Sadly, the longer a woman stays out of work, the harder it is to get back into her field of choice. When deciding to have children, these are the issues that should be discussed ahead of time such that the proper planning is put in place to avoid issues when deciding to return to work.

We live longer, but those of us who stay at home with children to raise them ourselves also have the burden of sacrificing the time in our life during our highest earning potential.

One of the best parts about running a blog that discusses women and money is the interactions I have with women behind the scenes.  Readers, just like you who want answers to pressing money issues.  And, while I am not a financial advisor and articles written here or across other social networks and partner sites should never be construed as such, I am often able to give insight into issues that come up during our email exchanges.

A question often asked is:

“how do I gain financial independence?   I want to learn how to stand on my own 2 feet”

Why This Is Important

I think this is an important issue for women as we should be able to stand on our own so that we’re prepared for whatever life brings our way.  Yes, this can be a touchy subject, depending on who you’re talking to but an important topic nonetheless as too many women find themselves without options once their partners are no longer in the equation for whatever the reason.

Huffington Post’s Jason Alderman also published an article which speaks to the importance of women learning how to gain financial Independence:

• Women live longer than men but are much more likely to experience critical health problems that hamper their ability to work — and to pass up needed care due to cost.

• Although the earnings gap between women and men continues to narrow, it’s still significant: Among full-time workers, women’s weekly earnings as a percentage of men’s have increased from 62 percent in 1979 to 80 percent in 2009. (Those numbers represent overall average earnings in all fields, not what men and women are paid for doing the same job — although such disparities likely still exist.)

• More women than men now graduate high school and earn college degrees, but far fewer women earn degrees in engineering, computer sciences and other higher-paying fields, which likely contributes to the wage disparity.

• Women increasingly are marrying later, having fewer children or remaining childless, yet they still are more likely to live in poverty than men, with single-mother families suffering the worst disparity.

• Women are less likely than men to work outside the home (61 percent vs. 75 percent in 2009) and are much more likely to work part-time and to take time off to raise children or care for aging relatives.

What rubs me about the last statistic is that we are forced to make hard decisions like this, because let’s face it, we birth the children so by default we’re expected to take time off to raise them.  No bones to pick there but we have to plan in order to make it all work.

To that end, my comment on the Huffington Post article reads as follows:

“Women are the default partners who volunteer to take care of children when they are sick or just by default of having a child. They decide to stay at home which can have detrimental effects on their career when getting back into the workplace.

Sadly, the longer a woman stays out of work, the harder it is to get back into her field of choice. When deciding to have children, these are the issues that should be discussed ahead of time such that the proper planning is put in place to avoid issues when deciding to return to work.

We live longer, but those of us who stay at home with children to raise them ourselves also have the burden of sacrificing the time in our life during our highest earning potential.”

The Road Back To Independence

So, let’s discuss?  Whether you’re married, single or newly divorced and want to learn how to manage money properly, it’s best to start here:  21 Days To Rock Your Finances: Day 1- Create A 1 Year Financial Plan.

Understanding the minutia of money management is of utmost importance as we often think that if we make the money, the money management skills will just show up.  Not at all.  In fact, the opposite is true.  We must master before we make the moolah!  Teaching yourself these principles will give you the foundations needed to be successful.

Now let’s talk about you, the budding money making machine!

What Stops You From Being Financially Independent?

Looking at this closely will help you figure out why things are the way they are.

The replies I often get are:

“My husband manages all of it”

“I don’t know how to…I haven’t had a job in years..”

“I’ve been taking care of our kids so money was the last thing on my mind”

One of the best pieces of money advice my mom gave me years ago is that:

“Women often work hard at teaching their children the art of being independent while abdicating that responsibility to themselves”

Powerful right?

I think it’s great that we want to be there for our kids when they’re growing up but we often forget about who we will be once they are independent and don’t need us anymore.  It is often after the kids are in school or in the unfortunate event of a separation or divorce that some women think about returning to work or how they will support themselves.  And, this can be difficult.   Being out of the job market for years can hamper the job search process once they choose to return. This leads to issues around self-worth due to feeling that they aren’t able to stand on their own, financially.

If you’re planning to stay at home with the kids once you have them, create a plan that enables you to keep your resume fresh and skills updated while you do so.  There’s no reason to neglect your career during this time as one never knows what the future holds which may lead to you needing to re-enter the workforce hoping that someone will hire you once again.

Communication

Talk to your partner about allowing you to manage your money if you don’t have that arrangement in your relationship. At the very least, you should have a role in the money management aspect of your relationship.  Know where your accounts are stored, check your credit report as well as your partners and review the status of all accounts listed on the credit report to keep yourself abreast of everything going on financially.

If you’re already at this point, having stayed out of the work force for whatever the reason, then it’s time to plot your way back in.

How Do I Get Back And Stand On My Two Feet?

Go back to school.  Start there.  Did you finish college?  Do you want to go back to graduate school?  What are you passionate about that requires a degree or certificate?  Do you need to go back to school?  These are all questions that you have to ask yourself if your path to returning to the work force involves going back to school.

Start A Business.  Along the same lines of going back to school, what are you passionate about?  Do you see a need in the market that hasn’t been filled?  How can you work to fill that need while creating income for yourself?  This can include producing your own stuff to sell on Etsy or Ebay to heading a startup company.

Renew Or Update Your Skills.  If you’re in a field like myself, then you’ll need to make sure that applicable licenses or certifications are always up to date as allowing them to lapse costs more time and money.  Talk to the licensing or certification board within your field and find out what you need to do in order to maintain your skills in this area.  If you plan on applying to jobs that require a license or certification then you’ll need to make sure this is up to date.

Attend workshops and conferences in an effort to remain up to date with the current trends in your field as well.  This also gives you the opportunity to network with others which will discuss in a bit.

Volunteer or Intern Within Your Field

This continues to be my most successful piece of advice.  *pats self on back*  It has worked for me and countless others who needed a foot in the door.  Yes, this does mean sacrificing time and money but when you’re in the position of needing to prove yourself, then beggars can’t be choosers.  One of our administrative assistants did this prior to obtaining a paid position with us and it worked out nicely for her.  When the administrative assistant that she supported quit, she was able to move into her position with relative ease while collecting a new full time paycheck.

Network, Network, Network!  Did I Say Network?

I lied.  This too is a great way to land a position.  Network with others in your field.  Go to chapter meetings, join associations and go to the hosted happy hours.  Talk to others about your goals and learn to sell yourself.  Be willing to sacrifice and prove to them that you’re the woman for the job.  Talking to the right person means they can possibly put in a good word for you during the hiring process.

Find A Mentor IE Your Sisterhood of Success AKA “Personal Board Of Advisors”

Who supports you professionally when it’s time to make hard professional decisions?  Do you have a group of women or even one woman that you can turn to?  I take that back, it doesn’t have to be a woman.  Anyone who supports you and is able to provide professional guidance will do.  Women are more successful when they have mentors guiding them both personally and professionally.   Especially when when women mentor women.  Great things happen!

This starts with choosing your Personal Board of Advisors.  Some of you might refer to this as “Auntie/Big Sister in my Head”.  Personally, I have always imagined Oprah, Tyra, Beyonce and Michelle Obama as big sisters and aunties in my head, so you get my drift!

How do you choose your Personal Board of Advisors?  @ChiefHotMomma gives us some tips on getting started:

Visualize yourself in a room with all of the people who represent each place setting.  Who do you want in that spot supporting you throughout the years?

Once you’ve picked who you want in your Sisterhood of Success, chart a plan to connect with them.  This can be someone who is readily accessible or someone you’ve admired from a far.  In the latter case, do your home work and make the process easier for them.  Remember, flattery will get you what you need.  Let them know how much their work means to you and that will open the door to discussions around lending their time to help make you a success.

Once you have a plan stick to it!  Remember, consistency is key, once you’ve established the relationship with this person, keep the lines of communication open and be flexible.

What are your thoughts on women seeking advice on how to get back on their feet, financially?  What tips do you have?  Stories to share?  Any encouragement or advice is much appreciated!

Last week, I had the opportunity to interview Becky, an Avon representative who makes extra money selling products to family and friends.  What I loved about this interview, is the no-pressure attitude that Becky takes to selling products.  She does it when she can so that she can still balance her time between family and selling products.

As a result, she’s able to use the money for family vacations and the occasional surprise bill or two that may come up.  We all love extra money!

Here’s the interview:

Talk to me about how working with Avon and selling the products has given you financial freedom or at least access to it?
For me, Avon is fun money for me and my family.  Take vacations or do things like that.  That’s my purpose to put extra money aside to do that.

What is the best thing about that?  What motivates you to keep selling?
We love to travel and do more of that now that the kids are older. 

What was your biggest obstacle when first getting into selling AVON products?  How did you overcome it?
Making the time to do it. and more so insecurities around selling things and talking to people.  I had to tell people I don’t know about the opportunity, but I told them about my story and it helped people begin to get on board and sell their own products.  I’ve come a long way and I’ve discovered that I am a sales person, both-a salesperson and a down to earth rep for the company.  I love the products and the company.  I let people know about products that I don’t care for, I give my honest opinion about the products.

What does your life selling AVON products look like?  How do you end up selling so many products to so many people?  You must be really good!
I do it part time.  I try to work it into my daily life, such as  dropping off products while running errands.  I’m learning how to balance selling products with spending time with family.

What would you tell a woman who may be considering selling AVON but thinks she doesn’t have what it takes?
I think we all have what it takes.  Avon makes it so easy to start.  $20 to start your own business.  If isn’t for you then you don’t lose much.  There’s nothing to lose.

How does AVON support you in your daily or monthly goals?
Extra cash for bills AND vacations and fun stuff.

Do the products sell themselves and what is your absolute favorite product?
Yes, because of the name-everyone knows what Avon is…  My favorite product is the ANEW Reversalist Serum.  Just put it under your moisturizer or before bed and your skin feels amazingly soft.  Glimmer stick eyeliner is another fave-it’s only $3.00

What are your thoughts on Avon?  Have you sold Avon products now or in the past?

Disclaimer:  I am a paid brand ambassador for AVON. My views are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Avon and its affiliates.

Earlier this week the post, Reason #423 Why You Should Check His Credit went live on this site.  What followed was angry commentary from men who were no less than PISSED that I advocate that a women be financially knowledgeable about a man’s finances before saying I DO.

First, let me clear a few things up about this blog:

• This blog is obviously written by a woman, and that would be me, Ginger.  It is written by a woman for women on the topics of personal finance and everything that goes along with it.  Why?  I find that women are often left out of the equation when discussing this topic as issues that pertain to them are seldomly addressed.  Therefore articles are written from my perspective.

• My intent here is not to compete with Money Magazine, Kiplingers, et. al.  or any other personal finance blogs for that matter.  I leave the laser analysis of current financial news up to them.  I provide commentary, advice and discussions on articles within the realm of personal finance that affect women.  This blog is written in my voice and has Ginger stamped all over it.  

• Yes, one of my mantras is that women should ask to check their mate’s credit report before walking down the aisle.  Why?  This prevents issues down the line and everything is laid on the table so that each partner can make an informed decision.  Marriage is much more than butterflies and a wedding.

Would you go dutch on the first date?  Tell me why or why not?

How did you know you were ready to become a mom?  Did something just switch on?  I’ll be honest and say I don’t know that I was ready to be “wife” until 1.5 years into our marriage.  The intent was there but to really step into it?  Only happened recently LOL  And I’m ok with that, we all live, love and grow.

Did you plan everything around your pregnancy?  Anything?  Timing?

Was your pregnancy something you looked forward to?

You all know I am trying to plan this thing down to the second I go into labor and even then I’m asking the OGBYN to have an Epidural ready as soon as I get wheeled into Labor and Delivery!  LOL  *prick*  *euphoria*

So how did you know you were ready to become a mom and was it something you’d always looked forward to?

I question how ready i am emotionally to become a mom.  Everything seems to be in place-husband, marriage, house, finished with grad school and so the next logical phase seems to be motherhood.  But Im just not quite there yet as I still have some things to get out of my system.  I feel some sorta way for not following the prescribed social time line but I’m moving through it.

Since my last post about our time line it has since changed.  We’ve now decided to just wait to see the outcome of my application to the doctoral program and then take it from there.

There’s also the physical and emotional demands of being a mother that Im kinda not sure I’m ready to take on.  Right now I enjoy being able to leave on a moment’s notice for a getaway weekend or not have to worry about dropping baby weight.  I’m not there yet where Ive come to accept those sacrifices as part of my life.  And, you know while Im OK with it, I still feel some sorta way.

Why?

Well, I feel like my friends and family accept these changes and well uhmm I dont.  I am very much a planner with regards to every aspect of my life.  I have to know who, when, where why and how and I think having a child brings along with it a certain level of unpredictability that I am not ready for at this stage in my life.

So how did you know you were ready?  Please tell me there’s a switch some where?

So with all this talk about motherhood, my husband and I have been having pretty frank discussions about my reservations around having a child right now, one of them that I haven’t discussed being adequate and quality childcare. He then asked if I would consider being a stay at home mom devoted solely to raising our kids and my reaction was, uhmm no.

You see, I’m over the guilt imposed by other moms and the SAHM vs Working Mom debate.  Over it.  I’m completely OK with the fact that I am driven by my career and that I have total satisfaction in this area of my life.  So there’s that.  I just realize that I have to figure out how to get what I want while being the wife, mother and professional i aspire to be.

Where i am going with you ask?

Well, while I truly respect the choices of moms to stay at home (the ones who stay at home and truly do NOTHING BUT take care of home and kids, not the mom blogger type raking in the elusive blogger dollars or ones with part time jobs), I have to wonder about the what if factor?

What if your husband keels over heaven forbid tomorrow? What if he decides that you are no longer the love of his life?  Have you seen the scene from Diary Of A Mad Black Woman where he kicks her out and moves the mistress in?   What if you just decide one day that you want to have a career? How do you then get back into the game should one of the above mentioned hammers hit the nail?

I admit to being fiercely independent but only recently so due to finishing grad school and now working, so mama’s bring home the dollas LOL  I don’t have to, but I do because I get a sense of fulfillment in this area of my life and I know that should anything happen, I’m good to go financially.  Still, for the last 3 years I worked sporadically, while finishing grad school.

So my questions to SAHMs (Stay At Home Moms who do not work at all or are in school), what is your plan should the what if happen? Do you have a plan?  If so, what is it? I ask not to incite that tired old debate, but because I truly want to know, and frankly, I think you should know too.

After writing the Economoms post, I received so many emails thanking me for the information and asking about more resources.  So I know that there are some out there who didn’t see this recession coming, with their husbands having lost their jobs, now some SAHMs are forced to re-enter the work force, many 5-10 years out. What’s the plan?

Do men really want a strong woman or is that just something that they say until they actually have a career oriented, driven, opinionated woman in their lives?

You know who she is… she cooks, cleans, pays the bills, takes care of the kids/husband and/or herself, oversees the home, plans fabulous trips, rolls with an amazing crew and is moving up the corporate ladder or making her own way as an entrepreneur. But, her love life may be suffering as a result of her independence and strength.  Her husband says she’s a workaholic, selfish and neglecting him. Her boyfriend says he isn’t a priority and he is tired of coming in second to her ambition and goals. So, what’s a woman to do?  Should we work less and give more time to our personal lives?

Or, should we continue to follow our passions knowing full well our hobbies, outside interests, and our relationships with family, friends, and those we hold dear may be jeopardy.

We will talk about “The Downside of the Superwomen Syndrome” and I would love for you to join in on the discussion, Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 7:00 PM EST. I’ll be joining the show host, Danielle Ricks, and several call-in listeners when I’ll be a guest on one of the hottest on-line relationship radio shows, NowWhat! Blog Talk Radio. The program airs LIVE on www.BlogTalkRadio.com a social network that allows listeners to connect quickly and directly using an ordinary telephone line.

NowWhat! is all about women! Thursday’s show, “The Downside of the Superwomen Syndrome”, will cover issues like:

• How we define “a strong women”?
• How women can balance work and home?
• Do men really want a strong Black woman?
• How do the sacrifices women make impact us?
• What advice can we give young women entering the workforce?

I’ll be dishing it with the host, Danielle Ricks, and other callers who are interested in strong women. But, to make the show really interesting I’d like you to be a part of the discussion! There are two ways you or your
friends can get involved:

Call into the show on Thursday, April 15 at 7:00 PM EST by dialing 347.838 8493 from any phone line.

Or, join us on-line for a live chat at 7:00 PM EST by visiting the website at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DanielleRicks.  We are creating already a buzz on Facebook and Twitter surrounding this topic. You do NOT want to miss being a part of the LIVE discussion!

Courtesy of VodPod

Despite the recession, some industries are still going strong, and apparently long and hard through the night if you get my drift. White collar women who once held top dollar jobs on Wall Street are now shakin it fast on easy street for a quick buck.

“You’re seeing a lot more beautiful women who are eligible to do so many other things,” said Gus Poulos, general manager of New York City’s Sin City gentleman’s club. He said he got 85 responses in just one day to a recent job posting on Craigslist.

The transition to the nightclub scene isn’t always a smooth one — from learning to dance in five-inch heels to dealing with the jeers of some customers.

For some, I know this has to be a hard decision to go from a respectable job to stripping in order to pay the bills. But here’s my issue and bear with me while a jump up on my soapbox.

This kinda thing follows you wherever you go in life. For instance, I saw the MSNBC video and I couldnt help but think how incredibly stupid the woman is who they interviewed. Here she is grinding in all her glory on a stripper pole and talking about how she used to work on Wall Street. Excuse me, but did she think one of her old bosses would see her on MSNBC and then phone in a favor? Come on now. Ok, so you have to do what you have to do but must you plaster your face all over TV? Just saying, handle your business but don’t make it harder to jump back into mainstream American when you’re busy telling millions of people that you’re a stripper, formerly working on Wall Street.

Still there are more substantive concerns:

• Safety
• Emotional well being: No matter how many strippers/hookers tell you they like it, they don’t and never will. It all catches up to them some day.
• Objectification of women: No I dont think this is about women being independent, I think this is the same crap that we scream about when our bosses make sexual advances yet we want to have the feminist freedom to shake it fast AND get respect at work. Pick a side and stick with it. Either we work hard and sacrifice for what we want in life or we go down easy street and risk our dignity. The former is more appealing to me and I’d rather be on welfare and live in a shelter working my way back before stripping away the last bit of self respect I have.
• Unwittingly carving out a future for themselves based on current perceptions: Once a stripper, always a stripper, at least in the minds of those who get the opportunity to see them in all their nude stiletto glory. Who wants to hire a stripper to be the face of their company.

While this sort of thing may be appealing because of the fast money, there are long-term consequences that should be considered. Sallie, Visa and Bank of America can wait, but your dignity won’t.

Question: Should feminists applaud them for making ends meet on their own, or attack them for feeding into sexist stereotyping?

Sojourner Truth~Ain’t I a Woman? ~Women’s Convention~ Akron, Ohio ~1851

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Feminism 2.0 conference here in DC with a host of other like minded women bloggers with a sprinkling of a few men here and there.  To say the energy there was exciting is an understatement, the momentum began with the plenary and took off from there.  We are all deeply committed to the advancement of women’s rights in all areas.  The momentum and passion in the Betts Theatre was palpable.

Specific to my interests are the issues of equal pay, work life balance and career advancement for women.  With the passing of the Lilly ledbetter Fair Pay Act this week, enter the Paycheck Fairness Act which provides tools to find out whether or not you are being discriminated against at your place of employment.  This has to do with wage secrecy and how it contributes to the status quo.

Here are facts:

Improving Equal Pay Act Remedies
The Act toughens the remedy provisions of the EPA by allowing prevailing plaintiffs to
recover compensatory and punitive damages. The EPA currently provides only for liquidated
(fixed and limited) damages and back pay awards, which tend to be insubstantial. The change
will put gender-based wage discrimination on an equal footing with wage discrimination
based on race or ethnicity, for which full compensatory and punitive damages are already
available.

Facilitating Class Action Equal Pay Act Claims
The Act allows an EPA lawsuit to proceed as a class action in conformity with the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP). Class actions are important because they ensure that relief
will be provided to all those who are injured by the unlawful practice. Currently, it is very
difficult to bring EPA suits as class actions because the EPA, adopted prior to the current
federal class action rule (FRCP Rule 23), requires plaintiffs to opt in to a suit. Under the
federal rule, class members are automatically considered part of the class until they choose to
opt out of the class.

Improving Collection of Pay Information by the EEOC
The Act requires the EEOC to survey pay data already available and issue regulations
within 18 months that require employers to submit any needed pay data identified by the race,
sex, and national origin of employees. These data will enhance the EEOC’s ability to detect
violations of law and improve its enforcement of the laws against pay discrimination.

Prohibiting Employer Retaliation
The Act prohibits employers from punishing employees for sharing salary information with their
coworkers. This change will greatly enhance employees’ ability to learn about wage
disparities and to evaluate whether they are experiencing wage discrimination.
Closing a Loophole in the Employer Defense
Under the EPA, when an employer is found to be paying female employees less than male
employees for equal work, the employer may assert an “affirmative defense” that the pay
differential is based on a “factor other than sex.”

Some employers have argued for interpretations of this affirmative defense that are so broad
(e.g., to include factors such as a male worker’s stronger salary negotiation skills or higher previous salary)
that they may themselves be “based on sex” and would seriously undermine the EPA.

The Act tightens this affirmative defense so that it can excuse a pay differential for men and women only where the
employer can show that the differential is truly caused by something other than sex and is
related to job performance.

Eliminating the “Establishment” Requirement
Under the EPA, in order to determine that there is wage discrimination, the wage comparison
must be made between employees working at the same “establishment.”

Some courts have interpreted this to mean that wages paid in different facilities or offices of the same employer
cannot be compared even if the employer is paying workers different salaries for the same
work.

The Act clarifies that a comparison need not be between employees in the same
physical place of business.

Developing Voluntary Guidelines for and Recognizing Model Employers
The Act directs the Department of Labor to develop guidelines to enable employers voluntarily
to compare wages paid for different jobs to determine whether their pay scales accurately reflect
the requirements of the jobs. This will help employers to eliminate unfair disparities between
occupations traditionally dominated by men and by women. The Act also establishes an award,
to be administered by the Labor Department, to recognize and promote the achievements of
employers who have made strides to eliminate pay disparities.

Increasing Training, Research, and Education
The Act provides for increased training for EEOC employees to help them identify and
respond to wage discrimination claims. It also calls for enhancing various research and
education programs at the Department of Labor, including programs to research ways to eliminate gender-based pay
disparities and provide information to employers to assist them in eradicating such
disparities.

Reinstating Pay Equity Programs and Enforcement at the Department of Labor
The Act reinstates the collection of gender-based data in the Current Employment
Statistics survey. It sets standards for conducting systematic wage discrimination analyses by the
agency that oversees the nondiscrimination and affirmative action obligations of federal
contractors.

The Act also directs means to implement of the Equal Opportunity Survey, a
vital tool for detecting wage and other types of discrimination.

Sparking the Development of Salary Negotiation Skills Training
The Act establishes a competitive grant program to develop training programs for women and
girls on how to negotiate better compensation packages, and directs the Secretaries of Labor
and Education to integrate the programs developed into education and job training programs
under their respective jurisdictions.

Furthermore, some of the statistics given at the plenary shows that we clearly have more work to do in this area as this affects our families over the long term. Here are some of the tweets sharing the disparities in equal pay for women amongst other issues:

Single moms make about $.60 to a man’s dollar, vs. $.73 for married moms, vs $.90 for women without children. #fem2 (via @QuickBrownFoxNC)

@Gingerlatte I’m w/ U on pverty & babies. We lack proper support system in America 4 families. And education. (via @tjonsek) #fem2

Mother are offered $6K LESS and fathers get 11K MORE on job offers @rowefinkbeiner #fem2 (via @nerdette)

NARAL: RT @loryn24: Human infrastructure=power. Opportunities for collaboration, grassroots organizing on and offline #fem2

We need to train women to negotiate for more $$ from the beginning (as well as change the system of pay discrimination) #fem2 (via @shespot)

For more information on this issue please check out Behind The Pay Gap, laying out the blatant disparities in pay between men and women.

I implore each of you reading to participate in women’s rights activism.  You don’t have to be a part of the liberal/progressive movement or even be a woman, as long as you believe that we should have the same rights as men do in all arenas, you are welcome to participate.

Dads, continue cheering on your daughters on the soccer fields and make sure they get an education and advance in their careers.  Emphasize the fact that they now have a choice in the matter.

Moms, instill in your daughters the importance of advancing themselves in education, career and citizenship so that the next generation may look back and be able to say “my mom did it and so can I!”

Bloggers, readers and the like, get involved and push towards the end goal of equality for women in every area of life.  Together we can ignite change and inspire each other towards a common goal.

Now, on one hand I feel for them because we’re all affected by this in one way or another.  On the other hand I want to shake a few of them, telling them that this is the reality of being in a long term relationship.  No matter the industry, I’m sure every woman out there feels the financial pain of the recession.  It sorta reminds me of two year olds communing around the breast pump lamenting about losing the breast and what oh what will they do now?

Get where I’m going?

Of course, they remind me of Toxic Wives, women who are only concerned about the good *financial* times in a relationship and all of a sudden can hardly function when times get hard.  How about being an asset in your relationship?  Emotional support?  Bringing up the rear in hard times?  Sitting around talking about how the DOW affects tonight’s sex just seems painfully shallow and I wish they had more things going for them.

*sigh*

What do you think?  Obviously you have my position on the issue.  What say you?