"You mean more than any earthly thing...won't you rain on me again..."
Ask and it'll be given..(Matthew 7:7). When it comes to learning how to "budget" you money, I try to ask the Provider-Heavenly Father for "wisdom" as Solomon did in the Bible: Old Testament....
6 Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for both riches and honor so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." 15 Then Solomon awoke and he realized it had been a dream. "-1 Kings 3
Find Christian Financial Freedom through Biblical Principles -5 PROVERBS - Today's Christian Videos
It is better to give than to receive, which you hear a lot! I've heard so many stories of people who got out of financial debts through giving. I do my best to take 10% of my weekly pay check and give it to my local church. Then 10% and up, I give it to some charitable church focus non-profit cause or ogranization...see 10% cause
Personal Testimony-Financial Breakthrough
I was raised in a family with financial challenges and I didn't want to go through the same trials when I got older. After seeking financial wisdom from God through his Word and others that He has put in my life, I'm proud to say I'm financially free from any debts (currently a co-signer for some credit companies for my brother and a friend of mine). I want to share my story with as many people as I can to help them get out of financial debts. Instead of hiding this knowledgleable resources, I want to share this with as many people as I can. Feel free to contact me on any of this or if you have any suggestions, feedback, questions, or even prayer requests....
After doing a budgent analysis 2 years ago, I was able to break down some categories where I put most of my money in. These are the following categories I got in order by month:
Q: Let me know what you think and feel free to reply with any feedback, personal suggestions-financial advice/tips, comments, etc...
-Washing Machine
*my mom's washing machine just broke down this morning (Saturday, November 24th of 2007), but we would end up finding a good deal during the holiday sale
-Used Cars
AUCTIONS
ONLINE/CLASSIFIEDS
Other Tips:
DMV
Auto Check
Info Link Screening
Car Buying Tips
Free Spreadsheet Download, for selling car
Federal Trade Commission: Used Cars
Driver and Vehicle Services from Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Report of Sale, online form for MN
Nada Guides
-Checks?
How to write a check?
-Credit Unions
NCUA
Credit Unions Online
St. Paul Federal Credit Union
"And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeConcordance and Hebrew/GreekList Available Commentaries
Images / MapsVersions / TranslationsDictionary Aids
And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt."-
Genesis 41
Bikes
*gas saver
Blue color Huffy 10 speed Bike (bought for $15 from a guy from Hoffman, MN) in May 23rd of 2007
Cell Phones
WARNING (can cause cancer!-Cell Phones Causes Radiation..., from Environment, Health and Safety Online)
*info sent by a good friend (Pon from Indonesia on Jan 07')
Cell Phone Cards
-
Cell Phone Services
-
-
Accessories:
Extended Life Lithium Ion Battery for SPH-A620 / VGA-1000, $25 from factorydirectcelluar
Batteries4less $19.95
cellphoneshop $12
BEWARE of E-MAIL: -
Classes
Coupons
Don't get caught in this trap of being on debt! I remember back in college (when I turned 18), I was "sucked" into the free prize when you sign-up for a new credit card account. I ended up getting over 5 different cards and used all of them to help pay for this "get rick quick" business "opportunity". I sure learned my lesson the hard way!
Dave Ramsey rants on credit cards
"Dave Ramsey explains why credit cards are a scam for the middle class. "
Types:
Getting harassed by creditors? Know your rights!
-Federal Trade Commission
-Law Help Minnesota
What about Credit Cards? From my personal experiences, I think having 1-2 isn't too bad. It actually helps build your credit, which will help you when it comes to applying for a loan (e.g. car, house, etc..) in the future. However, they are very, very, very bad if you don't pay in time or don't budget. For example, I had 5 credit cards while I was in college after applying as many as I can to get FREE stuff. Well, they hurted me for awhile as I used these credit cards to pay off a business investment (Equinox International-similar to nowadays Amway-long story!) opportunity that went bankrupt.
Your name is listed in all these credit bureaus, which is why you get all that "junk" mail. To get your name off the list, you can contact the following. I personally called Equifax-Opt Out and left my name and address for them to mail me a 1 page sheet to sign to get my name off the list. I believe they say that you are off the list for a certain amount of time and you have to call them back again:
-Get a Credit Card Request Form (from ftc.gov)
*Tip: The above following credit bureaus is obligated to send your personal credit report to you at least once a year if you ask them.
Debt?
"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender-Proverbs 22:7
-Credit Report
Electronics
-VHS to CD
Converting Your VHS Tapes to DVDs or CDs
Converting Your VHS Tapes To Video CD or DVD, Part 1
By: Brien M. Posey
"Now that you�re familiar with the hardware requirements, let�s review the necessary software. As I said earlier, you�ll need to be running the Windows XP operating system, but you�ll also need some software to do the video capturing and editing, as well as some software to burn your finished video onto a video CD or DVD.
Windows XP actually comes with a program called Windows Movie Maker, shown in Figure C. While this program will work, it only covers the basics. I recommend springing for some commercial grade video capture and editing software. I�ve personally had great luck with Sony�s Studio DV. It�s easy to use and is specifically designed to work with Sony camcorders."
How to Transfer DV Camcorder Tapes Directly into DVD, from allformp3.com
CNET How-To: Convert VHS to Ditigal
"Most of us have videos of weddings, birthdays, and a plethora of other important personal events. But up until the last couple of years, we've had to capture them on analog tape (VHS, Beta, and so forth) that not only degrades with each playback, but with the passing of time, as well. Want to avoid the "every copy looks a little worse than the original" curse? There's only one solution: go digital."
-Video Camcorder
Panasonic Model No: PV-GS15 (purchased on 12/04)parts; warranty 1.800.211.7262 (Sears Panasonic MiniDV Digital Camcorder, 2-1/2 in. LCD Monitor, Digital Still Camera)
" So, as i was reading an article about HYIPS on
http://business-reviews.com/business_opportunities/hyip.php , i came across another link to another type of investissment. Strangely, i'm kind of curious about this one. Actually, i've always been a adventurer, someone who likes betting on life and new ventures (otherwise, i wouldn't have left my job in NY and come in Morris in the first place to try something new).
I don't really know what to think of this http://www.mazu.com/offer.html"
BONDS:
-Treasury Direct
-U.S. Savings Bonds
COINS:
$5 Indian Head
-About Coin Collecting
-Coin Shop
-Lynn Coins
-Coin Resource
-US Mint
catalog
Sacajawea 2000 Gold Coins
infoplease.com
coin-collector-shop (rolls)
Center Coin
-1998 U.S. Mint Proof Set
$34.50 on ebay
lynncoins.com
=>SELLING:
Sell Gold Coins , from goldprice.org
miscellanous sites: ubid.com
GOLD:
COLLECTIBLES:
-Sports:
Becett
Baseball
-Kirby Puckett memorabilia
Basketball
-Michael Jordan 91' Upper Deck Baseball Card
Football
footballcardshop.com
-1986 Steve Young Topps - Rookie 374 TB $12.50 Sold Out
usfreeads.com
Wrestling
-1985
ddtdigest.com
Wrestling Trading Cards.com
STOCKS:
-American Funds
-Bethany Gift, tips on investments
-Edward Jones
-Hartford Investor
-Putnam Investments
-Advice:
How to buy stocks, from CNN Money
"Online brokers
Cost: At $9 to $15 a trade, it doesn't get any cheaper than this.
Names to choose from include Schwab, TD Ameritrade and Fidelity.
When trying to place a buy or sell order, you'll be faced with all sorts of questions: Market or limit order? "Day only" or "Good 'till cancelled." Here's the vocabulary you need to know to place a trade.
If you place a market order with your broker, then you are saying that you're willing to buy at whatever happens to be the prevailing price for the stock. If you have a specific price in mind, you can set a limit order specifying the price you're willing to pay. If the stock dips down to that level, your order will be automatically filled. Limit orders can be left open for a single day (a day order) or indefinitely (good until canceled).
After you've bought a stock, you can instruct your broker to sell it if the price drops to a level you specify (a stop loss order). That's a kind of insurance; it means that no matter what happens to a stock's price you'll never lose more than a specified amount.
In a volatile market, however, setting a stop-loss order at 10 or 20 percent below the purchase price will sometimes cause you to cash out of the stock on a momentary dip - thus locking in a loss even though the shares may immediately head back upward
Penny Stocks to Buy Now, from the quarry.net
"2. Expansion or merging � Investors love expansion or when companies merge and you should too."
-Buy Online
E-Trade
TD Ameritrade
Fidelity
Schwab
"At Schwab, we are passionate about investing in our communities and inspiring our employees to become community investors"..more on foundation
-Diversify Options:
World Gold
-Resources:
TIPS:
-Investing With Conscience
Links to selected religious and general socially conscious mutual funds and indexes. , from beliefnet.com
Timothy Plan (morningstar)
Fundaising Ideas
-Pine River, cheese, chocolates, and sausages from Wisconsin
*I just ordered (9/18/05) bacon cheese dip and cajun sausages from a co-worker, who was selling this for her daughter's school
-Schwans Fundraising
...
support the local
Morris Community Special Olympics Team (physically challenged)
"
click on Start Shopping (near the right side of the screen) and you will be asked to enter a campaign ID# 1002615, click the start shopping button on the welcome page and begin placing your order. You will be asked to provide the name of an Athlete/Coach/Volunteer you are supporting upon checking out. (This is above the area where you will enter your credit card information.) I will get Credit for each order received from you!!
THE PRIZA CODE IS 11W"
-Sweet Treets by Karen
-UC Berkeley Fundraising Ideas
-Your Big Adventure, from Readers Digest (magazines, cd's, etc..)
*did this door to door with a teen I mentor (9/04)
Giving (e.g. tithes and offerings"
"Better blessed to give..." (do it "cheefully"-2 Cor 9:7)
-Blessings in All Forms [e.g. food, (Proverbs 22:9), needs (Deuteronomy 15:11, strength to the weak (Psalm 41:1), kindness (Proverby 19:17), overall (1 John 3:17)
-Tithes and Offerings to Local Church/Missionary Support/etc (do it "secretly"-Matthew 6:1)...
"Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops"-Proverbs 3:9
Personal Testimony: I try to make sure when I get my pay check every other week, I automatically write a check of 10% of it to my local church (covers 2 weeks). Then the next week, I give part of another 5% to misisons, community service, or some other way to bless others. I have seen the fruits (don't expect this all the time!) of mine giving in return ("sow" & "reap"-2 Corinthians 9:6). For example, I remember moving to another house where my rent was going to quadruple ($45 to $200). I was invited to go on a mission trip (see Mexico Trip 01'), which I hesitantly joined "last minute" after receiving $200+ (Proverbs 11:24 "give..gains") just for helping a friend move. When I received this money, I wanted to use this to help cover my "new" next month's rent. I felt God gave this money for my first short-term mission trip, so I had to obey!
Government
-Postal
Haircut/Barber
-Saving money while students learn, discounted haicuts by students in the Twin Cities
Minnesota Cosmetology, 704 Marie Av. S. St. Paul 651.451.6447 $8 for 1/2-1 hour
Minnesota School of Cosmetology-Globe College 7166 10th St. N. Oakdale $8 @9:30am
Model College of Hair Designs coupons in St. Cloud
Regency Beauty, St. Cloud, Blaine, Burnsville
Scot Lewis Schools-Paul Mitchell, 1905 Suburban Ave. in St. Paul 1.888.242.6352 800.508.4804 $10 for 1+ hour with tips; @9am and evenings
St. Paul College-Cosmetolgoy, 651.846.1329
HAIRSTYLES
Hairfinder, int'l hair directory
Men Hairstyles, different pictures (beauty.about.com)
-dental hygiene
-medical checks
-prescription medications/over the counter drugs
"Insurance most people can do without"
Hotels/Motels/Lodging
-Lodging.com twin cities rates
-Orbitz, cheap motels
-Twin Cities Search
-Grinnel Mutual Reinsurance Company, all types!
*just signed-up through my agent at Bremer for auto and home (paying only $300 for auto as of Nov 2006)
-Insurance Resources
-Extended Warranty: Auto, Home, Etc..
-Accident
-Employment:
AFLAC
Gardner & White
-Life: (Whhole-Life)
FAQ:
*Wikipedia
Top things to know,from money.cnn.com
"..Whole-life policies are built on assumptions.
The returns quoted by the agent are simply guesses - not reality. And some companies keep these guesses of future returns on the high side to attract more buyers...
Which Life Insurance Is Best?, from Smart Money
Life Insurance 101
"Learn the basics about life insurance in a flash. Hear from a one of the nation's top insurance advisors who will explain why life insurance is so important, help demystify the life insurance process and quickly provide you with a good understanding of important insurance terms and concepts.
http://www.lifehappens.org/insurance-..."
Agents/Services:
Food
-groceries
Loans
Lost & Found Property
Moving?
Quick? Money Makers
-Online Surveys
Phones
-Phone Cards
-Phone Online
-Smartphones
=>Unlocked
Retirement
"But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he
stands."-Isaiah 32:8
Rewards
Savings Account
"On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a
sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come
no collections will have to be made."-1 Corinthians 16:2
TIP: compare interest rates with each bank
Minnesota-Bremer Bank, Anchor Band, etc...are some examples of "good" interest rates accoring to a recent newspaper article.
Secret Shopper
Speakers
Stuff!
Tax Deduction Tips & Advice : How to Simplify Filing Federal Income Tax Return, from youtube.com
"Gathering all W2 and 1099 tax forms into one place at the end of the year is important to make filing taxes as simple as possible. File a quick and easy tax return with very little effort with tips from an experienced tax consultant in this free video on tax details and deductions. "
LOCAL
STATE:
NATION:
-Car (Business)
Comparison of cash and accrual methods of accounting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia wikipedia.org
-airfares
Local:
Rentz Agency Inc
PO Box 596
517 Atlantic Ave
Morris, MN 56267
ph: 320-589-2442
State:
-Agencies
Nation:
-airlines
-bus
Greyhound
*RVSP as soon as you can (3 weeks ahead) to get a good deal!
-road: automobile (personal road trip stories)
-train
Amtrak
Utilities
-Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home
- 100 Water Saving Tips, list forwarded by Ledat "Robert" Thach, UMM Alumn, from Cali on 5/3/04!
Video Games
-Free PS2 (new small size)
What about Credit Cards? From my personal experiences, I think having 1-2 isn't too bad. It actually helps build your credit, which will help you when it comes to applying for a loan (e.g. car, house, etc..) in the future. However, they are very, very, very bad if you don't pay in time or don't budget. For example, I had 5 credit cards while I was in college after applying as many as I can to get FREE stuff. Well, they hurted me for awhile as I used these credit cards to pay off a business investment (Equinox International-similar to nowadays Amway-long story!) opportunity that went bankrupt.
Your name is listed in all these credit bureaus, which is why you get all that "junk" mail. To get your name off the list, you can contact the following. I personally called Equifax-Opt Out and left my name and address for them to mail me a 1 page sheet to sign to get my name off the list. I believe they say that you are off the list for a certain amount of time and you have to call them back again:
*Tip: The above following credit bureaus is obligated to send your personal credit report to you at least once a year if you ask them.
As you can see, most of my money goes to "materialistic things" that really don't benefit me long term-espeically eternity!
"We enter this world naked and we leave this world naked"-Job
more...
-Teen Years
This is a question that is an on-going learning experience! It�s been over 4 years since I graduated from college and I�m still learning, so I�ll share what I�ve learned so far. First, you need to know what you are trying to work for? How are you going to spend the hard work money for? I started saving sometime before high school as I wanted to attend college. I got my first �real� job at age 12/13 delivering newspapers (see work experience), which was an experience that build my responsibility skills. Before this, I had some �odd� jobs-babysitting, helping my dad with maintenance work in his rental properties, and the typical weekly allowances from your parents by doing household duties. Each job, there was a different motivation for working for that �pay check�. When I was younger, I collected baseball cards, which motivated me to do the �odd� jobs mentioned above. Before, during, and after high school-I saved money to help pay for college.
-College Years
I was blessed many ways to pay for college-especially after coming to that personal relationship with the �Provider�-Heavenly Father! Before college, I was all worried on how I would be able to attend college because my parents (with jealousy and envy of others) didn�t start a �college savings� that some of my peers had. I applied for scholarships, which I was turned down with several of them; however, I got accepted with several others! My savings and scholarships still didn�t cover all my tuition! In order to cover the remaining cost, I took on 2 jobs during the summer vacations between each year in college. Despite the �busy� summer vacations with these 2 jobs, it gave me a clearer perspective on what I wanted to do after college. After each summer experience, my career objective became more clear! However, I wanted God to give me guidance, so I stayed in Morris after graduation for the Summer Institute of Ministry Training School!
-After College
Well, praise God-He provided all my needs to get through college. Now what? I wanted to serve God, but I didn�t know how? I ended up finding a job in-town to get me through the summer only while attending this ministry school. God provided a job working at a group home, which He touched my heart here and I�m still here! When college students get all worried wondering what they�re going to do with their lives, I laughed inside and tell them that �you need to take each day at a time and trust Him. He�ll take you to places that you never thought of doing, it�s like what Jesus said�
�Seek first the Kingdom and all these things will come�?
What comes? Everything you need (family, friends, finances, food, clothing, etc�) to get through life to accomplish His will for you (if you are faithful to His Word and His will in your life!), like how He got you and me through college! College was a preparation time or season, so you can look back and remember that He�ll �never forsake you�! Yes, I do still have thoughts wondering about what I�m doing is in God�s will or is it mine? I still ponder about this after 4 � years since I graduated from college in 1999! What I try do is take each day at a time spending time with Him seeking (though prayer, reading the Bible, fellowship, etc�) how I can do His will everyday.
Lord of Your Finances?
When I accepted Jesus to be �Lord� of my life, I really didn�t fully understand it in the Spring of 1996. However, I�m beginning to learn more what it means everyday! Recently, it became more clear in my mind and heart that God wants to take care of us if we let Him do so! We need to totally depend on Him and give everything you have to Him-that means your money too! I was watching some sermon on t.v. about this, and God really convicted me about how I haven�t really made Him-Lord of my finances. For example, when you get a paycheck, do you automatically give that 10% to Him or you just give him the �left overs� of what you have remaining from spending all your money (e.g. bills, groceries, etc�).
Advisors
Need?
Banks
Giving
Articles
-U.S. Dollar Value
Banks
Biblical Teaching
5 Minutes Bible Study - What Should I Do?
Books
The Money Answer Book, Dave Ramsey
Budgeting
-Stories
-Surveys
Death
Debt
Employment
Events
-August 2nd 2011 Debt Ceiling Deadling
Explain it to me: Debt ceiling
CNN|Added on July 15, 2011
Here's how it would affect you:
Government payments
"By dint of what comes in on a day-to-day basis, the government can keep paying about 60 percent of its bills, and will fail to pay the other 40 percent," says Alan Blinder, a Princeton professor and former vice chairman of the Fed.
Interest rates
Interest rates are extremely likely to rise. That means higher rates for credit cards, home mortgages, auto loans, and student loans, among others. How much they go up depends on how panicked the market gets.
Another recession
If the impasse lasts for more than a few days, the economy will "almost certainly" be pushed back into a recession, Blinder says. That's because of an unprecedented cutback in government spending. Even if the government avoided default by paying off its debt, losing the ability to borrow would mean a 40 percent drop in government spending — about 10 to 11 percent of GDP.
Financial Advisers
Life
5 Minutes Bible Study - How Much Do You Really Need?
Movies
-Documentary
-Holidays
=> CHRISTMAS
-Groceries
WITN - Grocery Shopping Secrets Part 1
"...Do a checkup to be sure you're following God's priorities. Are you giving to Him and to others? (1 Cor. 16:2). Taking care of family needs? (1 Tim. 5:8). Not letting money control you? (Luke 16:13)...."
"This quick and simple, question and answer book is the perfect resource for equipping individuals with key information about everyday money matters. Questions and answers deal with 100+ of the most-asked questions from The Dave Ramsey Show-everything from budget planning to retirement planning or personal buying matters, to saving for college and charitable giving. This is Dave in his most popular format-ask a specific question, get a specific answer"
"...Like millions of Americans out there, I like the nicer things in life. I have an affinity for high-end cars, designer clothing, and name-brand home furnishings.
There was a time when I had the six-figure income to afford these things. That was before the crash of what has now become known as the dot-com era. After losing many nice things, I learned that even living at one's means can be a risky proposition. So the challenge became how to continue to live that lifestyle while spending drastically less than I did before.
I wanted to figure out how I could afford these things at a $30,000-a-year salary, just in case I ever had another salary decrease. That planning all paid off when the great recession came. Here's how I learned to have a six-figure lifestyle with a $30,000 yearly budget. ..
I Love Movado Watches
Anyone who knows me knows that I love Movado watches and will rarely, if ever, wear anything else. At a $30,000-a-year salary, I certainly can't afford to shell out $1,000 or $2,000 on a watch. So I had to find a new source. I began scouring Craigslist, eBay, and pawn shops for good deals on watches. I found three Movado watches that were used and paid less than $500 total for all three of them. I recently sold one of these watches on eBay for $600. I now wear watches valued at more than $800 each, and I basically paid nothing for them.
Got to Have My Designer Clothes
I am an avid wearer of brands such as Ralph Lauren, Armani, Perry Ellis, and Gucci. Jackets for these brands can run from $300 to $3,000 dollars, so there's no way I can afford these on a $30,000 salary. I had to really swallow my pride and begin browsing through eBay for good deals on used items. A few of you may say there's no way you'd wear used clothing, but I say one trip to the cleaners, and they're as good as new. I found that even better deals can be found at consignment shops and Goodwill stores. At one Goodwill store, I found an Armani jacket for only $15, and I get constant compliments on it.....
"How It Works
It's a "WIN-WIN" situation. Companies pay us to find the best people to take their market research surveys. You get paid after you take each survey. We match you up to the right surveys by using your basic demographic information"
-Get $5 by Signing-Up
" LOS ANGELES - An unemployed man with an advanced finance degree who was despondent over his own financial problems shot and killed his wife, three children, mother-in-law and then himself in an upscale home in a gated community, police said Monday.
Officers found the bodies Monday morning after the wife failed to show up at a neighbor's home to go to work, Deputy Chief Michel Moore said. The deaths occurred sometime after Saturday evening.
A handgun that had been bought Sept. 16 was found near the father's body, Moore said. The father left two suicide notes � one for police and one for friends and relatives � and a will.
The notes attest to the man's financial difficulties, and he takes responsibility for killing his family members, Moore said.
The family members' names were not immediately released because police wanted to make sure the children's schools had time to make grief counselors available. The children were sons ages 19, 12 and 7.
The man had a master's of business administration in finance, formerly worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Sony Pictures, but had been unemployed for several months, Moore said.
Moore did not specify what financial trouble the man had been in. He noted that the family did not own the home.
PricewaterhouseCoopers spokesman Steven Silber had no immediate comment. Sony Pictures Entertainment spokesman Steve Elzer did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The gated community, called Sorrento Pointe, is among several developments along curving lanes and cul-de-sacs set on the foothills of the Santa Susana Mountains in Porter Ranch, about 23 miles northwest of downtown.
Ryan Ransdell, who lives across the street, said the house had been occupied by the family for about a year.
"They didn't socialize too much," he said. "They kept pretty much to themselves."
___
Associated Press Writer Jacob Adelman contributed to this report."
*referred by my friend Eric on 9/9/08
line of credit
Other:
Cut My Interest Now
Reviews:
Money Merge Account Mortgage Accelerator Clip ch
"Clip of Nationally Syndicated Consumer Advocate Clark Howard, Discussing Money Merge Account Equity Accelerator Mortgage Fraud. "
Debunking the Money Merge Account Scam (Games Lenders Play, Part 8)
By Dan Melson on March 20, 2008 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) (searchlightcrusade.net)
"..These wasteful loans that waste a homeowner's money are fast becoming the current market's negative amortization loan as far as marketing goes. These things are being pushed hard, consumers are being led to expect far greater results from them than they are likely to achieve, with the results being that those consumers who sign up for them are wasting their money. If they're not as bad as negative amortization loans, that's still damning with faint praise if ever there was such a thing. Not as bad as the loan that encouraged people to buy a more expensive property than they could afford, put them more deeply into debt with every passing month, ruined their credit ratings, and caused them to lose the property they over-extended to buy, as well as setting the United States as a whole up for the worst financial crisis we've experienced in the past eighty years. Well, it is kind of a high bar for lenders to get over, and they haven't done it here - but that's not due to concern for consumers..."
Money Merge Accounts: Just Say, No Thanks.
Date September 11, 2007 By Matthew Paulson
"There has been a new trend in the financial world in the last year or so in which consumers pay-checks are direct deposited directly onto their mortgage, and then consumers pay their monthly expenses out of what is essentially a home equity line of credit, and any money that one does not spend is extra principal paid on to their mortgage. In essence, you�re forcing your self to send all of your extra money each month on your mortgage, which will cause your home to be paid off on a much quicker basis....
There are a number of other problems associated with money merge accounts. Often the mortgages that you will be refinanced into will have higher interest rates and variable interest rates. If you�re in a good fixed rate mortgage at 5% or 6%, you�ll end up paying a higher interest rate in the new mortgage that you are given.
Usually there�s a pretty hefty setup fee to get into a money merge account to begin with. There are many companies that are charging consumers upwards of $3,000 to start using a money-merge account. Considering that you can accomplish the exact same thing by paying off extra principal on your mortgage each month for literally nothing, $3,000 is tantamount to highway robbery.
Money merge accounts aren�t a scam, but that doesn�t mean they�re a great deal either. You�re putting your sole focus on your mortgage, which often should be secondary to other debts and obligations and paying a high cost to do so."
[This topic is locked] Scam? United First Financial Money Merge Account
"..I actually had someone approach me last week about this. It is somebody I know and trust. He is also well respected in the community. I would be surprised if he is caught up in a scam or pyramid scheme. He asked for copies of anything that I am in debt with. I gave him a copy of our mortage and two car loans. He is supposed to get back to me this weekend. He is entering my information into the program and will let me know if I really can pay off my mortgage in 13 years compared to the 28 years I have left.
I don't understand it 100% and am just looking into it. I would not do anything without 100% knowledge of the product and the approval of Fatwallet. He explained that i am opening up an interest only equity account and that I would be borrowing from it during the month, but also depositing money back into it. I will post more when I have received his results.
Dave Ramsey--Debt Free Revolution
"National best selling author and financial Dave Ramsey motivates millions to become debt free and financially free. More at daveramsey.com "
"The president and political leaders debate whether to raise the debt limit. CNN's Ali Velshi breaks down what's at stake."
"Washington may reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling by Aug. 2, the date after which Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the US will no longer be able to meet its debt obligations through accounting tricks.
But what happens if the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling, which places a legal cap on the amount the country can borrow — and which the U.S. actually hit on May 16 — isn't raised?
"Frankly, no one knows," says Matt Slaughter, a professor at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. "There's no historical precedent for what happens if the US defaults on part of its outstanding debt obligations."
But it's clear the outcome won't be good, Slaughter says.
Federal Reserve chair Ben Bernanke says the result would be a "huge financial calamity." And economists predict serious global implications, as the security of US Treasuries, considered by most investors to be the closest thing to a risk-free investment, comes into question. Already, ratings agencies are indicating they could downgrade the AAA credit rating of the U.S.
If you're relying on a government check — a benefit check or a paycheck — you may or may not get it after Aug. 2. (The government is scheduled to deliver a round of Social Security checks on Aug. 3.)
Some lawmakers are trying to figure out who's first in line. A trio of Republican lawmakers introduced a bill on Wednesday that would have the government prioritize military salaries and debt payments. Not on their list? Social Security and unemployment.
"Even if it doesn't turn out to be calamitous, almost surely it's going to raise Treasury interest rates," Slaughter says.
That would bring the borrowing capacity of families down, and could seriously slow down business investment — which means less hiring.
The worst-case scenario? "If the markets really go into a tizzy, we may get to a situation in some markets where the rates hardly matter at all because you just can't get credit," Blinder says.
The stock market is very likely to tank, as well, driven by a serious loss of confidence in the U.S. government.
"You will get the investing community, not just of the United States but of the entire world, thinking that we've lost our marbles over here," Blinder says. "And we will have — because [failing to raise the debt ceiling] is a completely crazy thing to do."
Is it likely to happen? Only if politics gets in the way.
"It doesn't matter how you'd like to resolve the future budget deficits of America…we just need to raise the debt ceiling," Slaughter said.
That's a plan Washington seems to be slowly and painfully hammering out. In a Friday morning press conference, President Obama said he was "expecting some answers" from congressional leaders in the next couple of days.
"It wouldn't be a bit surprising to me if they settle this at midnight on August 2," Blinder said."
"HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY NEED?
His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. Job 2:9-10
What can you do without? Good question, right? When the budget has to be cut, we take a hard look at our expenditures and ask ourselves, "Where can we cut corners? What can we do without?" Often we think, "I just have to have this!" Or, "I just cannot get along without that," but if things get tough enough, you find that you can usually get along with fewer things than you thought.
We adults are very much like our children who see something and then say, "Daddy, I have just got to have this." Yes, it does seem that the world will just grind to a halt if your child is deprived of what he wants. As teenagers, wants get more expensive. As adults we sometimes feel that there are some things that are necessary to our success—so we think. That's why you reason that you just must have a new car. It sends a non-verbal message to your clients that you are a success, but you know good and well that you really cannot afford one any more than you can take a trip to Europe and spend a month in a castle.
When we get down to the blunt realities of life, we have to admit that there are a lot of things in life that we feel we must have. We think that we cannot survive another day without them, when the truth is that we would get along just fine without them. Life would continue pretty much the same.
What, then, really is essential in life? Take a few moments and think about your life. What would you do if fire suddenly broke out in your home? What would you think about first? Naturally your family, some photographs and important papers. Possibly some keepsakes that mean a great deal. There is sentiment attached to them, and they cannot be replaced. But surprisingly enough, most of our possessions could not be called "essential."
There is, however, something in life that you cannot afford to be without, something that means the difference between ultimate life and death. You cannot afford to be without a knowledge of God.
Many years ago—in fact, about 4000 years ago—lived a man by the name of Job. He was quite a success in life. His resources, by our measurement, were extensive. He had about everything that we usually consider as making life meaningful, but then little by little he began losing what he had. He lost his children, his possessions. He lost his health and then he sustained the final blow--he lost his friends. Job lost absolutely everything he had, but never lost God, for in the depths of his sorrow, he found that to know God is to have the means of rising above what we often think is important.
There are a lot of us who feel that life consists of what we have. How we need to learn the lesson that Christ taught His disciples so many years ago when He said, "A man's life consists not in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). What you live for in life determines what you really are. This does not mean that you should not plan and provide for the future. But it does mean that you determine to live for something other than just things.
A friend of mine tells about a mill worker who lived in a little southern town. One day the two men were talking. The old mill worker was sitting on his porch in a rocking chair. Occasionally the silence was punctured by the slow creaking of the rickety chair. Then the old man philosophically began talking about his life. His was a hard life with little financial compensation. He said, "You know I do not have much in life, but I have God. And you know, come to think about it, when you have Him, you really do not need much more than that."
Resource reading: Job 2."
"From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever."
Story of Stuff, Full Version; How Things Work, About Stuff
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Story of Stuff, Full Version; How Things Work, About Stuff
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
©Tides Foundation & Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. "
The Obama Deception Part 8/12
"HQ in one piece; http://www.youtube.com/watc...
The Obama Deception is the latest movie from Alex Jones, infowars.com/prisonplanet.tv "
*see GoodnewsUSA.info USA Presidents: 44th (2009-present) Barack Obama
Fall Of The Republic (Part 3/15)
"Fall of the Republic documents how an offshore corporate cartel is bankrupting the U.S. economy by design. Leaders are now declaring that world government has arrived and that the dollar will be replaced with a new global currency."
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Issues: Slavery-Labor, Modern, Sex, Financial "Debt", Sin, etc...
It's a Wonderful Life - Part 10/15
"On Christmas Eve 1946, George Bailey (James Stewart) is deeply depressed, even suicidal. Prayers for George Bailey are heard by angels appearing as stars in the night sky. Clarence Odbody, an Angel Second Class, is sent to Earth to save him—and thereby earn his wings. Joseph, the head angel, is told to review George's life with Clarence."
*saw the theatrical performance on Friday, December 11th of 2009
"http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/24...
Faye Prosser is the new definition of power shopper...
"Eating on a budget is hard, but eating healthy on a budget is even harder. Before you go and grab that hamburger from the dollar menu, consider these healthy, yet cheap, tips:
* Shop In The Outer Perimeter Of The Supermarket - Think of what’s there - product, dairy, meats and fish. The outer p