Defaulting on Student Loans Ruins Your Credit Rating

January 16, 2012 //

Don't ignore your student loans. You must repay them. Declaring bankruptcy isn't going to help.

CITE:2.ed.gov

Post graduation from college, a student can find himself way in over his head regarding student loans. When in college, many students get more money than they need for housing books, and tuition so that they can live on the excess. It seems like easy money at the time, but ultimately, it adds up and you are looking down the barrel at five- maybe even six-figures.

Some graduates are finding it hard to find jobs, so they can’t start paying back loans, which the lenders want them to do ASAP.

When a former student ignores his loans for more than 270 days the loan goes into default and this means the government can garnish your wages, as well as withhold your income tax returs and apply that money to you loan debt. You can even be sued.

If you think, bankruptcy is the answer, think again. Student loans are not discharged when a person files for bankruptcy. Collection by the government on student loans can go on for twenty years even if you are bankrupt.

Additionally, if you default on your student loans, this is going to mess up your credit rating.

It is important to pay something regularly so you don’t ruin your credit score.

Repayment may vary depending on the type of loan you got. Loans from the past year are under the control of the federal government whereas older loans are handled through an outside entity.

If you are paying back in the standard repayment method, this means that the borrower pays back a specific amount each month after graduation. The balance must be paid off in 10 years. If you have the extended repayment plan, a specific amount is paid each month but the time that you have to pay back the entire loan is extended. This allows the borrower to make smaller monthly payments but make payments for a longer period of time. Obviously, the longer it takes you to pay off the loan the more interest you pay.

Other methods include the graduated repayment method. This option may be the best of both above methods. The borrower starts out paying small amounts. Over time, the payments increase and the borrower pays bigger amounts toward the end of the loan.

Another method is the income-contingent repayment option. The borrower pays back an amount each month that is determined by the borrower’s income. Your payment is a percentage of your income each month.

MY TAKE:

Don’t ignore your student loans. They will not go away. If you aren’t employed and can’t pay anything contact the lender and see if something can be worked out. Totally defaulting on your loans is going to mess up your credit rating so badly that you will never be able to purchase a home or anything of value. Granted, college graduates, for the most part, are young and naïve but now is the time to man-up and assume responsibility for that money you borrowed, some of which you may have used unwisely. Live and learn.

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Going to Kindergarten is a Huge Milestone in Your Child’s Life

January 16, 2012 //

The first day of school is scary and exciting for both the child and her parents.

CITE: Parenting.com

When your child is ready to start kindergarten, this is a very big deal for hm and for you. It’s a huge step. He is going to be gone from his home and parents for an entire day. He may be acclimated to that already if he has always gone to day care, but school is different and there are expectations and responsibilities that he must learn to recognize and take on. It may feel overwhelming to him.

Parents need to be involved but not so much so that the child perceives this is something that he is incapable of handling on his own. It’s good when moms and dads are room volunteers or members of the PTO. The child may find it comforting to have mom or dad popping in every now and then.

However, you cannot and should not hold the child’s hand every step of the way. he has to learn to be independent.

Have a positive attitude about school, even if you hated it. Do not tell your child horrible stories about your own school experience. Instead, be positive and upbeat and express that he is going to have a very good experience and will like school.

Ideally, take your child to visit the school and the playground before school officially starts. Better yet, set up an appointment for him to meet with his teacher. If he is going to be taking a bus to and from school, tell him how that works and show him the bus area. Allowing him to become familiar with the school surroundings in advance is going to make the transition easier for and on him.

When orientation is held, close to the beginning of the opening of school, moms and dads have an opportunity to meet their child’s teacher, if they haven’t before, school administrators and other employees of the school that your child may encounter. It’s going to make a parent feel a lot more at ease knowing who is going to be teaching and caring for their kindergartener.  

If your child cries when you drop him off in his classroom on the first day, kiss him, assure him that he’s going to be okay, and that you will see him later  and then hand him over to his teacher. Yes, you may start crying as soon as you exit, but it’s time to cut the apron strings. You are not doing your child a favor if you indulge him and remove him from the classroom the first time you see a tear in his eye.

MY TAKE:

Your child may decide at some point that he hates school and refuses to go. If this happens, talk to his teacher. Perhaps she can give you some insight into what is bothering him. Some children are very independent at the ages of five and six whereas others aren’t. Your child may be one of those who is frightened or insecure when he is at school.

Try to spend more time with your child. Play school with him at home. Talk to him and hopefully he will talk back and let you

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Angie’s List is a Service that Assists You in Finding Help Quickly

January 16, 2012 //

Angie's List Guides You in Finding Service Providers

CITE: Angie’s List

One of the most helpful websites online is Angie’s List, which has become quite well known due to the assistance it provides consumers when it comes to finding the right person to hire for a specific job. This site contains reviews that are confirmed so the consumer knows that it is accurate. If someone simply wants to rant about a service provider but has nothing to back up the ramp, this review won’t be included.

Sometimes a person is new in a community and doesn’t have the faintest idea whom to call when their pipes burst or their furnace stops working. That’s where Angie’s List comes in handy.

Members join Angie’s list for approximately $7.50 per month. They receive live support through a call center, discounts; an award-winning magazine and complete access to a Complain Resolution Team if there is a problem. This site is consumer-driven, which means it can be operated without advertising. If you try it and don’t like it, you will be refunded your fee.

If you need, for example, a doctor, search the list online, or you can request information via fax or phone. After you use Angie’s list, you are asked to write a review about what you liked or disliked about the service or any problems that you encountered. You are encouraged to write good reviews if your experience was excellent.

When a company/service provider gets a poor review, this is dealt with by the Complaint Resolution Team, and the situation is remedied. Once the issue is cleared up, both parties, the consumer and service provider, can resume membership. Approaching any problem in this manner allows the site to make sure that both sides of the story are presently fairly to the consumers.  

The rules are very clear on Angie’s List. Reviews come from genuine consumers and not anonymous users. Companies can not pay to be on the list. Top-rated businesses can get discounts up to 70 percents. A live call center is available to the consumer if a project has gone awry. There are massive reviews in the home repair and health care categories, which guides the consumer in selecting a doctor or contractor.

Forty thousand reviews are submitted to the site by consumers each month, which is pretty extraordinary. The categories that are included on the site include Outdoor (lawn, tree service, pool, landscaping, fencing, etc.); home (plumbing, remodeling, panting, windows roof, etc.); Health (doctors, hospitals, dentists, etc.); Auto (service, sales, tires, detailing, etc.) and many more.

MY TAKE:

Angie’s List is comparable to having your knows-everything friend on call 24/7. Most of us have a friend that knows every service provider in town and can give you the low down on the business, steering you clear of those providers that have given her grief in the past. Angie’s List is a wonderful service and extremely helpful for those who really don’t know where to turn when something happens and they need help. You know in advance, based on the reviews that you are most likely going to get good service. This  saves a lot of time and worry.

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The Retail Industry is a Huge Factor in the Gross Domestic Product of the U.S.

January 16, 2012 //

Successful retailers know how to keep customers loyal and win back those they've lost.

Approximately two-thirds of the United State’s GDP or gross domestic product is the result of retail consumption. When stores close or new stores open this is a good indicator of how well the economy is doing.

The retail industry is the part of the economy that is made up of companies and individuals that are selling finish products to end user consumers, which means the individual who uses the product that has been made and marketed.

The United States is the king of retail industry. Wal-Mart is the largest global retailer as well as one of the largest companies of its type in the entire world.

The 54 largest companies of any variety are based in the United States and they are retail companies or have a big retail operation.

Millions of Americans are employed by the retail industry, although in recent years there has been a decline in retail employment due to the increase in general unemployment during bad economic times.

However, the retail industry continues to remain very competitive even when times are tough. U.S. consumers are very much behind the concept of green services, facilities, products and activism, which is being strongly promoted by U.S. retailers, although the same sentiment is not shared in the U.K.

Retailers often create customer loyalty programs, which are long-term marketing as well as structured attempts to give incentives to those retail customers that come back again and again.These customers show that they are loyal in buying from this particular retailer.

When retailers implement this type of program it prompts customers to return to this store (or shop online at this store). Loyalty is gained by offering special offers, prizes, points, discounts and rebates.

Most people are not immune to the lure of saving some money. Dangle a coupon or discount in front of them and they are likely to bite. It is fun saving money and getting a product for a $1 less than you normally pay for it. Savings add up over time and retailers are aware of this. That’s why they offer such perks to loyal customers.

MY TAKE: Technology has transformed the nature of the retail industry. Consumers can buy at the last minute, making their purchases online, and have them in time for Christmas or a birthday without ever leaving their home.

This appeals to those shoppers who can not tolerate being in the midst of pre-holiday madness at the mall. It is a very convenient way to shop and, generally, online retailers are good about responding to inquires or allowing a customer to return an item if he is not satisfied.

Internet shopping is a hot trend in retail industrial although this may be tempered somewhat by the continued frugality of shoppers who are watching their pennies.

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When an Individual Engages in Forgery, He is Committing a Felony

January 16, 2012 //

A handwriting specialist can determine if someone's signature has been forged.

CITE: Lectlaw.com

If you forge someone’s name on a document, including a check, you have committed a crime. When an individual engages in forgery, he is creating a false, written document or has altered a genuine one with the purpose of defrauding someone or some entity. Forgery is a felony. Those guilty of this practice can go to prison.

Forgery can be done by way of handwriting, printing, typewriting and engraving. Uttering a forged document means that inauthentic writing has been purposely offered as genuine. When the expression “uttering” is used this indicates that a person has offered a document that has been forged to someone else and has presented it as true and genuine, with the intent of defrauding that person.

The individual does not have to commit forgery to be found guilty of uttering.

When someone forges another individual’s signature that individual has become a victim of identity theft.

Forgery includes altering an existing document or creating a fake document. If you are not Bill Smith then do not pretend to be. Never sign a document of any kind with Bill Smith’s name.

You cannot sign another person’s name without his authorization.

Wills and checks are manipulated and forged with fraudulent signatures. Engaging in this practice can get a person in very hot water.

Proving forgery often involves hiring a hand-writing analyst who can determine  if a signature has been forged or if a document has been changed.

Forensic document examiners compare handwriting samples to determine who authored the writing. The writing sample of the person whose signature is believed to have been forged is called the examplar.

If a document is created in the name of another person without that person’s authorization and knowledge this is forgery.

It is possible to be charged with forgery if you have made a copy of a receipt and then add information that was not contained in the original after which the receipt is offered as evidence because the original has been lost, or because the receipt is ostensibly lost.

Ignorance of the deceit that you are engaging in is no excuse and is not going to prevent you from being arrested and possibly going to jail.

The act of creating an instrument in the name of a non-existent person or in a fictitious name is also considered forgery. This is as criminal as forging the name of someone who does exist.

If an attorney fraudulently leaves out a portion of that which he was instructed to include in the will he is drawing up and, as a result, the money, for example, passes on to the wrong person, this is considered forgery.

If an attorney inserts legacies of his own into a will and then gets the signature of a sick person on the will without informing the sick person of the newly inserted legacies these insertions are considered fraudulent and this is forgery.

Forgery is very much about intent. A person doesn’t have to be injured as a result of the forgery in order for the act to be criminal.

In the United States, interpreting what qualifies as forgery is determined by three main offenses including intent to defraud, writing and false-making. The punishment that you will receive for conviction of forgery depends on the degree of forgery, of which there are three in the United States.

Forgery in the third degree means a person falsely makes-, completes- or alters a written instruction with the intention of defrauding, injuring or deceiving someone. This is a Class A misdemeanor. Forgery in the second degree occurs when a person falsely makes-, completes- or alters a written instrument so that it appears that the instrument has been completed. Any forgery that is done to a public record, prescription, deed, from a licensed physician, on an instrument issued officially by a public office or an issue of publication transportation transfer is an offense or a Class D felony.

Forgery in the first degree, or a Class C felony, means that attempts were undertaken to alter- or complete- or falsely make issues of securities by the government, stamps, money or stocks and bonds by an organization or a corporation.

MY TAKE:

Each state has its own punishment for forgery and for uttering. You can be imprisoned for a year. Your punishment will be based in part on how much money was involved in the forgery and if you have been previously convicted of this same crime or of theft.

Think twice before signing your spouse’s signature or anyone else’s for that matter. Even if your intent is not to deceive, you can still be found guilty of forging. Pleading ignorance of the law is not going to save you.

 

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Celiac Disease is Often Misdiagnosed

January 16, 2012 //

Ceilac disease is sometimes mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome

CITE: Mayo Clinic

Celiac disease is all too frequently inaccurately diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome. When celiac is not accurately diagnosed this can lead to inept calcium absorption, which can lead to joint and dental problems, as well as a delay in the start of menstrual periods.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. When a person has it, he can’t tolerate a type of protein called gluten that are found in wheat, rye and barley. However, a wheat allergy is not celiac disease. A wheat allergy, according to the Mayo Clinic, is an allergy to gluten. Sensitivity to gluten is different from celiac disease because it does not cause the intestines to become damage as does celiac disease. Gluten sensitivity can cause someone to experience headaches and fatigue.

If you have celiac disease and continue to eat the gluten (protein) products this damages the lining of your small intestines, which, then become inflamed.

When a person has a food allergy if he eats something that his immune system considers harmful this causes cells to release immunoglobulin E, an antibody that serves to neutralize the food substance.

Additionally, when a person eats a food that he is allergic to the antibodies in his system recognize this and prompt the immune system to produce histamine into your blood stream. Histamine is a chemical, and this causes the individual to experience a host of symptoms, including difficult breathing, hives, itching eyes, diarrhea, dry throat, nausea, rashes and potentially even anaphylactic shock, which can kill you. If this condition is not treated it can lead to intestinal cancer, osteoporosis and infertility.

When a person has gluten allergies, he must eat gluten-free foods.

Celiac disease is sometimes confused with digestive orders. A hospital such as the Mayo Clinic has state of the art imaging tools and can correctly identify the source of an individual’s problem.

Some physicians think that problems caused after eating gluten may occur because children are not exposed to enough antigens while their immune systems are developing. As a result, the intestines do not understand how to deal with antigens. This causes the immune system to react and then respond with little tolerance to antigens. In countries that are less sanitary than the United States celiac disease does not occur very often.  

Celiac disease can result in weight loss, belly pain, diarrhea, bloating and an upset stomach as well as malnutrition and inability to absorb nutrients properly if the person with the disease eats gluten.

Those suffering from celiac disease must follow an absolutely gluten-free diet or else they are going to experience the symptoms associated with this disease, which are not pleasant and, which can be dangerous if left untreated. On the other hand, a gluten-free diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies so you have to be very careful in this regard.

MY TAKE:  

If you are experiencing the symptoms of celiac disease go see your physician as soon as possible. This is not a disease that you want to mess around with. Long-term and very damaging results can occur if you have it and do not treat it. Many people with this disease have the typical symptoms, Such as bloating, pain in the abdomen, diarrhea but others have no symptoms at all or when they do they are misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome or gastric ulcers, parasite infections, Crohn’s disease and/or anemia.

Joint pain and depression and irritability are also signs of celiac disease and other unusual symptoms include neuropathy, which is tingling in the feet and legs, bone and dental problems, muscle cramps, mouth sores and skin rash. When nutrients are not absorbed properly because of Celiac disease, weight loss can occur as well as bloating and gas and fatigue and weakness.

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Vacations Are Perfect Opportunities to Explore Ideal Places to Retire

January 15, 2012 //

Retirement is nearing. Where are you going to settle down?

CITE: Bestplaces.net

When vacationing, you can kill two birds with one stone. Not only can you enjoy yourself, which is the whole point of a vacation, but you can do some firsthand investigating.

Eventually, you are going to retire so now is the time to start researching potential retirement venues. Of course, you can investigate online but actually visiting a prospective retirement place is so much better and is a super opportunity to get up close and personal.

You can meet the locales, view the retirement facility options in this particular community, decide if there is too much traffic or too many or too few people for your taste.

This can be fun. You are a retirement private eye for the day or week, and you are your own client.

Think about what you want in retirement. Do you want a single home in a regular suburban neighborhood? Would you prefer a condo, where someone does the maintenance and yard work for you? Do you want to be in the country or in the midst of city life? Are you, a water person or a mountain lover? Do you love the heat or hate it? If you detest the cold, don’t even think about looking for a retirement home in the northern areas because you and your joints are going to regret it.

Do you want to live in a retirement community? Is access to the theatre, movies and that type of thing important to you or are you going to be perfectly content sitting on your back porch, staring at the cows in the neighbor’s pasture?

Visit the local Chamber of Commerce while vacationing. This is a first-rate source for information. You will be provided with volumes of pertinent material about the community.

Ask questions. Ask the woman behind the restaurant counter for her opinion of the town or area. Ask the man at the gas station or the clerk at the hotel where you are staying. Of course, you are going to receive some negative responses, but you can sort through the bad and good responses and decide for yourself when it comes to determining if this is where you want to relocate in your retirement years.

MY TAKE:

Take a notebook and camera with you so that you can capture the essence of the area. When you get back home, create a folder of the pictures and information you have gleaned so you can refresh your memory.

Of course, if you have a partner you and she (or he) must agree on your retirement place.  Ideally, you will be able to compromise and find a retirement home that suits both of you.

Each year, when you plan your vacation, pick a destination that you think might be retirement worthy. No, you probably don’t want to retire at Disney World (although you might) but, yes, you may fall madly in love with the charm of Cape May, New Jersey or Martha’s Vineyard and never want to leave, which you won’t have to if you opt to retire in one of these areas and put down permanent roots.

 

 

 

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Save money by installing solar-powered appliances in your home

January 15, 2012 //

The sun's energy is free. Use it.

If utility costs are hitting you where it hurts think about installing solar-powered electronics, lights and fans. When you use gas or electric power, you are consuming costly energy as well as using up the earth’s resources. When you switch to solar-powered appliances you are going the “green” route and using products that are eco-friendly. Solar powered appliances get their energy from the sun which is free.

When a homeowner installs a solar-powered attic fan, this results in savings  of 30 percent or more on the cost of cooling your house. Many homes have small roof vents and passive vents that aren’t capable of dissipating heat in the summer. This means you spend even more money on air conditioning because the heat gets trapped in the attic which makes the lower levels very hot and uncomfortable.

On the other hand, in the winter, when heat is trapped in the attic, this causes the snow that is on the roof to melt, which proceeds to refreeze and this causes ice damming, which is damaging to the home and costs a lot to repair.

Normal daily activities such as showering and cooking create moisture, which travels to the attic and causes mold and mildew to form. Moisture gets into the home’s insulation resulting in fungal decay, which can ruin the roof frame and any decking that you have around your home.

A solar-powered fan eliminates these pricey programs as well as lessens the potential for indoor pollution.

Some individuals have opted for solar oven where cooking is done without wood, gas, or charcoal. A sun oven can be used on camping trips. This type of oven grabs maximum solar energy.

There are portable solar-powered units that you can use to charge your laptop, cell phone, and even a small TV.

Consider converting your conventional clothes dryer to one that is solar-powered. The pipes that carry solar heated water go into a heat exchange located at the bottom of the dryer closet where wet clothes are hung. The hot air rises and dries the clothing.

You can use solar energy to heat the water in your home. This type of heating system depends on the solar collect to gather the sun’s energy which is then transferred to the water supply. Hot water is expensive. If you go the solar-powered route, you will save a lot of money.

MY TAKE:

Going “green” is a smart move. It saves you money and saves the environment and its resources. Solar-powered energy is non-toxic and better for your health, particularly if you have allergies or suffer from respiratory issues. Solar-powered appliances are green and clean and many people think they are fun to use. Why not utilize the energy from the sun that is free? When we are considerate of the earth and its resources, and do what we can do lessen our use of these valuable but limited resources, this benefits everyone, including future generations. You are doing what you can to make sure your children and grandchildren have a good environment to live in.


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