You-Twitter-My-Face...

Am I the only one out there who thinks reading about every-little-thing-someone-is-doing-during-their-day is akin to accompanying them on a bathroom break??

C’mon people – you MUST have more inspiring things to do with your day than ... A) read about what someone is making & eating for dinner, or B) writing about it! I am all about the time-saving and networking benefits of technology, but it’s supposed to make it easier to enjoy the better things in life – get out there on a bike ride, have lunch (and actually talk face-to-face) with a friend, work on a hobby, walk the dog or (gulp!) READ a good novel! Do we as a generation of people really want to know all of the extraneous gibberish imparted by our 500 nearest and dearest on Twitter, MySpace, Facebook and the like?

Granted, social connections are where it’s at ... but to what expense? I love that my kids can stay in touch with close friends while away at college and that their friendships never miss a beat. In my day, we had to resort to snail mail or long-distance phone calls (on a land line!) to stay in touch. Consequently, I lost touch with all but the few friends who returned my time consuming efforts.

I also love that we can network for better job opportunities until the cows come home and share thoughtful information by blogging. BUT, when was the last time you heard your child actually speak on the phone to a friend? Or dial a number instead of texting to make plans to go to a movie? I fear we are enabling a generation of people with little to no face-to-face communication skills, let alone competent writing & spelling ability (i.e., wassup? LOL! Idk, how r u?) In addition, are we depriving them of the necessary skills to develop close, personal relationships with intimate conversation? We all know how much easier it is to write something unpleasant than it is to face the music, but have you ever thought about how disrespectful that can be to the other person and the relationship you share(d)? Taking the easy way out does nothing for preserving a friendship – never mind a future networking possibility. Let’s start showing some respect for ourselves and for others by choosing the harder path – the one that demands you care about someone else’s feelings more than your own comfort; that helps you grow to be a better person in your own esteem, building emotional strength and pride.

To this end, Public Speaking may indeed become a mandatory class in high school and college, just as Keyboarding was back in elementary school. I regularly hear business people complain about the lack of social, communication and writing skills they encounter when trying to hire new employees - especially younger ones. I also notice that some of my teenager’s peers can barely look me in the eye when speaking. What is wrong with this picture? Maybe twittering, tweeting and texting is a better workout for your fingers than for your social & professional success.

Copy protected 2009. Permission required for reprint of any portion of this blog content.

Not Your Ordinary Spendthrift

And Some Great Ways to Save Money!

Some people call me frugal - others say I’m cheap. I prefer to think about myself as “value oriented” ... and in today’s unprecedented (and somewhat nerve-wracking) economic climate, VALUE is emerging as the word of the times. Far from a minimalist (I admit, I like my creature comforts), my quest for “value” in all things has helped provide me a very cost-effective and fulfilling lifestyle.

Now, I must admit, sometimes I drive my family crazy. I refuse to buy baked goods that I can make healthier and tastier myself, and I don’t have a lot of patience for plastic water bottles around the house when there are perfectly clean glasses in the cupboard and filtered drinking water in the fridge. It’s difficult to justify going out to dinner a few hours after restocking the house with a week’s worth of fresh groceries.

As consumers try to make the shift from spending to saving, it is about being practical, getting back to basics and reassessing what is important to you. “Frugal” denotes pinching pennies and going without, “cheap” leads you to inferior and poorly made products; whereas real “value” delivers quality at a sensible price – and ultimately helps you become a smarter shopper, better off financially and healthier.

Embrace some of the tenets below and it won’t take long for you to see some positive return on your next investment.

Get comfortable with brand “x”. Those “name brands” you hear about, read about, see about town – are they really that much better?? Did you know that KitchenAid refrigerators are the same as Whirlpool with a different name stamped on it? brand is actually made by Whirlpool – who also makes Sears Kenmore appliances. Ever checked the ingredients in the generic store brand against the top name grocery item or cold remedy? Identical – except the price. Generic store brands are usually 20-35% less expensive (notice I didn’t say “cheaper?”)

Use your network for referrals and edification. There is a lot of comfort in knowing someone else who is happy with a product or service before you spend your hard earned money. Save the guesswork and find out why your friends bought the item you are interested in and how it’s working for them. Research whether there are discounters that sell the same item for less. Get educated to make sure your purchase is closer to “right” than a shot in the dark. Sometimes we are “wowed” by the bells and whistles and it isn’t until we actually start using something that we realize what we actually needed or wanted.

Our neighborhood recently started a “group” on Yahoo!, and believe me, the referrals are flying! We now have an instant email network for contractors, phone service, babysitters, free items and more.

Identify your “needs” vs. your “wants”. When we started an allowance for our kids (at around ages 6 & 8), one of our rules was that we would pay for anything they “needed” and their allowance would be for their “wants.” It not only taught them to think about what they were buying, but how to save a few weeks of allowance to buy something they “couldn’t live without.”

When you really need something, the value is inherent. When you merely “want” something, the value is subjective, and takes a little more thought to truly bring “value.”

Love it or leave it. A dear friend of mine once taught me a valuable lesson. When I was dumbfounded that she would spend $500 for a pair of khaki shorts (the brand escapes me), she told me that when she loves something she buys it, because she will wear the heck out of it rather than have it collecting dust in her closet. Conversely, when looking for a one-time outfit for a special occasion, she spends as little as possible because she knows she’ll never wear it again. I am proud to say that I have somewhat adopted this attitude, and only feel a tiny twinge of guilt if I spend a little too much on something I love (and that tiny twinge serves me well by making certain that I REALLY love it!) I am also proud to say that my teenage daughter has become one hell of a shopper by choosing only those things she values.

Bundle your errands. Need some groceries or a few things at the drugstore? If you can plan ahead, tack it on to the end of that dentist appointment on Tuesday, or before you pick up your son after soccer practice. Not only will you free up some time for yourself, but you’ll save on gas and learn how to make your time more productive.

Recognize the value of your time. You can find value in almost anything by remembering what your time is worth. We are all busy – all the time – and tend to prioritize our tasks as time permits. If you make $50,000 per year, you are earning $26.00 per hour; at $85,000 per year, your time is worth $43.00 per hour; and at upwards of $150,000 per year, one hour of your time is worth more than $77.00 per hour. When making a decision about paying for goods and services – you may want to remind yourself how valuable your time is and whether it is worth trying to chase a bargain or do the job yourself. Whether it is saving 50 cents on a carton of eggs at a store across town, or spending 2 hours cleaning the car – ask yourself if it is worth your time. Sometimes it is better to pay a few cents more or to pay someone else for their expertise when it save you valuable time.

Take advantage of technology. Google is a verb. You can find anything by googling - compare prices, find coupons, order online from the lowest bidder, often saving shipping and/or sales tax. And, Craigslist is one of my best friends. I have to admit, I love the thrill of the hunt, but being able to shop anytime for anything with the click of a button is pretty darn powerful. I have purchased furniture, cars, bikes, vacations and computer services off Craigslist – and even found the greatest part time job on earth. Never mind the ease of selling things we no longer want. My daughter was able to find brand new Snowboarding boots for $15 and sold her old ones for $75. If that isn’t value, what is?

Barter, barter, barter. Want to go out for a quiet evening with your beloved? Tired of cooking every single night? Find a neighbor who is willing to trade babysitting for “date” nights; or another family with similar tastes to share a cooking night. We did this when the kids were young – we cooked enough for two families once a week - and in return were delivered a hot meal, complete with salad and bread once a week – gave us a break to relax after work or being with the kids all day.

Have a talent or expertise in something that others might need? Offer a trade – I have traded printing services for a brand new mattress, landscaping services and even meals at restaurants. All you have to do is ask!

Copy protected 2009. Permission required for reprint of any portion of this blog content.