Carver Communications - Index

Carver Communications - 2.15.09 - Index

January’s meeting for Women’s
Council with Chuck Bowen, who coaches/consults
using the Dave Ramsey principals,
was well timed. As we all face this
year budgets and spending is on everyone’s
mind. I know for me it has been a time to
go back and re-look at every bit of marketing
dollars spent, what is necessary, where
has it paid off, and what do I have to do. I
have also revised my personal finances,
looked at my bills closely, and made sure to
fine tune those out going expenses. It
amazed me how good of a drill this was but
also how sad that it takes a bad economy
and tight finances for most of us to really
evaluate where and how we spend our
money. In a great market, when it seems
like money is pouring in, how free we are
with it when in essence we should be less
so. Something Chuck Bowen said really
sank home. Every dollar spent has to have
a purpose, if it does not, then why spend
it??? In our home we even went as far as to
define what a grocery store trip should consist
of. Meal planning and a definite shopping
list with no extras on it have really been
By Missy Stagers
President, Women’s Council of REALTORS
Need Vs. Want
working well. I can’t believe how bare our
refrigerator is at the end of the week with no
waste. We use everything we buy and do
not have to throw things away. This actually
is a feeling of accomplishment. It started
a whole ripple effect of where else can I do
this. I have also gone back and renegotiated
my car insurance (which saved over $1000
in fees), my phone bill and more. For many
of us we have extras everywhere. For the
smarter ones, this is nothing new. When
you start defining the need vs the
want….wow, what you can save. I have
even made a game out of it for myself on
where else can I do better. One example is
using old athletic socks for dust rags when I
am done wearing them vs throwing them
out. If you turn them inside out they make
the best dust rags and sure beats spending
money on the those expensive little duster
wands. It gave those socks a new purpose.
So as you move into this year…I challenge
you to find the purpose of the dollar to be
spent in your business and home. Think of
things that can not only save you money but
help the environment by putting less trash in
February 15, 2009 REAL ESTATE NEWSLINE 3
Donna Freeman of Century 21 Scott Meyer and Trish McBride of First
Impressions Home Staging were amazed at the number and quality of the
goodie boxes which were auctioned off at the WCR Monthly Meeting at
Sonterra.
WCR President,
Missy Stagers of
Coldwell Banker
D’Ann Harper
Realtors (right)
chats with special
guest, Tanji Patton
of Good Taste
With Tanji, at the
group’s February
4th membership
meeting.