DEBT Ceiling

Would you agree that it is nauseating turning on the TV lately?  You just can’t get past talk about the debt ceiling and how our politicians cannot agree on how to get a budget passed.  I say ARE YOU KIDDING ME??  The reason they can’t come to an agreement is because they don’t know what being in debt means.  If they were in tuned with the average citizen they may have learned ways to cut back, do without, sacrifice and make unpopular decisions.

When I reached my debt ceiling I was forced to

·        Learn there were other stores to shop besides Lord & Taylor

·        Take my nails off AND forfeit pedicures

·        Eat more chicken instead of steak

·        Clip coupons

·        Buy a smaller, more efficient car WITHOUT a sunroof, navigation system AND bose stereo!

·        Sell off stuff I thought I needed

·        Let my dry cleaning pile up until I could afford to get it done – which will be next year at this point!

·        Be mindful of electricity usage

·        Do without vacations

·        Stop using the word take-out because that just wasn’t going to happen

·        Stop going out to dinner or a movie  -  they were now things of the past

·        Double-checked all my bills to make sure they were accurate

·        Learned, really LEARNED what living within my means meant

Seems to me they need to START with themselves and the wasteful money in their own offices.  Do they really need that many assistants?  And how about cutting their expense accounts?  And who is paying for all the food they consume during work hours?

Aren’t you tired of them boo-hooing that they are working extra hours?  Isn’t that what the average worker does when they need to get the job done?

Maybe they should all asked to leave office immediately, without warning, without compensation and then maybe they will understand what it feels like to really be in The Season of BROKE and then maybe they can get this right!

So MY solution to THEIR problem is simple - Form an advisory committee of people who actually reached their debt ceiling, who know what sacrifice is and who know how to cut corners.  Seriously will the world really be that bad off if some of their programs are cut out for a bit or some of their decisions are not popular?

I think everyone in office in the future should be elected ONLY if they experienced hard times.  It’s sad to think that the people making the decisions for our country and the average citizen have no idea what it’s like to be AVERAGE much less go through The Season of BROKE. 

I just can’t imagine that these politicians will ever be able to understand how to handle this terrible situation.  It would be like asking me to throw a touchdown pass!  It is just not going to happen…It looks like our country is beyond The Season of BROKE...

NO time for sleeping in…

The greatest part about going through the Season of BROKE is admitting that you BELIEVE that the Season of Abundance is just around the corner.  Going through the Season of BROKE is not a one-time occurrence.  It can sometimes be a bit of a roller-coaster like it was for me.  Each time a major part of my income was reduced, I had to make adjustments to my lifestyle.  Living a simpler life reduced a lot of my stress…

Whatever your season, July and August are typically the time we reflect on the months that passed and look towards what the future will hold.  We all know in reality we can’t predict the future, not even with the BEST plan.  But we can line up situations that would place us in direct “fire” for our next season.

Direct selling has been my salvation (and my passion) over the past 14 years.  It’s the kind of business that can add to your current income, replace a lost income and in many cases become the bread winning income for your family.  When you think of it, most direct selling businesses are like creating your own “secret stimulus package” whenever you want!    Admittedly, there are NUITA types that will wholeheartedly disagree with the mere concept of direct selling.  To them I say – what is the real difference if a customer comes to YOUR place of business and buys from you or if they buy from me from the comfort of your home or theirs?  I pay taxes just like you (assuming you do the right thing) and I have a legitimate business just like you (assuming you are honest about your income). 

OK!!  I will tell you more…direct selling should not be confused with “get rich quick” MLM companies.  Of course you should always check with the DSA when thinking about our business, especially if you are unfamiliar with the industry.  I found that the companies with the least amount of investment and the most amount of support are usually the ones where you see the most retention and the most bang for your buck.  Always ask to see the Mission Statement.  That will tell you if this is the kind of company that you want to represent and be affiliated.  They are NOT all the same!

My biggest pet-peeve is the girl (and sometimes guy) who decides that direct selling is for them.  They misunderstand clearly the offer of part-time work with full-time pay, fabulous rewards and an opportunity to move up the ranks.  They somehow glaze over the word “work.”  They decide this business is for them but sit back and wait for the full-time pay.  I understand that some people define part-time differently than others but work is work no matter how you define it! lol  - seriously though, if given the time that you would a part-time job, there is no doubt, your outcome will be overwhelmingly abundant!  Hey, sometimes being honest with yourself is half the battle!!

So there you have it – the secret to the Season of Abundance.  It’s no real secret.  It’s the decision to take a chance and stay committed to the program and belief that direct selling is going to change the quality of your current life’s situation.  It's about passion - for your product, for your industry and for the rewards.

In the beginning direct selling was a “little extra spend money” today it is my major source of income.  It has taken me a period of time to make all the adjustments necessary to really reap the benefits!  (I lost a pretty decent salary and unemployment does not last forever!!)  My plan is in motion now and I am about to step into my Season of Abundance.

So stop sleeping in.  Wake up and smell the opportunity!  I think you will agree that an extra paycheck every month would make a difference in your life.  An extra paycheck a week would begin to make a significant difference in your life.  An immediate paycheck, EVERY day you work would certainly begin to make a huge impact in your life. 

Are there openings on my TEAM?  Heck yeah!!  Just ask me more…

 

PEAK hours

Who knew?  I learned a very valuable lesson yesterday – the NJ Turnpike definition of “peak hours.”  Digging further into my “investigation” into my EZ Pass problem, I downloaded the dispute form from PA EZ Pass, as I was instructed to do (by them).  An option to fax in the form was appealing to me.  Hey if I can save on a stamp and envelope, I’m happy!  I faxed the form, a cover letter and my excel spreadsheet, never really expecting a response anytime soon.  To my surprise, within an hour or so I received a PHONE CALL, that in itself surprised me, from a very courteous PA EZ Pass customer service rep.  I was having the day from hell (a self-inflicted problem with Verizon and a new cell phone whose voicemail somehow became all mixed up) when the phone rang.  I admit I was taken aback when he identified himself.  I couldn’t believe he told me he received my fax and was calling to respond.  My day from hell was looking brighter!!  It doesn’t take much these days!

He first explained how intrigued he was with my exit.  He never heard of it before so he did some investigating of his own.  This exit indeed belonged to NJ and they regulate the tolls there.  So NJ not only disowned this exit to me but disowned the problem as well – NJ workers – you gotta love ‘em!!  I sat “enamored” as he reported his findings.  I had to smile to myself as he explained about this local exit, then I interrupted him.  I joked, “of course I was familiar with that exit – did you not see that we used it over 110 times in the last year!”  He laughed and continued.

“The issue is not that you were overcharged.  You were undercharged, given a “discount” on off-peak hours.”  Wait a minute.  Let’s recap Mr. PA guy.  Take a look at those dates and times, clearly they were off-peak.  Not so.  In NJ “peak hours” are weekdays 7 am – 9 am and 4:30 – 6:30 pm and ALL weekends and holidays.  Really?  What I surprise to me!!  I thought I knew exactly what PEAK meant, where did he get this info?  Directly from the NJ Turnpike website and he was surprised too!  Turns out I should have listened to my reader after all.  He was right!!

“I just want to let you know something”, he replied – “beginning August 1^st, NJ will only extend the “discount” to NJ EZ Pass holders.  Unfortunately you will no longer catch a break!”  Oh isn’t that the story of my life!! Lol

So there you have it.  I stand corrected!!

UNSUBSCRIBE

I think we can agree that being inundated with emails each morning is not a great way to start the day, especially if you are in the Season of BROKE!    Quite frankly I don’t know how I ended up on so many email lists.  In my effort to get the clutter out of my life, I decided it was time to UNSUBSCRIBE to many of the emails I have been receiving.  I started with the easy ones first - stores.  I am in the Season of BROKE after all and shopping is just NOT at the top of my priority list right now so unsubscribing to those was a no-brainer.  Since I don’t plan on flying anytime soon and have so few travel miles, unsubscribing to those emails was very easy.  I was making strides for sure!  This was going to be easier than I thought!!  Since entering this temporary season, my skin is back to “winter white” as tanning is out of the question, UNSUBSCRIBED to the tanning salon!  Major league sports teams’ email – UNSUBSCRIBED, emails for Ticketmaster, restaurants and entertainment UNSUBSCRIBED.

…so I left the casino emails in tact just as a reminder of the FUN I once had and would have again someday, so it wasn’t as EASY as I thought!! lol

When you think of it, deleting is just a temporary fix, kind of like the devil showing up each day and tempting you – coming back again and again.  But UNSUBSCRIBING is a HUGE step towards a permanent parting. 

I was so full of confidence this morning and it was not even 9:00 yet!  And then IT happened.  Could it be?  Was I seeing it correctly?  MORE emails!!! - verifying that I did indeed want to delete them.  Just making sure that I followed TEN+ steps to UNSUBSCRIBE and asked if I would like to receive their newsletters, as a courtesy.  Finally, “warning” me that I would now be receiving all this info (statements and advertisements) via the US Postal Service now.  And THAT’S WHEN it occurred to me.  I was a contributor to JOB LOSS in this country! 

Think about it – all the jobs that are absorbed by technology, which in many cases is sent overseas.  If we all UNSUBSCRIBED to emails and went back to good old-fashioned snail mail, think about how many jobs would be created.  The printing industry would flourish as stores would be forced to mail advertisements and statements.  The postal service could once again begin to hire and maybe not have to raise the rates so frequently.  The trucking industry would be rejuvenated delivering this stuff.  Maybe gas prices would come down if we started using more.  Think about ALL the paper that would have to be recycled.  Recycling plants would be booming and, although I admit to knowing NOTHING about the environment, it would seem that the environmentalists would be happy that everyone was recycling, no?

And remember those FEES??  What if we all began to receive our statements in the mail now and actually made the time to LOOK at them?  We may begin to realize that we are really being FEE’D to death!

My thoughts for today – UNSUBSCRIBE to at least 5 emails.  UNSUBSCRIBE to e-statements.  Let them know that you want the paper statements in the mail.  What if half the country did this?  How many jobs would be created??  What say you??

ABSOLUTELY NOT

…what I planned on talking about today but this opportunity is just too good to pass up! lol

If you have been following my Blog you know that I have issues with banks.  When I decided to share my thoughts (publicly) about my views I wasn’t really sure WHAT would happen.  There is absolutely no doubt in my mind now that I am doing the right thing – sharing!  I have been receiving many comments (mostly privately) about poor banking policies all over the country.  While I can’t fix everything, I am thinking about proclaiming myself Advocate for the OVER Fee’d!  (don’t you just love how I give myself all these titles??)

One woman wrote that her FEES were so outlandish she called her relative, who was happened to be the President of the bank.  The call was useless.  She now has her money in another bank!! Needless to say the apple doesn’t all far from the tree – these heartless bank tellers have to be getting it from someone!!  lol

I go to the post office frequently.  Usually I write a check for my mailings.  About three weeks ago, I paid cash.  The postal clerk looked at me and asked if I ran out of checks.  We got to know each other a bit over the years.  I’m having an issue with my bank (is all I had to say!) and the flood gates opened!!  She told me horror story after story about what she experienced.  We just knew some of these banks were taking advantage of the average person but couldn’t prove it.  So I began an investigation of my own…

Today when I went to the PO we started talking about my investigation and the lawsuit against Bank of America for overcharging fees on the order in which checks are presented.  Customers in line began to chime in and I thought there was going to be a revolt!!  Turns out we were not alone!  This business of FEES that the banks are charging is out of control.  In my prior life, we had to adhere to best practices.  If this is the BEST banks have to offer, what is their WORST?

I suggested they read my Blog for any updates.  They left pleased knowing that someone, ANY one was looking out for them.

Next I did what any normal investigator would do – I called a lawyer!  I began to explain what was happening and he immediately stopped me.  THAT just happened to US too!!!  Being the do-gooders that we are he agreed WE have to do something!  I told him all the facts, showed him all the facts and we were off!

If you have bank horror stories that you would like to share, tell me!  I found these institutions will wear you down.  They “bank” on the consumer not noticing the fees, not fighting the fees, or simply taking their money out so they have less work to do in a day!

Just thinking out loud – when banks were bailed out did they also get permission to overcharge decent customers?

I have a Blog and the world can see it so I started telling everyone I meet about my Blog.  What’s the point of hiding now!  I usually get their attention when our conversation begins with...A CHECK. 

Short and Sweet Today!

Did you hear?

THE LA Dodgers are going through The Season of BROKE too!  If it can happen to them and it can happen to “us”, it can happen to anyone.  Watch out NUITA's - you COULD be next!!

until tomorrow...have I got a LOT on my mind too!!

UPDATE:  Thank you to a reader for suggesting a solution to the EZ Pass problem.  Unfortunately the increased tolls were NOT during peak hours only.  They were whenever that little gizmo machine decided to charge us more or less.  Thankfully though, I found 10 more postings that I missed the first time.  Thank you Mr. Reader!!

NOT so EZ pass

Did you ever look at your EZ Pass statement or are you like me and “replenish” when you see a low balance.  Worse yet, during the Season of not so BROKE, were you on automatic replenish? 

Like many, I have been an EZ Pass customer probably since its inception.  How cool is it to breeze through those EZ Pass lines while others are waiting in those long non-EZ pass lines “fishing for coins” to pay their toll?  We are saving so much gas not idling, waiting, I would think.

I jumped for joy the day Exit 6A (the connector road between my town, Florence, NJ and PA) opened as I go to PA to visit relatives frequently.  As the years went on and my kids began to drive I did what any responsible mom would do – ordered more EZ pass transponders!  So at this point we are up to 4 and holding. 

Note for the out-of-towners:  Exit 6A – only ONE ezpass lane into PA and it’s FREE coming back into NJ (how very kind of them!)

FIRST LESSON learned:  EZ pass’ interpretation of “low balance” and mine are two different things.  When I discovered this information I immediately untoggled the auto replenish box.  I may not have been BROKE back then but I still didn’t want them to replenish when I wasn’t expecting to replenish!!

We were smooth sailing for a couple years until one of my son’s began to go to PA more frequently, MUCH more frequently (of course there was a girl there!!).  I think crossing that bridge into PA made him lose his memory at times because somehow he kept forgetting to tell me that the toll was flashing low balance.  I would know soon enough however when I received the violation in the mail!  I looked over the paperwork, noticed what happened, paid the violation, paid the toll and added funds to my EZ Pass account.  Maybe not the best procedure but it worked.

It wasn’t until I became an advocate for the BROKE (how do you like that title?  I just made that up! lol) AND received 2 violations in the mail on the same day that I noticed we were being charged 2 different amounts for that exit.  Some days it was $1.45 other days it was $1.95.

LESSON TWO – Make a LOT of time to make the calls!  My journey to the correct answer began…The toll charge stated NJ Turnpike, so I called them first.

NJ’s QUICK reply – it’s not our fault – that’s right NJ is a “no fault state” how could I forget?!! (lol).  Your transponders are from PA and you were entering PA, you better call them.

PA’s reply was QUICK too…at first.  “Better call NJ since you live there.”  Nice try but not this time Mr. PA EZ Pass Rep!  Then the questions began.

“Is one of the cars bigger?”  he asked.  Like how much bigger?  They are cars, all about the same size, was my reply.  “Then it’s not that, I better get the supervisor,” he said. 

OH NO not the supervisor!!  Luckily I didn’t have much planned that day because I just knew this was going to take some time.  “Sorry miss, I just can’t explain it.  You are going to have to file a Customer Care DISPUTE FORM for this so we can investigate.”  I just have a few questions before I go that route…

«       Do we now get charged on the size of our car?  No

«       Do we have to pay more if we go through during rush hour?  No

«       Do we pay more if more than one of our cars go through on the same day?  No

«       Do we get a discount after every three entries?  No

«       If our car is gray do we pay more?  No

«       Was there an increase in that toll?  No

…there is just no explanation as to why this happened, please fill out one of those forms…

It took me about 2 hours but I downloaded all the statements from Feb. 2010 – current (they are the only ones available at this time) and put them into an excel spreadsheet.  On Our cars went through Exit 6A 100 times.  40 of those times we were charged $1.45.

60 of those times we were charged $1.95.  There is no rhyme or reason to when we were charged the higher amount.  I sorted that spreadsheet every which way you can imagine and came up blank – no explanation!  OK, so we are talking about $30.00 here that was overcharged that I can see.  I can’t see further back than 2/10 so who knows how bad it really is.

Do yourself a favor and look over those statements.  Who knows!  They may be overcharging you too and you don’t even know it!!  Update to follow when I hear back from them…

are THEY serious??

Do you have any idea what happens when you begin the journey of paying down your debt?  Those kind folks over at the credit card company decide it’s time to REWARD your for your “generosity” so they begin to send you mail.  CONGRATULATIONS your credit limit has been increased.  CONGRATULATIONS you are being sent this no interest, no fee credit card.  CONGRATULATIONS for paying off your credit card and being a valuable customer, just sign this application and mail it back and we will send you a new card or reopen your account.  It’s like crack cocaine I tell you!  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t get at least ONE of those pieces of mail.  I guess they haven’t heard my unemployment ran out and I really have NO money now – I am in The Season of BROKE!

By now, we all know the pain (and suffering) that credit card debt can cause.  Like many I took my income for granted and never thought about it ever ending abruptly.  The saddest part of all is I don’t even remember what I bought, how much I paid or what, if any, satisfaction I got from the purchase.  In retrospect was the sale really sale or did I end up paying four times more for it because I charged it?  It makes me cringe to think about it so I try not to.  I come from the land of guilt and owned up to the fact that I got myself into this bind and I was going to get myself out.  I could have taken other ways out of my financial situation I suppose, but I remember telling these horrible customer service credit card reps that I would pay back every dime I owed them.  I worked out my payment plan to the penny determined to be debt-free before my unemployment ran out.  Unfortunately life happens and although I made huge strides, at the end of the day I still had debt.  Getting in the habit of paying your bills on-time, even if just the minimum is an uphill battle.  I made a lot of sacrifices and I tried each month to reach at least the minimum amount.  Being debt-free in 3 years became my goal.  It is very tempting however to fall right back into the “black hole.”  If you let them, they will take your life over again.

Yesterday I hit the jackpot!  5 new applications in the mail addressed to me.  My husband is now even getting suspicious and continually asking if I applied for them.  Of course I didn’t!  Apparently these geniuses report to the other geniuses “the credit card reporting people” that I have been paying my bills on time every month (for the most part).  So they “reported” to any one who asks about me and voila. Determined I was a good risk for EVEN MORE credit cards!  Needless to say I don’t even open that mail.   Do NOT be tempted!!  It’s not worth it.  It would really stink, wouldn’t it if you reached your road to the Season of Abundance and had to payback those credit card companies again????

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot BETTER things in mind when that Season arrives!

Houston! We have moisturizer!!

Not being able to pay your credit card bills on time and battling bank fees is one thing.  Running out of moisturizer is another story!!  If you are a guy, you absolutely will not “get this.” Gals, you know you are laughing now because you have done this yourself, unless of course you are a NUITA type and wouldn’t dare get even a little moisturizer under your fingernail!

My jobs are all commission-based – I don’t get paid until “they” get paid.  They were nice supplemental jobs when I was getting a steady paycheck.  And now, even though the fees are higher because I have more time to work these jobs, I still have to wait to get paid.  It’s the system after all and one would never argue with the system! 

Lately when the checks arrive, there is little “wiggle room” for anything but catching up on my bills (most of which hubby didn’t even know I had – OK another story for another day.)  I knew that I was slowly running out of moisturizer for my face.  I’m brave I thought.  I am going through this Season of BROKE and in due time I will have plenty of money to buy the moisturizer.  Every day there was less and less in that jar.  I kept repeating to myself that "I know how to sacrifice.  Moisturizer is not at the top of the priority list" (so I lie to myself every now and then just to make myself feel better!!).  I knew there was going to be “just enough” in that jar to last a few more weeks...

I had to have a plan.  I immediately googled “Clinique Days” to find out when the next one was.  What a relief to find out it started on the 18^th at Lord & Taylor.  My first thought was that God had a sense of humor sending me to L&T.  Getting through to the Clinique counter without looking at anything else was going to be a HUGE challenge!  I just had to “brush off my knees,” stay focused and continue with my plan.  It had to be Clinique and it had to be during one of these offers.  This time the freebie included mascara which would “hold me over” from buying that anytime soon.

The 18^th was quickly approaching and I was determined to be patient – not one of my BEST qualities!  I just knew I was going to run out of moisturizer before then.  I began to panic.  I was facing a dilemma for sure.  My nails were too long to “dig out” what was left in the deep corners of that jar– remember I couldn’t get those done either right now.  Using a Q-tip would be a waste because too much excess would be left on the swab where it would be lost forever.  I thought of asking my 21-year old son if he could put his finger in the jar and transfer what was left of the lotion to my face but that just sounded creepy!  (he probably would have had me committed if I asked him that anyway!)  I did what any normal woman would do.  I pouted to my husband.  This poor guy works so many hours he didn’t even notice that my skin was turning to rubber!  His standard reply, “do you REALLY need it and HOW MUCH?”  To me HOW MUCH meant there was room for negotiation.  I knew how much.  I used Clinique for the past 30 years!  So I gave my “lawyerly” reply (I did learn a little something working for them for all those years! lol) “about 50 dollars or so was my reply.”  He hooted and hollered for a bit (why don’t guys understand that makeup is like..Harley parts!) but asked “not over $50 right?”  more room for negotiation I thought – today is my lucky day!!  “Well, it’s around $50 but not more than $100,” I said.  I can’t believe (lol) he then asked, "How did it get from $50 - $100?”  My reply, “I’m just not sure how much exactly with tax and everything.”  OK, between $50-$75 and not a penny more was what he agreed to.  This was better than winning at the slots (ok maybe I am exaggerating just a bit!)  If that was the range I could get two things!  I am happy to report that my bill was under $60 and I walked away with the BONUS too!  Thankfully that should hold me over until the next Clinique Bonus Days!!

Why do I tell you about my moisturizer?  When I woke up yesterday I noticed that after a few days my skin was starting to look normal again; refreshed, younger, healthier.  That reminded me of going through the Season of BROKE.  Like my dry skin, if you can be patient and make some sacrifices along the way, you will find yourself refreshed, younger, healthier, normal again as you approach your Season of Abundance!  I know when it’s my time for Abundance I want to be in the BEST shape.  How about you?

Making Progress

I feel so good today!  I just deleted all my “friends” from Facebook who I believe are NUITA types!  If you have been following my Blog you know who they are!  If you have not been following my Blog they are the Nose up In the Air types that seem to become part of our lives.  They may look at you funny, give non-stop advice about something they know nothing about, prejudge you and everyone around you, or worse yet, visibly walk around with their noses up in the air!

If you are still seeing my Blog on Facebook you can sleep sound tonight knowing that you are still my friend and even though you may have more money than me right now, I don’t think you are a NUITA type at all!  So if you need a little “boost” today, go ahead and delete some friends from your FB, it feels so good!!

Remember?  I wrote about the bank and their ridiculous fees?  I think SOMEONE is reading my Blog!!  Yesterday I received a note in the mail from another bank I deal with.  There is a class-action suit against them regarding overdraft fees which were caused by the order in which the debit card transactions were posted.  I can be part of this class action settlement if I “…were charged one or more overdraft fees as a result of this bank’s practice of posting debit card transactions from highest to lowest…”  They better get their checkbooks ready because they are going to owe ME a LOT of money!! lol – The best news yet is now I have ammunition to present to that “other” bank that I speak about – the heartless community bank.  Maybe I can begin that class action suit myself.  Better call a lawyer!  (ok maybe I should get someone else to make that call – lol)

In other news…

Not that The Season of BROKE only affects women, it just seems that men are less receptive to my views or in plain English just don’t “get it!”  Beginning to put my thoughts to words on a computer was a huge step for me.  Posting it for the world to see was an even bigger hurdle.  I admit my blog has been a (sort of) therapy for me but the feedback I am getting shows me that I am an inspiration to many, except men! 

It’s that feedback that gave me vision for where I wanted to take this idea.  Mistake #1, ask a guy .  I asked a GUY I know about my idea – little signs, a small pillow, (if bold enough to wear one) maybe a classy Tee.  His reply “No one wants to be reminded their life sucks!”  Mistake #2, never ask a NUITA type for their opinion (you think I would have learned that by now!!)  No question about it - he too was removed from my facebook page.

The Season of BROKE…it’s just a season  AND we are not broken, only BROKE…at the moment

…are just simply NOT reminders of how bad you have it, they are words of inspiration to remind you (and others) that you are still a good person who is going through a tough time RIGHT NOW – a reminder of how much better it’s going to get.

My advice, for whatever it’s worth, when you enter your Season of Abundance, continue to keep them deleted from your facebook page.  Money does not make you who you are…

Until tomorrow…

Just a LITTLE more help please

Believe it or not I was always good with numbers ~ I guess it’s like that old adage about the shoemaker’s kid’s shoes always being in the worst shape!  I am fascinated with the likes of Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman.  Their messages are great but I never really heard them address the Season of BROKE.  We all agree that there are policies and programs out there to help the recently unemployed and sometimes even those who find themselves needing benefits in year two.  But what really happens when ALL the benefits run out?  Obviously Dave & Suze tell you how to stop spending or how to cut back BUT if you have nothing to spend in the first place or cut back as much as you can, then what?  I wonder if they “get it” do they REALLY understand that sometimes there is just no more?

If you believe as I do that we are not broken ONLY going through The Season of BROKE, then I recommend tuning in to their shows when possible.  Remember, we are only going through The Season of BROKE, and like all seasons this too shall pass.  Their guidance on where to place your money and who to pay once the funds start rolling in is a key element in today’s world.

Listening to their programs made me realize that in the grand scheme of things I am probably not that broke.  Now that was hard to say!  (you should see my roots!!)  My house was never in jeopardy of being lost and my monthly utility bills are always paid on time thanks to a hard working husband who took on three jobs to make that happen.  Often times I hear people call in to Dave or Suze about foreclosure or bankruptcy and hear the responses to their questions – again all good sound advice.  Still there seems to be a void in their message – what about people like me?..living paycheck to paycheck, praying that no major appliance breaks or worse yet the car.  What about all of us who no longer have a savings and look forward to the Sunday circulars hoping the groceries we need are on sale?  As long as the credit card companies and banks are allowed to continue to hammer us for every last cent we have, our Season of Abundance seems further and further away.  So, who is there to guide us?  A little help please would be nice…maybe we could get a “class action bailout” for all of us in this season…

Don’t confuse BROKE with broken…

It’s easy to be in denial when you are facing tough times.  A friend once told me that in order to be on the path to “making yourself right” you have to really be BROKE.  As hard as it sounds it was definitely true and a good lesson to learn.  I don’t wish this horrible Season of BROKE on anyone but if you find yourself in it, I hope you also find a way to see that it can make you a better person.  

During this season you may find yourself recognizing your “past faults” in others.  It will be easy to jump to criticize them but they may never understand why you are so persistent.  Be honest and explain (unless the are a NUITA type) that you used to take things for granted and are healing from the aftermath of a sudden loss.  If they are decent, they will understand.  If they are NUITA types they will never get it.  Either way know that sharing your story with them is a step out of denial and a step into a simpler (more appreciative) life.

Also note that admitting to your own past faults can be a huge accomplishment.  You may find yourself with a renewed sense of self-esteem and self-worth (no pun intended).  It will feel like you have wind beneath your wings and you will soon find yourself soaring.  When that happens you will know that you are on the road to abundance and that you are learning how to weather this storm!

…you are seeing that light at the end of the tunnel albeit dim…

Keep the FAITH

Having faith and keeping it in the forefront of your mind is KEY when you are going through rough seasons.  For me spending quiet time helps me make it through some days.  I rarely watch TV, other than Bravo of course (and I am even starting to watch that less and less – all that screaming and hollering makes my skin crawl anymore!) 

I find that, while quiet, I learn patience and trust in the Lord.  Knowing that I have HIM on my side is the only explanation I need.  Preparing for the Season of Abundance can be exhilarating and exciting.  I found that dreaming of happier times and replaying what my life will be like when my Season of Abundance merges makes my days so much easier.  It’s ok to have a plan as long as in the end we realize that God is in control of this situation.  I felt that truly believing THAT is what helped me to forgive so freely.  In the words of Joel Osteen, “God is fighting my battles…”  I wouldn’t want to be on the short end of that stick!!

Speaking of Joel, whether you like him or not, you can’t deny that his message of HOPE is very meaningful in today’s world.  Be it Joel, or others like him, if you are going to get out of the Season of BROKE, be humbled by it and learn a lesson from it, then it’s wise to begin to listen to what they have to say.  They will prepare you for Season of Abundance.  We don’t know when it’s going to arrive so I think it’s a good idea to stay prepared and hopeful for when it does.

Anybody can listen to negative stuff!  It’s all around us.  It’s easy, isn’t it, to fall right into the middle of that vortex?  Standing stern, holding your head up high and turning away from unconstructive dialogue can be the KEY ingredient to how you will weather this storm.

BROKE not stupid!

Looking for alternatives to get out of your current Season can be a task in and of itself.  I think of myself as a bright person but admit that I may not think clearly when looking for opportunities that will jump start my Season of Abundance.  Vowing never to work in an office again (btw did you see they just released a movie about me “Mean Bosses!!?”)  I researched many prospects for sources of income.  Did you know there is even a magazine out there about these “instant streams of money?”  Having been burnt a couple times over the last few years, I have become a bit of skeptic.  While making money from the comfort of my own home sounded appealing, I decided to put some of them to the test.

In my opinion:

I found most of those companies that will pay you to stuff, seal or make anything sound too good to be true because they are.  After researching them I found many complaints of non-payment and upfront costs that suddenly appeared a month or two into the business…not for me

While there may be many good MLM companies out there, it seems that because of the “poor” economy, “Season of Brokers” are signing on with these companies faster the company can keep up, causing a bit of chaos at the influx of business, causing the company to lose (or at least put on the back burner) their core values.  Compromise.  I believe that’s the word that would best describe this group!

Direct Selling has always been near and dear to my heart.  I grew up with my mom having her fair share of Tupperware Parties back in the day.  I experimented with a few companies over the years and came across one that boasted something I never heard before (despite this politically correct world we live in) – a Christian-based company.  I liked the stuff, my friends like the stuff and the prices were right so I gave it a try.  14 years later I still find them to be true to their word and better yet, true to their Mission Statement.  Their new plan helps the newbie reap rewards from the day she signs on the dotted line!  They have heart and they practice what they preach!

Not all direct selling companies are the same however.  While many of us are in the Season of BROKE, it seems companies are jumping on the “Christian” bandwagon to make their company look more appealing.  Let’s face it.  When you are in the Season of BROKE you tend to see things more through your Faith.  Corporate America is not stupid!  They capitalized on that notion and pulled at our heartstrings.  Amazed that there were so many Christian companies out there, I had to delve further.  The biggest shocker to me (not really) was that Christian did not always mean the same thing to each business owner.  Moreover claiming you are a Christian company did not always mean that the powers that be and staff even acted Christian-like. 

When combined – MLM with direct selling – a whole new animal surfaces.  They are not even sure what to call themselves yet but I can tell you, from experience that it is not “pretty!”  Competition is not a bad thing but GREED is something entirely different.  I felt there was more greed than competition and confusion about being generous vs. being giving.

Lessons learned.  Remember MONEY DOES NOT MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE.  Do not jump at the first opportunity that sounds good.  Research it.  If you have to shell out a lot of money (over $50) in the beginning, is it really worth it?  Do they care at that point if you succeed or not?  They have your mini investment right? (honestly I heard of a couple companies that charge $500 or more to get started!)  Talk to people who do it.  Ask for information to be sent to you.  If it’s full of typos and the “recruiter” is calling you 10 times in one day, it is likely not the opportunity for you.  Have FAITH and above all remember THE SEASON OF BROKE is JUST a season.  Abundance is right around the corner...

BRAVO!

I admit it.  I’m addicted.  I used to be a “closet watcher” but now I find like-minded people wherever I go who are equally addicted!  The funny thing is when I was in a management position for years, years ago, it wasn’t appropriate to share with your staff that your favorite movies was “A Devil Wears Prada!”  So maybe I had a trait or two from time to time but WHAT THE HECK!!  Bravo has an entire network now with women flipping tables, gay guys flipping out and matriarchs knowing it all!!  As usual, I was way ahead of my time!! lol

I don’t know what the attraction is to the Bravo Network.  I find myself watching the same episodes over and over again just to make sure I didn’t accidentally miss one second.  Truth be told I don’t like the drama.  I think I like that fact that as bad as it seems here, things could be a lot worse.  Maybe being in the Season of BROKE isn’t so bad after all.  I may be broke (for now) but I still have my sanity and integrity.

Watching Bravo makes my husband crazy.  If he hears it, he immediately lectures on how these people are far from REAL and how this is NOT reality.  It made me think…I will be the first to say I don’t like to admit when he is right, but maybe just this time I have to give him the pass.  I watched as HOUSEWIVES battled it out over makeup lines, fashion shows, purse swatches and branding themselves on anything they could come in contact with. Then there were cook books, recipes and clothing.  I believe the line was totally crossed with the singing but I am half-deaf after all so what do I know (Candi from Atlanta excluded)! 

So in this world of REAL TV I wondered why no one has decided to address the Season of being BROKE.  Is it not sexy enough?  Maybe it won’t sell books or help ratings?  It does seem like the REAL just seem to be getting more and wealthier, doesn’t it?  You can’t turn on any channel anymore without seeing one of them endorsing something or on the cover of a magazine.  Wouldn’t it be interesting to see Vicky clip coupons or Phaedra to wait for the weekly grocery circulars, LuAnn to balance a checkbook or Mary to run out of gas (now you know I can’t pick on my NJ gals!).  Now that’s REAL!!  What’s REAL for some will never be REAL to others.  Don’t get me wrong.  I don’t know what I would do without Bravo.  Some days though I want to call it what it is - NOT REAL, just entertainment!  I can’t wait for the new episodes!!

Same BANK - new COURTESY (lol)

Did you know?  that banks (at least THIS one) mail you those bills to pay your mortgage
AS A COURTESY?  I can't make this stuff up!!!  That's what they said when I mistakenly missed my FIRST payment ever.  "You should know when it's due" they said, "we only mail you that bill as a reminder to pay it ~ you DO remember signing the paperwork all those years ago, right?  with the due date each month on it?"

Whether you find yourself in The Season of BROKE or not, everyone makes a mistake once in a lifetime!  Is this BANK serious????  I know a LOT of people who are unemployed.  I think I should be the new recruiter to replace all those morons who lack customer service skills with people who really NEED and appreciate a steady paycheck!

What say YOU??

INSPIRED

Just a few thoughts that helped me through this Season...

• If your mind does not SEE the future it will replay the past.  Why not take time today to reflect on your future.  Dare to dream about something that you have "always wanted to do" but never had the time or energy.  Then set the plans in motion to DO IT!!  Hey, if I can learn how to write a blog, YOU can do anything!  SHARE your story with me.  I would love to hear from you!!  I am often asked "what inspires me?"  My response "YOU."

You can't keep a good person down.  YOU are a good person just going through a tough time.  Some will "get it" some will not.  It doesn't matter.  YOU now know that this is just temporary, like all seasons...

ENJOY your day. 

The PERKS

Of course The Season of BROKE does have it’s perks!  Since I don’t work outside of the home, no longer sit in an office with catty women and have no “real boss” (other than my son), I have plenty of freedom to do what I want and go where I choose.  That brings me to lunch, frequently, with my little great-nieces.  Today I was blessed with two more than usual and was thrilled to get to enjoy their company.

My 10-year old niece overheard me talking about my blog.  She wanted to access it, immediately from her phone.  I explained that this particular blog was not for kids.  I then commented about how much more advanced her phone was than mine and how lucky she was to have one like that.  I wish I had one like that I chided.  That was when my 6-year old niece looked at me and said “that’s life!”

You might have handed me a million bucks!  It was the same feeling - I would not have missed that moment for all the tea in China!! 

NOOOO problem!

I had to deal with 2 credit card companies – Discover and Home Depot.  How I ended up owing Home Depot, again is another story for another day and this one the NUITA’s will definitely NOT understand!!  I lost my job, my main source of income, and I had to wait months before my unemployment hearing.  So I reached out to each of them (Discover & Home Depot) and explained my situation – the TRUTH.  Their exact words to me were NO PROBLEM.  What a relief!   How lucky was I to have lost my job at the end of 2008 when everyone else was losing their job too!!   I really didn’t know what to expect but “NO PROBLEM” was certainly not what I thought I would hear.  “lots of people lost their jobs and we established a “hardship policy…”  While that “policy” made me squirm just a bit, the fact that I had to be on it made me sick to my stomach, literally.  I had no choice so I took them up on their offer.  How nice of them to truly “understand” the “average, middle class individual” I thought!

For ONE year, they “lowered” my interest rate IF I agreed to permit them to deduct a payment from my account every month. Of course there would be no late fees or add on fees of any kind.  The interest rate would not increase during that period of time.  In addition there would be no more need for harassing phone calls and questions about why I was late or couldn’t pay.  I was “on their program” and FREE from all other communication.  Wow – I felt like THE chosen one!

Unemployment started to “kick in” so my deal with these two companies was not a problem.  In fact, I doubled the payments just to get it done and over with.  Year TWO was quickly approaching and I still owed them but only a fraction of the amount I started.  I thought I was making huge progress!  Who knew that these wonderful companies were kind enough to determine for me that my “hardship” was going to end.  I noticed that the interest rate more than DOUBLED!!!  There must be some mistake.  I called each of the companies.  I don’t know which company made me laugh then cry the hardest!

sidenote:  Finding the phone number to speak to a human is a task in and of itself.  looking over the bill for the number…lost card (no that’s not the number I need), stolen card (who the heck would want to be me!!?)  account balance (no not that one) TDD (not quite yet – lol), Espaňol (nope), counseling (beyond that!).  Just tried any number and kept hitting “0” – eventually a HUMAN!!  Maybe this was going to be a good experience after all!!

Discover – thank you so much for being on that program but it expired.  The only way you can get back on the program is if you don’t pay the bill for three months then you will become a “hardship” again.  In the meantime, the best we can do is give you a “few” dollars off each month if you continue to allow us to take the money directly from your checking account.  When you are in The Season of BROKE $14 is $14!  So I agreed.

…then came year TWO and a HALF – this month.  My $14 off program also expired.  I called again to get back on the program and questioned why that interest rate increased to 19.99%?  We helped you all we can help they said.  Call back in a month or two because we are always offering “deals” – we just don’t have one going on now.  In the meantime, if you can’t make THIS month’s payment, you can be late with it and we can TRY to waive the late fee since you weren’t late for two years.  But we can’t do that until you are actually charged the late fee (which of course will also rack up more interest).  Oh you are so generous!! Really, you shouldn’t have…! I thought!

Even though I did get a very nice lady on the phone today, she couldn’t help me either.  But nice is nice after all so I give KUDOS to her!

Home Depot – those kind folks over there – the interest was raised to 19.99% after year ONE and 26.99% after year TWO!  I guess that was the only way they were going to recoup all the money they helped me saved the prior two years.  Wasn’t that nice of them?!  I told them my unemployment ran out (for good this time) and their comment to me was they only allow ONE “hardship” period per customer…but they understand my feelings because they answer calls all day from people like me!  Seriously? 

Does President Obama know this?  And why isn’t he bailing “the average middle class person” out then!?