Give Change Credit

A perpetual state of indebtedness is like an untreated state of depression.
It rarely gets better without powerful meds or therapy of some description and the longer the malady lingers, the more imprisoned the state of mind becomes.

So the question is....

Am I used to my cell?
(I am personally aware of daily life in "debtor's prison". The semantics may be argued but the state of mind cannot.)

Sadly, the answer is yes.
Am I still hopeful of someday escaping?

Sadly, the answer is more often "sometimes" rather than "definitely"....at least these days.

As Congress questions Wall Street and Wall Street starts locking up early, the normally cozy relationship of politics and the economy is becoming increasingly estranged (at least publicly) and the average debt-beleaguered man and woman on the street are wondering just how hard (not if) the #*~@ is going to hit the fan.

I know that no one person holds the key to the door that unlocks this complex puzzle,that said, I do have faith in the mobilizing power of an Obama led Washington-culture-change to improve the daily economics for more Americans than I do in anyone else in the presidential race.

At his Springfield Old Capitol Plaza introduction of Joe Biden as his running mate, I happily endured a day of constant sun and heat to lay eyes once more on a man whose message reawakens a nugget of hope within me that things really could change - and even - be better.

One must hope.
So maybe I can try....at least until November 5, 2008

Suzette

What They Say

Okay - the lesson for today is: Don't Ask (for money) so they won't TELL you--
stupid stuff like the following:

They say.....
* Well, Can't you get a loan?
(DUH! Anyone out there hear of a tricky thing like "credit score"??)
* Why can't your sons just get student loans?
(HUllo Again! Attention, please....the notion that Uncle Sam stands at the ready with large fistfulls of money waiting to hand over to your young Johnny and Samantha is Bullshit - okay? SOMEtimes, if the grades are good enough, etc. etc....it's not a blank check waiting to happen. This is one of many HUGE mis-assumptions.)
* You just need to be more careful with your money.
(HMMMmmm. Yeah,that works. Why didn't I think of that? Silly Me. I've just been so busy with paying late fees and juggling the "who shall we pay this month" stack of envelopes, I overlooked the obvious!)
* You shouldn't have gotten into so much debt.
(OK - yes - this IS a no-brainer....how,exactly is it helpful to remind me?)
* Just keep persevering - 'what doesn't kill you will just make you stronger.'
(Say that to my ashes.)

Please! If you can't lend me money - at LEAST give me a break with the suggestions on how I can NOT be in this state to begin with.

Really, REALLY Stressed Suzette

Toby Deserves Credit

This post has nothing to do with credit woes or owes.
It is merely to say, Thank God for dogs.<blockquote>

I had to bid a loving, but sorrowful farewell to our family dog of 16 years on Friday.
In his last months, getting up and down had become a huge ordeal...the atrophy of muscles was so severe. At 63 pounds, he was a champion to the end--hauling himself (often with the help of me or my sons) to his feet to enter or exit the house - belated, usually, to relieve himself.

Toby was always an independent..verging on unmanageable spirit. But early training with me by his side (as opposed to the other way around) made us especially close. In his first eight or nine years, he was my regular running companion. Some of our favorite outings were to a camping park about 45 minutes from our home where we would explore hilly trails by a lake. He was important enough to be named in my divorce agreement - because neither my ex or myself could bear the thought of not being with him.

Toby was an Australian blue heeler & hound mix. His black/gray coat mixed with brown and tan markings made him a truly handsome dog. He was ravenous throughout his life -even to the point of eating rocks as a puppy! On Friday, I stayed with him and stroked his ultra soft short, merle coat while the veterinarian helped ease him into the next world. I miss him beyond words...but I make this attempt anyway, because he was my best friend - and I hope that he considered me the same.

You were the best, Toby.
Love,
Suzette

Mental Travelocity?

Travel Challenged. I am SOOOO TC! This HAS to be one of the highest ranking stressors to the PWBC (people with bad credit - in case you're just now tuning in) -- okay, well at least it is for me!
My new version of "living large" in this destination-void life of mine is the Travel Channel!

But how far can you actualy go when you're still, face it - in your living room~! Before I had the giant debt and the devoid-of-frills lifestyle, I'm not claiming travel maniac status - no "round the world" jaunts or anything--but after traveling in Europe during my college days, I did get to visit Greece for about 10 days, and perpetually have dreamed all of my life of somehow hooking up with someone with whom regular travel would be a staple.

These days, though- it takes a lot more creative effort to make that "trip in my head" even vaguely realistic.
However, with a new recipe for something with a little Mexican flair, my son's bottle of "Red Hot" - there's bound to be something on cable SOMEwhere that's set in a sunny, aquatic corner of the world - and at least there's no airline hassles or packing regulations to endure either....

Now where did I put my sunglasses? (oh yes - and screw the spf!! : )
Suzette

Elaine said it best - "Sponge Worthy"

Elaine - perhaps my favorite New Yorker ever - identified the status best with her "sponge worthy" description that ranked the quickly fading supplies of this dynamo of a contraceptive device. Unfortunately, "Credit Worthy" is now an unattainable title that many of us wear in our credit-challenged lives.

Whether you just want that lousy 10 percent off your clothes at the GAP or you're faced with having to replace a worn out vehicle to get you to work and home again in one piece - the UN "credit-worthy" label is degrading and humiliating. I cringe as I internally process my inability to qualify for a stupid home-improvement Menard's Card despite my professional success and personal hard work. It's depressing.

Can I still qualify for "Hope worthy?"
Suzette

Bad Credit Deal Breaker

Even if you disclose your crappy credit status, don't be surprised if it suddenly becomes a "deal breaker!"

Sad to say, though my fiance` was never in the dark about my financial issues, the fear of premature financial ruin overcame his optimism in the end. So why, you may ask, would he make the step towards marriage in the first place?
Uhm...good question.
Check him off the list for "references to count on" needless to say.

Sadly Suzette

Say it ain't so!

Sure there are crashing investment companies....and competent, smart people are losing their very large-salaried jobs. Of course I'm sympathetic...but wait...I'm still floundering here amidst my same-old credit debt! That's right....I'm still making ZERO progress as I tread water in this pool of perpetually suspended interest rates and late fees ad nauseum!

I'm sorry, I'm too busy flailing to worry about you folks! At least you had your feet actually touching the ground, stocks in your portfolios, and options out the wazoo! I can't even get a teeny tiny mortgage loan to buy a house so that I don't continue to toss away the precious $1,000s of dollars on rent every year!

No - I don't want your pity...but hey - a few $100 - yes, I'll take that!
Ok- work calls...that's all I need - to goof off and lose that!

Suzette