Says Jennifer Sarihan. Energetic and Positive That It’S Easy to See 5

Jan./Feb. 2005 Vol. 4, No. 1 $3.95 It’s AD VISABLE MAKING The Magazine for Women Who Need to VERTISE Dough AD ™BREAD SPECIAL REPORT Do the Credit THE Bureaus Have Too Much BEST Power? BUSINESS FOR WHY in MAKING BREAD! TEMPING STAY- IS SO TEMPTING AT- A CAUTIONARY HOME Call Publisher TALE Reggie Owens MOMS at 215-670-2470 MEET THE INVENT-HERS! TO FIND OUT WHY Women Creating Products That Make YOU CAN’T AFFORD Our Lives Easier NOT TO! I Graduated— TAX MOVES NOW WHAT? TO MAKE Surviving Post-College Making Bread Magazine BEFORE THE 1528 Walnut Street, Suite 1925 Stress Syndrome Philadelphia, PA 19102 DAFFODILS BLOOM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2005 ISSUE CONTENTSCONTENTS MAKINGMAKING BREADBREAD “Great Reading—Without the Ink Smudges & Paper Cuts!” THE MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN WHO NEED DOUGH ™

Museums We Love: On page 11, MAKING BREAD celebrates women’s art through the ages. FEATURES DEPARTMENTS TIP BANK $aving & $pending: Page 4 BIZ WHIZ Editor’s Note...... Page 2 ...... Repeat After Me: Tax Moves to Make We Heard It Through the Grapevine ...... Page 26 I Heart Myself Before the Daffodils Bloom Vintage Advice from a Savvy Businesswoman Who Has Found Wonderful Ways to Help Other Women Female Finance...... Page 20 Cheap & Easy Eats:...... Page 6 Comforting Desserts to Get By Sharon Sorokin James Seeing Red? What to Do If You Suspect You Through the Winter CHOICE CAREER Wage Discrimination By Elizabeth Lewin Success Guide:...... Page 8 More Powerful Than Page 26 How to Survive Rejection a Kung Fu Master!...... Page 30 The Working and Come Out a Winner Mom’s Shrink...... Page 24 Selling Financial Protection Can Be a Very Rewarding Profession Loafing:...... Page 11 By Allison Acken, Ph.D. New Year’s Resolutions to Help You Stay Sane in 2005 Cheap Dates: Museums We Love, By Marcia Eckerd, Ph.D. Because They Love Us Back The Best Business for Stay-at-Home Moms...... Page 34 Cheap Chic: Page 14 By Caring for Other Mothers’ Kids, Daycare Providers Funny Business...... Page 64 ...... It’s Holiday Shopping Purse Essentials: Cut Down Are Finding They Can Afford to Stay Home with Their Own on Cosmetics Clutter By Elizabeth Kaminsky Pay-Back Time! By Jane Resnick Page 4 Health = Wealth:...... Page 16 Do the Credit Bureaus How’s Your New Year’s Diet Have Too Much Power Coming? Tips to Help You Page 46 Meet Your Goals Over Us?...... Page 40 Page 18 A Special Report on the Page 6 Page 52 Three Companies That Track Our Spending and COMING SOON Blll-Paying Habits I Was a Paper Trader: Learning the Stock Market Page 34 • By Elizabeth Lewin Without Losing a Dime • Consumer Guide: The Best Bank for You Oh, My God, I Ate a Marc Jacobs Bag!...... Page 46 • Hot (Affordable) Housing Trends for Singles How to Deal with Touchy-Feely Bosses, Spend Less, • Bach’s Back: An Interview with Author David Bach Fight for Fair Pay . . . and Other Money Lessons Learned About His New Book, “Start Late, Finish Rich” During My First Year Out of College By Amber Fairweather PLUS • Why Some of Us Wait So Long to Take Money Seriously It’s the Temping Life for Me!...... Page 52 • No 401(k), No Problem: A Retirement Plan for the Rest of Us Why One Woman Prefers the Impermanence of Job Shifting AND don’t miss the SUBSCRIBER SPECIAL, available now on By Laurie M. Lesser www.makingbreadmagazine.com. Free to all magazine subscribers. Meet the Invent-Hers...... Page 58 These Women Are Creating Products That SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS As an added benefit, subscribers to MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE will automatically receive access to the PREMIUM Make Our Lives Easier content on www.makingbreadmagazine.com. The link to access all the savvy, sassy success stories and expert advice set aside for subscribers online will be e-mailed to you when we receive your payment. For more information, or to Clockwise from top right: courtesy of Olympic Cellars Winery; photo by Jeanne Rankin; courtesy of Laurie top right: courtesy of Olympic Cellars Winery; Clockwise from Monosoff; photo by Creatas/ITM. Lesser; courtesy of Tamara Vision Cover: Creatas/Digital Stock Free. By Allison Acken, Ph.D. request your link, e-mail [email protected]. Page 58 www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 1 we offer advice on what you can do if you suspect This bi-monthly e-zine is a publication of EDITOR’SEDITOR’S NOTENOTE wage and other types of discrimination on the job— MAKING BREAD: The Magazine for Women Who Need Dough (www.makingbreadmagazine.com). advice that seems particularly timely, given recent The pun in the title is definitely intended, reflecting the spirited approach we’ll be taking in delivering remarks made by Harvard’s president, Lawrence the information you need to help you make the Summers. Speaking at a seminar in January, he sug- most of your money. While poking fun at lingering REPEAT AFTER ME: stereotypes about purse strings and apron strings, gested that women might not succeed in math and we aim to inform, explore, challenge, and change science because of their DNA, and that one reason your attitudes about money. And entertain you in I HEART MYSELF the bargain! Read MAKING BREAD—and you’ll be there are relatively few women in faculty positions in rolling in dough! the math, science, and technology fields is that women GUIDING SPIRIT: Nina Newhart Why We Should All choose not to devote long hours to their jobs. On our EDITORIAL STAFF Tap into Our Inner Lucy Founding Editor: Gail Harlow Like Lucy, some enterprising moms are Art Director: Carole Wible finding ways to have their candy and eat it, Executive Editor: Victoria Secunda too. In ‘The Best Business for Stay-at-Home Associate Editor: Jennifer Vishnevsky used to love to watch I Love Lucy reruns that everything, from how to deal with Moms’ and ‘Meet the Invent-Hers,’ Contributing Editors: Allison Acken, Ph.D., Marcia Eckerd, Ph.D., Patricia Schiff Estess, with my mother—a madcap, stay-at- touchy-feely bosses to how to ask for fair we profile a few of them. JoAnn R. Hines, Elizabeth Kaminsky, I home mom much like the madcap, red- pay, to—most important of all—figuring out Elizabeth Lewin, Rosemary Rys, Nissa Simon, headed protagonist in that vintage series. what she wants to do with her life, deep Sharon Sorokin James While editing this issue, I stumbled upon a down, she really did know all along. Web site, we regularly “Toast” good words and deeds BUSINESS STAFF quote by Lucille Ball, and now I know why I In “It’s the Temping Life for Me!” Laurie and bestow “Burnt Toast” to bad. Burnt Toast hereby Publisher: Reginald R. Owens always loved Lucy. “You really have to love M. Lesser describes her battle to remain “free extended to Summers for his remarks. Executive Vice President, Publishing: yourself to get anything done in this world,” of the drudgery of a routine, 9-to-5 life . . . How do we spend the 76 cents for every dollar André Vanterpool Ball once said. The meaning of my life was the time off in men earn? “The pigeons are coming home to roost. Vice President, Advertising Sales: The fact that Lucy loved herself proba- between jobs,” she says. Now, however, fac- Watch out for their droppings,” warns our “Funny Charles Allen bly was a big reason why everyone loved ing the big 5-0, she also has to face the fact Business” columnist, Jane Resnick, in a piece that will Vice President, Technology: Lucy—the show and the star. Her self-confi- that she has little money saved for retirement make you laugh about all those bills for credit-cards, Andrew Michael Newhart dence shone through, and may have to give maxed out from holiday spending, that are hitting your Web Analyst: Gail Sander-Kirchoff and, like laughter, it up her freedom for the mailboxes about now. Save it for comic relief, after you Subscription Manager: ‘You really have to love yourself to Antonina Newhart was contagious. Ball get anything done in this world,’ security that a steady read our Special Report on the three companies that certainly got a lot done paycheck can bring. monitor our spending and bill-paying habits, “Do the Annual Subscription: 6 issues of the bi-monthly elec- Lucille Ball once said. tronic MAKING BREAD MINI-MAG, $20 (price in this world. She was Lucy was a stay-at- Three Credit Bureaus Have Too Much Power?” includes access to all premium content on the Oprah of her day: home mom, who often If you’re beating up on yourself for spending too www.makingbreadmagazine.com. the first woman to own a film studio. An inveigled her best friend, Ethel, into accom- much over the holidays, take to heart one of Working Advertising Queries: Contact the publisher at independent woman. A self-made multimil- panying her in one money-making misad- Mom’s Shrink Marcia Eckerd’s “New Year’s Resolutions 215-670-2470 to discuss advertising opportunities. Or lionaire. And she made her money doing venture or another. Who can forget that run- to Help Us Stay Sane in 2005.” “I will not beat myself e-mail him at [email protected]. what she loved and what she did well. away chocolate-factory assembly line or the up for being human, having limits and making mis- Editorial Submissions: Please send editorial submis- sions and letters to the editor via e-mail to (Aren’t they usually the same thing?) Vitameatavegamin commercial? For many takes” should do the trick. Or how about: “I will put [email protected]. Work is at the heart of most of the sto- mothers today, working outside the home is my needs ahead of the dog’s”? Editorial and Advertising Offices: 1528 Walnut Street, ries in this issue, all about women who are a must; dual incomes are needed to pay the To steal a bit from last year’s movie “I Heart Suite 1925, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Phone: 215-670- struggling to, or have found ways to, make bills. But, like Lucy, some enterprising moms Huckabees,” don’t forget to “heart “ yourself a little 2470. Fax: 215-670-2077. money doing what they do well. Most are finding ways to have their chocolate and on Valentine’s Day and every day throughout the com- MAKING BREAD, MAKING BREAD: The Magazine encouraging, inspiring, and touching of all is eat it, too. In “The Best Business for Stay-at- ing year. Somewhere Lucy and Ethel will be smiling— for Women Who Need Dough, and THE MAKING BREAD MINI-MAG are trademarks of Reggai “Oh My God, I Ate a Marc Jacobs Bag,” Home Moms” and “Meet the Invent-Hers,” we and stuffing chocolates into their mouths. Productions LLC. Reproduction of material from any written by Amber Fairweather, reporting on profile a few of them. MAKING BREAD pages without written permission is Gail Harlow is the Founding Editor of MAKING BREAD. Send your strictly prohibited. © 2004. the life lessons she learned during her first In keeping with the work theme, in our comments, questions and suggestions to gail@makingbread- MAKING BREAD Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

Photo of Gail Harlow by Sabina Louise Pierce year out of college. What she discovers is “Female Finance” column, “Seeing Red?”, magazine.com.

2 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 3 RELAX WITH THIS TAX ADVICE or more tax advice, visit www.TaxMama.com (“Tax Information with a Mother’s Touch”), written by Eva Rosenberg, an accountant F and tax expert who publishes the “Ask TaxMama” newsletter. Or surf on over to H & R Block (www.hrblock.com) to peruse this nation- IPIP BANKBANK wide tax preparer’s many free tip sheets, such as “Most Overlooked Smart Ways to Save ‘George’ Deductions,” and utilize its Withholding Calculator or Alternative Minimum Tax Estimator. Or visit Jackson Hewitt (www.jacksonhewitt.com), which is offering a printable coupon worth link to 1040 Central—one-stop shopping for all $10 off your tax preparation costs when you redeem it at a Jackson $AVING & $PENDING the information and forms you need, whether Hewitt Tax Service office near you. you file your own taxes or have a preparer do them. Changes in tax law, income limits and allowable deductions are spelled out clearly. their 2004 return. Consider first whether it gross income. There’s even an “EITC Assistant” to help you will benefit you more in 2004 or 2005; if • Individuals paying off college loans figure out if you qualify for the Earned Income you’re writing a check, note in the memo can deduct up to $2,500 of interest paid, if Tax Credit, and a link that spells out tax breaks field that it is going for tsunami relief; and their income is less than $65,000 for singles for active members of the Armed Forces and make sure that you’re giving to a “qualified or $130,000 for marrieds filing jointly. those serving in combat zones. charity specifically for the relief of victims in • Students can also take an adjustment MOVES Because income limits for using Form areas affected.” The IRS suggests you check to their income, up to $4,000, for college TO MAKE 1040EZ and 1040A have increased substan- the charities listed at www.usaid.gov or tuition and fees, instead of the Hope or BEFORE THE tially—from less than $50,000 to less than www.usafreedomcorps.gov. Contributions to Lifetime Learning Credit, if their adjusted DAFFODILS $100,000—1.6 million more taxpayers will foreign organizations are not deductible. gross income is less than $80,000 for singles BLOOM: Tips be eligible to use these shorter forms. The One of the biggest changes for those and $160,000 for marrieds filing jointly. to Help You one-page Form 1040EZ is for taxpayers who who itemize is the option of deducting sales • Self-employed? Deduct 100 percent Survive Tax Time have no dependents, no credits other than tax instead of state income tax on your 2004 of health-insurance premiums for yourself, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and no and 2005 Federal returns. Optional tables your spouse or dependents; one-half of n the dead of winter, I dream of spring and adjustments to their income. Form 1040A is are available for determining the deduction Social Security and Medicare taxes; as well smile—until I remember tax time, and I for taxpayers who do not itemize their amount in Publication 600, available at as any contributions to qualified retirement I begin to hope that the groundhog sees his deductions, claim limited tax credits and www.irs.gov. This change benefits people accounts, such as SEP-IRA’s or Keoughs. shadow, so that spring is delayed and I can have few adjustments to their income. living in states with low or no income tax. postpone facing those dreadful IRS forms Now that the limit on business expenses Do It Online buried somewhere on my desk. This year, for those filing Schedule C-EZ has increased Deductions for Those Who Don’t Itemize From 1040 Central or the home page of though, there is some good news on the from $2,500 to $5,000, 500,000 more small- • Open a health savings account (HSA), in www.irs.gov, you’ll find a link to E-File. Use “nothing to fear but death and taxes” front— business owners and self-employed individ- conjunction with a high-deductible health this link to fill out your tax forms electroni- at least when it comes to finding ways to uals will have an easier tax time as well. insurance plan, and any qualified contributions cally. The software walks you through each reduce tax-form anxiety, as well as the amount made by April 15, 2005 will be eligible for an line item and verifies your math. Last year, you owe Uncle Sam. Here’s what I found out, Deducting Tsunami Donations & Sales Tax “above the line” deduction, or one you can almost 62 million taxpayers took this option, when I went searching for reasons to look for- By the first week of January, Americans use whether you itemize or not. and the IRS predicts that 133 million, or ward to the daffodils blooming again. had given $163 million in private donations • Depending on your income level, the more than half of all individual taxpayers, to tsunami relief. That generosity won’t go maximum amount for deductible 401(k) con- will file their taxes electronically this year. Filing the EZ Way unrewarded. Taxpayers who itemize deduc- tributions ($13,000 for 2004 and $14,000 for The benefit of doing it online: One piece of good news is that our tax tions have the option of claiming any mone- 2005) and IRA’s ($3,000 for 2004 and $4,000 “Taxpayers who e-file will get their refunds dollars are being put to good use on the tary (cash, check or credit card) tsunami for 2005) has gone up. in half the time,” says IRS Commissioner Internal Revenue Service’s Web site, donations made during the month of • Educators can subtract up to $250 of Mark W. Everson. You can’t beat that.

Photo by istockphoto/Matt Craven www.irs.gov. On the home page, you’ll find a January 2005 as charitable donations on school-related expenses from their adjusted —Gail Harlow

4 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 5 soothes me, and their versatility allows me to minutes. The apples are done when you can slightly beaten eggs, 1/2 cup sugar and one CHEAP & EASY EATS embellish them or not, making each one the pierce the sides easily with a sharp knife. teaspoon vanilla. Pour over the bread and little black dress of desserts. Remove from oven and baste the let stand for at least 15 minutes. Cover the apples with the juice at the bottom of the dish and bake for 30 minutes, then uncover BAKED APPLES dish. Sprinkle some sugar over the tops and and bake for 15 to 30 minutes more. The most important rule about this glaze them under the broiler, if you’d like to Sprinkle some sugar over the top and glaze dessert is to choose a good baking apple, dress them up. under a hot broiler if you’d like. such as Jonathan, Rome Beauty, Gala or You can also add some dried cherries or You can substitute brown sugar here if Cortland. Otherwise, the apples will collapse cranberries to the filling along with a sprinkle you want a caramel flavor. For a more festive before they become tender, and you’ll find of lemon or orange zest. If you’re serving this dessert, cool the pudding and then cover yourself with applesauce, instead, which is dessert to adults, add a tablespoon of rum to with a meringue made with two egg whites, pretty good but not what you intended to the filling mixture. Some heavy cream, ice four tablespoons of sugar and a dash of serve. Count on one apple per person. cream or frozen yogurt tops it off nicely. vanilla. Beat the egg whites until they’re frothy, then add the sugar gradually while Ingredients & Preparation beating, until the whites stand in peaks. Add Good baking apples The sheer simplicity of the vanilla and blend. Bake in a 325-degree Brown sugar or honey these recipes soothes oven for about 15 minutes, or until the COMFORT DESSERTS: The Most 1/4 teaspoon butter me, and their versatility meringue is set. Comforting of Comfort Foods, Chopped, toasted walnuts allows me to embellish These Sweet and Simple Dishes Apple juice them or not, making CHOCOLATE PUDDING Make Perfect Winter Treats Sugar each one the little Sure you can make chocolate pudding Dried cherries or cranberries (optional) black dress of desserts. from a boxed mix. But making it from scratch he next few months tend to be the Lemon or orange zest (optional) doesn’t take much time at all, and once you low point of the year for many of us. 1 tablespoon rum (optional) try it this way, you’ll never go back. T With holiday festivities a fond memo- Heavy cream, ice cream or frozen yogurt BREAD PUDDING ry and the first buds of spring a long way (optional) A comforting bread pudding is one of Ingredients & Preparation off, this is the time I turn to simple comfort the coziest desserts you can make on a 6 tablespoons cocoa powder food for dessert rather than taking on a Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Core dreary day. Use white bread with a good 1/2 cup sugar time-consuming blockbuster of a confection each apple, leaving about 1/2 inch piece of texture. Buy a regular white bread at a local Pinch of salt that drains my energy even thinking about core at the bottom. Peel each one about bakery or use an Italian or French bread. 3 tablespoons cornstarch preparing it, much less gathering the ingre- one-quarter of the way down. Place them in The bread should be slightly stale. 1 teaspoon flour dients and putting it together. a baking dish. 2 cups milk Three favorites that ease both my psy- Fill the center of each apple with 1 table- Ingredients & Preparation 1/2 teaspoon vanilla che and my wallet are baked apples, bread spoon of brown sugar or honey, 1/4 tea- 6 slices of white bread (Italian or French loaf) pudding, and chocolate pudding. Although spoon butter and some chopped, toasted Butter Mix six tablespoons cocoa powder, 1/2 they may seem like nursery foods—and they walnuts. Pour in apple juice at the bottom of 4 cups milk cup sugar, a pinch of salt, three tablespoons

Photo by istockphoto/Robert Hill can be, because they’re gentle on the stom- the dish to a depth of about 1/2 4 eggs (reserve egg whites) cornstarch and one teaspoon flour in a ach—the sheer simplicity of these recipes inch. Cover and bake for 45 to 60 1/2 cup plus 4 tablespoons sugar heavy saucepan. Stir in one cup of milk and Brown sugar (optional) whisk until solids are dissolved and the mix- 1 teaspoon plus a dash vanilla ture is smooth. Stir in one more cup of milk, You will cut down on the number of annoying and cook over medium-low heat, stirring MAKING BREAD credit-card offers you get in the mail by calling Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter constantly, until mixture begins to thicken Fortune Cookie 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) and opting out. a 2-quart baking dish. Cut six slices of bread and simmer. Remove from heat and stir in or use the equivalent from an Italian or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Save yourself the temptation—and reduce the risk of having your French bread. Butter each slice of bread Pour into four custard cups, and allow to identity stolen if those unsolicited offers get into the wrong hands! with softened butter and layer them in the cool. Chill until cold—if you can wait that

Photo by istockphoto.com/Jorge Sa Photo by istockphoto.com/Jorge dish. Beat together four cups of milk, four long! —Nissa Simon

6 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 7 they didn't want to pay my fee? I guess I CARDS THAT SAY ’REMEMBER ME’ SUCCESS GUIDE won’t know. I spent about five minutes feel- ing sorry for myself and trying to determine ut your creative hat on when it comes to staying in touch with those who the perfect plot to get "even." Then I got have rejected you once, and improve your chances for getting a better over it. This wasn't the first time I had been P reception next time. After Thanksgiving, I found some honeycomb turkey uninvited to speak or rejected in some other place cards at 50 percent off. At the time, I couldn’t imagine what I was going fashion. What I’ve learned is that you can to do with them. But I bought them anyway. Then it came to me. There are turn the situation to your advantage. In this quite a few people I have lost touch with during my recent move. I’ve got it! I’ll case, I decided to write about the experi- send the cards with a note that says, “I am a turkey for not staying in touch.” ence. I realized that my advice could be When they arrive in their bright orange envelopes, I know the recipients will helpful to others, because we all face rejec- get a laugh and remember me next time they need a consultant or speaker. tion at some point. Photo by Stockbyte DON’T GET DEJECTED WHEN I love the proverb that says, Second, see rejection as an opportu- everyone involved—even the rejecter. It’s YOU’RE REJECTED: How to Come nity. ‘When one door closes, If it didn't work out this time, maybe it important for the person who rejected you to Out a Winner When You Lose another will open.’ will the next time. Many times, when we are be left with a good feeling about you, so rejected, we feel angry because we’ve that she will call you the next time she needs By JoAnn R. Hines invested a lot of time and emotional energy someone with your expertise. ejection. All of us have experienced it What Should You Do If It Happens to You? (especially if you have done a lot of at some point in our lives. It never First, don’t mope. You can feel sorry for preparatory work, as I had in this circum- When You Hear ‘No Thanks’ R feels good. Call it what you want, but yourself and plot for exactly five minutes. stance). Use that energy and emotion to After a Job Interview accept the fact that ultimately you lost. You After that, get over it! The rejection proba- your advantage. Are there different oppor- There is probably no worse ego-crush- were not selected for the job or the promo- bly has nothing to do with you; the reason is tunities that you can leverage, or other pro- ing rejection (skip the ones in your love life) tion you wanted. You didn’t get the contract something so obscure that it’s not worth the grams where you might be a better fit? than the one associated with the job search. or the speaking engagement you were effort to try and figure it out. Keep in mind In my case, the advance research I did How many resumes do you have to send out counting on. Got any rocks lying around that it could be a result of budget issues. on my topic demonstrated to me that there to get one call back? Consider this before that you can crawl under? Let’s say you’re dealing with rejection could be dozens of other conferences that you get depressed about a string of rejec- Stop! Before you go there, think about when it comes in the form of a big fat “no” would be interested in hearing me speak. I tions: It takes, on average, six months to get how you can turn this most negative of to your sales pitch. Before you become disil- love the proverb that says, “When one door a new job. Add to that the rule of thumb experiences into something positive. For lusioned when door after door is closed, closes, another will open.” It did for me, that for every $10,000 of salary, you can add instance, I recently was courted to speak at consider the law of averages for a sale. The and it will for you. one month to the job search. So prepare to a conference. I jumped though all the average sales person completes 20 calls to Third, try to establish a bond with be turned down most of the time. Always proverbial hoops and was excited about the make one sale. Yikes! That's 20 appoint- the person who has rejected you. If this remember, however, that rejection can open opportunity. Then, guess what happened? I ments. Did you know that it takes a mini- won’t work now, is there another time or a door, too. Just because they say no now, was uninvited. Yes, my ego was dented. mum of seven repetitions of a message place that we can work together? Can she doesn't mean they mean no forever. After all, they wanted me. They courted me. before someone assimilates that piece of refer you somewhere else? Will she tell you Here are a couple of ways to nudge that Something queered the deal. Was it that information? Moral: don’t give up. the real reason you didn't make the cut? door open a little wider next time. Finally, be prepared to laugh about the Make sure to follow up. I don’t just rejection. Turn it into a funny personal sound mean after the interview. Do so also after OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES bite. It’s not the end of the world. If this was you hear you weren’t selected for the posi- ‘They want women to think like June Cleaver, your first or only rejection, you must be real- tion. My favorite technique is sending a look like Miss America and—in a nod to moderni- ly special. Send the person who rejected clever card. I’ve created a series of cards for ty—have sex like Madonna. Hello, Stepford.’ you a funny card—something that will make just that purpose. My personal favorite is her feel good about rejecting you (just kid- one that says, “I think I bombed the inter- —Author Jennifer L. Pozner, critiquing un-real reality-TV shows ding). But do send something that will light- view,” and it has a big bomb on the cover. such as The Bachelor, Married by America, and Joe Millionaire. en the moment and make her remember Continue to keep in touch. The person

Photo by EyeWire you. Rejection, after all, is uncomfortable for that did get the job may decline it. Continue

8 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 9 Do something that will lighten the to send relevant arti- moment and make her remember suggestions on how LOAFING The Women’s Museum, Dallas, Texas cles, news clippings you. It’s important for the person to handle the situa- (www.thewomensmuseum.org). Lucille about your success, or who rejected you to be left with a tion next time. Ball once said, “You really have to love Work out alter- about upcoming indus- good feeling about you, so that she yourself to get anything done in this world.” try conferences, (espe- native rejection sce- This quote by the comedienne whom every- will call you the next time she cially if you are speak- narios in your head. one loved is featured on the Wall of CHEAP DATES: ing), along with a short needs someone with your expertise. The more you Words—12 inspirational quotes by note. If something sig- become comfortable Museums American women, displayed above the nificant happens to you, such as an award or with rejection the less likely it will be to take We Love, stairs leading to the second level of this promotion, make sure to write a press release you by surprise again. museum dedicated to “the celebration and and send a copy to all your job contacts. Put yourself in the rejecter’s shoes. Was Because communication of the immeasurable contri- A word of caution: don't go overboard. there something that caused the situation to They Love butions women have made to society.” Your goal is to soft-sell yourself, not bom- occur, or was it just happenstance? Above all, Spend a day celebrating the likes of Us Back bard the company with information. don't take it personally. It’s a business decision Sojourner Truth, Whoopi Goldberg, Jane that didn't turn out in your favor. Addams (the first woman to win the Nobel Don’t Take It Personally Last, but not least, get back on that Peace Prize) and Althea Gibson, the first To help you get over the emotional horse! Seek out a better job or a better African American to be invited to enter distress: promotion. There is always another opportu- Wimbledon. In the museum’s “Amazing Share your story with others. You are nity waiting in the wings. The biggest loser ith Valentine’s Day approaching, Facts” area, revel in the difference between not the only one who has had a "rejection" is someone who can’t get over rejection. love is in the air and many of us the sexes. Did you know that women smile experience. The more you can talk about it W are planning romantic getaways eight times a day more than men do? the better you will feel. It can become a JoAnn R. Hines’ career advice is recognized in many to celebrate old and new relationships, or funny story or icebreaker when you are with circles. She has been invited to the White House to simply treat ourselves to things that we love The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, speak, has led a trade delegation to China, and has New York (www.brooklynmuseum.org). associates. Better yet, find someone whose served as the online packaging expert for the Small doing all by ourselves. A weekend away “I opinion you value and relate the experience Business Administration. For more career guidance, from home and kids can be just enough of a Wanna Be Loved By You: Photographs of to her (don't sugarcoat it). Ask her to critique or to purchase her latest book, “Packaging Yourself,” midwinter break to get us through till Marilyn what went wrong (if something did) or make visit www.packagingcoach.com. spring, and often the hotels in the nearest Monroe,” city offer sweet deals for Valentine’s Day. on exhibit Check your local newspaper or city Web site through to find them, or surf on over to March 16, www.hotels.com and type in the city of your traces the choice to find a deal your budget can love. rise of this As for what to do before you devour iconic the chocolate on your pillow, we suggest female fig- exploring the local art museum in town. It’s ure who the perfect place to get in touch with your never creative side and learn a little more about seemed to your partner. If you go unaccompanied, it be able to love herself enough in photo- could be a great place to pick up a sensi- graphs dating from 1945 to a few weeks tive, intelligent date. (For more singles’ before her death by overdose in 1962. Valentine’s Day advice, visit www.quirkyalone.net.) The National Museum of Women in Below, we offer a taste of the visual the Arts, Washington, D.C. delights available at museums around the (www.nmwa.org). On exhibit now through country, many of them celebrating the March 13, “Feminist Works on Paper,” 14 female spirit and women’s accomplishments drawings and lithographs exploring the

Photo of Marilyn Monroe courtesy of www.brooklynmuseum.org; girl with frame by istockphoto.com/Andrei Tchernov girl with frame by istockphoto.com/Andrei courtesy of www.brooklynmuseum.org; Photo of Marilyn Monroe in the arts and beyond. scope of feminist art in the 1970s, as well

www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 11 Advertisement FARE PLAY: Two Airlines Drop Their Prices

hen Delta (www.delta.com) introduced its SimpliFares on January 5, cutting prices W by 50 percent on routes in the 48 contiguous states, the airline experienced record-breaking traffic and sales from its Web site. With SimpliFares, the airline promis- es no fare—including last-minute walk-ups—will ever be higher than $499, one way, in economy or $599, one way, in first class. Customers who purchase tickets through www.delta.com can receive 1,000 bonus miles with no direct ticketing fees. To celebrate its fifth anniversary, JetBlue (www.jetblue.com) just introduced its “Take Five” fares. Fly from New York, Washington, D.C. or Boston to Florida for $55 one way; between New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico for $75 one way; between Washington D.C and Sacramento, California for $85 one way. Spot a trend? All fares end in the number 5. Double your “True Blue” points when you book online. For a real boost, scoot on over to www.virgin-atlantic.com, and you’ll be greeted by “Hello Gorgeous!” as well as some darn good trans-Atlantic deals (click on Sale Fares). But with the dollar falling against the Euro, your best travel bet may be to stay stateside for now.

as, until May 8, an exhibition of paintings by Taylor, draped in fur, are featured. Berthe Morisot, the first female Impressionist painter and contemporary of The Contemporary Art Museum of Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas and other Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri male masters. “The chief obstacle to a (www.contemporarystl.org). If you’re in woman’s success is that she can never have the area, go see “Yoshitomo Nara: Nothing a wife. Just reflect Ever Happens,” what a wife does for before it closes on an artist,” said Anna ‘The chief obstacle to a woman’s February 27. The Massey Lea Merritt, success is that she can never have work of this promi- a contemporary of a wife. Just reflect what a wife nent Japanese artist, Morisot’s. does for an artist,’ said known for his draw- Anna Massey Lea Merritt. ings of “tough girls” The and cartoon-like dog Metropolitan sculptures, will put Museum of Art, New York (www.met.org). you back in touch with your inner happy, “Wild: Fashion Untamed,” on exhibit through sad, scared, but hopeful, tough child who is March 13, explores man’s (and women’s) just learning how to love life. ongoing obsession with fur, feathers and other animal coverings as adornment—as well Visit the links of each of the museums as the anti-fur-wearing "Ethical Woman" as mentioned above to get a taste of the represented in the advertising campaigns of exhibits on display, and go to www.artcyclo- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals pedia.com/museums-us.html to find other (PETA). Fashions by Jean Paul Gaultier, Rudy museums near you. There’s nothing like art Gernreich, Christian Dior, and classic photo- to soothe or stimulate the heart. graphs of the likes of Ava Gardner and Liz —Gail Harlow

12 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com Advertisement use, and carry around, far more than we need. used in the past month. My favorite daily lip shopping. If, at the end of the day, I think CHEAP CHIC Below, are some tips for lightening your load treatment is a lip balm from MD Formulations that I absolutely can’t live without another and saving some money at the same time. ($12), which gives a nice sheen to my lips natural pink lip gloss, I’ll go home. When I without being sticky like a gloss. Victoria wake up the next morning, if don’t want to How Much Is Enough? Secret’s Li’l Lipstick ($5.50) is a rush to the mall after work, then I know I Your face is most likely the first thing a double set of three different lip don’t need it! person notices, so you want to make sure it shades (which look like color on In the box below, you’ll find the three looks fresh, without having to “powder your a Q-tip) to try without a long-term must-have items—and favorite brands—15 nose” every five minutes. Less is more. commitment. For those of you who can’t cosmetics saleswomen I work with carry Here’s all you really need. live without liner, buy a thick lip pencil that can around in their purses. —Tara Civitarese be used as a liner and lip color in one. This alle- viates the stressful task of matching a liner to a Play around with your makeup. Try FAVE RAVES: What the mixing colors you already have to lipstick. It’ll also save you about 15 bucks. create your own unique color. Avon's Mark line has a "Multi-tasking Pencil Women Who Sell YOU Makeup Color" for your eyes, cheeks and lips, which is Carry in THEIR Purses actually double-ended, so you have two colors Face Basics: Definitely cleanse your to choose from! The regular price is $8, but I 1. MASCARA face morning and night, and use a moisturiz- recently spotted it on sale (in the Mark cata- Benefit's BADgal Lash mascara ($18; www.Sephora.com). PURSE ESSENTIALS: Cut Down er with sunscreen. If your moisturizer doesn’t logue) for $4.99! Dior Maximeyes ($22; www.Sephora.com). I received on Cosmetics Clutter and Save a sample of this recently; it's awesome and it fits per- contain sunscreen, find a foundation that fectly in my purse. If Less Is More, Is Smaller Better? Money in the Bargain does—one that is long-wearing and easy to Photo by istockphoto.com/Myrtle Liew Maybelline Great Lash Mascara ($3.47; Wal-Mart). transport in your purse, in case you need an Several cosmetic manufacturers have Rimmel Extra Super Lash ($1.97; Wal-Mart). ow many of you have held up a line emergency touch-up. If the compact doesn’t recently introduced makeup in pocket-size 2. GLOSS at the cash register, while you pulled have a brush included, you can buy packaging, to help cut down on dreaded Lancome Juicy Tubes ($15.50; www.Sephora.com). H out compact, lipsticks, eye shadow, retractable brushes that will fit into even the purse clutter. You get less, but you don’t nec- MAC Lipglass ($11.50 for clear, $13.50 for tinted, and assorted other makeup—enough to smallest of purses. And here’s another tip for essarily pay less. A better way to collect with over a dozen colors to choose from; www.mac- beautify the girls backstage at a Dior show— reducing the clutter in your purse: I keep an purse-size cosmetics is to take advantage of a cosmetics.com). in search of the loose change that lives at emergency stash of makeup in my car in cosmetic-industry practice called “gift”—a Carmex ($1.99, pot or tube; spotted recently in a the bottom of your purse? If any of you are case something comes up. My “first-aid kit” term used when brand names offer trial-size Target store for 89 cents!). You get a great vanilla like me, you still carry around your favorite includes foundation, mascara, and two shad- glosses, lipsticks, shadows and other prod- scent in this gloss for less than $2! L'Oreal Colour Juice ($6.38; Wal-Mart). Almost half discontinued lipstick from two years ago— ow colors, one for day, the other for night. ucts with any purchase over $20 to $25 dol- the price of Lancome Juicy Tubes—and it looks the one you use only on very, very special Eye Candy: When it comes to the eyes, lars. Clinique, Elizabeth Arden, Estee almost identical! occasions because it made you look oh so buy shadows in doubles, trios and even Lauder—you name ‘em, they have “gift.” The hot on your first date with your present quads. Buying an assortment of colors in a three-inch mascara fits so nicely into the zip- 3. COMPACT boyfriend, who, I might add, hasn’t seen you compact container helps free up space on per section of your purse you won’t even Jane Cream to Powder ($3.54; Wal-Mart). Almay Clear Complexion ($10.54; Wal- in that lipstick since you moved in together. your vanity or in your purse. Rimmel is an know that it’s there! Mart). This compact comes with two com- inexpensive brand that offers eye prod- But learning to curb your urge to try partments, one with the foundation/mir- My favorite daily lip treatment is a lip ucts in a variety of hot colors. Six dollars every new color is the surest way to keep the ror and a bottom one that holds the balm from MD Formulations ($12), for three shades? You can’t go wrong. clutter down. I mean how many shades of application sponge. Very smart. And they can double as liners, as well. brown shadow do you really need? If you Lancome Photogenic ($27; which gives a nice sheen to my lips www.Sephora.com). A sheer pressed without being sticky like a gloss. Just use the thin side of a shadow brush haven’t worn a particular item for two months to line the tops and bottoms of the eyes, or more, then I doubt you ever will. Throw it powder that "provides flawless natural finish." than smudge with a Q-tip. out! Play around with your makeup. Trying Chanel Poudre Universelle Compact For some reason—maybe because you Lip Collectibles: I’m constantly buy- mixing colors you already have to create your ($42; www.Sephora.com). "Imparts a translucent don’t have to be a certain weight to wear it— ing glosses and lipsticks that just end up own unique color. When I’m at a store and supernatural finish." It's a bit pricey. Chanel does throwing out makeup is even more difficult sitting on my dresser, collecting dust. At last happen to see a beauty item that I think I have a fabulous reputation. I happen to believe the

Photo by istockphoto.com/Mark Lane than throwing out old clothes. But most of us count, I had 21 lip products that hadn’t been can’t live without, I go about the rest of my name is all hype, but some people swear by it.

14 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 15 Dear Food Diary . . . Don’t deny yourself a piece HEALTH = WEALTH Of course, it’s a chore to write down of cake at someone’s birthday exactly what you eat each day, but if you’re party. If your hostess cuts you a unhappy with your weight, the only way to substantial slice, eat only one or get a handle on how to cut back on the two bites and then put down your number of calories you consume is to keep fork. If you feel that you can’t have a food diary. Take a look at your diary after a a treat every now and then, you’ll week and highlight the high-fat, high-sugar feel so sorry for yourself that you’ll snack foods that didn’t contribute much in sabotage your own attempts to the way of nutritional value. Decide to sub- improve your eating habits. stitute raw fruits or vegetables for at least Be aware of your hunger. one of these snacks each day. Substitute, Eat slowly to give your stomach a mind you, not add! Then do the same in a chance to signal your brain that week or two with another snack, until you’ve you’ve had sufficient food. Learn banished all of them from your food radar. your body’s signals, and don’t Next, simply cut out one high-sugar keep eating because that’s what snack or drink a day. Habits die hard, and you’ve always done. Push away it may be that you’ve dashed out of the your plate before you feel like an house and bought a doughnut every morn- overstuffed pillow. ing before work for as long as you remem- Think before you eat. Are you hungry Highly processed grain products, ber. Instead, take a few minutes for a or simply bored, annoyed or angry? If it’s such as white bread and white healthy breakfast before you leave the not hunger that’s driving you to the candy rice, make blood sugar and insulin house. Healthy doesn’t have to mean time- machine or the cupboard, have a cup of tea levels shoot up and then plummet. HOW’S YOUR NEW YEAR’S DIET consuming. A cup of yogurt and a slice of to keep your hands and mouth busy. Some scientists think this may COMING? Tips to Help You whole-grain toast or a bowl of cereal with contribute to weight gain. REALLY Lose Weight This Year. raisins and low-fat milk doesn’t take a chunk ‘Designer’ Labels You Should Read of prep time. This should get you over the No one would call food labels fascinat- o. 1 on the New Year’s Resolution hunger hump that made the doughnut so ing reading, but they do provide you with Hit Parade is “Go on a diet.” No. 1 appealing in the first place. some—although not all—of the information sugar and insulin levels shoot up and then N on the Resolutions Broken by you need to make wiser choices when you plummet. Some scientists think this may February 1 Hit Parade is “Go on a diet.” buy prepared foods. contribute to weight gain. The word itself is frightening. “Diet” con- Learn your body’s signals, and Beware of foods that list “high-fructose Take account of the amount of food in a jures up visions of deprivation, denial, dis- don’t keep eating because that’s corn syrup,” “dextrose,” or “corn syrup” at “serving” and the number of calories one may! So here’s the good news: Diets are what you’ve always done. Push the top of the ingredients list. They’re all serving provides. It’s easy to eat two or out; patterns of eating are in. You don’t away your plate before you feel terms for different forms of plain old-fash- three “servings” without realizing it, espe- have to buy special foods, books or gizmos like an overstuffed pillow. ioned sugar. Since ingredients are listed in cially when it comes to snack food. to lose weight. descending order of weight, whatever When it comes to losing weight, it’s the you’re eating has more sugar in it than any- Take It Off 10 Pounds at a Time . . . big picture that counts. Evidence suggests Look at the amount of food that’s on thing else. Break up your weight-loss goals into that a balanced approach, including protein, your plate. In these days of super-sized For the sake of your heart, try to avoid manageable chunks. You may feel you need carbohydrates and fats in your daily fare, is restaurant meals, you’re probably being foods that contain saturated fat or “partially to lose 30 or 40 pounds, but losing even 10 the best strategy. Any diet that restricts any served twice as much as you should reason- hydrogenated oil,” which is trans fat in dis- pounds will put you on the road to good one of these categories limits your con- ably have. Research has shown that people guise. Both raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. health and good looks. Once you achieve sumption of important vitamins and miner- tend to eat what’s put in front of them. Make Look for bread that contains whole- that goal and hold your weight steady for a als. So before you cut out a whole class of sure that you eat just enough to satisfy your wheat or whole-grain flour and buy brown few months, you can decide whether you important nutrients, look at what you’re eat- hunger and that you don’t finish all the food rice. Highly processed grain products, such want to lose another 10 pounds. Photo by Stockbyte ing now. on your plate simply because it’s there. Photo by Stockbyte as white bread and white rice, make blood Don’t forget to add physical activity to

16 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 17 your life. To start, you Break up your weight-loss goals find a partner. don’t have to “Exercise” into manageable chunks. You Becoming physically with a capital E—you may feel you need to lose 30 or active will not only just have to do some- 40 pounds, but losing even 10 help you take off thing as simple as walk- pounds will put you on the road weight, it will improve ing for 10 minutes, three to good health and good looks. your outlook. And times a day, on all or think how good you’ll THE SAME GREAT FINANCE ADVICE most days of the week. feel knowing that Once that becomes you’ve kept at least IN BOOK FORM! part of your routine and one of your New Year’s you realize how much Resolutions! better you feel, you can At its most basic, add more activity. Sign the secret to losing Sign up to reserve your copy of up for a square-dancing weight is “Eat less, class at the local high exercise more.” Four “MAKING BREAD: school, take a yoga words. All the rest are class, pick up your ten- trappings. The Ultimate

Photo by istockphoto.com/Mena Trott nis racket again and —Nissa Simon Financial Guide for Women Who Need Dough”

By Gail Harlow with Elizabeth Lewin— plus the success stories of real women SITE sharing their real money solutions. Perfect gift for yourself, your mother, a recent college graduate, WORTH your daughter or a friend! (Publication date: April 2005; Price: $17.95). Q: When I print certain Web pages, sentences run off the SEEING (Send an e-mail to [email protected] right-hand edge of the paper. I can't seem to correct this with and we will bill you when issues are ready to ship.) the scroll bar or by moving the paper in the printer's paper ll Music Guide tray. I hope you can help me. (www.allmusic.com) Excerpted from “Making Bread: The Ultimate Financial Guide for Women Who Need Dough”: A is a treasure trove A: If you're using Internet Explorer, click View > Font Size (or View of musical information. AKING BREAD: The Ultimate Financial Guide for Women Who Need Dough” is “the ultimate chick > Text Size in Netscape) and select a smaller font than is displayed. Whatever it is you want to lit.” To be true to that genre, this book should have a happy ending. In chick-lit novels, after all, the With the smaller font selected, try printing the Web page. If that know, you can find here. “M heroine, who’s just spent 250 pages plotting and scheming to snag Prince Charming, gets her man, doesn't resolve the problem, try printing in Landscape mode, which Just search by artist, and everyone spends happily ever after. will print across the 11" length of a sheet of paper as opposed to album, song, style, or MAKING BREAD’s heroine doesn’t need Prince Charming; she’s independent and successful in her own right. She normal Portrait mode, which prints across 8.5 inches. Depending on record label. has a career that challenges and satisfies her, a savings account for emergencies, and a retirement account invested for the version of Windows you're using, you can change to Landscape So the next time you her long-term security. She may already own her own castle. Sure, she’s looking for love, but she knows that, even if mode by clicking File > Print, or File > Print Setup. Look for an can’t remember which Prince Charming never shows up, she’ll always be able to take care of herself. Her money gives her freedom of choice 1977 record Frosty Horton and freedom from worry. option that addresses page layout or orientation. (who?) played on, you’ll When she is introduced to the Prince at a business conference, he is attracted to her for her self-assurance. If they Technology guru Richard Sherman, a.k.a. Mr. Modem, is a nationally syndicated know where to turn. (By do marry, they never argue about money. And 10 years later, if she catches him fooling around with her stepsister (go columnist and the author of eight books. As publisher of the popular “Ask Mr. the way, it’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll figure!), she can afford to file for divorce. Money doesn’t guarantee that you’ll live happily ever after, but if you have it, Modem” weekly newsletter, he provides geekspeak-free answers to computer- Gumbo”—but you proba- you don’t have to live unhappily ever after.” and Internet-related questions received from subscribers worldwide. To post bly knew that.) questions to this column, e-mail Mr. Modem at [email protected]. For a sample newsletter, visit www.mrmodem.net/site/newsletter.html. Click Here to View Table of Contents. 18 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com Advertisement and granddaughters of those women’s or professional positions in greater numbers, movement activists are still facing a wage manage to earn 83 cents per dollar men FEMALEFEMALE FINANCEFINANCE gap that robs them and their families (yes, earn.) True, in 1963, we were only earning men and children are hurt by the wage gap, 59 cents, so some progress has been made. as well) of more than But, as the NCPE $4,000 per household True, not every woman points out, that gain annually, or $200 bil- experiences job discrimination. amounts to less than SEEING RED? lion a year. Imagine ‘Women age 35 to 44 with half a cent per year, how our economy and studies reveal psychology degrees working as would benefit if con- that progress has sumers had $200 bil- social scientists earn 101 come in large part as What You Can Do lion more to spend— percent as much as their male a result of a lowering or save. So it would equivalents,’ reports the NCPE. of men’s wages, not If You Suspect seem that it isn’t just an increase in women that corporate America is betraying. women’s wages. At the current rate of Wage Discrimination change, women won’t achieve equal pay The Half-a-Cent Solution until 2050, predicts the AFL-CIO. Here are the facts: Today—42 years In “Still a Man’s Labor Market: The after the Equal Pay Act of 1963 was passed, Long-Term Earnings Gap,” an exhaustive making it illegal to compensate women less report released by the Institute for Women’s than men for the same work—on average, Policy Research in 2004, the authors, By Gail Harlow with Elizabeth Lewin women who work full-time year-round are Stephen Rose and Heidi Hartmann, note 004 may be remembered as the year figure out that they may be paid unfairly? paid 76 cents for every dollar men who that across the 15 years—from 1983 to when millions more women finally According to an article titled “How work full-time year-round earn. What’s 1998—examined by the study, “women’s 2 began to ask for what they are worth. Corporate American Is Betraying Women” in worse—African American women earn 67 total earnings are dramatically lower than The nation’s largest employer, Wal-Mart, the Jan. 10 issue of Fortune magazine, 62 cents and Hispanic women earn 55 cents, men’s. . . . The gender earnings gap is big- became the target of a class-action suit, percent of the general counsels of 300 com- according to the National Committee on ger than many people think.” Taking into involving 1.6 million women, charging the panies surveyed by the law firm Fulbright & Pay Equity (NCPE), which bases its figures account the long-term impact of lower earn- company with sexual discrimination in its hir- Jaworski last year identified employment liti- on Census Bureau and U.S. Department of ings on a woman’s lifetime worth—factoring ing, pay, and promotion practices. At stake, gation as the thing they worry about most. Labor statistics. (Only Asian-American in the ripple effect of lower Social Security besides reputation Yet, despite the women, who find their way into managerial and pension benefits—this study reports and customer good high-visibility cases will, is an estimated ‘It seems that men get an mentioned above $2 to $4 billion in inherent annual bonus just for and the concerns of MMARKARK THISTHIS REDRED--LETTERLETTER DADAYY ONON YOURYOUR CALENDARCALENDAR!! potential damages being men. If this continues, the those lawyers, the pril 19 is Equal Pay Day in 2005—the day on which women’s earnings catch up to and salary adjust- only guarantees in life will be wage gap and the AA the amount men earned the year before. (Women's median earnings are $30,724, ments. Other firms, death, taxes and the glass ceiling,’ “glass ceiling” are compared with $40,668 for men.) Every year, Equal Pay Day is observed on a Tuesday in including Morgan says Rep. Carolyn Maloney. not major issues for late April to call attention to the wage inequity experienced by women and minorities. Stanley and Boeing, the majority of Various activities, including protests, seminars, networking events, and public demon- settled similar dis- working women. strations are held to call attention to the problem. In Jacksonville, Florida, one year, for crimination suits out of court to the tune of Many women and even more men believe instance, the Women’s Center sponsored a luncheon called “But I’m Worth It: How to Talk millions of dollars and untold public-rela- that equal pay—that rallying cry of the femi- about Salary and Market Value.” Minnesota activists sponsored an “UnHappy Hour” tions damage in 2004. nist movement in the 1960’s and ‘70’s—has event, in which attendees received 3/4 of a cup of latte, 3/4 of a muffin, and 3/4 of a nap- Is it any wonder, then, that the biggest already been achieved. The wage gap isn’t kin to symbolize the almost 3/4 of a dollar women are paid. In Washington, D.C., commit- corporate fear, according to one survey, is an issue in most women’s minds any longer. tee members handed out leaflets and PayDay candy bars to subway riders. not that consumers will stop buying their They believe it doesn’t exist—or at least it How are you going to observe the day?

Photos by Stockbyte products but that half of the workforce will doesn’t affect them. In fact, the daughters Adapted from the book “MAKING BREAD: The Ultimate Financial Guide for Women Who Need Dough,” to be published by Running Press Book Publishers (www.runningpress.com) in April. 20 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 21 nearly 40 percent of poor work- with a bachelor’s degree is 25 percent less What You Can Do About It ing women could leave welfare than that of a similarly qualified man. A First, of course, ask for a raise, if you programs, if they were to woman with a master’s degree earns 28 per- think you are not being fairly compensated. receive pay-equity wage cent less than a man with a master’s degree. (Visit www.pay-equity.org/cando-negs.html increases,” reports the NCPE. $ Management often fails to give for tips on wage and salary negotiations). If “Work patterns only partial- women high-profile assignments or promote you find yourself facing wage inequity, unfair ly explain the difference women to high-paying positions. We make promotion policies or sexual discrimination of between men’s and women’s up 45.6 percent of any kind, tell your earnings,” states the GAO in the labor force. Yet, in ‘A recent study found that nearly supervisor and the its October 2003 report. Even 2004, there were only 40 percent of poor working human-resources after accounting for such key eight women CEO’s women could leave welfare department where

Coupon courtesy of www.pay-equity.org factors as occupation, race, running Fortune 500 programs, if they were to receive you work. Keep marital status, and job tenure, companies. detailed notes, col- pay-equity wage increases,’ that women actually earn only 38 cents for the GAO report admitted that it “could not $ Many women lect evidence, talk every dollar men earn. Rep. Carolyn explain all of the difference in earnings simply can’t afford to reports the NCPE. with other women to Maloney (D-NY), who, along with Rep. John between men and women. . . An earnings bring charges or are see if yours is an iso- Dingell (D-MI), released results of a difference may result from discrimination in reluctant to risk possible retaliation. Hence, lated case or part of a company-wide prob- Government Accounting Office (GAO) the workplace or subtler discrimination enforcement of the Equal Pay Act is spotty. lem, and if the situation isn’t rectified, consult report on women's earnings in October about what types of career or job choices Tougher legislation has been introduced with a lawyer from the Equal Employment 2003, sums this sad state of affairs up nicely: women can make.” in Congress, and some states have enacted Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at 202-501- “After accounting for so many external fac- stricter pay-equity provisions. But should we 0702. (To be connected with the EEOC office tors, it seems that still, at the root of it all, Gap-Economics wait for the politicians? Women don’t ask, in your area, call 1-800-669-4000.) men get an inherent annual bonus just for Why, after 42 years, are we not doing we’ve been told over and over again by Even if you’re not personally affected, being men. If this continues, the only guar- better as a group? Why, as is alleged in the experts in the field who write for MAKING look beyond your situation to the big picture antees in life will be Wal-Mart class- BREAD. They don’t ask for raises or pen- and become an activist for long overdue death, taxes and the Young women who work full-time action suit, do sions, they don’t ask the hard questions change. The National Committee on Pay glass ceiling.” year-round fare much better than women make up 72 about equal pay and promotions; they don’t Equity (www.pay-equity.org) recommends True, not every older women, with 16-to-24-year- percent of Wal-Mart ask investors for enough money. They don’t that women write their senators and repre- woman experiences workers but hold talk about money with their friends. sentatives, demanding that steps be taken to olds earning 93 cents for every job discrimination. only about a third of Many simply don’t realize what’s at stake; strengthen enforcement of the Equal Pay Act, Occupation, educa- dollar men of the same age earn. the store-manager they aren’t aware of the long-term impact of by enacting the provisions of the Paycheck tion, race, years in the jobs? (Wal-Mart dis- the wage gap on their financial security. Fairness Act. Doing so would make it easier work force, geographic region, and age all putes those figures, according Fortune mag- Given a lower starting salary, the wage gap to bring sexual discrimination suits on behalf are variables that affect how much we earn. azine.) Among the contributing factors per- widens with every pay raise, as men in the of groups of women. Second, lobby politi- Some groups fare better than others. petuating the wage gap, cited by the NCPE same position, earning more, get a larger cians for passage of the Fair Pay Act. (For “Women age 35 to 44 with psychology and others, are: increase, and women fall farther and farther more information on both bills, visit degrees working as social scientists earn $ Women and minorities are often behind. The impact doesn’t stop there: Social http://thomas.loc.gov. To find contact infor- 101 percent as much as their male equiva- underpaid without knowing about it. Wage Security benefits and retirement savings, both mation for your senators and representatives, lents,” reports the NCPE. Young women data is kept secret, with most of the informa- based on percentages of earned income, are visit www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.) who work full-time year-round fare much tion needed to prove a complaint held by also affected. It’s simple math: A larger base Don’t let the wage gap put you in the better than older women, with 16-to-24- employers, many of whom discourage or pro- salary ensures higher Social Security, pension red. It could cost you millions over your life- year-olds earning 93 cents for every dollar hibit employees from discussing their salaries. benefits and 401(k) savings—more dispos- time—and there are a million reasons why men of the same age earn. Those gains are $ Traditionally female occupations (i.e. able income to stash away for retirement. you shouldn’t let that happen. to be applauded, but they don’t reflect the sales, clerical, and service jobs) tend to pay Lower wages are a major contributing factor Just ask yourself: would a man? experience of the majority of working less than male-dominated occupations. to women’s lower rate of savings, as com- Gail Harlow is the Founding Editor of MAKING women, 50 percent of whom don’t even $ Education does not have an equaliz- pared with men, and the high rate of poverty BREAD. Financial planner Elizabeth Lewin is a con- work full time. “A recent study found that ing effect. The median income of a women among older women. tributing editor to MAKING BREAD.

22 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 23 My Resolutions for the THETHE WORKINGWORKING MOM’SMOM’S SHRINKSHRINK New Year & Beyond 1. I will put my needs ahead of the dog's. New Year’s 2. I will be realistic about how much time things really take and not over-schedule myself—no matter what! 3. I will practice saying “NO, and actually say it when asked to do something I don't have time for or Resolutions to choose not to do, even when it's my boss, my child or my spouse. I will also accept the fallout. Help Us All Stay 4. When tempted to fix something that isn't mine to fix, I will repeat my mantra: “No one died and made me boss.” 5. When I have work to do, I will not discover the million other things that need doing. Sane in 2005 6. I will remember that I don't have to like everyone, and they don't have to like me.

Photo by Shel Secunda 7. I will not act the age of my children, no matter what the provocation. The doctor and her daughter. All You Have to Do Is Keep Them! 8. I will accept the fact that my daughter is on her own life path, with her own bumps and challenges By Marcia Eckerd, Ph.D. that I can't prevent. t's 2005—and high time I got my act “How much of what's happening is my old 9. I will get enough sleep. together. New Year's is traditionally when stuff?” and see yourself more clearly. we all take stock of where we are and For example, I have a client who had a 10. In order to hang onto my sanity in the frantic pace of my life, I will make time for moments of inner I peace and exercise as regularly as I can. where we want to be. Often, where we want very critical mom. She has a very hard time to be is less vulnerable to our triggers— in any situation where she feels someone 11. I will not beat myself up for being human, having limits, and making mistakes. those things that always, predictably, set us doesn't take her or her work seriously. 12. I will remember that I love my spouse, even when his priorities aren't the same as mine. off. I worked with an Because of her experi- 13. I will remember that my relatives have as much responsibility to make the family relationships work as I do. existential psychologist I will practice saying ‘NO,’ and ence as a young girl, once, and he taught actually say it when asked to do she tends to feel that 14. I will remember to love myself, so that I have enough emotional steam to love everyone else. me a really important something I don’t have time for she is being criticized. Now, if I can do all this, 2005 will be the year that I finally got it right. lesson: Many of us or choose not to do. I will also Her confidence is hard- lurch from crisis to cri- won. It took us awhile, accept the fallout. sis, thinking it's one but she's finally at the be kids. They threaten us (“If you don't do Kindergarten.” I wouldn’t go so far as to say thing after another, point where she realizes this I'll fail”), blame us (“It'll be your fault if I that we know everything that young, but of when, actually, it’s not one thing after anoth- that other people have their issues, too, and have no friends!”), make us feel guilty this I am sure: by now we know a lot of what er. It's usually just the same thing over and that her supervisor is (a) threatened herself (“Everyone else gets to have this”), nag us, we need to do and, like the Nike ad says, it's over again until we finally get it right. by issues in the workplace; (b) has attention (you know what that time to “just do it!” Whatever our issues are—rejection, deficit disorder, so she's impulsive and dis- sounds like), and I will not act the age of my children, In that spirit, above trust, control, self-confidence, to name a organized; and (c) tends to avoid conflict. then they see what no matter what the provocation. are 14 New Year's reso- few—life just keeps challenging us right in This supervisor doesn't take my client's sug- works and they use lutions that I have the kisser. It can help to take a giant step gestions seriously, because she's too over- it. We need to be able to grit our teeth, say, every intention of trying to keep. You’re wel- back and ask, “Is there a theme here?” If whelmed; it's not because she doesn't value “Guess so,” and decide what to do based come to try them on for size, borrow them, there is (and there usually is), it's likely to be my client. Actually, since the whole thing has upon the merits of the case, not our pass them on, mix and match with your own. something that you learned early that gets nothing to do with her, my client might as feelings. Just do it! triggered by what's happening now. The well stop being mad at her boss all the time. All this leads me to suggest that we first big step towards making real change is Our kids are the real experts at pushing already know much of what we need to know Marcia Eckerd, Ph.D., is a partner in Associates for Children and Families, a practice that specializes in to recognize your hot buttons for what they our buttons—who knows us better? They to be happy, and it often comes down to just working with individuals, couples, and families to are—your issues, not someone or something know exactly what to say or do to drive us being able to bring ourselves to act on that enhance relationships and empower individuals. If else—and to begin to understand why they up the wall and get what they want. It's not knowledge. There's a book called “All I you have a question that you’d like her to address in

keep coming up. Then you can ask yourself, because they're “bad” kids; it's their job to Photo by Stockbyte Really Need to Know I Learned in this column, e-mail her at [email protected].

24 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 25 Left to right: Owner Kathy Charlton and tasting-room manager Molly Rivard toast their future success with a new sparkling wine.

BIZ WHIZ winery was sold to its assistant winemaker. In 1999, my husband and I and another cou- We Heard It Through the Grapevine ple bought the winery, thinking it would be a passive investment. We were living in Dallas, Texas, at the time and I was working for Texas Instruments, where I had worked for more than 20 years. Then I was offered an early-retirement package and I took it, and in 2001 my husband and I moved to the Olympic Peninsula. That’s when I took over the winery. But I had no experience in making wine or running a winery.

MB: So what made you think you could do this?

KC: My business background was in start- ups. When I took over in 2001, I gave the winery six months, go or no go, and we turned a small profit in 2001. Being from the high-tech world, I knew how to put my arms around it. I had goals, cash-flow state- easy drinking. We’ve added a third wine, ments—I really ran it like a business. We Rosé the Riveter, which we kicked off with a saw a unique opportunity in being a nontraditional contest. Eight local business- women-owned and-operated winery. es sponsored and fielded teams of three Although we want to be taken seriously women to change tires on racecars in a Vintage Advice from a Savvy Businesswoman Who Has about our wines, we’ve noticed that often timed trial. With the money from the spon- people coming into a winery are intimidat- sorships, we sent nine 13-year-old girls to a Found Wonderful Ways to Help Other Women ed. They say, “I’m not a connoisseur of four-day camp at Peninsula College for non- wine.” We realized how intimidating the traditional career training—a place where wine industry and wine-tasting can be, so they could find out that they can do and be By Sharon Sorokin James we’ve done a lot to change that. Our tasting anything they want to be. hroughout the ages, “wine, women Molly Rivard, is a woman. In early January, room has a Starbucks feel—there’s a com- In February, for Valentine’s Day we’re and song” have always been linked. MAKING BREAD caught up with Charlton to fortable lounge area. And the gift shop having “The Most Romantic Woman T But rarely have women become wine- ask her what she’s learned about wine—and attracts women. Contest,” and we’ll release our fourth and makers. Kathy Charlton, a former Texas running her own business—since she last wine in the Working Girl series. This one Instruments executive, is crushing more than bought the vineyard six years ago. To find MB: You have a wonderful series of wine is dedicated to men in our lives, and it’s a few stereotypes (along with all those out more about Olympic Cellars Winery, visit called Working Girl. How did it develop? called Handyman Red. grapes), growing and marketing wines that www.olympiccellars.com. The best thing about our Working Girl please the female palate—and this 54 year KC: After a lot of brainstorming sessions Wines series is that, from the release date old just might end up singing all the way to MAKING BREAD: How did you get and wine blending and tasting, we came up forward, the wines have supported women’s the bank. Olympic Cellars Winery, located in into the wine business? with the Working Girl Wines series, and we health care on the peninsula. A portion of Port Angeles, Washington, on the Olympic launched it in September 2003. That was the proceeds of the sale of these wines is Peninsula, is a winery that is not only owned KATHY CHARLTON: The property was when we really started taking off. We pro- donated to the Gynocare Fund. Clinics can by a woman, but also operated by women. leased in the 1990s to Neuharth Winery, a duce and market Working Girl White and draw from the fund to pay for diagnostic The consulting winemaker, Sara Gagnon, is small, award-winning winery. When its Go Girl Red, and they are at a good price care for women who otherwise would be

Photos courtesy of Olympic Cellars Winery a woman, and the tasting-room manager. founder, Gene Neuharth, died in 1993, the point, blended for women’s palates—soft, unable to have such care. This year we

26 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 27 You need dedicated volunteers. The bottling line is long and hard, so I’m always challenged. KC: Believe me, getting three women to ent wineries, all run by men, and they were that Operation Uplift must show X percent I work them to death decide on a single blend for the champagne right there. So, no, there’s not snobbery, but of in-kind funding. They called me and said for lunch and free wine. was fun. What I highly recommend is flannel there are traditions, although novelty wine let’s brainstorm. I said if they could provide pajamas, a good book, champagne and labels, like Working Girl, are becoming more me with dedicated volunteers, I would allo- potato chips. We also have Cabernet choco- and more prevalent. The average consumer cate wine to them at my cost. So for every crossed the $3,000 mark for the fund. It’s a lates to pair with wine—chocolate and wine doesn’t care about how many awards you’ve hour they work, they can buy a bottle of good connection and a good business deci- being the two basic food groups. won (we won nine in 2004). They are value- wine at very low cost. They make money at sion. We open the tasting room for fundrais- conscious, and label-conscious, and just want their fundraisers when selling it by the glass ers, so our winery is not only a tourist desti- MB: Is it difficult to be a woman in the a good wine for a good price. or by the bottle under license from the nation, boosting the economy of this small wine industry? Liquor Control Board. community, but it’s also a meeting place for MB: Do you think women’s palates are We had one volunteer who was in treat- women for such things as International KC: I approached it as a newbie. I knew different from men’s palates? ment. Bottling was in November—a cold, Women’s Day, for example. nothing, and it was probably a good thing. I worked it as I would work any new business, KC: Yes. Men like big, bold, oak MB: How many cases of wine a year do setting financial goals, operational goals, and tannins. We blend our wines I highly recommend flannel pajamas, a good you produce? production goals. I found that I have mar- to feature the fruit, to be soft. book, champagne and potato chips. keting and promotional skills that I really We do oak, but just enough to We also have Cabernet chocolates to pair KC: We’re a small winery. We produce didn’t know I had. We’ve been very nontra- enhance the wine. Our Working with wine—chocolate and wine being about 3,200 cases per year, of reds, whites ditional. That has helped us to start getting Girl Wines are very easy to the two basic food groups. and rosés. And we have a special relation- exposure in a very big industry. There is a drink, food-friendly. You don’t ship with Alan Pangborn of Moonlight glut of wine—there’s a winery opening every pucker up on that first taste. Sparkling Cellars, who has bottled a very two weeks. There’s good wine everywhere. small amount of sparkling wine for us— The only way to survive as a small winery is MB: Do you have a lot of employees? rainy day. We date stamp each box as it about 60 cases a year, blended to our taste. either to be top, top premium with major comes off the line. All she could do, barely, Although we are a small winery, word is get- financial backing—which is not us—or to KC: No. Small wineries like ours survive was date stamp, but she would not leave ting out about our wines. find our niche and stay true to it. We know with the help of friends, volunteers and cus- her post, because she was helping her In addition to the Working Girls Wines, who we are and what we are about. tomers who want to get involved. We could- organization. We kept bringing her hot tea we have La Dolce Vida—our line of premi- I need to be recognized in the industry, n’t do it, if we had to bring in the kind of and keeping her wrapped up. She stamped um wines. These wines were inspired by a but I’m not going to operate within the tra- work force we’d need during harvest time. 800 cases during a four-hour shift. painting about women and wine, by Kathy ditional confines. Since we are three You need dedicated volunteers. The bot- Womack, which I found on the Web. When I women, and, at least for Molly and me, this tling line is long and hard, so I’m always MB: Do you keep statistics on your cus- saw it, I said, “That’s us,” and I plunked is a second career, we have the opportunity challenged. I’m working them to death for tomer base? down my credit card. We hung it in the win- to not always worry about the bottom line, lunch and free wine. ery and sent Sara to our first competition, because we own it and love it. It’s just a KC: This year we are installing a retail man- and we won our first gold medal. totally different thing for me to come out of MB: So how do you make it work? agement customer contact system. But in Womack talks about women having a one industry into another and wear all the the meantime, my gut says more of our cus- secret desire to live La Dolce Vida. We all hats, knowing that I’m the ultimate decision- KC: Through an organization I formed, tomers are women than men. It goes along have careers, but we still need to take time maker. Sometimes I know it’s not economi- called 2X Success, which provides me with with the demographics of who makes retail out to create special moments with friends cally the best decision to make, but it’s the volunteers and nonprofit organizations with decisions—a high percentage of women do. and family, and that’s what Olympic Cellars right decision. wine at cost, which they can sell for a profit. I’m the only winery that stays open year- is all about. Maybe we can’t take two weeks We have the approval of the Washington round. The others are only open during the off, maybe we can’t take the summer off, MB: Is there a lot of snobbery in the State Liquor Control Board. It all started summer tourist season. but we can find time to sit down and enjoy wine industry? with an organization on the Olympic a glass of wine and talk. Peninsula called Operation Uplift. It sup- MB: So I guess it’s fair to say that cater- KC: No. Our winemaker, Sara, was in a plane ports women during and after cancer treat- ing to women is good business! Is it hard to achieve the blend of fla- MB: crash in August (fortunately, she is recovering). ments. They get a grant every year from the Sharon Sorokin James is a lawyer, author, wine afi- vors that you want in a wine? So when I needed help, I called some differ- Komen Foundation. This year the grant said cionado and contributing editor to MAKING BREAD.

28 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 29 CHOICE CAREER Ashton-Phillips is the person you want to MAKING BREAD: You’ve been very have in your corner. She’ll design a program successful in the insurance industry for a based on your individual needs and long time. How did you get started? MORE POWERFUL THAN resources. (In the interest of full disclosure, I What was your career path? should mention here that I have been one of A KUNG FU MASTER! her clients for more than 20 years.) ASHTON-PHILLIPS: I’m a former mid- Selling insurance is a second career for dle-school and high-school teacher, who this former teacher, and it’s proven to be a taught all the sciences for my first 10 years good one for her. of working. Speaking with her Many insurance companies will train and spon- Seeking a more for MAKING sor individuals for life and health agent licens- challenging profes- BREAD, I learn that ing. Some companies will even supply leads to sion, I took a sab- the insurance indus- batical from teach- try offers a number get you started visiting with prospects. ing and came to of career opportuni- Los Angeles. By ties for women, from claims adjuster to inde- chance, I met two young insurance career pendent agent. You’re required to undergo agents from Mutual of New York, whose suc- training in order to be licensed by your cess inspired me to change my career. By Allison state. Taking a job with a corporation is per- Mutual of New York (www.mony.com) spon- Acken, Ph.D. haps the best way to study for and obtain sored me for my initial life and health agent andra concerned. your license. However, independent, home- licensing, and, shortly thereafter, I was on Ashton- Ashton-Phillips study and online courses are also available. the phone cold-calling physicians, setting up S Phillips is a started out as an According to www.salary.com, a corpo- appointments, and selling MONY policies. smart, vibrant, employee of a rate insurance agent makes about $47,000 Within the first year, I realized that one and caring large insurance per year, at the upper end of the pay scale. insurance company could not offer a broad woman who company; today, For an independent agent who is willing to enough spectrum of insurance products to believes in pro- she is the presi- work hard, the payoff is much greater. If satisfy the individual needs of the type of tection—not the dent of Ashton- helping clients—including other women— client I was meeting. So I left Mutual of New Kung Fu-type, Phillips protect themselves and their families inter- York and became licensed with a select but the financial- Insurance ests you, either path can be rewarding. An group of life, health, and disability insurers planning type, Services, selling added benefit is the knowledge you’ll gain that could provide a greater range of poli- consisting of Selling Financial Protection Can Be personal and to help you manage your finances. cies to my prospective clients. insurance cover- a Very Rewarding Profession business insur- Visit the National Alliance for Insurance A year later, I incorporated my business age, retirement ance. In addi- Education and Research (www.thenationalal- and hired my first assistant. A few years savings, and tion, in collabo- liance.com), the International Risk later, I completed licensing to provide finan- estate planning. She describes herself as “a ration with Associated Planners Investment Management Institute (www.irmi.com) or the cial and estate planning, and I am now a native New Yorker” and the sound of New Advisory, Inc., she provides a full menu of Careers link on the Web site of any major registered representative with Associated York is still in her voice, even though she has financial advice and services to clients. insurance company—Metropolitan Life Securities Corporation, a broker-dealer in lived in Southern California for many years If you have ever wrestled with whether (www.metlife.com), for instance, or Los Angeles. now. Protection and accumulation of assets or not you need insurance, what kind of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network are the name of the game, as far as she’s insurance to purchase, or how much to carry, (www.nmfn.com)—for more information on MB: Can you describe a typical workday, pursuing insurance sales as a career and the if there is such a thing? In one day, I can be at a physician’s office, evaluating her insurance needs; at education needed to obtain your license. a law-firm, meeting with employees regarding their 401(k) plan; and at a Explore Ashton-Phillips’ Web site (www.ash- AP: There is no typical workday in the clothing-manufacturing firm, reviewing the group’s health and life insurance benefits. tonphillips.com) for useful financial calcula- insurance and financial-services business. With such a diversified schedule, you are never bored. tors, articles, tips and advice on money, Every day is a new day. Office hours are

Photo by istockphoto/Izabela Habur marriage—and how to protect yourself. from 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. However, work

30 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 31 ADVERTISEMENT

Protect and insure your most valuable hours can be from 7 AP: I love meeting SPREAD THE WEALTH A.M. to 10 P.M. In the assets—your life, your health, and your people and develop- office, the assistants are ability to earn income—before acquiring ing relationships. I also answering the phones, and creating other assets. love learning and OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION processing applica- problem-solving. I tions, scheduling med- never know how my ical exams, processing client-poli- week will end, and I like that. If IN MAKINGMAKING BREAD BREAD cy requests, running and order- you think you would, too, I ing proposals for clients, and strongly recommend this profes- preparing delivery letters and sion to you. MAGAZINE product information for mailing to clients and prospects. In one MB: Do you have any special day, I can be at a physician’s tips for a woman who wants to office, evaluating her personal move into insurance services? and business insurance needs; at a law firm, meeting with employ- AP: You can work for an insur- ees regarding their 401(k) plan; Sandra Ashton-Phillips ance company as a career and at a clothing-manufacturing agent, representing only that firm, reviewing the group’s health and life company. Many insurance companies will insurance benefits. With such a diversified train and sponsor individuals for life and schedule and product mix, you are never bored. health agent licensing. Some will even sup- ply leads to get you started visiting with MB: When I first came to you, years ago, prospects. In addition, some provide a I was a single mom with two small girls monthly stipend during the training, licens- and no insurance coverage. Even on a ing, and initial year of service until commis- tight budget, you helped furnish me with sions start coming in regularly. On the other basic life insurance and disability insur- hand, you can choose to be an independent ance in case of a medical crisis. What are broker and can be sponsored through a bro- your thoughts about life insurance for a kerage agency, representing many insurance married stay-at-home mom? carriers and products. The latter option may offer leads but no stipend, and such agen- AP: Life insurance is a necessity for the cies usually look for individuals who already married stay-at-home mom. She is the care- have prospects, or a target market, in mind. taker for her children, the homemaker, the housekeeper, the transporter, etc. Remove MB: What is the single most important her from the scene and there is emotional piece of advice you have for women? chaos. Replacing her requires a nanny, a TOFIND OUT ABOUT OUR GENEROUS SUBSCRIPTION DISCOUNTS ON maid, a driver, and dad spending fewer AP: Protect and insure your most valuable hours at his job to fill the void created at assets—your life, your health, and your abili- MULTIPLE ORDERS FOR ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND home. A tax-free death benefit (life insur- ty to earn income—before acquiring and ance) takes the immediate financial pressure creating other assets. CORPORATE EMPLOYEES OR CUSTOMERS, off the family by providing funds for final expenses and to hire the right individuals A clinical psychologist whose specialty is helping E-MAIL THE PUBLISHER, REGGIE OWENS, women build their money-management skills, Allison needed to care for the children. Acken, Ph.D., is the author of “It’s Only Money: A Primer for Women” and a contributing editor to AT [email protected] MB: Do you enjoy your work? Would you MAKING BREAD. Visit her at www.womentalk-

Photo courtesy of Sandra Ashton-Phillips Photo courtesy of Sandra recommend it to other women? money.com.

32 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com Sunday mornings taking care of T HE B EST B USINESS kids—often 30 or more—at a chil- dren’s ministry program, while their parents attend services. No matter how loud or how ornery they become, they rarely get on my FOR S TAY-AT- H OME nerves. I’m not daunted by their dirty diapers or runny noses. Their parents often ask why I don’t teach kids full time. I’m never sure how to answer that question, except to M OMS say that I think it takes an extraor- dinary person to care for and nur- ture children day in and day out.

Inez learned that she could care for up to eight children, provided she had 35 square feet of indoor space per child and an additional 50 square feet per child of outdoor play space. Her parents’ home fit the bill perfectly.

I’m not that kind of extraordinary. But I thank care provider was her calling. She quit her God that there are people who are. job, packed up her girls, and moved back to Who are these folks? Most are women Nebraska, where she had family. who are mothers themselves. Many desire to “I had a lot of good contacts through stay at home with their own children but the social-service system. That helped me need to keep bringing in an income. navigate the regulations. But the biggest Becoming a family day-care provider is a push came from two of my friends. They good way to accomplish both goals. If you wanted me to watch their kids, so I knew I are caring, patient, organized and energetic, had at least two customers to start.” it may be the perfect job for you, too. Inez* was a 37-year-old Arizona social Playing by the Child-Care Rules worker when she adopted two girls she’d Every state has its own stringent regulations cared for as foster children. “Once the and standards for day-care providers. adoptions became final, I actually lost my Nebraska requires them to register, go foster-care benefits for the girls. I had to through training and submit to a background BY CARING FOR OTHER MOTHERS’ KIDS, DAY-CARE PROVIDERS ARE take a hard look at what I would be making check before becoming licensed. Inez working full time versus what it was going to learned that she could care for up to eight FINDING THEY CAN AFFORD TO STAY HOME WITH THEIR OWN cost me to place the girls in day care. There children of mixed ages, provided she had 35 were a lot of things at stake. The girls were square feet of indoor space per child and an By Elizabeth Kaminsky little (ages 2 and 4), with all kinds of separa- additional 50 square feet per child of outdoor ere’s the story of a lovely lady, kick out of The Brady Bunch. I guess because tion issues and emotional problems. Placing play space. Her parents’ home fit the bill per- who was bringing up two very I was an only child, the thought of all those them in yet another child-care situation did- fectly. They had a large, finished recreation lovely girls. She invited extra kids in one house seemed like fun to me. n’t feel right to me.” After a lot of soul- room in the basement and a fenced-in yard. H kids into her family, and so her The notion must have stuck with me. For searching and a whole bunch of research, “My folks were thinking of downsizing any- story unfurls…. I used to get a many years now, every summer I spend Inez decided that becoming a family day- way. The house was getting to be too much H*Names have been changed to protect privacy. Photo by Creatas/IT Stock Free 34 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 35 ‘I kept children THE MORE THE MERRIER: What You busy and never Need to Know If You Want to Become allowed them to a Day-Care Provider tear apart my irst things first: “The money is great.” Both women MAKING BREAD spoke house. I’ve seen a with for this article agreed on that point. They also found that the investment lot of providers F in home improvements and training required were minimal. do that, and Each state has different initial training sessions, averaging about a full day, after that’s what which day-care providers are required to take continuing education courses. While requirements vary from state to state, in Nebraska, for instance, in their first year, fami- makes them ly day-care providers must take 12 additional hours of training in such subjects as child burn out,’ development, psychology, discipline technique and the like; the next year they take says Maggie. eight, and so on. They also must keep up their CPR and first-aid certifications. The price for these courses is minimal, since they are run by the state. Each state places a limit on the number of children a family day-care provider can accept. Nebraska allows eight mixed-age kids per provider, with no more than two of those being infants under a year old. The number of kids you can care for is based on the ages of the kids, and exclu- sions are generally given for your own children. For instance, Maggie could have six children plus for them to take care of. They moved to a learned that you absolutely have to run a her own two, and she could take in two more school-age children, but for after-school care only. senior housing complex and let me use their family day care like any other business. I Both Maggie and Inez, at one point or another, had the maximum number of kids they were house until I got established.” avoided taking in friends’ children for that allowed to watch. They both caution: “Ask yourself, ‘Do you LOVE kids of all types? Can you Inez started with her own two girls and reason. Parents thought they were interview- handle the extra bodies in your house, as well as all the stuff that comes with them? How will two others (her friend’s children), for about a ing me, but I was interviewing them. I felt day care fit into year. She charged $125 a week per child that since I was bringing strange children your family? Why Ask yourself, ’Do you LOVE kids of all types? Can you handle the and says she often made extra by keeping into my home, I wanted to know what I was are you really extra bodies in your house? How will day care fit into your family?’ the two children longer hours. “There were getting myself (and my own family) into. I doing this?’“ nights when my friends would want to stay was selective. I think you have to be. I had Maggie said she knew it was time to get out when she found herself losing patience with kids after work to go shopping or whatever. I contracts and kept to a very strict pick-up over things that wouldn't have bothered her 10 years ago. The job simply stopped being "fun." charged $10 an hour for the extra time.” As schedule with my clients. I charged late A business tip from Maggie: “Make sure you get what's coming to you, assistance-wise.” Inez’s enrollment grew, one of her friends fees, unless it was an emergency.” She applied for everything the state of New Jersey had to offer: food subsidies, training, moved her child to a pre-school. “I stressed Like Inez, Maggie got into family day mini-grants. She asked a lot of questions, often dogging people until she got the answers and over it at first, thinking that my friend felt I care to stay with her daughters. She, too, the support she needed. wasn’t providing good care for her son. did her homework and found that there was Neither Maggie nor Inez incorporated. This kind of small business enterprise is often best What I realized in the long run is that it funding for things like liability insurance and structured as a sole proprietorship. As such, you report your income on Schedule C—Profit or worked out better for all of us. She was tak- food costs. “The training I received was very Loss from business. Subtract expenses from gross income and pay tax on the net profit. (Visit ing advantage of our friendship payment- thorough. It included first aid, CPR, and www.irs.gov to learn how to set up a sole proprietorship.) Both gave receipts to allow their wise, and I was having to add more children child development, and it gave me some clients to claim the day-care expense on their taxes. to make up for it.” help on the business side, too.” Maggie To learn about the regulations and standards that apply in your state, check out the Maggie*, a 36-year-old New Jersey went through licensing and criminal back- Health and Human Services section of your state’s official Web site. Helpful links and

Photo by Creatas/Corbis provider, can sympathize with Inez. “I ground checks, and as with all New Jersey resources are also available from the National Child Care Information Center (www.nccic.org), continued on page 38 the National Association for the Education of Young Children (www.naeyc.org), and the Inez charged $125 a week per child and says she often made extra by keeping the National Association for Family Child Care (www.nafcc.org), which has a search engine for children longer hours. ‘There were nights when my friends would want to stay accredited family day-care providers. Local school districts may have resources and informa- after work to go shopping or whatever. I charged $10 an hour for the extra time.’ Photo by istockphoto.com/Sang Nguyen tion for parents and providers, as well. Becoming a daycare provider isn’t child’s play, but it could be just the business for you.

36 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 37 providers, her home could be inspected at Don’t Kid Yourself any time. “That’s what I’d want, if I were Maggie raises a good point: what spe- Have You Tried leaving my kids with someone,” she says. cial qualities do you need? Both Inez and Maggie made very few renovations to Maggie agree that patience, flexibility and her home. Her husband built a storage area kindness are essential. “Being organized the NEWEST Thing for children’s belongings, and they spent helps,” Inez adds, “because with little kids some money to fence in their back yard. running around, things can get hectic.” “We would have done that anyway, but with “Having a structured day is good for the in Newspaper and Magazine the day care, we were able to afford it much kids and for you,” Maggie offers. “I kept chil- quicker,” she adds. Her rates were similar to dren busy and never allowed them to tear Inez’s, roughly $125 per child per week. Delivery? She recalls that the impact on her family was positive. “As my own daughters got older, they often helped me. They enjoyed being around the babies. My husband was a big help, too. He could tell when I needed a

‘Parents thought they were interviewing me, With but I was interviewing them,’ says Maggie. ‘I wanted to know what I was getting myself (and my own family) into. I was NEWSSTAND.COM, selective. I think you have to be.’ You Can Schedule Automatic Downloads and Store Exact break, and he’d jump in. He had to be apart my house. I’ve seen a lot of providers licensed as well. In fact, anyone in our home do that, and that’s what makes them burn Replicas of Your Favorite over 14 had to be.” Maggie says she out.” Creativity also helps, according to Check out worked hard to maintain her family’s privacy. Maggie. “I wasn’t afraid to let kids be kids. Publications (Including MAKING BREAD’s “The day care was separate from our home. One of my fondest memories was when I put Discounted Rates, Gift My kids’ bedrooms were off limits, and we butcher paper down on the kitchen floor. I MAKING BREAD) on Subscriptions, and had different toys just for day care.” let the kids do painting with their feet—they Your Computer or Corporate and Now a counselor in a rehabilitation cen- walked in paint and then around on the Educational Sales Offers ter, Maggie acknowledges that her 10 years papers to make a picture. The kids thought it Laptop for Easy on www.Newsstand.com as a family day-care provider sharpened her was so much fun. They were all precious!” Today! skills for her current job, where she works I know how she feels. The kids in my life with young mothers who are trying to get are more precious to me than anything. One Access Whenever their lives together. “I am trying to encourage look at my refrigerator or the top of my fil- a few of my clients to become providers. I tell ing cabinet gives me away. There are pho- You Want to them how much I loved it and how it made tos, drawings and hand-made gifts from all me feel important. I tell them that if they the kids I’ve helped to raise over the years. Read Them. became a provider, they could feel that way, Each one has made a special, indelible little too. I want them to know they don’t need a imprint on my heart. degree; they just have to be loving and car- Elizabeth Kaminsky writes often about financial and ing and a good person. I’d love to see them family-related issues. She is a contributing editor to do it and get off the (welfare) system.” MAKING BREAD.

38 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com Advertisement DO part: according to a recent study, one out of four credit reports contains some kind of error. THE Besides factual concerns, there are legitimate privacy questions: how secure are those files, which contain CREDIT our most personal financial informa- tion—and how easy is it to fraudulent- ly obtain access? (Under new rules, BUREAUS anyone who obtains a report under false pretenses may be fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for up to one HAVE year. Will those rules be strictly enforced?) But even setting aside those privacy issues, given lenders’ TOO increasingly aggressive use of credit reports to adjust the rates and fees they charge consumers, the time has come to ask: Do the credit bureaus MUCH have too much power over our lives? How We Got Hooked on Plastic Credit has been around for 3,000 years, but it wasn’t until the 1920s that POWER the first “shopper’s plate,” or depart- ment-store card, was introduced in the United States. In 1951, Diner’s Club issued a credit card to customers, who could use it at a handful of restaurants OVER in New York, and in 1958, American By Elizabeth Lewin Express and Bank Americard (which any of us laughed when we 18 years or older, who has any type of credit we now know as Visa) followed with their own first read George Orwell’s obligation. There are currently 205 million cards for use in multiple locations and types novel “1984,“ amused by individual files maintained by these three of stores. US? his satiric vision of a state bureaus. Utilities, landlords, insurance com- As the use of credit grew, merchants rec- M that watches (over) us all. panies—even potential employers (with your ognized that it would be mutually beneficial Well, Orwell’s 1949 prophecy of a time when permission)—can and do check your credit for them to share information about their cus- A Special Report on the “Big Brother” would watch our every move report before deciding whether to do busi- tomers, so they could make “wise” decisions has become fact, and we’re not laughing so ness with you. According to the Fair Credit about who was a credit risk and who was not. Three Companies That hard anymore. He could have been describ- Reporting Act, anyone who is conducting a The first credit bureaus were non-profit coop- ing the credit-bureau industry. credit transaction, making an employment eratives owned by the merchants who partici- Track Our Spending and Founded as local nonprofit companies, decision, underwriting insurance or conduct- pated in them. These merchant associations today the three major credit bureaus, ing a legitimate business transaction can shared consumer information on a local basis. Bill-Paying Habits Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, are huge, request your report. Your file can also be They reported only negative financial infor- national, multimillion-dollar, for-profit busi- requested by court order or Federal grand mation, and this information was used to

Illustration by Creatas/Images.com nesses that maintain files on every consumer, jury subpoena. But here’s the really scary deny credit. They even culled “lifestyle” infor-

40 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 41 approval process and makes credit available to more people. The downside: easy access MAKING BREAD can’t help but ask: why must consumers pay to see a to your payment history and debt level also score generated by analysis of their own personal-finance information? allows lenders to monitor changes, looking for any excuse to raise your rates and fees. Whereas previously states regulated and now every consumer is eligible for one How Accurate Are They? interest rates and imposed limits on the free report per year from each of the nation- As previously mentioned, a new study by amount of interest that could be charged on al bureaus (visit www.annualcreditreport.com the National Association of State Public a consumer loan, in 1978 a Supreme Court for more information). This Government- Interest Research Groups reports that 79 per- opinion ruled that banks could “export” mandated free service is being rolled out cent of all credit reports contain some type of interest rates from their home state to anoth- gradually across the country. It began in the error, with 29 percent containing an error seri- er. South Dakota’s interest rates were double Western states on December 1, 2004 and ous enough to cause denial of credit. the going rate in other states. Not surprising- will work its way slowly across the Nation According to the report: 54 percent con- mation from local newspapers and other ly, lending institutions began to set up head- until, on September 1, 2005, everyone will tained inaccurate personal information, such sources—such things as who was getting a quarters there, as well as in Delaware and a be able to request a free report. It’s certainly as misspelled names, wrong Social Security divorce, or who had a drinking problem. By few other states that had lender-friendly cred- one small step in the right direction. number, inaccurate birth date, or inaccurate 1970, there were about 2,250 of these credit- it-card laws. As a result of all of these information about a spouse; 30 percent listed reporting companies scattered across the changes, credit has become a highly prof- Where the Bureaus “closed” accounts as “open”—for instance, country, and, unlike today, consumers had no itable business—the most profitable segment Get Their Information listing a student loan that was paid off years right to see what was in their credit files. of the very profitable banking business. More than 4.5 billion pieces of data are ago as still outstanding, or listing credit-card Today, more than five billion pre- entered into credit records by the credit accounts that have been closed as still active; omputers revolutionized the credit- approved credit-card offers are stuffed into bureaus each month. Affiliated with hun- 22 percent had the same mortgage listed reporting industry, making it possible our mailboxes each year. Profits continue to dreds of previously independent local or twice; and eight percent failed to list a major C to transmit information over greater rise, even though bad-debt losses have regional bureaus, each of the bureaus gets credit-card account, loan, or mortgage that geographic distances. Large credit-granting increased, because those losses are offset by its information from lenders, such as banks, could be used to demonstrate creditworthi- companies, such as the automobile manufac- the revenue that banks are earning from finance companies, credit-card companies, ness. Errors of omission can be as damaging turers, Sears and General Electric, began to increased penalty fees. department stores, and collection agencies. as errors of commission. automate their systems and encouraged a As the credit-card business has grown in These files include account numbers, the move towards consolidation of existing local profitability, so have the credit-reporting type of credit you have (mortgages, credit- s this rampant inaccuracy the fault of the card loans, automobile loans), outstanding credit bureaus? Of course, they are partially balances, collection actions taken against Iresponsible and should be held accountable Seventy-nine percent of all credit reports contain some type of error, with you, and your bill-paying history. The for the accuracy of the “product” they are sell- 29 percent containing an error serious enough to cause denial of credit. bureaus also get information from public ing. But your creditors and others providing the records regarding bankruptcies, court judg- information to the bureaus are the main culprit. ments, overdue child support, foreclosures The report found that some banks admit to not credit bureaus into larger bureaus operating bureaus. Besides the revenue they receive or liens. furnishing bureaus with complete information on a regional, and later a national, basis. from the sale of reports to business clients, When you apply for a credit card or on customers. Other mistakes are caused by These previously non-profit merchant associa- the bureaus generate millions in annual sales, bank loan, the potential lender requests this human error, no doubt a result of the challenge tions became for-profit credit bureaus. selling credit reports to consumers each year, information (and pays the bureau for it) and of handling such a vast volume of information. In the late 1970s, banks were deregulat- so that we can keep track of errors and con- uses it to supplement any information that But consumer advocates have also found that ed, allowing them to expand across state test them. This practice begs the question: you have already given on an application in when consumers attempt to correct errors, they lines, and interstate banking was born. As Should we really have to pay to view our own order to make an informed decision about can encounter difficulty in getting through to card offers proliferated, credit reports became personal-finance history? your creditworthiness. Your report will vary, the bureaus (phone lines are often busy) and even more important to lenders, who relied Consumer activists have been asking depending on the completeness and accu- bureaucratic red tape and delays or inaction on them more and more to reduce their level the same question for years. Finally, racy of the information on file at each once they do complain of inaccuracy. of risk. The credit industry argues that know- Congress acted, passing The Fair and bureau. Lenders don’t always subscribe to MSNBC reported that, in 2000, the three

Photo by istockphoto.com/Lise Gagne ing more about you allows for a faster Accurate Credit Transactions Act in 2003, reports from all three of the credit bureaus. credit bureaus were fined $2.5 million by the

42 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 43 Take advantage of the free reports: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for not A customer’s mix of credit: Someone with sub-prime rate instead of a prime rate Ask for one from a different bureau answering calls to toll-free numbers set up for only a secured credit card is generally riskier could easily pay more than a hundred every four months; this way, you’ll be the purpose of allowing consumers to dis- than a person who has a combination of thousand dollars extra in interest pay- pute inaccuracies in their credit reports. installment loans (such as an automobile loan) ments. Among many examples cited by able to monitor your score throughout Consumers who tried to request the recently and revolving loans (credit cards). Consumers Union is the case of Ursula the year and compare the information instituted free credit report from the three A July 2003 survey commissioned by the Daniels of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Her on file at each of the bureaus. bureaus also experienced less-than-perfect Consumer Federation of America found that credit report incorrectly showed a mort- Web site functionality and phone response only two percent of Americans said they gage account in bankruptcy. Despite produc- during the first week of December, when the knew their credit score. You can obtain your ing a letter from the mortgage company, it Time for Us service was launched. A case of “déjà vu all FICO score, for $14.95, at www.myfico.com. took her three years to correct the error. In to Monitor the Bureaus over again”? A new product called ScoreWatch is also that time, she was denied credit three times. The 2003 bill provides for ongoing moni- available, which, for $7.95 a month, will mon- toring of this industry and toughening of What’s the Score? itor your score and send you alerts whenever t wasn’t until 1971 that Congress passed guidelines, standards and enforcement, Your credit report isn’t the only thing it changes. Again, MAKING BREAD can’t the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which where required. However, ultimately, it’s up to lenders can purchase: they also pay for con- help but wonder: why must consumers pay to Iallowed customers to access their credit us, the consumers, to make sure that our per- sumers’ “credit scores,” a grade often called see a score generated by analysis of their reports. FCRA established a framework for sonal data on file with the bureaus is accu- a FICO score, after Fair, Isaac Corporation own personal-finance information? fair information practices to protect privacy rate. What can you do to protect yourself? (www.fairisaac.com), the California-based firm and promote accuracy. It allowed consumers First, take advantage of the free reports that developed the software that produces Who’s Watching ‘Big Brother’? to dispute and correct their records. In 1996, now mandated: Obtain one copy of your the score. This software uses a formula, The credit bureaus aren’t passing judg- and again in 2003, Congress strengthened credit report from each bureau every year. Ask based on the information in your credit ment on you, nor do they have any legal the law to increase the accuracy of credit for one from a different bureau every four report, to measure your creditworthiness. It power over you. However, as studies have reports, protect the privacy of individuals, months; this way, you’ll be able to monitor then translates the risk and help to prevent identity theft. your score throughout the year and compare factor you pose to The latest amendments also restrict the the information on file at each of the bureaus. lenders into a single, The 2003 bill provides for ongoing monitoring of this marketing of financial products containing If you find an error, write a letter or e- three-digit number. industry and toughening of guidelines, standards sensitive information, such as medical mail to the credit bureau in question. The Scores range from the records, to third parties. In addition to man- bureau is obligated to contact the creditor 300’s to 850; the higher and enforcement, as necessary. However, ultimately, dating one free credit report per bureau per who supplied the disputed information and the score the better. Most it’s up to us, the consumers, to make sure that our year to the consumer, they also guarantee respond to you within 30 to 45 days. If you of us fall in the 600-to-700 personal data on file with the bureaus is accurate. access to credit scores at a “fair and reason- are not pleased with how the claim is settled, range. According to able fee.” Lenders must now provide written ask to have a brief, written statement of error www.bankrate.com, there notification to the consumer when they sub- attached to the bottom of your credit report. are five characteristics that mit negative information to a national credit If a lender tells you that you have bad separate the cream of the crop from everyone shown, the system is riddled with errors, and bureau, as well as an “adverse action notice” credit, ask for specifics. While currently else. In order of importance, they are: these errors can have a major negative effect when credit is extended on “less favorable” lenders are not required to give you this infor- Past delinquency: People who have on your life. Millions of Americans could pay terms, as a result of information found in a mation, they are permitted to, and many will. failed to make payments in the past tend to more for—or be denied—credit, insurance, or credit report. Finally, if your complaints aren’t quickly do the same in the future. utilities, because of inaccurate credit scores, Notably, the act also requires the FTC, resolved, contact the Federal Trade The way credit has been used: Someone according to “Credit Score Accuracy and the Federal Reserve Board and the Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP or via the who is maxed out on credit cards is consid- Implications for Consumers,” a study released Department of Housing and Urban contact information at www.ftc.gov. ered a greater risk. by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) Development to study and report on “the Fair’s fair: Big Brother, it’s time that some- The age of the credit file: People who and the National Credit Reporting Association effects of the use of credit scores and credit- body watched (over) you, too. have had credit for a long while are less risky. (NCRA). This study points out that falling based insurance scores on the availability and The number of times a person asks for below the 620 cut-off point “can impose sig- affordability of financial products and services Financial planner Elizabeth Lewin is a contributing editor to MAKING BREAD. She is the co-author of credit: The system frowns upon those who nificant costs on mortgage borrowers.” Over for all Americans.” This report is due by “Family Finance” and the forthcoming “MAKING have initiated several requests for credit cards the life of a 30-year, $150,000 mortgage, for December 2005. Are these changes sufficient BREAD: The Ultimate Financial Guide for Women or loans over a short period. example, a borrower incorrectly charged a to protect consumer interests? Who Need Dough.”

44 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 45 I spent more than $300 eating out. OH, MY GOD, I ATE A My God! I would have been better off splurging on a Marc Jacobs bag. Do you know what it’s like to MARC JACOBS BAG! realize that you’ve eaten a bag? I could have used that money to open a savings account.

How to Deal with I’m not doing anything for my future, but most of the time it seems that way. I work Unfortunately, I can’t just skip Touchy-Feely Bosses, part time at Banana Republic and intern at a town—I have a lease in Philadelphia and no P.R. firm once a week. Yet the stigma of not job in New York, which is why I am still here, Spend Less, Fight having a “real job” is something that I am why I am still an intern and why I still work at aware of every day. Banana Republic. If I got a “real job,” I for Fair Pay . . . know I would settle for something I wouldn’t uch of the reason that I don’t have love. After all, there isn’t much to dream and other Money a real job is that, until a few weeks about when you are too comfortable. Mago, I didn’t know what I wanted to Still, I have discovered that there is one do. When you don’t know what you want to thing more important than finding out what I Lessons Learned do, what are you going to do? want to do: figuring out how to pay my rent After all, four years is not enough time and bills. For the most part, I supported During My First for everyone to find their true calling. I spent myself through college. However, in college I those years gaining experience through had a financial-aid package and loans. To be Year Out of College internships and job interviews. These experi- honest, I probably won’t be living the way I ences not only showed me what I want to did my last year of college for a while. Not do, but what I don’t want to do. Recently, that I lived extravagantly—because, as we all given the chance to write for a few publica- know, college students are notorious for liv- tions, interviewing people who are passion- ing like rock stars—but I had everything I ate about their work, I decided that I want to needed. Now that I don’t receive a check in become a writer. More specifically, I would the mail every semester from a financial-aid like to be in the position where what I write package, shampoo, three meals a day—even The author, above. At right, her mother and grandmother. will have a positive impact on others. And I a cup of coffee—often are a luxury. would like to do this on a freelance level. Reality check: I understand that becom- Welcome to the Real World: By Amber Fairweather ing a successful and credible freelance writer Touchy-Feely Bosses & Cheap Labor ast week, I received a survey in the into a 10-by-15-foot mouse- and roach- is not something that will come easily. Many For a while, I was working seven days a mail for Communication gradu- infested studio. Oh, well. I guess it’s impor- years may pass before I become established. week, because I had a third job at a coffee ates. An accompanying letter stat- tant to learn to coexist with nature. I live in Philadelphia, and I’ve decided that shop. Working there taught me another ed that those who study Eight months have passed since I gradu- this might not be the best place to pursue important lesson: stay ambitious! Two of my Communications have the most ated from Temple University with a degree in my writing career. After all, it is better to go co-workers had their Master’s degrees. By Ldifficult time finding a job. I wish I’d Journalism, and I still don’t have a “real where there is opportunity. And I want to be the time I’m in my early 30’s, as they are, I received that information sooner. It would job.” What I do have is rent, bills, loans to in the most competitive market. Hence, my hope to have outgrown my coffee-shop

Photo this page by Jeanne Rankin; all other photos by Amber Fairweather Photo this page by Jeanne Rankin; all other photos have been nice to know that before I moved pay off, and a whole lot of worry! It’s not as if decision to move to New York. phase. They weren’t too pleasant—a little

46 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 47 choice, journalism. Here are five things I would there any ways to leverage her current position Help for Post-College Stress Syndrome: recommend she try: at this firm into something more substantial? DVICE FROM A INANCIAL LANNER 1. Do all of her relatives, friends from col- 4. Amber should compare her resume with A F P lege, and parents’ friends know she is looking examples in various “how to find a job” books By Eve Kaplan soon as she finds herself in a position where she for a position in the communications field? It to see if it can be improved upon. mber doesn’t have too many financial has excess cash flow, she should begin funding a might be worth her time and effort to send let- 5. Has Amber considered corporate PR as a decisions to make yet, apart from defer- Roth IRA (she can save as much as $4,000 in ters and/or call anyone she or her parents know way to draw upon her communications skills? A ring repayment of her $30,000 student- 2005). Roth IRA’s compound beautifully over to pursue leads in this area. Every corporation has a bevy of individuals loan debt. I agree that these loans should be time. When Amber taps her Roth in her late 50s, working in this area. deferred, until she’s in a more secure financial her investment could be significant. I don’t think Amber should regret having majored in Amber is such a determined position. She doesn’t have financial assets yet, If Amber secures a position that offers her a communications. If she had studied something that young woman. I’d like to see but the good news is that she already has the 401(k) plan, she should participate first in this bored her (finance, for instance), she still might have where she is a year from now. Wherever she is, I’m sure that biggest asset of all: the beginnings of a profes- plan and “max out” her contributions, whether found herself without a job after graduation. sional “skills set”—skills she can enumerate on her there are matching benefits or not. She still can she’ll be closer to achieving the resume, including any relevant skills or experience fund her Roth IRA annually, if she’s participating personal and professional goals garnered from her work at the PR firm. I don’t in a 401(k). That’s one of the advantages of Roth 2. Now that she has an internship in New that she set for herself this year. York, does Amber have a reserve of several think Amber should regret having majored in com- IRA’s: taxpayers can’t participate in a traditional Eve Kaplan is a fee-only Certified Financial Planner munications. If she had studied something that IRA and a 401(k) (or other qualified plan), if they thousand dollars to finance a move there? If nec- Practitioner, based in New Jersey, specializing in independ- bored her (finance, for instance), she still might are above a certain income level. essary, can she borrow money from family mem- ent financial planning advice, with no asset and income have found herself without a job after graduation. Another point to consider: the money she bers? Financial planners frequently use compa- minimums. Billing is hourly or by the project. For more information, visit www.KaplanFinancialAdvisors.com. Adults generally change careers an average of stashes in a Roth IRA can be withdrawn (after five nies, such as www.CircleLending.com, to arrange four to five times during their working lives. Very years) to cover first-time home-buying expenses, loans between family members. often the undergraduate major turns out to have such as a down payment, something Amber 3. Does the PR firm where Amber is working little to do with the profes- might find interesting down the road. once a week in sion one eventually finds. Right now, though, she needs a Philadelphia offer any Amber is a recent game plan to find a leads? What skills has graduate, so talk of retire- full-time posi- she developed there ment funding may seem to tion in her pro- that she can emphasize be a lifetime away. Still, as fession of on her resume? Are

The author sold her camera to pay the rent—but not Right: Mother at work before capturing these revealing portraits of the in the kitchen. remarkable women in her life. At left, her mother, Virginia Bohn. At right: Grandmother Naomi Zook. and, after taxes, school student I was bringing bitter, in fact—and my was making a dollar an hour more than I home only boss was an absolute was. I was hurt and outraged. Banana $5.98 an hour. Her aunt, Dorothy Zook. jerk and a little too Republic is not my career, but I do take this Management agreed to give touchy feely. When going to work literally job seriously, because it is my job. My boss me a raise—as long as I agreed not to make only slightly above the average amount that made me vomit. I knew it was time to quit. acknowledged my hard work and let me my gripes about the company known to college students owe upon graduation. No matter how poor you are, no job is know that he hoped I knew that manage- other employees. They told me that I might Most of my loans are from the government, worth your dignity. ment realized I was worth more than $7.75 scare them away. but one is from a private lender. The interest In the past few months, I have learned an hour—as if saying so were compensation The 75-cent raise boosted my dignity rates are lower on the government loans, so that maintaining your dignity is crucial to enough. He still didn’t give me raise. more than it boosted my finances. It certain- I made the decision to defer those. I have survival. I recently asked for—some would Finally, in November, I let management ly hasn’t helped me to start paying off my been informed that it is not necessarily bad say demanded—a raise from Banana know that working for $7.75 an hour was college loans. I am approximately $30,000 to defer your loans. One thing that brings Republic. In July, I found out that a high- unacceptable. I was one of their top sellers in debt, which sounds extraordinary, but it is me comfort is that I know many individuals

48 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 49 Laundry is women’s work in the Mennonite community near the author’s home town.

lege. I blamed a lot of my problems on photography. I didn’t get to go to New York, because I spent so much money on photography. I didn’t have nice clothes, because I spent all of my money on photography. MAKING As time goes by, I realize that all of these things were my fault; my hobby’s not to blame. I look at my situation, which isn’t terrible, this way: BREAD I’m learning to manage my money now, so that when I have a lot of it, I will know how to spend it wisely. THE ONLY Although living can be difficult, everyone else struggles. My friends who’ve landed jobs WOMEN’S If I give up trying to achieve what I want to that pay a decent salary struggle, too. INANCE do, I’ll be settling, and there’s nothing Just because you F have a job does not more expensive than settling. mean that you are MAGAZINE going to love what you do. who have racked up credit-card debt while After talking to a friend who has an amaz- in college. At least my debt represents ing accounting job (and a Mercedes Benz to something substantial. prove it) about how miserable she is, I realized that I am on the right track. If I give up trying Hard Choices: Selling My to achieve what I want to do, I’ll be settling, Camera to Pay the Rent and there’s nothing more expensive than set- Still, I’m not as good with my money as tling. People tell me that I am unrealistic for I would like to be. Every month when I get thinking this way. If I had a penny for every my bank statement, I go into shock—usually time I was told to get a Government job or followed by shame. In a few months’ time, I to join the Army or teach, I could defiantly spent more than $300 eating out. My God! I start paying off my loans. would have been better off splurging on Things are looking up. Recently I landed something extravagant, like a Marc Jacobs an internship in New York City with a maga- bag. Do you know what it’s like to realize zine. How’d I get it? I brazenly asked for it. that you’ve eaten a Marc Jacobs bag? I “What do I need to do to get this position? could have used that money to open a sav- I really want it,” I said in my interview. ings account. If I had saved money when I Although it’s unpaid, I feel that this experi- was in college, maybe I wouldn’t have had ence will help me find my niche. to sell my camera—the love of my life. But I’ve grown up a lot in the last few the camera was just sitting there doing months. I’ve learned to respect myself, those nothing, and I had nothing in the fridge and around me, and, of course, my money. nothing in the bank. So . . . Amber Fairweather graduated from Temple University I should mention that I took a few pho- in 2004. She is currently pursuing a career in tography courses during my last year of col- magazine journalism in New York City.

50 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com Click on CHANGE to Enter www.makingbreadmagazine.com. Things are less healthy when people who Of course, I applaud this. Gender should IT’SIT’S THETHE TEMPINGTEMPING LIFELIFE FORFOR ME!ME! would prefer permanent positions can only not be a factor in career choice, career find temp jobs, as more and more compa- mobility or remuneration. However, I beg to nies hire temps in order to avoid pesky differ with the Superwoman who advises girls requirements like pension plans and other never to learn to type. There’s a difference benefits. Given today’s economy, typing between settling for a low-level job forever, might be considered a survival skill. just because you’re a girl, and learning a skill that can help you earn money. Fear of Type-Casting? I was in high school when I bought Browsing in a highbrow bookshop a few myself a book to teach myself to type at weeks ago, an autobiography caught my home. (Our school offered “business skills” eye. The title was “Never Learn to Type: A courses, but not for girls like me: we were Woman at the United Nations!” On the too busy trying to get into good colleges.) I cover, there was a picture of an Adventure remember learning on my manual portable Why Woman—you know, the kind who climbs Smith Corona. That summer, while my broth- One Woman I beg to differ with the superwoman who advises girls never to learn to type. There’s a difference between settling Prefers the Impermanence for a low-level job forever, just because you’re a girl, and of Job Shifting learning a skill that can help you earn money.

Mount Everest at the age of 102, just er got some job doing heavy lifting or con- because she hasn’t done it yet. I could see struction work, I got an office job, typing. I that the book was meant as an inspiration to made good money, worked regular hours, By Laurie M. Lesser young girls all over the world: “You can do it and came home clean at the end of the day. have often said that I was born to temp. I love the freedom all. Just don’t give in to the subservient role I typed my papers in high school (and those of working when I want to and having time off when I need that society is holding out for you.” For gen- first few short stories I wrote back then) and it. I like the constant change of surroundings, meeting new erations, mothers sending their kids off to college-application essays. Every summer people, and seeing first-hand the way different offices func- college would hope that their sons would after that, I used my typing skills to get sum- tion—or fail to function. Temping satisfies my restless spirit, become doctors and their daughters nurses. mer jobs, mostly through temp agencies. Iand my self-image as an observer, an outsider. It gives me the illu- Boys would become lawyers and daughters sion of being free of the drudgery of a routine, 9-to-5 life. legal secretaries or, in the more progressive couple of years after college—with a In healthy economic times, when the supply of work is abun- families, paralegals. Boys would become major in French—I decided to move dant, this relationship works well: no long periods of not working Writers with a capital W, and girls who liked A to Paris. I had enough money to stay when you’d like to be, and even the luxury of picking and choos- to write would do it in their free time, in about a month if I didn’t get a job, but I ing what assignments to accept. Over the years, temp agencies between reading copies of Good hoped to stay for six months. With no work have evolved with the times and are even offering health and Housekeeping and practicing it. permit, I was lucky to fall upon a typing job vacation benefits for their regular “talent” (as one agency refers Things started changing with my gener- at UNESCO, helping in the preparations for to its temps). ation, kids born in the early 1950’s, but a big international conference. The job paid The relationship between a temp and her agency—and the stereotypes continued to exist and probably royally and gave me the papers to allow me companies she works for—is healthy when it’s voluntary, when still do, although medical schools and law to stay on in France. Six weeks later, I was someone like me chooses to accept the disadvantages—lack of schools—and the armed forces, too—seem traveling to Stockholm with that very confer-

Photo by Creatas/Digital Vision Photo by Creatas/Digital job security and career mobility—in order to enjoy the pluses. to be close to 50-50 these days. ence, and two years after that I was still doing

52 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 53 the same kind of work and having a ball. No that—that I was doing this kind of work out his summer at UNESCO I came across career pressure, no challenges (except staying of choice. I know some people admired me one of these professional temps, a TEMPTED BY TEMPING? up long for leading T woman about 60, who was still living hours). The The meaning of my life was the time off such an excit- day-to-day, hand-to-mouth. She’d worked in he temping life can be a perfect tempo- meaning of ing life, but New York, Washington, Geneva and Paris. But rary solution for women just starting out who are having a hard time finding their my life was in between jobs. Typing was a way to I’m sure oth- a few weeks or months without work and she T first full-time job; for women returning to the the time off in ers (like my was in trouble. Pension? I doubt it. Property? earn money while having fun, and when work force after raising children or who want between jobs. brothers and None that I know of. A bleak and scary old a contract was over it was over, and I the flexibility to stay at home part of each week, Typing was a parents) won- age loomed ahead of her. When I was 25, I month or year to be with their children; as well way to earn was free to take weeks off and travel. dered why I would have been inspired by her lifestyle as for retirees seeking to supplement their money while was wasting (after all, I imitated it), but at about-to-turn- Social Security and other income. It should having fun, my educa- 50, it scared me. Meeting her was a prover- come as no surprise that women are more likely and when a contract was over it was over, and tion, wasting my life. I guess I felt both at bial look into the mirror of my future. to be employed by temp agencies than men I was free to take weeks off and travel. the same time. About two months ago, I moved back to are: Sixty-seven percent of part-time workers the United States, after living in France for are women, with one-third of all women working Is Fun All There Is? n those days, there was a whole subcul- part-time, according to the Economic Policy Into my 30s (and still in Paris), I realized I ture of women (yes, about 99.9 percent, if Institute. was having fun but not going anywhere. I Inot 100 percent, of the typists were In those days, there was a The number of temporary workers nearly liked UNESCO but felt I could be doing the women) who went from UN agency to UN tripled in the United States between 1990 and 2000. If you find yourself tempted by temping, educational research that I was typing up; I agency, doing temporary typing work. They whole subculture of women visit the Web site of the American Staffing could be doing the field work. I’d made cer- made good money and, in most cases, were who went from UN agency Association (www.staffingtoday.net) for more tain choices in my life, and I took responsi- not liable for income tax in the places they to UN agency, doing temporary information and a list of member staffing agen- bility for them, but I could feel time closing worked (Paris, Geneva, New York). They cies around the country. According to the asso- in. So I did a one-year Master’s program in were also not earning a pension or any typing work. They made good ciation, 79 percent of temporary employees sciences de l’éducation, and, a year later, I retirement benefits. But when you’re young, end up working virtually full time and 72 per- was associate editor of the quarterly educa- who thinks of that? There was always work, money. They were also not cent obtain permanent jobs while working for a tion journal at UNESCO. I had my own sec- often in far-away capitals, and the advantage earning a pension or any retire- staffing company. retary, and I noticed that people treated me was that you could work when you wanted Temp jobs are available in a wide range of differently, once I had that title and that and take time off when you wanted. Utter ment benefits. But when you’re fields, from entry to executive level. Experts responsibility. This was one of my more freedom—at a price. young, who thinks of that? recommend that you ask for as high an hourly long-lasting jobs. I stayed for 18 months, rate as you can get; be aware that the staffing until the editor retired and the journal was Mirror, Mirror . . . agency will take a healthy bite out of your take- moved to Geneva, under a different organi- Years have gone by, and the nature of more than 25 years. I chose Washington, D.C., home pay. While some agencies now offer health benefits and vacation, in order to qualify zation’s responsibility. office work and the need for typists have for its international flavor, and I expect that I’ll for them you must work a very high minimum Over the next few years—decades, changed enormously. Most professionals, be able to find work there. While getting my number of hours (generally more than 1,000). actually—I vacillated between editing jobs including researchers and translators, type bearings and deciding whether in fact I do A good strategy is to register with as many and, when nothing else was available or directly onto their own computers now. want to stay, whether it’s feasible to stay, I’m agencies as you can, and be sure that you’re list- when it involved travel or other perks, con- Typists at international organizations do doing what seems to be the natural thing to ed with those specializing in your area of expert- ference typing. The truth is that I enjoyed more formatting and proofreading than typ- do—temping. ise. Depending on the state where you live and those jobs more than any other. I got to go ing these days, although a few dinosaur the amount of money you earn, it may be difficult to Asia four or five times, flying first class translators still dictate their translations onto A Milestone Year to claim unemployment insurance after losing a and staying in great hotels. I worked on con- tape, and there are still conference docu- Still, the concerns and circumstances of a temp job. Realize, too, that as long as you work ferences where the participants were heads ments—minutes, verbatim accounts—that 50-year-old are not the same as those of a as a temporary employee, you lose out on 401(k) of state! The work I was doing was covered need to be typed on the spot, quickly and woman just out of college, much as I’d like to or pension plans that you might have received, in the evening news. accurately. But the demand for the roving believe they are. Today, I can no longer avoid working as a full-time employee. I think I also got a kind of perverse typists of 20 years ago has dwindled thinking about “adult” things like old age and As Laurie Lesser says, compromise is the pleasure in knowing that I was “better” than considerably. retirement. Also, I can’t help but use this mile- name of the game. —The Editors

54 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 55 When I was 25, I would have been inspired by her lifestyle (after all, I imitated it), but at about- to-turn-50, it scared me. Meeting her was a proverbial look into the mirror of my future.

stone year as a time to do some stocktaking just fine. I’m still about my life: what I’ve accomplished and afraid that the what I still dream of doing. No plans to climb minute I accept Mount Everest, even though, no, I’ve never a permanent done it—but there are plenty of places I position, the haven’t yet traveled, books I haven’t read (or most exciting written) and experiences I haven’t had. opportunity will I find a word that wasn’t even in my fall into my lap vocabulary 25 years ago—”compromise”— and there I’ll be, creeping into my thoughts more often than lumbered with a The author, enjoying temp-orary bliss. I’d like to admit. My concept of compromise permanent job has always been having my cake and eating with a pay check every month, a retirement it, too, as long as no one was hurt by my fund, paid holidays and intellectual chal- actions. Now it means maybe having to give lenge—and I’ll be too comfortable to give it up something I want in order to have some- all up to have another adventure. thing else. Who ever said temping can’t be a per- The girl who was born to temp will have manent thing? to find some way to reconcile her restlessness Recently relocated from Paris to Washington, D.C., and her need for security. And I know I will. Laurie M. Lesser is a freelance writer at work on a

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56 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com Advertisement MEET THE INVENT-HERS! DID YOU KNOW . . . ADELINE WHITNEY invented alphabet blocks. MARIE CURIE invented the first mobile X-ray machine. CHARLOTTE BRIDGWOOD invented the automatic windshield wiper. MARION DONOVAN BUTLER invented the disposable diaper.

By Allison Acken, Ph.D. ave you ever had one isfying. Now she says, unabashedly and with of those inspired, “ah- glee in her voice, “I’ve found it! I can’t wait ha!”, light-bulb-goes- to get up every morning and get to work.” off-in-a-bubble-over- And it all started with a roll of toilet paper. your-head, “inventor” moments? You know, TP Saver to the Rescue the kind where you It turns out her toddler’s favorite game have a vision of a new was unrolling the toilet paper in the bath- Hthing-a-ma-call-it or a widget-gadget that room . . . over and over and over again. would make your life—and the lives of mil- “Oh, how cute” soon became annoying, lions of other mothers—easier? Maybe you and Monosoff went so far as to design a model for your went looking for a widget-gadget or thing-a-ma-call-it, and product that then got bogged down in the legal labyrinth would prevent her of trying to get it patented. Or the costs of daughter from manufacturing, marketing, and selling your wasting all those thing-a-ma-gadget was a hurdle you could- rolls of toilet n’t climb over. paper. “I thought, Well, dust off that widget-gadget ‘Where’s the design—or start brainstorming others, thing?’ I just want- because a company called Mom Inventors ed to buy the has come to the rescue with the tools, thing that would resources and support to help inventing stop her,” moms bring their products to market. MAK- she says. ING BREAD spoke with Tamara Monosoff, “I CEO of Mom Inventors, Inc. (www.momin- searched ventors.com) and creator of the “TP Saver,” on the Internet, and I asked a lot of other to get the lowdown on her company and moms if it was a problem for them. The what turns out to be a powerful trend: answer was ‘Yes!’” But there was no product Moms finding ways to make good money out there that provided a solution. Monosoff staying at home. envisioned something that would lock up Photo by Creatas/Photodisc A former staff member in the Clinton the roll, preventing her toddler from unrav- White House, Monosoff happily left that job eling the whole thing at one sitting. When These Women Are Creating Products to start her family, but worried that she she couldn’t find what she needed, she That Make Our Lives Easier image graphics courtesy of www.mominventors.com Product would never find another paying job as sat- started thinking about what might work and www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 59 “I had just made too many potential for commercial success. The peanut-butter sandwiches, inventor moms get the benefit of NO NEED TO REINVENT THE PRODUCT-DEVELOPMENT WHEEL: Monosoff’s experience and counsel, Here’s How to Get YOUR Big Idea to Market but I had to cut all that crust and the company gets a cut of any products sold, if a licensing agree- 1. Write down your idea, and note the date. off. I thought, ‘There needs ment is reached. 2. Do your homework. Know the market for your product. to be a utensil that does it in Talking with Monosoff makes you 3. Perform a preliminary patent search at www.uspto.gov. want to invent something. She is so 4. Refine the product idea. Use your market knowledge. one shot’,” says Jennifer Sarihan. energetic and positive that it’s easy to see 5. Develop a prototype and refine a functional design. why her company is a success. “There are 6. Research manufacturing options, including costs, materials, and challenges. began to devel- 82 million moms in North America, and 72 7. Test-market the product: Will consumers buy it, and how much will they pay for it? op her solu- percent of them work outside the home,” 8. Protect your idea: Apply for a patent. tion—a stretchy she says. “Of those moms, 64 percent 9. Decide whether to manufacture and sell the product yourself or pursue a licensing strategy. elastic band would prefer to be at home.” She’s happy to 10. Now the work begins: Sell, sell, sell! that wraps be part of the solution that helps many of (Reprinted with permission of www.mominventors.com. The full nine-page report, "10 Steps to Inventing: The Mom Inventors around the them find ways to afford to stay there. Road Map." is available at www.mominventors.com. Click on the What’s New link.) roll—from scratch. After All in the Family several proto- The success of Mom Inventors means whole other level.” What sort of invention qualifies as a types and many that her husband can stay home, too. It’s Any tips for other couples wanting to do Mom-Invented brand? “I’m looking for sim- meetings with become a family business, with Monosoff’s this? “In a family-run business, the roles ple items that provide a solution to a prob- patent attorneys, manufacturers, and poten- husband, Brad Kofoed, a former software have to be completely defined. I do product lem,” explains Monosoff. “More complicat- tial customers, TP Saver was born. executive, taking on the duties of president development, building the moms’ communi- ed ideas are funneled to larger companies” But Monosoff didn’t stop there. They and director of sales. Together, they work ty, and I am working on a book, “ The Mom with which Monosoff has developed a rela- say necessity is the mother of invention, and hard, but they work from home. They have a Inventors Handbook,” to be published by tionship—companies that trust her network she saw a bigger need—the countless other nanny for their two little girls, ages 3 and 1. McGraw Hill in the fall. Brad focuses on and her judgment. “I want any mom to be resourceful moms who might have similar Still, every afternoon at 4 o’clock—no mat- sales and finance.” He’s obviously doing able to do this. Where people often get great ideas, but lack the knowledge to ter what—they stop working, the nanny something right, because the products— hung up is paying for the patent, but selling bring their products to market. Having gone leaves, and the family has what Monosoff now in Longs drugstores, Right Start, and is the hardest part.” through the long and arduous process of calls their “sacred time.” “We take the girls other retail outlets—are selling like hot- Mom Inventors has three problem-solv- designing, patenting, manufacturing, and to the park, the bookstore, we play, then we cakes. ing items in production now, and “a couple bringing her first product to market, she have dinner together. It’s totally focused more in the funnel.” Each year in May, they decided to create an online community time.” At 8 P.M., after the girls are tucked The ‘Mom Invented’ Stamp of Approval debut their products at the Juvenile where she could share her newly acquired into bed, Tamara and Brad get back to “It is so gratifying to see your products Products Manufacturers Association. In addi- knowledge and the resources—everything work. in the store,” says Monosoff. “The company tion to traditional retail outlets, the products from how to patent a product to what sort Is she exhausted? “Yes! Are you kid- has evolved. Now we license other mom- are featured in a Mom-invented eBay store of liability insurance is needed—she’d gath- ding? I have never been so sleep-deprived,” invented products under the ‘Mom Invented’ (www.mominventors.com/ebaystore/ebay_st ered to help other women produce and sell she says, laughing. “But it feels really label. I’m thrilled by the response. It’s been ore.htm), where mom inventors who already their inventions. And so the company, Mom healthy. Brad used to not get home until 7 phenomenal.” Many moms have come to have an inventory of their products are invit- Inventors, was formed. o’clock. Now one of us gets the kids down her after seeing the company featured on TV ed to list them for sale. True to her vision, for their nap, and we have lunch together.” and in newspapers. She reviews hundreds of The inventor who comes to her for www.mominventors.com has attracted many How has it been for the relationship? submissions before selecting the ones that advice has choices, too. Monosoff can take moms with clever solutions for everyday “Great! We always wanted to have a busi- will get the “Mom Invented” seal of a product all the way from concept through problems—as well as its fair share of nation- ness together, but we didn’t know what. I approval. To emphasize that these products design and manufacturing, to packaging, al press. The company evaluates new inven- didn’t expect this to grow so fast. Brad had are made by and for moms, the packaging market research, and sales, as she did with tions submitted for review and contracts to 15 years’ experience in sales, so it made of each product selected carries a photo and Shoe Clues, a set of stickers to help kids fig- license those thought to have the most sense for him to join in. He has put us on a the first name of its Mom Inventor. ure out which is the left and which is the

60 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 61 right shoe. In this case, the Mom Inventor aggressive, eager to get going,” she says of receives a royalty, or percentage, of the Monosoff. The initial e-mail to final transaction ‘First, you need a good idea, sales. Or, as was the case with another took a total of two months. Product that was but it’s impossible to Mom-Invented product, Good Bites—a languishing in her garage is now moving out cookie-cutter-type implement that cuts the of the stores. Recently, Sarihan flew to sustain unless you are sandwich and removes the crust from the California for a television appearance with passionate about it. bread in one motion—Monosoff only provid- Monosoff. “I’m from Ohio. It was my first time ed marketing support, because the inventor in California. I took a girlfriend with me. NBC It has to be an extension had already developed the product, was great!” this neophyte inventor burbles. of you,’ says Amy Bergin. acquired three patents, and manufactured 4,000 units before she signed up with Mom Two More Mothers of Invention Inventors. Monosoff’s company, as a result, Amy Bergin, inventor of the Couponizer, As with Monosoff’s, Bergin’s business, great and useful products to hit the market, took a much smaller royalty fee. a product that helps busy moms maximize too, soon became a family affair. “My hus- bearing the Mom-Invented imprimatur, but their coupon savings, was a corporate train- band had finished his MBA in finance, and that’s not all. On a mission to empower ing analyst for Coca Cola in Georgia before my heart was really in the Mom crowd. So we other moms, Monosoff’s newest idea is a “I want any mom to be she became a Mom Inventor—almost by said ‘Let’s make a go of it! We can at least series of virtual teleseminars, in the testing able to do this,’ says necessity. “I married later,” she say we tried.’ He is an engineer, so we stages right now. Here’s how it will work: For says. “I had always had, and worked from his left brain and my right brain, a $35 charge, an inventing mom can dial Tamara Monosoff. spent, my own money. And I leveraging each other’s strengths on the into a bridge line on a Saturday morning ‘Where people was good at it! I really didn’t same team.” They came up with the name, and hear a 20-minute lecture on topics relat- think through what it would got the patent, the trademark, created a Web ed to inventing and then have “lots of time” often get hung up be like having a child, being site (www.couponizer.com), and then joined for questions and answers. Calls will be lim- is paying for the at home, with only one the Mom Invented eBay store. Today, Bergin ited to 20 participants, so that individual patent, but selling is provider. I was still spending produces a newsletter called “The Dotted questions can be answered. Says Monosoff, money, really motivated to buy dia- Line,” where she shares more tools and “I even have a patent attorney who speaks the hardest part.’ pers and outfits. But my husband was really advice to make saving a science. She is in the English! He communicates clearly and stressed. I was worried that the financial bat- final stages of QVC’s rigorous training pro- effectively.” One Too Many Peanut Butter Sandwiches! tle would break up our marriage.” Bergin gram and will present the Couponizer for sale Is she a born inventor? “No,” she says, Jennifer Sarihan, inventor of Good decided to put her corporate organizational on the cable channel later this year. And soon “but it’s funny you should ask me that. As a Bites, says she is “very happy” with Mom skills to good use, managing the household she plans to launch the Couponizer Club to kid, I lived three blocks from the beach, and Inventors. Calling herself “a mom from a budget. keep subscribers aware of the newest and people had to walk up this steep hill to get small town in Ohio,” Sarihan shyly talks “I started looking at coupons,” she says. best savings out there. back to their cars. When I was 9 years old, I about the evolution of her product. “I had “I had always thought coupons were more Her advice to other wannabe Mom told my mom that I wanted to sell brownies just made too many peanut butter sand- trouble than they were worth, but I got real- Inventors: “Nothing is impossible,” she says. and lemonade. I made so much money that wiches. I have three children, and they eat ly good at it. I made it fun. I was spending “First, you need a good idea, but it’s impos- a policeman kicked me off the corner. He lots of sandwiches, but I had to cut all that much less and was much more disciplined. I sible to sustain unless you are passionate walked up and asked how I was doing, so I crust off. I thought, “There needs to be a became really good at grocery shopping.” about it. It has to be an extension of you. If showed him my box of money. He probably utensil that does it in one shot.’ My hus- Existing products for managing the reams it were all to end tomorrow, it’s been a great thought it would have a few dollars in it, but band, a dentist, backed me; the first proto- and reams of coupons she was collecting ride. It can’t be just about the money. It has I had made $300. ‘You can’t do this,’ he told type was made from dental molding.” were, in her opinion, “cheap and tended to to be so much bigger. Above all, have the me. ‘You need a license for that kind of Having done the initial manufacturing her- fall apart, so I used my background in train- confidence to keep going.” money.’ So, no, I wasn’t an inventor, but I self, she had the product “sitting in the ing courses to develop my own set of mate- was always an entrepreneur.” garage for nine months. I tried the eBay rials.” The first Couponizer was a photo The Winning Formula: An Entrepreneur And an inventive one at that. thing, but it just wasn’t moving. I tried con- album, which she made and gave as a gift. Who Invents Her Own Product tacting retail stores, but I was stuck.” Since then, it’s evolved into a much more As you can see, Monosoff’s enthusiasm Allison Acken, Ph.D. is the author of “It’s Only Money! A Primer for Women” and a contributing edi- After seeing Monosoff on The View, sophisticated tool to keep the household is catching. What’s next for Mom Inventors? tor to MAKING BREAD. Visit her at www.womentalk-

Photo courtesy of Tamara Monosoff Photo courtesy of Tamara Sarihan e-mailed her. “She’s on the ball, saver on track. With all that positive energy, expect more money.com.

62 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 63 True, and even worse, some of what I And what they promise is a big, fat 0% FUNNYFUNNY BUSINESSBUSINESS buy turns out to be regrettable even before APR, 0% on the balance you transfer from the bill arrives. Three days into January and your current cards. But, wait, in the tiny print my too expensive New Year’s Eve outfit was below “after the promotional period, the The Pigeons Are Coming Home to in the Goodwill bag in the back of my clos- rate will be 10.74%, (19.19% for cash et. Around 9 P.M. on December 31, I looked advances),” you find that if you don’t live up Roost—Watch Out for Their Droppings! in the mirror and saw a hot dog in a black to the card agreement (whatever that dress—possibly a knockwurst. Try to picture means), you’re looking at 28.74%. That’s the Bills for Credit-Cards, Maxed Out from Holiday Shopping, pudgy without a single bulge in the right part they’re hoping for. place. And those fishnet stockings? Who When I let these numbers into my line of Are Hitting Mailboxes This Month had the nerve to sell them to me? I don’t vision, I get scared, so scared that I forget all care if the designer is a woman, she’s still a about the sweet deals promised, the “mem- misogynist. To write a check for these after ber benefits,” airline miles, points for hotel wearing them is like paying for a meal that stays, gifts, even cash. In fact, I’m scared into gave you food poisoning. watching what I spend and paying my bill, By Jane Resnick which makes me one of the failures of the aahhhhh! The col- sheets I splurged on two ut it’s not the Donna Karans of the credit-card industry, whose business is letting lective sigh of mil- weeks ago. Totals are so world who are enticing us to spend us buy what we can’t afford and then living A lions of Americans annoying. I don’t know Btoo much for off our debt. Nice winding down from the why, but bottom lines too little; it’s the work if you can get it, year-end orgy of cranked- always shock me. banks that are seduc- To write a check for these after and they do. up cheer and shoot-from- Purchases I made with ing us with ever more wearing them is like paying the-hip spending. I think of my full, conscious mind ready credit. You’d for a meal that gave you ust before the year’s beginning as a jump out at me like bad have to be Sleeping food poisoning. Christmas, I brief moment of economic surprises. I have these Beauty, waiting for Jreceived a per- anesthesia. Memories of excruciating conversa- someone to kiss you sonal e-mail from December and all that hel- tions with myself: and pay the bills, not to notice the bom- Kendall E. Stork, “President and CEO of ter-skelter shopping are “What’s this? bardment of offers for more and more credit Citibank.” He said he was “delighted” to murky. Credit cards, plump with purchases, Bloomingdale’s housewares? I don’t remem- cards with fewer and fewer qualifications. As find me among a “select group of cus- are snoozing, resting from that buy-now-and- ber buying anything!” I say, indignantly. far as I can see, if you can breathe and sign tomers” qualified for a “special opportuni- pay-later binge. But now is later. In the clear, “Yes, you did,” my evil twin answers. your name at the same time, you’re on ty.” How nice, an offer to spend more silvery light of “What?” I really board with another bank. money that I don’t have, at the exact January and can’t recall. Every day my mail brings bank moment I’m most susceptible to succumb- February, credit-card The thing I hate about credit-card “The panini grill.” envelopes that shout, “Important Time ing. In the spirit of the holiday, I thought I’d bills are slipping bills is that they do the math, while I “Oh, yes, it was Sensitive Offer” or “You’ve Qualified for This reply. This is what I wrote: through our mail do the shopping. I don’t know why, on sale,” I say. Opportunity.” In a newspaper flyer, I found Dear Ken (May I call you Ken?), slots. The pigeons but bottom lines always shock me. “A real bargain!” an invitation to own a Diamond Preferred I’m delighted, too. But I don’t think so. are coming home to she sneers. Rewards Card—not gold, not platinum, but Your offer reminds me of a very expensive roost. Don’t look up. “What? It was. diamond, for the gender that’s most likely to gift, like a cashmere scarf, tempting and Their droppings are heading your way. And I had coupons, too.” This is a very satis- go weak in the knees for gems. This is a full- pleasing—but just long enough to hang The thing I hate about credit-card bills is fying thought. page ad, opposite coupons for detergent myself with. that they do the math, while I do the shop- “But you’ve never used it,” she says. and sanitary products, which is a clue that Gratefully yours, ping. I’m congratulating myself for buying the “Uh-huh.” She’s got me. the target audience doesn’t wear jock Jane Resnick, One of the Chosen. less expensive hot pink purse (because com- “Because you’re the Queen of No- straps. On the other hand, on the Internet, mon sense says that fuchsia is not going to Carbs, and a panini grill speaks sandwiches just Google “credit card” and you’re out Jane Resnick has written books, magazine articles and newspaper pieces on a wide variety of subjects. be next year’s color), and the card is adding in Italian,” she gloats. “Very fancy, but not there in credit Neverland, where no one can She is working on a memoir called “When I Said ‘I

Photo by istockphoto.com/Isabelle Mory that sum to the 300-thread, cotton, king-size very smart.” see you, but everyone wants your body. Do,’ I Didn’t Mean That.”

64 MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE www.makingbreadmagazine.com www.makingbreadmagazine.com MAKING BREAD MAGAZINE 65