I found your article helpful. It seems most of the commentators aren't in the trenches so to speak, so they can deal with all this stuff on an intellectual basis. But when you go to the store and have $68 to feed your family for the week, and there is no more to be had, feeding your kids dandilion greens starts looking like a viable option.
Hi all, thanks for the comments. Some great points have been made, and an interesting debate is percolating.
First of all, I will gladly concede that television programming should indeed present different viewpoints. And because it's television, I will temper my future viewing with the knowledge that every program - no matter what it is about - has an agenda, and a skewed viewpoint.
I simply experienced shock at the dichotomy of programming aired back to back...I was still digesting the first program when my train of thought was given a bit of a smack in the face.
I will also gladly concede that logging is imperative to a certain extent at this time, and that loggers often have a responsible reforestation mandate. But I have also seen vast areas of deforested wastelands - just off the road and on other side of mountains, only visible from the air on a private flight - that certainly haven't been reforested. I have heard of rumblings to the effect of reforestation being a "sham" and bandaid solution to appease the public. But in the spirit of being positive I also have hopes that the people claiming that it's a "sham" are wrong and that all logging practices do indeed plant more trees than they cut down.
And I will also agree that hard-core environmentalists can be elitists and extremists. I don't think of myself as a hard-core environmentalist, and certainly not an elistist, and probably not an extremist either! But for the record...
@Comment#11: I am not a subscriber of "Goreology". His lectures and movie did not change my life. My life changed when I learned to live sustainably - truly sustainably - and returned to the "developed world" saw first hand how wasteful we are every day in ways I never considered. I resent the implication that anybody sensitive to environmental issues is immediately dismissed as being into "Goreology". How sad it is that Gore is your only source of environmental education.
@Comment #10: I don't use new paper (I write on scrap paper if I have to) nor do I use post-it notes, I categorically never give holiday cards, and I have indeed lived without toilet paper. How about you? (And admittedly, not using toilet paper sucks! There's a post idea....toilet paper alternatives...hmmm... - smiles)!
LizLovely, you reminded me of a funny video on a recent No Impact Man's blog post: check it out here .
I'm nervous with the state of our economy, but I'm not in panic mode. As long as you spend less than what you make and budget accordingly, you should not feel a big negative effect from inflation.
I actually think hyperinflation is not the most likely scenario.
I base that on three things:
The people hit hardest by inflation are people with money (because the money is becoming less valuable). People with money (as a group) are powerful enough in this country to significantly influence government policy.
We know how to stop inflation. As recently as the early 1980s there was considerable disagreement about that--some people thought controlling deficits was crucial, others thought it was controlling the growth in the money supply. After Volker's success at the Fed, we now know that the money supply is what matters and that you can bring down inflation even while running huge deficits.
Long-term interest rates are still quite low. That suggests to me that large numbers of people with large amounts of money strongly believe that the dollar will still be worth a large fraction of its current value as far out as 30 year from now.
Hyperinflation is a danger. I just don't think it's the biggest danger.
I've definitely changed my habits, which include more carpooling, combining errands, and riding the free shuttle into town whenever possible. It's knocked a little off the monthly fuel budget, but we're still hurting from the increases at the local grocery store.
you say "I don't have a problem with paying for anything because everyone should be able to profit from their line of work"
and you also say: "not being able to copy pictures of my children because the photos where of professional grade" is a problem
You say that you realize photographers must make a living and have no problem paying for prints through them...so when you need copies of the prints, why not buy them from the photographer?
Oh yeah, World Vision has announced today that they have to cut back on food aid supplied around the world...has the food shortages already started?
If you want check out the news article.
Well, I'm a working class kinda guy, I've fought forest fires, worked in the Oil patch, I worked in the printing industry, construction, For a time I even ran my own Contracting business in a large city. The whole gambit. House, cars, Typical North American lifestyle.
I've also lived without toilet paper, power, and lived completely sustainable, grown my own food, recycled everything, and worked my tail off doing it.
Both Ends of the Spectrum...
I think I know of the T.V. station and programs in question. Logging is HARD and very dangerous work especially on the side of the mountain. I can see where the drama can come from.
The world needs wood...fact. Most North American forestry and fishing management areas take pretty good care of their forests. They replant and now selective cutting is becoming more the norm than before.They live in the forests depend on them for a living and lifestyle, it's their home. I've seen the show and I can understand where the appeal to watch can come from. Subsequently the T.V. station gets that too, and hey let's face it they are there to make money.
Then there is the other show...
Global warming and what the world could look like, post "icecaps" melting.
Despite the "debate" of whether or not Global warming is happening, ice on our planet is melting at exponential rates. The program (not a quote) says that if sea levels rise even a fraction of what they are supposed to in the next 50 years a massive amount of the earths population will be displaced. Up to 75% of North Americas fresh water will be gone, and a sizable portion of China, California, Florida and Europe will be underwater.
So the math looks like(according to the program): in 50-100 years
There will be more people on the Earth than there are now +
with less landmass for them to live on +
less fresh water than ever before to grow food with +
countries competing with others just to feed their citizens =
The largest Famine in the history of the planet combined by World War 3...a war based on obtaining resources for survival.
If it's wrong, great!
If it's not, your grandchildren won't have to worry about the schools which are "run by the most liberal and politically correct segment of our society. Hence, there is no balance and certainly no opposing viewpoints allowed." there Kelja
There are mixed messages by todays media put forth to the average viewer. Thats what the article is about. It is the biggest single medium on the planet, sure you gotta put something on the "Tube" for everybody. However don't you think the responsibility for the programming at least falls on the providers a bit? It's not an article that "smacks or either elitism or naive youthful thinking, or both."
It's about the fact that we need to evolve as a species and with contradictory "entertainment" like that being fed to our future world leaders at their most impressionable times.
It's a bit irresponsible if you ask me, I liked the article and it's scary what we let our media do for; oops sorry...to us.
I have also had solid experiences with him. As far as him slamming the phone and telling you to get a life, that does not sound like him. He is flexible and helpful with deals.
I am sorry to respond off topic, but I am just so upset by the oppressive and hateful nature of your blog. Your "math question" verification method is racist. It is like when Southern states required reading tests for voter registration knowing that the black man, long denied a proper education by the racist white man, would be less likely to pass. Math is a subject area stolen from Africa by the Greeks and over time infected with the white man's racism while being denied to the Nations of Africa. I suggest that you implement a more culturally neutral system for verifying one's humanity.
There are separate limits for I Bonds that you buy electronically and actual paper I Bonds that you buy from the bank. You can buy $5000 in each form for a total of $10,000:
As you state, you're biased toward Goreology (sorry, global warming). You have drunk deeply from the green koolaid!
TV is a wasteland, generally, Accept that, and you will be much better informed.
But on the question of opposing viewpoints - "A program glamorizing the logging industry" vs a "extremely educational, inspirational, and moving show on global warming". (Using your words, I hope you see the ironic and blatant bias on your part) - I have to say it is at least better than what kids are getting at school.
The schools are run by the most liberal and politically correct segment of our society. Hence, there is no balance and certainly no opposing viewpoints allowed.
Perhaps, you're just a product of our educational system yourself.
@Guest,
Perhaps your income will stay ahead of inflation, now, but unless you're a corporate mogul, it won't stay that way.
How can you say that? If you're a private business you can keep charging more as long as the market will bear it. And when you can't charge more for your goods/services that is when basically you have reached the equilibbrium point and you either have to stop making your widgets if it no longer makes financial sense and find something else or face the recession that is coming out of it.
If you're working in a fixed wage postion that requires no training or experience and people are a dime a dozen who can do your job then you might be in trouble. You might experience a pay cut. But all it means is that you were overpaid in the first place and you finally get your well deserved adjustment.
A friend of mine who's in law school right now got a job offer and accepted the job last year and did an internship last summer. He's in his last year of school and already got a 30% raise before even starting the job. He didn't demand it, the market demanded it. It's supply and demand. Easy as that!
Have a nice mortgage? Maintainance costs (including utilities) are going through the roof.
I guess I don't get your point. Let's say you make $60,000 a year. Your mortage payment is $500 a month and your maintenace cost is $100 a month. That means your monthly mortgage is 10% of your income and your maintenace cost is 2% of your income and you are left with 88$ for everything else. Now you get 10% inflation and you get a 10% raise. Your monthly gross salary is $5,500, your mortgage is still $500 and your maintenace cost jumped to $110. You're still paying 2% for maintenance but only 9% for mortage leaving you with 89% for everything else.
Devalued money wil devalue your savings/retirement funds
When inflation is high, interest rates are high too. You make more money on your investment because of it. If you put your money into companies that don't follow the inflation then you're jsut back to the whole basic premise of inflation: redistribution of money. You better get out of those companies that are eating the cost of inflation.
check and see what it is doing to your city/county/state/federal services
Funny you should mention the government. They're the ones who benefit from high inflation the most. They issued a ton of bonds with low interest and get to repay them with cheap, freshly printed money. Unless your government runs on surplus budget they're making money on inflation.
Food shortages are already occuring within the US, gas rationing could happen at any moment, police and fire services are being limited and in cities going bankrupt, could become nonexistent.
Yeah and the world is about to end tomorrow. Doomsdayers are all over the place and planting fear is the current job of the media, as that's what sells you stuff. Credit protection against ID theft, terrorism insurance.....Whatever.....
There are definetely losers in inflation. Retired people, people on fixed income and people with overvalued jobs. They will all be hurting in high inflation. Call me arrogant, luckily I'm not one of these people.
The problem with inflation is that it can sneak up on you, especially when the government is fudging the numbers. Some economist say that the actual inflation is more like 10-12% already and that the CPI calculated has been wrong - since they changed it.
Nixon created price controls and wage freezes in 1971 when inflation was only 4.9%. I think a lot of people are underestimating the power of inflation that we are going to see in the next few years.
The coming wave of inflation will change personal finance strategies. Adjusting your budget will not work. Using your saving or investments (based in dollars) will not work because they will be dwindling in purchasing power.
Frugalness is no longer going to be a safe place. Cash management will become a much higher priority - and will consume much more time to protect your wealth. Businesses will change, as they reduce production and sales while adding accountants. Low margin and free products are toast.
I have also had good luck with apple cider vinegar. Additionally it can help with other things like a sore throat, getting rid of athletes feet, rinsing and re balancing the pH level in you scalp. I usually put two tablespoonfuls in a glass of water. Another good way to take is to sprinkle some over you veggies at meal time.
Modest inflation seems nice--that's why policy makers like it so much. It heats the economy up, producing jobs and prompting additional investment. Unfortunately, that extra activity is based on an illusion. Eventually, reality catches up. Some of that investment turns out to be uneconomic--business that overexpanded need to retrench; some even go bankrupt.
If you knew when inflation was going to heat up and when it was going to cool down, it would be easy to profit: borrow long-term at low rates when inflation is low, invest in assets of enduring value, then pay the loan off with cheaper dollars. But nobody knows what future inflation is going to be. It's easy enough to preduct 6 to 8 months out (right now, for example, inflation is going higher), but beyond that, it could go either way. It's entirely possible that a sharp downturn in inflation could make even a very low-rate loan feel expensive. It's also possible that the "things of enduring value" don't endure as well as you might expect--look at home prices, for example.
As gtWise says, there are winners and losers in inflation. It's easy to congratulate yourself too early, though, if you think you're making out well when inflation just starts to heat up. That's exactly when it seems nicest. The rest of the cycle doesn't tend to feel so good.
Well said.
I must say, anyone who welcomes inflation is both arrogant and ignorant. Perhaps your income will stay ahead of inflation, now, but unless you're a corporate mogul, it won't stay that way.
Have a nice mortgage? Maintainance costs (including utilities) are going through the roof.
Devalued money wil devalue your savings/retirement funds
Devalued money increases costs across the board, and even if it doesn't appear to affect you personally, check and see what it is doing to your city/county/state/federal services. ....That pothole could go another year before being fixed.
Want to trade up on a vehicle? You're not going to get as much even IF you can get financing.
Worse case scenario is not only will everything cost more (even accounting for inflation), many things will simply not exist. Food shortages are already occuring within the US, gas rationing could happen at any moment, police and fire services are being limited and in cities going bankrupt, could become nonexistent. This isn't an apopcalyptic view, but reality. Do some research.
I have to say, I'm in agreement with Kat, above me on this one.
The first episode I saw of the "Manly logger" show was only because Husband was watching. I've learned in the past few episodes, what sustainable agriculture is all about. Cutting trees, and the replanting of these forests, and then allowing those tree fields 40-50 years growth before recutting.
I was surprised, and impressed.
You may see men ripping apart forests a few trees at a time. I see the farming of trees in an ecologically friendly manner.
Get back to me the next time you don't have a roll of toilet paper in your bathroom, a post-it note at your desk, or a birthday card to send to your Grandmother.
Yeah, it's pretty unfortunate that they cut the limit to $5000 per social security number. When I first purchased them in 2005 the limit was $30000 per person per year. I guess too many people bought them or something. Though, I wouldn't say that $5000 is a small amount of money, and the risk of putting your money in the stock market is exponentially greater than buying I-bonds. You should treat I-Bonds more like a savings account or 1 year CD.
I found your article helpful. It seems most of the commentators aren't in the trenches so to speak, so they can deal with all this stuff on an intellectual basis. But when you go to the store and have $68 to feed your family for the week, and there is no more to be had, feeding your kids dandilion greens starts looking like a viable option.
Hi all, thanks for the comments. Some great points have been made, and an interesting debate is percolating.
First of all, I will gladly concede that television programming should indeed present different viewpoints. And because it's television, I will temper my future viewing with the knowledge that every program - no matter what it is about - has an agenda, and a skewed viewpoint.
I simply experienced shock at the dichotomy of programming aired back to back...I was still digesting the first program when my train of thought was given a bit of a smack in the face.
I will also gladly concede that logging is imperative to a certain extent at this time, and that loggers often have a responsible reforestation mandate. But I have also seen vast areas of deforested wastelands - just off the road and on other side of mountains, only visible from the air on a private flight - that certainly haven't been reforested. I have heard of rumblings to the effect of reforestation being a "sham" and bandaid solution to appease the public. But in the spirit of being positive I also have hopes that the people claiming that it's a "sham" are wrong and that all logging practices do indeed plant more trees than they cut down.
And I will also agree that hard-core environmentalists can be elitists and extremists. I don't think of myself as a hard-core environmentalist, and certainly not an elistist, and probably not an extremist either! But for the record...
@Comment#11: I am not a subscriber of "Goreology". His lectures and movie did not change my life. My life changed when I learned to live sustainably - truly sustainably - and returned to the "developed world" saw first hand how wasteful we are every day in ways I never considered. I resent the implication that anybody sensitive to environmental issues is immediately dismissed as being into "Goreology". How sad it is that Gore is your only source of environmental education.
@Comment #10: I don't use new paper (I write on scrap paper if I have to) nor do I use post-it notes, I categorically never give holiday cards, and I have indeed lived without toilet paper. How about you? (And admittedly, not using toilet paper sucks! There's a post idea....toilet paper alternatives...hmmm... - smiles)!
LizLovely, you reminded me of a funny video on a recent No Impact Man's blog post: check it out here .
Thank you again for the comments, all!
I'm going to go to Whole Foods in my SUV now.
@ comment #14: I think of that question as "smart-ist". However, I always double check my answer before I hit the post button. ;)
I'm nervous with the state of our economy, but I'm not in panic mode. As long as you spend less than what you make and budget accordingly, you should not feel a big negative effect from inflation.
@Curt:
I actually think hyperinflation is not the most likely scenario.
I base that on three things:
Hyperinflation is a danger. I just don't think it's the biggest danger.
I've definitely changed my habits, which include more carpooling, combining errands, and riding the free shuttle into town whenever possible. It's knocked a little off the monthly fuel budget, but we're still hurting from the increases at the local grocery store.
Last poster- you totally contradict yourself!
you say "I don't have a problem with paying for anything because everyone should be able to profit from their line of work"
and you also say: "not being able to copy pictures of my children because the photos where of professional grade" is a problem
You say that you realize photographers must make a living and have no problem paying for prints through them...so when you need copies of the prints, why not buy them from the photographer?
I read a book called, “How come THAT idiot’s rich and I’m NOT?”), I loved the fact that he included spiritual key's for gaining wealth...
I believe in the law of reciprosity, give and it shall be given.
WHAT???
Oh yeah, World Vision has announced today that they have to cut back on food aid supplied around the world...has the food shortages already started?
If you want check out the news article.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080423/world_visio...
Well, I'm a working class kinda guy, I've fought forest fires, worked in the Oil patch, I worked in the printing industry, construction, For a time I even ran my own Contracting business in a large city. The whole gambit. House, cars, Typical North American lifestyle.
I've also lived without toilet paper, power, and lived completely sustainable, grown my own food, recycled everything, and worked my tail off doing it.
Both Ends of the Spectrum...
I think I know of the T.V. station and programs in question. Logging is HARD and very dangerous work especially on the side of the mountain. I can see where the drama can come from.
The world needs wood...fact. Most North American forestry and fishing management areas take pretty good care of their forests. They replant and now selective cutting is becoming more the norm than before.They live in the forests depend on them for a living and lifestyle, it's their home. I've seen the show and I can understand where the appeal to watch can come from. Subsequently the T.V. station gets that too, and hey let's face it they are there to make money.
Then there is the other show...
Global warming and what the world could look like, post "icecaps" melting.
Despite the "debate" of whether or not Global warming is happening, ice on our planet is melting at exponential rates. The program (not a quote) says that if sea levels rise even a fraction of what they are supposed to in the next 50 years a massive amount of the earths population will be displaced. Up to 75% of North Americas fresh water will be gone, and a sizable portion of China, California, Florida and Europe will be underwater.
So the math looks like(according to the program): in 50-100 years
There will be more people on the Earth than there are now +
with less landmass for them to live on +
less fresh water than ever before to grow food with +
countries competing with others just to feed their citizens =
The largest Famine in the history of the planet combined by World War 3...a war based on obtaining resources for survival.
If it's wrong, great!
If it's not, your grandchildren won't have to worry about the schools which are "run by the most liberal and politically correct segment of our society. Hence, there is no balance and certainly no opposing viewpoints allowed." there Kelja
There are mixed messages by todays media put forth to the average viewer. Thats what the article is about. It is the biggest single medium on the planet, sure you gotta put something on the "Tube" for everybody. However don't you think the responsibility for the programming at least falls on the providers a bit? It's not an article that "smacks or either elitism or naive youthful thinking, or both."
It's about the fact that we need to evolve as a species and with contradictory "entertainment" like that being fed to our future world leaders at their most impressionable times.
It's a bit irresponsible if you ask me, I liked the article and it's scary what we let our media do for; oops sorry...to us.
I have also had solid experiences with him. As far as him slamming the phone and telling you to get a life, that does not sound like him. He is flexible and helpful with deals.
I am sorry to respond off topic, but I am just so upset by the oppressive and hateful nature of your blog. Your "math question" verification method is racist. It is like when Southern states required reading tests for voter registration knowing that the black man, long denied a proper education by the racist white man, would be less likely to pass. Math is a subject area stolen from Africa by the Greeks and over time infected with the white man's racism while being denied to the Nations of Africa. I suggest that you implement a more culturally neutral system for verifying one's humanity.
There are separate limits for I Bonds that you buy electronically and actual paper I Bonds that you buy from the bank. You can buy $5000 in each form for a total of $10,000:
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/news/pressroom/pressroom_reducedpurchaseli...
Agreed, it's a weak article with a weak premise.
I haven't changed my driving habits... I still have to drive to work. And I still log about 80,000 miles/yr.
Does it hurt financially? A little. But I have a little car and the increase has only been about $50/month. It just means I save less...
The article smacks or either elitism or naive youthful thinking, or both.
As you state, you're biased toward Goreology (sorry, global warming). You have drunk deeply from the green koolaid!
TV is a wasteland, generally, Accept that, and you will be much better informed.
But on the question of opposing viewpoints - "A program glamorizing the logging industry" vs a "extremely educational, inspirational, and moving show on global warming". (Using your words, I hope you see the ironic and blatant bias on your part) - I have to say it is at least better than what kids are getting at school.
The schools are run by the most liberal and politically correct segment of our society. Hence, there is no balance and certainly no opposing viewpoints allowed.
Perhaps, you're just a product of our educational system yourself.
@Guest,
Perhaps your income will stay ahead of inflation, now, but unless you're a corporate mogul, it won't stay that way.
How can you say that? If you're a private business you can keep charging more as long as the market will bear it. And when you can't charge more for your goods/services that is when basically you have reached the equilibbrium point and you either have to stop making your widgets if it no longer makes financial sense and find something else or face the recession that is coming out of it.
If you're working in a fixed wage postion that requires no training or experience and people are a dime a dozen who can do your job then you might be in trouble. You might experience a pay cut. But all it means is that you were overpaid in the first place and you finally get your well deserved adjustment.
A friend of mine who's in law school right now got a job offer and accepted the job last year and did an internship last summer. He's in his last year of school and already got a 30% raise before even starting the job. He didn't demand it, the market demanded it. It's supply and demand. Easy as that!
Have a nice mortgage? Maintainance costs (including utilities) are going through the roof.
I guess I don't get your point. Let's say you make $60,000 a year. Your mortage payment is $500 a month and your maintenace cost is $100 a month. That means your monthly mortgage is 10% of your income and your maintenace cost is 2% of your income and you are left with 88$ for everything else. Now you get 10% inflation and you get a 10% raise. Your monthly gross salary is $5,500, your mortgage is still $500 and your maintenace cost jumped to $110. You're still paying 2% for maintenance but only 9% for mortage leaving you with 89% for everything else.
Devalued money wil devalue your savings/retirement funds
When inflation is high, interest rates are high too. You make more money on your investment because of it. If you put your money into companies that don't follow the inflation then you're jsut back to the whole basic premise of inflation: redistribution of money. You better get out of those companies that are eating the cost of inflation.
check and see what it is doing to your city/county/state/federal services
Funny you should mention the government. They're the ones who benefit from high inflation the most. They issued a ton of bonds with low interest and get to repay them with cheap, freshly printed money. Unless your government runs on surplus budget they're making money on inflation.
Food shortages are already occuring within the US, gas rationing could happen at any moment, police and fire services are being limited and in cities going bankrupt, could become nonexistent.
Yeah and the world is about to end tomorrow. Doomsdayers are all over the place and planting fear is the current job of the media, as that's what sells you stuff. Credit protection against ID theft, terrorism insurance.....Whatever.....
There are definetely losers in inflation. Retired people, people on fixed income and people with overvalued jobs. They will all be hurting in high inflation. Call me arrogant, luckily I'm not one of these people.
The problem with inflation is that it can sneak up on you, especially when the government is fudging the numbers. Some economist say that the actual inflation is more like 10-12% already and that the CPI calculated has been wrong - since they changed it.
HYPERINFLATION AS EARLY AS 2010
http://www.learcapital.com/qry/backgroundstories.taf?_function=detail&NE...
Nixon created price controls and wage freezes in 1971 when inflation was only 4.9%. I think a lot of people are underestimating the power of inflation that we are going to see in the next few years.
The coming wave of inflation will change personal finance strategies. Adjusting your budget will not work. Using your saving or investments (based in dollars) will not work because they will be dwindling in purchasing power.
Frugalness is no longer going to be a safe place. Cash management will become a much higher priority - and will consume much more time to protect your wealth. Businesses will change, as they reduce production and sales while adding accountants. Low margin and free products are toast.
I have also had good luck with apple cider vinegar. Additionally it can help with other things like a sore throat, getting rid of athletes feet, rinsing and re balancing the pH level in you scalp. I usually put two tablespoonfuls in a glass of water. Another good way to take is to sprinkle some over you veggies at meal time.
Thank you for all of your helpful comments.
Modest inflation seems nice--that's why policy makers like it so much. It heats the economy up, producing jobs and prompting additional investment. Unfortunately, that extra activity is based on an illusion. Eventually, reality catches up. Some of that investment turns out to be uneconomic--business that overexpanded need to retrench; some even go bankrupt.
If you knew when inflation was going to heat up and when it was going to cool down, it would be easy to profit: borrow long-term at low rates when inflation is low, invest in assets of enduring value, then pay the loan off with cheaper dollars. But nobody knows what future inflation is going to be. It's easy enough to preduct 6 to 8 months out (right now, for example, inflation is going higher), but beyond that, it could go either way. It's entirely possible that a sharp downturn in inflation could make even a very low-rate loan feel expensive. It's also possible that the "things of enduring value" don't endure as well as you might expect--look at home prices, for example.
As gtWise says, there are winners and losers in inflation. It's easy to congratulate yourself too early, though, if you think you're making out well when inflation just starts to heat up. That's exactly when it seems nicest. The rest of the cycle doesn't tend to feel so good.
Well said.
I must say, anyone who welcomes inflation is both arrogant and ignorant. Perhaps your income will stay ahead of inflation, now, but unless you're a corporate mogul, it won't stay that way.
Have a nice mortgage? Maintainance costs (including utilities) are going through the roof.
Devalued money wil devalue your savings/retirement funds
Devalued money increases costs across the board, and even if it doesn't appear to affect you personally, check and see what it is doing to your city/county/state/federal services. ....That pothole could go another year before being fixed.
Want to trade up on a vehicle? You're not going to get as much even IF you can get financing.
Worse case scenario is not only will everything cost more (even accounting for inflation), many things will simply not exist. Food shortages are already occuring within the US, gas rationing could happen at any moment, police and fire services are being limited and in cities going bankrupt, could become nonexistent. This isn't an apopcalyptic view, but reality. Do some research.
I have to say, I'm in agreement with Kat, above me on this one.
The first episode I saw of the "Manly logger" show was only because Husband was watching. I've learned in the past few episodes, what sustainable agriculture is all about. Cutting trees, and the replanting of these forests, and then allowing those tree fields 40-50 years growth before recutting.
I was surprised, and impressed.
You may see men ripping apart forests a few trees at a time. I see the farming of trees in an ecologically friendly manner.
Get back to me the next time you don't have a roll of toilet paper in your bathroom, a post-it note at your desk, or a birthday card to send to your Grandmother.
Yeah, it's pretty unfortunate that they cut the limit to $5000 per social security number. When I first purchased them in 2005 the limit was $30000 per person per year. I guess too many people bought them or something. Though, I wouldn't say that $5000 is a small amount of money, and the risk of putting your money in the stock market is exponentially greater than buying I-bonds. You should treat I-Bonds more like a savings account or 1 year CD.