MoneyNewsWeb.com

Link: http://www.moneynewsweb.com/index.php/2009/04/23/going-green-is-it-worth-it

MoneyNewsWeb.com
April 23, 2009

We ll know how important our environment is. I am not one of those PC left leaning tree hugging type of people, but I do believe in taking care of that which God has given us.

That being said, take a look at what some of this going green may cost us. First example are the low energy light bulbs.

The light bulb has been an effective tool for producing light for more than a century, the improved version contains mercury. Now mind you, I am no chemical expert, but isn't mercury harmful? Isn't that why it was banned from being used in thermometers?

Assuming that mercury is harmful in liquid or powder form, why would we want to put it in a glass bulb in all of our appliance that use light bulbs? If you haven't read the guidelines for cleaning a broken mercury filled bulb, you should look it up. The mercury dust can get into everything and requires a haz-mat team to clean up. Haz-mat teams can charge thousands of dollars to clean up such an environmental mess.

Assuming consumers will actully follow all of the stringent rules for clean up, what happens to the bulbs once they burn out? Simple, they end up in the trash and eventually landfills.

The mercury then gets into our ground water and contaminates underground reservoirs. It is impossible to keep it out no matter what kind of liners they use in the landfills.

Helping the environment and hurting it at the same time does not seem like a responsible solution. How about turning off lights when not in use or unplugging appliances you are not using. Taking shorter showers and using good old common sense?

Yes, reduce the amount you consume, it is good for the environment and better for your check book but going green by harming the environment is just going to cost us more than we want to pay in the future.

Link: http://www.moneynewsweb.com/index.php/2009/04/22/harassed-by-debt-collectors

MoneyNewsWeb
April 22, 2009

So perhaps the recession/depression has hit too close to home and you have missed a couple of payments on the credit cards.

Now the calls start coming. Debt collectors. They are willing to do or say anything in order to make you pay your bills.

It deosnt matter io you have good intentions, have a sick family member or need a place to live and a way to feed your family, some are unrelenting and will not stop no matter how rational you try to get with them.

For example, today, I had a debt collector call my place of business. Not for me nor for anyone who has ever worked for me. When the autodial recording was done, A woman came on the line and asked if she could speak to so and so. I replied"You could if you had called the correct number." I didn't have a tone, I didn't raise my voice, but she responded with "well perhaps you shouldn't be so rude."

I was rude for telling her she could speak to the person she was calling for if she dialed the correct number? This was a place of business, and this debt collection company had called before, so I asked to have our number removed from the list. We shall see what happens.

If a debt collector calls you and you do not want to speak with them on the phone, simply ask them not to call you. Never give them your phone at work or cell number. Never allow them to call you at work. Always tell them to communicate via mail with the address they have on file. Never pay a debt without seeing it in writing first. It may not even be yours.

So what do you do if they threaten to sue you or garnish your wages? Well they could but most often they prefer to settle, so don't worry about the threats for now. A judge may be sympathetic if you can prove that you are in good faith attempting to repay the debt, so keep good records.

Do your best to negotiate a payment amount you can afford and always get it in writing that they are willing to accept that amount.

Never give them access to your bank accounts or your credit card information. Always pay with a money order.

If they use verbal abuse, yelling, calling names or making threats of arrest or violence, report them immediately to the police, BBB, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

According to the FTC web site
You have recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law

You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can’t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney’s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector’s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.

What practices are off limits for debt collectors?

Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:

* use threats of violence or harm;
* publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
* use obscene or profane language; or
* repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:

* falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
* falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
* falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
* misrepresent the amount you owe;
* indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren’t; or
* indicate that papers they send to you aren’t legal forms if they are.

Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:

* you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt;
* they’ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
* legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don’t intend to take the action.

Debt collectors may not:

* give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
* send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn’t; or
* use a false company name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:

* try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt – or your state law – allows the charge;
* deposit a post-dated check early;
* take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
* contact you by postcard.

Remember, just because you are behind on some of your payments, doesn't mean you should be abused. Please see the FTC for more information on Fair Debt Collection Practices and by all means always pay the bills that are most important. Food, shelter, lights, water and vehicle. The rest can wait until you get your finances back under control.

Link: http://www.moneynewsweb.com/index.php/2009/04/12/are-you-investing-in-your-future

Most Americans believe that investing in stocks, 401k's and retirement funds are investing in their future, but we have learned just how wrong that has been.

You can now buy GM stock for around $2.00 a share. A bargain these days, but no one knows if GM will be able to survive. They want the taxpayers to bail them out but do not want any stipulations that come with accepting taxpayer dollars.

Those who have invested in 401k's and retirement funds have seen them all but depleted because of the falling stocks and the bankrupt corporations.

Money in the bank is supposed to be insured for up to $250,000.00 but that reverts back to $100,000.00 soon. Not only that but the FDIC is failing as well. If the insurance company that is supposed to protect your bank accounts fails, who will protect your deposits?

Certainly not the Federal Reserve and certainly not the Federal Government. They do not even have enough money to procure gold and silver to produce coins, so they certainly cannot fulfill the insurance policies of the FDIC.

So what should you do? I don't suggest you stop keeping your money in the banks nor do I suggest you stop contributing to your 401k's What I am suggesting is that you learn to diversify and not keep all of your money in one place.

You may even want to consider having a small amount of gold and silver coins in your portfolio as well. Something that you can keep in your own possession and something that you can sell in a time of crises.

Beyond that, you should learn to take care of yourself. Learn basic gardening. Learn how to hunt and fish and the skills to take care of yourselves.

Remember food and shelter are your basic needs. Many are going without right now because they don't have the skills they need to take care of themselves.

One final note of advice is to pay off or at least down your debt. If you are still working, start paying off those extra credit cards and other debts. Likewise, build up some savings of at least 6 months of your take home pay and do not touch it just in case you are the next to be laid off. Having a cushion to land on makes falling a whole lot easier.

Consumers today are not just looking for a good deal they are looking for a bloodbath of a deal. Being a small business owner I have seen my sales drop by 30% over the Christmas season. Not even 50% off was enough to salvage the shopping season.

This weekend I ran a promotion offering a free coin with purchase and had a few customers call. Of the free coin was not good enough for these consumers they wanted a free coin of their choice and free shipping.

It is times like these when I want to say to these consumers, "How about I pay you to shop in my store." I mean I am already giving you a free item on a product I have little to no markup on so I may as well just give you 20, 30 or 50 bucks to have you grace my store with your very presence.

This is the year of the shark. Consumers who swarm around businesses and feed off of their misfortune.

This is why there will be less of a selection in retail stores this year and even less next year.

Starting today I have decided to stop caring about the stock market. I guess since I have not invested any of my money in this legalized form of gambling that it will be much easier for me to do than others. I am just so tired of the constant manipulation by our beloved government on a daily basis of this supposed free market system.

If you own stocks do yourself a favor and get the heck out now! Making money out of thin air is best left to the elite in our society who can afford to get rich off the backs, sweat and suffering of others!