Today’s PSA:

(download mp3)

Submitted by: Glenda Carter (Wiley College)

Cost: About $8

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1  clove of garlic
• 1  medium onion
• 4  carrots
• 1 large bell pepper
• 1/3 head of cabbage
• 1 medium package of pasta (spaghetti)
• salt & pepper
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• soy sauce to taste

Instructions:

1. Sauté chicken thighs in vegetable oil; remove skin when chicken is done.. Chop the chicken into small cubes and set aside.
2. Chop clove of garlic and onions and set aside.
3. Slice carrots, bell pepper and cabbage and mix together.
4. Heat oil over medium heat and then add the garlic, onions, carrots and cabbage. Sauté until crisp but not soggy.
5. Add chicken with the rest of the ingredients and continue to cook over low heat for about a minute.
6. Boil spaghetti pasta until firm but not overly cooked while you sauté the other ingredients. Drain pasta.
7. Add freshly cooked pasta to the rest of the ingredients in the skillet and mix well. You may want to add a little olive oil to make sure that the pasta doesn’t stick together or become dry.
8. Season with salt and soy sauce to taste.  Mix well.

Welcome to the Philippines.

Make a cool drink made of apple cider and sugar and enjoy!

Today’s PSA:

(download mp3)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lavonia Perryman: 313-404-0977 lavoniaperryman@yahoo.com

Suzanne Mayo Theus, National Director, Black America Saves available for interviews during s America Saves Week Feb. 23, 24 27 or 28, 2009.  Suzanne Mayo-Theus is an ambassador of good will. But that’s just one of her roles.

“There are few people that have made such a broad impact on the lives of so many as Suzanne has,” said Tyrone Brown, president of PROKids.  “She has been a great advocate, steward and educator of the development of minority relations and raising awareness about building wealth not debt in the Black community.”

Black America Saves

Black America Saves is a nationwide campaign in which a broad coalition of nonprofit, corporate, and government groups helps individuals and families save and build wealth. Through information, advice, and encouragement, we assist those who wish to pay down debt, build an emergency fund, save for a home, save for an education, or save for retirement.  Many believe that low- and moderate-income families cannot afford to save and build wealth. Yet research shows that there are “savers” and “spenders” in all income classes. While those with modest incomes cannot save as much as the affluent, almost all have the ability to build wealth over time.

Clearly, our economic problems require solutions at all levels, including more responsible lending programs and appropriate financial services oversight. But at the individual level Black America Saves goal is to help individuals, and families get and keep personal finances on track, and over time generates the kind of capital that financial institutions can use to invest and grow the economy in the long term.  The primary focus of America Saves Week is to encourage Financial Action – commitments to save, invest and build wealth.

The campaign, which is run at the national level by the Consumer Federation of America, a non-profit consumer advocacy, research and education group, includes over 50 local organizations and partners with over a hundred national organizations who promote or offer financial education and savings opportunities.

Suzanne Mayo, National Director
Black America Saves/The Consumer Federation of America
1620 Eye St.  NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
785-236-9553

The primary focus of America Saves Week is to encourage Financial Action – commitments to save, invest and build wealth.

The campaign, which is run at the national level by the Consumer Federation of America, a non-profit consumer advocacy, research and education group, includes Black America Saves and over 50 local organizations and partners with over a hundred national organizations who promote or offer financial education and savings opportunities.

Black America Saves is a nationwide social-marketing campaign in which a broad coalition of nonprofit, corporate, and government groups helps individuals and families save and build wealth. Through information, advice, and encouragement, we assist those who wish to pay down debt, build an emergency fund, save for a home, save for an education, or save for retirement.  Many believe that low- and moderate-income families cannot afford to save and build wealth. Yet research shows that there are “savers” and “spenders” in all income classes. While those with modest incomes cannot save as much as the affluent, almost all have the ability to build wealth over time.

Clearly, our economic problems require solutions at all levels, including more responsible lending programs and appropriate financial services oversight. But at the individual level Black America Saves goal is to help individuals, and families get and keep personal finances on track, and over time generates the kind of capital that financial institutions can use to invest and grow the economy in the long term.

Contact:

Lavonia Perryman Fairfax
555 Brush St #1115
Detroit, Michigan 48226

Suzanne Mayo Theus, National Director
Black America Saves/The Consumer Federation of America
1620 Eye St.  NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
785-236-9553

Today’s PSA:

(download mp3)

Submitted by: Suzanne Mayo

Cost: About $6

Ingredients:

• a large bag of chicken parts  ($4)
• 1 can of cream of mushroom soup (.69)
• 1 small bag of rice (.49)
• 1 can of string beans or green peas (.50)
• 1 pack of kool-aid  (.30 cents)

Instructions:

1. Wash the chicken well and season it well.
2. Place the chicken in a flat pan and bake on 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.
3. During the last 20 minutes, open the can of mushroom soup and mix with 1/4 cup of water in a bowl.
4. Pour the soup over the chicken and let the chicken bake until it is done.
5. Cook your rice in another pan until done and cover with margarine or your special gravy.
6. Open up the can of string beans or green peas and season them to your taste.

Make your pitcher of kool-aid and sit down to eat.

Pray for your wonderful $6 dollar meal and enjoy great family time!

NOTE:  Next week you can substitute the creme of mushroom soup for BBQ sauce. IT IS DELICIOUS!

Black America Saves is proud to support America Saves Week.

In celebration of saving, BAS is releasing four public service announcements regarding saving – free for all to use. Listen to your local station for BAS PSAs!

Today’s PSA:

(download mp3)

In tough times it’s even more important to have recipes that can take $10 and stretch it to feed a family of four. In the upcoming weeks, we’re happy to share with you a collection of recipes guaranteed to please the palette for $10 or under!

If you have a saving’s recipe you’d like to have featured, please send it to recipes@mynettemanagement.com.

Dear Saver,
With economic markets in turmoil, I’m fielding a lot of questions about whether and how to buy a car. People are wondering if it’s a good time to buy, whether they can get a good deal, and if they should take the plunge even as we hear more and more about the troubled financial industry.

Some of these questions – like how badly you need that new ride – are questions that only you can answer. But, I can help with some of these questions. Take a look at the following guidelines before you set out to buy.

• Carefully consider whether you need that new car. If you already own a serviceable vehicle, continuing to drive it for another year or two will probably save you money – even when factoring in maintenance and repair costs. Do the math and compare what you’d spend on a new car to the cost of maintaining your current one. Then, ask yourself if that new vehicle is really worth it, or whether you’d be better off saving and investing the money you would otherwise spend.
• Start saving for your down payment as early as possible. The more you can put down, the less you’ll borrow and repay in interest. If you are planning to borrow money, check your credit report for free at www.annualcreditreport.com and work to fix any errors or improve the report before you apply for loans.
• Do your homework before you start shopping. Research standard prices on new and used cars at Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com and at the National Automobile Dealers Association website. Factor in costs like insurance, gas, maintenance and taxes. Think about how you will use a new car, and make sure you’re not buying ‘more car’ than you need.
• Shop around for a loan before you start visiting dealerships. Call your bank or local credit union, and see who can offer you the best loan. Look for loans with the lowest possible interest rate (under 7% is best, avoid higher than 10%), and arrange to repay your loan over the shortest period possible.
• Look for special deals when you begin shopping. Dealerships and manufacturers are likely to be offering rebates or sales right now, as auto sales are slumping. However, be wary of any special deal that requires you to get a high-interest loan through the dealership finance office.
• If you’re buying a used car, it’s very important to have a mechanic look at the vehicle before you make an offer. Also ask the owner or dealer to provide maintenance and repair receipts, so you can see how recently and frequently the vehicle was serviced.
• Negotiate with dealers, and remember to stick to your bottom line of what you can afford. Take time to think about any offers, and don’t be pressured into spending more than you planned.

Follow these tips, and you’ll be well on your way to making a smart car purchase. My final piece of advice is to make sure to save and invest the money left over in your budget after this purchase, if you spent less than planned. Buying a car is one of the largest consumer purchases for most families (second only to buying a home), and if you’ve made smart choices about this purchase you’ll have more money available for long term savings and asset-building.

Best,

Suzanne Mayo
Director, Black America Saves