Contacts Via Monster

I recently was contacted by an insurance company, who had viewed my resume. They wanted to offer me a chance to apply with them. Saying my "first year earnings, advances and bonuses can range from $45,000 to $75,000 for new representatives."

At first thought, I was like, wow, I could pay off all my debts (including the IRS and car) in 7 months with that kind of pay. Then, I did some research on the company and found that they have a lot of negative comments made against them and their job offerings.

Most of the complaints deal with unpaid training period of 2-4 weeks. Not to mention most of the new representatives quiting within 6 months, having only made $2,000.

I am not sure that all the complaints are completely valid, but I do know working completely on commission is hard work. I have done it. I was a telemarketer for a now defunct company known as Capital Carpet Systems. This company, paid their telemarketers (at the time) no base wage. The commission was $10 per appointment set, when the job was actually completed. At the time minimum wage was $3.45. As a bright-eyed go getter in my early 20's at the time, I was promised I could easily earn $50/day. Well as time went buy over the 3-4 months I was there, I became the one who got all the call backs, as others quit. I became the top seller in the room and I was working both shifts from 9 am-9 pm. Yet, I was only earning $50/week.

I stuck it out, until March, when I made all the "spring callbacks," for the spring cleaning. Once I had made all the callbacks, I I quite without notice. The only job, that I ever quit without notice. The only nice thing, is that because I didn't get paid until the job was actually completed, I was able to get paychecks for several weeks after I quit.

In April of that same year, I was hired for the first time by the company that I currently work for. I worked for them 5-years, before moving to Chicago for 2-years. Upon returning to Kansas, I worked for another grocery company for 2-years, then returned to my company company after they sold to Associated Wholesale Grocers. They then merged us with another grocery company they also owned 2-years ago. All-in-all, I have been with the company since 1999. Now piece by piece they are selling off the Kansas stores. Even though, we are told it's business as usual in the remaining stores, I am nervous and worried I won't have the opportunities to move on up.

That is why, I posted the resume on Monster.com. Perhaps, I should also look at careerbuilder.com to. In addition, I placed an application with a bank that wasn't listed on monster.com. I am just hopeful, that future hits on my Monster resume will be hourly or salaried jobs. Even though, I would love to try insurance sales, I am not in a position financially to live on nothing while I am building my sales commissions to a point that I could live on.



***Update, I was just contacted by a 2nd insurance company via Monster.com

---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now.

The scoop behind the rumors

Some of the rumors that had been circulating around my company has proven to be true. Of course, like most of these type of rumors the truth is not as bad as the rumors.

Here is what has been shaking around my company:

Dillon's (aka Kroger's)is acquiring 2 of the four Price Chopper's in Topeka. The 2 Falley's (of which I work) has not been affected.

In addition Dillon's is also acquiring the 3 Homeland Stores in Wichita. Homeland is the parent company in the retail division of Associated Wholesale Grocery (AWG). Homeland in turn is a wholly owned subsidery of AWG.

Homeland is buying United Foods in Oklahoma. The United Stores will retain, the United banner as they become part of the Homeland organization.

Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. has agreed to buy four Dillons grocery stores in Shawnee and Olathe and Pleasant Hill, Mo., for an undisclosed price.

The stores will be passed to independent retailers and supplied by Associated Wholesale in a deal expected to be completed by mid-February, according to a news release.

Kansas City-based Cosentinos Food Stores said it would take over the locations at 22210 W. 66th St., Shawnee, and 2101 N. Missouri 7, Pleasant Hill, and convert them to Price Choppers.

So there is the turmoil. My concern and that of many of my co-workers and employees is that with fewer stores in Topeka and Kansas for that matter, our opportunities for advancement are out the window. Because of those facts and the uncertainty of our future under our current ownership, a number of us have posted our resumes online at sites like Monster.com. This is no secret either. With me being one of the longest serving members and others having giving our life to the company, we feel betrayed by the company that has fed us these past few years.

If I could find the investors to back me, I would happily lead a team to buy some of the remaining stores and ensure the jobs will still be available. Not to mention continue to serve neighborhoods with large elderly and pedestrian traffic.

---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now.

Billary

No Billary!

Paying Debts, Productivity and Organization

How you pay your debts can be viewed in your productivity and organizational skills. Part of that is panning ahead for the unexpected. That is the focus of the Money Monk, who wrote about saving and paying your debts recently.

That has been the topic in someway of a number of bloggers recently. Saving Advice, recently posted 44 ways to improve your productivity. Below is part of Jeff's list and my comments on them.

TV - Jeff suggests watch very little TV. His advice is perfect. If you turn the TV off and get up off that couch (or easy chair) you can focus your attention to actually being productive.

Carry a pocket notebook - This something Jeff suggests, so he can write down ideas, when the thought hits you. Again a great idea, especially if you are a blogger. It doesn't mean, that you have to be a reporter and write everything down. However, when you get an idea, just write it down so you remember to research and write about it when you get home.

Lists - Like Jeff, I love lists. They help me to remember what I have to do, and I can check it off as I finish each task. It is invaluable to me at work as well. Remember, making a shopping list is the best way to shop, when on a budget.

Another blogger, known online as Money Monk, wrote Paying off all debts before saving is foolery.

The monks opinion is that saving is boring, but necessary. He suggests that it is foolery (Dave Ramsey would agree) to pay off your debts first. For me, I am so eager to get rid of my debts, I have focused more on the debt repayment, then I have my emergency fund.

What would happen, if my car were to break down? Or my water heater were to blow up right now? Answer, I would be in a world of hurt, because I haven't been proactive of building my savings. That is the danger of not saving. We can make all the excuses in the world that we want to, but that's what they are, excuses.


I have to be better about saving. I have to be prepared for the unexpected. Which really isn't unexpected, because we know that eventually they will happen. I do like to see my debts getting smaller, but I also need to get excited about seeing my savings grow as well.

Finally, I and a number of my readers need to be better organized. A person who is organized (everything has its place) and has a clean abode and car, will also have an organized financial life. Not only that, but the savings and productivity will also fall into place because they are all part of being organized.

Larry Winget says that he can bet these people he sees on those "clean my home," type programs that their finances are also a wreck. Especially, those people whose homes can't be gotten through, except for the small path in the room.


---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now.

Is a New Job in the Future?

I know this may come as a shock to some of my readers, but I am considering a job change. Quite frankly, I love my job, but I am tired of not even earning $20,000. I must get to a position where, I am breaking that $20,000/year mark. It would be better, if I was making $25,000 or more, but I can not continue getting by on less then $20,000.

There is my desire to have a political job, but facts are that I know retail and possibly banking best. For that reason, my focus will be on those areas. In addition, I am tired of the rumor mill that is consistently circulating around work (this has nothing to do with the typical, "who's sleeping with who", "who's doing what", etc kind of stuff) .

So I posted my resume on Monster.com, to see what might happen. (Hey do you think Monster would pay me for this post?)

Perhaps, if I could get a significant raise, they would be able to keep me, but as it stands now, I need to find another job.

---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now.

Dave Ramsey, the Presidential Campaign and Taxes

I have been hearing a number of people (even had visitors searching the search engines on this topic) asking who Dave Ramsey was endorsing for President. So, I decided to make a call to Brentwood, TN and ask the source directly.

Beth Tallent, Director of Public Relations, said that Ramsey, typically stays out of politics unless it deals directly with finance.

When asked, what his opinion of Mike Huckabee's Fair Tax was, she said that he hasn't addressed Huckabee's Fair Tax, although he has addressed the "Fair Tax" long before Mike Huckabee ever was a candidate. She then promised to get me a quote from Ramsey on the issue.

Below is Dave Ramsey's thoughts on the Fair Tax:

“I love the idea of the Fair Tax. The beauty of it is that by in large it’s a voluntary tax. If you don’t want to pay the tax, don’t buy something. I bought a car not long ago, and there’s a tax on that car when we record the title in the state of Tennessee where I live. And if I didn’t want to pay the tax, I didn’t buy the car. But when I bought the car, I knew the tax went with it. And that’s part of the thing. But it’s a voluntary tax and I like that part of it.”

So there you have it. No endorsement from Ramsey, but he does seem to like the idea of the Fair Tax.



---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now.

How will you spend your tax rebate?

I have been leery about writing this post, because, I am not sure i know enough to talk about it. However, after hearing a couple of local talk shows tackle the topic, I believe I am better informed at least enough to write this post in a certain style and format, that won't get me in trouble.

First, individuals who pay income taxes would get up to $600, working couples $1,200 and those with children an additional $300 per child under the agreement. Workers who earn at least $3,000 but don't pay taxes would get $300 rebates. Personally, I am not sure how that is a rebate. If you didn't pay taxes, then it's not a rebate, instead it's redistribution of wealth.

Pelosi, D-Calif., agreed to drop increases in food stamp and unemployment benefits during a Wednesday meeting in exchange for gaining the rebates of at least $300 for almost everyone earning a paycheck, including those who make too little to pay income taxes.

"I can't say that I'm totally pleased with the package, but I do know that it will help stimulate the economy. But if it does not, then there will be more to come," Pelosi said.
- The Associated Press

OK, now, that we know some of the important details, I would like to ask the same thing that one of those local talk shows did. How will you spend your "tax rebate"?

For me, if I even get a rebate, because of my IRS debt, I will use it to pay down my debt. If I don't, I assume that it will be a credit to my IRS debt (anyone know?). I would love to say that I was going to put it in savings, but fact is I must get these debts paid down.

Now, I know that it's not what President Bush wants, since I am not spending the money on a new TV or some other item, but I don't care. You can say I don't care about the economy, but as a personal finance blogger and a follower of Dave Ramsey, if we really want to help the economy, we will stop spending more then we make (more on that later).

So I ask again, what are you going to spend your tax rebate on?

---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now.