Stay Ahead of the Flake

If you haven't done so already there's still time for a few preventive measures that will prepare your home for winter.

Furnace:

• Change the filter.
• Consider switching to a programmable thermostat if you haven't already.
• Clean debris from in and around furnace

Fireplace:

• Inspect the damper for proper opening and closing.
• Insure cap and screen are in place on top of the chimney.
• Check bricks and mortar inside and out.
• Creosote? It's always good to have your fireplace checked periodically.

Exterior Doors and Windows:

• Check for cracks and entry points around pipes, windows, doors and caulk them.
• Storm doors help protect the entry door and deflect the wind.
• If you have window wells, cover them with plastic shields.

Roof, Gutters & Downspouts:

• Some extra insulation in the attic will prevent warm air filtering up to the roof and causing ice dams.
• Make sure the gutters are clean and the downspouts aren't blocked. Also gutter extensions keep water away from the foundation.

Lawnmower.....:

• This is a good time to sharpen those blades. Don't wait until you need it again. (Like I normally do)
• Drain the gas and change the oil and filter. Clean the air filter. 
• Do you need ice, sand, shovel, gloves, boots, earmuffs............?

Detectors:

• Are your detectors detecting? Make sure by checking, most have a test button. Battery operated units will beep when the battery is low but it's good to change them once a year.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Make sure there is a carbon monoxide detector installed near the furnace.

Freezes:

• Disconnect outside water hoses.
• Locate the main water shutoff and make sure it's opening and closing properly.
• Insulate any exposed plumbing pipes.

Misc.

• Winter can be a perfect time to trim trees and bushes, check with your nursery.
• Seal cracks in driveway, patio and deck.
• Consider buying a battery backup if you use a desktop computer.
• Have a supply of bottled water, blankets, first-aid kit, non-perishable food. If you have pets take them into consideration also.
• Keep matches, candles, flashlight, portable radio and a list of medications you take in a safe and dry place.
• Have emergency numbers handy. (Police, utility, contacts...)

I hope you find this info helpful. Please visit my blog and website:

http://survivaljims.com
http://survivalgearforyou.com

Debt Collection

This is an article from The Employee Benefit News:

In a sign of the times, the 38 independent provider law firms associated with Pre-Paid Legal Services across the United States and four Canadian provinces responded to more than 79,000 requests to handle debt-collection issues in the first half of 2010 – accounting for 7% of the 1.1 million overall requests for assistance during that timeframe.
The carrier says lawsuits related to these issues are often used as a tool to frighten consumers. "We’re seeing much more of it now than we ever did," according to Michael Fiffk, an attorney with Welch, Gold and Siegel, P.C.
David Bloom, an attorney with Evans, Lowenstein, Shimanovsky & Moscardini, Ltd., recently drafted a letter on behalf of a client requesting proof of debt, which resulted in the legal action being dropped because no such documents could be produced. "In all too many instances,” he noted, “these debt buyers and their legal counsel are counting on uninformed consumers to simply pay up whether the debt is authentic or not."
In other Pre-Paid Legal news, the company recently launched a 30-minute promotional and recruitment program on the Fox Business Network and reported that additional segments featuring various legal eagles are in development.
Get your Life Events Legal Plan today. www.defendnow.us

The Economy 3

Economy: Careful, thrifty management of resources. Of course this all hinges on the fact that you HAVE resources. For a lot of people there's not much to manage.
In past posts I've shared with you some of the things I'm doing to supplement my income. The first was Blastoff, a great way to shop, save and make money. In the second post I mentioned Internet Marketing with a means to get started without spending any money. (Ten free lessons)
This time I'll give you some information on a great business I'm in: PrePaid Legal Services. I heard about PPL years and blew it off. I didn't take the time to look into the business, understand what they did, I just dismissed it. Silly me. In a nut shell it is prepaying for legal services just as you do with any other 'insurance' i.e. home owners, car, or medical. Most people will say they have never needed an attorney therefore there's no need to spend money on legal services they will never use. I thought the same thing.
The REAL reason most of us never used attorneys is: $$$$$ They are expensive! On the low end about $200 and hour to around $1000 on the high side. This is the reason most people DO NOT have current will or trust in place. As a member, your will is prepared at no additional cost and updated annually. In addition your spouse or covered family member gets a will prepared for $20.
Think about this...what if you could call an attorney during normal business hours and ask them ANY personal, professional or financial question, without receiving a bill, would it be beneficial to you and your family? As a member, you receive telephone access to a LAW FIRM for an UNLIMITED number of personal, financial, or business legal questions.
We've all been ripped off by some business, gotten a speeding ticket, had a question about.........no matter what the issue is you can call for counsel. Ever signed a contract and wish you would have had an attorney review it? You can fax ALL your personal documents and contracts to your attorney, they will review an UNLIMITED number of personal documents and contracts, up to ten pages, before you sign.
Are you concerned about Identity Theft? It's a REAL problem.

• Drivers License
• Social Security (Children are often victims and don't realize it until they are older)
• Medical
• Character/Criminal
• Financial                                                                                                                               

 Identity Theft Shield Provides up-to-date credit reporting through Experian and continuous credit monitoring.  In addition ID shield provides Identity Restoration if your identity is stolen.

As you can see there are great benefits just being a member but even greater benefits for marketing the plan. It really come down to sharing with others something that has made a difference in your own life. I have made so many calls to the law firm they recognize my voice. You WILL love PPL.
There is a lot more to this business which you can check out on my website: www.defendnow.us
Also Fox News Network is highlighting PPL tomorrow.

"Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.:  A Business for Today" will air
at 12 noon EST and 4 p.m. EST on Jan. 1, 2011.  The 30-minute
program will be shown on Fox Business News.  If you're uncertain
whether your market receives this channel, you can check by
clicking on:  http://www.foxbusiness.com/channel_finder.html

For those that do not have access to Fox Business News, the show
will also be available online at:  www.pplsuccesschannel.com. 
The streamed version will become available at 12 noon EST on
Jan. 1, 2011 and will remain available throughout the day.

Best Wishes for Great New Year
jim

The Economy 2

 This is the second installment in a series of articles sharing some of the things I'm doing to generate some additional income. There are a number of way of making money, take for example: shoes. These folks are selling shoes from their home and showing samples of the different styles on a gate in the rear of their building. ( I shot this picture in New Orleans) I thought about doing this myself but I don't have a gate to hang shoes on and if I did no one would see them but the horses that live back there. Maybe horse shoes???
The point I'm trying to make it in this uncertain economy it good to have a few streams of income. Much of what I do, I do over the Internet and most of what I'll share will be the things I do online. It was happenstance that got me involved in Internet marketing. I was listening to the radio one day, Point of View was the program, and the guest was a man who name is James Paris and he was describing how he lost everything because his business partner ripped him off. At one point he was literally broke, lost his home, cars........
The business Jim was involved in at the time was financial advice. He was consultant and thought he could use this expertise, only differently, to get on his feet again.  He started writing blog post, then books, and finally started teaching others how to do the things that were working for him. I joined his coaching program about two years ago and it's proven to be a wonderful decision. The Internet may not be of interest to you, but I'm sure that with a little imagination you can find something that you enjoy and generate

some income. To the left is a friend that paints. She started out with some small canvases for her home. After some formal instruction, she started entering fairs and winning ribbons....now, she is being commissioned to do work and has a number of clients she works with. I know people that make jewelry, photograph people and events, musicians, woodworkers, computer repair...
The reason I like Internet marketing is, you can have things in place that will have income coming in even when I'm not actively involved in the process. It's pretty cool to have a few bucks trickle in while I'm asleep.

If this is something you care to pursue, you can do so with no risk and it's free. Check out this website: www.dollarsnow.com there are ten Free lessons you can take advantage of to see if IM is something you'd like to get involved in. This is the same program I'm in and I know it works.

My next entry will be on something I believe is a must have for everyone. Don't miss it.

jim

The Hole In Our Gospel

“We are the carriers of the gospel---the good news that was meant to change the world. Belief is not enough. Worship is not enough. Personal morality is not enough. And Christian community is not enough. God always demanded more. When we committed ourselves to following Christ, we also committed to living our lives in such a way that a watching world would catch a glimpse of God’s character, his love, and mercy; through our words actions, and behavior. ‘We are Christ’s ambassadors,’ wrote the apostle Paul, ‘as though God were making his appeal through us’ (2Cor. 5:20). God has chosen us to be His representatives. He called us out, to proclaim the ‘good news’; to be the ‘good news’ and to change the world. Living out our faith privately was never meant to be an option.”

Rich Stearns,  The Hole in our Gospel

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