When we decided that it was time to go ahead and buy another family car, we agreed that we would take a look at the used cars available for sale to see if we could get a decent used car for a reasonable price. We really did not want to have to take out a loan to buy a new car if we could avoid it. So we were really pleased when we found this used Lumina for sale at a local used car dealer at a reasonable price. The car looked like it was in really great shape and had really low mileage. When we asked how a car over ten years old could have such low mileage on it the sales man said that the first owner of the car was a little old lady (yeah, how many times have we heard that before?) who gave her car to her grandson because he needed a car. The ungrateful brat used a car title loans Michigan service to borrow money against the car and then never made any payments on the car at all. So the car got repossessed and we ended up with a decent low-mileage car at a decent price to boot! Their loss, our gain!
Solar is made easy
by Mary AnneEarlier today I was reading an article titled “solar is made easy” and it got me really excited about the future of solar energy. For as long as I can remember I have been an advocate for harnessing the potential clean sources of energy such as wind power and solar energy. Unfortunately I have never been wealthy enough to be able to afford to retrofit my existing home with these newer technologies, but I am hopeful that as time passes the technologies will decrease in price (as it always does) and that I will be able to either retrofit my home with these types of technologies or buy a different house that utilizes them.
These new technologies are very important to me because they will help us to slow down the pollution that we contribute to the ever-growing pollution problem. Ever since I can remember the teachers in my schools have been encouraging their students to reduce, reuse and recycle, and find ways to promote the conservation of our planet. Sometimes I wish that I had been able to go to college to get a degree in conservation and make my living in that field; I feel so strongly that too many people are trashing our planet. When solar energy becomes mainstream, I think it will be a great leap forward in preserving our planet!
Medical malpractice insurance
by Mary AnneOne of the important things that kids need to think about, when it comes to career planning is if they are going to go into medicine, is how much they will need to pay for medical malpractice insurance. I remember about thirty years ago when I was friends with a guy who was thinking about becoming a pediatrician that he was telling me that when he got the medical malpractice insurance quote for going into a private practice by himself that he decided to join a group of doctors because the cost of the insurance was lower if he was associated with a group. Going out on his own was more than he could afford. I think it’s really sad that so many good medical practitioners have to charge really high prices to their patients because of the cost of insurance!
What kind of job should the kids be training for?
by Mary AnneOne of the most difficult questions a kid can ask their parent is “What kind of job should I be working towards getting when I get out of school?”
I’ve heard that question several times from my kids, and it is a tough one. I want them to be ultimately happy with the work that they do, but they also need to earn enough money to pay their bills! And in today’s global market, and the new technologies that are already out there, and being developed, technology seems to be the key to the answer.
My advice has always been for them to think about their favorite subject in school and then talk to their teacher about what professions there are that use that knowledge from the class. What do YOU tell your kids?
Darn it!
by Mary AnneAfter I got up and showered this morning I was getting dressed and ripped a sock. I hope that is not an indication of how today is going to be going!
At first I was going to just toss the sock in the trash, but then I decided that I will try to darn it to repair it. In this economy, I’m trying to pinch every penny and stretch every dollar. It’s been a few years since I’ve darned socks, but it isn’t hard to do. So I’ve put the sock aside for now, will try to get to darning it this evening after supper.
I found that when it ripped and I was looking at the rip, thinking about darning it, memories of my step-mother teaching me how to darn socks came to mind. I remember how she had a wooden bulb to use as a form to put inside the sock while working on it. I don’t have one of those; I’ll just use a light bulb. I find it interesting how often small and seemingly insignificant things will trigger a memory of a person!