Orange has levied a fee for Internet access for all our 3rd generation phones even if we are fastidiously frugal and never use it. So here’s some great news! No longer will the customer of a cellular phone package in Israel need to pay for services he or she does not want.

Please read this important article by The Jerusalem Post’s Judy Siegel-Itzkovich about the new regulations coming into effect.

Ten plagues that afflict your bank account

1. Ostentation: Spending more than we earn
2. Greed: Quick riches schemes lead to tears
3. Flightiness: Failure to plan and define goals
4. Sloth: Failing to keep track of expenditures
5. Denial: Using a credit card instead of cash
6. Lack of planning: Not taking personal responsibility for savings
   
7. Naivete – not comparing prices
8. Overdone loyalty – staying with bad service vendors
9. Excessive credit – overusing debt to finance your consuming
10. Ignorance – not formulating a long-term savings strategy

The points above are from the article that appeared in today’s print edition of Haaretz. A shorter version can be read online here.

Let’s commit to not letting these 10 behaviors plague us any longer!

Chag Sameach!

The new 41.32 agorot price per kilowatt hour is a 9.6% reduction from the previous price of 43.59 agorot. Commercial and public institutions will see an even higher drop of 16.3%.

The change was meant to happen back in April, 2009 but was postponed. There was a fight this time too, but the Manufacturers Association, the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce and the Israel Consumer Council pushed for the cut. It’s intended to reflect the real cost of production (which is a requirement).

But just because the rates are dropping, please don’t run to use more! Using the same amount of electricity could afford you a 9.6% reduction in your bill without lifting a finger, the best possible savings!

Rusty Mike Radio is an Internet-only radio station that broadcasts out of the offices of the AACI in Jerusalem. The station mixes music and chat; Nettie’s show takes on a variety of useful – and sometimes controversial – topics, from religious-secular couplings to the pressure of body image in our society.

To tune in, go to www.rustymikeradio.com and click on the “Listen Live” button. To join the discussion, click the “chat” button on the Rusty Mike Radio website.

One nice feature about Rusty Mike is that they archive most of their talk shows and put them online for download. So if you can’t tune in live wait a few days and then check out this link.

The line up sounds very interesting:

• Darron Green will explain how Israeli banking differs from other countries
• Disgruntled customers will share their tales of woe, including Maale Adumim resident Irwin Blank
• Mercantile Bank’s Matti Munk will address some complaints
• JP economics editor Sharon Wrobel will tip us off on how to work the system

The show airs Thursday Oct. 29, between noon – 2:00 PM Israel time.

To listen, go to www.rustymikeradio.com and click on the “Listen Live” button. To join the discussion, click the “chat” button on the Rusty Mike Radio website.

If you miss the episode, it’s available as a podcast at: http://rustymikeradio.com/podcast/rm_podcasts.php?action=frontpage&search_string=nettie

Obviously I haven’t heard the show yet, but I’ll be listening!