By Alban

Everyone uses their money differently because we all have differing financial goals, and because we all have a different personal finance personality. That is why there are such different types of financial products because when you use the right products to suit your natural spending and savings habits, you can make the most of your natural behaviours allowing your good habits to shine and your bad habits to be curbed.

On the personal finance personality spectrum there are four main personalities, find out which one you are, and learn about the features you need to look for when comparing new financial products.

The Saver

If you are a saver you lament ever having to spend money, you look for every opportunity to save, from taking your own lunch to work, to driving with the windows down instead of turning on the air-conditioning. You are probably also the one who takes Monopoly a little too seriously.

While there is nothing wrong with crushing your family and friends on the game board, in real life managing your finances is not as easy as buying out your landlord and trying to avoid the twists of chance. Instead, you need to maintain a balance between spending and saving, playing to your natural inclination to horde your money and your sense of fiscal responsibility.

The best savings account for the saver:

• Rewards you for not withdrawing your funds. This is a behaviour you will follow naturally, so seek out a high interest savings account which pays you bonus interest in the months you don’t make any withdrawals.
• Long term high interest rates. You will be able to maintain your savings balance for the long term, so work towards a long term goal by choosing a savings account with a high ongoing rate. This may the time to consider a fixed term deposit savings account for some of your funds, where your interest rate will be fixed for a term up to five years.
• Has easy to read statements so you can easily track your savings. You can choose an account with paper or electronic statements, but either way make sure you can always remain informed by viewing your savings contributions, your interest earnings and the progress of your balance, since a saver always knows exactly where every cent of their savings is.

The best credit card for the saver:

• Has a long interest free period. This means you will always be able to avoid interest charges because you can use the bank’s money for groceries and bills throughout the month, while your wages earn interest, safe in your savings accounts. You can then transfer just the amount you need for your purchases to your credit card before the end of the interest free period.
• No annual fee. Since you will always be sure to spend only the amount you can afford on your credit card, you won’t have a rolling balance so with a credit card which also doesn’t have an annual fee, you will be able to operate your account entirely fee free, saving even more.

The Reluctant Saver

You know you should save because it is the financially responsible thing to do, you’re probably even trying to stick to a savings plan to meet a goal of a house, a wedding or a holiday. However, saving seems like such a hassle to you, plus your heart’s not really in it, so just as you reluctantly add to your savings, your savings reluctantly crawl towards your goal, when you could have your funds powering towards your dream purchase with the right financial products.

The best savings account for the reluctant saver:

• Rewards you for making deposits. Part of achieving a savings goal is sticking to a savings plan, so first look for a high interest savings account which will pay you bonus interest when you meet a minimum monthly deposit amount. Then make sure to set up an automatic debit from your wages each payday to meet that amount and you can be being rewarded for your savings efforts, which aren’t really a great effort at all are they?
• Allows you to set targets and track your savings goals. You may be reluctantly saving because you have more than one goal you need to meet and achieving those goals just seems so far away. Instead, choose a savings account which lets you save for more than one goal by creating sub-accounts for each target. You can set a goal amount and a goal date to achieve that amount, and your savings account statements and online banking system will show your progress on easy to understand graphs or tables, so you can see just how far you have come, and how there’s not really that far to go. This keeps you motivated and keeps your goals clear so the reluctance can slip away to be replaced by excitement at achieving your goals.

The best credit card for the reluctant saver:

• Is a debit card. You don’t need any more temptations to distract you from your spending goals, instead consider using a debit card which accesses your own money so you don’t accumulate a credit card debt which needs to be repaid at the end of the month. With one less bill to worry about, and your spending under control and within your means, you can concentrate on your savings and achieve your goals on target.

The Emotional Impulse Buyer

You just can’t help yourself, a bad day at work, a bad break up, an argument, a celebration and you’re off to hit the stores for new shoes or heading online to start bidding for a new television. No matter how good the shopping spree feels, you need to be able to strike a balance between something you enjoy – the impulse buying that makes you feel better – and something you know you should be doing – saving for a rainy day because shoes won’t pay the bills.

The best savings account for the emotional impulse buyer:

• A fixed savings account you can’t access in a moment of weakness. In truth, your spending and savings habits are not spiralling out of control, there is just the odd moment of weakness every now and then, so make sure that at least a portion of your savings is locked away in a fixed term deposit where you can’t get at it when you lose an important contract at work or the kids all throw a tantrum at the same time.
• Allows you to feed your habit in a healthy way. In conjunction with your fixed savings account, start a spending-savings account too. Deposit funds in here when things are going well and you have some spare cash left over at the end of the week. Then when you do need to make an emotional purchase or you see something you need to buy because you just can’t get it out of your head, you can use a part of your savings for that purchase so you don’t blow your budget on an impulse buy.

The best credit card for the emotional spender:

• Has a low interest rate if you need to roll over a balance. In truth, you may not always have enough in your spending-savings account to cover an emotion or impulse buy so rather than dipping into your rainy day emergency fund, you may resort to your credit card. If that is the case, make sure you are not penalised month after month with high interest charges if you can’t pay your balance back to zero. Instead a low interest rate credit card allows you to regain control of a credit card balance that gets away from you.

The Spender

If you are the spender then your spending and savings habits could just be spiralling out of control. You could be a compulsive shopper buying something because it was on sale, because it came with a free something else or just because you were bored. You could be spending to keep up with the Jones’ or because you think you deserve every new gadget and you deserve it now. And you certainly don’t have any desire to save – why do you need to save when you’ll be paid again in a week?

This extreme personal finance personality is clearly out of control when you see it in black and white here, but it can be harder to identify that you are the spender when you’re busy spending. Once you realise that you are living week to week and your life and your house are cluttered with purchases you don’t need, and don’t even really want, the first thing you need to do is equip yourself with the right tools to curb your spending and start yourself on a savings plan.

The best savings account for the spender:

• You need an emergency fund because next week might not come. If you’ve been living week to week then stop, and open a high interest at call savings account which allows you to make regular contributions. Choose an account which allows you to link with your existing account so you can make automatic payments to your savings account each pay day. In this way you don’t have to think about saving, it’s being done automatically and you are taking the first step towards a happy medium.
• Fix your savings so you don’t slip. Once you have built up an emergency fund which covers those unexpected bills, and could pay approximately three months worth of bills if you couldn’t work or lost your job, it is time to secure the rest of your savings so you’re not tempted. Choose a fixed term deposit savings account which will still pay you high interest, and will not only help you control your spending, but can be the start of an investment portfolio too.

The best credit card for the spender:

• A debit card. While you get control of your spending you will need to stop living beyond your means and that means no more spending the bank’s money. Instead, link a debit card to your transaction account so you can only spend money you have, and you will soon learn to make the right choice between an impulse buy and the power bill.
• A balance transfer credit card. You’ll also need to get control of any credit card debt you accumulated in your frenzied spending so look for a balance transfer offer with a low rate, and enough time for you to budget to repay your balance. If you need to transfer the balance from several credit cards, or the balance is quite high, consider a for life balance transfer card which gives you all the time you need to pay off your credit card debt at the lower rate.

No matter which personal finance personality you fall into, we can all benefit from a healthy emergency fund, a regular savings plan and a little spending money to blow off steam. Therefore, consider the best financial products for your personality and your situation, to help you strike a healthy balance.

Alban is a personal finance writer. He helps people to compare and choose the best savings accounts online.   

My friend Jim Hart wrote a guest post awhile ago for us on Recession Mamas.  He’s back, but this time he’s all over the news!  Check out this press release that went to a number of news organizations.

A new conservatory school in Austin teaches innovative techniques aimed at putting an end to the starving artist stereotype.

AUSTIN, Texas, April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The opening of Austin Conservatory of Professional Arts, ACPA, represents the establishment of a new standard in theatrical arts training. The conservatory, which opens its doors this fall, is principally focused on teaching artists how to perfect their craft and successfully make a living in the new economy. Founder Jim Hart says the standard set by ACPA “creates potential for innovation, leads to new audiences and job creation.” Hart aims to teach artists how to “survive and thrive by overcoming the starving artist stereotype. ”

Hart, a native Texan, studied acting at the renowned Yale School of Drama where received his MFA, and then went on to serve as an entrepreneur, theatre director, and actor. ACPA is the second conservatory Hart has built, the first being The International Theatre Academy Norway in Oslo, Norway. “I built my first conservatory around a large gap I perceived in American arts training. Artists are taught how to create works of art, but not how to make a living. That leads to stereotypes such as the starving artist and actors really being waiters. I honed my technique at the Theatre Academy in Norway and now am very excited to bring this program here to the states where it’s most needed. ”

Austin Conservatory of Professional Arts is a full-time conservatory program (intensive focus on craft and technique as they relate to its principle focus — arts entrepreneurship). Hart offers a time-tested technique that produces results. “Our students work to create opportunities for themselves,” says Hart. “When you teach artists how to understand their own value and then market it to the right audience, the results are undeniable. They truly gain the experience needed to be self sufficient and successful.”

“Artists want to make a living and have the right to do so. Artists go to ACPA to learn marketable skills that will increase their chances of making a living. The current standard (all arts technique and no business training) leads to widespread unemployment and disenfranchisement of artists. Entrepreneurship in the arts is destined to become the new standard, as it is a system that creates jobs, with the artists creating their own opportunities.”

Austin Conservatory of Professional Arts is a full-time program, offering artists an intensive study in entrepreneurial arts techniques. ACPA prides itself in its original curriculum, combining experiential learning, mentorship and advanced study in arts and entrepreneurship. The conservatory is located at Penn Field off of South Congress Ave. in Austin, TX.

ACPA is accepting applications now for the full-time conservatory program in entrepreneurial arts training. To apply, see http://bit.ly/a6jZfP. For more information about ACPA, visit http://www.austinconservatory.com or email: learnmore@austinconservatory.com.

SOURCE Austin Conservatory of Professional Arts

—by Carla

This week zoomed by for me. I did a little fill-in news anchoring at WBAP 820AM and waking up at 2am will never get easier. But once I was there, man I had the greatest time. Anyway, a quick recap: Thanksgiving went well. I think. Our prepared turkeys were yummy. I made Paula Dean’s Cheesy Green Bean Casserole (for 36…yikes!) and baked 3 pumpkin pies. Everyone’s side dishes were amazing as were all 847 pies that ended up gracing our dining area. Needless to say, the freezer is now cram packed with Thanksgiving leftovers…and I need to hit the gym.

Today’s guest writer will shock the living daylights out of you. The husband actually wanted to put his 2 cents in about something that we disagree on. It’s not the biggest deal in the world, but it goes to show how we all see things so very differently. Here he is, in his own words…

FREE STUFF.  Yup, that’s the statement that gets everyone’s heart racing and wondering at the same time what the catch is. The stuff I’m taking about is currently sold in over 80 countries and when introduced in 1903, eight of them sold for a nickel.  The same box of eight currently sells for 99 cents everywhere. But everyone knows you can have pretty much as many of these as you want for free…right? (Provided you dine out with a child.) Why are we not taking advantage of it?

 
Created by cousins Edwin Binney and Harold Smith, “Crayola” crayons were an immediate hit with young and old alike. The original box held just eight of them (black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and green) and today, Binney and Smith (renamed Crayola LLC) makes over one hundred different types, including those that sparkle, have glitter mixed in, smell like flowers, change colors and wash off walls…but I digress.
 
Every “sit-down” restaurant we dine in hands us a set of two to four brand new crayons with each child’s menu. Our two year old colors with one for about thirty seconds before he is bored and moves on to other distractions before our meal is served. What happens to those barely used (sometimes never used) crayons? We usually leave them on the table, discarded along with the remnants of our meal.
 
If they are free, why don’t we take them home? By now, I’m certain we’d have a sizeable collection of the eight primary colors, but what fun is that? Surely by now we’d never have to buy another crayon in our lifetime. And I’ll be willing to bet that the restaurant inflates the price of our food just a tiny bit to cover the cost of those little jewels, so they really aren’t free. We’re secretly paying for them.
 
Can someone explain to me why we’re leaving them on the table?

…Sure. Because we 1) have plenty of them at home and 2) if we start taking ‘em, how can we not take the sugar packets? I mean, they’re on the table, too.

My neighbor Katy thinks that writing this blog about my finances may be cathartic for me.  Actually, it scares the shit outta me:  the idea of admitting publicly that I’ve failed.

To honor my obligations, that I’ve let myself and my family down and people that depend on me.  Maybe that’s a bit too grandiose of a statement, I mean, after all, who really cares?  Truth is I made bad financial decisions and let my debt spiral out of control.  It didn’t help any that I was getting a lot of bad advice and aggressive assistance form a financial system and culture that wanted to profit from my ignorance.

My finances are a mess.  I’ve got $39,000 in credit card debt, another 35,000 in a HELOC on my first house, which is upside down by the way (I still have a 1^st mortgage for 202,000 on a home that is currently appraised at 123,000), my second home is teetering on foreclosure, but there are two offers that the bank is reviewing on a short sale and I owe about 2,800 in back HOA fees…and how the hell did I get here?  You don’t even have to ask.  I agonize over it DAILY!

The past year and a half I lost more that half of my income.  I make my living as an actor and I moved back to LA just in time for the writers strike, then SAG threatened their own…yeah for me!  What timing, huh?   I was also renting out my first house and that would have helped me weather the economic storm, but my tenant got into a fight with his girlfriend in my house and she shot him.  He (unfortunately) lived and he didn’t tell me for over a month when he was late with the rent.  By the time I found out he had left my home a mess- $3,000 worth of back rent and damages (thank the Lord for insurance and my brother who helped out, or it could have been much worse)… so I ended up carrying 2 mortgages for almost six months.  Went through all my savings and my 401K.  Then a creative project that I wrote was being produced and was hijacked from me, which meant lawyers and fees to protect my rights and royalties on the show.

OK, so, that’s enough of my back sob story.  I mean, the drama and the rotten luck, enough already!

I filed for bankruptcy a couple of months ago, but there’s still a part of me that thinks at the 11^th hour I’ll land some fabulous job and that all my money woes will be over.  I mean it happens all the time, people’s lives changing on a dime in this city, right?  God, I sound like a gambler.  That fantasy has kept me going these past 22 years as an actress, “Someday I’ll get my big break:  that TV show or that Broadway show…”It’s embarrassing to admit that I still hold out hope.  My boyfriend told me a great statement the other night that someone made about the acting profession which goes something like “It’s not the despair that’s killing me, it’s the hope!”

Actually, I’ve made a good living as an actress in Los Angeles and in regional theater over the years so I consider myself damned lucky, so I know I have to give myself permission to feel good about that.  It’s not been completely a fool’s dream.

I bought the houses for an investment, because I am in this profession and I wanted to begin to build some kind of financial stability for my future.  Working freelance, which acting pretty much is, is just so nerve-wracking for me.  My brother talked me into buying my first place.  “You’re not gonna make the same mistake that you did in the 90’s are you?”,  he asked when I booked this really good production show.  He sells real estate and was trying to get me to buy a house in San Diego in the early 90’s but I thought, “$150,000 for a 3 bedroom house?  That’s too much!”  If only… So, I went for it.

I learned a lot during that time.  I was curious about money, because I never got a financial education in school or from my parents.  I didn’t know that just because you balanced your checkbook it didn’t mean you were managing your finances.  I was quickly, but not quickly enough discovering how little financial literacy I had.

Credit scores was an interesting discovery for me.  I found out mine was pretty good at the time- around 749.  When I was buying my first house I wanted to pay off all of my credit card debt and close my cards, but was told not to do that because it would ruin my score and I wouldn’t qualify for a good rate.  I was told to keep the balance at around 30% of the balance. It didn’t make sense to me, but I was following this “expert” advice.

I also discovered that when you buy a house, everybody wants to give you money!  The credit card companies bombarded me with offers.  And, oh remember those little “convenience checks” they would send you in the mail?  With those comforting little sayings “pay now, worry later”?  And then finding out about those obscene interest rates.

And of course with my new house I had to have furniture!  All I have to say is God save me from HGTV.  It is like porn for me.

Interest rates are Satan!  How the hell can anyone charge you a 24%to 29% interest rate?

Well, I qualified at the time for 3.99 to 5% rates, so I rolled over my debts into low interest cards.  So fast forward to a couple of months ago, I was one day late on a credit card payment and they hiked up my rate to 29.99%!!  WTF?!  So I called and they said I had violated the terms of the contract.  I spoke to a manager and she said that she couldn’t change the terms of the agreement and that I hadn’t opted out.  “Opt out? What was that?”  “Oh, it was mailed out in one of your previous statements”  “What the junk mail that you pack my statements with?  Besides, I pay online.”  “Well, we can close your account and give you a 17% interest rate.”  “But, I’ve been a customer for 7 years and I was only one day late, it was an oversight (not to mention I noticed they started to change the due dates on the account)…”  Of course now Obama introduced legislation that forbids these kinds of practices, which the banks are fighting fiercely.

I’m convinced debt is the new slavery.  But, I was a willing participant.  I got caught up in the culture of the new millennium :  ENTITLEMENT.

Remember all those shows at the beginning of 2000?  “Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?” “Joe Millionaire”, “The Survivor”, “The Apprentice”?  Then all those money gurus like Richard Kiyosaki of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, Donald Trumps “Think Big and Kick Ass” and Suze Orman who, bless her, was trying to beat some sense into us.

Then the new age metaphysicians and the cult of “The Secret”:  think, desire, believe and manifest what you want.  Hey, I was definitely mesmerized by all of it.  I was going to a spiritual counselor who told me to watch that DVD for 40 days!

But, I bought into it…literally, bought it all.  Thinking that I could keep up, catch up, that my next gig was just around the corner,  if I could just stay focused, keep working, it would all work out…but it hasn’t.  And my Polly Anna optimism is eroding with it.  Maybe it’s called growing up.  That I need to measure my wealth in different ways and  not define myself or measure my worth by what I have.  Consumerism was literally consuming me.  This past year and a half I’ve been plagued with insomnia, dizzy spells and now these panic attacks when I approach a bridge.  I have developed this terrible phobia of bridges and actually had to call my brother to help talk me over one when I was driving.  Now, I just avoid them.  I know this is just a manifestation of the stress and the fear I have around my finances:  feeling out of control not feeling supported.

But, I hope reaching out like this helps in some way.  Maybe feeling that I’m not alone, that perhaps there is a network of people who can relate, advise or enlighten me.  Maybe just the act of speaking the truth, that I don’t have to be perfect and that I’m still valuable as a person and that I have something of value to offer while I am on the planet.  I do have to admit, the man that I have in my life has been such a blessing to me.  I’ve confided in him about my financial situation because I felt it was important for him to know exactly what my situation was, even showing him my bank statements and debts.  That was very hard and I was afraid that he wouldn’t want to be with me because of my debt and my feelings of disappointment in myself.

Then he just looks at me and tells me that that doesn’t define who I am.  Then he tells me that he loves me and that he knows who I really am: that I am a caring, good person with integrity, that I am talented, smart and beautiful and that he believes that I have what it takes to handle any situation.  And it makes me feel so comforted.  I tell ya, ya can’t buy that.

Thanks for letting me share, Katy. J

Karole

From Heather

Back in May we told you about a Texas woman who found a unique way to keep busy while searching for a new job. Cheryl and her horse, Remington, were going for the Guinness World Record for tallest living horse. Besides have a BIG personality, this Clydesdale also stands 80 inches without shoes from hoof to the top of his shoulder.

Big drum roll here….. Remington GOT the TITLE!

Since the title was captured, life has been a bowl full of carrots for “Remi”  and a whirlwind for his owner, Cheryl. Here’s an update from her.

By Cheryl

Since receiving the notification from Guinness that Remington captured the Guinness World Record for tallest living horse, his trainer and I have experienced excitement and a great sense of accomplishment for the big boy.  To put it simply, it has been surreal.The day I received the news, he enjoyed a lot of extra carrots for a job well done.  He doesn’t really know why he got the extra carrots and he really doesn’t care.  Remember, with Remington it’s all about the food!

Right now, there is a woman in Canada claiming that her Clydesdale Poe is 20.2 hands and she is waiting for Guinness to verify his height.  So, if he is proven to be taller than Remington, then his title will be relinquished and Remington might just have to go for a new world record category, of the shortest time a record was held.  We sincerely hope not.  And, I wonder if there is such a category.  I may just have to look into that.

What ever the outcome, Remington is the current world record holder and although we expected someone to challenge this title, we didn’t expect it to be this soon!

Overall, it’s been an amazing journey.  The outpouring of support from around the world, the rapid growth of his blog followers, and the experience of going for the record itself, will always be a wonderful memory.  And I will continue to share his adventures with everyone who has been enjoying his stories.

At a time, when there has been so much unhappiness going around, between the sagging economy, the enormous loss of jobs, including mine, a continuing war and so much more, there was a time for hope and a time to share that hope with others.  Remington’s stories helped to show the world, that despite troubled times, there is always a way for something good to shine through.

Most of all, Remington is such an amazing horse, that I wanted to share him with everyone and brings some smiles to their faces.  Well, he certainly has done that and will continue to do that for many years to come, for as long as people want to hear about him.

We don’t know what will happen next, but no matter what, my love for the big guy and the pride I have for him will continue to grow stronger.  He’s always been a winner in my heart and he always will be.

Warm Regards,
Cheryl & Remington

Thanks for the update Cheryl. We all hope that Remi gets to hang on to the title and dazzle people at  State Fairs and parties for years to come.  Remington not only holds a special place in your heart… but he has captured the affection of so many others. World record or not he’ll always hold the title of “World’s Most Loved Horse.”

Keep up to date on Remington’s antics by reading Cheryl’s blog. http://ofcourseimahorse.blogspot.com/2009/09/remi-wins-title.html

By Stephanie Bowen (Stephanie wrote Thoughts from Uganda for Recession Mama awhile back.  By popular demand, she is back with an update and photos!)

I have been back from Africa for over a month now and parts of my trip feel like a distant memory, where others I know will stay with me for a very long time. It was a trip for work but I grew so much personally that I would’ve gone as a volunteer (don’t tell my boss)!

A little background: I work for the humanitarian aid organization International Medical Corps. We focus on health care and training with the ultimate goal of helping communities become self-reliant. Our work literally saves lives and builds healthy futures. I’m not just saying this as their PR person – I’ve seen it first-hand. First in Indonesia about two years after the tsunami, now in Uganda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This was my first trip to Africa and as you may remember from my blog reflecting on my wanderings through Kampala, I was immediately struck by the warmth of the people. That warmth continued on into Kenya and the Congo. Bright colors and big smiles were everywhere. Children were always running up to our vehicle, chasing us while laughing and waving. At one point I was in the middle of a refugee settlement in southwest Uganda surrounded by children who couldn’t stop laughing and screaming, so excited that I was taking their photograph and even more intrigued when I showed them the digital images. It was so much fun for me that I didn’t want to leave. To see that much joy in a situation that quite frankly can be very joyless was quite intoxicating.

The reality of life in the refugee settlements I visited in Uganda and the internally displaced persons camps I visited in the Congo were tough. Women who had been raped and left alone and pregnant (http://www.imcworldwide.org/Page.aspx?pid=665), and children who were so malnourished it was a miracle they were still alive (http://www.imcworldwide.org/Page.aspx?pid=687). But there were also many stories that left me feeling very good.

I haven’t formally written about it yet, but we have an amazing program in Kenya that has made great strides in fighting HIV and helping those who are infected. It’s our Home-Based Counseling and Testing program. We started it in Suba, which is along the shores of Lake Victoria and the HIV/AIDS rate is very high – some say up to 30% — because many women there frequently trade sex for fish so they can feed their families. We reached 100% coverage in Suba and now have expanded to a neighboring community, Migori.

Marcy and Jessica are just two of the women who are participating in this program. Having met with a volunteer community mobilizer, Marcy, and her sister-in-law, Jessica, decided to get tested for HIV – they wanted to know their status. Marcy has a five-month-old baby with her husband, Jessica’s brother, and being able to get tested in their shared home made it convenient and confidential. After preparing the women for all the possibilities and educating them about HIV and AIDS – the difference between them, transmission methods, risk reduction, etc. – they took their tests, which only needed about 10 minutes to process. They chose to get their results separately and were both happy to learn that they were negative. If they had been positive, International Medical Corps would’ve been there to make sure they knew how to access treatment and counsel them through the process. International Medical Corps has 44 counselors who go door to door, administering HIV tests in this one area alone. We test 3,000 people a month!

This is one of our community educators in the Kyaka II refugee settlement. The t-shirt she is wearing is one means of conveying information.

I don’t want to get too bogged down in the details of the program, but what I observed with the several families I witnessed getting tested is that this program is not only helping people who are infected it is changing people’s views on the disease. Stereotypes are being broken down, treatment is being sought and prevention measures are becoming more and more acceptable. Change is taking place around AIDS in Africa, one person and one family at a time.

I think the biggest highlight for me was when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a stop by one of our programs in the Congo (http://www.imcworldwide.org/Page.aspx?pid=686). We of course knew she was going through Congo on her Africa tour but were thrilled to learn that she was going to visit our nutrition program at the Mugunga I camp for those displaced inside their own country due to the ongoing war. I was supposed to come home right after Kenya, but got diverted to Congo to help document her visit. Even though I had spent six years in Washington, DC working for CNN, it was so thrilling for me to see our field staff – 96% of whom are local – being recognized in this very big way. People asked me if I met her or got my photo taken with her and to be honest, it never occurred to me because it was all about them. They are the people who are doing the hard work day in and day out and I was so glad she took the time to SHAKE EVERYONE’S HAND!

Okay – enough about International Medical Corps! Some of the other highlights of my trip were visiting the Nairobi National Park where I saw giraffes, ostriches, zebras, a hippo and countless other animals roaming around in their natural habitat (with the Nairobi skyline in the background!), and floating along the Nile River at the point where it starts its 3-4 month journey to the Mediterranean. I also loved that everywhere I went the Coca-Cola was served in bottles that had been used hundreds if not thousands of times before and the power outlets had switches so you could turn them on when you were using them so you weren’t wasting energy when you weren’t.

I have written way too much already, so I will stop here. But I will just say this: if you get the opportunity to go to Africa just do it. I’ve traveled to many countries and cultures – modern and developing – but there is nothing comparable. I can’t wait to go back!

Love to have a bright, white smile? Who doesn’t! But it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.

Here is today’s guest writer, Judy, in her own words:

Hi there, I’m Judy, Heather’s older neighbor growing up. My dad was her buddy. He was retired, so spent a lot of time puttering in the garage and Heather was always there. She’d also come to the back door during dinner and ask if Mr. “Hanglebur” (my family name is Hamburger) could play. My mom would say “Mr. Hanglebur has to finish his dinner first.”

I’ve been a dental hygienist for over 26 years so will tell you about tooth whitening on a budget. First of all, everybody’s enamel has a shade, just like your eyes and hair, not all are created equal. You need to have your teeth professionally cleaned by a hygienist; this gets off the extrinsic stain from coffee, tea, smoking. Toothpastes that say they whiten may keep your teeth CLEANER, but they don’t change the color of your teeth. If you get stain from any of the above mentioned, the trick is to brush (and floss/pick) your teeth more OFTEN to keep it off (4 times/daily for smokers).  To actually change the color, you must have a tray (preferably a professionally made one for YOUR mouth) to hold a whitening get (peroxide gels of different strengths) against your teeth for 30-60 minutes daily for 2-4 weeks. That’s my recommendation right there! Whitening products can cause sensitivity, so then you use them every other day, etc. (High acid food/drinks such as pop are the real culprit in sensitivity) The ultra-violet light activated systems that you see on makeover shows do work, but they can be painful and must be done with proper protection of the gum tissue. You then must also wear the trays for several weeks (that’s what they don’t tell you) to KEEP the lighter shade. I do NOT recommend those systems. They are much more expensive and risky. The trays have the same result but take 2-4 weeks. Also, don’t waste money on whitening paint-ons, they don’t work. The white strips are fine, but they are at a much lower percentage of peroxide and also don’t fit exactly, so get on your tissue and can cause irritation and sensitivity. So there you have it. And for what it’s worth, I like the Arm and Hammer brand of toothpaste. It has the most baking soda and keeps my coffee/tea stain off the best. Plain old baking soda is also great toothpaste, but doesn’t have the fresh flavor or fluoride! Red wine is the worst for staining; I won’t drink it in public at all!

Smile!!!!!!

We spend a gazillion dollars (a rough estimate) each year in this country taking care of our pets. Our beloved little fur balls, our hounds…the ones who lick us relentlessly or rub their faces on our ankles…the ones who have huge chunks of our hearts. And anyone who has ever had a sick pet knows…money can become an issue. But for many pet owners, yours truly included, there is nothing we wouldn’t do for our furry children, even in this economy. Case in point: this week’s guest writer, one hell of a funny woman…Barbara, who takes us on an adventure that we all hope has a very happy ending. Here she is, in her own words:

 

There was a joke I loved as a kid.  It involved a very wealthy man who had little use for his family and the punchline was “He gave all his money to the Asthmatic Cat Foundation.”  I repeated the joke as often as I could.   I thought the Asthmatic Cat Foundation, or rather the idea of an asthmatic cat was the funniest thing in the world….I mean..ASTHMATIC CATS!!!  Who would have thunk it.   That is until I heard a joke about a parrot that had constipation forced upon him via a cork and asked an overweight visitor if someone was trying to make her fat too. 
 
This does tie in to what I’m about to tell you.  Nearly five years ago I adopted two tiny sister kittens, which, in time became cats.  Paris and Emily are Siamese mix but there’s little resemblance beyond that…

They have different color patterns and decidedly different dads as Emily is nearly twice the size of her sister…or sister-cousin, or whatever. Cats in heat are complete whores.
 
A few months ago Emily began doing ..something… repeatedly.  At first I thought it was one hairball she couldn’t get out..or perhaps she was choking on a piece of candy, a diet coke bottle cap…a kibble…a mouse…whatever it was…a lot.   HaaRRamphFF…BlaSCHmenPH…SHManoRIFF!!!  She sounded possessed and ended each episode with a long, pronounced swallow.  Cats can be gross.
 
To the vet we go! The vet suspected Emily had asthma.  Asthma! Funny!  She had a blood test and an X-ray at $150 a pop.   Once the tests came back showing this was LIKELY the case, I picked up steroid samples.  The word “samples” made me think they would be free, but these cost $17 and change.  And what the hell?  Steroids?  They bulk you up. Emily is a big, big girl, 18 pounds.  Turn her human and you’ve got a pissed off 280 pound Olympic weightlifter with acne.   
 
If they worked, we had proof she was indeed asthmatic, but the pills were no cure. The closest thing to that would be allergy testing with a starting price of $300.  Allergy shots are extra. Stop gaps, aside from steroids, were people antihistamines and asthma inhalants.
 
LOVE HURTS
 
Stop gap number one – the ‘roids did their thing.  Her attacks stopped, and by the way, I bleed too.  Cats do not enjoy swallowing pills.  Emily got me twice with her sharp little teeth.  The second time was so nasty that I went to a clinic inside a drugstore only to be told they don’t treat animal bites.  I paid 15 bucks for a tube of Neosporin, band aids and a bottle of rubbing alcohol and went home to operate on my finger.  I define surgery as poking in the cut with rubbing alcohol sterilized tweezers.  It hurt, but within a few days I forgot about it.
 
After the pills ran out I moved on to phase two of Treating Emily, a steroid shot.  Cheap!  Only about 30 dollars! This was supposed to be good for two months, but didn’t work, and neither did Zyrtec, which involved more cat bites.
 
I called the vet and told her I wanted to go ahead, plunk down the serious cash and get my prize cat tested for allergies.  But the catch is she had to be steroid free for two months, which would mean weeks more of HAMPushSCHEE or SmushsclOTH!  It was time to get her an inhalant.
 
ENTER THE BARBADIANS
 
It’s easy to get a cat inhaler.  After a couple of days of phone tag, my kind vet told me to go here.
 
http://www.aerokat.com/Animal_Health/ah_aerokat_fac.asp
 
This nifty gadget cost me 70 dollars, but I needed the medicine that goes WITH it.  After more phone tag she told me to get Flovent.  I have insurance but Emily isn’t on it.  And this stuff isn’t cheap.  And you need a prescription.  She suggested two magic words  – Canadian Pharmacy. 
 
Here’s a fun fact – The Canadian Drugstore…   http://www.tcds.com/default.asp ….isn’t in Canada at all.  Their customer service center, which I called, is in Barbados.  Oh man, this was one ass-whipping of a phone conversation. 
 
“I would like some Flovent HFA 125/120″
“How much do you weigh?”
(F#$@K Off!)
“One hundred and…(I give the indecipherable but polite Barbadian my weight…in kilograms.)
“Are you taking any other medications?”
(Like I would tell you?)
 ”This isn’t for me, it’s for my cat.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m four.”
“We need a prescription.  Who is your doctor?”
(Gyno, internist, dentist?  Which one?)
“My cat’s veterinarian.”
“Today we are offering a four percent discount if you give me your checking account routing number.”
(Not in this lifetime)
 ”No, thank you.”
“The medicine will be shipped from New Zealand.  Is that OK?”
 
It took four weeks and cost fifty dollars and Emily does not like it.  In fact she runs when I come near her with the thing. But she’s better and soon we go in for testing…and I’ll let you know how it goes.

Today’s guest post is from Jim Hart.  He is the founder of Austin Conservatory of Professional Arts, The International Theatre Academy Norway, and The Hart Technique.  You can get more info about him and other inspiring articles on how to get to where you wish to go creatively at http://www.harttechnique.com.

A lot of people define their sense of self, based on what they do for a living. Artists are notorious for this. They think of themselves as, “I am an actor” “I am a dancer” “I am a writer”, etc. Tricky thing about such a line of thinking is–that if you are not working, what are you then? Of course, each of us is more than the titles we wear. But many artists are so passionate about their art and medium that they wear their medium title (actor, painter, dancer, musician, etc) as a cloak, which gives them their sense of self. Defining one’s identity in what one does can lead to identity crises, as they change with time and mature. For such individuals, I encourage them to not identify themselves only via the type of medium they practice, but, rather, as Artists–Creative Artists, at that. One may be a creative artist who acts or paints or does photography or…all of the above, simultaneously. I believe that artists are artists are artists. Every artist creates from the same place–we simply have different tools to express ourselves. Some of us use our bodies, some film equipment, some computers, etc. Mastering technique in one form or discipline will enable one to pick up other mediums of artistry. When we hop mediums, we need only learn the new tools or “rules” of the medium. Another tricky thing about identifying oneself as, say, “an actor”, is that it can cause the artist to mentally rule out other possibilities and potential–like writing or directing, teaching or producing. Certainly, most of us ask what it is we want to do, numerous times in our lives. I have heard that the average American has 6 careers in their lifetime. This further illustrates that we are all in a constant state of change. Nearly everyone in the field of theatre, began in an acting class. Acting classes are the window into the medium. Many leave acting to pursue directing, design, producing, writing, technical theatre, stage management, etc. Once again, change is represented. One who begins in an acting class and discovers a passion for directing or design is not a “failed actor”. They are creative artists who direct or design. Most artists today cannot afford to think in such a limited fashion. There are not enough professional opportunities to do so. The markets are over saturated. We need to be teaching our artists to have “a wider directional perspective”. Rather than thinking about what opportunities exist in a narrow sort of thinking, (ex. Do these few things, via these few paths to find work in your medium), we need to teach them to broaden their perspectives and ask the question, “What can I do with my skill sets”? What opportunities exist? Where are there needs to be filled? What gives me joy? What are ALL of my interests? How do I synthesize my many interests, into a single endeavor? Such a line of thinking and practice will lead to more artists with unique voices. New aesthetics will emerge. Greater innovation will occur and these students and graduates will dramatically increase their potential to make a living via their creativity.

Today’s guest post is from Jasmin Barnes of www.mywigstudio.com.  She is a woman who is determined to not let this economy get her down.  In fact, she started her own business with the idea that every woman deserves to look great…no matter what her circumstances are, whether they’re financial or physical.

Jasmin in a pink wig

By Jasmin Barnes

In this economy, you can’t afford to be unattractive, unproductive, unmotivated and unknown.  It is definitely not the time to sit in one corner, be a fly on the wall and be negative.  With all the bad news we hear from the papers, television and radio, it is not a surprise if you find yourself a little wigged out.

Jasmin & her sis in different wigs

My story started one bad hair day.  I was feeling kind of bummed and just wanted to curl up in bed.  My husband asked me to go to a county fair with him. Hesitantly, I stood up, got dressed and went.  At the fair, I stumbled upon, of all things, this wig vendor.  So I stepped inside the booth and started to try on some pieces. The next thing you know, I bought my very first hairpiece!  I can still recall the feeling when I first put on that piece.  Not only I was amazed at the transformation, I was blown away by how convenient and cost effective it is to stay stylish and fashionable during a recession.  More importantly, it did put a smile on my face!  I wanted to share that fun and fresh feeling with others and introduce this new wave in accessorizing especially during these trying times.

Jasmin transforms her look

A wig can transform your look in an instant!  As always, it is important not just to look good but to feel good about your self from within.   And in times like these, you can definitely still be beautiful, positive and be on top of your game.   As a woman, I know that how she feels inside reflects in everything else that she does.  Women these days are juggling different responsibilities from work and at home.  This can be very challenging and can make us easily forget ourselves.  I have 3 kids, a husband, a house, a career to take care of, and a business to run.    I don’t have time to spend fixing up my hair on a daily basis.  With a wig or a hairpiece, you can skip that daily ordeal of blow drying / styling your hair.  You no longer need to curl/ flat iron that often.  You won’t need to frequent the salon which saves you time and time is money.   Today, every second counts – every penny counts!  If you really think about it,  who has got time and money to go to the salon these days? A simple haircut, blow drying and styling (and don’t forget the tip) can leave your wallet dry.   You can use and re-use your hairpiece over and over again for parties, meetings, weddings, concerts!  Some of my clients even take theirs to a cruise!  I find these hair pieces as quick and cost-effective solutions to today’s very active demanding society and problematic economy.

One of Jasmin's wig parties

My Wig Studio hosts wig parties every other month.    I would invite ladies to come to my studio and try on different styles, textures and colors.  Since I started the biz, I have had 3 successful events!  My customers are usually referrals from friends and family.  Since my products are very personal, I also provide private fittings and consultation at My Wig Studio or at the comforts of my client’s home.    During a recession, all businesses get affected one way or another, but what keeps me going are the emails and messages I get from my customers.  One email said “Thank you very much! You have no idea how you helped spiced up my relationship.” Another one said “I found my self esteem I lost a long time ago and I just love the way I look now.”  These positive reactions from ladies are very inspiring, something you can’t put a price tag on.

Wigs Galore!

We cater to all sorts of people.  I would get calls from cancer patients under going chemo therapy, to entertainers, artists, photographers, and just plain fashionistas and everyday people like you and I who simply like to enhance and update their look.   A wig is no longer just for people with hair loss condition but it has now become part of our daily wardrobe.  However, we are proud to say that a portion of our sales goes to City of Hope’s Cancer Cure research program.  It is just like choosing that pair of shoes and that purse to match that outfit (or that mood for that matter) for the day!  What makes me excited everyday is the anticipation of meeting a new person and knowing her story.   Every lady has her own personality just like every wig has its own character.   When the two meet, I can see fireworks.  It is amazing to see how someone’s personality shines through whenever they put on a hairpiece!

We are all in this together.  Continue to shine, stand out, inspire and make a difference.  All we need is a little daily dose of creativity – so, don’t Wig out in this economy!