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I Cannot Afford To Be Sick |
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Written by Gil Michel, MBA
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 There are a couple things that happened with me recently that made me think about medical costs within the Black community as it pertains to money (Hence, the title of this article.) The first instance occurred one Friday night as some family and friends watched Tyler Perry’s DVD, “Whats Done in the Dark”. There is an undertone in the play that encourages the viewer to make sure they schedule regular check-ups with the doctor, incorporating a number of particular tests like prostate screenings and mammograms. But there is a line in the play from Mr. Brown (still don’t know his first name) that had me cracking up (and thinking). He said, “Cora, we all know that Black men don’t go to the doctor because they need to be at work, making sure they’re making money.” And when asked, what if they’re sick, he replies, “They don’t need to know that, ‘cause if they do then they can’t work and pay they bills!”. The truth is, we as a people, can’t afford, not to be checked out regularly. There are a number of diseases that plague our community that if detected early enough, can be preventable and treatable, most of the time. Some of which are diabetes, high blood pressure, prostate disease, and hypertension.
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Tax Rebates, Economic Stimulus and You |
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Written by Gil Michel, MBA
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 The current buzz about the upcoming stimulus plan and the state of the
US economy has a lot of people talking. When the Bush administration
and Congress alerted the public that families and individuals would be
getting checks ranging from $600 to $1,800, people were excited. And,
I have to admit; I was even starting to consider what I was going to do
with my piece of the pie. So, apart from all the independently wealthy
folks out there who aren’t thinking twice about this check, let me give
you a couple of things to consider.
The Goal Is Spending
The government is actually sending these checks out with the hopes that
you, the normal consumer will go out and spend this money- on a flat
screen TV, on a new pair of tires you’ve needed or any other shiny,
glittery, thing that catches your eye. Now, that’s all fine and
dandy, but if you’re going to spend the money, you might as well get
the best bang for your buck (pun intended). If you are currently in
the market to purchase a big-ticket item, then wait for the season when
checks will be disbursed. Many stores understand that a lot of cash
will suddenly be infused into the economy and they will be competing to
get your dollars. So let them fight over you and use this time to
negotiate on price.
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Protect Your Good Name...and Credit |
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Written by Gil Michel, MBA
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 I am sure we have all seen those Citibank commercials where the big
heavyset middle-aged man takes on the voice of a valley-girl teenager.
Or perhaps the one where an elderly lady take on the voice of a
husky-voiced man. The commercials center around identity theft and
it’s a problem that consumers and even credit card companies want to
help curb, as it is costing the industry and individuals millions of
dollars to rectify. The U.S. Department of Justice posted the
following on their website,
The Federal Trade Commission advises: “While you probably can’t prevent
identity theft entirely, you can minimize your risk. By managing your
personal information wisely, cautiously and with an awareness of the
issue, you can help guard against identity theft.” Source: FTC Brochure
- ID Theft: When Bad Things Happen To Your Good Name
Traditionally, in the Black community, the mindset has been, "I have nothing to take". So because there seems to be a more laid-back (than in other communities) attitude, the concern has not been as high. But what happens when you are denied insurance or medical care because someone has hijacked your identity?
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