Allstate Blog : Allstate Community

Julia Child once attributed her longevity to red meat and a certain adult beverage. That formula seemed to work for the late chef, author and television host, who lived to be nearly 92 years old.

Unlike Julia, however, longevity is hit-or-miss when it comes to cars. Models like the Ford Pinto, AMC Gremlin and Pontiac Aztek could have all used a hand to help them stay competitive, but on the opposite end of the spectrum, there are a few car models that are rolling down the road year after year.

We’ve seen cars like the Volkswagen Beetle, Mini Cooper and Chevrolet Camaro recently make a resurgence in the market, but those models have also taken breaks from production in the past. That said, here are the top five cars that have stood the test of time (in ascending order of longevity):

5. Ford Mustang (1964 – Present)

Unique style and a low base price made the original Mustang an instant success when it hit dealerships in 1964, and today, the Mustang carries on as one of Ford’s greatest successes. Available as a coupe or convertible, the Mustang is still offered in configurations that can fit most every budget. From the 305-horsepower V6, all the way up to the 650-horsepower Shelby GT500, the 2013 Ford Mustang continues to be a top pick for shoppers looking for muscle-car performance.

4. Porsche 911 (1963 – Present)

The original Porsche 911 got its DNA from the Volkswagen Beetle, but both cars had slightly different goals. While the Beetle was an affordable car for the masses, the 911 was designed with performance in mind. Although the 911 has come a long way since its original design and air-cooled engine, the basic formula hasn’t really changed. It’s still a rear-engined sports car with four seats and a number of performance options. Thanks to its 350-horsepower flat-six and a 0-to-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds, the new 911 continues to live up to its performance heritage.

3. Chevrolet Corvette (1953 – Present)

The original Corvette wasn’t known for exhilarating performance. However, by 1955, the company presented consumers with an option to choose a V8 engine and the Corvette was well on its way to becoming America’s sports car. Today, the Corvette still offers impressive performance. A 430-horsepower V8 allows the base Corvette to accelerate from 0-to-60 mph in as little as 4.2 seconds, while higher performance trims like the Z06 and ZR-1 offer even better acceleration.

2. Ford F-Series (1948 – Present)

While the Corvette may be America’s only sports car, it really doesn’t get more American than a full-size truck, and Ford F-Series pickups have been rolling off the production line since 1948. The F-Series’ popularity is unbeatable, as Ford trucks are repeatedly at the top of the heap when it comes to new truck sales. And thanks to a variety of body styles, powertrains and options, it’s easy to customize an F-Series to meet your needs.

1. Chevrolet Suburban (1935 – Present)

The Chevrolet Suburban has been known for its cavernous interior and great utility since it was introduced in 1935. The original “Carryall Suburban” shared its frame with Chevy trucks of the day; however, its wagon-like body style distinguished it from the pack. Today, the Suburban carries on in that tradition, using a chassis that it shares with other GM trucks and SUVs like the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe and GMC Yukon.

Photos courtesy of classiccarguru.com, cochesdb.com, countycorvette.com, autoold.com

Have you ever owned one of these? Tell us below.

Connect with me on Google+ or follow me on Twitter

For some time now, the term ‘boomerang generation’ has been bandied about to describe young adults moving back into their parents’ homes. But now, we’re also seeing a ‘reverse boomerang,’ where it’s the parents joining the children’s households.

Sometimes these parents are elderly, but more than half of the increase in intergenerational families is from parents who are still under age 65, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Due to a combination of unemployment, rising living costs and debt, we boomers are now joining our kids in being described as a boomerang generation.

Consider Advantages, Disadvantages

Of course, an intergenerational household may have advantages.

Boomer parents are well noted for having close relationships with their children. And having extra adults around to help with expenses, child care, or just to keep each other company, can make life less stressful, more memorable and more fun.

But you don’t have to dig deep to imagine the potential negatives.

Having Suzy leave her dirty clothes in the bathroom, or Junior deplete the gas in the car, may be mildly irritating when they are still in high school. But when they move back home, after college or after losing a job, these sorts of problems can quickly mount.

Add to that grandmother’s sensitivity to loud noises and the kids’ tendencies to evoke them and, well, the situation can quickly become overwhelming.

Coordinate a Family Conference

So, where to begin? Before you consider combining households, you need to bring the adult parties together to discuss expectations, boundaries, and rules. This can include housekeeping duties, rent, or contributions towards expenses.

It may even include behavior. For instance, if one party is moving in because of a job loss, maybe no rent is expected. But there will probably be expectations that the unemployed person will look for a job, and, at least, that dirty clothes will find their way to the laundry basket.

Neither party will be happy if there’s too great a compromise on lifestyle, savings or retirement as a result of the other party failing to pull their weight. Nobody wants to feel taken advantage of or misused.

Set the House Rules

Once you’ve decided to green-light the intergenerational living arrangement, you will want to outline each party’s expectations and create house rules covering areas such as:

• Rent and other expenses. Will the moving-in party pay rent, buy groceries, or make sure the family car has a full gas tank?

• Housekeeping and repairs. Will housekeeping tasks be shared, or at least, not made any worse? If one party breaks something, will they assume responsibility?

• Space concerns. Is your home ready for intergenerational needs? Do you need to baby proof? Or make accommodations for someone who might have trouble navigating the stairs?

• Fitting in and getting along. This may be harder to discuss than the more tangible financial issues. If you are moving in with your adult son, for example, how will your presence affect his new wife? If your son and his family are moving in with you, will they expect live-in babysitting services? Is that what you expect? How will mealtimes and other routines change, or stay the same?

• Goals and progress. If the new living arrangements are supposed to be temporary, while one party works to find a new job or pay off debt, what goals, timetables and milestones can you put in place? If Junior should be looking for a job, to help pay off $50,000 in student loans, should he be participating in multi-player Internet games until four in the morning?

I have known blended, intergenerational family situations that worked out very well. Young children got the benefit of having grandparents around; adult kids got a chance to get back on their feet; and older folks enjoyed companionship and some help with household bills and duties.

But I have also seen generous people taken advantage of by “boarders” who never put food in the refrigerator, a load of laundry in the wash, nor have never made a meal. In these cases, the host family exceeded its budget and eventually lost its patience -- relationships and finances were seriously damaged.

Intergenerational households might very well be a solution to financial problems, health issues or even loneliness. While it can be tough to impose rules on adult children, or on parents, you’ll only benefit by having these discussions and making everything clear in advance.

Guest blogger Marilyn Katz is the founder of the Over 50 Website, which is dedicated to topics that concern today’s baby boomers.

What would you do if you sat down for a job interview and a potential employer asked for your Facebook login details? It might sound like an unlikely scenario, but there are already reports of it happening. Given how large a role online identity has come to play in our lives, protecting that identity is more important than ever.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, one of the richest men in the world, was a recent high profile victim of identity theft. Oprah Winfrey and Paris Hilton are among the many celebrities who have been targeted in similar scams.

Solutions like Allstate's Identity Restoration coverage are on hand for anyone who has already fallen prey to an identity thief. But with threats coming at us from all angles, and even young children being targeted, what can be done to prevent such cases from occurring?

Social Security

LifeLock CEO Todd Davis was convinced his company could safeguard against identity theft. In fact, Davis was so sure of LifeLock’s cast-iron promises that he publicized his real Social Security number in the company's ads, ultimately becoming a victim himself many times over.

Davis's case is extreme, but parents should be alert when it comes to their children's identities. An NBC news story reported a teenager was $750,000 in debt due to the actions of identity thieves.

What can be done? The Identity Theft Resource Center is a good place to start—see their instructions here on how to receive a child's credit report. AllClearID.com is another valuable resource for helping parents with similar concerns. 

If you suspect your own Social Security number has been stolen, start by reading these useful tips on what to do from the Social Security Administration. Make sure you lodge a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, and get in touch with the police to file a report.

E-mail and Social Networking

Social networks can also serve as entry points for identity hackers. According to NBC Los Angeles, in 2008 Diane Solomon got an alert from a neighbor saying that Solomon had been in touch via Facebook, asking for money. Solomon didn't have a Facebook account, but someone had hacked into her e-mail and set up a Facebook account through it.

How often do you change your e-mail password? How many times do you re-use the same password on different sites? Use upper and lower case letters. Use symbols. Use numbers. Preferably a combination of all those things - yes, it's a pain in the neck, but it's important. Hackers can run programs to guess your password, often unloading a cavalcade of spam if they gain access. As a general rule, the less information about you is publicly available online, the safer your identity will be.

As for potential employers asking you for Facebook and Twitter log-ins — the legality of that is still being hotly debated. Maryland is seeking to be the first state to ban the practice, according to NPR. Several U.S. Senators have asked the Justice Department to investigate whether the practice violates federal law.

In the unlikely event that it happens - and in the absence of concrete legal answers - be diplomatic. Facebook itself has told users not to give out their passwords to employers or anyone else, calling it a violation of the company's Terms of Service, and you can tell nosy prospective employers - politely - that you do not feel comfortable violating those terms. Given the potential lawsuits surrounding this practice, if you do find yourself in this situation, you may want to consult a lawyer.

Of course, keeping your Facebook page free of embarrassing, illegal, or deeply personal information is always a good strategy, whether or not you ever intend to show it to an employer. You should also check your privacy settings to make sure very little of your account is pubic, since that information can also be used by identity thieves.

Protect Your Apps

A burgeoning threat comes from handheld devices. In 2011, software attacks on Android phones rose by 472 percent, often coming from rogue apps. The apps appear innocuous, even gaining fake rave reviews in the Android marketplace. But once a phone is infected, the user may suddenly find themselves running up a huge bill after texts start flying out to premium rate services.

Google has taken steps to eliminate the problem, but it's unlikely to go away entirely. Thankfully, a number of anti-virus apps help counter the problem, with AVG among the companies offering protection against personal data theft and messaging scams. Lookout Security & Antivirus is another popular virus-busting app.

But the best way to protect your phone is to stick to well-established apps from reputable companies. As this Extreme Tech article points out, sometimes the anti-virus apps are as unreliable as the ones that caused the problem in the first place.

Have you been a victim of identity theft? What tips would you offer to anyone looking to protect their digital identity?  

The second installment of our web series The UnReal Adventures of Ted and Traci features a familiar scenario played out in many homes across the country during various sporting events.

Ted, excited to watch his Wombats win on TV, is asked by Traci to do a couple of simple household chores. Distracted by his favorite team, Ted bungles his attempt at cooking dinner and is startled awake from a well-deserved nap by Traci and the ear-piercing smoke alarm. In the end, Ted learns a valuable lesson about fire safety.

Check out all episodes of this web series (new episodes added weekly):

Trailer - The UnReal Adventures of Ted & Traci

Episode 1 - Om on the Road

Transcription: 'Up in Smoke'

Traci: I’m heading out for yoga. There’s a box of leftover pizza in the fridge. Just throw it in the oven for dinner. And don’t forget to take out the trash. I don’t want the whole house smelling like a landfill when I get back.

Ted (distracted): Don’t worry, babe. I’ve got it covered. Pizza. Oven. Trash. No sweat!

Traci (disbelieving): Alright...

Ted: Pizza...Oven...Sweet! I’m almost done! I deserve a break!

Ted: Go Wombats!

Traci: You left the pizza in the box, didn’t you?

Ted: At least it doesn’t smell like a landfill...

Voiceover: Don’t get burned.

Connect with me on Google+ or follow me on Twitter

Mother's Day is traditionally celebrated with gifts for your Mom -- flowers, a spa day and a family brunch are some of the usual suspects. But sometimes, Mom just wants a little time to herself, away from the chaotic hustle and bustle that family life often brings. This year, consider creating the perfect Mom Cave -- her own private space where she can do what SHE wants, setting aside the responsibilities of the real world for just a little while.

Taking some inspiration from the ever-popular Man Cave, this infographic shows how some of the same theme from the Man cave can be adjusted and adapted to fit the needs of almost any Mom Cave.

[click the image below to enlarge]