SPRING 2012 - Issue 3

Where will you be October 27th?

Pocket Change
and much more . . .

In this Issue
Couples and Money Foolish Fun It Adds Up Fast

brought to you by . . .
supported by . . .
DFLI is a not-for-profit 501(C)(3) organization

Pocket Change
In This Issue... Issue...
3 5 6 7 10 Steps to a Succesful Spring Sale Sharon Boland Friends Dont Let Friends Drown in Debt Join The Club Couples and Money Nancy Stark CCCS

2012 - Issue 3

To Pocket Change Readers, Before the 2011 holidays, American Express created a very positive, very successful campaign...Small Business Saturday. The pledge to support small business appealed to a lot of us...and did a lot to support the entrepreneurs in our communities. After *CODEs successful National Entrepreneurship Week 2012 event, many of us talked about celebrating small businesses year round. (*Coalition of Organizations for Delaware Entrepreneurship) I propose we add to that pledge of supporting small business the intention to shop locally as often as possible. I live in a small town. I want to continue to enjoy the convenience of local merchants; I need to frequent their businesses if I want them to stay open. So this issue, I want to spotlight a few businesses in North Wilmington, Delaware ,that I would not want to lose, businesses that provide quality services... My first is Joe and Tonys Gulf on Philadelphia Pike in Claymont...quality service that has kept my cars running over the years without huge bills. To me, it is a symbol of the honest and skilled mechanic. In the next few weeks, a favorite seasonal business opens: Marini Produce on Veale Road... fresh fruit and delicious, locally grown produce... and service with a smile! The local Ritas Water Ice and Dunkin Donuts are very much like the TV Cheers Bar... where everyone knows your name... and how you take your coffee. And Lambs Loft...what seems like acres of nostalgia, memorabilia, and vintage items. Those are my favorite shops...What are yours? Send in names of local small businesses you want me to mention in future Pocket Change editions. And there is one small business that is now only a fond memory. We are saddened by the passing of a dear friend, Tim Ross, and his - and our - beloved Always the Garden.

12 Grab Your Scissors! 14 Is Your Closet Ready? Tami Schoenfeld 18 Foolish Fun Karen Graham 19 Purses to Portfolios Conference

20 Time on Your Hands ... 21 23 The Money Club Candace Bahr and Ginita Wall A Word From The Money Clubs

24 Trying to earn Purses Hours? 25 Delaware Money School Q & A Interview with Danita L. Mosley

27 It Adds Up Fast Carla Shipman

$ $
2

28 Meet the Staff

Ronni
Pocket Change Issue 3

10 S
B

teps to a uccesful pring Sale

GET BUSY!

By Sharon Boland

e the First One to Hold a Successful Spring Sale! Decide its time to pare down your possessions and clean out your home, room by room. Make a list of reasons why you want to do this to motivate you. Keep the list handy and where you will see it. 1. Choose a completion goal date and mark your calendar. The goal date will be when the weather is warmer and you can have a Sale. Set a time frame complete with steps so you can meet your needs. It will depend on when you started and how many rooms or how much you have to clean out. Write your goal date, timeframe and steps on your list of reasons. 2. Set a financial goal to put some of the money you make from your Sale into a savings account. You can decide if you will save a certain amount or a certain percentage. A certain percentage, like 50%, is easier because you dont know how much you will make at your Sale. Setting a financial goal is a big motivator for cleaning out the house. Write your financial goal down on your list of reasons. 3. Start in one room and finish each room before you begin another. Get rid of items you dont like, no longer use or want, and items that are broken or past their prime. And get rid of items that have bad memories or bad feelings attached to them. 4. If you find that you dont necessarily like an item but are emotionally attached to it because it was a gift from someone special or if it reminds you of someone, group all of these items together and select your favorites or just a certain amount of these items. Remember the love you shared still exists and your loved ones would not want you to be upset over them. Items from a special family member (like your Grandmother) can always
(continued on next page)

$ $ $ 3

Pocket Change Issue 3

be given to other family members. Asking a friend or a family member to be there when you clean out helps with this type of anxiety. In exchange, you can offer to help them clean out and host a garage sale together! 5. Get some boxes. Mark them Sale, Donate, Keep: Relocate/GiveawayThe Keep: Relocate/Giveaway means that you are moving it to another part of your home or giving it away, not donating it. Throw away trash and junk and dont compromise. 6. For Sale items: Clean and repair them if they are repairable and sellable. Start pricing your items and price them to sell. After you price an item, pack it with like items, its easier preparing for your Sale. If you need help with pricing, check Ebay, Craigslist or go to Goodwill or a resale shop. Your goal is to sell the item and make money. Follow through on the other boxes by donating them, using the items in another room, or giving them away. 7. As you get closer to your goal date, congratulate yourself as you clean out each room and celebrate each victory. When the weather has changed and your goal week is here, create and post signs, and place an ad in the paper if you choose. Be sure to use clear wording and include your Sales date, time and location. 8. Get prepared the day before your Sale. Have your cash, change, tables and chair ready. And paper, pens, bags, newspaper (to wrap breakables) and everything else you may need too. If you are having your Sale in a garage, have your items outside in the garage. Have your cell phone charged. Go to bed early. Be sure to tell your neighbors you are having a Sale. 9. Get up early, eat breakfast and be prepared. Think safety: keep your cell phone on you and split up your money into different pockets. Think positive and celebrate your hard work and all your efforts it will be worth it. You will be proud when you walk around your clean house AND each month when you look at your saving account statement after youve made that deposit! 10. This is probably the most important suggestion of all, no matter what . . .

HAVE FUN!!!!
$ $ 4 $
Pocket Change Issue 3

Bills getting you down?

Dont know who to ask?

CALL TOLL FREE

1-877-246-2026
Speak to a credit counselor Schedule an appointment Ask credit questions
Hassle FREE! No Cost! No Obligation! JUST HELP!

Get your own FREE nancial coach. Call 302.283.5562 to schedule a meeting
A DFLI~Money School program with funding from the Delaware Financial Literacy Education Fund and in partnership with CCCS of MD and DE and the Claymont Community Center.

Join the Club

Have you attended Money School classes and earned Purses hours? Ever wonder whats the next step on the road to financial freedom? We have the answer for you! The Delaware Financial Literacy Instiute is introducing Money Clubs: a new program that has the power to change your financial life forever! Money Clubs are designed to help you succeed and prosper financially while providing a built-in support system to inspire you to reach your financial goals. Joining a Money Club is a fun and successful way to take charge of your money! Members meet regularly to learn how to get out of debt, jumpstart their savings, teach their kids about money, and many other financial topics. The Money School has partnered with the creators of the Womens Institute for Financial Education (WIFE.org). Their website is full of information and tips on how to start your own Money Club. The site provides over 30 Money Zones including budgeting, saving, investing, holiday shopping and much more. I encourage you to visit www.MoneyClubs.com to see what this free and exciting way to take control your finances is all about! Each club should have between 3 and 12 members, meet a minimum of once a month for about 1 hour. You must register your club on moneyclubs.com. Outstanding Money Clubs will be recognized at the 2012 Purses Conference Interested? Want more information? Christine@dfli.org

$ $
6

Pocket Change

Issue 3

Couples and Money

(How to Stop Fighting and Start Talking)
By Nancy Stark, CCCS of MD DE
ccording to many surveys, money is the most common topic that couples fight about. This isnt surprising, given it represents so much love, happiness, power, and prestige, and based on past experience, each of us has our own very unique view of how it should be used. Money may result in control issues if one partner in the relationship holds all the purse strings. It also may lead to heated arguments when couples encounter job loss or an unexpected financial windfall or if one partner has a gambling problem. But with patience, insight, and compassion, couples can work together to reconcile their money differences. Deanna Booker, Communications and Community Outreach Manager for local nonprofit Consumer Credit Counseling Service of MD & DE (CCCS), offers these tips for improving domestic harmony and gaining financial peace of mind: Learn how to communicate. Take the time to regularly talk with your partner about family finances. Dont wait until a problem erupts; instead, schedule ongoing conversations where you review your current financial situation, discuss money issues, and identify common spending and saving goals. Booker advises, During these discussions, its important to try to be open and nonjudgmental. Avoid playing the blame game. If difficult issues or questions arise, it may help to write down your feelings before you actually talk about them with your significant other. (continued on next page) $
Pocket Change Issue 3

$ 7

Strive to understand your partners perspective. Depending on how couples grew up, they often have different attitudes about money. For example, one may be a spender while another is a saver. Some feel guilty about money; others are compelled to simply avoid the topic all together. Booker notes, Its common for opposites to attract. So you may have a person who can shop until they drop married to someone who counts every penny. As the years go by, even couples who start out on the same end of the spectrum may gravitate in opposite directions. When couples dont understand or respect each others attitudes and point of view regarding finances, polarization and disagreement are likely to set in. Divide up the financial workload just as you do other chores. When one person controls the couples finances, they also get stuck with the lions share of worry or responsibility. Consider swapping financial chores, Booker suggests. For example, if one of you usually is responsible for balancing the checkbook or paying the monthly bills, trade off every few months instead. This will give each of you a chance to have control. Youll also be surprised what you learn by walking in the others shoes. When couples maintain an open dialogue about their finances and work together to become fiscally fit, they also are more likely to gain financial security. As a focus on personal finance, Booker recommends these exercises: Set and stick to a budget. CCCS of MD & DE has an easy-to-use interactive budget form in the Financial Tools section of its website at www.cccs-inc.org. Couples who need help doing this can also call CCCS at 1-800-642-2227 for a free budget counseling appointment. Also track your spending and compare notes. That way youll both have a better idea of how you are putting your money to use. Work together to get organized. One way to do this is to create a family cash-flow chart. Booker explains how: Using a standard calendar, list your paydays and the amount you expect to receive in your paycheck. Next, list which bills are to be paid out of each check. This eliminates the last-minute scrambling to meet payment due dates, and avoids costly overlimit and overdraft fees. Also develop a system for organizing and retaining financial records. Since its tax season, this is the perfect time to shred what you dont need and file what you do. (continued on next page)

$
8

Pocket Change

Issue 3

Dont be afraid to openly discuss your financial situation. If one of you has lost a job, it may affect your relationship and finances. Then brainstorm ways to cut expenses, so that youre able to live within your means. If circumstances have changed, its irresponsible to continue spending as you did when both of you were employed. Find ways to increase family income. If youre employed, but still need more income to live on, Booker advises, Review your withholding allowances from your paycheck. Recently, many families who live paycheck-to-paycheck have received an income tax refund of over $2,000. Often, these are the very same people who struggle to make ends meet and could really use an extra $200 in their paycheck instead. The IRS has a helpful page that will help you calculate your withholdings. Just go to www.irs.gov, type the words withholding calculator into the search box, and follow the directions they provide. In a matter of minutes youll learn the appropriate number of withholding allowances for your situation. Find ways to save money. Having an emergency savings fund can help you avoid money arguments, because it provides a safety net for when unexpected expenses occur. Booker explains, Even small changes in lifestyle can leave you with more money in your pocket. If you regularly eat out at work, bringing a lunch from home instead could leave you with an extra $100 to put into savings each month. If you get an income tax refund, use it wisely. Catch up on any past due bills, put at least 10 percent into your savings - more if possible, and consider making needed repairs to the house or car. Booker concludes, Couples receive several benefits when they work together to achieve financial stability: They generally experience less stress and fight less, and this ultimately may lead to a happier, more secure relationship. A recent Utah State University study found that marriages where couples work together to achieve financial harmony are 30 percent less likely to end in divorce.

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of MD & DE, Inc. (CCCS) is an accredited nonprofit agency that has served the local community since 1966. We promote economic self-sufficiency and provide help to individuals, families and communities through financial literacy education and credit and housing counseling. For further information about our vision, values, and services, please visit our website at cccsinc.org. MD State License #14-01/ DE State License #07-01.

$
Pocket Change Issue 3

$ $ 9

What are you doing this summer? Want to make money AND have fun????

$ $
10

Pocket Change

Issue 3

1- 877 - 246 - 2026

Pocket Change Issue 3

$ $ $ 11

Grab your scissors and get organized ... save BIG by cutting coupons
Where to nd coupons
Online coupons Sunday newspaper Trading coupons with family, friends, & neighbors DUMPSTER DIVING (I dont personally recommend this)

What to Do
Match sale fliers to coupons Check out your local stores fliers Use savings card/store rewards card Organize the coupons you have for the products youll need so that you can generate a list. Make couponing work for you by adjusting your strategies and plans to fit your own life. Check ahead with your stores policies before using coupons and attempting multiple transactions Organize coupons: envelops, coupon binders, files...

What to do with your coupon savings

Do you really need advice here?

Couponing Lingo
Stackable Coupons - Combining a manufacturers coupon along with a stores coupon Double Coupon Deals - A point in time when coupons are worth twice their face value Stockpiling - A large bulk or location of materials such as groceries and household items

Couponing on-the-go!
Check out your smart phones application store! Coupon apps are available on Android or Apple devices

Look for The Money Schools Rx for Shopaholics Community Event.

$ $
12

For more information and resources on couponing visit www.thekrazycouponlady.com www.couponing101.com www.businessinsider.com

Pocket Change

Issue 3

$
Pocket Change Issue 3

$ $ 13

Is Your Closet Ready?

By Tami Schoenfeld

ired of heavy winter coats and sweaters cluttering up your closets? Tripping over winter boots? Now that Spring is upon us, its time to clean up that clutter and make room for the new seasons garments. So here are some helpful tips on how to best do just that! Before you begin, you might want to put on some nice music or light a scented candle. It helps to make the atmosphere as pleasant as possible. Take everything out of your closet. This is the best way to see what is out of style, no longer your size, or what is torn, damaged, or irreparably soiled. Sort out the items into piles according to: what you want to keep and still wear what you dont wear, like anymore, or is out of style but is still in good shape what you dont wear, like anymore, or is out of style and in bad shape and needs to be thrown out items you arent sure about. As with the items you know you want to keep, these Uncertain items can be stored in plastic containers under the bed or elsewhere. But if you havent used certain items for over a year, chances are you never WILL! Think about it! Then: Place items to be thrown away in sturdy trash bags and label them accordingly Place items to be sold (consignment shops, eBay) or donated (Goodwill) in separate bag and label accordingly.

$ $
14

(continued on next page)

Pocket Change

Issue 3

A fun idea is to make a swap party with friends to exchange those items which are still in good condition, but which you no longer want. Think of it as recycling! Whats junk to you may be anothers treasure! Clean out the closet by vacuuming or mopping the floor, then cleaning the shelves with any multi-surface spray. Organize your Spring and Summer items BY TYPE before returning them to the closet. For example, put all short sleeve shirts together and stack T shirts together. You can further sort them according to color, keeping blacks together, whites together, etc. Place all jeans together. Organize shoes by style (pumps/flats, etc) and color. You can place them on shoe racks, stacking shelves, or hanging shoe racks. Put a rack on wall and hang belts, scarves, etc. Put a rack on wall vertically to hang handbags. This allows for clear display of your bags, with no overlap. Now you have a closetful of items that you actually wear! No clutter, no excess, Enjoy!

$
Pocket Change Issue 3

$ $ 15

Let Us Pick Your Brains!

Send Us Your Suggestions

Useful money saving tips Ideas for upcoming issues Financial questions Delicious recipes

Send your ideas to ...

$ $
16

info@dfli.org
$
Pocket Change Issue 3

Stepping Stones Credit Union

603 North Church Street Wilmington, DE 19801 302 654 5024

$
Pocket Change Issue 3

$ $ 17

Foolish Fun!!!
by Karen Graham Karen Graham n a
pril is coming. Along with it comes showers and flowers, bunnies and eggs, and that dreaded April Fools! Have you been the victim of pranks from your kids? Well know it is payback time. Here is a fun way to fool your family in a way they will actually enjoy. Dessert for Dinner/ Dinner for Dessert Let them think you are reversing things for April 1 by serving dessert first and dinner last. The joke is on them because the cake is actually meatloaf and mashed potatoes and the fish stick dinner is cookies and candy. You will find the recipes for these and other foolish pranks on the Disney FamilyFun website. Disney FamilyFun is an online source and a magazine for arts & crafts, recipes, parties and so much more.

Fish Sticks and Peas Coat sugar wafer cookies with peanut butter for fish sticks and roll in crushed corn flakes. Roll green taffy candy into balls for peas (soften in microwave if needed). Strawberry jelly mixed smooth is the ketchup.

Fauxberry Cake Use your favorite Shepherds Pie recipe and make it in a pie shell. Mashed Potatoes are colored pink with food coloring or pureed red beets. With pie like this, eating dessert first is never a problem.

For more mixed up meals go to www.familyfun.go.com

$ $
18

Bon Appetit!
$
Pocket Change Issue 3

October 27, 2012

Chase Center on the Riverfront

$
Pocket Change Issue 3

$ $ 19

Time on Your HandsCheck Out the WEB

The Centsables (www.centsables.com) This superhero based website features interactive games, like economic Hangman, Financial Trivia, and Coin Drop- where the goal is to save money. Children can also read stories and lessons on what should be done with money and why it is important. Network Financial Instiute (www.nickelsburg-nkidscount.org) A great site to learn economic vocabulary and complete activities to earn Nickelsburg dollars. This is a great source for teaching priorities and the importance of saving as you work through a virtual town completing missions. Secret Millionaires Club (www.smckids.com) Earn Buffett Bucks by investing in companies on the Buffett Bucks stock market and completing educational games. Watch episodes, read the blog, or ask Warren Buffet himself your financial questions. Check out the parent sections tips to teach children good financial habits. The Mint (www.themint.org) - This site offers advice for all ages, at home or school. It features quizzes and personal finance calculators to create budgets, activities showing how interest works to your benefit and calculating how long it would take to become a millionaire! Practical Money Skills (www.practicalmoneyskills.com) There are tons of financial games on this website. Children can play Peter Pig, a change sorting game, or plan out their retirement in a scenario game named Countdown to Retirement. Planet Orange (www.orangekids.com) Travel to Planet Orange in this simulation to earn money through completing educational lessons. Travelers learn to budget and prioritize by saving money for fuel in order to continue the journey and take on side jobs to earn extra money.. It All Adds Up (www.italladdsup.org) This site is targeted at teens interested in getting a head start on their financial futures. Games and quizzes help teach about buying a car, saving for college, or investing. The site includes a teachers guide, links and resources, and financial calculators.

$
20

Money School Online Courses www.delawaremoneyschool.com Earn Purses hours by completing one or all of these basic financial courses..

Pocket Change

Issue 3

From Our Partners at WIFE.org

The Money Club

By Candace Bahr, CEA, CDFA and Ginita Wall, CPA, CFP

ou are about to discover a simple program that has the power to change your financial life forever. Its free and non-fattening, and is designed to help you succeed and prosper.

Imagine the productivity and energy of a few friends sharing what they know, seeking out information, putting their heads together to solve problems and motivating each other to move ahead. Thats the power behind the new Money Clubs, which use all the latest scientific research to tailor a financial learning program designed uniquely for women. Money Clubs are an incredibly successful way for women to get together to achieve their money dreams and support each other on their journey to prosperity. The support of other Money Club members provides a sense of community and belonging. With the help of friends to keep them on track, women can help each other in a powerful, productive way. Members are accountable to each other, and that keeps everyone motivated. Like having a diet buddy to help lose weight, friends in the Money Club provide the encouragement that each member needs to succeed. The Money Club is not your grandmothers investment club. Unlike narrowly-focused investment clubs, Money Clubs focus on learning the dynamics of money, incorporating a 360-degree view of womens financial lives. In Money Clubs, members discuss their money truths and dreams, encourage each other to meet savings goals, reduce debt, budget their
(continued on next page) $
Pocket Change Issue 3

$ 21

expenses, educate children, and plan for a happy and productive retirement. In meetings, members discuss a wide variety of financial topics as they support their friends in moving away from their fears and toward their financial goals. The Money Club concept works. It is founded on years of research, and this proven program can help women succeed. Money Clubs are based on the ancient premise that the combined energy of several people focusing on the same problem is many times greater than the sum of the individual energies involved. This concept has been used at high-level business meetings and in board rooms around the country for years. Money Clubs are absolutely free and non-commercial. Money Guides from the non-profit Womens Institute for Financial Education volunteer their time and expertise. In addition, Money Clubs receive support from the educational arms of some major corporations, including VISA and General Electric. The Money Clubs are there for you, if you want to make a lasting difference in your life. You dont have to know much about money to join a club - you just need a desire to improve your relationship with money. The Money Club is a grassroots phenomenon. Women (and men, too) create Money Clubs themselves using the framework and materials at the website MoneyClubs.com. Together, we can take personal responsibility and help each other move ahead. We realize that to truly make a difference in the world, it takes a positive vision. We visualize a million women actively involved in Money Clubs across the country. Thats what it will take to make an impact in the fabric of womens lives and the lives of their children and families, a few women at a time. If you and your friends want to make a change, to be less worried about money and move toward your dreams, the Money Club can help. As you learn in the Money Clubs safe and friendly environment, you will be surprised at how rapidly you progress and how you can inspire and encourage others in the Club as they deal with their financial issues. Amazing things happen in Money Clubs! All you need to do is gather together a group of friends or colleagues who are interested in improving their financial lives. Make a date to get together for your first meeting. You can log onto the website, MoneyClubs.com, to learn more about how to get started. Click on support to send an email to the club coordinator, who is ready to help you every step of the way.

$ $
22

Pocket Change

Issue 3

A Word From Our Money Clubs

Hello from the Trillionaires! The Trillionaires are 5 members strong and are working toward debt reduction, establishing savings accounts, homeownership, and have long term goals of investing. We are excited that Money Clubs have given us the potential to help our members become financially independent.
The Trillionaires Motto: We are out of debt and our needs are more than met!

The Girls Just Wanna Have Money Club meets once a month and each member has set personal goals towards savings such as vacation, paying off debt and homeownership. At each meeting the club members check in with one another to see what steps they have taken towards achieving their goals! The Dollars & Sense Money Club has 6 members and they have already started achieving their goals! They have covered 3 different Money Zones: Money Attitudes, Money Styles and Money Fears. Some club members have opened savings accounts for themselves and for their children, and have set goals toward saving for retirement. The Dollars and Sense leader sends savings tips via email to help keep members thinking about more ways they can save!

Look in future issues of Pocket Change for more success stories!!! $

Pocket Change Issue 3

$ 23

Trying to earn Purses hours? Heres how!!!

Are you trying to earn Purses hours? Participating in Money School classes is one of the best ways for earning hours. Options include: Become a Money School class evaluator (Contact Tami Schoenfeld) Complete online courses Participate in a Money Club
One of the newest ways to earn Purses hours is by starting or joining a Money Club. Money Clubs is a new program adapted by The Money School, from WIFE.org in order for you to take control of your financial situation, by meeting and discussing financial topics and concerns with your peers.

For information on Money Clubs contact Christine@dfli.org or (302)792-1200

---------Other ways for earning Purses hours include Staffing The Money School information or registration table at events Help with tasks in The Money School office Donate time with a Money School partner such as EITC (Earned Income Tax Clinic)

For more information about opportunities contact Tami@dfli.org or (302) 792-1200

No matter what your skills or interest may be, there aremany opportunities to earn Purses hours.

$ $
24

Thank You for Your Help!

$
Pocket Change Issue 3

DELAWARE MONEY SCHOOL

Q&A
Interview with Danita L. Mosley

hen did you know business and this particular business was your passion? The

path to my destiny as a business owner was chosen for me by the economic downturn this country faced. But the passion for it was nurtured for about a year before it was finally birthed. In 2009 when a privately held company I worked for decided to move out of state, my spouse and I were at a loss for how we would be able to maintain our family. Ironically, I had always struggled as a child keeping my room clean and now I am passionate about helping my customers keep their facilities clean. What personal characteristics and skills do you have to handle problems, stresses, and risks involved in your business? Determination and an awesome work ethic have allowed me to endure stress and handle problems. Mistakes are necessary to any successful business because it allows for learning, development and strengthening. Being a wife and a mother of 3, I often put others needs before my own. I find that this attribute carries over in my business dealings as well. I often become more than just an employer to my staff or vendor to my clients. This has been a tremendous asset in developing long lasting business relationships. What advice would you give someone looking to become a small business owner? Advice I would give to anyone looking to become a business owner is simple, Dont Give Up. Anything that is worth something hardly ever comes easy. Resources are priceless. Utilize every available resource even if youre not sure how it will help. The seed you sow will not only help someone elses crop, but will ultimately work to bring you a harvest. (continued on next page)

Pocket Change Issue 3

$ $ 25

Where do you see your business in the next three years? In the next three years I see Tornado II Janitorial Service, LLC continuing its steady growth. We will continue to focus on providing jobs in Delaware and eventually expand to the Greater Philadelphia and Maryland areas. Our job as business owners is to help stimulate this economy to bring this country back to greatness. How do you handle the dream stoppers? The best way to handle dream stoppers is to not! You surround yourself with positive progressive people whom you can draw energy from. Naysayers and dream stoppers have no place in business. Describe your business in 3-5 words? Professional, Detail-oriented, Customer-focused, How would someone describe you as an entrepreneur? As an entrepreneur people describe me as being fair, conscientious, flexible, fiscally responsible, and having excellent interpersonal skills. What are your personal goals? My personal goals are to build a brand legacy that can be passed down from generation to generation. I want to be a role model to other young entrepreneurs as I am consistently encouraging those around me to do better and be better. I would like to travel the world and if Tornado II Janitorial Service, LLC can take me global Id love that. Are they the same as your business goals? My business goals are the same except I would like to enter into the retail market. Currently, my sister and I are developing a line of custom graphic tees that we plan to launch early fall 2012. If you had to start this business over, would you? The old adage, If I had to do it all over again I definitely would, holds true for me. I love what I do, and most of all I love to learn. One would think that in the cleaning industry there isnt much to learn, but the truth is this industry is everchanging. From going Green to new and innovative machines there is always something to get excited about. Is there anything else you would like to share? Being an entrepreneur has become a way of life not only for me, but for my family. When my children talk about what they want to become when they grow up, though their career ideas are always changing, the one consistency is the desire to be their own boss. If I do nothing else in life I am grateful to have passed on this passion from generation to generation.

$ $
26

Pocket Change

Issue 3

It Adds Up Fast
By Carla Shipman Ms. DeClutter
ince this is our first edition this year, Happy 2012!! Im sure quite a few people started their New Year with a resolution, whether its losing weight, getting out of debt, changing habits or even getting organized. Now that we are into the year, I hope you are well on your way. Maybe this article will help motivate you even more! Were you aware that during challenging economic times, you can use the loose change found in your car, purse, or around the house to fund your dreams? Let me tell you a story about what I did. About a year ago, I was in my favorite office supply store (Staples), checking out the clearance rack. What professional organizer wouldnt look at the clearance rack? Since Ive became a professional organizer clearance is my middle name. I found a digital coin jar for approximately $6.00. What a great way to save money for something special. My goal was to save for a weekend getaway, spa day, or even a girls night out, but then I remembered the National Association of Professional Organizers Conference (NAPO) that was in a few months. This would be a perfect opportunity for me to save. I placed the digital coin jar on my desk, along with a label that included the date and location of the conference. To motivate my goal, I placed a save the date postcard near the jar. A neat reminder of why I was saving the money. I started going through my purses, you know - the ones that have all that loose change. I even used the water jug I had filled with coins over the last year. Every time I found change I deposited it into the digital coin and watched the money accumulate. My goal was to save $500 by February, to date Ive saved $798. In March, I will attend our NAPO conference in Baltimore. Now Im saving for next years conference.
Carla Shipman is a professional organizer specializing in helping businesses and residential clients who strive for a better quality of life, a desire attain more productive life, fulfill their purpose, increase wealth, and maintain good health and spending time with those they love. Carla has been on Good Morning America, NBC Show 10! in Philadelphia, and recently on CBS 3 NAPO Challenge. Her speaking engagements include Mocha Moms in Delaware, Bear Library in Delaware and Senior Centers for the State of Delaware. DeClutter Enterprise, LLC 302-339-3830 csdeclutter@verizon.net www.declutterenterprise.com

Pocket Change Issue 3

$ $ 27

Meet DFLIs staff . . .

Back row: (From L to R) Shaquilla Holmes, Program Assistant; Karen Graham, Senior Associate Director; Tami Schoenfeld, Associate Director; Nancy Dotsicas, Office Manager; Kiersten Joseph, Project Coordinator; Christine Paski, Program Specialist. Front row: (left to right) Virginia Russell, Citibank, N.A. & DFLI Executive on Loan & Ronni Cohen, Executive Director

QUICK QUIZ
1. Who recently signed up for Medicare? 2. Who recently celebrated her 21st birthday? 3. Who majored in Biology in college? 4. Who was a member of a foreign air force? 5. Who minored in music in college? 6. Who are the two native Delawareans?
28

7. What is DFLIs favorite restaurant? Pocket Change

Issue 3

A good today.

An even better tomorrow.

Citi is proud to support DFLI ~ The Money School. We salute those who help make our world a better place.

2011 Citigroup Inc. All rights reserved. Citi and Arc Design and Citi Never Sleeps are registered service marks of Citigroup Inc.