I can wish, right? There are a lot of things I'd like to do around the house, the problem is, dh is always tired from work. So during the weekend, all he wants to do is relax, i.e. vegetate in the tv room and watch whatever catches his fancy. I'm very knowledgeable in electronics and some electrical stuff since I am/was an engineer. What I want to learn is carpentry! I know, it's scary!! LOL Plus, we don't have carpentry tools like clamps and circular saws. All we have are a couple of hammers! It would be nice to be able to install some crown mouldings and chair rails. I guess I'll just have to dream about this.

Don't you think so? I definitely do! Nowadays, you can do almost anything on the internet. I most especially like the ease of paying bills online. Aside from saving $ on stamps, I don't have to worry about my payment being late. It is also easier to research any subject online using search engines like my favorite Google. I also search for term life insurance quotes and look for the cheapest price for anything I buy either online or in the stores.

Before you charge your new furniture or a pair of heated mattress pads on your credit card, you should know what the new rules are:

* More time to make your payment - You have at least 21 days from when your bill is posted online or mailed to pay before you are charged a late fee.

* More notice for rate increases - card companies must give you at least 45 days notice when raising interest rates. Consumers can cancel the card and have five years to pay off the balance at the original interest rate.

* No retroactive rate hikes - Interest rates on existing balances cannot be raised unless you are more than 60 days late with a payment. Rate increases are prohibited for the first year a card is open (unless a promotional rate expires).

* Fewer fees - Say good-bye to over-the-limit fees unless you give preapproval for purchases that exceed your limit. However, banks and card companies may bring back annual fees.

* Pay less interest - If your card carries multiple balances with different interest rates, card companies must apply any payment (above the minimum) to the balance with the highest rate first. But the law doesn't cap interest rates, so some creditors are raising them, even on cards in good standing.

I know that once in a while, businesses raise their rates and I don't have a problem with that. BUT I do have a problem when the increase is so ridiculously high just like what the health insurance company Anthem Blue Cross plans to do in California. I hope that the company does not do it across the board! My friend, who has Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina was just telling me about the increase in her health insurance premium. I know that these companies need to make a profit, but raising insurance premiums by a big margin is just ridiculous!.