I'm a Right-Wing, Tea-Bagging Extremist

and proud of it.

I've been many things in my life that I've been proud of. A high school graduate, a college student, wage earner/tax payer, daughter, wife, sister, friend, Christian, and Girl Scout, to name a few in no particular order. 

I don't attend church on any regular basis, but I do have Christian based beliefs, I have membership in several tax reform organizations, and I did change my politicial party affliation to Republican so that I could vote in primaries for certain candidates I believed in, although I continue to consider myself to be an Independant voter with core conservative values. When I latch on to a cause I believe in, I tend to be passionate about it. Apparently, I'm considered to be a risk to the government. 

Let's see. When the World Trade Center was bombed in what? 1993? An Islamic Cleric and his group took responsibility. When the World Trade Center was destroyed in 2001, it was 19 young, Muslim men who were responsibile and Usama Bin-Laden took responsibility for that. Yes, the Oklahoma City bombing was a home-grown terrorist. I guess I'm now dangerous because of one man's actions, and not the actions of 19+.

I'm not pointing out Muslims as being dangerous to Americans. The vast majority are either apathetic to the political aspects and would rather just live their lives or don't condone what the minority have done or plan to do.

Just because someone has a different belief system than I do doesn't mean they are out to destroy my life or America. But I do resent being tossed in with the one who do mean to do me or my country harm. Like others who have been deemed Right Wing, Teabagging extremists, I am protesting mortgaging my future and future generations because someone failed to do their jobs. 

I guess I won't try to fly anytime soon. TSA probably has my name on a no-fly list somewhere.

Tea Party Aftermath

Among the comments made about the Tea patry protesters, were comments that the protesters were forgetting that the Obama Administration's stimulus package contained tax cuts for 95% of Americans. 

I did a Google search and this was the first one to come up:

Wage earners and the self-employed are eligible for up to $400 a year for single taxpayers and up to $800 for couples filing jointly in both 2009 and 2010. If you are single, the credit starts to phase out at an adjusted gross income of $75,000. If you are part of a couple filing jointly, your phaseout would begin at $150,000 of adjusted gross income. You’re probably wondering when the check will arrive. It won’t. The IRS will begin reducing withholding taxes automatically at the clip of about $30-$40 a month. If you are self-employed, you can claim your credit when you file your return for 2009.

I don't know about you, but $400 a year isn't going to break me or make me. I appreciate the effort, and like everyone else could use and additional $400, but this doesn't impress me. It's a start, but not nearly enough to really help anyone. Under the FairTax, I'll get that much (and more) each and every payday. 

I did the math for my other reader (wonderful person, but not so good on the math) and here are the results. If you are single, that $400 breaks down this way (double if you are married):

weekly: $7.70

bi-weekly: $15.39

monthly: $33.33

Wow....$7.70 a week. That's three gallons of gas, if the prices stay down. You can't have dinner out on that unless you go to Mickey D's, and that's if you leave the kids at home. I can't pay any bills, I can buy groceries for a couple of meals, if I shop carefully. Clothing? Goodwill, here I come. I don't think I can buy clothing at Walmart for $7.70. This tax reduction might pay the tax increase on cigarettes. I'm not sure, I don't smoke so I haven't been following that issue. 

And remember, since you are having less money taken out of your paycheck, your tax return next year will be less.

Now, look at your paystub. See where it lists withholding (FICA Reg, FICA Med, and FIT W/H). Those are your Federal taxes. There may be state taxes where you live; the Fair Tax won't apply unless your state adopts it, and I think all states will if the Feds finally see the way. Look at total taxes. That's how much (less insurance, and state and other taxes and deductions) that Uncle Sam takes from the money you earned.

I have no probably paying for services only the Federal government can, and is authorized by the Constitution, to perform (national defense being foremost). I object to the Feds using my tax money to subsidize programs that are best served by private groups or the states (I also object to states subsidizing programs that are best served by private groups). 

Four hundred dollars a year against $490 a paycheck? And a reduced return next year? No, I'll take the FairTax reducing the withholding to zero. I'll also reduce my tax refund to zero because I won't have to file a return! 

What a win-win situation.

One of my sons serves in the military. He is still stateside, here in California. He called me yesterday to let me know how warm and welcoming people were to him, and his troops. Everywhere he goes, telling me how people shake their hands, and thank them for being willing to serve, and fight, for not only our own freedoms but so that others may have them also.

But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped at yesterday, on his way home from the base. He said that ahead of several people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha. He said when she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the U.S. flag lapel pin the cashier wore on her smock. The cashier reached up and touched the pin, and said proudly," Yes, I always wear it and probably always will."

The woman in the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing her countrymen, explaining that she was Iraqi. A gentleman standing behind my son stepped forward, putting his arm around my son's shoulders, and nodding towards my son, said in a calm and gentle voice to the Iraqi woman:

"Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like this young man have fought and died so that YOU could stand here, in MY country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing YOUR countrymen. It is my belief that had you been this outspoken in YOUR own country, we wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey, if you have now learned how to speak out so loudly and clearly, I'll gladly buy you a ticket and pay your way back to Iraq so you can straighten out the mess in YOUR country that you are obviously here in MY country to avoid"

Everyone within hearing distance cheered!

~~~~~~~~~~

True story or not, it's one we need to hear every once in a while.

I had an uncle who never said much and kept to himself. He spent most of his time tending to his ant farm. He simply loved the ants. And he knew more about them than anybody I've ever met. Then, one day, tragedy struck. 

A strong gale blew the top off his precious ant farm. All the ants were gone. He called me on the phone, practically in tears. When I asked what was wrong, he said, "The ants are my friends. They're blowing in the wind!"

What's this Tea Party Thing All About?

There's been a lot of talk about how the "economic stimulus", TARP, bailout, or whatever the heck you want to call it is a virtual mortgaging of our children and grandchildren's futures. It's true. This is a loan made to the US by US taxpapers and by other countries, China, for example.

Personally, I'm not concerned about what happens after I'm gone. I don't have kids, so while I do care, in a philosophical manner, about what happens to your kids, I'm frankly more concerned about what this is going to do to my life.

If that sounds shallow, I won't apologize for it. I'm looking at this thing from my point of view; you look at things from your point of view. If you have kids, God bless you for that. You have to be more aware of what this is going to do to your descendants. If I were you, I'd be looking for pitchforks and barrels of boiling tars.

I believe that the money I earn belongs to me. Not to the United States government. I am willing to give some to Uncle Sam to spend on national defense and infrastructure and some other things. I do not approve of the government taking money I earned and giving it to someone who didn't do anything to earn it, or to bail out a company that should fail because of bad business practices.

The Tea parties are about government spending, which includes taxation (we'll discuss that at another time). Or rather, the wild, out-of-control spending being done by our government representatives. They seem to think that because they have a printing press, they can spend whatever they want.

It's got to stop.

You can not spend your way out of debt. It simply can't happen.

Ask nearly anyone who's lost their house to foreclosure.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) blasted "tea party" protests yesterday, labeling the activities "despicable" and shameful."

"The ‘tea parties’ being held today by groups of right-wing activists, and fueled by FOX News Channel, are an effort to mislead the public about the Obama economic plan that cuts taxes for 95 percent of Americans and creates 3.5 million jobs," Schakowsky said in a statement.

"It’s despicable that right-wing Republicans would attempt to cheapen a significant, honorable moment of American history with a shameful political stunt," she added. "Not a single American household or business will be taxed at a higher rate this year. Made to look like a grassroots uprising, this is an Obama bashing party promoted by corporate interests, as well as Republican lobbyists and politicians.”

This is the strongest language to date opposing the protesters, which, according to some estimates, topped 250,000 across the country.

~~~~~

Ms. Schakowsky, I'll tell you what I think is despicable: taking money from hard working wage earners today, and mortgaging the future of the next two or three generations in order to bail out companies that have been lead down a path to disaster.

Had you been alive in 1776, you would have been a lackey of King Charles and the British government. You would be more than happy to take and tax the Colonists until they couldn't and wouldn't take it anymore.

I think it's despicable that you don't believe in the Constitution of the United States, or think that the government is above the Constitution, which is the law of the land. Perhaps you need to be reminded that the Constitution protects...what? Freedom of Speech, which is what was utilized on April 15. Not to mention that you yourself benefit from that very right. There are countries in this world where people who voice disagreement with the government are never heard from again. Would you like to live i such a world? I know I wouldn't.

I am proud of the fact that we live in a country with the Constitution we have, one that allows protesters to protest and people such as you to criticize those very protestors.

Ms. Schakowsky, do not we, the protesters of April 15, not deserve the right to voice our opinions just as those who protested against President Bush did? Or perhaps in your world, only those who protest the things you dislike are worthy of voicing an opinion.

Isn't it a marvelous thing that we live in a country where the people who feel who feel they deserve the right to decide how to spend the money they earned can be criticized by you?

And isn't it also a marvelous thing that some of those same people who were out there protesting will be some of the very people you will be asking to vote you back into office?

I wonder how they would vote if that election were to be held tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Side note: It appears that Ms. Schakowsky wants to go to Congress.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said Monday that if Illinois holds a special election for Sen. Roland Burris’s (D) seat, she will be a candidate.

"If there is a special election, I’m definitely going to run in that," Schakowsky said.

I think that explains, at least to a certain extent, the comments she made about "right-wing Republicans"...",corporate interests, as well as Republican lobbyists and politicians".

Illinois citizens, is this who you want representing you? Well, maybe you do..

Zebra: Let's switch roles for awhile.

Lion: OK, I'm game.

from Kim Komando

When the lumberjack accidentally let his chainsaw slip he quickly became lacked toes intolerant.

A message to all members of FairTax Nation

April 15, 2009 :

King Addressing National FairTax Rally on Tax Day

“The FairTax will unleash the power of America’s worker, allow us to grow out of the current economic downturn”
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Cong. Steve King made the following statement on Tax Day, the date taxes are due to the I.R.S. King will speak at a national FairTax rally this evening in Columbia, SC. King will be joined by former Gov. Mike Huckabee and [others].

“April 15th is our annual day of reckoning with the IRS and the day the government stakes its claim on our hard-earned money. Our current tax system is simply broken.

“The worst part of our tax system is the way the income tax penalizes our work. That’s backwards. Why would government want to tax us for the work we do – taxing us more when we work harder and smarter and earn more money? Instead, the tax should be on consumption, not productivity, just like the FairTax –a national sales tax that un-taxes productivity.

“Our current income tax system is a relic of the past and we should toss it into dustbin of history. The FairTax will unleash the power of America’s worker and allow us to grow out of the current economic downturn.

“By shifting taxation from productive behavior to consumption, the FairTax allows Americans to take home their entire paycheck and eliminates the income tax and IRS. This will have a stimulative effect on our economy. Not only will Americans have more money to spend, they will have more money to save and invest—which will give American businesses more access to capital. This, in turn, will allow greater investment in research and development and result in the creation of new jobs.

“I hope you join me in firing the IRS, scrapping the income tax code and establishing the FairTax. Once we join together to get that done, we can let April 15th fade into history as just another day.”

American Tea Party

This is fabulous!!!

<>

CDs are being produced. To obtain a copy send $5 to Lloyd Marcus, P.O.Box 6472, Deltona, FL 32728

Time for TEA and a Fair Tax
by Chuck Norris
Posted 04/14/2009 ET
Updated 04/14/2009 ET

Teatime, anyone? I hope you've joined one of the thousands of TEA (Taxed Enough Already) parties or FairTax rallies, which are happening across the country April 15 to protest outrageous government spending, the deepening of our national debt, and the subsequent taxes. This is a nonpartisan time to rally around like-minded citizens and declare that we're tired of the same old political rhetoric and that we want a better way.

I personally encourage all people to voice to their representatives that we need to return to a taxation system similar to the one established by our Founding Fathers. They did not penalize productivity through taxes the way we do today. They had no Internal Revenue Service. They believed in minimal taxation. They did not pay income taxes, which were prohibited by the Constitution. They did not pay export taxes, which also were prohibited by the Constitution. But they did tax imports. The Founders believed in free trade within our own borders and a system of tariffs on imported goods.

That's a system that makes sense to me. It is a system designed to preserve individual liberty and encourage productivity (through no income taxes and no discouragement of domestic production through export taxes) while choosing to keep taxes as painless as possible (through taxes on foreign imports). And it doesn't require an IRS to run it.

The Founders would have been horrified at the bloated federal bureaucracy we have now and the maze of taxes we have to navigate: income taxes, employment taxes, capital gains taxes, estate taxes, corporate taxes, property taxes, Social Security taxes, gas taxes, etc. It was excessive taxation like this that drove the Founders to rebel in the first place.

All of the Founders were opposed to domestic taxes. They regarded high taxes and aggressive tax collectors as tyrannical and always to be guarded against. Patrick Henry warned: "Excisemen may come in multitudes, for the limitation of their numbers no man knows. They may, unless the general government be restrained by a bill of rights or some similar restriction, go into your cellars and rooms and search, ransack and measure everything you eat, drink and wear." (A prophetic statement?)

The IRS wasn't started until nearly 100 years after the Revolutionary War, in 1862 as the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Its creation coincided with the creation of the income tax, which it was designed to collect. Both were the work of President Abraham Lincoln and Congress, who saw them as necessary to pay for Civil War expenses.

It is interesting to note, however, that the income tax law expired 10 years later, was revived in 1894, and then was ruled by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional in 1895. Yet in 1913, it became law through the 16th Amendment. Ever since then, the income tax has deprived families of their rightful earnings, restricted our liberties, and deprived our economy of money that could have been invested in productive enterprises.

Today the IRS is the No. 1 enemy of your pocketbook. Who doesn't fear an IRS audit? It's the only federal agency that considers you guilty until proven innocent. It can't be overhauled or even reformed (Congress' attempts have failed).

The best answer is to abolish the IRS, sweep away the present tax code, and implement FairTax's plan, which lives up to its name. As Mike Huckabee says, "Wouldn't it be nice if April 15 were just another sunny spring day?" (Mike himself will be hosting a FairTax rally in Columbia, S.C.)

FairTax's plan would do away with all taxes and would put in their place a single consumptive (fair) tax, which right now is the closest practical proposal to the taxation system favored by the Founders. With the fair tax, the harder you worked and the more money you made the better off you and our economy would be. You would pay taxes only when you bought something, which means that you could control how much you'd be taxed and that you never would be penalized for working hard.

It's time we had a system through which people didn't have to figure out ways to cheat in order to save their money. Again, as Huckabee says: "The fair tax is a completely transparent tax system. It doesn't increase taxes. It's revenue-neutral. But here's what it will do: It will bring business back to the United States that is leaving our shores because our tax laws make it impossible for an American-based business to compete. … The fair tax was designed by economists from Harvard and Stanford and some of the leading think tanks across the country."

There are also trillions of dollars hiding in offshore accounts. With the fair tax, the people with their money offshore could bring it back to invest here, which would give a huge boost to our economy. It's the biggest stimulation package there is. As the FairTax Web site says, "Think of it as the World's Biggest Economic Jumper Cables."

If the Founding Fathers were here today, I believe they would support the fair tax. As James Madison said, "Taxes on consumption are always least burdensome because they are least felt and are borne, too, by those who are both willing and able to pay them; that of all taxes on consumption, those on foreign commerce are most compatible with the genius and policy of free states."

We don't need more tax reform. We need a tax revolution! And FairTax's plan would provide it. If we all jumped on the bandwagon and demanded our representatives implement such a taxation system, we could restore our nation economically and make the financially impossible become possible again.

Friends, we must keep fighting. Join your nearest TEA party or FairTax rally, and bring your cell phone, too, so that you can call Congress and the president to share why you've gathered together. (The phone number for representatives and senators is 202-224-3121, and the president's is 202-456-1414.)

If you haven't found the nearest location for a TEA party or FairTax rally, go to http://www.TeaPartyDay.com or http://www.FairTax.org. Invite your friends, too. And don't forget to bring copies of this article or another one that explains the fair tax so others can be educated, as well. Why wait? Forward it now to everyone you know, and let's get the party rolling!

Stormy Weather

Maybe not stormy, but it's been coming down pretty steady all day. The temperature is nice and has me wanting to do stuff around the house.

Laundry is in the washer, eggs are boiling on the stove for work tomorrow, I'm burning a book to CD (legally purchased and downloaded), I cleaned out duplicate music files last night on both my computer and MP3 player.

I have two days to work and then I'm on staycation! Yeah, I'm staying home. Money is the main reason, but the other is that I really have nowhere I want to go where I can take my dogs. The cats would be fine for a couple of days, but dogs need attention. My dogs are my kids, and I not only want my dogs with me, I really need them. I need to be needed right now; I'm in sort of a "needy" frame of mind. And then, I don't like to travel by myself. That's something I'm going to be working on. When I retire, I'd really like to do a little traveling. Not what my husband and I planned, but now that he's gone, a lot of things changed. Travel was just one of the things. And, I'm okay with that. Things change because life happens. Like I said, I'll be working on traveling by myself, but maybe by the time I retire, there will be someone I can travel with. If not, that's okay. Only time will tell.

I not only have the dogs, but I need to do things around the house. That's my other reason for not going away. There are things that must be done. So, it's a staycation for me.

Navy Seals Rule!

warning: I seem to be full of it today...awe, that is.

I've never been much of a Navy fan; most of my family (including my mother) served in the Army. Two of my favorite people in the world, my grandfather and uncle served in the Navy during WWI and WWII respectively, so I do hold the Navy in some esteem.

The Navy, as a military unit, is every bit as important as any other branch of the military, but today I have to say that the US Navy is awesome! The rescue of Captain Russell was nothing short of brilliant. I also have to give props to President Obama for finally (after being asked twice) giving permission to use deadly force to rescue that heroic captain. I have to wonder, couldn't this have been over much sooner had that permission been given, well, the day the captain was taken hostage?

I'm also in awe of Captain Russell for giving himself up as a hostage in lieu of the men in his command. Many say they would, but I wonder how many actually would. I hope no one reading this is ever in that position.

While I am in awe of the sharpsmanship of the Seals, it's really nothing less than I would expect of a Seal. With the training they get, this should have been just another day. But when it's happening, it never is. I once served on a hostage negotiation team. You train for events, hoping you never have to put your training to use. And when you do, your training kicks in, but things never go like they do in training scenarios. I admit, I never had to train or work an event on open seas.

I do know that the shots were taken on rolling seas - extraordinary shooting! It's exactly that that makes me say, "WOW! Brilliant shooting!....but...that's what they do....WOW!!" So I'm in awe of what they can do and really can't described just how awed that they actually did it!

I'll just say it again...Navy Seals Rule!

I believe - 


That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

Taxes and Tea Parties: America Gets Ready to Rumble

Posted By Bobby Eberle On April 13, 2009 at 6:46 am

This week, Americans will not only be rushing to the post office to pay their taxes, but they will also be sending a message to Barack Obama and the left-wing elite in Washington that enough is enough. April 15th marks the day that people from across the country will gather for the Tax Day Tea Parties -- a protest movement against the out of control spending in Washington and the increased taxes that will pay for it.

Despite the fact that numerous tea party protests have already occurred, resulting in tens of thousands of protesters taking to the streets, the media have provide little coverage. As usual, if there is a voice, op-ed, or movement that doesn't trumpet the socialist agenda of Barack Obama, it will be glossed over by the media. Thus, our mission is simple... It is up to all of us to send a message that is too loud to ignore.

GOPUSA is proud to be one of the sponsors of the Tax Day Tea Party protests. As noted by Eric Odom, Chairman of the DontGo Movement and one of the primary organizers of the protests, "Building on the free market ideas of our founding fathers, and embracing the passion they shared to bring them to light, the Nationwide Tea Party Movement is giving voice to tens of thousands of Americans."

Added Stacy Mott, President of Smart Girl Politics, "Average Americans do not support mortgaging away our children’s futures, and the time to speak out against it is now."

As noted on TaxDayTeaParty.com:

In particular, we believe the government is far too big already. Yes, this includes the previous administrations excess spending and the idea of bailouts to banks. The plans of the current administration are to make it even bigger. We resent the intrusion and control of government into our lives and liberties. This is a key factor prompting protests.

Take note elected officials regardless if you wear a Democrat or Republican label. The message is clear! Stop the spending. Stop the additional taxation, especially the hidden taxes in the form of increased prices passed on by industries overwhelmed by government meddling and targeted taxing.

Protests have already been held across the country leading up to the tax day protests. Despite the large turnouts, the media has not only ignored the crowds and the message they are delivering, the media are actually mocking the movement.

As noted by Jeff Poor at NewsBusters.com, Howard Kurtz doesn't take the other news networks to task for not covering the tea parties, but rather chides Fox News for too much coverage. Give me a break.

The tea party movement may hopefully become too big for even CNN or MSNBC to ignore. It has already created an online sales boom.

Online retailers are recording hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales of mugs and sweats, buttons and bumper stickers, with much of the proceeds going toward organizing the tax-day tea parties, takeoffs on the original 1773 protest of British taxes.

There are so many tax day tea parties being planned that is impossible to list them all here. Please check TaxDayTeaParty.com for a complete listing. However, many states have set up their own tea party web sites, and you can find some of them here:

Arizona Tea Parties, Delaware Tea Party, Indiana Tea Party, Minnesota Tea Parties, New Jersey Tea Party, Ohio Tea Party, Oregon Tea Party, Tennessee Tea Party, and Texas Tea Party

Washington is spending too much and taxing too much. The tea party movement is an opportunity for average Americans to let their voices be heard. We don't have the power of the media or the influence of a George Soros, but we do have numbers, and we have a passion and love for our country. Enough is enough.

Rahm Made Millions at Investment Bank

Congressional dealmaker and incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel made millions of dollars brokering deals of another sort as an investment banker.

Emanuel was a fundraiser for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, directed the Bill Clinton presidential campaign’s finance committee and was a senior adviser to Clinton in the White House, where he helped broker the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Congress.

But after he left his post in 1998, political friends helped him land a job with the investment banking firm Wasserstein Perella, and Emanuel made out nicely when the company was bought by investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort, Barron’s columnist Jim McTague reported.

Emanuel’s biggest deal was investment bank Goldner Rauner’s purchase of the alarm company SecurityLink from SBC Communications for $479 million in 2000. In what McTague calls “perhaps the greatest coup,” Emanuel convinced SBC to provide 80 percent of the funding for the purchase.

By the time Emanuel left the firm in January to prepare for what was to be a successful run for Congress, he had made $16.2 million in 2.5 years, The New York Times reported.

During his stint as an investment banker, Emanuel also helped utility company Unicom in an $82 billion merger with Peco Energy, which created Exelon, a utility with nearly $19 billion in annual revenue.

Exelon has 17 nuclear reactors, the most in the U.S., and McTague wonders if Emanuel will “recuse himself on nuclear-energy

At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. 

Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, 'Johnny, what is the matter?' 

Little Johnny responded, 'I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife.'

Seven Habits for a Financially Fit New Year

Mary Hunt

Everyday Cheapskate

Personal character is made of habits and habits come in two varieties: good and bad. The secret to learning good habits or breaking bad ones is found in conscious repetition. To create a habit, you must repeat an action over and over again until it becomes a natural response. To break a habit, you must to create a new one or choose not to do something over and over until it becomes a natural response.

Want to become more financially responsible? Consciously focus on the following practices. Repeat them over and over until they become natural responses. Before you know it, these will be your habits, too.

Habit 1. Regularly balance your accounts. Financially responsible people calculate a current balance in their checkbook or online account after every transaction. They know where they are at all times.

Habit 2. Save money consistently. Financially responsible people do not spend all the money they have and then rely on credit. They always save some and they do it first, before they pay anyone else.

Habit 3. Think first and spend later. This is the habit that keeps financially responsible people from spending money they don't have. They do not buy things impulsively. They make lists, weigh the consequences, wait for sales and above all, exercise self-control.

Habit 4. Focus on the real price. Financially responsible people see through the come-ons, marketing hype and financing options. They know how to calculate the bottom line. If they can afford the full price, fine. If not, they are not interested in monthly payments.

Habit 5. Know your financial condition. Financially responsible people know within a few bucks the current balance on their mortgage, their investment accounts and other assets. They make decisions based on how their net worth will be affected.

Habit 6. Refuse unsecured debt. Financially responsible people shun debt of all kinds, but especially unsecured debt. If they have secured, i.e. mortgage debt, they repay it rapidly.

Habit 7. Make principle-based decisions. Financially responsible people make financial decisions based on principles, not feelings. They know their feelings are fickle and can change.

Experts in human behavior say it takes 21 repetitions to break a bad habit or to establish a new habit. That means if you do something every day, after three weeks it will become a nearly automatic response, a habit. Continue for another 21 days and you will have established a life-long habit. It takes just six weeks to change your life.

It is possible to learn good habits and unlearn bad ones, even those that are deeply ingrained. It's all a matter of choice and determination!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A bit late, but it's never too late to begin to learn new, better habits, whether they relate to health, wealth, or lifestyle.