There are those who are good at making money.
There are even more who are good at spending money.
And, there are a few that at good at saving money.
But, the wisest of all are those who are able to manage money.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
They call it a bubble.
If you have been following this blog or read the older listings on June 3 I wrote about what I thought was the next steps in the American economy. Sounds like the professionals are starting to agree as evidenced in the linked story.
http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/325783/Ten-Bubbles-in-the-Making?tickers=^gspc,^dji,xlf
The story is more scholastic than what I normally like to read and much to complicated for me but the point is: once the gov't boost to the economy runs out if we have not taken personal responsibility to prepare ourselves for the next wave we could be in another wave of the storm. I sound like such a radical but I do believe these are radical times.
Is this a gloom and doom message? No, not at all. It is a move to higher ground message. Gather what is important like family, friends, and values, and be prepared to shore up or let go of what can be replaced.
Save money, don't spend irresponsibly, and cut expenses where you can before you are forced to give up things you need. Basically, get In The Trenches and don't expect the gov't to do it all for us. They are doing what they can with the new credit card laws, home mortgage modifications, and extention of unemployment benefits. They can't do it all and we will be disappointed and angry if we expect them to. Many already are and are marching the streets.
We are not victims, we are participants and we need to participate in the recovery just like we participated in spending spree. It's our homes, our neighborhoods, and our country. Anything we can do to prepare ourselves, our families, and our community is a good thing. If our neighbor is out of food we will need to help feed them one way or another so let's get to higher ground and help our neighbor to get there also.
http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/325783/Ten-Bubbles-in-the-Making?tickers=^gspc,^dji,xlf
The story is more scholastic than what I normally like to read and much to complicated for me but the point is: once the gov't boost to the economy runs out if we have not taken personal responsibility to prepare ourselves for the next wave we could be in another wave of the storm. I sound like such a radical but I do believe these are radical times.
Is this a gloom and doom message? No, not at all. It is a move to higher ground message. Gather what is important like family, friends, and values, and be prepared to shore up or let go of what can be replaced.
Save money, don't spend irresponsibly, and cut expenses where you can before you are forced to give up things you need. Basically, get In The Trenches and don't expect the gov't to do it all for us. They are doing what they can with the new credit card laws, home mortgage modifications, and extention of unemployment benefits. They can't do it all and we will be disappointed and angry if we expect them to. Many already are and are marching the streets.
We are not victims, we are participants and we need to participate in the recovery just like we participated in spending spree. It's our homes, our neighborhoods, and our country. Anything we can do to prepare ourselves, our families, and our community is a good thing. If our neighbor is out of food we will need to help feed them one way or another so let's get to higher ground and help our neighbor to get there also.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
SAVE MONEY, LIVE BETTER
Have you seen the new Walmart commericals? More importantly, have you heard the new slogan? It's simple, easy to remember and great advice that reflects the times.
Lest you think that advertising in unimportant and does not influence us consider two examples:
Just Do It - Nike. A generation of people grew up on the motto Just do it. And, they are. If it comes to their mind they do it.
This is my favorite:
I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan....cuz I'm a woman... If you are over forty the tune is probably already going through your mind. And, I don't even know what they were advertising. Feel free to put it in the comments if you know. The point being, this ad affected the viewpoint and goals of a whole generation of women in the 70's. We worked hard, were mothers, and loved and played hard. Now we are in our 40's and 50's and are slowing down but that's a story for another day.
SAVE MONEY, LIVE BETTER. The word for 2009 and living In The Trenches.
Lest you think that advertising in unimportant and does not influence us consider two examples:
Just Do It - Nike. A generation of people grew up on the motto Just do it. And, they are. If it comes to their mind they do it.
This is my favorite:
I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan....cuz I'm a woman... If you are over forty the tune is probably already going through your mind. And, I don't even know what they were advertising. Feel free to put it in the comments if you know. The point being, this ad affected the viewpoint and goals of a whole generation of women in the 70's. We worked hard, were mothers, and loved and played hard. Now we are in our 40's and 50's and are slowing down but that's a story for another day.
SAVE MONEY, LIVE BETTER. The word for 2009 and living In The Trenches.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Savings Bonds
The following article is from the yahoo news. We were just talking about savings bonds two days ago! If you have a little money that you can save this has historically been a great way to go though almost forgotten by the average person. Cost is affordable, it's convenient, return is preset, and if you absolutely need the money you are allowed to cash the bond in early. For as little as $25 dollars you can start your own retirement fund. Years ago I purchased one bond per payday and years later was able to cash them in when I was really In The Trenches financially. Whether you want to buy or sell right now bonds are a good option to consider.
A Source of Cash: Those Old Savings Bonds
by Anna PriorThursday, September 10, 2009
provided by Wall Street Journal
It Might Be Time to Redeem Matured Savings Bonds, But Getting Cash Can Be Tricky
Remember those savings bonds your grandparents gave you for your second birthday?
Now might be a good time to dust them off and see how much they're worth, especially if decades have passed since you received them.
More from WSJ.com: • Credit Scores: What You Need to Know Now• Recent Grads Take Salary Hit• How to Invest in Health-Care Reform
"There are $16.7 billion of matured savings bonds out there that people have not redeemed," says Joyce Harris, a spokeswoman for the Treasury Department's Bureau of the Public Debt. "It's money that can be used in tough times."
Savings bonds are sold by the U.S. Treasury to raise money for the U.S. government and can't be sold to other investors. In other words, you can only redeem them; you cannot trade or sell them.
The bonds never expire, but they do reach maturity and stop accruing interest. Savings bonds that are no longer earning interest include Series E bonds issued from May 1941 through September 1979, Series H bonds issues from June 1952 through September 1979, and Series HH bonds issued from January 1980 through September 1989, according to the Treasury Department's financial-services Web site, TreasuryDirect.gov.
There are several ways to redeem savings bonds. Newer electronic bonds can be redeemed through TreasuryDirect.gov. For older bonds, call the Treasury's Savings Bonds Direct customer-service department at 1-800-245-2804 to find out how to proceed.
The fastest way to redeem Series E, Series EE and Series I paper bonds, says Ms. Harris, is to go to your local bank. But first check with a bank to make sure it redeems bonds. She also suggests calling ahead to see what is required for redemption. Some banks may only redeem bonds for customers with longstanding active accounts.
Also, be sure to check the value of your bonds before heading to the bank branch. You can use the savings-bond calculator found in the tools section of TreasuryDirect.gov. If a bank teller informs you the bonds are worth less than the calculation you received online, call Savings Bonds Direct before authorizing redemption.
If you need cash, you also may want to redeem some of your bonds that are still earning interest. First check their current value and their earnings rate. If you're thinking of redeeming relatively new bonds, know that you can't redeem a bond for at least a year after purchase, and you'll forfeit three months' interest if you redeem the bond in its first five years.
The features of savings bonds have changed considerably over the years. Currently, the U.S. sells Series EE bonds that earn interest at a fixed 0.7% rate. The fixed rate for new EE bonds is set each May 1 and Nov. 1.
Meanwhile, the earnings rate for Series I bonds is a combination of a fixed rate, which applies for the life of the bond, and a semiannual inflation rate. The initial combined rate for bonds purchased from May through October of this year: 0%, reflecting the fact that consumer prices have actually declined.
A Source of Cash: Those Old Savings Bonds
by Anna PriorThursday, September 10, 2009
provided by Wall Street Journal
It Might Be Time to Redeem Matured Savings Bonds, But Getting Cash Can Be Tricky
Remember those savings bonds your grandparents gave you for your second birthday?
Now might be a good time to dust them off and see how much they're worth, especially if decades have passed since you received them.
More from WSJ.com: • Credit Scores: What You Need to Know Now• Recent Grads Take Salary Hit• How to Invest in Health-Care Reform
"There are $16.7 billion of matured savings bonds out there that people have not redeemed," says Joyce Harris, a spokeswoman for the Treasury Department's Bureau of the Public Debt. "It's money that can be used in tough times."
Savings bonds are sold by the U.S. Treasury to raise money for the U.S. government and can't be sold to other investors. In other words, you can only redeem them; you cannot trade or sell them.
The bonds never expire, but they do reach maturity and stop accruing interest. Savings bonds that are no longer earning interest include Series E bonds issued from May 1941 through September 1979, Series H bonds issues from June 1952 through September 1979, and Series HH bonds issued from January 1980 through September 1989, according to the Treasury Department's financial-services Web site, TreasuryDirect.gov.
There are several ways to redeem savings bonds. Newer electronic bonds can be redeemed through TreasuryDirect.gov. For older bonds, call the Treasury's Savings Bonds Direct customer-service department at 1-800-245-2804 to find out how to proceed.
The fastest way to redeem Series E, Series EE and Series I paper bonds, says Ms. Harris, is to go to your local bank. But first check with a bank to make sure it redeems bonds. She also suggests calling ahead to see what is required for redemption. Some banks may only redeem bonds for customers with longstanding active accounts.
Also, be sure to check the value of your bonds before heading to the bank branch. You can use the savings-bond calculator found in the tools section of TreasuryDirect.gov. If a bank teller informs you the bonds are worth less than the calculation you received online, call Savings Bonds Direct before authorizing redemption.
If you need cash, you also may want to redeem some of your bonds that are still earning interest. First check their current value and their earnings rate. If you're thinking of redeeming relatively new bonds, know that you can't redeem a bond for at least a year after purchase, and you'll forfeit three months' interest if you redeem the bond in its first five years.
The features of savings bonds have changed considerably over the years. Currently, the U.S. sells Series EE bonds that earn interest at a fixed 0.7% rate. The fixed rate for new EE bonds is set each May 1 and Nov. 1.
Meanwhile, the earnings rate for Series I bonds is a combination of a fixed rate, which applies for the life of the bond, and a semiannual inflation rate. The initial combined rate for bonds purchased from May through October of this year: 0%, reflecting the fact that consumer prices have actually declined.
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