Credit Averages

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While reviewing my credit report, I found some interesting numbers on the national credit averages. I found some of them surprising. The average American consumer has 5 open credit accounts and 1 late payment on their credit report. The average mortgage balance is $106,782 with an average payment of $1,020. The average auto balance $12,141 with an average payment of $416. Meanwhile, the average total debt in America is $79,884. Uh, do that math… (yeah, I know)

Those numbers don’t seem too out of line to me. What struck me is that the average credit card debt is $1,006. A GRAND! A grand? I don’t know anyone that has a credit card balance of $1K. People I know either DON’T carry a balance on their cards or they owe ten, twenty, THIRTY thousand dollars to Mr. Visa. I guess that just shows how averages can be deceiving. Still these averages can give you a hint as to how enslaved you are to “the man” or your stuff at least.

Want To Be A Millionaire? Hurricanes Can Help

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So Katrina caused a huge amount of economic destruction… people just can’t seem to agree on how MUCH economic destruction. Louisiana asked for $250 BILLION! Mississppi was a little surprised to learn this, since they’ve only asked for $33 Billion. So here’s a little math based on Census data. Louisiana’s $250 Billion translates into

  • $533,012 for every person in that lived in New Orleans
  • $55,361 per person in Louisiana
  • Seven times the total retail sales for the entire state of LA in 1997 (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22000.html)Mississippi’s $33 Billion translates into
  • $86,118 per person in Mississippi
  • Twelve times the total retail sales for the entire state of MI in 1997 (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/28000.html)It looks like both states are going to be disappointed since the current aid bill working it’s way through Washington has been moving between $25 and $30 billion. Total.
  • Louisiana’s funding request created shockwaves

    • Reasons Not To Be A Minister

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    I met a girl on ThanksMas that was looking to move down here from Boston. She liked the area and was pursuing a career with Young Life. Apparently there are more positions available locally than up North. After further conversation she admitted the following:

    …Well, I dropped out of college… I tried the whole job thing and I didn’t like it — so I decided I’m going into full time ministry… Yeah. Ok, I understand not everyone sees the problem — people seem to be commonly blinded by religious commitment and miss the motives. Not liking work is not a “calling” to ministry. There’s a reason it’s called “work” and not “fun” or “play time”. Don’t like your job? Get a new one. Don’t like your options? Get additional training or education.Now don’t get me wrong… I don’t have anything against a calling for ministry in general or Young Life in particular. But a calling is more than avoiding pain, responsibility or effort. Personally, I believe everyone is “called” to something — some vision, some milestone, some purpose. Your calling may have a spiritual aspect, but I view a “calling” more holistically. What makes you tick on the inside, your passion in life will effect more in your life than just your job or your spiritual walk. It will affect every aspect of your life.

    Don’t know your calling? I recommend 48 Days To The Work You Love. While this is a work focused book, it approaches it in such a way as to discover your gifts and passion and move you towards things that use them in the real world. So while it is task driven, your task may end up be feeding the homeless in Nigeria… or clearing mine fields in the Balkans… or even becoming the music minister at your church. BUT more importantly than the tasks it helps you find, is the clear sense of purpose you can discover while ferreting out said tasks.

    Happy ThanksMas!

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    ThanksMas is holiday that comes between Thanksgiving and Christmas to celebrate surviving another semester… or for us old folks: to reminisce about surviving semesters or co-eds or whatever. ;) Typical celebration involves turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings. And, of course, watching a Christmas Story (or some similar classic, but a Christmas Story is best)

    U2 & Idolaters

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    So I attended a U2 concert recently and I’d give it:

    The Good: U2 always puts on a great show. And one of the great things about U2 is that they have so many “hits” that they have more than enough great songs to keep you rocking the entire concert. I’ve heard that not too long ago Lou Bega performed his hit “Mambo Number 5” twice at his concert. (can you blame the 1-hit-wonder?)

    The Bad: U2 has gotten a little preachy. Now don’t get me wrong, Bono is one of the few celebrities that can respectably push his views on others. He has been a champion for peace for years and his Country has a history that further supports such efforts. So Bono, use your concert soapbox to push your cause du jour, fine. But pick ONE ok? (no pun intended) Let’s see U2 wants to support the troops, end the war, fight AIDs in Africa, forgive debts to 3rd world countries, create a universal bill of rights, oh and END poverty. Did I leave out the part about convincing Jews, Christians and Muslims that we all brothers serving the same God. Yeah, like I said.. a tad bit preachy. (Never mind that while the One campaign plans to do most of this through US tax dollars… that money really does have to come from somewhere – even though people tend to forget that fact.)

    A funny side note: On my way into the concert I saw a street preacher — one of several actually. Anyway, this particular street preacher was wearing a wooden placard warning the gamut of sinners. You know: idolaters, adulterers, fornicators, drunkards, revilers, and get this “general heathens”. It actually said general heathens… I guess that’s a good, biblical sounding, catch all.