Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin
A Digest of Urban Survival Resources
For Independent Minded People!
ISSN
2161-5543
You can never get enough of what you don't need to make you
happy.
- Eric Hoffer
- Eric Hoffer
From The
Smiling Dog Saloon Files
In
This Issue:
1.
Has a bank black-listed you? People seek
alternatives
2.
Batteries for bomb shelters, How many
seeds to stock?
3.
Can you fix it? Free Garden & Food
Storage Downloads
4.
Bartering can literally save your life
Banks Say No to New Accounts-Give Rise to Pre-Paid
Service Popularity
You've heard of credit reporting agencies. But did you
know there are companies tracking your banking history and any money mistakes
you make? We're talking about your consumer report, and most banks look at it
before allowing you to open a checking or savings account. If your record is not good, you could end up literally
"blacklisted by banks."
Natasha Carmon pays
her bills by driving around Louisville, business by business, then going inside
and settling up with cash or a money order.
"It's definitely
frustrating," Carmon said.
Frustrating because
she would rather pay by check, but each time Natasha tried to open a checking
account at several different banks she
said she got the same surprising news.
"They all denied
me and they all said that it's because you owe this bank 'x amount' of
dollars," Carmon said.
She said four years
ago she got hit with a bank fee and when she could not pay it the
charges piled up and her account was closed.
"The fees just
got so extreme that I couldn't keep that up," she said.
Unpaid fees and
involuntary account closures are just some money mistakes banks and credit
unions may report to two different tracking companies - Chex Systems and
Early Warning. These consumer reporting agencies receive information about
people who have had financial mishaps or even fraudulently bounced checks. And
before they approve a new account many banks check your past records with these companies.
"It's a good
indication of whether the person can manage the account and what risk they
present of causing the bank to lose money," said Nessa Feddis of the
American Bankers Association.
An FDIC survey
reveals 65% of banks deny checking account applicants who have prior mismanagement in their consumer
reports.
"A consumer who bounced a check once is not a deadbeat, a
consumer who bounced a check once may not even have made a conscious mistake," said Ed Mierzwinski of
the National Association of State Public Interest Research Groups.
7 Myths About Secured Credit Cards
It’s hard to function in America today without some sort
of credit card. They’re the safest way to shop online, and are often
important – even necessary – to arrange for travel expenses like
rental cars, hotels and plane tickets.
For many, access to credit cards is as simple as
responding to a solicitation in the mail, or filling out a simple online application. But for those with past problems, low income or no credit
history, it’s not so simple.
That’s where secured credit cards come in. Put up a
deposit to secure your card, and odds are good you’ll be approved.
Sound simple? It is, but there are still plenty of
misconceptions about secured cards. In the following video, Money Talks News founder Stacy
Johnson dispels some of the myths. Check it out and then read
on for more. Read more at http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2013/09/13/7-myths-about-secured-credit-cards/#WIQB2GH0SAEcxDaS.99
PC Magazine has just released the results of its tests of antivirus software, both paid and free programs. Bitdefender, Norton, and Webroot all shared top honors. Among free products, Ad-Aware and AVG did well. The best malware removal tool was Malwarebytes, which is free.
PM’s
Roundup of Useful Resources…
Gardening & Food Storage How-to’s – More than a
dozen free download reports at:
(NaturalNews) A brand new, revolutionary approach to pet care is gaining attention. The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation is emerging as an alternative answer to pet care. Based on a philosophy of integrative medicine, this holistic...
When you need power, but
there isn't any…
There are lots of scenarios where you can imagine not having
power for a day or two. In those scenarios batteries aren’t really an
issue. Most modern devices that you would reasonably need in a two-day power
outage don’t gobble up those batteries. Even portable gaming devices, for
kids or to pass the time with, are much better than they used to be. The
real challenge comes when you have to plan for longer power outages or for
going to places that have no reliable power at all.
Trying to figure out how many seeds you should REALLY
stockpile can seem like a daunting task. The following guide attempts to shed
some light on the issue and even provides a few links to handy references you
may like: “How many seeds do I need to plant? How much seed is enough in a…
Here’s a sad truth: most of us can’t repair a darn thing
anymore! We simply call somebody or choose to buy a new one. But, in a
long-term situation neither of these solutions will work… you simply MUST be
able to fix whatever it is that’s broken or do without. Now, I’m no “Mr. Fix…
Continue reading Can You Fix it? (link)
(NaturalNews) Right now, all across America, employees are receiving notices that their insurance coverage is being dropped because it isn't "compliant" with Obamacare. Simultaneously, employers everywhere are ...
Always trying to
find new ways to nickel and dime their customers, rental car companies have
found a new way to charge you for gasoline used. Most savvy renters won't
accept the rental firms' pricey gas plans, but instead agree to bring the car
back with a full tank. A typical renter might fill the tank on the way to the
airport because the gauge will still be on "F" by the time they get
there. Now Avis and soon Hertz will be using electronic meters that can tell
how much gas is missing from your tank, down to 1/10 of a gallon, and charge
you at the rate of over $9 a gallon for it.
The Nanny State-We love our government
Drug War Statistics
Amount spent annually in the U.S. on the war on drugs:
More than $51,000,000,000
Amount spent annually in the U.S. on the war on drugs:
More than $51,000,000,000
1.53 million
Number of people arrested for a
marijuana violation in 2011:
757,969
Number of Americans incarcerated in 2011 in federal, state and local
prisons and jails: 2,266,800 or 1 in every 99.1 adults,
the highest incarceration rate in the world
757,969
Number of Americans incarcerated in 2011 in federal, state and local
prisons and jails: 2,266,800 or 1 in every 99.1 adults,
the highest incarceration rate in the world
Estimated annual revenue that
California would raise if it taxed
and regulated the sale of marijuana:
$1,400,000,000
and regulated the sale of marijuana:
$1,400,000,000
Number of people killed in Mexico's
drug war since 2006: 70,000+
Source: http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-war-statistics
Source: http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-war-statistics
The
Parting Thought – Not to worry in the land of the free!
Bartering can literally
save your life!
You see, the first thing you should do is develop your "BATNA".
That stands for your "Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement".
Here's an example...
Let's say that your only form of transportation is walking and you need a better way to seek out provisions further from home.
You may be trying to negotiate with someone for a car, but you may decide that your "best alternative" (ie. BATNA) may be a bicycle.
You first find someone who has BOTH a car and a bike.
Then, you negotiate HARD for gaining use of their car with what you have to offer.
By bartering aggressively with your goods for such a high-value item as a car, you attach a much higher value to what you have to offer.
You see, the first thing you should do is develop your "BATNA".
That stands for your "Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement".
Here's an example...
Let's say that your only form of transportation is walking and you need a better way to seek out provisions further from home.
You may be trying to negotiate with someone for a car, but you may decide that your "best alternative" (ie. BATNA) may be a bicycle.
You first find someone who has BOTH a car and a bike.
Then, you negotiate HARD for gaining use of their car with what you have to offer.
By bartering aggressively with your goods for such a high-value item as a car, you attach a much higher value to what you have to offer.
“Until the next
revolution”, the Poor Man
Much of what the Poor Man
does is to promote the concepts of self-reliance, a voluntary society and economic independence --
writing articles, giving talks, maintaining blogs and an educational website --
he does for free. Donations made to support him in these efforts are much
appreciated.
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