European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 23, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Trying to steer Clear of debt Wayne Whiting he time to go shopping  he shopping you must be kidding she i thought you got paid  he each but i had to pay the  sound familiar let s face it debt is a part of society that has the ability to disrupt one s thinking. A problem so fierce that spend Acholias Haven t Learned to manage it. Why do Consumers constantly stay in debt because of an inability to distinguished Between needs and wants. Consider the consequences if a working couple purchases a new car with considerable Bills to pay monthly. Kow imagine the husband or wife receives a Pink slip and monthly payments Are still due. The obvious question is How will they be Able to main Tain payments with one source of income and an an Nual salary of $14,000?" hello anxiety and fru Stra lion How to Dodge such a problem avoid Low monthly opening laugh fiddy London England � 1994, Cano mists & Wnters Syndicate til Berlin Germany St before cars were hollow it payments. Many Bills mount because people Are attracted to Low monthly prices. I be witnessed individuals Purchase a Beautiful dining room set on the Economy without paying Cash. Then they face the question How to afford it each month suddenly they realize they be accepted credit cards car notes phone Bills and who knows what other outrageous Bills. A Rule of thumb is to pay off the Bills that have the highest interest rates. Utilize no More than two cred it cards but shop around for the Best rate. Car plus insurance has a tendency to Wither away a substantial portion of your income. One reason Many Consumers give for buying a new car is this i Purchase it because i Don t want to worry about it breaking Down and no More  unfortunately their headache began when they opted to pay for the principal and interest in excess of 60 months. Then there s insurance. In Germany rates com pared to in the states Are startling so because of this decision to buy a car a substantial amount of your Money is committed toward insurance and car  Rule of thumb is to pay it off in 36 months or less to avoid principal and interest. As for insurance raise the deductible to lower your Premium. By doing this you assume some of the risk. Also with insurance some Consumers have this idea that they must obtain full coverage on the vehicle regardless of its value and year. Why have full coverage on a car that is worthless in value hypothetically if a 1987 vehicle depending on the Model is Worth $1,000 and you re the Lien Holder Why pay $100 a month for three years. For those pay ments you be bought about three of those vehicles which just in t smart. If your vehicle is worthless in value modify your coverage. The extra Money can be utilized for other purposes. Beware of con artist Selling life insurance. I m no expert on insurance but i simply ask Why did you buy life insurance you will be amazed at  an Swers. A majority of Consumers Don t attempt to read their policies but instead rely on what the agent tells them with their famous extemporaneous speech. If your policy contains strange language such As the jargon of insurance business get rid of it. If they can t write clearly How can they think clearly confusing As it May seem life insurance should be based on need and not How much some one tells you to Purchase. Imagine a couple that opted to Pur Chase life insurance for their children. How much coverage will they need absolutely none none can you imagine the smile on an agent s face who sold you insurance for your infant what secures a child s future is life insurance on the parents and not the child. Otherwise where to put your hard earned Money Many Consumers do not have the discipline to save or invest. You owe it not Only to yourself but also to your children. Set your goals on Long term and Start creating wealth. In solving your debt the first step is to admit you have a problem and Stop borrowing. Take a Thor Ough look at monthly expenses. Remember that an increase in credit limit Means More credit and More debt. Always pay More than the minimum balance on monthly Bills. It would be Nice to have peace of mind especially when your spouse wants to Power shop. Sgt. Wayne Whiting is stationed in Wiesbaden. Germany Send in your column plus photo of yourself to be our guest sunday Magazine the stars and stripes Apo 09211 or Postrach 11 14 37, d-64278 Darmstadt Germany. Contents Anny Dwight Eisenhower with his troops just before launching the invasion of Normandy in june 44. Page 22. From the cover 4-8 Are there any real men left sidelights 9 Clarence Page says Jesse Jackson is Back. Odds & ends 10 Erna Bombeck cuts up Aba uniforms. In tune 11 Larry King talks it up. This week s films 12-13 ghost in the machine drifts. Military circuit listings. Television listings 14-17 local Cable and satellite schedules. Home entertainment 18 the music of Chance Rolls. Voices 20-21 tie acc s misguided muscle is. Howard Stem. Linda Ellerbe on 1 Vrginia Kelley s cancer. The military on to. 22-23 Eisenhower Vietnam the Gulf War. Words & wit. 24 James Kilpatrick on tricks of style. Books 25 Garrison Keillor s the Book of  on Parade. 27 Jonathan Demme s direction. Last laugh 28 Dave Barry off to the grape races. Sunday is a weekly supplement of the stars and stripes editor. Bucky Fox Art direction Peter Jaeger production Bernard Jensen Dawn Hicks editorial assistance Louis Pierce Page 2 sunday january 23, 1994