Grade ten students at The Jose Marti Technical High School eagerly check out their books! (copyright 2010) T. Paisley

As promised I am sharing some tips so you can save on back to school costs.
* Start saving early (I know this is hard but it pays off in the long run)

*Check relatives and friends for second hand books. (Ask teachers to select the books that will be used for first term) 

*Discuss with guidance counselors at school to see if you qualify for government aid. (Several programmes assist students with lunches)

*Pack a healthy lunch. (This may not be popular with children but it is a way to reduce costs) To get some ideas for preparing home made lunches click this link: http://jamaica-gleaner.com.gleaner/20100904/life/life6.html. I tried the recipe for banana smoothie and my son loved it!  

What do you do to save money at this time of the year? Do you think more could be done to assist parents?

Teri Ann Paisley
(Gleaner on-line writer)

Banks charges hit hard! copyright 2010 Teri Ann Paisley

Recently there has been a lot of criticism for the charges banks add to customers for various transactions.

In all fairness, everyone knows that all banks charge for some services, such as changing checks and using A.T.M. machines. However, did you know that some banks charge you if you go below a minimum balance in your account?

So let’s get it straight!
They want to punish those of us who have to use almost every cent each month to fulfill our needs?

Seems a bit high handed to me and the mattress is looking good to keep my funds! In this current economic environment I am not sure the banks are sending the right message. 
What do you think about it?

Teri Ann Renee Paisley (gleaner on-line writer)

 Education Minister Andrew Holness has announced that students who sit the C.X.C subjects: Math, English, Information Technology and a Science subject, will not automatically benefit from a Government subsidy.

Instead, students will have to attain a certain performance average for grades 10 and 11 to qualify for the subsidy. 

 On paper, it seems like a good deal.  The Government saves money and students have an incentive to do well at school.

Things are rarely so simple.  What about those students who are in financial need but performed poorly in grade 10?

They will be deprived of a chance to sit the exam! Who knows if they would have been able to ‘pull up’ their grades in time to pass the exam?

 Still, there must be a system of accountability with parents and educators working together in order to reap success.

 What do you think about the Minister’s announcement?

 Teri Ann Renee Paisley (Gleaner on-line writer)

BOOKS! BOOKS! copyright 2010 Teri Ann Paisley

The time all parents dread and some children look forward to with delight. 

Schools all across the island open its doors to welcome the young minds eager to enjoy all that it offers.    

So why are parents not excited at this time of year? Well that might have to do with the added strain to the family’s budget due to various back to school costs.  Most parents are just recovering from summer school fees and now have to contend with the costs associated with the beginning of the school year. 

By far, the most costly items are textbooks.  The rise of an average of 6% in the cost of textbooks, as reported by the Consumer Affairs Commission, certainly was not welcome news.  True, that percentage does not seem like much but it certainly adds up at the register.  

Look out for future posts on money saving tips on back to school items!

How are you managing with back to school costs?

 Teri Ann Renee Paisley (gleaner on-line writer)

How will I pay my tuition? copyright 2010 Teri Ann Paisley

 The government has stated that the portion of tuition that it currently pays will be reduced.  The government currently pays 80% of tuition costs and students are required to pay a minimum annual fee of $200,000 to access undergraduate programmes.

This is to accommodate increasing the funds given to support early childhood education.

 I applaud the efforts to improve the quality of education at the early childhood level. However what happens to university hopefuls when that percentage gets cut? The answer is very high tuition!

 So what about those who struggle now to find the money to pay their school fees?  It seems everyone is scrambling to figure that one out. 

 Well my humble advice to everyone is to start now, don’t wait, and get the ball rolling on your education. 

What’s your view? Let me hear from you. Click the link below to read the full article.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100816/lead/lead2.html

 Teri Ann Renee Paisley (Gleaner on-line writer)

 Historically, patois has always been the chosen language of Jamaicans but has often been cast in an unfavourable light. Some parents even chastise their children for talking ‘badly’ when they speak patois.

So what about the translation of the Bible into patois? Well the Bible was once only available in Latin and had to be translated to a language that people could easily understand.

As long as they don’t tamper with the original meaning of the text, I don’t think it is a problem. However, since patois is mostly an oral language with no set pattern there is a possibility that there might be a discrepancy between the patois and its English equivalent.

So what do you think? Click the link to read the entire article http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100809/lead/lead2.

Teri Ann Paisley (Gleaner on-line writer)

I was surprised to read the headline, ‘Cement Company Flounders’ in an article published in The Gleaner August 6, 2010.

Well maybe I was not totally unprepared.  My philosophy is ’do good to others and good things will happen to you’.  It’s not highly original or foolproof but sometimes when you help others, the blessings can overflow to you. In this case consumers desperately needed help to manage high costs. 

 Despite the fact that there are many factors that caused the company to face challenges, it seems to me that maybe it would have benefited from an upsurge in local construction.  Of course who can afford to build with increased costs? There lies the answer. 

 So what do you think about it? Check out the rest of the article at

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100806/business/business1.html  

 Teri Ann Renee Paisley   (Gleaner on-line writer)

 Of course, the cost to stay at some resorts makes them unreachable for the average Jamaican.  However, some hotels offer special rates for locals during the holiday season.  These preferred rates allow us to enjoy the same benefits as our foreign friends.

 There are so many activities to explore, such as water-surfing and scuba-diving just to name a few.  For the less adventurous there are ‘tamer’ activities to experience.

 So why not try vacationing at home this year? Just think, no passport or visa required and less travel time!

 Teri Ann Renee Paisley       (Gleaner on-line writer)

 However, consumers can now breathe a sigh of relief as Dr. Tufton, Minister of Agriculture, gave the green light for consumption of the fish.

I think what happened was extremely scary and I hope that measures will be put in place to prevent it from happening again.

The vendors whose livelihood depends on fish sales should join the fight to keep their fish clean from any hazardous products.  After all, they are the ones who suffer the most when no one buys the fish.  It’s sink or swim for them and the fishing industry!

 What do you think could be done to ensure that this situation is not repeated?

Teri Ann Renee Paisley (Gleaner on-line writer)

 So now when you shop, it’s not only about hunting for a bargain but guarding your pocket.  

Often pickpockets watch your movements carefully long before they make their move.  So what can you do to protect yourself?

Well I have a few suggestions.

Shop early and avoid overcrowded stores.

Stay alert. Don’t let your desire for a sale distract you from being aware of your handbag and purchases.

 Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.  Invest in a debit card for large purchases that can be cancelled if stolen.

 Never let your purchases out of your sight even for a short time.

 These are just a few suggestions.  What else can you suggest to keep safe while shopping?

Teri Ann Renee Paisley (Gleaner on-line writer)