This weekend we finished our [tag]Christmas[/tag] shopping and yes we took part in [tag]Black Friday[/tag]. We saved a lot but instead of going to the stores at the break of dawn we waited until mid day. Our theory was the hard core shoppers would be done by then. Sure enough it worked. Hardly any lines great prices and we got a [tag]TMX Elmo[/tag] doll.

We also stayed with in budget, another added bonus in planning ahead. Hope everyone had a great [tag]Thanksgiving[/tag] week/weekend.

I have a friend who I have personally lent $12,000 to in the last 5 years. He is my best friend as you can tell… Of the $12,000 dollars I have lent him, he has paid back about $5000. Not bad but not great. Before you guys jump all over me I stopped lending him [tag]money[/tag] about two years ago and have him on a monthly repayment plan. So far so good.

I really didn’t want to share this with every one but the fact is friends will ask for money and it can in many cases lead to the end of a friendship. I would highly recommend people learn from my mistakes.

Because my friend is on a monthly re-payment plan we are able to stay friends. If he just “shined” me there is no way we would still be friends today. Bottom line, think twice, three times and then thing again before lending substantial amounts of moneys to a friend. More likely than not [tag]lending money[/tag] to a friend who is not capable of paying back the loan will be the end of the friendship.

In 2006 for the first time [tag]debt card[/tag] usage outpaced [tag]credit card[/tag]. People used their debt cards to purchase

26.6 billion dollars while at the same time they spent 24.4 billion dollars on credit cards.

Is this a new trend to pay now and avoid paying for it later? Let’s hope so. It means more people are [tag]paying[/tag] cash

for things rather than put them on credit. Still 24.4 billion is way too much in credit but if this trend holds the American

consumer are getting themselves in a better position.

One troubling trend is more people used [tag]home equity lines[/tag] to pay off [tag]high rate interest cards[/tag]. Many

people will use this method to successfully pay off their debt but it does come with its own very serious risks.

When you use home equity to pay off [tag]unsecured credit card debt[/tag] you have basically tied the debt to your house. What happens if you are unable to make your payments? A loss of the job, etc… Now your house is at risk.

I personally get great satisfaction in pushing the debt card button and not the credit button when I buy things. It sounds like

Americans are also is felling the same satisfaction in using [tag]CASH[/tag]!

[tag]Virginia Senate Race[/tag] [tag]Election 2006[/tag]

If the Senate race goes for the [tag]democrats[/tag] will this mean America will face higher taxes? This was the Republican battle cry during the 2006 campaign. Let’s take a look.

There is no real clear answer and only time will tell. But here are couple things to think about. I believe the Democrats will not renew any new tax cuts for the upper class. Upper class defined as anyone making over $200,000 a year. Some would see this as a tax hike, your call?

[tag]Nancy Pelosi[/tag] did say they are looking at [tag]tax cuts[/tag] for the middle class? Ok, but what about an increase. Not likely, thanks to checks and balances we have in our government. [tag]Bush[/tag] would never sign off on any new taxes. He needs to recover his party as much as possible in the next two years.

One thing is for sure congress will tighten up its belt on spending and start to find a way to work down the enormous national debt we have created in the last 6 years. The combination on [tag]9/11[/tag] and the wars abroad have taken its toll on the [tag]national debt[/tag].

So what does that mean for you and me? Probably not much, but just like congress, the [tag]American family[/tag] needs to pay more attention to its spending and find ways to quickly eliminate debt. If we want a strong country we need to have a strong financial health of the American family.  In the end we are all Americans and we all want the best for our families.

So let’s put the elections behind us and get back to Crushing Debt!

When our child was born there was no question that my wife would stay home. We gave up an income but our child gained so much from having her mother with her everyday.

So how did we do it on just one income? We cut cost, big time! Yes, I gave up my fancy car, we gave up nice vacations, etc… but what we got back in terms of our child’s growth and happiness can not be judge in terms of dollars. The three of us live on one income and are very happy.

Life is about choices and in this case I choose the happiness of my child over material things. In very near future my wife will go back to work but I am so thankful my child had two great years with her mother.

Making the decision to step out of the work force to raise children can seem overwhelming. Some families consider it impossible to live on one income in today’s world of huge mortgages, large credit card balances and looming college costs. Yet some parents do manage to make the leap homeward.

How to survive as a one-income family (Page 1 of 3)

technorati tags:Living on One Income, child

One store in D.C. no longer will accept Cash as reported at slate.com

“The [tag]Snap Café[/tag] in Washington, D.C., made the news last week when it decided to stop accepting cash. If you want one of their crepes, you’ll have to pay with plastic.”

The article goes on to explain Government entities must accept cash but private business are not obligated by law to accept [tag]cash[/tag].

So Snap Café is with in their legal rights but I think it’s crazy and is a sign that our country is absolutely addicted to credit. This addiction will have sever negative financial implication on our nations for years to come. In essence we are mortgaging away our future as a nation. [tag]Debt[/tag] will Crush our future.

Sometimes it’s hard to think about wealth when the debt load is high. Compounding is the tool almost all “rich” people use to keep growing their wealth.

“Compounding,” Albert Einstein said, “is mankind’s greatest invention because it allows for the reliable, systematic accumulation of wealth.”

Getting rich is simpler than you think – MSN Money

technorati tags:debt load, wealth, debt

A growing trend that is not only effecting non-military personal now is starting to make an effect on those that can now serve. More and More military personal are racking up too much debt and are then unable to serve. They are considered a “risk”. The Pentagon says the debt load over 30% of their income can make them vulnerable to bribery and treason.

Is this a deliberate attempt to get out of serving? “While the number of revoked clearances has surged since the beginning
of the Iraq war, military officials say there is no evidence that
service members are deliberately running up debts to stay out of harm’s
way.”

Thousands of U.S. troops are being barred from overseas duty because they are so deep in debt they are considered security risks, according to an Associated Press review of military records.

Troops’ debt a growing security concern – Yahoo! News

technorati tags:military debt, too much debt, deep in debt

I agree with this article. If you are carrying high rate credit card debt then you should focus on getting rid of that first and then take on the mortgage. Some cards are as high as 30% so get rid of them!!!

Many homeowners dream of the day when their mortgage is finally paid off. They look forward to not making any more house payments and having the satisfaction of owning their home free and clear. Some homeowners try to use aggressive tactics to pay off their mortgage–tactics like having a 15-year term on their fixed-rate mortgage or a bi-weekly mortgage.

Find Real Estate News, Mortgage News, Home Loans and Homes for Sale on Yahoo! Real Estate

technorati tags:credit card debt, mortgage