INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Starting a conversation with someone you do not know can be difficult. You will feel less awkward if you are well prepared. Prepare some conversation starters before you go somewhere so you will have something to talk about. If you are going to a party, you may say, "The food is really good. Have you tried the ____?" or "How do you know ____?" You can give a compliment. "Hey, I love your shirt. Where did you get it?" If you are going to a place where you have something in common with the people there, talk about what you have in common and then ask a question. You may say, "I love video games too, what is your favorite one?" Write down what you would like to say and rehearse in front of the mirror or out loud. This will help the conversation feel more natural when you actually go through with it. Even though you practice, things may not go exactly how you planned, but that's okay. After you have practiced and tried to do it in real life, you can make adjustments based on your experience. Your practice should be specific to the challenge that you are taking on. If you are going to school, your practice conversations may focus on studying, note taking, or an upcoming project or test. If you are going to a party, your practice conversation may focus on music, providing compliments, and food at the party. Because you are shy, you are probably thinking about yourself when you interact with others. You may worry about how the other person perceives you or what you will say next. Instead of thinking about yourself and your feelings, focus on what the other person is saying or what is going on around you. Being a good listener can help you focus on the other person. Make eye contact, nod your head every once in a while, and smile at the person. You can also make comments like "yes," "uh huh," or "mmhmmm" during the conversation. Watch their behaviors, tones, body language, facial expressions, and how they relate to others. Use empathy to try to experience what they are talking about. Doing this will also help you be more present in a conversation and more able to respond appropriately. It can be easy to sit back and observe a conversation instead of actually participating in the conversation. This is even more difficult if the group of people all know each other, and you are an outsider. If this is the case, try to stay engaged in the conversation and make small statements such as: "Yeah, I know right." "That's crazy." "I heard that too." Laugh when other people laugh instead of being silent. These small statements can also prepare you to start saying more when you feel more comfortable. Open-ended questions are questions that require more than a "yes" or "no" answer. These types of questions keep the conversation going and allow you to learn about the other person. Most people like talking about themselves so this takes the burden off of you. For example, instead of saying, "Do you have a pet?" you say, "What type of animals do you like?" Instead of saying, "Do you have plans this weekend?" you say, "What are you looking forward to this weekend?" When you are entering a group situation where you would like to speak more, try to get in the conversation within the first 10 minutes. If you jump in the conversation early, you are less likely to clam up or chicken out. You do not have to make a big contribution to the conversation either. Simply agreeing with someone or asking a question will do.

SUMMARY: Practice some conversation starters. Practice what you will say. Focus on the other person. Make small contributions during group conversations. Ask open ended questions. Speak early in the conversation.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Almost anything can be repaired -- cobblers, hardware stores, and electronics repair shops are all available for hire. For instance, instead of investing in a whole new couch, have it reupholstered. Instead of buying a new TV, take it to the repair shop to extend its life or replace broken parts. If a new household purchase is unavoidable, save money slowly over time in order to purchase the item you need. Avoid rent-to-own options. Rent-to-own furniture or electronic equipment is a tempting offer because you can pay in small installments over a long period. But in the long run, it will cost you more than if you had just paid the whole amount all at once. Check supermarket flyers, factory outlets, and thrift stores to help you save. Try to find stores that offer price-matching sales so that you can save time by bringing in competitors' ads instead of hoofing it all over to the stores which offer the best deals. Compare prices carefully. Many stores provide direct price comparisons if you look closely on shelf tags in the grocery store. For instance, price-per-unit shelf tags might indicate that one brand of juice might cost $1 per liter, while another might cost $1.20 per liter. Whenever possible, opt for the less expensive choice. Buying in bulk means you pay by the pound for one large bag of something rather than buying several smaller pre-measured packages of the same foodstuff. Doing this will lower your grocery costs. Since grocers can move more product this way, you'll get a lower rate per pound. For instance, instead of buying three two-pound bags of rice for $2 each, you might buy a seven pound bag for $5, and end up with more food for less money. Ethnic grocers are good places to stock up on staples like rice, beans, and vegetables in bulk. Economy size indicates a product you'll pay less per unit of measure for when buying more of it. For example, many grocery stores offer a one pound box of cereal for $3 per pound, or a somewhat larger two pound box of the same cereal for only $2.50 per pound. This nominal difference will save you more in the long run. Even though the total cost of the somewhat larger box is more expensive ($5 as compared to $3 for the smaller box), you're getting more cereal for your money. Shop consciously when you go to the grocery store (or any store, really). This way, you'll have a kind of roadmap when you're visiting the grocery store, and won't just wander all over the store looking at (and possibly buying) things you don't really need. Obtain the items on your shopping list, head to checkout, and leave. Look for more spartan shops. Part of what you pay for when you visit a grocery store is the experience. An upscale place like Whole Foods is not the best place to shop if you're trying to survive being poor.

SUMMARY:
Repair or refresh what you have instead of buying new stuff. Hunt for bargains. Buy foods in bulk. Buy economy size when you can. Make a shopping list before going shopping.