Wishing you prosperity and happiness in the New Year. Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Post-Christmas Shopping
I was raised with the tradition of going shopping downtown both the day after Thanksgiving and the one after Christmas. It started before there was a mall in our suburb. I did go shopping, as mentioned before, but didn't buy much. The sales ahead of time were wonderful, so wonderful that they say the post-Christmas sales won't help retailers much. There's a lot of doom and gloom prophecying out there right now and I don't have anything really positive to add.
There were a ton of people shopping when I was out, and they seemed to be buying a lot of merchandise. As is typical, most seemed to be half-price Christmas loot, which can be a dangerous game; if you're organized it can be great, but in the wrong hands it can be deadly.
My grandma was on the organized side and started her Christmas shopping on Dec. 26, which was supplemented throughout the year, with other items. She remembered what she bought, where it was and the intended recipient. One of my friends went overboard on more than one occasion, influenced by a family member whose economic situation was far better than her own; thus, shopping for family became a detriment to her finances. At one point, she had bought pairs of Christmas pillows, half-price, intending to give one the next Christmas, and the other the Christmas following. Fast forward to the next year. She had given the first pillows but neglected to keep records of the recipients thereof or to label the second pillow with the recipient's name. So there she is, with a stash of pillows that don't do much good.
Christmas decor is a dangerous gift to give; unless you know it's something that someone wants, it can be the next item donated to the thrift store, in which case it doesn't matter whether you figure out which pillow was given to whom last year. People aren't necessarily going to share your taste.
There were a ton of people shopping when I was out, and they seemed to be buying a lot of merchandise. As is typical, most seemed to be half-price Christmas loot, which can be a dangerous game; if you're organized it can be great, but in the wrong hands it can be deadly.
My grandma was on the organized side and started her Christmas shopping on Dec. 26, which was supplemented throughout the year, with other items. She remembered what she bought, where it was and the intended recipient. One of my friends went overboard on more than one occasion, influenced by a family member whose economic situation was far better than her own; thus, shopping for family became a detriment to her finances. At one point, she had bought pairs of Christmas pillows, half-price, intending to give one the next Christmas, and the other the Christmas following. Fast forward to the next year. She had given the first pillows but neglected to keep records of the recipients thereof or to label the second pillow with the recipient's name. So there she is, with a stash of pillows that don't do much good.
Christmas decor is a dangerous gift to give; unless you know it's something that someone wants, it can be the next item donated to the thrift store, in which case it doesn't matter whether you figure out which pillow was given to whom last year. People aren't necessarily going to share your taste.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Cutting Back
I didn't do so well on cutting back for Christmas as I ended up donating to charities. I took ornaments from my church's giving tree, so bought presents for a few strangers and aren't there laws about Barbie requiring a change of clothes? In addition, I bought things for the Salvation Army adopt-a-family, and went a bit overboard.
The family we were assigned is a single mom with two teenagers. We looked at their list and everyone had different ideas about the most important thing to have at that age; because programs for the needy have other focuses, we knew we had to buy bedding. If there is any available, it won't be new. We ended up buying everything on the list, and making an effort to find things that teenage boys would like.
I wasn't raised in a wealthy family, but we always had what we needed. I can't imagine not having decent bedding. I now have new flannel sheets for the rest of the winter, courtesy of Kohl's after Christmas sale.
The family we were assigned is a single mom with two teenagers. We looked at their list and everyone had different ideas about the most important thing to have at that age; because programs for the needy have other focuses, we knew we had to buy bedding. If there is any available, it won't be new. We ended up buying everything on the list, and making an effort to find things that teenage boys would like.
I wasn't raised in a wealthy family, but we always had what we needed. I can't imagine not having decent bedding. I now have new flannel sheets for the rest of the winter, courtesy of Kohl's after Christmas sale.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Dining Out
Last year I worked on a project on which we dined out frequently on the corporation's dime, since we traveled on business. This year, if I dine out, it's on my dime. Because I'm trying to cut inessential spending, I don't dine out a lot; when I do, it's usually because I'm going somewhere after work and it seems foolish to first go home.
I seem to be a bit ahead of the curve on some of my changes, because I've been working on this for a couple of years. Dining out adds up and is less necessary than some people believe.
With the current economic uncertainty, I foresee more restaurants having trouble. I assume every area is like mine, with nests of chain restaurants near malls and freeways, and a few local places thrown in besides. For a long time I have thought there were too many restaurants and the restaurants are likely to learn the same.
Building has slowed down lately, but some of the people who built or signed leases are going to be stuck with opening their places, whether it makes sense or not.
I seem to be a bit ahead of the curve on some of my changes, because I've been working on this for a couple of years. Dining out adds up and is less necessary than some people believe.
With the current economic uncertainty, I foresee more restaurants having trouble. I assume every area is like mine, with nests of chain restaurants near malls and freeways, and a few local places thrown in besides. For a long time I have thought there were too many restaurants and the restaurants are likely to learn the same.
Building has slowed down lately, but some of the people who built or signed leases are going to be stuck with opening their places, whether it makes sense or not.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Commuting
My commute to this place is vastly different than before; the distance is comparable, but that's about it.
Before, I took the bus; transit station is a straight shot from where I live, and is conveniently accessible; I pass it on the way to the freeway and the bus dropped me off near where I was working. For about two hours morning and evening, there are buses to that downtown.
Now I work somewhere else and the transit station isn't very convenient; it's down the freeway from me in the other direction. Which would be fine if it stopped near where I work, but 6 blocks that include a walk over the freeway bridge, isn't terribly convenient.
As a result, I entered in to a parking contract and am driving; the transit station is about 1/3 of the way to where I'm going, so doesn't save me that much.
Before, I took the bus; transit station is a straight shot from where I live, and is conveniently accessible; I pass it on the way to the freeway and the bus dropped me off near where I was working. For about two hours morning and evening, there are buses to that downtown.
Now I work somewhere else and the transit station isn't very convenient; it's down the freeway from me in the other direction. Which would be fine if it stopped near where I work, but 6 blocks that include a walk over the freeway bridge, isn't terribly convenient.
As a result, I entered in to a parking contract and am driving; the transit station is about 1/3 of the way to where I'm going, so doesn't save me that much.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Settling In
Holiday season is a strange time to start a new job and a bit disconcerting; on the plus side is qualifying for holiday pay without worrying about the thousand or so hours one must first log through an agency, and having a respite from the fatigue of learning all the new information and systems.
On the down side? Not knowing the people or having any idea what the vacation patterns are, so no idea whether the people you need are going to be available when you have a question. I'm working with people who have been here, for the most part, forever, so take off when they want to as they have a large amount of time with which to work.
While I still think this is more secure than contract work, there's a huge budget shortfall in the state that has the potential to affect a lot of people.
Me? While I get vacation time, I can't use it until I've been here 6 mos.
On the down side? Not knowing the people or having any idea what the vacation patterns are, so no idea whether the people you need are going to be available when you have a question. I'm working with people who have been here, for the most part, forever, so take off when they want to as they have a large amount of time with which to work.
While I still think this is more secure than contract work, there's a huge budget shortfall in the state that has the potential to affect a lot of people.
Me? While I get vacation time, I can't use it until I've been here 6 mos.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
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