The Economy Stinks

Pets are expensive. No doubt about it. A Washington Post article offers tips to make being a pet owner a less costly venture. Here are some additional tips for Wichita-area pet lovers from Wichita Paws, The Eagle’s pet Web site:

• The trend of adopting pets is up nationally as would-be pet owners combine their love for animals with their desire to watch their wallets. Find out about local animals available for adoption.
• Consider checking out the Spay-Neuter Kansas clinic at 319 S. Hydraulic. It offers low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for pets whose owners meet low-income guidelines ($40,000 a year or less). Surgery costs are $30 for cats and $40 for dogs ($45 to spay a large female dog).
• Watch for affordable pet-related local events. A new cat show coming to Wichita, for example, costs $5 or less to attend, depending on your age and affiliation with the aircraft industry or military. The KansasKatz show is May 23 and 24 at Beech Activity Center. Click here for additional details.

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling this week put out a press release with these 10 tips to help consumers get their finances in order:

1. Open bills the day they arrive.
2. Review credit card statements thoroughly each month.
3. Pay bills on time.
4. Record each check and ATM withdrawal.
5. Don’t max out credit cards.
6. Track spending and know where money goes.
7. Have at least a month’s income available for emergencies.
8. Have three to six month’s income saved in case you lose your job.
9. Review your insurance each year to make sure you’re not over- or under-insured.
10. Have plan for tomorrow — and follow through.

Those looking to cut unnecessary spending from their budgets likely have considered getting rid of cable TV altogether. The San Jose Mercury News raises a few questions you should ask yourself first, including:

• Are your favorite TV shows available online? Are they in high definition?
• When are the shows or movies available? The article points out that Web sites like Hulu offer only the most recent episodes.
• Are you able to find the videos you want for free?

The bottom line is making a decision that’ll save you money … not one that will force you to incur unexpected costs.

A Washington Post article offers interesting suggestions for those faced with the potentially awkward task of talking with their employer about a severance agreement after a layoff.

The article says to consider all benefits, including health coverage, unused vacation time and help finding a new job.

Bottom line? Don’t hesitate to negotiate.

Andi Alexander, a Goddard High senior and intern for The Eagle’s features department, wrote a column about how she turned curtains into a couture dress for a school dance.

Andi, who hopes to pursue a career as a fashion stylist, makes resourcefulness look good.

I’m reminded a bit of the scene from “The Sound of Music” when Maria makes dresses and outfits from print curtains for all of the Von Trapp children. Nearly 45 years later, the idea is still appealing.  Andi’s dress looks much more chic than Leisl’s, don’t you think?

If you don’t have the design skills but love the idea of transforming something you already own into a fashion statement, check out the book “Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt”.