During yesterday’s Brown Bag Lunch at the Women’s Center, Kelly Zawierucha, a representative of Creative Financial Partners, discussed some of the problems that women face financially and encouraged women to invest wisely if they could. In today’s economic situation, it can be scary to think about investing, but it may be the best time to try, she said. Women on average make 77 cents for every dollar a man makes, and those statistics go even lower with minorities, Zawierucha said. African American Women make only 71 cents to a man’s dollar and Latina women make 58 cents.’ Women also typically work in low paid jobs, which often offer fewer benefits, she said. Despite these differences, most women will end up being financially responsible for themselves and 90 percent of all women will only have their own income to depend on, Zawierucha said. ‘One of the things that makes me want to pull my hair out is when women think they will be able to depend on someone else,’ Zawierucha said. ‘Even though it is 2009, many of us still believe we will have a husband or a partner’s income as well and that is so rarely the case in reality.’ Zawierucha explained that in order to be prepared for retirement, women need to start planning early and often. Investing is a key factor to financial success, she said. ‘One of the biggest misconceptions I get is that you have to be rich to invest,’ Zawierucha said. ‘That is not true at all. All you really need is $50 and you can do something for your future.’ However, the economy has been affecting investments and retirement plans for many people, Zawierucha said. ‘I see a lot of people panicking right now, but they need to remember things will turn around,’ Zawierucha said. ‘You have to look at the market right now like everything is on sale and when the market turns you will be better off.’ Grace Mbungu, a graduate assistant in the Women’s Center said that yesterday’s talk was particularly relevant in today’s financial situation. ‘Women need to know their options and I think it is so important as we see the financial crisis get worse,’ Mbungu said. Ginger Harden, a Bowling Green resident who was laid off from her job as a factory worker in December, attended the Brown Bag lunch hoping to get some answers on how to make her tax refund last. ‘I feel stuck because I don’t have any money to invest where I want to,’ Harden said. Harden, a single mother raising three teenagers, said she is constantly worrying about money and how to pay bills as the job market becomes increasingly competitive.’ ‘I have to take care of three kids and the house payment doesn’t stop just because I was laid off,’ Harden said. ‘I am just worried about everything all of the time.’ Zawierucha agreed that the economy is currently troubling but encouraged those in attendance to not panic. ‘If history has taught us anything, it is that the market is cyclical,’ she said.