Buying at a consignment store

Consignment stores are great places to look for bargains.

Clothes, electronics, bikes, books, etc. can all be had for mere dollars.

Simply put, if you're looking for something in particular, or are looking for a bargain on something, don't forget consignment stores.

Wedding dresses can also be had there.  When brand new dresses are several hundred dollars, these gently-worn bargains can be snatched up for around $100.

What does pre-certified mean?

I was recently in the process of upgrading my old Verizon LG flip phone to something newer--and that's a story for another day--when I came across "pre-certified" phones.

Then, I got to thinking: what in the world is pre-certified?

Pre-certified is a fancy term for . . . used.

But used doesn't necessarily mean it's bad.  The phones are supposed to go through a rigorous inspection, and functionally they work.  Instead, there may be a cosmetic defect, like a small scratch.  It's up to you on whether or not to go with pre-certified or new.

Then again, when it comes to cars, used is typically what most people go with.  Why would cell phones be any different?

Is lending to a friend ever a good idea?

A friend may come over to borrow your new power tool, or a new movie or book, or even some kitchen utensil and we don't think anything of it.  But if it's money, then the entire interaction feels different.

Is borrowing money to a friend ever a good idea?

Many may be inclined to say "Of course, if my friend needs help."  But is borrowing the right thing?

The best thing for your friend is to look into why they're asking for money.  Did he/she get laid off and has been unable to find work?  Did they just find out a close family member has cancer and had to help out this family member, even though their own financial picture isn't all that bright?

If someone is in trouble, then just giving them money could be the best solution.  Otherwise, you'll be looked upon as a sort of banker to them and they know they have to pay it back.  And no friendship, if it's worth anything, is worth this.

How to gain knowledge without having to go to a classroom

While I was growing up, if you wanted to take on a field of study, for the most part you had to go to school.

At least, that's what I thought.  How wrong I was!

Earl Nightingale once said that if you spend fifteen minutes a day reading up on your current field of study, in just a few years you will become an expert.  This type of learning requires a commitment to learn something every single day, for . . . fifteen minutes.

What are you interested in learning about?

The field of knowledge is practically endless, and you shouldn't have any excuse for not doing so.  When I was growing up, I went to the local library at least once a week.  And today, with the advent of the internet, anything can be researched.

Listen to your favorite podcast every single day.

Read a few blog posts--ones that stimulate your mind, not fill your head full of garbage and mindless banter.

Take the time to do it.

 You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Graduate school doesn't guarantee anyone a job. Do it for the right reasons.

I have a bachelor's degree from Bemidji State University.  Although I have a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology, the degree itself doesn't guarantee me a job.

Neither does graduate school.  In the news lately, more and more graduates are finding themselves disappointed that the supposed truth of graduate school guaranteeing them a job is all a myth.

There have been times when I've thought about going back to graduate school, but two things have held me back: first, I didn't have the money to do it, and I certainly wasn't going to take on more student loan debt; second, I didn't have a good enough reason to go to graduate school.  I've always wanted to be a writer, but having a Masters in Creative Writing never would've guaranteed me that my book would be published.  The only way I could control that is plain hard work over time.

There's nothing wrong with education, learning to expand your current knowledge base, and also nothing wrong with going to graduate school.  But do it for the right reasons.

Do I need to get a student loan to go to college?

Do you need a student loan in order to go to college?

The short answer: NO!

Today, more and more college graduates find themselves in so much student loan debt that it's extremely overwhelming.  Think about it for a minute: you go to school for four years, rack up $40-$60K in student loan debt . . . all for a $35K/year job.  How ridiculous!

I'm not being hypocritical.  I have a pile of student loan debt I'm working on paying down too.  The financial aid office made it so easy for me to take as much money as I could, not even once telling me that I had to pay it all back.

And don't even think about filing for bankruptcy, in order to erase your student loan debt.  This type of debt doesn't qualify to be forgiven due to bankruptcy.

What I suggest is, if your parents aren't able to pay for college, save as much as you can ahead of time and, even while going to school, do that little four-letter word called . . . WORK!

When a collection agency gets abusive

You get a phone call from a debt collector and they get abusive.  What do you do?

Simple: hang up on them.  Don't take their crap.  THEN . . . get a recording device (like an answering machine with a recording feature) and the next time they call, advise them that you are recording it.  If they start swearing or making false accusations, keep it and advise the FTC.

Get familiar with the FTC's Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.  Here is a link to their PDF publication.

A debt collector's job is to get money from you.  They will also try to guilt you into giving them your bank account number or credit card number.  Don't do this, under any circumstances.

**Please keep in mind, the advice given above is only my opinion, and your situation may be different so it would be adviseable to seek legal counsel**