There has been a little discussion here and there about various online tools that we use to keep as informed as possible about our specific situation and new and emerging resources and news that helps us.
While we are all united in the need to reform the predatory lending situation this country has gotten itself into, there are infinite variations on each persons specific situation that cannot possibly be resolved by MOE or anyone else here on this forum. The forum is for collective effort on BIG ROCK issues like getting the attention of government leaders to make CHANGE. It's not necessarily the place to ask for specific help on details of YOUR loan, because there are often over 4,000 people active on this forum AT ONCE! There are FEW people who are giving help, and MANY who are asking for it.
This means, on some things, you will have to learn to help yourself, but it's not hard. I will share the FREE tools available to all of you (if you use the internet, and I think it's safe to assume MOST of you do!) These are by NO MEANS all the tools, and hopefully others will add theirs.
Why use them? To keep your sanity. To stay as informed as possible WITHOUT SPENDING EVERY WAKING HOUR staring at the computer. To get news breaks AS THEY HAPPEN instead of constantly checking numerous places for them. I could go on and on. So here are my top picks, I hope you'll post yours. There are many more: please reply with your favorites!
TOOL: This Forum
WHAT IT DOES:
A collective, organized, moderated, functional, efficient resource where people can commune, collaborate and learn, they can help each other, and form activist groups to gain momentum on issues.
WHY I LOVE IT:
It's real. People are generally allowed to post their comments, available immediately for all to see, and it's very liberal. People can choose what they want to say and what they want to read. YET, Moe (and his elves) do a great job of weeding out the ones that degrade the quality of the content. Truly a goldmine!
WHERE TO GET IT Online:
Home Loan Forum - LoanSafe.org
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TOOL: Google Alerts
WHAT IT DOES:
You can quickly and easily insert custom google searches that will email you the search results on a schedule you specify to the location you choose (email, txt message, both, whatever).
WHY I LOVE IT:
It works in real time, and I have actually seen it pick up posts I have made on LoanSafe.org or on my blog within minutes and email it to me. AWESOME tool. you can have as many alerts as you choose. Make one for your bank, for your broker, for HAMP, for your state dfi, whatever you feel you want to keep up to speed with, and you will. I also recommend making one with your OWN NAME, and one for MOE BEDARD and any other heros you want to keep tabs on because they inspire you so much!
WHERE TO GET IT:
Google Alerts
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TOOL: TWITTER
WHAT IT DOES:
Free online subscription service. Most of you probably know what it is, but it is the BEST tool for subscribing to people and causes and organizations you want to stay completely up to date with.
WHY I LOVE IT:
I can get myself up to date with everything I care about in minutes. It's impossible and life-destroying to constantly be surfing the net for news. You end up being at the computer ALL the time, and your family doesn't need that. For example, I am subscribed to MOE on Twitter. I KNOW that if there is something big going on in LoanSafe.org, MOE is going to "tweet" it out. That saves me from having to go read EVERY SINGLE thread if I don't have time. GET TWITTER, and subscribe first to Moe Bedard! His user id is "moebedard". I am socialapocalyps. There are many others, and it's an automatic, private little press release tools on only the news you care about. I recommend putting your twitter name in your signature block on loansafe.org. Then you can connect with others while staying anonymous if you wish.
WHERE TO GET IT:
Twitter
Those are my TOP tools. I use a few other little things, but I could NOT make it without those. I hope this helps!!
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