What a year we had in 2010. Some good days and some bad days. I hope everyone reading this brought in the new year responsibly and awakened 01/01/2011 refreshed and ready to get started into the new year. What does the new year hold for each of us? Do you sometimes wish you knew? At times I wish I could foresee the future, but then I would miss all the unexpected surprises that arise. Through the years I have slowly changed my attitude for the future and how to prepare. Most people in my age group were taught to save and save for the future. In the last couple of years we have seen what can happen to all those savings. All the sacrifices to scrimp and save vanish overnight or in the blink of an eye. The economic down turn, a dishonest company or a catastrophic medical event with yourself or a loved one. All of a sudden its all gone. Nothing, nada, nicht, just gone. We hear that because the Mayan calendar ends in 2012 the world as we know it may be ending. Several religious zealots are saying the world will end this year, 2011. I take all of this as another Y2K prediction. Do you remember Y2K? To me all of this is about the same as global warming! How many people bought into Y2K? How many people, governments and corporations have bought into global warming? Now, how many are buying into the Mayan calendar?

Here’s what I think for what ever it means. My Father is 93 years old and has lived an incredible life. Dads outlook on life is that everyday is a good day when he opens his eyes from a nights sleep and can get up out of bed. He says, “The Lord has blessed me with another day and I will use that day to do the best I can.” Now that’s an outlook we can all live by, I truly believe. Take each day as it comes. Do the best we can with what we have. Plan for tomorrow, but tomorrow is the next day and not 5, 10 or 20 years down the road. Live each day as it comes and make the best out of that day we can. Reach out and help someone, a total stranger even. Do something good

What do I mean by this title? Well, we are entering a stage of consumerism that I believe is presently uncharted. Article after article discuss the new wave of consumer. Who is this new consumer? Well, the experts predict that 29% and growing of the American consumer is strapped with over $150,000.00 of student loan debt! Of these individuals with degrees, only 30 percent are actually working in the field of their degreed expertise. The remainder of these individuals have either taken jobs just to get by or are unemployed. There has been a 38 percent increase of 28 to 35 year old individuals actually moving back home with Mom and Dad. This trend actually includes wives and children, an entire family. Today the only thing a college degree means is that “YOU” are in debt! The only real change with the bankruptcy law is you still owe your student loans, No Matter What! There is another group of individuals that are attempting to live with over $100,000.00 and more in credit card debt alone. The interest rates for a credit card averages 9 to 27 percent interest. This amount of credit card debt is actually an unpayable amount. Think about it! Do you find yourself in this situation?

The United States Government bailed out numerous large corporations recently. The thought was an economic stimulus. The only thing the bail outs did was stimulate the payment of year end bonuses to CEO’s and management. Payment of bonuses to the same individuals that created the downfall of that particular company. Only in America. Right? Wrong, this actually went on world wide.

Banks and lending institutions just recently raised the individual credit score tiers. Used to, if you had a FICO credit score of 650, you were still able to obtain a loan at a decent interest rate. Just recently that score has been raised to 700 FICO score and this is considered bottom tier of the credit scale. Unfortunately today 47 percent of Americans have FICO credit scores of 510 and less. What does this mean in simple terms? In simple terms this means that to obtain a loan, an individual will pay higher and higher interest rates for that loan! They may even be denied the loan!

We are witnessing today the slow decay of the “Middle Class” American. At some point in time the government has to realize, that with the demise of the middle class American worker, there will no longer be people to pay the taxes that government needs to operate. The poor or those on government assistance do not pay taxes. The super rich have loopholes so as not to pay too much in taxes. So what happens? I’m not sure I want to think about it right now. All I will say is, that as long as everything continues as is now, the future looks very bleak. Is there a way to repair this problem? The answer to this is, YES!!!!!!! First, the leaders, lawmakers and politicians; our entire government needs to change it’s ways of thinking. The people need to be put first for a change and not those that contribute to the political machines. We need to take care of ourselves before we take care of the world!!!!! We need to fix our problems before we attempt to fix the world‘s problems. Politicians need to listen to the people and make positive changes. Our economy does not need a bandaid. We need to do complete surgery and fix the problem once and for all. Today and not Tomorrow!

I want your comments on this article. Don’t give any generic remarks or some B.S. to just put your website out there. If you do I have a very quick delete button! I want some real feedback about this article. Let me hear from you! Speak out, we need to!

 This was just brought to my attention and I must say, “ I’ve never considered this scenario.” I hope this will give every reader something to think about with all our new electronic technology.

 The story goes, a few weeks ago a couple had their vehicle broken into while attending a football game. Things stolen from the vehicle included a garage door opener, some money and a GPS devise which had been left in plain view on the dashboard. When the victims returned home they found their house broken into and ransacked. Any and everything of value had been stolen. The thieves had used their GPS devise to guide them to the house. They knew that the home owner would be gone for some time because of being at the football game. They had used the garage door opener to gain access to the house. Because of the football game the thieves knew roughly how long they had to do their evil, before the owners would be home.

 Were the victims stupid in this case? Hell no!! They were good people and didn’t realize the evil that is in the world today! What steps could have been taken to avert this situation? First, if you use a GPS devise, never put in your actual home address. Key in an area or land mark close by your actual home address. When you use the return home feature it will direct you to a known area to get home, but a thief has no clue the actual location of your home. Don’t leave your GPS in open view of prying eyes when you exit your vehicle. The stand on your dash can also be a tell tale sign of a GPS being present in the vehicle. Garage door openers! How many of us leave the door leading into our house from the garage unlocked so as to make entry for us easier? Well, this also makes entry for the criminal easier and never forget it. I’m following this article with one more and it has to do with your cell phone and today’s criminal element.

 Let me begin by saying, “I’m a Honda believer”. Ever since I purchased my first Honda in 1995, I have been a product believer. I sold Honda’s for years and my current vehicle is a 2008 Honda Accord V-6 Coupe! With that said, I believe I need to reveal to my readers something that I have caught wind of recently. Honda may be having some product issues. The issues are actually numerous and relate to the Civic and Accord models. The issues in question range from minor to very severe and I have not narrowed down to specific assembly areas of the world. Honda as well as every automaker has worldwide manufacturing and assembly plants. I recently saw a Ford Truck that the engine was made in Spain and the transmission was from Mexico?  In my estimation, no matter where a part is made, quality control standards should be the same.. If the quality control standards vary depending on which part of the world the part is manufactured, I believe manufacture’s need to reconsider their alternatives and make some serious changes.

 It has come to my attention that both Honda models are experiencing problems from brakes and engine to transmissions. The brake problem comes from an inferior holding spring clip on the disc pad causing a brake pad noise. A class action lawsuit was filed and now instead of Honda service repairing the problem free of charge, now the consumer has to file a claim to receive compensation. Thanks to the ambulance chaser lawyers and the courts. I had my problem repaired prior to the settlement and Honda service performed the repair free of charge and without any hassle.

 Now, the Honda warranty covers the drive line components for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Thank goodness these problems are cropping up before the warrantees are out!  But, can we all be this lucky? The answer to this is no! To replace a transmission cost around $3,000.00 plus and to replace the engine somewhere around $5,000.00 USD. Do you have that kind of ready cash? Hell no, and neither do I. What do we do you ask; well I’m going to give my own opinion here!

 If you own a Honda vehicle manufactured between 2006 and 2009, my suggestion would be to purchase an extended warranty!!!! This can be done through Honda for somewhere around $1,100.00 (appx.) or through any aftermarket retailer offering extended warranties. No matter whom you purchase your extended coverage through, please read your contract carefully before signing. Read “ALL” the FINE PRINT! Many of the extended coverage warranties are not what they are cracked up to be! Simply said, there’re scams. Please do not get caught up in this situation and only find out when you need it that you were scammed with your paid for coverage! There are actually several good service coverage companies out there! Do your research!!!!  Read, Study, See what others have to say and then make your decision. Don’t forget to check with the Better Business Bureau about each company. This is a great resource for consumer information.

 Look, you and I buy all kinds of insurance. Why not buy a policy for your vehicle. Damn, I should be getting paid for writing this article!!!! But seriously, with the cost of vehicle repairs skyrocketing, a few dollars spent today, could save you thousands tomorrow no matter the make or model of your vehicle.