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Credit Cards, issued by many retailers and financial organizations, are a useful tool if used correctly. Credit Card rates vary tremendously from 0% APR on transfers to greater than 25% APR, with the rate depending on an individual’s credit rating. Benefits and fees also vary between card issuers. Millions of people have credit cards, and, in the United States, many of those receive their first credit cards early during their adulthood — resulting in many then needing some form of debt-management.

With this in mind, it is appropriate to learn how to use them wisely. When used wisely, a credit card is nothing more than a small, interest-free loan, especially if the debt is paid off quickly. Many people run up debt in their cards, especially during times of recession or other economic turmoil. The average American, according to the US Federal Reserve (G.19 release, Nov 2008), the average American owes $3184 in credit card debt or $8299 per household. With this debt, it is important to pay off your credit card debt to aid the economy and leave more spendable income for the average household.

Proper planning ahead of time is crucial for one to enjoy a fuss free and a well deserved break from work and familiar surroundings especially when it comes to family holiday. Make a list of all the items which you think are important to bring along such as travel documents, flight tickets etc. Just in case you are bringing along an elderly, don’t forget to bring along personal medical record and important contact numbers. Make sure not to overwhelm yourself to pack with things that aren’t necessarily needed for the trip.

Packing smart is essential for a great family holiday at the end of each trip. Check that everything is all in place one day before the holiday trip starts. Also you need to make sure how many bags or luggages that each family members should really need to carry with them. This will not only safe time to pack and unpack things and space but also definitely will not burden their shoulders with all the heavy luggages. On the day of the trip, you and your family may want to set out of the house early. This will ensure punctuality when you arrive at your destination.

If your kids are old enough to understand instructions, make sure they are responsible for their luggage but at the same you will want to make sure all the things will not go astray at all times. You may need to anticipate common problems such as flight delay, delay check-in etc. Make sure you handle any bad situation calmly. Once you are at your destination it is imperative to make everyone feel happy, relax and entertain.

I love to play bingo, online or in a local hall. Around my house most of the bingo is for charitable organizations so while I am having fun the boy’s club or soccer club or even the Eagles are creating cash for their cause. The game I love best is 4-5-6. This game is played on a 3 on, or a sheet of paper that has 3 blocks on it. You don’t get to bingo until you get a block of 4 on the top, a straight line in the middle, and finally a block of six on the bottom. This is usually played as a bonus game and pays higher.

I was in Las Vegas one time playing bingo and the funniest thing happened. You can smoke in the casinos in Vegas and they come around with mixed drinks. So these two ladies sit down and start to argue about an ashtray. I mean they were almost going fist to cuffs over this darn ashtray, and there must have been 10 others on the tables around them. This was obviously a matter of pride, and each thought that ashtray was only theirs.

Motorbikes, while fun for the young, can be near-death traps for unwary middle age folk trying to recapture their youth. I know, because my firsthand experience with a super-powerful Kawasaki Versys was the stuff stories are made of.

This bike, like a lot of others, has much more power than what it looks like at first glance. A 649 cc, parallel twin engine, 6 speed transmission may not seem like a lot of bike to control at first blush, but it is. This bike could do 70+ hp @ 8500 rpm, and for the uninitiated basically means it can jump from a dead stop to full throttle quickly.

My own horror story comes in the form of hitting some gravel while rounding a street corner and having the bike spin out from underneath me. It went one way and I went the other. Thank the stars I had bike insurance and was wearing a very strong steelie helmet and full leathers because the helmet cracked and the leathers tore. The bike, when it stopped, was 30 feet away. It was embarrassing enough to be shuttled off to the hospital by another biker passing by.

The man never said a word about my lack of driving skill, to his credit. I sold the bike shortly thereafter.

Four years ago, I had an accident at work. I was plowing the highway during a bad spring storm when a van swerved into the road in front of me. I had two options–either hit the van and possibly kill the occupants, or hit the shoulder.

I opted for the latter, unknowingly causing an injury that would hold me back in my career for years to come. When I hit the shoulder, my plow caught on a piece of concrete, causing my truck to roll. I ended up in a ditch on the roof of my truck, while the inside filled with ice-slicing chemicals.

The accident tore my rotator cuff, as well as did damage to my inner ear. I was out of work for four months during that time. While my employer continued to compensate me for my wages, as well as paying my medical expenses, it was not without its downside. Because of the time lost off the job, I was overlooked for promotions, as well as any overtime incentives which may have been awarded. It was also extremely difficult to follow the strict instructions of the worker’s compensation doctors. Physical therapy appointments were required, however I was not allowed to drive. My wife had to take time off work in order to shuttle me from appointments and exams, which caused a lot of grief with her employer. Overall, my employer paid all worker’s compensation claims on my behalf. However, during the time off work, I lost some credibility on the job.

I also lost some overtime wages, as well as my wife’s loss of time and wages from her job. The injury, though long since healed, still becomes aggravated from time to time–however I suppose it is just an aggravation I will have to live with.