Another economic disaster looms for both the US and Mexico and something needs to be done in the near future to stop it.
Mexico is currently the fifth largest oil producer in the world and the third biggest supplier of crude oil to the United ...
Continue reading How Mexico Can Save Its Oil Industry: Sell Baja California to the US
Out of Touch? Putting The Tea Party Protests In Perspective
In 1773, American colonists tossed three shiploads of taxed tea into Boston Harbor as a protest against the British practice of taxation without representation. Some 236 years later, another tea party of sorts was held in towns all across America, ...
Continue reading Out of Touch? Putting The Tea Party Protests In Perspective
Beware of Strangers Bearing Gifts
Lisa Simpson: Grampa! Didn't you wonder why you were getting checks for doing absolutely nothing?
Grampa: Not really... I figured it was because the Democrats were in power again.
-- From an episode of The Simpsons
I've got some great news ...
Continue reading Beware of Strangers Bearing Gifts
Don’t Fall for the Siren’s Song of Socialism
Rasmussen Reports released the results of a survey today that shows only 53% of American adults believe capitalism is better than socialism. This poll represents a shot over the heads of everybody who cares for the future of this country.
Among ...
Continue reading Don’t Fall for the Siren’s Song of Socialism
Stop the Bailouts and Let the Bankruptcy Process Do Its Job
The US government's decision to force out the head of General Motors should send chills throughout the private sector for years to come. This only serves to undermine the free market and stretch government authority over the private sector in ways ...
Continue reading Stop the Bailouts and Let the Bankruptcy Process Do Its Job
What It Really Feels Like To Be A Millionaire
Yesterday my family and I got in the car and drove to Arizona for the day to see my beloved Los Angeles Dodgers play a Cactus League game against the Chicago White Sox at their new spring training complex known as Camelback Ranch.
The Dodgers lost ...
Continue reading What It Really Feels Like To Be A Millionaire
The Middle Class Should Prepare for an Increasing Tax Burden
It's time to dip into the mailbag again. I always love it when I get letters -- especially the more, shall we say, interesting ones.
For example, I received one letter from someone who I can only assume is a card carrying member of a militant ...
Continue reading The Middle Class Should Prepare for an Increasing Tax Burden
Gordon Gekko Would Be Proud: It’s Time to Let AIG Fail
The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for ...
Continue reading Gordon Gekko Would Be Proud: It’s Time to Let AIG Fail
24 (Financial) Things About Me … And One Confession Makes 25
I have a confession to make: I'm the Prince of Unhip. The King of Cautious. Poster boy for Blah. Lord of the Nerds.
I get misty-eyed every time I watch Anthony Edwards give that inspiring "I'm a nerd and I'm pretty proud of it" speech in front of ...
Continue reading 24 (Financial) Things About Me … And One Confession Makes 25
Evaluate Your Options Before Selling Gold Jewelry
I was watching a King of Queens marathon late last night and my viewing enjoyment was continually being disrupted by those ubiquitous Cash4Gold ads that urge viewers to collect their unwanted jewelry so it can be turned into "cold, hard, ...
Continue reading Evaluate Your Options Before Selling Gold Jewelry
Be Fiscally Irresponsible — Get $5000!
I love stupid-humor movies; I blame that on my folks. When I was just a kid they always let me stay up past my bedtime so I could watch Jerry Lewis movies that were on the television.
I watched a lot of Jerry Lewis movies when I was a ...
Continue reading Be Fiscally Irresponsible — Get $5000!
Don’t Feel Guilty Tipping Your Server 15%
I guess my first foray into the mail bag last week actually inspired a few more of you to write in. Most of the letters received were from President Obama fans who wanted to opine on my recent take on the $75B mortgage rescue bailout. Judging from ...
Continue reading Don’t Feel Guilty Tipping Your Server 15%
No, I Won’t Get Over It: The New Mortgage Bailout Plan Stinks
Hello all. It's me again. Your mean, uncaring, personal finance blogger with the heart of a lump of coal and a soul from the depths of Hades.
Yes, I am still steaming at this Obama rescue plan. No, I won't get over it.
And the more I read ...
Continue reading No, I Won’t Get Over It: The New Mortgage Bailout Plan Stinks
I’m Just Askin’: Why Bother Being Fiscally Responsible Anymore?
"All of us must learn to live within our means again." - President Barack Obama
Taken at face value, who can argue with a statement like that? As a sound bite, President Obama's statement is an encouraging affirmation of good common fiscal ...
Continue reading I’m Just Askin’: Why Bother Being Fiscally Responsible Anymore?
An Easy Way to Compare Credit Card Reward Programs
I always assumed the cash-back card to be a better value than the one passing out airline miles, but I never did a detailed analysis to confirm my suspicions. For me it just made better sense to get a dividend check a couple times per year that I co ...
Continue reading An Easy Way to Compare Credit Card Reward Programs
If Arnold Schwarzenegger Was My Household CEO
"To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don't be economic girlie men!" - Arnold Schwarzenegger
While writing my 2008 State of the Household financial report I got this germ of an idea that kept popping into my head: What ...
Continue reading If Arnold Schwarzenegger Was My Household CEO
My 2008 State of the Household Financial Report (Part 4)
Today at work I was a bit distracted. This was entirely due to my anticipation regarding my earlier promise to finish this four-part series with a quick summary of my net worth. I hope most of you can forgive me; it's just that I feel like the lea ...
Continue reading My 2008 State of the Household Financial Report (Part 4)
My 2008 State of the Household Financial Report (Part 3)
Welcome to Part 3 of my State of the Household financial report for 2008. I've been very serious about running my household like a business for close to 20 years now. As a result, I have managed to compile detailed data across a long time period. ...
Continue reading My 2008 State of the Household Financial Report (Part 3)
My 2008 State of the Household Financial Report (Part 2)
Welcome to Part 2 of my four-part State of the Household Financial Report. If you missed it, be sure to check out Part 1 first!
Once again, here is the illustrative breakdown of my "outflow", or expenses, for the year in the form of a pie chart. ...
Continue reading My 2008 State of the Household Financial Report (Part 2)
My 2008 State of the Household Financial Report
As required by our household constitution, the household CFO is required to deliver the family financial report to the household CEO each January. ;-)
As such, the ever-dependable Honeybee has painstakingly tracked and recorded our finances for ove ...
Continue reading My 2008 State of the Household Financial Report