Michelle Singletary: Retirement tax change sure to confuse seniors. 2D
Business&Money
SECTION D
S U N D A Y , F E B R U A R Y 8 , 2009
WWW.TUSCALOOSANEWS.COM
TICKER Stashers and splurgers You were just starting to think you were the perfect couple. Then your “money personalities” reared their ugly heads. Money is the leading reason American couples fight. But most people don’t start disagreeing about finances until after they’re engaged or married, according to author and money coach Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, the love and money expert for online payment service PayPal. “Debt from credit cards, mortgage and auto loan debt, these are all biggies for a lot of couples,” Khalfani-Cox said. “The problem is that people typically will not raise these issues because they think it’s tacky or premature in the relationship — or, worse, fear being labeled a gold digger.” There are those who like to plan, budget and account for every purchase they make. Then there are those who click a pop-up ad at work and five minutes later are booking a vacation for two to the Bahamas, Khalfani-Cox said. She breaks “money personalities” into the following categories: saver, spender, stasher, splurger, goal setter and dreamer. It doesn’t necessarily spell doom or foreshadow a relationship’s end if you find you’re complete opposites when it comes to handling your wallet. “It’s very common for a saver to be paired up with someone who is a spender and likes the finer things in life,” she said. “You’ve just got to be sure to understand why they are that way, and play to each other’s strengths to reduce financial stress instead of letting it become a point of contention.” The way someone maintains their personal space — apartment, bedroom, purse or car — could be a good early indicator of how organized their personal records are.
Hi, my name is ... The grocery store, the post office, a party — no matter where Scott Ginsberg goes, everyone knows what his name is. In fact, he has made sure of it by wearing a name tag every day for nearly nine years. What began as a college experiment has made an expert on being approachable out of Ginsberg, author of the recently published book “Stick Yourself Out There: Get Them to Come to You.” “It’s a permission slip into a conversation,” said Ginsberg, who refers to himself as the “Nametag Guy.” “I’ve pretty much seen every possible reaction you could imagine, from people making fun of it, to getting angry and trying to rip it off of my shirt. But mostly it breaks down barriers.” Being approachable, Ginsberg said, is priceless. He wears the red and white sticker, which simply reads “Scott,” everywhere he goes and even has a name tag tattooed on his chest. But you don’t necessarily have to wear a nametag to be able to walk into a room and tell people who you are. Ginsberg has used his experience to launch a career coaching company he calls HELLO, My Name Is Scott, and speaks at seminars about finding opportunities, making yourself memorable and executing ideas.
STORIES BY PATRICK RUPINSKI | STAFF WRITER
As the recession deepens and jobs disappear, people are increasingly concerned about their employment future. Not surprisingly, when the economy goes bad, interest usually picks up in at least three areas. Here’s a look at those opportunities for ...
A new direction GRADUATE SCHOOL
MILITARY
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Enrollment growth is less than expected
Greater interest makes selection process stricter
Owning a business might be a possibility
George Sawaya graduated from the University of Alabama in August, about the same time an already lackluster economy got even worse. Sawaya, who majored in English and minored in journalism, said he has not found a job and now is considering going to graduate school. He’s not alone. When the economy is down and jobs disappear, graduate school enrollment rises. At least that’s what usually happens as graduating college seniors or people worried about losing their jobs choose to fur ther their education rather than face a shrinking job market. Whether that trend happens in 2009 is anyone’s guess. “This recession might be SEE SCHOOL | 3D
Sgt. Tracy Tyus has been a U.S. Army recruiter for 11 years. Since returning to his native Alabama six months ago, he has noticed a trend: More people are looking to the military for a job. “The economic situation has a lot of people looking at their options,” said Tyus, a Chilton County native who is the Army’s chief recruiter in Tuscaloosa. “People who are likely to be laid off are looking at their options; some who already are laid off are looking. I got calls after the layoff at [BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing in November] from some people who were interested in the military. They wanted to keep their life stable.” Tyus said he has seen about a 25 percent increase in inquiries about joining the Army since the economy soured last year. “There are a lot of people calling and referring to the economic conditions when they SEE MILITARY | 3D
Chris Starnes, 23, is finishing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama. He’s also running his own business — Houndstooth Hut, which he started two years ago to sell houndstooth-patterned novelties to area retailers and Bama fans. Starnes, a senior from Birmingham, said he took an idea and pursued a dream. He worked hard, made some mistakes, learned from them and didn’t give up. “He’s one of the best young entrepreneurs I know,” said Louis Marino, an associate professor of management at UA who teaches entrepreneurship. As the recession increases unemployment, many may follow in Starnes’ path, becoming entrepreneurs. But their motivation might be more necessity than a dream. There always will be entrepreneurs, Marino said. Some, like Starnes, have a special drive. Many others often experience a lifechanging event, like the loss of a job or the loss of a loved one, so they reexamine their lives, he said. In good times, entrepreneurs will pursue a high-growth venture. In tough times, people often become SEE BUSINESS | 3D
Work fever Feeling under the weather? You may cash in sick days when you’re coughing and sneezing, but that doesn’t mean your phlemgy colleagues stop coming into the office. A recent telephone survey by research firm International Communications Research found that about 45 percent of employees very frequently show up to work while sick, although managers believe only 17 percent do so. The survey encompassed 2,000 adults and 150 senior executives at the nation’s 1,000 largest companies. Staffing company OfficeTeam, a unit of Robert Half International Inc., offers these tips to help managers avoid allowing ill employees to clock in: ■ Communicate expectations: Let staff know you prefer they stay home when they’re sick to ensure a quicker recovery and avoid infecting others. ■ Set an example: Sick employees are more likely to stay home if you do the same. ■ Give options: Allowing employees to work from home if they think they’re sick can help them remain productive without spreading a potential illness around the office.
STAFF ILLUSTRATION | ANTHONY BRATINA
Laid off? Here’s how and where to get help By Patrick Rupinski Staff Writer
You lost your job. What do you do now? First, take a breath and don’t let panic, anger or desperation take hold. Experts say there are some important steps to take to get through what could be one of the most challenging times of your life. First, apply for unemployment compensation. Most people who are laid off are eligible for unemployment compensation while seeking a new job. Unemployment compensation ranges from $45 to $255 per week and the period of eligibility, normally 26 weeks, has been
extended to 59 weeks as the recession has worsened. The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations recommends applying for unemployment compensation online at www.dir.alabama.gov. You can also apply by calling 866-2345382 between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Due to the large number of claims being filed, only those with a Social Security number ending in 0 to 4 will have their applications taken over the phone on Mondays, and only those with a Social Security number ending in 5 to 9 will have their applications taken over the phone on Tuesdays. Anyone can fileover SEE JOBLESS | 3D
LOOKING FOR WORK? The state has three Career Centers in West Alabama to assist those looking for work. ■ Tuscaloosa Career Center, 202 Skyland Blvd., 205-758-7591 ■ Demopolis Career Center, 10745 Bailey Drive, 334-2894228 ■ Fayette Career Center, Bevill State Community College, Room 211, 2631 Temple Ave. N., 800-648-3271
CAREER CENTER SERVICES ■ Career planning ■ Occupational training assistance ■ Vocational rehabilitation services
■ Veterans’ services ■ Insurance information ■ Referral to family support services ■ Job referral
Source: Alabama Department of Industrial Relations