PC> Yes Rob...it is a vicious circle, and banks too and all...but bailouts
  >can creat other bailouts, and it then looks like a domino game
  >which I hate using.

PC>  Credit is hard enough to get, with all the deadbeats out there ,who
  >make a game of it.   Real people can not get financed due to these
  >people who get whatever...make a few bucks...disappear and allow
  >with the bank loan...and it is the consumers who pay for all these
  >through interest, service this or that...new charges to cover for
  >these banditos.

It's a totally confusing situation that has been brought on
primarily because noone trusts anyone after the US banks put
out to banks all over the world all that Bad paper (sub prime)
hidden in Good looking paper.

My expenses are very low here..  My income is whatever I
take from investments to cover those payments.
On paper I would look quite poor judging by income numbers..
So.. Credit is hard to get ?
My bank, and I can only assume they did this because they have
a surplus of cash but don't trust lending it to other banks,
offers low interest, no questions asked, credit to their more
'reliable' customers.  They've already given me $18,000 this
year at 1.9 %, totally unsecured, and when I took advantage of
that, offered me an additional unsecured Line of Credit for
$10,000 more at 4%.     What credit crunch ???

Now those rates won't last forever but I can use that money
to make a few dollars and then repay it when they decide to
raise the rates later when they don't have so much surplus.

PC>   OH well ...  I am still shopping for the best in a vehicle
  >old or new, and that will be the determining factor, as to the
  >final sales price, and  they can foget the dumb $ 200 for gas
  >and the other charge for whatever $ 300 for processing....As
  >I will want the price up front.... my trades, subtract
  >and thats it.....and no addons afterwards like the last dealer
  >tried .... He got a surprise.   I walked out.

Cars are normally our second biggest investment/expense after
our homes.. If you can save money there it makes a big difference.
I tend to buy medium priced medium age used cars (6 - 7 years old ?)
for about 1/4 what they cost new and then, because I don't drive
a huge number of miles, I can often get 6 or 7 years out of them.

I also agree they should stop with all these 'give-aways' and
'no payments for 2 years' and all that crap and just set their
best price. Also they should outlaw those annoying and misleading
commercials that say in big print something like:
"Lease for 24 months for only $200 a month!!!"
And then add in the Fine print - ($3800 due at signing)..
I think all lease rates should be quoted with Zero money down
and those that DO have money down can negotiate a better deal..

PC>  Happy New Year 2009 Rob....to you and family.....

Thanks Peter.. to you and your's as well..
And anyone else reading..   B)

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 * SLMR Rob  * Photocopy people do it over and over *
 * PDQWK 2.52 #17


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