Growing $$$

by C.C. Owens Money doesn’t grow on trees, but you might be able to grow it in your back yard. If you are looking for a way to make money this summer, try planting a garden and selling what you grow. Sound like too much work? Consider this: After your garden is planted, your main job is to water and weed the plants until harvest time. You can do this in 30-40 minutes a day. (Most gardens will take less time.) Then, you have the rest of your day free. Gardens cost very little to start. The average veggie or herb plant can be bought for $2-3. Remember that money you’ve been saving in your piggy (or squirrel) bank? Here is a chance to put it to work. Gardens have great Net Gain – that’s the money you’ve earned after you cover your expenses. In the...

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Posted by on Apr 29, 2011 in Stories | 0 comments

Money Can Work? Who Knew?

by C.C. Owens He sat in the corner of my room, silent and greedy, taking every penny I had. His tiny hands stretched forward as if to pluck the dollars from my grasp before I could even reach him. He was vigilant. He was a hoarder. He was my piggy bank. Actually, he was a plastic squirrel. He had a slit in his back that took money easily and a base plug so small I could barely squeeze out a quarter. My squirrel was good at helping me save money, but I was never quite satisfied with this arrangement. I wanted him to do more. I wanted him to help me make money. Unfortunately, I spent way too much time reading fairy tales. The stories were great, but everything happened by magic. What was I to do in the real world? How was I to make money without a fairy godmother...

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Posted by on Mar 25, 2011 in Stories | 0 comments

I Paid How Much?

by C.C. Owens Is there something you’d like to buy right now? Maybe it’s the latest video game or that perfect outfit you saw online. If only you could have it now and pay for it later. That’s what credit cards let you do. Sounds perfect, right? Well, there’s a catch. Let’s say what you want costs $100. Your allowance is $10 per week. It would take almost 3 months to save for it, so you buy it with a credit card. Over the next few weeks, you go to the movies twice and have pizza with your friends. Your credit card bill arrives, and you’ve only set aside $10. You promise you’ll do better and leave $90 unpaid. When your next bill comes, it says you owe $91.11. Why did the balance increase? Credit card companies charge you interest if you don’t pay...

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Posted by on Feb 28, 2011 in Stories | 0 comments