It's Your Money: Repeat after me, 'No deal' Published Aug. 25, 2008 By Ralph Lunt Air Force Reserve Command CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hi, it's me, the ad in the back of your favorite military publication. Have I got a deal for you! Really? I love deals. Tell me more. Well, this deal is the opportunity to get that new computer you deserve. I mean that new computer you need. Oh, and get this. It's only $40 a pay period. We're practically giving 'em away. It's simple. Just fill out our on-line application, tell us a little bit about yourself, and send us a copy of your leave and earnings statement. Then sit back and wait for our helpful staff to issue your credit. Once you're approved, we'll be happy to automatically take the $40 directly from your next 48 paychecks. Sounds easy, doesn't it? I'm sorry, what's that? Well, yes, $40 x 48 does equal $1,920. And, yes, you could buy the same computer direct from the manufacturer for about $500. But with our convenient financing, you won't have to drain your bank account or, heaven forbid, delay your purchase while you save up your money. Live the dream today. You deserve it! Besides, didn't you notice we use the words "military" and "veteran" in our name? Well, no, that doesn't really mean anything. But, we keep getting orders, so people must be buying it. ... Stop! Enough already. No deal! Here's another one. This one was mailed to me from my mortgage company. Wow! I'm pre-approved for decreasing accidental death term insurance, and it's only $21.70 per month. How can I pass this one up? Well, let's see. My death benefit goes down every year, it costs more than Service Member's Group Life Insurance, and it doesn't pay if I'm piloting a plane, or if I get cancer or if I die in the line of duty. Are you kidding me? No deal! No doubt many of you are bombarded with similar "opportunities," military affiliation "benefits" or financing "special offers" from companies you already have a relationship with. Quite frankly, most of these are only a good deal for the sponsoring company. Who's to blame for all of this? It's not the companies. The beauty of our capitalist system is that we, as consumers, have the power. We just have to exercise it. We're the ones who can make the offers disappear by saying "no deal" to 20-percent financing, lousy insurance and payday loans. We've long been envied as a fighting force. It's high time we were envied as an intelligent financial force as well. (Editor's note: This feature is designed to provide financial advice and information of a general nature. Individuals should conduct their own research and consult a financial adviser before making any financial decisions. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Lunt is a certified financial planner and vice president of a financial planning and consulting firm. He is also a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, serving as the reserve forces director for the Great Lakes region of the Civil Air Patrol adviser's program.)