Jul
18
How Uninformed Investors Keep the Stock Market Moving
July 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment
… people feel good. We are now an "ownership society."
However, just as handing a loaded gun to child does not make him a marksman; giving stock to people does not make them investors.
So many of these newly minted "investors" are driven by fear. They don't really understand the market (does anybody really?) and they get their news from the TV and radio. These folks get their statements in the mail and see that they've lost money (on paper of course). They know they need to stop …
Jun
17
What Is Flood Insurance?
June 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
… the government tried to control flooding with dams and levees. Victims of floods received little support from the government when a flood did occur. However, in 1968 congress established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
The NFIP has 2 main goals. The first is to make sure communities have sufficient flood management. The second is to provide affordable flood insurance to homeowners, renters and business owners.
Flood insurance compensates home owners, renters and …
Jun
12
Is Debt Making You Sick?
June 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment
… debt and stress is less strong for republican and retired college-educated men who do not have children living at home whose income was either more than $150,000 or less than $10,000 in 2007.
Really? Poor single mothers are stressed out? No kidding! I'm raising one child with my wife and I'm stressed out. I couldn't imagine doing it on $10,000 by myself.
What I'm more curious about is does you level of wealth affect your political beliefs? For example if you're older, well educated …
Jun
11
7 Signs It's Time To Quit Your Job
June 11, 2008 | 4 Comments
… with a guy who insists on sucking the mucous out of his nose about every 15 minutes like a 10 year child.
Bad Boss
I believe that your boss makes or breaks your job. If you have bad boss your job is going to suck no matter what. You could have the best corner office, the highest salary and awesome benefits, but if you hate your boss, you will hate your job.
The first giant corporation I worked for should be a case study in every management textbook. This large nation-wide …
Jun
7
… what he calls his “f***-off money”, money that would allow him to walk away from any job and support him in his long-term desire to be a writer and philosopher.
How Banks don't make money :
He points out, chillingly, that banks make money from two sources. They take interest on our current accounts and charge us for services. This is easy, safe money. But they also take risks, big risks, with the whole panoply of loans, mortgages, derivatives and any other weird scam they can …
Jun
6
Are We Spending Too Much On Our Children?
June 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment
… our kids. However, I'm beginning to wonder if we're not spending too much time and money on our children.
The idea of spending too much time (or money) and our children seems ridiculous in this modern age of child first living. Aren't we supposed to spend every spare minute with our child ? Aren't we supposed to laugh and clap and encourage their self esteem?
Joseph Epstein doesn't think so. In his recent article entitled The Kindergarchy, he contrasts his upbringing with …
Jun
4
Stimulus Payment Notification - What Does It Say?
June 4, 2008 | 16 Comments
… in digital format. I just scan them in using my HP scanner and store them on my hard drive. I back them up online to make sure I never lose them.
Since I had it scanned in anyway, I thought I might as well share the text of the letter so you knew what to look for. We get so much junk mail these days; it's hard to tell what to keep and what to throw away. Most days I don't have time to look at the important mail, let alone sort through the junk mail.
Below are pages 1 and 2 of the …
May
21
15,000 Stimulus Checks Sent to Wrong People by IRS
May 21, 2008 | 110 Comments
… Helpful readers have been answering questions, giving advice and most importantly voicing their support for other readers.
What Happened to 15,000 Stimulus Payments?
According to this Newsday article, the IRS has admitted that at least 15,000 stimulus payments were deposited in the wrong accounts.
"We do know of instances of problems; we've heard of situations where stimulus checks have gone to the wrong people's bank accounts," conceded Kevin McKeon, the Internal Revenue …
Comment by Jennifer: … only got $1200 back….I dont know what we're gonna do …
May
14
Stimulus Payment: Do My Children Qualify?
May 14, 2008 | 12 Comments
If you have children, they may earn you an additional $300 each this year. That's because the economic stimulus package allows for an additional payment for each qualifying child in your household.
How will I know if my children qualify?
The IRS has some basic requirements. First the child has to have a valid SSN ( Social Security Number ). Second the child must have been younger than 17 at …
Comment by Chris: … $300 for you child. The letter the IRS sent you …
May
5
I've received several questions about the possibility of a second economic stimulus package . Many people want to know if it's true or just a rumor. Here's what we know right now.
The "First" Economic Stimulus Package
The Economic Stimulus Package was passed by Congress in early 2008. Among other things, it mandates direct cash payments to US citizens who've met a certain level of …
Comment by Amazed: … going to send it back. But…..if it doesn't it's not …