As a topic of conversation, money has eclipsed just about everything else these days—TV shows, sports, the weather. In some ways, predicting the outcome of various recent stimulus measures could be a bit like betting on the Super Bowl—only what’s at stake is the whole country’s cash reserve and possibly our children’s reserves too. And while trying to forecast the end of the recession is at least a little like predicting the weather, at the moment it’s more like three million people standing on a sand dune praying for rain. What we talk about when we talk about money often veers into the realm of fantasy—as in, what would we do if, in the middle of this crazy recession, we happened to win the lottery? (see Rebecca Carrier’s story, below). Or where could we possibly find places to stash our shrinking investments? (see Where to Stash Your Cash).

One thing’s for sure, money is on our minds. It’s certainly in the media, which often keeps economic woes running through our heads in a continuous loop. But we hope that, in the next few pages, the honest portraits of local women and their thoughtful takes on money will be a bit of a departure from the usual national media diatribes. For one, there’s great advice here from some of the smartest women around about how to keep your business (and the rest of your life) in order. At the very least, these stories are proof that, if you’ve spent time worrying about money or serious mental energy wondering where to stock up on silver coins and Beanee Weenees, don’t worry. You are not alone.