What Am I Trying to Learn??

Time Flys

2011-01-28T11:17:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe how fast time can get away from you. So much has happened over the last 18 months I would not even know where to begin. I am hoping to continue my blog sometime in the near future.

2010-08-10T12:35:00.001-04:00

For the first time in my life I am doing things for ME,,,Not the most frugal thing to do but I don't care at the moment,,,more on that later.

2010-08-09T20:51:00.003-04:00

? list, setting up the MMS option then updating on all that has transpired in the last 6-9 months.

2010-08-09T20:51:00.001-04:00

? This is a test post to see if I have set up my mobile blogging option correctly. If all goes well I will be able to post whenever I would like. Next on

Articles of interest

2010-05-18T15:53:00.001-04:00

10 Ways You're Getting Ripped Off

8 Phony 'Bargains' and Better Alternatives

Has It Really Been 7 Months?

2010-05-12T23:52:00.003-04:00

Wow!! So much to talk about but I do still exist; will try to update ASAP.

In my absence received some very encouraging comments--thank you.

I will have to review some of my past posts and attempt to pick up where I left off, something I hope to do soon.

And so it goes,,,

2009-09-09T22:11:00.000-04:00

Have realized that I am not getting the internet time that I need. The job hunting aspect has slowed a bit as I need to spend time making a pest of myself and call about applications I have filed. I need to spend time doin my paid-to-read programs and surveys. It's not a lot of money but it is at least something. I need to talk to roomamte as soon as my 401k money gets here. I also need to spend less time on facebook at my friends and more on my PTR!

Update: I didn't to too well with this. Actually didnt spend much time online. I really need to get the internet hooked up at apartment, but need an income to do that. Im just not sure wich direction to go,,,thinking sticking with a landline and dial-up for now as it would only be one added item instead of 2 if I went with cable (I would still need a phone). Need to see if JUNO is available in Wichita. I don't need anything fancy just a basic internet connection.

So far there is nothing new on the job situation. Starting monday I will be making daily sojourns to Labor Ready. They are the day labor "temp agency" A friend told me about. Had every intention to do down today (8/29/09) but we didn't get home until 3AM and I was beyond tired. I need to be serious about LR until I'm able to find permenant employment.

Went to one of the local Pizza Huts on Monday (9/1/09) they actually had a now hiring sign up. Am now waiting for a call back. If I dont hear from them by Thursday will be taking a walk back there to inquire as to the progress. Did another resume and geared it towards food service; may take that with me.

Update: I didn't make it to Labor ready this past week as I was waiting on 2 calls for possible job interiews. That was a waste, I did return to the local Pizza Hut to follow up with them, but manager was unavailable. First thing Teusday I will be returning and making a pest of myself. Im a bit mad at myself but with not having my cell phone available I had to be "home" (at my friends) to get any possible call. I wanted to be able to go immediately for an interview. Kicking self for that bad idea.

I have decided to apply for a job postion with a company that I initially was hesitant to apply to. As much as I hate to admit it, Im not hving mush luck on the job hunt. I still believe that something will eventually come up, but like a friend said I can no longer be as picky. I just need to double check a few bits of information and try and find more information concerning the company. Who knows it may turn out to be a good thing if hired. Im going to bug Pizza Hut first though then do the application for this company.

If both of these option fall through then I will be returning to Labor ready. As much as I dread waking at 330AM, it is the best thing I can do for myself at this point in time. I need evey dime I can get my hands on.

Finally got good news concerning my 401k distribution, the money has been withdrawn. So with luck I will have it by the end of the week. I know they say not to take a distribution becasue of the tax ramifications, but it was a small amount, under $400, and I don't have anywhere to roll it over. I will have to live on that money until I secure employment, so it will come in handy.

Update: Received my distribution today 9/5/09, was bumeed becasue they took federal taxes out so check wasn't as much as I had planned. In the long run it is probably a good thing. I was able to repay some of what I feel I owe my friend for all her help since moving here; also paid money to roommate for our electric bill. Regretfully I still need to pay them more, but needed to get groceries, phone card for cell, and money for new glasses (which will be reimbursed--more on that later). I also need to have money to use for bus transportation so friend won't feel like she has to cart me around.

Been working on multiple posts to publish in the coming days and discovered some new topics to discuss: telecommuting, a post about the different types of flour and their uses (will be new info for me), different types of leavening agents and their uses (non-yeast quick bread recipes), and now that I live in Kansas better learn about emergency preparedness for tornadoes.

One post is done, with one almost done. I also thought I may write about the application process for receiving social services if i decide to apply. Not sure as yet what that will entail, especially since I dont have a permenant address.

As I mentioned a few weeks past, I have been in contact with the local LIONs club in an attempt to receive assistance for getting an eye-exam and glasses. I did hear back from them and they approved me for both. I have already had my exam (45 years old and I have cataracts, which explains the change in my eye-sight in recent months) and they have approved me for lenses and frames at a re-imbursement cost of $50. The nice thing about it, they will allow me to utilize the services of Zenni Optical, an online company that has full single lense glasses starting at $8 and lined bi-focals starting at $36. I have to pay first then submit the receipt. They liked the idea so much they asked for more information and want to know what my experience ends up like for future reference.

Once my eye issues are taken care of the next item is dental. It really stinks that all this got pushed so far into the backround prior to my leaving PA. I had halfway decent insurance but all my money was tied up in moving out and re-establishing housing. It's ashame that I hadn't thought of moving to KS even sooner than I did.

Received some paperwork from unemployment concerning my appeal. They now want a hearing which I can do by phone but the only problem is my cell is a prepaid and I only keep minutes on it when I can afford it. In other words I will probably be out by the time the 17th rolls around. I could use my friends phone but she usually does not get up for they day before 1-2PM due to her health issues. Going to have to see if I can spend the night in order to use here phone.

That pretty much sums up my past week. Hope all have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!!

M-L-M Compensation Plans

2009-09-09T22:04:00.002-04:00

Compensation plans in network marketing / MLM vary from one company to the next; they are at best difficult to understand it is up to you to ask questions when evaluating any company's pay plan. Some are front end loaded or they maybe back end loaded. As a general rule of thumb anytime you see a payout of more then 60% be suspect.

Types of compensation plans within multi-level-marketing; an overview of how various kinds of compensation plans work:
MATRIX PLANS--most MLM companies use some kind of matrix-based compensation plan; a system where you sign up some people one level below yourself; and those people sign up more people on the next level, and so forth (7 levels seems to be the average depth of matrix based plans).

Typically, you will get a commission on the "purchases" made by everyone who ends up within some fixed number of levels from you. For example, you may get a commission of 5% on sales generated by everyone who ends up in your first 7 levels. (Many systems pay different percentages on different levels-- company may pay 3% commission on purchases made by people in your first and second level, but 7% on the sales from the third level.)

Your basic model of a matrix plan would be the classic "8-ball" model which contains a total of 15 members. The triangular setup in the billiard game of eight-ball corresponds to an arithmetic progression 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 15. The pyramid scheme, in contrast, is a geometric progression 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 = 15. In The 8-Ball Model, the person recruiting does not get paid at all until they have recruited 3 levels worth of new members. When the 8 are recruited, Person A receives the "participation fee" for all 8 people of level 4.

UNILEVEL PLANS--In a unilevel system, you can sign up as many people you want on your first level, and everyone under you is free to do the same. This type of plan is often considered the simplest of compensation plans. Commissions are paid primarily based on the number of levels a recipient is from the original representative who is purchasing the product. Commissions are not based on title or rank achieved. By qualifying with a minimum sales requirement, representatives earn unlimited commissions on a limited number of levels of downline recruited representatives.

FORCED MATRIX SCHEMES--The matrix is different amongst the pyramid schemes. A matrix is a pay plan that is fairly easy to explain to those you want to get involved with it. Why? Because it simply is a matter of getting a certain number of people on your first level downline, and duplicating that a certain number of levels beneath you and them.

If you're in a four by seven matrix, for example, what that means is you will have people placed under you as they are sponsored into your distributorship until you have four on your frontline directly beneath you. Once this line is filled the next level will be filled, again, four wide, until you eventually have all seven levels filled with a grand total of 28 people in your organization. Once you have your required number of people in your matrix it is considered 'filled' and you either start over on your eighth level with a new matrix or you just let your organization grow.

One Advantage of a Forced Matrix is Spillover. Spillover occurs when you sponsor more people then can fit on your first level.

BINARY PLANS--a multi-level marketing compensation plan which allows distributors to have only two, level one, downline distributors. If a distributor sponsors more than two distributors, the excess are placed at levels below the sponsoring distributor's level one downline.

What to watch for within a binary payment plan: Most of the companies that use this type of program, generally pay you on the weaker leg in the binary. Your legs may be unbalanced causing you to have to keep a close watch on both legs.

BREAKAWAYS--once someone achieves a certain level of success, they "break away" and form their own group. This type of plan is characterized as having distributors who are responsible for both personal and group sales volumes. Once a predefined personal and/or group volumes are achieved, a distributor moves up a commission level. This continues until the distributor's sales volume reaches the top commission level and "breaks away" from their upline.

Pro and Con: assuming you meet certain qualifications, you are generally eligible for an override, an additional bonus based on the volume of that breakaway group; that group may well contain people who would have fallen more than seven levels away from you, so you are now getting something from people who before would have not generated any income for you. The downside is that you no longer get full commissions on that person, or those in their group who had fallen within your first seven levels. It is very important not to get sucked into graphs and numbers brought out and displayed for you.

Enter the,,,

INFINITY BONUSES--a system where a distributor can benefit from sales made more than seven levels away. Instead of stopping after a certain number of levels, this bonus continues through "infinite" levels UNTIL the system finds someone else who has met that qualification.

AUSTRALIAN "TWO-UP" PLANS--are likened to RECRUITING GAMES; the '2up' part of the name is what is at the heart of Aussie 2up pay plan. This refers to a structure where the first two people you recruit are "given" to your sponsor, all the rest of the people you recruit are yours. Each person you recruit will in turn give you the first two people they recruit, keeping the rest for themselves.

For every person brought into Aussie2up, by your first level downline, that joins from any of these people they immediately go up to you and you make the "bonus" off of them. BUT this only applies to the first two people that any of these people bring into the deal. Only the first two people move up to you. That's how it got the name '2up'. Two move up... to you.

Let's say you bring in five people into 2up and each of them bring in five. You only get the first two of each of these people's five that they brought into the deal. Essentially, you'd get ten of these 25 people moving up to your first level. Not only do you not get "bonus" from you initial five recruits, you lose 15 recruits from you second level as well.

Graphically, this does not create a matrix, but only something that resembles a first level downline. The downline keeps growing, as you recruit new people, and as they people you recruit give you their first two recruits.

HYBRID PLANS--Are compensation plans that are constructed using elements of more than one type of compensation plan.

Other incentives found with MLM payment plans:
Fast Start Bonus--it is used as an extra incentive to sponsor more people. The Fast Start Bonus is Typically a Lump sum payment of up to 100% of the First Months Membership for anyone you sponsor.

Sponsor Bonus--often used with a Forced Matrix; it is usually a Monthly Recurring Bonus and is paid each month on everyone you personally Sponsor.

Hopefully this bit of information is helpful if/when it comes time to evaluate offers that come your way. I know in my case it has prevented me from jumping the gun, and allowed me to look at offers in a better light.

________
Please note that a majority of the information posted came from the following articles MLM Compensation Plans by Scott Harris, www.mlm-thetruth.com --Various Types of Pyramid Schemes, 7 Different MLM Compensation Types Explained By Mike Makler.

Altho the idea behind this post is mine the the information belongs to others that have spent numerous months and years in researching the topic. I appologize for not doing a better job citing the works used.

This n That

2009-08-30T00:08:00.001-04:00

A frustrating weekend to say the least; I did not get much accomplished. Job hunting is getting a bit depressing as I have 30 applications and have yet to hear anything; beginning to wonder why. I really thought that I would have a job by now. It's time to play the hire me game; time to make a nuisance of myself and start making multiple calls to the management. Must now decide what companies to call and whether to continue calling if I were to get and interview.

Update: I got my first interview today at 200PM with one of the companies I was hoping for. I had a phone interview yesterday afternoon and they ask me to come in for as job interview. It's in the market research department doing phone surveys. The hours I would be working will be (if hired) 5-11PM M-F, 9AM-5PM S or 1-9PM S for $8/hr. At that pay rate I would definitely clear enough for my monthly expenses and be able to re-start my debt repayment. The only problem is the location, they have moved and have yet to update their information. I would have no trouble getting there by bus but I have no way of getting home.

I'm fairly confident that once I was hired that I would be able to find a ride with a co-worker BUT is it something I want to chance. So my friend and I will have to spend some time discussing options. I really hate the thought of having to rely on my friend to pick me up every night but I may have no choice, at least to begin with. Will have to see.

Have decided to decline the interview as transportation is going to be a problem at this point in time. I'm not happy about it, but I couldn't in good conscience tell them I had reliable transportation when I don't.

The frustrating part about the job hunting situations is that I out of money until my 401k distribution gets here. It should have been here by now but for some reason corporate is dragging their feet. I am thankful for my friends, as they have helpful concerning money issues, but I feel like a major mooch and it's beginning to irk me. I can only live so long off of my friends generosity before they get sick of it. So hopefully soon I will a job and I will be able to repay my friends for all their help.

Update: Received a call Tuesday morning from old job concerning the situation with my 401k. Found that I am the first person with a 401k to leave the company since new policy(s) has/have gone into effect. It turns out that HR, both plant and corporate, weren't sure how to handle a final distribution. It is my hope that by the middle of next week I will have my money. Also found out that the plant I worked at is not going to contest my unemployment appeal. The paperwork did not for the plant from PAUEC did not allow for an end date AND termination date; they just wanted to know when last day of work was and went by that. So maybe now I won't owe PAUEC $262.

I did get my resume and a cover letter out to one company. I am hoping good things may come of it; it's a part time gig during the evening and days on the weekend. With those hours I would still be able to find another PT gig during the days if needed. So I will be crossing my fingers. At $8/hr my monthly take home would be $800+ per month which would cover my planned expenses.

Since I did have to decline the above interview for this company, it has left me back at square one. I did find an interesting option, a "temp" agency that specializes in finding day labor - work today, paid today. I went to their office on Thursday (27th) and registered; have to report this morning at 5:30AM for possible job placement. So with some luck I will have some cash to get groceries and get some consistent placements until something opens elsewhere. If this works out well I could also receive an offer from a company that I am placed with. My friends suggestion may work out to my advantage.

I'm addicted to Facebook, more like 101 Eggs and Farmtown,,,lol! It's nice to have something fun to distract from the above. I haven't decided yet whether to attach my blog to my Facebook page or not, as of now I haven't. I do have some of my favorite frugal sites updated thro Facebook, which is nice. (No I don't do twitter,,,yet!)

Had my first T appointment today (8/25/09). Went OK, but a bit uncomfortable. Am still waiting on results of my paperwork concerning assistance. One thing I need to do is learn more about the system here in KS. From what little I know it is very different from PA.

Am considering returning to school to finish my degree. The school I wanted to use to pursue my degree tho appears to be in some kind of overhaul of their programs. So I must now look for another online alternative. I could utilize the colleges here in Wichita, and it is something I am exploring, but i need a lot of flexibility. There is one program I am exploring for pharmacy technician but I am having difficulty securing simple information without having to make a major committment to speak with someone at the school. All I want is the cost of the program so I can decide whether returning will be at all feasible now, or if its something I will have to save for or utilize a payment plan. Also need to make sure that I am making a good decision to pursue a different career choice and not rash decision made in a manic swing.

Should have an answer on Tuesday concerning my eye exam and glasses. Have my meeting with the local LIONs Club representative in the afternoon. I am confident they will be able to help. Next step is medical and dental issues; I do have two leads concerning both issues and will need to take the time to look into both. Update: Met with the representatives from the LIONS and filled out their required form. They meet on the 31st so won't have a definitive answer till sometime next week. Nothing said led me to believe that they wouldn't be able to help. It would be nice to have new glasses for new job if I get it.

What you may see on my blog over the course of the next few weeks: addition of a donation button, more articles--landlord/tenant issues; debt collection/debts in collection; purchasing a used car; mlm and pryamid schemes; power of attorney/living wills; and my search for my biological mom (for medical reasons only).

_____
I am still receiving spam emails from companies mentioned in prior post. They must be as desperate as I am!!

A Dangerous Similarity +

2009-08-30T00:04:00.001-04:00

Vector Group Inc. versus Vector Marketing Corporation. A questionable job offer compared to a legitimate job of a questionable nature.

If you remember I blogged about the Vector Group Inc here. A sweet offer that borders on being a scam. Whereas Vector Marketing Corp's offer is from the direct sales firm that markets Cutco Cutlery®; an excellent product although a bit pricey.

I am now wondering if Vector Group Inc. is trying to piggy-back on the name attempting to catch people unaware. In my opinion this shows the importance of doing your homework when considering any job offer.

__________

Received this little gem in my e-mail, notice any problems with this:

Reply |Diana Horn show details 7:30 AM (13 hours ago)
fromDiana Horn candidateemail@site.careerbuilder.com
reply-toafidevelopment@interestedinthejob.com
toDiana Horn candidateemail@site.careerbuilder.com
dateWed, Aug 26, 2009 at 7:30 AM
subjectMessage from Careerbuilder: You have a new message

Dear Applicant,
We have an exciting opportunity with our company for: Accounts Payable Manager/Payments Processor in your area with no need of relocation
New concept: Commissions without sales!! Job Snapshot Compensation: $85,000 - $95,000 per year Employee Type: Full-Time Employee Manages Others: Yes Job Type: Accounting - Finance Admin - Clerical Customer Service Desired Education Level: High School Experience: N/A Required Travel: NO Relocation: NO
Requirements: Must be US citizen, resident or green card holder Must have Microsoft Office Intermediate experience, checking emails 3 times/day.
If you are interested please reply back to be contacted by our Human Resources Department.
Sylvia Riddle
General Manager
5 attachments - Download all attachments image002.gif 1K View Download image004.gif 4K View Download image006.png 3K View Download image001.png 1K View Download image008.png 1K View Download

I have never heard of a job offer that contains downloads...has scam and virus trouble written all over it!! I am also still receiving e-mails from AIL

Multi-Level-Marketing

2009-08-22T01:55:00.002-04:00

Definition, what is, Multi-Level-Marketing:

Multi-level marketing (MLM/network marketing/matrix marketing) is a marketing structure used by businesses where a sales force is created by compensating promoter(s) [distributor(s) or any number of terms used] of company products not only for sales generated personally, but also for the sales of other promoters they introduced to the company, creating a down-line of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation.

Distributors represent the company that produces the products or provides the services they sell. They are awarded a commission based upon the volume of product sold through their own sales efforts as well as that of their down-line organization. One of the draws or hook to MLM, distributors can buy wholesale, sell retail, and recruit other distributors who can do the same.

This arrangement is similar to franchise arrangement--commissions are paid to distributors according to the company’s compensation plan; individuals can be at multiple levels of the structure receiving royalties from a single person's sales.

If a plan offers to pay commissions for recruiting new distributors, watch out! This is pyramiding, a multilevel marketing plan should only pay commissions for retail sales of goods or services, not for recruiting new distributors. Pyramid schemes are defined as plans which concentrate on commissions earned for recruiting new distributors and which generally ignore the marketing and selling of products and services.

MLM businesses are legal; also known as "affiliate marketing". However, many pyramid schemes try to present themselves as legitimate MLM businesses. [Pyramiding is illegal in most states, to remain legitimate a company that uses multi-level marketing has to make sure commissions are earned only on sales of the company's products or services if they cross state boundaries. With pyramiding money is received from new recruits, or they are required to buy more product than they are likely to sell.]

Another key to legality of MLMs is the 70% rule--prevents members from "inventory loading" in order to qualify for additional bonuses. The 70% rule requires participants to sell 70% of previously purchased inventory before placing new orders with the company. In most cases distributors may be asked to pay for their own training and marketing materials, or to buy a significant amount of inventory; hence, the 70% rule. As for the FTC, are the revenues generated from purchases incidental to the right to participate?

Criticism of MLMs:

When one looks at MLM, it has to be remembered where it all began. What started it all?

The most prominent case concerning MLMs, In re Amway Corp., 93 F.T.C. (1979), determined that multi-level-marketing was not an illegal activity. [Amway was found guilty of price fixing.] The roots of multi-level-marketing are intertwined with those of the Amway Corporation and its Nutrilite product line; the concept originated during the early 1930s. First ran afoul of the law in 1947: FDA accused Lee S. Mytinger and William S. Casselberry of misbranding. Potential customers were being given a booklet, "How to Get Well and Stay Well" which claimed the Nutrilite product line as a cure all for what ever ails you. (A 1951 Court case permanently forbid anyone who sold Nutrilite products from referring to any of the booklet.) Some time in the 1950's Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel formed a new company, the American Way Association, later renamed Amway.

Two points form from the FTC:

multi-level marketing organizations with greater incentives for recruitment than product sales are to be viewed skeptically
the practice of getting commissions from recruiting new members is outlawed in most states as "pyramiding"

Some argue that some MLMs engage in cult like behavior, or are rife with unethical behavior.

MLM's are also criticized for being unable to fulfill their promises for the majority of participants, the success rate for breaking even or even making money are far worse than other types of businesses.

From the US Postal Inspection Service:

Fraudulent pyramid schemes typically violate the Postal Lottery Statute (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1302). They contain all three elements of a lottery: prize (expectation of monetary or other gain from participation in the pyramid); chance (the monetary return you may receive from your participation is entirely up to chance, that is, dependent on the efforts of those below you in the pyramid), and consideration (the fee you pay to become a distributor).

Seven tips from the FTC when deciding on a MLM:

Avoid plans that includes commissions for recruiting additional distributors
Beware of plans that ask new distributors to purchase expensive inventory
Use caution if the plan(s) claim you will make money through continued growth of your "down-line"
Beware of plans that claim to sell miracle products or promise enormous earnings
Beware "decoy" references paid by a plan's promoter to describe their fictional success in earning money through the plan
Don't pay or sign any contracts insist on taking your time to think over a decision to join
Do your homework! Check with your local Better Business Bureau and state Attorney General about any plan you're considering

Some online resources, in other words use common sense:

12 Tests for Evaluating a Network Marketing (MLM) 'Opportunity'

THE OPPORTUNITY TEST--Were you approached primarily on the basis of the actual value and need for the products or for the opportunity? Keywords to watch for "getting in on the ground floor," or "riding the wave" of opportunity.
THE MARKET REALITY TEST--MLM recruiters point to the huge growth potential of their programs without considering the normal dynamics of supply and demand. Key point: Is an up-line of five or more levels of distributors allowed; market saturation.
THE PRODUCT TEST--could the products be sold successfully on their own merits without going through a MLM distribution system? Is the focus on legitimate products of value to consumers? Are the products priced competitively? And other things.
THE COMPENSATION TEST--Can you as a distributor make a good income for the time you spend selling the products without recruiting a single person? Or is the commission paid by the company for selling the products so low that you have to recruit a down-line in order to earn a significant income?
THE INCOME DISCLOSURE TEST--If an MLM recruiter touts huge income figures of top distributors, request that the company disclose average payout to distributors by percentiles (highest 1%, second highest 1%, and so on to the lowest 1%), so that you can determine your chances of success. (Another acid test of the profitability of an MLM distributorship is to ask the person recruiting you to show you his/her last year’s tax return.)
THE PAY TO PLAY TEST--Find out how high the expectation is for you to purchase products, services, training, etc., over a period of time, in order to be a serious participant. In other words, what will it cost you to play the game?
THE PRICE TEST--Are the company’s wholesale prices low enough to allow a respectable profit? Or are retail prices so high that they must be sold at wholesale to achieve any volume?
THE GOLDEN RULE TEST--How did you feel about the way you were recruited to do the business, and how do you feel about approaching your family and friends in the same way?
THE TIME FREEDOM TEST--If a recruiter promises that by working hard for a brief time period you will never have to work again, ask what percent of their top distributors are no longer actively involved with the company and never attend opportunity meetings.
THE HONESTY TEST--Has the recruiter been devious or up front in his or her inviting attempts? And can the products and opportunity be sold without making exaggerated product and income claims? Ask for validation of each of the claims made.
THE CREDIBILITY TEST--MLM promoters who don’t command respect themselves may lean heavily on the credentials or character of others involved in the opportunity.
THE SUPPORT TEST--Does the company offer an adequate support infrastructure to handle a temporary burst of volume? Will your up-line be there when you need them, or do they have a history of jumping ship when the next hot MLM deal comes along?

As you can see there really are no get rich schemes out in the world. Always use caution and I can't say it enough--DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!

__________
An interesting article to look over.

Daily News

2009-08-22T01:51:00.000-04:00

I was able to pull my Experian credit report today from Quizzle, a quick glance, did not look like any new debts were added. I do need to double check as I noticed after downloading to another file that there was a retrieval problem. I don't know if what was shown was accurate. Will be posting my debts in the next few days to show where I'm at; not a pretty sight!

Was able to send out the last of my "scheduled" resumes and cover letters. I do have 2 new resumes/cover letter to write, hoping to have it sent by 8/23/09. Could be another promising lead, only time will tell. I also have another application to fill out plus need to pick up a new Applebee's application to fill out. Was going to go wander the streets today but forget I had a fasting blood draw (can't eat for 12hrs prior to test) last thing I wanted to do is walk around hungry; they would find me passed out in the road.

So instead of wandering, spent some time trying to organize my job search/hunting information. I have been so focused on getting applications out, that I lost track of the "who, what, where, and when" of the whole process; 15 applications filed, 2 resumes/cover letters sent. I know I have more applications filed, just need to account for them.

Hmmmm!! I will make a spreadsheet (just popped into my head) that should help with the organization. Why I didn't think of it sooner,,,

I'm a bit concerned about my blood test (postponed till Monday). Not so much the test itself but the results I may get. The liver assay and thyroid test don't concern me too much but the fasting blood sugar does; I was diagnosed 5 years ago with diabetes. It was disconcerting to find out that news but I never really agreed with the determination. In the same time frame of that test I was also undergoing treatment for back problems--3 herniated discs, arthritis, and a lower spinal stenosis--my pain level was exceedingly high which can affect blood sugar readings. That fact was not taken into account in regards to my diabetes diagnosis. Also the psychotropic meds I was on in the past has/had also been a factor.

To make a long story short I stopped my medication (it was black boxed) but did continue watching what I ate and started exercising more. I don't know if that has done any good as I have been unable to afford the testing supplies since original diagnosis. So the results of today's test scare me; don't know what to expect.

Finished a post concerning multi-level-marketing (MLM), it seem apropos considering my recent job searching. Also, was able to schedule a time to meet with the local LIONS club representative concerning getting an exam and glasses. Hopefully they will be able to assist. Now I need to see if I can find low-cost dental care.

My debts as of 8/20/09

2009-08-20T23:35:00.001-04:00

Here are my debts as they stand today 8/20/09:

Zombie debts, not in any rush some are no longer listed on credit reports, others will be de-listed in next 8-10 months. I know it sounds horrible to say I don't but the damage control for these debts is minimal at best. They will be the last debt that I will pay off.

CCSP $245
FCS $2040.93 Citibank Mastercard
AFNI, Inc $188.60 Bell Atlantic
AFNI, Inc $507.28 Bell Atlantic
Arrow Financial Services $955.85 Premier Bankcard Inc
Midland Credit Management, Inc $844.89 Tribute Mastercard
Asset Recovery Associates $2213.72 Citibank Mastercard
Arrow Financial Services $1131.02 Premier Bankcard Inc
Barristers Collection Services, Inc $446.10 Strafford
American Agencies of California $3313.13 Windstream
Total of Zombie Debts: $9845.59

Old debts, not current but within the statutes of Pensylvannia. They are listed on credit report and will remain for at least 3-4 more years. I am hoping to be able to negotiate payment for removal. Not a major priority as damage has been done.

Credit Bureau of Erie, Inc $72.00 Dr. S
Med Shield Incorporated $56.81 CCM Hospital
Rickart Collection Systems, Inc $37.00 Chambersburg Imaging Associates
Security Credit Systems, Inc $123.57 Zito Media
Eagle Emergency Physicians $225.00
North Shore Agency, Inc $11.88 Prevention Magazine
Penn Credit Corporation $67.32 Literary Guild
Publisher Clearing House $29.45
Total Old Debts: $623.03

Current debt ARE A PRIORITY!! As far as I know they are not on my credit report except for my student loans. I would like to keep it that way.

Diversified Collection Sevices-Student Loans $65912.71
KRHC, Inc $30.22
Water Company $109.13
Borough $15.01
Mid-Cam $37.32
Dr H $30
CNB $329.72
2006 Taxes $29.70
2007 Taxes $29.70
2008 Taxes $29.70
2009 Taxes $29.70
Total Current Debt: $66582.91 With Student Loan
Total Current Debt: $670.20 Without Student Loan

2006IRS $219.36
2008IRS $293.15
Total Taxes: $512.51

Total All Debts: $77, 564.04
Total w/o student loans (including zombie debts): 11651.33
Total w/o student loans (w/o zombie debts): 1805.74

So now you see my mess!!

Some useless trivia

2009-08-20T23:30:00.000-04:00

Some useless trivia I came across the other day. Thought I would share it with y'all.

What is a KNOT?

A knot is equivalent to 1.5 land miles per hour. The term arose from the original seafaring practice of measuring speed. A line with equally spaced knots was reeled over the stern. The number of knots reeled into the water in one minute was then counted.

The difference between a house and a home:

A house is a dwelling, a structure in which people live. A home is the basis, the essence of family life. It connotes warmth, love, security. A house is salable, not a home. Selling a home is like selling love. It can't be bought.

I had to chuckle when I read about the house/home. I had always intuitively felt this difference but thought maybe I was nuts for thinking it. Now I know that there is a difference.

Gettin' my Stuff

2009-08-20T23:26:00.001-04:00

Slow but sure I am receiving my belongins from PA. I now have all my financials on hand and I have been able to organize my debts, yet again,,,LOL! Since I am no longer in PA, any bills left I am now concidering debt; tomorrow I will pull my experian report and see if any of these have been added to my report. It is my hope that nothing new has been added, I would prefer to be able pick-up where I left off; if not will deal with it as best as posible.

I have two good leads for part-time positions; resume and cover letter are ready to go for one, not necessary for the other. The pay isn't that great, but will take what I can get at this point; never know what can come from any position. I did e-mail another letter early Sunday morning, still waiting on a response. Need to contact some of the places I have applications at, remind the management that I am still interested. Two places, I may send a copy of my resume and a letter of interest, both applications were filled at the kiosks and I have not received any interview requests. I dislike the idea of no face-to-face when turning in a application; I can't get a feel for person I may be talking to at a later time. (I also can't stand the online applications, some of them are extremely long. Last thing I want to do is spend an hour filling out an application).

I am still debating whether to join monster.com and/or hotjobs.com; I currently am using CareerBuilders (have been a member for 2-3 years) and wichitahelpwanted.com (just joined this past week). My thinking is the more exposure, the better.

I have heard back the local LIONS club and working to set up an appointment to meet. If I'm accepted they will pay for an eye exam and $50 towards glasses at Lenscrafter. Depending on the frame choices and whether they can do my Rx for that price, I may use Zenni instead. I definitely will for a second pair as they have a frame style I like for under $30. Wal*Mart is definitely out $80 for eye exam, frames would be about $175 if not more.

Hospital paperwork is done!! With the arrival of my package from PA I have access to my tax information, which is what I was waiting for. (I also need to send similar information to the mental health facility I am using for my care of my Bipolar.) Hopefully with the hospital help I will be able to get some assistance until I am able to secure a job.

Have been able to take some time to send some personal letters out also. It's a bit strange sending "snail-mail" letters but it's been a fun. Until I have access to the internet at my living space, it will have to do.

The hunt goes on,,,

2009-08-17T07:08:00.000-04:00

As some of you may have noticed, my posting of late has been dealing with my attempt to secure a job. I haven't had much to say concerning my debt reduction plan or living frugally. With no income, frugal living is a necessity. What little money I do have (savings and money earned through the paid to programs and surveys) is being used carefully. My household bills are minimal at the moment due to the generosity of friends; my only real expense is food. I will have to see what transpires this months as for utility costs, I expect they will increase based on the number of days I have been living in new apartment.

My debt reduction plans are on hold until I secure a job; it's impossible to pay down debt when one has no income. Once my employment situation improves I will re-visit my debts and begin making payments. In the mean time I will be taking a hard look at my method of payment, budgeting, and prioritizing my debts; I have some debts (ie. IRS) that I can no longer allow to hang around. I must decide how I want to re-pay my debts--pay a little each month to all debts or make one big payment to one debt till paid in full. I'm not sure how either method will affect my credit reports; it may be a moot point.

One task to do in the next few days, pull my Experian report from Quizzle. Need to see if new debt has been added since March. If my assumption is correct, and new debts have been added, I will start with the highest priority debts first and then work my way down to lowest priority debts.

My job search is still in progress; will have answers today concerning 2 possible positions. I am working on three cover letters and hope to have them sent out by 8/16/09. I do have a few applications to send out yet, but I'm waiting to hear the outcome of my calls before proceeding. There are still many more options to explore; compared to my situation in PA it's a good situation to be in. (Altho I would rather be working.)

Another task I need to complete soon, comparison shop for an eye exam and eyeglasses. I suspect that I will be using Zenni for my glasses, so that leaves the eye exam. Went to Wal*Mart and was shocked to find that it's $80 for an exam (without insurance). I do have a letter out to the local LIONS club but haven't heard from them yet.

I still have to finish my paper work for the hospital that treated my leg. Received nine stitches thanks to some idiot that threw a glass bottle out of their car window as I was walking by. The hospital assists self-pay customers in applying for public medical benefits. My one dilemma is some of my information needed is still in PA, it should be here in a few days. Thankfully my friend in PA has been willing to help with the cost associated with shipping my stuff; I'd be in deep doo if not for her assistance.

Scam? not sure

2009-08-17T07:06:00.000-04:00

Received this e-mail (8/7/09), it was directed to my spam folder; it took me a few days to check them out.

__________

Dear XXXX,
I represent recruiting company Drive Recruitment (http://DriveRecruitment.com) specialized in searching the candidates at the request of employers all over the world. I have found your resume on Career Builder.

There is a position available at the moment offered by European company. Please see below a short description of this position.

Assistant Director

I'm pleased to offer you a part time employment as a representative of European company, interested in expanding the business to the US market. The company will create the web site oriented to the US customers with high revenues guaranteed by the complex of high-performance promotional measures. In spite of the project's intricate, your duties will be quite easy to perform. No special education or experience are required from your side. Your personal manager will lead you step by step to the success by providing you with detailed and quite easy to understand instructions. This position has a very high potential in a personal income boost as a result of business growing all in all.

The minimum salary at this position is $30,000/year (5 from the project revenues). There are no fees to pay from your side.

As a part-time position it will take only 7-9 hours a week to perform the duties. The same time the company offers you a long term business relationship that is definitely very important in difficult times of financial crisis, because it means a guarantee of getting a stable income regardless of the situation on the labour-market.

To ask for detailed description including duties and responsibilities of the position just respond to this offer with the following subject:

"Interested in getting the position of Assistant Director."

or in case you don't like this offer for any reason, please let me know and I'll try to find something else for you.

Best regards, Anna Mairs
Gjorwellsgatan 28, 112 60 Stockholm, Sweden

__________

I am at a loss as to what to think. I did go to their website, did a Google search looking for anything negative, and a BBB query; nothing negative came up. (Keep in mind I only do quick searches, nothing too involved. Usually if it's a scam, or the company is legal trouble, the red flags show immediately.) Most of the search results showed it is a recruiting company working primarily in Europe and Australia. That's really the only flag--why would a Sweden based company be looking at US based resumes? Also the "no experience" claim and the compensation offered is not realistic.

The company may be legitimate, but the offer seems to lean toward being a scam.

__________
Received another e-mail from AIL, this one from James Bailey. The tone is a bit different, as is the content. I find it a bit funny, any one that reads my resume should notice that I have no sales experience.

Hello, my name is James Bailey, and I am the State General Agent for American Income in the greater Kansas City area. We are looking for top-notch individuals to help us facilitate the rapid expansion that our company is experiencing. We have opportunities for professionals with a variety of backgrounds and expertise to fulfill training, management, and outside sales positions.

American Income has been in business for over 50 years, and is nationally recognized as one of the significant providers of supplemental insurance benefits for members of Labor Unions, Credit Unions, and Associations throughout the United States, Canada and New Zealand.

For more information, please contact our Human Resources department at (816) 994-3686 to schedule an interview.

___________

I am wondering how many of the e-mails I will receive.

A letter sent

2009-08-17T07:03:00.000-04:00

Below is a letter I have sent out to a local company I came across while looking at job postings at CareerBuilders; I'm curious as to what may come about.

__________

Dear Ms. XXXXXXXXXX:
I am writing you today to explore possible job opportunities with your company. I am a recent transplant to the Wichita area, relocating from north central Pennsylvania. I discovered Xxxxxx while exploring job postings at CareerBuilders. Your recent posting for a Flowmeter Technician (Ref ID: xxxxxxxxx) listed many job specifications that I am qualified to handle. Although I do not meet all the requirements listed for a Flowmeter Technician, I am interested in learning of possible entry level opportunities your company may have that I would be qualified for.

My recent employment with Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx has provided me the the training and background that would benefit your company. Over the course of my nine years of employment, I was a molding machine/sintering operator, and a quality control technician.

Attached is a copy of my resume for you; I hope that you have the time to advise me as to whether you may have a position now or sometime in the near future; I can be reached at the contact information above. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

XXXX X. XXXXXXXXX

And it continues,,,

2009-08-13T22:29:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure what to think of this company's job offer, it sounds so sweet BUT,,,

__________
Dear XXXX XXXXXXXXX,

My name is Tabitha Sanders and I represent Vector Group Inc. We've reviewed your resume posted at Careerbuilder.com and I'm glad to propose you a FINANCIAL AGENT vacancy.

We are a large company founded and based in the USA. Vector Group Inc deals mainly with financial services such as escrow services for buyers and sellers (online auctions around the globe, closed commercial auctions where the number of buyers is not large, well-known public online auctions).

This is a part-time position with a flexible schedule. Working 2 to 3 hours a day from your home while staying in contact and receiving all your tasks online.

During the trial period you'll be paid $2,300 a month. Also you'll keep 8% from every money transfer processed. Total income, considering the current volume of clients, will be up to $4500 per month. After you successfully pass the Trial Period, base salary will be increased up to $3000 per month. Furthermore, you may ask for extra hours or even a full-time job.

My goal is sparking your interest. In the present economy our position offers training, support and a pay scale comparable to entry level position requiring 40 hours per week. I hope you will explore, compare, and then contact me with your questions. Please complete the form below with your updated contact information as a part of your return email.

_____________________FORM_________________________
Your Full name:___________________
Your Country of residence:____________________
Your Contact phone:___________
Preferred call time:_____________
_____________________FORM_________________________

We have found your resume at www.careerbuilder.com. This letter confirms that your resume has been duly processed and your skills meet our basic job requirements for the Financial Manager vacancy.

Sincerely yours,
Tabitha Sanders
Vector Group Inc.
__________

The e-mail has grammatical and punctuation errors; the language usage is almost European or French Canadian. Makes one question the legitimacy of the offer. Think this one is joining the others in the junk pile. I won't say that Vectron's job offer is a scam, but I would be leary.

I'm beginning to wonder if I will receive any legitimate offers.

Scams & Spam 2

2009-08-13T22:27:00.002-04:00

Received this the other day, it was filtered to my spam folder so I didn't take it too seriously. Let's see if you can determine the one glaring omission from this letter.

__________
from Rebecca Wilson BG
reply-to Rebecca Wilson BG
to xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx (my e-mail)
date Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 7:43 AM
subject Hello xxxx xxxxxxxxx (my name)
mailed-by yahoo.com
signed-by yahoo.com

Hello XXXX XXXXXXXXX

Right now we are employing new personnel to fill the position of online finance manager. We have examined your resume from job base careerbuilder and we think that you would suit this position well and work with us successfully. If you are still seeking for good wages and need a decent job, please contact us as soon as you could. As you may see this job is really perspective one and vacancies are limited. You can receive training during work. No need to invest any money, except for a set of the best human qualities and time. This job does not require you to leave your main occupation. Experience of work with customers is welcomed. Work of online manager consists of the following: you need to conclude the deals with the company customers offering financial services, work as personal advisors. We also need employees to work at the call service of clients' support and clients' support online. We need responsible and energetic people to fill this position.

Requirements:
- citizenship of USA or United Kingdom
- Age at least 21;
- Computer skills at MS Office, E-mail, Internet;
- Good communication skills;
- Attention to details;
- Opportunity to check your e-mail several times a day;

The schedule of work includes 3-4 hours per day, except Sunday (part-time position). Payment makes up 31,000 $ per year. (500 $ per week) + social insurance and bonuses for good job. We also provide three weeks of paid vacations. This job is a good opportunity and if you miss a chance there can be no another one as the position we offer is a good way to build a successful career in our company. I will send you the detailed information with the description and specificity of work.

You are welcome!

Best Regards,
Senior Manager Rebecca Wilson

__________

So what's not mentioned? The company name. The only way of contacting Rebecca Wilson is by replying to the e-mail received. I am so tempted to reply just to see what company this is but I prefer not to open the flood gates of spam.

Scams & Spam 1

2009-08-13T22:23:00.005-04:00

This one is a laugh-er and in my opinion pure SCAM!! The only reason I am taking the time to write about this is to warn others, who may in desperation, fall for this. The fact that it was in my spam folder was my first clue.

First e-mail received 8/3/09 from ail_r2_replies@tmkrms.com:
Hi, my name is BAILEY, JAMES W and I am a State Director for American Income. I saw your resume on the inter-net and felt that I should contact you immediately. Our company currently has openings for several outstanding individuals like you.

If you are an individual seeking a financially rewarding position with a company that is part of the Torchmark Corporation (TMK), a company that truly believes in honesty, integrity and trust, then I would like to speak with you.

Please call my office at 816-251-4582 so we can schedule an interview.

Best regards,
BAILEY, JAMES W
American Income

We would like to keep you updated on exciting job opportunities at American Income Life Insurance Company; This exciting job opportunity is a commission based insurance sales position. We will continue to alert you when we have openings at our local offices. You received this email because you placed your resume on an inter-net job board or responded to one of our job ads. To remove your email address from our list, please do not reply to this email. This will not remove you from future emails. Instead, please use the link below to process your removal requests.

Click here to unsubscribe from further communication regarding job opportunities at American Income Life Insurance Company. Please allow two to three business days for the removal process of your E-mail address to be complete. American Income Life Insurance Company, 1200 Wooded Acres, Waco, TX 76710.

My second spam e-mail received 8/10/09 from Roger Smith (ail_r3_replies@tmkrms.com):
A little more than two weeks ago, we pulled your resume and tried to contact you either by phone or email. As of this date, our records show we have not been able to set up an interview with you. Our ability to search resumes online has allowed us to grow at a pace second to none in our industry. Because of this, we are touching base with individuals who have posted their resumes that meet our requirements for the opportunities we have available.

We are still interviewing and believe you are an excellent candidate. If you are still in the job market and are looking for a highly rewarding position, I encourage you to learn more about this opportunity.

Simply click here or call 1-888-248-6010 to discuss the options we have available for you.

Sincerely,
Roger Smith
Chief Executive Officer
American Income Life

It didn't take much thought in regards to this wonderful job opportunity. First, my phone is a prepaid cell. A quick Google search resulted in a trip to ComplaintsBoard.com where the comments are too numerous to mention. It is a real company but a bad one. I didn't even bother with a BBB search.

Be careful!!

Another day another,,,uhm!

2009-08-13T01:42:00.001-04:00

Well I survived my initial psyche evaluation for medications. As much as I hate the idea taking meds it is the right decision. Since my relapse in March I just haven't felt the same. Altho I am much improved, my mood changes have not stabilized as I would have liked. They are manageable but still problematic. Throw in the fact that my friend of 20 years says I need to get back on meds, I know I'm having difficultlies; I trust her intrinsically and value her opinion.

As for my therapy appointment, it was cancelled and re-scheduled. I'm still dreading this appointment but it will give me more time to gather my thoughts.

Was able to get through to my former employer and speaking with the HR person concerning my 401K. They did receive my mailing and it will be sent to the corporate offices and then on to Putnam. I'm guessing I will receive my check within the next two weeks. I am just hoping that I have a job by then as that will be it for my savings. I also got an update concerning the refund I request from Greyhound, should be here in 6-8 weeks; altho it is a voucher, not cash. I will be able to use it for a trip or two to Kansas City, MO to visit friends there.

Did some job searching and found a few oddballs to post about; also found another possiblility. Need to get some letters and resumes sent out. Friday have to make a call to one local opportunity to see what their hiring status is. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I do need the income to start coming in again; even part-time would be helpful at this point. Thankfully the process of jobhunting/searching has kept me "occupied", I haven't felt like a bum sitting on my ass doing nothing.

I do still much to take care over the course of the next few days/weeks. Learning a new city and the system can be a royal butt pain. It has definitely kept me busy so I won't complain too much.

Considering using the internet to search for a job,,,read on

2009-08-11T17:34:00.003-04:00

Important points to keep in mind when searching/considering an internet job offer:

The obvious:

Research the prospective company
Do not divulge personal information--bank account, Social Security numbers, PayPal or credit card numbers, driver's license, or passport
Never forward, transfer or "wire" money to an employer
Be aware of work-from-home opportunities--promises of quick cash and a lot of it--especially if you have to pay a "registration fee" or a fee for training and/or equipment (ie. Envelope Stuffing Scams)
Watch for misspellings and grammatical mistakes in the job ad
Key words "no experience necessary" or "will train" (Yes I do realize that to companies that I am considering have both)
Do not be fooled by official-sounding corporate names--research
A lack of interest in meeting the employee--all interaction is via e-mail, fax, telephone

The not so obvious:

Research the prospective company
Avoid listings that use these descriptions: "package forwarding," "reshipping," "money transfers," "wiring funds" and "foreign agent agreements"
Don't partake in cross-border action
Avoid payment-forwarding or payment-transfer scam--do not transfer money and retain a portion of the payment (ie. Nigerian Check Cashing Scam or Secret Shopper)--see my posts SCAM ALERT!! and More Information--SCAM ALERT!!
Reshipping--these scams begin with an employment offer for a job forwarding packages; usually packages are received at home and then instructions to repackage/reship to another location
Avoid a request to "scan the ID" of a job seeker, scammers will say they need to "verify identity"
Check contact e-mail address, is it a primary domain or a company domain (for example my prior employer had it's own domain name)
Phishing scams are cleverly hidden attempts to get your account information. These e-mails appear legitimate and often claim that there is an urgent need for you to log into your account and verify personal information. If you receive one of these e-mails, check the destination URL on the provided link before attempting to log-in or submit any information; the links could actually lead the recipient to a false Web site. (PayPal is one company that is a "victim" of phishers. From experience PayPal always addresses their correspondences using your full name registered with. Earthlink is another company I have received phishes about as well as numerous banking institutions that I have no connection with. If your not sure CALL them!!)
Medical Billing--be weary of these prepackaged businesses, they always contain an initial financial investment. The ad or solicitation explains that the market for medical billing is wide open. (The medical billing industry is fierce and revolves around several large and well-established firms. Few consumers who purchase medical billing business opportunities are able to generate enough revenue to profit, and usually can't earn enough to recover initial investment. Please note that I am not saying medical billing as a profession is not legitimate, it is the prepackage work-at-home kits to be leery of.)
Work-at-Home Job Lists--these scams claim to sell lists of companies that are hiring for work-at-home positions. These lists are rarely updated and often yield a list of worthless leads. (There are well researched lists available you just have to look, avoid ones you have to pay for!!)

Be proactive:

Do Your Research!! You have to do a little investigative work--the Better Business Bureau, your state's Attorney General, and other state business offices to see if the company is licensed and registered to do business in your state. Most fraudulent companies will not go through the work of filling out the paperwork and registering with the appropriate organizations.
Insist on a Face-to-Face Meeting--you should always ask for a face-to-face meeting before taking on a business opportunity.
Ask lots of questions--Who will be paying me? How often will I be paid? What exactly will I be doing? Is this contract-based or permanent work? Where is your company's physical location? Does your company operate under any other names? What is the total cost for me to participate in this program? What is your company's privacy policy?

Hopefully these tips will keep us all safe!!

Tips for writing a cover letter

2009-08-11T17:32:00.002-04:00

Some good points to keep in mind for writing a cover letter. Not in any particular order as I noted them as I read numerous articles:

If cover letter is e-mailed keep it 2-3 paragraphs in length
If written 3-5 paragraphs
Start strong--briefly describe how you heard about the position and why you're interested in it; purpose
If someone mentioned the job opening to you, be sure to use his or her name in the introduction
Don't seem desperate--hire me or else,,,
Connect dots between resume to cover letter--The body of the letter should expand the key points in your resume
Highlight skills and experiences relevant to the job opening, provide examples of how you can benefit the company
Don't focus on what you want, focus on what value you can bring to the employer--what does hiring company want, what are the benefits of hiring you
Find out the name of the person who will be reviewing your resume by contacting the company's human resources department
What position you are applying for--many companies advertise more than one position at a time
Learn as much as you can about the potential employer,,,
Demonstrate your knowledge of the company,,,
Tailor each cover letter to each specific job/company
Be proactive--state when you will contact hiring manager to follow up; reinforces your interest for the job
Don't forget to include a phone number or e-mail address where you can be reached
thank the hiring manager for time and interest
Thoroughly proofread!
Thoroughly proofread!!
Thoroughly proofread!!!

Job Search 2

2009-08-11T17:29:00.002-04:00

This is the second of two job possibilities I came across whilst searching CareerBuilders.com--"CUSTOMER SERVICE Local Co. for 72 year old international Company is expanding in the area. NO EXP!! WE TRAIN!! PT - $800.00 FT - $2,000.00 Please apply http://www.airflowjobs.com." (Taken directly from CareerBuilders.com under the "description" heading)

The following is taken directly from http://www.airflowjobs.com, "ABOUT US--Airflow Inc. has been in business since 1996..." I'm a bit confused, which is it? Also, according to the BBB "Original Business Start Date: September 2008." Why such conflicting information?

On their site the following information was found:

...now expanding, and we are actively seeking applicants to fill several positions
...competitive compensation package which includes generous performance-based bonuses
due to our rapid growth, opportunity for advancement can often take place within just a few months
...application
Qualified candidates will be contacted within 24 hours for a personal interview
Many entry-level positions are available with full training provided--No experience necessary
We are actively seeking qualified individuals to fulfill a variety of positions--Comprehensive training is provided

Also listed on their site, what appears to be three "positions" with various pay scales:

10-40 Hours Per Week - Compensation: $16.36 per Hr
20-40 Hours Per Week - Compensation: $300 to $1,299 per Week
40+ Hours Per Week - Compensation: $600 to $1,600 per Week

At first glance this doesn't appear to be a bad offer, but I need more information. What does the job entail? What are the expectations of job performance? Are there quotas to reach? How is pay determined? Is company policy clearly written and followed? What type of training is provided, and is it paid? What type of product do you endorse/sell? Those are just a few that come to mind as I write this.

Some other questions that came to mind: Who will be paying me? How often will I be paid? What exactly will I be doing? Is this contract-based or permanent work? Where is your company's physical location? Does company operate under any other names? What is the total cost for me to participate in this program? What is your company's privacy policy?

I did another simple Google search showed that Airflow is also a "legitimate" company with a product to offer BUT I did find one negative mentioned at ripoffreport.com Airflow, Rainbow, Vacuum, Air Purification System, Job Scam - They Rip Off Employees! Wichita Kansas. There were no other comments posted, and this post was dated within the last nine months.

Two points I came across while doing some reading that I need to keep in mind:

Insist on a Face-to-Face Meeting
Do Your Research--Better Business Bureau, state's Attorney General, etc.--most fraudulent companies will not go through the work of filling out the paperwork and registering with the appropriate organizations.

For now I am going to give this company a green light to apply to. Depending on what I find as for bus service I may try it on a part-time basis. I will need to print my resume and write another cover letter.

Yesterday,,,

2009-08-11T17:22:00.001-04:00

Yesterday wasn't too bad of a day as far as accomplishments go. Spent time in the AM working on some writing for my blog; a two-fold attack plan. First, I had information concerning some job possibilities that had to be examined. By blogging about them it gave me the time to look at the information I had gathered, and determine if the jobs offered where realistic or not. I have posted some of the information already with more to come as I had to do a bit more digging concerning one company.

(See note below concerning Procard International.)

I also decided to leave my resume as a stand alone blog with no links back to my primary blog. I am wondering if I should completely severe the connection between the two blogs but think I have. I do not have my profile information listed in the sidebar of my resume. Something I will have to look at a bit more as I'm not sure exactly what purpose I want my resume to serve as I do have it available on CareerBuilders.

After the weather cleared some I put in more applications. Two companies (restaurants) look promising which gives me four possibilities over the next 10-14 days. School here in Wichita starts soon, both levels, so I'm thinking that is why the delay. It will give me time to craft some type of cover letter to entice the management, if necessary. I do have a few applications I'm planning on turning in but may wait to see what comes about with the papers submitted up to this point.

Still have paperwork that needs completed ASAP. Financial information for hospital to reduce/eliminate cost of ER visit for stitches. They also have a form for financial counseling and assistance for applying for public medical benefits. Something I definitely need help with as I can not afford COBRA from former employer, even if I was working. Being that I am in a new state I will take whatever help I can get in dealing with the system.

I finally was able to secure my first medication evaluation appointment. I have been trying to get that appointment since early July. They called with a cancellation for today or I believe I would still be attempting to get in if not for their call. I will say this, I hate these type of appointments (mental health issues), dealing with new psyche doctor can be taxing to say the least. I also have my first therapy appointment later in the day, so I am getting a double whammy. Not sure which one is going to be worse!!

Altho my list is a bit smaller than before I still have much to do--contact LIONS about possible help with securing new glasses; work on my power of attorney and living will; cover letters; transit bus information; utilize other job search sites (if needed); update financial accounts; and of course blog.

So much to do so little time!!

_____
In regards to the Procard International post from the other day. Out of curiosity I went to the BBB website to see what if any types of complaints issues they may have. Altho this information won't help in determining whether the job opportunity is legitimate, it will show that the "product" being offered is.

They are a BBB accredited business (since 2002) and yes they have complaints, what company hasn't. The issues mentioned were resolved accordingly and Procard is rated A+.

Something to keep in mind when considering whether to apply or not.

Not looking to get rich quick

2009-08-10T22:04:00.000-04:00

As you read this blog you may think that I am looking for get rich quick, easy employment; would be nice if that were a realistic probability. But no, I am looking for legitimate employment. Currently I have 20-30 applications active with various companies but have yet to have a nibble. I am looking into any possible employment at this point while also trying to keep applications updated. I am also looking at trying a different strategy with the applications I have out.

I will admit at this point in time I'm not being picky as to employment; right now I need to have an income. I have been out of work 2 months and unable to get assistance (as of yet). What little money I do have left is running out fast. I'm not ruling out any chance of employment whether it be a fast food joint or an office gig.

It would be nice tho if I was able to find a job that I would want to keep long-term, and that could happen. Last thing I want to do is job hop. But....

I am hoping that by blogging about my endeavours it will help keep me on track and not let laziness set in. I am finding that job searching is a full-time job in and of itself. I do have more options I need to look into over the next few days, but not having internet access at my apartment is making it a slow process (soon to change I hope).

A Job Possibility,,,and more

2009-08-09T21:09:00.004-04:00

Did a bit of digging the past day or so.

Also need to check into information gleemed from another article.

Some more ideas to check into

2009-08-09T18:29:00.000-04:00

Found this article while checking some items at CareerBuilders.com--"Easy certifications and the jobs you can get with them." Maybe some more leads to possible jobs maybe not. It won't hurt to check them out though.

Here's the basics of what's listed:

Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP)
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Certified Bank Teller (CBT)
Certified Customer Service Representative(CCSR)
Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
Group Fitness Instructor(GFI)
Certified Pharmacy Technician(CPhT)
Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality(CPHQ)
Certified Professional Organizer(CPO)
Professional in Human Resources(PHR)

Looking at this list at first glance some seem like no-brainers others I'm not so sure of. I have considered two of the options listed but have not explored then as of yet---Accredited Tax Preparer and Certified Pharmacy Technician. I am also looking at the possibility of X-Ray Technician. As with anything all three have costs involved, but I am seriously giving it some thought.

I will be looking into all options to see what I can discover. One thing I have noticed recently while accessing my CB account is the prevalence of Bank teller job openings. I will be exploring that option this week as there are numerous banks in my area. So we shall see.

I will be posting what I find as time goes on. Ideally I would love to find a job I could do from home but I believe that is a wish we all have. At this point I am not ruling anything out.

Job Search 1

2009-08-09T18:03:00.000-04:00

This is one of two job possibilities I came across whilst searching CareerBuilders.com--"Work At Home, No Cold-Calling, FREE Leads, No Investment, Procard International." At first glance not bad, then the following:

Overland Park, KS
Base Pay: $35,000 - $55,000 /Year
Employee Type: Part-Time Employee
Advertising Sales - Marketing
Job Type: Business Development Marketing Sales
Description: We need your help! Our company is growing steadily and we have thousands...
Our positions have the following benefits...

They then go on to list whom the job would be perfect for and this, "Our jobs are designed for people who want to work from home, work at home, want a home based business, or like telecommuting." That's the hook I was looking for as I would love to work form home and not have to worry about commuting. It would also give me time to pursue other endeavours. So I decided to do a bit more digging to see if this was a legitimate company/business.

A simple Google search answered my question. Yes, it is a legitimate company with a for real product BUT I did find some red-flags. From RipoffReport.com "Procard International Liars, scam artists, ripoffs, false, misleading, screws it's members, don't be fooled by these lying SCAMMERS! Overland Park Kansas--*Consumer Suggestion ..Pro Card International is not my choice!"

It seems the positives and negatives of this company was split about 50-50. Both concerning ProCard as an income generator as well as a product. So I now have a dilemma, do I pursue this any further? To my untrained eye, this appears to be an MLM so I may have to do some more digging on this one. For the time being I am going to say no to this "opportunity". Maybe once I am better established and have a better social network in place this could be an opportunity to revisit.

******
Currently CareerBuilders is my primary job search engine, I'm not affiliated with them other than being a registered user with a posted resume and job alerts being sent via e-mail. I am hoping to add other engines in the near future but it's not a major priority right now; I am assuming that the job search results will be about the same.

Also of note: altho I mentioned the use of ripoffreport.com please be advised that this was just a starting point. I do not endorse the comments posted as the gospel truth. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and I do understand that. I do use ripoffreport.com quite frequently but usually to see if there are any red-flags to watch for. Regretfully when I reformatted my desk-top computer I lost many of my other resources to use in researching this site is just one of many.

Another job hunt task completed

2009-08-06T02:54:00.004-04:00

Sent out a cover letter "networking" letter today via e-mail. Will have to see how it goes. A copy is in the preceding post.

Not very happy today as I received 9 stitches to close a laceration on my leg. All because some idiot threw a glass bottle out of a moving car. The one thing I was trying to avoid, new debt in a new city. Will be working with the hospital as they gave me paperwork to fill out. More on that later.

"Cover Letter" or Networking; both?

2009-08-05T23:24:00.000-04:00

Below is a copy of a letter I recently e-mailed to a prospective employer in regards to their response to my posted resume. Al-tho it's not a cover letter per se, I am hoping that if I am not a fit for the job posted, it might peek their interest for other possibilities within their company. I think I am looking at this e-mail/letter more as a networking tool. Since I am in a new state/city, I can't overlook any chance of networking. Will have to see how it works out, but I would be foolish not broaden my wings at any chance.

One thought I am trying to keep in mind is that job searching/hunting is a job in itself. I have found that this "old" piece of advice has improved my outlook and mood. I have been trying to keep a few hours a day dedicated to improving my employment status.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dear XX XXXXXXX:
I am writing in regards to your inquiry concerning my resume posted at CareerBuilder.com. I wish to thank for taking the time to read and respond to my resume. I look forward to meeting with you at the career fair to be held at your offices on Thursday, August 13.

Your need for motivated individuals with strong communication skills, customer service experience, and positive attitude is a good match for my years of experience within the food service and retail fields. The ability to treat all consumers with genuine interest is important especially during these difficult economic times. Finding the right product to fit consumer needs should always be at the forefront in any consumer industry; something I feel I am able to do.

My time in the manufacturing field accentuated the need to be detailed oriented and able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing deviations from acceptable specification ranges. Hourly monitoring of the production process allowed me to make and note any needed adjustments thereby allowing co-workers to follow suit if needed. Although the testing equipment used during the production process was industry specific, computer use was necessary.

If you have any questions prior to our meeting on August 13, please don't hesitate to contact me at the above contact information. Thank you again for your time.

Sincerely,

XXXX X XXXXXXXXX

Resume

2009-08-03T23:31:00.003-04:00

After a few weeks of work I found a format for my resume that I like. I was having difficulty trying to reconcile my 20+ years of food service experience with 9 yrs of factory work. Throw into the mix a few years in retail and I was stuck. Now I need to write some cover letters and I should be good to go.

Currently I am working on a letter for a job offer I received the other day. Altho I am happy to have received the offer, it is not one that I feel would be a good fit at this point in time due to economic reasons; I also do not see myself in insurance sales.

The letter I'm writing will be a thank for the offer and maybe you have another positon that would be a better fit for me. Will have to see how it goes.

Power of Attorney

2009-08-01T22:13:00.003-04:00

Currently I am in the process of implementing a new durable power of attorney for both my financial and health care needs. It's ironic that weeks prior to my decision to leave PA I had just finished my power of attorney my will. It's now back to the drawing board for both. Atho to some it seems a grim task, for me personally I realize the importance because of my mental health issues and the simple fact that my family is not active in my life. I realize that my friends would need access to my financials and medical if something were to happen to me.

WHAT IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY?
A legal document that gives the person of my choosing the power to act in my place if I become mentally unable to handle my affairs--ie. for medical care and finances. A durable power of attorney simply means that the document stays in effect if I become incapacitated and unable to handle matters on my own. With a valid power of attorney, the person I name will be legally permitted to take care of important matters for me (paying bills, managing investments, or directing my medical care.)

To cover all of the issues, it is suggested that two separate documents are prepared: one that addresses my health care issues and another to take care of my finances; making separate documents will keep life simpler for my agent and others. Another suggestion to keep in mind, to name the same agent under both documents. If not, must be sure to name people who will work well together.

MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
A health care directive that sets out my wishes for health care if I am ever too ill or injured to speak for myself. I will also need to look into a living will/health care declaration to provide written health care instructions to my agent and health care providers. Since I am now living in a different state I have a bit more research to do.

My health care agent will work with doctors and other health care providers to make sure I get the kind of medical care I wish to receive. When arranging my care, my agent is legally bound to follow my treatment preferences, hence the need for a living. (It is also important to discuss your wishes with your agent prior to appointing them to avoid any moral or ethical issues---ie. DNR, termination of treatment/brain death, or use of experimental treatments.)

FINANCIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
Gives someone I appoint the authority to handle financial transactions on my behalf. It's designed to let someone else manage all of my financial affairs for me if I become incapacitated; a durable power of attorney for finances. The person I name is usually called an agent or attorney-in-fact.

My agent will then be able to handle tasks such as sorting through mail and depositing any possible government checks, as well as watching over my retirement accounts and other investments (moot at this point in time but again that can/will change once employed again), or filing my tax returns.

Now Living in Wichita, KS

2009-07-24T05:38:00.002-04:00

I'm not quite sure at this point when my last posting was, sometine prior to June 20th is my guess. Sounds bad I know but the relocation to Wichita hasn't quite gone as smoothly as I would have liked. Packing, shipping, bus trip, housing situation, job search, and all the fun associated with moving provided enough glitches to last a life time.

Packing up was a b****, didn't quite sell as much as I wanted but did find homes for everything I wasn't able to bring. The rest is waiting to be shipped (again is some cases). I was hoping to be able to sell enough of my former possessions to pay for the shipping. To dis-possess (is that a word?) what was left I used the local FreeCycle; I was suprised how fast everything disappeared when it was free. I did shipped two packages but due to an address snafu they ended up floating around the USPS for a few weeks before being returned to the originating post office. Thankfully they weren't lost and both offices I had to deal with handle the situation well.

As for my bus trip I was dreading it after the fiasco of my last one (which I still need to post about, altho it is not quite resolved). The trip was un-eventful but long. To help with that I decided to take a longer lay-over in Kansas City, MO. Gave me a nice break prior to the last 5 hrs of bus time and I was able to meet and spend time with an online friend and her partner. In hind-site it was a good idea, meeting my friend was awesome and I'm looking foreward to traveling back to KC and visit in the near future.

The real problems I have been having concerns my housing situation. Needless to say it is not going according to plan, BUT a "solution" has been had. What is complicating matters is my lack of employment at the moment (which I am finding a bit perplexing) and now having to appeal my unemployment determination. It seems I was ill-informed and have to file 2 appeals. I also am attempting to acquire my 401k balance, which is taking longer than I anticipated.

Overall I am happy with my decision to move. I am much calmer, altho that I attribute that to my dear friend. Her assistance in dealing with the snafus has been inmeasureable. My mental health has also improved. The ending of my relationship still bothers me (more than I think I am willing to admit), but I "think" in the long run it may be a good thing. My initial goals/reasons for moving have been accomplished. Now its just a matter of searching and getting a job.

Yes, I did say job and not career. One thing I am attempting to decide is the "what now question." So for the moment I am looking for a job until I decide on a course of action. I do have my resume(s) out there, tho not happy about the "out there" part; I am also re-working my resume(s). I do have numerous applications submitted to various employers but no responses as of yet; I am trying to determine the best way to handle the lack of response. The jobs applied for at this piont are the usual fast-food joints, convenient stores, Wal*Mart, and Dillons. Two applications (Wal*Mart and Dillons) where submitted within the last 7 days BUT using their computerized kiosks. Herein is my dilemma, how long should I wait until calling or personally contacting management about my interest in employment?

With some of the establishments applied to I was informed that that weren't hiring but others nothing was said. Again, how long to wait? Personal or phone contact? On the positive side of things there are many more choices, something I did not have back in PA. So I won't be giving up any time soon. I do need to spend some time learning about what "services" are available to assist in my endeavours; another item to add to my to-do list.

Debt reduction what's that? I'm so off-track, not a good thing. Enough said about that at the moment. No, I'm not sticking head in the sand again!! As things progress I will be trying to write a bit more often to help get myself back in the groove.

It's Official

2009-06-15T16:49:00.002-04:00

On June 19th I will be moving to Wichita, KS. Currently I am in the final stages of packing, re-routing mail, changing addresses, and saying my good-byes. Some things are a bittersweet while others are not. I was definitely niave in my thinking when I moved here 10+ yrs ago but,,,time will tell.

Slowly getting my life back--very slowly!!

2009-05-20T12:26:00.001-04:00

So much has happened in the past few weeks it's hard to know where to begin. I have no real news on the debt reduction front. I haven't added to my debts which is good, but I haven't reduced them either. I do need to update my NetworthIQ to better reflect where I'm at, other than that, I do not have much to add.

I am hoping that once things settle down for me I will be able to return to reducing my debt, but currently I am in more of a survival mode. So much is in the state of flux right now my head is literally spinning. My time away did help my mental health and hopefully I will continue to regain control over my bipolar without having to go back on full blown medication. Only time will tell.

I will be adding 2 "financial" sagas I have encountered recently. The first deals with my recent trip and the refund I am requesting. The second concerns my battle with my employer concerning FMLA. Altho neither deals with debt reduction or trying to be frugal, I feel they are important to note as they deal with fighting for money that is rightly mine. Too many people allow themselves to be "walked upon" and do not fight the system(s). If there is one thing I have learned from reading other blogs it is fight for what is rightfully yours and dont be afraid to ask.

I still exist

2009-04-25T20:18:00.002-04:00

Greeting from the depths of never-neverland!! I am slowly "recovering" form my heartache of the past 2 months. What was to be a mini-break whilst settling into my new apartment has turned into a much longer hiatus than expected. Regretfully my mental health issues have wreaked havoc on my life much more than I anticipated and I have been attempting to reclaim my life. With the help of some truly marvelous friends (both online and off) I am slowly getting back to my old self, tho there will be many more changes to come. One of which is another move, tho this one will be half way cross country if all goes as planned.

As for my debt reduction and bid for personal frugality--very slow going. I have been trying to be extremely careful with my spending and I believe I have done well in that regard. My current necessities are paid in full and on time. My debt reduction, on the other hand, has suffered greatly. With the income reduction due to leaving my PT job, and some added medical expenses, I haven't had much to throw at my debts. Add to that the disconnect/reconnect/transfer of service fees, address change et al,,,well think y'all see where Im going--MOVING SUCKS!! Especially an unplanned move.

Overall tho I cant complain. At least I haven't "added" to my debt load, which is a good thing. I have much to think about in the coming months both personally and career wise. So for a bit longer my blogging will be sporadic at best. This weekend I am spending some time trying to catch up on some reading of other blogs and it may spark some ideas.

My one disappointment tho, has been in regards to some things I really wanted to try this spring and summer,,,foraging for edible plants, trying to garden, etc.. But there is always next year. That is why I am so glad that I have these ideas written in my blog, I have something to look back at and remind me.

I hope life is treating y'all with kindess!!

Debt Validation, Where I'm at in the Process

2009-04-06T08:51:00.002-04:00

Back in March I mentioned my "proud moment" of being proactive in dealing with some of my zombie debt issues. In that post I mentioned the following article Make Collectors Prove You Owe being used as my starting point. Below is a synopsis of that article and where I stand in the process.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a federal law regulating debt collectors, you can request the debt collector to send proof of the debt.

How it Should Happen

1] Within five days of its first communication to you, the debt collector is responsible for sending you a debt validation notice. This notice should be in writing letter letting you know you have the right to dispute the validity of the debt within 30 days.

I did not have an initial communication from this company just received the mailing

2] You must dispute the debt in writing within 30 days, or the debt collector has the right to assume the debt is valid. During the 30 day period, the collector can continue attempts to collect the debt from you until it receives your validation request.

3] Submit a Validation Request--your request for debt validation must be submitted in writing and should be sent certified mail return receipt requested. You can dispute: entire debt, part of the debt, or request the name of the original creditor. After receiving your dispute, the debt collector cannot contact you until it has provided you with the requested information.

Sent my validation request on 3/4/09...received by CMS on 3/6/09...on 3/11/09 I received a letter from CMS stating the following:

...Our office has requested this information from our client Resurgent Capital Service.Once we have received the information from Resurgent Capital Services, it will be forwarded to you...

By sending certified RRR you have proof of the letter’s mailing and receipt by the debt collector. If you do file a lawsuit against the debt collector, the certified RRR will help your case.

4] The collection agency must send you proof that it owns or has been assigned the debt by the original creditor. Verification that you owe the debt and the amount of the debt needs to include documentation from the original creditor (however, it is the debt collector who sends it to you). It is not enough for the collection agency to simply send you a printout of the amount owed.

As of today 4/6/09 I have received nothing

5] If the debt collector does not verify the debt within 30 days, it is not allowed to continue collecting the debt from you nor can it list the debt on your credit report. If debt collector list the debt on your credit report, it can be disputed.

The 30 days are up, so far nothing listed on my Experian report. I need to see if I should write a follow letter to CMS.

It will be interesting to see if this debt gets sold yet again. I also need to look into whether there is any legal means of preventing the constant selling of debts like this. I will be adding some information to help clarify some aspects of this post at a later time.

Trying to get back to Normal

2009-04-01T03:59:00.005-04:00

Never try to fix a computer problem when your emotionally distressed and bored to boot. What a mess I made of my "bookkeeping". Have spent the past 2 days trying to re-create my files, regretfully I think I made big boo-boo.

Anyways,,,

I think I have re-built my debt reduction information. It's a bit leaner as I have removed some TBD that are over 10 yrs old. I also changed some categories a bit as my priorities have changed dramatically, I am planning a move so I need to sock away at least $3000 min which includes the purchase of a vehicle. The sooner the better!!

Here is a breakdwon of what I owe:

ZOMBIE DEBTS (TBD)=$9845.59--lowest of priority to be paid off, but will be working to have them removed from credit reports if applicable.
OLD DEBTS=$623.03--mid priority, as some are on credit reports some aren't, most are medical related, and some are as Dave Ramsey puts it "stupid tax".
CURRENT DEBTS=$1009.86--incudles debt incured due to breakup. These are bills I have been making an attempt to pay during the last 12 months. They are "close" to current, but at least not with a collection agency.
STUDENT LOAN=$65912.71--hope no one fainted (dont ever fall into the deferrment trap, better yet avoid student loans all together.) On a good note with my SL,,,,should be out of default in a few months.

It's a start at re-building on my own.

Settling In

2009-03-25T01:37:00.002-04:00

Well I'm moved into my new apartment (efficiency), everything but my books are organized; not that I had much.

Finances are still a problem but there is a wee bit of hope,,,student loan is working with me, I lucked out as the rep handling my accouont went thro the same thing a few years back so she was very helpful,,,my other debts are on hold at least until the end of next month.

I am hoping to get some gumption to get back into things but I have do deal with my mental health first. Altho Im not a blubbering idiot like last week, my mood swings are still bothersome.

Here's hoping all is well!!

Not in a Good Place Right Now

2009-03-21T00:37:00.003-04:00

My partner of 10 1/2 years ended our relationship last week. So I had to pack my stuff and move. Financially Im pretty much ruined, will take months to recover and get back on track. Emotionally ,,,well we wont go there,,,I am having hard time keeping my interest in anything at this moment. My bipolar disorder is wreaking havoc creating a tailspin that I am having trouble control. I may not post for a while but I am planning on being back.

Currently my main focus is getting over the finances of moving. Since all the bills for the house were in my name I not only got the final bills but also reconnect fees etc etc. Had to come up with rent and security. I will say I have been putting to use what I have learned over the past year.

Once I have a new budget (which will be much leaner) I will post an update. I do kno that I am currently $30 short for bills next week BUT my one employer, that I terminated my position with, still owes me my last paycheck. And he wonders why I left (altho I may go back 2 days a week). I do have another option but I am trying to avoid not paying bills in full.

Anywhoo!! thats were I be.

Still Dealing

2009-03-10T17:09:00.003-04:00

I have once again spoken to the HR person at my employer about the lack of progress. She informed me that she will continue to investigate.

I did ask about a pursuing this in the courts but I discovered that I would be suing my employer as we are "self-insured" and what I thought was the insurance company is in actuality just the administrator of the company account. So, I will not be going that route.

I did mention also about the $25 payment and my inability of scrounging up that amount. I told that it would be paid in some way so not to worry.

And people wonder why I have been with this company for almost 10 years.

Anyways we will see what happens. I am confident it will be resolved in a positive manner for myself. Will let y'all know soon, I hope, as I am getting sick of this :/

More Information--SCAM ALERT!!

2009-03-07T23:58:00.002-05:00

On 1/25/09 I wrote about the "mystery shopper" scam mail I received. Whilst listening to a Clark Howard pod-cast he also mentioned "money transfer scams" and mentioned information that Western Union has posted on their Website. This the link to the page where you can find those articles (taken directly from the Western Union site:

Fraudsters are always coming up with new, creative ways to try to get your money. The best way to avoid being a victim is to be educated.
Learn more about these scams with these helpful articles, courtesy of Western Union.

Watch Out for Lottery Fraud

Buyer Beware

It's No Accident

Beware of Up-front Payments

Millions Waiting to be Shared

They've Found Your Dog

"Dream" Job Only a Dream?

When Easy Money Isn't Easy

Hope this is helpful!!

Another Issue I have been Dealing With

2009-03-07T11:50:00.000-05:00

As some of you may remember last year I had serious trouble with my feet/ankles that required numerous visits to my GP and a foot specialist. I lost about a 4-6 weeks worth of wages due to not being able to work, spent money on Rx's, etc.. To make a long story short, my BLEEPING (now former) insurance company is refusing to pay for the custom molded orthotics that they pre-approved.

This battle has been ongoing since September, the HR department at my job has been attempting to help, but we think that the insurance company's attitude is f*** you since we no longer use them as our insurer. My problem now, this bill of $259 is going to into collections by the end of the month.

[Please note: I never would have gotten these orthotics had I known there would be personal cost other than our co-pay. At the time I was seriously considering bankruptcy and I did not want to add more debt. That is why I got pre-approval, to know what I would have to pay.]

The service provider for my orthotics have been helpful, and informed me that if I could make a $25 payment they would be able to keep it out of collections. Now I have to scrape together the money to do so and hope I can get reimbursed.

So my new question(s): can I sue my former insurance provider to compel them to pay? or, can I sue in small claims court to get my money back if I pay the orthotics company?

I do have "evidence" to show they are required to pay. I can show that there was a coding error on insurance company's part, as orthotic company has shown/documented that they coded it properly when they submitted bill to insurer. Also, my policy states that orthotics are "paid 100% after $15 co-pay". I can also show that insurance company has been mis-leading, repeatedly stating that this bill was paid after it was brought to their attention--FALSE!! My employer can show that there is a pattern of "lies" as I am not the only person having this problem.

So now I need to investigate my 2 questions and decide what direction to go. The above problems is partly why my employer dumped this company. They were/are horrible.

Will keep y'all posted on how this turns out. I just hope our new insurance company is better!!

Statute of Limitation

2009-03-06T13:08:00.001-05:00

I was able to find the actual Pennsylvania law(s) concerning STATUTE OF LIMITATION. With the help of numerous web sties I was directed to the on line source for the Unofficial Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes from West.

This site provides free access to both the consolidated and unconsolidated Purdon’s Pennsylvania Statutes and Constitution, as compiled and maintained by the editorial staff of Thomson/West, and made available here in an unannotated version under agreement with the Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau.

And here it is (underlining is mine, I also left out paragraphs for clarity sake as it written in legalese)

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. 5501 et seq. TITLE 42 Pa.C.S.A. JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE CHAPTER 55. LIMITATION OF TIME SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 5501. Scope of chapter

(a) General rule.--An action, proceeding or appeal must be commenced within the time specified in or pursuant to this chapter unless, in the case of a civil action or proceeding, a different time is provided by this title or another statute or a shorter time which is not manifestly unreasonable is prescribed by written agreement.

§ 5502. Method of computing periods of limitation generally

(a) General rule.--The time within which a matter must be commenced under this chapter shall be computed, except as otherwise provided by subsection (b) or by any other provision of this chapter, from the time the cause of action accrued, the criminal offense was committed or the right of appeal arose.

SUBCHAPTER B. CIVIL ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS

§ 5525. Four year limitation

(a) General rule. Except as provided for in subsection (b), the following actions and proceedings must be commenced within four years:
(7) An action upon a negotiable or nonnegotiable bond, note or other similar instrument in writing. Where such an instrument is payable upon demand, the time within which an action on it must be commenced shall be computed from the later of either demand or any payment of principal of or interest on the instrument.

So what does all this mean for me:

A SOL begins to run when a cause of action accrues; begins when I have done/did something contrary to the terms of my agreement--that somethings is failure to pay my bill. By not paying bill on time I have violated the terms and given creditor(s) a cause of action.

So now I wait to see what the collection agent has to say in response to my validation request. I also need to dig some more in regards to the credit reporting time limit as well as removal of items from my report.

More Debt Info

2009-03-06T00:38:00.001-05:00

Today I was proud of myself. I began to be proactive in dealing with my debt, specifically my zombie debt(s) that I feel shouldn't be on my credit report(s). I am hoping that by dealing with the issues surrounding my credit report(s) I may be able to improve my credit score. I do realize that these debts need to be paid, and in time I hope they will be. My goal(s) at this point in time is/are to clean up my reports as much as possible and pay on more current debt with hopes of removing them from collections.

Currently, on my EXPERIAN report I have 14 items listed. Seven items are credit card related, with multiple listing (see prior post); 2 items are utilities; 2 items are medical; and 3 items are related to defaulted student loan.

My student loans are in repayment and with some luck will be removed in July; I believe they will then be noted in a positive manner. The medical bill that are in collections will be dealt with hopefully by July. I have some other ones that I am paying on to keep out of collections and they should be paid in full by then. As for the cardit cards, well,,,let's say I have much reading and research to to do as to how best to handle them. That brings me to my proud moment,,,

Last month (2/7/09) I received a letter/notice from CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LP (located in Buffalo, NY) concerning my alleged deliquent debt of $xxxx.xx. After doing some digging I discovered a few items of interest:

this letter was from what some would call a "scavenger" debt collector; it would mark the second time that a third party collector has contacted me concerning this particular debt
this debt's SOL has run out (still double checking this to be sure, I am getting conflicting information. Update: PA SOL is 4 yrs, I will be posting the information I found) and is now a TBD (see prior post)
this debt is also past the time limit of 7 yrs for credit reporting (again need to double check)--7 years is the amount of time credit bureaus can report delinquent account information on your credit report [Note to self: I need to determine if it is the credit reporting agency is who I need to contact to remove this item or the collection agency]
in order to begin to deal with this debt I needed to make the collection agency validate the debt; I am using this article ("Make Collectors Prove You Owe") as my starting point

So my "proud" moment came when I actually wrote and mailed the validation letter--GO ME!!

Pulled One of my Credit Reports

2009-03-03T17:01:00.000-05:00

I have been doing a bit of reading/research concerning debt. I have written in the past concerning my past due debt and how I have decided to handle what I believed to be "zombie debts" or the more technical term TIME BARRED DEBT(S). Based on what I have read I have some digging to do (concerning credit reporting and Statue of Limitations), but I will share what I have found so far.

The biggest issue with "zombie debts" or "time barred debts" is the actual definition of STATUE OF LIMITATIONS (SOL) and what it entails. For starters a time barred debt (TBD) is a debt so old it is beyond the point at which a creditor or debt collector may SUE to collect. At this point the SOL (the time of commencing actions) comes in to play. It is simply the time allowed for litigation/lawsuits can be brought. It is a civil code and each state has its own statute. I live in Pennsylvania, our SOL is 4 years.

Based on this information I have 7 items listed on my credit report that would be considered timed barred debts. In actuality it is only 3 debts but 2 of them are listed twice and one is listed 3 times. In other words the original creditor is listed plus the 3rd party collection agency (from my understanding this is par for the course.)

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) does not prohibit a debt collector from trying to collect a TBD as long as they do not sue or threaten to sue you for the debt. [Note: Expired SOL is a defense to be used if you are sued!! The debt cannot be enforced by lawsuit; does not dismiss debt and can be reported on credit report up to 7 yrs.]

Another issue I found important to my situation is when the SOL begins. If you have never made a payment to your creditor the SOL for TBD starts when the first payment is due or at the onset of the contract signing. If you default on a debt that payment(s) have/has been made to, the SOL begins from the date of the LAST PAYMENT.

Issue number three deals with credit reports/reporting. My concern(s) in this area pertains to debts listed on my credit report(s) that are past the 4 year SOL and also 7 yrs old.

I found the following which both asks and answers my two concerns:
How do I remove a debt when the statute of limitations expires?

Credit bureaus can continue reporting delinquent debts even after the statute of limitations has expired. In a nutshell, the statute of limitations is the amount of time collectors can sue you for a debt. The CREDIT REPORTING TIME LIMIT is different. It's the amount of time credit bureaus can report delinquent account information on your credit report. The statute of limitations on a debt can expire before the credit reporting time limit for that debt expires. In that case, the debt can (and usually will) still appear on your credit report.

And,

Can I remove debt collections from my credit report?

If the collection is accurate, you technically can't have it removed. You might be able to negotiate with the collector to remove the item in exchange for payment. Unless they're actively collecting on the account, debt collectors are rarely concerned with keeping your credit report updated. So, if a new collector has the account or you've already paid, you can try disputing with the credit bureau. If the collector doesn't respond in 30 days, the credit bureau must remove the collection from your credit report.

So based on this information it looks as tho I am stuck with the dung of a credit report. The key now is to make sure nothing more gets added, and that is something that I can control by being diligent with my money. Al tho I may try and get 2-3 items removed since I would only be dealing with the reporting agent and not the debt collector

These two articles Should You Pay an Old Collection and Tactics For Paying Off Debt Collections will be helpful in the near future as I do have some debt that is more recent and I want to get them cleared (they are medical bills, and I would like to continue to use the services provided.)

On line Income Earned/Received for February

2009-03-02T09:07:00.003-05:00

End of month summary of what I have acquired this month via my Get-Paid-To programs:

$5 Amazon e-card
$1.78 from my paid-to programs

Every little bit helps!!

Yet to be received (cashed-out but not in hand):

$1.35 from paid-to programs
$10 from surveys +
$10 from Jan still waiting for estimated delivery 3/10/09

So for this month I have earned $18.13 (received $6.78)!! Two month total: earned $35.88 received $14.53 pending $21.35

Ack Phooey

2009-02-23T00:22:00.003-05:00

Sometimes life is such an interuption. Do this, do that. Work, work and more work. The best laid plans run amok. So much to do, so little time to do it in. Sound familar to anyone.

OK, end of vent!!

Portfolio Changes in the Works--Update

2009-02-18T13:48:00.002-05:00

I just finished with my 401k, alt ho not completely as I have some digging to do. As I mentioned I'm not happy with some of the Fund choices we have so I have to research my option a bit more.

Prior to this AM I had a mixed bag of Funds. I now am investing in only the Stable Value Fund; it is an ultra-conservative move but I prefer not to lose any money. As the markets change (improve) I will make necessary changes.

I'm now on plan D, as my 401k does not allow for a 1% contribution. At 2% I will be contributing $31.20 which will be matched by my employer (up to 3% if I remember correctly). I will have to change my plans for my Sharebuilders account accordingly.

Mid-Month Progress--February

2009-02-16T03:23:00.001-05:00

At the beginning of the month I had the following balances in various monetary accounts:

Sharebuilders--$197.84
PayPal--$2.95
Savings--$3
401k--$250 (approximately)

Income for the month:

Paycheck--$145-not received yet, late; deduct $60 for meat order
Paycheck--$608
Paycheck--$160
Paycheck--$608
TOTAL--$1521

Money Spent & Bills Paid:

Sharebuilders Commission--$12
Meat Order--$60
Phone & DSL--$48
Satellite TV--$77
Heat--$136
Water--$114
Sharebuilders--$20 (ACH on the 24th, money set aside)
Dial-up Internet--$22 (ACH on the 15th, money set aside)
Grocery--$45
TOTAL--$534

For the remainder of the month I have the following:

Paychecks totaling $768 + $111 (savings account) = $879
Rent--$100
Student Loan Payment-$405
Personal Loan--$50 + $60
Old Checking Account--$25
Garbage Bill--$15
Sewer Bill--$32
Sharebuilders Commission--$12
TOTAL BILLS--$699

Portfolio Changes in the Works

2009-02-14T00:11:00.009-05:00

Back in January (the 21st to be exact) I mentioned my small portfolio that I have with Sharebuilders. Under normal circumstances I usually review my holdings on a quarterly basis but there were some changes I wanted to make, so I thought I would give a mid-month update.

A note of interest: I am addicted to Clark Howard!! I would like to incorporate some of his ideas in to my investment/retirement planning. More on him in a later post!

"top 5 individual holdings should not be in the same industry." They suggest investing in the following way--local company-oil stock--a brand name blue chip--financial--and a speculative stock.

I am in the process of making these possible changes--starting another account/portfolio or taking current portfolio up to the next level (from $12/6 trades to $20/20 trades):

LOCAL--Northwest Savings Bank [NWSB-$17.75-DIV] or...
OIL STOCK--unknown, possible United Refining
BLUE CHIP--Honda Motor Corp [HMC-$24.02-DIV]
FINANCIAL--ING or...
SPEC--unknown, possible a wind energy company Trinity [TRN--]

As for my current holdings:

MON--MONSANTO CO//Shares 0.5704//Market Value $45.30

CHANGE--Shares +.0399//Market Value +$3.07

NRG--NRG ENERGY INC//Shares 1.0548//Market Value $23.54

CHANGE--Shares +.1288//Market Value +$1.49

RSG--REPUBLIC SVCS INC//Shares 1.4040//Market Value $33.84

CHANGE--Shares 0//Market Value -$2.02

RTK--RENTECH INC//Shares 52.4691//Market Value $40.40

CHANGE--Shares +7.8739//Market Value +$9.08

SO--SOUTHERN CO//Shares 0.8990//Market Value $26.65

CHANGE--Shares +.0859//Market Value -$.08

VVC--VECTREN CORP//Shares 1.0058//Market Value $26.03

CHANGE--Shares +.1149//Market Value +$1.49

Total Account Value $197.25

CHANGE--$197.25 - $184.16 (1/19/09) = $13.09

Some changes I was considering and still in the works depending on my decision from above:

Eliminate one of my utility holdings, replace with a local stock and/or a blue chip--still deciding
RSG merged with Allied Waste (AW) currently not actively investing, need to change that--
Reconsider my holding(s) in MON, ethics/morals in business may be a problem--if I do decide to drop must find another blue chip or financial to replace

If I decide to add another portfolio or up my level, and return to my 401k, I may drop my 401k contribution down to 1% ($15.60/mth). My current investment percent is 4% I would then use the remaining 3% to up my Sharebuilders and explore a Roth IRA and a Money Market Mutual Fund, and I just found that ING/Sharebuilders has the Roth so I am excited--YEA!! Have to look to see if they have the MMMF. [This is the Clark Howard effect, he talks a lot about Roths, 401k's, MMMF, and saving for retirement in general.]

All told, depending on how this plays out I will be investing $62.40/mth or 4%. I also need to look at my allocations within my 401k and make changes if needed.

Hopefully this post isn't too disjointed as my mind was racing with ideas as I wrote it. I will be updating it soon as I make my decisions and finish my research.

Mini update 2/15/09: I started doing some basic research into Roth's and MMMF's. I definitely need to do more. SO Until I am comfortable with my decision, I am going to go with plan C: decrease 401k to 1% increase Sharebuilders to 3% and add new holdings once determined. If and when I build up enough funds in my Sharebuilders I will then take those funds to do a Roth ($1000-$3000 initial minimum investment); MMMF undetermined at this point. Changes will most likely take place in March.

On line Income Earned/Received

2009-01-31T14:17:00.000-05:00

End of month summary of what I have acquired this month via my Get-Paid-To programs

$5 Amazon e-card--will be using toward the purchase of a programmable thermostat
1 GB Coby MP3 player
$.66 from my paid-to programs

Not a whole lot but every little bit helps!!

Projected for month end:

$1.37 from paid-to programs
Actual--$2.09
@$14.50 from surveys
Cashed-out for $10, 6-8 weeks for delivery

So for this month I have earned $17.75 (received $7.75)!!

End of Month Progress

2009-01-31T01:41:00.000-05:00

At the beginning of the month 1/1/09 I had the following balances in various monetary accounts:
[balance(s) as of 1/31/09 in purple]

Sharebuilders--$177.17--> $197.84 (+ $20.67)
PayPal--$.20--> $2.95 (+ $2.75)
Savings Account--$87.12--> $3 (-84.12)
401k--$248.04--> $248.74 (+$ .70)

Not including my savings account balance a + $24.12

Income so far for the month:

Paycheck--$98
Paycheck--$171 (earmarked for meat order received in December & January not included in this months budget)
UEC--$175
Paycheck--$350
TOTAL--$794

Paycheck--$195

Paycheck--$636

TOTAL--$831

Money Spent & Bills Paid:

Sharebuilders Commission--$12
Rent (current)--$100
Meat Order--$133
Phone & DSL--$103 (will receive $50 rebate--$46 normal bill)
Satellite TV--$73
Dial-up Internet--$22 (temporary till I upgrade my puter)
Heat--$136
Loan--$95--Paid in Full
TOTAL--$674
Unplanned Dr. Appt (for shoulder)--$20 + $5 toward old balance
Unplanned Rx's (for shoulder)--$2.65
TOTAL--$702

For the remainder of the month I have the following:

Paychecks totaling $858 (Actual $831) + $120 (from above) = $978 ($951)
Water Bill--$120 payment arrangement made
Sharebuilders--$17 pd
Student Loan Payment-$405 pd
Personal Loan--$50 pd
Old Checking Account--$330
Garbage Bill--$15 pd
Sewer Bill--$32 pd
Sharebuilders Commission--$12 to be pd 2/2/09 money set aside
TOTAL BILLS--$981

Overall not too bad. It is an improvement but I'm not happy. Two bills were not paid and will carry over into next month. It's my own fault, I allowed my hours to be reduced at my second job which affected my income a bit. Also I took a "voluntary" lay-off (last week of December) from my primary job which now I am second guessing; tho it did allow me to visit my family in Buffalo. There is room for improvement!!

February soon to come.

About Me--Part I

2009-01-28T23:53:00.006-05:00

Well after a good year of blogging I figured it may be time to tell a bit about me and how I got to where I am today. So here goes nothing.

The Basics:
I'm in my mid-forties. I am a lesbian. My partner and I have been together 10 1/2 after meeting in an on-line chat-room. I am a non-believer, alt ho not an atheist I am what I call an atheistic agnostic. I do believe in a "higher power" for lack of a better word, but I believe that it comes from within. Our choices determine our complete path in life.

I never graduated from college but consider myself intelligent and well read. (I do have a goal of attaining a college degree, just not sure how as of yet!). I am employed full-time, with benefits, as a quality control technician at a powdered metal factory; and I also hold a part-time job in food-service.

My current pre-tax income is $20,290 + 5850 = $26140/yr, post tax its approximately $20,912. I do have a 401k BUT it is currently on hold. (I stopped investing when my holdings started to show signs of tanking prior to the govt "official" acknowledgment of a recession.) I also have a small portfolio (about $200) through Sharebuilders/ING.

My partner and I rent a home. We would like to buy but it would have to be based on her income/credit rating; she is A+ as far as financials. All our finances are SEPARATE. Anything dealing with the house is in my name and my responsibility; the truck and financials involved with vehicle ownership belong to my partner.

Some may look at this and wonder--shouldn't you both be sharing household bills? There is no easy way to explain our past/current situation(s) but health and unemployment issues for both of us have made this decision for us. Suffice to say my income, tho reduced at some points, during our times of crisis has been steady whereas my partner's has not. Her credit being what it was/is was important to maintain where mine was long past the point of destruction (in other words it the only direction mine could co was/is up.) We are working on changing this "perceived" inequity, tho it is not a mega priority. I will admit it would be helpful for me, I would be able to downgrade my debt faster. And yes it does frustrate me at times, especially since my partner now makes more than I do!! :))

As for savings, currently none. I will be re-evaluating my contribution(s) to my 401k in the coming days; I will also be looking at my portfolio. Right now my focus is on keeping daily necessities current, reducing my student loan debt (ie. getting out of default, AGAIN!!), and reducing one other non-negotiable debt. My other debts do not have any legal ramifications that could effect me beyond annoyance of constant phone ringing; they are "zombie debts", the SOL has past for court relief. I realize that I am still responsible for them, and in time I hope to be to fulfill that obligation.

Yes I do have a budget. I am learning/re-learning how to use it. I believe that this budget is the most comprehensive to date. So far for this year I have done so-so with maintaining my expenditures. As of today (1/29/09) all my monthly obligations have been paid, a bit late, but paid. THAT is a huge improvement!! I still have a few bills due on the 30th, will be updating my progress at that time.

Part II--Employment History

Was Bummed but Now I'm Not

2009-01-27T01:01:00.004-05:00

My usual late night routine--make dinner, talk with S/O, play on puter. Tonight was no different other than being extremely sore from work. So I took one of my coping with pain pills, signed on, and started checking my e-mail. What a bummer!!

The past few months I have been looking into possibly monetizing my blog via PayPerPost or one of the other programs. Bummer dude man,,,,was rejected again!! (For some odd reason it really bummed me out,) BUT then I checked my dashboard and discovered I received a comment that needed moderating.

So off I went to check out the comment left. All I can say is WOW!! I am so humbled. Thank you JW you have made my day :))

You can check out JW's blog HERE

SCAM ALERT!!

2009-01-25T02:46:00.002-05:00

On Thursday (1/22/09) I received a wonderful piece of mail, a check for $3730 from GLOBAL MARKET CONSULTANT INC. The catch, I was selected to participate in a "Paid Consumer Research Program" as a "Mystery Shopper" for my area. All I have to do is deposit the check, use $150 for shopping, $100 for training pay, and $3480 for "evaluating" Money Gram (letter does not state to whom the money will be sent, but assuming back to GMCI)<--RED FLAG.

At first glance my thought was kewl! Feasible as I have had contact with many programs and on-line surveys; I have also had free samples sent to my home for "testing". Have also inquired about 'mystery shopping" in a round-about way but nothing definitive.

So like a smart person I started checking for information. Nothing listed in the BBB, which in itself doesn't mean anything. Googled the company, again nothing. Re-read the letter, noticed the Canadian mailing address<--RED FLAG. Then I remembered reading somewhere about a similar scenario that was determined a scam, so started looking for that information. Here it is, (taken directly from American Consumer Opinion website:

WARNING!
Mystery Shopper Scam
A fraudulent Canadian company is using the American Consumer Opinion® name [ACOP not mentioned by name in my letter] to mail counterfeit checks for thousands of dollars, instructing you to deposit the check and then wire part of the money back to them. The company falsely claims the money you wire will go toward your training to become a mystery shopper. This is a criminal and illegal scam. Do not attempt to cash or deposit the check. Do not wire any money to anyone. Membership in American Consumer Opinion® is always free.
Thank you.
Anne Parks,
Vice President of American Consumer Opinion®

Watch out peoples, I almost fell for it. As the ole adage goes, "if it sounds to good to be true,,,"

Peanut Butter Recall

2009-01-24T14:40:00.001-05:00

Received this from ConAgra Foods concerning Peter Pan Peanut Butter:

Dear Loyal Consumer:
In recent days, you may have heard news regarding the safety of certain types of products that contain peanut-based ingredients.
We can assure you that all of the products made by ConAgra Foods, including our popular Peter Pan Peanut Butter, are safe to enjoy, and no ConAgra Foods products have been recalled.
We've confirmed that none of the products we make contain any peanut ingredients made by Peanut Corporation of America, the company at the center of the government's investigation of an outbreak of salmonella-related illnesses. We also have confirmed with our suppliers that they do not purchase any ingredients from the Peanut Corporation of America.
We are extremely confident in the safety protocols, including stringent quality testing, for Peter Pan Peanut Butter and our other products; and we appreciate your continued loyalty as you shop for the food your family loves.
If any of your friends or family members have questions about the safety of their products, including Peter Pan Peanut Butter, please feel free to share this email with them.
For more information about the government's investigation, we recommend you visit the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's website. If you have any other questions, please contact us or call 1-800-222-7370.
Thank you for your loyalty and patronage of our brands.
Sincerely,
ConAgra Foods, maker of Peter Pan Peanut Butter

Wood: Full Cord vs Face Cord

2009-01-23T13:31:00.000-05:00

Just a little tidbit to pass along. My partner and I do not use wood for heat but her parents do (as do many families in my neck of the woods.) Being a city transplant I never fully understood what a cord of wood was, here's the answer:

Full Cord= 128 cu. ft= 4'x4'x8' (2'x4'x16')
Face Cord= ? --the face of the stack is 4'x8' but depth varys which can reduce the amount of wood your actually getting 3'x4'x8'=75% of a full cord

Attempting to Understand New Insurance Policy--Progress?

2009-01-23T01:02:00.005-05:00

I received a partial answer from the HR person concerning the questions I had in regards to our new vision plan. Below is what I learned:

1. The vision plan allowance is for only one benefit (either glasses, contacts, or safety glasses)--personally not in agreement with this point as our policy description uses the word(s) "in addition",,,

UPDATE 1/23/09: called customer service this AM and received the same answer--only 1 pair of glasses/year. Not sure why policy insert is worded the way it is ("in addition") but still a good deal if I can stay within the $70 PPE for work glasses. Will have to really watch pricing so I stay with my limits to receive 2 pair of eyeballs for $20.

2. Certain lenses and options do require extra costs--lined bifocals listed as "covered-in-full",,,

UPDATED 1/23/08: Polycarbonate coating included for safety glasses; only lined-bifocals would be covered for my everyday glasses

3. Call customer services to be sure

Because I'm still not 100% sure about what is covered I will be calling customer service.

Well not much further than I was the other night but I'm not blaming company HR for that. New policy much for all of us to learn :))

Excellent Series of Articles

2009-01-22T19:38:00.001-05:00

Step One Towards Getting Out of Debt

But before you begin, give yourself a break. No matter what your current financial situation is, it can be improved. While you can (and should) learn from the past, beating yourself up over mistakes you may have made in it won’t get you anywhere. Once you’re ready to begin getting out of debt, start by finding out where you are. (You can’t get to where you’re going if you don’t know where you’re starting from.)

Step Two Towards Getting Out of Debt

Start by recording every single thing you buy, no matter how small. (Even a 1 cent gumball counts.) This may seem extreme, but chances are you’ll be surprised at how much of your money is spent on the little things — and the only way to find out for sure is to track every single expense.

Step Three Towards Getting Out of Debt

After completing steps one and two toward getting out of debt, the third step is to set up a spending & savings plan. Since you should already know your current income and expenditures, this step involves listing them out in an orderly manner.

Step Four Towards Getting Out of Debt

Step four toward getting out of debt involves looking for ways to reduce spending (so that you can pay down debt with the savings). If you have completed steps one, two, and three, you’ll have an accurate picture of what you’ve really been spending your money on and will know what your fixed expenses are.

Step Five Towards Getting Out of Debt

Step five toward getting out of debt addresses ways to use ‘found’ money to pay down debt. If you have completed steps one, two, three, and four, you’ll have an accurate picture of what you’ve really been spending your money on, will know what your fixed expenses are, and will have found ways to reduce your spending.

Looking for one thing found something else

2009-01-21T15:45:00.000-05:00

Was looking through my browsing notebook** and came across some investing information I wanted to look into. I was most likely watching Mad Money with Jim Cramer or,,, well do be honest I have no clue. I do watch a lot of investing and financial shows, so let's just say it came from one of them.

I do have an investment portfolio but it's quite small, under $200. My decision making process for choosing my investments is unorthodox and quirky. I consider myself to be a gut player. I do research my picks to a degree, but not like what the pros would recommend. I look more at the overall picture trying to find the next, for lack of a better example, WalMart. But I am also looking for stability and longevity--for example we will always need to deal with garbage, health care, education, and energy. But I digress. I started watching the financial show to learn and on of them mentioned this: "top 5 individual holdings should not be in the same industry." They suggest investing in the following way--local company-oil stock--a brand name blue chip--financial--and a speculative stock. So over the next few months this will be something that I will look into. With our economy as it is and with the results of the current election I feel there are some industries that will grow more in the near future; would be nice to be in a position to maybe capitalize on it even with my small amount. Currently I have money invested in the following:

MON--MONSANTO CO//Shares 0.5305//Market Value $42.23

Sector: Basic Materials
Industry: Agricultural Chemicals

NRG--NRG ENERGY INC//Shares 0.9260//Market Value $22.09

Sector: Utilities
Industry: Electric Utilities

RSG--REPUBLIC SVCS INC//Shares 1.4040//Market Value $35.86

Sector: Industrial Goods
Industry: Waste Management

RTK--RENTECH INC//Shares 44.5952//Market Value $31.22

Sector: Conglomerates
Industry: Conglomerate

SO--SOUTHERN CO//Shares 0.7631//Market Value $26.73

Sector: Utilities
Industry: Electric Utilities

VVC--VECTREN CORP//Shares 1.0058//Market Value $26.03

Sector: Utilities
Industry: Diversified Utilities

Total Account Value $184.16 (1/19/09)

Some changes to consider:

Eliminate one of my utility holdings, replace with a local stock and/or a blue chip
RSG merged with Allied Waste (AW) currently not actively investing, need to change that
Reconsider my holding(s) in MON, ethics/morals in business may be a problem--if I do decide to drop must find another blue chip or financial to replace

Not a bad start IMHO!! I try to re-evaluate my holdings quarterly so I am due soon. I may increase my monthly investment to $25 from $20 and add another stock but not sure yet.

_____
**You may be asking what my browsing notebook may be. Basically it's just a notebook I keep with me to write down anything that piques my interest. I may be riding in the car and a commercial piques my interest, I write down any web info mentioned. May be a news clip about something that interest me or something in a junk mail, or e-mail. There is no rhyme nor reason to my notebook just bits and pieces to help unclutter my mind.

Attempting to Understand New Insurance Policy

2009-01-21T11:02:00.004-05:00

On January 1, 2009 my primary employer changed insurance companies. At first glance, based on an employee meeting, the changes will be a good one for all involved. Some out of pocket expenses are a bit higher (ie. employee contribution, co-pays) but overall I believe this may be a better policy. Our insurance covers medical, dental, vision, and Rx drugs.

Currently I am trying to figure out our vision policy. I need two pair of eyeballs--everyday use and ANSI approved safety glasses. Al tho tinting has been suggested it is not required, but I do require bifocals. I plan on using an in-network provider which in our case is Wal*Mart (I'm not thrilled by this but through word of mouth I have discovered that our "local" Wal*Mart is very good.) Also by comparing prices I have determined that financially Wal*Mart has by far the best prices compared to our local independent store even without insurance; 2 pair can be had at a lower cost than purchasing just one pair locally. (As much as I would prefer to shop here in town, I just can't justify the added cost.)

But I digress. If I am reading my policy correctly the following will hold true:

$10 co-pay for eye exam
$10 co-pay for "materials" a single co-pay that applies to entire purchase of glasses (lenses & frames)
one pair lined bifocals covered in full
standard scratch resistant coating applied at no charge
$130 frame allowance

So for a $20 co-pay my everyday glasses are covered BUT what about my ANSI eyeballs?

My company offers a $70 PPE account (personal protective equipment). Since I purchase my steel-toed shoes at Wal*Mart I have been "saving" this account for just this occasion. According to my insurance literature:

In addition to your covered-in-full (after applicable copay) eyeglass benefit UHV also offers a safety eyewear plan,,,With UHV's safety eyewear plan, safety glasses are covered without a copay. You will receive a(n),,,allowance toward the purchase of safety frames,,,or a $69 retail allowance at network retail providers. In addition, polycarbonate lenses with side shields are covered-in-full,,,This safety eyewear plan is separate from your regular benefits plan, and your selected eyewear must included both safety frames and lenses.

So how should I read this? Are my safety glasses "free" if I stay under $69 ($139 if PPE account is included)? Something I will have to ask my HR person.

If this holds true then my total out-of-pocket expenses would be $20 which IMHO makes the $75/mth I pay totally worth it. (I will be having dental work done in next few months also.)

Trying to Develop a Price Book

2009-01-20T14:47:00.000-05:00

As I read through numerous blogs and other sites concerning frugal living/saving money the one thing that stands out is the use of a price book when grocery shopping. I have a good understanding of the basics behind using a price book, my dilemma comes in as to how to use one.

Here is my situation in regards to shopping (this also holds true for any type of shopping not just food and household supplies.) I live in the middle of nowhere--literally. Closest major city is 3-4 hours away (Pittsburgh and Buffalo) two minor cities are within an hour drive. In my town we have 1 grocery store, a Dollar General, a Rite Aid, and two other locally owned pharmacies; we also have a locally owned butcher.

Within a 30 minute drive we have a Super WalMart and one more grocery store, another butcher, and another Dollar General. For a 60 minute drive you can add two more grocery stores another Walmart and a KMart. Y'all see where I'm going with this, not many options to work with.

So how do I make a price book work for me?

Below are some articles pertaining to price books that have got me to think that I may be able to adapt a conventional price book to my situation.

Starting a price book--Price Book 101
Developing a Price Book
Grocery Price Book Spreadsheet
Starting A Pricebook
Make A Price Book: Power Tool For Supermarket Savings!"
Grocery Price Book Spreadsheet--I have not downloaded this yet, if I do I will let y'all know how it is

So for now I will be gathering data, primarily shopping at our local Dollar General and Walmart; I will be attempting to include the other grocery store. Meats I get wholesale through my employer so I only need to deal with household supplies, dairy products, and non-perishable foods.

Wish me luck :))

Homemade Yogurt--More Info

2009-01-19T13:59:00.000-05:00

I have been experimenting with homemade yogurt for a few weeks now. I am satisfied with the results but am always looking for more information to improve my technique and product. Will be adding the information from the following two articles to my repertoire.

Here's a nice article concerning the use of yogurt in the kitchen

Memories of the Past

2009-01-18T13:25:00.006-05:00

Ah!! The memories Growing my own food in 4 days. Many moons ago I preferred a vegetarian diet, I wasn't quite vegan but almost; why I drifted away from it I do not know. It may be that my partner is a meat and potatoes girl but I think it's more that there are no local sources for the food items I prefer.

I have noticed that my food choices in the last few months has been leaning more towards what I ate in the past. My new favorite ingredient, LENTILS; very easy and cheap.

Anywhoo, sprouting beans may be something to get back into doing.

This is a direct link to an article mentioned in the above blog Adventures in (Mung) Bean Sprouting.

On-line Income I have Earned (rather make that received)

2009-01-17T14:23:00.000-05:00

At the very beginning of my blog I mentioned some of the ways I earn extra "income" while on-line. Below is a summary of what I have acquired so far this month.

$5 Amazon e-card--will be using toward the purchase of a programmable thermostat
1 GB Coby MP3 player
$.66 from my paid-to programs

Not a whole lot but every little bit helps!!

Projected for month end:

$1.37 from paid-to programs
@$14.50 from surveys

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Note to self: update paid-to programs list and surveys!!

USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service

2009-01-17T03:28:00.005-05:00

Mid-Month Progress

2009-01-17T00:34:00.006-05:00

This year my main goal(s) is/are geared toward making some progress in my spending and debt reduction. Primarily I am keying on making sure my current necessities (ie. rent, utilities, and defaulted student loan) are paid. As for reducing debt the only one I will focus on at this point in time is the rent I am past due on. My other debts (except for 2 medical bills which arrangements have been made) are past the 7 yr SOL, therefore I will not focus on them as of yet.

I'm not doing well with tracking my daily spending, but having only a savings account without a debit card has helped immensely. In order to get money I have to physically go to the bank and make a withdrawal. The benefit of this, no NSF fees, better documentation of what funds are available in my handy-dandy register, thinking about why I want to withdrawal money, and actually seeing a positive balance in my account. I would like to try and track daily spending but am finding it a bit "difficult". My days are very hectic with 2 jobs and the daily tasks in running our household. I will re-evaluate as the month progresses and see how close I stay on budget.

At the beginning of the month I had the following balances in various monetary accounts:

Sharebuilders--$177.17
PayPal--$.20
Savings--$87.12
401k--$250 (approximately)

Income so far for the month:

Paycheck--$98
Paycheck--$171 (earmarked for meat order received in December & January not included in this months budget)
UEC--$175
Paycheck--$350
TOTAL--$794

Money Spent & Bills Paid:

Sharebuilders Commission--$12
Rent (current)--$100
Meat Order--$133
Phone & DSL--$103 (will receive $50 rebate--$46 normal bill)
Satellite TV--$73
Dial-up Internet--$22 (temporary till I upgrade my puter)
Heat--$136
Loan--$95--Paid in Full
TOTAL--$674

So far so good A-B should equal approximately $120, my savings account balance is $224.

For the remainder of the month I have the following:

Paychecks totaling $858 + $120 (from above) = $978

Water Bill--$120

Sharebuilders--$17

Student Loan Payment-$405

Personal Loan--$50

Old Checking Account--$330

Garbage Bill--$15

Sewer Bill--$32

Sharebuilders Commission--$12

TOTAL BILLS--$981

Dag nab-bit I'm $3 short. Hopefully my partner will make an attempt to give me money for the utilities (not counting on it tho). If by chance she does I will then have spending money. Groceries are not an issue other than bread, milk , and cereal.

Overall not too shabby--all bills will be paid!!

Articles Of Interest--5

2009-01-14T00:18:00.000-05:00

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission--Recalls

2009-01-12T01:58:00.004-05:00

Bosch(r) and Siemens(r) Model Dishwashers

Children's Hooded Jackets with Drawstrings Recalled by Ms. Bubbles Inc

Jardine Expands Recall of Cribs Sold by Babies"R"Us

(Please note this is an attempt to make a permanent link to clean up my sidebar,,,here's hoping it actually works!!)

E-books & Pamphlets

2009-01-11T21:07:00.004-05:00

E-Books & Pamphlets

(Please note this is an attempt to make a permanent link to try and shorten my side bar. Hopefully this will work!!)

Points to Ponder

2009-01-04T16:08:00.004-05:00

With the start of the new year there are some old issues that I need to give some thought to--I need new eyeglass Rx and frames for 2 sets of glasses and I also need some dental work done. Both are covered to some degree by my health insurance.

My dilemma (for lack of better word) comes in as to exactly how/when to pay. Should I save first or wait till I am billed and then make payment(s)? My gut is saying save then purchase. I have a rough estimate as to the cost for both issues but I'm stuck as to a time--I need new eyeballs, FAST!! My dental work can wait a while longer.

And yes I do need 2 pair of glasses--one pair of ANSI approved safety glasses (w/ attached side shields) for work and a pair for everyday use. Al tho I just thought of something we have a $70/yr PPE account at my job so I may have just solved part of that dilemma.

As for my dental work the cost is going to be a bit more pricey. Not only will I be dealing with my regular dentist but also a business that makes dentures. I need to have 3-5 teeth pulled (about $350) and then an upper and lower plate made (another $300-$400). Since this is more of a cosmetic procedure the need is not as great, I may just wait until the last possible moment.

Some other issues to consider for new year: possible home purchase (this would primarily fall to my partner as my current situation won't allow for this); we are in need of a new washer (maybe a dryer by year end) and a new refrigerator. I am thinking frig first since we do have a laundromat in town. Since we currently rent any large appliance purchases will have to done with much thought.

My partner is also considering a new vehicle purchase. We currently have an S-10 with 100,000+ miles on it. The truck is running well and MPG is good, but the size is problematic, only 2 people can fit in the cab.

Some other minor issues to look at throughout the new year--getting my driver's license; whether to continue with 2 jobs, especially if OT becomes available.

Looking ahead I am hoping for many good things to happen this year. Wishing you all a safe and happy new year!!

Articles Of Interest--4

2009-01-03T03:06:00.002-05:00

Hopefully no repeated articles. Enjoy!!

Update: Homemade Yogurt

2009-01-02T22:58:00.000-05:00

If you remember last night I made my first attempt at homemade yogurt. It has been a success, I highly recommend the recipe I followed.

Some points to consider based on my initial experience:

would like a thicker yogurt so will be adding 1/4c. more powdered milk
this is an "unsweetened" yogurt have been adding a bit of honey to each serving
do not need such a large container of yogurt as my starter,,,will have to make quark cheese out of extra,,,duh!!!
I used whole milk
my incubation time was about 3 1/2 hrs which made a nice mild flavor, may up that to 4 hours
would like to figure out how to make different flavors,,,going to try chocolate tonight buy adding some sugar and cocoa

Overall I am pleased. My goal is to make a batch of yogurt every week.

Homemade Yogurt

2009-01-01T22:05:00.003-05:00

Tonight I am going to give this recipe a whirl. I am currently at the incubation stage which will last between 3-5 hours so I will have to update this on Friday at some point and let you know how it turns out.

I really have high hopes for this "experiment" as yogurt is a favorite food but the cost is a bit high. The health benefits (for me personally) of consuming yogurt far out weigh the cost, in my opinion. By making homemade the cost will be halved allowing me to eat the two servings I would prefer too eat daily.

As for the quark cheese it will be a revisiting of an old friend, alt ho I did not realize that until I was talking with my partner about my experiment(s). When I lived in Buffalo (about 12 yrs ago) I used to purchase organic yogurt in bulk and drain they whey. I never knew that their was a name to this item it was just something I learned to do as a substitute for cream cheese. I'm looking forward to doing this again.

On a side note: Al tho my partner and I have dis-similar taste in food, she is willing to taste my concoctions. She may not like all of them but at least she tries.

This and That

2008-12-22T23:15:00.002-05:00

Now that the harry scary of shopping is done, I just have a few odds and ends to pick up for stocking stuffers. Party food is ready to go minus one item. All-and-all, my shopping is done. All that is left is wrapping (YUCK!!), food prep, and cleaning. Compared to the last few year I'm done early.

Planning a trip home to Buffalo. This will be the first time that both my brother and I will be home together for the holiday in over 7 years. I haven't seen my niece and nephew in quite a while so it hopefully will be a nice 2 days. With my mum's ill health recently I think it's important for the family to be together, even if briefly.

Compared to a few days ago, I am feeling much calmer about my financials. Al tho I am not overly thrilled, I believe that I have a decent plan to cope. I just have to stick to my budget. The inspiration I receive from reading other blogs will definitely help in this area.

A few things I am am going to try in the new year:

complete tracking of all expenditures, including play money
explore the concept of stockpiling and adapt it to our limited living space
once again try to grow some of our own food (hopefully I wont grow weeds this year)
learn more about edible wild foods, especially in my own backyard
learn to can and maybe make homemade jams
utilize the free apples in my yard--applesauce & apple butter
go and pick wild raspberries, blueberries, and black raspberries
learn to make homemade yogurt--have recently found a recipe that I want to try
explore making quark cheese--the same blog that has the yogurt recipe also talks about this cheese which sounds really interesting (will mention blog in a later post)

I am also open for any suggestions y'all may have.

I'm Confused or May be Just Baffled

2008-12-18T01:55:00.011-05:00

I have been reading a few blogs that deal with stockpiling; I'm not quite sure what to think. My confusion may be due to not understanding the concept behind it. From the few blogs that I read, all I can see is the fanatical use of coupons to over(?) purchase numerous products. Now I am assuming that these products are ones that a family/individual uses on a daily/weekly/monthly basis, so my question is: why purchase so much? Do you continuously purchase like this all year round? When is enough enough?

Am I missing something? I can see 2-3 months worth of product, but to my untrained brain it appears that purchases are made, in some cases, almost daily?

Even tho I'm a bit baffled by the concept of stockpiling I found Lisa B's blog Living Easy quite interesting.

Points to ponder:
I will admit I do not use coupons much. Al tho I am trying to learn how to change this. In the past I have never been successful at matching print coupons to product I use. Using coupons printed from the internet wasn't/isn't an option as the stores in my area did/do not accept them. (This may be changing, according to a local message board our "local" Walmart allegedly now takes some coupons.)*

Storage is also a major problem in my house. To be honest, I have no storage what so ever. In fact I only have two cupboards. The only closet is in our bedroom and we have no shelving. Currently we are using two "pantry" shelving units to store our food items. It hard to stock up on anything when you have no place or space to store them.**

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*Note to self: Check Walmart's company policy concerning use of internet printed coupons!!

**Our house is approximately 120 years old. It is actually a converted chicken coop. Poorly insulated, low ceilings, 4 rooms + a bath. About 900 sq ft of nothing. But is is our home for now.

Got Me to Thinking

2008-12-16T23:09:00.004-05:00

Over the past few days I spent some time reading DebtFree4ever.net. Overall it is a good blog but in some ways it is a great blog. As odd as this may sound I found DF4E blog to be inspirational. As I sit and ponder my "future" I found the tenacity that DF4E has shown in eliminating his debt to be remarkable. Here is a guy who earns less than I but yet has succeeded in nearly eliminating his debt. Taken directly from his blog DF4E has paid off 68% of his debts. If DF4E can do it, maybe I can too!!

On another note: I'm attempting to figure out how to post my budget without having to make a table. As soon as I do I will post a 1-3 month example of my new budget.

Updated Networth IQ

2008-12-16T22:22:00.004-05:00

My networth now includes all debts including those that legally would be considered "zombie" debts.

Not Sure What I am Going to Do--Yet

2008-12-16T14:37:00.013-05:00

I met with the lawyer on the 5th concerning bankruptcy. As of yet I haven't made a decision as to what to do. A few things surrounding the initiation of bankruptcy has changed which has complicated my decision. I'm really not sure what direction to go, so for now I am staying the course and working on a budget based on 2 incomes.

One thing I have decided is that I'm not going to worry about my debts as most of them are close to 7 yrs old. My medical debts are another story but I do have a plan which I will mention in a bit.

My first priority will be to make sure that my current living expenses are taken care of; included in that will be my student loan payment. Since bankruptcy will not remove a federally backed student loan, I am "stuck" with it.*

Next on my list will be to amass an emergency fund of some sort. Currently I have a small portfolio with Sharebuilders. The original idea behind these investments was just that. Al tho not easily assessable the money accumulated could be used if needed. As of now I'm going to continue (with my original plan) and with my current contribution of $20/mth with my initial goal of $550 saved/invested. After which I would/could sell off $500 of my holdings to either pay debt or put in a savings account (possibly ING). Since I am only half way toward my $550 goal I will continue to evaluate the best course of action. As I am continuously reading and learning, I am hoping to come up with the best choice for this money.**

As for my "other" debts. Disregarding my budget for the moment I am going to do nothing. I do not mean I am going to bury my head in the sand again, but until I get some type of cushion/emergency fund in place my thinking is --what good is paying off debt if I just end up back in debt due to some type of money issue. Is my thinking flawed? If I understand the gurus correctly that is the direction I need to go; build emergency fund first, tackle debts second.***

My budget--I believe I have finally produced a proper budget with both fixed and variable expenses included. After much reading I realized that my past budgets were not thorough enough. That, I believe may be part of my financial problems. It is with hopes that if this budget is accurate I will be able to make monthly payments on my debt(s).

Overall I am going to keep things simple--work as many hours as humanly possible without killing myself; make sure current living expenses taken care of; pay on student loan (continue to work with agency handling loan to try and get payment lowered); continue $20 contribution to Sharebuilders whilst looking for another options for and emergency fund; stick to budget using cash only for purchases; take care of the one debt that has other issues attached to it; re-evaluate bankruptcy decision.

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*(Please note that in extreme financial situations a student loan may be discharged but it is very rare. Based on what I read, your income would have to be at or below the federal poverty level with other criteria also being met. The guidelines are very rigid as you would be asking the government to forgive their own debt.)

**I initially chose this route to start an emergency fund due to the fact that I can not save money. If I have any access to the funds they will be used. I would love to say that the money would be used wisely, but that is not always the case. I did consider and ING account at the time but I do not remember why I did not go that route. The Sharebuilders account seems to be working out OK and I am making some dividends.

***There is one debt that I do need to pay on during this process, but there are some other issues that will figure in to how I handle this. It is with hope that my new budget will allow the flexibility to handle this debt properly.

Almost B-day

2008-11-30T12:56:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is my day with the bankruptcy lawyer. The more I have been reading the less likely I am thinking I will go through with it. I have all my information gathered just need to print out a few more statements and get everything organized.

Since I'm having second thoughts I have been working on some contingency plans--a budget with one job, a budget with both jobs, with and without bankruptcy figured in. I would like to eliminate my second job for physical health reasons. Al tho my foot/ankle is healed it is not 100% and I'm terrified that it is going to become a chronic problem. With my preliminary numbers figured in I think I'll be keeping second job for a bit longer to build an emergency fund and some extra cushioning.

Figuring a budget is not a problem for me, sticking to it is. So I need a way to really stick to it. I'm looking at some budgeting software; I have Quicken but find it to be too complex, too much work for what little time I have. I am looking at YNAB (You Need A Budget) and Mnvelope. Only draw back is cost--Is it tacky to ask for donations to purchase one of these programs?

Speaking of YNAB and Mvelopes, has anyone used these programs?? What has your experience been with them? Is the initial outlay of cash worth it? Ay other programs to consider or am I better off figuring out my own system? Think I need to do a bit more digging before I make a decision.

Y'all need to read this!!

2008-11-17T01:04:00.002-05:00

Frugal Dad has really written a thought provoking post. Got me thinking about my current situation--my mom's recent hospitalization and recovery, my possible bankruptcy and all that goes with trying to become financially responsible; life in general.

Update--Well it's supposed to be a recipe : /

2008-11-16T18:50:00.004-05:00

I been playing in the kitchen again and I think I figured out some ways to use this "recipe" with good results.

I only had this ingredient list to start with--1 lb ground beef--3 c. macaroni--2 TBSP flour--salt--pepper--thyme--1/2 c. water. This is what I created:

1-2 TBSP Olive Oil
1 c. Pre-cooked Ground Beef
1-1 1/2 c. Cooked Rice or 1 pack of Ramen noodles cooked and drained (always save your seasoning packs for later use, they come in handy)
1-2 TBSP Onion Soup Mix*** or Beef Bouillon granules or 2 packs seasoning packs from Ramen noodle PLUS 1-2 TBSP Onion Flakes
Oregano/Salt/Pepper to taste

Heat oil. Add ground beef and rice. Heat through stirring occasionally. Sprinkle onion soup mix over top stir to mix thoroughly. Add oregano/salt/pepper to taste. Continue heating till hot, enjoy!!

OPTIONAL additions:

1/2 can corn or
1/2 can diced tomatoes
1/2 c. shredded cheese

This concoction came out really good. Almost like dirty rice.

*** I make my own onion soup mix in bulk will include the recipe in a later post.

What I have to bring to consultation meeting

2008-11-11T16:23:00.008-05:00

This is a list of financial information I will have to bring to my first meeting with my lawyer:

last 6 months of pay stubs--note to self: call plant 5/1/08-10/31/08
last 4 yrs taxes with w-2 forms--2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

2004-complete with W-2s
2005--complete with W-2s
2006--have W-2s missing filing copy
2007--complete with W-2s

last 12 months bank statements--on-line, need to be downloaded and printed
401K info--on-line, ready to print if can't find my copies
investment info--on-line, have to download info yet
all current and past due bills/debts to include in bankruptcy--what a mess; have all info gathered save a few. I have some zombie debts that I assume are still floating around in collections but I haven't received any contact from agencies in years. Not sure if I should dig these up myself, or let the lawyer do it.
any shut-off notices--none, altho I think I have one coming

So over the course of the next few days/weeks I will be attempting to collect this information.

UPDATED: 11/17/08

Declaring Bankruptcy

2008-11-11T15:21:00.004-05:00

It is with regret that I have to write on this topic but I an waving the white flag. My phone starts ringing at 830 AM and does not stop till 9 PM. On average I have 15-18 collection calls per day, all of which go unanswered. The last straw is the situation with my student loans. I take the blame for it all. So today I made the call to set up a consultation. On December 1st I will meet with the lawyer.

I am 44 years old, I make about $26,000 working 72 hrs per week between two jobs. I am over $70,000 in debt (that does not include debts over 7 yrs old). Physically my body is breaking down affecting my ability to continue working two jobs. I do not qualify for social security disability; not an option I would consider. I live in an economically depressed area with low job options (don't we all); county population under 6,000. Moving is not an option at this time, my partner's family is here mine are within a 3 hour drive. I do not spend my money on material things per se, alt ho I have been known to have a manic spending sprees on un-important stuff (I am bipolar and it does affect my ability to handle money, I make poor decisions at times but have been getting better with this.) Overall I am overwhelmed and hanging by a string.

As depressing as this all sounds I am still willing to push on. I have no choice, I alone am responsible for this financial mess. Some days I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, others days, I need a rope. Bankruptcy is my rope.

I know that some people will be disappointed with the path that I am choosing. There are many other variables that factor into this decision; I would need much time to explain it all in a sensible manner. Please realize that I do not make this decision lightly. I do understand the consequences of this choice.

So what does this all mean? To be honest I don't know. My plan is to continue blogging. I find it cathartic. I will posting on the process I have to go through as I feel it would be enlightening, not only for myself but others too. I will continue to learn how to be frugal and save money.

So with that said I will start my journey with open eyes regardless of the outcome. To help me stay focused and organized I will be posting everything concerning the process I have to go through. It may not be the most interesting content but we shall see. I would love to here from others that have been in the same situation. Any insights would be appreciated.

Update--Frugal Cleaning Challenge

2008-11-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

I am happy to report that my cleaning challenge has been a success. Maybe not so much on the cleaning part but the recipes have worked wonderfully.

Another recipe to try (once again I don't know where I got this):
OVEN CLEANER-->3/4 c. baking soda--1/4 c. salt--1/4 c. water

Well it's supposed to be a recipe : /

2008-11-09T19:05:00.010-05:00

I found another recipe floating around my computer, only problem is it does not look complete. Not sure what I was thinking when I saved this but I'm going to add it to my blog just for curiosity sake and in case I find the article it came from.

As I type this in I'm thinking that this was an easy way to use leftovers, or a quickie recipe. I like to play in my kitchen, cooking being one of my passions, so sometimes I write down recipes or ingredient lists that look good and then experiment. This recipe is for a hamburger skillet meal.

Ingredients I have listed:

1 lb ground beef
3 c. macaroni--I'm going to assume that this is cooked pasta, any type I think would work
2 TBSP flour
salt
pepper
thyme--going to say 1/4 tsp to start
1/2 c. water

I know it's not much to go on but we all have made skillet meals before so this should assemble like all the rest.

I'm always looking for meals such as this, a few ingredients, 1 pan, good food. I'm a big fan of Hamburger Helper, but in trying to save money I am looking for lower cost options.

***Just a personal note: I spent 23 years in the food service industry in various capacities. Having been interested in cooking since I was a child it not unusual for me to just write down ingredients or seasoning combinations to experiment with. Al tho my range of experience runs the gamut I like food that is simple and easy to prepare; it also has to freeze and reheat well.

Update--Doing the Wash

2008-11-09T17:42:00.004-05:00

I'm going to using one of the tips mention in this article--Frugal Laundry / Clothing Care

"...you don't have to buy dryer sheets. I bought a huge bottle of the cheapest fabric softener I could find about 2 years ago (less than $2 for the bottle) I bought some sponges from the dollar store (4 per pkg) and cut two of them up into 8 pieces each. I soak the pieces of sponge in a mixture of about 1 part softener to 8 parts water...

Today I purchased a 30 fl oz Ultra Downy @ $4.50 it is said to do 35 loads. I also purchased a 4-pk of O-celo sponges @ $2 which I cut into 16 pieces; total cost $6.50. I then measured out a single load amount of approximately 1/4 cup of fabric softener and added 1 c. of water and added the sponge pieces. They are now soaking and awaiting the dyer.

Al tho the original article used an 8:1 ratio I am starting with a 4:1 and will see how that works. I will then try a 6:1 ratio and then 8:1. So for less than 2 pennies/load I'm am figuring a 7 cent savings (35 loads/bottle x 16 sponge pieces = 560 loads--$6.50 cost/560 = .012 cents). The only variables in my equation would be the final ratio I use and how many loads I get out of each batch.

I will be keeping track of both variables to see what the actual cost may be al tho the final cost will be well below a penny in my estimation.

**Ultra Downy may be a bit pricey but it's the only fabric softener my partner and I both really like. Personally I don't mind the generic/store brands but my partner doesn't like them . With this new approach it should alleviate that difference of opinion.

Oh Boy!!

2008-11-07T01:55:00.005-05:00

Welp, this morning I basically signed my life away. Al tho I am not financially ready I have no choice but to start repayment on my student loans. Please all of you that have student loans get rid of them as fast as possible. If you have to work 2-3 jobs do it. Eat rice and beans, what ever it takes. Please do not make my mistake of burying head in sand because income was too low. Don't fall into the deferment trap. I am paying dearly!!

So now what am I going to do. My lay-off still continues but my income will be the same; the benefit of two jobs. Should I get a third? Something to consider if I honestly thought I could get a third job. Economy here is not good so that may not be an option. Beside the usual methods of reducing household cost etc, I'm going to have to try and increase my on-line income as well as picking up as many extra hours as I can handle. I also recycle aluminum cans for "play" money but will now put that toward household bills. Every little bit will help.

I'm going to try to not panic. I think that's important. In the long run I will be the one to benefit. It's just the timing of this that sucks. I have been negotiating for a few months trying to get a reasonable payment based on my budget but I lost that battle. I will be required to pay twice what I think I can afford but again that is my own fault not the agency I am dealing with. They want their money and I can't blame them on that point. I will just have to deal with it.

On the bright side I will be paying down a debt (a very large debt-lol-$66,000). Also after 9 months the collection fees of $14,000 will be removed returning my debt to $51,000 of which $3,600 will have been paid. I will also be removed from default status and have access to any IRS refunds (a moot point since I don't get much back). I will just have to hang tough for a couple months.

I will be posting much on this as I go, mostly for moral support and to prove I can do this. Wish me luck!!

Sounds Yummy

2008-11-03T15:37:00.003-05:00

Found this recipe floating around my desktop. Regretfully I do not remember where it is originally from (my apologies to the author).

MEATBALL STROGANOFF (5 servings)
1 (10 3/4-oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
1 cup mushrooms, sliced and cooked in butter until soft
1 family meal-sized portion of freezer meatballs
In medium saucepan, mix together mushroom soup and sour cream. Gently stir in mushrooms and meatballs. Simmer until meatballs are heated through. Serve over hot cooked rice or over egg noodles tossed with melted butter and chopped parsley.

9 Books I Would Like to Read

2008-11-02T13:05:00.000-05:00

Just Finished Reading--Two Incomes and Still Broke

2008-11-02T02:03:00.002-05:00

Contents:

Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: Child Care
Chapter 2: Personal Upkeep
Chapter 3: Transportation, Lunches, and Coffee Breaks
Chapter 4: Timesavers
Chapter 5: Rushed Shopping
Chapter 6: Rewards
Chapter 7: Federal Income Tax
Chapter 8: State Income Tax
Chapter 9: Social Security
Chapter 10 Deductible Job Expenses
Chapter 11: Perks or Employee Benefits
Chapter 12: And What Else?
Chapter 13: The Bottom Line
Index

"Two can live as cheaply as one" has become "Two incomes are better than one!"

Are you and your spouse considering going from two incomes down to one after child birth? Having trouble living on one income and considering a second income to help ends meet? This book helps simplify the process of determining if a two income household is beneficial.

Includes worksheets for analyzing the extra costs associated with a second income and numerous examples taken from real-life situations showing the pros/cons of a second income. This book will help you figure out where your money is going so you can decide what will work for you--one or two incomes.

This book is not against working moms but an examination of the realities of having a second job. A must-have for anyone considering work outside the home. If you don't have kids, this book may not appeal to you, since most of the examples do relate to working parents, not childless couples.

Weeds to Eat?

2008-11-01T00:02:00.001-04:00

Originally mentioned in Articles of Interest--3 Hate Weeds? Don't Kill Them, Eat Them!

Thought this article was interesting and something I'd be willing to try. I do know that I have two possibly three edible plants growing in my yard (not including dandelions). I'm all for free food so next spring I'm going to do a bit of experimenting.

Originally the idea for eating "wild" edible plants piqued my interest in early July when I came across the following blog posts from Stop the Ride. These are but a few of STR's post dealing with wild foods:

You can also check out--WILD FOOD! LEARN ABOUT EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL WILD PLANTS AND MUSHROOMS, NATURE, AND ECOLOGY With America's Best-Known Forager "Wildman" Steve Brill.

Going to set a goal of researching this subject a bit more to prepare for the coming spring months. Will post what I find.

Doing the Wash

2008-10-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

Frugal Laundry / Clothing Care. Previously mentioned in "Articles of Interest--3"

...washing things to frequently--In my opinion yes. My dilemma, my partner is neurotic (a legitimate OCD issue) about cleanliness, personal and clothing. Altho I will admit she has adjusted where her jeans and sweatshirts are concerned. It's a small "victory" but one I will gladly take. She really is trying and has accepted some of the frugal ideas I have been trying, and I love her for that .
...keep hangers on the knobs of our high dresser and anything that is going to be used again for another day I hang up overnight to 'air out'--this is something to adopt, our clothes usually end up in a heap as kitty beds; really furry kitty beds!!
...taking prompt care of the clothes that you have--I'm a bit wishy-washy on this point. I would say that 50% of the time I am good about treating stains; I'm not always aware of the need to pre-treat.
...keeping a small sewing kit on top of my fridge. It is a kids zippered pencil case I picked up for pennies at the thrift store. Inside are 3 spools of thread (white, black and white button thread) a seam ripper, a small pair of scissors, a few safety pins, a thimble and a piece of cardboard with three threaded needles pushed through it--Interesting idea one I might add to my repertoire.
...Do you use a clothes line?--Uhm nope!! May be a lame excuse but I don't have time. I also do laundry at 100 AM, a bit difficult to hang clothes at that hour. I don't foresee any changes in this area unless I utilize an indoor line system.
...you don't have to buy dryer sheets. I bought a huge bottle of the cheapest fabric softener I could find about 2 years ago (less than $2 for the bottle) I bought some sponges from the dollar store (4 per pkg) and cut two of them up into 8 pieces each. I soak the pieces of sponge in a mixture of about 1 part softener to 8 parts water--Think I may try this one as I do use dryer sheets. Money wise tho I do not find dyer sheets to be expensive so I'm not sure if the savings would be worth it. Anyone know the price breakdown of this method compared to dyer sheets? Might be something to research!!

Homemade Laundry Soap

2008-10-25T20:03:00.006-04:00

I'm going to try my hand at homemade laundry soap. I have read many blogs stating the financial benefits of using homemade versus commercial, so there is no need to convince me on that aspect. I'm also convinced about the relative ease of making homemade laundry soap--I just whipped up a batch in less than ten minutes, more on that later. My concern, many recipes call for borax, which I have found with no trouble at my "local" W****** store, and WASHING SODA which I have not found yet.

In light of this fact I have had to look for recipes that do not use washing soda. That is what I have an issue with. Is the recipe I found going to give me the results I need?

I found this laundry recipe at TipNut.com:

Recipe #8:
2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)
Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted. In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well. Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load.

I just finished the first load with this recipe. It did not suds up much but our water is very hard. Clothes appear to be clean but the smell I'm not sure about. I will have to see how they smell after the dryer as these clothes are my gross work clothes from the manufacturing plant. So far so good

I will be doing a normal load later but I think this recipe will work as I do some more research and continue looking for washing soda. Clothes appear to be "cleaner" looking. This recipe may work yet!

I would love to hear your opinions and the recipes you personally use so please feel free to leave a comment :))

Articles Of Interest--3

2008-10-22T17:33:00.023-04:00

Haven't had much time to self lately. Between running back home to visit folks while mom is in hospital (hope she be home in a week or two); trying to catch up on my reading; and attempting to not spend money stupidly, I've seem to run out of hours in a day.

Only good thing is--I'm laid of from my primary job till the end of the year except for 2 weeks. I make more money being laid off than working so I'd be stupid not to take lay-off. I'm hoping to use the time off to write some posts, update my budget, etc.. So far I'm not being successful, altho I have been working more hours at my second job so that is cutting into my play time.

Below are some articles I found of interest from various blogs. I haven't thoroughly read all of them so I'm using this post as a storage bin of sorts :)) Enjoy!!

Tightwad Tuesday: Homemade Cleaning Products--this article originally mentioned 8/14/08 in my post "Frugal Cleaning Challenge"
Frugal Laundry / Clothing Care--see this blog post for more.
When Frugality Isn’t Enough--This article really hit home. My situation isn't quite as dire or frustrating but I can relate to the feeling of "...sometimes, it just isn’t enough..." Highly recommend y'all read this.
Half of Us Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck--Points to ponder from this article...Start Saving, Something...Even $20 a month adds up over time...You don’t have to be saving half of your income for your savings plan to be worthwhile...
Play Hardball with Debt Collector: Sometimes, you have to get tough with a harassing collector--Dear Debt Adviser, I have a credit card company wanting to take me to court for a debt that is not mine. I have disputed these charges for almost two years now...It sounds as though these guys are just ignoring your requests and merrily doing what they want. Well, it's time to end the merriment. Here are four metaphorical 2-by-4s for you to swing...This article geared toward those dealing with fraudulent accounts/identity theft.
Rice Tales--Sounds yummy, going to try this recipe soon
5 Frugal Foodie Tips--... I’ve finally learned how to cook quickly and simply from day to day. To do so, I have five shortcuts that might make a true foodie cringe--Minced Garlic/Bottled Lemon and Lime Juice/Chicken Bouillon Cubes/Canned Beans/Fresh Herbs...My personal five--Dehydrated Onions/Apple Cider Vinegar/Canned Tomatoes and Tomato Paste/Adobo Seasoning/Worcestershire Sauce
Rite Aid FAQ--I found this info whilst surfing. We have a RA in our town but I do not shop there very much. I am still determining whether the SCR program would be worthwhile for us, as I am attempting to figure out how it works. Thought I'd pass this link along to others that may find it helpful
Three Easy Steps to Frugal Home Canning--a good beginning reference to keep on hand for those thinking learning how to can
Eating Greens to Save Greens by Steven Burns--But I don't have a green thumb!! The past two years have been attempting to grow some produce without much luck. I did manage to grow some weeds this year (see article link below--lol). Anywhoooo, I do have good luck with herbs, so will continue with them; lettuce seems to grow well also. Am thinking maybe try and grow these indoors. What I wish for is tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, I have no luck with these and I don't think they can be grow indoors during the winter. Will have to try again next planting season.
Hate Weeds? Don't Kill Them, Eat Them!--see this blog post
The Fools Help Me Get Out of Debt--a review of sorts regarding Motley Fool’s Get Out of Debt seminar
Suze Orman's 12 Steps From Debt--You must face the enemy: Tell others about your debt--If you're in "over your head" with credit-card debt, cut up your cards now--Call your one remaining credit card company and ask them to lower your limit to a level that's adequate for emergencies--Pay as much as you can each month and always pay more than the minimum--Pay off the card with the highest interest rate first, and the rest in descending order--Always manage your cards to provide the lowest interest rates, switching cards every six months if necessary--Make a point to understand all the inner workings of your card(s)--Honor all debts equally whether you owe the money to Mastercard or a family member--Once you pay off one card, you must apply that card's payment toward your next highest-rate card--If you really cannot accomplish this yourself, enlist the aid of outside agencies--Make sure to never let this happen again--Once all debts are paid off, apply the payment money toward your future
The New Age of Frugality--"Americans' charge-it culture is getting an overdue reality check. But will the new discipline stick?"
Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps: Make minimum payments on all your bills. Squeeze your budget until you've accumulated $1,000 cash--Pay off your debts in order of smallest balance to largest--Create a full-fledged Emergency Fund containing 3 to 6 months' worth of expenses--Direct 15% of your annual pre-tax income into your retirement plans--Take care of college funding. Fully fund Educational Savings Accounts and/or utilize 529 plans--Become financially "ultrafit" and 100% debt-free: Pay off your home early--Get to the point where your money works harder than you do
3 Easy Steps Financial Plan in Excel--a nice, simple starting point
Can You Get Rich With These 7 Stock Market Oddball Indicators?--This article is a bit on the quirky side but a good read. I do plan on exploring it further with a future post as I do invest on a small scale. As an amateur with what I consider unusual methods for choosing my stock this article fits me well
Money-making idea: Journaling while you’re learning a new skill--I really like this idea. Something to consider especially with the current economic situation

Hopefully I haven't repeated any articles, if I have I apologize!!

Check out Punny Money--Great Site

2008-09-29T00:25:00.000-04:00

Punny Money is a site you must see!! The blog posts are well written with a huge amount of humor thrown in as well. Following are some articles I found that may be helpful. Very well written series. interesting perspective:

Finally someone else who has a similar experience with coupons. Was beginning to feel as if I was clueless:

Articles Of Interest--2

2008-09-28T23:44:00.001-04:00

Articles I found of interest to share whilst I'm home visiting mom in ICU:

From Pennies One Million Dollars Grow

As we learn in grade school science, everything on this Earth is composed of many smaller things, which in turn are composed of even smaller things, etc., etc., etc. The same principle applies to finance and fortune.

How you can start building alternative income streams 40+ Alternative Income Ideas and Resources
Super Sensational Savings with Salt - Part 1 by Rachel Keller. Going to have to try this one--Mix half a cup of salt and baking soda to a gallon of water to wash away stains and odors inside your refrigerator.
Super Sensational Savings with Salt - Part 2 by Rachel Keller. More to try-->Set the color in new towels by adding a cup of salt to your wash water the first couple times you wash them-->Protect colors of new clothes from bleeding by washing them in a cold wash with 1/4 cup salt-->Soak colored cottons overnight in salt water to reduce fading of the colors.
Super Sensational Savings with Salt - Part 3 by Rachel Keller