Fits of Rage!

Yesterday the new credit card restrictions took effect so, of course, the AP is buzzing with news on how the credit cards have reacted and what the effect will be on America. Doom-gloom, awfulness, end of the world type stuff. The more I read, the more upset I get over many different things:

• How can people be so awful to one another for money?
  
• How come it took the government so long to put this regulations on them?
• Why I am I wondering why the government took so long to regulate them? It's the government.
  
• How did America as a whole become so dependent on the use of credit?
• Why do people think that have to suffer this foolishness?
  

One of the members of the Financial Peace class that my husband and I teach sent me an AP article that was meant to sum up the new changes/regulations, and as I read it I was astounded that an educated individual would believe some of what they wrote (I'm talking about the journalist, not my class member). Here is the article: My Way News - Mixed blessing: credit card reform may shock some.

The article does a good job of discussing the new law, explaining how the card companies are reacting, and giving background on the situation as a whole, but when I got to the part that talks about "subprime borrowers" my hackles went up. The author writes, "for a good portion (subprime borrowers), options may be limited to alternatives like PayPal and other electronic services, prepaid cards, and payday lenders." Payday lenders!!! Seriously?!? Don't these individuals that no longer qualify for credit have another option? PAY CASH!!! Stop depending on a credit card company to cover you. If you don't have the cash, don't buy it. Plan ahead and save money. In the case of an emergency (which there will always be) have an emergency fund and use that. Don't have enough cash flow to save? Read, learn, and apply yourself towards a better life. There is always a way.

As quoted in the article, Roger C. Hochschild, COO of Discover Financial Services says, "Not everyone either deserves or should have an open-ended credit card." I wholeheartedly agree with his words, but not his intention. No one deserves a credit card. No one deserves to pay a company 24-26% interest. No one deserves to pay an annual fee for the privilege of owing money. No one deserves to be a slave to these corporate giants with no soul. It is just not worth it.

As of yesterday, my husband and I are debt free. We have worked for 3 years to pay off the $73,000 in consumer debt that we blindly walked into, and we most definitely did not blindly walk out of it. We were passionate and driven, and my biggest wish is that all of America could see how green this side of the fence is. I find it ironic that our debt ended on the day that these regulations took effect, and I am so thankful that we don't have to mess with this nightmare anymore, but we work daily with individuals still battling with these all too real demons.

If you, or any one you know needs help with their financial situation, read all you can about these new laws and how they might effect you. Here are some resources that I have found and I will continue to post more as I find them. If any of you find any good resources, send them my way and I'll get them up.

Resources on new CARD law:
SmartMoney Magazine - article giving some detail on the changes in the regulations.
Consumer's Union - Nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports detailing new protections.
Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 - .pdf of the act

Resources for credit card abuse and fraud:
Federal Trade Commmission - become informed or report abuse from credit card companies and collectors.
Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act - .pdf of the act

Ash Wednesday

What a great day. I'm Episcopal. I used to be atheist. Long story, I'll save it for another day. For today, I'm loving Ash Wednesday. For those of you who don't know, this is a day when people in the Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran (and possibly other) faiths go to church and get marked with the sign of the cross on their forehead. According to wiki (and the faith the I follow) the purpose of this bizarre ritual is to "Turn away from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel," but this is not why I love this day.

Everywhere I went today I saw a bunch of people with ash crosses on their heads, and everywhere I went today I saw a bunch of people looking at the people with ash crosses on their heads. What I saw everywhere was people with the courage to wear their faith on the face, and others who wondered what it was for. Every year on this day, I get to see the courage that people have to show what they believe in, in as open and honest a way as possible. What I love most about this day, is that people believe in something and are willing to back it up with action.

How often do we shy away from our feelings, beliefs, and interpretations because we are afraid to look silly to someone else? I'm not saying 'we' as in 'we fellow Christians,' I'm saying 'we' as in 'we human beings'. Way too many people are afraid to say what they think and why they think it. If you are human, you have an opinion. If you are human, you have a right to that opinion. Say it, spout it, shout it from the rooftops! Believe what you believe and have the courage of conviction to back it up! I don't care whether it is in faith in God & Jesus, a belief that there is no God, a belief in inalienable rights, democratic leanings, republican leanings, veganism, feminism, or The Flying Spaghetti Monster. What I care about is that you are passionate enough to share your thoughts and feelings, and to have open conversation with those that both agree and disagree. Today, in my faith, is a day to repent for your sins and prepare for your journey into the Lenten season, but it's also a wonderful day to see that there are those people out there that aren't afraid to show what they believe in. Go Ashey people!!!

Simplicity

So I've been having trouble figuring out what to write on my 'blog'. I keep coming up with ideas, but the then I don't think that I actually want to write about it. Then I think I figured out why I'm having issues: I made it too specific. This is supposed to be about new beginnings and the unfinished business of life. Why did I make it so specific? I thought it would make a cute title :)

Well, in the true spirit of things, I'm going to change it. Instead I want to write about whatever I want to write about, whenever I want to write about it. This is my blog, and I'm gonna do it (but the name will stay the same).

Ironically, this post is about a new beginning. Every year about this time, a whole bunch of people around the world do a really bizarre thing: we give up something for 40 days in order to refocus our intentions and focus on our faith. We have a big party on Shrove Tuesday (pancakes and yummy goodness), then we take on a discipline of giving something up, or taking something on. This year, my husband is giving up eating meat (which in turns makes me give it up since I cook), and I'm giving up DVDs. Since we've been on the Dave Ramsey program we haven't had cable, and we don't own rabbit ears, so the only TV entertainment I have are my movies and TV series on DVD. I'm addicted. I like having the noise on in the background, but it makes me highly unproductive. This year, without TV of any sort, I hope to get in better shape, read more, write more (did I mention that I'm writing a novel?), and in general regrasp my intellegence. Beginning on Wednesday the 17th of February I will begin the annual Lenten Journey that I have taken on every year that I can remember. Some years I make it the whole 40 days, some years I fall short (like the year I gave up caffeine). Will I make it this year? I know the suspense is killing you, but you'll just have to stay posted and find out :)