Ronni’s Thoughts

Well, May has arrived and I am posting another opportunity to earn 1/2 hour Purses’ time…

Post a money-saving recipe here and print a copy and attach it to your log.  It will be worth 1/2 hour…you can only count this once.

Here’s my healthy and low cost meal…

To make my salad into a meal, I toast  pita bread and put the salad inside.   For protein, add tuna or some beans or cheese; I have even stuffed some leftover chicken inside.    Those of you who know me well, know I rarely cook.  This is about it…grill veggies and put them in the pita.

I love the vegan sandwich at Bellefonte Cafe and my next effort will be to try and duplicate that. 

Please share any recipe that you feel is economical and good.  Who knows…maybe we will be able to create a Purses’ cookbook! 

Watch for the May version of Pocket Change!

Take care,

Ronni =^..^=

Hi Everyone!

Long time since I wrote a blog entry…but the office has been busy.  By now you have seen the new electronic Pocket Change.  Watch for it monthly.  Mary has a new recipe as well as words to motivate us during the crazy economic climate.

 I am getting ready for tomorrow’s new class: Free, Non-Fattening, and Legal.  Mary Caraccioli and Shonna Jacobs will both be in town to share their Tips to Improve Your Relationship with Money.  The entire DFLI staff will be wearing purple Purses’ shirts and you will have the chance to buy a shirt for yourself.

Here is new opportunity to earn Purses time:

Write a blog telling 3 ways the current economy has changed your life and for each tell how you are handling the financial stress, strain, and problems.  You will need to sign your name.  Print your blog and attach it to your log.  On the log, put down April 24th blog response.   I will try and post a note hear each week with a way to earn 1/2 hour…right from the comfort of your home.  Here is an opportunity to share what you have learned.

I am excited to see your responses…

Enjoy the sunny weekend!

Ronni    =^..^=

It’s been a while since my last entry!  Things here at The Money School have been busy.  We are working on two February events…National Entrepreneurship Week 2009 which will be celebrated at The Waterfall in Claymont on February 21 from 8am to 1:30pm.  Doorprizes ($100 gift cards!), giveaways, resources, snacks,… Ken Anderson of DEDO is our keynote speaker.  There are concurrent breakout sessions and a finance panel.  If you are thinking of starting a business or if you want to jumpstart your business, register now…delawaremoneyschool.com or call tollfree 877 307 6858.  One of our sessions will be conducted by the founder of Business Plan Boot Camp.  Don’t miss this great event!  Registration required…

The last week of February is also AMERICA SAVES  and FIRST STATE SAVES WEEK.  We will be honoring RASHMI RANGAN for her longtime dedication to financial education and well-being for Delaware consumers.  If you have not signed up for FIRST STATE SAVES, go to firststatesaves.org to register.

 Coming soon!!!  Delaware State University Center for Enterprise Development will be offering 7 small business workshops.  Watch for these in the next Money School brochure.  There will be some special sessions for childcare providers as well.

 Please participate in our Annual Campaign…it takes each member of a community of learners to keep the doors open for our very unique school without walls!  I want to continue offering free classes and need to keep raising money to do so.  Your contribution is really needed and will be greatly appreciated in providing Money School and Purses programming. If each of the 3900 Purses participants gave just $12 dollars - $1 a month, Money School funding would be on more secure ground.  I hope I can count on your help.  You can mail checks to DFLI 3301 Green Street Claymont, DE 19703 or go to paypal.com and designate DFLI as the recipient.  THANKS FOR CONSIDERING MY REQUEST!

 What are you doing to adjust to the economic times?  Please post your tips here.  Some of the things I am doing include turning down the heat and wearing socks and a sweater to save on my power bill.  Using my slow cooker on Sundays to make a soup I can warm up for lunch and/or dinner to avoid buying fast food.  I’d love to hear your ideas. 

Stay warm,

Ronni   =^..^=

http://www.pursestoportfolios.com/conference.html Visit this site for Purses to Portfolios Conference info!

Register online! You can click on the link above to register.

I can’t wait to hear what you think of the 2008 program!  Eva designed a new look for the P2P registration brochure and it is such a great new up to date design just perfect for us.  Rashmi Rangan is hosting an all day drop in Credit Clinic.  SBDC, SBA, FSCLF, and DSU are hosting the Open for Business Resource Center.  We debated and debated and decided to allow exhibitors - many Purses’ women - to sell their products this year.  Delaware Libraries and Borders will be on hand.  Celebrity Kitchens and Chapel Street Players will star as our Million Dollar Divas this year.  So much to see and do this year! 

 State Treasurer Jack Markell who founded The Money School will be our host.  Mary Caraccioli, Dara Duguay, and Tina Betz will all be on hand again this year  to welcome and educate us.  We were finally able to bring Olivia Mellan to P2P; some of you may remember her from the Everywoman’s Money Conference that State Treasurer Jack Markell hosted in 1999.  She will talk about a very important topic…achieving personal money harmony.  Quadia will fly in from Ohio and I know many of you look forward to seeing her.  My friend JoAnne will fly in from Canada again and will be taking pictures and talking with you throughout the day.

I am very proud of the most incredible team ever:  My staff-Eva, Amy, Karen (who will be running around on stilettos!), Shaquilla, Kiersten, Nancy, and Sharonliz.  The P2P planning committee-Terri, Ginny, and Sharon Ann.  Many thanks to Shanta Jeffers who has done some incredible outreach in Kent County for us; she has brought a whole new group of participants to P2P!   Dianne Long is helping secure some great doorprizes.  Leslie Speakman and Meta McGhee have found and tested new online courses that helped many of you reach new levels from the comfort of your home.  I feel as if I am the most fortunate of people…having the opportunity to work for DFLI and the Money School and meet so many of you who inspire me with your efforts. 

 Hope to hear from you as you look over the program.  Enjoy the weekend and please send in your logs.  We are just over 9,000 hours…many of you will remember my goal to have P2P hours hit 10,000 for this Conference.  I think we are going to do it!!!

 If you read this…please leave your message for us.

What an exciting week…we just finished the registration brochure for the October 25 From Purses to Portfolios Conference.  Look for it in your mailbox August 4.  We have a wonderful program planned and I can’t wait for you to see what’s in store for you. 

Look for the new issue of Pocket Change the first week of August as well.  Mary Caraccioli shared her tips for dealing with tough economic times and her recipe for a delicious salsa with vegetables and fruit from your garden. 

We are now approaching 9000 hours of Purses’ time!  My goal is to reach 10,000 by October 25…and you have helped me get very close…I’m sure we will go OVER 10,000!

Please keep in touch.  So many of you have been helping me lately.  Leslie and Meta have tried out some online classes which we list in the next Pocket Change.  You can log up to 40 hours from home.  Stay cool.  Save gas. 

 Katherine Lee has helped us plan an all new community event for September 13…Supersize Your Money.  Lots of ways to make your dollar go further.   AND the last day to earn hours to submit your log for recognition at the Conference.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Ronni  =^..^=

Hi Everyone,

 We have been busy planning for our 3rd From Purses to Portfolios Conference.  We have great sessions lined up and a wonderful group of speakers.  Watch for more info this summer and the registration which will open mid-August.

 Remember to send in your logs.  Dianne and Paulette are both very close to achieving Ambassador level!  Very close…  Together we have logged over 8,250 hours.  Remember my goal to reach 10,000 by this conference.

Did you read the great article about our Money School instructor Gerry Kelly in today’s Sunday News Journal? 

Kainde Barduae passed her nursing boards!

Sen. Carper invited me to speak to a  Senate Sub-Committee on Financial Education and Housing.  What an exciting experience!

Our Purses Coach and DFLI Board member Mary Caraccioli is in Russia completing her master’s thesis.  Her Comcast Money Talks Today is now seen on Channel 8 at 11am and 11pm.

Funniest phone call this month:  I was working late and alone one day when a man called to ask what classes we offered.  I named a dozen or so and then he asked when the martial arts class was scheduled…

It just cost me $42 to fill my gas tank.  It wasn’t even empty! What are you doing to deal with higher prices for  gas and food and everything else?  We’d love to hear your tips.  Post them here.

Well, I have two more flats to plant.  My mother always told me it was good to plant in the rain.  I am soaked so I may as well finish.

Please send in your logs, tell your friends about the Purses’ program, and take care!

Ronni =^..^=

Hi!

Great news…we welcome a Purses to Portfolios’ Take Charge Woman, Olivia “Libby” James, as our newest staff member!  She will be working on keeping our office running smoothly as well as Purses’ programming.  Libby is working toward Ambassador of Financial Education and has close to the 250 hours needed!  We are VERY excited to have her join us.

Have any of you tried Mary’s cheap skinny chicken recipe in the last Pocket Change?  I am going to try it - but in my crock pot!  I’ll let you know how it is. 

I planted pansies and cut out pictures of what I want my garden to look like…I am trying to keep my resolution not to buy more than I can plant.  Many thanks to Stephanie and Sharon for their gardening tips.  I have already had daffodils to cut.  Violets are springing up; I love them even if they are weeds!

We are ready for Saturday (4/12) at Delaware State University for Passion for Profit.  We have an exciting program planned and some great door prizes including $100 gift cards.  It’s not too late to sign up - a few seats are left.   http://www.delawaremoneyschool.com/coursedesc.cfm?thisid=3496 
Hope you are enjoying the blog.  If you click on comments, you can read ideas from Stephanie and Sharon.  I’d love to hear from you, too.

Hope to see you in a Money School class soon!

Ronni =^..^=

 Hi Everyone,

When the days are warm, I think of a  spring budget downfall for me…my garden.

 I have tried a few things to curb my garden spending:

1.  Buy perennials that will spread rather than put money in annuals.

2.  Trade cuttings with a neighbor.

3.  Check out garage sales and flea markets for good prices on plants.

4.  Don’t buy more than I can plant.

5.  SET AND KEEP TO A GARDEN BUDGET.

Please share your spring tips - or other shopping frustrations…

http://blog.pursestoportfolios.com/

Take care!

Please keep in touch,

Ronni  =^..^=

Hi Everyone!

It was great to find that some of you wrote responses to our blog.  Make sure you read how Leslie saves money on phone bills in the comments. 

This cold and sometimes icy weather is easy on my pocketbook.  Rather than run to the stores, I rather stay in where it’s warm and just hang out with my cats and read. On  the weekend, I made soup in my holiday gift crockpot.   I shared it with my neighbor who always shares her cooking with me.  Comfort food for the cold weather!

Remember Mary Caraccioli is now on at 11pm and then 11am on Channel 8/Comcast.  I love her tips and speakers.  Another way to earn  a Purses’ hour is to watch her show, write a summary with at least 3 things you learned or need to think about,  and 3 things you are going to apply to your own finances.  Send us this report when you send in your log.  Put “Money Matters Today” under course title, the date of the show, and I will initial it when I read your report.  I just read Mary’s next Pocket Change column; lots of good info!    Did I tell you that Mary is now on the Board of Directors of Delaware Financial Literacy Institute!

Stay warm.  Looking forward to seeing some of you Saturday at the Entrepreneurship Week Delaware Event at Embassy Suites.  Registration is open until 5:00pm Friday. 

Ronni  =^..^=

Hi Everyone,

Amanda has set up a new blog site for us. I hope you will check this out often and leave comments and questions.

We are working on the next issue of Pocket Change. I am looking forward to reading Mary’s tips and recipes. The subject is “sneaky ways to save money.” Do you have any unusual and successful savings tips you would like to share? Please send them along.

We are busy planning a kickoff for National Entrepreneurship Week. This will be held at Embassy Suites in Newark on Saturday, February 23. Register online for this exciting free event featuring experts on all phases of business startup. There will be $300 worth of gift cards for doorprizes. Lots of giveaways. Hope you will join us.

Purses to Portfolios has now launched in Philadelphia! Eva and I attended the kickoff event starring our own Alisha Adams. Evonne even drove up from Virginia to attend and we saw about a dozen of our Delaware Purses’ women. Treasurer’s Circle Dianne and Libby helped with registration. Please stay tuned for Philadelphia events to which you will be invited! Hours at these events count for our program and vice versa!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Ronni =^..^=