Stimulate Me: The Greatest "Story" Ever Told!

Photo Courtesy of kyle/thebookpolice

Growing up, I used to get in BIG trouble for calling someone a liar. Even if they actually were lying! Instead I was encouraged to say "So and so told a 'story'."

This never jived too well with me. A lie is a lie. And there's a BIG LIE being told to you on a daily basis as far as the economy is concer-- um excuse me...

THIS JUST IN...

"Only YOU can prevent this nation's colapse!"

While I was driving home last night listening to talk radio, I heard a politician lay out the steps to strengthening the economy. Basically, he said it was all on YOUR shoulders to fix this. Yes YOU!


"Thank Heaven for the express line, I only have 7 items!"

YOU have to buy brand new American cars, and Flat screen tv's. Oh and while you're at it please prop up the restaurant industry by eating out more so that we can get back to being America the Beautiful... Um and since we're on the subject you would do well to pick up a premium gym membership so that all that eating out doesnt ruin your perfect American figure. Mmmm but come to think of it either way you're gonna need to buy a whole new wardrobe cause either you're gonna lose weight from working out, or gain it from eating out... just a thought. - $igned : Capitol Hill, Wall Street, & The Media.

P.S.: You can't save money and save the country from financial ruin at the same time so dont even try the first one. We're counting on you to do what's right for your fellow Americans...


Emancipation from Stimulation...

I'm hearing more and more about people who want to do the right thing for the 'economy' so they are foregoing paying down their personal debt, and spending more of their income to 'help' troubled industries such as dining, travel and retail.

C'mon guys, please dont compromise your responsibilities to your family by taking on any part of this 'national burden' that's being sold to you on the airwaves. THAT IS NOT YOUR JOB!!

If you DO still have a job, it is to provide for your family and manage your personal situation to the best of your means.

Unless you are an elected official, or an economic adviser by profession, this nation's economy woes are NOT your responsibility.


The 4 Walls: The frame of your financial house.

In times like this - no scratch that -at all times you have 4 main responsibilities, or what Dave Ramsey calls the 4 Walls: Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Transportation.

When things are tight, keep those 4 things going, and only those 4 things. Not the 401k, not the greens fees at the country club, not the Costco membership, and not the standing order sent to you monthly from Omaha Steaks or the 12 different magazine subscriptions you currently recive.

While the nation is expecting you to take care of it, I'm expecting you to take care of you.

So what's it gonna be?

@W


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The @Risk Bailout Plan...

Dow: Down 778 points in one day...

Congress: On crack...

The current bank that holds my account: Changes by the minute....

Financial outlook: Bleakest we've EVER seen...

Personal Opinion on this whole mess:

THIS IS WHY I NEED TO BE DEBT FREE!!! (And why you do too!)

What are we waiting for? What's it gonna take? Why are you surprised?

And most importantly, what are you going to do about it?

Oh and lets end this on a high note.... this just in: Oil is now $95/barrell!

(See, it aint ALL bad news!)

This too shall pass,

@W







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Beer and Money... A Match Made In...(Nevermind)

Photo courtesy of GraphicsDB.com

During this rollercoaster of a year for the economy, Americans have tightened budgets and pinched pennies in various ways. Many have cut back on driving to ease the cost of gas. Many have skipped the box office ($10 per ticket) in exchange for Redbox ($1 per movie rental). (P.S. - I love you redbox, you've been a wonderful friend to my wife and I while we get out of debt! lol)

But one staple of American life has strangely resisted the downward pull of our slumping economy. Actually this industry is experiencing a record surge in sales instead of the decline seen elsewhere.

So what is this magical product? I bet you would say Oil, or Gas, but you'd be wrong... well kinda wrong because they're not the product I'm talking about in this instance.

Homer Simpson would call it DUFF... er - I mean BEER.

For 2008 beer prices are up 7% over the past year as brewers passed on higher manufacturing costs to consumers.... BUT...2008 sales are also up 6.8% as well! It would be one thing if they jacked up the prices and usage remained roughly the same... but you actually mean to tell me that people are paying more for it, and STILL buying more of it at the same time? Is it really that deep America?!

Well in a word... Yes.

See, beer and alcohol are about as close to the perfect 'product' as we'll ever see. When people celebrate, they get drunk. When people wallow in their sorrows, they get drunk. Got that huge promotion? Let's go get drunk. Just got fired after 20 years with the company? Hmmm... I know, let's go get drunk! (and now go look at the picture for this post again lol.... deep aint it?)

And as most of you know firsthand, or have *ahem* 'heard' from others, drinking aint cheap! lol

Still, you have to tip your hat to anyone who has the moral ambivalence to brew and market beer and alcohol. It fits virtually any occassion. unless you dont drink that is...

Making money off of people's joy and pain comes off a bit parasitic or opportunistic to me. In a way it reminds me of predatory lenders, which I've seen my fair share of in the past year. But hey, what do I know?

@W

*Just to clarify, I do not condone the consumption of alchol, nor do I partake of it myself. I just wanted to share this observation with you while it was fresh in my mind.

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A Near-crash Course In STUPID TAX!

Photo courtesy of rollingtheberries

I messed up royally yesterday...

Stupid Tax can be defined as anything stupid you do that ends up costing you money. Simple as that. It can be that get rich quick scheme that is so "foolproof" that you used your rent money as the down payment. It can be that $700 white Prada bag you accidentally spilled nail polish on (let's have a moment of silence for the ladies, I know they felt that one. lol)

So yeah, I messed up yesterday. It's almost a shame because otherwise it was a truly PERFECT day! We got to church early. (A rarity.) We took communion. (MUCH needed.) We spent time with our friends and church family. (Always a pleasure.) And then we decided to drive across the Potomac and check out the newly opened National Harbor.

It was nice over there but we didnt stay because my wife didnt have a change of shoes and I didnt want her feet to hurt. So we were headed back to VA, and while trying to merge onto 95 South, I saw a muffler lying in the middle of the lane. The car in front of me centers their car and rides right over it without incident... I try to do the same... center my car over it and...

The muffler somehow nicks the inside wall of my front driver side tire... instant blowout.

See friends, THAT'S stupid tax lol. Like I alwasy say: If you're gonna fail, fail epicly! lol

But here is the amazing difference between the stupid tax I used to pay with regularity, and the stupid tax I occasionally have to pay now: There is no pain, and there is no panic. Instead there is peace, Financial Peace, because I've already budgeted money for my mistakes. It's called our emergency fund, and this situation is a prime example of why you need one.

We have money in our emergency fund to cover replacing the blown tire. And that's all there is to it. We just pay to replace the tire and keep it moving! No wringing our hands. No being caught financially unprepared. No flared tempers with the wife and no arguing.

Financial PEACE.

Once again, my wife was effortlessly calm, and supportive. Her disposition in times of adversity truly humbles and awes me. We were on the side of the road laughing and cracking jokes as I put the spare tire on! Once I finished putting it on, we spent the rest of the afternoon driving the long way home thru DC. We just had a BLOWOUT, this is supposed to be serious emergency stuff and we're both as carefree as we were at church earlier!

On that note, I'm certain that our taking communion earlier at church played a large part in the peace we felt in this situation as well.

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) says: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

The Word aint no joke! That's exactly where my mind was (On Him), so I know that's where the real peace came from... peace that not even all this money talk can't buy.

Thank you Jesus,

@W

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