Financial survival a taxing task for seniors

We are a group of American seniors citizens who, as they say, "are in our golden years" - retired, taking life easy and enjoying what is left of our years. But as time passes, the cost of living goes up, taxes continue to go up and everything is on the rise.

We are concerned because the vast majority are on fixed incomes. A number of seniors own homes and, due to rising taxes, not $10 or $20 a year, they go up from $100 to $300 a quarter. Seniors on fixed incomes are forced to sell or make other arrangements to live. They cannot keep up with the times. A number of our citizens lives in senior complexes and even then, they (township) keep raising the rent to where they cannot afford to live there either. Their quality of life keeps taking them to a point where they do not do anything but exist.

They count their pennies, save what they can, but to no avail - expenses keep going up. We walk and make fun of the seniors when they go into a place to eat or an affair, when they are ready to leave they fill their purses or pockets with sugar packets, jelly packets, salt and pepper to save money. All seniors are not like this, but when you are scraping the bottom of the barrel, you will do what you have to do.

I am in a position where I talk to a lot of seniors and when you hear them talk about their problems trying to exist, it makes you wonder where are these golden years that we are supposed to enjoying too. When there is a glimmer of hope - like a raise in Social Security benefits - they find a way to take back a good portion of it one way or another.

Retired seniors 62 and older could use a tax relief and any other kind of help they can get. Myself and all seniors urge our Legislature to support all legislation which will help our seniors on the federal, state and local government levels.

John I. Hawk

President

North Brunswick

Seniors Club