Katherine Occhipinti
Community Programs Manager
919-532-1792
Volume 6, Issue 3
August 2010
Community Programs Connection
Community Programs Connection
B U S I N E S S
CAHEC
N A M E
BJ Aungst
Community Programs Specialist
919-788-1805
How Does BJ Clean?
down! That got me to
thinking just how long has
it been since I did the
“deep cleaning?” When
was the last time I cleaned
the top of my bathroom
vanity, the base boards,
the smudges on the light
switches, the list goes on
and on.
If you’re like me, you live
in a “surface-clean” house.
My kitchen counter and
table is wiped clean. The
living room floor might be
vacuumed (if I’m expecting company). The bathroom could probably use
some work but at least
there are no pee spots visible! My bedroom, whew.
Clothing is everywhere,
but at least I don’t have to
worry about old food lying
around. I’m not too worried about the dust monster under my bed. I destroyed him last year!
So the problem I have is
this...no cleaning schedule.
I have some cleaning jobs
that I just never get done
or simply forget to do. I
could not even tell you the
last time I scrubbed my
electric can opener. I decided on soup last night,
and let’s just say...YUCK.
I was so grossed out!
Needless to say I finally
got around to wiping it
Time slips away from us
quickly, therefore, it’s extremely important to have
a cleaning schedule. Once
a week I usually do the
standard mopping, dusting, and vacuuming. But
on top of that I usually
forget when and what I
have done recently. So, as
a solution, I have decided
to make myself a cleaning
schedule for the more
thorough deep cleaning.
Doing this once a month
or so (before it gets to that
gross-me-out stage).
Inside this issue:
Budgeting Tips & Tricks
2
Katherine’s Two Cents
3
Talking to the Press
3
with weekly basic cleaning.
First off, plan for at least
half a day. Monthly items
that need to be completed
are cleaning your ceiling
fans and light fixtures.
Dust around your air
vents, and do an intense
dusting. That’s when you
go behind furniture like
your washer and dryer. I
am definitely going to call
a friend before attempting
this as I’m afraid I’ll disappear, never to be heard
from again!
First I decided to do some
quick research, so naturally I went to GOOGLE
and 439,000 hits later I
realize there is a lot to this
cleaning business!
I can choose between
daily, weekly, monthly, or
seasonally. The internet is
full of helpful tips and
ideas!
After much deliberation, I
have decided to tackle a
monthly cleaning schedule
because I generally do well
You also need to clean
window treatments, and
the windows. Am I the
only one who thought this
was a seasonal item? I
(Continued on page 4)
Page 2
C O M M U N I T Y P R O G R AM S C O N N E C T I O N
Quick Budgeting Tips & Tricks
If you have to live on a limited income, you absolutely must use a
budget. Don’t know where to start?
Here are some tips.
To compute your weekly budget –
multiply any set monthly payments
by 12 and divide the result by 52.
Payments that differ each month
(such as power) will need to be averaged out per year. You might want
to allocate a little something for
yourself. This will help to keep you
on track and not cheat.
SUPERMARKET SHOPPING
• Find the cheapest supermarket
and shop there for all your food
needs.
• Sign up for the loyalty cards and
remember coupons are cash.
$1.50 invested in the Sunday
paper could save you $20.00 or
more in coupons.
• Try to shop every other week as
opposed to weekly. This will
eliminate the gas money for that
extra trip. NEVER go back for
a forgotten item; do without it
until your next trip.
•
Always work from a list. It
should only
contain
items you
need.
• When
it’s on sale
stock up, of
course,
only if it’s
an item you
use on a
regular
basis.
$1.50
invested in
the
Sunday
paper
could save
you $20.00
CLOTHING SHOPPING
• Always wait until an item is on
sale. Check out your local second hand shops and try online
auctions.
• Buy separates that coordinate.
You can make numerous combinations with a few well
matched items.
• Buy a season ahead. Buy next
year’s summer clothes at the
end of this summer season .
• If there is something you feel
you just can not do without.
Cut out a picture and keep it for
minimum of 3 months. If you
still want it and have managed
to save for it, buy it. Chances
are you will find you don’t need
it as much as you thought.
FOOD TIPS
• It’s considerably cheaper to
cook at home than to eat out.
Dining out consumes about half
of the average family’s food
expenditures.
• Double recipes and freeze all
remaining items.
• Cook from scratch as opposed
to using mixes.
• Make at least one or two meatless meals a week.
• Buy fruits and vegetables in
season and from a farmers market.
• Plan meals according to the
weekly specials.
POWER SAVING TIPS
• Turn off lights when not in use.
Change to fluorescent if possible.
• Take showers instead of baths.
• If you have a dishwasher, set it
to cold water and only run it
when full.
• If you have a crock pot, use it
on low setting for numerous
recipes. On low a crock pot
uses no more power than a 60
watt light bulb.
• Don’t use saucepans that are
too small for the burner on your
oven.
• Use shades and blinds to regulate your home’s temperature.
Keep them drawn and closed to
block those hot summer rays!
•
Turn off electronics when not
in use.
MONEY TIPS
• Use your debit card (not your
credit card for all purchases and
take careful amount of what you
spend.
• Use your credit card ONLY
when you already have the
money for the item you want.
Nothing puts people on low
incomes into debt as easily as
incorrect use of a credit card.
You need to be able to pay off
the debt without paying any
interest.
• If you find yourself using a
credit card incorrectly, the only
solution may be to cut up the
card and throw it away.
MISCELLANEOUS TIPS
• Cut out long distance calls. Ask
family and friends to call you.
Use your cell phone. Many
companies offer free nights and
weekends and no long distance.
• No gambling, even on lottery or
bingo tickets. If you spent $5 a
week that amounts to $260 a
year!
• Drop those pay TV services.
• Look for urgent care facilities as
opposed to emergency room
visits.
• Carefully review bills for errors.
• Balance your checkbook. While
you may not consider this a big
deal, you are wrong. An up to
date balanced checkbook will
keep you in touch with exactly
how much you have to spend
and remind you of how much
you are spending.
Hopefully these tips help you to get a
handle on your finances and encourage you to spend thoughtfully.
(Continued on page 3)
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3
Page 3
Katherine’s Two Cents
The art
contest’s
winning
entry will be
used on
CAHEC’s
2010 holiday
card.
Announcement! CAHEC’s
2010 Art Contest is in full
swing! The winning entry
will be used on CAHEC’s
2010 holiday card. All residents are invited to submit
their original art. PLEASE
post the attached flyer and
encourage all residents to participate!
Please remember that residents should contact their site
managers before calling CAHEC about CP questions.
cludes the Site Application, a
Mentor Application for each
mentor WITH the background check, and a Student
Application for each student.
Please make sure every “t” is
crossed, every “i” is dotted,
and every line is signed. Last
year’s trip to Great Wolf
Lodge was a huge success so
get everything in on time and
be a part of 2011’s trip! This
year we are being super strict
and if you don’t have your
paperwork IN, you are OUT!
2010-2011 Youth Recognition Program applications are
due Wednesday, September 1.
Your COMPLETE application should be to BJ by then.
A complete application in-
Senior Recognition Trips are
underway. Folks are going all
over the place and having a
great time. Please be reminded that we are NOT
launching a new program this
fall. The 2009-2010 program
year will finish up in the next
few months and then we
don’t get started again until
May.
We don’t have any changes to
the HOP, but we do have a
pretty big reminder. Our
Guidelines specifically state
that we will match what the
resident contributes to closing. We’re trying to work out
the best policy for determining that number in a timely
fashion. In the meantime,
please bear with us as we
work out the kinks!
As always, the RWC, TLC
and CGP deadlines are one
year from the site’s Fully
Qualified Occupancy date. If
you have any questions or
need any assistance, call us!
The ASP deadline is two
weeks from each individual
school’s drop/add date. We
no longer accept anything
after the deadline!
-Katherine
(Head Grumposaurus)
2009-2010 YRP Award Trip to Great Wolf Lodge
Talking to the Press
Our Community Programs
have been getting a lot of
great media attention lately, so
we thought we’d share some
of our ideas for dealing with
the press.
First and foremost, make sure
you mention CAHEC. Now
that you’ve mentioned us, you
probably want to give a nod to
your developer as well, and
your property management
company if they aren’t the
same.
It’s a good idea to point out
that we’re all in partnership
together to provide quality
affordable apartments. Unless
you want them to watch their
eyes glaze over, I wouldn’t
recommend trying to explain
the tax credit system to them.
In this case, simple is good.
Also, make sure you mention
that CAHEC is a nonprofit
corporation. For some reason
folks tend to react better when
they realize we aren’t spending
their tax dollars for our programs.
Thanks for getting us so much
good publicity by the great job
you do!
Business Name
C AH E C
Primary Business Address
Your Address Line 2
7700
FallsLineof3 Neuse Road
Your Address
Suite
200Line 4
Your Address
Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: 555-555-5555
Phone:
919-420-0063
Fax: 555-555-5555
Fax:
919-420-0019
E-mail:
someone@example.com
www.cahec.com
WEB!
on the
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’r
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W
om
hec.c
@ ca
CAHEC's mission is to raise and invest equity capital in qualified low-income housing tax
credit projects and other tax credit products and to provide capital through a series of Community Investments that (i) empower residents, (ii) promote the development of affordable
rental and ownership housing, and (iii) foster sustainability within the communities we serve.
How Does BJ Clean? (continued…)
A clean
house creates
a pleasant
ambience,
which, in turn,
affects your
mood, keeping
it pleasant.
only ever clean my windows in
the spring and at Christmas
before hanging the garland. I
have heard from my mother
that this was incorrect, but
never really believed her! Once
a month, really? Well, let me
tell you, I did this and I actually
have noticed a huge difference.
Next on the
agenda is to
vacuum inside
your
furniture.
This is a favorite
of
mine because
I always find
enough change for an ice
cream cone after cleaning between the sofa cushions!
Finally, you should deep clean
appliances; that is easy for me
since my oven looks brand new
‘cause I do NOT cook. However, if you do cook you should
do this monthly to remove
those baked-on drips and overflows.
resulting in grouchiness and
crankiness (I should know,
Katherine NEVER cleans and
she’s ALWAYS cranky).
It’s been said that a clean
house creates a pleasant ambiance, which, in turn, affects
your mood, keeping it pleasant.
A cluttered and untidy room,
on the other hand, could get
your mind cluttered and untidy,
Perhaps with the advancements
in modern technology, in the
very near future we can all have
our very own Rosie. Remember her? She was the robot
maid from “The Jetsons”. But
until then, we need to do it ourselves.
Happy Cleaning! -BJ