Background Checks Can Be A Good Idea

I had to have a Background Check when I was going through the bar exam in my state and trying to be a lawyer. I don't know how long they have been doing that, but they do it now! I didn't have to worry about it--I knew I had nothing on my record--but I know some people were, and I even think that was the cause of one man quitting law school after the first year. Too bad, as he was a good student though. He just seemed very worried about having to go through a background check and finding out that never every thing is expunged the way you think it is.

More and more I hear about people wanting background checks--when dating someone you know or when you are wanting to have a foster child come live with you. All good ideas.

Need To Watch My Posture

I have always had very good posture, but I feel like I have been slouching lately. I need to pay attention to how I sit and stand. Particularly at work. I feel like I just sit at my desk all day and I am probly slouching in my chair, and I have no idea that I am doing it. I would hate to get rounded shoulders someday like some people I see. I think some of that is from disease, but some may be from poor posture ove the years.I just saw a website selling office furniture-- click here I am going to look at some other sites too.

You feel better and look better if you stand stall and sit straight in your chair. And when you feel better and look better, you tend to work and interact with others better. We're all so busy these days, it is easy to forget and slouch. But it is better not to. I am going to pay more attention for sure.

Mystery Shopping The PayDay Advances Stores!

I am getting a little sweet comeuppance. I am going to shop some payday advance stores in town. I already have two assignments, and I am signing up for some more. I do not have to take out a loan or fill out any forms--just ask some questions about a payday advance. And I get paid to do this. I figure this way I will recoup a little of the money I have spent on interest on cash advances in the past. Shysters!

I Want A House!

I love my condo, but I want a house. Maybe a cute bungalow with a fenced-in yard. In a cool neighborhood. With sidewalks. In the area of town I want to live in. At a reasonable price. That's not too much to ask, do you think?

I have no idea how much money I would need to buy a house. I bought my condo so long ago, I have no reference point. I am sure things have changed since then.

I would need to make a down payment, money for Closing Costs  a cushion for repairs and unexpected costs. plus furniture and such. Buying a house is not a cheap proposition! But it is something I want to do, and soon.

Times Are Tough Out There Today

I read about all the unemployed people out there today and shake my head. It is so sad. People losing their jobs through no fault of their own, or alternatively, making a career move that turned out to be not so good. And they got stuck. Ending up in the same place--no job, running through their savings, maybe losing their homes. Hard to believe. I have wondered what I would do if I found myself in such a dire situation. I own my condo, so that is good, but there are still expenses connected to that. And I have car payments, and other bills. You have to buy food. What would I do? I have a pretty heart 401K, even though it is not as hearty as it once was. After I took a couple of withdrawals from it to tide me over during my bar exam study, and then the tanking of the stock market in the past year, it is not as good as it once was. But it is still pretty good. More than a lot of people have. If it came down to it, I guess I could live off of that. I wouldn't want to however. If someone has a pension, they could Sell Pension. Someone should get advice about this though.

Condo Parking Lot Needs Repaved

I am home today waiting on the AC repairman. Yeah, lucky me. He had to pick up a part, and I hope he will be back in a minute. It is sweltering hot! While waiting, I am doing a few things around the house. Looking out the window, I can see our poor, sad parking lot. Our condo association had to authorize a special assessment for us to pave, and I guess we will start doing that in a few months. The special assessment was $1,000, and that is hard for me to pay on my budget. But it will be nice once it is done. I am an owner/occupant, so it is not so important to me that it get paved right away. But the owners who rent think differently. They want it paved right away so they can please their tenants. I can understand that.

Who to pave it for us is another story. I have no clue. I will let my property manager figure that out for me. If I lived in San Diego, I might call San Diego Paver Contractors and get a quote from them. I might look around my hometown for some suggestions of contractors and give some names to my property manager.

Good Time To Refinance

I do not have a mortgage (yes, I know how lucky I am) but I have heard friends say that it is a good time to refinance or to do a Home Loan Modification.  A friend said it is time consuming to do such, but she is glad that she did it. Every little bit helps when it comes to a budget, and it can be especially important to do with a debt as big as a mortgage.

My condo is paid off, thank goodness, but it is too small, and I am getting house hunger, as Dave Ramsey would say. The problem is I still have too much debt and too much month at the end of the money, something else that Dave Ramsey says. But I should be debt free in about 2 years, and then I want to get a house. I will need to learn a lot in the next two years about home ownership. Condo living has been easy; I have a feeling it will be harder with a house and a yard and no board to help you figure out when repairs have to be made.