I couldn’t sleep last night. My thoughts were on the past four years and the amount of money I had made in that period with relatively little work. Things are not like what they were before though. My phone is not ringing 24/7 with cries of help (greed) from clients wanting to refinance or purchase a new home at the “best possible rate”. Everywhere I turn I see and hear people talking about doom and gloom - housing prices will drop 50% before gradually returning to current levels over the next 20 years - and running for cover. There are thousands of blogs reporting the latest casualties of the housing bubble. Mortgage companies are shutting down and downsizing every day. The future looks bleak.

But I have some good news too. Last night I found $1.78 in coins while walking home from the grocery store. I don’t know why but finding a few coins gave me hope and cheered me up. I will let you know if I find more money since I am now going to actually look for coins in the streets, phone booths, cars and vending machines.