Author: Christina Bruni

Christina Bruni is the author of the new book Working Assets: A Career Guide for Peers. She contributed a chapter "Recovery is Within Reach" to Benessere Psicologico: Contemporary Thought on Italian American Mental Health.

On Leveling the Playing Field

I ask you: How long will we need to be leveling the playing field in order for the field to be totally leveled? Is it simply impossible to do the right things every single time?

In 1999 in a management course in graduate school the class had to join an electronic messaging group and contribute to the discussion threads. Back then I wrote that I thought affirmative action was necessary to level the playing field. In those exact words.

That’s going on 30 years ago and I would hope things have changed. Have they? What hasn’t changed is that even when BIPOC individuals have equal access to getting jobs this isn’t the issue. The fact is management treats ALL staff equally dismally.

It’s why I’ve recommended saving up our coins so that we can retire by the time we’re 65 not 70.

If the fact is that the playing field still hasn’t been leveled have our efforts been futile? Was the action taken not the right action to garner the intended result?

This begs for examining A Better Way. And like I alluded to before It Starts With Us. And in how we treat each other. No Harvard degree needed.

Because in a world where White men professors work at Harvard they mistake Black students as catering staff at events. No kidding. Even recently.

What is the solution? My biggest hope is that individuals can go into business for ourselves and succeed. Then hire and employ a diverse crowd of staff.

Barring becoming entrepreneurs I say like I have before to band together across the color spectrum as coworkers who should be allies not enemies.

At the library a management book talked about how staff at a company should go from thinking solely of Me and embrace the We.

No backstabbing. No cutthroat competing to get ahead or promoted. No remaining a silent bystander to injustice in the workplace.

Because really with these habits in place once BIPOC individuals get the jobs they’ll keep the jobs. And they and us will have optimal mental and physical health wherever we toil from 9 to 5.

How Equality Wins

I checked this book out of the library 5 months ago. After reading five DEI books one after another circa 2022 I think How Equality Wins is the best DEI book of its kind.

Like I referred to in this blog a long time ago there’s nothing about DEI that is harsh. DEI should simply be equal treatment at work and wherever individuals interact with each other.

Today a Supreme Court ruling has restricted affirmative action in a 2023 case it reviewed.

As the authors of the book illuminate the irony is that when companies like Target end their DEI program’s to appease a president’s order the opposite effect happens: Canceling out DEI doesn’t keep them safe from governmental and anti-DEI lawsuits. Ending DEI results in lawsuits against those companies by BIPOC employees who have been discriminated against.

In fact, no white men have started lawsuits against companies claiming that affirmative action measures have discriminated against the white men. Which was the premise of the anti-DEI elected leaders–that lifting BIPOC staff members harms white male workers.

So really it’s kicking companies like Target where it hurts.

Going from “lifting” to “leveling” the authors advise as follows:

  1. Anonymize assements.
  2. Adopt structured decision-making.
  3. Audit systems for bias.
  4. Create formal mentorship programs.

As well:

“Remove degree requirements from job posting when a college degree isn’t really necessary.

Recruit from a wider range of colleges when a job requires a college degree. List job posting in a variety of formats to reach different audiences ( in other languages too).

Create training programs, ERGs, mentor and internship programs for “first-generation” professionals to give aid in their social mobility.”

What part of Equality Wins for Everyone is not understood when adopting DEI measures?

Not just BIPOC individuals benefit from DEI. Everyone wins when equality is the norm as there’s happier and healthier relationships all around everywhere.

In a coming blog entry I’ll talk about my experience in graduate school taking legal and management courses circa 1999.

In fact historically since the 1990s the Supreme Court has not been on the side of individuals with disabilities and other underrepresented groups in employment.

Retirement Arithmetic

I’m opposed to raising to 70 the age at which Americans can begin collecting our social security retirement benefits. If we weren’t funding war and destruction against our alleged enemies then this money could go to propping up the social security retirement trust fund.

The fact is too many Americans are forced to work in their sixties because they can’t afford to retire. This is no joke. Going to diners with my mother she remarked that the senior citizen waitresses surely must need to work. That they weren’t waiting tables because they wanted to.

Who knows. There are people who want to keep working in their sixties. So be this.

The issue to parse is how exactly you and I can retire at 65 or 67. Like said funding a 401(k) or 403(b) can enable us to do this. Relying solely on a pension as stated before is not the way to go.

Take heart. Our finances don’t have to be complicated or laborious.

My take is that staying out of debt counts more than adhering to a strict budget. I’m no fan of budgeting. I think what makes more sense is spending less than you earn. Funding with your paycheck the things you value. Prioritizing spending on those items. Cut down or cut out spending on everything else.

Yes, I’m all for fast fashion if you can’t afford clothes that cost more. Simply take care of your clothing items and keep them in good condition. To delay having to buy new clothes frequently.

I’m just as guilty of having gotten items online from SHEIN at a ridiculously low cost. I don’t really recommend this as the fact is the clothing is likely churned out in a sweatshop.

Only I can understand what it’s like to be crunched for cash. I’m not going to judge. My life motto is: No Judgement.

A person doesn’t need to buy things to be happy. Enjoying free or low-cost experiences is the better route to pure joy.

Finding joy in each day can be possible when you live on a low income. It’s called not comparing ourselves to people who seem to have it better in life.

After I run through this blog entry carnival on finances I’m going to return to talking about DEI topics.

The Truth about Buying Lattes

No, I don’t recommend reading and following the Automatic Millionaire book by David Bach who trademarked the tern The Latte Factor(tm), There’s a 20th Anniversary edition of his book that I read when it first was published.

Bach claims that by not buying a latte every day and saving the money you’ll become rich. There’s a false comfort in this assertion as when you analyze the mindset it’s shot through with Swiss cheese holes.

First, why would any of us want to become a millionaire if we have to scrimp in order to become well-off? Should having a million dollars in the bank be the goal for everyone to begin with?

We don’t need to accrue a million bucks to be happy and have a rich, prosperous life in terms of the meaning of wealth that is abundance.

We can have an abundance of health and happiness without needing a million dollars to live on.

Plus, if we saved up a million dollars what should we do with the money once we get it? Are we supposed to keep scrimping and not buy lattes once we’re rich?

And if the purpose of getting a cool million is to be able to use that money to buy lattes then technically we’d go broke again by buying lattes.

Far better to exercise and eat well to maintain our health. Because what’s the purpose of being in ill health if we have to use up this cool million dollars on healthcare and medical costs?

It’s true that money doesn’t buy happiness. Research indicates that up to an income of $75K people can be happy. Earning more than $75K per year doesn’t guarantee that a person will become happier. Our happiness level tops off at $75K.

The fact is that likely you and I will get tired of drinking lattes every day at some point. Those coffee runs might be initially savored. Yet drinking lattes all the time it wouldn’t feel special to have a daily cup anymore.

Even if we won’t become millionaires sipping coffee. Even if we won’t get palate fatigue tasting the same old coffee. The fact is the world can be cruel, and life can be hard. So, enjoying a 3:00 p.m. run to Starbucks shouldn’t be ruled out.

And hey, I’m not a fan of the unhealthy drinks served up at Starbucks. You might go there though.

The choice is your sand mine how we spend our money.

I say Cheers! To do what you want with your cash when elsewhere you’re cutting back on spending.

Best Personal Finance Books

I’m going to continue in the vein of talking about earning and saving money from a job. The guides below are what I think are the best personal finance books. My favorite of the bunch is Balance: How to Invest for Health, Wealth, and Happiness.

Author Andrew Hallam mirrors what I think: You don’t need to adhere to a strict budget. You can have what you want. You just can’t have everything. So you need to cut down on spending money on things that don’t align with your values.

Choosing to spend money on the things and experiences and people you value is the difference.

Check out these books:

Balance: How to Invest for Happiness, Health, and Wealth. Andrew Hallam, 2022.

Good Money Revolution: How to Make More Money to Do More Good. Derrick Kinney, 2022.

Money Strong: Your Guide to a Life Free of Financial Worries. Liz Davidson 2023.

Simple Money: A No-nonsense Guide to Personal Finance. Tim Maurer 2016.

Everything You Know About Money is Wrong: Overcome the Financial Myths Keeping You from the Life You Want. Karen Ramsay, 2001.

Happy Money. The Science of Happier Spending. Elizabeth Dunn & Michael Norton,  2014.

The Next Millionaire Next Door. Thomas J. Stanley & Sarah Stanley Fallaw, 2020.

The Smartest Retirement Book You’ll Ever Read. Daniel R. Solin, 2010.

We Should All Be Millionaires: A Women’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power. Rachel Rodgers, 2021.

Finding Joy in Each Day

You do not know until you try something what you’re capable of. Like working at a job. Or simply discovering a new hobby.

My friend Robin told me years ago that he took an art class to see if he’d like making art. He wasn’t any good at it and it turned out this hobby didn’t rock his world. So he tried something else.

Simply picking one activity first to try is key. It can be the one that most interests you. If this doesn’t give you joy, try the next item to see if that choice gives you joy.

Like a magnet I bought tells us to do: Find something you like and do it forever. This is how I feel about my writing business and projects. I’ve known since I was seven years old that I wanted to be an author.

Some kids express a talent at an early age. Like Tina Turner who told an interviewer: “A 10-year old girl can be singing at church suppers.” Then that girl is 30 years old and performing on stage in a concert.

And even if you have this kind of gift that doesn’t mean you necessarily should or need to become famous on the stage. Perhaps you like to bake yet won’t become a chef. You’ll bake pies to bring to work to share with your coworkers.

There’s myriad ways to have fun on and off our jobs. The point is to have fun each day doing something we love.

I’m writing and publishing to City Voices online a new column titled: Ellemental: Recovery Topics with a Twist of Humor. So far three articles have been posted. In a coming blog entry here I’ll give the links to the first four articles.

I’m first going to continue to talk about finances and retirement. Coming up my take on how to retire on time instead of having to work until you’re in your 70s.

The 5-Index Card Plan

Though it can seem impossible to do this I think a person should aim to fit their retirement plan onto 5 index cards. I buy the larger size which is around 5″ x 7″ and is lined. The white index cards are bright so should give us the motivation to record any kind of plan on them. Even a life goal not a retirement lifestyle.

I’m thinking of how we can win the game of capitalism as workers breaking our backs for our employer. Part of the relief lies in having outside hobbies while you’re working at a job.

Waiting until we retire to do new things we might find out we’re not in the best health then. I hope this doesn’t happen to any of us.

Yet keeping our goals in our head is the way to have something to look forward to. This is an act of resilience.

Even if it’s just a short-term goal like saving up money to attend Coachella. I wouldn’t go to Coachella however hey maybe you would.

Or maybe the goal is simply saving up to take ourselves out to dinner for our birthday.

With a little creativity we can figure out how to Make It Happen.

Though I must confess as I reach another birthday coming up I believe it’s OK if a goal you and I have doesn’t pan out.

Like round about when I was 56 or 57 and wanted to pick up skateboarding as a hobby. Since I loved to skate as a teenager. I didn’t do flips and tricks. I just rolled down the street happy as a free bird.

This didn’t happen even though it was a goal. So that’s when each of us says: “No shame in that. Life happens. Not everything is destined to be.”

Which is why there should be space on the index card and in our ordinary life where an impromptu urge to do something can be recorded and take place.

Sometimes leaving things open is the way to discover a new joy that you hadn’t expected.

Like the John Lennon quote: “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”

I think it can be overwhelming and discouraging to think you need a multi-item towering bucket listing things you want to do. Maybe you and I just want to get to Tuesday at a time in our lives when we’re facing a challenge.

I would say a one-to-three item bucket list is perfectly fine.

Coming up I’ll talk about one of my dear friend’s approaches to setting a goal. His method ties into finding out what you’d like to do that gives you joy.

In the end the Peer support guideline gets at the best guidepost:

We expect a better tomorrow in a realistic way.

Conserving Cash

Conserving cash is possible while you’re employed so that you can add paycheck money to your 401(k) or 403(b). This requires compromise on what you choose to spend money on.

Years ago I read that it’s OK to bring lunches to your job from home only 3x per week not every day. This is practical as it can be hard to bring lunches 5x per week for years and years.

In my life I know that eating the same lunches every single day causes a person to get bored of the food after years of that lunch being the sole option.

In here I’ll take a departure in a coming blog entry to give recipes for lunches you can take to your job.

Other ways to conserve cash so that you can transfer the payments to a retirement account.:

To Save Money

  • Choose-Your-Own cable channels.

In New York City Spectrum and other cable providers nationwide offer a lower monthly fee if you pay for only fifteen channels that you can choose linked to your favorites. Does any of us really require 100 channels?

  • Use coupon codes to buy from retailers like Macy’s on the internet.

You shouldn’t have to pay full price unless the item doesn’t go on sale.

  • Use a floor standing fan instead of an air conditioner.

This will lower your electricity costs. Unless of course your energy supplier jacks up their fee.

  • Rent an apartment in a walkable neighborhood.

With everything nearby you won’t have to use a car and buy costly gas.

  • Investigate whether your city or town has a reduced fare transit option for individuals with disabilities.

In New York City you can interview for Access-a-Ride. If you’re eligible you can take a private car or van for the cost of the cheaper regular bus or subway fare. Or simply get a half fare discount for the bus or train.

In New York City too the Fair Fares program gives a half-fare payment option to individuals on a low income even without a disability.

  • Buy and use only one dinnerware set.

Get white dishes as they’ll go with any table décor. Or get plates in a color you’ll enjoy and limit this to one set.

  • Take out a Costo membership.

The market even sells quality eyeglasses at a cheaper cost. The frames are attractive too.

  • Find out when your area’s senior citizen discounts kick in.

This might be as early as sixty years old. Non-matriculated college courses might be on offer cheaper too.

  • See where you live if you can get a student discount.

In New York City certain museums offer free admission for college students.

  • Go to museums in your city that might offer “pay what you can” or a reduced price for others.

At the Brooklyn Museum in New York City individuals with disabilities can pay a lower admission fee. Their caregivers get in free.

  • Cut out processed food and other “products” with unnatural ingredients.

You’ll save money on future medical costs by eating healthy today.

  • Give handmade gifts.

If you’re crafty or culinary inclined, knit a scarf or bake a batch of cookies.

  • Freecycle items with other neighbors.

Create a free exchange of goods that everyone can use instead of donating them to charity.

  • Host a clothing swap with friends.

Make it a fashion show with everyone trying on each other’s castaways. Each person picks a new outfit.

  • See if you’re eligible for free or low-cost cell phone service.

For victims of domestic violence or individuals on a low income you might be able to get a cell phone at no cost or a minor monthly fee.

  • Attend events at a public library for fun.

Programs are offered for free unless at an author talk the writer is selling copies of their book.

  • Frequent a food pantry or attend a communal church supper.

In Brooklyn, NY one church hosts a monthly dinner where walk-ins can dine for free. No interrogation of income level.

  • Get your haircut at a beauty school.

If you’re game for this a student will cut your hair for a cheaper cost. They might even color your hair too.

  • Buy produce in season.

See if your local farmer’s market offers a discount for individuals collecting SNAP or food stamp benefits. In New York City you can get health bucks at the Grow NYC markets and use your benefits to buy produce.

  • Refrain from buying in bulk.

Get food or other items in bulk only if you’re confident, you’ll use them before the expiration date.

  • Stop buying magazines.

See if your local public library system has online databases. There you might be able to type in your library card barcode and pin number. Use this if they have Flipster to read scores of magazines for free on your device or computer.

  • Use an aluminum water bottle to take with you.

Refrain from buying single-use plastic bottles.

  • Use a water filter device for your kitchen faucet.

Instead of buying and using bottled water spring for the one-time cost of a water filter. This might require a regular outlay of money to replace the filters in a counter-top model. So this would be for a person who can afford the outlay for this. Still cheaper than buying water bottles in bulk every week.

  • Volunteer at festivals. Often event volunteers get free admission.
  • Automate savings.

With direct deposit to a savings account out of your paycheck. This will make it easier and convenient to save.

  • Set a short-term goal to save money for at first.

Chances are “saving money just to save money” won’t motivate you to squirrel away the cash. Link your first attempt to a concrete goal—like attending a summer concert if you start budgeting for it in January.

  • Add to an emergency fund at the same time.

Instead of auto-saving $100 or whatever amount is too restrictive. Start out by adding $25 to your emergency fund and $25 to your “have fun” account.

  • Shut the lights.

If you’re not in one of your rooms shut the light in that room.

  • Set up a home gym.

Instead of paying for what could be a costly monthly fee for a gym membership.

You can start out with two-pound dumbbells if that’s all you can lift. After that try for sets of five-pound, eight pound, and ten-pound dumbbells. Add ten pound and fifteen-pound kettlebells. A ten-pound body bar can be good. And a resistance band with a lower weight can be adequate just starting out too.

You can watch YouTube videos to see how to do exercises and their correct form. In my health and fitness blog I have a Home Gym Routines category. You can click on this to view upper and lower body exercises.

  • Keep a grateful journal.

This will require a small ongoing cost.

You can write in it two or three times a week. It doesn’t have to be every day. List why you’re thankful for whatever happened. Not just record the events. Just know that it’s okay to itemize ordinary things. They don’t have to be spectacular accomplishments.

  • Write in a life journal.

Should you not afford a therapist at $150 per session? Record your thoughts and feelings in spiral-bound notebooks along with your goals, dreams, and needs.

Pizza Parlor Economics

To be able to tell your boss see you later as a free person not chained to a desk requires just enough cash to break free of your job.

I recommend that if you get a job that has a 401(k)–or a 403(b) if you work in a nonprofit–you open up that retirement account. And fund it right when you start your job.

It could mean the difference between not having two nickels to rub together after you’re no longer working. And having enough dough to buy a slice of pizza once a week at your favorite pizza parlor.

The saddest thing is that even veterans of the U.S. military who served our country can be forced to get a minimum-wage job corralling shopping carts together in a parking lot of a retail store. They had a career to protect and defend Americans. Then when they retire they could be living on pennies and counting every coin.

In fact I will tell you that even if you’re lucky to have a job that gives you a pension when you retire: to fund a 401(k) or 403(b) in addition to relying on the pension.

In my experience retiring with only a pension to live on a person will come up short for the cash they need to live on. In the coming blog entry I will talk about how to conserve cash while you’re working so that you can afford to skim money off your paycheck for this retirement account.

You can have fun while you fund your retirement. And in a future blog entry I will reinforce that us peers are OK just the way we are regardless of the balance in our bank accounts.