Managing the Fear by Taking Action
First, let's all breathe deeply. The economy is in the tank, we're afraid to look at our investment statements, fear is in the air.  Fear only makes things worse.  The best antidote to fear, and the best way to protect your job or your business, is to take action.

This requires a whole new level of attitude and time management. We feel overwhelmed because we're doing more with less staff and resources.  I hear people at all levels, from the production line to upper management, in diverse businesses, all saying the same thing: "I've never worked so hard in my life," and "The intensity level is off the chart." As time goes on, we may have even less staff and resources as businesses are forced to cut expenses.

Now more than ever is the time to refocus your priorities.  When you're on target with your efforts, fear subsides because you know you're doing the right things to manage through this uncertain time.  Be bold. And don't look back.

Only Focus on the Truly Most Critical Tasks
You can only be effective at a few key things daily. Your to-do list is always going to be much longer than the time you have to accomplish it. If you're a manager, you must spend time only on high-level items and managing your people. You've got to be brutally selective about which projects you spend time on. It may not be the tasks or projects that you've traditionally done or focused on. As the sands shift, you have to reassess what are the most critical agenda items for today.

Each morning, ask yourself, "What is the ONE most critical thing I MUST do today?"  You should be concentrating on the things that have the greatest return on getting the best product out the door, or making money, either by saving money or increasing revenue. Determine what those critical things are. Everything else can wait.  It's that simple.

Log your time for a Week
How are you actually spending your time? To find out, log your time on the job for a week.  Write down everything--how long you spent on each phone call, on email, track how much email you receive and send, time in meetings, paperwork, managing people if you're a manager, everything. It's a tedious exercise but I guarantee if you do it even for a few days it will be incredibly enlightening. Unless you are already a master at time management, you'll find that you're spending far too much time doing things that do not meet the test of a critical task.

Schedule Your Time
Now that you've decided what your critical tasks are, schedule time to do them.  We schedule meetings, why aren't we scheduling time in the day to perform our best and most valuable work?  Estimate how long it will take you to do the job and block it out on your calendar.  Give yourself 10-20% more time than what you think you need if you've never done a time estimate for the task or project before.

Remember to Monitor Your Stress Level
Stress can have a major impact on your health. My own body gives me very specific feedback when I'm not managing my stress level. My shoulders and neck hurt. I feel drained, exhausted.  I hate feeling that way. I have too much to do to not be at my best. 

Stress is why millions are watching the live puppy-cam. That's the website that just has a camera locked down on a batch of cute puppies. They sleep, roll over, play with each other. It's relaxing.  People watch it at work for relief. If watching the puppy-cam for a few minutes helps, go for it.  I have a few 'worry stones' at my desk. They're polished, pretty stones with a thumb-sized impression in them. You hold one in your hand and rub it with your thumb. It has a relaxing effect, and I'm reaching for them more often lately!

Find ways that are easily accessible to manage your stress while you work. Drink herbal tea.  Take a walk around the building or walk outside for a few minutes. Stretch.  Do deep breathing. Share funny stories so you can laugh. And managers, remember to be giving more feedback to your people.  They need it more than ever.

Have Fun too
Schedule time into your day to do something you enjoy. It can be as simple as watching a DVD at home. Playing a game with your kid. Having coffee with a friend.  Taking a walk with your dog. Watching that puppy cam. Anything that makes you smile.

Life seems very serious right now. But we will all get through this uncertain time. I have incredible hope for our country. We all just have to be part of the solution!

(Post a comment! Let me know if this topic was useful to you and what other topics you'd like to read about.)

A Late-Night Knock on the Door
The night before Halloween someone rang our doorbell after midnight. We live in a rural area. No one comes by unexpectedly, let alone late at night. My husband opened the door to find the county sheriff asking when we'd last seen the neighbor across the road.

Our neighbor, Jacob, lived alone. He was a nice man who kept to himself, in his mid-fifties. We'd see him occasionally when we'd get the mail or take a walk and we would chat with him about goings-on in the area and current events. He said nice things about others, a live-and-let-live kind of guy. But in the ten years or so that he'd lived next to us, we'd never once seen anyone visit him.

My husband told the sheriff we hadn't seen him in a couple of weeks, but that wasn't unusual. The sheriff said Jacob's mother in another state had called the sheriff, worried. She hadn't been able to reach him for a few days and she knew he wasn't out of town.  No one had answered the door. They were going to break into the house

They entered the home and found him passed away inside. Alone. He'd put his garbage out Monday, so he probably passed away sometime Monday night or Tuesday. He wasn't found until early Friday morning.  I was heartbroken to think of this man dying all alone.

A Premonition
Only a week before I'd said to my husband, 'You know, Jacob is the kind of guy who could pass away in his house and no one would know for days or weeks."  My husband reminded me that I'd said this. He didn't have to remind me. As soon as the sheriff came calling, I remembered those chilling words.

I'd said them a few days after I'd stopped by his house, but he hadn't answered his door. I noticed that his property, which was never kept up, looked worse than usual. I wondered how anyone could live like that.  I had a passing thought that maybe I should call him.  I wasn't sure what I'd say. So I didn't call.

He was still alive at that point. I saw him pulling in and out of his driveway since that day.  But I did have an undefined instinct that something was wrong...or was going to go wrong. Could I have done anything for him? I don't know. I don't even know what caused his death. The police only told us he didn't die by an intruder's violence.  Still, I think I should called. Because I think I was the only one who had an inkling that something wasn't right.

Check on People Who Live Alone
This awful incident got me thinking about the people I know who live alone. A close colleague  told me once that she knew that if she didn't show up for work, I'd notice. I'd call. I would, of course, but after this incident I also realized I needed more information than just her phone number.  How would I get into the house if she didn't answer? Who would I call if there was an emergency?

We think about checking on family members and neighbors who are elderly. But we need to check on everyone who lives alone. Ask them for phone numbers of people they'd want called in an emergency. People fall down steps, they have heart attacks.

Those of you who read this blog regularly know I usually write upbeat, motivational pieces.  But this event saddened me deeply. No one should die alone and lie there for days before the sheriff breaks into the house.


(Share more thoughts you have about how to take care of the people around you. Post a comment or email me at brenda@liveyourbetterlife.com)

Everyone Does Silly Things
I gave a speech last week in which I shared a few of my own stories about the ridiculous things I've done when I've been too harried. I wore two different pairs of shoes to work---and didn't notice it until 4:00 in the afternoon. I blow-dried my toddler's clothes dry while she was wearing them when I realized the dryer hadn't done the whole job.  I drove my kid 20 miles to preschool without realizing she wasn't wearing any shoes.

My daughter is now a teenager and I saw her pressing her skirt using one of those flat irons that straighten hair. In true like mother-like daughter, she was wearing the skirt while using this make-shift ironing arrangement. I admired her creative problem solving!

I shared a few more stories. People laughed. But the most delightful part happened afterward when several people approached me to share their own stories about the things they've done when they were just a little too busy.

Dryers, Buttons, and Peanut Butter
Some of these stories had me laughing so hard tears ran down my face.  One woman went to work, and in late morning realized there was a lump in her waistband. Hanging over her waistband was a pair of her five year-old's panties stuck there from the last go-round in the dryer. She nonchalantly peeled them off and stuffed them into her pocket, hoping no one noticed.

A man said he'd once buttoned his shirt to his coat.  He wore it that way all morning, and didn't realize it until he went to the restroom and saw his rumpled, crooked suit and shirt in the mirror. He looked ridiculous.  And no one had said a word to him all day.

Another older woman confessed to the same different pairs of shoes story---but she said in her case, the shoes were vastly different, one had a heel about an inch higher.  All day she lurched around awkwardly.  It was very uncomfortable. Then she shared my favorite story of all.

This woman loved perfume. It was one of her little pleasures while raising several kids. One day at work she smelled peanut butter. She realized it was coming from her. From behind her ears. She touched behind her ears and realized instead of perfume, she'd put a dab of peanut butter behind her ears while making the kids' sandwiches!

Laugh at Yourself
Hearing these funny stories made me realize how we're all just trying to get by every day.  The people who told me their mishaps were relieved to hear that someone else had experienced a moment when they weren't, shall we say, at their best! I know I was relieved to hear I wasn' t alone in struggling to get out the door with all the store tags off my clothes and wearing matching shoes.

We all do these silly things. What struck me too was that in everyone's case, no one said a word to them. Are we really not noticing these things in each other?  Or are we too embarrassed to say something to our colleagues and friends, that hey, you have some kids underwear stuck to you?

Now that we know we we all have our moments, let's agree to speak up. Next time you see someone with a misplaced article of clothing stuck to them,  say something. Laugh. Tell them you've done something just like that yourself. And tell them your story. You'll both get a laugh out of it!


(Do you have your own story to tell? Post a comment or email me at brenda@liveyourbetterlife.com.  Let me know of other topics you'd like to read about)

Your Surroundings Reflect You
Look around your environments and discover how your mood and self-image is reflected in the space. If you can't be objective, look at the space of other people.  Is the person with the desk piled high with papers and crumpled bags of fast food strewn all over the person you would rely on to manage details of a project?  Is the person whose car is filled with old soft drink containers, candy wrappers, and hardened crumbs of undetermined origin someone who you think is taking care of their fitness and health? Do you notice how different you feel when your home and work space are tidy and organized instead of looking like a tornado ripped through it?

Organize the Stress Away
Merely changing the way your space appears can help you reduce your anxiety. Who can feel good when there's a mess of unopened mail, (wondering what might be lurking in there?)  stacks of bills, and to-do lists on the kitchen table? Tidy up. Reduce the piles of magazines, papers, and school projects on the table and counters. Have just one pile of things that have to be dealt with right away. Clean out your car. Get rid of the empty soda cans, juice cartons, food wrappers, toys, and papers. Even vacuum it. Do the same in your work space.  It'll give you an instant lift.

Look in your closet. Does it look like the kitchen table did? Give away the clothes you'll never wear again. Organize your remaining clothes in a way that makes sense to you; by color or by clothing type---skirts, pants, tops, dresses--however makes it easy for you to quickly find what you're looking for. 

It takes only a few minutes to change your environment.  Yet this simple step can help you manage your stress level and mood. Take a couple minutes each day to keep your space organized and sane.

And enjoy the fall colors!





(Comment, let me know if this was useful to you. I love to hear suggestions for future topics!)






 

Fear is Not Unreasonable
The stock market is unstable, jobs are uncertain, and the cost of oil has driven everyday budgets out of whack. We filled up our oil tank last week. It cost nearly $1,000! That at least will get us through the mild winter in the Pacific Northwest.  But my family back east..they'll be spending that every month. Just to heat the house.  So feeling concerned about the current time, let alone the near future, is not unreasonable.

But we can't be paralyzed by our fear.  We've got to manage our own behaviors to manage our stress.

Take Care of Your Health
The last thing you need is to get sick. To cope with stressful times, you've got to be healthy.  When we're experiencing a high level of stress, it's very easy to neglect the few basic things that keep us healthy. Getting enough sleep. Eating well. Exercising. Taking a few minutes to meditate or pray every day. Sleep, exercise, and meditating or praying cost absolutely no money. It is the greatest "return on investment" you can get! Make each a priority.

Be the Star at Work
This is not the time to whine. Be as efficient as you can. Ask your boss what they need from you to increase their success.  Be visible. The people who get laid off are the ones who are considered expendable. Don't be that person.

Re-budget
With gas and heating costs at these levels, something else has got to go. Avoid going into debt to pay everyday bills.  Concentrate on the truly vital expenses. Delay, trim, or eliminate everything else.   Maybe you don't want to give up cable, but you can unsubscribe to the premium channels.  Cancel your land line phone. Change your cell phone plan to a cheaper one.  Drive less. Shop for groceries at warehouse-style outlets.  Start looking for coupons.  When I saw a person in front of me in the check-out line save $30 on her bill by using coupons, I became a coupon convert.

It's better to trim back and feel the pinch than have the additional stress of getting further in debt. If you're living within your means you will feel empowered. The slow-down is temporary. The economy will improve.  Your industry will retrench or a new opportunity will arise.  We just need first aid for current conditions. 

Remain positive
Attitude is everything. Remain optimistic!  Haven't you noticed that it's the optimists who have successful and happy lives? The people with the cloud over their head, who continually say "I can't.." are the ones who live difficult, troubled lives.

Be the person who says "I can."  Take care of yourself.  Take action to respond to challenging times. Know that you can adapt and thrive. No matter what comes your way!


(Do you have a comment or suggestion on this topic or others you'd like to read about? Send them on!)

Focus on What's REALLY Important
In a time-starved life, you have to continually concentrate on only the things that are most important. That's true in your job, and in your personal life. The problem is, our to-do lists keep getting longer!

I've realized is that you have to keep reviewing the to-do list and changing it. When more things get piled on, you've got to take something off.  We may be super-women, even super-extreme women. But we're not machines. Things that once seemed critically important may now have to go in favor of a new task or goal that now is even more important.  Adapting to change does not mean simply adapting to the changes around you.  You've got to change how you behave.

Why am I doing this?
It's a simple question. We just hardly ever ask it. Why am I doing a specific task? Most of the time we do it just because we've always done it that way. We don't know how to do it any other way--or it never even occurred to us to try. The bigger question is:  Why is it really important that I do this?  Why is it important that I do it in this particular way? What would happen if I didn't?

As time goes on, many things we thought were vital at one time simply become less important. They've been replaced by more crucial things. Technology changes, people change, our own priorities change.  These are useful questions whether we're thinking about a family tradition, or a  task at work, or how you do the laundry.

Do only the things that are truly vital tasks.  At work, focus on the big actions that truly determine your job performance and contribution.  Outside of work, focus on the things that give you the greatest joy with your family and friends.

Be Selfish with Your Time
We want more time. More time to be with our families, our friends, and to have fun. We want to use time more efficiently to be more successful in our jobs. Time is all we have in the end. It's up to us to use it wisely. That's why it is okay, in fact, it's vital that you be selfish with your time.

Take a look at your to-do list. Keep only the things that:

• Only you can do
• Directly impact an important goal
• Will bring you satisfaction or happiness

It's as simple as that. Do it today. Give your to-do list a makeover!


(Post a comment! Let me know what topics are most useful and what you'd like to read about.

Feel Your Own Power
This week I took a self-defense class for women with my teenage daughter.  The local sheriff's department offered it as part of their crime-prevention program. I'd never taken one, and I thought it would be a fun and useful mommy-daughter experience.  It was eye-opening, muscle-challenging, yelling at the top of your lungs fantastic!

Twenty women of all ages, with several mom and daughter teams assembled in a dreary building to learn from Shawn and Jamie, local cops who specialized in the training.  Shawn was 6 foot four with tattoos covering both arms and built like a tank.  Jamie was a woman, tall and blond with the straight body of an athlete.  There was no question that these people had encountered their share of dirtbags in their career. To both of their credit they'd managed to maintain their senses of humor.

Talking about self-defense
First  we learned about the best tear gas, (stream, not spray)  the right way to use your keys as a weapon, and all the everyday things we do that can put you at risk.  Like parking your car by a van (so the bad guy can drag you into it) drinking from a drink someone else got for you, (get your own drink so nobody can slip a date-rape drug in it) and not locking your doors. Seriously--people still do that? 

Sufficiently scared that now I should never leave my house--and while in my house I should have all doors and windows locked, a can of tear gas by my side and a big dog at my feet, we went to upstairs for the real deal.

Fighting
We entered an even more dreary room with padded walls and wall-to-wall mats. High on the walls were posters that read, "The more we sweat in training, the less we bleed on the streets," and "The difference between sport and combat is in combat you bury the one who comes in second." 

We learned how to stand like a cop, always ready for combat. Then we learned how to hit. This is a mysterious thing for women. As girls, we don't learn how to do that. Guys do, we don't. We learned how to use all the weight of our bodies and how to yell, really yell, while hitting. The gym was filled with 2 dozen women yelling like fierce warriors.

Then it was time for real combat. Shawn and another guy cop, Josh,  (who my daughter commented was really hot) suited up in bad-guy wear. All black outfits. Padded so we couldn't hurt them. At least not fatally, though Shawn said he'd had more than one concussion in the class.  Then one by one we began to experience combat.
We were given real-life scenarios.  You're in the grocery parking lot. You're walking to your car after the football game.  Shawn and Josh played the bad guys perfectly, with exactly the dialog every woman has heard.

"Hey baby, you're looking fine."  "You got the time?"  "Hey don't I know you?"

Each woman took her turn. Get into combat stance. Try to verbally make them go away. "Back off! Back off!" Then fight. Fight to survive. Fight to get away.

100 Pounds of Fierceness
It was an empowering experience to see several tiny women battle their way out. I'd never heard so much fearsome noise come from the mouth of girl who couldn't have been more than 100 pounds. My daughter was slammed against the wall, carried, and tossed to the ground and she fought him off,her long red hair twisting around her.  I was so proud of her. 

In my encounter I heeded the "fight early and fight hard" technique. I threw the first punch. Kicked. I experienced what Shawn had talked about-the tunnel vision effect. Where all you see is a very small circle directly in front of you. It's why people have a hard time remembering details. I don't remember what Josh said to me before the encounter. All I remember is his giant chest in my face.  I forgot to yell.  But I got away. That's what counts.

When we left, it was dark. All of us had our keys in our hands, holding them properly so they could be used as a weapon if needed. We looked around.  We felt prepared.

Take a self defense class. It's fun. It's empowering. And where else can you scream at the top of your lungs?

(Make a comment and let me know what other topics you'd like to read about!)

It only takes one person to change a relationship
Everyone experiences difficult relationships, or difficult parts of an otherwise good relationship. What do we do when we encounter these? We stew. We get frustrated. We blame the other person for how unreasonable they are.  We feel powerless when we have to deal with the person.  It all around just feels bad. It doesn't have to be that way.

You can't control how others behave. You can only control your own reactions. But if you change your own actions and attitudes around difficult encounters, you will find that you will improve your relationships. Guaranteed.

Ask for what you need
A colleague once came to me, exasperated about her manager. The manager had left her and some of her team members out of key decisions. Her manager was uncommunicative and left her feeling adrift, angry, and demeaned.  I listened for a long time. My own perception of this manager was that he was very competent and "managed up" well. I was confident that he respected his team.  But things were obviously awry between him and his staff.  Since I could not intervene directly without breaching confidentiality, I gave my colleague a few specific words of advice.

I told her to ask for a weekly meeting.  She needed to explain to the manager that in order for her to do her best work, to help him and the department achieve their goals, she needed a regular 'check-in time."  She asked that time be reserved only for discussing major issues and things that needed decisions made, so it would be the best use of his time.  I counseled her to frame the conversation in terms of helping further his success. I told her to wait until she cooled down  to talk him.

The very next day my colleague called me. She'd had the talk, and it went great.  The manager was receptive and grateful. My colleague was relieved.  The relationship was completely turned around. She thanked me profusely.  All she needed to do was ask for what she needed. 

Simply smile and be respectful
This seems so basic, yet it's easy to forget. Have a person who just rubs you the wrong way but you have to deal with them?  Dread dealing with them?  Just force yourself to be nice to them. Smile when you see them. Say their name when you greet them. Ask them how they are. Thank them for whatever they do for you or help you with. Wow, you'll be amazed how far this goes. You'll feel better encountering them. They will feel better dealing with you. You'll change the whole relationship. It won't happen in just one encounter. Just keep up your positive part of the exchange.

Understand that people make decisions and "see" the world differently
People have different ways they take in information that determines how they behave. Some people are analytical. They like a lot of information in writing.  It takes them a long time to make decisions because they like to crunch the data and analyze it before making a decision. Others are seat of the pants types. They make decisions quickly, often from a gut-feeling.   How we receive information is different too. Some people are very visual.  They use phrases like, "It looks to me..."  "The way I see it..."  Some are cued to feelings.  They'll say, "It feels to me like.."  Some are more tuned to auditory cues, ie'  "It sounds to me.." There is no right or wrong way here, people are just different. Understanding those differences is the key.

Adjustment yourself to the other person's style
My own personality is what the personality tests call a driver, or a controller.  I like to make decisions quickly and get moving. I'm also highly visual.  What matters to me is what I see.  If I don't see it, it's not likely to get my attention at all.

My husband is much more analytical and he's more of the sensory-feeling type than visual. This has caused both conflict and amusement in our long marriage. He knows the water softener needs a new bag of salt. Until the water turns brown, I would never notice.  He could care less about weeds in the front lawn. It matters to me because I see them every time I drive up to the house.

I adjust my expectations to know that when we need to decide something together, it's going to take longer than it would if it was something I have to decide alone. However, I know that my husband likes collecting data. He likes pouring over the information.  Since I hate doing that, we make a great team! He makes all the calls and goes on line to investigate roofing types, and comparing cost vs. attributes.  Then he'll show me the choices so we can talk about them. 

I know he's going to need to think about things. What I need is to not be there while he's going through that process. Because that will drive me crazy.

Likewise at work, I've had bosses who were analyticals. I learned to give them a pile of data in writing, then walk away and ask them about it the following week! 

Whether it's your family or your co-workers, be the one to show flexibility in how you behave.  Your relationships will all be better for it.


(I love comments. Make a comment about this topic and let me know what other topics you'd like to read about.)

Getting Things Done With Less Stress
When I was writing novels I set a series of deadlines to complete each phase; first 100 pages, first draft, second draft, etc. It was the most effective way I knew to break down a big project into manageable parts.

My daughter,who was about eleven at the time said, "Mommy you should make do-lines, not deadlines." I asked her what she meant. She explained that I was trying to DO something by a set time. "Deadline" to her sounded like failure...the word dead didn't conjure up success to her. It created a picture of someone dragging themselves across the finish line, exhausted, near death.

I thought it was the smartest thing I'd heard all year.

I immediately changed how I referred to my time markers as "do-lines." It felt completely different! Simply the word change made the tasks feel more joyful and energetic!

Try it yourself. Make a "do-line."

And also pay attention to the little gems that your own kids can come up with. Parents can learn from their children too!


(Make a comment! Tell me what else you'd like to read about.)

Get Money-Smart!
We all know it. Inflation is back. Wages are stagnant. Our discretionary incomes are shrinking. It sure isn't the direction we want our wallets to go.  Here are ten easy things to do to save a few bucks here and there. It adds up!

1. Pay by cash, not credit card.  Studies have shown you spend less when you have to pay for it now instead of later.
2. Write down everything you spend daily for week. Most people spend $5-$10 a day on miscellaneous impulse items; the designer coffee, snacks at the vending machine, lunch out, a magazine.  Tracking your expenditures for a week will show you where your 'money leaks' are. Then you can see where you are able and willing to trim expenses.
3. Keep your tires inflated.  Seriously. Keeping your tires inflated will improve your mileage by 3%.  I did this, and it got me one more trip to the store without having to fill up the tank again.
4. Keep the exterior of your car clean.  This improves your mileage too by reducing the air drag. You wouldn't think this would matter, but experts say this can make as much a difference as the right air pressure in your tires.  
5. Shop with a grocery list.  This reduces your impulse buying. Plan out your meals so you can use the same ingredients for more than one dish.  Notice how you use up your groceries. Some people are better at managing their food money if they shop less frequently. Others tend to throw away more food that way. They do better with more frequent trips, shopping only for two or three days at a time. Monitor what works best for you.  Also, if you have a spouse, partner, or kids, try to shop alone. You'll spend less when there are fewer people to add to the impulse buying.
6.  Get your meat from the butcher instead of already packaged.  I noticed a significant difference in the per-pound price for chicken if I asked for it from the butcher instead of the package just sitting a few feet away.   Presumably, you're paying a lot for the packaging to be done at the factory.
7. Drink tap water instead of bottled water.  Do we really need to spend $2 or $3 for water? If you don't like the taste of your water, put a filter on your faucet.  Add flavorings yourself,such as lemon oil, vanilla extract, or peppermint.  Or buy your bottled water at Costco or another discounter where it's significantly cheaper.
8. Women: Buy your hosiery in bulk.  Several manufacturers sell hosiery at a discount on line.  You buy several pairs at a time, and the per-pair price can be up to about half what you'd pay in the store. Try www.onehanesplace.com  This site also has bras and active wear.
9. Get a programmable thermostat. With fall coming, start thinking about heating costs. As in how high they'll be.  With a programmable thermostat, you can reduce the temperature in your home at night when you're sleeping or when you're at work, then have the house heat to a comfortable temperature when you're at home and awake.  They're inexpensive and easily installed. We reduced our oil consumped by 1/3 just by doing this.
10. Reassess all your bills. Take a look at every recurring bill you have: insurance, cable or satellite, and phone bills. (cell and hard line if you still have one). Insurance is a competitive industry. Shop around between reputable companies for your car and house insurance. It takes time, but you may be able to save a couple hundred dollars. That's worth it.  Play the cable and satellite companies against each other to get a better deal. Each entity will negotiate to keep you as a customer. Take advantage of it. Examine your phone bills to see if you're using all your minutes or services.   You may be able to easily knock off $5 or $10.

I know I said ten..but since #8 above is just for women...here's #11.

11. Cut your subscriptions.  Newspapers and magazines can just be more stacks of paper accumulating that we don't have time to read. Subscribe only to those that you read faithfully. You love that glossy magazine you get every month..but how often do you actually read it cover to cover? Jettison it, and save $20 or $30. Go on line for the rest of what you need. You'll save a tree too.

Start on your smart money campaign right now by keeping track of your cash expenditures for the next week. You'll be surprised!

I'll have more money-saving tips in future blogs.


(Comment on this piece and let me know what other topics you'd like to read about!)