Money-stretching tips

It seems like most everyone I'm coming across lately is experiencing some type of financial setback. In line with our mission to help you create the life you want with resources you have, I'm posting several tips to stretch your dollar here.

• Sign up to be available to market research groups. There are several reputable companies that do not charge you to be in their databases (e.g. Fieldwork Minneapolis, Orman Guidance Research). If you qualify for a research study, they will pay you for your opinions and time. Other research companies such as e-rewards programs award you with incentive points each time you complete a survey. Points can be exchanged for movie rentals or magazine subscriptions.
  

• To receive a free pass for two to the Waterpark of America or Grand Rios (both in the Twin Cities, MN) simply for visiting a website for moms, go to www.momtalk.com for details.

• Notice how many of your meetings are off-site. Plenty of ideas can be exchanged over e-mail or phone. If you do plan an off-site meeting, consider a place that you can walk or take public transportation. It’s better for the environment and your pocketbook.

• When renewing your newspaper subscription, instead of automatically renewing your payment call customer service to ask if there is a current special. We subscribe to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Every single time we renew, we ask for the special and usually save almost 50% off the renewal rate. (Also, magazines will often lower your subscription rate if you wait until after the first renewal notice.)

• Be sure to contact your insurance agent each year to ask if you qualify for any discounts. If not, get various quotes to make sure you are paying a fair rate. We made the costly mistake of ignoring that tip and trusting our agent when she said there weren’t lower available rates. After twelve years with the same agent, we finally compared rates and found home and auto policies with better coverage at half the price. Ouch, all those years of paying way too much!

• Make your first stop the library when looking for a movie or music to enjoy. Libraries aren’t just for books anymore. Some patrons will reserve the movies or music that interests them. Myself, I like the spontaneity of seeing what’s available and finding something I might not have searched out otherwise. We save at least $150 a year by borrowing from the library versus renting.

If you have a tip to share, please post it as a comment for the benefit of others.

Universe Changers: Women Role Models

Universe Changers: May topic

Women role models
Sometimes role models are best friends and sometimes they are someone you have never met.
They might be a public figure or very private.
Who are your women role models?
What have you learned from them? What examples have they set for you?
Why do you admire them?

If someone chose you as a role model, what quality or attitude or behavior would they see in you?

Whether or not you can participate in a Universe Changers circle, you can join in the conversation by posting your comment on this blog. We'll look forward to hearing from you. For information on Universe Changers, click: Universe Changers! (sponsored by the Minnesota Women's Press)

Universe Changers: Intentional Communication

We're in our third month of Universe Changers! (sponsored by the Minnesota Women's Press). This month's topic is: Intentional Communication. So far, the Clickity Sticks and Crafty Planet circles have discussed this topic. Whether or not you've been able to attend, you can now join into the conversation through this blog.

Our reflection was provided by Kathy Magnuson, co-publisher of the Women's Press:

Intention.
A theme of our conversations is Changing the Universe Through Women’s Stories.
There is power in telling our stories, sharing our experiences, insights and ideas.
There is power in hearing each others stories.

There is a style (or model) of communication called Intentional Communication.
It is about giving voice out loud to that voice in your head. The one that says
What you said just insulted me and here’s why
I really disagree with you and here is why
Yes, and have you ever thought about it this way
I love you

It can be just as much about the little things in life as the big things. For me it was about
•calling a distant aunt who I have held a grudge against for about 10 years to tell her I have let go of my anger and I forgave her.
•saying to a co-worker – you have seemed on edge the last 2 days. I’m wondering if I am the cause of your anger.

When are times when you spoke intentionally? Or wished you had spoken more intentionally? Or wished you hadn’t? What would happen in our own lives and in the world if we gave more voice to to our thoughts?

So far this month, the conversations have included thoughts such as:

• wishing one would have spoken intentionally sooner than later
• a success story of being clear about options in a friendship that resulted in the friends parting amicably and without resentment
• wondering how to speak up intentionally about something that needs to be said
• how children start out speaking their intentions but then somehow learn to go around the point (e.g. "I want a cookie" evolves into "I'm hungry but not for carrots, raisins, crackers..." while really waiting to be offered a cookie.)
• noticing the nuances of when speaking directly is "worth it" especially if the situation is over and done (and likely to not be repeated) or when it would hurt someone's feelings
• speculating that many men seem to speak more intentionally while many women seem to find it less "natural" to do so and need to work at it

Sedna, a participant, shared this remarkable thought after contemplating Intentional Communication:
"What does my soul want to say versus my ego? What's my part in this? I'm more careful about listening and what I say may be less important than really hearing the other person."

Whether or not you are a participant in one of the groups, we encourage you to share your thoughts here by posting your comments. We look forward to hearing from you!

Interested in participating in Universe Changers? Here are the details:

Universe Changers! — sponsored by the Minnesota Women’s Press

Join one of these new discussion circles for women — because we have always made change by talking with each other. Come prepared to discuss the big and the little things in life. Let’s make change in the universe by sharing our stories, ideas, and opinions. And, who knows, you may show up in a future issue of the Minnesota Women’s Press! Facilitation orchestrated by Purple Crayon Factory. No charge to participate. RSVP to teresa@purplecrayonfactory.com. Universe Changers! meets at three locations:

· 2nd Thursday of each month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at:
Clickity Sticks & Yarns, 2722 East 50th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 612-724-2500
(Non-knitters welcome, too. Bring a project or just come to converse)

· 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at:
Crafty Planet, 2318 Lowry Ave, NE Minneapolis, MN 612-788-1180
(Non-crafters welcome, too. Bring a project or just come to converse)

· 4th Tuesday of each month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at:
Brewberry's Coffee Place, 475 Fairview Ave. S., St. Paul, MN, 651-699-1117
(Tea drinkers welcome, too.)

What's really in the shadows?

As a child I had a vivid imagination (still do). Like many other children, the longer I looked into the dark or shadows, the scarier the shapes would become. A sweet teddy bear started looking mean and then turned into looking like a crouching intruder. A tree branch blowing in front of the window was a witch waiting for me to go to sleep (it didn't help any when the branch made scratching noises).

I thought I grew out of that. But it appears that my imagination has taken on new "shadows" to distort. About five years ago, my web designer gently suggested that I could save a lot of money on web updates by getting a simple website program. I told myself that sure it might seem simple to him but I'm no techie and I certainly wouldn't understand it. A few year's later, an artist friend told me she was using a program for web updates and it really was easy. I brushed the idea off when I thought of how b-o-o-o-r-e-d I would be trying to decipher how to use the program and how awful it would be to even give it a try.

Instead of simply trying out the program, I looked high and low until I hired someone to assist me. To me, this assistant may as well have been a knight slaying a fearful dragon. I was SO thankful to have her help. She made it look so easy that I put her on the pedestal of being a technical genius (she really was great). When she moved on with her career I was concerned about how I could ever find anyone else to help me with my website. To my surprise, within a week I received a referral for more good help. When my new assistant had a family crisis, I panicked about how to keep on top of the updates I needed if she weren't available.

I'm embarassed to say that it was the moment of panic and realizing my dependence on her that made me finally decide to approach the shadow and see if it was really that scary. I downloaded a trial version of the program, certain that it would be beyond my comprehension. I readied myself to read a diatribe of information on how to make it work. But poof, within a couple of minutes I'd learned all I needed and was eager to get started. It really WAS easy (and addictively fun, I admit). Suddenly, I felt competent in the web world. There was even a fleeting moment where I wondered, "Maybe I should branch out and offer website services." The scary image in the shadow had revealed itself to be a harmless and useful tool. (I know-just like everyone said it would be.)

So I think I've outgrown distorting the 'shadows.' Oh wait...it's tax time. I've been putting off dealing with that awful, hideous beast that grows and grows until it sucks all the oxygen out of the room. But I faintly remember that each time when I dove in and did my best, it wasn't nearly as painful as I'd imagined. Okay, I better go tackle this 'beast' while I'm feeling brave.

What's really in a 'shadow' that you fear and have been procrastinating on? What would help you approach it so that you could see it's not as bad as you've imagined.