“He’s the repo man,” the father said to his son.

“But why is he taking our car, daddy?” the little boy asked. His mother was digging out the last of the clothing that was frozen to the floor of the trunk.

“Well son, we didn’t make the payments, and when you can’t pay for it, you don’t get to keep it,” he patiently explained. I took the keys from him. I took the car instead of hooking it up, and my brother, Jason (who owned the towing business) drove his tow truck, so it would be ready for the next repossession. The little boy stood in the yard and watched as the repo man drove away in the family car.

I don’t remember exactly, but they probably owed less than a thousand on the car. It was worth even less than what they owed. I had to stop occasionally to use snow to clean the windshield - the wipers were broken. I wish all our repossessions went this smoothly.

A Scarier Repo Man Story

Later that month we were in a small town to take some Pontiac. We cruised behind a couple of the bars in town - generally a good place to look. At the second bar, we found our car, and checked the VIN (vehicle identification number) to be sure. We didn’t have keys for this one, so we would have to tow it.

Unfortunately, the wheels were turned slightly, and Jason decided it would likely hit the brick wall if we tried to pull it out. He decided we had to go inside and ask the owner for the keys. We found the man at the bar, and he pretended not to hear a word we said. He just stared at his drink. Everyone else heard us, though, and they were all his friends.

A crowd began to form as Jason hooked up to the car. They made rude comments and watched us, but then, as the car was pulled out, it did hit the wall, and the turn-signal light cover was broken. The crowd went wild, yelling and threatening us. Unfortunately, we had to stop right there to hook the car up properly.

I grabbed my baseball bat and ran into the bar to call the police. Afterwards, I ran back out, waving the bat around. By this time, Jason was on top of the tow truck, with the angry mob circling below him. Someone had thrown a beer bottle, and we would later discover that in the chaos my brother lost a toolbox full of expensive tools.

The police arrived quickly, and added threw their own insults our way (nobody likes a repo man), but they kept the mob at bay while we hooked up. At least there was no fist fight, and nobody pulled a gun on us, or fired shots over our heads. These three things would happen on later jobs.

Jason never was paid enough for the work, and he gave me just $15 per car retrieved (this was almost 20 years ago). I think in our best night we repossessed four cars. Moral of the story? There are better ways to make a living than being a repo man.

Copyright Steve Gillman. To learn more unusual ways to make and save money, and how you can get free e-courses and e-books, visit his website: Unusual Ways To Make Money

http://www.UnusualWaysToMakeMoney.com

No related posts

With your busy work schedule and your childs schoolwork, it may seem impossible to find time for a family dinner let alone a lesson on money management. Unfortunately, many schools do not have time or funding to include basic money skills as part of students K-12 curriculum, and therefore the burden falls on parents. Incorporate the following three concepts into your daily life and help prepare your child for a financially secure future:

Spending: As a parent you realize how expensive it can be to run a family. With so few expenses in their lives however, children rarely understand the concept of budgeting. Bring your children along on your next shopping trip and be sure to show them how you make your purchasing decisions. Explain the purpose of a budget and encourage them to build a budget for their own needs and wants. A child-friendly budget worksheet can be downloaded for free by visiting http://www.consumercredit.com/resources.htm.

Saving: Children need to understand how much time and effort you have put into acquiring your most important assets. While you appreciate your home, your car, and your education, your children may take them for granted if they do not know otherwise. Encourage your child to put a portion of his or her allowance or income away each week. Help your child set a goal to achieve, such as buying an ipod. Once your children can see how long it takes to earn the money to buy such an item, chances are they will understand just how valuable it is.

Sharing: Your children will truly appreciate their income or allowance once they have a better grasp of the value of money in general. Encourage your children to share some of their earnings with others who need assistance. Find a local charity, drive, or initiative and help them start a savings fund for a donation. Even spare change can add up to a significant donation over time, and your children will be proud of themselves for helping to make someone elses life better.

ABOUT ACCC: American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to regain control of their lives through education, counseling and debt management. ACCC provides individuals with practical solutions for solving financial problems and recognizes that consumers financial difficulties are often not the result of poor spending habits, but more frequently from extenuating circumstances beyond their control. As one of the nations leading providers of financial education and credit counseling services, ACCC works with consumers to help them with the best plan of action to reduce their debt and regain financial stability. For more information or to access free financial education resources log on to http://www.consumercredit.com

Teaching Children to Speak Spanish - The Right Approaches
It is commonly believed that children adapt more easily, than adults, to learning a second language, particularly when they are taught at a very young age, and teaching children to speak Spanish is a great way of preparing kids to be ready for the op...

Teaching Children to Speak Spanish - The Myths Debunked
As Spanish is increasingly becoming one of the most used languages in the world today, teaching children to speak the language is a great way of introducing your kids to a popular language that will be benefit them in the future and will, also, help ...

Joint Ventures - Part V
If Youre the Guru, Vice Versa If you are the expert, the reverse is also true. You could JV with a middleman to bring people to you to pay for access to your expertise. Coaching programs are an obvious choice for this approach.JV a Dealmaker If bro...

Money Matters - Rich Kid, Poor Kid And The Important Role Of The Parent
I know a couple of men who are the same age (mid twenties), about the same intelligence and, for the most part, are equally good looking. One is a businessman with a rapidly growing marketing company grossing about $500,000.00 per year. The other w...

Vacationing Without Kids
After a year of non-stop work and stress, what could be more fun and relaxing than taking one of the many ocean trips on the Atlantic? You get to visit exotic ports of call and spend quality time with your spouse or significant other, just relaxing,...

Kids Shopping Cart Cars
Certainly by now you have seen those new ultra-long SUV type shopping carts, where the kids sit in the plastic car in front and pretend to steer down the isles? They are excellent for Store Managers as it keeps kids from pulling items off the shelves...

Spanish Prepositions "Por and Para" - The Easy Way to Use Them Perfectly
When it comes to mastering the uses of POR and PARA in Spanish, there is a very simple, yet powerful approach that can help you in 95 to 98% of the cases and even more.Rather than teaching all the uses of POR and PARA as all teachers do, I prefer to ...

Bingo Card Printables for Teaching Italian
Teachers are always on the look out for fun, interesting and engaging classroom activities. Classroom games, obviously providing they have sufficient educational content are particularly welcome. This desire for interesting classroom activities exten...

Funny Ways To Save Money
There was a list of funny ways to save money on a "frugal living" website. They weren't necessarily meant to be funny, but were gleaned from real suggestions sent in. Some cheapskates don't seem to notice that an extra hour at work might put them fur...

How to Become a Professional ESL English Teacher
Most North American ESL English language schools are marketing organizations. They like to sell their ESL school as the best (in everything) to the international language students. The English schools like to present themselves as established, well o...

“Start stashing cash now and you’ll be saying ‘hola’ to the pool boy in no time!

Are your finances looking bleaker than a British summer? Don’t panic. Your balance might be more Butlins than Bahamas right now, but there’s still time time to save before summer. With a little bit of discipline, you can scrape together 500 in just three months. Here’s how…

3 Months To Go - Put It Away! - Open a new bank account (without card or checkbook access) to stash your holiday funds. Don’t try to save your current account - it’s too easy to spend. You should aim to transfer 40 a week, but this doesn’t have to mean committing social-life suicide. Try swapping your car or train journey to work with cycling instead. It’s a great way to claw back cash and you could save 1.500 a year in motoring costs. And with all that pedal pushing, you’ll be getting a bikini body as you save.

2 Month To Go - Be An Internet Blagger - Shop for special offers to boost your balance. Recently, a credit-card offer from air miles - enough for a return ticket to Turkey. Also, get rid of any clothes you don’t wear. Then sell them (or swap them for those Gucci shades you can’t afford) on the designer-clothing sales and swipe site.

1 Month to go - Show Resistant - Cut out your pre-holiday shopathon and professional preening in salons. According to recent figures, you could save 350 by swapping clothes or holiday with your friends and using at-home beauty treatments - more than enough for your bar bill!

0 days to go - Take No Interest - This close holiday heaven but funds still falling short? As a last resort, you could pay for holiday on a 0% credit card. Make sure it offers 0% on purchases (and not just balance transfers) and pay it all back within the offer period.

For more excellent money saving tips please visit http://www.yourcoffeecorner.com

Online Booking Agents
Are you looking for a good holiday rate for your holiday? If you are looking for the best prices, consider using the internet and booking online with an online travel agent. These online travel agents are becoming popular with holidaymakers and trave...

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Australian Visas
In the modern world there are few things governments protect more fiercely than the security of their borders. Australia is no different. As such, there seem to be a countless number of different visas, each appropriate to only a very specific set of...

The Benefits Of Saving Money On A Regular Basis
Over the past few years, I have been saving money each month, not for any particular reason like for example to buy a house, but just in case something big went wrong. It is in a way a form of self-insurance. In this article I write about the benefit...

Renting Holiday Homes Online
Already end of Christmas and online holiday bookings start getting busy as this is a very useful tool for those who desire a warm holiday next summer. North European vacationers point to sunny places like Spain, Greece and Portugal for instance for t...

How Do I Lower My Auto Insurance Rates?
Since there are many factors that go into determining your auto insurance rates, there are many chances to lower your rates. If you change jobs and your drive to work changes or you stop working or you work from home, you should contact your insuranc...

Booking Your Holiday Online
If you are thinking of taking a holiday, and are interested in finding a good price for your chosen destination and route, get good rates and specials from online travel agents. Online travel websites are becoming increasingly popular, allowing trave...

Holiday Cottages In Morayshire
I recommend considering holiday cottages Morayshire if you are looking for a relaxing holiday in stunning scenery. Located 3-4 hours drive north from Glasgow, the local Morayshire area is a dream come true for those looking for a holiday cottage t...

Holiday Accommodation Maroochydore
Perfect beach holiday location for all the family.Looking for that perfect location for a beach holiday then consider Maroochydore on the beautiful Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia. Travel approximately one hour North from Brisbane by car ...

Packing for Adventure Travel Holidays
If you have never been on an adventure holiday before, then you may be wondering exactly what it is that you need to pack. Obviously it will all depend entirely upon which type of adventure travel you are partaking in, but there are some general item...

How to Save Money - How I EASILY Save $1,000 Per Year and How You Can Too!
Most people are interested in learning how to save money. It doesn't seem to matter how much or how little you earn, everybody seems to be interested in finding out how to save money.Well, here is a little something that allows me to save around $1,0...

Why is an anonymous asset protection strategy necessary?

The failing real estate market in the United States. Recessions caused by flawed government policies. Tax-rate increases. Ugly divorces. Frivolous lawsuits in a litigation-obsessed society. What do all of these have in common?

Any one, or combination of these, can allow others access to your hard earned money and investments. And, they are all reasons that you should consider exploring a legal anonymous asset protection strategy before it is too late. Remember that things move fast in today’s world, both good and bad.

How is anonymous asset protection defined?

Here are the three most important secrets regarding protecting your money and assets:

Who is qualified to identify, implement and maintain your anonymous asset protection strategy?

You need to find a person or institution that is familiar with the offshore asset world. This entity must be legal and transparent, and must be able to prove that they have helped others protect themselves. Who is probably not a good choice?

What is the best way to begin your anonymous asset protection strategy?

Again, you need to find someone you can trust. After all, following financial advice is on a similar level to placing your health in the hands of your doctor. Interview potential providers, check their confidentiality systems and guarantees, visit them in person, ask as many questions as you have. Then, think it over and ask more.

This process may sound obvious, but there are no shortage of those that did not perform the proper Due Diligence and, therefore, lost the very assets they were trying so hard to protect.

Now you know some practical hints regarding protecting your assets. Good luck with your financial journey and may it be a satisfactory one for you.

Raymond Pettygrew is an offshore banking and investment analyst and has written this article for the Anonymous Asset Protection (AAP) group.

Asset Protection Planning
When it comes to protecting your assets, you should consider asset protection planning well in advance to avoid any claim or threatened litigation. It is a comprehensive analysis of a lawful series of techniques that protects your assets when serious...

Auto GAP Insurance - Is it Really Necessary, or is it a Waste of Money?
We have feelings about that GAP insurance policy in a couple ways. First, we have those that swear by it, have purchased it, and thankfully never had to use it. And there are those, that have been into a situation where their car was declared a total...

When Selling Used Servers And Technology Assets - Avoid These Costly Mistakes
Selling used servers and technology assets is an excellent way to raise cash and free up storage space. However, many companies make mistakes that can be very costly and time consuming.To achieve the highest payout for your technology hardware make...

Esperanto Translations: Twenty-one Stories, Poems and Songs from the English
When I retired I pondered how I wanted to spend my remaining years. I am an artist and a writer so there is always plenty to do, but I felt I needed to stimulate my brain in another way and I had heard that learning a new language was just the ticket...

Asset Management UK - What Makes Profitable
If you are running a business of relatively larger size then you must have some valuable assets under your disposal. In order to generate higher profit and to keep it up, you have to manage all the assets in a proper manner. Unless you have efficient...

Uk Capital Gains Tax - What You Need To Know To Avoid It!
What is CGT?Capital gains tax ('CGT') is the tax that you pay when you sell an asset. So if you sell property, or an investment you'll need to consider CGT. In fact anything that you don't hold for the purposes of a trade (ie that you've not bought ...

Avoiding An Asset Protection Scam
We do not do such seminars and suggest you do not attend any such seminars if the subject matter has anything to do with offshore asset protection, offshore trusts, offshore banking, offshore foundations, or anything offshore financial related.In Pan...

Your Website Should Be Selling
It may come as some surprise to a traditionally off-line business that their website should be attracting new sales, or at least supporting the sales they have made. There is a common misconception that a website is more of a cost than an asset. When...

Net Asset Value Or Business Value - Not The Same Thing
Accountants always seem to get lost in the valuation of a business. Whilst this is understandable, it can create problems when a business is sold. Even the Discounted Cash Flow method of valuing a business can be misplaced.Net asset value is simply t...

Depreciation - Useful Life, or Economic Life
Depreciation is the definition in accounting for a reasonable estimate, in monetary terms for the devaluation of an asset over a period in time. Since most assets are capitalized on the balance sheet, in financial statements, the "cost of depreciati...

Finding new ways to save money on almost anything you buy is almost like getting a raise. Maybe it’s even better. When you save twenty dollars on a coat you get to keep the whole twenty dollars. When you make twenty dollars more on your paycheck, you lose five dollars or more of it to taxes.

Finding ways to save money can go too far, though. In a recent newsletter on how to save money, one contributor suggested getting free flowers for weddings by picking up the leftover flowers at a cemetery. She didn’t say how you can tell which are “leftovers.”

I thought I was cheap! The following are gleaned from real suggestions on ways to save money sent in to “frugality” websites and newsletters. Some cheapskates don’t seem to notice that an extra hour at work might put them further ahead than many hours of penny-pinching.

Ways To Save Money - Don’t Try These At Home

A mother confessed that she makes her kids stuff their pockets with the free ketchup, salt and other condiment packets every time they were in a fast food restaurant. Oh, if only that were all, but no. She has the kids squeeze the contents of the packets into regular jars of ketchup and mustard too. She says she hasn’t bought these condiments in years. Pride is found in strange places.

One creative penny pincher found a way to save money on car washes. He washes his entire car using the squeegee at the gas station. Hmm… I wonder if he takes the toilet paper rolls home from their rest rooms too.

Would you like a free umbrella? One man suggests getting one at the lost and found department of any large public library. You just tell them you lost a black umbrella. They will almost certainly have several, from which you can pick the best one and claim it as your own. What if they have no black umbrellas? I guess we’ll have to wait for this guy to publish a “lost umbrella color frequency chart,” in order to know which color to try for the next day.

Several contributors to these newsletters know how to save on their long distance phone bills. The most common suggestion is to call people long-distance when you know they won’t be home, and leave a message for them. Then they pay for it when they return your call. I suppose if your timing is off, and they answer when you call, you can quickly hang up on them and try again later.

I don’t recommend any of these as ways to even the most frugal person. Apart from the ethical issues with some of them, they can be lumped in along with washing and re-using plastic wrap - a time wasting frugality. On the other hand, they are fun to read, and I suppose we could view such measures as cheap entertainment as well. Perhaps you can turn off the lights to save money on electricity and tell the kids it’s a game of hide-and-seek, or train your dog to beg from the neighbors so you don’t have to feed him.

I wonder how many people actually pay for magazines and newsletters that tell us ways to save money? Do these magazines advise that readers go to the library to read them, or stand reading them in the aisle at the bookstore for a hour? Those are some sure ways to save money.

Steve Gillman has studied unusual ways to make money for thirty years. To learn more, visit his website, Unusual Ways To Make Money: http://www.UnusualWaysToMakeMoney.com

Funny Ways To Save Money
There was a list of funny ways to save money on a "frugal living" website. They weren't necessarily meant to be funny, but were gleaned from real suggestions sent in. Some cheapskates don't seem to notice that an extra hour at work might put them fur...

Save Money at Home - A Practical Guide
With economic times becoming more difficult and wages not stretching as far people are needing to become more inventive to make their dollars go further.For many years I have had to exist as a single parent on a very low wage. This was at the same ...

Ways To Save Money - Live Frugal
We as consumers struggle daily with the need to Save Money Live Frugal and how to go about doing it. If you learn to spend wisely you can become a "smart shopper" and watch your savings grow. It only takes a little discipline and forethought to get ...

How To Save Money On Anything
When you want to save money on something, your first thought might be to look for a better price. That is one way to spend less and still get what you want. Let's take a good look at that before we move on to the second way.Save Money With A Better P...

How to Save Money - How I EASILY Save $1,000 Per Year and How You Can Too!
Most people are interested in learning how to save money. It doesn't seem to matter how much or how little you earn, everybody seems to be interested in finding out how to save money.Well, here is a little something that allows me to save around $1,0...

4 Ways For Students to Save Money
Students - Learn How to Save MoneyEverybody in this world loves money and you probably want as much of it as possible. The thing that most college students struggle with is how to save money correctly. There are so many easy ways to save money in t...

How I Make and Save Money
If you want to reduce or eliminate your credit card debt, then you need to develop a plan on how to make and save money. Making money is often times the most difficult of all things. We are limited by so many resources: our imagination, our time, our...

How To Really Lower Your Auto Insurance Cost
These days with the rising cost of driving due to inflated gasoline costs many people are looking for ways to save money on their out of pocket auto insurance cost. One of the easiest ways to get a good low cost automobile insurance policy is to ask...

Great Ways To Save Money
Everybody wants to save money, but the way you do it versus the way someone else does it may be very different. There are lots of ways to go about saving a little extra money every month and we are here to give you a few ideas.Try to figure out what...

Five Easy Ways to Save Money - Build These Habits
Americans are at negative savings rates. What does this even mean? Quite simply, Americans spend more money each year than they save. This brings up some very important questions: Do you even know how to save money? Do you even know how to incorporat...

Here’s an interesting report on the value of Social Security:

“The average monthly benefit for retirees is $1,045 in 2007. A 65-year old who wanted to buy a guaranteed income of that size - with payments that go up with the cost of living and continue for a widowed spouse - would need to pay an insurance company about $225,000.”

Firstly, if you are rubbing your hands and thinking “I need to save $225k LESS” for my retirement now, you have rocks in your head!

Why?

Relying on a government hand out is always bad advice … as the population ages there will HAVE to be changes in Social Security - none of them good … for you!

My advice is simple: PLAN to go without, GRATEFULLY ACCEPT what you are given.

But, there is an even more interesting lesson to be learned here:

The government is prepared to pay you 2% of that ‘invisible’ $225,000 that they have effectively put aside for you, each year … and INCREASE it each year to keep up with the cost of living … nice.

How would you like to be able to set up your own plan that works exactly the same way?

There is a way!

It’s safe … it’s legal … and, it’s easy … and it was created by a highly respected professor.

Here’s what you do …

You invest your lump sum at (or before) retirement in special inflation-proof government bonds called TIPS.

TIPS are as safe as Social Security because they are US Federal Government Treasury Bonds … the difference is that you put up your own money so, unlike Social Security, the government can NEVER get out of it’s obligation to:

a) Pay you back your Principal (the amount you put in) plus the value of inflation! And,

b) Pay you a 6-monthly dividend (call it your ’social security check’) also adjusted for inflation each year.

This is not financial advice, as you will need to see your own financial adviser to determine:

1. If this strategy can work for you;

2. How much to expect in bond interest each year; and,

3. Whether you should substitute inflation-protected MUNI’s for the TIP’s that the author recommends … useful if you are investing outside of a tax-shelter (e.g. ROTH IRA).

But, it really can give you a worry-free retirement!

Adrian J Cartwood

http://7million7years.com/

Who says that how to make money should be kept a secret?

… read the 7million7years.com blog to find out how …

No scams or schemes, just good old-fashioned FREE advice!

Can I Really Avoid Income Tax On Social Security?
Theres no arguing that taxes on social security are incredibly high. As a matter of fact, according to current tax law, up to 85 percent of a persons Social Security income is taxable when their total threshold income exceeds a set limit. What is thr...

Millions of US Women May Run Out of Retirement Savings
Experts Urge Planning For Retirement RisksThe majority of women in the country may not be saving enough income for their retirement and will not be able to support themselves over their lifetime. Typically, women receive lower wages than men and spen...

Five Easy Ways to Save Money - Build These Habits
Americans are at negative savings rates. What does this even mean? Quite simply, Americans spend more money each year than they save. This brings up some very important questions: Do you even know how to save money? Do you even know how to incorporat...

A Useful Guide To Savings Accounts
A saving account is opened by an individual and is maintained by the credit unions, banks, as well as other financial organizations. These accounts reimburse interests on the money which is deposited into the account. But, the capital is held into th...

Developing Your Own Retirement Plan Is Not That Difficult
For most people it can be a bit daunting to even think about retirement itself let alone think about developing a plan their retirement. The moment you start looking in to it and start to get informed on the subject it will get a lot easier. First of...

Financial Planning: Four Building Blocks to Pay Yourself First
I recently read a financial advice column that began with the premise that putting money away for retirement was extremely difficult because "its hard to part" with money for a future need.What's wrong with this picture?Money saved for retirement is ...

How to Plan For the Future
Retirement, no matter how far away it is, always creeps up on you, and before you know it, its upon you. Regardless of whether you have just started your career, or have been working for over 25 years, it is important that you start saving up for re...

Your Rebate - Here Are Some Great Ideas For How To Spend It
This just in from the IRS... you may be only 3 days away from receiving your rebate! The schedule has been moved forward (a rare move for the U.S. government) and the first recipients will be receiving their money (that's right, it is yours and not t...

9 Secrets To A New Financial You In 2008!
As 2007 comes to an end, it's time to regroup, leave your financial past behind and start anew. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely ready for the New Year. And this year it's time to kick it up a notch and play BIG! Millionaire BIG, that is.It...

Jewelery and Precious Stone as an Investment
Every woman will love diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and other precious stones, as well as gold and white gold. Actually, this is a very good advantage for them to have those jewels and stones as savings and investments.Jewels as savings may not give e...

At the end of the day it’s not only how much money you earn thatmatters, but how much of it you manage to keep.

With the rising costs of living in the U.S. many that would have been considered affluent 10 years ago are struggling to make endsmeet while living from paycheck to paycheck. There are many waysto hold on to a large portion of your income utilizing Onlineresources. I’ve listed several of those below for yourconvenience.

First of all, we all eat so saving money on groceries can add upto thousands of dollars in staying in your pocket each year, if properly done. Always, use a list. This list software is free and allows you to create a budget as well and is free-of-charge. http://www.homeplansoftware.com/freeware.htm. There is anarticle showing how to optimize the list software athttp://Thea.us/rules.htm.

Coupons are cash. Period. Personally I don’t have the time orinclination to find and clip coupons. There is a web site thatwill give you up to $100 per month in free coupons, already clippedat http://eat-free.com. The last batch that I got from them hadseveral coupons that were a dollar each. Use the store flyers to plan the weekly menu and the store’s preferred members card foradditional savings.

Manufacturer’s vouchers are another overlooked resource. Manufacturer’s thrive on consumer feedback. Clip the UPC code from a package of a product that you normally use and write a short note that is either a compliment, suggestion for improvement, reason of complaint or a recipe using the product. In return you’ll receive a voucher for free product if you request it. Don’t forget to send the UPC code, that proves that you are in fact a costumer and not a freebie-seeker.

Gasoline is another big issue these days that not only effectsthe driving of our personal vehicles, but the cost of livingrising across the board. As for our personal gasoline needsthere is a handy county-by-county map athttp://www.alabamagasprices.com/Price_By_County.aspx?state=ALthat you can use to right-click on any county in the U.S. orCanada to check gas prices. In checking our area I learned thatthe next county south of us has an average gas price of 7cents/gallon less than our county. There is also a link when youright-click on each county that takes you to reported gasstation prices in each county.

Another expense for Americans trying to get ahead is Onlineresources. Each year Americans throw away hundreds of thousandsof dollars chasing the ‘Online Silver Bullet’. Well, it has beenmy experience that the only proper use of silver bullets is forkilling vampires, should the occasion arise. Now, let’s thinkabout this a minute. If you go to a medical doctor, you’ll getmedicine for what ails you while if you go to a surgeon, you’llget surgery. Right? So, if you want Online resources why to yougo to an Internet Marketer? All he’s going to do is Market, orretail, a product. Are you with me? If you want Onlineresources, services and mentoring go to the geeks behind theOnline Marketers! You’ll find a large collection of them athttp://The-Workbooks.com. You’ll find that the geeks are ainexpensive, friendly and eager to help you.

In our busy society, sometimes we exchange money for timewithout thinking. If used, these resources will help you toreach a few of your objectives while allowing you to keep yourmoney for things that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to affordand the time to enjoy them.

Noted author, syndicated columnist and Online NetprenuerThea Swafford loves to share the wit and wisdom found indaily life. To be informed of cutting edge info that could changeyour life send a blank e-mail to secrets@a1ebiz.com.

Does Free Debt Consolidation Exist?
You see all of the ads, and you wonder if it can really be true, is there really a free debt consolidation loan? The answer to that is obvious there isnt. Certainly, it might be free in the respect that you dont have to pay any money up front, but i...

How To Save More Money
Saving money is never easy. Just when you though of saving the extra bucks, there goes the chance to put aside more money after you splash on your next latest gadget.But have you honestly thought of why you wanted to save money in the first place? Is...

Three Rules for Financial Freedom
In a world of debts and overspendings, there are three simple and common sense rules that anybody can and should follow in order to cope with money. For applying them, you will only need a pencil, a y free. Ypiece of paper and 5 to 10 minutes every ...

Debt Solution - The Option Is Yours
Looking for a debt solution? Well you have an option in Bankruptcy or a free debt consolidation program. If you are confused and not sure about this method of debt reduction, then read on to find out more about it. A debt solution program is one, whi...

Free Money Saving Auto Insurance Tips
Our money saving auto insurance tips were written for one reason - To Save You Money on your next auto insurance policy. Since in most states you are required by law to purchase a minimum amount of liability coverage we've looked for ways to save you...

Your Rebate - Here Are Some Great Ideas For How To Spend It
This just in from the IRS... you may be only 3 days away from receiving your rebate! The schedule has been moved forward (a rare move for the U.S. government) and the first recipients will be receiving their money (that's right, it is yours and not t...

What A Web Site Can Do For Your Budget
Maybe this question should be what your budget can do for your web site? It is entirely up to you. To make money online is not necessary to have a website. Everyone can build a Blog, or use free web site templates.But I have to question anyway: why t...

Web Site Creation Profits - Creating Profit with Web Site Creation
The online world of trade and commerce has a lot of potential. You can make lot of money if you invest your time and money in this market. If you do so, it ensures that you can make a whole lot of profit. There has been a lot of increase in the use o...

What To Look Out For When Shopping for Lenders On-Line
Quick Online Bad Credit Mortgage Approvals Now, dont rush. They are giving you the benefit of not moving from your home or office, actually approving your mortgage on line. Now, with bad credit, can they just approve your mortgage without digging in...

Debt Consolidation Credit Help - A Smart Method To Avoid Bankruptcy
Debt consolidation credit help is for those who have fallen deep into the debt trap. If you have multiple debts you are finding hard to manage, and are afraid of bankruptcy or possession of your property, debt consolidation help is for you. By consol...

Day by day as inflation is increasing but real income decreases, it is important to make sure you have a plan to maximize your financial resources. With a plan like a family budget, this helps to ensure that every cent you earn is well spent.

When is the best time to do this? The answer is now. Now is the best time to start the process of looking over your family finances in terms of spending and savings. By taking time to access and setting up a budget can affect the way you use your income as well as helping you and your family to be on your way to economic stability.

In accessing your situation and planning a budget, there are many factors to be considered. Factors such as your source of income, lifestyle, spending habits, current jobs, cost of living, debts and loans. All these factors will determine your budget needs and how successful your budget will be.

Below are 5 tips and recommendation that will provide some details to you on how you can manage your family finances successfully. Hopefully with this you will look at budgeting differently and become more responsible in spending money.

1. Try your best to save as much as you can when you are doing your shopping. There are many ways to do this and one of them is to do comparison-shopping using the Internet before your usual shopping. You can also do that while you are shopping too. By practicing this as a habit, this will save you money in the long run.

2. Another tip is to purchase in bulk if possible. Then you can use coupons or wait for special sales or when the stores are offering discounts. Again you can do this online or make phone calls.

3. Do not gamble. This might seems obvious but it is a known fact that gambling is one main factor that causes financial ruins. Gambling not only waste your hard earned money but may even results in unpleasant legal action which eventually leads to bankruptcy over the long run.

4. Learn to differentiate what are your needs and wants. Always practice to limit your spending to things that you really need and not things considered as want. Studies had shown that luxuries are only second to gambling in terms of the money wasting capability.

However it does not mean that you cannot purchase things that you want. Just make sure that you had planned ahead for the said purchase and that the purchase does not over shoot your budget and laden you with debts.

5. Do not over spend. What this means is not to spend more than what you earned. Again this tip is very obvious but sometime we just do not heed what is obvious and logic. If you spend more than you earn, where will there be money left to save and invest? This is why making a budget is important.

With a budget, this will help you to consider the amount of the purchase and how it will impact your finances and life. Do take time to create your budget and as well to think before you buy and living within plus sticking to your budget will be easier.

Hopefully with the above 5 tips, you had found them useful so that you can successfully manage your family finances and be on your way to achieve your family financial goals.

Learn how to plan and create your family budget to manage your family finances successfully. Find out more by visiting FamilyBudgeting-101.com for free tips, information and resources.

The Secrets Of Finances And A Happy Family
As has been the case throughout our history, finances are the number one reason for problems in a marriage. More arguments and divorces occur over money and financial matters than any other issue. Perhaps you find yourself struggling in this area rig...

Accounting Outsourcing is an Innovative Approach of Letting Your Business Grow
An organization or a business is known by its revenue and the loss it undergoes. Managing finances in an apposite manner is one of the major targets of organizations and businesses. Accounting is one of the major aspects of businesses, both small and...

A Low Interest Debt Consolidation Loan - Take Care Of Your Family While Reducing Your Debt
When debt has compounded and youre having a hard time making ends meet, stress inevitably becomes a part of your daily life. When you add family expenses to this equation, stress levels double or even triple and begin to adversely affect your mood, s...

Get Rid of Debt Once and For All With a Low Interest Debt Consolidation Loan
The link between debt and self esteem is largely ignored but it is, nevertheless, very real. It is hard to maintain positive self esteem if you feel like a failure because you are struggling just to make ends meet or you are living just to pay debt. ...

Managing Small Business Finances
TOP TEN TIPS FOR MANAGING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS FINANCES Always work on the basis that youll need more than you actually do.You often only have one chance of raising money so remember that when working out your figures. If your figures are too conser...

Juggle Your Debts with Cheap Debt Consolidation Loan
Before we go through the concept of cheap debt consolidation loan, we would first like to ask the readers that how many of them are leading a relaxed and free life. We know that, out of ten, only one will answer in positive. And if we ask how many wa...

What a Financial Planner Should Do For You
When you are ready to get serious about your finances, it is time to get a financial planner. That is great and all, but what should a financial planner do for you?Life is busy. It is simply amazing. The more gadgets that come out that are supposed t...

Managing the Sales Floor at Starbucks
Managing the sales floor at Starbucks looks easy right? Sure it looks easy but it is not really. You see these young sales people and customer relations Starbucks Team Members have to know a lot of information in order to serve you.Indeed they study ...

Creating Sinking Funds Can Help You Save Money
Everyone has that bill that comes up once a year, but always seems to sneak up on you, or that family emergency that leaves you penniless and wondering how you will ever get ahead, maybe for you the one big financial struggle is paying for Christmas ...

Mistakes That Will Keep You Poor
A lot of people fail to reach their goals of being wealthy. As a result, people live frustrated and unfulfilled lives.In spite of the desire to be wealthy, a lot of people fail to be affluent because of several mistakes. Failure to take charge of one...

Despite the current foreclosure crisis that seems to be the topic of virtually every newspaper these days, the need for personal financial education (financial literacy) is not a new concept. Indeed, the fact that the U.S. savings rate is at an all-time low, while the personal debt rate is at an all-time high, demonstrates just how important financial education is to our future (and the future of our kids). A large number of parents (myself included) are hoping to be able to either leave their children with a legacy (a small financial cushion at a minimum), or to at least be able to provide them with the means with which they can obtain the tools to help them along in life (money for college, education or business funding). But the ultra-consumptive mindset of many in my generation has led to bad financial decisions in which there was often times no thought of a “rainy day” much less tomorrow. For many, it is now raining, and raining hard. That’s not really the unfortunate part… because rainy days are always ahead of us. What is unfortunate is that the same reason that some people are in the crisis that they are finding themselves in is the same one that got them there in the first place.

It seems that no one wants to talk about financial literacy. The word literacy seems to imply “illiterate” for folks, bringing forth images of being somehow “less-than”. You can see it even within the financial literacy movement itself, where folks are changing the name to “personal financial education” in order to not offend (and in my opinion, to sugar-coat so that people will be more receptive to hearing the message of financial education). While my generation is busy trying to figure out what is the politically-correct way to phrase the fact that they didn’t learn as much as they should have about the financial sector of their lives, the next generation is set and poised to make the same mistakes or worse. Let me be the adult that my son needs to see and hear. Let me raise my hand, stand up, and say that I made some horrible financial mistakes in my younger years, I wasn’t taught anything about finances by my teachers in school, and my parents, though they told me that I should “save”, didn’t tell me why I may need to (and therefore I didn’t). I left school and home with all of the A’s and B’s in math, reading, science, etc., and then turned around and failed miserably in my personal financial life. I’ve been spending the better part of the last 13 years correcting those mistakes, turning my financial life around, and learning and living a healthier financial lifestyle.

While I don’t place blame on my parents for my lack of financial education (challenging to teach what you don’t know yourself), they did play their part in a story that is probably all too familiar to many people, regardless of which generation they belong. It’s the silent movie everyone can clearly see that financial transactions are occurring, but no one opens their mouth to talk about them, what they mean, or about their significance. This article isn’t designed to address the money messages that I observed, made assumptions about, and carried forward into my own adult life. That’s a whole other topic entirely. What this article is designed to do is to encourage everyone to start talking about personal financial education or financial literacy (your choice, same topic), start asking questions about things that you don’t understand, start seeking the assistance and answers to issues that are even remotely applicable to your life, and to then be a source of information and inspiration for someone else that you know or who is watching your financial moves with interest (your kids perhaps). Don’t be nave in thinking that you NOT TELLING your kids about personal finance means that you’re not teaching them anything. Your kids are learning from you, from your friends and theirs, and from magazines, tv shows, movies, sports stars and celebrities. Have you taken a look lately and really seen what kind of financial education they are getting from you and others? The saying “it’s never too late” applies to everyone who could use a good tune-up (or even a complete overhaul) of their financial know-how. “It’s never too early” applies to the children, tweens, and teenagers in your life. Do something now to help yourself, and do something now to help someone else. Your financial future depends on it.

Marlena Jareaux

Author of 26 Financial Things to Teach Your Parents

www.26thingstoteach.com

For this and other “things” that can perhaps make your life a little less hectic and more smooth (and peaceful), check out the book “26 Financial Things to Teach Your Parents”. The author, Marlena Jareaux, resides in Maryland with her son, who continues to teach her things daily. It was originally written for her son, but is a book that every person, parent, teacher, aunt, uncle, grandparent and godparent will want to share with the tweens in their lives, or keep for themselves! Visit http://www.26thingstoteach.com or email the author at marlena@26thingstoteach.com

Kids Shopping Cart Cars
Certainly by now you have seen those new ultra-long SUV type shopping carts, where the kids sit in the plastic car in front and pretend to steer down the isles? They are excellent for Store Managers as it keeps kids from pulling items off the shelves...

Teaching Reading to English Language Learners
There is an increasing amount of English language learners represented in our schools for whom a unique approach to developing literacy is necessary. The development of literacy by English language learners (ELLs) includes all of the challenges impl...

Teaching Children to Speak Spanish - The Right Approaches
It is commonly believed that children adapt more easily, than adults, to learning a second language, particularly when they are taught at a very young age, and teaching children to speak Spanish is a great way of preparing kids to be ready for the op...

Top 5 Networking Questions for Kids
Networking has many benefits for professionals, entrepreneurs, students and now kids. Kids can take advantage of networking to expand their career choices, finds summer jobs / internships and develop professional skills at an early age. Kids are ve...

How to Enjoy Your Vacation With the Kids
Taking your kids on vacation is not always easy. When planning for holidays with children, there are plenty of things to consider. Looking for a kid friendly resort is the key to making sure your trip is full of fond memories instead of splitting h...

West Midlands Children Receive Financial Education
Those living in Birmingham could be set to be in a more capable position to manage unsecured loans and other financial matters in later life, it has emerged.The news comes as a number of bankruptcy officials have visited 20 secondary schools across t...

Vacation Ideas - Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, Missouri
The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri. Their hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 7 days a week and closed on Christmas Day.Admission FeesAdults (age 13 and up) is $8; St. Louis City/County residents is $4;...

Vacationing Without Kids
After a year of non-stop work and stress, what could be more fun and relaxing than taking one of the many ocean trips on the Atlantic? You get to visit exotic ports of call and spend quality time with your spouse or significant other, just relaxing,...

Joint Ventures - Part V
If Youre the Guru, Vice Versa If you are the expert, the reverse is also true. You could JV with a middleman to bring people to you to pay for access to your expertise. Coaching programs are an obvious choice for this approach.JV a Dealmaker If bro...

What a Financial Planner Should Do For You
When you are ready to get serious about your finances, it is time to get a financial planner. That is great and all, but what should a financial planner do for you?Life is busy. It is simply amazing. The more gadgets that come out that are supposed t...

At some point in your life, you are going to start thinking seriously about financial planning. When you do, the question of whether you need professional help should come to mind.

It happens to everyone. Something comes up that makes you realize you need to get a financial plan. The event can be something as benign as making good money one year and nearly fainting when you get the tax bill. For many people, it is the birth of a child. Suddenly, you are no longer responsible just for yourself. You have a much more important responsibility for the welfare of your child. Somewhere, you dad is snickering!

Whatever the triggering event, the realization you need to do some financial planning is a good thing. The sooner you do it, the more benefit you will receive. Most financial planning is time sensitive. The longer it is in place, the bigger impact it will have. For instance, the sooner you start stuffing money into retirement plans, the more time it will have to grow before you need it. The same goes for sticking money into a college savings plan.

Once you decide to do financial planning, you should really get some professional help. Jumping into financial planning without it can lead to some serious mistakes. If you need a financial planner, however, how do you find a quality professional?

The first step is to ask around to friends and families. Dont just look for any old referral. You want somebody they are enthusiastic about. If they have a ho hum opinion of their planner, that should be a bad sign. At this point, your best option is to jump on the net and look for planners in your area. Pay close attention to what is on their site. Do they offer a lot of free information? If so, does it carry the tone that you are comfortable with? Pick out three or four and set up appointments. It is time for the face-to-face.

When you meet with a prospective financial planner, there are a number of things to look for. First, how aggressive are they with you. Keep a nose out for the smell of desperation. Quality financial planners already have a sold portfolio of clients. As a result, they are more than happy to sit and calmly talk with you regarding your situation. A person that is promising incredible results or very aggressive, is a planner that probably is not what you are after.

When discussing your situation with the planner, pay attention to the questions they ask. Are they trying to get a full picture of your life or just trying to sell you something? A quality financial planner is not looking at you as a client now. Instead, they are looking for a long-term relationship. If you are uncomfortable in any way with the person in question, move on to the next planner on your list.

Get more financial planning information at UFCAmerica.com.

What a Financial Planner Should Do For You
When you are ready to get serious about your finances, it is time to get a financial planner. That is great and all, but what should a financial planner do for you?Life is busy. It is simply amazing. The more gadgets that come out that are supposed t...

How to Hire a Financial Planner
You may think that only people who have a great deal of money need to hire a financial planner. The truth, however, is that most everyone can benefit from advice and guidance from a financial planner to help them with everything from budgeting basic...

10 Things To Know Before Hiring A Financial Planner
1. Anyone can call himself a planner.To avoid amateurs, hire a planner who has earned special credentials (such as a Certified Financial Planner or Personal Financial Specialist designation) by meeting training standards or having a certain level of ...

Essential Questions for Successful Retirement Planning
It's a question that takes most of them aback. You can see them thinking "What's he on about? I came here for investment advice and here he is asking how I intend to live out my days".A good financial adviser will ask these sorts of question and with...

Should You Hire a Financial Advisor or Go It Alone
One of the most common questions asked by beginner investors is Do I need to hire a financial advisor? Before you can answer that question you need to ask yourself How much can I improve my financial situation? You can pay your bills on time, do your...

Don’t Fear the B-Word - It just Takes Some R-Words
The fact of the matter is this, the basics of budgeting, simply taking all of your income in and calculating expenses going out to arrive at your (hopefully) positive balance, remain an integral component of basic money management. Whether youre a yo...

Anonymous Asset Protection - What Most People Don’t Know
Why is an anonymous asset protection strategy necessary?The failing real estate market in the United States. Recessions caused by flawed government policies. Tax-rate increases. Ugly divorces. Frivolous lawsuits in a litigation-obsessed society. What...

Are the Golden Years Made of Gold or Brass?
We spend most of our lives saving money and finding the best venues to invest. Unfortunately when we start taking money out, we need to carefully monitor how the assets are being used. One key to making our money last is avoiding a catastrophic invas...

Mombasa Kenya 5 Five Star Cottages - Mnarani Cottages In Kenya
Perched on cliffs and facing eastwards to the Kilifi creek and Indian Ocean, the Mnarani Club has a lovely position and is treated to a constant gentle breeze. After a change in management, the club has been refurbished, and reopened its doors in Dec...

South Mombasa Kenya Fishing Clubs- Top Mombasa deep Sea fishing Clubs
Pemba Channel InnThe Pemba Channel is world famous for some of the best big game fishing in Africa. The Pemba channel; inn is small, delightful and very personal. It is the capable manager, Sandra Ruysenaars, who gives the inn its special character. ...