Down and Out in Bush Country

Have you ever found yourself in a sitatuation where you are "financially embarrassed?" You know, you have bills up the yang-yang and you have to search the couch cushions and between seat cracks in the car for change to buy 1/2 gallon of gas? You have trouble sleeping at night, knowing that you haven't paid the rent and having no idea when you can? You can positively state, without reservation, that you are officially and unequivocally - PO'? (That's worse than 'poor.')

I was talking to a guy at Sams' Club the other day and he echoed the sentiments of many a folk, I believe. He said he was just on the brink of homelessness. This guy is not lazy, mind you. He does some kind of construction work, but because of the price of fuel, jobs are few and far between. He moved three times in the last year (different states) following work. Right now, he said he has a project, but once it ends, nothing else is lined up, and his savings are gone. Our conversation then moved to the why's and wherefore's, and as you can probably guess, George Bush was mentioned, and not in a positive light; but that's a whole 'nother subject.

Unfortunately, even in the worst of circumstances, one's bills still have to be paid. Living in todays' Bush world is not a piece of cake, is it? People are getting desperate for answers to their financial woes, and that's where those friendly debt consolidation people come in! Also known as "debt negotiation" and "debt settlement" companies, they have one purpose, and that is to serve you, counsel you, and ultimately make your debt go away, painlessly and easily! WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

Actually, a lot of things. Truth is, debt consolidation is often a trap. These companies work for your creditors and on their behalf. Although they tout themselves as "non-profit," they do charge service fees and often skim these fees right off the top of your monthly payments. If you are considering the debt consolidation route, first learn all you can about it and be fully aware of the dangers. The fact is that what they do for you, you can often do for yourself as far as negotiating lower interest rates and payments with your creditors! Another option is a low-interest home-equity loan that will allow you to pay off your debts. Of course, you have to be a home owner to do this, so it may not be a option for you. Your home becomes collateral on the loan, so, with the obvious tax and payment advantages also comes risk, so be careful.

When in dire straits, people start looking for ways to trim their expenses. One item that is often scrutinized is insurance, and auto insurance is a good place to start. Obviously I don't mean to get rid of it (unless you're looking for an easy way to get an expensive ticket). Just take a look at your rates and do a little car insurance comparison shopping. You can almost always find better rates and already you'll be on your way to better financial health.

For added protection, CarInsurance.com can even help you with a new product called "temporary comprehensive coverage," or a short term policy, which can save you money as well. How? You can buy insurance for temporary situations such as moving a car from seller to buyer, taking a vacation with the expectation of sharing the driving, or lending (or borrowing) a car. That way, you don't have to buy a full insurance policy, and you eliminate the financial risks of not having any coverage at all.

If all else fails in your struggle to survive financially, bankrutcy may be your best option. For some, this is akin to death; but brighten up! Although drastic and certainly a last resort solution, bankruptcy is not the end of the world. It can stop those irritating dinner hour phone calls (thank goodness for caller ID!) and may get rid of unsecured debts and stop foreclosures, repossessions, garnishments, utility shut-offs and also let you keep most of your stuff. Best of all, you'll get a little more sleep at night and a nice, fresh start.

Let's Get Sensible, Now

Quick! Name the top three things that in my opinion reek havoc on the sensibilities of every otherwise normal American citizen!

Of course, you said:

1- Religion
2- Politics
3- Credit cards

Okay, the answers were so obvious, I apologize! (Next quiz will be harder, I promise.) What else besides these three things would cause people to do things that border on insanity???

Religion: Obvious one here. People have always been a little (or very) weird when it comes to acting on "what they believe in." Need we even go there?

Politics: Oh my God, don't get me started. I grew up in a Republican family, then registered as an Independent as soon as I turned 18. Later, I used my brain and decided to become a Democrat. Unfortunately, most people look at politics like they do religion. They don't think, they don't study the issues or the candidates' stands on them, they just - well, I don't know what they do anymore. Look at how so many seemingly normal Americans jumped into the bushes, for example. (I said it from the very beginning and it bears repeating: stay-out-the-Bushes!) I have personally interviewed many of these individuals, by the way, and clearly they did not know why they supported him. Just because. So, so scarey!

Credit cards: Okay, I don't care who you are, credit cards have been the downfall of many a normal American citizen: neurosurgeons, swimming pool attendents, college professors, Walmart greeters, housewives, and homeless individuals. For that matter, credit cards were probably what created homeless people. Perfectly normal people can go a little crazy with credit cards in their possession, am I right?

On the plus side, when it comes to convenience, what could be better? Money to spend when you don't have any! Unfortunately, many people see credit cards this way; when in reality, our credit cards can be ideal tools for managing our finances. They make online purchases easy, let us carry less cash, and allow us to conveniently handle travel expenses. Why do so many of us, then, go so crazy with credit and end up thousands of dollars in debt???

Beats me. I guess certain things just make us a sort of nutso. Even little plastic cards.

Time for a Vacation!

Idaho is a great place to live and I love it. Mostly. But now and again one needs a vacation.

Am I right?

My sister moved to Florida a few years ago. Now, we are originally California people. I thought a move to Florida seemed rather risky, at least compared to Idaho, what with global warming and all. Lately it seems those monster hurricanes make a beeline for Forida. They literally line up to batter, flood, and pummel this state, seemingly attempting to wipe it off the map.

I asked my sister if she has had any hurricane damage, and she said "just a little." What does that mean exactly??? Did a tree branch blow into the yard, or did "just a little" of her roof blow away?

Well, in spite of the sometimes catastrophic weather, I've been hearing a lot about vacationing in Orlando. Apparently, in the year 2000, the Orlando area had over 43 million visitors, making it the number one tourist destination in the world. By comparison, the population of Orlando is a mere 185,000. However, this is one of the fastest growing communities in Florida, as well as in the US. What are all of these people doing there? Are they flocking to Disney World?

Actually, there are seven major them parks in the area, plus many other enjoyable ways to spend a vacation. The best way to explore the area might be an Orlando Vacation Home Rental. I've got it all figured out. If I rent a home, I'm basically saying, "Hey Neighbor, how's it goin'? How about a barbeque?" I could explore all seven major theme parks, lie on the white sandy beaches (keeping an eye out on the horizon for hurricanes, of course), explore the Everglades, check out the historic homes and interesting architecture, shoot a few rounds of golf, and shop, shop, shop! And meanwhile, if need be, I could pack up and be outta there in a matter of mere minutes.

Yep, a vacation in Orlando sounds like just the thing. I'm up for it. (But first, I'll just switch on the Weather Channel.)

Keep on Truckin', Man...

Remember the old addage, "Keep on truckin'"?

You don't?

Well, maybe I'm older than I thought. Come to think of it, a little kid DID ask me recently, "Why do you look so OLD?" Does it really show? Wow...

Anyway, it wasn't so long ago, man. Keep on truckin', that's what we said. I think it meant, keep on movin', walkin', doin' what you do best, and don't look back, man. (We said "man" a lot back then, too.)

Nowadays I think the meaning of truckin' has changed. Now it means actually driving trucks, I'm thinking. Especially here in Idaho, where 90% of the male population over the age of 12 has access to and drives a pickup truck, and 90% of those trucks are old, battered, and lacking a muffler. The favorite things to do with a pickup truck here are:

a) Lay rubber while turning a corner from a stationary position (summer) or squeal across the ice while turning a corner from a stationary position (winter).

b) Go off-road wheel-spinning in wet weather so as to return with your truck entirely covered with a rock-hard coat of dried grey-brown mud (which is more obviously desireable than the original dingy rust & yellow tones beneath).

c) Load all of your stringy haired friends into the bed of your pick-up truck, then speed down Main Street whooping and hollering as you pass an officer of the law.

So, turn your wimpy grocery carrier into the manly cargo hauler it was meant to be! And while your'e there, check out their great tips and safety suggestions - always a good idea. Right boys?