Linda, Johnny Ford's post regarding that 95% statistic touched me and made me want to reach out...thank you for privately giving me permission to do so. For Johnny: One of the reasons so many are in the same boat is that we have never been taught how to properly manage our money. Think about it. Did you take Finance in public school? No...because it wasn't offered. I clearly remember that my mother had to teach me to balance a checkbook, because it wasn't taught anywhere else...not school, not the bank, nowhere. Nor did I take it in college. I'm a baby boomer. We're the first generation to have easy access to credit for anything. I'm not just talking about credit cards, though they're a big part of the problem. I'm talking about mortgages, loans for cars, everything. Most of our parents couldn't teach us how most of those things worked. Guess who taught us? Our creditors. As you might expect, those guys didn't have our best interests at heart. So here we are, aging, health declining, the world of corporate security no longer existing, and deep in debt. Now what? Linda has given me permission to expose in this forum one of the companies I represent as an independent marketer. For me, it was the answer to the debt question. I won't go into detail here, but if you will go to the My Offers forum in my sig, you'll find three threads about Ascend Technologies International. There are links in the main one to information about what it will do for you. I hope you'll find some answers there, too. I'll soon be posting a forum about getting out of debt and staying out. Getting out of debt once and for all is the first task in building a secure retirement. I hope you'll join me in that forum when I open it. It's one of my greatest passions to help others learn what I've learned. That said, the biggest answer is "Make more money." So, I agree with John Russo...listen to Linda. Unlike John, I felt overwhelmed by the prospect of learning all the technical stuff that he has spent a year learning. I turned to Linda to help me. I can't wait to show everyone the result! It's been a great pleasure working with Linda, and I look forward to continuing that relationship for a long time to come. I'm anxious to get started on this Treasure Map adventure, because who knows what ideas I may have next and where this new knowledge will lead? Cheri

Thanks Cheri, Your right on learn the tech stuff and about debt to. I spent a year in Capella U. online on grants and now 7000.00 dolors debt trying to get to where I could become a "real web master" I made 4.0 grade average. Big deal, I did not learn what I needed, I just got deeper in debt. But Praise God I am finnal making some moeny on line, but it is slow and building using my safelist. Thanks for your information I will have a look. God Bless Johnny

Cheri, I am also a baby boomer. I grew up in a family that, for many years, was just about making ends meet. I didn't need financial training then. There were no finances to manage. I did become agressive and started to find ways to earn my own extra money at an early age of about ten. I did have some financial courses in high school and years later in college. I took a course in perosnal finacial management for debt releif. It was more for my wife to at least attempt to educate her in the evils of plastic. The class was filled with people looking for help. The instructor had everyone take out all their credit cards. He made them pick one that they would have to cut in half in the class. I thought they would have to pass out tissues to dry their eyes. I had a good understanding of money management so most of what was taught I knew. The bottom line is you don't spend what you don't have. Start paying down the present debt. Cheri, It sounds like you are going to havwe plenty of ways to help everyone interested and a lot of good proven methods to gain control of personal finances.

------------------------------------------- I'll soon be posting a forum about getting out of debt and staying out. Getting out of debt once and for all is the first task in building a secure retirement. I hope you'll join me in that forum when I open it. It's one of my greatest passions to help others learn what I've learned. -------------------------------------------- Debt and finances have always proved to be an interesting topic for me. I look forward to reading your forum Cheri.

Hi I would love to be concidered for your test group. Its the direction i have trouble with as i have many ideas,so this will help me as well as others. THANK YOU TONY TRADE-N-STOCK http://www.trade-n-stock.co.uk