Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/416148
When I am not writ- ing about personal fi- nance and consumer debt, I knit. Something about the gentle rhythm of yarn and needle calms my spirit and unwinds my brain. I have managed to fin- ish a few projects, not be- cause I'm a great knitter but because I can tink almost as well as I knit (knit spelled backwards is tearing out). Because all knitters make mis- takes, tinking is a re- quired skill for those who take the craft seriously. It doesn't take too many oversized sweaters or un- dersized hats to figure out that the smallest error at the beginning of a proj- ect can produce disas- trous results if not found and corrected. Money is a lot like knitting. By some mira- cle, all knitting consists of just two stitches: knit and purl. Likewise, with money you have two op- tions: spend or save. And who among us can say they have never made a financial error? We all make mistakes, but the secret to staying out of the red is correcting the little mistakes before they lead to disastrous results. In both money man- agement and in knitting, the more you practice the fewer mistakes you'll make. And, the more suc- cess you'll enjoy. If you've ever found yourself in the red, it is likely that you didn't land in that position over- night. Rather, it was a se- ries of small, uncorrected mistakes that over time escalated to the crimson condition. As a college freshman I made the mistake of think- ing I could get away with spending money before I actually had it. The first time I dared to write a check for more money than I had in my account, I was nervous. But I figured with any luck my next paycheck would get to the bank be- fore the one I was about to write. It's a chance I was willing to take. Actually, my little plan worked perfectly. My pay- check did get there first and no one was the wiser. So, I pulled that stunt again and again. I got caught from time to time, but cleverly concluded I wasn't really overdrawn — I was just under-de- posited. In time, I moved my an- tics from my checking ac- count to a bevy of credit cards. I allowed myself to believe that as long as I could get away with it, it was okay to spend now. And pay and pay later. Here's my point: I didn't start out in the red. But that one small mistake repeated over and again led to debili- tating debt that changed my life. Had I corrected my thinking early on I could have saved myself from the disastrous re- sults that were to follow. Many people, in fact the majority, aren't in particularly serious fi- nancial trouble. They flirt with the red zone from time to time, tee- tering between red and black and spending all that they make. For them being in the red is more of a mindset that keeps them from making finan- cial progress. Waiting is a concept we are careful to teach our children. Too bad so few of us practice what we teach. Simply doing noth- ing — waiting — is likely the most efficient way to change your mind from red to black. Wait to spend your tax refund until you actually have it in hand. Ditto for the next commission check or bonus. Let it sit in the bank for a while. Savor the feeling of being in the black. Thanks to the con- sumer credit industry, waiting to buy until you can pay in full has be- come socially archaic. But so what? Patience is a virtue. Waiting builds character. It's good for the soul. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to get back to my knitting. I have a tiny mitten to finish for a very special little boy whose favorite color just hap- pens to be red. Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@ everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Every- day Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2099, Cypress, CA 90630. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE Keep your money and your attitude in the black Better Business Bureau Watch out for scammers offeringfreemedicaldevices. Fall is peak season for tele- marketing calls that attempt to trick seniors into parting with personalinformation or agreeing to be billed for de- vices that don't exist. HowtheScamWorks You receive a prerecorded telemarketing call say- ing that you have been se- lected to receive free medi- cal supplies. Common offers include a personal emer- gency alarm system, medi- cations or supplies for a spe- cific health condition, such as diabetes. In one version, the re- corded call claims that you can get an alarm sys- tem or medical supplies worth several hundred dol- lars for free. You are just re- sponsible for a low monthly charge. In another varia- tion, the call claims that a doctor-ordered medicine or medical device is already in the mail, and the call is confirming the shipment. In both cases, you will be asked to provide personal and insurance information. Just don't expect your free products to ever arrive. Medical identity theft scams occur year-round, but they tend to peak in the fall. This is when the United States has Medicare open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. These scams typically tar- get seniors, but anyone can become a victim. How to Spot a Telemarketing Scam If a call does the follow- ing, it's probably a scam: Tries to create a sense of panic. Scammers try to scare victims into immedi- ate action, don't fall for it. Claims you have been specifically identified for an offer, but doesn't know your name or anything about you. This is a sign that the call is actually being blasted out to thousands of phone numbers. Promises something for free that really isn't. Be wary of free offers that ask you to pay a handling fee or other charges. Implies an endorsement from a well-known organi- zation. In this case, the call claims the alarm system is endorsed by the American Heart Association and the American Diabetic Asso- ciation, which is really the American Diabetes Associ- ation. Others claim a good Better Business Bureau rat- ing, so be sure to check this on BBB.org. Watch for errors in fraud- ulent calls, such as refer- ring to the American Dia- betes Association as the Di- abetic Association. The business doesn't have a legitimate mailing address and website. Vic- tims of this scam report that staff refuse to provide basic business information, such as the address. For More Information Read more about med- ical freebie scams on the AARP website at blog. aarp.org/2014/09/19/the- cost-of-health-freebies/ and medical identity theft on the FTC's site www.con- sumer.ftc.gov/articles/0171- medical-identity-theft. To find out more about other scams, check out BBB Scam Stopper at www.bbb.org/ council/bbb-scam-stopper/. SCAM ALERT Scammers trick seniors with 'free' medical devices Today REDBLUFF Celebrate Recovery:7 p.m., Bethel Assembly of God, 625Luther Road, 527- 0445or 366-6298 Red Bluff Rotary Club Sunrise: 7a.m., M&M Ranch Weekend Childbirth Class: 5p.m.-10p.m., Columba, 888-628-1948, redbluff. mercy.org/classes_and_ events CORNING Car Show: 5-9p.m., Bar- tels Giant Burger, 22355 Corning,Road, local car clubs welcome, 824-2788 ESL/Citizenship Class: 9-11a.m., Monday and Fri- day, Family Resource Center, 175Solano St., 824-7670 Resume Workshop-Work First: Red Bluff, call Family Resource Center, 175Solano St., 824-7670 LOS MOLINOS Narcotics Anonymous: 7-8p.m., 25204Josephine Ave, Wednesday and Friday Saturday RED BLUFF Frontier Village Farmers Market: 9a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 645Antelope Blvd. EBT accepted Widows Association of Red Bluff: Noon at Episco- pal Church, on Elm St., call for information 527-4659 TEHAMA Tehama County Museum: 1-4p.m., 275C St., group tours any day by appoint- ment, 384-2595 Sunday RED BLUFF AA Live and Let Live: noon and 5:30p.m., 785Musick St., seven days a week except Thursday meets at 8p.m. Al-Anon New Comers At Heart: 6:30-7:30p.m., Presbyterian Church of Red Bluff, 838Jefferson Road, Room 2, 941-6405 Kelly-Griggs House Museum: 1-3p.m., 311 Washington St., group tours by appointment, 527-1129or 527-5895 TEHAMA Tehama County Museum: 1-4p.m., 275C St., group tours any day by appoint- ment, 384-2595 Monday RED BLUFF Community Band re- hearsal: 7-9p.m., Red Bluff Presbyterian Church, 838 Jefferson St., New members welcome, 527-3486 English as a Second Lan- guage class: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Red Bluff High School Adult Ed building, 1295Red Bud, 736-3308, same time Tuesday and Wednesday and 9a.m. to 12:20p.m. Thursdays, free childcare from 9a.m. to 12:20p.m. classes in Richlieu Hall, 900 Johnson St. Gastric Bypass Support Group: 6p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Co- lumba room, 529-3066 Head Injury Recreational Entity: 10a.m.-2p.m., St. Elizabeth Community Hospi- tal, Coyne Center, Rusty, 529-2059 Key to Life: 6p.m., Fam- ily Resource Center, 220 Sycamore St. Ste. 101, 528-8066 Narcotics Anonymous: 11 a.m. to noon, 838Jeffer- son St., Room 3, Monday through Saturday and 5:30- 6:30p.m. Saturday Narcotics Anonymous: 7-8:30p.m., 785Musick St., every day except Thursday Nutrition classes: 10:30 a.m. to noon, 220Sycamore St. #101 PAL Martial Arts: 3-5p.m., ages 5-18, 1005Vista Way, Ste. C, free, 529-7950 Retired and Active Fed- eral Employees: 11:45a.m., Cozy Diner 259S. Main St., call Karen at 585-2494 Salvation Army Writing Class: 9:30-11:30a.m., 940 Walnut St., 527-8530 Senior Writing Class: 10 a.m. to noon, Sycamore Center, 220Sycamore St., 527-5762 Sun Country Quilters Community Service Group: 9a.m. to noon, Family Resource Center, 220Sycamore St. Ste. 101, 528-1126 TeenScreen Mental Health appointments: 10a.m. to 2 p.m., free, by appointment only, 1900Walnut St., 527- 8491, Ext. 3012 Tehama County Military Family Support Group: 6 p.m., Countryside Cafe, 638 Washington St., 529-2416 TOPS Club (take off pounds Sensibly): 8:30 a.m., First Christian Church, 926Madison Ave., 527-7541 or 347-6120, visit www. tops.org US citizenship prepara- tion class: 5:30-8:30 p.m., Red Bluff High School Adult Ed building, 1295Red Bud, 736-3308, same time Tuesday and Wednesday Venture Crew 1914meet- ing: 6:30-8p.m., Moose Lodge on 99W, coed ages 14-20welcome Widows Association of Red Bluff - Play Cards: 1p.m., call 527-4659for location CORNING Achieve: 9a.m. - 1p.m., Family Resource Center, 175Solano St., 824-7670 Alcoholics Anonymous: noon Monday through Friday, 5p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Saturday and 1p.m. Sunday, 783Solano St. Computer Lab hours: 2-4p.m., Family Resource Center, 175Solano St., 824-7670 ESL/Citizenship Class: 9-11a.m., Monday and Friday, Family Resource Center, 175Solano St., 824-7670 Exchange Club member- ship meeting: 7p.m., Iron Skillet Healthy Holiday Cooking For Seniors: 10:30a.m. to noon, Tehama Village Apartments, 651Toomes Ave., 824-7670 CALENDAR COURTESY PHOTO TOASTMASTER Local speaker takes third in division Cheryl Weibling, president of Sunset Speakers Toastmasters, far right, placed third at the District 39evaluation contest in Sacramento on Nov. 8. Toastmasters is a world leader in communication and leadership development. Sunset Speakers meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6p.m. at The Comfort Inn in Red Bluff. All guests are welcome to attend. www.tehamaestatesretirement.com FALLCOUPONSPECIAL CNAs neededat Red Bluff Health Care FT, PT, & On-call Call 527-6232 or stop by 555 Luther Rd. EOE Smog Check (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. starting at $ 29 95 + $ 8 25 certificate SERVICESATLOWERPRICES All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K MembersWelcome LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, November 14, 2014 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A5