Humerous Prayer

Dear Lord,
So far today I have done
all right. I haven't lost
my temper, haven't been
greedy, grumpy, nasty,
selfish or overindulgent.
I am really glad about
all that.
But, Lord,
in a few minutes I'm
going to get out of bed,
and from then on I am
really going to need
Your help.

More Foreign Companies Hiring Americans

Are you one of the millions of people who hates it, when call a companies customer service number, and get someone overseas with such a thick accent that you can barely understand them?

Well not all is lost. There is good news. Oversea call centers are opening call centers in the U. S. Much as the foreign car makers have done, so to are the call centers doing.

For example, and Indian call center (Tata) has opened a call center in Reno. No not that Reno, but Reno, Ohio. A small town of 537 people, whose largest employer is this Indian call center, which employs 250 people.

Their client at this particular call center is the online travel site, Expedia.

The phenomenon has a name: "insourcing," the term experts are starting to use when foreign multinationals open offices on U.S. soil and hire Americans, at a higher price, to do the very jobs they once lured overseas. In this case the center in Reno is targeted toward companies willing to pay a premium - its workers there cost up to 40 percent more than their counterparts in India - to give their U.S. customers a more culturally fluent, less frustrating 1-800 experience. (No more hearing someone read from a script ten time zones away.)

According to CNN Money, Tata, which has a history in India of caring about social causes, has encouraged workers in Reno to get more involved in the community. They even had a float in the communities Thanksgiving Day parade last year. More recently, employees gathered at a local playground that had fallen into disrepair to clean it up.

And when an employee was injured in a car accident, Tata donated $500 to the family. Christy Rice, senior team leader, says those efforts demonstrate the biggest difference under the new owners. "It's less about numbers and more about people," she says.

The reason for this effort to hire Americans, on the part of the foreign companies, is that Americans offer distinct advantages. For example in Expedia's case, its call-center workers need a firm grasp on U.S. geography. While other companies believe Americans bring a more entrepreneurial attitude to their work and still others believe callers feel more comfortable hearing fellow Americans.

Free CFL's

This afternoon I was surprised when my mail person knocked on the door and handed me a package. I hadn't ordered anything, yet the package was clearly addressed to me. What was inside? A compact fluorescent light. I had filled out a form at yahoo, in a contest trying to get my city named as a green city. In return, Yahoo was mailing everyone a compact fluorescent light. Well today I received it. In addition, when it was announced a while back, that Topeka was one of the top 5, the city received a whole bunch to hand out, which according to the newspaper were to be distributed to the various community centers. In addition, some of them would be put to use in the cities own buildings.

However, a week from tomorrow (sat. Aug 11) I will be receiving another one free. As part of National Night Out, Westar (WR), the local electric company will be handing out free CFL's with one condition. That condition, is that those receiving a free bulb, sign an agreement to buy at least one more CFL within the next year.

Arguing With Washington Mutual

Well last night I called Washington Mutual and informed them that I was using Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University to get debt-free. As a result I would like them, now that I have closed my credit card, to give me the same interest rate that they would, if Consumer Credit Counseling was calling on my behalf.

After much talk and the representative giving me the number for their "Debt Management Program," I was connected to a person who claimed to be a manager. This guy informed me that it was against company policy to cut APR's directly with the consumer. The only reason, he said, that they cut the APR with consumer credit Counseling is because they were a bigger organization then any individual consumer.

At that point, is when I lost my cool, and said something that I didn't intend to say. I said, "and that's why CreditCard.org gave you the lemon award for being the worst credit card company on the planet and why Dave Ramsey calls the scum of the earth."

These people absolutely will not work with me whatsoever. I have never been late on a payment with these people, until last month when my checking account was cleaned out, by SMC and Bank of America. Yet they raised my raised my APR anyway from what I signed up for.

Oh, and before talking to the "manager," I did press the lady what the Debt Management program was exactly. She tried to repeat the same line, and I pressed and asked exactly what that meant. She finally said, that it was Consumer Credit Counseling. The number she gave me (800) 388-2227. Personally, I have nothing against CCC, but I believe that these people should work with me. They are already aware that I have undergone counseling, but they just want to be jerks.

I hate debt, and I hate Credit Cards, but I really suggest that everyone avoid Washington Mutual and all of the various credit card companies that they have bought out. They are the worst of the worst. It is my intention to get this paid off ASAP. While I am on vacation next week I want to make at least $1,000 from various sources so that I can get them out of my life forever. I must get my technique down so that I can feel comfortable charging customers to paint address numbers on their curbs. In addition, August 11th I will be selling yard sell items in my communities annual flea market. I know making $1000 in one week is ambitious, but that is my goal, so I can pay off this item by the end of the month. Then I can focus on the rest of my debts. My goal is still to get all my smaller debts paid by the end of the year.

In addition, I really suggest, in the strongest terms to follow the following advice:

1. Establish an emergency fund
   
2. Commit to avoiding ALL new debt


3. Call your creditors and negotiate lower interest rates (That is if they will negotiate).


4. Start a Spending Diary. Keep track of receipts and monitor cash in-flow and out-go to make sure you stick to your budget (Personally this is the hardest thing for me).


5. Get in the groove of spending within your means by cutting back expenses.


6. Payoff everything and celebrate!

OK, there you have it. That is my plan and the advice I follow and recommend to everyone. Providian (now Washington Mutual) got the lemon award for raising customers APR to the maximum (31.99%) forever. I will not miss them, nor any credit card. They are the perfect example of greed in their industry.

Giving To God VIA an ATM?

I seen this today on CNN, but when I went searching, all I found was older articles that I have heard of previously.

Easier giving is now a reality for church congregations across the country with the placement of an ATM in the church lobby. The giving kiosk is nicknamed the ATM for Jesus.

The inventor reasons, that no one carries cash or checkbooks any more, so this machine is the logical evolution, he explained in the report I heard on CNN.

"Years ago, people would bring animals and grain to the house of the lord as a tithe," Baker says. "Can you imagine the stir when they started bringing money?"

You can't get any cash from the machine. Instead it is set up so that you can only swipe your debit or credit card to make a donation. Although, you can also request a receipt and even chose whether or not you donation will be anonymous. In addition you can choose where to donate, IE: tithe, building fund, general fund, etc.

Personally, I don't know about this. It sounds to much like the mark of the beast to me. I mean the Bible teaches about a mark on our hand or forehead to pay for everything. While I don't believe an ATM is the mark, the pastor and businessman's comment about everyone using debit cards instead of cash, sounds like a comment pointing that way. I don't know, but it just makes me a little leery. What do you think?


***update: CNN video found***

sources:
ABC News (Oct. 2006)
Kooz News (July 5, 2007)
CNN Headline News (Aug 1, 2007)

Earnings From Last Month w/o Sponsored Posts

This past month has been rewarding. As I try to fully rebound from the horrible month of late June (and early July), when my bank account at Bank of America was completely wiped out (see posts from that time period).

Thankfully, Google AdSense will be sending me a payment for the months of May, June and July. Over the three month period, I have earned, thanks to your clicks on their ads, a total of $102.10.

In addition, I signed up for CashCrate, a website that pays participants for answering surveys and filling out online forms. CashCrate, reportedly pays every month, by paper check, if the participant earns at least $10.

Well my first month with CashCrate, which actually was only a partial month, I earned a total of $33.68. Of which, $15.85 came from offers that I participated in, $1.60 from daily surveys, $13.23 from referrals and $3 from bonuses.

Yes, you read that right, referrals, everyone who signs up, not only makes money from what they do, but also a percentage of what their referrals do. For example, according to the figures I have, 15 people have signed up through my CashCrate links, 7 of those are actually active participating. In addition, 3 people have signed up under those 7, so I am getting 10% of what those 3 "second-tier" referrals do as well.

Now, my referral goal, is to get at least 50 active referrals. My goal for August is to make at least $50. Considering that my 1st partial month, I made $30, I think that this goal of $50 is doable. Eventually, I would like to see monthly checks of at least $500. If Amy Bass can get checks, which she has posted on her website, of $1,000, I surely can make half that amount.

Other payments, I expect to receive by the end of August, includes $27.50 from BlogVerTise and $12 from PayPerPost, though my PayPerPost article has yet to be approved.

All in all, that means I am to get $175.28 by the end of August from these various sources. If can get that much for each of the remaining months of the year, I would be almost guaranteed, as long as I stay focused, to have everything except the car paid off by the end of the year.

Of course, I am not a big fan of the sponsored posts, and i know many of you aren't either, but if you want to make money, then I would suggest trying CashCrate, not only will you make money, but you will also help me out as well. So go ahead, and click that CashCrate link and sign up. The nice thing, you don't have to even have a blog or website to do this money maker. Although, it would be easier for the referral side of the program.

Fund Education

Fund Education, NOT War!