Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Remember to give thanks to all that you are thankful for and especially the people you love, for if you have love, you are truly blessed. 

Do we fight harder to keep something we love or do we fight harder to get out of something we hate?

I remember when I first started college out of high school and my dad said that he would pay for my education, room, and board.  Did I appreciate it since it was handed to me rather than having to work for it myself?

I did not, but this is only my opinion based on my real life experiences.

Later, I dropped out and wanted to go to modeling school instead; he refused to pay.  I was devastated, but I worked really hard at a bakery, saving every penny I earned.  By the end of the summer, I had saved enough money and paid my own way through modeling school.  Did I appreciate this more than when it was handed to me?  Yes, I believe in my situation I did.  I graduated from the program, and worked some as a model. 

To make my point…… It seems to be that when things are handed to us, it is easier to put the fight off until a more “convenient” time.  However, when push comes to shove and we are fighting for our very survival and what is rightfully ours, then our instincts tend to come out with our claws and we fight harder for what we want to keep.

Sometimes we have to get dirty and it isn’t always perfect, but is it worth the fight?  It is if you believe in it.

Author:  Ask Ms Mandi

We are living in a tough economy.  Employers have the upper-hand while unemployment rates rise.  Many people are finding themselves unemployed.  It doesn’t matter who you are, you may find yourself at “The Unemployment Office”.  You may be a single mother struggling to get a job at the local super market.  You may be a high school dropout looking for a job.  You may even be a college graduate with a Master’s Degree going to a fast food restaurant for work.  Unemployment does not discriminate.  Unemployment is everywhere and it takes down all kinds. 

The employer has the upper-hand in this economy.  Having a Master’s Degree does not mean that you are going to get the top paying position.  In theory, a Master’s Degree may hinder you, since companies are hiring people with skills at “entry-level positions” in order to save a buck.  Some companies are even hiring people on provisional status without any benefits, to see “how it works out”.  The employer has the upper-hand.

What is a person to do?  They say that a person on average may be unemployed for at least a year.  They also say that in order to get the job, you will have to take a dramatic pay cut in salary.  Can we afford, as an economy to wait a year to be employed again?  Will our mortgage wait for us to catch up, while we collect our unemployment checks that just cover the mortgage bills to survive?  Or will our bill collectors wait for us to find a job, in a year, while we pay our mortgage payment? Will our economy survive more foreclosures as more people are losing their homes?  The most difficult question is, should I pay for my mortgage or food and electricity?  Those are some difficult decisions to make, especially when you have children in the home that are counting on “you” to make everything okay. 

One of the saddest stories I’ve heard was when a mother of two couldn’t afford to buy her children Christmas presents.  She didn’t know what to do, when her little girl came up to her and said, “It’s okay mommy.  You don’t have to buy me any presents this year, Santa will.”  How do you explain that to a 6-year-old?

What I’m trying to say is, “If you can’t beat them, join them?”  When nobody hires you, start-up your own company.  You’re probably saying, “Right! And how am I supposed to get the money to do that?”  Good point, especially since the banks are not giving out loans to small businesses, unless you have perfect credit, but let’s face it, if you have been unemployed for a while, you probably don’t have the best credit score. 

I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that this is the time to do so.  If the Government wants to help, they need to help the small business’ owners and stop giving all the money to Corporate America.  I see their point, trust me, but they don’t see ours from down here.  We are living in the economic hardship, Corporate America is just reading about it. 

The only way to make a difference is to stand up and fight back, don’t lay down and die.  The more voices that are heard, the better the chances are to changing things.  Let our Government know.  Support small business’.

Written By:  Ms Mandi