Are you being harassed non-stop by a debt collector?
Are they calling you multiple times at work, even when you've asked them to stop?
Have collection agencies threatened you with jail time?
If you feel like a debt collector has violated the law by harassment, then you need to get in touch with Collection Bully.com
The link is right here: www.collectionbully.com
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Anniversary Time!
Sixteen years ago on this date, I married my best friend Melissa.
Sixteen years later, we still attend this church--and by the same pastor who married us.
This is also the reason why I write everyday, and our simple wedding is the inspiration behind my ebook 99 Ways To Have A Memorable Wedding On A Shoestring Budget. Please give it a review. It's only $.99
Sixteen years later, we still attend this church--and by the same pastor who married us.
This is also the reason why I write everyday, and our simple wedding is the inspiration behind my ebook 99 Ways To Have A Memorable Wedding On A Shoestring Budget. Please give it a review. It's only $.99
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The hidden job description of a debt collector: to evoke and control your emotions
A debt collector called our house the other day, regarding one of my wife's credit cards that has been in default for a number of years.
(I must note here that my wife battled with leukemia two years ago, and was not feeling well in the years prior to this--not that we're proud of not paying a debt; we're not, and want to take care of it. But only when we're able to do so; also, she is still in a long recovery from the after effects of her illness).
I was at work when this call came in and my wife contacted me afterwards, saying they could take away the house and all of our possessions. I spent a great deal of energy calming her down, which only increased my heart rate.
I was pissed off!
The next day, when I was home, the butt-head collector calls again. This time . . . he got me! He gave me the same speech (I wish I had recorded it) and I told him he was a liar. I even told him that our financial counsellor said that all collectors are trained liars--he asked who my financial counsellor was and I said it was Dave Ramsey (you know, the guy from Nashville who has helped millions of people get out of debt). He had the nerve to ask who Dave Ramsey was!
Then, the guy went on a tirade again. I ended up telling him off and gave him a true blue %&@# send-off.
A thought occurred to me afterwards. He got a hold of my emotions. Big time. Not good.
If a collector calls and you honestly can't pay at that time, and are truly working on a plan, tell them you're working on it and hang up.
Don't let their tactics get the best of you. Which is to control your emotions.
(I must note here that my wife battled with leukemia two years ago, and was not feeling well in the years prior to this--not that we're proud of not paying a debt; we're not, and want to take care of it. But only when we're able to do so; also, she is still in a long recovery from the after effects of her illness).
I was at work when this call came in and my wife contacted me afterwards, saying they could take away the house and all of our possessions. I spent a great deal of energy calming her down, which only increased my heart rate.
I was pissed off!
The next day, when I was home, the butt-head collector calls again. This time . . . he got me! He gave me the same speech (I wish I had recorded it) and I told him he was a liar. I even told him that our financial counsellor said that all collectors are trained liars--he asked who my financial counsellor was and I said it was Dave Ramsey (you know, the guy from Nashville who has helped millions of people get out of debt). He had the nerve to ask who Dave Ramsey was!
Then, the guy went on a tirade again. I ended up telling him off and gave him a true blue %&@# send-off.
A thought occurred to me afterwards. He got a hold of my emotions. Big time. Not good.
If a collector calls and you honestly can't pay at that time, and are truly working on a plan, tell them you're working on it and hang up.
Don't let their tactics get the best of you. Which is to control your emotions.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
My harsh reaction to a dangerous Motley Fool article regarding Dave Ramsey
Today I discovered a disturbing article regarding financial guru Dave Ramsey. I discovered this as I was perusing his website and came across a half-hour radio interview with the article writer from the Motley Fool.
I give the guy kudos for at least agreeing to go on the show and debate his views, and I equally give Dave kudos for not ripping the guy a new one--something he sorely needed.
The article in reference on the Motley Fool site is listed here, and the basic gist of his argument is regarding the 12% average rate of return the stock market has done since the mid 1920's. This supposedly causes people anxiety as they harp on with "Oh, you can't get 12% on your mutual funds!"
I have one word for this: bull.
The company I work for offers a 401(K) program, and in its mutual fund offerings I have four I am invested in. The average in the last 3 years (the furthest back the data provides unless I view the prospectus), one did a little less than 10%, two were are 13%, and one did 16%. I don't know about you, but that's a lot more than 12%. Besides, I looked at the information Wells Fargo gave us and ALL of the information they state advised that the average rate of return was 12%!
And here's my greatest contention in response to the "foolish" article: WHO CARES! You're splitting hairs and analyzing data to death, depending on how you want to look at it. This is why I hate following politics any longer, because when the government spews out data for something, you can analyze it fourteen different ways to Sunday and come up with a different analysis--this depends on which political party is in power and which news program you're watching.
Take Ramsey's teachings of never having a car payment. If you were to save for decades what you'd pay for in car payments, investing in mutual funds which have averaged 12% rate of return, it comes to 5-7 million dollars--and to top it off, Dave ALWAYS ends this statement with "And if I'm half right, you're still okay!"
I tried to comment on the Fool's article, but I could not without registering on their website--something I am not about to do. Because of this, I will not EVER visit their site nor purchase any of their products.
(Oh, by the way, the guy who wrote the article had NEVER attended his 9-week Financial Peace University course, had NEVER read any of his books--except for a few choice article in the Total Money Makeover--and was not a regular listener to Ramsey's show. I don't know about you, but if I was going to write an article trashing someone's views, I'd want to do a lot of research and read a lot on what that person said.)
I give the guy kudos for at least agreeing to go on the show and debate his views, and I equally give Dave kudos for not ripping the guy a new one--something he sorely needed.
The article in reference on the Motley Fool site is listed here, and the basic gist of his argument is regarding the 12% average rate of return the stock market has done since the mid 1920's. This supposedly causes people anxiety as they harp on with "Oh, you can't get 12% on your mutual funds!"
I have one word for this: bull.
The company I work for offers a 401(K) program, and in its mutual fund offerings I have four I am invested in. The average in the last 3 years (the furthest back the data provides unless I view the prospectus), one did a little less than 10%, two were are 13%, and one did 16%. I don't know about you, but that's a lot more than 12%. Besides, I looked at the information Wells Fargo gave us and ALL of the information they state advised that the average rate of return was 12%!
And here's my greatest contention in response to the "foolish" article: WHO CARES! You're splitting hairs and analyzing data to death, depending on how you want to look at it. This is why I hate following politics any longer, because when the government spews out data for something, you can analyze it fourteen different ways to Sunday and come up with a different analysis--this depends on which political party is in power and which news program you're watching.
Take Ramsey's teachings of never having a car payment. If you were to save for decades what you'd pay for in car payments, investing in mutual funds which have averaged 12% rate of return, it comes to 5-7 million dollars--and to top it off, Dave ALWAYS ends this statement with "And if I'm half right, you're still okay!"
I tried to comment on the Fool's article, but I could not without registering on their website--something I am not about to do. Because of this, I will not EVER visit their site nor purchase any of their products.
(Oh, by the way, the guy who wrote the article had NEVER attended his 9-week Financial Peace University course, had NEVER read any of his books--except for a few choice article in the Total Money Makeover--and was not a regular listener to Ramsey's show. I don't know about you, but if I was going to write an article trashing someone's views, I'd want to do a lot of research and read a lot on what that person said.)
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