancers, arthritis and type 2 diabetes. “Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for prostate cancer patients,” Dr Flynn said. “A plant-based EVOO diet improves insulin function and lowers fasting insulin and glucose levels, protects against weight gain and reduces the risk of various cancers. “EVOO has been shown to decrease a number of risk factors for chronic diseases including inflammation, blood pressure, body weight, blood levels of insulin and glucose, oxidation and blood coagulation,” Dr Flynn said. “The diet isn’t just for cancer patients or prevention, it’s for everyone wanting to live a healthy life and prevent the risk of disease,” Dr Flynn said.

Caring

The sneaky booking trick to get an extra seat on a plane

Air travel has come a long way, but the <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/international-travel/2017/10/why-lack-of-legroom-on-planes-is-becoming-dangerous/" target="_blank">amount of legroom divvied to travellers</a> (especially those in economy) is still a major cause of beef. But that doesn’t mean you should see the sardine treatment as a foregone conclusion in cattle class. This sneaking booking trick could see you (and your partner in crime) score an extra seat on the plane and the oh-so-precious stretching space that comes with that. If you’re travelling as a pair, choose the aisle and window seats when booking. If no one takes the middle seat you end up getting the full row to yourselves. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OAywiz0N8_o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Worst case scenario, if someone does end up taking the middle seat as if they’d feel comfortable switching seats, and you’ll still be able to sit next to your partner. Do you think you’ll give this booking trick a try?

Travel Tips

Report reveals worst airlines for extra fees

It’s no secret airlines make a lot of money by slugging us with extra fees for luggage, reserved seats and in-flight food. But which airlines are the worst culprits? A report from research firm IdeaWorksCompany has identified the world’s top 10 airlines for extra fees that results in $35.3 billion in extra revenue for these companies. This money, called ancillary revenue, was used to determine the rankings. The report said, “Low cost carriers rely upon a la carte activity by aggressively seeking revenue from checked bags, assigned seats, and extra leg room seating. “Some of the best in this category have extensive holiday package business with route structures built upon leisure destinations.” 2016 Top 10 ancillary revenue rankings (a$) 1. United Airlines (USA): $6.22 billion 2. Delta Air Lines (USA): $5.17 billion 3. American Airlines (USA): $4.9 billion 4. Southwest Airlines (USA): $2.83 billion 5. Air France/KLM (France/Netherlands): $2.1 billion 6. Ryanair (Ireland): $1.98 billion 7. easyJet (UK): $1.36 billion 8. Lufthansa Network (Germany): $1.35 billion 9. Qantas (does not include Jetstar): $1.19 billion (90% of this is from frequent flyer program) 10. Air Canada (Canada): $1.18 billion Have you flown with any of these airlines? Source: IdeaWorksCompany

Travel Tips

4 extra items to pack to stay healthy on holidays

There’s nothing worse than falling sick when you’re overseas. The good news is if you’re clever with your packing you can significantly decrease the change of falling ill. Dr Robert Mathews from Cremorne Medical in NSW says, “It's important to pack your regular medications and also a letter from your doctor explaining why you need to travel with them, especially if you are travelling with strong pain medications or injections.” Here are four items you might not think to pack (but should). 1. Over-the-counter medications In addition to any specific medications, Dr Mathews says, “It is also worth bringing some over the counter medications to help manage common travel ailments. These include paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain, loperamide for diarrhoea, an antihistamine for allergies, an antacid for when you overindulge, and a tube of 1 per cent hydrocortisone for rashes or insect bites." 2. Rehydration solutions and antibiotics If you’re travelling off the beaten path, Dr Mathews also recommends bringing some rehydration solutions and antibiotics. Dr Mathews says, “It is also worth taking an oral rehydration solution such as Gastrolyte or Hydralyte to help rehydrate you if you develop heat stroke, vomiting or diarrhoea. If you are going to a developing country you should speak to your GP about getting a prescription for an antibiotic to treat travellers’ diarrhoea.” 3. Additional wellness measures Aside from the materials already mentioned, Dr Matthews also recommends bringing some additional wellness measures that can get you out of a bind when you’re travelling. Dr Matthews says, “It is a good idea to bring a good quality sunscreen, a small tube of alcohol hand sanitiser and an insect repellent, preferably one which contains 30-50 per cent DEET.” 4. Duct tape This one might seem a little out of left field, but duct tape actually has some <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/08/8-reasons-to-bring-duct-tape-on-your-next-cruise/" target="_blank">practical purposes when travelling</a> that can get you out of a real bind. At a pinch duct tape can be used to help secure bandages and even as a makeshift splint. Do you bring any of the above mentioned items with you while you’re travelling? What do you think we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments. Related links: <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/woman-shows-you-how-to-pack-100-items-into-hand-luggage/">Woman shows you how to pack 100 items into hand luggage</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/how-to-ensure-your-bag-is-never-misplaced/">How to ensure your bag is never misplaced</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/12-expert-ways-to-manage-stress-at-airports/">12 expert ways to manage stress at airports</a>

Travel Tips

What insurance extras are worth it?

When it comes to insurance a lot of people are buying products that are not worth it. Everybody is entitled to want extras, but if you don’t actually need them you’re just wasting time and money. We’ve put together a simple buying guide to buying insurance extras and which ones are actually worth your while. This way you can ensure that you’re in a better position to decide whether or not the extras offered by a particular policy are worth your while when it comes time to renew it. Is my current extras policy worth it? The fact is most people are paying more in additional premiums than they are getting back in terms of the added services that come with additional extras in an insurance policy. So it’s important to weigh up whether or not it’s actually worth your while getting this additional service. Here are some things you can do to figure out whether or not you’re getting your bang for your buck: <ul> <li>Request an annual claims statement which shows the benefits you received.</li> <li>Compare the total benefit with your annual premium.</li> <li>Compare your benefits to that of other policies.</li> <li>Consider switching to a less expensive policy or cancelling extras if it’s not adding up.</li> </ul> Do I need basic, medium or top cover? Generally health insurers will offer three levels of cover – basic, which is suited to healthy singles and couples, medium which caters for families with young children and average health care needs and top which is designed for families with school-aged children, mature singles and couples that have higher health care needs. The biggest difference among insurers is for dental cover in terms of the range of services and maximum benefits that are offered, but there are also variables in terms of glasses, therapies and other therapies and medical devices that you may requires at some point in your life. What can I do from here? Well, the good thing about insurance being a consumer product is that you have the power to choose which policy is best for you. We recommend trying the following tactics. <ul> <li>Look for percentage benefits.</li> <li>Look for funds with provider schemes that are near you.</li> <li>Check if your fund offers loyalty bonuses.</li> <li>Figure out if you’re using your lifestyle cover.</li> </ul> Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/insurance/2016/01/unnecessary-types-of-insurance/">The types of insurance that aren’t worth your while</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/insurance/2015/12/factors-affecting-your-life-insurance-premium/">What factors are affecting my life insurance premium?</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/insurance/2016/01/insuring-your-home-for-a-natural-disaster/">Insuring your home for a natural disaster</a>

Insurance

Girl tries to scam extra week's holiday with fake letter

As schools in the northern hemisphere prepare to resume classes following the festive season, one little girl appears to have an extra week off. Reddit user locke-in-a-box said they only became aware of their daughter's extended vacation after she "got the mail" and handed them the letter. The letter reads: "The school compnay is taking a brake [sic] so the kids will get one more week of school off and we will need your child to sign their name here." Their daughter, Cara G, had signed underneath the statement which had been officially sealed with a Rapunzel stamp. In an intriguing stroke of luck and impeccable timing, the letter arrived at their address the Sunday before school was due to commence for 2016 - despite there being no mail service on Sundays. Seems legit, right? Written by Shahra Walsh. First appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/01/stunning-mid-air-firework-video/">Drone captures footage of fireworks display mid-air in this spectacular video</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/01/tips-to-make-dairy-products-last-longer/">7 tips to make dairy products last longer</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/01/spot-the-panda-hidden-in-this-vintage-school-photo/">Spot the panda hidden in this vintage school photo</a>

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Are you ready for a bit of extra pocket money?

Why dogs often need extra magnesium

Clean out your home and make some cash

4 common resort extras – and how to avoid them

Why Prince Louis’ christening will be extra special for the Queen

The pantry staple experts say you should eat every day

The sneaky booking trick to get an extra seat on a plane

Report reveals worst airlines for extra fees

4 extra items to pack to stay healthy on holidays

What insurance extras are worth it?

Girl tries to scam extra week's holiday with fake letter