Those high winds finally knocked down that old oak tree in your back yard. Luckily, no one was hurt, and no property (other than the tree) was damaged, but the fact remains, there’s a 40-foot tree on its side in your yard. You now have a few options for dealing with this problem. 1) You can hire a professional tree removal service, which could get expensive. 2) You’re pretty handy with tools, so you could buy a chainsaw to tackle the hardwood, which could also get expensive. 3) You could rent a chainsaw for a day or two.

Yes, in areas such as real estate, it may be a buyer’s market, but there are also times when renting just may be the way to go. Let’s take a look at a few examples where ownership may take a back seat to a short-term relationship.

Everyone’s looking to save money. That’s what you were doing when you looked to refinance your home. There were literally hundreds of dollars in savings per month with a new, lower mortgage rate. Trouble was, you weren’t sure your present financial status would look good to the lender, so you fudged a few items on your application. You stated your income was higher than it really was, and you didn’t disclose some of your debts. No biggie, right? Wrong. What you did was illegal.

It may surprise you to know that some seemingly innocent practices involving money can be illegal. Let’s take a look at a few so you don’t find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

Your brain is full of spiders, you’ve got garlic in your soul, Mr. Grinch!
I wouldn’t touch you with a 39-and-a-half-foot pole!

If only that 39-and-a-half-foot-pole attitude applied to holiday debt!

The holidays are usually a happy time with festive gatherings and joyful giving, but there lurks just under all that holiday cheer a Grinchy beginning to the new year…holiday debt. Many times credit cards are involved; we use them for all those gift purchases, which can cause us to stretch our budgets to dangerous levels. Money is spent that we don’t really have all in the name of an intoxicating spirit of holiday giving.

Now don’t get us wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using credit cards for holiday purchases. There are advantages to using plastic. The problem comes when we use funds we don’t have and spend too much of the following year paying off all our holiday generosity. Not good. Like many things in life, using credit cards presents both advantages and disadvantages.

So maybe we’re a little impartial when it comes to places that offer financial services. O.K., we’re intensely impartial. We’re down with credit unions, all credit unions. We’re a pretty unique bunch of financial institutions, we are. But when people talk about credit unions as alternatives to banks, many times there are questions, which is good; you want to be as informed as possible when it comes to something as important as your money. So to put minds at ease, let’s take a look at some of the concerns involving credit unions.

Are you a Picker? It’s not really the latest thing, but it does seem to be one of the hottest things going. Picking is basically the old art of antiquing brought to the forefront by television shows like American Pickers and Antiques Roadshow. Do you frequent garage sales? Chances are you’re a Picker!

Some people drive by a yard sale and think, “Junk.” Others slow down and think, “Treasure hunt!” On more than one occasion a smart shopper with a keen eye has turned a $5 figurine purchase into a $500 sale to a collector. There are treasures to be found out there in the yards and garages of America, but what’s the best plan of attack to maximize your chances of success? Here are a few hints:

You can live without a credit card (it’s been known to happen), but there are some things that just make life easier if you have one hiding in your wallet. Here are a few:

• Building credit—while you can build credit without a credit card, the use and timely repayment of credit card purchases keeps your credit score healthy and growing.

   
• Reserving--Renting cars and reserving hotel accommodations can be much easier when using a credit card.

   
• Rewarding--You can earn rewards for making purchases with certain credit cards. While cash may be king, the rewards for using it are often not as substantial.

   
• Emergencies—While you should have an emergency fund for any financial pitfalls, having a credit card gives you immediate access to funds just about anywhere in the world, 24/7.

   
• Disputes—You have a better chance of recovering your money when you have to dispute a charge on your account for a faulty item purchased or due to fraud.