Talk to a Person, Not a Recording

We have all gone through the drill ... calling customer service and have to weave our way through a maze of recordings. All you really need is to talk to a real person - but how do you do that?

One place that might be able to help is GetHuman. This site provides some hints on how to get through to a real person on some of the more popular sites. I have not tried any of them so I don't promise they all work but at least, it might be a start.

Do you want to win those customer service battles? Check this blog site for a terrific article on steps to take when dealing with companies.

5 Reasons to Rent A Car vs Driving Your Own for Vacation

Our pastor is currently on vacation and is now extending it a few days due to car problems. He chose to use his own, older van rather then rent a newer one. Would he have been better off to rent a van? In the past, because we were driving older cars, my wife and I would rent a car whenever going out of state. We found that the comfort and peace of mind was worth the cost.

Here are 5 reasons to rent a vehicle vs driving your own car:

1. Renting a vehicle has less chance of breaking down on the road.

When you rent a vehicle it usually have a lot fewer miles on it then your own. It usually has had the necessary maintenance done and if you do break down, its the responsibility of the rental agency to get you a new vehicle as well as pay for any repairs that need to be made.

2. Better gas mileage

Obviously, this would have to do with what vehicle you normally drive and which one your rent. Because rental cars are newer, the gas mileage is going to be as good as it can be. The van we used to own was getting about 15 miles/gal. while the vehicle we would rent would get 25 miles/gal. which, for a 1500 mile trip, the savings was around $100 based on the $2.50/gallon.

3. Less wear and tear on your own car

Long distance highway driving can be very tough on a vehicle. Save those miles on your own car and put them on a rental will extend the life of your car.

4. Rent a vehicle that may be more suited for type of vacation

Perhaps you own a small car but are going camping and need extra room. Instead of jam packing the car and have your family sitting on each other's lap, rent a larger vehicle for comfort. On the other side, if you are heading out on a trip and don't need to take your SUV, rent a smaller car that can save you gas and money (See number 2)

5. Renting a vehicle can give you an opportunity to try a vehicle that you might want to purchase.

I needed to go out to visit my daughter in Indiana by myself and went to rent a car. I had seen many HRT's around town and when one was available, I jumped on the chance to try it. My daughter didn't like my color choice but it did give me the chance to try one.

Each trip and situation will be different. But when going on vacation or on a long trip, consider renting a vehicle vs. using your own. Going on sites like priceline can also save you some money in renting a vehicle. Be sure to use a reputable company who will be able to provide you service in the event of a problem with your rental.

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to Me

A year ago today, I started this blog mostly to keep up with the rest of the staff at Sonlight Church. It started out more on a personal focus but has moved towards personal finance and church administration. I have enjoyed it though its more work then one can imagine and easy to get burned out. But the fact is, its good for me. It makes me read and study what's going on in the world, think about my own finances as well as the the business part of Sonlight.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and relaxing 4th of July and, especially on this Independence Day, I am PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

Rick Monday - Greatest Play in Baseball History

I saw this video on another blog and felt it was a great 4th of July entry.

Opportunity Scams Target Churches

From the Federal Trade Commission: FTC Consumer Alert

There’s no cost to your church. It may even make money to use for good works. It’s a win-win situation, right? Maybe not. In fact, it could be a scam.

Con artists with similar pitches are targeting African-American churches with so-called opportunity scams. Emphasizing a shared faith, culture, or concern for the community to win your trust, they offer the opportunity to use equipment or services that supposedly won’t cost the church a thing.

Their goal? To get access to your church’s bank account, either by lifting account information from a check or by persuading you to sign up to have payments automatically deducted from the account. Once they have access, they can make oversize withdrawals or completely clean out thes account.

Recently, scammers offered computer equipment to the staff of several churches, claiming the cost would be covered by a “sponsor.” The church staff simply had to sign an agreement to lease the equipment, make a regular payment, and deposit checks from the sponsor to cover the checks the church staff had written. But in the end, the equipment didn’t work, the sponsor checks started bouncing, and the churches had thousands of dollars taken out of their accounts.

How can you avoid a potential church opportunity scam? The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, recommends remembering:

A contract is a commitment. Before you sign a contract — like a lease — make sure you understand what it’s saying. Don’t rely on the person making the pitch to sum up the details. They may gloss over obligations outlined in the agreement that can cost your organization a lot.

If a contract says you’re financially responsible, take it seriously. A special payment arrangement where a third party reimburses you for payments you make is a sign of a scam. Don’t take someone’s word that the language in the contract is “standard” or a “technicality.”

Scammers may look legitimate. They may direct you to websites they’ve created, or they may say they are working with other churches in your area. Don’t be swayed by an appearance of legitimacy. Do research on an organization before you do business with it.

Never wire back money. In some schemes, scammers send a generous check, asking you to deposit it and wire back a portion or to make a payment right away. Days later when the bogus check bounces, the scammer will have made off with your money.
If your church has experienced a scam like this, report it to your state Attorney General. You can find your state AG at naag.org. You also can file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint, or 1-877-FTC-HELP.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

The Misuse of Credit

by Crown Financial Ministries

Most Americans living today were born into a debt-dominated society. In fact those under the age of 30 cannot remember a time without home mortgages, automobile loans, school loans, and credit cards.

However, just because these means and instruments for indebtedness seem to be normal and acceptable in today's society, and even in our Christian society, it does not mean that these types of indebtedness are normal in the eyes of God.

Reasons for misuse
It is important for ministers to understand so that they can teach their congregations that credit and credit cards are not the problem; it is the misuse of credit that is the problem. The misuse of credit and credit cards is generally rooted in four areas that are contrary to sound biblical principles of finance: get-rich-quick, lack of trust, ignorance, and misconception.

Get-rich-quick. A major portion of debt exists because, to most American Christians, borrowing seems faster and simpler than saving in order to buy. Most of our current debt can be traced directly to the availability, or lack of availability, of credit.

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

Lack of trust. Regular and routine borrowing, regardless of circumstances or justification, is an evidence of a lack of faith in God's written promises and a lack of trust in Him that He will keep His word.

Most Christians who are in debt because of borrowing either don't understand God's promises, they don't feel that the promises apply to them, or they don't believe the promises. Because God is concerned about every aspect of our lives, including finances, He knows our needs and will provide them in His time according to His plan, not what we think we need when we think we need them.

Borrowing is not sinful, but dependence on credit is an indication that those who borrow have not surrendered all of their rights to God and to His direction for their lives.

“The Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33-34).

Ignorance. According to the Word of God, ignorance is the absence of wisdom. Wisdom comes from God and, therefore, God's Word is the cure for ignorance (Proverbs 1:32; 2:6; 3:4-6). The economic wisdom of the world says to accumulate and multiply wealth and possessions by borrowing.

God's Word says that we must be content with what we have and that He will supply all that we need.

According to the Research Institute of America, the average Christian family in America pays more than 25 percent of their net spendable income in interest on accumulated debt.

Misconception. In today's Christian society in America the general feeling is that cautions against borrowing implied in God's Word apply only to debt borrowed to purchase possessions that depreciate. Borrowing is allowed for items that appreciate in value.

That may be good common sense, but it is not a biblical principle of finance. God's Word doesn't state what borrowed money should be used for; it just cautions against being indebted to anyone. Besides, nothing appreciates forever, not even houses.

Conclusion
Unfortunately, most Christians in America have compromised God's standards and have bought into the world's system of accumulating possessions by accumulating debt. But, the simple fact is that, according to God's Word, He knows what we need and He will supply those needs when He feels we should have them. By trusting Him and His Word, we can prevent debt and live a debt-free lifestyle.

Get A Free Laptop (but read the fine print)

I am heading home after working out at the Y today when I hear this radio commercial for a free laptop. The commercial goes on to say it won't cost a thing, even the shipping is free. Of course, as the saying goes..... "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". The commercial gave a website to check out.... crazyfreepc.com. I thought, OK, I need to check this out because I knew there would be a catch.... and there is.

When you go to the website, you will see some high tech laptops, from Sony, HP and even an Apple Macbook Air. Just put in your email, pick out your laptop and away you go..... well, not so fast. Let's look at the fine print:

In order to receive your gift you must: (1) Meet the eligibility requirements (2) complete the rewards bonus survey (3) complete a total of 13 Sponsor Offers as stated in the Gift Rules (4) Follow redemption instructions.

13 sponsor offers...... they even give you a link to check out a sample of the offers. Almost all of them require some sort of purchase (plus S&H of course). I looked at some of the offers.... I took a random 13 offers and the total money spent would be $1200. That is if you remember to cancel your "trial subscriptions" before the real charges kick in. The offers include applying for credit cards, purchases of coffee, magazines, DVDs, CDs, newspapers, insurance and so on.

I wonder how many people actually go through with this, how much do they end up really paying for that laptop. In this day and age, I would think that no one would buy into this scam..... oops, I mean offer. But advertising isn't cheap so there must be people out there who will go into debt, just to get the "free laptop". A quick check in google shows that people are even being harassed on the phone buy this company.

Do you want a laptop? Save for it, place it in your monthly budget; put money away each month and purchase one once you have the money to pay cash for it.

10 Dumb Ways to Go Into Debt

From Kathryn Tuggle & Fox Business

When it comes to getting into debt, there are always a few expenses that can’t be avoided. Whether it’s the mortgage on your home or student loans from graduate school, a certain amount of debt is a part of most people’s lives. However, there are some forms of debt that are totally avoidable.

Here are the top 10 dumbest ways to get in over your head with debt, and the best ways to avoid them.

1.) Cash advances on credit cards

Most credit card cash advances carry an upfront fee and a higher interest rate than other charges on your credit card, according to Dan Wegner, a certified credit counselor in Phoenix, Ariz.

Interest starts accumulating from the second you borrow the money, Wegner said, and most credit card companies require that customers pay down the balance on their credit card purchases before they’re even allowed to pay off the cash advances.

The solution: Use a credit card or an ATM. Credit card interest won’t accumulate for a month, and an ATM is free. If you’re not near your bank’s ATM, it’s better to use a renegade ATM and pay a usage fee than to use your credit card to get cash.

2.) Giving family and friends a loan or co-signing for a loan

Offering loans to friends and family can get messy unless expectations are established in the beginning, according to Sanyika Calloway Boyce, founder of FinancialFitnessCoach.com.

Too often, the party loaning the money does not specify when the loan should be returned and whether or not they want interest. This can lead to ruined, or at least strained, relationships.

The solution: If you are in a position to give, consider it a gift, Boyce said. It’s also easy to go online and make up a promissory note that both parties can fill out to establish details.

3.) Playing the lottery or gambling

“You have higher odds of contracting a flesh-eating bacterial virus than winning the lottery,” said Dara Duguay, Director of Citi’s Office of Financial Education and author of Don’t Spend Your Raise and The Citi Commonsense Money Guide for Real People.

Gambling has allure, but the odds of winning are very low.

The solution: Your betting instincts are best spent in the world’s largest casino: the stock market. Better yet, take your chances on enjoying an exotic vacation spot you’ve never been.

4.) Payday loans and refund anticipation loans

Frequently pitched as a quick way to get access to your tax refund, refund anticipation loans have become a major profit driver for tax preparation firms. But they are roughly equivalent to a payday loan in terms of interest rates, according to Paul Herman, CEO and founder of HIPinvestor.com, a consultancy for eco-conscious and humanitarian investors.

Payday loans often carry up-front fees, hidden fees and administration fees, and can carry an APR of up to 200%, according to Wegner.

The solution: Patience! Waiting a few days to get your money will save you a ton over the long haul. If you absolutely have to have money, it’s better to use a credit card.

5.) Rent-to-own, Furniture and Appliances

“Rent-to-own is simply one of the worst decisions you can make,” according to Scott Crawford, CEO of DebtGoal.com, an online educational service that teaches people how to break down and pay off debt.

Rent-to-own customers will end up paying two to five times the department store cost of the item with an annual APR for 100% to 300%, according to Crawford.

“People will see that a couch is only $49 a month,” Crawford said, “But they are not doing the math!”

The solution: Save up money and purchase the item outright from a store. To get better deals, buy used furniture that can be found easily via the Internet on Web sites like Craigslist.

6.) Financing for cosmetic procedures

Financing for cosmetic medical procedures like Botox, liposuction and face lifts is more common than you’d think, according to Crawford. Most strip-mall cosmetic shops offer in-house credit to customers who can't pay cash, he said.

“You have to question whether going into debt for elective surgery is a smart purchase, but financing through the on-site financing will reflect negatively on your credit report, pushing up future borrowing costs,” Crawford said.

The solution: If you must go under the knife, at least do it debt-free. Try selling some of your “fat clothes” to make the money.

7.) Buying a new car

By buying a new car instead of used, customers are essentially paying twice for the asset: they'll pay interest and they'll pay depreciation when they sell, Crawford said.

Further, new car owners will pay more in insurance and licensing fees. Most consumers will find it 50% to 60% less expensive to buy a car that’s three to four years old, according to Crawford.

The solution: Buy a used car. The market for used cars is improving, and with vehicle history reports, you’ll know exactly what the car has been through before you buy it.

8.) Student Loans

Students should not take out loans to attend nonaccredited schools with poor job placement records, and should look for federally subsidized debt rather than private lender loans at higher rates, according to Crawford.

Some students make the mistake of taking out a loan that is more than they actually need, according to Duguay, and then spend the extra money on things like midnight pizza.

The Solution: Students should find out what financial aid and grants they qualify for first. Students should use loans to fill in the income gaps for what they cannot afford, not to finance the entirety of their education and college fun.

9.) Using your credit card for insignificant purchases like fast food or soda

Don’t use your card for tiny purchases when you could easily pay cash instead, said Herman.

“Cash is the best option unless you’re interested in paying 25% interest on your Big Mac,” he said.

Individuals using a credit card for food will spend an average of 33% more than those using cash, according to Wegner. Using a credit card to buy small food items is bad for your wallet and your waistline, he said.

The solution: Cash! At the end of the month, you’ll thank yourself for going a little out of the way to avoid using plastic.

10.) Taking out 401(k) loans or making early withdrawals

Loans taken against your 401(k) often carry high fees. Also, when a loan is taken against a retirement account, the person taking the loan must have a definite plan to repay it, according to Crawford.

The solution: Keep enough cash liquid and in savings accounts so that you don’t have to dip into a 401(k) before you’re ready. If you must take out a loan, make sure it’s for a home or property that will appreciate over time.

FREE - Just pay Shipping & Handling

I received an advertisement from a online magazine I subscribe to today. The advertisement is for "FREE" Looping Motion Background DVDs for use in churches for various projects. As I read through the ad, it quickly became evident that these DVDs are not free but in fact, cost $8.41 each which is the costs for this company of shipping and handling.

Now, I ship anywhere from 50-100 items every month so I do know a little bit about shipping costs. Unless they DVDs are mailed in a gold envelopes, the profit this company is making is from the S&H under the guise of the DVDs being "free". What is even more interesting is that the cost per item for S&H doesn't change depending on the number of DVDs one orders. If you order 10 of the DVDs, the cost is still "free" with S&H at $84.10.

To me, this is just deceptive advertising. I charge S&H with my Ebay items but only about 50-75 cents above the actual postage. While the website clearly states the S&H charge for the DVDs, calling them "free" just seems dishonest to me and have written the online magazine editor to complain.

Have you ever ordered something and were shocked by the high S&H? Is this practice dishonest or just smart marketing?

6 Things NOT To Do When Having a Yard Sale

As most of you know, I love to go to yard sales on Fridays and Saturdays. I find all sorts of treasures; some I keep, most I sell on Ebay for a nice profit. Today, I just seemed to find a number of things while out that irritated me as a yard sale buyer. So, if you are thinking of having a yard sale, here are 6 things not to do:

1. Yard Sale Signs: Letters too small to read, not enough signs, or not taking the signs down after the yard sale is done. Don't say "Huge" yard sale when you have only a few items - people aren't going to stop just because it says huge; they will stop for a sign that says, Yard (or Garage) Sale.

2. Prices: Having no clue what you are going to charge for your items or even worse, ask the buyer to make an offer. I can tell you right now, my offer will always be low. Not every item needs to be priced; separate them into price tables - Everything in this table is $1, this table $2, this table $5 and so on.

3. Just because you paid $50 for an item, don't think you can get 90% of the money back. If you want to make money with items, use Ebay or Craigslist. The idea of yard sales should be to get rid of stuff you don't want anymore. Pricing items too high and you will have a ton of stuff left.... and little money to show for it.

4. Junk: I know the saying that one man's junk is another man's treasure but that is true, only to a point. Ripped, torn, dirty clothes are not going to sell. Pots and pans with left over food in them are not going to sell. Don't think that people are going to pay money for garbage; do everyone a favor and throw it away.

5. Dogs and children: I know you think your dog and kids are cute but no one wants to have a dog jumping up on you while you are looking at items. Same goes with children....

6. Signs on items comparing the price to Ebay: If you go to yard sales, you know what I'm talking about. Someone is getting rid of some collectibles and so they go on Ebay and compare what Ebay is asking vs. what the seller is selling them for. 9 times out of 10, the price on ebay is not a completed bid, just what someone else is asking for the item. The only price that matters is how bad do you want to get rid of the items. If you can sell it on ebay..... then do it.

OK, those are my yard sale pet peeves about sellers. What aggravates you when you go to a yard sale?