Weekly Column: Be Thankful This Thanksgiving

This column went to press the week before Canadian Thanksgiving. To all those Canadians reading, hope you had a good 'un!

Be thankful this Thanksgiving

For many in the Midwest, it has been a year they would rather forget. While it’s tempting, and possibly justified, to be bitter about your current situation, it might help to take stock of what you have to be grateful for. Happy people will tell you that they are actively grateful and that the spirit of thankfulness is what inspires their joy. Wouldn’t you like to be one of them?

“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are” -Marianne Williamson

The changes that families have faced over the last two years have been difficult and stressful. But Thanksgiving is an opportunity to recognize what you have to be thankful for. Even in hardship there is the prospect of growth, learning and transformation. Start anew with confidence that you have the inner strength to flourish in the face of adversity.

Share the positives, first

Have you ever had a quick visit with someone only to realize as it ends that you had nothing good to say? Although there may not be a lot of good news, focus on saying positive things and spreading a feeling of optimism. You may be faking it at first, but if you continue to alter your words and behaviour your emotions will eventually follow. Let the people you speak to leave your company feeling uplifted.

Surround yourself with optimism

If certain Facebook groups or websites get your blood boiling, ask yourself: what is your participation there actually accomplishing? Are you contributing to an online argument that, rather than educating, only serves to make others more entrenched in their own opinions? Do yourself a favour and disengage. Only you can control the quality of your online and personal interactions. If what you read online leaves you bitter for the day, stop reading it. Read hopeful, entertaining, educational material instead. Shut off apps that make you frustrated and angry. Don’t read the comments from online trolls. Go for a walk, clean your house, play with your kids. Do things that bring you joy and you will be joyful. While you may face stress and anxiety on a daily basis, it’s important for your mental health that you balance them with positive activities.

Be thankful for the hard stuff, too

This isn’t meant to diminish what families and business people have faced in the last two years. The thought of losing a business or a home is devastating and there’s been far too much of it. But what have your challenges taught you? In what ways are you stronger and wiser than you were before? Is your family closer, have you realized who your true friends are? What have you done to help and support someone, and in what ways have you yourself been helped and supported? Are there areas in your community where you feel you could step up and make a difference for the better?

Elevate yourself

Whether or not you have been affected by the economic downturn, it is good advice to find what makes you happy and do more of it. Ideally, this will be something that doesn’t cost you much money. What gives you strength? What makes you feel healthy and hopeful? For some it is church. Many find stress relief in exercise. Meditation helps with mental clarity and calm. Volunteering and philanthropy enriches everyone’s lives. If you have been struggling with feelings of helplessness, anger or fear, what can you do to turn your emotions around?

Focus on people rather than things

Relationships can be hard. Add in the stress of job loss, foreclosure, moving or a myriad of tough decisions and you may find that your possessions are the least of your worries. Do not escape into a bottle, a barroom, recreational drugs or other pastimes that will only drag you further down. Do the hard work necessary to keep your relationships strong and healthy. Rid yourself of the desire for more “stuff”. If you can no longer afford to keep up with the neighbours, stop trying. Opt out of the race to the bottom and stop purchasing what you don’t need and can’t pay for. Realize how simplifying your life and your budget, although a side effect of an unexpected down turn, might make you a stronger and more fulfilled person.

Sometimes you need a helping hand

Community supports like the Salvation Army food bank and The Olive Tree exist for times like these. If you can donate or volunteer this season, you might find the rewards outweigh the sacrifices. If you find yourself in need, reach out to these organizations and realize you are not alone. For added support, contact the Rural Distress Centre Hotline at 1.800.232.7288 or the Mental Health Helpline (toll free in AB) at 1.877.303.2642.

Weekly Column: Don't Swipe The Small Stuff

Don’t Swipe the Small Stuff

In a recent New York Times article, www.nytimes.com/2016/09/10/your-money/a-little-nagging-can-reduce-credit-card-debt, researchers found that some infrequent and subtle reminders about the follies of credit card debt helped reduce the amount that people spent each month. Assuming that this would work for you, are you willing to make some changes in order to reduce your monthly spending?

Do the math

Check your monthly credit card statement to be sure that all charges are accurate. While doing so, add up all of the purchases you made for under $20 and consider if any of them were actually necessary. Could you have avoided those costs altogether? Might you have packed a lunch, brought a drink from home or resisted the temptation to splurge?

Carry cash

Experts agree that people are more reluctant to part with their cash money than they are to swipe a card. If you are having trouble paying your cards off in full or if you are surprised how much you spend in a month, try withdrawing your petty cash ahead of time. Use only cash for incidental purchases under $20 and, when your petty cash is gone, stop spending. If you find that you blow through a month’s cash too quickly, only withdraw what you need for a week and do your best to be more disciplined.

You may find that you adjust to this system quite easily, but you will not notice results unless you get family members on board. Discuss the plan and allow each individual to have a bit to spend. Let them see how quickly their money disappears and make it a family goal to reduce the monthly expenditures. You may find that you make fewer stops and have more time once the whole family decides against small, unplanned purchases.

Remember your goals

Set a reminder on your phone, computer, or write it on the calendar, to check your credit card balances mid-month. This will refresh your memory as to how much money you already owe, and might help curb the impulse to go spend more. If you haven’t already, calculate how much you will save by paying off your credit cards faster at http://financialmentor.com/calculator/debt-snowball-calculator. Jot down some goals that you would like to work towards and use your credit cards less as a way of meeting those targets.

Shop once a week

If you find that frequent trips to the grocery store often cost you more than you plan, set one designated grocery day and stick to it. Don’t stray from your list and shop only for the basics. Resist the urge to make quick stops for things you feel you can’t do without— but if you must, pay with cash for any purchases under $20. Bring drinks and snacks from home and do better at stocking up weekly--your budget will thank you. Need it be said that the drive thru is costing you more than it’s worth? Get in the habit of going straight home and eating what you have there. 

Make your groceries stretch—if you’re comfortable getting groceries 4 times a month, make it a goal to reduce that to 3 and track how much you save. Do an inventory of what you have on hand and get creative to use up food that might otherwise go to waste. Not every meal needs to be a gourmet feast. Ensure your family gets a nutritious, balanced meal while avoiding the temptation to buy take out. Again, if you find yourself grabbing a few extras, pay cash and don’t cheat on your petty cash limit for the month.

The real cost of credit

You may feel that it’s easy to put purchases on your credit card and forget about it, but consider the cost of paying 20% interest your gas station treats, phone apps, and window shopping splurges. Convince yourself that if you don’t have the cash in your pocket to buy it, you don’t need it. Save your credit card limit for a real family emergency and try to put those $20 bills back in your pocket to pay down debt, build your savings or invest in your child’s education. It might not feel like a big savings right now but combined, and over time, your self-control will lead you out of debt faster and into financial stability.

They say it takes about 66 days to form new habits. If you start today—carrying cash and reducing the number of small, trivial purchases you are putting on your credit card—by the start of December you will have reduced your credit card bill by using the card less, and hopefully reformed any tendencies to let money trickle through your hands. Be vigilant and disciplined to create new habits and see the progress you can make with your budget and spending.

Weekly Column: Start Anywhere, Pay Down Debt

Start anywhere: pay down debt

A recent survey of over 5000 people by the Canadian Payroll Association found that 40% of respondents spend their entire paycheque, if not more, every week. Among other things, these dismal statistics point out that half of those polled save only 5% or less of their earnings (experts recommend saving 10% or more) and, sadly, 39% of people surveyed are “overwhelmed” by their debt. Read more about this survey at:  http://www.payroll.ca/cpadocs/npw/2016/National_FINAL_EN.pdf

Survey respondents list their most common debts as a mortgage (26%), credit card debt (18%), car loans (17%) and a line of credit (16%). Many people have all of these debts and possibly more, and it can begin to feel desperate. Are you one of these people?

Roll down debt: a review

Last week’s column introduced the idea of paying off your highest interest rate first, then using that payment amount (you’re used to spending it anyway) to increase the payments on your next highest interest rate, and so on, until you are debt free or in a position to start making those snowball payments to your own savings and retirement plan instead of creditors. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?

Many people reading, however, are crushed under their debt and feel there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. They feel they don’t control where their money goes and that debt grows even though income has shrunk, is sporadic, or has disappeared. It is grim and there are no easy answers for many families, but a proactive approach might get you out of debt faster than you think.

Remember last week’s example from moneymentors.ca? A payment of $20 above the minimum on a $24,000 credit card debt paid the card off almost 10 years earlier and saved over $1700 in interest. Rather than feeling controlled by your debt, let’s think of ways you can apply just $20 more to your payments and regain control of your finances.

Start anywhere: finding $20

If I told you that you can shave at least $20 from your monthly budget with minimal effort and little sacrifice, would you spend a few minutes to do so?

Dig out all your statements—bank, credit card, line of credit, phone bills, utility, etc. Are you paying extra for a paper copy of these statements? How much are you paying in bank fees? Can you bundle insurance? Can you switch to paying bills online to avoid buying costly cheques? Go to your branch and explain that you need lower fees and ask for options, there is bound to be a cheaper alternative for you. Call your cell phone provider and explain that you are having a hard time making your commitments—what are your options with a smaller package? Cancel some bells and whistles and keep track of your savings. Put that money towards your debt instead.

Are you sometimes penalized for paying late? Would making payments automatic save you on interest and late charges? Set up autopay on some accounts if you are sure that you can cover those bills consistently. Being better organized can save you big if you put that money towards the debts you already have instead of allowing more to pop up.

Are you paying for duplicate services? If you pay for satellite or cable, even at the lowest price available, and have Internet, Netflix, Crave TV, Shomi, or the like, consider what to cancel and what to keep. If you have a land line you barely use, can you reduce to a cell phone only? Discuss what’s right for your family and take the time to eliminate and reduce these bills.

Start anywhere: evaluate your “must haves”

Everyone has a few favorites they are reluctant to cut from the budget. If you like socializing on weekends, can you stay in with a few friends rather than paying for cabs and bar tabs? Can you prepare some simple meals ahead to resist eating out? Can you institute family no-spend days where everyone packs a lunch, avoids stores, and gathers for free activities? While you have your statements out reducing fees, examine them for how much is spent on entertainment. Although you may feel like you have cut back, you may be surprised what is spent on treats and spur-of-the-moment choices. Look through your fridge at what consistently gets thrown out, and stop buying it.

Once you have trimmed your spending, pay that amount on your highest interest rate consistently. Do not allow your monthly payment to slide lower because the credit card company says it can. If you are accustomed to paying $200/mo on your Visa ($220 now that you’ve read this, right?), do your best to keep paying that amount or more until the debt is eliminated. It’s not much, but it’s a start. Start today.

The Day I Usually Quit

On Sunday I had the pleasure of travelling with friends to see another friend perform in a wonderful show. I forgot how intimate and personal live theatre can be. I found myself fighting back tears for most of the performance, hoping an ugly-cry didn't escape and interrupt the whole thing.

I always choke up when I see another person struggle with emotion. And the performance was real, raw. It was about gender roles, exclusion and inclusion, acceptance and rejection, fear and love, faith and hope. These are emotions and situations we all deal with daily. The story hit home. I watched an entire room full of people weep at the vilification and the ultimate vindication of a young person navigating a complicated and unforgiving community. In that story, a room full of people saw themselves in one way or another. To say the least, it was an emotional and inspiring afternoon that reminded me of the power of art.

Having several hours of driving with positive women living life on their terms didn't hurt either. It reaffirmed all the decisions I've made lately to put myself back on the list of people I care for and tend to. I was exhausted when I got home. Exhausted in the crying-jag, so-much-to-think-about way that actually pushes you over a hump and onto a new level of consciousness. I feel like the old me, the past me, has finally shed the skin of tentative self-doubt. Yes, I have been practicing my motto of meaning over approval for a few years now. It has helped me tremendously to achieve a life of gratitude and focus. And now, now I am ready to embody what my mind has been seeking all this time.

So, as I mentioned, Sunday was a day of travel, conversation and reflection. And I know, I know, that the first day that I don't exercise or follow my eating plan is usually the end of things for me for about two or three weeks. That is how easily I derail. And my one day away from my home meant jobs that I would have done Sunday were all the more urgent on Monday. The pigs and sheep need bedding for these colder nights. The rabbits need a nice cozy bed. The lawn must be mowed one more time before the snow flies (forecast for Wednesday). I need to clean up toys and electric fence and flower pots before winter, remove and clean my screens, wash windows, the list goes on and on. And somewhere on that list is exercise. And a writer's retreat application that needs finishing. Which requires actually working on a story that exists mostly in my mind and has yet to make its way onto paper. So after a wonderful Sunday, Monday is usually the day that I quit.

Just recycling some old pictures of autumn in this neck o' the woods

The symbolic "Monday After"...after a day of broken routine I have a heck of a time getting back on the wagon. I normally excuse myself from returning to whatever exercise routine I've established. I'll take today off...I'll get back at it tomorrow...I deserve this break. And before I know it, three weeks will have passed and it is all the harder to get back at it. But not this time.

Yesterday I got most of my list accomplished. I also managed to read more to my 4 year old (also a goal), process tomatoes, work on the application and I did not let myself off the hook with regards to exercise. In fact, I did 30 minutes of cardio plus 15 minutes of elliptical trainer. Then once the kids were in bed I did an additional 15 minutes of elliptical. I followed my eating plan (although I think I'm eating too much; I need to rein in my portions). But this is less about weight loss than it is about discipline and consistency. I will consistently do the things that make me feel good. I will make time in my day to do the things I need for myself. No one can do this for me, and no amount of encouragement is going to help unless I .Do. This. For. Myself.

I have been struggling with my weight and occasional depression since I had kids. There is no shame in admitting that. It doesn't mean I don't love them. I have allowed my hobbies, family, garden and animals to be a shield to hide behind--a line of defense against the hard work I need to do to fulfill my potential. But I can recognize the days where it will be hardest for me to persevere. Thanksgiving is going to be a difficult weekend. There are so many people to see, a party, a huge meal. Company and Husband home for the first time in 5 weeks. But I'm going to work my hardest on the day that I usually quit. I'm writing it here so that I have to face my decision if I stop. I feel better when I exercise so I will make time to exercise no matter how busy the long weekend is. You heard it here first ;)

Weekly Column: Rolling Down Debt

Rolling down debt

This scenario might sound familiar to some: in the oil boom, most employees in the patch worked on a rotating shift which included plenty of overtime hours. Many received a live-out allowance (LOA) to cover the cost of hotels and meals on the road. There might also be a truck allowance to cover wear and tear and mileage on a personal vehicle. All things considered, times were good and there was always plenty of money to go around.

People that work hard have a right to play hard. Boats, quads, bikes, campers and after market accessories for vehicles were another way of rewarding oneself for time spent away from home and family. The payoff to leaving those you love for weeks at a time was taking them on epic adventures when you got home, right?

And then you lost your job

When layoffs started, many people began preparing for the worst. Cutting unnecessary spending helps but if you have lost your overtime hours your income is also cut significantly. Now you may be caught without the money to pay things off in full as you had expected. Contractors and the self-employed are in an even bigger fix because, for many, the work dried up but the cost of their tools, trucks and equipment did not.

For those outside of the industry, it may be hard to understand how people raking in huge money could so quickly find themselves in a jam. But not many people have a year’s expenses saved for emergencies, and it turned out that was what was needed for countless families and business people. Even the most careful and conservative spenders didn’t foresee such an extended slowdown. Saving for a rainy day and planning for the worst helped, but it’s been a tough couple of years for many in the area. People that normally paid off their credit cards in full might now be using credit to get by, month to month.

The new normal

It’s been awhile now and, though stressful, hopefully you have managed to get some assistance or work and adjust to the new reality you face. Possibly you aren’t yet able to consider paying off your creditors faster. Maybe you are struggling to get on top of your payments but don’t know where to start. Whatever the case, when you’re ready to tackle that stack of bills there’s a strategy to help you make the most impact in the shortest amount of time.

The snowball effect

Essentially, you want to list all of your creditors from highest interest rate to lowest. Most experts recommend paying off the highest interest rate first to save the most on interest over a period of time. For example, pay off your credit cards that charge 19% interest before you worry about the line of credit that charges 7%. Once paid off, put the amount that you are accustomed to paying towards the next debt on your list, then combine those totals and begin paying on the next, and so on. In this way you will create a “snowball” of payments that gets larger and pays creditors off faster, saving thousands in interest.

Pay more than the minimum

Credit card companies lower your minimum monthly payment as the balance gets paid down, basically stretching out the time it takes to pay the bill off in full (and making the company more money in interest). One example on moneymentors.ca shows how paying just $20 above the minimum every month and keeping the payment at that amount for the entirety pays off a debt of $24,105 almost ten years earlier and saving over $1700 in interest.

Can you find an extra $20 every month to get yourself out of credit card debt?

Be strategic

If you’ve only been making minimum monthly payments and plan to increase that amount to save on interest, be sure that you don’t overextend yourself and end up needing to use the credit card for survival again. The idea is to tighten up any discretionary spending and sacrifice a few treats here and there to raise your payment. If you are able to bring in some extra monthly income and can dedicate it exclusively to the highest interest rate you have, you’ll quickly see balances begin to drop.

Use that momentum to wipe creditor after creditor off your list. Once you’ve paid off your credit cards and some loans, use the amount that you used to pay on debt to build up an emergency fund, invest for retirement and save for vacations and recreation.

There are many online and printed explanations of how to snowball your debt repayment. Check out http://financialmentor.com/calculator/debt-snowball-calculator and do an honest calculation of your liabilities. The sooner you begin, the sooner you will unburden yourself from credit card debt.

For The Future Me

The other day I read something on Medium that really resonates. Although awkwardly titled, "How to Trick Yourself Into Being Kind to Yourself" hit home for me on a number of levels. The gist of it is that we can all try a bit harder, dig a little deeper, today in order to help ourselves tomorrow. Whether it is just maintaining a bare minimum when depressed, or being motivated to exercise and eat right even when we'd rather not, framing the situation as a "won't I be glad for this tomorrow" scenario helps keep us on track even in moments of weakness.

On the surface, I have been doing this for sometime without even thinking about it. I have been doing much better at tidying the kitchen before putting the kids to bed. I know how I dislike waking up to a mess so it has become a matter of routine to do the dishes, sweep the floor and tidy the living room before we go up for baths and stories. The boys also know their roles in helping and it has made life so much more pleasant. Unconsciously, I have made a routine of tidying today, though tired, to start the day off right for myself tomorrow.

In other ways, though, I have failed to invest in myself, whether it is today or in the future. I have slowly allowed myself to become that tired looking mom we all know--the one whose home is reasonably tidy, her kids are polite and clean, the bills are paid the lawn is mowed the list goes on, but in her ability to look after everyone else she has neglected to look after herself. Possibly her clothes don't fit, her hair may be disheveled or simply pulled back for practicality. She may have nothing to say because she has lost her voice and opinions and interests in her quest to make everything good for everyone else.

This didn't happen overnight. It is a slow erosion and small sacrifices are made so naturally that they go unnoticed, at least at first. By the time they are felt it is too late and the opportunities that come along where she might renew her interests and reinvent who she once was...those opportunities often go unanswered out of fear, or something comes up, or it is not convenient to make it happen.

It pains me greatly to say that I am that woman. I've allowed thirty pounds to creep onto my frame the same way I've allowed my interests and intellect to creep out the door. Losing your identity is an insidious, silent chipping away at your spirit.

Of course I am happy with my life. I have two happy children--having happy children is all any of us really wants, isn't it?--I have a caring common-law husband, a helpful family that I am close to in spirit and proximity. I have friends, real ones, that understand me. Life is good and I am grateful and this is not a stay-at-home-mom rant. But having all of these things and losing myself in the process? That is not fair and it is not even necessary. It is just something that I have allowed to happen.

Frugality can do that. Living in the country can do it too. My mom is the only person that has watched my kids, save for a handful of afternoons at a friend's house. My mom is busy and overworked and I don't want to add to her workload, no matter how much she loves to help with the grandkids. So here I sit.

But I am realizing that, for the Future Me, I need to step out of my well rehearsed role of martyr-mother. I do NOT want to look back on my life and see a path littered with opportunities I didn't take, stories I didn't write, experiences I didn't have because it was easier to stay home and do the work that needing doing. I will always take care of my family and animals. I know that. I am not throwing everything overboard for a life of glamour and adventure. I am simply making myself part of the conversation again.

Even before I read the Medium story I had begun to schedule myself some writing times, usually in the evening. It's not a perfect scenario because I am often too tired and worn down to properly focus. Sometimes I just fall asleep instead. But I am working on it. I have even worked in a bit of afternoon time and it has been massively productive.

Most importantly, for me at the moment, I have begun to exercise in earnest. I am tired of having a belly hanging over the jeans handed down to me by a friend. I am very tired of looking frazzled and worn and spent. That is not how I feel on the inside. Inside, I am brimming with life and curiosity and possibility. I want to look like I care about myself. Right now I know that I look like I put everyone else's needs before my own. Because I do.

Scheduling time to write and exercise has made me more efficient at completing all the jobs I like to get done. Leaving the dishes pile up for 3 days does not help my situation because then I am tired and frustrated in a dirty house. But if I want the time to write and exercise, I can accomplish quite a bit. I know that I can get the dishes done and floor swept and house tidied in only a few minutes. The Future Me needs me to do that. Investing in myself, giving myself time to exercise, read, write and grow, is very much  a part of caring for the Future Me too. I have to do it.

Weekly Column: Consumerism is a Costly Cycle

Consumerism is a costly cycle

In years gone by, frugality was a way of life—not out of stinginess but out of necessity. Families were larger and were quite often supported by a single income. Handing down clothes, growing food, spending cash only and waiting until payday was how most everyone got by. Basically, if you couldn’t pay it off in full, you didn’t buy it.

Today, it’s a different story. Most families have more than one vehicle, at least one credit card and various loans besides their mortgage. Often both parents work and must pay for after school care, a sitter or day care. Add extra-curricular activities to this already busy schedule and it’s understandable that people no longer have time to cook and eat at home.

Gone are the days of waiting for a movie to become available at the video store or, worse yet, be shown on TV. Pay-per-view, downloading and live-streaming provide almost instant availability of anything we are interested in. We are steeped in convenience and we don’t mind paying for it. In fact, convenience is so much a way of life that we don’t always realize the cost.

Everything is disposable

Older folks will remember that eating in a restaurant was once a rarity. Now we have play structures to entice families to bring their kids and turn them loose. An added bonus is the plastic, throw-away toy included in every kids’ meal. Our homes are overflowing but we are conditioned to accept, and even expect, more all the time.

If children grow up receiving a new toy every time they have a meal out, at a restaurant geared toward their total satisfaction, should we really expect them to treasure their belongings or are we fostering in our kids an “easy come, easy go” attitude? I lost that toy, or this one broke. No worries, I’ll get another next week. Besides the McHappy lifestyle, do you let your kids pick out a new toy or treat whenever you are out? Are you drowning in debt but have no idea how to save yourself? Are birthdays and Christmas becoming ever more extravagant just to elicit a response from people that are bombarded with new things year-round?

We have Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram (the list goes on) to show us daily how everyone else is living. Often we feel that they are living better—either more stylishly, with more adventure, fewer worries…happier. Seeing inside people’s homes and vacations, not to mention the carefully staged presentation of their relationships, can leave you wishing for more. But maybe it’s time to strip away all the layers of consumerism that our culture has piled on us in the last few decades.

Is your consumption sustainable?

Have you ever put a price tag on the garbage you throw out of your home every week? Have you added up the cost of clothes you have never worn that you either donate or give away when you purge your closets? How much food rots in your fridge before you toss it out and go buy more? To be honest, we are all guilty of waste to some degree. The question is at what point will we say “enough is enough”? When will we tire of the cycle of working and worrying, spending and purging? Is there actually a simpler way to live?

In most countries in the world, having unworn clothes, uneaten food and a surplus of belongings is a dream that will never be realized. Many nations don’t have a reliable food system and the little food there is has become unaffordable or inaccessible because of war and crime. Compare that struggle to our preoccupation with getting the latest fashions, keeping up with trends and competing on social media. It really puts things into perspective.

Many families effected by job losses have already altered their spending to match their income. They would probably agree that keeping up appearances is not important when it comes to keeping the roof over your head and the kids fed: “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”.

It takes courage to make changes in your life. You may notice that certain people are not supportive of your desire to stop mindlessly spending. You have to decide what is right for you—living according to their standards or choosing your own priorities.

Frugality in and of itself will not guarantee you a good life. It may get or keep you out of debt, but it is up to you to find the pleasure in the little things and give meaning to your daily interactions. Do you choose to stress and worry in order to preserve an unsustainable lifestyle or do you step off the consumerism treadmill, set some goals and get back to basics?