I think we worry about the wrong things. For example, more people are killed by donkeys annually than are killed in plane crashes. And more people are killed by church picnic tuna salads (from salmonella poisoning) than shark attacks.

We also worry about money too much, and about how to solve problems. Certainly, we spend more than we should on things that don’t matter. Because every now and then, something will come up and slap you in the face to make you realize how pointless materials and perceptions are.

We ran into a money problem last year that really had me wondering how I would buy food that month, despite the beautiful home and cars and pool we have. It was a cash shortfall, based on a problem with one of our children. I looked at my husband and just said, “What are we going to do?” He didn’t know.

I talked to my sister in Atlanta and she told me she once borrowed $5000 against her Lexus when they had a problem.  Well, I went online and looked for car title loans, and sure enough I found Car Title Loans in Mountain Brook. I didn’t have to go anywhere – I just filled out the forms online in about 15 minutes, and got approval 15 minutes later, and the money the next day. We needed $4000.

I’d do that again, anytime necessary.  I hope it won’t happen for a long time, but it’s good to know it’s there as a backup.

You gotta wonder how people get into some situations. Like the other day I was reading that on average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year. How does that happen?

I have a brother who used to use thing like pens to scoop up peanut butter for a little snack. Don’t ask me why. It defies explanation.

That same brother doesn’t know how to manage money. When he’s out of cash, he lets his bills go and ends up paying penalties everywhere. His bills are bigger the next month and for months to follow.  Crazy.

When I’m short of money, I get loan on my car from a car title loan company.  I go on the internet and click into Car Title Loans in Homewood. Easy, fast, money gets there in a day, and my bills are paid on time. I pay it off as I can, and it doesn’t involve penalty fees. And I eat my peanut butter on bread, no pens involved.

I was reading the first toilet ever seen on television was on “Leave It To Beaver.” Which is funny because my mother said their family kept the outhouse until the 1970s. I don’t know why, she said it was because they are frugal people.

And that’s something they pass down in our family.  My mother is so frugal she reuses coffee filters and tea bags. My brother is so frugal he takes his foot off the gas if he sees a red light three blocks away. I’m so frugal … well, I’m not quite so frugal.

Last month I spent beyond my paycheck.  No biggie, done it before. But I’m topped out on my credit card balance, so I couldn’t borrow any more there. My problem is my car broke down and it needed repairs. The repairs would cost $600.  WAY more than I had. So I went online, looked around at car title loans, and found Birmingham Car Title Loans, a company that even the rest of my family can appreciate. They save you time with a quick application form, approvals in ten minutes and the money is available the next day.

Maybe I don’t save money, but I do save time, and since time is money, isn’t that then the same thing?