It’s My Imagination

Start Your Own Wireless Dealership For Less Than $300!!!

November 27, 2009 on 7:06 pm | In Finance | Comments Off

This is a sponsored guest post written by Tom Rose on behalf of Big Cell Phone Cash. Post powered by Sponzai.

Become a wireless phone CEO for less than a $300 investment. No overhead, no inventory, no credit check or background checks on new dealers and activate and sell all your inventory directly from the internet! Give away phones to your customers! Your customers don’t even need credit to sign up for this non-prepaid program! Bad Credit? No Credit? No Problem!

Go To: http://www.bigcellphonecash.com/551.html

And Learn More!

Getting Finances in Order Without Government Bailout

January 19, 2009 on 5:16 pm | In Finance | Comments Off

I have to say, I’ve all but stopped watching the evening news because of all the negative news, particularly in regards to the economy. I receive my 401k statements in the mail and my retirement funds are taking a nose dive. The company my husband works for has stopped giving quarterly bonuses. I was laid off from my job in October (the good news is that I was just called back). I see on the news that people across the country are losing their homes and that mortgages, auto loans and credit card applications are being scrutinized in a way never before seen. I don’t need the nightly news to tell me things are bad, I see it every where I turn.

I think the one thing I’ve been able to take away from all that I’ve seen and heard is that it is crucial that we be our own financial advisors and seek help when we need to from the professionals. No matter how much professional help we get though, it’s up to us to get our finances in order and keep them there. There are of course many ways to do this such as diversifying our retirement portfolios and possibly even refinancing our mortgages to get lower rates and/or reduced monthly payments.

Another option that many people over look is reviewing our credit cards. Of course it’s important to review monthly statements for accuracy, but it’s also a good idea to review features of any credit card such as interest rate, annual fees and loyalty programs. These points are always good to review whether applying for a new card or considering what to do with a current account.

So, while I do have a professional reviewing my 401K and IRA, I am responsible for ALL of my financial decisions, including my credit cards. This really is an excellent time to get your finances in order and because we’re sure not getting any government bailout, but who knows, if we all get our finances cleaned up, maybe the economy will start to turn around.

Online Product Reviews

January 8, 2009 on 12:00 am | In Finance, technology | Comments Off

I find it amazing to think about all the things that can be done simply by having an internet connection. Really, think about it. There is so much information waiting for us on the world wide web and all we have to do is type a word or phrase in a little box and press enter. The list of possible search results could be endless and it could be a real time saver to know which links to click on and which could be useless information. This is exactly where a service such as HottestProducts.net can come into play because they have reviews of just about any online product or service that you could possibly think of.

Have a New Year’s resolution to go on a diet? Check their website for reviews on all the latest online dieting programs. Another big resolution is to get your finances in order. If you need help with that, check out the reviews on Credit Repair Programs to give you a head start on meeting your goal. Need your horoscope? Find the best place to get it online by reading a review first. How about your dog, does he need training and you don’t know how to go about it? Check the reviews at HottestProducts.net and you’ll get help.

There really are so many great products and services at our fingertips.  It’s nice to be able to read a product review to help consumers make informed decisions before making purchases.

Hilton Hires Back

January 5, 2009 on 9:25 am | In Finance | 4 Comments

I’ve been hesitant to say anything, but last month I received a letter from Hilton Reservations and Customer Care saying they were hoping to be rehiring trainees in January or February.  If I was interested in returning to Hilton, I simply needed to send them an email stating so.

Well, I sent them my email saying yes of course I was interested and the very next day I received an email reply giving me my rehire date!  I am scheduled to go into the office day after tomorrow to complete rehire paperwork and then I will start my final 3 weeks of training next Monday, one week from today.

I’ve really been nervous about saying anything because it seems that the economy is certainly not getting any better and I keep waiting for Hilton to say they’ve made a mistake.  Then again, perhaps they’ve simply had a reduction in work force due to people voluntarily leaving the company and they need to hire replacements.  Either way, I’m in the first class to be called back.  I will be very interested to see what other familiar faces are in my class and which ones opted not to return.

Wish me luck!

Olan Mills UK Takes Its Final Photograph

December 30, 2008 on 9:33 am | In Finance | Comments Off

Another retailer bites the dust.  Olan Mills, headquartered in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, UK, has ceased operations and asked to have an administrator appointed (similar to bankruptcy in the U.S).

Olan Mills is a proffessional photography studio where families have been going for over 25 years to have family portraits made.  All photography sessions had to be paid in advance and the company continued doing business up until Boxing Day.  All of those individuals who received pre-paid portrait gift certificates may be holding worthless paper.  They must now apply for a refund directly from the administrator and are not guarenteed to receive anything.

At this point in time, the downfall of Olan Mills in the UK has not affected Olan Mill U.S.A.  These two companies, while sharing the same name, have been operated as two completely separate companies.

Passing By Louis Vuitton and Saks

December 29, 2008 on 5:27 pm | In Finance | Comments Off

My daughter and I headed out today, gift cards in hand, shopping list at the ready, to purchase those accessories and what-nots that we didn’t get for Christmas. We decided to venture out of our comfort zone and visit a shopping center we’d never been to before, mainly because it had an Apple store location and she was looking for accessories for her mp3 player.

We were very surprised upon arriving to see that it was a regular shopping mall, not exactly what we were expecting. Then, upon entering the mall we discovered most of the stores inside were quite upscale including Saks Fifth Avenue and a Louis Vuitton store. We did quickly find the Apple store, but they were sold out of the cases my daughter was looking for and then just strolled around getting sticker shock at just about everything we looked at.

With the economy the way it is, it didn’t surprise me to see so few people in the mall and most of the stores. Although the Dallas area as a whole has not been hit as hard as other areas of the country, people are certainly watching their money more closing and not spending. Many people have found themselves carrying too much debt and are now risking job loss or have all ready lost their jobs. The job market is uncertain and again, causes people to stress over how they’re going to pay their bills.

Perhaps, rather than being out shopping, many people were looking into IVA, a formal a legally binding agreement between debtors and creditors, which allows people to make as large of payments as they can afford, the most important thing being that payments are being made. The IVA can be the best option for creditors because they are more likely to get payments if a person has not yet filed for bankruptcy, and for debtors, it is simply a positive approach to fixing a financial situation.

I’m certainly hoping the economy turns around sooner rather than later, but if you’re one of those who may be facing bankruptcy, IVA may be the right move.

Tribune Filing for Bankruptcy?

December 8, 2008 on 12:23 pm | In Finance | Comments Off

Looks like we’re in for another round of bankruptcies and this time we may see Tribune Co., parent of the Chicago Tribune, filing for Chapter 11.   In addition to owning the Chicago paper, Tribune Co., also owns the Los Angeles Times, as well as several other newspapers, plus the Chicago Cubs major league baseball time and the stadium they play in, Wrigley Field.

Tribune Co., has hired financial advisors to look into ways of restructuring their current debt which is in the neighborhood of $12 billion.  Advertising revenue, a mainstay of revenue for  newspapers, has been on a steady decline over the last few years.

Is print news going the way of the dinosaur?

The Season of Giving

November 22, 2008 on 8:38 am | In Family, Finance | Comments Off

With the economy the way it is, many of us find ourselves cutting back on things that affect our household budgets. This time of year remains, however, the Season of Giving and a time of charity. There are almost daily reminders arriving in the mailbox of worthwhile charities, save the planet, save the animals, save the children. It is up to us to find something we are passionate about and lend our help. With that in mind, I hope you will read the following press release and visit Christmas For Payatas, watch the YouTube video on their site, and consider helping the children of Payatas, Philippines who are living in absolutely deplorable conditions.

The landfill in Payatas, The Philippines, is notoriously known the world over as Smokey Mountain. For over 35 years, the smoking dump site has grown to become a stark and heart-tugging reminder of the desperate onditions of humanity.

On a daily basis, children pick through newly arrived garbage to
collect material to sell. The earnings made by one child are not enough to even buy food for the day. Hence, entire families are forced to climb the mountain each day, hoping to earn enough to feed everyone. Children as young as four years old are forced to work in this daily struggle for survival.

In response to the plight of these children, Totedaddy.com is working with Lighthouse Center For Children Foundation to bring a little cheer to the children this Christmas.

Totedaddy.com has kicked off with a cash sponsorship of USD 10,000 to enable the children to celebrate Christmas. FusionExcel International has also pitched in a USD 5,000 in cash sponsorship. The money raised
will help fund the projects already in place, and help fund additional projects aimed at providing better housing, and a means of livelihood for the Payatas community.

It is hoped that by creating better awareness to the plight of these children, more support can be garnered towards their betterment. Together we can bury poverty!

Wall Street Pays Bonuses After Bailout

October 28, 2008 on 10:15 am | In Finance | Comments Off

As if hearing about how our economy is on the verge of a recession isn’t bad enough, we had to watch as our government gave billions of our tax dollars to Wall Street companies, bailing them out of their own demise.    Now, just as many predicted, these same Wall Street companies are paying out big bonuses, in fact, estimates are that $70 million will be paid out in bonuses to those very people that caused the downfall.  WTH?!

All this while I get a bill for higher property taxes.  Who may I ask is coming to bail me out?

10 Good Things to Come From a Recession

October 27, 2008 on 10:58 am | In Finance | 1 Comment

1. Cheaper Gas Prices
2. Safer Banking Practices
3. Car makers actually working on production of alternative fuel vehicles, not just talking about it anymore.
4. Lower interest rates.
5. Lower home prices (this is good only if you happen to be in the market, not so good if you’re a current homeowner watching the market value of your home decline)
6. Good deals to be found on the stock market
7. Technology continues to get better while prices continue to get lower.
8. Food prices shouldn’t be rising too much more.
9. Election is almost here and, no matter what, there should be some economic stability once the election is done.
10. There are bargains to be found for holiday gift buying!