One Rogue Valley woman’s struggle and
Triumph over Debt
By Vanessa Houk


Her goal now is to buy a home. She is taking steps to achieve that goal and now that her debts are paid off, she can put money aside for a down payment and also work on a retirement plan for her future.


Her story is a familiar one: A mother of two found herself in a marriage that was crumbling. By the time the divorce papers were signed, she discovered she was $17,000 in debt and her house was in foreclosure. Scared and alone, Nola Shaw of Medford, made an appointment with Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS).

The first advice they gave her was bleak. “Get another part time job and come back in six months,” they said. This was her lowest point. "When a counseling service turns you away, you know things are messed up," Nola says. Though it was a struggle to be away from her kids, she quickly put her life in order and six months later, Nola returned to CCCS and a counselor helped her set up a plan to pay off her debt. That was four years ago and last month, Nola completed the program and is now living debt-free.

"It is such a great sense of relief," she says. "Just getting rid of the phone calls and the letters. Getting a couple of things paid off and then a few more. That feels great! And I can answer the phone without fear."

Along the way she learned how to strategize and prioritize. She held down a part time office job and started a bookkeeping business out of her home. As the years passed, she began to see that one of the benefits of paying off debt was the stability she gained and the self-confidence that followed.

Nola learned the critical difference between "needs" versus "wants." "Cable would be nice, but I actually like channel 12," she jokes. She learned that living a simple life has its own rewards, like “baking cookies with my kids, instead of taking them to Dairy Queen or out for dessert. My kids know that I love them and it is far more rewarding in the long run. We are spending time together. And it has shown me that as an individual, I can persevere." She also learned a lot about self-discipline and gained self-respect in the process.

"I find value in myself now rather than finding value in things like a big, fancy car with huge payments." Her way of life changed, but so did her understanding of what is really important. "I don't have a cell phone, but I don't need one. I'm still surprised at how many things I took for granted before. I think my rewards are yet to come."

Her goal now is to buy a home. She is taking steps to achieve that goal and now that her debts are paid off, she can put money aside for a down payment and also work on a retirement plan for her future.

"Some women stay in marriages that are negative or even abusive because they think they can't get out financially, but they can! We can do it, but it takes a lot of perseverance, a long time and even a lot of tears. I hope that other women know that they can get a sense of self worth and accomplishment and they can overcome the tragedies in their lives."

One of the benefits of using a credit counseling service is that it gave her a support system. "I am so thankful for Linda K., my counselor at CCCS. She helps me every time. Even though I have completed the program, I can still go back to them as a resource if I need it." Knowing that she has that support is a comfort.

"It is such a struggle to have more debt than income because you feel like you can't do anything about it. And it's scary. You can though. Be sure to monitor your credit." Knowing what is on your credit report will insure there are no mistakes. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call to get credit mistakes cleared up, but you have to be aware of problems so they can be dealt with promptly.

Nola hopes that other women will not be scared to ask for help. "It's okay to take a risk. Take the risk." It could change your life forever.

Learning to Love Herself Again by Vanessa Houk

0604.Joy.02
739 words

Three hundred pounds lighter, a Medford woman is
Learning to Love Herself Again

By Vanessa Houk

(Possible pull quote=)

Dating was the last thing on her mind as she struggled with her weight, earned a living and raised two boys on her own.

(Text begins)

For Kathy Villa of Medford, learning to love herself has been a lifelong journey. And like the adage goes, “You have to love yourself before you can love someone else.” For most of her adult life, Kathy has battled obesity. Dating was the last thing on her mind as she struggled with her weight, earned a living and raised two boys on her own. But today, she is conquering her battle and as she does, doors of opportunity are opening at every corner.

Three years ago Kathy underwent gastric bypass surgery, which proved a life-saving decision. Before surgery, she weighed 480 pounds and has now lost close to 300 pounds. As her weight dropped, she learned to understand herself along the way. "Life is good," she says. "It's always been good, but when I weighed more I had to make adjustments. I'd go to one of my son’s games and I couldn't sit on the bleachers. I had to bring my own chair. Or I’d go into a restaurant and have to know which booth had a table that could be moved. Even seat belts were a problem. I don't have to worry about any of those things anymore."

Some things have stayed the same. She still has the love and support of her two grown sons and a rewarding job as an English as a Second Language teacher for Medford School District 549C, but now she has the energy to enjoy life again.

While there are risks associated with surgery, Kathy has had no problems so far. "I've had no ill effects from the surgery, but even if I were to find out that I was going to die tomorrow, I still wouldn't change anything. My life is so much more rewarding and active than it has ever been. Sometimes other people seem to fear surgery. They think it is too drastic. Maybe they’re afraid of what they think they’ll have to give up. Or some people tell me that they would be worried about having loose skin, as if that is worse than obesity. How can that be? I don't understand that. I was dying and this gave me my life back. My only regret is that I didn't choose to have the surgery 20 years earlier." She has even learned how to enjoy some of her favorite foods without feeling deprived: "You can have anything you want; you just don’t eat as much of it."

Kathy says that before surgery, she didn’t allow herself to see she had a problem. "It was almost like filtering; I just didn't see that the weight was an issue. Sometimes people will ask how could I let myself get that way—as if anyone would choose to weigh 500 pounds. That really bugs me. They don't understand how you can become trapped by weight." And she remembers the myriad of health problems that plagued her, including diabetes. Her experience has made her more tolerant of other people and empathetic to them. "Whatever happens to you in your life helps shape how you treat other people and how you interact with them," she says.

One of the rewards of losing weight is a renewed self-confidence. "Friends say I should start thinking about dating again, but I'm not quite where I want to be just yet and it is easier to put it off."

Divorced for many years now, she admits her standards are high. "It would have to be right," she says. He’d have to be "healthy, no drugs or alcohol and the right man would have to have so much in common with me now. I don't know if there is someone out there who would do things my way. Maybe I’m too independent to share my life right now, but if I did, he would have to be a good match."

Since she loves sports, she's considering taking up fly-fishing as another way to get out and meet people. "I can see myself out in an inner tube on the river, but I can't quite picture it beyond that. I'm scared I would probably get my line stuck," she jokes. For now, she is planning a vacation to Hawaii and looking forward to exploring and walking along the beach. "Everything is opening up for me that way. I think I will probably even be a better tourist now." Who knows, maybe love is just around the corner.

The Lives They Touch by Vanessa Houk

1203.Joy.04
605 words

Their wealth is measured by
The Lives They Touch
By Vanessa Houk

While grief does not cause addictions, Donna Taylor understands that grief and addiction are often interconnected.

Robin Turgesen, Donna Taylor and Jodi Yap are three local women who are truly making a difference. Through their dedication, all three are chipping away at some of the toughest social problems our community faces. These are women who care about people who might otherwise be forgotten.
Robin Turgesen, director of the Jackson County Vital Links program, is a maternal child health nurse who does home visits in Jackson County. She says of the program, "This is where high risk pregnant women find help." Robin’s typical workday might include helping a woman who has been a victim of domestic violence or a pregnant woman addicted to methamphetamine.
Although many of the women Robin helps are on the Oregon Health Plan, without a helping hand, they often fall through the cracks, never receiving the services they so desperately need. Robin is there to answer their questions and make sure they get into safe housing or a treatment program if needed. She also provides tangible help like food and clothing. Robin’s efforts do not go unnoticed. "Many people refer their friends to us," she says. These are women who are cautious about whom they trust, Robin notes, so referrals mean the highest form of praise.
While grief does not cause addictions, Donna Taylor understands that grief and addiction are often interconnected. In order to stay sober, people often need to come to terms with unresolved guilt first. And this where Donna and the WinterSpring Center for Living with Loss and Grief bridge the gap. "In my own life I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by people who understood grief," she says. It is her fervent hope “that other people can find similar support." She’s passionate about her work and recognizes that "beyond the pain of grief is a path to better understanding and appreciation for life."
While working on a program to reduce teen pregnancy, Donna witnessed how often grief and teen pregnancy co-exist. "Unresolved grief leads to self-destructive behavior and WinterSpring's teen program helps young people make better decisions," Donna says.
Jodi Yap’s mission began innocently enough in 1997. In talking to a friend who was a special education teacher, she learned of a student who needed to develop better reading skills. Jodi thought a computer might help, so she and her husband Jerry located one. After using it for a year, the student went from a 5th to an 8th grade reading level. A seed was planted when they saw how a computer changed one student’s life. What started as a side-interest soon grew into a nonprofit organization, Computers 2 Kids.
By May 2003, Computers 2 Kids had provided 862 donated computers to Rogue Valley residents—victims of domestic violence, handicapped veterans, low-income individuals and families—who lacked the resources to buy a computer themselves. Jodi and Jerry also donate computers to area schools. “One of the greatest benefits is seeing how a child grows and then how the whole family is affected when they get a computer," she says. "We have one lady who is handicapped and now she is doing graphic arts and is able to pay her own rent. It is satisfying to play a part in that." The donated computers help people attain the skills they need to get better jobs, stay off public assistance and regain their self-esteem.
With passion, commitment and generosity, Robin Turgesen, Donna Taylor and Jodi Yap stand as living examples of how one person can make a difference. If true wealth is measured by the lives we touch, then Robin, Donna and Jodi are rich indeed.

Cashing In On Coupons by Vanessa Houk

0104.Joy.09
596 words

Learn the value of


Cashing in on Coupons

By Vanessa Houk


A smart shopper realizes that coupons are "money.”


When the Salvation Army called for donations of turkeys and food in November, my family donated hundreds of dollars worth of food and several turkeys-and yet we have been mostly unemployed for the past year.

How can an unemployed family of four spend less than $200 a month on groceries and still be able to donate such a large amount of food to our local food bank? By understanding how to use coupons and sales to maximize savings. I’ve saved thousands of dollars in the last year and you can too, but first, you'll need to know a few basics.

Coupons can be found in newspapers, magazines and in the "blinky machines" in our local stores. While you might be tempted to skip over the items your family doesn't already buy, sometimes, high value coupons can make products free or very inexpensive. For example, I don't normally buy butter because it’s expensive, but there were some recent Sunday circular coupons for a dollar off on a package of Challenge butter. Those coupons combined with a good in-store sale netted free butter for my holiday baking. If I had skipped the coupons, I would have missed that great freebie. Or an even better example: A few months ago there was a coupon for $10 off Grab It mops (an item that I might have passed over if it were not for the high value of the coupon). When I priced the mops, they were $18-$24-not that great of a deal until Safeway offered them on sale for $9.99 and I was able to get several for free. A smart shopper realizes that coupons are "money.”

You'll need a file to keep your coupons in. I use a cheap one I found at the dollar store. It won't last forever, but it works for now. I like to file by category so that when I need something it will be easy to find.

On Wednesdays, the Mail Tribune includes local grocery ads. Some people loathe ads, but I love them. They allow me to compare prices. This way I save time and money. I am not brand loyal and I rarely pay full price for anything.

Many people are not aware that you can combine store coupons with manufacturer coupons. For example, Fred Meyer offered a store coupon for Ritz crackers at four for $5, which is a good price in itself. I had four one-dollar-off-coupons for Nabisco crackers, so I got four large boxes of crackers for just a buck. Smart shoppers know that when you come across a good deal like that, it’s time to stock up. Having a stockpile of things that you buy regularly will help you trim your budget on a long-term basis.

To maximize savings I watch for rebate offers that I can combine with my coupon deals. There are many good offers out at any given time, so part of the "grocery game" is to see what else I can get for free once I'm home from shopping. We've enjoyed free movie passes, toys, magazine subscriptions, T-shirts and more. Not only is "couponing" a fun hobby, but the rewards can help you enjoy a better life. So start clipping and watch your savings add up!