Applying for Food Stamps in Tennessee - What You Need to Know to Apply for Food Stamps in Tennessee - Yahoo! Voices

Applying for Food Stamps in Tennessee - What You Need to Know to Apply for Food Stamps in Tennessee

 As the economy has continued to struggle, unemployment in Tennessee has remained at an all-time high. If you have recently been laid off or lost your job in Tennessee, you may be eligible to apply for and receive government-issued coupons that can be exchanged for food known as Food Stamps.

After you apply for unemployment (see Unemployment Tips for Tennessee), the next step frequently is to apply for food stamps. If you need help getting food stamps in Tennessee, these tips should guide you through the process of applying for food stamps. You might also want to read the companion piece How to Apply for Food Stamps in Tennessee.

Read article:  Applying for Food Stamps in Tennessee - What You Need to Know to Apply for Food Stamps in Tennessee - Yahoo! Voices

Analog to Digital TV Conversion: Approximately 2.8 Million Americans Now Without Television - Yahoo! Voices

Analog to Digital TV Conversion: Approximately 2.8 Million Americans Now Without Television

According to a report released June 7 by Nielsen, as of June 12, 2009, approximately 2.8 million Americans are now without television following the FCC mandated analog to digital conversion, and I am one of them.

Read full article: Analog to Digital TV Conversion: Approximately 2.8 Million Americans Now Without Television - Yahoo! Voices

Also see: Converting Older Analog TV to Digital Not as Easy as Promised

Converting Analog Television to Digital TV Not Working For Millions of Americans

Converting Analog Television to Digital TV Not Working For Millions of Americans


I'm one of the millions of Americans who are without television as the converter boxes don't work on my old TV set. I have wasted too much of my life since February trying to make the digital converter box work and nothing works. You can read the full article at "Converting Analog Televisions to Digital TV Not as Easy as Promised"

After going through the same frustrations, a friend bought a new digital TV at Walmart for $168, and she is going to have to return it, because even with the new TV, she still can't pull in a regular, reliable signal -- $200 wasted on a new TV that won't pull in a digital signal.

Read more at: Converting Analog Television to Digital TV Not Working For Millions of Americans--Bukisa

'Confessions of a Shopaholic' with Isla Fisher, John Goodman, Joan Cusack--DVD Review

Here is a movie any shop girl must see! Although it fell short on several levels, it was still a fun flick about -- SHOPPING. It had plenty of retail scenes and also focused on the main character's financial woes, so it is a perfect fit with this blog!


'Confessions of a Shopaholic' with Isla Fisher, John Goodman, Joan Cusack--DVD Review

Confessions of a Shopaholic is a materialistic piece of cinematic fluff where lies are OK if it will get you what you want or get you out of trouble, but it does have its good moments. For one thing, Confessions of a Shopaholic boasts a cast including: Isla Fisher, John Goodman, Joan Cusack, John Lithgow, Hugh Dancy, Lynn Redgrave, Kristin Scott Thomas, Wendie Malick and Julie Hagerty.


Read the review at: 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' with Isla Fisher, John Goodman, Joan Cusack--DVD Review-- Yahoo

Sell Aluminum Cans & Recycle Soda Cans for Cash in Tennessee - Yahoo! Voices

Sell Aluminum Cans & Recycle Soda Cans for Cash in Tennessee

After losing my shop girl job in the terrible economy and high unemployment rate of March 2009, I needed to find some quick ways to earn income while I looked for a job. Recycling soft drink cans for cash is one of the ways I have paid for small bills or purchases:

In an effort to bolster my sagging finances since being laid off, I have had to get creative about ways to supplement my income while looking for employment. I always recycle my cans, plastics, and glass at recycling bins. However, it occurred to me that I might be able to make some money out of some of my trash if I did a little research. While I am still researching glass, plastic, and tin, the following tips should help you make money recycling and selling aluminum cans in Tennessee!

Read more at: Sell Aluminum Cans & Recycle Soda Cans for Cash in Tennessee - Yahoo! Voices

Converting Older Analog Televisions to Digital TV Not as Easy as Promised - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com

Converting Older Analog Televisions to Digital TV Not as Easy as Promised

I own not one but two Magnavox DTV Digital to Analog Converter # TB1110MW9 boxes which I will probably be stuck with as I am having problems making the conversion from analog to digital and Magnavox won't stand behind their product. It all started when the government decided to force television stations to stop analog broadcasts and to convert to digital by June 12, 2009 to free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.

Find out more: Converting Older Analog Televisions to Digital TV Not as Easy as Promised - Yahoo! Voices

Find Low-Cost or Free Health Coverage in Tennessee - Yahoo! Voices

Find Low-Cost or Free Health Coverage in Tennessee

When the retail store in Nashville, TN where I was a shop girl for about 20 years closed, I lost my job and my health insurance, along with some 40 other workers.

If you live in Tennessee and have recently lost your job, you may have joined the ranks of the uninsured. If you are wondering how you will be able to afford health care while unemployed, the following resources will give you some ideas on where you can find free or low-cost health care coverage in Tennessee.

If you have recently lost your job, you might also want to check out the related article "Unemployment Tips for Tennessee."

Read more at: Find Low-Cost or Free Health Coverage in Tennessee - Yahoo! Voices

Where to Find Free Health Care or Low-Cost Health Insurance in Tennessee: Statewide Healthcare Resources

Where to Find Free Health Care or Low-Cost Health Insurance in Tennessee: Statewide Healthcare Resources

Recently the major department store where I worked part-time in retails as a shop girl closed its doors. I had just lost my full-time job a few months earlier. Suddenly I was facing the future unemployed, uninsured and with no goodprospects for earning an income.

If you have recently lost your job and your insurance and you are wondering how you will be able to afford health care, these five programs will help you find free healthcare, low-cost health coverage, or other statewide health care resources in Tennessee.

Find out more at: Where to Find Free Health Care or Low-Cost Health Insurance in Tennessee: Statewide Healthcare Resources--Bukisa

Surviving Layoff - Ways to Survive a Layoff

Surviving Layoff - Ways to Survive a Layoff

In the fourth quarter of 2008, almost 509,000 workers were laid off from work according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you have recently been laid off or think you may be laid off from work soon, you are in good company. The key to surviving a layoff is to take stock and develop a layoff survival strategy.

These 5 tips should help you take those important first steps if you find yourself in the unhappy position of losing your job due to layoff. Excerpted from Handling a Layoff - Survival of the Fittest

More at: Surviving Layoff - Ways to Survive a Layoff--Bukisa

Protect Your Job and Avoid a Layoff - Yahoo! Voices

Protect Your Job and Avoid a Layoff

This article has some tips on how shop girls and other workers can protect their jobs from a layoff:

Do you think you and your job are safe from layoff? Every time we watch the news, we hear about more layoffs. Earlier in this series we have talked about Handling a Layoff - Survival of the Fittest as well as Ten Ways to Get Fired and Lose Your Job (find more of this series in the resources). In today's economy no jobs seem to be completely safe, but there are six things you can do to protect your job and avoid being laid off.

Find out how to protect yourself from a layoff at: Protect Your Job and Avoid a Layoff - Yahoo! Voices

Handling a Layoff - Survival of the Fittest - Yahoo! Voices

Handling a Layoff - Survival of the Fittest

The economy during the 1st quarter of 2009 is worse than it was at the end of 2008. I should know -- the store where I have worked as a shop girl for the past 2 decades closed during the 1st quarter of 2009.

If you have recently been laid off or think you may be laid off from work soon, join the club! In the fourth quarter of 2008, 508,859 workers were laid off from work according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. ⁽¹⁾

Being laid off is never fun, but it is not the end of the world. The key to surviving a layoff is to immediately take stock and develop a personal layoff survival strategy. These 14 tips should help you take those important first steps if you find yourself in the unhappy position of losing your job.


Read the article at: Handling a Layoff - Survival of the Fittest - Yahoo! Voices

Top Ten Ways to Get Fired and Lose Your Job - Yahoo! Voices

Top Ten Ways to Get Fired and Lose Your Job

If you are looking for ways to get on your boss's bad side and get yourself fired, this former shop girl has seen it all in retail and knows ten quick and easy ways to losing your job.

Read them all at:  Top Ten Ways to Get Fired and Lose Your Job - Yahoo! Voices

What Makes a Shop Girl or Other Employee Disgruntled?

We so often hear of disgruntled employees in the news. I know quite a few shop girls who are disgruntled -- for good reason. There are an unfortunate number of bosses and supervisors out there with no management skills, and apparently, no management training. These managers drive their workers crazy and ensure that productivity falls off due to their poor management techniques.

What Makes an Employee Disgruntled? Poor Management Decisions
I have worked with many people who became "disgruntled former employees." Most of them had reasons to be disgruntled and to leave their employment.

What Makes an Employee Disgruntled? Poor Management Types
There are several management types that can severely impact an employee's motivation and ability to excel in the workplace

Unemployment Tips for Tennessee - Yahoo! Voices

Unemployment Tips for Tennessee 

The major retail chain where I have worked as a shop girl for many years is closing the store where I work part time after changing hands several times during the past 2 decades, so I have had to take a crash course on unemployment.

As part of my preparation, I recently attended a conference on filing for unemployment benefits in Tennessee. I have been making notes and taking names, and have some tips to share on facing unemployment in Tennessee.

Read this shop girl's tips on how to handle unemployment in TN at Unemployment Tips for Tennessee - Yahoo! Voices 

Unemployed: a Poem - Yahoo! Voices

Unemployed: A Poem

This link goes to a humorous poem I wrote when we found out the store where I worked as a shop girl for about 20 years was closing.

Read the poem about facing unemployment at: Unemployed - Yahoo! Voices

Protect Yourself from a Con Artist or Scam - Yahoo! Voices

Protect Yourself from a Con Artist or Scam - Yahoo! Voices

 This article was inspired by my bad experience this past Christmas when this shop girl was scammed at a "charity" event and provides some tips on how to protect yourself and your business from scams and con artists:

This past Christmas , I had a disturbing experience when I was asked by someone on a mutual Mayberry list to help him promote a charity event to benefit children with terminal illnesses. He sent me an email requesting I promote this event to all my internet groups and Social Networks for him, and then he asked me to supply some Mayberry poetry books he could sell with a percentage of proceeds going to benefit the charity. The only thing I did right on the front end was to decline to just drop off books.

Read more: Protect Yourself from a Con Artist or Scam - Yahoo! Voices

Also see: Conned at Christmas - a True Story - Yahoo! Voices

The Mayberry Poem - A Tribute to Mayberry - a Book Review

This humble shop girl is rather proud of her new book! And it must be pointed out that Mayberry's Ellie Walker was a shop girl and pharmacist!

A Tribute to Mayberry Poetry Book is a Unique Gift

Do you know any Mayberry fans? Are you secretly one of those who just can't get enough of "The Andy Griffith Show?" Do you often amaze your friends and embarrass your family doing your best Barney imitation? Do you frequently find yourself whistling the theme song to "The Andy Griffith Show?" If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, then The Mayberry Poem - A Tribute to Mayberry is for you!


Read more at: The Mayberry Poem - A Tribute to Mayberry - a Book Review--Bukisa

Conned at Christmas - a True Story - Yahoo! Voices

Conned at Christmas - a True Story 

 This article walks you step-by-step on how this shop girl got conned this past Christmas. It also offers some helpful tips on how you and your business can avoid getting scammed:

The end of November 2008, I was invited as an author to participate in an event called "Cookies for Kids" to raise funds for a charity called Special Spaces which helps terminally ill children. I was asked to offer the books at a discount and let the profit go to the charity, and I was asked to leave some books behind for a follow-up event.

In hindsight, I believe both events were probably scams perpetrated by a con man.

Read the full article at: Conned at Christmas - a True Story - Yahoo! Voices 

Unemployment Resources in Tennessee

Unemployment Resources in Tennessee

According to the Tennessee State Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the total number of unemployed in Tennessee rose by 66,600 in January of 2009 meaning over 261,800 people in Tennessee have been without a job and are currently seeking employment.

Find out what resources exist for the unemployed in Tennessee at: Unemployment Resources in Tennessee - Squidoo

If you would like you to join me on Squidoo and make a little money writing, CLICK HERE

Surviving Job Loss: Unemployment, Layoffs, and Firings

Surviving Job Loss: Unemployment, Layoffs, and Firings

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, 508,859 workers were laid off from work during the fourth quarter of 2008, and unemployment continues to be a national problem throughout 2011.

Find out more: Surviving Job Loss: Unemployment, Layoffs, and Firings--Squidoo

If you would like you to join me on Squidoo and make a little money writing, CLICK HERE