B O R D E R B U S I N E S S M A R K E T W A T C H
Toys R Us is hiring Most cars depreciate faster than loan can be payed off
MONEY WISE without insurance and it has us both worried. We see A. In your current situation, you are vulnerable to
for the holidays BY MARILYN COHEN
no way out of this situation. Are there any affordable
health care programs available for workers like us?
A. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans
any financial emergency that comes your way—your
car needs major repairs, the water heater needs
replacing, a medical procedure is necessary that is
Q. We own a four-door sedan. We’re expecting our without health insurance rose for the second straight not covered by your medical plan—anything can
With the holidays just around “The people that we hire have third child in January. Three kids in the back seat will year in 2002. It’s estimated that about 15.2 percent of cause you to scramble for cash. If you keep charging
the corner, Toys R Us in to be willing to learn, be team be a tight squeeze, especially with two of them in car the population or 43.6 million Americans are without unexpected expenses on your credit card, odds are
Laredo is gearing up for a players and more than seats. We still have three years to pay on the car and health insurance, up from 14.6 percent (2.4 million you’ll soon reach your limit and the credit card
prosperous season. anything, be willing to go the it’s currently worth less than what we owe on it. We additional people) in 2001. The percentage of people company will increase your interest rate, making it
In doing so, they have turned extra mile,” Sanchez said. can sell it, but we would need to pay about $5,000 to covered by employee-based health plans decreased even hard to pay off the balance.
to the Texas Workforce Center “Going the extra mile is clear the loan, which would be a financial burden on from 62.6 percent in 2001 to 61.3 percent in 2002. I suggest you put aside, without fail, a portion of
for help in hiring 125 seasonal essential because everything us. We need a larger car soon. What do you suggest This is a disturbing trend given that health insurance every paycheck into a liquid bank account. The
employees. The Texas that we do, we want to do it we do? costs are on the rise. money in this account would be used for emergencies
Workforce Center is one of with pride and with class.” A. Many car owners are in your If you and your husband are young and healthy, only. When the account reaches $2,000, continue to
various centers that have While the employees hired shoes. They owe more on their car consider opting for private health coverage with low set aside the same amount of money from your
partnered on a nationwide will be primarily for seasonal than what they could sell it for— premiums and higher co-pays and deductibles. paycheck, but use the cash to pay down your credit
basis with Toys R Us and the employment, Sanchez mainly because car loans are now You’re playing the odds that you won’t get sick but card balance. During that time, avoid using your card.
Department of Labor. assured that those who excel stretching out four to six years. The you’re covered for a major illness. If you smoke, quit. When your card is paid off, resume depositing money
“I am very excited about this in their work will be offered a cars depreciate but the balanced Being overweight can also raise premiums. In other into the bank account until you have at least three
coming holiday season and am regular position in the store. owed on the cars stays relatively words, leading a healthy lifestyle can cut your costs months’ worth of expenses saved.
looking for some good, honest, The Texas Workforce Center high, especially in the early years of dramatically. This plan will mean some sacrifices for the next year
hard working and friendly is a non-profit organization the loan. Individual health care coverage is more expensive or so, but the hard work will pay off. You’ll be able to
people to come and be a part funded by the South Texas MARILYN COHEN
My suggestion is to add as much as than group coverage so if you belong to a sleep well at night knowing you’ve finally taken
of the Toys R Us family,” Store Workforce Development Board your can afford to your monthly car payments to pay professional association or social group see if it has control of your finances.
Director Juan Carlos Sanchez that provides an array of free the loan off early. Then purchase the new car. You coverage for its members, or consider joining such a (Marilyn Cohen is president of Envision Capital
said. services to employers and job can also wait out the three years, pay off the car and group if it has a strong health care plan. Contact at Management, a money management firm in Los
Over the next couple of seekers. then buy the bigger car. You won’t get your larger car least two insurance brokers and have them find the Angeles and author of The Bond Bible (2000, New
Courtesy photo
weeks, Texas Workforce For employers, the Texas right away, but at least you won’t be saddled with a lot best plan for you. You can then compare rates. York Institute of Finance). Please limit your
Center staff will screen, refer Workforce Center offers: From left, at Toys R Us, are Rogelio Treviño, South Texas Workforce Development Board Executive
Director, Lily Garcia, Texas Workforce Center Employer Services Representative, Lisa and Tati, of debt, especially at a time when you have the added Q. We live paycheck to paycheck. I want to make an question(s) to one printed or typed written page. Send
and schedule interviews for the creation of work applications, cost of a new member in the family. effort to start saving so we have money in case of to 11755 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1140, Los Angeles,
following positions: applicant pre-screening, Toys R Us team members, Juan Carlos Sanchez, Toys R Us Store Director, Roxanne Vedia, South
Texas Workforce Development Board Business Services Coordinator and Mario Tijerina, Texas Q. Both my husband and I work but neither emergencies. Right now, we use our credit card if an Calif., 90025, E-mail: envision@ix.netcom.com. Be
Night and Day Stockers interview scheduling, interview employer offers health care coverage. We’ve been emergency arises. sure to include your telephone number.)
Assemblers facilities, employee training, Workforce Center Employer Services Representative.
Cashiers tax credit seminars,
Loaders/ Unloaders information about Labor Law
Store greeters and help in writing an a work application, job difference with the workforce beginning, staying together is M A R K E T B R I E F S
Store Room pick up employee handbook, among retention strategies, ESL, needs of this community,” progress and working together
Store Maintenance other services. GED, career counseling and South Texas Workforce is SUCCESS.’” American Airlines offers already sells meals. Delta Air Lines industry has undergone dramatic, expected.
Cart Retrieval For job seekers, the Texas more. Development Board Business For more information about tested the idea in July and plans to permanent changes,” said Leo Mullin,
Sales Workforce Center offers: job “Being this the second year of Service Coordinator Roxanne Toys R Us Seasonal
restaurant food at DFW
sell food on most long domestic chief executive of the nation’s third- Study: Atlanta leads the
Most positions require no search assistance, workshops this business partnership with Vedia said. “It reflects what Employment call Lily Garcia, flights, replacing free meals in coach. largest airline. “Today’s results, while
experience and are available on resume writing, Toys R Us, it is a rewarding Henry Ford, once said, employer service repre-
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Cost- nation in cellular phone use
conscious airlines have slashed food At DFW, passengers can buy somewhat better than we expected,
in full time and part time shifts. interviewing skills, completing experience to make a ‘Coming together is a sentative, at 794-1500. packaged items priced at $6 to $10 show that Delta’s challenges are not
from the menu on many domestic ATLANTA (AP) — More people in
flights since 2001, but at least for a from Au Bon Pain, Corner Bakery yet over.”
the Atlanta area use cellular phones
few weeks travelers can buy meals Cafe and T.G.I. Friday’s inside In the three months ending Sept. 30,
American terminals A and C. than in any other metro region in the
Delta lost $168 million, or $1.36 a
Tech Prep promotes SWAP at LCC from three restaurant chains at
American Airlines gates at Dallas-Fort
Worth International Airport.
Dan Garton, executive vice
president of marketing for Fort Worth-
share, compared with a loss of $330
million, or $2.67 a share, for the same
nation, a new study shows.
Three of four households in the
Atlanta metro area have at least one
More than 200 educators met on the Laredo to make a college degree more obtainable for The food sales, which began last based American, said the concept period a year ago.
was part of the carrier’s plan to give Revenue rose to $3.44 billion from cellular phone, according to a survey
Community College campus to participate in a high school graduates,” said Tech Prep Director week, are also being offered as part of released Tuesday by New York City-
conference on the Statewide Articulation Ricardo Hinojosa. “The advantage to pursuing a a test at New York’s Kennedy Airport customers what they value. $3.42 billion for the same quarter a
“It’s a terrific way to offer the flying year ago. based Scarborough Research.
Program, or SWAP, in August. The event statewide articulated program of study is that and in San Juan, P.R. The DFW test is Nationally, two of three households
included a general session in the Kazen College high school graduates have the ability to apply scheduled to run into January. public an opportunity to have a great The earnings report comes as
tasting meal in flight,” said Tom Atlanta-based Delta continues to cut have one.
Center and breakout sessions throughout the their college credit hours toward a degree at any American, the world’s largest carrier,
LCC campus. Texas college that recognizes the statewide Koenigsberg, vice president of costs. The airline has laid off 16,000 One reason so many Atlantans own
said separately Wednesday that it
The South Texas Tech Prep program at LCC, in articulation.” would unveil Spanish-language marketing for T.G.I. Friday’s. employees since the 2001 terrorist a cellular phone is the city’s lengthy
association with the Texas Education Agency A wide spectrum of career training programs will versions of a new advertising attacks. rush hour traffic, said Alisa Joseph, a
and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating be covered in the SWAP conference, including campaign for use on Spanish- Delta will still sell off some The company said Tuesday it had vice president at the research firm.
Board, hosted the conference. High school and agriculture, computers and much more. language television stations and planes agreed to sell 11 planes scheduled for Other reasons include Atlanta’s large
college educators from Laredo, McAllen, Crystal “The end result of this initiative was to bring some print outlets. The ads, featuring delivery to the airline in 2005, and business community; its young,
City and Eagle Pass, among other neighboring greater opportunities for the benefit of students,” testimonials from Hispanic travelers, ATLANTA (AP) — Delta Air Lines delay delivery of eight more. technologically savvy population; and
communities, were invited to participate. added Hinojosa. is running nationally on the Univision said Tuesday it would sell some of its Delta launched its discount carrier, its busy airport.
Courtesy photo “Participants received an overview of the For more information about the program, and Telemundo networks, the carrier planes as it reported a $168 million Song, in April as part of its plan to Atlanta was followed by Detroit;
Educators attend a Statewide Articulation Program program and worked together on aligning high contact Hinojosa by calling 721-5165 or by e-mail said. loss in the third quarter. return to profitability. Delta has said Austin, Texas; Washington and
conference at LCC in August. school competencies with college competencies at richinojosa@laredo.edu. On the food front, Northwest Airlines “Over the past two years, our Song has been performing better than Miami-Fort Lauderdale.
6 LMTBusiness Journal October 20, 2003 LMTBusiness Journal October 20, 2003 11