I completely agree with BrandonW. Greed drives those already with money to send jobs out of this country, to set up the average homeowner with a 'rug-pulling trick' mortgage that appeals to the homeowners own greed but then robs him of his property. Greed drives businesses to want cheaper and cheaper resources but to not care that they are cutting the economic heart out of their own country. Will the recent buyout of a private financial firm by the US government teach any of them a lesson? Not a chance. We will continue to watch as 'the evil rich' strip the life out of the United States, all in the name of 'capitalism', the meaning of which they have perverted to mean 'profit at any and all cost', even if it means the death of our country as we have known it. Thus are the 'rich' evil, unthinking, selfish monsters.
I forgot about that one! We used ours alot during our "smoothie" years. Now that I cook more, and the kids are home with me all day, we don't do smoothies as much.
I forgot how nifty these were. My tanked out on me a year ago... I'll have to look into it for the sauce idea. I have too many tomatoes!
Lindsey, I always enjoy your posts! I agree 100% with the bread machine and slow-cooker. I love my slow-cooker with interchangeable 2, 4 and 6 quart crocks, but am also keeping my eye out for a good deal on a 6 quart or larger oval model. The crockpot365 blog is an awesome source for recipes! Once I really started using the slow-cooker, I find so many uses for it. Ditto for the bread machine. We love to make pizza crust in it, and pizza is a great way to use up lots of little bits of leftovers meats and veggies in the fridge. The other "can't live without" tool for me is my immersion blender. I bought a good-quality one recently and I use it all the time! My kids LOVE smoothies, and I can use it to whip them up from frozen fruit and yogurt in just a few seconds. It's also great for the soups I make in the slow-cooker and I recently used it to turn a tomato surplus into some fabulous spaghetti sauce (using the slow-cooker, of course!) It's also great for making baby food, and it makes short work of whipping up homemade mayonaisse, which is absolutely divine!
Panic never helps, but I would advise everyone I know to withdraw enough money from the bank to last at least a couple of months in case of a collapse of the banking system. It's not as if there's no precident for it - there were bank "holidays" during the Great Depression and many people lost everything they had. FDIC is not a quick fix if your bank does fold, either, even if somehow FDIC stays solvent. Best case scenario, it would take weeks/months to process your claim. So, always have enough cash in hand to handle your expenses in case of an emergency. Even in this cashless society, it seems the prudent move considering current circumstances.
And stock your pantries. As an investment, it's hard to beat food right now. One thing we can be pretty sure of is that the price will go up. So, if you buy $XXXX worth of nonperishable groceries now, they will be worth more in six months. A return on investment that you can actually use just in case your other investments wind up being useless pieces of paper.
Remember the old adage, "Buy low, sell high"? Well the market has been low, and although it's hard to say if it will go lower, it's safe to say the market will be higher a few years from now.
People who take advantage of downturns in the market (eh-hmm... Warren Buffett) end up quite wealthy years down the line. I have been buying the market each time there is a huge drop. That has already been paying off. I'm excited to see my account in 5 years. As an author of InvestorPitStop.com
, I explore possibilities for investors of all experience levels.
Don't fret, be aware of opportunities. Enjoy your wealth in the years to come!
It will get better, but that doesn't mean we have to participate in this mess. A little bit of knowledge will go a long way to help avoiding this.
First, the biggest challenge in investing in the markets is we give too much credence to the returns always being there for us, as well as assume that we can be successful as long term investors if we just throw money at a fund. Unfortunately, this attitude gets us into bad situations, and can easily be avoided.
We need to take an active role with our investments, because we are the only ones who genuinely care enough about whether we retire wealthy or not. You can't afford anything less.
Here are a few steps you can take next time:
1 - Learn when to get out. In my blogs, I discuss how by watching a simple volatility indicator, like the VIX indicator, can let us know when to get of the market and when to get back in. We avoid the volatility, we avoid many of the bear markets, corrections and crashes.
2 - Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) should be a primary part of your portfolio allocation. You can't afford junk fees and management fees from mutual funds that drain your portfolio over time. This could make a difference of a few hundred thousand in your investing lifetime. Find an ETF with similar objective to your mutual find, and consider making some changes.
3 - Always use a stop program. Another benefit to ETFs is that you can use a stop program that automatically gets you out at a set price or percentage. That way, you can set it and forget it, and not become emotionally involved.
4 -Diversification is a must. Our national debt is almost $10 trillion. What that means is as the government adds more debt, the dollar becomes weaker. As the dollar becomes weaker, your money is worth less. You can counter this by investing in overseas ETFs.
If you are scared or frustrated from big losses, it is a sign that you need to have an investment approach about managing your money. It is not that hard. The few points above and some of my blog posts should help you get started in the right direction.
WoW is quite possibly the world's single most addictive game ever ya know. I lost like 10 friends to it. RS isn't half as bad in reality. At least you can pry yourself away from the screen once in a while.
I just had breakfast with a man who lost $3,000, taken from his atm. His best guess is that someone had shouldersurfed his pin number. he is going to the police station to file a report. I was with other people from AIG and Lehman - it's just a baddddd money morning.
Sarah, I'm afraid this up and down won't be a distant memory for many of us. I have friends who work at AIG - rather worked at AIG, and Lehman, and it's parlyzing right now. This too shall pass but not for them or people around us. I just had breakfast with a few of them and they're kinda shellshocked.
That said, you provided a kind and thoughtful post as always. No sarcasm intended.
It helps me to remember that the media is thee to sell the news. They need to make it as sensational as possible. If you just ignore the news and do as you said in you post we will all be better off. I liked ths post!
My Senseo coffee maker was a Christmas present, and a better present I've never received. Every cup is perfect every time. I don't buy the expensive premade pods, though, I make my own.
I got a grain mill ages ago (what, 10 years now?) and it's still going strong. I turn bulk wheat grain that I buy in big old 50 pound sacks into light, fluffy flour in seconds. It's fresh, the oils in the grain haven't gone rancid and it makes the most wonderful bread!
I looked all last winter for something (website, book, magazine) that would give me losts of different ideas for the crock pot because I would like to use it everyday, too. I mean, what could be better? You stick everything in the crockpot in the morning and come home to dinner pretty much already cooked - it's sort of a no-brainer, right?
Anyway, this website looks like it is just the right thing for me. Luckily, I have not make out my grocery list yet and am dying the try that chicken applesauce recipe.
I completely agree about the bread machine - again, a no-brainer and saves me loads of time as we like fresh bread in our house.
We've tended to do the backyard party deal, and last year, we invited all of the girls in my daughter's class to her 6th birthday party. We were playing the odds--in years past, only about half showed. That year, every single one showed up. It was a nightmare. Most of the kids had fun. They tore apart the playroom, played a group game or two, sat around the table for cake & ice cream. The only person who didn't have a good time was my daughter--she dissolved into tears before the party ended.
We learned our lesson--no more big parties here. Instead, we're opting for a special day with one of their friends. My youngest went to a play at a community theater & then out to lunch with her buddy. My oldest is having a sleepover (we'll use some coupons for free bumper boating & take 'em to a free festival, as well).
Wasn't there a Tibetan tradition of giving only one kind of gift - a scarf - everybody gives a scarf and is given a scarf. Just that. A scarf. Scarves flying around all over the place and no gift wrapping or folderol beyond - please accept this humble scarf - and say here's one for you too. A party? No problem. Everybody knows what to give and everybody knows what they will get. A scarf.
Mine's an old Proctor-Silex and doesn't look so hot anymore, but it has a swing out basket (which works well under my slightly-lower-than-normal upper cabinets) and a timer so I can set it at night and have freshly brewed coffee waiting on me when I get out of the shower.
I arrive at work with coffee in hand, ready to get the day started for a few pennies. My buds make their morning pilgrimage to Starbucks, and roll in 30 minutes later - and $4 poorer - nearly everyday.
We just got a new crock pot and we love it! We also have a little companion crock pot that's the perfect size for dip for a party. The key thing with any crock pot is to get one that features a removable crock. The fixed crock types are a bear to clean and don't afford you the option to store leftovers in the fridge without first transferring to another container.
Where were you three days ago when I was planning my 6 year olds party?
Actually ours was fun and frugal. Mainly my plan was to let the kids play. We have enough toys for a dozen kids and I had a few games and activities planned in case there was problems.
In all it cost $100 give or take. I can't add the cost of the little pizzas I made because I just added that my grocery shopping. Even making the pizzas was an activity because most of the kids hadn't every had home made pizza and looked at me like I was crazy.
There were 8 kids and everyone said they had a lot of fun just playing together.
The presents are overwhelming for me. There's so much coming in.
If you wish to understand our aversion to government support, I recommend reading up on US history and the writings of Adam Smith, Thomas Jefferson, and others who had a profound influence on what this country stands for.
Perhaps then you will understand why so many of us do not want a Nanny State.
I agree with guest. Quit blaming your problems on other people - immigrants, the media, the government, etc. and focus on what you can do yourself and what you can control. It's the only way to live a fulfilling life.
I completely agree with BrandonW. Greed drives those already with money to send jobs out of this country, to set up the average homeowner with a 'rug-pulling trick' mortgage that appeals to the homeowners own greed but then robs him of his property. Greed drives businesses to want cheaper and cheaper resources but to not care that they are cutting the economic heart out of their own country. Will the recent buyout of a private financial firm by the US government teach any of them a lesson? Not a chance. We will continue to watch as 'the evil rich' strip the life out of the United States, all in the name of 'capitalism', the meaning of which they have perverted to mean 'profit at any and all cost', even if it means the death of our country as we have known it. Thus are the 'rich' evil, unthinking, selfish monsters.
KEEP your long hair, Ladies! It's the best beauty decision a woman can make.
I forgot about that one! We used ours alot during our "smoothie" years. Now that I cook more, and the kids are home with me all day, we don't do smoothies as much.
I forgot how nifty these were. My tanked out on me a year ago... I'll have to look into it for the sauce idea. I have too many tomatoes!
Lindsey, I always enjoy your posts! I agree 100% with the bread machine and slow-cooker. I love my slow-cooker with interchangeable 2, 4 and 6 quart crocks, but am also keeping my eye out for a good deal on a 6 quart or larger oval model. The crockpot365 blog is an awesome source for recipes! Once I really started using the slow-cooker, I find so many uses for it. Ditto for the bread machine. We love to make pizza crust in it, and pizza is a great way to use up lots of little bits of leftovers meats and veggies in the fridge. The other "can't live without" tool for me is my immersion blender. I bought a good-quality one recently and I use it all the time! My kids LOVE smoothies, and I can use it to whip them up from frozen fruit and yogurt in just a few seconds. It's also great for the soups I make in the slow-cooker and I recently used it to turn a tomato surplus into some fabulous spaghetti sauce (using the slow-cooker, of course!) It's also great for making baby food, and it makes short work of whipping up homemade mayonaisse, which is absolutely divine!
Next to the Bread Maker, the Mandoline is the tool I can least do without.
Panic never helps, but I would advise everyone I know to withdraw enough money from the bank to last at least a couple of months in case of a collapse of the banking system. It's not as if there's no precident for it - there were bank "holidays" during the Great Depression and many people lost everything they had. FDIC is not a quick fix if your bank does fold, either, even if somehow FDIC stays solvent. Best case scenario, it would take weeks/months to process your claim. So, always have enough cash in hand to handle your expenses in case of an emergency. Even in this cashless society, it seems the prudent move considering current circumstances.
And stock your pantries. As an investment, it's hard to beat food right now. One thing we can be pretty sure of is that the price will go up. So, if you buy $XXXX worth of nonperishable groceries now, they will be worth more in six months. A return on investment that you can actually use just in case your other investments wind up being useless pieces of paper.
But don't panic. This too shall pass.
Remember the old adage, "Buy low, sell high"? Well the market has been low, and although it's hard to say if it will go lower, it's safe to say the market will be higher a few years from now.
People who take advantage of downturns in the market (eh-hmm... Warren Buffett) end up quite wealthy years down the line. I have been buying the market each time there is a huge drop. That has already been paying off. I'm excited to see my account in 5 years. As an author of InvestorPitStop.com
, I explore possibilities for investors of all experience levels.
Don't fret, be aware of opportunities. Enjoy your wealth in the years to come!
It will get better, but that doesn't mean we have to participate in this mess. A little bit of knowledge will go a long way to help avoiding this.
First, the biggest challenge in investing in the markets is we give too much credence to the returns always being there for us, as well as assume that we can be successful as long term investors if we just throw money at a fund. Unfortunately, this attitude gets us into bad situations, and can easily be avoided.
We need to take an active role with our investments, because we are the only ones who genuinely care enough about whether we retire wealthy or not. You can't afford anything less.
Here are a few steps you can take next time:
1 - Learn when to get out. In my blogs, I discuss how by watching a simple volatility indicator, like the VIX indicator, can let us know when to get of the market and when to get back in. We avoid the volatility, we avoid many of the bear markets, corrections and crashes.
2 - Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) should be a primary part of your portfolio allocation. You can't afford junk fees and management fees from mutual funds that drain your portfolio over time. This could make a difference of a few hundred thousand in your investing lifetime. Find an ETF with similar objective to your mutual find, and consider making some changes.
3 - Always use a stop program. Another benefit to ETFs is that you can use a stop program that automatically gets you out at a set price or percentage. That way, you can set it and forget it, and not become emotionally involved.
4 -Diversification is a must. Our national debt is almost $10 trillion. What that means is as the government adds more debt, the dollar becomes weaker. As the dollar becomes weaker, your money is worth less. You can counter this by investing in overseas ETFs.
If you are scared or frustrated from big losses, it is a sign that you need to have an investment approach about managing your money. It is not that hard. The few points above and some of my blog posts should help you get started in the right direction.
All the best... Cheaplee
WoW is quite possibly the world's single most addictive game ever ya know. I lost like 10 friends to it. RS isn't half as bad in reality. At least you can pry yourself away from the screen once in a while.
Hi Toby,
http://www.yourbonus.org/
Has the most honest Mortgage Acceleration research using a free software. There is no need to pay for the software.
Peter
I just had breakfast with a man who lost $3,000, taken from his atm. His best guess is that someone had shouldersurfed his pin number. he is going to the police station to file a report. I was with other people from AIG and Lehman - it's just a baddddd money morning.
thanks for letting me get this out.
Sarah, I'm afraid this up and down won't be a distant memory for many of us. I have friends who work at AIG - rather worked at AIG, and Lehman, and it's parlyzing right now. This too shall pass but not for them or people around us. I just had breakfast with a few of them and they're kinda shellshocked.
That said, you provided a kind and thoughtful post as always. No sarcasm intended.
It helps me to remember that the media is thee to sell the news. They need to make it as sensational as possible. If you just ignore the news and do as you said in you post we will all be better off. I liked ths post!
My Senseo coffee maker was a Christmas present, and a better present I've never received. Every cup is perfect every time. I don't buy the expensive premade pods, though, I make my own.
I got a grain mill ages ago (what, 10 years now?) and it's still going strong. I turn bulk wheat grain that I buy in big old 50 pound sacks into light, fluffy flour in seconds. It's fresh, the oils in the grain haven't gone rancid and it makes the most wonderful bread!
I looked all last winter for something (website, book, magazine) that would give me losts of different ideas for the crock pot because I would like to use it everyday, too. I mean, what could be better? You stick everything in the crockpot in the morning and come home to dinner pretty much already cooked - it's sort of a no-brainer, right?
Anyway, this website looks like it is just the right thing for me. Luckily, I have not make out my grocery list yet and am dying the try that chicken applesauce recipe.
I completely agree about the bread machine - again, a no-brainer and saves me loads of time as we like fresh bread in our house.
Thanks again!
I'd love to see the books 12 month plan - thanks for the chance!
I just tell myself they're all idiots. So far, I have been confirmed.
We've tended to do the backyard party deal, and last year, we invited all of the girls in my daughter's class to her 6th birthday party. We were playing the odds--in years past, only about half showed. That year, every single one showed up. It was a nightmare. Most of the kids had fun. They tore apart the playroom, played a group game or two, sat around the table for cake & ice cream. The only person who didn't have a good time was my daughter--she dissolved into tears before the party ended.
We learned our lesson--no more big parties here. Instead, we're opting for a special day with one of their friends. My youngest went to a play at a community theater & then out to lunch with her buddy. My oldest is having a sleepover (we'll use some coupons for free bumper boating & take 'em to a free festival, as well).
Jenn
Wasn't there a Tibetan tradition of giving only one kind of gift - a scarf - everybody gives a scarf and is given a scarf. Just that. A scarf. Scarves flying around all over the place and no gift wrapping or folderol beyond - please accept this humble scarf - and say here's one for you too. A party? No problem. Everybody knows what to give and everybody knows what they will get. A scarf.
I couldn't have said it better myself...
1. Definitely have a removable crock... for sure.
2. Coffee maker counts. Big money saver, and quite a necessity for this Work at Home gal! (No Starbucks for 50 miles...)
Linsey Knerl
the last section. I couldn't agree more. Enjoy what we do have.
Does my coffeemaker count?
Mine's an old Proctor-Silex and doesn't look so hot anymore, but it has a swing out basket (which works well under my slightly-lower-than-normal upper cabinets) and a timer so I can set it at night and have freshly brewed coffee waiting on me when I get out of the shower.
I arrive at work with coffee in hand, ready to get the day started for a few pennies. My buds make their morning pilgrimage to Starbucks, and roll in 30 minutes later - and $4 poorer - nearly everyday.
We just got a new crock pot and we love it! We also have a little companion crock pot that's the perfect size for dip for a party. The key thing with any crock pot is to get one that features a removable crock. The fixed crock types are a bear to clean and don't afford you the option to store leftovers in the fridge without first transferring to another container.
Where were you three days ago when I was planning my 6 year olds party?
Actually ours was fun and frugal. Mainly my plan was to let the kids play. We have enough toys for a dozen kids and I had a few games and activities planned in case there was problems.
In all it cost $100 give or take. I can't add the cost of the little pizzas I made because I just added that my grocery shopping. Even making the pizzas was an activity because most of the kids hadn't every had home made pizza and looked at me like I was crazy.
There were 8 kids and everyone said they had a lot of fun just playing together.
The presents are overwhelming for me. There's so much coming in.
Mia,
If you wish to understand our aversion to government support, I recommend reading up on US history and the writings of Adam Smith, Thomas Jefferson, and others who had a profound influence on what this country stands for.
Perhaps then you will understand why so many of us do not want a Nanny State.
I agree with guest. Quit blaming your problems on other people - immigrants, the media, the government, etc. and focus on what you can do yourself and what you can control. It's the only way to live a fulfilling life.