Bank closings are slowing, despite the fact that more banks are in trouble than ever. The FDIC hopes to instill consumers with confidence. (Photo: flickr.com)

According to the FDIC and other sources, the number of bank failures now exceeds 100. The latest closures included four small- and medium-sized banks in Florida and Georgia: Partners Bank and Hillcrest Bank, both of Naples, FL; Flagship National Bank, Bradenton, FL; and American United Bank, Lawrenceville, GA. When banks fail, the federal government, in the form of the FDIC, steps in to protect the consumer. They do this usually on a Friday afternoon, seizing bank assets to pay for outstanding liabilities. The chief of these are the customers’ deposits. Whatever the assets can’t cover, FDIC insurance does.

When Trouble isn’t Trouble

The highest number of banks ever seized in one year was 120 in 1992. There are currently 416 banks “flagged” by the FDIC as being in trouble as of June 2009. This is up sharply from 305 on the list in March of this year. However, the pace of bank closings is actually slowing down. The FDIC seized 24 banks in July, 11 in September, and eight in October, which has only one week left as of this writing. This seems contradictory on the surface. The number of banks in trouble is going up, but the pace of closings is slowing. How can this be?

It’s All Relative

This is an excellent example and proof that money is really just a concept and not a concrete noun. Most of us think of money as the crisp dollar bills that we get in our paychecks and then put in the bank. But money is really a much more fluid and relative concept. To illustrate, look at the criteria for bank closings. You would think that there is an accounting formula or other federal regulation that determines what constitutes “trouble” in the banking industry. After all, the banking industry is one of the most regulated industries in existence. However, the banks that were recently closed are no more or less in trouble than the other 400 or so banks on the list. Further, if we were not in a serious recession, normal criteria would place the number of banks in “trouble” in the thousands. The definition of trouble changes with the times. What is trouble in normal times becomes acceptable in tough times. So if concrete numbers aren’t determining who survives and who closes, what is making the determination?

Just Act Like We’re All Okay

The key determining factor, according to the FDIC, is consumer confidence in the banking industry. In other words, how the American people think and feel about banks determines whether or not they stay open. Remember at the beginning of this article the number one concern when a bank was seized was protecting consumer deposits. That is true, but not for the reason that most of us would have assumed. Deposits are not protected for the actual dollars in the accounts, but for how secure the owners of the accounts feel about the industry as a whole and how likely they are to re-deposit their funds in another bank. The force keeping the banking industry afloat is not money, but the relative and fluid concept of confidence. How deep does that confidence need to be? Who really knows? Maybe, that is why the FDIC won’t say how deep their insurance reserves are.

Novak Djokovic may need one of his credit cards to help pay the fines for his latest on-court outburst. (Photo: Wikipedia.org)

“Use one of your credit cards, Novak!” I shout from my semi-comatose position on the couch. I just witnessed a tennis player’s breakdown that’s going to cost him money, maybe lots of it. Novak Djokovic missed a tiny little lob over the net and smashed his racquet into the court surface in rage. The racquet, of course, folded and close-up shots from the TV cameras showed possible ridges in the court surface.

This is Gonna Cost!

Whatever happens, this little display of temper is going to cost you, Novak. Probable fine from the APT tennis organization will be in the region of $10,000, wasted racket – $200, repairs to courts surface – a whole debate. The Shanghai Club may decide to lay a complete new surface, because the surfacing contractor will no doubt tell them that it is impossible to ‘patch’ a court surface… “We will never get it perfectly smooth.” If you are really unlucky, they may decide to resurface all the courts in the club so the colors match. As far as the racquet is concerned, one of your credit cards will look after all the messy details.

The Money Angle

This year is the first that Shanghai joins eight other cities in hosting an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, the new top tier of tournaments on the ATP World Tour. It is also the finale to the three-week Asian swing of the ATP World Tour. The prize money is over five million dollars. Wow, Novak, you couldn’t have picked a worse place for your demonstration. Over a billion Chinese will remember you.

We Understand

We may be highly critical of your actions and your uncontrollable desire to smash something, but inside we do understand. The court surface was a better choice than your opponent, Gilles Simon, or the umpire or even some stray character out of the audience. But the media is going to dine out for weeks on this event. All sportsmen and others who are trained to such a high pitch snap easily. My grandson, aged nine, lost a swimming race by a touch last week and he’s inconsolable, mentally kicking himself for taking too long on a turn. He hasn’t smashed anything in rage, but I’m sure he will learn as he gets older.

Ambition

It’s all about ambition, the desire to win, to excel, to never be second. Every time we are on the way to the swimming pool, grandson reminds me that his ‘dream’ is to swim in some future Olympic Games. I hope he makes it. Then he says, “What was your dream when you were my age, Pop?” It’s difficult to explain that I wanted to be a tail-gunner in a Liberator bomber. Luckily, I was too young to achieve my dream.

The Novak Djokovic Dream

Novak has achieved his. At age 24, he will be elevated to the world’s number three ranking in a week’s time, something very few people manage to do. He has already won about 14 million dollars playing tennis, so he walks with a wallet full of unlimited credit cards. The racquet-slamming incident was not money linked, just an outward sign of sportsman’s total frustration.

George Clooney had the right idea when he dated a waitress. That could just be the way to end poverty.

A few days ago, as I was reading about one very wealthy person getting engaged to another very wealthy person, I came up with a solution to poverty. Unfortunately, it is a solution that only works mathematically, not realistically.

My idea is this: if rich people married poor people, the distribution of wealth would all even out. Of course, I am not saying that this should be mandated in any way, but it seems logical, doesn’t it. Unfortunately, it is not logical at all. But a girl can dream.

Running in different circles

Now, I must clarify that I am not advocating people should marry only for money, or for lack thereof. People should always marry for love. I am just saying that if the different “classes” of people intermingled a little more, there wouldn’t be so much poverty. If only people could turn to their significant others instead of personal loan companies, debt could be a thing of the past.

For instance, if Oprah were to magically fall in love with a homeless man, that would be one fewer person in the “poverty” category. Also, instead of growing her fortune by combing it with another rich person’s, Oprah would remain super wealthy and not become super-uber-mega wealthy.

Of course, real estate prices ensure that people of a certain income level are surrounded by their own kind. That’s the reason my grand scheme will never work. But there are other reasons, too.

Social stigma

In general, rich people and poor people tend to have different ideals. Rich people are often rich because they are willing to work at it. Some of them see poor people as lazy. Of course, these are pretty old-fashioned stereotypes.

Some people want to keep their incomes moderate to avoid becoming materialistic and the corruption they believe comes along with power. Some rich people simply don’t want to spend their money on supporting people who don’t make their own money. But, I think I have a solution to this.

Idea for online dating sites

Listen up, all of you entrepreneurs out there. I can see a cross-section out there of groups of people who might be interested in meeting each other. How about trust fund babies and lazy poor people? Match up the people who didn’t work for their money with people who just don’t want to work.

Then, of course, the inverse of that idea would be to match up people who worked hard for their money with hard workers who just couldn’t catch a break.

The tough thing about making this idea work is figuring out how to market it and orchestrate it so that you’d end up with the best results. But that’s for you to figure out. If you use my idea, though, you’d better give me a cut of your profits.

This year’s French tennis Open tournament has, so far, produced its share of upsets. Some of the top names are out and both of last year’s winners are out. Today I witnessed yet another upset, the sweeping victory of 19 year old Sorana Cirstea of Romania who defeated the tournament’s number 2 seed, Jelena Jankowitz. I sat in front of the TV watching the battle, thoroughly fascinated at the tenacity of Cirstea who simply refused to give up on her decision to win. Then I began to think about the money.

Entry fees

The payers who qualify to play in these tournaments have to pay an entry fee. It is probably around the $100 mark and of course they also have to get themselves, their coaches, trainers, physiotherapists, parents, aunts and uncles and other family to Paris and installed in hotels for the 2 week duration of the tournament. The hopefuls among them probably manage this with Personal Loans. The tried and tested players probably have enough left over from previous tournament participation to finance these costs.

They’re not playing for peanuts

The players, from the top all the way down to the lowest seeds, have one eye firmly fixed on the money. They may be sportsmen and make great speeches about playing for King and Country and the Glory of Tennis, but they are professional tennis players and this is their daily work. Imagine playing tennis day in and day out, standing on the court hitting the same shot a thousand times a day until the coach says, “okay, I think you’re getting the hang of it. We’ll do it again tomorrow.” They are playing to win, for King, Country and Money.

Sorana Cirstea

Along comes Sorana Cirstea who has a fair history in the game, she is 19 years old, she wants to win and she puts her entire body and brain into the task. She plays killer tennis, and her unfortunate opponent, the experienced Jelena Jankowitz, who also plays killer tennis, runs straight into a brick wall. Whatever is served to her, Sorana comes back twice as fast and twice as hard. After an almighty battle, Sorana wins. They both earn about $58,000 and Sorana goes on to earn $190,000 for making it into the quarterfinals. Should she continue into the semi’s it will bring her $380,000, the finals $760,000 and if all goes extra well and she wins the tournament, she will go home with one and half million dollars. Who else is making one and half million a year, er… per fortnight, in this recession?

There is a recession on

I thoroughly enjoy watching the tennis tournaments on the TV. It’s a great spectator sport, but there is a small part of my brain that focuses on the money at stake. We are deep in the grips of a recession and these gifted sportsmen and women are out there, battling it out to win small fortunes. I am sure that without the natural gift of speedy reaction, uncanny anticipation and sheer muscular strength, training can produce good tennis players. But it is the gift of nature that makes great tennis champions and champion money earners.

May was indeed a Merry Month for me here in the Home Office. I hope everyone’s May was as abundant as mine, but from the statistics, it is clear that the recession is still dragging on for so many people. On the last day of every month I take an hour off working and run my business figures across my mental screen to see if I am still ahead of my creditors. The rest of the world is having a rough time and the number of small, medium, large and giant corporations going belly-up is still on the increase. General Motors has gone from the world’s largest corporation to the world’s largest failure.

My personal record for May

Loans

Number of applications to the Personal Money Store for a Personal Loan or a Cash Advance: 0

Sales

Article writing

Gambling articles: 4

Insurance articles: 35

Financial articles: 30

Translations

Assembly instruction page for gadget: 1 – (Hated every minute of it.)

Painting department

Watercolors: 1 started and finished

Acrylics: 1 completed

Income

When it is all paid it will get me through the month of June as long as there are no major surprises. These could range from a car break-down to a washing machine explosion, both designed to wreck any household budget drastically and immediately.

The client who ordered the translation probably won’t pay - I delivered the work in 2 days by email and I have received no response. This is one of the risks of taking work that comes from an unknown source –

• you are offered the work,
• you are excited at the prospect of a new client,
• you do the work in a rush to impress,
• you do a great job to impress even more,
• you send the work,
• you never receive a response,
• emails sent to the same address come back from the Daemon Mailer with a note that says ‘uh-uh, this email address doesn’t exist.’

Expenses

A home-based writer has few expenses. All the usual household expenses apply and unless one prints work, there is no need to buy ink or paper. I splurged and bought a new 22 inch computer screen and I am enjoying it. I figured that if sitting in front of the computer is my life, I may as well make it as comfortable as possible. On the painting side, I made the mistake of using my favorite watercolor brush to work in acrylics and that ruined the brush. So I bought a new one and an extra one in a different size. Buying good brushes is no joke-they’re expensive. I want to write it off on my taxes but I’m not sure if the IRS has me down as an Old Master or a Sunday afternoon painter.

June

Well, Hi June! Let’s take a look at the prospects. On the article writing front I hope everything will remain stable and maybe even increase. Some months I receive orders for extra gambling articles and news items but this sector is having a very bad time. I am psyching myself up into starting a new painting which requires some energy, time and small amounts of money in photos, prints etc. and getting my main model, a grand-daughter, to sit still for a few minutes while I take pictures.

I hope the recession numbers improve so that all will have a good June.

Age

I added 1 month. We all did.

Recession or not, our baby daughter Diane is getting married. After two years of being squired around town by young Timothy, who I regarded as a son after the first month, they’re finally talking the giant step. My wife and I are thrilled, and relieved. Adding Tim to the family will be an easy task and he will be a great asset. He may even get to help me in my law practice one of these days. “So where do we begin?” asked my wife after dinner. “Where everything begins these days,” I said. “Online. Type ‘wedding costs, or weddings or wedding preparations’ into Google and see what you get. That should keep you busy for the first month.”

Personal Loans

I’m not sure what my wife will find on the internet. One thing I do know, though, is that a wedding is probably not a subject for a Personal Loan from the Money Store. On the same subject, I suspect that by the time my baby daughter is safely wed, I will have chalked up a long list of loans.

The wedding search

I was right. It is all online. There are sites where you type in your zip code, go through and tick off a list of options, answer a few questions and the computer spits out an estimate for a wedding of your choice after a couple of seconds. Be warned, none of the estimates are cheap and depending on your zip code, it will pay you to tell your daughter to elope or just move out of town with her boyfriend.

The wedding is just the beginning

Some couples end up using all the monetary gifts they get to pay for the wedding, especially where the parents cannot afford the big splurge or are not willing to refinance their mortgage to finance it. Other couples split the costs down the middle and in other cases, the wealthier family foots the bulk of the bill. Whatever the case, we’re talking about major money. The day after the wedding, the money problems start in earnest.

After the ball is over…

We have the photographs and the video of the wedding, we have gone through the list of gifts and we have mailed out thank-you cards. They have another 2 weeks in Tim’s rather crummy apartment and then the lease comes to an end and they have to move. They’d love to move into that super place they saw on Maple Street. It’s still vacant but the rental is sky-high. We need to sit down and help them build a budget.

The newly-wed budget

Why did they get married, they wonder now – the bills are stacking up and it’s starting to look like a financial impossibility. How does everyone manage this? Okay, that Maple Street apartment is expensive. They know that and they know they can’t afford it. But in this budget that we sweated over with them last night, they can’t see that they can afford any apartment at all. It looks like they’ll have to move in with us. If we hadn’t spent $20,398 on their wedding, we could have put a down payment on a house for them.

With or without credit repair, passion is something you must have if you plan on having victory over your obstacles. Passion is something that should be with you 24 hours of the day; it gives you reason to question ideas, challenge statistics, and excel when others say you can’t.

Successful People are filled with Passion

There are a lot of successful individuals who had to pull every ounce of passion from themselves in order to make it in the field they are currently in today. I’ve listed just four people who are great examples of the powerful effects passion can have on our lives:

Elton John

This man has endured through a 4-decade career and has managed to sell over 200 million records, more than even Michael Jackson, and he holds the award for most successful album (Thriller). Elton John also started playing the piano at the tender age of three, which proves that talent was abundant in him from an early age, but so was passion. Anyone who works at something for hours, even though they might not be any good at first, has loads of passion. Aside from the constant depression Elton John suffered through, he never wavered in his unyielding devotion to create music. This is a wonderful example of passion personified.

Michael Jackson

How could I leave the King of Pop’s name out of this article? With his greatest selling album, Thriller, surpassing platinum record selling status and barging into the diamond rank, it’s no wonder he’s been in the game for a long time. But things didn’t start off easy for Michael, or his brothers. When the Jackson 5 was first established, Michael wasn’t even a part of the group. He longed to belong, to fit in with his siblings, and soon passion took over. After entering into a local school talent show, he wowed the audience and his father, Joseph Jackson, and the rest is history. Did the passion stop there? No! Michael and his brothers had to perform for 5 more years before a chance audition for Motown’s former president Barry Gordy, catapulted them to the top of the pop music charts.

Eminem

I know you’re wondering why this guy’s name is affiliated with Mr. John and Jackson. Well, he has earned his spot at the top of the music charts. Marshall Bruce Mathers III had his share of knockdowns and disappointments. Being a Caucasian male, it was very difficult for Eminem to garner respect from his fellow emceeing peers. Though a young Eminem had talent, his skin color made it increasingly hard to break into the rap music industry, and Vanilla Ice’s reign on rap music didn’t seem to make Marshall’s chances any better. Of course, passion had to fill his heart, and he endured the ridicule, persecution, and slander, all in the name of passion for hip-hop. Had he lost his drive to do what he loved, we wouldn’t have a face to associate the name Slim Shady.

Suffice it to say these gentlemen shouldn’t need to seek credit repair any time soon. But a friend of mine did:

A Tale of Passion

A friend of mine decided that he was going to take his love of playing the guitar to opening a music shop. At first, lots of people (family as well as friends) doubted his abilities.

“David,” they’d say, “you can’t even keep a minimum balance in your savings account!”

They said everything they could to persuade him to reconsider and maybe join someone’s paying band, or better yet get a “real” job. Cruel, it may have seemed, but I knew that their negative comments were only fueling David’s passion… or so I thought.

The comments went directly to David’s head when he applied for a bank loan and was denied for having bad credit. He was stunned to find out that a steady income and equity couldn’t land him a loan. I suggested to him that his passion needed to increase. I told him that a fire needed to be lit under him, and the only way to light that fire was to prove that his idea wasn’t wrong.

David went to the library and read books on starting businesses, performed countless searches online, and even took a business class. After 2 months, David put over $2,000 in his savings account.

“How did you do it?” I asked him.

“I guess I didn’t care about the money or succeeding. I was studying and researching all that stuff, because I was actually interested… Oh, and the credit repair advice I got along with a much needed cash advance helped.” I smiled and thought to myself, look at what passion can bring.

But it’s a shame that most people don’t realize the ease and comfort of applying for one. While a cash advance won’t solve every issue, they are wonderful for financial woes that arise.

Unexpected Turn

A friend of mine decided that he wanted to go on a cruise. It was going to be like a spring vacation, and for four months he’d been saving money for the trip. He couldn’t wait for the chance to leave, and made sure that most of his bills were paid in advance to insure no surprises would interfere with his plans.

Two days before he was set to travel to the airport, his bank’s checking account balance came in the mail. He was out of $5,000 due to a purchase he made months prior. The company he’d bought a bed from took almost two months to extract the money from his account. This incident left him heartbroken and unfortunately, at home, when he should have been on a sea palace for four days.

Should-a, Would-a, Could-a

When he finally came around to telling me what was going on in his life, he mentioned that he had passed up the chance for a vacation because he only had $20 left in his account for the next week. He couldn’t postpone the cruise or reschedule, so he was pretty much left high and dry.

I asked him, “You never considered getting a cash advance to make the flight?”

“No,” he said, baffled and perplexed all at the same time. “The thought had never crossed my mind,” he added.

In response to his statement, I told him a little about payday loans, gave him the basics, and made him promise that if he’d ever experienced financial trouble again in the future he’d seek out a website such as Personal Money Store in order to get out of his monetary slump.

First Thing:

Companies that offer a cash advance often approve loans for many types of people and for numerous reasons, regardless of credit. This is even more of an incentive to acquire a cash advance when unexpected bill, car, or repair issues pop up. Another wonderful fact about payday loans is that they are typically transferred into your account within one business day.

What’s the Ins and Outs of Getting a Cash Advance?

Unlike bank loans, issues such as credit history and collateral are non-existent when applying for online payday loans. Typically, all an individual needs to do to be approved for the loan is have steady employment, have an active checking account, be 18 years of age, and make enough money to pay back the loan amount they received. It’s that simple. Most applicants are approved if they match the requirements listed for loan approval.

After your application is approved, a few more papers and legal documents are filled out and your cash advance is loaded into your checking or savings account usually within one business day.

I’m sure my friend is relieved now that he has a backup during unexpected tough times. Getting a cash advance is simple, but it seems knowing when to get one is even harder. With a steady income, and a signed promise, you may be free of money worries as well. Just as I passed this information on to my friend, try to inform someone you know how to apply for a cash advance, and what instances to do it.

Low and behold, I think I have an idea even greater than receiving a cash advance during those times when your money is tight. Well, if not greater, my idea could be just as great as a cash advance.

My idea: jogging.

Sometimes, it’s so easy to give up. Most people give up easily, whether it’s a personal goal that they feel they are not accomplishing fast enough to even a crossword puzzle in the local newspaper that’s mentally stumping you. Whatever idea you have, whatever goals that are set in your mind, to lose weight, stop smoking, or start your career, if you’re going to set a goal, it’s best to commit to it.

Last Lap

Reaching the last lap can be exhilarating and painful all at the same time. When we strive to finish, and control ourselves long enough to complete your mission, it is on the last lap that we realize how much we’ve accomplished and decide that we must have victory!

Wake Up

First, wake up bright and early and say this affirmation: “I am going to finish all my laps.” Try to get enough sleep the night before so that you are fully energized. Eat a light breakfast, and head to the track, or a park. You can either measure your walking or jogging progress through laps or you can measure yourself by completed miles.

Stretch

You would make sure your future finances were in order before getting a cash advance, solely to prepare yourself to return the cash advanced to you. Just like your body needs to stretch as preparation before exercise, you mind should be exercised. After you’ve eaten your breakfast, taken a shower, and are dressed for your walk/jog, stretch your arms and legs. Rotate your neck, and stretch the muscles in your thighs as well as calf muscles.

After you’ve completely stretched your body, sit in a straight backed chair, close your eyes, and start taking deep, concentrated breaths.

Walk │Jog to Success

Now, it’s time to get on the track or to go to the park. Before walking or jogging, stretch your muscles again, to make sure you don’t get muscle cramps and begin walking.

For the first mile that you walk, try your hardest to breathe deeply, pushing out your abdomen as you inhale (until your lungs seemed filled to capacity with air), holding for a count of four and then exhaling. As you do this, your body will go through lots of emotions, sensations, and feelings. You might receive a boost of energy, and then a minute later just feel like stopping. Just remember to breathe deeply, try to maintain a consistent moving pace (so your heartbeat remains steady) and walk.

Thought and Action

Now that you’ve walked a mile and are breathing correctly, it’s time to put your brain to use. Start to think about a goal you wish to accomplish. Envision thinking of the idea, writing down creative steps toward achieving the creation of that idea. You should picture yourself achieving your goal. Where are you? How do you feel — accomplished, relieved, overwhelmed with emotion? What are you wearing? Who is around you? These are questions that should pop up in your mind, causing you to ponder on them, while your brain is in an active yet alternately relaxed state of consciousness.

Reach the Last Lap

Once you reach the last lap, or last mile, it’s time to really push your imagination and body. Keep your pace and movement steady, don’t speed up unless you know for sure that you have the energy to continue in that fashion. Sometimes we might want to achieve something so bad that we push ourselves before being completely prepared. Let’s say you want a new car. You’ve been dreaming of getting one, you know the model and the custom gadgets you’ll have installed. You finally get the car, but after a month realize you can’t afford the car payments or the particular vehicle you wanted requires a rare and expensive type of gasoline. You were not fully prepared for the success of that goal, therefore you’re left disappointed and unhappy.

The same principle of thinking is applied to walking or jogging. If you know you are not physically or mentally ready to speed up your pace or start jogging when you began walking, you will burn yourself out. Some people end up spending months away from the track or park because they pushed themselves further than they were prepared to go.

Once you have mastered a morning jog, and can make it through the last lap or mile, you will be more than ready to conquer the goals you’ve set to claim victory over! The same way your muscles burn, hurt, and feel tired, that’s how your ego will feel when you’re striving to live your dreams. People will have doubt in your abilities, others will try and stop you, but if you remember the burn from your morning walks, the way you wanted to give up on the second mile, but pulled through to the last, you’ll gain more strength to succeed. This determination is what gives individuals the chutzpah to stay strong during hard times, and claim an online cash advance without fear or worry, because payback is as sure as the completion of that last lap. Until you reach it, stay positive.

Most of the time, I’m discovering ways to expand my knowledge and utilize my creativity. Sometimes, creating a world of wonder and victory around your living can eliminate work altogether, and replace it with resourcefulness and delight.

These bullet points are just 12 of many things involving the sentence, “I just hate doing this.”

• Going to work
• Babysitting
• Traffic
• Going to the doctor
• Nothing on TV
• Waking up early
• Being Broke
• Arguing with a lover
• Going to school
• Writing a paper
• Updating your resume
• Speaking in front of large crowds

There are many ways to look at those twelve dreaded activities (or lack thereof) and see the horror in them. But in order to ‘get it’ you must look past the negative and bring out the passion in you. How? I was hoping you’d ask.

Clear Everything Out!

When going into any activity or chore, make sure you clean out the area. I don’t mean this literally, but I do mean mentally. Before going to the doctor, for example, sit down in a straight backed chair (preferably no arms), or lie down on your back. A straight back chair or lying flat on your back insures your spine remains comfortable, and prevents slouching.

Spend about 5 minutes taking deep breaths. There is a correct way to take deep breaths, and I call it correct because it’s the most effective way. You simply breathe from your abdomen as you inhale as much air as possible. While you inhale, your stomach should expand like a pregnant woman’s belly or a balloon being filled with air. Once your lungs feel good and filled, hold it for a count of 4, and then exhale slowly. When done correctly for five minutes, your body will feel relaxed and your mind is cleared. Now we’ll move on to the cleaning process.

Out with the Old and In with the Possibilities

Now that your body is relaxed and your mind is cleared and focused, you’ve entered an alternate state of consciousness. This is a mind-set that most people tap into when they’re in deep prayer or meditation, like monks or when you are sleeping.

Did you know…?

When you are asleep, often times throughout your slumber you experience REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is the time when you are dreaming. Your mind plays a series of images streamed together similar to a movie. Some of these “movies” are more vivid than others, but all the while, you benefit from every one of them. Your brain gives you, your conscience, something to watch while it decides what events from the day to unpack and store or throw away as unimportant. Interesting brain you have in there.

A higher state of awareness

You’ve reached a higher state of awareness and it feels great. Just as great as receiving emergency payday loans to successfully take your family on a cruise. You float, as if in mid-air, dancing horizontally on an invisible veneer of misty clouds… Okay, well I embellished a little, but not by much.

Now, using the same going to the doctor example as above, bring up past events, images and feelings of visits to the doctor. Let’s say you have a terrible hate for syringes, needles, and cold doctor’s hands. Picture experiencing these incidences from the past and take note of your feelings and emotions while you’re performing these mental exercises.

Next, tell yourself that all of those feelings and emotions of fear and discomfort are nonexistent in you!

Then think of eating your favorite meal, having the time of your life with your friends, pleasing your children beyond controllable delight, or happy times spend with a loved one and take note of your feelings and emotions. After you’ve done this for about 2 minutes, or until you’re ready, say, “All of these feelings and emotions of happiness, love, and delight will replace all of the previous emotions in me.”

This part gets a little difficult, solely depending on each person’s level of fear, discomfort, or dislike, but with constant practice it works. Try to hold on to those feelings and emotions of happiness and joy. Feel the emotion of happiness and joy in your body; did you usually have heart palpitations or a tingling sensation over your body? Focus on any physical as well as emotion reaction to the thoughts of gladness. But now think of those things in the hospital room that frighten or disturb you and hold on to the emotions of joy and delight. At first this might go smoothly, but if it doesn’t just keep trying it. It gets easier.

If you practice this exercise everyday, apply the visual images needed to fit your issue, you’ll be able to go to the dentist and still have a bright and beautiful smile on your face, just like payday loans do.

The story about Wanda Sykes and her controversial statements has been getting more buzz lately than Personal Money Store’s cash advance programs. Who would have thought that a comedian, doing what they’re paid to do, would spark so much debate?

The Story

Wanda Sykes was invited to be the mistress of ceremonies for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner held on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Apparently, there were some statements made about Rush Limbaugh.

This was the main statement that roused White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs into stating that there are a lot of topics that are better left for serious reflection rather than comedy.

Ms. Sykes controversial remarks:

“He said he wants the country to fail…” “To me that’s treason. He’s not saying anything different than what Osama Bin Laden is saying. You might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker but he was just so strung out on Oxycontin he missed his flight…”

After jokingly asking the crowd if the statement was too much, she added, “Rush Limbaugh, I hope the country fails, I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a good waterboarding, that’s what he needs.”

Though the President laughed at Ms. Sykes’ jokes, on Monday, May 11, Mr. Gibbs set out to remove Barack Obama from any ties to the jokes and said he didn’t think there is any doubt that 9/11 is one of the topics better left for serious reflection.

My Two Cents

Some people have been calling Wanda Sykes a crazed liberal and some folks have lashed out at Rush Limbaugh, calling him weak, as if he initiated the backlash against Ms. Sykes. Though Wanda had very strong opinions of Mr. Limbaugh (after all she said she wants his kidneys to fail) he refused to make any public statements directed to or about Sykes and her comments. I believe that’s the best decision for him to make. Just like with a cash advance, if he isn’t fully sure of what he’s getting into, he should take some time and evaluate the entire situation before taking action.

A Joke’s a Joke

I’ve heard plenty of jokes in reference to the Pearl Harbor attack, the bombing of Hiroshima, and plenty of other devastating events. I’ve seen footage of politicians telling jokes about Hurricane Katrina, and I could have sent a letter to the White House or posted a seething blog post, but at the end of the day, it’s a joke. Granted, some individual’s idea of funny could be ruthlessly insulting to others (Wanda Sykes saying she hopes Mr. Limbaugh’s kidneys fail), however it still is another person’s opinion.

Personally, I found the entire video of Wanda Sykes’ comedy routine funny and refreshing as an online cash advance. What people don’t realize is the message behind Sykes’ comedic rant: if Mr. Limbaugh wants our country to fail, why should we care for him? We went to war because someone or a group of individuals wanted the United States to fail, so that’s what Ms. Sykes did: went to war! Do I agree with her statements? No. Do I understand them? Absolutely.

How do you feel about the situation? Do you think her statements were too out of line? Leave a comment expressing your feelings.

Remembering to pay back a cash advance is easy. But there are millions of people who forget “common” things, such as, math figures, phone numbers, and people’s names. Yes, it’s true that memory does get weaker as people grow older. I don’t know about you, but I want to make sure my brain stays as healthy as it possibly can.

The good news is that you can improve or enhance your memory in no time. After all, successful individuals in the world must remember lots of names, numbers, and figures. So here are some suggestions that can help you improve, strengthen, or enhance your memory:

Number One

Taking the time to comprehend that what you want to remember is very important. The more you totally consume yourself in what you want to learn, the better you retain the information. For example, if you want to remember the name Carol, just imagine a woman, or Carol herself singing a carol.

Number Two

If you take the information you want to learn and relate it to something else that you remember well, you could improve your memory retention. This is something called an association technique, where you interconnect names, numbers, figures, and faces to things than can deeply relate to the information you need to retain. The more outrageous the connection the better, because your brain will take the ridiculous association and create a sort of “trigger” to recall the information during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, or dreaming.

Number Three

The reason why songs are so powerful, especially the catchy tunes, is because they create an emotion within us. People, who are perturbed about a situation they’re going through, will recite a quote, prayer, or affirmation. By focusing on the “good” outcome, they remember and strive for it. The same goes for remembering smaller things.

You store the information a lot quicker by repeating it over and over again in your mind. After awhile, the info will stick. You will be talking to someone and the information will pop up, as if out of thin air. Try putting together a list of 5 items and remembering them in the exact order they’re listed.

Number Four

In a financial crunch, a fast cash advance could give your wallet a much needed break. Like your wallet, your brain needs a small break. Take a few minutes to rejuvenate your mind and then attempt to recall the information you’ve remembered again. Try to relax and empty your thoughts for about four or five minutes, and then practice your memory techniques again. After a little more exercise, take another 5 minute break. Three times the charm. If you can remember the information that you’ve been practicing on after your third break, then the information has unpacked and plans to stay in your brain’s long-term memory.

Number Five

Repeating these steps over and over until you can remember the information on your own. This will result in outstanding triumph. And don’t fret if after the 5 minute interval your recall is unsuccessful. Just go back and repeat steps one through four.

I’ve only listed but a few relatively quick, easy, and painless suggestions to help you stimulate your mind, which will increase your memory. Remember that practice makes perfect, so it is okay if you don’t succeed the first few times you try to apply these steps. If you stay focused, and use these tips regularly, whenever you need help remembering important information, your memory recall could possibly double!

After awhile of keeping an eye on yourself- and your progress, you will notice that it takes less time to remember information given to you. You’ll be stunned by how easily your memory’s recall of information quickly and accurately grows. This also means you’ll remember to pay back- let’s say- a cash advance loan on time. What great brains we have, huh?

Honoring the glue that keeps it together

Once upon a time, it was known as Secretary’s Day. Now that secretaries are referred to as administrative assistants, it’s Administrative Assistant Day, Administrative Professionals day 2009 and Admin Day. Does that simplify things for you? Just remember to keep it separate from Bosses’ Day and Arbor Day and you’ll do fine.

Today, April 22, is the big day. The liberation of time has freed them from the term “secretary” and given them a title with more weight to the verbal ton. Not only do they answer phones, take minutes, arrange travel, prepare memos and lend executives moral support, but they are often referred to as the “glue” of an organization. “Attaboys” are great, but extra pay keeps personal loans and debt relief at bay…

Lilit Marcus of SaveTheAssistants.com wants us all to take a moment to recognize everything secretaries do for the corporate world. In particular, bosses should recognize their secretaries with gifts. What follows is a countdown of just how special administrative secretaries should be made to feel. For the record, Marcus’s article appears in The Huffington Post. Here goes, professional administrative assistance collaborative secretaries. Oh, you’ll probably pick out my embellishments. Think of it as my gift to you (if I were an executive, which I’m not)…

Your Administrative Assistants’ Day Celebratory Checklist

1. First of all, it is tacky to ask your administrative assistant to pick out their own gift. It doesn’t matter that he or she is your right hand in the office, that they pick up stuff for your spouse and kids. “Go pick out something nice” actually means that you don’t give a flip about your surgically attached subservient. Get the gift for your administrative assistant yourself; it’ll be an adventure.
2. Don’t go practical. If “Look, Mr./Ms. Johnson, you mean a lot to this office, so I got you this exclusive ivory letter opener with heated, massaging pleather handgrip. Keep up the good work” is something you might say, expect said gift to end up between your scapula on the way out.
3. Don’t you dare call it Secretaries’ Day. Your secretary will hate you for it.
4. Cards are great, but not E-cards. Your administrative assistant is worth more than a viral video.
5. Some say that money is tacky when a gift is called for. However, in this recession, money talks.
6. I like this one… Marcus says you shouldn’t pen some inspirational ditty like “you’re lucky to have a job with this company under the current economy” when the same thing could apply to you, Mr. or Mrs. Executive.
7. Acceptable gifts include brand name chocolate or candy (unless diet or allergies make it a no-no), perfume (really? I wouldn’t do that), a gift certificate to Victoria’s Secret (sorry, can’t agree with you there Ms. Marcus… I’d find the shopping trip too distracting), or a dartboard with your picture affixed (a given, right?).
8. Money talks, get it?

Sometimes, even a gift will not be enough to remove the foul stench of abject hatred. Remember, once per year is not enough to let your administrative assistant know how important they are to your organization. So be nicer to them. Let them know in little ways that you value their work. They might just start giving you better gifts on Bosses’ Day.

Related Video:

We all know that money is the root of all evil. In our everyday speech money is unclean:

• It is known as filthy lucre,
• If you have too much of it you are stinking rich
• If you have too little you are dirt poor.

We don’t talk about money openly and we treat it like a vulgar subject. We routinely ask strangers what they do for a living, but would never dream of asking how much they earn. And that even applies to family and close friends.

In the same way I never discuss my Payday Loan activities with anyone else, except my wife.

It’s not always like that

Not all cultures feel the same about money. I have often been asked how much I earn, but never in the U.S. When I tell people that I write about money, it evokes little interest and they don’t pursue the conversation. I wonder if it would be the same if I said I was a sports or travel or food writer.

But now there’s a change

It seems that the recession is bringing the subject of money out into the open and making us love the stuff more than we did before. Most of us now believe that money is now more important than it was prior to the recession. This thinking is also reducing how we value possessions.

Money is a great tool and also a measure of value and a form of exchange. It buys food and clothes for us and our families; it keeps a roof over our head, pays our tax bills and if we’re lucky, buys a few treats as well. It is notoriously hard to earn and unbelievably easy to spend.

A lesson from recession

Along comes a recession and changes our attitudes towards money. It teaches us to look after it, show affection towards it, how to use it wisely, and surprisingly more generously.

Research is also showing that people are keeping up their charitable contributions and helping their family more in these difficult times. It is a fact that charitable donations in the U.S. doubled after the 1930s Great Depression because people had seen the trauma of poverty at first hand.

More money lessons

The credit crunch is teaching us to stay out of debt and to stop wasting and abusing money. More, it is teaching us that saving money is good, and borrowing too much is dangerous.

We will always feel funny about money but until somebody develops an entirely different social structure, or we return to a beads and barter system, we just have to learn to live with money.

We ought to learn to love it, not because it’s money but for what it can do for us, our loved ones, and society, if used properly. After this recession is over, or while we are still in the depths of this recession, we should evolve new money systems and start treating it more seriously. Most of all, we need to learn how to respect it.

Are you suffering from insomnia?

So an emergency has come up and you are short on cash; payday loans are just the answer. A busted car or a sick dog can mean an expense you were not expecting. The truth is, payday is still a few weeks away and there is no spare money for this situation. Everybody knows that these unexpected emergencies cannot wait a few weeks to be attended to. They need a solution now or else it might mean more excessive spending later on.

Solution’s just a few minutes away

The real fact is that payday loans are fast, easy, effective, and secure. Unlike any other credit from another financial institution, these fast loans just involve just a few requirements.  The few requirements for payday loans include; that you are above eighteen years old, that you have a job, and that you own a bank account; it is as easy as that. Payday loans are made without unnecessary delay. If you qualify, you may receive them in your checking account, sometimes in just a couple of hours.

Fast solutions for fast needs

Normally these effective loans don’t take over a day to become instant money. They are usually faster than an overnight sleep and your problems can be solved easily. Payday loans are quick solutions for immediate problems. No more nights of insomnia worrying unnecessarily about problems that can be solved today. No more weeks of waiting for the next payday check. Money can be retrieved today and paid for later. What could be better than this?

Overcoming the fear

Many times people have complained that payday loans have high interest rates and that annual interest rates are very elevated. These complaints are unfounded. Payday loans are speedy and simple. You won’t be in deep debt because they don’t take over a year to get paid back; rather you pay them off in just a few weeks. Besides, the borrower knows beforehand how much the pay back amount is. Unlike mortgages, there is only one pay due and the amount is a fixed price, not varying on interests. The fees are reasonable for the fast, effective loans that they are.

Careful spending

Remember that quick loans are an advance of your future paycheck, so don’t get them for unnecessary spending. Spend only on emergencies. Keep your debt under control.

Just don’t forget

Payday loans are fast and are secure; they are quick and are meant for your convenience. They don’t require a lot of time nor complicated procedures. This can be done the same day they are requested, or may take as long as an overnight sleep to get instant, real, and effective money into your hands for your needs. Without any hidden or variable interest rates, these cash advances are the most efficient and transparent loans on the entire market. They typically require no fax sent or credit checks. Your tranquil sleep is just a step away.

South Carolina

If I live in South Carolina, should I look elsewhere to get my payday loans? It looks like I should, that is if I want more than one loan. Taking multiple loans has been banned here by the legislature and the bill also limits the total amount you can get with payday loans of only $600.

This bill, passed in South Carolina, is said to save its people from the loan sharks. But do these payday loan lenders really eat us up? Aren’t we the ones who are throwing in the bait? Would it be proper to blame the lenders alone? Doesn’t the government have any other idea to break the spell of getting into debt? Will just the passing of bills that cut having multiple loans out really solve the problem? Don’t some people genuinely need payday loans to get over the financial crisis and get the much needed respite from their financial problems? How many jobs will be lost?

Wait and watch

All these and many more questions come to mind when we hear of this ban on payday loans. Nobody knows exactly what is going to come out of all this. We will have to wait and watch the results. At least there is one state trying out a different means to save their subjects and thereby their economy. If this would serve the debtors, that would be well and good, but I don’t think that’s what will happen. I think it’s going to make the debtors more desperate.

Just the fact that there are payday loans to rely on in a crisis might have done a world of good to struggling people. There are even some who have never taken a payday loan but the fact that it is there gives them security in itself. There might be people who get into trouble with their wayward spending and there might be people who simply lead a very economic life and still have financial emergencies through no fault of their own.

The Plight of Loans

People take out loans all of the time

There may have been a time when any type of loans was not our friend. People just would not take them for anything. But the times have changed and loans are an everyday happening and a way of life. The popularity of loans is so far and wide now that we get a loan for just about anything. And unlike earlier times, we do not hesitate in getting them.

It has actually reached a point that, even if we have ready cash to buy a thing, we still might not use the cash but would gratefully use any loan facility that is available. That is our right as U.S. Citizens. With bills like what South Carolina has passed, these rights are no longer ours. With the financial crisis and recession looming, everyone needs money. For many of us, the only support available is payday loans. When they are not as easily available, what do we do?

Faxless payday loans can be supportive when you have financial difficulties. If you have payments due and don’t have enough to cover them or your car has let you down and requires repairs or you have an unexpected medical bill to pay, then you should be looking for supportive measures to help you.

You might be battling with your conscience for not saving enough to face such situations but that is not going to help your cause. You need an instant solution as quickly as possible. Where can you find help?

A Faxless Payday Loan without difficulty

You have friends but you may be embarrassed to ask them for money or you might have already asked and they might not have been in a position to help. Have you tried every possible solution, but in vain? In this situation, there is actually a very simple solution. You may have either completely overlooked this solution or you simply did not know that it existed. This is the possibility of getting a cash advance from your payday income. If you have thought of it already but simply did not consider it, because you thought it was complex or felt it would require complications like security, documents etc., then you should think again.

The cash advance I want you to consider would not require any of these, not even a credit check. If you have not already heard about a faxless payday loan, that is exactly what I am getting at. Yes, it is true. In most cases, you really do not have to do any faxing to get this loan. This is the loan sought after by many people when they require money immediately. It is almost an instantaneous loan. If you qualify, typically you get it almost as soon as you apply for it.

The nuts and bolts of a faxless payday loan

It is not a big deal. You only have to make an application online; you may also do it over the phone – the choice is yours. The “apply” button on this page is a great place to start. Once approved, usually you get the cash transferred to your bank account the same day. You do not have to worry about taking  this type of loan because they are given only for small amounts, the maximum you may apply for is only $1,500 for a short period. The short period is one of the reasons why you get these loans very easily.

Choose your lender wisely

Of course, you have to be careful choosing the lender. Most good lenders will not charge you for the application, they would not need any credit checks or faxing, they will lay down the terms and conditions before you at the time of signing up the application; they would not bind you to any hidden charges. Typically you should expect the lender to give you the loan as simply, actually simpler, than any bank loan.

Whatever be the situation you are in, if the need for money is urgent, go for your faxless payday loan. Your immediate problems will be solved quickly. You will be amazed at the instantaneous result.

No Faxing Cash Advance

A payday loan may be used to even out unexpected expenditures. It is always good to live within your budget but it is hard to keep up with it. Living within your budget is never easy; then, when there’s an emergency expense, it becomes next to impossible. Many of us have no control over the flow of money from our hands, especially in emergency situations, and so end up overspending.

Though not a good habit, it is the way with some people. We would hope this wouldn’t lead to bankruptcy but it sure can lead to anxious moments. Sometimes we feel helpless unless we take steps to discipline our spending. Some people learn from their mistakes and bad experiences, while some find other means to overcome financial crisis. This article is mainly meant to help those people who live a disciplined life with their money but sometimes get forced to find other resources, due to unexpected expenditures.

Cash without embarrassments

Most people who live a disciplined life with finances, do not like asking others for financial help. So when such people fall short of money, it is always difficult for them to ask for financial help. Some don’t know how to get that help without the embarrassment of asking family and friends. The easiest and simplest suggestion for them to get financial help would be to get a cash advance from their own income.  The cash advance from your own income is famously known as the payday loan.

To obtain this, one simply has to find a good lender. Typically lenders do not require credit checks or faxing, nor charge an application fee or have hidden charges. Be sure to understand their terms and conditions clearly and what amount you will be binding yourself to. In short the lender’s loan should in no way be different from any other simple loan. Also understand that this is a short term loan which has to be repaid from your next paycheck. These loans are usually given for amounts ranging up to $1500.

The usual practice

A payday loan can be obtained either online or over the phone. While applying online, you fill out a short application form and for applying over the phone, be prepared to give the details required by the lender. Usually, once the application is approved, the loan amount will be transferred to the bank account within 24 hours, sometimes as quickly as 2 hours. This is one of the easiest means of getting quick cash for emergent unexpected expenditures.

So, when any unexpected expenditure crops up, make sure to take a payday loan to cover it. It could turn out to be an instant relief.

Cash advances came in at the hour of need for me. Hi, I’m Napoleon from the city of Atlanta, Georgia. I work in a food catering company.  Sadness can engulf anyone into a huge sense of emptiness; I witnessed loss recently and it was devastating to say the least.

My loving grandma

When I was small, my parents separated and since then I stayed with my younger brother, Clarence and my grandma. Clarence was a college student. My grandma was 76 years old. Even though it was very difficult for my grandma to take care of us because of her age, she managed to raise us well.

I moved away

Two years ago, I finished my college and left Tallahassee to work in Atlanta as a manager in a food catering company. At first I used to regularly come to my home town to see my grandma but last year I got so busy with work that I could not find the time to see her and my brother. Every month I made sure that I would send some amount of money to grandma for her expenses.

The unthinkable was about to happen.

One day Clarence called and told me that grandma was very sick; her health condition was deteriorating and she urgently needed money for the medical treatment. I assured him that I would get money to him right away and grandma would get all right. I sent all the money I had for her treatment. However, her kidneys failed and she died. I was devastated.

I needed a cash advance loan

Every moment from my childhood with my grandma started to flash in front of me. I wanted to go Tallahassee for the funeral. To my shame, I did not have enough money to travel and manage the funeral. I explained my situation to my boss and asked him for a cash advance on my next paycheck. I had to leave in the middle of the month and my financial situation was bad. My boss suggested I go online for a cash advance loan. This was not only a great idea, but the only option left for me.

Money when I needed

The cash advance loan I applied for was approved within a few hours and it was directly deposited into my bank account. Although I was told that the cash advance would reach me in no time, I was relieved to see it actually happening. The next day I reached my home town. Even though I was emotionally devastated, I somehow managed to get through the funeral process and its expenses. Thanks to the cash advance, I could manage everything. By the next paycheck, I was able to repay the loan amount.

When devastated by grief, look to get a cash advance to help. Many people go about it the wrong way. They worry about money when they don’t really have to because a cash advance can be the solution to any immediate money problems.

How much is enough?

I’m confused by this article from Reuters. The author seems to think that government workers who make $174,000 a year are in danger of needing online payday loans and barely scraping by.

It certainly puts things in perspective, though. I understand now why some lawmakers are slow to help low-income families. On the other side of the coin, I understand why they are so concerned about “the middle class.”

Semantics

Andy Sullivan writes in his article:

Congressional lawmakers who oversee trillions in government spending must make ends meet on $174,000.

Make ends meet on $174,000? That is five times what I made last year and more than seven times what I’ll probably make this year. Unless said lawmakers have six kids, the ends should be meeting just fine as far as I can tell. I’m pretty sure anyone who makes that much money never thinks about whether they need online payday loans to get groceries or keep the heat from being shut off.

Unconvinced citizen

When I first read the phrase “make ends meet” I thought Sullivan was writing tongue-in cheek. However, the article goes on to say this:

Some (lawmakers) brag of spartan apartments and ramen noodle dinners to show they are careful with taxpayer dollars.

Granted, government employees do often make much less working in public service than they could make in the private sector. This is the basis of Sullivan’s article. But, come on, you make nearly $200,000 a year and you live in a studio and eat starving college student food? I’m not buying it

What does it all mean

It seems to me that our country’s view of who is “poor” is ever-changing, and it makes me think that not being able to afford a Hummer is the new definition of low-income. When did Americans start to feel so entitled?

The government has spent hundreds of billions to make sure that “regular” Americans can still get loans in order to be able to spend money they don’t have. Meanwhile people who need online payday loans for diapers and food seem to be forgotten. What’s your idea of  “poor”?