Prosperity

Sacrifice: Forfeit to Win

mcherkezian — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:58:03 -0500

Those who sacrifice deny themselves something in order to serve a higher cause.

Another way to say it is that when we sacrifice, we surrender something of value for the sake of something—or someone—else.

Living with less requires sacrifice. If I want to live on less, I may need to sacrifice a hobby I love. If I want to have less stress, I may need to give up volunteering for my favorite cause.

Libraries Become Recessionary Refuges

jbloustein — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:00:31 -0500

American families facing money problems and recessionary woes may be looking for creative ways to stretch their dollar.

In many communities, public libraries have stepped in to provide a haven for people who want to enjoy a novel, plan their future, advance their personal growth, or spend time together as a family.

Since the recession hit, libraries across the country have reported a rise in new library cards, materials circulation and computer logins.

Down Payment on a Dream

admin — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:08:16 -0600

My teenage daughters, Sara and Reneé, and I were living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the late 1970s. I was a single parent, scraping by on a Social Security disability check. We were grateful for the row house I was able rent in Chestertown. I had learned how to make ends meet so we had just enough for rent, food, utilities and clothes.

Indebted to Credit Cards

mcherkezian — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:04:45 -0500

This is an excerpt from the Guideposts book Simple Shopping. Click here for more on this and other books from the Spirit of Simple Living series.

The Most Inspiring Tough Times Stories of 2009

mcherkezian — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:56:07 -0600

Most of us have been touched by the recession in some way.

In the past year, we’ve seen job loss, savings shrivel, foreclosures, and severe cuts in social services. But we’ve also witnessed the ingenuity and generosity of the human spirit, exemplified in these stories.

Plowing for the Pantry

Fife Lake, Michigan gets piles of snow in the winter, but because of Dave Browning, its church pantries also got piles of food.

Daddy’s Blueberries

mcherkezian — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:30:43 -0500

Mother and Daddy loved blueberries, but blueberries were expensive. This was the beginning of “Daddy’s Blueberries.”

As far as I knew, Daddy had never grown anything in his life. One day he brought six blueberry plants home from work and announced he was going to plant them in the “extra lot.” My first thought was, “Yes, sure you are.”

Gift Grinch

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 08:36:00 -0600

Q: I'm stressing out over what to give my friends this year. My budget is tight and my gift list has gotten out of control. Any ideas?

Along Came Santa

admin — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 08:51:00 -0600

I was traveling home for the holidays, from Sacramento to Fort Smith, Arkansas, by bus, taking my two young boys to see their beloved granddad. Sounds like the makings of a Hallmark story, right? It was anything but.

Truth is, I was broke. Flat broke. Dad had wired me $700—enough for three bus fares and food for my kids and me for the four-day trip to his house. I was afraid to tell him just how bad off I really was, that I wanted to move back in with him for a few months until I could save some money and get back on my feet.

A Lesson in Positive Thinking

jbloustein — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:48:09 -0500

In the current uncertain economic climate, it can be difficult to know where to turn for comfort and inspiration.

Benjamin Ola Akande, dean of Webster University's School of Business and Technology, says he found a new perspective by observing a 30-something breast cancer survivor at a recent graduation ceremony.

The Closing

admin — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:27:00 -0500

As a little girl I dreamed of growing up and living in a house just like the one my uncle owned: a huge Victorian with creaky floors and glass doorknobs where our whole family could gather on holidays—a real home.

Now my husband, Larry, and I were finally going to buy our first house: a small bungalow that at least had space for a proper dining-room table. It wasn't exactly our dream home; it was a compromise based on our budget.

We were settling for something cute and comfortable that would be all ours: the perfect starter house.