Does anybody remember a supermarket that was stocking LPs? Well, if they were, the ad is correct, they probably weren't stocking these. The state of hipsters, circa 1960:

In the olden days (you know, when we were kids), comparison shopping took real commitment. You'd have to physically travel from store to store. Even in the heyday of the shopping mall, it still took some footwork to ensure you were getting the best deal.

No longer is that the case. Thanks to the internet, price shopping just takes a couple of clicks – and it can save you. In some cases, it can save you hundreds of dollars.

Just Google the product you want by its complete brand name. Then check out the prices offered at major retailer websites. You’re going to be surprised at how much the prices can vary. If the price appears too low, you may be dealing with a shady retailer. In that case, make sure you check out their Google reviews before your order!

As we age, we become more susceptible to diabetes. The experts say there are 3 pretty simple ways to reduce your risk:

1.) Lose A Little Weight – Even a small weight loss (say 7% of what you weigh now), can  lead to huge improvements in your insulin levels.

2.) Drink More Water – Studies have shown that those who drink less than half a liter of water today are at a significantly greater risk of developing diabetes, so make sure you’re staying hydrated.

3.) Get More Protein in Your Diet – Protein can stimulate hormones that contribute to blood sugar regulation. So, try adding more fish, chicken or plant-based sources of protein, like beans, nuts & tofu, to your diet.

Sequels & remakes? Nothing new here – Hollywood’s been recycling stuff ever since the first “magic lantern shows.” Want proof? Let’s settle in to watch one of those terribly puritanical “sex comedies” from the Sixties – Lover Come Back!

When Doris Day & Rock Hudson scored big at the box office with Pillow Talk in 1959, it was a no brainer to do it all again. A sequel was out of the question because Pillow Talk had ended with Doris & Rock embarking on the blissful sea of matrimony, so the “will-she-or-won’t-she come across” formula wouldn’t work. She’d already come across.

Two years later was too soon for a simple remake. So, Universal Studios decided to do a remake of the same basic elements, but with a twist. First, they reunited Pillow Talk’s top 3 stars, Day, Hudson and Tony Randall. They kept the setting in contemporary New York, but this time the plot involved the exciting and still relatively new to moviegoers (and hence, exotic) world of advertising. Think of this as Mad Men, only without the irony and played strictly for laughs.

Hudson is high-powered ad man, Jerry Webster. He wins clients the old-fashioned way – taking them out, getting them drunk and buying them hookers (although because it’s still 1961, they’re referred to here as "showgirls,” wink, wink). Doris Day is his plucky adversary, rival ad woman Carol Templeton, fresh off the midwestern farm and loaded with scruples. Tony Randall plays Hudson’s boss, doing another variation on the metrosexual character he played for years before anyone knew what the hell metrosexual meant.

For some reason, Day is shocked, shocked I tell you, that an ad exec would take a client out & get them drunk & laid to land an account. And then the movie asks us to believe that her boss is also shocked and even more unbelievably, there would be some kind of Ad Council that would be aghast, aghast I tell you, at this kind of behavior. So, clearly, we’re dealing in a totally make-believe ad business in a New York that never existed anywhere except just east of Oz.

Anyway, without getting into the weeds of a very complicated plot, Hudson invents a totally made-up product. The next thing you know, Doris Day is determined to steal this fictional account from Hudson’s agency. And of course, she mistakes Hudson for the non-existent client – repeating Pillow Talk’s mistaken identity gambit.

As before, the plot really centers on Hudson’s attempt to get perpetual virgin Day between the sheets while pretending to be somebody he’s not. Shockingly, she almost gives up the goods without the benefit of a marriage license. But the emphasis is on “almost” as this is still only one year after the birth control pill was first introduced. The sexual revolution was just in its infancy.

What makes this film extra fun is that it’s positively loaded with familiar faces, right down to the bit parts. Ann B. Davis (of Brady Bunch fame) play Day’s personal assistant. Muriel Cigar pitchwoman ("Why don't you pick me up and smoke me sometime?"), Edie Adams plays the key showgirl, Rebel Davis. Jack Albertson (Chico & the Man) has a recurring bit as a bystander constantly marveling at Rock Hudson’s way with the ladies.  If you look quickly, you’ll also see Donna Douglas as a secretary at Hudson’s ad agency and even Ted Bessell (That Girl) in a two-line part as an elevator operator.

The film was co-written by Paul Henning, who went on to conquer the world of 60’s TV by creating The Beverly Hillbillies (where he gave Donna Douglas a much bigger role), Petticoat Junction & Green Acres.

Like its predecessor, Lover Come Back was a huge hit, grossing almost $17 million (a really big sum back in those days). It’s fun to watch today if only to gawk at the almost endless parade of ridiculous-looking hats Day wears thru the film and wonder how they ever could have been considered fashionable.

At a time when we should be enjoying life, many of us are still struggling with credit card debt. Financial wizards say there are 4 strategies that can eliminate that debt – if you have the will power to stick to the particular strategy you pick.

They all start with you sitting down and determining how much you still owe on each card and what the annual percentage rate (APR) is for each card.

Start with the Card with the Highest APR – Interest is really the backbreaker with most cards. You wind up paying far more for the things you bought that if you had paid the full purchase price in the first place. So, find out which of your cards charges you the most interest (APR). Work on paying that balance off while you make minimum payments of the rest of your cards. Once that card is paid off. Move the next highest APR. And so forth.

Start with the Card with Highest Balance – Carrying a huge balance on any given card can be a real pain point for many people. So, this strategy involves starting with the card with the biggest balance. Concentrate on paying off as much of that balance as possible while making minimum payments on the other cards. Again, when that card is paid off, move on to the next biggest balance.

Start with the Card with the Lowest Balance – Sometimes you need “wins” – feeling that you’re making real progress to conquering your debt problem. Bu starting with the cards with the lowest balance, you can get those paid off quickly, giving you a number of quick “wins” before you turn your attention the cards with the bigger balances.

Take Advantage of Low APR Balance Transfer Offers – Frequently, credit card companies will offer low or even 0% APR rates to get you to transfer balances from other credit cards. This offers you the opportunity to pay offer a balance while avoiding the extra dollars a high interest rate can add to the debt. A word of warning, though. Avoid the temptation to add additional purchases (and more debt) onto the new card or the card from which you transferred the funds.

Just a little light reading for the summer months...

When It Comes to Diagnosing Health Problems – Look to Your Feet

You might not think about them (unless you stub one of them), but your toes can sometimes provide early clues about your health.

• For example, if you have numbness, tingling or burning in your toes, that can be an early indicator of diabetes.

• Or cold or blue toes often results from poor circulation and that can be an indicator of heart disease.

Should you start noticing any abnormalities in you toes or toenails, make sure your contact your health professional as soon as possible

And why does the adopted son look so much like the 3rd birth son?

Warm weather brings out all kinds of pests. One you need to watch out for is the traveling “home repair” scam artist.

Typically, they’ll knock on your door and claim that they just happen to be working in your area (sound familiar?). The most popular scam is an offer to “repave” or “reseal” your driveway (or maybe, clean & fix your gutters). Usually, they’ll also offer to “give you a deal” because, like we mentioned, they just happen to be doing another job in your neighborhood.

One of three things will probably happen. They will do the job using substandard material. Or they’ll only do part of the work and disappear. Or they won’t do any of the work and will disappear with your down payment.

Always do your own hiring for home repairs. Make sure you hire someone who is properly licensed for your state or municipality.  If they’re also insured, so much the better.

Be on the lookout. The Better Business Bureau says the most common target for these fraudsters are older Americans. You know, people like us!

As we age, falls can become something more serious than they were during our Wonder Years. Experts say we can take tips from Hollywood’s stuntmen and women.

If you feel yourself falling (and I’m speaking as someone who has fallen off a ladder more than once), here’s some things you can do to minimize the damage.

If you’re falling backwards:

• Tuck your chin to your chest
• Bend your knees, if possible, & try to land on your butt
• Curve your back and try rolling onto your shoulder
• Keep your arms close by your sides

If you’re falling sideways:

• Bend your knees
• Tuck your chin
• Keep your head lifted
• Allow yourself to go limp
• If possible, roll onto your bottom thigh, then roll onto your upper back
• Try not to fall onto your hip
• Do not stick your arms out to brace your fall

If you’re falling forwards:

• Bend your knees
• Tuck your chin to your chest
• Keep your head tilted away from the ground
• Try and roll on the outside of your thigh
• Keep that momentum going as you roll to your side and then your back
• Do not stick your arms out to brace your fall

Overall, the number one rule is to relax your body as much as possible. Also, don’t try and pop right back up after a fall. We know your ego maybe bruised as well as your body, but the experts say to stay there on the ground and take a few minutes to assess whether you’re hurting any place before attempting to return to an upright position.