Obvious Gems

I went to a local restaurant to catch up with an old friend I hadn’t seen in about 3 years. It is a common hang out/meet-up spot in downtown Detroit that I’ve frequented a million times. As we were walking out my friend led me in a different direction and I was surprised to see there was a whole other side with more seating, bar and band that I NEVER knew was there. I asked if it was new and with a chuckle my friend said UH.. NO! It was funny because I’m a known downtown dweller, lover of most things Detroit.

There are a lot of new spots downtown that I could get a pass on not knowing about, but a place that has been in Detroit for as long as I have? – we both arrived in ’89 - no way! I couldn’t believe that after all these years of dinners and letsgettogethers, I didn’t know about the OTHER SIDE. No, I will not tell you the restaurant in order to spare myself from an onslaught of Dorethia, areyoukiddingme emails and jokes. I’ve already given you a hint anyway. I would like to keep my Detroiter Card in tact thank you very much!

I was thinking about how many times we miss out on an experience because we are used to doing things a certain way or taking a certain route. Oftentimes it’s unconsciously. I always came in and went to the bar or to tables in the direction I was used to. Life is the same way sometimes, things are right in front of us and instead of taking a moment to check it out, we step over it or ignore it to go in the direction that is familiar or safe to us. It would truly be a great benefit to be a little more attentive to our surroundings, the people in our lives, the experiences available to us - we may find a gem we passed over the first time (or a million times) around.

-Dorethia

Real Talk...

Hey Dee -

With the economy being what it is, what suggestion do you have for an individual who every blue moon is able to take a breathe due to my head being above water, but it seems that as I get closer to the door of prosperity the futher away it seems. It reminds me of that scene in Poltergist when the mother goes to check on her children and the faster she ran to the door of thier bedroom the further away the door was.

Due to my past I understand that who I am, is a direct result of who I was. I commend you and all your efforts to inform people so that they can take care of themselves. If at any step in your plight to enlighten I can assist you with a bit of REAL TALK - you let me know.

Get at Ya Mans,

-Roy

Paying The Price....

So, you've made some big financial mistakes? I’ve made some whoppers. We’ve all made some here or there. It's not the end of the world even though it seems that way when we're in the thick of it.

Okay, still a little down? I’ll give you one story for a good laugh at my expense....

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Years ago a very charming lady knocked on my door with a super duper wonderful vacuum cleaner that floated on air and walked on water. It sucked up microscopic dirt out of carpet, mattresses, there was an attachment to blow up balloons and it even vacuum under the refrigerator. Ooooh Weee! All for the low, low price of $2,200 big ones! Are you serious? No thank you, pack it up, unless it will pay this mortgage too! A single mom, going to school, on a limited income, I certainly couldn't afford it. Plus, I didn't have any carpet!

Well then, Miss Charming says, hey you get yours free if you sell twenty in 90 days AND it will only take you a few hours a week to sell. I fell for it. I am a good salesperson, or so I thought, and 90 days is a long time to sell twenty of them. Mind you I had to finance mine first and only had 3 days from signing the paperwork to change my mind.

On the second day I called to return it - the thing was so cumbersome that you longed for a regular upright vacuum regardless of how much dirt and dust it blew back into the air. No, No, No – you need it – we’ll even throw in the super duper mopping attachment for free that is worth another $500. Call me sucker, because that’s what I was! I kept the vac and resolved to trying to sell twenty so I didn't have to pay for mine. DUMB DA DUMB DUMB DUMB.

Well I went on one appointment, to try to sell it, then I felt guilty – no one I knew could afford a $2,200 vacuum cleaner. Now, what kind of person am I if I try to sell it to them knowing this? Not to mention, to be a success at anything takes way more than just a few hours a week.

I struggled like crazy to pay it off, I was already overextended and couldn't squeeze $5 more dollars out of my budget let alone a monthly payment on a monster vac.

Did I mention that I have absolutely nooo carpet in my home? Hey, I hear you laughing!! In my defense, it had a hardwood floor sweeper thingee…um…that was useless....

Needless to say, salesmen cannot come to my door with the latest gadget and I don’t borrow for anything anymore. Praise God – the light has come.

So if you have goofed up with money and debt, it’s not the end of the world. Your problems may be bigger than a vacuum, but there's always hope. We always get a DO OVER. Yeah, you may have a mess to clean up, that's alright -begin again!

Read, listen to, devour, all the information you can about budgeting, paying your bills, saving money, planning for your future and staying out of debt. All of it won’t be good advice for you – so eat the hay and spit the sticks, but at least get on the road to changing your situation!

As for the super-duper vac? A girlfriend of mine has had it for quite some time now and I may get it back – if I ever buy carpet.

The Big Question!!!!

Okay, I've had several people ask me what I'm doing with my rebate check. When I respond that I'm paying off a bill - They exclaim NOOO! DO SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF!!!!

You know, go on a nice vacation, go shopping, update your t.v. girl, 'cause.. um.. you only have one and it is not a flat screen. The bills will always be there....

Well, one less bill to pay is something for myself, freeing up some money every month and getting even closer to being completely and totally debt free IS SOMETHING FOR MYSELF!!!

The way things are going we will all to have to use our rebates as emergency funds for gas, milk and eggs anyway!