Doubling FDIC - Remind me, who exactly does that help?

It wasn't that long ago, that the web was showing how 50% of Americans earn $32k or less. Now, I know I am not a mathematician, but do we honestly believe those folks have that much in the bank to protect? We make a heck of a lot more income then that and we don't have anywhere near the old maximum.

So, tell me, why? Why do our public servants believe this is such a red letter item? Are the majority of the folks in their voting areas going to be protected by this change? Or should I rephrase that - Do they honestly think the majority of American people needed this added fluff?

Yippee - they are working for and protecting only the upper crust. The 8% of people (number taken from the percent of folks believed to see a tax increase on Obama's plan) in our population thank you.

Oh, and possibly a couple more fiscally sound folks.

Sometimes our government drives me crazy. I don't want another rebate check, I want new work for the people. How about hiring to rebuild our infrastructure? Try driving our bad roads in Illinois and you will know what I am saying.

Let's do something that really helps - put your band-aids away.

Plus, from what I understand on December 15th the Paulson, I believe that is the shmuck, report is being released and it is supposed to come clean and tell us the $750 Billion we just voted to bail out the banks, isn't enough. Evidently, we need $250 Trillion.

Halloween is going to suck this year!

Poor trick-or-treaters! Aparently, no one is going to be home.

Just thought, I'd share an email funny I received.

Michigan is so beautiful

We headed up to Michigan this past weekend, to pick up that car that will replace daughters death trap. At least in my eyes. Yes, I do realize any car can be a death trap. This one just scares me more then most. You just can not control what others do on the road. And mistakes happen way too often - for everyone.

A few days ago Tricia (Blogging Away Debt) posted pictures of the trees and let me tell you, the whole state is that beautiful. Simply gorgeous. Again, I have to wonder if folks that live in this beauty take it for granted. Maybe all of you living in beautiful states like, Michigan, Pennsylvania, the Virginia' and North Carolina ought to be required to go and stay in the flat prairie lands of Illinois for a time. Just to insure your appreciation of your states beauty.

Even though I live in a flat-land area, I do feel blessed that I have the ability to travel and see the beautiful areas of the U.S. Not to mention, it is so nice that in America we get to see and experience it all.

I've never traveled internationally, I wonder if all countries are as diverse in land as we are.

2 Wheel Chairs

I have a friend who is in a wheel chair. Years ago, I want to say 5, she was in a terrible snow mobile accident. At the time she was separated from her husband and on a date with someone she hardly new. This day changed her whole life. Her husband (now ex) told the kids she was dead. She lost her house and all her assets. She was thrown into a life, she didn't chose with the driver of the snow mobile.

I can't say why he took on this gals life, except for guilt from the accident. They hardly new each other. He isn't the 'marrying' type, but he has proven himself to be responsible and caring. In a large way.

Now, for a twist of fate, he has had some serious health problems. Problems that have left him in a wheel chair paralyzed. Where as she had his strength with her own and the thoughts of seeing her children to pull her out. He is not as motivated. Since he was in construction he will need to be retrained.

I am so excited about the Dragon Naturally Speaking software. I think this would be fabulous, for someone like me with poor grammer skills, but would be a life saver to my friends. As you can imagine, he doesn't type or have any skills on a computer. Even in the rehabilitation place, he could have a laptop and start getting in contact with the outside world.

If you watch that video clip above, you will understand why the Dragon Reviews are all positive. I'm impressed with how it can follow your voice no matter how fast or how slow you talk.

For Fun, you have to go try the Dragon’s typing speed test! I learned, I suck!

I want this new toy for myself! I'm sending all these links to my friend, but instead of letting it go in an email, that can seem unemotional and unthoughtful, I'm going to call her.

This would be fabulous in a mobile situation too. I just love technology!

Not so good recipe change(s)

I had a taste for Chicken Casserole. Nothing fancy. Just the basic - Chicken, egg noodles, cream of mushroom (or other on hand) soup, milk, peas and bake. Doesn't get much easier then that.

My schedule consisted of phone that tried to get permanently attached to the side of my head. My ear, literally, hurts. Not only that, but I would be perfectly fine not talking to anyone all night.

My DH on the other hand, is experiencing our economy issues. Business is slowing down. He currently finds himself, how do we say.......bored. Yes, that is it, he is bored.

He is not good bored. He is walking through my office every few minutes asking "what are you doing?" I feel like I have a toddler again. Not pretty.

About 2 o'clock, I tell him that I am planning on chicken casserole for dinner, but am in need of a couple things from the store. Basically, I want a roasted chicken and frozen peas. We need a couple other things too, like bread, but I'd have been happy with the first 2 items.

He leaves me, with a I hate shopping look. The same look I probably give too. And all heck breaks loose in the kitchen. I hear the pantry door and cabinets opening and shutting. I hear the fridge and freezer getting man-handled as well. Trying my best to ignore his, what I see as a, temper tantrum.

Then I hear the heavy footsteps. I was getting optimistic thoughts. I just knew he was going to ask for the grocery money and I would have a checked off item on my daily list.

Well, it didn't happen that way. I'm sure you guessed this, since my DH is the guy who writes his name on the really soft toilet paper and screams words of pain when caught in the bathroom with the cheaper stuff. Yep, he is spoiled! It is all my fault. Sometimes a girl should just let a guy run on his own, instead of catering to his needs.

He comes in carrying a bag of pre-cooked grilled chicken parts and a bag of frozen mixed stir-fry veggies.

Not looking so good. You see, that pre-cooked grilled chicken is only good for one thing - my chicken salad. Oh, make that two - it tastes okay on a regular salad too. In a casserole.......?????

Lets not even begin with the frozen stir-fry veggies. Or I may go off just on the shear size of them.

He stands before me with the face that says 'I've found the Holy Grail' and 'solved the economic crisis in America'. He was not going to let me talk him out of this. We were having a new kind of chicken casserole.

Dinner is already over. Can you call it dinner? I'm not sure. The textures weren't right. The flavors were so no right. And my genius of a husband looks at me and says:

"It's not bad. I wouldn't ask you to make it again, but it is food."

Glad he likes it, cause I'm 100% positive the kids won't eat it. And I'm interestingly full.

Credit Restraints

Your living in a box, on a cliff outside of no where, if you haven't heard about the buckling down of credit. Instead of everyone and their uncle getting cash for any and all reasons, now it will be a challenge. Or so they report.

So bad, in fact that it will be nearly impossible to obtain student loans. Not good.

Which got me thinking. Can I expect to see all those new Pay Day Loan places close down? Online Payday Loan's are they going to be a thing of the past?

Not because of the borrowers credit. I don't believe these places check any credit. The lenders though, those Pay Day Lenders, will they have enough cash and float to keep going? Do they go out for loans to maintain cash flow? Could we see the end of the Pay Day Loan?

Could a recession actually provide us a with a few benefits?

How do you get the car home?

By a huge blessing we are getting a car to replace DD3 Camaro. For me this is huge. I spent way too much time last year worrying about her getting home safe. A Camaro is just not the best car to deal with Midwest winters. Although, I agree whole heartedly with her love for the car. It is fun.

Youth is about fun too!

This car is in Michigan though. We won't get the original title until we come get the car. I want to do this, this weekend.

Problem - This is not our home state. I can't just run to the DMV or a bank and get temporary plates to get it home. How do I get the car home? I called my insurance company, legally they can not issue a temporary plate without the original title in hand.

Anyone get a car from out of state?

What time is it?

It is definitely not the time to panic. Panicking does not allow us the luxury of making sane choices and decisions. Instead a touch of panic can leave you with poor choices and dire consequences.

I have no idea what all of you are going to do with your personal state of economy, but I have decided it is time to make a few adjustments to our personal state. I'm going to just fine tune a few smaller items to help us maintain.

1. Continuing combined errand runs. I've been doing a great job at this one. I will not go to town, which is 7 miles round trip to the edge of town, unless I have 2 or more reasons.
2. Keep the furnace off. Well, for as long as I can. This weekend was excruciatingly hard to do. It has been getting so cold around here. Luckily my DH is on board with this one. We saw in the paper that there will be 70's in the coming week and that is helping us to not breakdown and turn it on. Really difficult when DD3 complained of hair freezing after a shower. :-)
3. Indoor temperature 60 degrees. When the furnace goes on, this is where the thermostat will stay. I have the space heater in the office, for my fingers and we will run the fireplace for a while at night when everyone comes home.
4. Turn off and Unplug. I am checking, double checking and reminding everyone that all things not in use, need to be turned off. If the kids knew such things, they would probably call me a 'broken record', a bit before their time. I'm also scouring the outlets to insure nothing is plugged in, silently draining our electric.
5. Aldi and The Drug Store Game. Both my new found loves. Aldi is saving me a ton of cash of food. The Drug Store Game is filling our personal care needs without using the cash. Both are becoming worth my time by the huge dollars saved.
6. What's for dinner? We are eating all left overs. Last week, I made Chicken Noodle Soup, Chili and the very expensive birthday dinner for DH. That is it! Those 3 meals fed all of us for 7 days. There will be no food hitting the trash. We eat all the left overs right away.
7. Good-bye Trainer. Leaving my trainer was so hard. I don't think there are words to describe my fear and anxiety from this choice. Yet, I am very happy with my investment in the health club membership. Already, my price per 1 hour visit is below $34.55 and I have a full 11 months left! That is $10.45 less a visit, with the savings growing each day.
8. Meatless Meals & Homemade More. The best way to drop the ever growing grocery bill is to make meatless options. A few of my favorites: Veggie Soup, Spinach Lasagana and Pasta with different sauces. I'm also planning to bake more bread and other items to help heat the house and save cash all at the same time.
9. Short Wash and Dry Less. The cold means no more clothes drying outside on the line. I plan on purchasing a rack for in the laundry room. I am still utilizing the 9 minute shorter wash cycle and am rushing to my dryer at the first ding - not waiting for the dryers last 10 minutes.
10. More Work. I am, as you can probably tell from my less frequent posts, spending more time working. When the dollars come in through normal work, it is going directly towards our debts. When it comes from an extra like online or surveys it is going into extra emergency savings. Or as I am calling them - residual income streams. They are creating tiny little increases in my cash flow and building a safety net, just in case.

No one item above is going to help me save us. Yet, all items help us to live with in our means and take less of a sucker punch from the world around us. Providing room to pay down our debts and help to secure our future.

Anything can happen at anytime. There are no guarantees. So, why not move on the side of caution to make the future a little less volatile?

Mexican Sweet Chili

A while back I ordered the samples of Yogi Tea. I loved all the flavors received at that time. I tried to find their products in my area, but was unsuccessful.

Again, they had a free sample and coupon give away. I received my samples this past week. New flavors of:

• Berry Anti-Oxidant
• Green Tea Pomegranate
• Mexican Sweet Chili

Although the first two sound like something I will enjoy, the third......not so much. Who came up with that flavor? The description reads:

Savor enchanting flavors and spicy sweet aromas from around the world.

I guess I can plan on 2 free evening teas. Not sure if I will be daring enough to go the 3rd.

Free Protection

Are you protected when you shop online? Outside of your credit card line of defense, are there other safe guards that keep our information private?

I worry sometimes when I shop online. Not always. I tend to always look for the https at the top of the page adress. Then I generally chose to shop with vendors I know, giving me a bit more security. Whether real or imaginary, it provides me comforts.

Do any of you use the buySAFE site to make your purchases? If you do, does it mean you can't utilize other sites for shopping like Ebates and Upromise? Or do they work together?


BuySAFE offers access to the Safe Shopping Portal. At no cost to the shopper, all purchases are automatically protected with a bond guarantee of up to $25,000. As an added perk they provide free identity theft insurance. In our world, this could be worth much more then it was 10 years ago.

My thoughts are, this site is almost a necessity when shopping at the smaller, lesser known business out there. It is nice to know if you find something, no one else has, at a web-store you never heard of before, you can make sure you and your money are safe.

The buySAFE application is free to download on their site. So, why not use it? Especially, if you are preparing to do a major part of your holiday shopping online.

Now, if they could just figure out a way to protect me from the seasonal staff people hired at our brick and mortar stores that want to take my credit card number and codes!

$32K annually puts you in the top 50% of earners

Wow! That is how I feel about that statement.

How do people live on $32k a year?

In Illinois if they could position themselves as Federally exempt, they would still have 7.65% for FICA taken out and 3% for the state. That would bring their take home pay to $28,592 annually.

A month would mean $2382.66

Leaving a measly $714.80 (30%) for housing.

Thus, the problem we are facing today!
The only thing you could get that cheap is an apartment and your not going to be thrilled by the area. Lock your doors and keep both eyes on your kids.

And these folks are in the TOP 50%
What happens to the folks on minimum wage. You know the lower 50%. They are earning $16,120 a year. Even being positioned at a 0% tax base, they will still only have, keeping with that rule of 30% for housing, $403 a month for a home.

Do we have enough homeless shelters for what is about to happen? And is happening?

Alaska Seeing Ice Form Early

Last week in church, my pastor was sharing of his recent cruise up to Alaska. Evidently, where they went is a regular journey for the last 20 years, for the ships captain. In all that time, this particular area has never been forming with ice at this time of year. It is now.

While my pastor shared the news as a warning to a very cold winter. I took it is as good news at the time - I can't stop thinking about the Polar Bears. Darn Discovery Channel!

Today is October 1st. On the thermometer outside my bank this morning it said 46 degrees. Holy cow, it is cold here already. Last year on October 8Th, it was 80 degrees here. The year prior to that, I was able to not turn on the heat until October 12TH.

My furnace is not on yet. Windows are closed and throw blankets are out, but I suspect that I will be giving in soon. Cause folks, it is chilly in here. Thank goodness for coffee.

I'm terrified to turn the heat on. Blaming my fears on the new NICOR gas rates. I just don't know how we will make it this year. Especially, if this is a long and cold winter.

I need to buy an electric space heater for my office. So, in the day time I can keep the heat low until everyone comes home.

Which state will hurt the least?

With all these vacations and traveling, I have seen many differences in cost. It is amazing to me how far apart the cost of things are in our country, depending on where you live. Is this the case worldwide? Do other countries have such price differentials?

Gas, Milk, Clothing and Houses all vary a great deal debating on where you are. It seems the East Coast has much lower gas prices then the Midwest. And I love Jersey's no tax on necessities. Of course, their property prices are enough to make me choke.

California on the other hand, do they have anything that is reasonably priced? How they survive paying California health insurance quotes alone, is beyond me. It isn't like medical insurance is their only bill and watching the home make over shows and real estate shows is an eye opener. Those tiny little box houses reaching into the million zone. OMG!

So, when the financial strangle hold is gone or at least subsides, which state will come out relatively unscathed? Which state is going to find themselves in a nightmare for decades to come? Is there any better place to be as the chips fall?

Approval Rating Dropping

Yesterday, I believe they reported President Bush with a 19% approval rating. OUCH! The truth hurts - he is the worse President to take office in my life time, per my opinion.

I'm just grateful I DID NOT vote for him!

I do blame most of our issues on him, his policies and his ignorance. Sad when the most renowned job is occupied by someone you do not trust - AT ALL. Sure Clinton was untrustworthy in his marriage, but I did have faith in his person to lead and care for our country!

To me Bush is a Disgrace to himself and to our people and country.

Last night, he did what I expected - he tried to scare us into following his plan. Why does he do this? Does he truly believe we as Americans are so ignorant that we will just follow him like the little ducklings?

I'm just so mad!! We are risking everything and saving so few! All those asinine CEO's should lose their paychecks and retirement. I as a small business owner mess up and create huge deficits for my company and I have to pay them off. I have to sell my house and my assets to do it. They should too. We as the people need to hold them ACCOUNTABLE for their poor choices. They are educated and knew what they were doing.

Refer to my last post - we can fix this better and easier. Plus, hold our heads up high, knowing we didn't bail out a bunch of crooks looking to get rich quick.

1930's Immigration Song

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

2 Year Old Sings

I had to share this! She is adorable! Take time & smile! Life is so AWESOME!

Take a news break

One of the positives this past weekend, came from not watching or listening to the news. Until now, I didn't realize how much the media news streams were effecting my mood.

I guess I always thought I was immuned to the effects.

I think everyone should take a news break. No listening to the radio except for music, which uplifts the soul. No reading the paper, except for checking up on community events, like the local football game at the high school.

By the way, our team is now 4 wins & 0 losses!!! YEA! That's the record and were going to break it.

No television news. I have to say this is the worse form. Television really gets you nervous and upset because with the words you see facial expressions, feel emotions and see those terrible pictures.

Maybe what the U.S. needs is a NEWS BREAK WEEK.

Damn Yankee!

****Don't read - run risk of getting ticked, especially if you are a Yankee and full of compassion for all.

I have to get this off my chest. I've been blasted with a memory that I doubt will ever leave me. One that made me create a scene and be called a "Damn Yankee". And for the first time in my life, I understand what that means. Frankly, I now take pride in that comment.

I also realize that I have led a pretty sheltered life. One in which everyone gets along and everyone is equal. I would probably be shot if I lived in the South. I don't ever recall seeing this type of hate before. I thought Chicago had problems. NO WAY. We all live better together, then what I saw.

I was so mad. I don't know how else to explain it. I couldn't control myself. When I saw what I did, I was myself and I let them know how I felt. Not that it mattered to them. But to me, it did. I just couldn't stand there and say nothing. I know I have a big mouth. I know that when I have a few beers in me, it gets bigger. Evidently, I believe I get more powerful too.

I'd say my hubby got me out at the right time. Even if at the time, I didn't want to go.

The scene - a bar. The game Pool. There were some folks that have a better tan then I, playing pool. Nice folks, that I had played with prior to the "thing". After the game, we walked over to the bar and I don't know what made me look back. The noise, the laughter??? It was a crowded place. What I saw, still turns my stomach.

The ones we played pool with were still playing. Yet, they were being blocked by folks without a tan, if you know what I mean. The ones, like me in looks only(I am not trash like them), were blocking the players and refusing to move for them to play.

Just being A-HOLES!

They thought they were so funny. And for the first time in my life - I had racism in my face. I set my beer down and without thinking left those that love me, to face these pigs. It didn't go good. They didn't care what I thought. Or said.

I can't get into my truck driver talk. I know my hubby was getting nervous that he could not protect me. But honestly, I've never seen this before. I am still in such shock and sadness, not to mention I am so ANGRY, over it. What is wrong with people?

I know the South has the weather. I thought they had hospitality. But when those, without a tan, told me I was a Damn Yankee and a certain kind of "lover", I wanted to rip their faces off. Do they know what year it is? The war is over and they LOST!

If I never see this kind of hatred again, it will be too soon. I'm so proud to be a DAMN YANKEE!!! I never ever want to see some one's hate like that again. Call me whatever the heck you want - but you definitely aren't going where I'm going in the end. This was the worst moment of our weekend.

Sadly, I will remember forever.

Biggest Loser Returns!!

I'm so excited! I absolutely love the Biggest Loser!

I found it so uplifting and motivating to see folks fighting their toughest battle - themselves!

In my eyes, all contestants are winners!

One Thing

As our world tends to be spinning a bit crazy lately, I think we all find ourselves with many pieces up in the air.

Even when you see that you are one of the lucky ones, there are still some stirring under-currents of concern. I should probably rephrase that, I don't believe it makes us 'lucky' to be in a more secure place. For us, it is more of a thought out plan and acquisition to a better place.

In other words, we did not get here by luck, we made choices based on our calculated risk tolerance. I hesitate to say educated, because or choices were not made through lessons at school, but more often then not by the hard knocks of life. So, lady luck, I don't think she had much to do with our positioning.

Although, I remember thinking when I was younger and struggling, that others were lucky.

Back then, I had this belief that if I had no house payment life would be easy. It was that goal that I always strive for. To this day when I toy with the idea of winning the lottery, I often think of paying off the homes of those around me.

I still believe that a home is the largest cost in your budget and it can change your life, to be mortgage free. In fact, every month I calculate out all loans associated with my home to determine how far I am to freedom. Above all other debts, this is the one I want gone. The other mortgages, to me are investments.

I'm almost haunted by my obsession with my residential mortgage. It is those darn large numbers. After working to have a mortgage that was in the $70k's from my last home, seeing the $100k's on the books bothers me. Carrying the Paper Mortgage and a second mortgage on our last home, just gives the feeling of huge debt. Even when in actuality, they would be nil with the payoff of the paper. It's really not rational thinking because there has been big progress, since making the move almost 4 years ago.

Anyway, my obsession got me thinking about how we focus on one thing. One thing that we believe could change our world. I'm not talking the lottery here, but one thing that we can work on or take care of that will make our lives better tomorrow.

What is your one thing?

• Mortgage freedom - like me?
• A new job
• A promotion
• A raise
• A move
• More education
• Marriage
• Divorce
• Credit Cards Paid Off
• School Loans Paid Off

What is your ONE THING that would set you to freedom?