To Spend Or To Save?

When the economy went into the gutter, Americans were suddenly admonished by pundits on television and columnists writing for our favorite papers and magazines that we were irresponsible. As individuals we had way too much debt. We all know that people bought houses they couldn't afford. Oh yeah, and those savings for a rainy day didn't exist. We couldn't bail ourselves out.

So, there was a new mantra. Save! Hunker down and conserve some cash.

It actually worked. According to a Newsweek article this month Americans saved 5 percent of disposable personal income in January, up from 0.4 percent in the forth quarter of 2007. If you ask me, that's good news.

But, guess what -- a few months have passed and I just got a new memo. "Stop Saving Now!" At least, that's one magazine's cover story this week. What? In just three short months have we saved all the money we'll need? Have we managed to dig ourselves out of debt? Has the foreclosure crisis been resolved? No...No...and No.

Okay, I get it. In order to keep the economy running we do need to spend money. We need to invest in new ideas, in new businesses, and in the stock market. True to our tradition as Americans, I don't think we'll stop spending. Some entrepreneurs will recognize the opportunities and the deals that exist in a down economy. We're still wounded, but we'll come around.

When we do though, I want us to remember some of the lessons we've learned. Being thrifty is okay and saving is smart. I bet more people today are balancing their bank accounts and budgeting their finances. Those are good habits! Dealing with a layoff, maybe families are realizing the importance of having an emergency fund and having 3 to 6 months of expenses stashed away. If they didn't have that money this time, I hope they will the next time there's a bump in the road.

On a smaller scale, shoppers are doing some research and hunting for the best price. Maybe you're using coupons at the grocery store or buying the store brand. Or, it could be we're just practicing a little self restraint. If I have 10 purses in my closet, do I really need a new one? Must I have the cell phone plan with a gazillion minutes or the premium cable channels? Maybe you want all of those things. I'm finding, it's okay to do without some luxuries. I also plan on continuing without some of those luxuries when we're all flying high again.

So, what will I do with the extra money? Save! I'll save for a rainy day, for retirement, for a house. I've always been a bit of a saver. Even as a child, I clung to the gifts I got for my birthday. It's just my nature.

But, that's okay. I'll be spending too. After all, I'm saving up for something. And, here's the best part...I'll be able to afford it.

Spring Is In The Air

Can you smell it? It's the delicious smell of Spring. Fresh cut grass and freshly planted flowers. Yes, even sunshine has a smell. Yesterday was our first true taste of my favorite season. The sun came out and warmed up the city to a perfect 72 degrees.

Yes, I know March has a bit more Winter in store for us. Already, we're 10 degrees cooler today, and by Friday there will be highs in the 40's. In fact, Spring hasn't officially started. But, the anticipation has me feeling giddy.

Every year I find the first few warm days of Spring truly uplifting. They are a sign of wonderful things to come. There are the simple joys like wearing shorts and setting my feet free in some sandals. Plus, I love those days in the park reading a book while enjoying the sunshine. Then there are the annual traditions that stretch into the Summer. I know at least once I'll don my bathing suit and pretend I'm ten years younger by screaming and shouting as I careen down a slide at the water park. I know I'll hop in a canoe to watch the wildlife as we float on by. I know I'll celebrate my birthday and my husband's birthday. In my eyes, both should be national holidays!

Somehow, even chores become more fun. Suddenly washing your car seems like a good idea. I've noticed neighbors are anxious to do yardwork and tend to their gardens. Walk down the street and you're sure to see someone cleaning out a garage or fixing a bicycle in the driveway. It's tolerable, even enjoyable, simply because it's a beautiful day.

There is no doubt in my mind that a healthy dose of sunshine and warm weather can lift your spirits. It works on me everytime.

Bottle Up That Travel Feeling

If I just close my eyes I can hear the roll of the surf on a white sand beach. I can smell that fresh sun scorched air with a hint of suntan lotion. I can feel the salt spray of the ocean. Seagulls are squawking. When the sun comes out from behind a cotton candy cloud, it's so warm it gives you goosebumps. Let's pretend we're in the Caribbean -- so the water is that beautiful teal color. The first time I saw that water, I was smiling ear to ear.

It's not just the beach that I love, it's travel. I will go anywhere and I want to go everywhere. I want to see the pyramids in Egypt, the Coliseum in Rome, and skyscrapers in Hong Kong. Yes, the beach (any beach) is also a wonderful destination. The idea of it makes me smile. The desire to get up and go practically makes me salivate. Seriously, my mouth is watering.

It's not about time off or even about relaxing. It's about seeing new parts of the world and experiencing new cultures. It's about having fun and meeting new people. It's the weather, the language, the sights you've seen so many times before in books or on television.

Four months ago I was lucky enough to honeymoon in Costa Rica. It was so tropical, lush and green. The landscape was wild and it was beautiful. I think of that trip as an adventure. My husband and I went whitewater rafting, deep sea fishing, and zip-lining through the rain forest. We went horseback riding, hiked to waterfalls, and sat in hot mud pits heated by the center of the earth. Outside of La Fortuna, we had such an incredible view of the Arenal Volcano from our hotel window, it was breathtaking. The still active volcano would spit red lava and hot rocks daily. That made for quite a show at night -- in fact that was the nightlife -- just watching the volcano. The Costa Rican people were incredibly friendly. Anytime I made use of my rusty high school Spanish, they were excited and even encouraged the exchanges. Instead of being self-conscious that I was butchering their language, I looked for more opportunities to learn. The trip was both exciting and peaceful. It provoked emotions and sensations that should be bottled up. I would pay a pretty penny to spray myself with that type of contentment daily.

Next week, I'll be fantasizing about travel again. I'm interviewing a travel agent about all of the amazing deals that are up for grabs in a poor economy. To fill up hotel rooms and cruise ships, it becomes necessary to offer adventure at a cheaper price. This could be the chance to take the trip of your dreams! Of course you still need to do your research, to shop around. Consider all-inclusive resorts. If you're spontaneous and are willing to travel at the last minute, you can really save some dough. Or, just open yourself up to some new travel destinations.

So often I'm reporting on the woes of the poor economy, I figured this time I would focus on the bright spot. That's right, there's always a bright spot. I may not be booking a trip with the travel agent next week, but you can bet I'll be smelling the surf and fantasizing about the contentment that only a great trip can bring.

Learn More About Costa Rica!

http://www.microsites.visitcostarica.com/

http://www.tourism.co.cr/

The White Death

Have you heard of the "White Death?" If you're buried in snow right now, you know exactly what it is. In news, we joke about the name, because our coverage can be a little overboard. Let's be honest -- we behave like the sky is falling. Take cover! But, people do watch. Viewership on snow days is off the charts. People want to know the forecast. When is the snow going to start? When is it going to end? How are the road conditions? Can I get to work/school/daycare/grocery store?

I use to think the high level of concern was absurd. It's only snow, people! That was until last month when I made the news. It was the first decent snowfall of the season, and I was involved in one of the first car accidents of the day. It was terrifying. I was on the interstate and suddenly my car fishtailed. I tried to gain control of the car. It didn't work and I remember feeling disbelief -- knowing I was going to get in an accident. I hoped my car wouldn't flip, but somehow I knew it was going to happen. In a matter of seconds, my car spun out of the center lane, slammed into an embankment and then flipped over landing on its top. I was hanging upside down thanks to my seat belt. The roof was crushed, the windshield and windows had exploded into bits of glass. There was a strong smell of gas.

I wiggled my toes and my fingers, taking stock of each and every body part in 30 seconds and then breathed a sigh of relief. I was okay. I was okay! My next thought was finding my cell phone -- no luck. Later I would find my bag pinned underneath the car. I still don't know how that's possible -- did it fly out of a window before the car flipped? In the end -- I crawled out of the car and got the help I needed thanks to a good samaritan. Days followed of neck and back aches, dizziness and vomiting. A week later I was as good as new.

Something still isn't right, though. Driving is different. I'm a little nervous, and that means I'm more cautious. Oh, and snow sparks a new reaction. I drive like I'm 85 years old. Yes, when you see the slow-poke going 20 mph in the right lane -- it could be me. I'm also yelling at you -- calling you names that essentially mean I think you're driving too fast and being irresponsible!

So, the snow is a big deal. Maybe the sky isn't falling, but it has taken on a different meaning for me. As a child it was snow days and sledding. It was wonderful. As a reporter it became long days and a dozen live shots out in the cold. It was a nuisance. Now, it's intimidating. It's a reminder of how lucky I was to walk away from a horrible car accident. It also means I'm ready for Spring.

Can I Have Your Autograph, Please?

Yes, I've been asked for my autograph. I'm not bragging. Actually, I'm amazed. I may be on TV, but I'm certainly not a celebrity. In fact, most people who ask for my autograph don't even know my name.

So, why ask? Well, I'll make a confession now. The only people who actually ask for my autograph are children...usually very young ones.

So, lets review. These "fans" probably don't watch the news, they're under the age of ten, and they don't know my name. But...to them I am the "news lady." I love that title. When I started reporting more than six years ago, I was fascinated how so many people would refer to me as the news lady. I'm not Lauren, I'm not a reporter or journalist, or even 'hey you' -- I am the "news lady." By the way, that's the same title the adults use. So, for my "fans" that's all they need to know, because being the news lady means I carry a microphone and I'm on TV. For them, that's pretty cool.

Recently, I was bombarded by a pack of these fans while they were waiting at the bus stop. I was actually in the neighborhood for a vacant house fire with no injuries. These children saw the fire trucks and the crews in action, and then the TV crews showed up. Well, you can imagine their excitement! I was quickly surrounded and a dozen questions were fired my direction: "Why are you here?" "What happened?" "Is that your microphone?" "Is it on?" "Can I talk in the microphone?" In between, there are random comments as well. For example: "I'm going on a school trip today" or "I have a pet goldfish." And then...a young girl extends a pad and a pencil and asks for my autograph.

At that moment, I feel ridiculous. I know she doesn't know who I am -- but I always sign, because I think it would be more ridiculous not to. After all, she had the guts to fish out her pink pad and pencil and ask me with a sweet smile. And the truth is, I'm a little bit flattered. So what if she's eight years old. She thinks I'm cool!

Quite often when I show up on the scene, people aren't happy to see me. I've been yelled at, called a variety of names, threatened, and worse. So, I guess if I give out an autograph that's a pretty good day at work.

Fire Season -- Be Smart & Stay Safe

The roar of the sirens.
The flashing lights that illuminate an entire street.
Broken out and blackened windows.
Flames licking at the rooftop.
The smell of smoke hangs in the air.
The organized chaos of trucks, dozens of firefighters, and what looks like miles of fire hose.
It's another house fire -- striking in the middle of the night.

That's the scene I've been witnessing all too often. If you've been tuning into Local 12 in the mornings, then you've noticed I've been at several fire scenes; all of them catastrophic for different reasons. One devastating fire took the lives of three young children, shaking up the Lower Price Hill community. In most other cases there's been no loss of life, but in the midst of the holiday season people have lost their homes and everything inside.

It's the season for fires. Why?

Well, this year the economy may actually be playing a role. People strapped for cash decide not to turn up the heat, but rather to turn up the oven and leave the door open. It's a desperate act, and it's very dangerous. Then you have the Christmas trees that pose a hazard. Remember to turn off those lights overnight or when you leave the house. Plenty of cinnamon, evergreen, or Christmas cookie candles are burning this season -- just one more fire hazard to worry about. It sounds like common sense, but then again, so does having a smoke detector. You might be surprised to see how many fires I cover where there are no smoke detectors in place. Get a smoke detector -- that's an order! Here's the best part, it's easy and could be free. Call up your local fire department; most will provide the fire detector for free and will even come out to your home and install it. Trust me, they don't want to come to your home for any other reason

My last bit of advice -- get insurance. For any homeowner, I'm sure your mortgage company requires it. That means this really applies to renters. I can speak from experience here -- it's relatively cheap -- about $100 a year. Now, I'll be honest, I always knew having renter's insurance was the smart thing to do. Yet, I was a renter for five years before I got a policy! What was I thinking? Finally, a complex I moved into made the job easy on me and required a policy to move in. I am grateful that they gave me a kick in the rear. Loosing everything in a fire would be traumatic no matter what. Not having the money to get back on your feet sounds like an unimaginable challenge.

So, I'll step off my soap box now :) I'm just hoping we can cut fire season short this year.

Thanksgiving Brings Good News

Often times I hear that the "news" is nothing but bad news. Unfortunately, even the bad news needs coverage. No one is excited about the state of our economy, but we can't ignore it. It warrants plenty of news coverage, even if it makes you want to hide under a blanket! That being said, I love Thanksgiving because it's a time to search for a positive, uplifting story. That's been my mission this week. After bugging my co-workers for their input, it finally came together today.

Thursday morning I will profile a Cincinnati family with a new family member -- their adopted 17-year-old son, Anthony. When you think adoption, you likely think of infants finding a good home. Well, that's what makes this story unique. Although most adoptive parents are in search of newborns, most of the children you can adopt through the Department of Jobs & Family Services are older than ten. Not to mention, these are children who've had to grow up much too fast; they're victims of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. They're the children who desperately need love, and yet you can imagine, it's much harder for them to find a loving home.

But, Anthony's story has a happy ending. He was a foster child who found a loving home six years ago. Last week, he was adopted by his foster family. Mom, Veronica, can't wait to tell their story. She has such a tremendous love in her heart for her son, and she's hoping their story will inspire others to foster children. On the phone, she was already bragging how Anthony is making straight A's -- a very proud parent indeed! Tomorrow I meet Veronica and Anthony, and I can't wait to introduce them to the Queen City. A little inspiration can go along way -- especially on Thanksgiving.