Get Involved

We seem to be well-blessed with writers' clubs in the Nottingham area. Of course, we have a rich literary heritage around here with the likes of D.H. Lawrence and Alan Sillitoe. Whether that has anything to do with it I don't know.

I'm a member of two clubs.

Trowell Writers is a twenty minute walk from my house and takes place in the organiser's living room. Every other Monday we start by reading our latest piece of poetry or prose and then take part in a couple of exercises.

Nottingham Writers' Club meets on the first and third Wednesday of every month at the old Nottingham Mechanics Institute which is now a social club. On the first Wednesday we have a guest speaker, usually an author, journalist or publisher. Our second meeting of the month is where we can bring along our work to read out and get feedback from the other members.

The two clubs have widely differing resources and are run along completely different lines so I get a wide range of benefits from them both. I would strongly encourage anyone who writes to join a club. Writing need not be a lonely occupation. If you can't get to meetings many of them (including the two mentioned above) run associate membership where you get a newsletter and are allowed to enter the in-house competitions. If there are no clubs nearby why not start one? You don't have to be affiliated to any organisation and you can run them to your own agenda. Just get together with some like-minded friends and swap ideas. You won't regret it.

Aswang in Panay Island

Panay Island consisted the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo. The famous Aswang was said to be living in this part of the archipelago. Capiz was known for the flying vampires - manananggal, and Maria Labo was said to originate from this province. While in Iloilo, Tiniente Gimo is popular. Aklan and Antique was also known with this vampiric creatures. People living there, especially in Capiz, were superstitious. They even still put garlic, or anything that can repel these notorious creatures, on there doors or windows.

Ilonggos were famous with their soft dialect. They even say, when Ilonggos were angry, instead of yelling at you, they seemed not, as if they're talking to you normally. So how did these soft spoken people became renowned of scary beings? Well, at day, aswangs look simple, friendly and kind, opposite to what they were at night. Do you think they were just disguising? Hiding something inside? I'm afraid its not the reason why.

Encounter Stories

The Aswang Family by: Pitbuller This particular story happened when my mother was still in college. My mom was invited by one of her college roommates to spend their vacation at her house near a beach. It was a typical but nice two-level house in the province. Made of nipa, it was quite spacious with a nice deck on the upper level. The bedrooms of course were located on the second floor and to get to bathroom, you had to cross all the way to the other side of the second floor. When they arrived at her friend's house, my mom noticed that her friend's parents looked sick. They were both lying on the bed and they barely moved as if they really looked like they only had a few days to live. My mom politely greeted them and then she and her friend went to their room. She freshened up at the bathroom and then she unpacked her things. What was weird was, at a dusk, she saw her friend's parents walking along the coastline. My mom was of course stunned because she was sure that they really looked weak and sick when she first saw the couple a few hours ago. So she asked her friend if it was okay for her parents to be out like that. But her friend simply said that her parents were just getting some fresh air outside. According to my momm what was puzzling was, the couple actually looked so much more energetic than they were a few hours ago. So after dinner, my mom and her friend decided to go to bed. They went up to their rooms on the second floor and began to sleep. Sometime during the night or early morning, my mom suddenly woke up with the urge to go to the bathroom. She decided to not wake her friend up and proceed to go to the bathroom herself. Indeed it was so dark so my mom got her flashlight and began to slowly walk towards the bathroom. And to get to the bathroom, she had to pass by the room of her friend's parents. My mom noticed that the door was slightly opened. She peeked inside and what she saw truly frightened her. The old couple was nowhere to be seen. Their window was opened and my mom was positive that the room was empty because of the moonlight passing through the windows. Though my mom was frightened, she still went to the bathroom to relieve herself then made her way back to their room and slept. The next day my mom was still pretty shaken up but decided no to let them know how she felt. She was, of course, having her doubts already about her friend's family. At breakfast, she saw that her friend's parents looked sick and pale again, as if they have a terminal disease in their bodies. Her friend's mother slowly stood up and went to the kitchen. She opened a cupboard and got a small pot inside it that was covered with a white cloth. Then she scooped out some of the contents to a small plate and slowly placed the pot back inside the cupboard. She then offered my mom the contents of it at the dining table. When my mother looked at the plate, what she saw made stomach turn! They looked white intestines or some type of meat. Politely, my mom asked the woman what the food was, but the woman simply said that it was just an ulam (dish) and that my mom should try it. However, she turned down the offer and went straight to her room to pack her things. She said goodbye to her friend, with an excuse that she needed to go home quickly. My mom waited for passing bus and got on it. On the way home, the bus conductor asked my mom, Galing ka ba doon sa bahay nina ******? my mom said yes and told her strange experience in that house to the conductor. Then the conductor said that the family that my mom visited was well known around the area as ferocious Aswangs. My mom was of course totally frightened with conductor's revelation. When she got home finally, my grandmother was really angry at her, and scolded her for going to such place without my grandma's permission. It is common knowledge in our province in Iloilo that aswnags will offer one human flesh if they would like him or her to turn you into aswang. Probably her friend's parents were fond of my mom so they had attempted to turn her into like one of them. And I'm so happy that my mom was able to escape that creepy family.

The story above is a good example of kinds and themes of stories about the Aswangs in Panay. They mainly focus on the experiences of people who were not familiar of villages in Panay. That, for example, a visitor from the city together with his friend went to his family for a vacation. However, the family turns to be a clan of Aswang. Tiniente Gimo's story is the best example of this kind of tales.

Information

Most of the popular tabloid stories are about mysterious things, and one of their main settings was the island of Panay. They often focus on issues which brought fears in the hearts of people. Whenever they hear the place Panay, they would likely conclude that this is the home of Aswang. Not only tabloid stories contribute the fear, but also those published books about them (like that one above), and tales that are passed on by generations to generations.

This belief of Filipinos about Panay Island brought its place as one of the famous and undying urban legends in the Philippines. If this will persist and no one will create conclusions to disprove the existence of Aswang, discriminations and fear will always dwell in everyone's hearts. But I think, beliefs for this monsters will never be destroyed, it will just change.

Me, myself, don't even know if this monster do exist. My parents and grandparents often tell me they were true, that if God, angels, and demons are real, so do Aswangs are.

See Also:

Tiniente Gimo (under Conclusions)

Source:
True Philippine Ghost Stories. PSICOM Publishing Inc.

Tiniente Gimo, the First Aswang

Why did I forgot this famous tale from Iloilo? It was so long since I started my blog, but then I forgot to make an article about Tiniente Gimo. I heard about him in my childhood days, of course, from my grand parents.

Who is Tiniente Gimo

He was called Tiniente (Spanish word which means Lieutenant) because he was actually a Tiniente del Barrio, or what Filipinos, in the present day, refer as the Barangay Chairman, of Dueñas in Iloilo. He may also be a leader of the family of Aswang from which he acquired the title.

Because of the legend about him, many stories made him a antagonist as the blood-sucking villain, a leader of a group and/or clan of Aswangs. Perhaps, the effect of this tales created a bad image to every people, and versions of his story was created.

Actually, there were stories from internet that tell about the experience of their grandparents in his village, that they were certain they were ghoul-vampires, and many more.

The Story

One of the teniente's daughters studied in a university in the city. During a break, this daughter invited two of her classmates to come to her hometown for a visit. The young ladies agreed, excited at the prospect of going to a town they had never visited before. They were greeted with enthusiasm by the teniente's family and as was customary in the Philippines, a small party was prepared. The lady visitors were fed and entertained. As the night grew deeper, one of the young ladies asked (let's call her Juana) what the sleeping arrangements would be. Gimo's daughter said that the visitors would be sharing a room with her. And so off to bed they went. Because they were in a small town, no big beds were available so they all agreed to sleep on mats on the floor. Juana slept in the middle, tucked in between Gimo's daughter and their friend. The two girls soon drifted off to sleep but Juana found that tired as she was, she just couldn't bring herself to sleep. Filipinos refer to this feeling as 'namamahay', which is when your body and mind are still in the process of adjusting to a new environment and thus cannot perform a certain routine. This was what prevented Juana from sleeping. It was also what kept her alive. The party went on outside even as the night deepened but to Juana, instead of fading away, the noise just seemed to get a little bit louder. She heard more people coming, being greeted, there were sounds of suppressed laughter, soft giggles and whispers. "Must be the party for tomorrow," she thought. "They're really throwing a big one." Since she couldn't sleep anyway, Juana decided to get up and take a peek at the activities through the window. When she lifted the cover, what she saw stirred fear in her heart. On the clearing not far from the house, people were gathered together in a circle – a few women were busy cutting spices and vegetables, some men were talking and drinking while others were sharpening knives. There were children as well. And there, through the shrubs, more people were coming. In the middle of the circle was a fire and over the fire was a larger-than-usual iron cauldron. If these people were going to cook, they were going to cook something big – bigger than a full-grown chicken or a goat. Just then, Juana heard Teniente Gimo's voice just on the other side of the wall, talking to another man. "So which one is it?" the man asked. "The one in the middle and the other one's on the right," Teniente Gimo said. "Okay. I'll bring three or four along in case there's a struggle." "Let's just hit her on the head. Keep her quiet that way." "True." "And bring the sack to carry her with. We'll take care of the other one." Juana didn't need to hear any more just to understand what the two men were discussing. The 'one in the middle' they were referring to was her! The fire and the iron cauldron, all those vegetables and spices the women were preparing, the sack… they intended to butcher her and her friend! Juana's survival instinct kicked in. She debated for a while on whether to wake up her friend or not but the men were coming up the stairs and if her friend woke up suddenly, there's no telling what she would say or do. They could both be in bad trouble if she delayed for another second. Juana hurried back to the sleeping girls on the floor, pushed Gimo's daughter towards the middle, lay on the girl's right and covered everyone's head with the wide blanket. That way, the heads were hidden underneath. She tried to calm herself to prevent from shaking. Soon the door opened slowly and noiselessly. Juana didn't know how many men came for Teniente Gimo's daughter that night. All she felt and heard were soft footsteps, a few whispers and a loud thud as they hit the young girl on the head. They were very quiet, as if they were used to doing what they did. They didn't even wake up her friend, who was sleeping so soundly just an arm's length away from Juana. Teniente Gimo's daughter lay moaning next to her. The men quickly wrapped the bleeding girl in the sack and carried her away. After the men had left the room, Juana got up, tried to wake her friend for the last time, failed and decided to go at it alone. She opened the window across the one facing the clearing where they were presently beating the body inside the sack and carefully but fearfully climbed down. As soon as her bare feet touched solid ground, Juana began to run. She didn't care where she was passing through – all she knew was that the main road was in that direction. She hadn't gotten far when she heard shouts and screams from the group. They had opened the sack and found out the terrible mistake they made. Enraged, Teniente Gimo cried for everyone to check the house, find the girl, THE girl they wanted, she who was supposed to be in the middle, she who was supposed to be in the sack, she who was supposed to be the one they should be prepping tonight, she whose throat they should have slit. Behind her, Juana heard the commotion and simply assumed that people were now climbing the stairs, opening the door to the daughter's room and finding that only one was left behind and the other had run away. It would only be a matter of time before they found out where she was headed. So Juana kept on running over the grass, the rocks, the pebbles that cut her feet, the sharp thorns of the shrubs and the slimy dead things underneath her. But those who were in pursuit of her were men – grown men, men taller than she, with longer legs, with strength stolen from the other men and women they had slaughtered before her poor friend. As the men with the torches began to gain on her, Juana felt panic rise from her legs to her heart, threatening to turn her legs to stone. She could never outrun these men and if she could hide, where? They probably knew this area very well and could find her easily. But right in front of her, a tree stood. It was tall enough but not so tall that she couldn't climb it and it looked strong, with a thick truck and even thicker leaves. Juana had no memory of how she managed to climb the tree that night but there she cowered, shaking, mouthing prayers for the Virgin to protect her, to please not let them see her, hear her, smell her. The voices grew nearer and so did the footfalls. Not only the men came in pursuit. There were a few women as well, some of them holding torches, some gripping a thick tree branch and others, still holding on to the knives they used to cut the onions and the tomatoes. Light from the torches illuminated the branches and the leaves of the tree as the mob passed underneath her. If one of them ever looked up… But no one did. The crowd of angry men and women who tried to come after her came and went. They couldn't find her. A few hours later, which seemed an eternity to Juana, they came back again, walking this time, tired and hungry, their torches fading but they came a few feet away, no longer passing under Juana's tree. Although the crowd had gone, Juana stayed hidden in the tree. She waited for the dark sky to turn gray and very carefully, painfully climbed down. No one was in sight and she was too far away to actually hear anything from where Teniente Gimo's hut stood. Besides, it was morning and if they did party on last night, they would be too full and tired to care today. Juana brushed the thought of her other friend, the one she left behind, away and began to run again, towards the main road. At this point, I no longer remember how Juana got help. Maybe she stopped a passing bus or jeepney or maybe a person with a good soul came across the fearful girl with the wild eyes. But she did get help and she did find her way home, safe and alive. She never went back to the town of Dueñas, not even to see if the tree that saved her life still stood. As for Teniente Gimo and his clan of aswangs, it is said that the incident devastated him. It was his own beloved daughter after all. They packed up and abbandoned their home and moved someplace else. Where he and his family are now is only whispered about and whether they are still hunting and luring human prey, it can only be guessed at. Who knows? They could be in your town.

Another version, which is more brief than the latter, and more known by everyone:

Tiniente Gimo's daughter Maria (not her real name) brought his two friends, Jean and Melay (not also there real names) from the city to visit her hometown and her family. They accepted them warmly and served them with foods, as if there was a celebration. The two loved the food and ask them what kind of dish it is. But they answered them with only a smile. After hours passed full of chattering, they decided to sleep. But because the house is small and there's only one room for everyone, Tiniente Gimo told Maria and her friends to sleep in the bed room, while they will sleep in the living room. Like other girls, when they are together, they don't sleep right away. Maria borrowed the accessories of Jean, and wear them till they went to sleep. Tiniente Gimo targeted Jean that night, and the only thing he could familiarize who among of them is Jean, is her necklace. However, Maria weared the necklace of Jean that time. He sneaked unto the bed room to kill her. He hit the head not knowing it was his daughter, and brought her in the kitchen. He chopped her to pieces, and cooked her in a pot. Tiniente Gimo discovered who he had eaten when morning came. No one knows what happened to Jean and Melay after that. Maybe they lived to tell the story of Tiniente Gimo.

As you notice, both tales almost have similar flow of story. In which, there was these two women, who were friends of the daughter of Tiniente Gimo, came in the province with her for vacation or the like, and was killed by the tiniente or his whole clan. Some sources tell that they were teachers from a school, not students. Aside of it, the movie Shake, Rattle and Roll, potrayed by Manilyn Reynes, had almost the same story as above.

Conclusions

Many reasonable explanations emerged about the legend of Tiniente Gimo. One is about his political career. His enemy invented a kind of story that rose people's fear.

Another is about the kind of disease they called Dystonia de Panay (scientifically named torsion dystonia-parkinsonism), Ilonggo called it Lubag. This is a rare musco-skeletal disease found only in Panay, in which the victim will be twist involuntarily. Maybe, the appearance of them in this position made them look like an Aswang, and this might be Tiniente Gimo's disease that time. This same reason can be used to explain the Aswang.

Source:
http://jeminastories.blogspot.com/2008/09/tiniente-gimo.html
http://iloilocityboy.blogspot.com

Foreclosure Confession: Why I had to tell my bank to Kiss My ...

...Have you (or someone you know) ever thought about letting or have let the bank foreclose on your house?  I have.

 

Seriously, in 2008 the economy was so bad that I reluctantly had to tell my bank to kiss my a**. Even though I knew it was going to kill my credit score, hurt my great long-term financial relationship with my bank and inhibit me from getting a mortgage soon after; I allowed the bank to foreclose on my home.  Here are 3 of the reasons why.

  

MY HOUSE COULDN'T SWIM!

Here is how I learned that houses can't swim ... The house that I purchased in 2005, with over $30,000 in equity, all of sudden became worth $50,000 LESS than what I owed the bank in 2008. In three years the value of my home was "under water" by a little over $80,000!  How could this be?

I drove through my neighborhood and saw an unusual amount of houses with foreclosure notices. But, I was in denial. I was so excited about the new job that I accepted and about relocating to another state where I always wanted to live, that I ignored the signs.

I quickly learned that it didn't matter what I believed my home was worth. Rather, it was all about how much buyers were willing to pay for the properties around my home that determined it's value. I was also frequently reminded that a property will not sell for more than it is valued, regardless of how much more is owed on the mortgage in a buyer's market with significant amount of homes for sale.

I even thought I would save money by doing a FSBO (For Sale By Owner) instead of turning the property over to a professional immediately. By the time I handed it over to a real estate professional, the market was sinking fast and it was too late. Not working with a real estate professional early ended up costing me more money.

I was so mad at myself because I knew better!

I JUST DIDN'T QUALIFY

Say what? A single mother, getting next to nothing in child support and the "sole bread winner" paying ALL of the bills alone, didn't qualify for a modification or short sale.  How could this be? I felt hurt and confused. That's when the fear started to settle in. "Now, what am I going to do?" "How will I explain this to my son, my family, my boss?" "OMG ... foreclosures are public record," I remembered, "What if people see that my home was being foreclosed?"  "How could I help other's with their financial situations while dealing with my own financial mess?"

Unfortunately, there was no Olivia Pope back then for me and Foreclosure Prevention organizations and programs didn't really exist until after the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008.

  
I felt so embarrassed that my financial dirty laundry was going to be exposed. And, as much as I wanted to be upset with the bank, I was more upset and disappointed with ME. 

  

I WAS JUST 'SICK AND TIRED'!

Dealing with this situation made me physically, mentally, emotionally and financially SICK and TIRED!  My blood sugar and blood pressure was always elevated because of the stress of worrying, which was definitely not good for a diabetic with hypertension. I worried all of time about the fact that my house would not sell AT ALL. It stressed me out more because I was honestly trying to figure out how to minimize the loss to the bank. The stress was literally killing me. It wasn't that I was emotionally attached to the property. It was that I was emotionally attached to my FINANCIAL INTEGRITY! I had to fulfill my promise to pay back the money I had borrowed.  And the fact that I had a willingness to pay but lacked the ability to pay the mortgage, ate me alive.

I had sleepless nights filled with crying. I prayed to God for guidance and consulted with my money mentor for advice. I had a great long-term financial relationship with my bank and it really felt like I was going through a heart wrenching, heart breaking, and bitter break up with them. I even started ignoring my bank's calls, letters and notices. It was that whole "blood from a turnip  philosophy and somehow, I convinced myself that if I ignored them, I wouldn't be as stressed out. Of course, that financial fairy tale didn't (and still doesn't) work! The more I ignored them, the more intense they tried to reach out to me. As they should have!

I finally realized that if I continued to ignore and prolong the situation any further, I was going to suffer more mentally, emotionally, physically and financially. So, despite the negative social and financial consequences, I had let it go and walked away. 

   

Yes, it killed my credit and my credit score. And, YES, I was not able to apply for a mortgage for several years after. BUT... there was LIFE AFTER FORECLOSURE.

I am clear now as to why I had to go through this. I had to experience the negative consequences of my financial ignorance, bad financial decisions and bad timing. I had to experience and feel the pain. This experience helped me to become more compassionate to better help others going through this and similar financial issues. This test turned into my Testimony to share the lessons learned about some consequences and benefits of certain financial decisions, actions and non-actions.

I don't blame my bank for my foreclosure! I wasn't in an exotic mortgage and I was fully aware of the terms and agreements of the mortgage contract. Not all banks or credit unions were involved in the mortgage C-O-N-spiracy. Most financial institutions helped consumers obtain the American Dream to own their own home.  I completely accept responsibility for my bad financial decisions and especially my financial ignorance.  

  

The GREAT NEWS is that today there are now hundreds of reputable resources to help homeowners who are facing foreclosure today. 

• Click here for a summary of the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008. Know your rights!
• Operation HOPE also has a wonderful Foreclosure Prevention Program. Contact an office in your city or state.
• The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) has a Home Save Program. Go to their website at www.NACA.com to locate an event in your city or state.

Also, most financial institutions have their own Financial Prevention programs or departments that may be able to assist you.

Whatever its worth, you are not alone and there is help. So please ask if you feel or think you might need help before it's too late. If you are on the verge or are now going through a foreclosure, make sure you have a Financial Resurrection Plan. Look out for my blog about the benefits of a Financial Resurrection Plan.

Financially True,

  

Tarra Jackson ... Making Money Sexy




If you need more information about creating a Financial Resurrection Plan, feel free to contact me.

Patent Bar--too lazy to ask?

As a mini-rant--I've applied to sit for the patent bar examination, as my imminent employment opportunities don't look so rosy. I've been out of school for nearly a year with no nibbles at my employment hook, and I'm starting to get even more irritated regarding my unemployed status (but that's okay, because I apparently take lots of bar examinations as a consolation, which should indicate my level of sanity).

A week and a half ago, I sent in my package for the patent bar. Let me be clear: the patent bar is both the easiest application process and the most ridiculous application process I've seen for a bar examination. I don't have to give ANY employment history. I don't have to give ANY of the places I've lived in the past. References? WHO NEEDS EM? However, they do want to know about EVERY.SINGLE.ticket you've ever received, as well as *why* you qualify to take their special exam.

I spent ages getting my classes together, highlighting them, printing out course descriptions, showing the grades I received on my transcript, etc. I also had to go to four different jurisdictions in two separate states to get the five (speeding) tickets I've received in my lifetime. I sent in those proofs of payment, thinking they would be enough to demonstrate all that is taken care of.

Does this LOOK like I'm kidding? Also, no comments on my "C's". They count, lol.

Flash forward to today: I receive a letter in the mail requesting additional information about these tickets. What jurisdiction did I receive them in? What did I receive them for? What was the disposition in the case? Never mind this was all in the proof of receipts I sent. NOOOOO, they want ME to explain them. So I did. I wrote allllll of that junk down, and I'm sending it in on Monday.

I guess the silver lining is that I know they received my junk (silly me--I forgot to send them a self-addressed envelope so they could confirm they received my package) AND I know that my classes are sufficient to qualify for the patent examination. :D

Now all I have to do is see whether they will let me in............and if I can pass.

The Origins of Easter

Happy Easter!  My favorite thing about our modern holidays is there strange origins.  They never come from where we think they did.  History is a strange thing.  Here is my story about another pagain holiday wrapped in Christian paper and decorated with years of traditions no one understands.

Holiday are off topic, but I love them.   Almost all our modern Christian holidays are just pagan holidays in different paper.  So many Christians won't celebrate Halloween because it is pagan, but the Easter bunny has nothing to do with Christ.   Where does the bunny come from?  It comes from the goddess Eostre.  Eostre was a European fertility goddess.  During the  Spring, her favorite Holiday, named for her, Easter, was celebrated across Europe.  Her totem animal, the bunny, was intrinsic  in the celebration of her holiday.   Easter was a fertility holiday and it isn't just a coincidence that estrogen, the hormone often associated with fertility and sex is also named after Eostre.  

Ancient Christians were quite brilliant.  They knew that if they wanted to convince the old pagans to convert they shouldn't ask them to abandon their old holidays and traditions, so the merely Incorporated their holidays into Christian beliefs.  So Easter was absorbed into the early Christian faith and linked to the celebration of the death of Christ.   So the totem animal of Easter became Eostre's totem animal, the bunny and other fertility rituals were also made part of the Christian Holiday.   Eggs, also associated with old fertility rituals, became part of holiday traditions.

By the fifteenth century, in many parts of Europe, it had become normal for children to build nests for the magic bunny to lay eggs in on Easter morning to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.  Over time, this evolved into the putting out of Easter baskets for a magic bunny to put chocolate eggs and other treats in.  So, the resurrection of Christ and the fertility rights of Eostre became one to make the holiday we celebrate today, which is a beautiful fusion of Christian and pagan.

Financial Spring Cleaning Tips

... have you (or someone you know) ever thought about doing some Spring Cleaning with your Finances? I have.
  

It's SPRING!!! Yes! It's that time again.  Out with the old to make room for the new!  Spring is the season of newness!  Time to put away all of the winter clothes and blankets and bring out or make room for the Spring and Summer stuff. If you are planning to do some spring cleaning this year, are you planning to do some Financial Spring Cleaning?


Financial Spring Cleaning is just as, if not more, important as Spring Cleaning in your home and closet. Here are a few tips on Financial Spring Cleaning with your Paperwork, Wallet, Credit Report and Budget.


PAPERWORK - SPRING CLEANING

• FILE ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS / SHRED NON ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS. If you have a desk, filing cabinet, drawer or box full of old bank statements, checks, bills, or other financial documents, sort through them carefully and keep only the important documents that you know you will need to reference at a later date. Do NOT just throw the documents away in the trash. If you do, you are begging to be a victim of Identity Theft.  If you do not own a shredding machine at your home or do not have access to one at your job, take your shred box to a local Shredding Company.  They are awesome!  Just dump, watch it get shredded and drive away! Search for a local Shredding Company or ask your local financial institution if they do Shred Events.

• GO GREEN / PAPERLESS.  Most financial institutions encourage their customers to sign up for electronic statements. This is more cost effective for them because they save money on paper, ink, postage and mail service. This is beneficial to you because you don't have to worry about more paper coming in the mail.  Don't fret! If you need to have a hard copy of your statement to audit or review, you can simply print you statements via online banking.

WALLET - SPRING CLEANING

• REDUCE THE PLASTIC.  If you have more than one debit or credit card in your wallet, you may be setting yourself up for over spending. Or worse, you may give that thief who stole your wallet access to all of your money and credit. Save the planet and just PICK ONE already! Only having one debit or credit card in your wallet to use for a purpose is the best way to control spending.  

• USE CASH! A wallet is for cash!  Keep cash in your wallet to see exactly how much you are spending.  The may help you with a new financial reality check.

CREDIT REPORT - SPRING CLEANING

• GET IT FREE! Before you decide to apply for credit anywhere, you should know your credit status. Lenders should NOT know your financial reputation before or better than you! Being afraid of what is reporting is no excuse for not getting a copy of your credit report.  You should know what creditors are saying about you. You never know, the stuff they are saying and reporting about your could be false "rumors."  You will want to nip that in the bud sooner than later. You can get a FREE copy of your credit report at least once a year at www.AnnualCreditReport.com or by calling (877) 322-8228.

• SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT! If there is false information reporting on your credit report, it is your obligation to set the record straight and get it corrected.  Creditors are going to notify you that they are reporting information incorrectly!  This is YOUR financial reputation we're talking about.  It will suck when you are declined for credit because of information that is incorrect. Each credit reporting company (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) has an online process to dispute incorrect information. They also provide detailed instructions on how to dispute information via mail as well.  Get started at www.AnnualCreditReport.com.

  
BUDGET - SPRING CLEANING

• GET ONE! If you do not have a written budget, this is the time to get it together.  Once you see where your money is going money, it will help you make better financial decisions. If you need help creating a budget or spending plan, click here for my FREE eBook on 5 Steps to Building a Budget that Works. 

 

• UPDATE IT! A budget or spending plan is a living and breathing document. There are some things that may have changed within a year, which may require changes to your budget. So, if you do have a budget established, now is the time to review it and update it as necessary. Who knows, you may have a few extra bucks to save or to pay off another debt. Better yet, treat yourself if you were able to stay on target with your budget! You deserve it.

  

Click here for more tips or to schedule your FREE Financial Consultation.

No H8

(Blog and pseudo-legal analysis to follow after I read each of the arguments in depth.)

3 Ways to Sabotage Your Credit Score

...Have you (or someone you know) ever wondered why when you think you are doing everything right regarding your credit, your credit score still takes a dive? I have.

  

Don't worry.  You are not alone.  I have been asked about this by numerous consumers and almost all of my clients.  The Credit Score is a calculation of credit performance behaviors that tell how risky you are to lend or provide a certain service to.

The quick way to remember the Anatomy of the Credit Score is S.P.A.D.E.  SPADE stands for 

• Spending (30%) - how much  of your credit cards or revolving debt do you use? 
• Payment History (35%) - how are you paying on all of your credit accounts? 
• Age of credit (15%) - how long have you had experience with credit? 
• Diversity (10%) - what experience do you have with different types of credit? 
• Exposure (10%) - how many times do you allow your credit report to be viewed?

What makes the credit score calculation so complicated is that there are some things that we do, that seem to be good common sense actions, that actually reduce our credit scores.

Here are the Top 3 Ways to Sabotage Your Credit Score.

#1:  CLOSING PAID OFF CREDIT CARDS

This seems like a wise and financially responsible thing to do right? RIGHT!!!  But, this action will actually have a negative impact on your credit score.  This affects the Spending category of the credit score, which is 30% of the score.  Credit scores rely heavily on utilization of revolving debt, like credit cards or lines of credit. So, if you close your credit cards, your utilization will be Zero. Not Good!  This is why you may see a dip in your credit score.

HELPFUL HINT:  Keep your credit card or line of credit balances at or less than 30% or the credit limit.

#2: OPENING DEPARTMENT STORE CARDS FOR 10% DISCOUNT
OK, Reality check ... You will not get a 10% on your purchase if you revolve a balance at 18% APR or higher.  The purchase will actually end up costing you more than the 10% you thought you saved.  Besides this misnomer, this action will have a negative impact on your credit score because it affects up to 3 categories of your credit score: Age (15%), Exposure (10%), and possibly Spending (30%)!  That's potentially 55% of the credit score negatively affected.

Here's quickly how this works: 1) You now have a new account reporting on your credit report, which affects the Age category; 2) That inquiry when they pulled your credit report to see if you qualified for the card affects the Exposure category; and 3) if the credit limit given is right above the amount you charged, this will affect the Spending category.

HELPFUL HINT: Don't believe the hype! Use a card you already have or better yet ... use budgeted CASH!

#3: THOSE PESKY SMALL COLLECTION ACCOUNTS
You know ... that small balance you didn't know you owed your doctor because your insurance didn't pay for it. Or that ticket you got in Atlanta. (Sorry ... venting).  Yeah, those.  Here's the thing, the amount doesn't matter when it comes to collection accounts.  So, whether the amount is $50 or $5,000, the negative hit is the same.

HELPFUL HINT: Check your credit report regularly or at least once a year. You can get a copy of your credit report for free at least once a year at www.annualcreditreport.com.


Financially True,

Tarra Jackson, Making Money Sexy!

"It's what they DON'T report that HURTS!"

... Have you (or someone you know) noticed that there may be some accounts or positive information that is not reporting on your credit report that could help your credit score? Well, I have!

   

We may all be familiar with the fact that there might be incorrect information reporting on our credit reports that are hurting our credit scores with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.  However, were you aware that there may be positive information that is not reporting on your credit reports that may help your score?

    

Here are TWO (2) things to consider if positive information is not reporting on your credit report.

   

#1: SOME LENDERS DON'T REPORT! 

   

That's Right!  The credit reporting system is voluntary!  Therefore, it is NOT required for financial institutions, buy here pay here organizations, or apartment rental organizations to report to credit reporting companies. Therefore, you may find that your positive payment histories may not be reporting to help increase your credit score.  Some organizations only report negative information; or they may only report to one or two of the credit reporting companies but not all three.

   

HELPFUL HINT:  Before you sign a credit agreement for a loan, ask the organization or financial institution if they report to all three credit reporting companies. 

   

#2: MIX UPS!

   

If you share the same name and may have shared the same address with someone, like a family member (parent/child), trades may be mixed up and reported on the wrong credit file.  Credit Reporting Companies use the Name and Address as the primary matching triggers.  The secondary triggers are date of birth and social security number.  Therefore, this is a common mix up with parents and children who share the same names.

   

HELPFUL HINT:  Include any name suffixes like Jr., Sr., III, etc., on all financial documents and credit applications and agreements. Also, check your credit reports regularly to make sure all information is correct for you.  If there is incorrect information reporting, dispute the information immediately with each credit reporting company, if necessary.

   

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The Phantom Lion

The Cincinnati Zoo is the second oldest zoo in the nation.   It was founded in 1875 and featured a small collection of animals.   The zoo grew quickly and is now rated as one of the top five zoos in the nation and features a vast array of animals.  The zoo is also known for its architecture and is listed as a national historical landmark.   It contains the oldest reptile house in the Western Hemisphere.  No trip to Cincinnati would be complete without a visit to this historic zoo.

The zoo is also  known for  another animal.   It isn't an animal you can see in any exhibit and most visitors don't see this famous resident of the zoo at all.   It is known to be haunted by a phantom lioness that wanders the ground following visitors and terrifying those who happen to catch a glimpse of her.  Those who have seen this ghostly lion describe hearing her footsteps behind them.  Many times these witnesses have been terrified because they thought the lioness was real.  Other witnesses have believed the lioness was about to attack them.  The lioness has been described as having glowing eyes that cut through the shadows and dark.   When she is seen, she runs towards the unfortunate visitor as if to attack them and then vanishes into the shadows she came from.   Although the living animals in the zoo may be the main attraction at this zoo, a chance encounter with this phantom would make the Cincinnati Zoo one of my favorite zoos.

"Karen thought she needed to get second job. I told her NO!" - Here's why ...

... Have you (or someone you know) thought a second job would help solve your (or their) Cash Flow problems? Well, I have!

Karen, a single mother and successful corporate executive, made good money (over $80,000 a year). When Karen started her coaching sessions with me, she told me that she was thinking about getting a second part-time job to be able to pay all of her bills and build her savings.  I told her NO! I gave her several strategies that helped her save about $5,000 in a year.
  

Here are TWO (2) of the strategies that I coached her through.
  

CASH FLOW STRATEGY #1: EAT IN!!! 

  

Karen admitted that she hated to cook, so she and her son ate out frequently. She also bought her lunch everyday during the week. She spent an average of at least $30 per day. Instead of telling her to stop eating out cold turkey, I suggested that she eliminated eating out for one meal.  She would at least save $10 per day.  She decided that she was going to take her lunch to work.  

  

Karen saved $10 per day, $50 per week, which totaled $2,600 for the year.
   

CASH FLOW STRATEGY #2: STOP NAME DROPPING!!! 

  

Karen admitted that she was fixated on buying "Name Brands" when she went grocery shopping. So, Karen and I went grocery shopping as a Field Trip. When she picked out something that was "Name Brand," I picked a "Generic Brand" to compare ingredients and PRICE!  She realized that most of the Generic Brands had the same ingredients with LOWER PRICES. During this Field Trip, Karen saved almost $100 on her grocery bill and got more food (to make her lunches). Karen went grocery shopping twice a month. 

   

That's $200 savings per month, which totaled $2400 for the year.

  
   

In one year, Karen saved about $5,000 without getting a second job. Her part-time job became making her lunches and implementing the strategies she learned during our coaching sessions. 

   

This allowed her to spend more time with her son!

  

Lesson:  It's the little changes that make a BIG difference!
   
   

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Bloody Mary in the Philippines

What is Bloody Mary?

Bloody Mary is a legendary ghost or spirit conjured to reveal the future. She is said to appear in a mirror when her name is called multiple times. The Bloody Mary apparition may be benign or malevolent, depending on historic variations of the legend. The Bloody Mary appearances are mostly "witnessed" in teenage group participation games, often as part of a game of truth or dare.

Rituals on how to perform the Bloody Mary varies as the story is being passed through other people.

... young women walk up a flight of stairs backwards while holding a candle and a hand mirror, in a darkened house.

According to some accounts (from movies and ghost stories), young ladies should perform it in a dark room at night (many tells a particular time, sometimes 12 o'clock or 3 o'clock am) and go face a whole-body mirror. Then, chant Bloody Mary 13 times (some with eyes closed). After doing it, the performer will see their future husband (and skull or whole skeleton, telling you, you'll not marry before you die).

It seemed that the ritual is like that of Snow White's mother-in-law, but there she is asking who is the fairest of them all.

Some young girls in the Philippines perform it for the sake of knowing if they'll marry and who will they marry on the future. These originated of course outside the country. I bet someone still believe on it.

Story

Bloody Mary by: Janine My best friend had this neigbor who died because of a horrible experience. Her neighbor's name was Michelle (not her real name) and she grew up in Bicol. When she was ten, her family moved to Las Pinas, just two blocks away from my best friend's house. My best friend was just a baby at that time. When Michelle was in high school, she wasn't afraid of ghosts. When she would hear rumors, she never believed them. All she would do was laugh at them. But there was one rumor she heard that she would never forget until the day she died: the rumor of Bloody Mary. She fainted after hearing it for the first time, so her friends brought her to the school clinic. When she woke, her friends startedasking questions but the only thing she said was, "I'm not afraid of ghosts!" "Really?" her friends asked. They formed circle and murmured amongst each other. Then they dared Michelle to do the Bloody Mary ritual. She did it that night in her bathroom. She turned off the lights, shut the door, and said, "Bloody Mary, bloody Mary, bloody Mary." She chanted it thirteen times, louder and louder, almost to a near scream, and kept glancing at the mirror on each pass. On the thirteenth time, she looked in the mirror and saw her face bit it was all covered in blood! She touched her own face but there was no blood. Then something or someone knocke on the door. She thought that she might see something creepy so she didn't answer it. It knocked tem times then started banging on the door! She wondered why nobody could hear the banging and thought that the thing had killed her family! She screamed, "Leave them alone! Leave them alone!" The banging stopped. All of a sudden, the bathroom became red and the knocking started again. It stopped after five knocks. Michelle peeked out of the bathroom and saw something red on the ground. She stepped on it and it disappeared. She sighed and went back to bed but left the bathroom door open. Her mom woke back to sleep. Now it was Michelle who couldn't sleep because right in front of her just outside the bathroom was a little girl. She was drenced in blood and pleading for help. She had an ID that read "Mary Tachwrite". Michelle closed her eyes and when opened it again the apparition had disappeared. Two days later Michelle died of a severe heart attack. Because of what her friends did to her they all got expelled. They committed suicide because every night they saw the same thing Michelle did. Her friends all became impoverished because their parents got fired at their jobs. Michelle'd mom was their boss and she didn't appreciate what her employees' children to Michelle. Please pray for the lost souls of Mary and Michelle.

Another story:

Bloody Mary I studied at xxxxxxx. There was once a legend in the girl's washroom that a Bloody Mary occasionally appeared to people who called on her. One afternoon, we were really tired and went to the washroom to freshen up. Suddenly, my friend suggested that we try it. We chanted Bloody Mary thirteen times in front of the mirror. Sure enough, there it was staring right at us. We couldn't move in fright. Then we notice that it was moving out of the mirror, leaving a trail of blood behind it. All of us couldn't leave since the Bloody Mary was blocking the doorway. Then suddenly, all of us screamed at the top of our lungs trying to get away. Since I was in the lead, I was so scared. And then (I don't know why), I just screamed and ran through the ghost. All the boys were at the opposite side were wondering why we were screaming and then I accidentally ran into them, with all the girl's behind me and I scrambled up and ran to the principal's office. All of the boys were worried so they checked it out. Then we just heard them running towards us. We all vowed never to come into that washroom again!

Source:
True Philippine Ghost Stories. PSICOM Publishing Inc.
http://haxorfreek.15.forumer.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Mary_(folklore)

Job Market...an update and some admissions

Let's be real. I'm not an eternal optimist per se, but I DO believe in doors opening and opportunities presenting themselves and all that Pollyanna bullshit. I believe in positive thinking, and I'm dogged in my approach in that if I'm kicked, I return for more. It's very difficult for me to accept defeat, although I'm very much so used to it and am not normally used to having things handed to me on a highly-polished silver platter.

There has been a marked shift in my thinking since I've graduated from law school and passed the bar. I attribute this to the fact that I've been facing the realities of the legal job market for nearly a year, and still feel as if no new job opportunities are on my horizon. Although I don't think I have to explain jack-shit about my résumé, for the sake of allowing you some insight to my situation: I was solidly in the middle of my graduating class. My family are NOT lawyers, and I attended law school in a state other than I grew up in. I also took and passed the bar in that same state. I completed two separate internships with highly respected judges, one of which was for our state's Supreme Court. I participated in three separate legal clinics, was on two traveling teams, donated over 300 hours of pro bono time to the indigent while in law school, and took a wide variety of classes. I liked the rigors of law school, particularly the types of rigors associated with the practice of law.

So yeah, while my grades were mediocre, I've got plenty on my résumé and feel confident in my achievements. Which is why my continued state of unemployment is such a bitter pill to swallow. (Plus the fact that there are people who weren't even in the middle of the class who are employed and have been since graduation.)

So let me hit you with some truth, if you haven't realized it yet: the legal job market SUCKS. I recently interviewed for a job for a legal secretary position in which 25 applications were received and THREE of them were from current lawyers. This was for a $26,000 position, mind you, out in the middle of Bumfuck Egypt. I'll let that sink in for a moment. 

And when I read blog posts from people still in law school telling people who've already taken the bar and are seeking employment that they should talk to their career services department at their school, I just want to laugh. Hysterically. While slightly weeping. While I never endeavored to tell people how they should be searching for jobs when I didn't know of them or their situation, I used to be as positive (I'll refrain from calling it naive or blind). But the reality is that career services can't create jobs. And if your department is telling you of that job, it means at least twenty of your colleagues are also going to competing against you for that position. 

I've also had someone ask me what was wrong with my applications when I told her I was still looking for a job. She's lucky to still be breathing, as I would have rather snapped her neck than listen to her speak another syllable. People don't get it. Even people within the profession or who are actively involved in those who are in the profession. 

And even when I have an interview and do reaallly well and feel realllly good about it, they normally never call me back. It's like dating from hell. I send each of my cover letters and résumés out with a little prayer (or whatever one calls it). I'm still hopeful, but cautiously so. Because this much rejection hurts. Although not nearly as bad as the ignorance that abounds regarding what I'm doing wrong with respect to my job hunting. 

Choko's Attorney

Dear Counsel

I was Referred by George P. Kickliter and He told me to send the documents to you. I am currently living in Japan and Newberg live in the USA and the divorce decree is in the USA.

We agreed under this Collaborative Law Agreement for a one time cash settlement of $914,000.00 usd to his credit,  he has paid me $104,000.00 usd but still owing $810,000.00 usd He is aware of my intention to seek legal actions .The lawyer that helped me with the matter earlier is retired now. I will be pleased to provide further information on this matter on request.I expect this to be a non-litigation matter. I have already advised him I am planning on retaining your firm.

Please send me an agreement/ retainer form so that we can proceed. Also send me the payment information of your firm just in case my ex-husband wants to make the full payment he owes payment without further delays or possible litigation. Thank you and have a pleasant day.

Regards,

Julie

CHOKO  BOVEKI  LTD

Address:4 FLOOR, 2-12-23 MINAMI AZABU MINATO-KU,TOKYO JAPAN

Tel: 81-3458-01740

Email;  julienewberg1@hotmail.com

What Your Credit Score Actually Means

Tom Murphy owns and manages rental properties in one of the Top 25 markets in the United States. His rents range from $750 to $1200 a month, but every tenant must pass the same test before they get a key to the front door.

“They've got to have a good credit score,” Tom told Debt.org. “I want to know if they have demonstrated responsible financial behavior.

“It’s nice if everybody says he’s a good guy and takes his family to church every Sunday and all that … but what I really want to know is whether he has a history of paying on time.”

Bankers, insurance companies, car dealers, utilities and plenty of other businesses would say “Amen” to that!

Are You a Good Financial Risk?

What a credit score really indicates is whether you are deemed a good financial risk, based on your history of paying bills. If you’re trying to get a home loan, a car, insurance for that home or car or just get the electricity turned on, the most influential factor in making it happen, is probably going to be your credit score.

“If you’re irresponsible about paying your bills, the general feeling is you’re likely going to be irresponsible about how you drive or when you pay your mortgage,” said Dave Viola, an insurance broker in the same city. “You still might get some insurance with a bad credit score, but you’d be flabbergasted by the rates.”

Representatives from banks, insurance companies, car dealers and property owners confirmed that credit scores do affect the terms and conditions of any agreement they make with a consumer. In most cases, the higher the credit score, the lower the monthly payment. And if the consumer’s credit score is at the low end of the scale, some companies won’t do business with them at all.

Credit Score Range

The lines of demarcation in credit scores, also known as FICOscores, range from 300 at the low end to 850 at the high end. The median FICO score is 723, meaning half of people with credit scores are below 723 and half are above.

The FICO scores are compiled by three companies:  TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. Each one claims to use a different formula in arriving at their score, but generally speaking it’s computed like this: Payment history (35%); amount owed and credit available (30%); credit history (15%); new credit (10%); and type of credit used (10%).

It would be wise to note what doesn’t affect your credit score, namely how much money you make, age, sex, race, religion, marital status and where you live. 

The problem for most people is that they don’t know their credit score and haven’t reviewed their credit report. Consumers are entitled to a free credit report every 12 months, one each from TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. The free report is available at annualcreditreport.com, but credit scores are not included. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates that only 20 percent of consumers request their free credit report.

If you receive your credit report and aren’t satisfied with what you see, there are some steps you can take to improve your credit history:

• Check the accuracy of the report. Incorrect information is the leading cause of consumer complaints about their credit history. Remember, all three companies that issue reports use different data, so get a free one from each company and check all data.
• Pay your bills on time. This is especially significant with credit cards and bank loans. Set up a bill payment reminder system, if necessary.
• Pay down the balances on credit cards.
• Do not open a new credit card account unless absolutely necessary.
• Maintain a good mix of credit (mortgage, car loan and credit cards).

Having a good credit score can mean hundreds or even thousands of dollars’ worth of difference in what you pay for a loan or insurance coverage. You can go online to see examples of the relationship between your credit score and the interest rate charged on your loan. In today’s tight lending market, consumers need to be at the high end of the spectrum to receive favorable treatment for loans or insurance.

Bill Fay writes and blogs for Debt.org. He is an award-winning writer with more than two decades of experience in the areas of news, sports and public policy.

Teaching Money and Credit Management - Whose Responsibility is it anyway?

In the United States, our school system requires all children to take and pass Reading, Writing, Arithmetic (I hated Geometry), a foreign language, Social Studies, Science, and in some schools they still require Physical Education.  However, it still baffles my mind that Money and Credit Management Education is NOT required. 

There may chapters that teach the denominations and how to count currency in elementary; as well as a little bit of finance education in high school.  And yes, there may be a financial management class offered in college as an elective.   Huh?  An Elective?   Yes, I use Reading and Writing every day of my life.  The other required courses … maybe on occasions or for fun, but I deal with MONEY EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE.  As a matter of fact, I dealt with money before I could read or write when my grandfather gave me a dollar bill when I was 2 or 3.

So, the question of the day is… Who is responsible to teach a child how to manage money, to leverage its potential wealth building power and to avoid ending up in tremendous debt and bad credit?

…I hear someone in the audience yell… The Parents!  OKAY…  And who taught the Parents?   

Many parents don’t teach their children about how to manage money because they either assume that the schools are doing it or because they don’t know or weren't taught themselves.  They may have “Colorful Credit” and could be drowning in debt.  They probably were never taught how to balance a checkbook properly.  “Checkbook?  Who uses checks nowadays?  We have debit cards.”  HINT: you still must balance your account when using your debit card. 

So, the second question of the day is…If the Parents don’t or can’t teach their children how to manage money & credit, who is now responsible to teach the child?

…I hear someone else in the audience screaming, “The Church!”  The Church is its people.  Most of those people have not been taught and are seeking financial counsel.

I do believe that Financial Institutions, such as banks and credit unions, are the most qualified to teach the world how to manage money.  Makes cents (sense) right?  “Herein lies the rub…”

LACK OF RESOURCES TO EDUCATE THE MASSES

IF the financial institutions teaches money management to the communities it serves, it may not have the resources to share the information to every consumer that needs and wants it.  Some financial institutions, do share money matters information to communities, organizations and schools, when they can get in there; but that is a small drop in a large bowl.  BUT…it’s a start!

CAN’T TEACH THE UNWILLING

You can only teach a person that wants to learn.  There are thousands of resources online, in the communities, independent professionals, etc. that provide some form of Financial Education.  However, reality check… the target audience may be set in their ways and probably afraid or unwilling to make necessary changes or sacrifices to help their financial situation.  Money & Credit Management should be taught before bad habits are formed. 

  

IT JUST DOESN’T PAY!

Here is the Oxymoron Answer to this million dollar questions (Pun intended):  It is frankly not advantageous for financial institutions to educate consumers on money management.  Consumer ignorance is a multi-million dollar business. Financial Institutions make money off of financial ignorance, poor money management, and financial irresponsibility of consumers.  Those consumers should take a close look at their monthly bank statements or check out the interest rate on their loan.  The less educated/informed and disciplined a consumer is with their money, the more money they will pay in fees and interest.  Simple math. So… if that is the case, is it really advantageous for financial institutions to have a massive Financial Literacy Campaign for the world?   

I believe that  1) it is the responsibility of the schools to provide the information as a core class from Elementary through Higher Education, 2) it is the responsibility of the Parents to reinforce the information by modeling the behavior of proper financial management for the child and instilling discipline, and 3) it is the responsibility of the Financial Institutions to provide the Financial Educational resources for the Parents to learn more and continue to be informed and fiscally responsible consumers.

Call me a Dreamer or Optimist!  I believe that Financial Knowledge is power. And … Hopefully one day the US Board of Education will understand the significance of and require Money and Credit Management Education as a curriculum in all schools.  Until then…Private Schools / Charter Schools…here is your opportunity to including Money and Credit Management Education to your curricula. (I'm Just Saying!)

For more information about money and credit management curriculum for your school, contact Madam Money at info@tarrajackson.com.

  

(c) 2010 Tarra Jackson Enterprises