First, I must apologize for the sporadic nature of my posts lately. I've been very busy at a new job and have had difficulty finding time. I hope to improve in this area soon.
We've been hearing a lot about the sub-prime mortgage industry causing problems. Although this is an important part of the current economic issues, we are actually in what I would call a "Perfect Storm" for economic problems in the United States. Here's the situation:
Continue reading "We Had it Coming" »
...but you still have authority over it. Despite how much money you may or may not have, it is only a tool. Just like a hammer. As with any tool, if you misuse it, you'll probably get hurt at some point. So the question becomes, "how do I learn to effectively use this tool?"
Continue reading "Cash is King" »
...I'm just spending the money elsewhere. I just got the article from the NY Times that Tom SheepandGoats sent me. It didn't surprise me, but I was shocked at how effective the banks' reasoning seems to be.
Continue reading "I'm Not Avoiding Taxes...." »
Tom SheepandGoats, a fellow blogger,
emailed me recently and advised that the NY Times recently had an
article on the abuse of the elderly that some debt collection companies
are doing to collect on debts. He said he'd mail me a copy of the
article, but I couldn't help but start researching this ahead of time.
What I found shocked me, and I'm a pretty cynical guy.
Continue reading "Bill Collectors!" »
It doesn't make sense, does it? I've heard many people ask, "how could someone make such a bad decision regarding the mortgage that they took out on their home?" The simple answer is:
They had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
Continue reading "How Did People Get Into This Mess?" »
It's 10 below outside, and your furnace just quit on you. The repairman tells you that you need a new one, and it will cost you $3000. The finance company declines you because your credit isn't up to par.
You've obtained a quote for auto insurance. You paid your down payment. Ten days later, you receive a letter advising that your premium is double your quote, because your credit score isn't very good.
Continue reading "Keep Your Finances Spiffy!" »