What makes you?  I mean what truly makes who you are?  Is it stuff?  Expensive stuff?  Impressive stuff?  Flashy stuff?  Maybe money?  It may even be your job.

Many people lives their lives trying to impress others and, in some cases, trying to impress themselves. Whether it is flashy friends they are trying to impress, fancy clothes, big houses or fast, shiny cars.  Many live beyond their means just to impress others.

What this typically means is debt and/or a loss for what their financial future could be.  Whether keeping up to impress the Jones’ or trying to impress someone they meet on the street people, and maybe you, are missing what could have been.

I find it fun to be sitting at a stop light and next to a flashy, shiny new car.  In many cases you can safely assume that the driver, by his or her actions, is trying to impress.  As we wait for the light to change, our eyes meet.  His or hers seem to say, “Man, you know I look good in this car”.  My thought is more, “I am sure glad I do  not have that payment”!

What truly makes you?  The things?  Relationships?  What is it and what kind of control does it have on you?

Wow, Congress just keeps helping by adding more rules. This weekend the remaining new credit card rules took affect. Yesterday, while listening to the radio, I learned from those being interviewed that the consumer finally had the upper hand. Really? Let’s give it some time.

These new rules are going to make many happy. Now, they can no longer charge you a late fee in excess of $25. Great! However, if you are late more than twice in a six month period that amount can be bumped to $35. You better make sure it is there in PLENTY of time to be counted.

There is one change that I like – the Inactivity Fee is dead! No longer can they charge you a fee when you do not use the piece of plastic over an extended time. That is good news. It will be even better when more people begin to see if this rule really works by cutting up, shelving, freezing or just plainly avoids using the card(s).

Here’s hoping these rules, combined with the earlier rules implemented and February 2010 and earlier last year will help Americans get away from debt and living by sound financial principles. I have my doubts.

This morning the unemployment numbers were announced that indicate and increase in the number of first-time filers when projections were for a reduction in that number.  It seems as if the numbers keep bouncing back and forth and there is no real progress in getting people back to work.

Many are now in a position to where their positions are no longer there.  Like many manufacturing positions over the last couple of decades, many jobs may be lost and will never return.  Those affected will need to look at retooling or retraining to find a position in the workforce.

But what about you and that business you have always wanted?  What about you taking the steps now to move you into that role you have sought?  So many people are now frozen, like a deer in the headlights, because they do not have a plan B.  What is your plan B?  C? D? …..

Now is the time to get moving.  Don’t wait on someone else’s approval.  Go for it.

We tend lose sight and remembrance of things in our past.  Despite the continual efforts of a government leaders to lenthen this recovery, we will recover.  The question is what our workforce will look like then.  Many companies have started in the rubble of an economic downturn.  When I was in high school in the late 70’s and early 80’s, most had never heard of the personal computer.  Most were unaware and afraid of computers.  And while IBM was developing this machine that would help businesses, a few guys were getting their heads together and dreaming about what could be.  Today, Apple and Microsoft are household names.

I am so glad the economic collapse of those years did not stop them from pursuing what they did.  Wow, look at the money they have made for themselves (Gates, Jobs, et al), as well as those who have invested in those companies since then.

What are you waiting on?

Most males in this country will recognize the name Joe Gibbs.  Whether on the football field or from NASCAR racing, Joe Gibbs has been a Sunday afternoon name that many men will recognize.  He has successfully coached his Redskins to a Super Bowl Championship and also adds three NASCAR Championship to his name.  To many, this will make him successful.  However, Joe uses Game Plan For Life to share with all of us that the NFL and NASCAR is not all there is.

In this book, Joe has led a group of Godly men to share with all readers, not just males, that there is something to this life and something after.  Respected in their own fields, each man shares his belief on his specialty.  Men like Josh McDowell, Don Meredith, Ron Blue, Randy Alcorn and many others are helping men as they live this life God has given them and challenge them of what is fter like here.

I found this book  a very easy and interesting read.  In most cases, I agreed with the direction of the articles and found that the agreement may have allowed me to read it much fastre than typical.

In the end, I would recommend this book to any one and especially to any guy who loves football and/or Nascar and can respect a man like Joe Gibbs and what God has done in his life.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote and suggested that people really look at the mortgage modification process as being a tool that might be right for them.  Honestly, many of my clients have been through the process and, while it has been long and painful, have been modified to a plan that really works for them.  But, that is not always the case.

Right now, I have a client who has been in the process since spring.  They have delivered the paperwork that has been requested and many times redelivered it – multiple times.  Many times it has seemed as if the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.  In this clients case, while going through the modification process, their home has been started down the foreclosure process.  Twice, the lender has been requested to hold the foreclosure since they were, in good faith, being modified.  The second request was not even answered and the process was moving forward today – even after the mortgage company asked for and received a large amount of good-faith or catchup money.

This couple is in the place now to be able to make a modified payment.  Things have changed for them, income related, that would allow them to keep the home.  The mortgage company has decided, knowingly or through the bureaucratic mess, to move forward with a foreclosure.  You would think they have enough homes on their books to want to work with people who can, with a little help, finish paying for their home.  Guess that is wishful thinking.

What has your experience been?