Replacing single-pane windows with double-pane will make a huge difference in heating bills if you can afford them. Windows are not cheap, however. A less expensive alternative that will work well is clear plastic nailed over windows with some wood strips to seal around the edges. I used Visqueen clear plastic in my old cabin.
Take advantage of the rare nice days of pleasant weather. Walking is a good strategy but not why do something fun? Go snow tubing, skating, or cross-country skiing. It's very refreshing and stimulating to have fun and exercise outdoors.
I think you've raised some excellent points here and one can't help but wonder if it would not be more beneficial for future generations if we all learned to get by with the cards we've been dealt. What if we learned from this recession, the lessons that won't be received from the bail-out - such as how to become both self-reliant and community-driven, by relying on one another, sharing what we have, and using the best of our innovative and creative minds to create new sources of income and social support?
AlbinasDolls - exclusive collection of art dolls for sale. Everything in my shop is one of a kind and made by me. It is nice to own something special that no-one else will have. A perfect gift for any occasion. Love them, and enjoy!
I have purchased Entertainment books in the past but not in the last few years (just haven't been around anyone who is selling them). But when we did use them, I really liked the family-fun places as they were often new places that I might otherwise not be as motivated to go to (and often this resulted in us having a great family outting that we might otherwise have thought to do). In addition, I do like the resturant coupons, again, because there are many places that I might otherwise not think to go to and you never know when you will come across that hidden gem of a place.
I think it's amazing to see how people, in particular politicians, fail to understand the country in which they represent. America, and what made it great was founded on trade. Trade that could be done freely and openly without government intervention.
For those who remember their U.S. History it was trade regulations and tariffs imposed by the British that brought about the Revolutionary War. And rightly so. After winning the war, it was the open use of trade between other countries that made the U.S. the superpower it is today. The minute we stop open trade is the minute we can kiss our 'superpower' status goodbye.
While I can sympathize with the politicians and others who think that we need to limit the money from the stimulus to U.S. companies, I can't support it. The truth is, there are better companies abroad which can probably do the work better and cheaper. And while domestic businesses may not make the grade, losing to people overseas is a great motivator to improve. Taking away that motivation to lose is depriving American companies of ever being competitive, stimulus money or not.
Good businesses last and poor ones die. That's how it's supposed to work. We'll all be better off if we do. If not, we'll all end up working for second rate companies.
I think you meant vitamin D? It's vitamin D we get from the sun, so in the winter when we're not out in it, we may not get enough. This year, I started taking a supplement (at least for the winter) and I find it helps.
But hey, there are lots and lots of good reasons for getting more of the B vitamins too!
In answer to the question from the title, I think this will destroy jobs -- though more in other countries than in the US. Unfortunately, I don't think many people care about that so long as it's not people in their own backyard who are losing their jobs.
Americans destroyed the world's economy. I don't think they should add insult to injury by saying "Buy American".
I've been working hard at doing more walking and jogging lately. Like I'm sure a lot of people on here, I spend a lot of time at my computer in my home office, so just to get up and move around can make a big difference in how you feel.
This is really not a big deal. It is only tied to the spending projects not all consumption of the country. If China is nervous maybe they should consider cleaning up their act. People are reluctant about goods from China due to lax safety standards, poor conditions for the workers and the trade deficit.
International trade is not a bad thing but it does need some oversight to make sure things are not getting out of hand. It is also time to set some world wide standards regarding labor and product safety. US companies did not go overseas because they were benevolent and wanted to help people in that other country. They did it because it was a situation they could exploit for profit.
I absolutely love opening the curtains to let the sun come in (on the rare occasion that it's sunny here). I even go as far as to lay directly on the spot where the sun is shining down, whether that is the floor or some furniture. I definitely crave the sun and miss it terribly during the winter months.
"During the cold winter months, it is a good idea to open the blinds and the curtains during the daylight hours to allow what little sun there is to warm the house naturally. This extra sunshine in the house can help your feel a little brighter as well. At dark, make sure you re-close all of the curtains and shades to keep the cold night air out."
Thanks for the information
I try to buy local whenever I can. Obviously I can't do that all the time so I try to see where things are manufactured. I have a hard time buying things from China for a number of reasons. They don't do safety tests up to American standards. We have seen that recently in all of the massive recalls. I am also heart broken at their invasion and attack of the Tibetan people.
I agree with the commenter Chris when he said that this clause probably won't cause a full out trade war, but I think it was just a bad message to send out to the world. The fact is that we do have a global economy now and the United States is a place a lot of other countries look toward for leadership. If the United States turns too much inward then it would be setting a bad example for everyone else. There are definitely benefits to buying local, but telling everyone else that you are refusing to buy their stuff just causes a lot of angst and hate. I know that the Chinese are getting uneasy with this new administration, and that's not a good thing in the long run.
If we move toward one big happy global economy then i guess it just doesn't matter where it comes from,one big happy world with one currency and,i guess,one to lead us all,eh?
$13 per week is not very much, but I would not turn it down if someone was to give it to me, which apparently they are. I would guess this additional money would go toward groceries, or gas once those prices go back up, which I know they eventually will.
I enjoy taking time out of my day to be grateful. I think it really makes a difference to appreciate what we have rather than cursing what we have not.
Xin, it's a good question. I don't care where a product is made, as long as it fits my needs and is of good quality. I don't really care where it's made. We're all people, we all have the same desires... if we can get past this petty 'U.S' vs. everyone else I think we would be better off.
We are no longer separate nations, we are one planet.
We must keep in mind that nothing in this package is even supposed to stimulate anything.It ties in with the "remaking"of America,as our fearless leader keeps emphasizing.They are making no bones about the fact that they are going to push a socialist agenda as far and as fast as they can"before it's too late".From the attempt to seize control of the census(to re-distribute delegates to more left leaning states)to the nationalization of our banking system.
The sad truth is that when all is said and done the evil corporate giants(who are the real suppliers of jobs and ergo economic relief)don't have to stay here,they will leave,leaving us to deal with this ourselves.So,I suggest opening an overseas account and depositing $13 a week for the next two decades.
I understand that obviously other countries want us to purchase products from them. But as we've seen from the plethora of products recalled that in China, I don't think buying everything from other countries at the cheapest possible price is a great idea.
In general, I think it's fine to buy products from other countries as long as they are absolutely safe and the working conditions are ethical. But I think that in regards to this specific plan, adding a Buy American clause is perfectly fine. If manufacturers receive "bail out money" or "stimulus checks" or whatever that's funded by taxpayer money, then they should be expected to use this money to support the American economy in all parts of the manufacturing process.
If the Obama administration suddenly called a press conference and ordered a ban on all imports, then yes, that would be a bad idea. But saying, "Here's some money and we strongly encourage you to use on products made in America," is just fine in my (non-economist) opinion.
As for whether it will do any good or if the whole world will completely collapse the day Americans reduce the amount of cheap junk imported from China...don't know but obviously I hope not.
Check out the broadcast from last night's 60 minutes. Steel workers in US cannot compete against China gov. subsidized steel prices. I think we ought to be supportive of US workers and follow trade guidelines.
Nicholi said "Politicians talk about a trade deficit like it's a bad thing. It just means we're importing more than we're exporting. That's a great thing because people are getting better products or getting the same products at a better price than equivalent items made domestically. That means increased buying power for everyone.' Unfortunately, a trade deficit means buying power is being drained away. While Americans may be able to buy things at a lower price, because less is being produced in the US, workers have lower incomes. Taken to the extreme, if we imported everything, even if costs were much lower, no one would have any income to buy. Henry Ford, not exactly a leftist-socialist-lover of labor, paid his workers a much higher than average wage because, according to Ford, it was important "that every worker (at Ford) could afford to buy a Ford automobile." If there were no trade ramifications, it would be better to pay slightly more for US steel than imported, because that money would remain in the US economy (workers would buy things from local stores, purchase local services, government would increase tax revenue, etc). Look at what Ohio's steel-industry region looks like. No matter how cheap imports are, people there have no money to buy. Trade deficits are, except in unusual circumstances, damaging in both medium and long term.
The U.S. has a huge debt -- could a trade war possibly escalate to the point where of one of its creditors calling in that debt in order to save it's own economy?
Replacing single-pane windows with double-pane will make a huge difference in heating bills if you can afford them. Windows are not cheap, however. A less expensive alternative that will work well is clear plastic nailed over windows with some wood strips to seal around the edges. I used Visqueen clear plastic in my old cabin.
Take advantage of the rare nice days of pleasant weather. Walking is a good strategy but not why do something fun? Go snow tubing, skating, or cross-country skiing. It's very refreshing and stimulating to have fun and exercise outdoors.
I think you've raised some excellent points here and one can't help but wonder if it would not be more beneficial for future generations if we all learned to get by with the cards we've been dealt. What if we learned from this recession, the lessons that won't be received from the bail-out - such as how to become both self-reliant and community-driven, by relying on one another, sharing what we have, and using the best of our innovative and creative minds to create new sources of income and social support?
AlbinasDolls - exclusive collection of art dolls for sale. Everything in my shop is one of a kind and made by me. It is nice to own something special that no-one else will have. A perfect gift for any occasion. Love them, and enjoy!
I have purchased Entertainment books in the past but not in the last few years (just haven't been around anyone who is selling them). But when we did use them, I really liked the family-fun places as they were often new places that I might otherwise not be as motivated to go to (and often this resulted in us having a great family outting that we might otherwise have thought to do). In addition, I do like the resturant coupons, again, because there are many places that I might otherwise not think to go to and you never know when you will come across that hidden gem of a place.
Thanks for you great website and great tips!
I think it's amazing to see how people, in particular politicians, fail to understand the country in which they represent. America, and what made it great was founded on trade. Trade that could be done freely and openly without government intervention.
For those who remember their U.S. History it was trade regulations and tariffs imposed by the British that brought about the Revolutionary War. And rightly so. After winning the war, it was the open use of trade between other countries that made the U.S. the superpower it is today. The minute we stop open trade is the minute we can kiss our 'superpower' status goodbye.
While I can sympathize with the politicians and others who think that we need to limit the money from the stimulus to U.S. companies, I can't support it. The truth is, there are better companies abroad which can probably do the work better and cheaper. And while domestic businesses may not make the grade, losing to people overseas is a great motivator to improve. Taking away that motivation to lose is depriving American companies of ever being competitive, stimulus money or not.
Good businesses last and poor ones die. That's how it's supposed to work. We'll all be better off if we do. If not, we'll all end up working for second rate companies.
I think you meant vitamin D? It's vitamin D we get from the sun, so in the winter when we're not out in it, we may not get enough. This year, I started taking a supplement (at least for the winter) and I find it helps.
But hey, there are lots and lots of good reasons for getting more of the B vitamins too!
In answer to the question from the title, I think this will destroy jobs -- though more in other countries than in the US. Unfortunately, I don't think many people care about that so long as it's not people in their own backyard who are losing their jobs.
Americans destroyed the world's economy. I don't think they should add insult to injury by saying "Buy American".
I've been working hard at doing more walking and jogging lately. Like I'm sure a lot of people on here, I spend a lot of time at my computer in my home office, so just to get up and move around can make a big difference in how you feel.
Good stuff!
This is really not a big deal. It is only tied to the spending projects not all consumption of the country. If China is nervous maybe they should consider cleaning up their act. People are reluctant about goods from China due to lax safety standards, poor conditions for the workers and the trade deficit.
International trade is not a bad thing but it does need some oversight to make sure things are not getting out of hand. It is also time to set some world wide standards regarding labor and product safety. US companies did not go overseas because they were benevolent and wanted to help people in that other country. They did it because it was a situation they could exploit for profit.
I absolutely love opening the curtains to let the sun come in (on the rare occasion that it's sunny here). I even go as far as to lay directly on the spot where the sun is shining down, whether that is the floor or some furniture. I definitely crave the sun and miss it terribly during the winter months.
"During the cold winter months, it is a good idea to open the blinds and the curtains during the daylight hours to allow what little sun there is to warm the house naturally. This extra sunshine in the house can help your feel a little brighter as well. At dark, make sure you re-close all of the curtains and shades to keep the cold night air out."
Thanks for the information
I try to buy local whenever I can. Obviously I can't do that all the time so I try to see where things are manufactured. I have a hard time buying things from China for a number of reasons. They don't do safety tests up to American standards. We have seen that recently in all of the massive recalls. I am also heart broken at their invasion and attack of the Tibetan people.
Solid tips-- I have had my share of winter! Walking will definately be on my list this weekend!
I agree with the commenter Chris when he said that this clause probably won't cause a full out trade war, but I think it was just a bad message to send out to the world. The fact is that we do have a global economy now and the United States is a place a lot of other countries look toward for leadership. If the United States turns too much inward then it would be setting a bad example for everyone else. There are definitely benefits to buying local, but telling everyone else that you are refusing to buy their stuff just causes a lot of angst and hate. I know that the Chinese are getting uneasy with this new administration, and that's not a good thing in the long run.
If we move toward one big happy global economy then i guess it just doesn't matter where it comes from,one big happy world with one currency and,i guess,one to lead us all,eh?
$13 per week is not very much, but I would not turn it down if someone was to give it to me, which apparently they are. I would guess this additional money would go toward groceries, or gas once those prices go back up, which I know they eventually will.
I enjoy taking time out of my day to be grateful. I think it really makes a difference to appreciate what we have rather than cursing what we have not.
-Nate
Xin, it's a good question. I don't care where a product is made, as long as it fits my needs and is of good quality. I don't really care where it's made. We're all people, we all have the same desires... if we can get past this petty 'U.S' vs. everyone else I think we would be better off.
We are no longer separate nations, we are one planet.
-Nate
We must keep in mind that nothing in this package is even supposed to stimulate anything.It ties in with the "remaking"of America,as our fearless leader keeps emphasizing.They are making no bones about the fact that they are going to push a socialist agenda as far and as fast as they can"before it's too late".From the attempt to seize control of the census(to re-distribute delegates to more left leaning states)to the nationalization of our banking system.
The sad truth is that when all is said and done the evil corporate giants(who are the real suppliers of jobs and ergo economic relief)don't have to stay here,they will leave,leaving us to deal with this ourselves.So,I suggest opening an overseas account and depositing $13 a week for the next two decades.
I understand that obviously other countries want us to purchase products from them. But as we've seen from the plethora of products recalled that in China, I don't think buying everything from other countries at the cheapest possible price is a great idea.
In general, I think it's fine to buy products from other countries as long as they are absolutely safe and the working conditions are ethical. But I think that in regards to this specific plan, adding a Buy American clause is perfectly fine. If manufacturers receive "bail out money" or "stimulus checks" or whatever that's funded by taxpayer money, then they should be expected to use this money to support the American economy in all parts of the manufacturing process.
If the Obama administration suddenly called a press conference and ordered a ban on all imports, then yes, that would be a bad idea. But saying, "Here's some money and we strongly encourage you to use on products made in America," is just fine in my (non-economist) opinion.
As for whether it will do any good or if the whole world will completely collapse the day Americans reduce the amount of cheap junk imported from China...don't know but obviously I hope not.
Thank you for elucidating some difficult financial concepts. I enjoyed reading your article..
Check out the broadcast from last night's 60 minutes. Steel workers in US cannot compete against China gov. subsidized steel prices. I think we ought to be supportive of US workers and follow trade guidelines.
Nicholi said "Politicians talk about a trade deficit like it's a bad thing. It just means we're importing more than we're exporting. That's a great thing because people are getting better products or getting the same products at a better price than equivalent items made domestically. That means increased buying power for everyone.' Unfortunately, a trade deficit means buying power is being drained away. While Americans may be able to buy things at a lower price, because less is being produced in the US, workers have lower incomes. Taken to the extreme, if we imported everything, even if costs were much lower, no one would have any income to buy. Henry Ford, not exactly a leftist-socialist-lover of labor, paid his workers a much higher than average wage because, according to Ford, it was important "that every worker (at Ford) could afford to buy a Ford automobile." If there were no trade ramifications, it would be better to pay slightly more for US steel than imported, because that money would remain in the US economy (workers would buy things from local stores, purchase local services, government would increase tax revenue, etc). Look at what Ohio's steel-industry region looks like. No matter how cheap imports are, people there have no money to buy. Trade deficits are, except in unusual circumstances, damaging in both medium and long term.
Chris
The U.S. has a huge debt -- could a trade war possibly escalate to the point where of one of its creditors calling in that debt in order to save it's own economy?