Well Darlings,
It’s been a while, but I was having such a lovely time at my Brother Richard’s home in Santa Barbara.
But return home to the Bay Area I had to, my house sitter, a lovely person said that she could only commit herself until the 21st of this month and then had to go to her parents to watch their home while they went to visit other relatives.
So now I’m back in my own home, watching the ducks and other water fowl in the lagoon out my window. Princess, my little Diva darling goes out to the deck to warn them away but they don’t seem to mind a bit.
Juanita will be here later this evening, I told her to take her time as there was no urgency, my house sitter has done a wonderful job watching things, and my lawyer has been taking care of the bills, so no problems at all. Not that I want any.
And I have not been ignorant of the news either. This ridiculous hold out on the state budget by our own legislators is criminal and negligent of their commitment to the people of California and now after almost 3 months they finally come to an agreement. It is criminal.
The Governor’s attitude thinking that reducing the wages of state employees would bring the legislators to heel is foolish and harmful. If he wants to punish people and bring the legislators to finalizing the budget he should put the pinch on their wages not on the state employees.
My dear Friend “Mean Kitty” reminded me of an action that was taken by the people in the 1500’s when the college of Cardinals were taking their sweet time, over a year, choosing a Pope, what they did was lock them into the main meeting hall, without food or water, or heat (since it was winter) and told the Cardinals they could not come out until a Pope was chosen, they did it within 24 hours.
Perhaps that is what the people of California should do to the legislators, there is no possible way that the budget can be perfectly balanced or reconciled, if they over budget but use less money, that is excellent, but if they under budget and use more money, then they will know where to do Healthy cut backs, perhaps starting with the legislators own wages.
You do not put staff wage earners, seniors, people on disability, schools, educational support systems like Libraries, safety systems, and such at jeopardy that is irresponsible on the part of the State Legislators and the Governor. The only one who had any sense was the State Comptroller; you do not put hundreds and hundreds of staff people into bankruptcy and have them lose their homes and their lives.
All Diva’s should take a lesson from this fiasco and learn that budgeting is the most important thing a Diva can do. I believe it was Ben Franklin who once said, spend 19.90 from a working wage of $20 is happiness, spend $20.10 from a working wage of $20 is misery. That is how you budget.
There are many articles appearing in women’s home and money magazines that talk about budgeting and organizing. It appears to be the primary subject in people’s lives, the overspending 80’s and 90’s are gone now, the ‘chickens have come home to roost and peck you to death with debt’.
Now dear Diva’s if you are in financial debt, now is the time to get help from a financial planner, based according to your indebtedness, your income, and your needs, a good financial planner can tell you what is necessary and what isn’t. You may even have to get a second job to pay your bills.
If you own a home, one of the best things you can do is get an equity line of credit and use that to pay off all credit card bills, the equity line of credit is used against your home and is tax deductible, and if the interest rates are good will be lower than the credit cards, then cut up and cancel the credit cards that have the highest interests. It is important to have a credit card for emergencies, but shop around for one that has the lowest possible interest and if you have to use it, pay off as much as possible on it and pay it ON TIME.
Save up at least $3,000 for an emergency rainy day fund and if you use it replenish it immediately.
Do not be taken in by those offers that have 0 or very low Arps that are only temporary that can harm your credit. Work towards improving your credit rating, the higher your rating the better chance of obtaining that equity line.
It is a wise Diva who budgets and saves and can get the best for bargain rates. Do not be over spending and be wiser than our state legislators.
And now my Dear Diva’s, Moi is going out to have nice little dinner at a charming and inexpensive place, and I can sneak my little Diva darling in her little carry all. Later we will take a nice walk along the beach, Fall is here, I can feel it, that little tip towards winter, I think I'm going to have to stock up on firewood and candels to ward off the coming winter gloom.
Until Anon, Kisses Darlings.
