You Don't Know What You Don't Know:YWCA's Money Conference for Women - Register Today!

MetroHartford Alliance recently shared the following information:

       

YWCA Hartford Region and Honorary Chair Denise L. Nappier, Connecticut State Treasurer, will host the 2014 Money Conference for Women, a free conference to help women of all ages take charge of their financial futures. This year’s conference features first-time keynote speaker, Valerie Coleman Morris. Hear business journalist and author Morris’ message “Unlimited by Design: It’s Your Money So Take It Personally.” When it comes to money, women need to be far sighted, start saving early and stick to their money plan.

The conference features workshops led by financial experts on topics such as budgeting, investing, retirement planning and featuring a new workshop for women who are thinking about starting a small business. Conference attendees can also visit the Financial Expo to learn more from a variety of financial service providers. All attendees will receive a free tote bag.

The event will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2014 from 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT. The conference is free but registration is required. To register go to www.ctmoneyconferenceforwomen.com. To request a registration form, or to get more information about the event, call (860) 525-1163, ext. 450. Workshops will fill up quickly. Register early to secure your first choice of workshops! 

All the best and Happy savings.

Taking Stock

To Stock or not to Stock, that is the question or at least it could be the question when considering how to spend for the essentials and how much to spend for those essentials.

(c) 2013  

I started this post on the eve of a snowstorm, Derby, and as it turns out I find myself finalizing this post one week later on the eve of another snowstorm, Easton or Pax, expected to drop a good 10 inches or more of snow here in New England.

I don't typically stock because there are 5 good stores within a 2 mile radius of my house. However, when I know that I will be on trial for the next two weeks, I aim to take an ounce of prevention approach over a pound of cure. Typically, on busy trial days I throw in the "simply homemade" towel for the fast food drive-thru options that also abound in my neighborhood. There are at least 5 fast food establishments within a quarter mile of my house. Ode to urban sprawl.

I went to the store to stock. So when all was said and done what was the damage? Don't gaff...$98. My total Giant Sale savings were $47. Some of you might be saying to yourselves, I wish I had a grocery bill that was that low for a two week period. However, keep in mind that this isn't really about my dollar figures or my budget. It is about knowing your figures and your budget. All of our circumstances are custom fit to our lives. As for my circumstances, my boys go to their father's on Wednesday and then again every other weekend.

Stocking up on gas is also warranted especially if you can get discounts from certain grocery stores (BJ's, Stop&Shop and others). One time I had 303 gas points which equates to a .30 cent per gallon discount. I could go about two weeks on a tank of gas; that's a deal that has some mileage to it. However, these days I am focusing on keeping gased up, especially with the long travel times associated with the inclement weather.

I recently timed my homebound commute. I realized it takes me 20 minutes to get home even though my office is 3 miles away; and that's in moderate traffic. Once it took me 1 1/2 hours to get home along the same route; that was the big snow storm back in 2008.

Here are some suggested items to stock for emergency reserves (think snowmaggedon, think layoff), take it for what it's worth:

1. 20 lb bag rice



Yum!  (c) 2013.



2. 20 lb bag beans

3. 20 cans of fruit



4. 20 cans of vegetables

5. 20 cans of meat

6. 2 large jars of peanut butter

7. 2 large cannisters of tang

8. 2 containers of powder drink mix

9. 2 bags of flour

10. 1 bag each of sugar, salt, and oats

11. 1 gallon of olive oil

This list is courtesy of youtube.com (Note: it doesn't mention water, which of course you would need plenty of in an emergency.)

Humor and Feed Yourself

Can you spot the difference? Well aside from the fact that this was my lunch at work and it does not necessarily look like the average lunch one would have at work.

I have to admit this lunch threw me for a loop. Coming off my slow paced holiday break from the office, I thought I had finally adjusted back to my work schedule. Part of that schedule entails prepping and bringing morning, snack and lunch items to work. Apparently, in my mind when I brought/bought this lunch bowl on sale for $1 it was nothing more than a glorfied ramen noodles in a plastic bowl.

A big pat on the back goes to the marketers of this brand because I was really reeled in by the tantalizing chicken pieces and the vibrancy of the fresh green onions. The morning of my meal prep I thought nothing of tossing this along with my teas, chocolates, yogurt, snack bar, spoon, fork, papertowls and tangerines into my lunch bag. Had it have been the ramen noodles I would have 1) been mentally prepared for ramen noodles 2) I probably would not have brought it for lunch and/or 3)I would have brought some embellishments to add to it.

Point being, there are great ways to prepare your "away from home meals" for the day and save yourself money in the long run by not buying breakfast, lunch, and snacks at the corner deli, food chain, or other franchises that like to beckon for our daily dollars (the ones we really don't have to waste). Just like any discipline, there are times you are going to splurge, but consider what is going to be your norm. I honestly can say after seven (7) years at my day-job, I can probably count the times I have bought lunch(and for that matter breakfast too as a lot of people at my job buy breakfast).

Besides, if you are in the business of lunch networking you can save those splurges for those times where you are building your future/brand at a luncheon event or a networking lunch; eat at your desk or lounge on the rest of the work days with the satisfaction of knowing your hard earned dollars are not being eaten up by inflated store prices. And for those of you readers who are thinking "I skip lunch or breakfast" or "I cannot afford them so I don't even eat," think about how that is working for you and how that is working for your body. Divorced moms (heck, all moms) have to stay healthy because there is so much to juggle.