"Pay attention to the world around you"

Some ideas I got throughout the week dealing with this subject matter dealt with student loans and financial aid, as I have been working with that, and credit card debt which is suprisingly mention by a lot of individuals. It is interesting how I could take almost anything I heard, read or saw and make that into an essay.

Different topics...

"Is there anything more frustrating than student loans?" and "Since I had my identity stolen I will never be the same."

I recently dealt with this so called "easy process," of student loans and I have learned it is anything but easy. I started out by first, applying for my loan. This actually was fairly easy but its that steps that follow that really get you. They need to call and clarify and all that, for me this takes longer than most. I had my identity stolen last year so for the next 7 years I have what they call "fraud alert" applied to everything in my name. I am not so sure that this a blessing or a curse? For the loan process, I spent countless hours dealing with the application process alone. Then I get a call stating that they were unable to access my credit information. So, there I was on the phone yet again answering question after question, (which all should have been answered by someone I dont even know at the Credit Bureau, but that would be too easy!) On top of all the countless hours on the phone, they needed me to send in pages upon pages of things to varify the information on the initial application. Contrary the statement, "it's so easy, apply and be approved in just 5 minutes," it's not true!

Another thing about identity theft, if I go shopping and apply for a credit card, you know that ones that "save you 15% if you apply today," I get a call the minute they put the information into their system or they call the store itself. They call, asking more questions, to varify that it is really me asking me for keywords and passwords and where I am at?
- Note to self - Do not leave you car doors unlocked with valuables still inside, even if it's only for 3 minutes. It happens that fast!

While still on the subject of vehicles I will move on to my 3rd and last point. Life would be easier if only... everyone would wear there seatbelts. I am not only saying this because I am the Daughter of a Police Officer, it is also because I am also the daugther of a nurse. Hearing the many stories of both my mother and father, I do not understand why anyone would go without wearing a seatbelt! I do not want to wear out an old saying but, "seatbelts do save lives." It amazes me that something that takes no more than 5 seconds to fasten and can save your life is not even noticed! Think of it as a life line... in essence it is! Please buckle up. Do not do it for me, not to avoid a ticket from the police, and not just for the nurses in the emergency room who dread hearing that another person has not made it due to no seatbelt. Rather, do it for you. You owe it to yourself! You might spend 5 seconds each time you get in your car, but it could save you your life...