Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/247876
2B Daily News – Friday, January 24, 2014 Yes, you can save How's your health? Not your physical fitness, but your financial well-being. For most of us, how much we earn tells us how we're "feeling" financially. But your income is only one part of the equation. How much of your income do you actually keep? Not very much, I'll bet. Your income is low, you say; you've got bills to pay. Gas prices are skyhigh, grocery costs are through the roof -- who can possibly save? My answer: You can. Here are simple things you can do today to get going: SELL OUT. Go through every cupboard, closet and drawer. If you aren't using it regularly, get rid of it on eBay or have the mother of all yard sales. A typical sale could raise $500 or more when you start to unload your white elephants. There! You've cleaned out the house and you've got a pile of cash to show for it. GIVE IT UP. I've said it a hundred times already, and here it is again: You've got to say goodbye to that little vice (fancy coffee drinks, cigarettes, candy bars, bottled water). It can really add up -- saving $5 a day gives you $1,825 a year. Local Calendar BANK THE RAISE. The next (like dieting, all you can think about time you get a raise (or a is what you can't have). During my bonus), save at least half. worst years, when I was spending Let's say that raise improves with reckless abandon and racking your monthly take-home by up debt, I would have told you with all sincerity that we didn't $200. If you save have enough money to half at even 1 persave. cent interest and do But once I jumped into that for the next 10 saving (just a few dollars at years, that money you first), something amazing didn't miss (because you happened: I began to feel a never saw it) will grow new sense of self-worth, into $12,725. dignity and calm. The SAVE THE PAYmore I saved, the better it MENT. When you pay felt. This will happen to off something big such you, too. And as you watch as a car loan, take the Mary your balance grow, prepare amount you were paying for a surprise -- saving will every month and add it to become addictive. Try it. your savings instead. A See if it doesn't become $330 monthly payment habit-forming. to yourself over five years at 6 percent turns Mary Hunt is the into $23,470 -- enough to founder of buy your next car in DebtProofLiving.com and cash. DO SOMETHING MAJOR. author of 24 books, including her Once you catch the savings bug, do 2013 release, "The Smart something grand. Get rid of one car Woman's Guide to Planning for if you can. Or move to a cheaper Retirement." You can email her at area. A big change could send your mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, savings to the moon. Here's the thing about saving: At P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA first it's going to feel like a hardship 90630. Hunt Everyday Cheapskate Democrats plan annual dinner Submit calendar items clerk@redbluffdailynews.com. to P .O. Box 220, Red Bluff, 96080 or FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 Red Bluff Celebrate Recovery, 7 p.m., Bethel Assembly of God, 625 Luther Road, 527-0445 or 366-6298 Nutrition Classes, 12:30-2 p.m, Northern Valley Catholic Social Service, 220 Sycamore #101, 528-7947 Red Bluff Rotary Club Sunrise, 7 a.m., M&M Ranch Corning Car Show, 5-9 p.m., Bartel's Giant Burger, 22355 Corning Road, local car clubs welcome, 824-2788 Cottonwood Singles Friendship Social, 7-8:30 p.m., at a church we rent, Assembly of God Church, 20404 Gas Point Road, for unmarried adults ages late 30s to mid 60s, 347-3770 SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 Red Bluff Frontier Village Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 645 Antelope Blvd. EBT accepted Tehama County Young Marine Drills, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1005 Vista Way, Ste. C. 366-0813 Weight Watchers meeting, 8 a.m., 485 Antelope Blvd. #N, 1-800651-6000 Los Molinos Senior Dance, 7 p.m., Senior Center, Josephine Street, 384-2100 SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 Red Bluff AA Live and Let Live, noon and 8 p.m., 785 Musick St., meets seven days a week Kelly-Griggs House Museum, 1-3 p.m., 311 Washington St., group tours by appointment, 527-1129 MONDAY, JANUARY 27 Red Bluff Rubes By Leigh Ruben Courtesy photo Local Democrats recently met at Los Mariachis Restaurant in Red Bluff to make plans for the fourth annual fundraising dinner. The dinner, scheduled for March 1 at the Red Bluff Community Center, will recognize Democratic office holders and candidates in the June primary. Participating in the planning meeting were Judy Turner, Sharon Young, Heidi Hall and Lupe Green. Hall, a resident of Grass Valley and employed by the State's Department of Water Resources, is a candidate for Congressional District 1. Further details regarding the dinner may be obtained by calling John Elshere at 529-1238 or sending an email to theelsheres@att.net. California home foreclosure activity plummets SAN DIEGO (AP) — California home foreclosure activity plummeted to an eight-year low in the fourth quarter as price gains left fewer owners owing more money than their properties were worth, a real estate research firm said Tuesday. There were 18,120 default notices filed on houses and condominiums from October through December, down 10.8 percent from 20,314 in the previous three-month period and down 52.6 percent 38,212 from the same period of 2012. It is the lowest number of default notices since 15,337 were filed in the fourth quarter of 2005. A sharp rise in home values has left fewer people vulnerable to foreclosure. The median sales price for a California home was $364,000 in the fourth quarter, up 22.1 percent from $298,000 a year earlier. It is the fifth straight quarter that the median has risen at least 20 percent from the previous year. ''There's a strong incentive to hang on,'' said John Walsh, president of San Diego-based DataQuick. In California, 13.3 percent of mortgaged homes were ''underwater'' at the end of September, meaning homeowners owed more than their properties were worth, according to the latest figures available from CoreLogic Inc. Al-Anon New Comers At Heart, 7-8 p.m., North Valley Baptist Church, 345 David Ave., 690-2034 Community Band rehearsal, 7-9 p.m., Presbyterian Church on Jefferson Street, 527-3486 English as a Second Language class, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Red Bluff High School Adult Ed building, 1295 Red Bud, 736-3308, same time Tuesday and Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. Thursdays, free childcare from 9 a..m. to 12:20 p.m. classes in Richlieu Hall, 900 Johnson St. Head Injury Recreational Entity, 10 a.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Coyne Center, Rusty, 529-2059 Key to Life, 6 p.m., Family Resource Center, 220 Sycamore St. Suite 101, 528-8066 PAL Martial Arts, ages 5-18, 3-5 p.m., 1005 Vista Way, Ste. C, free, 529-7950 Red Bluff Senior Writing Class, 10: a.m.-noon,,Executive Room at Sycamore Center, 220 Sycamore St., 527-5762 Salvation Army Writing Class, 9:30-11:30 a.m., 940 Walnut St., 527-8530 Sun Country Quilters Community Service Group, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Family Resource Center, 220 Sycamore St. Suite 101, 528-1126 Sun Country Quilters Guild Meeting, 7 p.m., Westside Room, Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. 528-1126 TeenScreen Mental Health Appointments, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free, by appointment, Youth Empowerment Services, 1900 Walnut St., 5278491, Ext. 3012 TOPS Club (take off pounds Sensibly), 8:30 a.m., First Christian Church, 926 Madison Ave., 527-7541 or 347-6120, visit www.tops.org US citizenship preparation class, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Red Bluff High School Adult Ed building, 1295 Red Bud, 736-3308, same time Tuesday and Wednesday Venture Crew 1914 meeting, 6:30-8 p.m., Moose Lodge on 99W, co-ed ages 14-20 welcome Women's Domestic Violence Information and Support Group, Spanish speaking only, call for time and location, 528-0226 Corning Alcoholics Anonymous, noon Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, 783 Solano St., behind the church Bingo, 5:15 p.m. early bird, 6:30 p.m. regular games, Maywood Grange, Highway 99W just past Liberal Avenue, 833-5343 Narcotics Anonymous, and 7 p.m., 820 Marin St., 824-114 or 586-0245, meetings daily through Saturday, meeting noon Mondays Sewing group, 9 a.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 Spanish Adult Education, 5 p.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 Strategies for Success, Life Skill classes, 1:30 p.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 Weight Watchers, weigh in 5:30 p.m., meeting 6 p.m., Senior Center, corner of South and Fourth streets, Kayla Deihl leader Gerber Gerber Union Elementary School District board meeting, 5 p.m., Gerber School Media Resource Center TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 Red Bluff Alzheimer's and dementia support group, 6 p.m., Lassen House, 705 Luther Road, 529-2900 American Association of University Women, 6-8 p.m., Tehama County Library, Oak and Madison Childbirth Class, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Columba Room, 529-8026 Cribbage Club, 6 p.m., Cozy Diner, 259 S. Main St., 527-6402 First Five Tehama, 3-5 p.m. Tehama County Department of Education, 1135 Lincoln St. Fun Senior Aerobics, 8-9 a.m., $1 per class, Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St., 527-8177 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, 6:45 p.m., Masonic Hall 822 Main St. 527-6715 PAL Kickboxing, 6 p.m., 1450 Schwab St., 529-8716 or 200-3950 Penny Bingo, 10 a.m., Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. Pinochle for Seniors, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., 1500 S. Jackson St., Free, 527-8177 Red Bluff Derby Girls open tryouts and practice, 6:30 p.m., Tyler Jelly building, Tehama District Fairground Red Bluff Rotary, noon, Elks Lodge Take Off Pounds Sensibly — TOPS, 10 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 525 David Ave., 824-0556 or 529-1414 Tehama County Board of Supervisors, 10 a.m., board chamber, 727 Oak St. Tehama County Resource Conservation District, 8:30 a.m., USDA Service Center, 2 Sutter St., Ste. D Tehama County Tea Party Patriots, 6 p.m., Grange Hall, 20794 Walnut St. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1932, 7 p.m. Veterans Building, Oak St. Weight Watchers meeting, 9 a.m., 485 Antelope Blvd., #N, 1-800651-6000 WWE self defense training for women, 5:30-7 p.m., 1005 Vista Way, Ste. C Corning City Council, 7:30 p.m., City Hall, 794 Third St. Dance with Juana, noon to 1 p.m., Family Resource Center, 1488 South St., 824-7670 Disabled American Vets, 7 p.m., Veterans Memorial Hall, 1620 Solano St. Domestic Violence Information and Support Group (Spanish language), call for group time and location., 528-0226