BUSINESS Decide how much money is enough HAIKU, HAWAII — How much money is enough? For Kris Dixon, it’s just enough money to put a roof over her head, food on her table, clothes on her body and gas in the car so she can get to her job as an officer in the Maui police department. She needs a car because she had to find land that provided a place for her pets: two elderly horses, four one-legged ducks (injured at birth or in a subsequent mishap), two two-legged ducks and two dogs. Every now and again we all ask that question: ‘‘How much money is enough?’ How much must we ear or save to buy a home, live well, retire securely? Sometimes it’s easier to find the answer by looking at somebody else’s life, by visiting somebody like Dixon, 44, and her friend Rick Harmel, 41. Dixon lives on four-fifths of a hectare (two acres) three kilometres along a dirt road near Haiku, a post office and not much more in the upcountry, non-tourist part of Maui. She and Harmel have been — and still are — building a 2- storey house. The main floor (five by seven metres) is upstairs and in- cludes the kitchen and living room in one space, a_curtainedc-off bathroom, and a sleeping area in the loft. There’s also a large deck. At the ground level is a utility and work area. “It’s always been my goal to have iny own place," said Dixon. However, that goal seemed far away after Dixon had to cope with a difficult divorce, which left her with a $14,000 settlement after a dcllars and sense Mike Grenby seven-year relationship. (All fig- ures shown here are in Canadian funds.) “7 will never trust another per- son to look after me again,’’ said Dixon in an aside. “I'd given up my career as a nurse when I got married and was completely devas- tated — financially as well as emo- tionally — when the relationship ended in 1982."" (Dixon’s advice to ali married women not working outside the home: “If you can’t or don’t want to go to school, do volunteer work. That way, you practise ex- isting skills or develop new ones, make contacts and build up a sup- port network — all while doing something beneficial for the com- munity.’’) Dixon moved to Hawaii from California in 1967 “to seek my fortune.”” She travelled and work- ed at various jobs uniil she met her future husband. ‘‘He already had property on which he was building a home so my dream of having a place came true.”’ The dream ended when the mar- BRITISH COLUMBIA RENTAL SUPPLY PROGRAM PHASE THREE CALL FOR PROPOSALS The British Columbia Housing Management Commission (BCHMC) invites proposals for new renta) housing projects in areas throughout the Province with vacancy rates less than 2%. The goal of the B.C. Rental Supply Program is to encourage projects suitable for families and seniors, which will remain in the rental market for a minimum of five years. Interest costs will be reduced for selected projects which meet Provincial objectives. Seated proposals must be received by the British Columbia Housing Management Commission no later than 4:30 p.m., Monday, May 14, 1990. Information packages are available at the following BCHMC offices. or by calling Mr. Jack Merkley or Ms. Marianne Wade at 433-1711. @ BCHMC ~ Lower Mainland §7G1 - 4330 Kingsway Burnaby, B.C. VSH 4G7 BCHMC - Victoria 201 -- 3440 Douglas Street Victoria, B.C. V8Z 3L5 8 BCHMC - Interior 290 Nanaimo Avenue West Penticton, B.C. V2A INS @ BCHMC - Prince George 305 - 1488 4th Avenue Prince George, B.C V2L 4Y2 RITISH Columeia Housinc ANAGEMENT IMMISSION Gs riage did. ‘lt was a rough period but my friends helped me through,”* Dixon said. She joined the Maui police department in 1986 but with take-home pay of $1,800 a month didn’t have much hope of buying or building a home. **I called my parents, who are both retired civil servants, and asked them if they could possibly lend me enough to help me buy some land,” Dixon said. ‘lt was the first time 1 had ever asked them for money. ““They said yes and we drew up everything legally so their loan is fully protected.’” After buying the land, Dixon paid $500 for two sheet-metal garden storage sheds. She cut two windows in one of the sheds and lived in the three-metre-square structure for eight months until she could move into her house. Dixon had hired Harmel as a carpenter to help her build the heme. ‘*We got along well so when the main structure was up and I had run out of my initial funds, Rick moved in and now is continuing to help me finish the place,’’ Dixon said. She said it costs: all her take- home pay — row about $2,700 a month — to kcep building, pay off her debts and cover normal living expenses. ‘“‘Without the loan pay- ments and building, I could prob- ably manage on $900 to $1,600 a See Set Page 38 Car stereo courtesy of PER aniince sree 150 Pemberton Ave. North Van. 986-1171 37 - Wednesday, March 21, 1990 - North Shore News ENTREPRENEURS! If you are serious about improving your results, you'll want to be part of this innovative and practical programme. The “Community Business Initiative” (just in North and West Vancouver) : e A 10 month project geared to increasing management skills, sales and profits (a pilot project run in Northern Ontario produced amazing results: 65% increase in sales and 100% increase of return on investment). Participants will take part in a series of business workshops, conducted by specialists in their fields. THEN...practical ‘‘on site’’ advice will be yiven following each workshop. More than 100 North Shore businesses have already benefited from this programme. Only 30 non-competing businesses will be accepted. Take advantage of this opportunity d call Barry Goodwin = . 666-7703 Barry Goodwin, Project Co-ordinator Communiiy Business Initiative BACKING INDEPENDENT BUSINESS Federal Business Banque fédérale Development Bank de développement . . pe Canada Bey i Petes meee @ one of three prizes... ° Clarion cassette deckk (#840 2Rn and speakers (C1920) for your car Value $550 installed. ° Set of 4 all-season radial tires Value $470 ¢ $500 worth of gas How? Enter “Spot the Specialist” contest running in our Spring Car Care feature on March 30. THE VOICE OF ORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER - q SUNDAY + WEDNESDAY + FROAY Tires courtesy of Gas courtesy of SUPER SAVE: 1484 Rupert Street North Van. 986-8473