Common Holiday Shopping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Here is a list of common holiday shopping mistakes and how you can avoid them from Dave Ramsey. Following the items on this list will contribute to your financial wellness.

Make this year different!

Here are the top 10 Holiday shopping mistakes and how you can act differently:

1. Not prioritizing. Instead of getting stressed out with all the parties, baking and shopping, in addition to your normal daily life, set some priorities before you’re bombarded with a million requests. Think about which things are “must do” and which are “would be nice to do.” It’s all right to say no to keep yourself sane. Shopping for gifts is more fun when you’re not completely stressed out.

2. Not using a budget. Before you make a gift list and head to the mall, set aside a reasonable amount of money for gifts. Make a commitment that you won’t add $20 to the fund every week just because you saw something cute that your niece would love. Get budgeting advice here.

3. Using credit cards. Once you have your budget finalized, stay away from credit cards! You will still spend 12-18% more if you use plastic, and you’ll be paying it off come 2009! Doesn’t paying with cash sound more freeing than having a credit card balance looming over your head? You bet.

4. Buying for everyone. Do you really need to buy gifts for every family member and friend you have? That can get overwhelming and expensive for everyone. Talk with them and work toward an agreement to draw names for gifts or donate money to a common cause.

5. Not listening. Listen to the hints your loved ones drop about what they need or want this year. Maybe your Aunt Sally mentioned that she would love someone to help her in the garden, or Cousin Bob keeps losing guitar picks. A thoughtful gift like this will mean a lot.

6. Not having a thought-out list on paper. If you think you can spend time in “Christmas retail world” without getting distracted by all the shiny toys, you’re in for a big surprise! You’ll be more likely to buy impulsively if you do it that way. Write down what each person you’re buying for would like and stick to the list. Stay focused!

7. Not shopping around. “Shopping around” doesn’t mean you have to spend 24 extra hours running from store to store to save 10 cents. Take a look at your gift list and do some comparative price-checking online before you head out into the retail and traffic madness. This will save you money, time and stress!

8. Waiting until the last minute. Procrastination is not the most appealing gift out there. Don’t find yourself stressed out on Christmas Eve just because you didn’t invest a little bit of time to plan.

9. Forgetting to plan for next year. Throughout the next year, look for outrageous sales on things your loved ones will need. If you time the sales just right and clip some coupons, you could land a major discount on something you were going to buy in a few months for a birthday or wedding gift. Remember to have a list and budget for this, too.

10. Forgetting why we celebrate. If this season becomes all about shopping and gifts, you’ve missed the whole point. People—not things—matter.

Final Results Wellness Challenge 2

The final results for the Wellness Challenge 2 are in. I would first like to thank everyone for participating and encourage you to not allow your personal wellness journey to end here. Take at least one thing that you have been doing for the challenge and sustain that change until the next challenge starts on January 5th. Prizes will be handed out next week on Tuesday the 25th to those who have earned them. Below are the final standings.

FINAL TEAM SCORES:

1. Beauty and the Geek – 1442.5
2. Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers - 1437
3. Super Heroes in-training – 1256.75
4. The Poor 4 – 1204
5. The Pink Ladies – 1155.6
6. The Bratz – 1080.5
7. Ladybugs – 777.25
8. Supersonics – 759
9. Buff Bananas – 730.5
10. Latin Warriors – 698.5
11. Bienestar – 690.5
12. Chicas Fabulosas – 667
13. Baby Blue – 596.25
14. Pat O's Pateadores – 569.4
15. Royal Blue – 479
16. S.C.A.R.E.– 448
17. Team Cass -- 222


FINAL INDIVIDUAL TOP 15:

Barry Webber, Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers: 2119
Kris Huber, Super Heroes-in-Training: 2019
Hans Dethlefs, Bienstar: 1752
Holly Goodrich, Beauty and the Geek: 1747
Jeanette Gaines, The Pink Ladies: 1658
Michelle Linbo, Beauty and the Geek: 1653
Carmen Alcazar, Supersonics: 1511
Jeremy Holt, Beauty and the Geek : 1444
Paul Beutler, Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers: 1432
Michelle Perez, The Poor 4: 1351
Alicia Lagunas, The Bratz: 1333
Claudia Rios, The Poor 4: 1316
Nora Salazar, The Bratz: 1277
Ana Gudino, The Pink Ladies: 1273
Melisssa Hines, Buff Bananas: 1241

Week 8 Results Part 2

1. Beauty and the Geek – 1237.75
2. Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers - 1099.85
3. Super Heroes in-training – 1041.5
4. The Poor 4 – 960.25
5. The Pink Ladies – 905
6. The Bratz – 875.25
7. Latin Warriors – 698.5
8. Ladybugs – 634
9. Supersonics – 597
10. Bienestar – 588
11. Chicas Fabulosas – 586.5
12. Buff Bananas – 584.67
13. Baby Blue – 538.5
14. Royal Blue – 479
15. S.C.A.R.E – 448
16. Pat O's Pateadores – 455.8
17. Team Cass -- 222


INDIVIDUAL TOP 15:

Barry Webber, Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers: 1644
Kris Huber, Super Heroes-in-Training: 1617
Holly Goodrich, Beauty and the Geek: 1508
Hans Dethlefs, Bienstar: 1426
Michelle Linbo, Beauty and the Geek: 1364
Jeremy Holt, Beauty and the Geek: 1266
Jeanette Gaines, The Pink Ladies : 1250
Anabel Tapia Marin, Latin Warriors: 1211
Paul Beutler, Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers: 1140
Carmen Alcazar, Supersonics: 1095
Claudio Rios, The Poor 4: 1050
Michelle Perez, The Poor 4: 1036
Alicia Lagunas, The Bratz: 1031
Ana Gudino, The Pink Ladies: 1015
Liliana Cortes, Chicas Fabulosas: 974

Wellness Challenge Week 8 Results

Work on the EHR project is progressing. Dr. D and Tom Oakes, with assistance from Michelle and I are working on template customization. This is where we create screens in the EHR to make the EHR flow more in tune with our redesigned processes.

Dr. D., Sarah Dworak, Jeremy and I have also been working on our data preload processes and have been testing instructions and how long it takes to enter a chart into the EHR. This is going well. The financial counselors are using scanners at their desks to scan pay stubs rather than make copies. This is exciting as they are now as close to a paperless system as any area in the building.

Jeremy has completed collecting fingerprints from all of the nurses and providers and is rolling out the tablets through the end of November. He is working on setting up four days in December for a "tablet petting zoo" where people can come, ask questions, and play with the tablets.

Last but not least, our official go live is in May 2009. I know that we have had some other go live dates but this is the one we are sticking with.

I bet you thought this was a wellness challenge update. Ha ha, made you read an EHR update. I will post the wellness scores tomorrow.

The Newest Niemeyer

Saturday November 1st saw the introduction of the newest member of the Niemeyer clan. Both Valerie and baby are doing well. Despite my pleas to name him Lawrence so that they would then have Hank, Chuck, and Larry they decided to name him Benedict (Ben) Marion Niemeyer. He weighed 8lbs 3.5oz.

Below is a picture of Hank and Ben and then Ben by himself.

Twas the Night Before Halloween, version 2.0

Last night 1166 children from the community came and trick-or-treated through the medical clinic. All departments did a wonderful job decorating the rooms and there were so many amazing costumes. Thanks go to Holly Goodrich, our community relations specialist, for her hard work on getting the entire night organized, promoted, and running smoothly.

The front desk seems to own the Halloween contest repeating their 2007 victory in the Best Room category as judged by the kids. Second place went to the providers and the Under the Sea theme, and third went to the Lab for their Mad Lab room.

I don't know or want to know what went on at the Ceballos house on Halloween when Lupita and Alina were growing up but whatever it was it inspires them to bring their "A" game to the costume contest. Lupia Ceballos won first place (she won in 2007 as well) followed by a tie for second between Alina Ceballos and Lulu Flores. La Lucha Libre rides again!

Week 7 Results

TEAM SCORES:

1. Beauty and the Geek – 1095.75
2. Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers - 954
3. Super Heroes in-training – 913.25
4. The Poor 4 -- 830
5. The Pink Ladies – 784.6
6. The Bratz – 780.75
7. Latin Warriors – 698.5
8. Ladybugs – 536.5
9. Supersonics – 532.2
10. Baby Blue – 522
11. Bienestar – 520
12. Buff Bananas – 514
13. Chicas Fabulosas – 513.72
14. Royal Blue – 479
15. S.C.A.R.E – 424
16. Pat O's Pateadores – 398.6
17. Team Cass -- 222

INDIVIDUAL TOP 15:

Barry Webber, Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers: 1452
Kris Huber, Super Heroes-in-Training: 1414
Holly Goodrich, Beauty and the Geek: 1307
Hans Dethlefs, Bienstar: 1225
Michelle Linbo, Beauty and the Geek: 1214
Anabel Tapia Marin, Latin Warriors: 1211
Jeremy Holt, Beauty and the Geek: 1155
Jeanette Gaines, The Pink Ladies: 1047
Paul Beutler, Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers: 1023
Claudia Rios, The Poor 4: 924
Ana Gudino, The Pink Ladies: 896
Carmen Alcazar: 890
Alicia Lagunas, The Bratz: 884
Margine Davis, Royal Blue: 880
Michelle Perez, The Poor 4: 878

Wellness Challenge Week 6

INDIVIDUAL TOP 15:

Barry Webber, Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers: 1249
Kris Huber, Super Heroes-in-Training: 1200
Holly Goodrich, Beauty and the Geek: 1090
Hans Dethlefs, Bienstar: 1049
Anabel Tapia Marin, Latin Warriors: 1020
Michelle Linbo, Beauty and the Geek: 1012
Jeremy Holt, Beauty and the Geek: 1010
Margine Davis, Royal Blue: 880
Jeanette Gaines, The Pink Ladies: 861
Paul Beutler, Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers: 853
Claudio Rios, The Poor 4: 792
Ana Gudino, The Pink Ladies: 756
Alicia Lagunas, The Bratz: 752
Michelle Perez, The Poor 4: 737
Irma Orozco, The Poor 4: 724

TEAM SCORES:

1. Beauty and the Geek – 941.25
2. Demoralizing Dental Dynasty de Decay Destroyers - 826
3. Super Heroes in-training - 777
4. The Poor 4 -- 708.25
5. The Bratz – 664.25
6. The Pink Ladies – 662.6
7. Latin Warriors – 650.75
8. Bienestar -- 476
9. Baby Blue – 466.75
10. Royal Blue – 465.75
11. Ladybugs – 461.5
12. Supersonics – 455
13. Buff Bananas - 443
14. Chicas Fabulosas – 439.25
15. S.C.A.R.E – 424
16. Pat O's Pateadores – 339.8
17. Team Cass -- 222

This American Life

If you haven't ever listened to a radio show called "This American Life" on NPR then you are missing out. A couple of weeks ago they had a show on about an organization that was making a real difference in people's lives in Harlem, NY. You can listen to the show for free from their website or you can download it to your MP3 player for 99cents. The link to listen free on your computer (at home) is HERE. Below is a description of the episode, it's worth your time.

Host Ira Glass introduces a story on the most ambitious and hopeful solution to urban poverty in the country—the Harlem Children’s Zone. The project’s goal is nothing less than changing the lives of thousands of children in Harlem, starting at birth and continuing until they go to college. (2 minutes)

Act One. Harlem Renaissance.
Paul Tough reports on the Harlem Children’s Zone, and its CEO and president, Geoffrey Canada. Among the project’s many facets is Baby College, an 8-week program where young parents and parents-to-be learn how to help their children get the education they need to be successful. Tough’s just-published book about Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem's Children Zone is called Whatever It Takes. You can see a slideshow of more photographs from the project here. (30 and 1⁄2 minutes)