In some cases, bad credit is a result of irresponsible money management. But it often occurs because of unexpected financial hardship. One day you might have all of your bills current, and the next you could become disabled or lose your job. And if you fall behind on your debts, it will wreak havoc on your credit rating. Credit repair agencies claim that they can remove bad entries from your credit report. But did you know that you can often have them removed yourself at a much lower cost? There are two methods by which you may be able to get negative entries removed from your report. Option #1: File a Dispute with the Credit Bureaus The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires credit bureaus to investigate any item on your credit report that you dispute. If the information is found to be false, inaccurate or unverifiable, it must be corrected or removed from your report. The bureaus have 30 days from the time they receive notice of the dispute to complete their … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2011
Kids and Video Games: The Couch Potato Syndrome
When Atari first hit the market over twenty years ago, everyone, young and old alike, was into video games. It was something new that the family played for hours. Now, video games have become more sophisticated and are played by younger and younger groups of kids. But, even though these games are fun, watch out or your kid will morph into the unyielding vegetable known as the couch potato. You usually gave the old man staring blindly at the television this moniker but it now applies to kids caught up in the video game craze. You’ve weaned them from endless cartoons and cop shows but they’ve traded it in for a console and a joystick. It’s not that video games are bad. They have their redeeming qualities just like television. The name of the game here is moderation. Even if you don’t know an elf lord from a troll prince you can make sure that that is not the only thing your kid knows about. Video games are a way for your kids to relax but not the only way. Engage your children in … [Read more...]
Show Your Appreciation for Your Children’s Teachers
One of the most difficult issues I’ve faced as a mom is putting my child in the hands of someone else while I went to work to make a living. My mom worked outside of the home when I was growing up, but I didn’t go to daycare I went to my grandma’s house. My grandma’s house was a safe haven where I played, ate, and was loved unconditionally. I never thought much about my mom working because the environment I was in was so nurturing. When, I became a mom I dreaded the decision of putting my daughter in a daycare with strangers. Luckily, I was blessed with wonderful caregivers who took excellent care of my daughter while I worked. Of course there is a rarely a moment that passes that I don’t think about Anya while I’m at work and my goal is to eventually work at home. But, until then I have to put my faith in God and trust her teachers to take care of her. Teachers carry a huge responsibility and in my opinion are grossly underpaid. Recently, I was speaking to one of Anya’s previous … [Read more...]
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