Watch out for "old debt buyers" collection agencies

Just a reminder for you TO keep an eye on your credit reports, there are a lot of scummy "old debt buyers" out there trying to profit off of you. They try to collect on bankruptcy debt(which is not allowed by law), debt that has already been settled, and accounts that have been closed years ago, they prey on the fact that a debt is so old that maybe you forgot about it or something and just pay them because you want to make it go away, even though it is not a valid debt. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS THE MONEY! Know your rights and NEVER send a collection agency a check or let them have electronic access to your checking account. They will empty out your bank account, (send money orders) if you owe a collector anything. There are horror stories all over about these low life companies.

When we(me and dh) ran a credit report on ourselves we found a company called NCO Financial had laced our report with some bogus debt. This company has been fined by the FTC in the past for "re-aging" debts and putting them on credit reports, which is illegal. I will post a letter which I sent to them next week. Upon writing the company they removed these items. None of them were large, like $75 dollars or so but none of them were accurate, all had been re-aged and some never existed. All my bills had been satisfied for many years. Check out what the statute of limitations are in your state also, if a debt collector can get you to make one payment even if it is only a dollar the statute of limitations start all over again and then they can sue you. You can find letter templates online to dispute the debt and send these companies here This sight has a lot of valuable information read through it and know what your rights are.

Cheap prescription eye wear

After getting my last pair of glasses (nothing special) at the local big box retailer for 300.00 I decided to look online to see if there were any alternatives. I ordered my contacts online for years, but never any prescription glasses.

I was extremely surprised at what I found, there were two sites that caught my eye.

http://www.eyebuydirect.com/

http://zennioptical.com/

I thought I would try a cheap pair of glasses, it would cost 15,00 shipped to my door. Skeptical, I placed my order, I ordered from Zenni. In two weeks I received my glasses, and I have since ordered 2 additional pair, and a pair of prescription bi-focals for my Dad.

My Dad was also impressed! I have heard conflicting stories about there customer service, but I myself have never used it.

The new economy getting rid of debt

These times present some very scary challenges, and the hard part is we really don’t know what is going to happen 1 year down the road, 6 months down the road, or even tomorrow.

Many people have lost there jobs and have been forced to take jobs that pay far less than what they were used to living on. Unfortunately I see a job market that has little to offer for employees, as we have been pinched, so have many businesses. Businesses profits are down, and with less money there is less to hand out and less to hire.

Debt causes people to do strange things. On the news you hear stories of suicide and murder, all because of debt, is it really worth it? The shame of debt is huge, but you can get out, and it will be hard, free yourself and your family from the culture of must haves and gotta be! Change your life to benefit yourself and your family.

Many things our out of our control; however there are things that we can control, we all can surely do something to cut back on our waste. We can access what are really needs and what are wants.

• We can spend more time with our family or friends and get some sanity back.
• Pay down our debts
• Learn a new skill so we can become more self sufficient
• Stop signing up for payment plans and pay ourselves instead

You can come up with your own set of goals based on the circumstances in your life.

Cutting down on monthly obligations or services is super hard!!

Remember when you were a teenager, a long, long, time ago? OK, that sounds harsh but that is what my kids would say.

What did your parents give you? Did they give you a car and pay for your insurance or did you have to work and pay for it? Did you have the newest electronic gadgets?

We all grew up without cable TV, I-pods, cell-phones, I Mac, internet access, our own dvd players, laptops, our own TV in our own room, and guess what, we are still here.

Many of these items we have grown to consider them necessities, even though they were not 20 years ago. Are these items really necessities? Many of them come with monthly service contracts that deplete us of our incomes continuously.

I am not saying you should live in a cave but look seriously at these items and make some choices if they are really necessary, in some cases they can actually be a financial drain and provide no benefit. You need to weigh the costs of these items. Maybe you don’t want to completely get rid of everything but you can probably reduce the costs of these items by sitting down and going over and cutting out things that you do not use.

Get your kids in on this to, that way they do not expect these things to be given to them. Tell them why you are making these choices. Maybe not watching Nickelodeon can be good to!! I am not totally against television however I do believe it can be an extreme waste of time if it is not managed correctly. I got tired of playing TV police in my house and I eliminated the cable.

It is hard to cut back but I have found that my kids find other more productive things to do and I probably have been the one that feels the most deprived!

My Diet Pepsi Addiction

Help, I am addicted to this stuff!

I am a recovering Diet Pepsi fanatic, I drank so much of this stuff I think I am preserved for life! I have tried several times to quite drinking soda, and I keep going back to it. I know that this stuff is really bad for me, but I love it, I would drink 4-6 cans a day.

I know that really sounds crazy, but it was like I am almost addicted to this stuff.
It has been a week without, and I am hoping this time I have kicked my soda habit for life. What is so addicting about this stuff! Is it the carbonation or the artificial sweeteners?

Soda ate a huge whole in our family budget, after I figured out what we were spending just on drinks, 30-40 dollars a week, crazy! (This includes milk to, but I spent about 15-25 dollars a week on soda, yes that equals about 3-4 cases) As part of my frugality and debt pay down venture I knew I would have to give it up. I noticed my kids also preferring pop over any other kind of beverage, not something I want them to get started on either.

A little bit of help has been since the price of soda has gone up I have refused to buy it. There is no benefit to drinking this stuff; it is bad for your waistline and wallet!

I could really use some words of inspiration for anyone else that may have gone through this also. Or maybe some tricks on how you stayed on track and kicked the habit for good!

My new shopping rules

Here are some basic rules I have set up for myself

1. Shop in stores with concrete floors
2. Go shopping every 3-4 weeks instead of every week
3. Stay on the outside rows of the store.
4. Carry cash
5. Buy the staples first

I try to buy staples, that:

Flour, sugar and baking type supplies.

Whole foods, canned, and frozen foods. Vegetables and fruits

Now I said foods. Not pot pies, tv dinners and Pizzas! Or even those convenience bagged meals either! These items always cost more.

Hording vs Frugality

I think some people really cringe when they hear the word Frugal. Frugal is a way of simple living that is a choice. I think most people confuse frugal living for being a hoarder. They think cool whip containers, washing out baggies, and bread and water.

There is a difference between hording and frugality.

I need to be careful with this, it reminds me of my mother in laws house. Cupboards overflowing with cool whip containers, peanut butter jars, washed out used soda bottles and various jars, everything. Countertops that have so much stuff stacked on them there not visible or even usable. A garage so full of stuff you can not park your vehicle in it.

My definition of hoarding is:

• Keeping clothing that no longer fits, are the wrong size, or no one has worn in years.
• Your dresser drawers don’t shut because there full of items that you have not worn in years. Matter in fact you can’t even see the top of your dresser.
• Keeping boxes, or various containers, items which are free or easily replaceable.
• Keeping items that you have not used in years, and can’t bear the thought of getting rid of them even though they are not used.
• You can not see or use your counter space
• You could not fit another item in your closet, cupboard or attic if you wanted to.
• Keeping food items that are after there prime and trying to find ways to use them or disguise the fact they are spoiled. (Super yuck I have seen this!) Someone who is frugal never let the stuff spoil!

Some one who is frugal use less, have what they need, and donate or give items they no longer use to others who can use them. Frugality means living within your means and using what you have. Not being wasteful. Having the peace of mind that if there are needs that do come up, you have the resources to meet them. This comes with applying yourself, saving and reducing ALL debt, which I am in the process of doing.

It is hard to keep on track when you are surrounded with thoughts of doing without and clutter. This is how hording works and makes you feel. Hording makes you feel tired and hopeless.

Frugality opens up a world of wealth, by setting your mind free of clutter and letting yourself know that you have what you need.

The vanishing money syndrome

Ever wonder where all the money went? I had 40.00 dollars, where did it go? I fought with this for years, the vanishing money syndrome. The only thing that cured this was creating a budget. I allow myself some cash every week to buy items if I wish; I keep it minimal to $20.00 a week.

I will admit I am still not great at creating a budget and it is an on going learning process, but knowing where your money is going seems to create more of it! I also learned that I was the one in my wallet. All kind of impulse buys on junk such as pop and trinkets that I didn’t need, and from fundraisers my kids were always peddling from the school. I have had to learn to just say no!

How do I do this without feeling guilty?

• I give to organizations that I support, so I can say no. Sorry.

• I also remind myself that buying pizza or candy at an over inflated price does nothing good for my wallet or waistline.

• I throw away sale flyers, catalogs, and junk mail. I was a “good deal” buyer and these sale flyers always made me spend more. There is always a good deal somewhere.

And finally if you really need the $5.00 candy, you can use your weekly cash allowance!

How to make horseradish

Horseradish basically looks like a giant, 2-foot radish. It is a hardy perennial member of the cabbage family. Growing up to 30 inches high ( I think mine are larger), the plant has large, coarse leaves. I planted 3 roots about 5 years ago and since then have been blessed with a great abundance of this stuff!

Horseradish is supposed to be dug in months that have an r in them so that would be in the fall and also in April.

I usually make several smaller jars and freeze them. WARNING: THIS IS A JOB THAT YOU WANT TO DO OUTSIDE! Or at least with a fan on and a window open to ventilate!

You will need the following:

• Food processor or a good blender
• paring knife
• carrot peeler
• scrubbing brush
• vinegar
• salt (fruit fresh)

Dig out roots. Clean, discarding anything that has bad spots, only keep what you would want to eat. Then peel like a carrot, I use a carrot peeler. You could use a paring knife otherwise.

• Put cut up and peeled roots in food processor or blender.
• Chop horseradish in to desired consistency, just a note, the longer you chop/blend the hotter it will be. (You are outside with this right?) Or if you are inside you have that fan on and the window open!
• Add vinegar to get desired consistency, and a little salt, or you can use fruit fresh ( I found without salt or fruit fresh the top may sometimes have a grey color to it, fruit fresh or salt will take care of the discoloring)

I know this sounds funny but whatever you do don’t lean over the food processor when you take the cover off, it about makes you pass out! This stuff is strong!

I put it in small 1/2 pint jars and freeze.

The mini emergency fund your pantry

In my pursuit of paying back my debt and frugality I have tried to come up with ways to save money. One of the largest ways I have found to save is by shopping less at the grocery store and cooking. I like to buy enough groceries to last a month.

Obviously you can’t do this with Milk and items like that. I find that milk is cheaper at my local convenience store any how so I pick up my milk there when I fill up my car. As far as fresh produce or fruit I have a garden, and a few apple and apricot trees as well as a raspberry patch. I do freeze and can these items for use in the winter months. Produce has really gone crazy at the local grocery store, I would say in cost it has gotten to be just as expensive as meat or maybe even more expensive for some items.

I like to have enough groceries and supplies in my house to last three months just in case there was an illness or a job loss. This is my general rule of thumb; it is kind of a mini emergency fund.

I keep a supply of shampoo, toilet paper, dish soap, laundry soap, bar soap, on hand enough to last 3-6 months.

I also have enough canned items to last about 6 months, I only buy items that my family will eat and I try to get them when they are on sale (Please note: buy only what you will use! A good deal is not a good deal if it spoils or you have to throw it out because it spoiled!). I also buy these staples:

Flour

Sugar

Oatmeal

Rice

Beans

Barley

Dried milk

Instant Yeast (I like to buy this at Sam’s Club you get about 4 pnds for less than 5 bucks. You add this yeast to your dry ingredients.) It lasts a long time and comes in a bag and does not have to be refrigerated.

I look at what I have weekly and plan my meals according to what I have available. Obviously I use up any fresh items first, towards the end of the month I end up relying more on canned and frozen items. Then I make out a list of items that I am running low on and will need to stock back up on. I would say this has saved me an average of 300.00 a month to throw at my debt, or put in to savings.

If it came down to a job loss or an illness I know my family would have enough to meet there basic needs for three months or maybe even more.

The beauty of all this, no one in my family really noticed any difference!