I have been a Martha Stewart fan since I was a teenager. My mother and sister used to make fun of me for my Martha Stewart obsession. I have always admired how she has such attention to detail and makes sure that things are done properly. I do recognize and always have, that she tends to go a bit overboard on some things. I have been a loyal reader of her magazine and I used to watch her show on NBC. I bought her products and I was even going to go to a book signing.

As the recession hit, I continued to watch her show. She had on guests like Jim Cramer who was talking about stocks and the stock market. While this is helpful to some, it is not helpful to all. While the rest of the country geared up for the recession, to me it seem as if it was business as usual at Martha Stewart Omnimedia. I watched her show to see if she would have money saving tips for the average American household, but I never saw anything of the sort. Eventually I got fed up and just stopped watching her show. Last week I read an article that said that viewership was down for her show.  I was not surprised.

My annoyance did not stop with her television show either. I continued to read the magazine but I soon found myself feeling betrayed. I felt like the Martha magazine was targeted to a different audience, one that had not been effected by the recent recession. Recipes and crafts in the magazine still required pricey ingredients and pieces. While she talked about the recession did she actually realize what the average middle class household was going through? The final straw for me was a piece about what every woman should have in their closet. While the pictures were beautiful, the clothing was outrageously priced.

I eventually started reading the magazine Real Simple. I like this magazine because I feel like it has the same quality as the Martha magazine but that it is more accessible to the average middle income house hold. They too have their out- of touch artciles too, but not as bad.

Even though I have been annoyed by Martha Stewart’s constant bragging about the vacations she goes on or the show about designer dresses, I do not hate her and I occasionally do watch her show.  I just wish that she would realize that we aren’t all millionaires and target her show that way. I bet if she did, her ratings would go back up.

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In the past few months as the economy has continued to deteriorate and materialism is being stripped from people, we are having to reevaluate how we look at others. During times of crisis we learn how far we can be stretched and who we truly are. During these economic times, people are having to make tough decisions and are having to give a lot more of themselves then they did before.

My husband and I recently had a discussion about how the value of a person has been measured by the wealth that they process rather than their character. As Americans, we are not shy like other cultures about discussing our finances. We are proud when we have gotten a good price on something.

Many people have defined themselves by their wealth. Now with the downturn in the economy, people are loosing what they have. People are having to show their true colors. The days of a pseudo-wealthy facade are over. Many of these people don’t know how to define themselves apart from their money.

I say that is time that we go back to valuing people based on their character, not the balance in their checkbook. While this phenomena may not effect all of society, it does effect many Americans. I am pleased that this country is “going back to basics.”

The first place to start is how we teat each other. The “golden rule” still applies no matter what the economic situation. For those of you out there who do not know what I am talking about, just look at how rude people are when behind the wheel of their cars. There is a complete lack of common curtsey for our fellow Americans.

We all have value and deserve to be treated with respect. What is the point of being a millionaire if you have spent all of your time following that goal, and have lost the ones you love in the process. The value of people should be measured in the good deeds they do.

Times are rough, life is harsh. We as a country are going through this. I know that not everyone will agree with me, but that is okay. However, take the time to be courteous, you never know if the person behind you has just lost their life savings, their job, or their home.

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Tis the season for Spring Break for many students out there. While thoughts of Spring break usually gravitate towards fun vacations in sunny warm destinations, many are cutting back this year due to the economy. However, just because funds may restrict big travel plans for this upcoming Spring Break, fun is still out there to be had for all ages.

I grew up in a household, where my parents always seemed to struggle with financial obligations. I spent many Spring Breaks at home with my younger sister, while our friends were jetting off to islands and Disney World with their parents. While our parents could not afford such elaborate vacations for my sister and I, my mother always went out of her way to made sure we had a great time. We spent most spring breaks hosting sleepovers, having movie marathons, and playing outside.

As my sister and I got older, my mom would take us on day trips into Chicago for the day. While this may sound really expensive, it was not. In my family, it was understood that we walked, no cabs for us. We would be so excited to go, it did not matter how far we wold have to walk. At one time, the museums had free days that we’d go to. Mom would pack a lunch for us and we would take the train into the city. The whole day would maybe cost us $40. We always had a blast.

My mother had another ingenious idea, to take a car trip to see our cousins and family in Nebraska. Every Spring Break for almost 10 years my mom would pile my sister and I into the car and down I80 we would go. We would stay with family to minimize costs. My sister and I were lucky to have cousins close in age. We would play for a week strait, while my mom had time to visit with family as well.

I found that my most favorite Spring Breaks were the low key ones. One year when my sister and I were in high school she decided that we would be allowed to re-do our bedrooms over the break, after all paint is cheap. We each helped work in each other’s rooms. We had so much fun. It was a wonderful treat.

So, keep in mind, Spring Break does not have to be outrageously expensive. Just remember to keep it loose and fun. Find fun things that you can do cheaply and enjoy your time off!

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It comes as no surprise that times are hard, and seem to be getting harder. Many Americans are having to decide what bills they can afford to pay. While budgeting and careful planning may help, sometimes there is just a shortage of available funds to pay the monthlies. As, the cost of living seems to continue to rise, the dollar seems to be stretched further than ever.

When you have missed a payment or are late on a payment these days, creditors are quick to let you know it. While you are clearly do owe them, do not allow yourself to be tormented and harassed by creditors. You have rights and there are laws for your protection from harassing creditors.

Unfortunately, I have had to start making tough choices recently. I just do not have enough money to pay everything on time. I like many Americans am doing the very best that I can.

I was prompted to write this post by an event that happened this week. My husband and I live in a very nice community, which we usually do not have a problem with. Last week, I received a call from our town’s water department. My check had been returned. I was so embarrassed, it had merely been an accounting error on our side. I returned the call to the water department to let them know that I would fix this mess right away. In the same phone call, they said that they would not take a check from my household anymore, due to my irresponsibility. Instead of arguing with the woman on the phone, I told her I would drop off the payment at the end of the day.

Two days went by since I had re-paid my water bill. I thought all was fine, until I got a call from the water department. The woman left a message on my phone at 8 am. in the morning. Her message that was left on my phone was incredibly rude and demeaning. Apparently I had not paid the bill correctly, which was a simple miscommunication. In the message she went on to demean my character and my husband’s character. I was shocked at the brazenness of her call and I was angry.

Later that afternoon, I went into the water department to pay my bill and set the woman who had made the call strait. I told her that I am not a bad person due to an accounting error. Further more, I asked her if she treated everyone who had issues with their bills in this manner. I reminded her that we are in the grips of a very serious recession and that a little compassion for people’s struggles might be in order. The woman did not seem to even register what I had said, and her rude service continued through out my business there. As a bill payer/ customer, you do have rights and you should be heard.

I was utterly shocked by her rudeness. There was absolutely no call for it. My husband was appalled at the treatment I had received as well. He jokingly said, that I should tell them that I was going to dig a well, and that they could keep their city wanter. This was a tricky situation, where I as the customer was not heard. Because it is a city service, I just have to deal with her behavior. I told my husband that the whole situation reminds me of a Simpsons episode where, Homer insults the local garbage men and does not have pick up service for months, causing his rubbish to pile up in his yard.

While I was clearly in the wrong for my accounting error, I still deserver to be treated with dignity and respect.

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Well, if you have recently received a pink slip you are not alone. I came across a statistic the other day that said 70% of Americans know someone who has been effected by the economic downturn or laid off. In looking at that stat, it is amazing to me to see how rampant this really is.

As I was searching the net for information to aid those who have been recently laid off, I came across this article on Mashable.com. They have an article that lists the best 30 websites for those who are jobless right now.

This database of websites is wonderful! It is very rare in the vast universe that is the internet, to find such a detailed and concise list. The database, has sites not only how to find a new job, but how to manage your money until you do.

Ben Parr, the author says,

“But the worst time to panic is when you are laid off and lose your main source of income. We live in a new and powerful era of communication, one where we can find support, gather news, and network without ever leaving our computers.”

I would encourage all to take a quick glance at his database. This is a wonderful resource. I hope that this helps to those of you who have recently recieved that dreaded pink slip

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As President Obama said, last week in his press conference, Americans are loosing jobs at an alarming rate. Stores are closing like crazy. I am amazed to see even bigger chain stores closing in my area.

We have become an around the clock society. So many stores offer 24 hour services, as opposed to 10 years ago. We have come to expect, that certain mega-retailers and drugstores will be open at all hours of the night, just incase we need something.

However, as the jobless rate goes up. and payroll gets harder to cover for many business’ large and small, will we start to see a decline in the 24 hour store? When I started to thing about this concept in depth, which I had never really done before. I was amazed at how expensive it must be.

A store that is open for 24 hours, 7 days a week must incur some serious costs. Payroll must be outrageous. If you thing about it, the store must be staffed at all times, usually with more than one person. Almost all 24 hour stores have a manager on duty, at all times. Managers are payed more than regular staff and are therefore more expensive.

Then I thought about,how much the energy costs of keeping your doors open at a 24 hour store must be. Heat, or air conditioning, lights, and water? That kind of usage must really add up quickly. Especially for a mega-retailer such as Walmart.

Taking all of these thoughts into account, I wonder, with the downturn in the economy will the 24 hour store survive? As we all know, retail sales are down sharply for the country. People are not out shopping. Which I would think would certainly effect the over night crowd that frequent 24 hour stores.

I am grateful for the store that stays open for 24 hours in times of sickness or emergency. However, I think that with stores being open constantly are slowly changing our society. We are able to do things like shop whenever we’d like that we were not able to do before now.

So, what does this current depression have in store for the 24 hour shopper? I guess only time will tell. Until then, covet your ability to feed your 2 am. fix for that Heath Bar or be thankful that you can buy junior diapers at 4 am.

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Tonight our president came before the press and the American public. Finally some questions about what the stimulus entailed, how it would be put into practice, and how its sucess could be determined.

It was wonderful to see a strong message broadcast to a leary country. Obama ventured to Elkhart Indiana today to see one if the hardest hit towns by this economic recession. I have driven through this area within the past year and I have to say that the scene was deviststing. I was so pleased that our President took the time to go there to see the average American’s plight. Tonight he used these people as an example saying that Washington needed to stop positioning themselves for the next election and work for the people who depend on them.

I watched the entire confernce and a few things stood out to me. First of all the President Obama said,

“As we speak, similar scenes are playing out in cities and towns across the country. Last Monday, more than 1,000 men and women stood in line for 35 firefighter jobs in Miami. Last month, our economy lost 598,000 jobs, which is nearly the equivalent of losing every single job in the state of Maine. And if there’s anyone out there who still doesn’t believe this constitutes a full-blown crisis, I suggest speaking to one of the millions of Americans whose lives have been turned upside down because they don’t know where their next paycheck is coming from.”

I knew the unemployment rate was sky rocking but, it is truly alarming when one looks at the raw data. Large portions of the country have been insulated from what the rest of the country is going through, tonight those people got to see how badly things have become for their fellow Americans.

I also liked how President Obama closed his speech by saying,

“We find ourselves in a rare moment where the citizens of our country and all countries are watching and waiting for us to lead. It is a responsibility that this generation did not ask for, but one that we must accept for the sake of our future and our children’s.”

We as a country are at a history making juncture, it’s sink or swim time. I am optimistic at this point in time, I think that our country will band together and rise again, like we have out of every other depression and recession. This country is not a stranger to hard times, and we have always pulled through. So, lets not break that trend. Let’s help our neighbors where and when we can and stand up as a country to make it through.

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Most communities have a public library within a drivable distance from their homes. Libraries have been around forever, therefore they have been mostly forgotten, except by the select few. Well, my friend the time of looking to the local library for entertainment is back. For little to no cost, everyone can participate, all you need is a library card.

Today’s library has more than books to entertain you. My local library has videos and DVD of feature length films which are available to be rented. They also have books on tape, for those of you how do not prefer read. The tapes you have, can be imported into an MP3 on your computer. The possibilities are endless when at the library!

If you do like to read or if it bores you, try a book from the non-fiction department about something exotic, like a travel book, or a recipe book. These can be a ton of fun, on a snowy or rainy day. I always love to look at gardening or fashion books with beautiful pictures. Want to go on an exotic vacation but cannot afford it, get a picture book and substitute.

As I said earlier many libraries also offer multi-media selections. Learn a new language on cd, or listen to music from a favorite artist, or even surf the internet. Many libraries offer free internet to those who hold a library card for that particular branch.

Another great benefit that you may find at your local library is a book club. My local library has a wonderful book club that meets once a month during the lunch break hour, to accommodate professionals. If your local library does not have one, and you are a habitual reader, start one.

Most libraries offer classes on many different subjects, for only a few dollars. This can be a great way to entertain yourself cheaply. My local library has lamaze classes to basket weaving. Most of the classes meet in the evening, so that more people can attend. Also look to see if any clubs meet at your local library.

Most people never set foot into their local library. There is a treasure trove of entertainment to be had. Be brave, go in and get a card. Learning something new is a wonderful way to entertain yourself. The Library is a very budget conscience way to entertain yourself, just watch those fines.

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These days with the economy in trouble, we hear more and more how people are having to go without. The news paints the bleakest picture possible. Stores are reporting weak sales. The notion that people are not out shopping means to many that people are just going without, and are suffering because of it.

I could not disagree with this idea more. Although this economy can be scary, there is a slight beauty to it. We as a nation are being brought back to the most basic necessities of life, and to me, that is not necessarily a bad thing. The average American’s life is so over complicated with things that we do not need, that is time for us our society to get back to basics and realize what we do have, not what we do not have.

So many people made New Year’s resolutions to lose wait, or cutback on certain things, but I resolved to be truly thankful for what I do have. When I really think about it, I am so blessed. I don’t own a house, money is super tight for me and things are not totally rosy in my life right now. But I believe that you must recognize what you do have and be thankful for it to be ready to receive more.

This past December, my husband and I really had a hard time financially, we were having to cook the stuff in the back of the cupboard, the stuff that you never actually cook. As I was making another bag or Ramen soup, feeling so broke, a thought came to me, I am so lucky to have this food. I am blessed to have a stove to cook it on, and natural gas to heat the stove. When I started to think about my measly Ramen dinner in this way, I was grateful and happy that I had it.

I started to apply this attitude of gratefulness to all aspects of my life, I have a car that is 10 years old, it’s not as beautiful as it once was but, it runs. When I have to stand out in the cold to pump gas, rather than grumble about how cold it is or how much gas costs, I am grateful for the car and grateful that I have money to buy gas. The most grateful thing that I think of is how wonderful it is to have that technology, thank God we do not travel on horseback! We can be somewhere instantly in a car, not take half a day to get somewhere.

I know all of this sounds a little “pollyannish” but really take a step back, examine your life, if you look around all of you, you really do have a lot to be grateful for. I think the biggest thing to be thankful for is the people in your life. I will never stop being thankful that I have my husband, he is a great partner and I know that we can make it though anything together. I am even grateful for the people that cause stress in my life because they make me stronger as a person,

So, don’t feel so badly, everyone is having some type of struggle right now. Struggles are character builders. Be grateful for what you do have, and forget about what you do not have. In the grand scheme of things, think about what really DOES matter, prioritize. I promise that if you really do this, life will be much happier and this recession will be much easier to get through.

Like my mother always said, ask yourself one question: “Is it going to matter in 20 years?”

If it won’t, then it’s not really that important.

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More and more people are having to go without. Jobs are being lost at an alarming rate. People are getting desperate and because of this crime is on the rise.

Now, I’m not telling everyone to run out an buy a gun, or take drastic measures to protect themselves. I’m merely saying that as the economy gets worse, we need to be more vigilant.

I live in an upper middle class suburb of a major city in the U.S. We are far enough out where people don’t lock their doors, because many feel that crime doesn’t happen here. My little town has had quite a wake up call recently. A neighbor was recently robbed. Someone had their car stolen in the Walgreens parking lot, in broad daylight. Petty theft is on the rise all over. Times are tough and people need money.

There are a few simple steps that you can take to protect yourself without spending a lot of money. Again, I do not tend to alarm, but I do want to bring this issue to light. I know that crime is up much across the country with robberies at the top. In the past few months, in my area robberies have been way up. Before the economy took a down turn, the biggest robbery was maybe a bike.

The first step is simple and it’s free. Lock your doors. I know this seems too simple to even mention but you’d be surprised how many people don’t lock their doors. By doors, I mean not just the house. Lock the car, shed, garage, etc. Anyone can come in and take what they want when the door is not locked. Have the door locked even when you are home. Once you start locking your doors on a regular basis, it will become habit. Also, never leave your car running, ever! It’s just too easy for a crook to hop in and drive away.

The second thing that you can do is to keep an eye on your belongings. Always keep your purse on your body, never leave it in the cart when grocery shopping. I cannot tell you how many purses I have seen sitting on the passenger seat of empty cars. When you leave something like that visible and unattended, you might as well beg a thief to help themselves.

This is the same with a man’s wallet. When in crowded places, watch out for pick pockets. I know that this is rare in most small towns in America, but you’d be surprised what people would do to get by. Also protect what is in your wallet and purse, have the phone numbers of credit cards, and the cell phone company on hand, so that if something is stolen or lost, you can make the necessary calls right away.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is to just be aware of your surroundings and have common sense. If you see something out of the ordinary that seems odd, give the police a call. You don’t have to call 911. Most police departments have a non-emergency phone number that you can call. Most times the police will thank you for keeping a watchful eye. I’ve called them a few times myself and I have never had a negative reaction. It’s their job.

Common sense should guide you. I saw one of the stupidest things while I was out today. Someone had just purchased a 48″ flat screen television and left the box at the end of the driveway for the garbage man to pick up. The driveway was next to a busy highway. This is basically an advertisement to criminals. Common sense would say, never put packages from expensive purchases out on the curb for the garbage men (cut the box down and recycle it). Many towns have recycling centers to dispose of packaging. If the packaging cannot be recycled, I would suggest disguising it so that you can’t tell what went into that package. Don’t advertise to criminals.

The world is not a complete bad place. I am not suggesting you run out and buy a pricey alarm system or something as extreme as a gun. I just want to stress that now is a time for vigilance. Keep an eye on your surrounding and your posessions. Lock your doors. With a little common sense, we can all stay safe. So through these tough times, safety is possible, but it may require just a little more effort.

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