5 lessons to learn in bad economy

There are times in life when you feel that life is spiraling downwards, and you don't know  when and where the fall will end or if it ever will. The key to remember is everything ends - bad times too. It is how you survive and what lessons you learn that matters. Life is funny that way, each time you think, that you have paid your dues and learned all that you need to know, it throws you another challenge.

But like someone said to me "Remember, everyday is a blessing". The key is to survive and overcome your challenges, without getting bitter and losing your innate goodness. It is so easy to wallow in self-pity or feel vengeful , all the negative emotions that  attach to you like boulders and sink you down.

I have been through days or weeks, fostering anger, vengeance and self-pity. Anyone who has been through these emotions ( and  I believe all of us have to some extent at some point of our life), knows that it is hell on earth. These days, people all over the world are suffering from the repercussions  of bad economy - yet there is something to be gained from it. Five lessons that bad economy has taught me are :

1. Simple Living : It is so easy to get used to luxury, that before you know it , you are the slave of  the indispensable comforts. Simple living is not just about good clothes, or shoes, it also extends to food. For some of us, it is not a choice, but a necessity. Yet the simple joys give you more pleasure than anything that you will own.

2. Thinking out of the box:  When you are in your comfort zone, there is no need to change things around. Tough times calls for tough actions and lots of brainstorming.

3. Reaffirmation of Faith: Nothing tests your faith more than hardships. Only when it is pitch dark, do we feel the need to hold to the fact that dawn is around the corner. Life changes - but faith is knowing that winter is always followed by spring and believing and waiting for it with patience and love.

4.Revaluation : Endings are new beginnings.It is life, and although there is always a tinge of sadness when a chapter is closed, look forward to new challenges. Looking back, learning  from your mistakes , accepting  that you can't change it and marching on ! Life is too short or long depending on the challenges we face. The key is not to let the challenges defeat you, let all the negativity slide off you back (Wish it was easy!)

5.Change your priority : The key to survival and living life to the fullest is to welcome all challenges and change with change in circumstances. The more flexible we are in our approach to receiving all that comes our way, the easier it will be to transition to new way of living. Yet, most of us are creatures of habit and only change our perspective when forcibly pushed out of our comfort zone.It is shocking how many unnecessary "habits" attach to us in good times. The cup of java, the cable, the weekly dinners and yearly vacations, all become part of our lifestyle. Hardships teaches us what is really important in life and that the enticement of "good life" comes with a price!

5 tips to getting ready for Back to School

It’s that time of the year again – days are getting shorter, can see some leaves already changing color and of course kids and parent all having started the countdown of going back to school. The shopping frenzy for back to school is only surpassed by Christmas shopping. I don’t know about others, but for me school means its packing lunches, keeping track of grades, and early nights!



Each year the school gives a list of supplies and although I haven’t seen the list yet, I know that this year I am doing things differently. This year, instead of blindly going to the store at the last minute (it always is the last weekend for us!), I am planning ahead.





1. Take stock of all the supplies that are in good condition from last year. Over the years, the stock of erasers, crayons and markers has added up to the extent of I no longer have place to store them. This year instead of buying another set of everything for them, we are going through all that we have in good usable condition. And believe it’s a lot!

2. Make your own list. Now that you have deleted some of the items from the school list, make your own list. Kids grow up fast, especially teens. I can’t believe that my son grew out of his new pants within a month!

3. Plan ahead for the fall and winter. Make a list of full-sleeve shirts, light jackets and of course shoes. My kids grow through 4-5 pairs of shoes through the year –doesn’t matter what brand I buy. But at the rate they are going up, it doesn’t make sense for me to buy more than what is necessary right now.

4. Wait for end of the season sale . I intend to buy not more than 3-4 shirts for my kids right now. I will wait for the end of season sale to buy the rest.

5. Buy good quality backpacks and lunch kits (preferably with sections ) and you don’t have to worry about it for the rest of the year.

5 Secrets to a picture perfect house

I have one teenager and one pre-teen boy and because I was raised in a house where, things were picked up after you (India –where are maids are affordable), my sons are not too regimented. I am often amazed at how things end up where they do like for instance, when I am cleaning the house on the weekend, I will find TV remote inside the sides of the couch, pencils, erasers under the table, sock under the couch you get the picture, and papers –tons of loose ones, some flyers, some notices from school and the much hated junk mails. And not to speak of tons of shoes, just when you enter the house, in spite of having a closet and shoe rack to keep them. Some are mine and some “blessings”, neighborhood kids just hanging out!



I have been to houses that always look like they are show homes, absolutely clean and organized. The boys – including my husband, dread the “lecture “ about how the house was so much cleaner and neater than us and how everyone has to pitch in . I am not even sure if anyone listens to it anymore.



The fact remains that, I would rather have pairs of worn out shoes of different sizes greeting me, than a perfect foyer with exquisite artifact hanging on the walls. Yet, whenever I visit a perfectly organized house, I wish for my house to be picture perfect too.



Although my house is still not perfect – it never will, I am sharing some of the observations that compile the secret of a well-organized house.



1. Everyone in the family pitches in EQUALLY. This includes the kids, and the husband and all other members of the family. This is definitely not a one army show.

2. Jackets in cloakroom, shoes on shoe rack and plates in dishwasher – it is as simple as it sounds. All follow the rules of the house and use the garage to come in unlike my house, where the doors are open for all and an occasional run up the stairs is overlooked.

3. Train the kids when they are very young and be consistent, till the task becomes a habit. It’s too late for my house.

4. Plan your meals and limit your daily cooking to simple foods and stick to it. I can at times go crazy in the kitchen and end up cooking for 2 hours. At the end of two hours, I am too tired to clean up well and not to forget the disorganized pantry.

5. Most of my friends who are well-organized, also have help from outside sources like maids too – some regularly, some occasionally. Nothing like the good old strong scrub to sparkle your home.

Think before you leap - 2

I find it very amusing when people assume that just because you are self-employed or own a business, you have no financial woes. During the course of my work over the years, some of the most hard-working people I have met have been self-employed. The temptation of venturing out on your own is very alluring for most of us; you set your own timings, you are the boss etc., but like everything else in life there is a dark side to this misconception.


Firstly, the requisites for starting and owning a business doesn’t involve just money, it consumes your time and encroaches on your personal life too. Be sure your family is involved and mentally ready for what is going to be a life-style changing decision.

 Be prepared for a free fall, if you fail. There is no safety net of employment insurance, health benefits and paid vacations.


 You are on call 24/7 and responsible not just for yourself but the employees who are working for you. Be prepared to get calls after midnight – a break-in, a robbery or an employee who just didn’t turn up for work.


 Getting paid overtime is great as an employee, but not so great when you are a small business owner. Labor laws favor the employees and that’s great for people working for big corporations, but for a small business person, a raise in the minimum wage from 8$ to10.25$ can make a lot of difference.

Sustaining during slow periods of your business cycle can be challenging as well as trying to maintain your profit margins in this slow economy. Unlike a job, where if you don’t work , you might not get paid, in business, you have some obligations like rent and other bills to pay whether or not you are making any money. The responsibility can get overwhelming sometimes.

So, if you are decided to go ahead, tighten up your seat belt,sit tight and enjoy the ride- for although it can get bumpy at times, you won't know what you have missed if you don't take the chance!

Simple ways to simplify

Life has become so much more complicated now. Multi-tasking is the order of the day – not just for human beings, but also technology it is all about multitasking. A phone is not just a phone anymore – it has so many other functions, that it is amazing. I have had two senior customers coming in with a cell phone (a relatively simple and archaic one) needing help in placing a call. Its ironical the one thing that a cell phone is supposed to do, is the one that people find it hard to do.

Here are some steps to make your everyday life simple.

Make a list of things you use everyday for a week; these are the things that you “need”. For instance, I need a frying pan, a sauce pan, a pressure cooker, 5 pairs of clothes etc. The rest is all “want” and superfluous – store it in boxes for a couple of months – if you didn’t miss it, you don’t “want” it. Give it away - you will feel lighter and better.

Prepare your menu for the week. Take the list and buy grocery for the week – nothing more or less. I know it’s so much easier to buy more when you get special and discounted price for buying in bulk. Except for dry goods like rice, flour or sugar which come in bulk, the rest will only cost you more in the long run.

Purge your pantry, your closet every three months. Buy new clothes only if you are replacing old dress.

Make a list of things you can do for no money or little money- bike/walk in the park/drive and enjoy the sunset. The more you enjoy simple things, the simpler your life will be.


This is one thing I feel we all need to do. Make a list of “can’t do without “work list and a list of things that can wait or be done by others. For instance. Instead of vacuuming everyday, do it every second day - instead of cooking a full meal – make a sandwich or better ask the kids to do it. Flexibility is the key here.

Life is simple; we are the ones who complicate it. Let’s get back to basics and savor every moment without rushing and without complaining.