Today the president is talking about credit cards. Most people have them, but not everyone has an exorbitant amount of debt on them. The proposed changes to the Credit cardholders’ bill of rights provides provisions for people who have unreasonable interest rates, proposed that lenders provide notice of interest rate increases at least 45 days in advance so that consumers have a rate to shop around for a lower rate and ends penalties for people who pay on time. Other unfair practices are also addressed.

The credit card industry is in the business of making a profit. Unfortunately, it was at the expense of many people who didn’t pay on time or paid only the minimum and got themselves further into debt. Some of the interest rates, even for those with ok credit were usurious.

What I would like to see in addition to this Bill of rights is some sort of education for the consumer, especially on college campuses, where students are highly likely to get in financial trouble with their first credit cards. Even adults who do not budget may get into financial trouble. When you think that you can just charge something and do not make the connection that you have to pay for the purchases it makes it difficult.

Credit card education will come too late for many. Good credit is not about luck it takes work. In rare cases of identity theft or financial problems bad choices will ruin your credit. Not everyone knows how to use credit cards to their advantage. The ease of access to credit made it possible for more people to get a card and to have some challenges with their repayment.

HR627, as the bill is formally called, would be a boon for debtors. Though some education needs to go along with the bill so that future generations will not have the same problems with easy credit.

Here’s a craft that you might like to do.

There are challenges to save money and to be eco friendly. Ifyou have ever bought any eco friendly products such as recycled household paper products you may have noticed that they aren’t as absorbent or soft as the non-recycled ones. Having coarse computer paper isn’t an issue, having coarse toilet paper or paper towels is not so great.

Using cloth instead for some messes. Some things you just don’t want to put into your washing machine or you may not be able to clean.

Using less can also make a difference in your wallet. If you prefer paper towels for some things, buy a brand with the make your own size sheets and then you can take what you need. After using paper towels to dry your hands, you can use them for something else. Better yet use a towel.

Using foil or a plastic bag again may be cheap, but be reasonable about this. If you have to wash a bag or rinse off foil this is not worth it. Lets say you used a piece of foil to cook something I the oven. If the foil is still in good shape and no stuck on food you can use it to wrap up a sandwich for lunch. The bag that you take your chips in can be used again or if you put a dry item in a bag reuse it until it can’t be used again.

Actually use the free bags that you receive. If you don’t want a bag, don’t take one, that also means resisting the allure of the “free item.” Do you really need another free item that you won’t use? Even though the bags are handy, reusing a bag, any bag, will only make a difference if you use it. Reusable bags can become clutter just as easily as flimsy one use bags. Instead make an active effort to acquire strong sturdy bags that you will reuse. Even if you want a strong plastic bag or a brightly colored cloth one – choose one you will use. I have some bags that I use often and am getting rid of the smaller ones I don’t use or are an inconvenient size. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Reusing, recycling, renewing, and repurposing may not make you rich, but can save you a few dollars and reduce the clutter in your home. Fewer items means less to care for and more time to enjoy life.

Home brewing is becoming more popular… Check out this video from Time.

I enjoy wine but I haven’t gotten to the point that I want to make my own for consumption. The wine I buy for daily consumption is relatively inexpensive. I do not see myself as a craftsman of fine wine and taking the time to make something I want to do. There are kits to make wine and you have to keep the wine in a temperature controlled area, in the dark, agitate the container. With the money that I could spend buying the kit, I could have gone to a wine ship, or even a grocery store and found a nice inexpensive bottle of wine to have.

Granted people like making their own things. There are things I make that others would never even consider. There is a cult status of making wine and beer. Depending on the ingredients you may not really save that much money, but it is something that you can say you did yourself and gives you a pastime.

Recently I received a book and dvd as premiums that I selected from surveys that I completed online. It is interesting. None of the surveys that I complete would make it possible for me to do this as a full time job – despite what some spammer might have you believe. Though the premium that I earn for completing surveys does add up. I have renewed a specialty magazine subscription for $50 for free, have over $50 in cash that I can draw down from one place and have other points that I can use for a hotel stay or other goodies. 

Completing surveys would make it possible to have a little extra leeway in your budget. A couple of years ago I used a coupon for a hotel that I redeemed from survey points.

Some of the best places for surveys and email reading are:

• Zoom Panel 
• Bonus Points
• Viewpoint Forum
• eRewards

There are others, but these are the ones I have stuck with because of the ease of use and rewards offered. If you don’t want to complete a survey or read and email you don’t have to, but even if you don’t qualify or sign up for a promotion you will receive points. To me, that’s worth my time if I can cash in the points for a free restaurant or store gift card.