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The latest Gallup Economy and Personal Finance survey finds that the average age at which peole actually retire is now 61. Twenty years ago, in the early ’90s, the age was 57.

The folks at Gallup says the average retirement age will only increase in the coming years. I fully expect to retire around 71, and that’s OK with me. I keep thinking of that Prudential “age stickers” commercial where they ask people to give the age of the oldest person they know. The people place stickers on the age, creating a visual map that’s very powerful. It shows we are living longer, and should prepare ourselves to work a bit longer, especially if we haven’t prepared for retirement in the early years.

Everyone’s talking about this book, The Normal Bar, which is all about what makes happy couples statistically happy. I’m interested in reading what’s considered “normal” when couples discuss money. One finding is that couples earning between $250,000 and $500,000 fight more about money than those earning less than $20,000. Sort of makes sense to me.

I have my own ideas on how couples should discuss retirement money. The first step is discussing it at all, which can be tricky if you’re in one of those relationships where the subject of money is taboo. (Is that “normal”? I have to read a copy of this book.) Knowing how your spouse is saving for retirement and how he or she wants to retire seems (to me, at least) as intimate as anything else you could know.

What do you think? Do you talk about money with your partner? Or avoid the subject altogether?

Surgeries and other medical breakthroughs are allowing pitchers to extend their careers later than ever. But there’s still a lot of luck involved as well.

Jamie Moyer can pitch until he’s almost 50, and Brandon Webb has to retire at age 33.

From 2005-08, Webb led all MLB pitchers with 70 wins, and was as good (and durable) a pitcher as there was for a three-year stretch from 2006-08. He took over the ace role from Randy Johnson in Arizona and won the NL Cy Young in 2006, going 16-8, then increased his win total in each of the next two years, going 18-10 with a 3.01 ERA and 194 strikeouts in an NL-leading 236 1/3 innings in 2007, then 22-7 with a 3.30 ERA in 2008. He was second in NL Cy Young voting in 2007 (Jake Peavy) and 2008 (Tim Lincecum).

He pitched in one more game in his career, the season-opener in 2009, before a shoulder injury shut him down, and it turned out it was for good. He attempted a comeback with the Texas Rangers and pitched in four Double-A games in 2011 — going 0-2 with a 9.75 ERA in four starts — before the rotator cuff flared up again. He was 87-62 witha  3.27 ERA in his six-plus seasons.

“With retirement, Brandon looks forward to focusing on more time with his family,” his agent said in a statement, according to ESPN.com. “He would like to thank all the countless coaches, players and friends for their support during his career.”

Webb isn’t the only pitcher who announced his retirement in the last couple of days. Kevin Milwood, who bounced around the majors as a decent starter for 16 seasons, announced he was retiring at age 38.

Have you taken a close look at your blankets lately? It might be time to retire your old favorite or at least hide it away as an emergency backup. If you are planning on buying a new blanket, this is a good time of the year to do it.

The Best Prices

For the best prices on blankets, quilts and comforters, looks for those designed in trendy colors that were popular last year. If you prefer classic colors you may not find rock-bottom prices, but you should still be able to get a decent discount.

This is also a great time to buy an electric blanket. The selection is still good and the prices have dropped.

Blanket Choices

Before making the investment, check out the different types of blankets that are sold. Ask yourself some basic questions, such as; do you want a blanket that will provide the upmost warmth? Would you prefer something lighter that offers more of a year-round weight? Does it need to be washable? Would an electric blanket or throw suit your needs?

Remember, that finding the right blanket that will best fit your needs is as important as finding the best price. The following article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of the different kinds of blankets sold.

Photo: Macys.com, Home Design Bedding, Orig. $120, Now $44.97 (Ends soon) – Shop Direct

See also:

• Before You Buy Sheets

• January White Sales

The Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis is definitely one of the best linebackers to ever play football.

As a human being, well, the jury is out on that. Or more specifically, the jury was never really in because he copped a plea.

I’m referring, of course, to the murders of two men 13 years ago, murders in which Lewis was not only implicated, but actually charged. The charges were dropped – he eventually pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice – but a lot of people still have lingering questions, not the least of whom are the victims’ relatives.

A huge percentage of the voracious media that will converge for the Baltimore-San Francisco showdown in Super Bowl XLVII Feb. 3 in New Orleans will give Lewis the star treatment and virtually ignore the scandal.

Others will bring it up and get their share of vitriol from Lewis and Ravens’ fans.

Those fans will say, why are you dredging up that old story now, in his moment of glory? Why can’t you let the man retire in peace, as the superstar he is?

I’m not saying Lewis should be hounded by these questions, but at the same time, it’s something to be considered when Lewis’ overall legacy is being considered. I have some definite thoughts on that.

The Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis is definitely one of the best linebackers to ever play football.

As a human being, well, the jury is out on that. Or more specifically, the jury was never really in because he copped a plea.

I’m referring, of course, to the murders of two men 13 years ago, murders in which Lewis was not only implicated, but actually charged. The charges were dropped – he eventually pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice – but a lot of people still have lingering questions, not the least of whom are the victims’ relatives.

A huge percentage of the voracious media that will converge for the Baltimore-San Francisco showdown in Super Bowl XLVII Feb. 3 in New Orleans will give Lewis the star treatment and virtually ignore the scandal.

Others will bring it up and get their share of vitriol from Lewis and Ravens’ fans.

Those fans will say, why are you dredging up that old story now, in his moment of glory? Why can’t you let the man retire in peace, as the superstar he is?

I’m not saying Lewis should be hounded by these questions, but at the same time, it’s something to be considered when Lewis’ overall legacy is being considered. I have some definite thoughts on that.

I’m not sure what to think of this article I found on Daily Finance, Why Retirement Is Like Winning the Lottery. It’s a fun analogy, although the general message is sort of depressing. Like a lottery winner, you’ll be lucky if you can afford to retire. While the odds are against you, if you don’t play (or save) you have no chance of winning. You’ll one day come into a large lump sum, but you’ll have to pay taxes on it. And once you get the money, you’re on your own in terms of spending it wisely. Also, your life will never be the same. Does this message make you want to get in the retirement game? If so, start saving today.

When the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) lost $5.1 billion in FY 2011, it was just getting warmed up, posting a staggering $15.9 billion loss in 2012 and for the first time exceeding its $15 billion debt limit.

As expected, Postmaster General and USPS CEO Patrick Donahoe used the unhappy news to once again call on Congress, to help out the USPS in ways it helps out few other “businesses.”

“It’s critical that Congress do its part and pass comprehensive legislation before they adjourn this year to move the Postal Service further down the path toward financial health,” said Donahoe in a press release. “We continue to do our part to grow revenue and reduce expenses by making our operations more efficient and by providing our customers with new and expanded services to meet their mailing and shipping needs.”

What CEO Donahoe wants Congress to do – quickly – is let the USPS out of its legal requirement to prefund health benefit payments to its future retirees.

The retiree benefit prefunding requirement is a provision of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which turned the USPS into a “semi-independent federal agency” to be supported completely by the sales of its products and services. Sort of like a private business with certain special advantages, like not having to pay any state, local or federal taxes.

Due to “insufficient cash resources,” the USPS was for the first time forced to default on its $11.1 billion retiree benefit prefunding payments in FY 2012. The $11.1 billion default represented almost 70% of the USPS’ $15.9 billion net loss.

In addition to resolving the prefunding requirement, the USPS wants Congress to allow it to “determine delivery frequency,” as in cutting out Saturday delivery or even limiting deliveries to just three days a week.

Also See: No Saturday Mail Plan Snubs Rural America

The USPS would also like permission from Congress to sell “non-postal products and services,” whatever those might be.

Also See: Seven Ways to Save the Postal Service

Once again, the main postal product the USPS did not sell enough of in 2012 was postage stamps. Total mail volume fell by another 8.4 billion pieces, from 168.3 billion in 2011, to 159.9 billion pieces this year.

On the brighter side, the USPS’ package delivery service increased by $926 million, or 8.7%, on a volume increase of 244 million pieces compared to the same period last year.

“Our productivity grew to a record level as we captured cost savings and improved productivity for the thirteenth straight quarter,” said USPS CFO, Joseph Corbett. “This year’s improvement is largely attributable to the reduction in work hours, which decreased by 27 million, or 2.3 percent, in 2012 from the previous year.”

Hoping to reduce its work hours even further, the USPS in October offered 115,155 of its employees up to $15,000 to either retire early or quit.

The USPS will cut an additional 13,000 employees by shutting down 229 of its 461 mail processing plants – but no post offices — by February 2014, resulting in an annual savings of about $1.2 billion.

Also See: Postal Service Losses by Year