Frugal Living Forums

Other Frugal Living Forums:

Budget101 provides cost-effect, time-saving budgeting techniques, that may be utilized by anyone working in or out of the home.  This money saving website was created by a handful of ladies who strive to help people utilize the tools and resources they have available to dig themselves out of debt.

Frugal Village is a forum we’re you’ll find plenty of laundry, cooking, kitchen, beauty, and home remedy tips designed to save you money.  Join their frugal living community for free to receive email and text message alerts on how to save.

The Dough Roller is a website that offers 75 painless money-saving tips.  This forum provides many interesting ways to save – including a free grocery coupons section that offers 1,000s of top brand printable coupons for free.

America Saves is a nationwide campaign in which a broad coalition of nonprofit, corporate, and government groups help individuals and families save and build wealth.  The goal of the campaign is to convince all Americans that they can build wealth and to assist them to do just that.

The Essortment is a website that offers information and advice for college students.  This student survival guide helps find deals at Walmart, markdown codes at Costco and Target and ways to cut cable television as well as many other ways for college students to save.

Communication’s Time to Shine

A down economy is Communication specialist’s time to shine.

Budget cuts are inevitable with an economy on the downturn. Marketing, Advertising, Communications and Public Relations budgets are often tightened first and hardest.  Choosing what sectors of your company to downgrade is a challenging and chaotic task, but knowing which areas to cut can make or break your business during a tough economy.

Lower performance and decreased expectations as a result of the tight economy causes many companies to cut marketing budgets first.  Communications usually gets axed next because this portion of a company does not generate profit.

In a slow economy, maintaining a strong, positive image can distinguish your client from competitors and send a viable message that you are performing well in spite of the given economic situation.

So instead of cutting these portions of your company in times of trouble, businesses are encouraged to add funds to these budgets.  Communications earns media coverage, and this is more important than ever in a down economy.

Frugal Clothing Shopping

Living frugally during desperate economic times allows you to spend less than you earn, and use the difference to pay off debt, save or invest.  It’s simple, the less you spend, the less you need to earn.

Spending hundreds on designer clothing adds up.  Try shopping at Goodwill or the Mercy House.  There’s multiple locations within the Harrisonburg area.  These non-profit organizations receive thousands of donated items everyday and re-sale them for pennies.

Rugged Wearhouse is another option for cheap designer clothing.  This retail store receives top brands that have minor damages.  However, the glitches are typically unnoticeable and are worth the deals.

I found this website about better budgeting useful.

Economic Lows Equal Crime Highs

As employment reaches record highs so do crime rates.  Areas around the nation, including Harrisonburg are experiencing an increase in crime during the current economic downturn.

History indicates that intensified crime rates come with economic recession.  During the Great Depression, crime rose as jobs were lost and poverty grew.  Violent and property crimes reached record highs during the 1990s recession.

 Within the past month, Harrisonburg has had 73 reports of theft and robbery related crimes.  An increase from 56 reported incidents from the month before.

 Experts believe high unemployment, loss of homes, and debt are contributing factors to an increase in crime.

“We see that there is a group that is called the worried well.  Those people are suffering right now.  Those people are going through financial stress and are having real issues in maintaining their homes and maintaining their sanity,” says practicing clinical psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Gardere.

Some Harrisonburg residents are concerned.  Patrick Callahan, “expects theft related crimes to increase as summer months near.”  Last summer, the JMU senior stopped a grand larceny attempt in progress.  “Criminals target temporarily abandoned houses as students return home for the summer.”

 Here are some tips and guidelines to secure your home.  

JMU 70% Short on Funds For New Arts Building

Due to Virginia’s revenue deficit, Gov. Timothy M. Kain cut higher education budgets that will include a $5.4 million reduction at James Madison University.

The university plans on contacting officials at the state’s Department of Planning and Budget to request for more funds.  However, JMU could be nearly 70% short on the funds allocated to furnish its new performing arts center.

While JMU may have problems pocketing the money to furnish the new arts building the university doesn’t anticipate the need for layoffs.

In light of the budget cuts, “managing the university’s budget will be challenging,” Nathan Dann a senior business marketing major said.

“There are a lot of wasteful expenditures,” Dann said.  Referring to the hundreds of Sony flat screen televisions and constantly running water sprinklers among other unnecessary luxury items flaunted all over campus.

“There’s a lot JMU could do to reduce its expenditures,” he said.

 

 

 

ChaCha – An Easy Way to Earn Money

With the given state of the economy nearly every one is looking for extra ways to earn.  ChaCha the game changing, targeted mobile phone advertising solution offers easy ways to get paid.

Their goal is to reach the generation that ignores traditional media.  It is the fastest growing text-based mobile search service.  They need curious, professional, and internet-savvy people who help answer questions from customers.

“Becoming a certified ChaCha Guide was easy,” said Phil Turner a senior at James Madison University.   There’s no opt-in process and in nearly an hour he went through a professional search tutorial to fine tune his research skills and he was ready to work.

As a Guide, you simply login and help customers get the answers they need and they pay you for the brainpower.

It’s a great role for college students, stay-at-home parents, and night owls and just about anyone who doesn’t fit an ordinary part-time position.

The job offers amazing flexibility unlike any other job.  “I can work when I want for as long as I want,” David Moran a senior at James Madison University said.

Other jobs rarely allow employers to work between classes and at home on the weekends.

The best thing about ChaCha is, “I learn something new every search…it’s mentally stimulating,” Moran said.

To become a Guide you must be at least 18-years-old and have a U.S. mailing address. Guides earn between 10-20 cents per question answered.  The average worker make between $3 to $9 an hour, though some Guides can and do earn more than that depending on the speed at which they work.

Once a month, once your account reaches $100 or greater payments are received via direct deposit in to your bank account.  ChaCha is a quick and easy way to make money during tough economic times when landing a job is difficult.

Economy Hits Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg has an unemployment rate of 9.3%, compared to the national average of 8.5% and with virtually every labor sector reducing the number of jobs available one is left to wonder.  What is a prosperous field to be in given the current economy?

The leading industries in Harrisonburg, Virginia are Education, health and social services, 25%; Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services, 14%; and Retail trades, 12% so pursuing employment in these areas will increase the likelihood of finding a job.

Health services is a promising field to pursue given the economy.  Baxter International and Medical Connections are operating businesses in Harrisonburg that are currently hiring positions.

 ARAMARK, is a professional food service company in Harrisonburg offering jobs.

Software king, Microsoft has openings in Harrisonburg.  The jobs offer high salaries however, employees might be required to relocate to D.C.

The most popular company in Harrisonburg, Home Depot, is offering several positions as well.

“Early spring is the time to be applying for jobs in Harrisonburg,” Kealey Sands, Harrisonburg resident said.  Referring to the fluctuation of large amount of college students who return home for the summer.  ”All the students leaving opens up a lot of the jobs previously held during the year…I expect plenty of openings.”

Chacha – Ignoring Traditional Media

Do you often find yourself stumped on a piece of trivia when conversing with a circle of friends? You know who the starting third basemen was for the 2003 Boston Red Sox but for some reason the answer is stuck on the tip of your tongue.

You impatiently had to wait until you found access to a computer so that you could Google the answer and  god forbid you wait for the morning newspaper.

That is until the invention of Chacha, a relevant and radically simple text-based mobile search engine. The idea is when a consumer seeks information they text their question to the number C-H-A-C-H-A (242-242) and within minutes the service will respond with the answer.

Popular among young Americans especially college students the service targets mobile centric youth’s information consuming needs. “Chacha is a quick and easy way to obtain facts you normally forget,” Chelsea Higgins,  said.  The sophomore at James Madison University admitted that her and her friends use the service almost everyday.

Chacha’s texting outlet aligns with younger generations’ preference to consume information via “snacking” – or consuming small bits of information rapidly.  And since 85% of young Americans send or receive text messages there is immense potential to reach mass audiences.

Older media ought to look at Chacha as a successful model as to how to attract younger generations. Economic hardships have effected the advertising needs that newspapers, magazines, and print mediums alike rely on, circulations have drastically declined and print media is inevitably a dying model.

JMU Student Migration Soon

The spring semester is dwindling down and within a few short weeks tens-of- thousands of college students will pack up and skip town for the summer. Some go on to graduate.  Landing jobs that begin illustrious careers.  Many return home for a summer of lounging on dad’s couch, raiding mom’s stocked fridge and working dismal part time jobs.

Harrisonburg fluctuates as nearly 10% of the city’s population decreases when students leave.  Some students stay for summer sessions but most students hit the road like a regular Dean Moriarty.  

Daniel Armenio, a junior at James Madison University is one for swift exits, “I always leave as soon as I can.”  The Quantitative Finance major from just outside Boston, Massachusetts has driven home on the day of his last final since freshman year but not by choice.

“I would prefer living in Harrisonburg for the summer,” Armenio said…”I would save money on living and traveling expenses.”  Hauling virtually everything you own over two thousands miles in a V-8 adds up.

Dan returns home because there is more opportunity in the job arena. ”Finding a credible high paying job is challenging in Harrisonburg…you have to be very proactive.”  After weeks of relentless job searching with no reputable results he decided to return home for work once again this summer.

The trend seems to be that given the state of the economy many students choose to move to more densely populated cities to seek refuge in the job crisis.  

This has validity, however consider the larger number of competitors you would be competing against in a more heavily concentrated area.  You are much more likely to stand out more when you contest in a smaller market like Harrisonburg.

The good jobs are out there you just have to do the research.  I suggest using websites like Craig’s List or Career Builder but don’t be afraid to go to the establishment and pick up an application.  Walk-in applications may seem out of date but they are a great way to make personable first impressions.

Notable businesses like Rosetta Stone and nearby Massanutten Resort are currently hiring several full and part-time jobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good news on the economic front

Stocks rallied again for the 3rd day in a row.  Experts believe this is due to a change in an accounting rule as the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) voted to change the “mark-to-market” accounting rule. 

 

With these accounting changes and world leaders pumping $1 trillion into the world financial system at the G-20 meeting today, the economy is showing some sign of turning the page on the global economic crisis.

 This unprecedented package will hopefully reform the international banking system and ultimately beat the recession. The G-20 has made great progress in improving foreign affairs, especially with today’s heralded emergence but there are still clouds on the horizon as disagreement looms. 

 The U.S. and Great Britain were the force that pushed the package and continue to demand for more economic stimulus.  Germany and France believe there should be more banking regulations if world leaders are going to be throwing money into the financial system.  This opposition may be behind the scenes at the moment but will definitely influence future compromises.

 The six-point package:

 

-Restore confidence, growth, and jobs.

-Repair the financial system to restore lending

-Strengthen financial regulation to rebuild trust.

-Fund and reform our international financial institutions to overcome this crisis and prevent future ones.

-Promote global trade and investment and reject protectionism, to underpin prosperity.

-Build an inclusive, green, and sustainable recovery.

 

It’s refreshing to see global leaders coming together to make changes in legislation to promote prosperity, but it’s also frightening at the same time.  I’m an optimists and truly do want the idea of throwing money at companies in need to help rebuild them financially.  However, my belief is similar to a burning house.  It’s much easier to let it burn down and replace it with a new house than to revitalize the old.

 

Pull the plug, let dieing models decease.  Stimulate good banks and do not give any kind of stimulus to bad banks. Banks like Citigroup, AIG and Wachovia are systems that have proved to fail.  Bailing them out sends the wrong message to banks that have had successful models.  This negative public perception could have drastic effects on a market relying heavily on positive public opinion to accelerate the stock market.