Simple Ways to Save a Few More Dollars

Everyone wants to save money today and with the rising costs of necessities, it is important to put aside funds for emergencies and other savings goals.

Saving money is not only depositing large sums of money into a bank account. Cost cutti

ng techniques can boost the amount of disposable income and this increases the savings potential. While it is strongly encouraged that families enjoy their earnings, it is better to minimize the amount of money that trickles out of the budget by using techniques that can increase the piggy bank's holdings.

Buy Used Items to Cut Costs

While some people frown on buying used items, a trip to the thrift store can save money. At some thrift shops, pots, coats, books, cribs, child seats, plates, silverware, clothing, telephones and many other items can be found. Persons on a tight budget can definitely benefit by saving money on the cost of buying the needed item at full price by buying used.

Walk More, Drive Less

Consider walking short distances instead of driving especially when running errands. Walking provides exercise and relieves the stress of searching for a parking space. This also saves time. Reduce spending on gas while keeping fit running errands

Pack Lunch and Snacks to Work

Fruits are the best snacks from a nutritional standpoint. Purchasing a cup with diced fruit from a deli is more expensive than one apple bought from the grocery store. In addition, packing lunch makes it easier to set budgets for grocery shopping without adding in the cost of daily lunch which can run from $6 to $15 per day.  

Use the Debit Card More Than the Credit Card

Shopping with the debit card means that when the money is deducted, it comes from the bank account. A person will pay for what was charged. With the credit card, in addition to the price of the goods, interest accrues especially if the bill is not paid up front. Some credit cards are have annual fees.

Use Energy Saving Bulbs to Save Money

Using these bulbs can definitely cut electricity bills. The initial cost may seem high but these bulbs also last longer than incandescent bulbs.

Set Realistic Savings Goals

Saving is needed for emergencies, short term goals and long term plans. Saving can be done through direct deposit or via manual deposits in the bank. When saving, it is always better to start with a realistic figure that would not push the early withdrawal of the funds. Set up a budget based on the income earned and the predictable expenses with a small contingency amount for emergencies. Based on the amount left, an amount even if it is $25 can be set for monthly deposit. Remember that $25 saved per month results in $300 in one year.

As the cost of living increases, everyone has to make changes so that all their income does not trickle out and they are able to save. Some simple techniques such as using energy saving bulbs, preparing lunch or using the credit card less can help families to save a little more. The key to saving is budgeting and seeking ways to reduce expenses.

Who is the Writer behind the Blog 'Words of Ribbon'

I keep it sweet and I keep it real. I am all about improvement and moving forward. I am also about music and simple living. I am an open book that has no Table of Contents. One page may have a picture and the other poem, while the other has a short essay. I down to earth yet complicated and I have no issue in telling you that.

I like crossword puzzles and Sudoku as much as I enjoy burying my feet in the sand at the beach. I love my children but I hate when they don't listen to me. Some days, I just can't wait for their bed time so I can just chill.

I like my job and throughout my life I have been able to tolerate most supervisors. What I don't like is micro-management because I think supervisors should trust the people they hire. I have been thrown under the bus and try to not to throw others. However, sometimes, a point needs to be made.

I keep a few friends - people who give me inspiration and who I enjoy taking to. They are awesome people who keep me on my toes and I hope I can motivate and encourage them to. I love my family and want the best for them always.

I am 'ribbon' and I love sharing these thoughts with you. I can only hope that you are truly inspired.

Why Do I Write?

Why Do I Write?

I write to express my feelings both literally and figuratively. I like to share my thoughts and writing is a great way to do that. I can pen these thoughts at any time of the day and I can choose to share them with one, a few or many. I can also decide to hold some thoughts private. I share prose, essays or articles via my blog or by email. If it's a larger issue, then I publish locally via online media or newspapers. I share poetry through local newspapers, my blog or Facebook. Some poems I share with a few friends and save those for the anthology.

Some of the writings are to provoke thought, share information or to vent about an issue. I won't call myself the best writer but I am working hard to improve myself. I find that people would try to get me to write speeches or reports because they think I like to write. I do like to write but not about what you want me to write. I write about what I want share or provoke thought about. Some writers can take any topic and write fluidly about it. I like to be able to research and know my subject and be able to share fresh information.

Would I write for money? YES, I have and will continue to do so. I would like to make money from Math, which I think I am good at but the forum has not presented itself yet. I neither want to be a Math teacher not accoutant - tutor maybe. I choose Marketing as a career choice because it is dynamic. I love a challenge but a challenge that I want to take on. I rather hate the project that you think would be good for me. I just never sign on to what others want for me.

My writing has helped me to get a better eye for editing. I stay refreshed on my grammar basics. I do my crossword puzzles as a brain teaser and now I am into Sudoku which really makes the brain work. I am all for stepping into the next level and growing as a writer and overall as a better human being.

POEM: I and You

I and You

I give you one
So you can do for the thousands
You give me promises
Far higher than our mountains
I give you trust
So that you can implement change
You take it and run
Like it’s a children’s game
I don’t ask for much
Just for vigilance, perseverance and good will
You ask for one
And yet I get no promises fulfilled
I make my choice
It is one of the few rights I have
You only listen to my voice
When you want the one that I have
I stand alone in a box
Weighing the choices before me
You stand along the sidelines
While our people live in misery and soon poverty
I, one, with many others
Have to decide our fate
You and a few others
Want to eat all the cake
I, one, with many others
Have to decide our fate
Because it might not be you
Who we let into the gates

© Linette Rabsatt
March 27, 2011, VI

Coping with the Rationing or Shortage of Water

Living with the lack of or limited use of water is a harsh reality but there are ways to maintain your family by conserving water daily.

When the supply of water to our homes for drinking, bathing, cleaning and laundry is rationed, it is not easy to cope at first. However, we need to be proactive by adjusting our schedules to utilize water when it is available and we should seek ways to conserve water while being able to stay within our budgets.

Availability of Water is a Worldwide Problem

The availability of water for domestic use is affected by climate change and the rate of our usage among other factors. Because we have not been conserving this most precious element, some countries face water shortages and rationing to keep their reservoirs from running empty. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in an October 25, 2007 Press Release title "Planet's Tougher Problems Persist, UN Report Warns", "Fresh water is declining: by 2025, water use is predicted to have risen by 50 per cent in developing countries and by 18 per cent in the developed world". The Release further shares that "The escalating burden of water demand will become intolerable in water-scarce countries".

Tips for Coping with Rationing and Shortages of Water

For persons who cannot afford elaborate water systems and who do not have cisterns, adequate planning and conservation techniques are essential for a comfortable survival when the water supply's pressure is low or off. Problems with water supply can also occur when there is natural disaster such as a hurricane, earthquake or tornado so it is important to know tips for managing.

• Store Water for Cleaning and Bathing: When your public water is flowing, then it is a good time to store water in one-gallon or five-gallon containers or buckets but work with containers that can be covered to avoid mosquitoes breeding. Available for a little more cost are larger water tanks that can store 250 gallons and more. Use the best storage device based on where you live and your storage capacity. If you have a cistern, you can always use the tap water to fill it.
• Use Dish Pans to Wash and Rinse Dishes: It is helpful to use one or two dish pans in the kitchen sink when washing dishes. You can always recycle the rinsing water to wash the next set of dishes. Another helpful tip is to clear all dishes of bones and scraps before washing so that the washing water is not as dingy.
• Clean and Do Laundry When the Water is On: Some Governments may opt to share a rationing schedule when reservoirs are running low so plan chores and do laundry when the water is on. Also make sure that the toilet tank is full and a bucket is kept to flush the toilet when the tank is emptied.
• Use Easy Cleaning Solutions: Disinfectant wipes can do easy and quick clean up when the water supply is running low. Swifters and other such mops can also be helpful to keep the floors clean.
• Conserving Water in the Shower: While personal hygiene cannot be comprised, consider using less water by bathing with a sponge or washrag to apply soap to your body and then rinse off your entire body at one time.
• Conserving Water in the Garden: If your plants are suffering from the lack of water, you can implement a simple drip irrigation system that you run in the morning or late evening. You can also opt to grow plants that do not require a lot of water to survive or hardy plants that can days without water.

It is not easy dealing with the lack of water in the home, but with the global consumption of water and the bleak outlook for the future, if we do not start to seriously conserve our water resources, we will have no choice but to cope with water shortages.

Fun Hair Accessories for Girls: Barrettes, Ponytails & Ribbons

Dress up your daughter's hair with ponytails, barrettes and ribbons. These fun hair accessories can add flavor to your daughter's outfit at little cost.

Parents always want their daughters to look their best from head to toe. A pretty outfit with matching shoes looks great but adding some fun accessories to a child's hair can make her feel prettier. Simple accessories like hair clips, ponytail holders and ribbons are inexpensive and are a staple in little girls' hair in the Virgin Islands and Caribbean. These fun accessories can work even if your daughter's hair is naturally straight or tight-curled. Hair clips or barrettes, ponytail holders and ribbons can also be added to braided hair and for special occasions like a Christmas program, graduation or a wedding. While it is important to make your daughter look great, be mindful that some accessories can be harmful to your daughter's hair.

Hair Clips are Colorful and Fun

Hair clips or barrettes are nice for little girls because these items come in a wide range of colors and sizes. Some hair clips are more designed for the tip of a plait or braid where the hair is not as thick or f or straight hair. There are also larger hair clips that are designed for thicker or tight-curled hair.

Ponytail Holders & Scrunchies are Great to Hold Hair

Ponytails and scrunchies also are fun accessories because they can hold an entire head of hair or can make it easy to divide the hair in smaller sections with several ponytails. Do note that rubber bands and ponytail holders can pull at the hair and cause it to break. Ponytail holders, if pulled too tight very often, can cause the hairline to recede.

Ribbons Add the Extra Flavor to a Little Girl's Hair

Ribbons are very cheap accessories which also are available in an assortment of colors. Ribbons are not as harsh as other accessories because they can be easily slackened to relieve tightness. Ribbons are available in a variety of widths but it is best to choose your daughter's ribbons based on her age and size and for the function she's attending. A good length for a child's ribbon is between 16 to 24 inches. The shorter ribbons are best for the toddlers and the longer ribbons for the older girls.

Tips for Girl's Hair Accessories

Look for rubber bands with satin or nylon over the elastic and plastic clips/barrettes with smooth teeth. Also, try not to overburden your child's hair with too many accessories to make her look like a Christmas tree. For example, if your daughter's hair has ten ponytails, then a ribbon is not needed for every bubble.

A Note on Hair Beads

Hair beads are not the best hair accessory for infants and toddlers. The beads could fall out and a child may swallow one. Also if time is not taken to remove the beads from the hair, this could also lead to breakage.

Parents have to ensure that their little girl's hair is properly moisturized and note that it may be better to remove accessories before your child goes to sleep in the evenings. Also, be mindful of your daughter's age because as girls mature, they tend not to want too many ponytails, clips or ribbons in their hair. Have fun with ponytail holders, barrettes and ribbons to make your little girl's hair look great.

Why can't we all get along...

I sometimes wonder why we humans can't get along. Vices like greed, jealousy and resentment may be the cause. Some of us like to see our brother kept down, while other do their best to keep that brother down. It is sad that we have to live like this especially when times are so volatile.

We have a duty to be good to each other and to be our 'brother's keeper'. We don't have to be pushovers or floor mats but we have to be good to each other. We have to respect each other and instead of laying traps for one another. We need to set positive examples and encourage one another in the right things.

Congratulate your brother or sister for making a good decision or for being promoted. Show appreciation when someone shows that they have your back. Let us reflect on the good and also on the bad because the bad things that happen are life lesssons for us.

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Tenor Saw - Run Come Call Me

This is awesome reggae song from the 1980s. I love the lyrics because sometimes that's how I feel - if you call me to do work, offer an incentive! It's not every time you look for money when you assist someone, but in some cases, it's better to offer so that one can refuse.

This is for...the Poet in Me and You - World Poetry Day on March 21

Poetry

Not poorly written
no specific etiquette needed
it's in me
and it's in you
it's easy and yet so complicated
it's the way I rhyme
sublime
in time
like sour limes
my words
are for everyone
to lift you up
or to break you down
your choice
it's all in the interpretation
it's your perception
it's my conception
when I write
I'm in a new dimension
no longer in suspension
but giving full attention
to the pen
 
© Linette Rabsatt
Happy World Poetry Day!

March 21 Commemorates World Poetry Day: Celebrating Poets, Poetry and the Impact on the World

UNESCO founded World Poetry Day to emphasize the importance of poets and poetry to the world. Poetry serves as a source of inspiration for many people.

Poetry plays an important role in everyday life because it is one of the creative arts that the average person can take part in to express themselves. Poetry dates back to the Holy Bible and to ancient hymns and then to notable figures such as William Shakespeare and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and in latter days, poets such as Langston Hughes, Pablo Neruda and Louise Bennet. In more recent times, Tupac Shakur and now Maya Angelou have enlightened various audiences and have performed poetry in movies. Of note, poet Elizabeth Alexander performed a poem at President Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20, 2009.

UNESCO's Commemoration of World Poetry Day

In November 1999, the United Nations Educational Scientific CulturalOrganization (UNESCO) proclaimed March 21 as World Poetry Day. UNESCO saw the importance of poetry to the world and as one of the major organizations that focuses on culture, World Poetry Day was officially commemorated to celebrate the work of poets. According to UNESCO, World Poetry Day "is meant to support poetry, return to the oral tradition of poetry recitals, promote teaching poetry, restore a dialogue between poetry and the other arts such as theatre, dance, music, painting and so on, support small publishers and create an attractive image of poetry in the media so that the art of poetry will no longer be considered an outdated form of art but one".

An excerpt from the Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of World Poetry Day 2010 reads "On this World Poetry Day 2010, let us recall that poetry is a universal country in which peoples may meet through words of all colors, rhythms and musicality". **World Poetry Day in the Caribbean** UNESCO is an organization that touches every region in the world including the Caribbean. While each member country may not recognize every UNESCO commemoration, some countries host ceremonies or other activities in recognition of days such as World Poetry Day. In Guyana, according to Stabroek News, World Poetry Day was celebrated with a poetry event at the Umana Yana on Tuesday March 23, 2010.

The event was hosted by the Guyana Department of Culture in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. In the British Virgin Islands, the Callaloo Poets hosted their second annual poetry competition in 2010 for the territory's school children themed "How Can I Be A Good Role Model" and also a poetry reading which featured local poets and the students who competed in the competition. Such activities - an official message, a poetry reading or a poetry competition are used to promote the reading and writing of poetry to the community.

A Poet's Voice

Katherine Irish is a poet hailing from the Caribbean and a member of the aforementioned Callaloo Poets. Katherine started writing early at age 14. She sees poetry as a way of expressing herself through writing rather than verbally and as an excellent way to share her thoughts and feelings with others. According to Katherine, poetry is "an escape from everyday life (and) a way to let her imagination work". When asked what World Poetry Day meant to her, she stated that it is a time where poetry, the artform and the artistes are recognized and have the opportunity to showcase their work. Katherine commented that poetry is a source of inspiration and a dynamic artform that can be incorporated with other artforms - dance, song and drama. She added that poetry should be taken seriously because just like writing a book and relating a story, a story can be told through a poem. 

March 21 marks a significant date in the celebration of the cultural artform of poetry. Poets are the songwriters, greeting card writers and the new nursery rhyme writers. Poetry lets people express themselves and gives them the opportunity to inspire others positively. UNESCO's decision to celebrate World Poetry Day is an indication of the international level of support and recognition for this artform and its significant impacts on the world yesterday, today and also for the future.

Monday, March 21, 2011 is World Poetry Day!

Monday, March 21, 2011 is World Poetry Day!


Cultivation

my reach needs an extension
to make the connection in reaction
to the love in existence
and the brilliance of a million
smiles and reactions that produce
alive passion that fashions
inside and cultivates outside
lies trembling beside and stimulates
the fireside
on the bright side
a poem compiled
with the happy tears I
cried
a walk in the
countryside
a relaxing morning ride
fashions my inside
and cultivates my outside

© Linette Rabsatt

How Do You Deal with Opportunity or Obstacles

Life can present challenges daily. However, it’s how we handle the challenges. Do we run from obstacles or do we face them head on? There will always be difficult decisions to be made and hard struggles to overcome. It’s your outlook on life and how quickly you can recover from a particular fall.

What I have noticed is that money really causes fall out between people. Most challenges, issues, bickering etc stem out of money problems. If your cousin is trying to sell all the family land without permission, he most likely needs money or is just greedy. Sometimes we need money because we want to keep up with other people who seem to be doing well. Remember, most people are not doing as well as they may seem to. It’s all a façade to give the impression that things are so great when they are not.

Why do we have to pretend to be doing better than we actually are? Is it fair for us to set our course in life by trying to impress others? I would not say that I wouldn’t want to be a role model for others, but I have to live according to what God gives me and by using the intellect that he has blessed me with. I like finding new opportunities that fit well within my niche.

For example, writing for Suite101 is an absolute pleasure for me. I can write on varied topics and about the things I love and enjoy. The income was not so much a factor for me but every little bit counts. I wanted to build a repertoire of writings and I am able to make some pocket change at the same time.

On the other hand, I face obstacles and problems in everyday life – with my family, on the job and sometimes by just walking down the street. In some cases, I write people off. When you are cut off from me, you are truly severed. I may not curse and fight but you’ll be shut off. The people I curse and fuss with are the ones is many cases the ones that I value. I know it’s odd but sometimes they are the ones I really need to listen to or the ones who may need to listen to me.

However you choose to live your life is your businesses but I will live mine the best way I can. I never want to be rich but I would like to be comfortable in having the basic amenities. I don’t need to go to the club or the movies to prove to you that I can hang if I know I can’t afford to put dinner on the table for the children.

It’s how you live, take opportunity and face challenges that makes your definition.

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What Do My Words Count For?

What is my opinion really worth? I may feel that it is priceless while others think that it’s irrelevant. Some may not listen or if they do listen, they still may disregard the ideas.

I would not say that I am an authority on any subject. I do not have a PHD but I keep an open mind and open ear to new things. I relish in the politics of the BVI and USVI and I have an interest in agricultural development. I love my family even though I’ll be one of the parents who will honestly say that I love when my children retire for the night. I love writing articles and poetry and have opinions on tourism in the BVI. I also love music and have written several articles about R&B and reggae albums.

However, I am still not an expert nor can I say that I proficiently know these topics. I can continue to monitor, document and analyze changes in each genre. I can also read more and get involved in the activities that are relevant to my growth in the subject area.

Will that make me have an expert opinion on any topic? It may or may not. I actually don’t want to be an expert but instead a catalyst for positive change. As it says in Psalms 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

I hope that my words are and continue to be a source of inspiration and information sharing.

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POEM: Subtle

It started with a smile
a quiet blushed grin
a soft chuckle
and this opened the door
because he retorted with a wink
the eye glance that touched her heart
amazing that such subtle communication
can radiate such powerful energy
A "Hi" with no flick of the tongue
a "Hey Love" without mouth movement
just eye glances and mouth curling
that exchanged the message - the interest
there was no contemplation
or no hestitation
just love in actions
love without fractions

in subtle communication...