As Cornell works to address its financial challenges, it is also aggressively developing programs to help faculty and staff members deal with their own financial challenges. One effort is a recently launched Web page, Cornell's Caring Community, which includes links to a number of resources that can help employees through these rough times. In addition to listing workshops for supervisors and employees on how to deal with change and uncertainty, the Web page also has a link to a new e-list, MySavingsSolutions.

This e-list provides an opportunity for members of the Cornell community to share ideas about how to cut costs at work and at home. The e-list links to cost-saving Web sites, such as gasbuddy.com, which provides the locations of the cheapest gas prices in the area, as well as shares such information as special sales in the area, techniques for cutting family food bills and places to obtain free merchandise. More than 100 people have already joined the e-list, and a number of suggestions have already been posted.

These include:

• Way2Go: a Cornell Cooperative Extension program on how to get around better and smarter;
• Free financial education workshops from Cornell Cooperative Extension to explore credit and debt management; and
• Free live teleconferences from the Department of Labor Women's Bureau on managing finances, including how to stretch your dollars and maintain financial records.

Kathleen Baillo, accounts representative in the Division of Student and Academic Services, said, "I joined MySavingsSolutions a few weeks ago because I wanted an opportunity to hear what others are doing to save money for their families. The announcements of workshops that focus on personal savings ideas have been helpful, and I look forward to future announcements and sharing of ideas with my fellow staff members."

To join MySavingsSolutions, send an e-mail message to MySavingsSolutions-L-request@cornell.edu with the word "join" (no quotation marks) in the body.

Last week the university began accepting applications to the Hardship Fund to assist staff and faculty members who will be disproportionately affected by the lack of a salary improvement program. Requests being submitted pertain to needs that stem from increases in such expenses as child care, utility bills and transportation-commuting. A committee has been formed to review the applications; committee members will not have access to the names of those applying for the funds.

For details on applying or donating to the program, visit http://www.ohr.cornell.edu/caringCommunity/hardshipFund/index.html.