Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/375559
DearMary:We recently read a short article you wrote on common money mistakes to avoid. One of the mistakes was "Paying for col- lege." Unfortu- nately, this article came about three years too late. No one told us when our daughter went to col- lege, three years ago, that we shouldn't pay for her college. When we started, we thought we were help- ing her out, but as it turns out, we have been carrying the majority of the load. Just recently, we in- formed her that we would not be paying for her se- nior year; she is on her own because we have gone into debt further that we will ever be able to get out of. So, because we are now three years in debt, do you have any advice for us as we strive to pay it off? — David and Joanne Dear David and Joanne: First, let me ex- plain the reasoning for my advice that parents should not pay for col- lege. It's because most confuse "paying" with "going into debt." Par- ents' first priority needs to be getting and staying on track for their own re- tirement. That means actively funding retirement ac- counts to the max every year, building a robust emergency fund and pay- ing off all debt including their mortgage so that by the time they retire, they're financially set — not a financial burden to their kids! Parents who are in the position I just described AND also have funds over and beyond to help pay for their kids' college, I say great. Do it, if that is the kind of gift you wish to give to your adult children. Sadly, most parents are not in that position by the time their kids reach college age. The obligation they feel together with guilt that they have not built immense college funds prompts them to default to co-signing or taking out Direct PLUS Loans, which I am assuming is what you have done. For you, the damage has been done. Unless you or your student dies or you become to- tally and perma- nently disabled, there are few op- tions for forgive- ness or cancella- tion. And do not look to deferment or forbearance as ways to put off repayment. That will only increase the pain in the long run. My advice is that one or both of you need to get additional employment, pledging all side earn- ings toward the payment of these loans. You will doom yourselves to pov- erty if you forgo saving for retirement if you cash in existing retirement ac- counts or strip the equity from your home to repay the debt. And get used to the idea that you will both need to work until age 70 or later, depending on your current ages and the amount of debt we're talking about here. PLUS loans, as written, must be repaid within 10 years. However, if you consolidate, rewrite or become delinquent, they can turn into a mess that just won't go away. If you allow these debts to lin- ger and follow you into retirement, you need to know that the federal government will garnish tax refunds and even So- cial Security benefits un- til the debts are paid in full. Now that I've totally discouraged you, let me do some encouragement. Thankfully, you woke up early. Some parents don't re- alize what they've done to themselves until much later than three years. I am going to assume that you are younger than you think and stronger than you know. Get busy right now while you are most able to earn the sums re- quired to repay the debt just as soon as possible. Please know that I be- lieve you can do this. I'll be right here cheering you on! MaryHuntisthefounder of www.DebtProofLiving. com, a personal finance member website. You can email her at mary@eve- rydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheap- skate, P.O. Box 2099, Cy- press, CA 90630. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE Parents:cover retirement first then pay for college Mary Hunt The artwork of Anna Chrasta will be featured prominently in the Marty Graffell Annex at the 33rd Annual Tehama County Museum Jubilee 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the city of Tehama. Water colors, oils and prints spanning her entire artistic career hang at the museum beginning Sept. 6. Chrasta is a native of Te- hama County having been born and raised on the Syc- amore Ranch in Los Mo- linos. She studied art at Chico State College and then moved to San Fran- cisco where she developed her artistic style, which centers around the moods of water and the relation- ship between water and light. Although the display at the museum spans her en- tire career, her subject mat- ter introduces her favorite haunts — San Francisco Bay, Bodega Bay, the Or- egon Coast and the Mon- terey Peninsula and Car- mel area. Chrasta will be retiring in the near future so she can continue to explore and develop her talent. "It is a testament to her talent and perseverance that, as an artist, Anna has been able to support herself through her work, living in one of the more expensive areas in the nation," said museum President Chris Bauer. "Many great artists have only achieved such re- nown after they have long since expired. Although she is nearing retirement, An- na's position as a signif- icant member of the art world is well established. We at the TCM are pleased to display her work." In addition to the art ex- hibit, the Marty Graffell Annex will be the venue for a fiber arts display and weaving demonstrations; a TCM Civil War display; Ju- dy's Country Store; author Tom Orr selling and sign- ing his new book on the 1921 Deer Creek Roundup and a special live noon- time concert by the Cali- fornia Heat chapter of the Sweet Adelines. Outside activities in- clude breakfast 8-10 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. served up by the Central Tehama Kiwanis Club, homemade pie and ice cream by the Los Mo- linos Women's Club, live entertainment from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., antique trucks, visits by the Te- hama County Sheriff's De- partment, the CDF and the Armed Services as well as artisans and crafters in the park. The museum is at 275 C St. in Tehama and is open to visitors 1-4 p.m. Satur- days and Sundays. Infor- mation about the Jubilee is available at 384-2595, on the website: tehamacoutny- museum.org or via e-mail: tcmuse@tehama.net. MUSEUM Localartist'sworktobefeaturedatJubilee COURTESYPHOTO Well-known local artist Anna Chrasta's work will be featured at the Tehama County Museum's 33rd Annual Jubilee. By Emily Patterson Better Business Bureau Get rich quick schemes promising high returns in minimal time are not a new phenomenon. But clever scammers are now promot- ing these "money flipping" scams on Instagram, Face- book and Twitter to target a younger audience. Howthescamworks You see a photo of a pile of cash on Instagram or an- other social media site. The caption brags about an easy money flipping scheme. This person claims to have "flipped" a couple hundred dollars into thousands, and he or she offers to do the same for you. Money's been tight lately, so the post piques your in- terest. You check out the profile behind the post, and he or she appears to be a real person with photos and followers. The account may even have dozens of "thank you" comments from satisfied past "investors." You decide to give it a shot, and send him or her a message. This "investor" tells you that it's easy to get started. All you need to do is put $100 or more on a prepaid debit card from your lo- cal convenience store. The greater the value, the more money you can make. Then, share the card number and PIN, and the "investor" will do the rest. Unfortunately, giving out the card number and PIN allows the "investor" to withdraw money from the card. Typically, the scam- mer drains the card and then blocks you from con- tacting their social media account. Tips to avoid money flipping scams Do a quick search. Be- fore contacting the poten- tial scammer, do a web search of their username or phone number. If it's a scam, chances are that other victims have posted complaints and informa- tion online. Be wary of prepaid debit cards. Wire transfers used to be a scammer's favor- ite way to collect payment, but prepaid debit cards are the new preferred method. Treat prepaid debit cards like cash. Once you give away the account info, you will not be able to get that money back. Don't trust your friends' taste online. It might not actually be them "liking" or sharing these scam posts. Their account may have been hacked. But it may also be clickjacking, a tech- nique that scammers use to trick you into "liking" some- thing that you wouldn't oth- erwise. If it sounds to good to be true… Well, you know the rest. Use common sense when seeking ways to supplement your income. Anyone who claims to be able to turn a small investment into piles of cash in mere minutes is a scam artist. For more information To find out more about scams or report one, check out BBB Scam Stopper at http://www.bbb.org. SCAM ALERT Get rich quick schemes move to social media Today REDBLUFF California HEAT Chorus - Sweet Adelines: 7p.m., Meteer School multipurpose room, 695Kimball Road, 895-0139 Childbirth Class: 6:30- 8:30p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Columba Room, 888-628- 1948 Fun Senior Aerobics: 8-9 a.m., $1, Community Center, 1500S. Jackson St. 527- 8177 Grief Support Group: 3-5 p.m., Coyne Center, Kristin Hoskins 528-4207 Imagination Train story hour: 4p.m., Tehama County Library Kelly-Griggs House Museum: 1-3p.m., Thurs- days and Sundays, 311 Washington St., tours by appointment,527-1129or 527-5895 Latino Outreach, noon: Family Resource Center, 220Sycamore St. Ste. 101, 528-8066 Live country music: 5-7 p.m., dinner, Veterans Hall National Alliance on Men- tal Illness: 6p.m., Tehama County Chapter Meeting, County Department of Education, 1135Lincoln St.., 515-0151 Painting session, Red Bluff Art Association: 10 a.m., Tehama District Fair- ground, 529-1603 PAL Martial Arts: ages 5-18, 3-5p.m., 1005Vista Way, Ste. C, free, 529-7950 Penny Bingo: 9:30a.m., Community Center, 1500S. Jackson St. Pinochle for Seniors: 12:30-3:30p.m., 1500S. Jackson St., free, 527-8177 Phoenix Community Sup- port Group for chemical dependence: 11:30a.m., Presbyterian Church, 838 Jefferson St., 945-2349 Red Bluff Exchange Club: noon, M&M Ranch House, 645Antelope Blvd. #1 Red Bluff Lions Club: 6 p.m., Veterans Memorial, 527-6616 Rock Choir: 4p.m., 601 Monroe St., free, all wel- come Senior Chair Volleyball: 1p.m. Community Center, 1500S. Jackson St. Sunrise Speakers Toast- masters: noon, 220Syca- more St. Swinging Squares Square Dance Club: 7p.m., Com- munity Center, 1500S. Jackson St., beginner or review classes: 529- 1615 Tehama County Peace Officers Association: 5:30 p.m., M&M Ranch House Tehama County Public Health Advisory Board: noon to 3:15p.m., 1860 Walnut St., Shasta Confer- ence Room, 527-6824 CORNING Am-vets: 4p.m., Corning Veteran's Memorial Hall, 1620Solano St. Cal-Fresh and Healthy Family Appointments: 1-3p.m., Family Resource Center, 1488South St., 824-7670 Corning Patriots: 6p.m., Senior Center, 824-2332 Dance with Juana:, noon to 1p.m., Family Resource Center, 1488South St., 824-7670 Diabetes Support Group: noon, Senior Center, 1015 4th Ave. Dual Diagnosis Group: 1:30, 1600Solano St., 527- 8491, Ext. 3309 ESL/Citizenship classes: 9a.m. - 11a.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 Improved Order of Red- men # 203: 7p.m. In- dependent Grange 470, 20945Corning Road, 824-1114 Sewing group: 9a.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670 Soccer training: 4-6p.m., except for holidays and rain, Woodson School soccer field, 150N. Toomes, 824- 7680 Women's Support Group: 6p.m., Family Resource Center, West and South streets, 824-7670. CALENDAR Professional Personal Convenient •PremiumDigital Hearing Aids for every budget • FREE hearing evaluations • Service/Repair, all makes and models • Batteries & accessories • Preferred provider for most insurance plans: Including PERS, Carpenters, Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, etc. • Low monthly payment plan available • Trial Period/ Satisfaction Guaranteed AskaboutourOpenFitTechnology Discreet and Comfortable Limited Appointments CALL 1-800-488-9906 Performedforproper amplificationselectiononly. RedBluff Community Center 1500 So. Jackson Wed., Sept. 10, 2014 10:00 am - 3:00 pm LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, September 4, 2014 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A4