o There is no such thing as "Cool"

As part of my efforts to slow down rampant consumerism and all the ills that go along with it, I have thought of a shaming mechanism. From this day forward, there is no such concept as "cool" or "being cool". Instead, replace the word "cool" with the word "tool" in your vocabulary.

For example, suppose you buy a pair of $200.00 sunglasses and you walk around town thinking I am sooooo cool. Your friends may even say, "those sun glasses are sooooo kewl." My response to you and your over priced eyewear accessory is "you are such a tooool." See how it works? What's the point of buying expensive designer clothes, sunglasses, shoes, purses, electronics and the like? It's to try to be cool. Which, if you remember the title of this blog, does not exist any more. Ha.

Do me a favor, stop buying all that marked up crap you don't need, running up your credit card debt, then declaring bankruptcy and letting those that are fiscally sound pick up the pieces. Credit card applications should have a process around them. Why do I get twenty new credit card offers per day when these companies have no idea about who I am and whether I am credit worthy? The consumer should have to apply to the credit card company, not be bombarded with junk mail about 0.00% interest rate gimmicks. The applicant should provide two pieces of documentation:
1) A pay stub showing weekly, bi-weekly or monthly income.
2) A rent invoice or mortgage check for all properties under the consumer's name.

The formula for calculating credit limits on a credit card can then be simplified. Take the monthly pay and subtract out the monthly cost of housing. The balance, assuming its positive, should be multiplied by five. This will give you a credit leverage of five times disposable income. Late payments should knock down the credit limit immediately. That's it. You either pay your bills on time or risk losing your credit lines. This plan makes way too much sense to ever happen.

WARNING: The expression "You look dorky in your cheap sunglasses." may still apply.