• Many Circuit City stores
• Ann Taylor- 117 stores nationwide
• Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherine’s to close 150 store nationwide
• Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
• Cache will close all stores
• Talbots closing down all stores
• J. Jill closing all stores
• GAP closing 85 stores
• Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
• Wickes Furniture closing down
• Levitz closing down remaining stores
• Bombay closing remaining stores
• Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
• Whitehall closing all stores
• Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
• Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January
• Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ (New Brunswick)
• Macys to close 9 stores after January
• Linens and Things closing all stores
• Movie Galley Closing all stores
• Pacific Sunware closing stores
• Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
• Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
• JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
• Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores
• Wilson Leather closing down all stores
• Sharper Image closing down all stores
• K B Toys closing 356 stores
• Lowes to close down some stores
• Dillard’s to close some stores

In my mind humans can’t always be accountable for taking advantage of what others offer them.  Deep in our brains is a prime directive to seek immediate pleasure. So we seek it.  Seeking pleasure is part of being a human, it is not some option that can be turned on and off.  Logic doesn’t come easily to the average person, so they rarely use it much.  When seeking pleasure (or relief from pain which is its equivalent) there is no “symbol in the equation” for logic…no place in the equation. No one is going to refuse a pot of gold even though it has a good chance of destroying that person’s life in some way.  No one is going to choose a free meal of fruit and veggies over pizza and chips, even though we know the consequences of the bad high calorie meal.  Ok, some people might, but we are talking about “usually.”

There will never be a method to force everyone to use complete logic and ignore basic instincts.  We’d have a perfect, though boring, world if that were the case.

To take the problem back to the beginning is the key to truly resolving problems, in my opinion.  Sometimes you can’t get to the very beginning but you can get close.

How this applies to housing foreclosure is of course rooted in the mortgage agencies themselves, which is rooted in the greed of someone, or group, who at some point started that mortgage business.

Ok, we can’t really go back on the original founders of a mortgage business to chastise them.  But, we can put some of the blame of fiscally irresponsible people problems on the mortgage companies themselves.  Why are they approving large mortgages so easily?  I admit I was stunned they approved my mortgage given that I knew very well I had a slim chance of affording it, on top of the utility payments, child support, and food.  They are approving too many mortgages based on gross income and credit history alone (which is all they looked at in my case), and they are approving mortgages that are to high for the take-home pay you have. We as individuals can’t be completely blamed for taking something someone is giving us which will cause us pleasure.  We seek pleasure.

Many are being critical of those with overly large mortgages suddenly foreclosing, as if taking advantage of the times.  This is a valid criticism in many cases, BUT it is also true that the mortgage companies themselves need to have tighter rules for selling mortgages, and they need to work more logic into their own equations for determine if a person can afford a mortgage. The problem has to be taken back closer to the beginning as well as teaching consumers to use a little more logic themselves.  You are not going to be able to fight basic human drives on a personal level but you may be able to regulate businesses feeding the drives.

When starting your home-based business you should develop a business plan and research your options thoroughly.  Making wise decisions and following your business plan each step of the way can help you in creating a steady stream of income.  Operating a home-based business will require hard work and effort. You will not become wealthy over night. It will take determination to succeed as an internet marketer.  The amount of money you make will be directly related to the amount of work you are willing to do.

When making your business plan, include both short and long term goals.  Determine how you will achieve those goals and put your plan into action.  Affiliate programs are excellent home-based business programs and there are numerous other internet marketing offers that will create steady income if you are willing to make the effort.  Some of these opportunities may require an initial investment from you and others are advertised as free.  Research all internet-marketing opportunities carefully to make sure you understand the terms and conditions.

As an internet marketer, you will have to distinguish yourself from the competition if you want to succeed. You should know your target audience and know your competition even better. Do not let self-doubt stop you from accomplishing your goals.  Every successful internet marketer gives their business the very best effort possible.  Hard work and determination will make your home-based business a success and provide you with a steady stream of income.

Starting a home-based business is one of the most exciting and challenging endeavors you will ever undertake.  A sound business plan and the will to succeed will set you apart from the competition.  Choose the products or services you provide carefully.  Make certain your services will be needed over the long term and make customer service your top priority.  A loyal customer base is the key to the success or failure of your home-based business.  A home-based business is an excellent way to gain independence and financial freedom.  A sound business plan and a strong work ethic are all it takes to succeed.

There are tons of resources to help you get started, including books you might find at the library or bookstore.  Don’t let your friends o family discourage you as many people will not believe you can be successful with your ideas.   Still others will appear to be jealous if you do have some success.   Whatever happens, progress forward and know you can succeed.

Resources:

http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/jan2007/sb20070110_343896.htm

http://www.sba.gov/

http://www.land-of-confusion.com/moneyathome.php

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Organized

Personal Information is Sacred

One of the first things you want to do, especially if you have a cable, DSL and/or WiFi internet connection to your home is ensure that you have the appropriate software to block any outside sources from “stealing” your connection.  By not protecting yourself in this way, this allows anyone to hijack your personal information quite easily.

When you must enter personal information such as account numbers, social security numbers, addresses and more, always check the owner of the website through WHOIS to determine legitimacy and read their privacy policy to ensure that your information is protected.  In addition, any time you have to enter sensitive information, check the internet address bar for the “https” portion as this indicates special encryption by the company to protect your information from hackers.

Never enter personal information into popup windows or answer emails that threaten to close an account or are asking you to update information.  This is known as phishing and is a way for criminals to steal your information.  A company you deal with will either call you or send a letter in the mail should there be a legitimate problem.

Protect your Computer from Viruses and Spyware

On your quest for free stuff, be sure to protect your computer from pop-up ads, adware, spyware and viruses that could be lying in wait for you to visit a certain website.  While many websites that offer free things may be perfectly legitimate, they still may have ads and pop-ups that can slow down your computer and waste valuable resources.  At the worst, you may happen upon a website with spyware embedded in certain hyperlinks just waiting for you to click on.

Most computers these days come with standard firewalls to protect outside intruders and may even come with virus and spyware software.  If so, take advantage of these things and be sure to always check for software updates to that you have the most up to date protection for your computer.  If you don’t have the cash to purchase software to protect your computer, there are some great free software programs you can download.  Your best bet is to visit a few technical forums to get a good idea of the programs that are highly regarded and tested in advance.

The bottom line when searching out those free online goodies is using common sense.  Hold your personal information close to the vest until you are absolutely sure of a website’s legitimacy.  In addition, protect your computer with firewall, virus and spyware software so that it will continue to serve you well for several years to come.