Last week, I put gas in my car for the second time since the middle of March. Living in a household where my wife and I are both fortunate enough to work remotely from home as well as being committed to flattening the curve of the spread of COVID-19, there simply hasn’t been a reason to drive my car very often. The money saved on gas has been offset by other expenses, including increased costs at the grocery store and supporting local restaurants through take-out dining.
The last few months have forced many of us to manage or even micro-manage our finances more carefully. According to a Marketplace survey conducted in May, more than one-third of U.S. households have lost income since the COVID-19 pandemic began. That’s certainly important in managing finances, but it’s even more important when we’re tasked with efficiently using funds that come from another source. As an employee of Panhandle PBS, I understand the importance of operating within a budget, especially when a good portion of the funds are donated from the audience we serve.
At Panhandle PBS, we’ve always tried to stretch our dollars as far as possible, and decisions about making the most of our budget have affected everything from on-air programming and on-line content to the in-person events that we’ve hosted and joined in partnership with others in the community. With that in mind, we’ve introduced a new feature that will help improve our service to Panhandle PBS members.
With My Panhandle PBS Online, members can become a sustaining member or update their gifts to our station. You can update payment and contact information, and generate a tax receipt. We’ve also included a way for you to submit feedback, giving us your opinions and insight, and helping us find better ways to serve the community. Best of all, it’s easy to sign up – just click on the My Panhandle PBS Online Account button on our home page and you’ll be guided through the steps of creating an account. By moving to this account, you will help Panhandle PBS reduce station expenses in labor, materials and postage.
“The habit of saving is itself an education; it fosters every virtue, teaches self-denial, cultivates the sense of order, trains to forethought, and so broadens the mind.” — T.T. Munger
For me, something that has become more apparent since COVID-19 is that I consider what I spend my money and time on more than I previously did. As a small staff at Panhandle PBS, we take pride in being as efficient as we can be while delivering unique content to our audience and members. Please know that we’re grateful for your support and strive to earn it in every way we can.
Brian Frank
Panhandle PBS Content Producer
