Life’s Work-My Life

Might I retire one day

May 4, 2008 – 6:35 pm

As my husband and I are approaching retirement, there are many things to consider about our future. Even though there are calculators and financial specialists available to advise us, the truth is that no one knows how much money we will need to fund our retirement. How could anyone answer that question when they do not know what illnesses they many face, how long they can work into retirement and how long they will live. I always laugh when asked “what are your goals for retirement?” I believe the answer is universal. Everyone wants to have as much money as possible. I think this is one of the funniest questions I’ve ever heard. Who does not want as much money as possible? Who has a goal of a specific amount of money and does not want to exceed that goal? There is only one answer to that question for me – to earn as much as possible and to increase my standard of living.

Unfortunately for the retirees of today, things have changed greatly over the last twenty years. In the past, people worked for major corporations who rewarded them for the longevity of their employment and their loyalty to the company. It was a wonderful arrangement that benefited everyone and left the retiree in a secure financial position. Social Security was available to all retired personnel but it was almost always supplemented by a company pension plan. A wise employee invested over the years in the company 401K and gratefully accepted the company’s matching funds into this account. Even a person who did not earn a particularly large salary and wasn’t a management member of the company still left with a very nice sum of money and was able to live comfortably in their retirement. A combination of Social Security, pension payments and 401K savings afforded the employee with a very nice lifestyle. This was how things were for the generation before us, but we are in an entirely different situation.

Today, current retirees have very little to fall back on. Although it’s very nice that the government tells us to save, save, save, they still want the taxes on every dime we make. If we do save tax free in IRA accounts, beware that all of this money is taxable when a withdrawal is made. At the age of 70 ½ years, withdrawals are mandatory so that the government is certain they will get their share. They are constantly saying that they encourage people to save for their retirement, but they do very little to help with this plan.

Most of the people today no longer have a company pension plan. Some are still available, but the number is dwindling rapidly and all will disappear in a short period of time. This leaves today’s retirees dependent on social security which is not sufficient to support most people. The government, again supposedly supporting retirees, feels perfectly free to tax social security even though the money was originally a tax from the government. Who is getting rich here?

Seniors looking forward to retiring today often find themselves in a position where a part time job will be necessary to support their retirement. If you do not have a pension and you do not have a large investment in your 401K, how do you plan to support yourself?

Social Security is almost always insufficient to even pay the most immediate bills. Constant withdrawals from your 401K will leave you wanting in the future. An additional income is often the only option available and this will only work if you are fortunate enough to be in good health at this time of life.

Although seniors are good at sacrifice and limiting their expenses, they live in fear of outliving their money. How do you predict how much you will need? There really is no way to do this accurately as you would have to know how long you and your spouse will live. The current economy is making this even more difficult for seniors. It was nice when you could expect a decent return on your investments in CD’s, etc. and plan on adding this income source to your budget. Unfortunately, this is no longer the situation. Today’s interest rates are pathetic because our government is bailing out all of the people who are living well above their means and making the senior citizens of today pay the price for this bailout. How sad that our government thinks so little of their senior citizens and will support corporate America, who willingly put us into this situation in order to make additional profits. If only we lived in Japan where elders are revered and not treated like second-class citizens. This would be nice for all of my generation.

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Manage Your Money

May 4, 2008 – 6:33 pm

I recently began reviewing my financial papers and came to realize what a nightmare I have created. There is only one solution for this problem and that is consolidation. No one should ever allow their finances to become this entangled and it is definitely time for me to address mine.

To begin with I have three checking accounts and a Health Savings Account. One bank provides one checking account and the Health Savings Account. The other two checking accounts are with different individual banks. This means that I have four checkbooks. Does that make any sense to anyone? It also means I have to balance four statements each month. I am determined to begin consolidation immediately. I will close the two checking accounts with different individual banks and consolidate those funds with my existing checking account at the local bank that also services my Health Savings Account. Once I have accomplished this transfer of funds, I will have reduced my load to two checkbooks and two monthly bank statements. It is legally required that the Health Savings Account be kept separate as it is subject to audits, etc. to insure that all moneys in it are spent for qualifying items.

Once I have resolved the issue with my checking accounts, I will be able to attack another area of concern. I have several Traditional IRA Certificates of Deposit and they are all located at different banks and have a large variety of maturity dates. It seems that I am always investigating rates and getting ready to renew at least one of them. I do not like very long-term CD’s so this also increases how much time I have to devote towards maintaining these accounts at the best rates available. One thing I have learned over time is that you will generally lose if you just passively allow the CD to rollover at the existing financial institution. Since many people do allow their CD’s to just rollover, the banks have adjusted their rates accordingly so that they increase their profits by providing this service. It’s very simple because you receive a letter from your financial institution stating that your CD is scheduled to rollover on a specific date. The letter states that you need do nothing, the bank will take care of this for you. You know you’re in trouble when they are this solicitous. I fell for this in the beginning and then began noticing what was happening. Financial institutions tend to run “specials” at specific times. These are the highest rates available for a certain time period. Of course, if you are looking to purchase a CD, this is the one you will take. The problem arises with the automatic renewal. The banks know that they sold a huge amount of CD’s when they held this special 12 months ago. This CD is scheduled to now rollover again for a 12-month period. The surprise is that now the 12-month rate is usually the lowest being offered and the best rate is now attached to a 9-month CD or a 13-month CD. Inaction on the part of the customer leads them right into this much lower rate. This is why I’ve learned to be pro-active where my investments are concerned. It is always important to shop the rates at renewal time to be sure that you are getting the best deal at that time. This part of my nightmare will not be as easy to resolve as consolidating checking accounts, but I will begin to address it and I’m sure it can be improved even if total consolidation is not possible.

I have one more area of my finances that should be addressed. Many years ago I worked for a large company and participated in their 401K plan. I am very thankful that I did because positive investment results and company matching funds afforded me a nice nest egg for my retirement future. I was so happy with the investment results at the time I left the company, that I chose to allow my 401K to remain with them. This was not a bad decision but again does add to some of my investment confusion. I have stock and index funds in this account so I like to keep tabs on my investment results. Meanwhile, I have the CD’s previously mentioned which are spread around and currently require active monitoring. In addition to these two investments, I also maintain an IRA stock investment account online and regularly check how my stocks are doing, consider if a trade would be beneficial to me, etc. Obviously, this is another area that could use some consolidation. I am considering transferring my corporate 401K plan to my existing investment account, but I have not yet decided how I would want to invest these funds. Once I make that decision, the actual mechanics of the transfer will be simple.

As you can see, some action is definitely necessary on my part in order to simplify my finances. Consolidation is the key and I must go forward with the plans I have made. It is time to get a grip on this situation and free up the time I currently invest in financial management and use it for a more enjoyable pursuit.

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Paying Bills Long Term

May 4, 2008 – 6:32 pm

I am drowning in credit card debt and I know there are many people who are drowning right along with me. It is a cycle that I do not know how to break but I am determined to try and, eventually, succeed. I say eventually because I know this is a long-term project and I must be very determined to set up a payment plan and stick with it regardless of everything else going on in my life.

I find it very upsetting that I am actually still paying for things that I don’t have anymore. Clothing that doesn’t fit me any longer, toys the children have already broken, and furniture which already looks like it needs to be replaced. This is all very depressing and I know that it is time for me to learn how to repay my bills and budget my finances so that I will never again find myself in this position.

The total interest I am paying on all of my credit cards would be enough to allow me to live comfortably on my current income, but first I am going to have to position myself to accomplish my goals. I must eventually reach the point where the money I am earning goes to me rather that to banks and credit card companies in the form of interest. This is true freedom from debt and I plan to reach this stage.

I have read several books and newspaper articles about debt and how to make payments in a methodical way so you will feel as though you are accomplishing your goals which in turn, will make your sacrifices seem worthwhile.

The method I have chosen to attack my debt is to first closely examine my current financial situation concentrating on income available and monthly expenses, excluding credit card debt. Once I have arrived at this number, I will know exactly how much disposable income I have to help me reach my financial independence.

The first thing I must do is resolve to not charge anything in the future. Everything must be accomplished without resorting to using the credit cards. One of the best pieces of advice I have read is to tear up the cards. I have also read a suggestion to freeze the cards. It will then take time to defrost them and you will have this additional time to reconsider if you actually want to assume more debt. This will certainly prevent you from impulse buying in the future.

Since my credit is still fairly good as I have been paying my bills on time, I often receive offers for new cards to assist with debt consolidation. These new cards usually offer a low interest rate as a way to entice you to consolidate your debts on their cards. Of course, the low rate is for a specific period of time and the credit card company is hoping that you will not pay off your debt and they will then be able to charge you an exorbitant interest rate in the future. These cards can be very helpful when you are trying to reduce your total debt amount. You can transfer balances from several higher rate credit cards to this new card and concentrate on paying off this debt as soon as possible. With the lower interest rate, a larger portion of your payment goes to principal and you are on the road to becoming debt-free.

If you do not have the opportunity to consolidate your debt onto a low interest credit card, you still have options that can lead you to a debt-free existence. Assemble your credit card debt and consider the rates being charged to you and the total amount of debt on each card. Generally, you will be best served by choosing the lowest dollar amount outstanding and choosing that as the card to be paid off first. This is assuming you do not have a specific card with an exceptionally high interest rate. If you do, this may be your first choice as the card to attack and eliminate immediately.

Assuming all interest rates are comparable, choose the lowest balance and attack that card first. Pay the minimum payment to all cards except the one chosen for the pay off. Send every extra dollar you can afford to the card with the lowest balance. After a few months, hopefully, you will find that this card is paid in full or at least close to being completely paid off. This is your goal and eliminating one card from your list of debtors will make you feel very good about your debt reduction. You can then move on to the next lowest balance available. Now that you have eliminated onr card, it is time to concentrate on the next card to be paid in full. You will have one less payment to make which will free up some additional money to be applied to this card. The cycle will continue in your favor. The one thing you must be honest about is that you will not charge any additional purchases to these cards. A charge of new purchases will destroy this plan and prevent you from resolving your credit card debt. This can lead to failure and you will continue to be in debt for the future. I know that I do not want to have this happen to me and I will do whatever is necessary to continue on the path to a debt-free future as that is what I want for both myself and my family.

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School Night Children watch TV?

March 14, 2008 – 7:11 am

Children in this country spend way too much time watching TV and playing video games. Although, playing video games may improve hand eye coordination, most video games are not thought provoking and don’t require children to use their actual brain. Don’t get me wrong, there are some video games that do require you to think, just as there are good educational television shows out there. The problem is sorting out the benefits vs. the risks and how much is too much, even when it is educational.

On study found that students who watch television, movies and video games on school nights do worse in the classroom than peers who don’t.

The study of school performance and “screen time” spent viewing television shows, movies — including R-rated content — and video games found that school performance declined as the amount of time spent in front of a screen on weeknights increased.

“Our data support the recommendation that parents limit weekday television and video game time to less than one hour and restrict access to adult media by limiting exposure to cable movie channels and R-rated movies and videos,” wrote the study’s author, Dr. Iman Sharif of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

The number of students who had poor performance rose as weekday television screen time surpassed three hours and time spent playing video games rose past one hour on weekdays, found the study.

So what can we do about this. It is definitely taking over our society. Well for all you concerned parents out there, who are having trouble keeping up with how much TV your kids are watching each day, there is a new device on the market called BOB. What BOB does is holds a profile for every single person in your household. Bob is a great device that not only works on your TV but also on your video game console as well. It holds up to 6 profiles and everyone has their own unique password. Each person has a set amount of time and once that amount of time has been used off that account the device shuts off. It only takes about 3 minutes to set up.

The cost of one of these devices is about $70.00 and can be purchased online or at an electronics store. How it works is that it plugs into the power source and then you plug the device right into BOB. It locks into BOB so that the cord cannot be removed without breaking it. Although, it is a little pricey, the kids will turn off the TV every time they leave the room because if they leave it on, they are using up there TV and video game time. This device can not only work for your TV and video game console, but also for your home computers. The great thing is that you will have no more battles with the kids to get off things. If they stay on too long BOB will just kick them off.

They will also learn from this to better manage their time, and to be picky about which shows or games are really worth their time. The password thing is great too, because you know that in a house with more than one kid, you would hear — that wasn’t my show that was his show. Now you (correction BOB) will know who turned it on to watch. All the reviews I have read through about BOB have been wonderful. Parents, even the skeptical ones are impressed with BOB and not only can you set the amount of time they can watch per day or per week, but you can even block out certain times from them. Like one family I read about blocked out the time when the kids first get in from school. They, like most parents today, found that the kids would come in tired from school and plop down in front of the TV or start playing the Nintendo. Then it was difficult to get the electronic devices off and the work started. Then once they would get their kids off the electronics they found that they were extremely whiny and uncooperative, and as soon as they would turn their backs for a few minutes, the kids would drift back in front of the TV again.

Now everyone can limit video games and television, without hiding the remotes and other accessories, and now BOB can be the bad guy. He doesn’t care if they are in the middle of a game or show, or if they beg for 5 more minutes. He gives them a 60 second warning and BOOM they’re off— END OF DISCUSSION!

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Learning is Tricky Business

March 12, 2008 – 8:44 am

Online school is becoming a more and more popular alternative to traditional in school learning. With the growing popularity of the internet and so many people needing to return to school to improve their financial status, attending an online college or online university is a practical solution. Many Americans are overwhelmed with the responsibilities of family and work and have little time to dedicate to schooling. Online schooling is not just for older people. More and more younger students are choosing this option as it is more cost effective and makes it easier to work full time and meet the demands of a job while also bettering their chances of increasing their earning potential.

Many people just think of online school as a way to obtain a GED or get through some sort of certificate program. These days there are many online schooling options like interior design school (online) or mechanic school (online). There are also culinary schools and trade schools online as well. Web design school and graphic design school have become very popular online options over the past few years as well.

There are many options to getting an online degree. Some of the options you can choose are:

Online Masters Degree Program

MBA degree online

Online Bachelors degree

Any online College Degree

It is amazing what you can do online. They offer ACT test prep online as well as CRE test prep and SAT test prep. You can do all your applying and admissions work online, too. You barely have to ever see the campus from which you obtain your degree.

The following are some of the best reasons to choose online degrees as an alternative to a traditional degree:

1. WHENEVER YOU WANT – You can work on your degree on your own timetable. Unlike a tradition school, your school is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If you want to work on your course work at 3am because you can’t sleep, then class is in session. A great option for those students with other commitments.

2. WHEREVER YOU WANT – Let’s say you need to relocate, or go out of town, or even just feel like spending the next weekend at the beach, well unlike the traditional school, your school can go wherever you do. Don’t let school tie you down, take it with you, it is as portable as your laptop.

3. BE A SELF MOTIVATOR – Working on your degree online does take work. You must be disciplined to do your work and turn it in. You must be able to learn independently and since you must turn in your work via the internet it will give you an opportunity to work on your written communication skills as you will not have the opportunity to impress your professors in person, verbally.

4. ACCELERATED PACE – An online degree can be obtained much faster than a degree at a traditional learning institution. Most online classes are offered at an accelerated pace so this is a quicker path to a degree and the higher paying job you deserve.

5. GET IT FOR FREE – Many employers will be more apt to pay for part or all of your tuition for an online degree. Since it requires less time away from the actual workplace and tuition is usually less, it is the perfect opportunity to better your future at your employers expense.

6. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE – Since you are learning online, and not from some old textbook, your knowledge is the up to the minute, newest information, in whatever your field. Also, the condensed nature of the coursework, keeps most of your learning relevant to your chosen field, without all of the extraneous information offered in traditional courses.

7. FIT TO YOUR NEEDS – The best thing is that you make it what you need it to be. You have the flexibility to have a life, family or job and to work your educational needs around your personal ones. Life doesn’t stop for classes, but with online learning you don’t have to worry about being late for class. When you are ready, your class is there for you.

According to the Sloan Consortium report Making the Grade: Online Education in the United States, 2006, 3.2 million students took online courses in the fall of 2005, an increase from the 1.6 million students reported in the fall of 2002.

So whether you are just starting out or returning later in life, online courses have a lot to offer. Everything from trade schools to online degrees are not only at your convenience but at your finger tips. Why wait until you have the extra time to attend classes? Online schooling is ready when you are. Take this opportunity to jump online and sign up today. Don’t spend one more minute at that dead end, low paying job. Get a relevant degree, get it done quick, and best of all fit it in where it works best for you.

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Video Games controlling our children

March 12, 2008 – 8:43 am

With the growing popularity of a sedentary lifestyle and the introduction of video games and the internet, more and more people in our society are becoming obese. What I personally have observed, is that even in the school districts there is less and less emphasis on physical activity. For instance, I was in a Kindergarten classroom recently and these children were expected to spend most of their day sitting. They only were designated a recess time (on the playground) of 15 minutes in their day. Most children are only receiving PE once every 10 school days now. It is no wonder that our kids are becoming more and more obese.

In schools as well as at home, kids are being encouraged to be still and be quiet. Even in a classroom, they need to stay seated and any activity, even just wiggling is discouraged. I understand that our kids need to learn, however, aren’t there more active methods of learning that we could explore. Many studies show that physical activity does affect mental ability. So shouldn’t we encourage the children of this country to learn while moving. It would be so much more beneficial to encourage learning activities and games that require them using their bodies as well as their minds.

At home, children should be encouraged to go outside and play and shut off the TV and the video games. They should also be encouraged to read. Many children have plenty of access to TV and video games, however, very little exposure to reading and books. Is it no wonder our children are becoming overweight and not succeeding?

Not eating right is also a concern as many children are not getting the healthy nutrition sources they need to thrive. As noted in this study from How to Teach Nutrition to Kids by Connie Liakos Evers, MS, RD:

In 2002, data showed that 15% of children and teens are considered overweight, a tripling since 1980. An additional 15% of kids and teens are considered “at risk” for becoming overweight.

“This epidemic increase in childhood overweight is particularly prevalent among African American and Hispanic children, with more than 21% of these groups meeting the classification of overweight. It is estimated that about half of overweight school-agers and 70% of overweight teens will remain obese into adulthood.”

“While the CDC and other organizations recommend that children participate in physical activity a minimum of an hour daily, kids are actually engaging in less physical activity, particularly as they approach adolescence.”

“More than 75% of children ages 6-11 do not eat the minimum of 3 servings of vegetables or 2 servings of fruit daily.”

Playing is actually the best exercise for our kids. It not only helps them lose weight but also creates healthy habits for the future. Encouraging healthy eating along with exercise will create a new fitness trend.

Unfortunately, if your child is already obese, you must take steps to address it now. Many of the diet programs can and will adapt themselves for use with children. Many like Jenny Craig and weight watchers will help you gear them towards children. Other options for you may be a low fat or low carb diet that you could put them on and still allow them to eat some of their favorite foods. South beach diet and atkins diet are a bit extreme for a younger person, but could probably be altered to cover their nutritional needs.

I really suggest that if your child is overweight, that you are not alone. As seen in these figures from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

More than a third of young people in grades 9-12 do not regularly engage in vigorous-intensity physical activity. Daily participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42% in 1991 to 32% in 2001 (CDC, 2002).

15.3%of children ages 6 to 11 were overweight in 1999 and 2000, more than triple the average of 4.2 percent from 1963 to 1970.

More than 50% of American adults do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits. 25% of adults are not active at all in their leisure time.

Activity decreases with age and is less common among women than men and among those with lower income and less education.

This is not just a problem for kids, but for adults as well. So if you can the best thing you can do is make fitness a family project. Incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day into your routine. I know that sounds like a lot of time, but how much time are you and your family spending together in front of the TV or video game console? Is 30 minutes time that you don’t have, or time that you are spending on these activities? Also, change to a healthy diet which includes vitamins, nutritional supplements, and fruits and vegetables. Everyone, no matter how much they weigh could benefit from improving their diet and I think that you will find that weightloss may be a natural result of taking these actions.

No, you don’t have to go completely low carbohydrate or join a gym or take up Pilates, you just need to make a few subtle lifestyle changes that will improve your life. It is definitely worth your while to try it. I guarantee that you will not only look better, but will have more energy. Remember an object in motion stays in motion, but an object at rest stays at rest. Become an object in motion and you will see that once you gain so momentum, you will be unstoppable.

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Stay Fit or Get Old

March 12, 2008 – 8:42 am

Everyday, I get a lot of people asking me which weightloss program is right for me. Things that you must consider when choosing a weight loss program are will this fit my lifestyle and can I keep up with the diet, even when I am out of my element. I will provide a quick review of each diet plan so as to better help you make an informed choice.

Weight Watchers – takes a four pillar approach to healthy weight loss. Their program includes diet, exercise, support and behavior. Their diet plan does not eliminate any of the four food groups. They encourage attending group support meetings in addition to adding exercise and counting points for each food for a total point count per day. They do offer their own foods as well as allow you to eat other foods. There are fees involved for joining the program.

Jenny Craig – uses a food, body, mind approach. This program encourages using their prepackaged foods, they encourage eating smaller portions more often during the day. There is a monthly fee plus the cost of food.

Best Life Diet – a more do it yourself kind of diet, endorsed by Oprah. This diet comes in book form. It includes: An extensive menu plan tailored to your specific calorie needs and food preferences plus a comprehensive recipe database and interactive food and exercise logs. Enter what you’ve eaten and how much you’ve exercised, and they’ll give you feedback on how you’re doing. As for this diet, if you are a self motivator this diet is for you, however, you must have access to being to prepare your own meals and be a little more skillful in the kitchen.

Beck Diet – another book to read. A weight loss plan based on thinking like a thin person. I have not read the book however, it seems to get you to look at the causes of your over eating and take more of an emotional approach to weight loss.

Atkins Diet – the philosophy of this diet is a low carb approach. Allows you to eat plenty of meat and veggies. Does offer some prepackaged foods. The great thing about this diet is that the whole diet plan is offered online for free. Includes carb counter for just about all foods, recipes and all four phases of their recommended plan free downloads that you can print up.

South Beach Diet – this is a diet book and a diet program. You must sign up to be able to access this website. It takes a 3 step approach to weight loss. The first step is to kick off weight loss and help stop cravings. Step 2 is steady weight loss. Step 3 is their maintenance step to help keep the weight off. This is a low carb diet, however, it is my feeling that if a low carbohydrate diet plan is what you are looking for, then Atkins which is a free program would probably be a better choice.

Many people these days are choosing a low fat way of eating to lose weight. After all, there are many low fat items offered right in our grocery store. This is a good plan if you will be self disciplined and really watch what you eat, not just eat the same amount of low fat food as you would regular foods. This will probably not give you the desired result.

Diet pills are another way many people who are desperate to lose weight fast are trying. If you are interested in this method, may I suggest that you go to your natural health store and try to find nutritional supplements and vitamins that are designed with this in mind.

Although, many people are trying for the quick fix and rapid weight loss, most doctors are still recommending that you make the lifestyle changes that are needed to get to and maintain a healthy weight and body for life. Eating right, to include many fruits and vegetables, more natural foods, and less meat will probably help you take off those unwanted pounds. If you do this and incorporate a healthier attitude toward fitness, with regular trips to the gym, walking, jogging, playing a sport, Yoga, Pilates, or Aerobics you will find that looking back at you through the mirror will be a happier, healthier, firmer you. Doctors say that the results of these lifestyle changes will be less likely to have you regain those extra pounds. The problem with diets, they site, is that once you lose the weight you come off the diet and return to your old eating and exercise habits. The best thing you can do is change your life forever.

These changes are not easy to make, but take the time to restructure your life to include healthy quick grab items and turn your TV time into activity time. The result you will find will be a gradual change from low energy to high energy. Once you get to that point, you won’t want to go back.

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Brain Fart!

March 12, 2008 – 8:41 am

I absolutely love the internet. Being able to hop online and buy anything you want whenever you want is so cool. I mean all you need is a debit card or a credit card and you can get just about anything you need and all from the comfort of your home.

Think about it. Did you ever think, wow maybe I would like to travel? So you get on your computer and it is all right there at your fingertips. You can compare hotels and motels and find the cheapest airfare. You can find a monthly vacation rental or book a cruise. If a group tour is more your speed then you can do that too. What about a weekend at an all inclusive resort? It’s there…just type it in. Everything from a beachfront rental to a ski vacation rental all just a click away.

Maybe travel is not your thing. Maybe you are a bit more practical and would like some information of investing. Online you can find everything from investing in real estate to stock market investing. What if you just need some investment advice for your current investments, yep it’s right there too. Even if you just want to buy a piece of property cheap, just type in bank foreclosures and you are on your way.

How about schooling? Online you can find everything from learning web design and medical transcription to an online masters degree program. The internet can provide you with GRE test prep, ACT test prep, and SAT test prep. You can attend an online college or online university and never leave your home. If you prefer the more traditional schooling and like to get out then you can just use the internet for your admissions process to get into a more traditional school.

Find a lawyer. Get yourself a tax attorney, bankruptcy lawyer, divorce attorney, or accident lawyer. Top law firm or free law advice, whatever you need at the drop of your hat.

The e-world is full of stuff and information. Did you know that you can apply for credit cards online? All kinds…American Express, Visa and MasterCard. You can check your get a free credit report, buy a gift card and check your credit card miles. You can get information about good credit, bad credit, and credit card debt. You can apply for debt consolidation loans, get financial advice, take out a HELOC (home equity line of credit) or even refinance. You can take out a payday loan and even get a cash advance.

You can find out about the latest fad diets. Weight watchers vs. Jenny Craig, best life diet vs. beck diet. Low carb, low fat, dieting and eating right are all hot topics. Get advice on fitness, exercise, vitamins and diet pills. What about nutritional supplements and natural healing…Guess what! They’re out there too.

Maybe you would rather find out if you are paying too much for your car insurance. Get online and compare rates. You can not only switch insurance companies online, but you can also file claims. You can buy life insurance, homeowners insurance, affordable health insurance and so much more. It can be tough to choose with so many reputable companies online like State Farm, Allstate and Nationwide, even Aflack has a site(for your long term and short term disability needs.)

Shopping has to be the best. Especially at Christmas time, when it is cold outside. That is the time I love to shop from home. I love to find all the great deals on Ebay and Amazon. I have personally bought video games, laptop computers, concert tickets (as well as football tickets, baseball tickets, and hockey tickets), and computer software online. Also HD DVD and CD’s. I have bought clothing, paintings, and hair conditioner. I have bought jewelry and homeopathic remedies. I do my banking online. I pay my bills online. I research illness and treatments for family members online. I use the online dictionary and thesaurus. I do all my term paper research online. My computer is my phone book. If I need a phone number, I type it into my computer, same with addys. I look at the weather online and get all my directions and maps online. I view the news online. Look up jobs in the classifieds online. I have even applied for jobs and submitted resumes online. I buy my car insurance online and have changed my policy online. I check on rebates online and print coupons online.

There are so many things that I do online, that I myself can hardly believe the list. The scary thing is, if you asked me if I used my computer a lot I would say no. I do know that I had a time where my computer was down for about 24 hours and I went to it so many times. I didn’t really realize how reliant I had become on it.

It is really hard to believe that only about 20 years ago no one had one. Now today, almost every household has one. How did we ever live without these things? Having the internet is like having your own personal assistant working for you 24 hours 7 days a week.

Posted in General Information | No Comments »

Have a Website, does anyone know about it?

March 12, 2008 – 8:40 am

Now is truly the time to break into the area of web design. With the internet’s ever increasing popularity and availability, more and more people are putting up there own web sites everyday. Most people, like myself, don’t know much about how to design templates or web design. We may have great ideas for a website but the real question is how to turn those great ideas into a site that will look nice, be well functioning, and get the kind of traffic needed to make money.

As a newcomer to the internet world, I knew I wanted to create my own website and start my own business. My business ideas were solid, however, I had absolutely no clue how or where to begin. So for all the beginners out there here are some ideas on how to get started.

The first thing you must do is get what is called a domain name. This is the name that your online business will use. You must come up with a name and register that name online. There is an annual fee for doing this. When choosing a domain name, you want to pick a name that will catch people’s attention and is relevant to what your site is about. Once you register your domain name, then even if you decide to change your web host, your domain name can go with you so you won’t lose any of the business that you have established. It will also give you credibility as being a legitimate business that people can trust.

You must choose several domain names that suit you. Make a list and brainstorm ideas with family and friends. This is important since most of the time your first choice will not be available. Then you can either make a choice to register your own domain name or find a web hosting service that can do this for you. To register your own name you can go to different sites like godaddy.com or register.com. For a nominal fee (from $10 - $40 per year) they will assign you a domain name of your very own. If you use web hosting services like Joomla then they will provide you with domain registration services as well SEO (search engine optimization) plus affordable web design. (In my opinion, using a service that helps you do it all is easier for the beginner, then if there are problems you always contact the same people.)

If you choose to get the domain name yourself, then your next step is to get a web host next anyway. A web host is basically a company that has many computers connected to the Internet. When you place your web pages on their computers, everyone in the world will be able to connect to it and view them. You will need to sign up for an account with a web host so that your website has a home.

Your next step is to design your website. If you are using an all inclusive web host like Joomla then you will use their joomla templates to for your web design. (This affordable web design service also provides you with a joomla expert to help you through the process.) These services are great for the beginner as their site will take you from beginning to end with a step by step guide. This is the best way for a novice to get an affordable web design and still have it look professional.

You should then check out your own website as a consumer would and use several different search engines to find it. View it as a customer would looking for any inconsistencies etc.

Then you have to set up a form to accept payments on your site. You can do this using shopping cart solutions. You can set up to take payments through paypal or take credit card payments on your own. Either way you will have to purchase a Security Certificate to insure that a persons information will not be leaked when they are typing it in on your website.

Lastly it will be time to get your website noticed. You will need higher PR by getting your site noticed through text links and link exchange. This is a process by which web sites cross reference to other sites. You will also have to get Google optimization, yahoo optimization and msn optimization. What this means is that you have to get noticed by these big guys. You must submit your website to them and offer up keywords (terms that are relevant to your site and what it offers). SEO (search engine optimization) is the most important thing that you can do to build web traffic. If you are using a web host that provides this kind of service for you great. If you aren’t then you can see about hiring SEO consultants or using SEO tools that can help you get the job done. If you do these things then you will find that improving your page rank is simple and maybe you can eventually get a #1 ranked site on one of the bigger search engines.

As a novice trying to get a website up can be a challenge. The best advice I can give you, if you have read all this and still don’t have a clue. Go online and investigate starting your own website and look up web hosting services. Find a professional SEO company or web developer who will provide you with a full range of services all on one site. Shop around and do your homework, and you will have your own web site up and running in no time.

Posted in SEO, Technology | No Comments »

US Population is going deeper into debt

March 12, 2008 – 8:39 am

Many people are swimming in debt, with no relief in sight. These days more and more people are choosing to stop using their credit cards, which is a major source of debt in this country. According to Credit card industry facts and personal debt statistics (2006-2007) By Ben Woolsey the following is true:

• Total US consumer debt (which includes installment debt, but not mortgage debt) reached $2.46 Trillion in June 2007, up from $2.398 Trillion at the end of 2006 (Source: Federal Reserve)
• Total US consumer revolving debt reached $904 Billion in June 2007, up from $879 billion at the end of 2006 (Source: Federal Reserve)
• The median U.S. household income is currently $43,200 and the typical family’s credit card balance is now almost 5 percent of their annual income. (Source: Federal Reserve)
• Of the households that do owe money on credit cards, the median balance was $2,200 — meaning half owe more, half less. (Source: MSN Money)
• 8.3 percent of households owe $9,000 or more on their cards (Source: MSN Money)
• Approximately 40 percent of credit card users paid their balance in full each month in 2006 (Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia)
• The majority of U.S. households have no credit card debt. About a quarter have no credit cards, and an additional 30 percent of households pay off their balances every month. (Source: Federal Reserve)
• On average, today’s consumer has a total of 13 credit obligations on record at a credit bureau. These include credit cards (such as department store charge cards, gas cards or bank cards) and installment loans (auto loans, mortgage loans, student loans, etc.). Not included are savings and checking accounts (typically not reported to a credit bureau). Of these 13 credit obligations, nine are likely to be credit cards and four are likely to be installment loans. (Source: myfico.com)
• 51 percent of the US population has at least two credit cards (Source: Center for Media Research)
• Approximately 14 percent of Americans use 50 percent or more of their available credit, and this group carries an average of 6.6 credit cards (Source: Center for Media Research)
• Those utilizing at least 50 percent of their credit lines have an average credit score of 645, compared to the national average of 674 (Source: Center for Media Research)
• One in six families with credit cards pays only the minimum due every month. (Sources: American Bankers Association, Federal Reserve)
• On average, today’s consumers are paying their bills on time, with less than half of all consumers have ever been reported as 30 or more days late on a payment. Only three out of 10 have ever been 60 or more days overdue on any credit obligation. Seventy-seven percent of all consumers have never had a loan or account that was 90+ days overdue, and less than 20 percent have ever had a loan or account closed by the lender due to default. (Source: myfico.com)
• About 40 percent of credit card holders carry a balance of less than $1,000. About 15 percent are far less conservative in their use of credit cards and have total card balances in excess of $10,000. When you look at the total of all credit obligations combined (except mortgage loans), 48 percent of consumers carry less than $5,000 of debt. This includes all credit cards, lines of credit, and loans-everything but mortgages. Nearly 37 percent carry more than $10,000 of non-mortgage-related debt as reported to the credit bureaus. (Source: myfico.com)
• The typical consumer has access to approximately $19,000 on all credit cards combined. More than half of all people with credit cards are using less than 30 percent of their total credit card limit. Just over one in seven are using 80 percent or more of their credit card limit. (Source: myfico.com)
• The average consumer’s oldest obligation is 14 years old, indicating that he or she has been managing credit for some time. In fact, we found that one out of four consumers had credit histories of 20 years or longer. Only one in 20 consumers had credit histories shorter than two years. (Source: myfico.com)
• The average consumer has had only one credit inquiry on his or her accounts within the past year. Fewer than 6 percent had four or more inquiries resulting from a search for new credit. (Source: myfico.com)
• There has been a 23 percent increase over the past five years in the number of credit cardholders who use cards that accumulate points for merchandise and/or airline tickets. (Source: Vertis)
• At least one in 10 consumers have more than 10 credit cards in their wallets. However, the overall average number of credit cards per consumer is four. (Source: Experian’s “National Score Index”)
• Twenty-nine percent of low and middle income households with credit card debt reported that medical expenses contributed to their current balances. (Source: www.demos.org)
• U.S. consumers racked up an estimated $51 billion worth of fast food on their personal credit and debit cards in 2006, compared to $33.2 billion one-year ago. (Source: www.carddata.com)
• Americans over 50 are more likely to have a credit card than those 25 – 49 years old, but tend to use them less frequently (Source: 2007 AARP Payments Study)
• Eighty-eight percent of consumers surveyed admitted to immediately shredding or simply throwing out credit card offers they receive in the mail (Source: GfK Roper Survey)
• Only 50 percent of consumers survey are satisfied with their primary credit card (Source: GfK Roper Survey)
• Low interest rate is by far the most important factor when choosing a new credit card, cited by 58 percent of respondents (Source: GfK Roper Survey)
• Nearly one in every three consumer purchases in the United States is made with a payment card—including credit, debit, and prepaid products. (Source: Visa USA)
• Of every $100 spent by consumers, nearly $40 is in a form other than cash or check. (Source: Visa USA)
• Consumers carry more than 1 billion Visa cards worldwide—more than 450 million of those cards are in the United States (Source: Visa USA)
• U.S. Visa cardholders alone conduct more than $1 trillion in annual volume (Source: Visa USA)
• The average ticket for Visa purchases is consistently more than cash (Source: Visa USA)

So what do you do if you are one of these people who are in over their heads and being strangled by your debt.

First, find a debt consolidation company that can not only help you combine all your items in to one monthly payment, but may also be able to provide you with a debt consolidation loan to reduce your interest rate. They can sometimes also reduce some of your credit card balances for you. They can also figure out a monthly payment that you can afford.

Next, you must be sure that you can honestly make this payment ON TIME every month, so that you can become debt free and improve your credit history. If you do this you will get on a better track and eventually get rid of your bad credit.

Lastly, you absolutely must NOT use any more credit cards until you get this situation under control. Your debit card is a much better option for paying for things, but be sure to keep track of your purchases so that you don’t overdraw your bank account.

Getting good financial advice today, will help you avoid bankruptcy and get you on the right track today.

Posted in Credit-Debit, debt | No Comments »