"The CC company will increase the fees to the merchants, who will increase their prices, which you pay to get the product. Everyone ends up paying for the person who doesn't pay off their own debts." True, but don't forget that everyone also winds up paying for all the people who charge their purchases on credit cards, including cash purchasers. Merchants who offer cash discounts are fairly rare. All the purchasers also pay for the bad judgment CC companies make in extending credit to people who can't afford to repay. Also for the very large profit margins CC companies have enjoyed for the last few decades. And so on and so on. You do realize, all of you, that it's quite likely you will die with CC debt, don't you? Even if you religiously pay the entire balance every month, there will still be the outstanding charges you accrued during the billing cycle you happen to die in. So, everyone, keep those cards charged up because you never know, do you? This could be YOUR billing cycle and you could come out ahead in a big way! But to answer the question at hand, heirs are not personally responsible for the debts of the estate. If someone "dies without estate," the CC companies can try to pressure the heirs into paying them, but they have no legal recourse if the heirs decide not to, which is what I imagine usually happens. So they will be written off in most cases, thereby incrementally increasing the cost of living for all of us who still enjoy that status.

In talking to a young couple regarding how to develop a good money management system, I suggested that a good way to start is to keep track of every expenditure, to assist in evaluation. I suggested that they set up a page, probably in a loose-leaf binder, to deal with their cash operation, with date, description, and three (possibly 4) columns, with one for individual expenses, (possibly a second to add several expenditures). One column for cash income as withdrawn from bank account, or other source, etc., and a column at the right for keeping track of balance. It's important to check amount in wallet against recorded balance on hand frequently at the start, as often there appears to be more cash reported in record book than wallet ... as one (or more) expenditures had not been entered. I was informed that they didn't do much cash business, but dealt extensively with debit card. I was going to suggest later that they set up several columns to the right, to break out the expenditures into the various types, with a column for each. How to deal with the debit card transactions? I thought that it might be wise to enter each transaction, either as it happens (which I thought preferable), or as they get their monthly report from the bank relating to date and description, but not into the cash columns, as it was directly paid from the bank. To record each transaction only in the columns related to category. But - many pay bills also by cheque and by credit card. The reason for the cash columns is to ensure that every transaction is accounted for, but this is not an issue with the debit card transactions, for they show up totally in the bank report. Then when the bank report comes in, ensure that each transaction that you made is entered, and checked with the bank report, entering any that hadn't been earlier. That way, each of those two types of expenditure shows on the detailed page. I suggested that they keep a report of their bank account transactions on the back of last month's record, on the page to the left. The cheque register would show the various expenditures during the month on the full financial report of expenditures and would be entered either as they were written, or, I thought preferably, after the cash transactions for the month (possibly including the debit card activities, as well), had been finished. Then, one gets a report from one's credit card transactions and each transaction would be entered in the various relevant categories. As many report that Quicken is easy to use, and quite comprehensive, I'm quite sure that it'll have an easy way to deal with the debit card transactions. ole joyful

Nobody that I would consider "celebrities" but they do appear on television. The people I know are from Canadian shows so you most likely haven't heard of them. One is AnnaMaria Tremonti from CBC. She used to be an International Correspondent but now has her own show on CBC now. I grew up with her and see her parents often walking down the street. My friend's nephew is Trevor Reeb who used to be a news correspondent with Global but I think he might be working out of the US now. I know a couple of people who were producers/art and see their names when the credits roll now and then. Knew some popular NHL hockey players at one time so saw them on Hockey Night in Canada if that counts. Joel Quenneville for one. LOL Same for a couple of MP's or MPP's that are/were friends of mine. Other than that just local people on local shows.

I wonder if those of you that have made these traps could post a photo of them? I am looking at making a bucket type one outside the pond. You dig a hole, put the bucket in, cover the bucket with a material and put bait on it. When the turtle tries to get to the bait it falls in the bucket. Kind of makes sense to me but he is in the pond 98% of the time! I am going to use meat and berries as the bait. I'd like to see what kind of traps etc. you guys are thinking about. Thanks. Bulldinkie...how lucky you are to have swans! They are so beautiful.