10/26/08  -  One of the most rewarding gifts of life is that we are given the opportunity to do things differently each new day. It's a choice afforded to each & everyone of us. While many times, we like to watch & see what the masses will do, or what the governments will determine, the only real guarantees of security, positive change, & new direction, are those that we impose upon ourselves. If each person could improve their own life positions, as well as those of their families, the total end result could be none other than a better country. Being that individuals have different concepts for just what improvement is, I'm going to list some examples of what it might be for some. How about starting with a better & closer relationship with your God, your family, your neighbors, your coworkers, & all those whose lives you touch. We must improve on our spending habits, by knowing the difference between what we really need, versus what we would like to have. Just how necessary is credit in our life? When & why must we have the item or service being financed? Could it wait until we save enough money to purchase it? Why not??                                                            Too many times, it feels like the debtor is owned by their creditors. So many Americans who currently can't meet their financial obligations to their creditors, are experiencing the weight of the "Financial Monkey" on their backs. No, we won't change yesterday - but what about taking a new direction today. Next, what about our income? There are many situations where we cannot enhance it. To know this however, we must first explore it. There are many avenues one must check out in determining how we might increase our income. The range can be vast, & some examples include the following:  (TBC)  Back Soon, Atticus Alberts                                                                                           10/27/08.  Continuing on with possibilities of increasing one's income. Can I ask for a well earned raise from my current employer? How about an overdue promotion that will put you in a higher pay grade level? Might there be any overtime available? Could I be worth more to a new employer in my field? How about outside of my field?  Does my situation allow for me to take on an additional job?  How about the other members in your household? Are there children of age & character who might cover some of their own expenses with part time work? What about starting your own business from home? It's a great way to keep your business overhead low. Of course any & all of the above possibilities are futule if you don't need additional household income...  (TBC) I'll be back - Atticus Alberts                                                     10/28/08    Our American economy in itself is much too difficult & large for us to put our arms around. In addition, world economies also have an affect & play a role in ours. I believe it is safe to say that masses of Americans don't even understand the technicalities & jargon that the so called experts try to lay on us. I mean, afterall, if American & World Economics were not your field of study, why should you be expected to know it? As a matter of fact, with the Dow Jones currently teetering between 7 & 8,000 points, (earlier this year it was over (13,000), those well educated & informed experts in the field not only can't agree with one another, but don't seem to know how to get things fixed. We are being bombarded with many differing views on how & why our once great economy is currently spiraling down the toilet. We're hearing about company failures, home forclosures, unemployment rates skyrocketing, takeovers, mergers, government bailouts, recession etc., etc., etc....   These are times that make many people feel helpless, as they watch their own pensions, 401K'S, & other investments swiftly dwindle. So just what do we do? you ask. I say we do what we can do on the small stage of life. Start by practicing the Serenity Prayer. "God, grant me the courage to change those things that I can, to accept those that I cannot, & the Wisdom to know the difference".  As individuals, we right now, don't have the wherewithall to change the world economy, the american economy, our state economy, our county economy, our city economy, our town economy, our village economy etc..  We do right now have the ability & opportunity to change our individual & family lives. We need to look away from the big picture for awhile, & focus on the small stage, where we have some immediate control of our individual & family lives. Very importantly about the small stage is that, "It Is Your Stage!"                    Do we need to change our spending habits? One of the most important things you can do if you find yourself in a deep hole, is to stop digging...  Have you noticed that your grocery cart wasn't even half full at the checkout line - yet the bill was over $100.00? It didn't use to seem to be that way. So what can we do? We need to ask ourselves: Are we eating to live? or are we living to eat?   Then next make the necessary healthy adjustments.             Are we reducing our energy useage?  Can we lower our thermostat temperatures in winter, & raise them in summer? Are we using energy efficient light bulbs? Are we combining trips & making less stops at the gas pumps? Do we eat where it is most cost effective? Now some will argue that the less we spend, the worse the economy will get. I say yes, in the short run. Of course though, those individuals on the small stage, only have the short run to protect themselves & their families now.  When leading government officials & economists promote that everyone should be spending, just look at it another way. If first of all, we were in a position to, & asked to spend just for the sake of spending, we would actually be wasting resources in hopes of securing a good economy. There is something very wrong with that picture.  When the 700 Billion Dollar Government Bailout was first proposed, but not yet approved by congress, I told those around me that this act would cause a plastic (phoney) economy. (TBC) Back Soon For More,  Atticus Alberts                                                                           11/2/08.    Now what about that part of the prayer that says "to accept those things that I cannot change". If you're a fighter, this quote might be pretty hard to swallow.Let's take a look at an example of right now, what many Americans can not change, & how they might mentally deal with it. We have a current situation with reference to Health Insurance. If you are among the estimated 46/47 million people in this country with none - just what can you do about it?  First of all, you must try to get coverage. Check with your current employer or future employer. If that is not an answer, get prices for the least expensive health insurance policies available for some modest medical coverage for you and your family. If your present financial situation doesn't allow for that, next check with your county & church for direction to any agencies that may be of help. If you, in good faith, have exhausted all possibilities, then this is one of those times to accept that which you cannot change.  Now if you don't handle your thought process properly, this is, or will become a major stressor in your life. (TBC tomorrow)  ATTICUS ALBERTS  11/3/08   So just how do you handle this as one of those things that you have accepted as not changeable?  How will you handle knowing that you will not have health insurance? Here is exactly how. You will continue to live your life. You will hold your head high. You will know that you have exhausted all avenues. You will take comfort in knowing that if you or a member of your family are in need of emergency health care due to injury or sickness, a phone call to 911 will bring you immediate assistance & aid. Hospital emergency rooms will also accept you for treatment. This is our government, hospital, & God's law, as we are our brothers keeper.          Then what will I do next you inquire. If you were playing a game of chess, it's a good idea to anticipate 3 moves in advance.  However in this example, we are talking about the uninsured.  Now that we can relax in knowing  about step #1, we know that we will handle step #2, when it presents itself, together with a whole different set of options.             Do keep in mind that this example of accepting one of those things that you cannot change, is never permanent. One day you will change it... By continually looking for that positive light at the end of the tunnel.  As a matter of interest, many, many, people who are in fact paying for their own health insurance are experiencing much stress because of it. As their health insurance coverage costs continue to rise, leaving less & less money for other bills & necessities, they constantly are questioning their priorty of spending choices. Where should I be putting my fixed but limited earnings? (That is if I am employed). My mortgage or rent payment, my ever increasing utilitiy bills, ever rising grocery costs, medications, all of those insurances, to include: automobile, life, property, health etc., automobile loan payments, automobile maintenance & repairs, fuel, student loan payments, credit card payments, needs for the children, ??? & the list goes on & on & on...  Then there are those who are underemployed, & those who are unemployed, & those who are homeless - all groups who don't even have the option of prioritizing their earnings.       (FYI) For Your Information, millions of those who thought they were fully insured come to recon with a quite different situation, only at the time when they actually seek medical treatment. It is only then that they are made aware of large co-payments, &  that certain proceedures & surgeries, aren't even covered.  The Insurance Company Lawyers will attest that it was all spelled out in the Health Insurance Policy Contract that you signed.  The only problem here is that you couldn't afford to hire a legal firm to represent you before you bought the policy.  If these contract policies were so easy to read & comprehend, then why do multi-billion dollar insurance companies hire legal contract attorneys to write them up?   No one can accurately predict just how long this difficult American, as well as the World Wide Economy, will continue on.  Tomorrow we will be electing a new American President, as well as many other candidates throughout the country, to serve in public office. May God give each of them the wisdom & guidance necessary for doing the best for all of mankind.                                       I do hope that this guide will help you to be spiritually, physically, mentally, & financially able to maintain your resiliency & positive spirit during this economic downturn.   This is Atticus Alberts