Hi All,
This gave me chuckle…I think the real question is if the aliens will enslave Fox news.
[REMOVED]
Monthly Archives: April 2009
America’s Lost Decade
Hi All,
Of all the financial columnists out there, I really enjoy Jane Bryant Quinn, she says the best stuff. If you haven’t caught her column on Bloomberg, its well worth checking out.
Her most recent has a couple of interesting points.
First, this isn’t a shocker but its sad nonetheless. If you invested in stocks over the last decade, you lost everything – your return level is where it was at in 1997. You’ve literally lost a decade of investing time. – No joke. Any wealth creation you banked on during this time was whiped out.
Second, both stocks and bonds are cheap right now. If you’re looking to get in, now is a good time, especially for junk bonds and equities.
Give it a read – over at Bloomberg.
Best,
James
Tip of the Day: Avoid Rent To Own
Hi All,
Here is a quickie tip – avoid rent to own schemes, you’ll end up paying more in the long run. Here is how rent to own works, a company will buy an appliance wholesale, say a Television or DVD player, then rent it to an unsuspecting consumer for well above the wholesale price.
For example, a 42 Inch Phillips LCD TV goes for about $868 dollars wholesale. A rent to own outfit will want to rent it to you for $99 per month for 24 months. The gross profit on this is about about $1,508 ($99×24 – $868). Guess who pays for this? Yep, its you, the consumer.
Rent to own is a rip off. Instead get used appliances from craigslist or a flea market. Don’t let rent to own take any of your wealth.
Best,
James
Dealing With Spousal Money Conflict
Hi All,
There is precious little on how couples should manage their money on-line. So, it was delightful to locate this video on Kiplinger’s personal finance. Its got some practical tips for managing couples conflicts about money. Their recommendation: go with a hybrid solution whereby each person has some autonomy and responsibility for taking care of investments and discretionary income.
March Job Losses at 742,000!
Hi All,
Keep those emergency funds healthy folks! The US economy isn’t out of the woods yet. Bloomberg is reporting that March job losses topped 742,000 – more than January and February of this year (here). Live frugal, cut back, and try to build some extra wealth just in case.
Best,
James