Get Less Poor!
Don’t stop giving. In addition to being a nice thing to do, giving provides a positive sense of power. You may not have a lot, but you can still help out. Volunteer time if you have it. Let someone ahead of you in line. Throw all your change in a jar each day and at the end of the month, donate it. Whatever you believe in, helping in a small way is still better than not helping at all.
Do take charge of whatever finances you have left. Unless you’re working for AIG, no one’s going to throw cash at you for screwing up. If you’re not good with money, get that way. The basics still work. Want to lose weight? Eat less and exercise more. Want to stay in the black? Make a budget and stick to it. I know, I know — it’s not easy. I’ve dedicated my life to proving it’s not easy. We’re rebels, you and I. We don’t want anyone telling us what rules to follow, even when the orders are coming from ourselves. But the late-night French fries and the reckless “Sure, I’ll run a tab” cannot continue! What has worked best for me: leaving my debit card at home. If I carry only as much cash as I truly have to spend — i.e., nothing — I can’t spend too much. Studies bear out the fact that people who rely on their debit cards tend to spend up to 20 percent more than people who use cash. Don’t be like that.
Spring’s here! Summer’s coming! Plant stuff! Stop at the Seed and Plant Exchange on Saturday at the Manila Community Center. It’s free, and you can try polenta and fresh greens for $3. (See humboldtpermaculture.com for more info.) If gardening is new to you, start easy. Greens. Zucchini. Potatoes. Herbs. Growing some of your own food feeds more than just your belly. And the long days mean plenty of time for hiking, strolling, biking. Soak in the beauty without paying a thing. Life is rich in ways that matter far more than that bank balance. Sure, it’s cliché. But sometimes clichés hold true.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent savage money
Jan. 20, 2011
Quit Your Whining
In this country, the destitute have never had it so good!
Dec. 23, 2010
Resolved: Solvency
After the Xmas deluge, put your financial house in order this January
Nov. 25, 2010
That Dreadful Time of Year
But if you keep your head about you, Christmas can actually be kinda fun
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
More →
THREE Comments
Comment / By kymk / March 27, 2009, 1:52 p.m.
Jen, Another great piece. I especially like the idea about making sure to always give. Somewhere I read a story about a very poor family whose child came home asking for food for the poor. The mother thought, “We are the poor.”
But the grandma said, “Give the girl the last jar of jam to take. If she doesn’t have something to contribute, she’ll always think of herself as a victim not someone who can help.”
I agree;we all need to think of ourselves as people who pitch in and help.
And, thank you for the shout out above. For those who are trying to find the Winco article click here. I have found several of your readers wondering in the card catalog looking lost. Hopefully, now they’ll find their way. (By the way, you have quite a few readers!)
Comment / By Andrew Bird / March 29, 2009, 1:54 p.m.
I’m really enjoying your series, Jennifer. Each you piece you write is truehearted and relevant. Another reason to pick up the Journal every week.
Comment / By Jennifer Savage / April 2, 2009, 10:06 p.m.
Thanks for the kind words, both of you! Kym, that’s exactly what I was getting at – and thanks for guiding folks to the relevant post as well.