Letters

HBA doing what is ‘best for community’

The Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) board of directors recently voted to conclude its work on Hillcrest Mardi Gras. Hillcrest Mardi Gras has been a collaborative event produced by many volunteers and community groups. The HBA and the Greater San Diego Business Association Foundation (GSDBAF) have been two of the prominent players in producing this event. By stepping out of this event the HBA also is stepping away from the many disputes that have surrounded the event.

Does the fact that the HBA has stepped away mean the event won’t continue? Of course Hillcrest Mardi Gras can continue. There are many players who produce Mardi Gras and the HBA is one small part of the event. I, and the HBA board, welcome a new and re-invigorated Mardi Gras produced by community activists from the GSDBAF and beyond. We are excited to see how the event continues to grow.

For its part HBA board has, and will continue to do, what it believes is best for the community of Hillcrest. The HBA will take on projects that help build the community and draw it together; such as the recent Pride Flag and the ongoing Farmers Market.

— Benjamin Nicholls, HBA executive director, via email

Lovely touch for the South Park Holiday walkabout

One of the nicest written pieces of the Season! Before I was half way thru, I could smell, taste and feel the atmosphere [see our story on the South Park holiday walkabout “Opening doors to the holiday spirit,” Vol. 4, Issue 24].

Lovely to read. The only thing missing was being there.

— SuZz, via sduptownnews.com

Editorials

Celebrating 2012 with the artist in us all

By Anthony King, SDUN Editor

It has been a quick, but wonderful year in Uptown, and this issue marks our last of the year. I am proud of the work our team has done, and I thank all those involved in-house, from our publisher, bookkeeper and sales department, to our design department and writers.

The shopping should almost be done, and we remember what the holiday season is about. This year we brought on our Parenting columnist, Andy Hinds, who, once again, wrote a column for this issue that speaks to far more than only parents. His intelligent and levelheaded take on the tragedy in Newtown is for everyone.

It was difficult putting together our Top-10 Stories of the Year for Uptown, because our neighborhoods are home to so many important events, people, businesses and nonprofits – far more than what we are able to report on here.

I’d like to focus particularly on a part of the community that does not always get the attention it deserves in these yearly round-ups. Our music writer Logan Broyles did an excellent job highlighting some of the largest music events in Uptown this year, but our other artistic communities – from theater and dance to painting and sculpture – are often left out.

Uptown is as much an artist community as any in San Diego, and some would say more so. From the largest and longest-running monthly art walk, North Park’s Ray at Night, to countless art exhibits installed at coffee shops all around Uptown – I stop by Bread and Cie as much for the art on the walls as the coffee – it’s important to remember we live in an artist’s world.

An old neighbor of mine in Hillcrest, Sergey Gornushkin, rides his bike to Balboa Park every day to work in the San Diego Sculptors Guild. During December Nights, I stopped by the Guild in the park’s Spanish Village and it was wonderful to see Sergey’s work again. I was pleased, too, to find out he is now president of the group, just one of many artist groups in Uptown.

Happy holidays to the artists who live among us all, and to you and your families, however you define them. Enjoy yourselves, and think of others, always.

Resolve to be financially secure in 2013

By Jason Alderman, director of Visa’s financial education programs

When it comes to making New Year’s resolutions, getting into good shape financially ranks right up there with losing weight and eating healthier. All three goals require discipline and planning; and, as you’ve no doubt experienced, it’s not unusual to encounter setbacks along the way.

Don’t let losing a minor battle here or there convince you to surrender on the bigger war. You’ll probably have more success if you start out taking small steps, learning from your mistakes and gaining momentum as you go.

Here are a few suggestions for better managing your personal finances in the New Year:

The first step on the road to financial health is to create a budget you can live with. If you’re new to budgeting or haven’t been successful in the past, start slowly. For a few months write down every cent you spend: mortgage/rent, utilities, food, gas, medical copayments, credit card interest: the works. You’ll be surprised where your money goes.

At the same time, compare money coming in (income) to money going out (expenses). If you’re just breaking even or losing money each month, you need to boost your income and/or aggressively trim spending. Try these strategies:

• Pay bills on time and send at least the minimum amount due. You’ll avoid late fees and related interest rate increases; plus, you’ll improve your credit score.
• Balance your checking account regularly and use in-network ATMs to avoid overdrafts and fees.
• If your employer offers flexible spending accounts, use them to pay health and dependent care expenses with pretax dollars.
• Raise insurance deductibles and shop around for better rates.

Once you start reducing expenses, use the savings to pay down debts more quickly. Try making a table of all outstanding credit card and loan balances and their corresponding interest rates. Then, each month pay the minimum amount due on each, except pay as much as possible on the account with the highest interest rate. Once that one’s paid off, move to the next-highest rate account and so on.

Another smart move is to have an emergency fund in case of financial upheaval (layoff, medical emergency, unexpected car repairs, etc.) Ideally you should save enough to cover six months of expenses, but don’t be discouraged if that sounds insurmountable. Start slowly by saving a few dollars each week. You won’t miss it and your little nest egg might just save you from needing an expensive short-term loan to cover an unplanned bill.

If something terrible happened to you, would your family be protected financially? Make sure you have a valid will, durable power of attorney, health care proxy and living will. Numerous books, online articles and sample forms are available if you want to draft them yourself, but you should probably review your documents with a financial advisor or attorney to avoid potential legal problems. Also, make sure you have adequate life and disability insurance.

It’s debatable how much Social Security will be able to contribute toward your retirement income in coming decades, so if you’re not already participating in your employer’s 401(k) plan or an IRA, make that one of your top financial resolutions.

Sticking to resolutions is never easy. If it were, we’d already be doing them. But striving to improve your financial situation now will pay off big-time down the road.