I watch this and think of all the things never accomplished in my life with nothing but excises.

I watch this and think of all the things we in this world have not accomplished with nothing but excuses.

I watch this and look at the world with nothing but hope that we will accomplish…

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There are serious credit repair mistakes you can make that can kill your chances of raising your score.  Avoiding mistakes in credit repair can be fairly easy if you exercise some care. Make sure you have confidence in the organization you go to for help.

Here are five things that can negatively affect your score(s):

* Action Not Taken:

Probably the worst mistake of all. Most of us keep putting off taking action until it’s too late. Seven years  is how long most items that hurt your score will stay on your record.

You won’t be able to get loans or mortgages without clearing your report(s). You need to take action ‘Now’! It’s better to do something rather than nothing.

* Bills not paid on time:

Some people will ‘not pay their bills on time’ even if they can, in order to reduce their overall debt. Not paying on time becomes one of the biggest reasons we have bad credit.

Obviously it’s no secret that getting rid of debt is critical. But remember that late payments will have a negative effect on your report for a long time, which is even more important. Only worry about your overall debt when your monthly expenditures are taken care of.

* Multiple credit cards abound:

Many people do this in order to “establish credit.” This is not exactly a good strategy. Applying for too many cards will negatively impact your score. All those cards make it more difficult for you to pay on time as well.

Think about it: having five different payments is much harder to keep track of then one. And the higher your credit line is, the more likely you are going to spend money on things you can’t afford and therefore, very likely dig your credit hole deeper.

* Try not to shut down your accounts all at one time:

Try to pay off one at a time an then close it. Don’t use one card to pay off another! Keep at least one open. Shutting down all of your accounts while you still have bad credit, doesn’t give you the chance to build it back up.

* Going with dishonest companies:

There are a multitude of scams in the credit repair industry. And todays economy is bringing out more. Many of the companies that claim they can help you raise your score will just take your money and leave you in an even bigger hole.

Raising your credit score by disputing everything in your report(s) is one of the ways these companies claim to help. Avoid them. Many will have you believe you can reverse just about anything on your score. If it’s a legitimate item it will stay on the report(s).

Look for customer reviews to help you spot dishonest companies. Check with the Better Business Bureau. Do an Internet search for reviews of the company you are considering.

And remember, many metropolitan areas have non-profit organizations to help you with credit problems. Check thse sites – http://www.nfcc.org and http://www.aiccca.org

Here is a link to a Federal Government site that may provide useful information – http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre13.shtm.

Remember, a great deal of changes have occured over the last 12 months or so, regarding financial organizations and your rights. And those changes are continuing. Always check for the most up-to-date information.

I’ve stated this before: You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report each year, from the three major agencies. Use This Entitlement! It is the first and most important step you need to take.

Hopefully this will help you easily avoid scams and locate the right company for you.

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Most people never consider their rights in the process of credit repair — they think they don’t have any.

But they do. And knowing your credit repair rights is important.Here is a site with helpful information regarding your rights:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm

Don’t confuse creditor, debt collector and credit repair. A creditor is the person or organization you owe the money to. A debt collector is a person or organization that purchases, at a discount, the right to collet the debt you owe to a creditor. They make their money off the difference. A credit repair company is one that offers to help you deal directly with your creditors, usually for a fee, For the purpose of this article, the three terms may be used interchangebly.

What if your creditors/debt collector is trying to scare you into paying them? What if you need to dispute items in your credit report? Or how about if you’ve been scammed by a credit counselling company? In all these instances, knowing what you are entitled to is critical.

#1) Scare tactics

Are you being harassed by those you owe money to? Then you will be relieved to hear this isn’t legal. There are certain procedures creditors have to follow when dealing with you. But most folks don’t know what those procedures are, so they just put up with the barrage of phone calls, letters, etc. In some instances creditors have been less than truthful in order to get you to pay them.

How can you tell if it’s a lie?

If they say they are going to call the company you work for, rest assured they are not telling the truth. This is against the law, and you should notify the authorities.

Sometimes they will tell you they will take your income. Again, this is totally illegal unless they’ve been told they can do so by a court – In which case you would have plenty of advanced warning.

And obviously they can’t touch your checking or savings account. All these are common threats that are not actually legal.

#2) Credit score

You are legally entitled to get a no cost copy of the report each year. You can do so from all of the major bureaus. This helps you verify that there are no mistakes on any of them.

But isn’t one enough?

No! Remember, the bureaus all get their information from different companies, because very few of the merchants you work with report to all them. Therefore, even if one of the reports is mistake free, another one might not be.

What if you find an error?

Then you have a legal right to see that it’s fixed. And the bureaus have a legal obligation to check with the company you have issue with and let you know within thirty days of their decision. If you aren’t proactive, the mistakes on your report will never get fixed. Be persistent in getting those errors off your report.

#3) Credit counseling scams

Thiese are very popular.. A lot of “credit counseling” firms are nothing more than scammers out to take your money.

Before going any further, let me say I would never pay any ‘credit repair’ agency money up front. If they have a positive evvect on your credit, go for it. Also remember there are usually local agencies that might assist you, often for free.

Is there anything you can do if you’ve been taken?

Maybe. If the company told you to file disputes with items in your credit report, that you know are correct, this is illegal. You get your money back because they were advising you to do something illegal. And if they don’t fulfill the service you agreed to when you first paid them, they are lawfully required to do so. If they haven’t, you again have legal recourse against them. But if they are scammers your chances of recovery are not good.

How do you know your rights when dealing with a scammer?

Read the ‘Credit Repair Organization Act’:

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/croa/croa.shtm. A guide to your rights in this situation.

The bottom line: don’t allow yourself to be taken.

Even if you owe others money, you have more rights than you think. While this article can’t give you every single one of them, hopefully it’s alerted you to the fact that you have legal courses of action.

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The Fourth Of July

On this, our nations ‘birthday’, I would like to wish every one a Happy Fourth Of July!

I would also ask that you remember all those who have fought, and continue to fight, for the freedoms we enjoy — Freedom Is Not Free!!

There is a cost to this ongoing fight, not just that borne by our armed forces, but by you and I! It is your and my job to ensure that cost has not been in vain.

We are the greatest nation in the world because of our freedoms. We, you and I, have a responsibility to ourselves, our families and friends and our country, in that order, to ensure the freedoms we enjoy. The freedoms which every peoples in the world aspire to and deserve.

The freedom to make their own destiny.

** A Very Happy Fourth of July To All **

The Jedi’s Grandpa

Please, take a moment to watch this video

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There are all sorts of credit repair schemes out there. The reality is, if you have bad credit, there are solutions to repair that credit. It’s possible to improve or repair your credit in a relatively short time period. How?

Here are five strategies that can be effective in helping you correct your credit..

!) Before you do anything ‘Get A Copy Of Your Credit Report’. You are entitled to a free copy once a year. You need to see what’s there before taking any action. You can begin to correct obvious errors yourself by contacting the credit reporting agencies and having them investigate and correct those mistakes. Scan your credit report and looking for mistakes.

If you find errors, then contact the particular credit bureau and let them know. While I prefer doing so in writing via certified mail, they all have contact phone numbers. They will look into it. If they verify that indeed there is an error in your report, they must erase it from your report. Have them send you a corrected copy of your report.

This should instantly improve your credit score. And since mistakes are quite common, there’s a good chance this will work.

And don’t give up. If they don’t remove something the first time, keep after them. It may take two to three months, but eventually you can get that erroneous information taken off.

2) Pay on time

This is one of the simplest methods for raising your credit score. It’s so obvious it might not seem worth mentioning, but it’s one of the most important tips of all.

Can’t pay on time? Contact the creditor directly and see what king of terms you may be able to work out twith them. But do remember to stick with whatever terms you devise.

Creditors have been know to make ‘adjustment’ to terms more than once, as today our personal situations are very fluid.

3) Credit counseling

This will not only give you strategies for better money management, but the company can negotiate with your creditors on your behalf as well. In many instances they may be able to reduce the amount you owe substantially.

Look for an agency local to your area, where you can do things face to face. Try o getting a referral from someone you know.

Since they are very experienced in the industry, they may have a much better chance of negotiating better terms for you than if you were to do it yourself.

4) One of the least desirable techniques is obtaining a consolidation loan. This might make it easier for you to pay your creditors, leaving you with just one payment rather than multiples. But exercise caution here. Many have gone this route but began piling up more debt because they suddenly have more money! You need to be very disciplined to use this sort of strategy.

5) Build up your investments

Instead of spending on things you don’t need, start putting a certain percentage of your money away every month for investing. This is easily one of the best methods to repair your credit.

But be wary of scams.

Remember, there are many firms that come after people with bad credit. They claim they are going to help you raise your score. But often times they just take your money and disappear.

How do you spot those companies?

Charging you an up front fee is often an indication you should exercise extreme care in working with the firm. Also, telling you to dispute everything on your credit report even if it’s right, it’s certain they are not legit.

Implementing these tips can help you improve your overall credit rating.

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Many of us live paycheck to paycheck, spending without regard to the consequences. Keep that pattern up long enough and you soon discover the money runs out before you’ve paid all the bills, and there is never any left over for special purchases or holidays. Getting control of your household spending means setting u a budget, which will allow you to begin saving as well.

Sticking to a budget makes most of us cringe. It sounds restrictive and boring. But if you are serious about creating wealth, a budget can actually give you freedom. You will have control over your finances, know where your money is going, and have a plan to reach your financial goals. Not spending on things that you can do without right now means you will be able to spend on larger, more important purchases in the future.

Here are some easy household budgeting strategies you can use to get started.

Find out your earnings:

The way you’re paid can determine how you budget your money each month. If you’re paid on a weekly basis, you can calculate your budget based on four paychecks a month. That means you’ll have four extra checks throughout the year to help with extra expenses. If you’re paid bi-weekly, you can calculate your budget based on two paychecks a month, and have two extra checks throughout the year. If you’re paid monthly, calculate your budget based on the monthly amount. You won’t have extra checks throughout the year, so you’ll need to be careful in budgeting for the extras. For those who aren’t paid regularly, figure out your annual income and divide it by 12 to determine your monthly income.

Track your expenses:

Your fixed expenses will be easy to figure out. These are the items that stay the same from month to month, such as your mortgage/rent, car payment, etc. Tracking your other expenses is a bit trickier to accomplish and often where I have fallen down. To find out how much you really spend in a month, carry a notebook with you and write down everything you spend for the next 30 days. This will tell you how much you’re spending, and where your money is all going.

Figure out the difference:

Now, find out the difference between what you spend and what you earn each month. If you have a surplus, a portion of that must be budgeted for investments or a savings account.  If you have a shortage, you have one of two choices to solve your budget woes: lower your expenses or increase your income – do both.

Cutting your expenses:

Lowering your expenses is the most obvious way to solve  discrepancies between your income and your spending. Simple changes made over time, such as renting a video instead of going to the movie theatre, can add up to big dollars in your bank account. Those Latte’s really add up!

Others may be lifestyle changes, such as giving up one car and taking public transportation instead. While I have a vehicle, I often use public transportation – it gives one a different perspective on the world arournd me.

Taking control of your finances by setting up a household budget is an important first step to creating wealth. As you begin to make wise decisions about where your money goes, over time you will find opportunities to spend less and have more money to invest. Do a Google search for ‘free financial software’ and you can find programs that may help you as well.

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How you think about money is the single most important factor to determining whether you are wealthy or not. If more money in your life is what you want it’s crucial that you develop a positive money mindset.

However, many of us have been taught to think negatively about money. We’re told things like “money is the root of all evil,” It’s not! How you acquire/use it is – ‘Greed’. Another is “money doesn’t grow on trees”. Actually it figuratively can if you know how. No wonder we have such a difficult time thinking positively about money!

You may have even been taught that rich people are greedy and as a result you are subconsciously avoiding wealth and missing out on the great opportunities having money can provide.

As long as you hold on to negative and incorrect beliefs about money, you will never create the wealth you desire or deserve.

To change your money mindset, you must first recognize that money is not good or bad by itself. It is just a tool. In fact, money is more often used to do good than bad. Think about the wonderful charities that have been able to help people all around the world when they are given large donations of money. Appreciate all the good that money can be used for. It is important part of life and is used to make positive changes in the world. Money should be sought after, not avoided.

Recognize that money is abundant. When you were young, you may have been told by your parents that money doesn’t grow on trees. If you’re holding onto that belief now, your own mindset could be holding you back from attracting money. Money may not grow on trees, but there is an abundant amount of it for everyone, including you. However, if you believe that money is scarce, that belief will keep it far away from you.

Giving money away, such as charitable giving, is another way to develop a positive money mindset. Wanting to hang onto every cent you have is a sign of a negative mindset, reinforcing the idea that there is not enough of it. Giving reinforces the concept of abundance. Something I do every so often is pick a name/address randomly out of the phone book and. anonymously, send them some money – anywhere from$1 to $20 (or whatever you prefer). I find this a fun thing to do.

Finally, be happy for those who are successful and have money. Try to learn from them. We often remember being told that those who have money are greedy and are tempted to think negatively about them. In fact, the opposite is usually true. Rich people often accumulate their wealth by sharing what they have with others and believing in the idea of abundance.

When someone else has money, don’t resent their success. If you have feelings of jealousy, it will only hold you back from achieving your own wealth and success. Instead, be happy for them and remember that there is enough wealth for you too, and your turn will come.

Making these changes in how you think about money, will put you on your way to developing a positive money mindset. Once you begin thinking about money in a positive way, you will be on the path to achieving your own wealth.

‘The Jedi’s Grandpa’

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We’ve all seen the plastic bottles and other plastic waste along our roadsides, in our parks, at the beaches, etc. Many say plastic is the bane of our existence. Many organization are calling for the banning of such items. As these efforts move forward (or don’t as the case maybe), we still need to contend with the here and now.

So there are those who look for innovative ways to recycle such waste. People have built houses out of plastic bottles as well as other waste materials.

So many of these bottles end up in our oceans and waterways. Recently I came across a news story on one of those innovative ways to recycle plastic bottles, one way to put them to good use. Though I admit this isn’t going to cure our wast problem. At least folks are thinking of ways to reduce the present waste while looking for better ways to manage our plastic waste.

Plastic bottles, for water, soft drinks, juices, milk, etc. just do not do it for me. Ever notice how a number of Coke commercials use the old, classic style glass bottles. Truly, I wish they would go back to those glass bottles – I like my cold drinks cold!

Recently I came across a news story on one innovative way to recycle plastic bottles.

Check it out here: http://www.theplastiki.com.

My compliments on one novel idea and I wish them Good Fortune on their voyage!

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Over the past few years many changes in our financial industries, most of them bad, have caused a great deal of harm to us ordinary individuals. Many of these changes have brought about calls for more government regulation of these institutions.

While some new regulations or the overhaul of some existing rules may be needed I am not a fan of big government. Mostly because government doesn’t get it right when they get involved. Yes, the government had their hands in what has happened over the past few years as well. They do the bidding of lobbyists, whether it’s health care or financial reform and most of the rules and regulations are written for them by these same lobbyists.  Most of our representatives don’t even read what they sign.

One of the things that’s always frosted me is the fees financial institutions charge – such as check fees. These days most of them seem to be in the range of $30 to $50 dollars or more. Of course the banks try to convince us they are doing us a favor by paying a financial instrument they shouldn’t and then turning around and charging us a ‘fee’ for doing this – fees which are a source of Pure Profit for banking institutions.

One bank officer told me the banking fees are charged “…in order to teach the customer a lesson…“! Another told me “…we only follow ‘industry standards’ in setting our fees…“, which is bank-speak for ‘a little price fixing’.

I’ve had overdraft protection in the past by tying a second checking or a savings account to my main account. That is legitimate. What’s not is when I don’t ask for or give permission for overdraft protection.

If the bank wants to do me favors like paying a check even though there is no money there, hey, more power to me! Just don’t turn around and charge me for something I never asked for! This year some new government regulations regarding fees/overdraft protection are supposed to go into effect. I want less government not more.

The financial industries brought new banking regulations upon themselves with their treatment of ordinary folks over the last few years, as though the people are their own personal ATM machines! These industries took government money and stuffed their pockets with it and did nothing to help the people who needed it most. Never fear though, the financial industries Will find a way around any regulations – they are good at that.

The industry’s recent “..we’re sorry for the damage we caused…”, to congress aside, ‘Changes Need To Come Not From Government But From the Industries Themselves‘, getting back to the reasons banks were formed in the first place – to help people build and rebuild their lives not to stuff the financial industries pockets with money. What kind of lesson are we teaching the future generations? Greed is never a good thing.

Plenty of greed has fueled what has happened to this country over the last few years! Mom used to say “…money is the root of all evil”. When Money Becomes Your God, it is!

The financial industries should take the medical profession credo to heart – ‘Do No Harm‘!

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I don’t often comment on politics, because I believe a persons politics are their own business. I do sometimes eschew that people exercise their right to vote.

There is a special election coming up on Tuesday, January 19, in Massachusetts. I urge those of you living there to vote, to exercise your right to self determination. To often we feel there is nothing one person can to do change things for the better, myself included.

More importantly, today those in government forget they work for you and me, not the other way around — You can make a difference!

We make all kinds of excuses for not participating, but voting is one of your fundamental rights in a free county like ours. Please, don’t let it go to waste! I don’t.

I’m not sure if all states support permanent absentee ballots but California does and I take advantage of it. My ballots are mailed to me which makes for a much easier process. But if I want to vote ‘in person’ and take advantage of the community of people one finds there, I can hand carry my ballot to my polling place. It’s the best of both worlds. Consider doing  absentee ballots if it makes your life easier.

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