To be in loan trouble can be a big cause for anxiety. Your health could deteriorate and in a matter of time you could find yourself snapping at anyone who tries to make simple conversation with you. All his could happen out of sheer frustration in being over your head in debt.The problem however could be solved easily. In fact it is easier than you think. It is natural to feel the walls are closing in when you are in debt but with if you had been given proper personal finance tips you would have found yourself almost debt-free.The good news is provided you owe in excess of $10,000 to say a credit card company; you have the option of having to never pay back 70 percent of your unsecured debt.A good exampleIn fact a credit card company would be a good example as they do not require collateral when they hand you over that coveted piece of plastic which can go on to make your life miserable. Although personal finance tips can prove to be beneficial, the thing to be remembered is that they are best taken if you happen to have pots of money.Most credit card companies have made $10,000 the benchmark from which they would be willing to negotiate down interest rates. It is not exactly a hard and fast rule but the figure is generally followed by most card companies. It may sound strange, but the higher the amount you owe, the more willing they would be to bring down your interest rate to a less obscene level.This is because with the recession, they cannot afford to lose even a cent from their customers so they are more than happy to retrieve anything they can. In fact, they would be quite happy to get back the principal but perhaps for the sake of it, they also insist on some interest as well.The credit card companies have themselves to blame. They should have realized their abnormally high interest rates would mean many people would default on repayments. With the economy being what it is, the number of defaulters has turned into millions and that adds up to a considerable amount of money. Undoubtedly, this has a serious effect on the company bottom line.It is doubtful even personal finance tips could have warned you of what lay ahead. Not even the best analysts could really predict this recession for sure.
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Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7
Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7
My Dad repaired most of our shoes believe it or not, I can hardly believe it myself now. With 7 pairs of shoes always needing repairs I think he was quite clever to learn how to “Keep us in shoe Leather” to coin a phrase!
He bought several different sizes of cast iron cobbler’s “lasts”. Last, the old English “Laest” meaning footprint. Lasts were holding devices shaped like a human foot. I have no idea where he would have bought the shoe leather. Only that it was a beautiful creamy, shiny colour and the smell was lovely.
But I do remember our shoes turned upside down on and fitted into these lasts, my Dad cutting the leather around the shape of the shoe, and then hammering nails, into the leather shape. Sometimes we’d feel one or 2 of those nails poking through the insides of our shoes, but our dad always fixed it.
Hiking and Swimming Galas
Dad was a very outdoorsy type, unlike my mother, who was probably too busy indoors. She also enjoyed the peace and quiet when he took us off for the day!
Anyway, he often took us hiking in the mountains where we’d have a picnic of sandwiches and flasks of tea. And more often than not we went by steam train.
We loved poking our heads out of the window until our eyes hurt like mad from a blast of soot blowing back from the engine. But sore, bloodshot eyes never dampened our enthusiasm.
Dad was an avid swimmer and water polo player, and he used to take us to swimming galas, as they were called back then. He often took part in these galas. And again we always travelled by steam train.
Rowing Over To Ireland’s Eye
That’s what we did back then, we had to go by rowboat, the only way to get to Ireland’s eye, which is 15 minutes from mainland Howth. From there we could see Malahide, Lambay Island and Howth Head of course. These days you can take a Round Trip Cruise on a small cruise ship!
But we thoroughly enjoyed rowing and once there we couldn’t wait to climb the rocks, and have a swim. We picnicked and watched the friendly seals doing their thing and showing off.
Not to mention all kinds of birdlife including the Puffin.The Martello Tower was also interesting but a bit dangerous to attempt entering. I’m getting lost in the past as I write, and have to drag myself back to the present.
Fun Outings with The camera Club
Dad was also a very keen amateur photographer, and was a member of a camera Club. There were many Sunday photography outings and along with us came other kids of the members of the club.
And we always had great fun while the adults busied themselves taking photos of everything and anything, it seemed to us. Dad was so serious about his photography that he set up a dark room where he developed and printed his photographs.
All black and white at the time. He and his camera club entered many of their favourites in exhibitions throughout Europe. I’m quite proud to say that many cups and medals were won by Dad. They have been shared amongst all his grandchildren which I find quite special.
He liked taking portraits of us kids too, mostly when we were in a state of untidiness, usually during play. Dad always preferred the natural look of messy hair and clothes in the photos of his children.