Okay, so I’ve been absent for a while. Trust me it’s not due to my lack of passion, actually the opposite is true. I’ve been struggling with my personal issues. Yes, like pretty much everyone, I have them. I admit it. Everything I do lately has been with the desire to stick it to someone to prove that they underestimated me and messed with the wrong person. While that might work somehow, somewhere, as a life focus not so much. I have found myself consumed with things that I deem turning points in the vision that I had for myself and sadly, find myself regularly picturing those who I hold responsible in my personal and financial downfall. Though I have been trying to channel myself in positive ways, tae-bo just isn’t enough. Maybe I just don’t do it frequently enough, something I have vowed to correct in this upcoming year. No, I’m not going to call it a resolution we all know those don’t usually go so well. Yeah, okay it’s kind of a resolution but again, I’m not going to call it that because of the way “resolutions” work out. I know you understand. So anyway, I guess my intention is to use this blog to along with imparting my wisdom that I know undoubtedly you will come to know and love, to hopefully help myself by removing anger from the decision process with the objective of ultimately reaping more success. I kind of sound like Oprah don’t I. Really the truth is I am ready to get back on the track with the plans that I had for myself before all of the outside intervention, we’ll just call it, that impacted the direction I have gone. That “intervention” is an unfortunate reality in my life and with my husband technically laid off and no insurance, this is all the therapy I can afford but we’ll save that for another day, another time. So I guess what I’m saying is “I’m baack”!
Posts Tagged ‘Credit’
Guess Who!
Sunday, January 31st, 2010Tis The Season
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009Okay so I went on and on before about attending all the weddings this summer but it doesn’t end there. There is a seeming never ending list of engagements to occupy my time and money throughout the summer season. Honestly I need a vacation from summer, there’s just too much going on. Okay so there is a new trend at least in my family to shower the graduate heading off to college. Not entirely a bad idea since setting up an exciting beginning for a college student can be expensive. So here we go, first we have the graduations, honestly I am happy and proud of the accomplishments but by the fifth one be it from grammar, high school or college, I am about spent, money and attention wise. Then of course we have the party or celebratory dinner that follows, which is not necessarily the same as the pending “college shower” that usually follows shortly thereafter for the college graduate. Did I mention the frequent enough baby showers, birthday parties and barbeques, out of town friend visits and of course weddings that happen throughout the season too. Om. Don’t mind me, I’m just going to pause for a second because I’m exhausted and well just a little bit broke and I haven’t even put my own children into the mix, both of whom have birthdays this time of year. Om. I think I am going to take up Yoga because I need to work on my relaxation techniques. Om. And we thought the holiday season was budget breaking, summer is quickly coming along for the ride. Om. Tis the season.
“We Got You”
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009Banks want us to believe that Congress is solely to blame for the increase in credit card rates. Hey banks, just stop. So you’re telling me that the only reason rates are higher is because of the change in laws. Yeah, come on, stop. The number one objective of banks is to get consumers to deposit money or get credit, then keep that money and/or indebt you to them as much and for as long as possible. That’s why they didn’t care when the occasional account was “underperforming”, they would just tack on some fees and smile as individuals figured out a way to pay. Now it’s out of hand because so many people are “underperforming”. Unfortunately for banks, their method of doing business didn’t stand the test of time and the major downturn in the economy. But stop trying to act like increased rates and fees are something new when fees and increased rates are synonymous with banks and credit cards. After all, we do have to pay for those executive bonuses some way. So banks, you are not fooling anybody. The least you could do is at some point exercise a little integrity and tell us, “we admit it, we got you“. Maybe then we might start to respect you again, well, probably not.
Never Satisfied
Monday, June 15th, 2009Isn’t it annoying when you go out of your way for someone and they seem to never be satisfied? I guess now we should feel sorry for Citigroup that after having received $45 billion in borrowed money that they have no idea when they’ll repay, sidebar, I would really like one of those loans, I’ll get it back to you say, um whenever. But anyway, poor Citigroup can’t hire whoever they want and pay them a ridiculous salary to do whatever since they haven’t paid back their huge bailout. Citigroup my eyes are wailing up because of the sorrow I feel for you. Yeah, not really. I do have a couple of questions for you Citigroup. Are you sure you know who to hire? Didn’t you do that the first go around? Should you really be complaining about that now? And can I get one of those whenever payback loans, I could really use it.
The Pay Check Checker
Thursday, June 11th, 2009I’m sure a few corporate feathers have been ruffled with the addition of the White House’s pay check checker. It’s a little funny I have to say. But honestly, some oversight is needed because things with too many corporations have gotten so far out of hand. Someone needs to ensure that these investments are being used in the best possible way when there is so much tax payer money on the line, particularly when I worry that this help may be at the expense of individuals. It’s really hard to agree with something when you don’t see where the benefit is to you personally and the high price tag doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. Nonetheless, one thing we definitely don’t need is another AIG fiasco. Evidently companies cannot be expected to take care of managing themselves which is a kick to me since you might as well find a rock and call it home as an individual if you screw up. Make any of their mistakes and the same companies getting bailed out won’t touch you, help you or give you a second thought for many moons after. A loan, that’s not a problem you will have to juggle particularly if you file bankruptcy. Wonder how they get to swing that. But anyway, perhaps having to answer to the check checker will help keep things in check. Yeah, it was corny, I know, I just couldn’t help myself.
Just A Question
Monday, June 1st, 2009Why is it that if as a consumer you “shop” around for credit you reduce you credit score? Aren’t we supposed to have the ability to make choices and seek out the best alternative for ourselves? If so, then why are we being penalized for exercising that choice? Just another system that needs some revamping.
Stand By Me
Sunday, May 31st, 2009In case you haven’t noticed I am admittedly bitter about financial institutions and their ability to question every aspect of your life while feeling no need to disclose anything. And after having been in a situation where credit denial became a major problem, (I explain more about that in What We’re About under Pages on this blog), that couldn’t be properly addressed because of the purported ambiguity, I’m wondering why is it that when you are denied credit the explanation is vague. But then I realize who we’re dealing with. It’s the cover your butts crowd, financial institutions. Well I guess if I’m being unbiased businesses in general are always concerned about protecting themselves and perhaps as a by product each other. So that vague information was supplied purposely. The problem is this, if you ever have to address an issue that results in your inability to qualify for credit because of something specific in your credit report, the vague information supplied about your denial doesn’t help. Irrespective of what the banker or whoever tells you, that letter will be the sticking point and it isn’t enough. When credit carries so much weight in an individuals ability to manage their life, once you’ve gone through the process of gathering every detail about yourself, you deserve a fully outlined explanation not a generic form letter of sorts about why you are “unworthy” of credit. Spell it out, apparently it’s necessary.
They’re Back?
Friday, May 22nd, 2009I have to tell you, I put AIG in the They’re Going Down category but apparently, THEY’RE BACK. This company has received $182.5 BILLION since September. BILLION. Did you hear that? Now thankfully, they are going to do everything they can to not require more money. Well I personally think that is great news! Let me say that despite how ridiculous that whole situation is, death threats are not the answer. Nor is thinking that the entire scope of this mess is going to be corrected overnight. What can be corrected immediately is extraneous spending. News flash, you can’t go on vacation when you don’t have any money. That is the reality of life but apparently, not business
2.8 million. WHAT!
Monday, April 27th, 2009Come on, this has really gotten to the point where ridiculous, absurd and down right ludicrous does not begin to explain how awful it is that companies have no true concerns about how they spend. 2.8 million dollars in the first three months this year to lobby lawmakers was spent by General Motors. And they are still cutting jobs. They even want workers to take concessions to help them qualify for more government assistance. I am not pretending to know the complexities of running a company on the scale of these companies but at some point common sense is common sense. Come on! (Yeah I know I already said that but really COME ON!) Again I question, where is level of responsibility that these companies expect that consumers should have without fail. Perhaps they wouldn’t have their economic problems requiring them to ask for assistance and layoff workers if they would show more concern about how they spend. So many American households run on shoestring budgets and for the most part get things taken care of. These companies don’t seem to have a clue about how to prioritize and make do during the difficult times. And aren’t they supposed to have financial advisers that plan for the lulls. I mean don’t that think that we should be able to take care of everything no matter what else is going on in our lives. From their perspective isn’t our life’s reality our issue. Apparently their issues are ours too. Just ridiculous.
Rate This
Monday, April 27th, 2009Credit is a tricky thing. You need it for almost everything. From the little conveniences like car rentals to major milestones like home ownership and not to mention that credit now has a determination in your employability. Give me a break. Okay so I understand someone who may have had financial issues in the past may be a bit more of a risk financially than someone who has not but hitting people with excessive fees, outrageous interest rates and lack of employment doesn’t really seem to promote payment. An unforseen financial issue was probably the culprit for the “default” initially anyway. Taking the extra from people ultimately can’t be good for anyone. And allowing businesses to use this scoring system to have an impact on accounts that have been handled properly, don’t raise my car insurance rate because I was late on my phone bill, is really kicking you when your down. Yet these scores affect everything. I don’t know many people who don’t want to pay their bills, although I am sure there is percentage of consumers who fall into that category, I just don’t think that the majority of people are planning on consuming without any thought of how they will pay. So I guess I’m saying that to say that penalizing the broke, unproven or hard times crowd in every possible way conceivable just doesn’t seem right. Sounds more like a legalized hit to the knees.