As the saying goes "Every Sunrise is a New Beginning."
Is it really a new beginning for us
though? Not if you choose to purchase things on credit. If you live like most
of today's society every day is more interest added to your debt. It's easy to lose
sight of how expensive buying things on credit truly is. Rent to own will
typically cost you double the price of the item if bought for cash, same goes
for credit cards, as well as auto loans... Mortgages aren't quite as bad
and truly are a necessity if we wish to build equity in possessions but I'll
get back to rent versus buy in a moment.
Every time you start working you are
adding value to the company you work for, you never get back the same value
that you put in, If you did the company would go out of business. So it is an
investment in tomorrow, you know if the company prospers and you are a positive
contributor you will still have a job tomorrow. You accept that in return for
not having to bother with business taxes and insurance, and legal
liabilities... The list is rather lengthy in reasons for making the company
more money than you get paid. Even owners will invest more time and energy than
they profit in the beginning stages of any business in the hopes that the
business will become self-sustaining and they will then get a larger return
than what they invested. In today's economy that is just a bit more likely than
walking out of a casino with more money than you walked in with. Sad reality
but it's true.
Now back to Homes, buy versus rent...
Once again you are gambling if you purchase a house in today's market
most first time home buyers don’t realize what they are getting into. When you
buy a home it isn't just a place to live you have purchased. Even though you
are still paying for it you are fully responsible for anything that breaks
down, any damages that occur, liability of others on your property, taxes,
insurance, maintenance, in some cases HOA fees, and a list of other un-thought
of costs.
You will be there for many years to come
even though you own it do you really own it? Try not paying the taxes on it and
you realize that you don’t own it you are renting it from the Government. They will
take it away from you if you don’t pay the tax. When it comes to a car it is
close to the same issue with the exception they won’t come and take it if you don’t
pay taxes on it they will just fine you heavily until you comply or no longer
drive it.
The opposite side of the coin is renting a house or apartment. When
you rent you only pay rent, and to repair damages you cause. Normal wear and
use is the owner’s responsibility, if an appliance or furnace / central air or anything
else goes out the owner gets to pay for it, in a house you will probably be
supplying your own appliances and doing the yard maintenance but that is
typically all you have to worry about. The down side to this is you will never
build equity in the property. For a lot of people thy feel it is worth it to
avoid the annoyances of owning.
So as you see it’s not really a new beginning as much as a new
chance to make things right. Every new dawn brings with it a chance for you to
make a difference in your life as well as the lives around you. Don’t waste
those chances by doing nothing. I choose to try and improve others’ lives by
sharing love compassion and encouragement. I make many mistakes and I will continue
to make many more, for that I will apologize to those that my mistakes effect.
However at the end of the day if I can honestly say I have made more people
happy than my mistakes have upset or harmed than it was a successful day and I
look forward to the new dawn with anticipation. If today I failed and hurt more
than I helped I ask for the next dawn to allow me to renew my efforts.
Thank you for your time, may all of your new dawns be blessed with
love and compassion from you and to you.
Sean “Teddy Bear” Sullivan
