Family Living Focus by Patricia L. Powley Dauphin Co. Extention You have just completed a holiday of “cheerful giving” and now the post-holiday “blues” are setting in because the credit statements are now arriving and may continue to do so through March (remember those adver tisements of “spend now and don’t worry about a payment until February or March”). Now you’re wondering how to pay ev erything along with all the other monthly bills that you have. A recent TV advertisement NEED YOUR FARM BUILDINGS PAINTED? Let us give you a price! Write: Daniel’s Painting 637-A Georgetown Rd. Ronks, PA 17572 (or leave message) (717) 687-8262 Spray on and Brush in Painting PA FARM SHOW - JAN. 6 -11 ■'J XLr Harrisburg Farm Show - Main Floor 447-449 -North Building Booth 011 KEYSTONE FARM SHOW JAN 9-11 York Fairgrounds, York, PA - Lot 721 & 722 SEE US AT THE shows; WORKS FOR ALL EXISTING SYSTEMS CARRY FUEL NO FURTHER THAN HERE! WOOD - COAL - OIL - GAS- WASTE OIL Mahoning Outdoor Furnaces 1 -800-692-5200 www.mahoningoutdoorfurnace.com Dealerships Available in some areas that ran frequently over the holi days stated, “talk to us about a low-cost home equity loan to consolidate your bills.” It listed an 800 number to contact that there would be no investigation of past credit history and you could get your loan immediately. If you thought about this solu tion for even a fleeting moment, think again. First of all, most loans of this sort charge a high interest rate. Can you afford to add more fees in addition to fees 3 YFAP SAFER! LESS CHANCE OF HOME FIRE .... *■* ,_ . NO CARBON MONOXIDE FROM WARRANTY furnace in home DOMESTIC COIL STANDARD ON ALL MODELS! STANDARD MODELS WOOD - COA MULTI-FUEL MODELS that you’re already paying on the use of credit? Here’s an example to think about: If a person owed $2,000 on a credit card and they were not making any additional charges, it would take them 11 years to pay off the debt at 18% interest and a minimum monthly payment of $2O. Perhaps you al ready have some credit cards that you’re only making the min imum payment do you want to add your home to this list? The more important question to ask is can I afford to hock my house to pay for all of this? During my counseling with fami lies, I find people who have more than one “second mortgage” on their home because they have consolidated one or two time. Many individuals don’t realize that if there is default on a sec ond or third mortgage, the home can be lost, even if the first mort gage is paid up to date. That’s why I refer to it as “hocking the house.” Instead of jumping into the advertisement’s suggested solu tion, consider some other alter- Hawaii Farm Tour Th* Bast Escorted Vacations, You’ll Evar Find 15 Days enm * 2034 4 Islands Addslloforsoma departure cities Departs Mondays and Thursdays January 14th thru the 31st, 2002 Indudes airfare. Hawaiian owned hotels, transfers, baggage handling, Es cort flying with you from island to Island, staying in OAHU, HAWAII (Kona 4 Hilo). MAUI 4 KAUAI Sightseeing indudes Honolulu City Tourwrth Peart Harbor, Volcano National Park, Kona Coffee Plan tation Tour, Parker Cattle Ranch Museum, Or chid Nursery, Macadamian Nut Factory Tour, Wailua Riverboat Cruise, Fern Grotto, Guava Plantation, plus more as listed in brochure Open Sunday - PROD - Groups Welcome 1-800-888-8204 Our 34rd Year - Over a million satisfied customers EFFICIENCY RATING 83% TO 85% WITH OIL OR GAS FIRED UNITS HMYOURGRBEHHOU: Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 6, 2001-B9 natives first: • Take a long look at your present spending habits are there some behaviors that you can change immediately in order to have some “extra” money to apply to your bills? • Can you focus on some credit cards where you owe a small amount and eliminate them so you can concentrate on the larger picture? • Most importantly, if you choose to consolidate, can you actually cut up and eliminate the cards that you have been using. Yes, I said, cut them up and re turn them to the creditor. That way you won’t be tempted to keep using them while you’re trying to pay off the existing debt. • Set up a budget or financial plan that will help you direct your spending in the New Year and pledge to only use credit if you can pay it off within the grace period. You may be thinking that this financial solution to debt is easier said than done. Believe me, you can eliminate debt with careful spending, careful planning, com mitment, and by keeping your home safe. Please consider very carefully mortgaging your home to pay off existing and newly-attained cred it bills. Take the step very seri ously. You may not have another chance. Consider the following danger signals of too much debt and proceed with caution: Garden Company Launches 125th Anniversary At Flower Show WARMINSTER (Bucks Co.) W. Atlee Burpee & Co. celebrates its 125th anniversary year with a major exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show highlighting the dbthpany’s green thumb achievements over the last 125 years As a special treat, visitors will hhve a chance to chat with “W. Atlee Burpee,” an impersonator, dressed in 19th cen tury style portraying the company’s founder and a “Great Gardener of the World.” Started in 1876 by an 18-year-old with a pas sion for animals and plants, W. Atlee Burpee grew his company in 25 years to become the largest seed company in the United States. Using timeless business practices based on innovation and customer satisfaction, W. Atlee Burpee & Co. continues to thrive today supplying Ameri cans with quality seeds and plants. Visitors to the exhibit will see towering eight foot “American County Fair” displays of Burpee vegetable and flowers. Iceberg lettuce, Big Boy tomatoes and white marigolds all Burpee win ning innovations will be exhibited and labeled in lush beds throughout the exhibit. To herald the coming gardening season, visitors will get a sneak peek at Burpee’s showcase of flowers and vegetables for 2001, including a much-over looked garden perennial, which blooms during the winter. Vintage seed equipment, rarely available for public viewing, will also be on display. V CLOSED SUNDAYS, NEW YEAR, J EASTER MONDAY, ASCENSION DAY, WHIT MONDAY, OCT. 11, THANKSGIVING, FIIHTTME CHRISTMAS & DECEMBER 26TH • Credit is used as cash, not debt. • Debts are greater than the assets. • Money is owed to more than seven creditors. • Impulsive or compulsive spender. • Spouses are dishonest with each other about the use of cred it. • Don’t know the amount of monthly living expenses. • Don’t know total debt. • Expected increase in income is already committed to paying off debts. • Extra income such as over time or moonlighting is used to make ends meet. • More than 20 percent of take-home income is committed to credit payments other than the home mortgage (the original home mortgage not the second or third). • Cannot pay for regular liv ing expenses or credit payments and taking out a loan, withdraw savings, skipping payments, or paying only the minimum amount due in charge accounts to cope. As you can see, the use of credit should not be entered into lightly. Stop and do some serious considering before consolidating with your home as collateral. If you need further information to help you “Take Control of Your Money,” contact your local coop erative extension office for the five part series. FISHER’S FURNITURE NEW AND USED FURNITURE USED COAL & WOOD HEATERS COUNTRY FURNITURE & ANTIQUES BUS. HRS. BOX 57 MON.-THURS. 8-5 1129 GEORGETOWN RO, FRI, 8-8, SAT. 8-12 BART, PA 17503 INC.
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