If you owe the bank a million or so ... ... you got a problem! If you owe the bank 100 million (or, maybe, a billion) ... ... they got a problem!! And when all of the banks owe big buckets of debt ... ... when they run to the government for a bail-out ... ... the government's got a problem (so they figure)!!! Can anyone (with a certain measure of memory) say, "Savings and Loan"?? When the profits are running - they're private. When there's blood about to hit the financial streets - then the big financial guys seek a government bailout. But it'd be terrribly gauche to call that ... "wellfare"!! That's for the little guys who would rather collect it than work. Smells about the same, to me. But they have to find a scapegoat ... so Bear Stearns gets a tin can tied to their tail ... ... and J P Morgan (that earlier ate Chase) ... ... gets a good deal. ole joyful

Joyful, in the USA a taxpayer can claim investment interest at part of Schedule A itemized deductions up to the amount of net taxble investment income. The investment interest expense cannot be claimed for investments that produce non-taxable income. Investment income, for this purpose, generally does not include qualified dividends and capital gains that are taxed at the capital gains rate. A taxpayer can forego the capital gains treatment of qualified dividends and capital gains on Form 4952 Investment Interest Expense Deduction enabling him to claim a larger amount of investment interest expense. IRS Pub 550 has details starting on page 31. Here is a link that might be useful: Pub 550 Investment Income and Expenses

Years ago I signed up for a home equity line of credit, and was approved to x number of $K. There were no closing costs, and the rate was 4%, which was very good at the time. I never used it (yet) and would have to see what the interest would be now. I'm assuming it would not still be 4%. I'm not sure when I signed if the interest was fixed or variable. With any luck, I will never have any need for using it, but the 0% interest on a cr cd I have a balance on, is about to expire. I'm sure the bank HELOC is less than 10% which is about what the cr cd will go to. I keep watching for another 0% credit card offer from another company, so I can just use Peter's money, to pay off Paul's credit card. I don't normally carry any balance on a credit card, but I wanted to get my driveway black topped, and didn't want to pay for it out of savings. Sue

Well I thought I would give you all a staus up date on my situation: I have wrote letters, cards, emails, telling her exactly what was suggested on here. Thursday night I get this email: David, Well, I've had right close to 4 weeks to think about everything that has happened to us and to our family. You are correct in what you said about how I felt about the whole situation. I feel like I had all this trust for you (finally) and then the bridge just collapsed beneath me. I understand that at the time your intentions were good and that you meant well by doing what you did.....but, at the same time I don't understand how you could have so little trust in me that you wouldn't tell me what was going on. Am I that horrible of a person that we couldn't talk and try to work this out together? Dave, how many times does it take getting your heart broken before you look at yourself in the mirror and wonder..."why am I doing this?" Every time something has happened to us I would just step back and tell myself "Ok Paula, this is the last time something like this will happen".....only to look further across that bridge to see that it has collapsed again. I know that you are making a lot of changes now.....that is awesome-I'm really proud of you. But, the fact of the matter is-will all those changes erase the hurt, distrust, and anger that I have? Will they make me forget everything? The answer is probably not. I want you to know that this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my entire life......this is not easy at all. David we have had two beautiful girls together-for that I will be forever grateful to you. I will always love you for the dad that you have and will continue to be to our girls. But, I don't think that I can be the wife that you deserve given the events that have taken place. I already have a hard time trusting people and I feel like if we continued our relationship I would constantly be looking over my shoulder...wondering what is going to come next. Always second guessing and "checking up" on things to make sure everything is kosher. That is no way to live. I feel like the best thing for me to do is to pick up and start over...get my priorities right-make things stable for our girls. I love that you are doing things to change yourself and you are getting help from Ashford (counsler)-it takes alot of courage to sit in an office and put your trust in a complete stranger and to ask them for help. I'm glad you are doing it-for yourself and your girls. I hope that we can still be a support system for each other-I do care an awful lot about you Dave. I also hope that we can continue to be civil to each other and be friendly toward one another (the girls will have a better time adjusting if they are able to see us get along). If there is anything I can do to support you in your changes-I am here for you. I don't hate you at all and I do forgive the situation-I just can't continue with this relationship. I know that what I'm saying in something you don't want to hear and I know that I have probably broken your heart....for that I am sorry. I don't like to hurt anyone-especially you.........I hope that we can still be good friends. love, Paula Then on Saturday she told me that she contacted an attorney and is drafting up a seperation agreement. Yes I am heart broken, and never wanted any of this to happen. I am completly beside myself and am lost without her in my life. I had the girls this weekend, and when I went to take them back, they were both crying that they wanted to stay with me and not go back to there grandma's...where they are staying. I know that they are just as confused as I am and to answer any questions involving the kids...the answer is no. I avoid it at all cost. My question now is this, since she has given up, or in my eyes she has, what are my next steps in this process? I have to thank each and everyone of you for offering your advice and I wish the circumstances were better, but they are not. I do love my wife, and miss her everyday that I am awake. I wanted a chance to make things right, but she has shut the door on our relationship.