Stuff & Such
Posted by Gail | Filed under This & That
Fall has fallen and change is in the air. The last year has brought some very important lessons, some of which I am still learning. But one of the things I know is true is that I like change.
I grew up in a country where there were two seasons: rainy and dry. We marked the seasons by they fruit you could find — guinep season, mango season, tamarind season. Days were long and sunny, or shorter because the sky was full of ominous clouds bearing torrents of rain. The coldest it ever got was about 57 degrees, a temperature at which I will now don shorts after a long winter.
The night I stepped foot in Canada, I was seventeen and a half and scared to death. A scrawny compilation of elbows and knees, I had never seen a building as tall, a road as busy, or as many cars and people as I was about to encounter in my new home. I once got so lost downtown in Toronto that I sat on the sidewalk and cried. I was completely overwhelmed by the size of it all. A police car pulled up and the officer drove beside me as he guided me to the closest subway station so I could make my way back to my parents’ apartment.
As I stepped out of the Toronto airport, a snowflake landed on my eyelashes and so began my love affair with the seasons. Winter brings the wonder of white; there is nothing as beautiful as a fresh snowfall. Some of the most magical mental pictures are of hoar-frost covered everything, tiny footprints in a perfectly snow-covered landscape and the wonder of snow falling. Perhaps my appreciation for snow is as a result of not having grown up with it. New is always interesting. The wonder is that after 33 years snow still feels new.
I am not a fan of the cold that comes with snow. When the cold gives way to the first warm days of spring, it is amazing what joy you can experience. Alex says spring is her favorite season: the first green that shows, the first time you can walk outside without your feet getting wet… that’s what she loves. Malcolm’s favorite season is summer… you can probably guess why: No School. He loves the freedom to run in and out of the house without bundling up or wearing shoes.
My favorite season is fall. I am awestruck by the colours. As I walk into my office, I can see a bright red maple right outside my window radiating all the warmth and sweetness of the summer in a final blast of colour. As I drive down a street lined with trees shedding their gold leaves, I can’t help but feel I’m in a fairytale. Even the smell of the air is sweeter in the fall.
And so I’ve come full circle in my ramblings to say, fall has indeed fallen and change is in the air.
I’m revamping my website. Don’t worry, it’s just going to get prettier and a little better organized to make it easier for you to find things. So here are some questions you can answer to help me make this good for y’all:
1, What do you find most useful on the site?
2. What do you find hardest to navigate?
Since we’re on the topic of the reorganization, I’m going to try and simplify the filing system for the articles and the blogs.
3. What would you like me to cover that I may not have already covered?
4. What would you like more info on?
I’m thinking of moving some of the “group blogs” like the series I did on care-giving into the articles section to make them easier to find.
5. Do you ever go back and read old blogs or is it easier to find things you use often in the “articles”?
6. Do you have favorite blogs or articles that you think should be highlighted for new visitors?
7. What’s your all time favorite blog on the site?
I’m also considering what should be kept and what should be eliminated at this point. With two years of content and an organic evolution, sometimes we are left holding onto things that don’t really work any more.
8. Do you still enjoy the success posts?
9. Are you finding the bulletin board for the Gail Clubs useful?
And finally, the biggest question of all:
10. If you could have anything you wanted on this site, what would it be?
I don’t promised to incorporate everything… hey, this girl’s on a budget… but I am very interested in what you have to say, so speak up.
October 26, 2009 at 8:32 am
Hi Gail
If I might make a suggestion, it would be to put all the most important items to read in one main place as a starter.
I found it hard to track down the four piles of money months after I had read it.
October 26, 2009 at 8:45 am
My favorite blog was “Show me the money” and the blogs on caregiving. When I first checked out the site, I found that the headings for the articles under “show me the money” didn’t really describe what the article was about. You could make a separate section for all the budget worksheets called “interactive”. I do like the success posts and I find it easier to go back and read old blogs.
If I could have anything I wanted on this site I would include some interactive compound interest calculators, retirement saving calculator, mortgage calculator, maternity leave calculator. I would like more information on tax credits and deductions. I would like a “return to top” button at the bottom of the blogs.
A friend of mine needed the Splitsville section and found it really helpful to keep her on track. I read the blog every day and talk it over with my husband so they’re great for keeping communication lines open. I refer everyone I know to your website because it’s so awesome.
October 26, 2009 at 8:47 am
Hi Gail,
I know you have the ‘own up to your debt’ but could you make it downloadable. It would be helpful esp if we slip up and add to those nasty cards or to use when considering purchasing big ticket items under those buy now pay later plans (could see how much we need to put away to use it to our advantage or what it would cost if we don’t have the $’s to pay). Love the show and the info here on your website.
October 26, 2009 at 8:52 am
What a beautifully written entry.
I love snow, but not a huge fan of the COLD.
Some suggestions:
- have a sidebar on the single post pages
- Gail’s tools needs to be higher up on the page where people can find it
- search box higher (above the fold) and more prominent
- maybe change the long category list to a drop-down box. It takes up a lot of real estate. Also consider using multiple tags on a post, with the post being in a single category.
Another tip – if readers keep asking the same questions on where to find certain things, those are the thing you’ll need to make more prominent.
October 26, 2009 at 8:53 am
I like to reread some of the blogs, but have been happy to find things under “article”.
I like the success posts.
I would like you to have guest blogs from some people who have been on your show. Everyone is always asking for follow up shows, but maybe you could convince some of them to write about how they are doing, good or bad.
I hope your site continues, even after you move on to your new show.
PS. Fall is my absolute favorite time of year, too.
October 26, 2009 at 8:56 am
I love your website. I have used the search feature many times to find older blogs/info. I think you need to make the information in the “Read this First” Section available on the main page. If I could change anything about the site it would be to MAKE people read that stuff FIRST! It would mean the guestbook wouldn’t get so cluttered with the same questions day after day. You have so much great and useful info on your site and it is fabulous that all of it is in one place. I just wish people would take the extra 2 minutes and look and read before claiming they can’t find it. Love you Gail! You have a whole lot more patience than I do!
October 26, 2009 at 9:03 am
First, keep up the good work! It’s appreciated.
My only suggestion would be to number the comments, and allow a 5 minute window after posting to allow original poster to edit comments, I know some blogs have that feature and it’s very useful.
October 26, 2009 at 9:10 am
Reorganizing seems to be in the air, and I have a few suggestions, but I won’t answer all the questions…
Put the blog on the main page. The sidebars have good stuff, but change the order – put the main links very near the top. I don’t think you need to have links to posters’ comments since they take up valuable space. I’d really highlight the getting started link with the interactive budget, then have a separate page for getting started – same idea as “read this first” but more focused. I think combining the articles page with the getting started page would work well.
I love your interactive budget. Make that a link on its own. It’s what I recommend most about the site, but then I have people say they didn’t see it! They aren’t trying, but I did have to search a bit the first time too.
I like your idea of moving the group blogs (care-giving) to be closer to the article – maybe do that for the indexing of blogs on Budget for this getting started section.
I like to read the questions section, but I usually forget about it, so maybe put a link to it from the blog that day whenever a new month of answers is posted.
Thanks for the lovely story.
October 26, 2009 at 9:25 am
I would like to thank you, I do read your blog every mornining. I would like to see you an example of your weekly budget binder pages with the interactive budget that can be printed out.
October 26, 2009 at 9:26 am
I like the Question & Answer section – I’d make that more prominent and maybe answer even more questions (if you have enough good ones). In terms of topics, mortgage and retirement info are my biggest areas of interest.
Thanks for offering this site – it is a great resource!
October 26, 2009 at 9:34 am
Hi Gail,
The reason everyone has a different favourite season is because each season has something special. Spring….the promise of the earth coming back to life with the first signs of green. Summer…..with long days, warm nights (and no school) Fall…..amazing colours. Winter…..blankets of snow, frosty trees and tranquility.
I guess it is like life. Everyone is different.
As too your website. A home or return to top icon would be helpful.
I also would love to know how the people on the show are doing.
I like that you talk about yourself and your family. That you are like us and have had ups and downs. People are always amazed when I tell them that you live in the same area as I do. They expect people on television to live in a big house in a big city.
Keep up the good work. It has helped me a lot (not debt free yet but happy and working on it) and I know from the comments that you have also helped a lot of other people as well.
October 26, 2009 at 9:43 am
I would re-iterate what the others have said. I really wish there was updates from those people that were on the show.
I would like to know if they actually “made it” or failed after you left. Sometime I question if they just did it for the month for the money.
A suggestion would be to have a link for the budget spreadsheet, etc as one of the 4 main button. I know a few people who miss the “Gail says: Read this first”. Our eyes are attracted to 3 dimensional items first, then the colors. You have a lot of really good information, but it does take some digging to get to them.
I would like to see more topics such as children expenses. The one that hits us the hardest is daycare. For daycare to be within 25% of our life budget would be impossible. We are paying close to $1000/month for daycare. I would like to know a more realistic budget for parents who have this expense. I know this is not forever, but it sure impacts our budget big time.
Another is school extras. The school are always sending yet another fundraiser or extra field trips or special lunches. How do you budget for these? Most of the time we just do not participate with exception of field trip… which is a no choice, they either have to go, or you have to keep them at home. What is your view on all these extras from the schools?
Otherwise, I really have enjoyed your show and your blog.
Thanks.
October 26, 2009 at 9:46 am
@ Julie, I disagree with the commentor’s links.
I like seeing where people are posting, and checking out what they write, and there are times when the posting is on a blog that isn’t the “new” one.
@ Gail:
- It would be great if we could select an option to have follow up comments emailed to us to see others’ responses.
- I agree with others: link the budgets to the blog higher up – for someone new, you have to scroll too much to find it
- I do like the success stories – on that page, links back to the blog and to the gailvazoxlade.com site would be beneficial
- I would also like to know when something new has been added to the articles on the main site – is there some way that the blog can show that there are new articles? This is likely too complicated though
October 26, 2009 at 9:58 am
I enjoy checking the website as it is several times a week, although a fresh coat of paint never hurts! One thing that I have often wished for is some way of knowing if something “new” has been added to the “articles” section. After having read through them all, I go back every few months, but with all the nested sub-articles, its hard to figure out if anything has been added since the last time I checked. Perhaps a “date” on the article / entry, or a “new” flag for additions would be helpful. Just a thought!
October 26, 2009 at 10:11 am
I really would like to see something on your website about those of us who are self imployed. My husband and I are both self imployed and are finding it very difficult to follow you program. I really love what you do on the show and on your website but I find it hard to apply it to our situation. Our incom varies quite a bit from month to month, so it makes it difficult to fill our jars. i would really love to see a whole section on how to apply your program to those that have a variable incom.
thanks for all you do with your show and website, it’s really great!!!
Clo
October 26, 2009 at 10:39 am
Gail – thanks for having your website. We’ve learned a ton, and I know that running a complex website can be time & money consuming. So thanks for providing this much needed site!
I do wish that there was another budget worksheet for people with kids in daycare – we pay $750 a month, so as soon as we plug that into the worksheet, our life is way over (not to mention, clothing, etc for our son). We have worked at lowering our other costs in other categories to balance it out, but it’s difficult to make your percentages work. Perhaps a series on how different fixed expenses at different points of someone’s life can affect the percentages would be helpful.
I don’t know much about building websites, so maybe this is impossible, but it would be nice to have a search-like function before emailing you a question – ie: type in your question here, the site comes back with a list of answers, then the site says if your question wasn’t answered, here’s the email address to send in your question.
I’d like to see a ‘work in progress’ section, along the lines of the success blogs. A space where we could post our own ‘case study’ to the group, or ask the group a question. (I find it difficult to wade through the bulletin boards, but find the success blogs super easy to find)
Thanks again for this site!
October 26, 2009 at 10:56 am
I love the interactive budget sheet and the blog the most. I like to read peoples comments on what you have said for the day. Fall is my most favourite time of year because the changes are so colorful, it’s our anniversary and as soon as the leaves start changing I know it’s getting closer to my birthday! I would like to see comments from people on your show if they are willing. I would like more information directed towards just about to be out of university kids and why they should work and save while they are in school. Thanks for everything else. You have given us the tools to make a realistic budget and stay on track. It’s very empowering to have money and a growing emergency fund!
October 26, 2009 at 11:00 am
I find that it’s rather onerous to get from one section of the website to another. I tend to read only the blog because it’s too complicated to skip around in the site. For example, the only way right now from this page to the forums is to scroll back to the top of the page, click on the blog header to get to the main blog page, then click on main page (which should be highlighted to make it stand out, if you do nothing else), then click on forums. If I then wish to look for articles, I have to find the home icon and click on that to go back. It would be nice to have a main side bar with all the website sections so people can skip around.
Also, I find the link “Gail Speaks” a bit confusing, because it’s really “About Gail,” and not a link to the blog.
October 26, 2009 at 11:04 am
I love the blog and look forward to the changes! I have some suggestions about what I would like to see more of, in terms of content. I often wonder Gail, how you learned everything you’ve learned. Were you always good with money – did your parents teach you everything you needed to know – or did you have to learn yourself? And if so, how? I also wonder what mistakes you’ve made in the past and what you learned from them.
I love the posts where you incorporate letters – those are great!
You’re doing a fabulous job Gail, thanks!
October 26, 2009 at 11:05 am
I like the fall best too — especially in Ontario, but I moved from Toronto to Vancouver/Victoria 34 years ago — and miss the brighter colours of leaves turning — but do NOT miss the cold. Took about a decade to become accustomed to the rain but now like it. Maybe fall feels best because of my low thyroid — can’t stand cold or heat.
I would like more information on retirement, RIFs, pensions and especially income tax and tax planning.
Thanks for being there (here) and helping.
October 26, 2009 at 11:26 am
Gail, I read your blog every morning — it’s such a positive way to start my day.
I appreciate how you touch on all walks of life within my family — my younger children who are saving for college/university, the ones who are just starting married life and my husband and I who are preparing for retirement.
I would appreciate having all the “mini-series” together in the archives (like the care-giving series or helping kids with money series)
I would really like help in knowing how to invest once we are debt-free. How do we research if a company’s stocks are good to buy, how to find a good deal with bond rates, etc. I know we could just buy mutual funds or go to an advisor but how can we either do it ourselves or verify that what we are being told is really the best for us … like the next steps after becoming debt-free
Thanks s-o-o-o much for all you do.
October 26, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Your blog is as important to me as my daily cup of coffee, so thank you for that.
I would suggest links to the mini-series. I already love how you have some categories listed in the side bar on the blog.
A search would be a very nice feature for newbies that aren’t sure if their question has been asked yet.
I looked but did not find any reference to your “princesses” project. Is there going to be an “Are you a Princess/Prince?” button to go alongside the Splitsville theme?
I can’t get the EXCEL sheets to work for me, the formulas get broken, maybe because I use Office 2003? A printable PDF might be a good solution for us pencil people.
But honestly, I come here for the blog!
October 26, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Since a lot of us are regular viewers and visitors… why not challenge us? The Gail Club’s weekly, monthly challenges… Because I seem to find though living on cash is a wonder and now well set in our life, it would be fun to get some inputs on potential challenges we could accomplish and comment on in a blog… how about that?
October 26, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Gail,
Another thing that I would also like to see if all the “Retirement” stuff explained.
Things such as CPP, OAS, GIS, etc(I’m not sure what else is out there). Who qualifies, how to check for how much. How having income from pension/RRSP will affect these amount. Also the different tax bracket for the seniors, income sharing. Any clawbacks for having too much income, when does that happen….
These would help people prepare for the future better.
The suggestion above for grouping “life stages”: DINK, Kids, college kids, retirementl; would be great.
Thanks again.
October 26, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Ever see that cartoon about the man talking to his dog and all the dog sees in the bubble coming out of the mans mouth is ‘blah, blah, blah’?
Boy am I in trouble! I don’t know what the heck you all are talking about – moving around looking at stuff here. Were you speaking English?
I have in my Bookmarks ‘Gail’ and that’s how I get here. If I want to read any responses I click on ‘responses’. I also have the budget page marked. I did join the online chat group but don’t know how to get back.
So, I guess what I’d really like is someone to come here and show me some mobility on Gail’s site.
Putting all my ineptness on computers aside, I’d just like to say keep up the good work Gail and don’t leave me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 26, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Yay for reorganization!
My suggestions:
- More content not related to debt. Although debt is kind of your think I think you have a strong following of people who are financially responsible and not in debt, so other content would be lovely as well.
- A search function
- Link more often in your posts. YOu often refrence your tools or other articles but without putting in a hyperlink. Links are great for the reader (we get more info if needed/interested) and for you since you get more hits and maybe a more engaged reader.
- My personal fav artilces are the ones related to consumerism and how to make money work in relationships.
But to be honest I read you on google reader so I’m not on the actual website much.
October 26, 2009 at 3:52 pm
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October 26, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Hi Gail,
My comments/ suggestions…
-I find the article (topics) listing very helpful especially for those nights I cant sleep and find myself surfing at 2am
- a user friendly search function for the entire site on the home page would be great for quick answer searches
-allow users to easily navitgate back to the home page and or a drop list of main sections
-I read old blogs and search articles for specific topics (see my previous comments)
-I’ll say to No and No to questions (8) and (9) as I dont use them. I find boards will often get off topic or turn into an unconstructive debate (although I do like the comments posted on The Canadian Capitalist site as the site owner tends to jump in to moderate and respond to questions personally
-my biggest request would be to offer more content and Q&A on those like my partner and I who are co-owners of a small but sucessful small business and handling issues like health insurance, retirement savings, longterm financial planning for eventual sale of the business etc. I find many times financial articles and sites take the angle of those who are employed with health and sick benefits, pensions, ability to collect EI premiums etc. and not that of the unique situation of small business owners who for most the benefits I just mentioned do not apply. Im sure this is one topic you can more than relate to.
Good luck!
Joanne
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October 26, 2009 at 4:31 pm
One more comment…PLEASE keep the site as simple and streamlined as possible and easily scannable with MINIMUM to no annoying eyecandy and pop-ups from ads (most of us block them anyway).
BTW missed Clo’s comment also asking for more small business owner related topics…good to see there are more of us!
October 26, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Love your posts!
Could we have some kind of update section with updates of the couples from the show? I would love to know how many are still on track, out of debt or which ones didn’t stick with the plan and why.
October 26, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Hi Gail:
Thanks for all of your great work.
I would also love to see an updates section on the couples you have helped/tried to help.
Some of my favourite posts have been on money saving tips as well as the recipes.
October 26, 2009 at 7:08 pm
*pol
I use office 2003 and they work on my comp
October 26, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I find that you are the most useful part of the site! I particularly enjoy those posts that are more philosophical and/or discuss the psychology of saving and spending.
October 26, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Love the website, come here daily.
My two suggestions would be:
1) Would love to have printable budget binder pages. Or maybe they exist and I just can’t find them.
2) There is a lot of discussion on here about saving for emergencies, or catastrophe. Planning for it. Well, as a cancer patient, catastrophe struck and I didn’t have a plan. I just thought I was covered with my work disability insurance. Yah, not so much. 500 dollars a week out of pocket after the drug plan kicked in. I would like to see a blog about how to manage through that if you haven’t already prepared. Maybe a case study? I always get good pointers from the commentors on those.
October 26, 2009 at 7:50 pm
1, What do you find most useful on the site? – your budget building guide.
2. What do you find hardest to navigate? the main menu.
3. What would you like me to cover that I may not have already covered? possibly more info on cheap ways to care for pets. i have 5 and they are not cheap!
4. What would you like more info on? work at home mom opportunities.
5. Do you ever go back and read old blogs or is it easier to find things you use often in the “articles”? i use the ‘articles’.
6. Do you have favorite blogs or articles that you think should be highlighted for new visitors? not off the top of my head, but anything having to do with starting a budget would be good. also, wedding help (money wise) and holiday budgets.
7. What’s your all time favorite blog on the site? hmmm cant say i have a favourite. i like all of them.
8. Do you still enjoy the success posts? yes i do!
9. Are you finding the bulletin board for the Gail Clubs useful? no, not really.
10. If you could have anything you wanted on this site, what would it be? more tips for WAHM’s.
October 26, 2009 at 9:12 pm
i love your blog, my day isn’t complete without coming on here. i would suggest a Message board instead of the Gail clubs, where people could post questions or topics and other people could be free to post thier responses, i think a lot of people would benefit from that, if you were able to do it. i don’t read the success stories that often, but when i do they are inspiring. i like your posts on kids, families, debt repayment, emergency savings and other day to day stuff. i really like the posts when you get more philosophical, that’s why i read every day, because you don’t just talk about money, you talk about life!! and i think people can relate to those posts a lot, no matter what their money situation.
looking forward to seeing the new site!
October 26, 2009 at 11:24 pm
1, What do you find most useful on the site?
The Budget Worksheet. I downloaded it an completely revamped it to suit my payments and multiple jobs.
2. What do you find hardest to navigate?
Getting from the forums back to the main page
Since we’re on the topic of the reorganization, I’m going to try and simplify the filing system for the articles and the blogs.
3. What would you like me to cover that I may not have already covered?
Love it all.
4. What would you like more info on?
Can’t think of anything, I can always check old blogs and questions of need be.
I’m thinking of moving some of the “group blogs” like the series I did on care-giving into the articles section to make them easier to find.
5. Do you ever go back and read old blogs or is it easier to find things you use often in the “articles”?
I go back to the old blogs.
6. Do you have favorite blogs or articles that you think should be highlighted for new visitors?
7. What’s your all time favorite blog on the site?
Can’t think of anything. The first time I discovered this site I probably read the whole two years worth of blogs and questions.
I’m also considering what should be kept and what should be eliminated at this point. With two years of content and an organic evolution, sometimes we are left holding onto things that don’t really work any more.
8. Do you still enjoy the success posts?
Yes, still thinking about writing one!
9. Are you finding the bulletin board for the Gail Clubs useful?
Not really, my local one isn’t very active.
I would like to see a section for the local clubs, but other sections for questions and answers that we can post and answer. Much the same way you do the “have your say” section but with Thread titles and replies to specific topics together. You could have a Local Club forum but others as well that would keep some of the same topics together.
And finally, the biggest question of all:
10. If you could have anything you wanted on this site, what would it be?
Can’t think of anything, would just like to see the forum change into something that isn’t so geographically specific.
Keep up the great work!!!
October 26, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I have only recently become an avid watcher of your show, and a reader of your blog. Thank you so much. Wish that I had known this stuff 30 years ago! But better late than never. I haven’t fully explored your website, but what I have found to be the most useful is the budget worksheet – it has made my budgeting so much easier, and effective. And the blog – I love it. Someone else said that it is as important as their morning coffee. I second that. What I need more on is retirement, when you are not really well prepared and have only about 9 years to go to it. I see that you have a number of blogs on that, but I haven’t read them yet. But maybe more on that.
Thank you so much for what you do Gail – it is so helpful.
October 26, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Sally,
That makes me crazy, too!!!
I completely agree with having a LARGE Read this First on the home page. Great idea.
October 27, 2009 at 12:07 am
Favourite Blog….
*definition of “Thoil”….I use it all the time!!!! I LOVE this word!
*defending people who may be perceived as cheap…I LOVE this quote below….I live by it…thanks Gail…Love your site + show!!!
With money comes choices. The more choice you want to have, the more money you need to save. That, by the way, is the purpose of building wealth: to create more choices. It isn’t to have the biggest house, the fastest car, or the most pairs of shoes. Wealth is all about having enough money to tell whomever to Peeezze Offffff.
October 27, 2009 at 2:26 am
Maybe a add-on like Feedburner? for posts being sent directly to email.
October 27, 2009 at 2:30 am
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October 27, 2009 at 10:13 am
Hi Gail
I would love to see a post on switching car insurance (or insurance info in general). I just moved provinces from a public insurance system (MPI) to AB with private insurance. I had NO IDEA how much it would cost! It has worked out to four times what I thought it would be and my original estimate was based on ALOT of research! I suspect others would be in the same boat.
Also what about guest blogs, for example a lawyer blogging about the basics of wills?
What about Q&A days once a month? You always mention how many letters you get and you do a great job of answering the questions but maybe something a little more regular?
October 27, 2009 at 10:22 am
When I first looked up the website in desperate need of assistance I read through almost everything!!! Once I got things under control and figured out the budget I mostly read the blog to keep me focused, and every few months putting numbers into the own up to your debt sheet to make me feel better, and of course the budget worksheet.
I think I’ve mentioned it before, but I would REALLY love to see a blog or section or something for small business owners who don’t have a business degree and need to learn how to manage cash flow. This is something I struggle with at times.
I think my fav post is out-of-work-stress…although I wasn’t out of work – I WAS out of money! And I needed a kick in the you-know-what to get me off my pity pot and do something about it, and noone out there was going to help me-but me!
My favorite thing about you is your no nonsense approach to money – but your whole-hearted approach to life and family.
I haven’t really read the success posts in a while – I find I only really rely on the blog once I got things “sorted out” but the whole site was helpful starting out esp the questions you answer…I still haven’t seen mine answered yet…
But I look forward to anything new you have to offer – and you are making such a big difference in many people’s worlds (mine included) so don’t change too much! *hugs*
To Catherine, good luck with the computer stuff! Wish I could help!
October 27, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Oh No! Change!! I hate change and since I am completely technologically challenged even the thought of computer changes makes me break out in hives. I cannot speak for anyone else but I find this site to be extremely easy to navigate. One of the best. And this is an opinion from a person who gets lost on her Hotmail between Inbox and Junk.
I love everything that I have read that you have written Gail. I only wish I had more time to read it all. I love the way you blend a financial site with a life site. I find the interaction in the comments section to be fun and fascinating. Never bland. Love all the ideas and posters – especially the crazy ones since just because you colour outside the lines doesn’t mean you can’t have something very valid to contribute.
One thing that I would like to see is a discussion about money ethics. Not just the big complex things but the little personal things as well. I can best explain this by example:
Big Stuff: CITI Bank in the states took a 45 billion dollar bail out which has yet to be repaid and are now using 4.5 million to send lobbyists to Washington to fight the new credit card protection laws. They say this 4.5 million does not come out of the bailout money but refuse to say where it comes from. Some members of my family are CITI Bank credit card holders whose interest rates went up so I am furious and feel impotent since I know that writing another nasty letter to them is pointless. Apparently what they are doing is not legally wrong but is what they are doing ethically wrong and what can we the consumers do that will really help protect ourselves?
Small Stuff: A friend asks you to drive her to the airport to avoid the taxi fare or the long term parking fees. You arrive on time at her house but she is not ready so you actually leave 50 minutes late. Traffic is bad now so you are even later and as you approach the terminal she is panicking, sees an empty spot in front and yells “just pull in right here and let me out or I will miss my flight.” So you pull in. She takes off and just as you are ready to pull out a policeman taps on your window and says – you ran a stop sign. You say where? and he points it out. It is right behind you but hidden by a large bus. You get a $50 ticket which you fight but are denied. When your friend returns you tell her what happened and ask her to pay half the ticket. She gets really snotty and says that isn’t fair since you were the driver so it was your fault. Should you have asked?
October 27, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Your blog is what I start with each morning. The only thing I really don’t look at much anymore is the “Have Your Say” part. I find people are asking the same questions over and over. If they just looked at the rest of your webiste they would find the answers. Maybe that’s why people have money problems, they don’t want to do the work involved like you have shown us over and over again. I have to say one the things I like the most are the responses from the readers on your blogs. I have gotten a lot of ideas and a lot of “oh yeah” moments from them.
You are doing a wonderful job Gail and I hope that it doesn’t burn you out to keep on going.
October 27, 2009 at 4:05 pm
@ Jennifer
Would rather not see ‘guest’ bloggers (‘spurts or otherwise). I think why I enjoy this blog is Gail’s no-nonsense, straight in yer face, down-to-earth approach. I think it would taint the quality and turn it into a watered-down version [of our Gail]. I think I’d be very disappointed to check Gail’s blog and find it wasn’t Gail words and wisdom hitting me square in the face. Just my opinion (thoughts)!
@Maureen,
I agree with you – this is one of the most uncluttered and easy to read blogs. If you ever visited other blogs – they can be jammed up with ads, so much so that you it gives you a headache just trying to read the article(s). I liked your ‘ethics’ question. First off, when I hitch a ride with someone, I almost always give the driver gas money (even family members) regardless. Gas ain’t cheap and if I don’t use my vehicle then I happy to cover gas. I don’t think you were wrong in the least. Firstly, I’d get ticked that someone that I was helping (doing a favour), couldn’t have been on time (pet peeve of mine) in the first place. Good thing she made her flight – guess it would have been your problem/fault if she missed her flight. If she won’t cover the cost, just don’t offer (or agree to help) the next time this person needs to get to the airport.
The home page could probably be organized a bit better, either with drop-down menus / tab across the top so that you can just click a tab heading or a ‘back’ / ‘forward’ button. Also, under the success posts / your story – maybe just a monthly archives tab. I don’t check that every time I’m on Gail’s website, but a quick drop down button would mean I could just click “Aug 09” and read only those entries, for example.
October 27, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Is there a comments page for individual episodes of the show?
October 27, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I really like the community that you’ve created here, Gail. I also think you have an extremely valuable quality and quantity of content all in one place. Your straightforward way of communicating and the “you-don’t need-all-that-stuff” message is reinforced by the bare-bones look and feel of your website in its current state. As I reflect on what improvements to your website might look like, I really hope that you don’t accidentally “go corporate” with your new look and feel.
Please please please don’t muck it up like some other websites with eight boxes of different articles on one page and blinking lights and different fonts. Simple is good, it’s the content that keeps us coming back. Having said that, there are websites out there that have modest, legitimate advertising on the right-hand margin that might offset your costs without turning off your loyal readers. Especially if you have relevant advertisers.
Content-wise I like some of the previous suggestions:
- the one about giving readers a challenge (like a short article about estate planning and then, ‘Hey everybody go update your will’) and then people can comment on their experiences if they already have a will or comment or ask questions of the community as they go through the process. Comments would show up in ‘Recent comments’ so that would keep people coming back.
- the discussion about money ethics (maybe a “What would you, the readers, do?” sort of thing – like a case study but in how to deal with people and money rather than the dollars and cents) Like the ride to the airport issue or like, how do I tell my mom I’m not coming for Christmas because I’m trying to pay off debt. Comments would show up in ‘Recent comments’ so that would keep people coming back.
Continue with your frequent dollars and cents case studies. Always interesting. Love the monthly Q&A but only catch up on it every couple of months or so when I remember it’s there. I don’t generally hit the other features because by the time I read the blog (always first!) and some of the comments, I run out of time and forget they are there.
I like the recent posts on the right-hand side of the page as they are now.
As an experiment, I went to try to find the interactive budget worksheet and gave up after 5mins. This should be much more prominent. I’ve always wondered what your budget binder pages look like. Also, I’ve often heard others describe spreadsheets and other tools they use to track their money so it would be nice to be able to post and swap them, as long as they are not proprietary.
Layout :
I envision a sidebar on the left with headings. This could be available on every page so you can jump around more easily. Content takes up the majority of the page, almost as you see it now. You may want a few other buttons (eg, home, back, top).
So the sidebar would have a list of headings/links (see descriptions below) that look something like this, with the bulleted items being drop-downs:
Home (blog)
Recent Comments
Ask Gail (Q&As)
How to Budget
How to pay off Credit cards
Why you need Insurance
Why you need an Emergency Fund
Why payday loans are from the devil
More Information
– subheading 1 (debt repayment)
– subheading 2 (caregiving)
– suheadings 3 (divorce, splitzville)
– subheading …and so on
Community
– Gail groups
– Your Story
– Success Posts
– What would you do? (aka Money Ethics)
– Your next Challenge
Tools
– Interactive Budget Worksheet
– Budget Binder pages
– share your budgeting tools
Links
– TDDUP
– The new Princess show
– Slice or whatever
– TV interview/newspaper articles
Buy Gail’s stuff
Upcoming Appearances/About Gail V-O
Home – today’s blog and comments, almost in the same format as current. Or the past five days worth in the exact format your blog page is now.
Recent Comments – same as you have it now or on the left in a sidebar
Ask Gail – for those monthly Q&As. Include a link to how to ask a Q and what info to include for this feature. Not a commenting section.
How to Budget, How to pay off Credit cards, Why you need Insurance, etc – very basic articles that are good for new people but good refreshers for people who are still working on it. I wouldn’t recommend a “Read this First” link because no one ever does.
Community could encapsulate content for us daily readers, especially the regular commenters and die-hard fans. For Success Posts, What Would You Do and Your Challenge, these could be kicked off with a blog by Gail and then would probably self-perpetuate as long as new comments and questions show up in ‘Recent Comments’. (Not as much work for Gail, I mean). I personally would much prefer topic-based groups rather than regional ones. This is the internet, after all.
Topics includes all of the rest of your categories of articles and blogs. You may want to re-sort them but I think the categories you have are pretty good. This is an awesome resource and, I think, the backbone of this website.
Tools, Links,Upcoming Appearances are self-explanatory. Could also include links to blogs you like to read (financial news or stories from a reputable source?) or other resources but not necessary.
Buy Gail’s stuff, obvious. How about selling T-shirts like the ones you sometimes made your couples wear? (‘Ask me what negative equity is?’). Defeats the purpose of your website, I know – I’m always shopping in my mind. I had better stop there.
This layout would be somewhat simple and continue to reinforce your message.
October 28, 2009 at 1:23 am
Tigerlily, I love the shop suggestion, especially how it defeats the purpose!
I laugh when I think about how many people would pay a lot of money to buy the jars if they were available. The jars aren’t magical it’s how you use them.
I use little plant pots from my craft box. Didn’t spend a dime, (well at least not recently…)
October 28, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I’m new here, and at this point I’m just interested in hearing what you have to say Gail.
I haven’t checked around the site/blog too much yet, but I’m sure I will in the weeks to come.
October 31, 2009 at 11:14 am
The best thing about this site is that it keeps folks motivated to get to debt free. It is like an online course where you can post comments and get answers to some questions. I discovered the site 2 years back and read all your blogs and the questions you answered. I really like your blogs, blogs with a theme (e.g. self employment), your financial planning tools, your answer to the questions, the success stories, and the comments to your blog in that order. Feels that some folks may need a support group and may not have access to one. My husband was on the QuitNet when he stopped smoking. Same idea for your site although I doubt that people would need to log on every 15 minutes not to blow some cash!
October 31, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Hi Gail
You are amazing and my husband and I neer miss an episode. My husband is laid off and did recieve a buy out which we are going through quickly as he is back at school. Are only debt is our mortage. We dont mind doing without whil being without an income but the two teenagers are always in need.
Any budgeting ideas for a set amount of savings and no income, how do you budget that.
November 1, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Hello Gail!
I have never posted anything on the blogs before, but I’ve been reading your postings daily for the last six months. I’ve been watching your show for years, but I didn’t think to look for your website until recently.
My husband and I had a small – yet lingering amount of consumer debt for the last five years. Usually to do with home renovations that we’d get close to paying off then rack up the line of credit to do more renovations. Although I understood the concepts from the show, I found it wasn’t until I read the article about “Four Piles of Money” that I really went “A-HA!” We had our long-term savings, and money set aside for the money bills, then the variable expense – but never “planned spending” for the larger, out of the ordinary expenses that happen throughout the year, and that’s where we got stuck on our hamster wheel of debt.
That’s just a LONG way of saying, the “MUST READ” articles for us “newbies” should be more prominent, as I didn’t discover this article until I read a blog where you referred to it.
I find the case studies interesting, but should be in a section all its own. Success posts are great, and I’m determined to post mine this winter. A goal of mine – keeps me motivated to stay on track then share with the world. Its inspiring to read about other’s accomplishments as well.
There could possible be something on “personal development” as we all need to grow as people and learn how to nourish our souls as you say. We need to pick up the pieces, not just financially, but if we have holes in our souls, maybe resources can be listed to help people do that. Some of the “relationship rescue” activities have been fantastic, could be hightlighted more on the website.
Good luck with the redesign! I’m looking forward to seeing it come together!