titleSave Money at Resale Shops/titlepMany consumers know that you can find good deals on pre-owned items at flea markets, Ebay, Craigslist, and various classified ads. In recent years, many franchise specialty resale shops have emerged on the retail market. These stores allow shoppers to shop for specific specialized goods and also may give you cash for your unwanted items. Below are some descriptions and web sites that have a growing number of locations across the nation./ppstrongOnce Upon a Child:/strong/ppWith more than 230 stores nationwide, Once Upon a Child buys and sells gently-used childrens toys, furniture, and clothing. Most parents know that kids outgrow everything very fast. Therefore, this resale shop can save families money on items that children use for a short time. Those bags full of gently-used clothes that children wore for a few months could also earn parents some extra cash./ppstrongPlatos Closet:/strong/ppThis store has a similar concept to Once Upon a Child, except it is geared towards teens. Platos Closet, a franchise resale shop that buys and sells gently-used teen apparel, specializes in designer brands such as Express and Abercrombie Fitch. In addition to purchasing stylish clothes for a fraction of the cost, your teen can also get cash for clothes that they do not wear anymore./ppstrongPlay It Again Sports:/strong/ppParticipating in school or community sports produces positive results for your child. However, parents are sometimes burdened with bills for costly equipment and transportation fees. Play It Again Sports allows you to turn in your used sporting goods for credit towards new purchases. This store also gives cash for used fitness equipment./ppstrongHalf Price Books:/strong/ppBy the name of this store, it is easy to assume that it carries a wide variety of used books. However, they also stock pre-owned music, movies, and games. Most items are at least half off of the publishers original price. If you are an avid reader, this store may be a good alternative to the pricey bookstores that sell only new items. Half Price Books also gives you cash for your used books, CDs, movies, etc. According to this stores web site (www.halfpricebooks.com), associates will make an offer on every one of your items./ppstrongCD Warehouse:/strong/ppThis resale store buys, sells, and trades used CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, games, and vinyl records. The amount of cash you receive for CDs depends on the current inventory of the individual store. The CD Warehouse also provides a great way to unload the music that you no longer listen to or have converted to MP3 format. Music buffs can also find interesting and rare tunes for a low price. Visit www.cdwarehouse.com for more information. This franchise also operates under the names of Disc Go Round, CD Exchange, and Music Trader./ppstrongComputer Renaissance:/strong/ppKeeping up with the latest computer technology can be a costly endeavor. Computer Renaissance offers consumers refurbished name brand computers and also custom builds new computers. When it comes time to upgrade your system, you may be able to receive trade-in value for your equipment and apply it to the cost of a new computer./ppstrongReTool:/strong/ppHousehold tools can be a surprise expense because some people may only buy them when they absolutely need them while others like to tackle various home improvement projects as a hobby. ReTool offers an array of new and used tools which includes everything from table saws to nails. All used tools are inspected to ensure they are functional. This store will also buy your unwanted tools or give your credit to trade up to a different model./ppBill Loughborough is Founder and CEO of Credit Answers, a Texas based debt settlement company. Credit Answers specializes in a TARGET=_NEW href=http://www.creditanswers.comdebt management/a, credit card debt settlement, debt elimination and avoiding bankruptcy. Credit Answers is a TASC Best practices Accredited organization and serves thousands of clients across the country and settles millions of dollars each month./ppPrior to Credit Answers Mr. Loughborough had spent 20 years in the financial services industry as founder and CEO of Homeloan.com Inc., Landmark Mortgage, Factual Data, and National Mortgage Research Company. Mr. Loughboroughs Companies in the past have received the prestigious Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Private Company in America on three separate occasions. Mr. Loughborough graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a major in finance./ppFor more information please visit: a TARGET=_NEW href=http://www.creditanswers.comhttp://www.creditanswers.com/a/pbrbr

Los Angeles, CA, USA August 15, 2008. Amongst the protests of antiwar and economic uncertainty growing stronger with no end in site, I would like draw attention to artwork from the 1960’s that has made an impact on my life. Remember the day glow posters and black lights? Remember the rock art from The Fillmore play bills we all saved? Remember the image from Hair the American Tribal Love Rock Musical? All these and more will always hang in my mind as remembrance of a time of innocence. Drugs, Sex and Rock and Roll were a part of most of the baby boomers lives when we were not afraid to get stoned and attend an antiwar peace protest. I will always remember protesting the Vietnam War in NYC and a blurry instance of running over the rocks and hills in Central Park when we were chased by police at a Schaefer Music Festival Concert in Central Park. We can all relive the experiences of going to Led Zeppelin, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter, Black Sabbath, and Grand Funk Rail Road concerts…what a time we had….Quaaludes, Benzedrine, Tuinals, Seconals. Boones Farm anyone? Though the majority of of us are all clean and sober now…it is still fun to reminisce those great days.
The memories I have of the Hippie movement are resonating more today than ever with the revival of Hair the American Tribal Love Rock Musical free concert at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater. The message is resonating more strongly with the youth and young adults of the world today than perhaps ever before. When asked recently about the resonance and resurgence of this iconic symbol on today’s young adults, the plays legendary producer, Michael Butler, answered emphatically, “It isn’t coming back, it never left, Hair’s message is more relevant today than its ever been. Over 11 million people have seen the play, an estimated quarter of a billion have heard the music. It’s in dozens of productions around the world as we speak. In fact, a third of all American actors have had some association with Hair. Its been a force for good for almost four decades.”

The Age of Aquarius times of running around as free as a bird was a time in history when we lived in the moment without a worry in the world. Hair, the first ever rock opera, opened in 1968 and all of us would travel into the city form Long Island and New Jersey to participate in this communal offering giving us an insight into the decade of the flower children which we were all very much a part of. It shocked audiences for its lyrics and subject matter, as well as onstage nudity. The original script contains a nude scene, but it is not essential to the plot and individual productions may or may not choose to include it. The original script also contains some racist language which again, may be edited on today’s stage.

As reported recently in “USA Today” the New York based trend forecasting think tank, The Trends Research Institute, found something unique in American history, a new generation looking back in time for inspiration… specifically, the 1960’s.

“Hair” grew out of a new downtown ethos embraced by the radical – and charismatic – Joseph Papp, who in the mid-’60s was adding the Public Theater to his New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park. After a brief run at a nightclub called Cheetah, the show was picked up by Michael Butler, heir to a Chicago paper fortune. He had it restaged by Tom O’Horgan, and readied for Broadway in 1968.

“As I look through my old posters, play bills, and concert flyers I’ve collected through the years I have such fond memories of growing up in the 60’s. As a young girl living in Southern California life was quite enjoyable. Saving my allowance to buy the latest albums, going to concerts…it was all so exciting. One of my most happy memories is seeing the touring production of the musical Hair…and I still have the play booklet. Over the past few years I have been collecting Hair posters from all over the world, in different languages from different Tribes! The best poster in my collection is the reproduction of the original from the 1968 Broadway opening There is something mesmerizing about the aura photographed around the actors head. I love the colors of this art piece of which promote brotherly love and world peace.”…..states Myrle Atchley from Mississippi.

There are many great 60’s pop artists; I love Andy Warhol, John Van Hamersveld, Roy Lichtenstein, and Bob Massy. There is something really special about the work that Russoli and Rodriquez created for Hair. They were experimenting the aura technique in photography. When approached by Producer Michael Butler with the idea to create the marketing for the new play, he introduced them to Steve Curry, one of the original actors in the soon to open Broadway production of Hair. The play opened on April 29th at The Biltmore Theater in NYC and sold out every night and ran for 1,750 performances. I was 16 years old at West Hempstead High School when my girlfriend’s mom took us into Manhattan to see the show.

Forty years later, I love the art hanging on my wall. Frame and hang and enjoy as art takes you through the memories and the journey of our lives.

Art imitates life and as we witness today’s youth letting there hair down and getting that what we lived through in the sixties parallels with what is happening in the world today.

On with the Hairy revolution.

Ace Ross – Friends of Cashmere – http://www.friendsofcashmereboutique.com

Most of us enjoy a whiff of a delicious perfume, either on ourselves or on somebody else. Instead of buying just any perfume for an anniversary, why not get one that directly has something to do with the theme of the celebrated anniversary? There are infinite amounts of options out there, so you do have to know about your partner’s preferences. If a woman like musky notes, don’t bring home a fruity perfume! To play it safe, I would recommend that you buy the smallest size possible, so it’s not that much of a loss if he or she doesn’t like it (and people sometimes have adverse reactions to certain scents). Plus that way, he or she will have used it up by the next anniversary and you can go out and buy more!

Anniversary 1 is Paper: We start out pretty lame, since I could not find any perfume that contained the word “paper” in it. But, there are cards with perfumed inserts, which might be most appropriate for women.

Anniversary 2 is Cotton and we have a few more options here. Cotton is associated with the scent of freshly washed linen, so most of the perfumes have a lighter note. For a woman get Cotton Splash Perfume by Marc Jacobs, White Linen Breeze by Estee Lauder or Crisp Cotton Perfume Oil sold in The Body Shop. For men there are not that many options; you could go with Cotton Candy Perfume by Demeter for men and women, or Lucky You by Liz Claiborne, since one of its ingredients is Cotton flower.

Anniversary 3 is Leather. A scent mostly associated with men (because of the whole cowboy thing, I guess), you have a lot of option for the guys: Containing the word leather in it’s name are a series of English Leather by Dana, English Leather Wind Drift, English Leather Timberline and English Leather Musk.

The following fragrances for men carry a note of leather: John Varvatos, Polo by Ralph Lauren, Carlos Santana, Chaps by Ralph Lauren, Dunhill Fresh by Alfred Dunhill, Gentleman by Givenchy, Gucci Pour Homme by Gucci, Nicole Miller for Men, Safari by Ralph Lauren and many, many more. You can always ask for more fragrances with a leather note at the perfume store, should none of these appeal to you.

For women it’s the same thing: there are only few perfumes that have the word itself in the name. The only ones I found are Leather for Women by Demeter and Aigner in Leather by Etienne Aigner. But when it comes to perfumes with a note of leather, you have more options: Cabochard by Parfums Gres, Fendi, Habanita by Molinard, Image by Nino Cerruti, No. 19 by Chanel, Caleche by Hermes and more.

For anniversary 4, Fruit or Flowers you will have so many options that I can’t possibly name all of them. Most of the perfumes have both flower and fruit notes, so if you want to go with one of the two only, you’ll have to speak with a knowledgeable salesperson in the perfume store.

Only a few options for her are Fruit de Bois by Jean Charles Brosseau, Jessica McClintock for women, Fruity Rythm by Adidas, Pacific Paradise and Island Kiss by Escada, Faconnable Femme by Faconnable, Guess for Women, Head Over Heals by Revlon, Incanto and Incanto Charm by Salvatore Ferragamo, Flower for Women by Kenzo, Spring Flower and Fantasia de Fleurs by Creed, Fleur de Diva by Ungaro, Fleur de Fleurs by Nina Ricci … let me just catch my breath! The list goes on and on, so you will have many options here. Make sure with your darling which fruit or flower she likes, else she just might get a headache!

Since men’s fragrances tend to be less fruity and sweet, you would think that you would have fewer options, compared to women’s fragrances, but don’t forget that almost all perfumes have a flower or a fruit thrown in somewhere. Some ideas for him are: Baldessarini by Hugo Boss, Black Code by Giorgio Armani, Neroli Sauvage by Creed, Curve by Liz Claiborne, Sport by Royal Copenhagen and Very Sexy for Men by Victoria’s Secret.

Now to the last theme of the first five anniversaries. Year 5 is Wood, so if you include fragrance notes like sandalwood, you are going to have a lot of options again. For women, get Glamourous by Ralph Lauren, Eau de Dior Relaxing by Christian Dior, Shi by Alfred Sung, Versace Woman by Versace, Sensi by Giorgio Armani, Black Cashmere by DKNY or Blush for Women by Marc Jacobs. Honestly, there are so many I could fill up a whole page, but these will give you an idea.

And finally, for men you have Black XS by Paco Rabanne, BLV Notte by Bulgari, Brit for Men by Burberry, Cacharel for Men by Cacharel, Dune by Christian Dior, Gravity by Coty and Gucci Pour Homme, just to name a few.

Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Anniversary Gifts

I have noticed that there has been a drive to make profit from labels that exists not only at the level of pharmaceutical companies, but also from cash strapped school district and sadly, from disengaged parents themselves. School districts are able to obtain additional funds for each child labeled. These funds do not necessarily go towards the aid of individual students but can be utilized in various ways. Some parents (who are emotionally disconnected from their children) and who are undergoing financial distress jump on the idea of obtaining a diagnosis and label for their child in situations where the problem is one that is solely the result of psychosocial factors,in order to cash in on various taxpayer funded programs.

These parents are attempting to exonerate themselves from any sense of responsibility or accountability in addressing the emotional needs of their children themselves or seeking to make the necessary changes that would aid their child in being more motivated and functioning more successfully. The education system also fails to provide the appropriate means of adapting methods suitable to the child’s learning style or instilling a zeal for learning. Instead, they are perpetuating the problem of the child’s lack of motivation by teaching their child that it is not through hard work and diligence that achievement can be obtained but rather through manipulation and ‘milking’ the system for whatever they feel they are ‘entitled’ to. It is this sense of entitlement that leads to individuals believing that they can obtain something for nothing, and thus gives them no drive or motivation to achieve goals or to become more productive citizens. Zeal for learning and productivity will never come from handouts or by a stale, rote educational system.

How must a child feel to know that their parent has labeled them as being ‘brain disordered’ or suffering from a subjective ‘disorder’ only to obtain additional monies. It is well known that these funds do not go towards improving the functioning of the child but is often used as a ‘personal expense account’ for their parent and the child for various things that are completely unrelated to the supposed ‘disability’.

In addition to seeking funds through what in the common lingo is known as the ‘crazy check’, these individuals go further to obtain various therapeutic services with the sole intention of trying to justify their claim to these monies. They are often seeking services with which they do not provide any investment of their own. They have allowed the government or more appropriately said, the taxpayers to provide for their financial welfare and then allow ‘professionals’, once again paid for by taxpayers, to assume the responsibility of providing care to their child.

Some of these individuals will attempt to justify their ‘milking’ of the system by using the guise of advocacy. In the true sense of advocacy, they would be seeking to address the actual challenges that their child faces by providing structure, tutoring, hearing their child’s voice, resolving conflicts, and making changes to the distressing environment that would allow their children to be healthful and productive. It is easy to not put forth any effort in these areas, shirk responsibility, and lay claim that the government and professionals need to do their part, to be ‘accountable’, of course at someone else’s expense.

There is a dire need of reform of this unfortunate system. There should be no further rewards to parents who do not take responsibility and accountability. Children should not be given labels that can stick for life or be considered ‘disordered’ in order for funds to be obtained. When there exists a real physical or developmental challenge, that can be appropriately demonstrated through valid, objective tests, it would be understandable that there may be the need for assistance, but even here there needs to be carful checks and balances to insure that the funds are used to provide the appropriate resources to the child and that such funds are not pilfered.

Dan L. Edmunds is a doctoral candiate (abd) in Pastoral Community Counseling and has served as a therapist and consultant to children with autism and developmental challenges as well as children with emotional challenges.

Sunglasses help to protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays that come from the sun. It is always better to use a sunglasses when ever you go in direct sunlight. Special care has to be taken while selecting the right sunglasses for you. It should suit your face and also should give you the right protection you want. Sunglasses are a bit expensive and special care has to be given to maintain them.

Here are some tips that will help you to maintain your sunglasses.

• Sunglasses should be checked regularly if you wear them frequently. There are chances that the screws of the glass become loose and will create problems for you while wearing the. It is necessary that the screws are always tight and the glass is comfortable to wear.
• You have to check the alignment of the glass. If they are not properly aligned it is necessary that the frame has to be adjusted at the earliest. Do not try to align the frame on your own. If more damage occurs the warranty of the sunglasses will be cancelled.
• Keep you lenses scratch free. Scratching is the main problem that everyone faces with their sunglasses. It is better to get a lens with a scratch resistant feature.
• Clean you sunglasses frequently. Use a lotion free washing liquid to clean the glasses. You can also use lukewarm water to wash off the dirt. Finally wipe the glass with a lint free cotton towel. This will make you glasses shine as new.
• When ever you remove your glasses use both your hands to remove them. This will avoid distortion of the frame.
• When you are not using the glasses it is safe to keep it in its protective case.
• If you are a person who sweats too much, it is better to rinse of the sweat from the glasses at the earliest or else it may damage the lens coatings as well as the finish of the frame.
• Do not leave your sunglasses on the dash board of your car the strong heat that will be inside the closed car can damage the lens as well as the frame.

Follow these tips to keep you sunglasses safe and last longer.

Visit Internet shopping site to select your Discount Sunglasses and you can get cashback discounts on Cheap Sunglasses when you shop through this edealsuk shopping website.

Which celebrity does not have their own fashion line? The list seems to be getting shorter as more and more stars announce their new lines and fragrances to be sold at already well established and accessible stores around the globe. The next time Sarah Jessica Parker is seen on the red carpet she may be wearing the likes of Marc Jacobs, but her new fashion line Bitten is not aimed for this Prada toting crowd. The new trend among celebrities is reaching out to the masses by providing them with trendy and affordable duds on the high street and in shopping malls everywhere. But what does the future hold for the real designers out there?

The recent deaths and retirements of a few major leaders in fashion have piqued the interest of fashionistas everywhere that are wondering who, when, and even if, they can be replaced. Some of these designers and their associated brands such as Versace and Calvin Klein have lived on in the hands of designers happy to take on and continue the legacy. In other instances the designer brand is bought out by bigger corporations looking to cash in on the already established client base. These big name designers who are so often worn at movie premiers and award shows might continue to reign but the question lies in whether or not the public and the celebrity elite will see any new big names and faces associated with fashion, as we have seen in the past.

David A. Wolf, a fashion trend forecaster and creative director of the Doneger Group believes that the era of massive empires built upon a single name or face are probably over. “The people who have empires and giant names, happened to begin their careers with the maximum window of opportunity for that kind of enterprise,” said Mr. Wolfe. “That doesn’t seem to exist anymore. I just can’t imagine who would be a new Donna Karan.”

The task for new young designers on the scene has been made doubly difficult by the number of celebrities who already have face and name recognition coming out with their own designer fashion lines. These celebs have used the already existing economic infrastructure of big names like Topshop and Tesco to market and sell their designs, or in many cases someone else’s design that they have attached their name and face to. This strategy is what can give many new designers a ray of hope, using mega stores and recognisable brands to get their designs out there to be seen, purchased and worn.

The time may soon come when young budding designer’s dreams are not their first catwalk show during London’s Fashion Week, but a job with a big name high street store like Marks and Spencer, Debenhams or Kate Moss’s choice of Topshop. The benefits of designing for big stores has even been highlighted on shows such as Project Catwalk, a reality show where young designers compete to win a job working as one of the designers at Debenhams.

This new building ground for designers just starting to get their feet wet has potential to benefit all parties involved. The designers receive more capital via sponsorship from an array of initiatives from big names stores with deep pockets looking to capitalise on fresh new looks and the public can happily drape themselves in the newest trends for prices that will not break the bank.

Elisha Burberry is an online, freelance journalist and keen traveller and watersports enthusiast. Originally from Scotland, she now resides in London.

Lets face it, pregnancy tends to be a fairly miserable time for most women. However, it is exceedingly important that the woman feel attractive during this time. All pregnant women whether they are your main-stream style women, all the way to your alternative women deserve to look and feel just as good as everyone around them. While most women can look and feel rather good during the first, second and third trimester, some may feel daunted by the task. However, there isn’t an excuse to walk around in heavy sweat pants; when there are so many options readily available to all women if they are willing to take the time and look.

The first step to feeling and looking wonderful during pregnancy, is to become comfortable with your changing body. Some women may snicker at the idea of gaining weight during their pregnancy, however are excited about becoming a mother. If this is your ideal then remember, that in most people’s eyes a pregnant woman is by far the most beautiful woman in the world. The better and more accustom you feel with your changing body, the more likely you are to look and feel wonderful. That even goes for the women who are donning their husband’s raged old sweats from his ventures at the gym. However, once more there is no reason to allow yourself to slip into the comfort and ease of things, when you have so many comfortable and fashionable options available to you.

After you have found the perfect maternity clothing that will fit your style, it is important to remember that accessorizing can play a heavy hand in fashion. While you can get by with that simple skirt, pair of slacks, dress, or shirt on your day to day life. Why not take the time to refresh your fashion outlook by placing it with some accessories? The key to saving a little extra cash, is by purchasing your main staples within the large items. IE: shirts, pants, skirts etc, and buying a few extra accessories, which will allow you to create different looks with the same outfit. It is unnecessary to go over board on your maternity clothing, while some women think it may be. I would suggest sticking with a few basic, yet oh so classic pieces; however that is not to say that you shouldn’t purchase that maternity nine inch nails tee. Quite on the contrary, it is important to express yourself even throughout your pregnancy, and if that means purchasing a little extra then I would have to say do it; allow yourself to feel at ease during this wonderful time. If you find yourself not wishing to stroll around the store on weary pregnant feet, then I would suggest taking your shopping online; not only is it convenient but if you are an alternative woman such as myself, you have a higher chance of finding pieces to fit your style.

Shopping for baby onesies and childrens apparel? Add style to your baby with a designer t-shirt, a black onesie or a funky diaper bag. We carry black baby clothes, rock toddler t-shirts, maternity apparel, punk baby onesies and maternity wear. Find the perfect newborn attire or matching mom and baby set for a new mother.

Lingerie comes in lot of varieties and is generally priced above $20. Discounts on lingerie imply purchasing lingerie at a reduced price. Discount lingerie is available at many lingerie stores. These stores declare this price reduction either because they want to get rid of old stock, or want to sell lingerie in large quantities. Sometimes, they offer discounts to those buyers who are willing to pay cash or spend a certain amount of money. In some cases, if the store is closing, clearance sales make for fantastic lingerie discounts.

Some stores sell seconds, rejected or defective stock that manufacturers sell them at radically reduced prices. These are fine to purchase, but you have to look them over very carefully, as some to have major flaws.

When you are looking to buy discount lingerie, it is not easy to find high quality or trendy stuff. Discounts are offered only on that lingerie that is either out of fashion or has some minor manufacturing defects. Sometimes odd colors and stained lingerie is also offered in discounted price to get rid of the pieces. Quite often, the wrong sizes could be written on the lingerie piece, so try on before buying.

Discount lingerie can be bought from discount stores or from lingerie shops that announce sales. If you are sure about the size and quality, you can order discounted lingerie on the Internet as well. Wherever you buy discounted lingerie, do check that the fabric is not worn off and garment still has elasticity. Check the terms and conditions as well as return and exchange policies of the store before making the purchase. With these purchases, there is usually no return policy. If you buy it, you own it.

Lingerie provides detailed information on Lingerie, Lingerie Model, Discount Lingerie, Plus Size Lingerie and more. Lingerie is affiliated with Corset Training.

‘Alpaca’ is becoming a common word, the majority now starting to recognise that soapy softness of quality alpaca fibre whether it be knitted baby wear or fine spun shawls. Alpaca is undoubtedly a magnificent natural material to work with and to wear, the warmth provided by the hollow core of the fibre being second to none.

This fine, lustrous and crimpy fleece grows on the back of these South American camelids and is sheared off once a year. One animal can yield up to seven kilos of fleece- but this doesn’t necessarily translate into seventy balls of quality knitting yarns: Alpacas are sheared from head to toe, with a decrease in the quality of the fibre down the legs.

It’s fantastic that alpaca is moving to the forefront of fashion, demand for luxury fibre knitting yarns is higher than it has ever been, but designers and consumers alike crave the ‘good stuff’. Until recently alpaca breeders and textile workers scratched their heads to discover a use for the waste fibre left after the ‘blanket’ fleece is removed. These fibers tend to be harsher, less crimpy and when worn next to the skin are itchy. Obviously including the leg fibre in a spin batch would downgrade the rest of your soft fibre- so it is piled separately at the back of the shearing shed. Over the course of shearing a whole herd this waste fibre can amount to a significant amount of fleece.

Some use it as insulation- that hollow core working as well at keeping a home warm as keeping your toes warm. Others use it to stuff pet bedding- lucky pooch! The third alterative is to accept it as a lower-grade fibre, lacking the softness and lustre of the back fibre, but still use it within textiles. This coarse fibre can be felted, wet felted or needle felted, or alternately spun up into a heavier knitting yarn and then knitted and felted. The result is a much heavier and hairier fabric, it has greater structure and is consequently more hard wearing. This can be used for the likes of handbags, slippers, Wellington-boot insoles or even teddy bears and jewellery. Alpaca is a versatile fibre and when treated in various different ways can become unrecognisable as the same fibre. Whether knitted, felted or woven, alpaca gives you exceptional results, bringing to your product warmth, texture, and creating a desire in people to touch it. This type of alpaca can be bought at much lower prices than fine alpaca, and anyone interested in textiles will love the challenge of a different type of material.

The Toft Alpaca Shop

If you have ever done something or gone somewhere you did not want to, just because you have paid for the tickets and could not get your money back, then you have been a slave to money.

What is your relationship to money? Is money your comfort, your god, your friend, your master, servant, lover?

In a sense money does ‘talk’.

In English, Japanese, Taiwanese or French, two simple words ‘How much?’ and an open wallet can get you round most of the world. In a capitalist system we need money to function and a big part of you is the way you handle, control, manage, lose, fritter, invest, eat, burn, love, hate or worry about money.

The things money can buy have probably defined your experience of holidays, birthdays, Christmas; alongside which reside some of your most deep seated memories, and values. For example, were you brought up to ‘get your money’s worth’? What happens now when you fail to get value for money–do you end up feeling cheated or ‘ripped off’?

Think about the things money symbolises to you. When you were a child, what were the conditions of pocket money? Did money bring you joy and happiness, love, entrapment, resentment or fear?

As an adult, what is your definition of waste or extravagance? I have friends at either end of the scale when it comes to grocery shopping. One buys a lot of sausages and cheap mince and prides herself on her economy; the other spares no expense and buys exotic fruit, fresh salmon and expensive, lean cuts of meats without exception. Her argument is you can buy a lot of quality food for the price of a triple heart by-pass or a mobility scooter!

What does prosperity mean to you? Some financial advisers advocate that you save $3.50 a day (the cost of a cup of coffee) so you can reap the benefits of compounding interest and retire in moderation years later. I was inclined to agree with this advice until the day I realised that having the disposable cash and time to enjoy a bought coffee a day was prosperity. It was neither a wasted opportunity to save, nor an extravagance.

Money means different things to different people, and it can buy us experiences that are unique to us.

A friend of mine told me her dream was to buy a brand new Porsche. Bridget had worked out she could afford it if she added the loan to her mortgage and paid it off over 25 years. Being financially savvy she knew the real cost of the car but said it was something she just wanted to do in her lifetime so the expense would be worth it. When I found out she had not yet driven one we arranged a test drive. We had only been driving five minutes when I asked her if the car ‘did it for her? Was it worth it?’ She replied, ‘I don’t know, I think I might sooner have six months skiing in Aspen.’

We discussed how she would feel returning to the workplace in order to pay for it. She told me she would not have a problem owning a better car than the General Manager but she would find it difficult going back to the boring job she had. To her that car was a metaphor for the excitement that she otherwise lacked in her life. Buying it would have provided the biggest adrenalin rush, after that it would have been down hill all the way. What she really wanted to do was break out and test her self-belief. Fortunately she realised in time that a car repayment plan was not the answer.

Jane Francis is the author of ‘Price Yourself Right: A guide to charging what you are worth’ [ISBN 0-595-38601-6] which is available at Barnes & Noble (US), WH Smith (UK) and at amazon.com. You can read more at her blog: http://www.priceyourselfright.blogspot.com