Sexual Predators are a very big concern in this neighborhood. Not too long ago it was discovered that one of the “new” neighbors that had just moved in down the road about a half-mile had recently been released from jail, having served time for inappropriate contact with a minor. Megan’s Law has made is possible for people to find out if there are sexual predators in their neighborhoods, which I think is a very important thing to know. There is a new website that has been set up at registeredsexualpredators.org to help people find out details about sexual predators in their neighborhood. The more tools the community has like this website, the better!
I was noticing that many leaves are starting to turn already. It hardly seems fair, summer is way too short! Although the autumn leaves are very pretty around here, I would not mind it very much if autumn waited a few extra months to come! I guess its just that the leaves turning is a grim reminder of the long cold winter that is just around the corner. And yes, with winter is Christmas, and I enjoy Christmas, but I don’t much enjoy paying the heating bills! With the price of fuel continuing to skyrocket, I can only imagine how much money it will cost to keep warm this winter!
Debt negotiation also referred to as debt settlement is an alternative to bankruptcy. If you have tried out debt consolidation but failed to get the desired results, you may opt for debt negotiation. You can hire the services of a debt negotiation company to reduce your debts.
In a debt negotiation process, the negotiating company negotiates with the creditors to reduce the outstanding balance. As much as 40% to 60% of the debt amount is reduced by debt negotiation.
The debtor stops making payments to the creditors directly, instead he makes payments to the debt negotiating company. Once the debt negotiating company has received about 50% of the debt amount from the debtor, it initiates negotiation with the creditors and settles for a reduced debt amount. By opting for debt negotiation, a debtor is able to become debt free within a span of 12 to 36 months.
Eligibility for availing a debt negotiation program
If you are in debt and fulfill the following conditions, you may avail a debt negotiation program-
• If you are being harassed by debt collectors, you may opt for debt negotiation.
• If you are not comfortable with the interest rates and finding it difficult to pay the debt amount, debt negotiation may be a good alternative.
• Debt negotiation is also a good alternative if you are being threatened by creditors.
• If you are thinking of filing for bankruptcy, try debt negotiation first.
Advantages of debt negotiation
There are many advantages of debt negotiation. Some of the advantages of debt negotiation may be summarized as below-
• The amount that is required to be paid by the debtor is greatly reduced.
• The debtor is in a position to pay off the outstanding balance in a more systematic and orderly manner.
• The collection agencies can be stooped from making harassing calls.
• Finally, the debtor can lead a debt free life.
Disadvantage of debt negotiation
Debt negotiation has one great disadvantage and that is till the time you do not make payments to the creditors, the credit score is lowered to a considerable extent. However, once the debtor starts making payments, the credit score starts improving again.
Debt negotiation can also be done on your own but it has been observed that if you take the help of a debt negotiation company, becoming debt free becomes much easier.
I found a great website that alerts consumers about Black Friday and cyber monday specials well ahead of time to help them plan their holiday shopping schedule. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the busiest shopping days of the year, and a careful shopper needs to plan ahead if they are going to take full advantage of the great deals that are offered at that time. It seems crazy to me that so many stores hold really outrageous sales on those days to attract the huge crowds on that day. I try to avoid leaving the house on Black Friday - I went shopping on ONE Black Friday many years ago and swore I would never do it again - no matter WHAT the bargains were! I hate crowds, and I hate standing in line! And I especially hate when I’m in a crowded store that the crazy people who are hunting for bargains are so rude that they will push and shove and grab things right out of your hands because they want that special item so bad that they will do just about anything for it! That is NOT my idea of the Holiday Spirit!
But, I will take advantage of Cyber Monday specials from places like Linens ‘N Things. I can deal with shopping at home in the comfort of my own little den. There is a website called iblackfriday.com that I found that lists a huge variety of Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials. They will even let you take advantage of Black Friday offers by buying them online so you don’t have to stand in line at the store! So I guess Cyber Monday will be extended to Black Friday, too! Anyway, I’m all for ordering online if it means saving hours of my time and miles on my car (saving gasoline) and not having to deal with trying to find a place to park in an overcrowded parking lot!
I have finally decided to splurge and put in an electric garage door opener. I have always wanted one, but have put off buying one, feeling like it was an extravagance. Well, I have come home late after dark to a dark house once too often! I’m tired of coming home unexpectedly late and having no outside lights on to help me find my way in the house, and using a flashlight to find my way to the door and unlocking it. I’m going to really enjoy having the ability to pull into the driveway and push a button and have the garage door open by itself and lights come on to help me find my way into the house without having to use a flashlight!
I was reading the SJA Mobile site today about mobile telephones and was surprised to see that in their “Latest News” segment of their website is a link to blog that is talking about holding a brownie contest! I have no idea what a brownie contest has to do with mobile phones, but I did find it a refreshing change on the site to be talking about something not quite so technology based! I’m all for technology, but let’s face it, brownies are yummy!
When my grandfather was in his 70’s he retired from work and started to teach himself how to oil paint. He painted hundreds of landscapes, based on photographs and picture postcards that people sent him. They were really good paintings, and I loved to see them when I went to his house. When he passed away, I asked my aunt if I could have some of his paintings as remembrances and she said no. I was very disappointed. A few months ago she surprised me by shipping me about six of his paintings to me! I love them and have them hanging in my living room in the place of honor above my sofa!
Do you realize that Christmas is only a little more than four months away? I’m not one of those “wait until the last minute” types to do my Christmas shopping - I plan for the next Christmas on December 26th! I do know, however, that there are always great deals to be had on Black Friday and cyber monday. I often don’t even use those deals for Christmas shopping however (my Christmas shopping is usually done by then!) but I DO take advantage of those sales for thing that I want for myself, or for birthday gifts (for birthdays that are coming up in the winter months!)
There is a website called blackfriday.biz that lists black friday and cyber monday ads well in advance of the actual dates. This is great because it helps me plan out if I want to brave the crowds for any reason. I know that a lot of people LOVE to shop on black friday, but I tend to avoid the crowds and take advantage of cyber monday instead. I was just looking at their ad for the Circuit City’s cyber monday offers, and will be giving that some consideration for my electronics wish list!
In the Central Maine area, there is usually about a seven to ten cents a gallon price difference in gasoline between the two cities of Waterville and Augusta. Waterville is usually more expensive. I’ve been told that the reason is that it costs more money to deliver gas to Waterville, and that is the reason for the price difference. These two cities are so close together that I think that is a load of hogwash! I think that there is something much more along the lines of “illegal price fixing” going on. It has always been this way, however, and I am sure there is nothing I can do about it other than to always try to buy my gas in Augusta!
Sandy called me last night; all excited about how she has scheduled herself for eye Lasik in San Francisco for next month. I’m really happy for her! I’d love to have that done myself, but my doctor told me that because I have a condition that he calls “Lazy eye” I need to have prism in my lenses, which he said cannot be addressed by surgery, and that I would need to wear glasses anyway for reading and computer work. Well, that’s pretty much my entire life! So I’ll be glad if and when they can refine the surgery so I can have it done myself!