I am sure most of you have read about the cash for clunkers program.  I have noticed that some papers and sites are simply not giving all the facts when it comes to this.  I miss the days of unbiased journalism here in the US, but that is just what it is.  It depends on if the publication is in the pro or anti Obama camp as to what will be given in the way of information.

I suggest that you look at the official government website if you are wanting information on this program.   The information will be accurate and not clouded with either camp's rhetoric.   You can find it at www.cars.gov  

This program could be a huge help to those people currently driving gas guzzlers or cars that are so old that they need constant repair to keep running.  There are several people in the situation where they are paying a car payment in upkeep and gas as it is.  It might actually save them money to get put into a new car.  

The thing to consider when looking at this is a realistic approach.  What is your car actually costing you a month as it is?  Include any of the 'repair' bills you have had to pay if it is doing the nickle and dime fall apart thing.  Include gas.  Include insurance. EVERY expense per month that relates directly to your car.  

Now, take into account a car payment and the increased insurance you will have.  Add in gas (you will still have to pay it but likely less).  If this number is less than the previous number you are going to be better off going for the new car.  If your car is approaching the stage where keeping it running is nearly its own car payment you might consider using this option before it gets that bad as well.

Using this program to help you is the trick.  If your car gets decent enough efficiencey, runs well enough to not be a constant drain, and is in good repair - you might want to wait until you are in a better situation.  If your car is not in that kind of condition, you might just want to take advantage of this program while you can.

Realistic, honest assessments are what you need when making your choice.

This bill has a chance to be great for those of us who have needed a new char, but couldn't afford one.  It gives us more on our trade ins, and it is there to help us.  Like everything these days, there are predators out there willing to take advantage

You don't have to register for this benefit.  You go, you trade in your car.  Its that simple.  Sites telling you that you have to 'pre-register' are attempting to get your personal information.  If it doesn't end in .gov its not a government site.

The last thing any of us need is unethical people taking advantage of our situation for their own profit.  Protect yourselves.

I will forever remember that one incident in life that showed the child I was that the world is not as safe and wonderful as I wanted to believe it was.  All children have 'that' moment, and it haunts all of us even into adult hood.  What that moment was is different for all of us, but something happens that switches that mindset from carefree child to someone that knows bad things happen to good people.

It happened to my daughter.   Her best friend's mother was mudered in their home.  It shattered her concepts of safety, and it has put her in the position of attempting to be the support her friend needs right now.  I'm proud of her, but I am worried, too.  This was a horrible thing, and I know that its going to leave its mark.  Not just on my child, but on her friend.  Her friend even more so.  Mother's day was rough, of course.  We managed it, and her friend did 'pretty' good.  I just wish I knew what to do or say for them.  I listen, I hug, and I'm patient when they have their moments.

I am self employed from my own home.  I work at home, and I love it.  One thing that I see more of these days are the scams that promise you riches for very little effort.  I am begging you not to fall for it.  These scams are appealing to your desperation and greed, but they are not going to deliver on what they promise.   They are there to steal your money, and that is how they 'got rich quick'. 

I work from home, yes.  This means I actually WORK.  I work very hard, and sometimes well over fourty hours a week.  I make decent money no that I have gotten the swing of it, but it took me a while to build the income.  There are VERY legitimate means to generate income at home using the web as a tool, but there are just as many unscrupulous scammers out there with only the goal of lining their own pockets.

Educate yourselves.  If you are wanting to work from home that is your best plan.  Educate yourself so that you can spot the scams.  My rule of thumb is that if it sounds too good to be true it almost always is.  "I got rich working one hour a day!"  MMmhmmm...that is why your site says 'results not typical, and not an indication of realistic revenues'  

I have a very, very dear friend who fell for one of these scams.  She spent nearly her last $100 dollars, and all she got for it was far more stress than she had.  She is now facing eviction because she put all her effort into working the 'plan' that they gave her.  She believed in them, and she is paying for it.  I have done my best to help her.  I have paid to keep her utilities on, and I have subcontracted work out to her.  I can't bail her all the way out, though.  God knows I wish I could.  I do not want anyone on this site to end up in her shoes.  PLEASE.  Educate yourselves before you buy in to anything that promises you things that seem too good to be true.  Don't let the next scammed party be you.

Heck, I thought about begging here for donations to help her come up with the rest of the money she needs for rent.  Its not much.  I've helped her raise all but $500 of it.  I just don't have the means to support my children and bail her out.  I feel horrible for this.  I am even angrier at those who scammed her, but there is no legal recourse.  It was right there in the fine print that 'these results are atypical and not a realistic presentation of what you can expect to make'.  Of course, the site was written to make those results seem quite typical, but alas - always read the fine print.

I have been able to find an income source, that is fairly reliable and while hard work it is reliable.  I've managed to take on freelance jobs for writing, and other office work, so that I can work from home by use of my computer.  Its been great.  I went from zero income to about $400 a week.  It was not over night, but it has been a steady progress toward that.  I am very excited and encouraged.

Sometimes we get so busy with the business of life that we forget to take a few minutes to write about it in our blogs.  That would be me.  I have been just dealing with the normal challenges - kids, ect.  Nothing dramatic, nothing horrible, and nothing overly exciting.  Just taking the time to live my life with those that I love.  It is good to be so busy with life!  I enjoy it at least.  Life really is meant to be lived, and if we let it pass us by that is a regret in the making.

I wish I could offer more help, but I do have some suggestions.  Most of them you have probably already looked into, but its worth a try:

1) SSID - see if you qualify for disability?  It hurts, and as a man I know you wish to support your family, but with your illness this might be what is best.  They can also help you get medical insurance to further reduce the costs of your illness.

2) Contact your local Wal-Mart and see if your prescriptions are on their $3 plan. They offer many medications for only $3 with insurance or not.  That can save you a fortune right there.  My mother uses this for my step father, and it has saved them over $400 a month!

3) I wish that I had money to give to those in need, but I don't.  What I can do is put you and yours into our prayers.  

I hope that everyone's holidays were touched with joy and love.  Even if we don't have the money we'd like to spoil our children and friends the way we wish, there is still the chance to call loved ones, be near them if we are able, and otherwise share love during this time.  It helps that my family lives in the area.  We had a good day with our loved ones, a very - very good day.  The children did not get near what they usually do, but funny thing about the kids - they didn't care.  They were grateful for what they got, and they were happy to spend the day amid a family that loves each other.  I pray that everyone else had as wonderful a Christmas as we did, or which ever holiday that they celebrate.

Blogging, and using adsenses is a great way to generate some extra income.

Also  https://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome is another way to generate some extra income.  We are not talking super fast here, but I've made about $40 off this site, and it comes in handy!

http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/referral/Doodlebug_03  This site is fantastic as it allows you to make small lenses (websites) on virtually any topic you wish.  I am still trying to find one with the right appeal, but income generation is possible.  I did, of course, include my referal link - that helps you, and me!

I also do webdesign and hosting freelance for very, very reasonable prices.

I look forward to hearing more from you.  Its good to hear a message of hope, encouragement, and perhaps information.

Every now and again you meet a person who is just so amazing, and so wonderful, they impact your life without even trying.  They leave foot prints behind that make you smile when you remember.  We lost such a man today.  He was a man who I always remember as smiling, full of laughter, and just plain nice.  He was a WW2 vet, he had lost his leg, but that did not slow him down.  He was even prone to jokes about his leg.  He leaves behind family and friends who will miss him terribly including me. 

He taught me to cherish the good times, laugh through the bad times, and always walk forward in faith with my head high.  He taught me that life is full of challenges that we have to face head on, and situations we have to make the best of.  He taught me that we cannot always choose the cards we are dealt, but we can choose how we react to them.  He taught me that life is truly defined by ourselves and not our circumstances.  He taught me to own my decisions, and to own the consequences of them good or ill.  He taught me so much, and now he's with God I am sure.  I will miss him, dearly.  He left his foot prints in my life, and the lessons he taught will live on through me and my passing them to my children.

Rest in peace - you've earned it.

There are a few things you can do.

Step One, call your utility companies and explain you are currently out of work - request an extension.  They are usually willing.

Step Two, get on unemployment if you are not already on it.

Step Three, go to social services and apply for any assistance you qualify for.  It is humbling, and it can be embarassing for someone who used to be more affluent but what is worse - not having bills paid and food, or loosing some pride?

Step Four, contact local churches and Salvation Army to see if they can be of help.

I wish you the best, and I wish I had the money to help you.  Maybe some of this will help, though.

register to www.frecycycle.org and a community in your area.  It might not be new toys, but you will probrably be able to find something.  If you post with asking for toys and clothes I am sure you will get a response, especially if you mention they are for Christmas Gifts.

Is it just me, or does time seem to speed up at this time of year?  The holidays, the end of the year, and so much to get done before we greet another year.  It all seems so confused and cluttered that its hard to keep up on  I look back on this past year, and I hope that the next year is much better.  It has been a year filled with challenges and hardships.  I know that the challenges and hardships are not over, but I do hope that I learn to cope with them in a more positive manner from this experience. 

No joke, this is REAL

You can send up to 3 free gift cards per day to people between now and Christmas.  They are only $10 gift cards, but that's still better than nothing!

 http://www-ws32.restaurant.com/FeedItForward/Default.aspx

I am on Zoloft and Tributol.  My anxiety issues were minor compared to a great many people's and I was getting treatment within a few months of their onset.  Maybe that has made a difference?  Or maybe its just that no two brains work exactly the same.  Keep working with your mental health professional, and I am sure that in time you will find the right combination in both dose and medication that works.  You will be in my prayers. 

PS:  I still get nervous in crowds, but its nothing like it used to be!

We got the loan we needed.  We're still a bit short, but its not insurmountable, and as of next pay day we should be back on track.  The payments are right, and it was a miracle indeed.  I hope that those of you that follow this blog continue to walk in hope and faith, and know that if you believe good things are going to happen to you.  Sometimes life gets rough for all of us, but if we remember what is important to us we will get through it. 

Much love, and much blessings to all

Welcome to our community!  I have had some experience with mild panic attacks, those are not fun at all.  Thank God mine remain minor, and they are ebbing with this new medication I am on.  I look forward to hearing more from you!

I have been brain storming on ways to help myself improve our situation.  I don't know if these ideas will work for anyone else, but I figured I would share.  If they help - GREAT!  If not, maybe someone will think of something that will. 

1.  If you have children take their clothes to a consignment store that gives in - store credit for the clothes.  You can then turn that credit around to buy your child clothes that they need.  It doesn't put cash in pocket, but it does help keep cash from flying OUT of pocket.

2.  If you have a car, walk when you can. Instead of driving that block, or three, to the store walk if you are not picking up too much.  It will save gas money.

3.  Go through your movies, and you video games if you have them, and sell them.  Don't just pawn for a loan, flat out sell them.  You get a slight bit more (but still not much, at all).  If you don't watch them, and you can get cash for them - something is better than nothing.

4.  Offer to clean houses for people!  Don't charge a fortune, but its a way to generate bits of income.

5.  Have a yard sale!  Your junk could be someone else's much needed treasure.

6.  If you are handy then offer to help fix things for people, or help to winterize their houses, for a small fee.

7.  Look up www.angelfoodministries.com  and see if they have a ministry in your area.  It can help reduce food costs considerably for you.

8.  Freecycle!  www.freecycle.org  If you have one in your area, give it a shot!

9.  If you are a crafter its Christmas!  See about renting a table (if you can afford it, or go in with a few people) at a flee market and sell those crafts!  The booth/table should not cost more than $10 or $20 which will make it easy to get return on investment.  

Maybe one of these ideas will help you, maybe it won't.  It never hurts to hope, though.

I noticed you did not mention attempting to contact some of your local churches in your list.  I don't know if that will help, or not, but it might be something you over looked.  I currently don't have the funds to help anyone - I need help myself, but I have gotten pretty good at looking for resources.  Another option, you are not -that- far behind.  Have you called the utilities to see about making some sort of arrangements due to the extenuating circumstances of your situation?  They might actually be willing to work with you.  It never hurts to try, right?  I wish you the very, very best.

My hopes and prayers are with you. 

http://craftingfuntimes.blogspot.com/  Craft Blog

 http://moneysavingsurvival.blogspot.com/  economic tips and trips to survive the times

I write both of these, and I would love to hear from you guys on them.

But there are some legitimate means to make money on the web.  We're not talking thousands, and they do require some work - but they do pay. 

1) Squidoo lenses.  They are small content pages you can make by yourself about anything.  Crafts, money saving ideas, recipes, anything YOU are good at you can try ot make into a lense.  Quality of content is important here, and so are frequent updates.  Keep your 'lense' frensh.  This link is my referal, I would be delighted if you would use it.  Just to help me keep track of people this works for!  Of course, refering friends also helps you make a bit of extra money, I won't lie there.   http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/referral/Doodlebug_03

2)  your own blog!  That is right, make your own blog much like you do here, but keep the content about something you know.  www.blogger.com is a great blog site, and they make it easy.  Then, put your adsense info in, and viola - it can work!  

What I like about both of these ideas is they don't cost you anything.  They do require effort, and work, but they don't cost you anything but your time to use.  I am doing 'decently' at these efforts, not a flood of money - but I'll be seeing some return on the investment of time time. 

Ouch, that is rough.  First, good job on being clean - and I cannot imagine how hard it was for you to get that way not having walked in your shoes.  I can say I've seen others fight that struggle, and not be as successful as you currently are.  Way to go! 

Secondly, if you have a felony record is is going to be exceptionally hard to get jobs.  You might want to focus on jobs that are more forgiving of such records.  What I would suggest is calling your unemployment office.  While you most likely do not qualify for benefits, they do often offer job hunting assistance which you might find of use.  

Contact the Family Services on the base, they can help.  Also, most things are covered by Military Insurance, you might want to call Tri-Care and check with them.  My husband is also military.  If all else fails, contact a chaplain on the base and speak to him or her.  They can guide you in the proper directions to get help.  There is help, especially for critically ill children.  I would look into having your daughter seen at a military hospital or being approved for free civilian doctor care.  Your Tri-Care benefits advisor should be able to help you with that.  Knowing your beneifts will save you many headaches.  God Bless.

Keep up with the disability applications, also persue some sort of insurance settlement that might be owed to your fiance.  That would at least help with the bills if nothing else.  Department of social services might also be able to help, and often times the hospital can steer you in the right direction if you ask them.  Local churches are often happy to help if they have the means to, and United Way.  Without knowing the exact nature of his injuries that is the best information I can give you on that.

As for fianacial aide - most reputable schools have experts on staff to help you with that process as it can be quite confusing.  I would suggest calling the school you hope to attend to find out if someone can walk you through the process.

Its getting a bit late but try Salvation Army, www.toysfortots.com, and of course local Churches.  Also, Dollar Stores and such have things you can purchase.  No, they aren't great, and they aren't the 'rage', but its better than nothing.  I've been where you are, and I'm facing a Christmas with nothing for my children this year.  It hurts, and your family will be in our prayers.

Through another group I belong to, I was contacted by a woman at maryrose@globaloil.com who supposedly wanted to help my family get past this hump.  Unfortunately, it was just a huge lie, and the check she went to the expense of fed exing to us was written on a closed account.  I can't express how hurt I am right now.  What kind of person does that?  Is it really worth the joke to get someone's hopes up only to yank the rug out of them like that?  Why bother? Why do that?  I thought that we would have presents under our pretty tree for my kids, but no - it was some elaborate hoax for someone to get their amusement.  It was just a way for them to destroy hopes and dreams.  I can't understand that cruelty, and I can't fathom someone that ...that...vile.  I'm sitting here in tears.  I want to curl into a ball, and just cry mysel to sleep.  I don't even have the energy to be angry.  I'm just crushed.  Absolutely, totally, and completely crushed.  Thanks to this woman things are even WORSE for us now than they were.  Thank God I didn't spend money thinking her check would clear, and I waited for it to clear before counting on it or we would be even worse off than we currently are.

If this woman offers you help, ignore her!  Simply delete the email, and ignore her.  If you believe in her - she will hurt you even worse.  It could have been catastrophic for us, but it was only tragic.  I don't want to see anyone else hurt this way.  

I...I just give up right now.  I'm tired of hanging on to a fraying rope, praying and hoping, for nothing.  I can't believe there are people that rotten in this world.

I wish I could give you more than this, but we have put you in our prayers.  We are in a bad way, too, but we do pray for your and yours every night.  God Bless you, and may He bring you a restul spirit. 

This is probably one of my happiest memories as a child, and the memory I have passed down to my children.  Our tree won't win any awards from the fancy decorating magazines, but it is certainly filled with wonderful memories of my children's growing up.  The ornaments are everything from cut up paper, to other things they made while in school and church.  Everything on there has some special meaning.  Its like looking at a testiment to our family when I sit after it is up and look at it.  I have a memory to every thing on it.  Even the single, last ball orniment left from my husband and I's first Christmas together as a married couple.  We bought all our decorations at the dollar store that year, and we went a bit crazy with them. 

Even our tree is special, it was given to us by my sister in law a few years back to replace the one we had had forever.  The tree, to me, helps to represent the real meaning of this season.  The joy of our Lord's birth, and the Blessing of family.  The little paper snowflake orniments are more precious to me than anything made of gold.  The ornaments of strung beads made for us by my now passed mother in law are equally precious, and each of the children will get a couple of those.  My tree, when it is up, has been 'touched' by everyone in our family still with us or already gone from this world.  It makes me smile.  Who needs to win a Better Homes and Garden's prize when your tree can do that for you?