“Ask a Stupid Question” Day
September 30, 2008
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It’s “Ask a Stupid Question” Day!
Today’s your day to ask me any money question you’ve ever wanted to know, no matter how stupid or silly it might seem.
I’ll answer as many of them as I can get to today.
So, click http://www.mendyourmoney.com/contact.htm and ask away.
Recession Actions
September 25, 2008
“Recession is Coming!” “Recession is Here!” “Are we in a Recession Yet?”
I’m sure you’ve seen and heard headlines just like this.
So, exactly what is a Recession?
A Recession means that a country’s GNP (Gross National Product) drops at least 2 quarters in a row - 6 months of shrinking. Unfortunately, we only know that we are in a recession after the 2 quarters are over and all the data has been gathered and reported in the media.
Regardless of whether the US economy is in a Recession, your family may be in one. Has your income stayed the same or even shrunk over the last year or two? And we know energy, food, housing and taxes are all increasing. This combination could mean that your family is in a Recession.
Recessions are as important to an economy as the boom times just like a controlled burn improves the health of a forest. During recessions, weaker companies are weeded out and companies who make it through are stronger for the next boom time.
Furthermore, even if the economy is booming, you can be going through a personal recession due to job or lifestyle changes such as a new career, starting a new business, leaving the workforce to take care of a family member or a medical condition.
What should you do?
Discover Your Money Habitudes
September 10, 2008
Come play a fast-paced, fun game while discovering your Money Habitudes. If you only have negative feelings and thoughts about money, this is the game for you! Come by yourself or bring a friend/spouse. You’ll never think about money the same way again!
October 7, 2008 from 6:30 - 8:30
Hood River Middle School Room 119
Limit 12 Cost: $29
Contact Community Education at 541-386-2055 for registration
It’s 2 AM and I’m worrying about money…
June 12, 2008
Yes, even Money Experts worry about money. Does this happen to you, too?
It used to happen to me a lot before I became a Money Expert (and was one of the reasons I became one).
So, what am I worried about? Well, maybe if I share them with all of you, I’ll be able to go back to sleep!
Here’s my list:
The Recession: What will the Recession mean for my business and what does it mean to all of you. What can I do to ease you through it?
My Business: I’m currently enrolled in a new marketing and business development course and it’s great! And, it’s taking a lot of time. So, I’m worried about how to fit it all in and not turn any clients away.
My Money Pit of House Projects: A couple of months ago, I decided it was time to put in new carpet upstairs. But, before that could be done the walls going upstairs and in the hallways needed to be painted. But, I couldn’t paint just them - the downstairs walls needed to be painted, too. And now that the walls look beautiful, the window coverings need to be replaced and the doors look really dingy.
As for the carpet… When my son, Toby, pulled it up, we discovered that the original owner had done some really strange things on the steps around the railing and now I have a drywall mess that’s going to be expensive to fix.
So, my home improvement budget is blown and I’ll have to put some of it on a credit card. I’ll probably use Home Depot for the carpet and they have 0% for 12 months which lets me push out the payment until after next tax season’s bonus check. (I did call them to ask if they had any discount coupons and they sent me one for 10% off the carpet itself - every little bit helps).
Ah, I do feel better! Back to bed.
Would you like to get your money worries off your chest? The comment box cries out to unburden you!
Warmly, Cindy
Got Cell Phone Gripes? They Can Hear You NOW!
June 11, 2008
Article republished with permission from Credit.com.
If you’re tired of having to pay when you leave your cell phone company for a better deal, this is THE time to vent your frustration! The FCC is meeting tomorrow, Thursday, June 12th, to discuss those hefty early termination fees, which range from $175 to a high of $250, according to Consumers Union (CU), the publisher of Consumer Reports. CU is spearheading an email campaign through its site, to let the FCC hear from customers, not just the cell phone companies, because: “You shouldn’t have to pay up just to get better service elsewhere.”
While the FCC could put limits on these fees, the companies want something in exchange. “They want to take away consumers’ right to sue them for potentially illegal behavior in exchange for lowering these fees,” says CU, “a possibly worse situation in the long run.” In fact, a class-action lawsuit was just certified to proceed in California, challenging the companies’ unfair business practices, including early termination fees.
“Cell phone companies shouldn’t get special legal treatment just for giving consumers a fair shake!” says Consumers Union. I agree! So I sent an email to the FCC, and hope you will, too. CU makes it really easy to tell the FCC what you think. I doubt that it took more than a minute to add my name and address — as well as a personal note — to the excellent message CU drafted. And I feel better for having spoken up. Try it, you’ll like it!
After you’ve sent your message to the FCC, please come back and let us know what your other pet peeves are about your wireless service. With over 200 million of us having cell phones, imho, we ought to get better protection and treatment! Do you agree with me?
Nancy Castleman - Co-author of “Invest in Yourself: Six Secrets to a Rich Life” and founder of Good Advice Press. Nancy has spent the last 23 years teaching people how to get out of debt, save money, and live better on less. She writes on all these subjects for CreditBloggers.com.
Article republished with permission from Credit.com.
