This Economy is Effecting More Than The Pocket Book

This economy has got everyone in a slump. There are people in denial who continue living their lives as if nothing is wrong. Then there are people who act as if we are seeing the end of the world. That's not happening yet.

Everyday in the news the stock market continues to go down. Why? For far too many years credit has been too available without regard to whether anyone could afford it. Also, companies have cooked the books, falsifying their bottom line, which helped fuel a buy, buy, buy in stocks. Remember Enron? They cooked the books! Madoff got away with it for decades. And there are certainly more out there. Where there is one rat, there are more. It happened because no one was paying attention or willing do anything about it because they too made a lot of money, lots of it, and as long as they made money, they didn't care too much.

Now people are seeing huge losses and its effecting them in more ways than just in their pocket books, bank account or investments. There is a serious increase in depression, an emotional slump. People are down right depressed. The fortune they were counting on in their retirement is now gone. Some of it is because they got greedy, like in the cartoons, they only saw dollar signs. Instead of being diversified with their money spread around, they were looking at more than doubling their money in fewer investments.

The depression that people are feeling due to their losses in their investment is real, but few are doing much about it. People are resorting to gambling in hopes of making up what they lost, only to lose even more. While others are drinking more, maybe even straight from the bottle as their escape. What people could do instead is, get involved to change policy to stop this sort of investment fraud from happening in the future. It would be proactive, positive and depression relieving. But far too many people would rather drown their sorrows than do anything. It would mean they would have to accept some responsibility.

It is truly a sad state of affairs and it looks like no one is going to do much about it.

In my recently published book, Recession Survival Guide, I give people not only some background into what help bring us to this point but also what anyone can do to help themselves. It sells for $19.95 and can be downloaded immediately. Along with the book I am giving away the following: 3 files demonstrating the power of compound interest, budget workbook, The Money Changers which explains banking industry, and a recipe booklet.

Recession Survival Guide Sale Ends Soon

That's right, the sale price of $13.95 is ending March 1st. That is the last day you can get this well researched and referenced book at its sale price. It is the book of our times helping everyone who has bought it so far. It comes with a Full 60 Day Money Back Guarantee, and I have yet to have anyone feel the book was not worth the purchase price.  After March 1st the price will go up, and from the input I've received, it will not go to its full price of $22.95.  As has been pointed out to me, there are too many people who are struggling who can benefit from the information in this book. I've decided to only raise the price to $19.95 after March 1st, which is still affordable. 

Buy Your Copy Today, before the price goes up!

Blog syndication

I just added my blog to my myLot account. It was actually very easy to do. Another nice thing about myLot, it pays you to participate. Ok, not a lot, but hey, for people who are out of work, stay at home parents or just have some time on their hands they can make money participating through their own account. Check out myLot, see it for yourself then create an account. Every little bit of coinage helps.

myLot User Profile

What now?

People lived high on the hog for far too long. Now that markets have dropped and are staying low, the only the bankers and brokers are really making any money. Everyone else is wondering what will happen to them next week, because this week they avoided being 'laid-off.'

Now that things are tough, everyone is more concerned about money. The cost of living is on people's mind, even if they wont say it out loud. So, what exactly is the cost of living?

I guess that depends on who you ask. The government figures it one way while news outlets, well I can't say where they get their data, but they say another thing. Here are some categories I have used:

• --Rent/mortgage (got to live somewhere)


• --Transportation (got to get around, at least to work and home again)


• --Phone (one with basic service only-it's a must to get a job)


• --Education (to keep a job or get a new one, can't do without)


• --Food (if people eat more at home the cost is lower, but I figure 50/50-home/eat out)


• --Clothing (or you get arrested and need nice cloths for the job)


• --Toiletries (I think you know why this one)


• --Utilities (the basics, nothing fancy)


• --Home furnishings (again the basics-someplace to sit, tables, bookshelf, etc. - nothing fancy no kitsch)


• --Appliances (can't cook without a stove and can't keep food without a fridge)


• --Electronics (only those that are needed, no extras or fun things-no game boy)


• --Vacation (can't live without some R&R, it makes people more productive and reduces stress and less medical costs! - some employers are stupid when it comes to giving people time off, they just don't get it value or purpose.)


• --Medicine (all the things not covered or have to pay extra for)


• --Retirement funding (since employers are pushing it onto employees to do their own doesn't mean they shouldn't cover it)

Yeah, a lot of categories, but as you can see, I am only looking at what is needed, no extras or wants. I figure cost of living in two ways: 1) what it actually costs plus 15%, or 2) if minimum wage if had kept up with the cost of living. Either way, both numbers are very close. Ready? It costs an individual $68,000 to $75,000 a year to pay for everything, and I am not talking extravagances here or in any way with a lot of extras, like cable TV or fancy clothes. That's right, around $70,000 a year!

People making less are not only struggling, but not making it. If they get sick, they are more likely to get the worst care, or none at all, and poor people are more likely to die because no one will treat them. As for retirement, maybe some people would still remember the news stories of some elderly eating cat food, living without heat and a lot of other things. Well that's what happens when there is no retirement planning and no money to fund it. You've got to thank God we live in the U.S. where we are all told we have a chance at the “American Dream” but few actually realize it.

Making money online

I have surfed for more than 2 years looking for legitimate businesses and ways to make money online. Ya know, there are more scammers and rip-offs online than hucksters at a fair.

But, here is something that is not only legit, oh boy, it can make you money, around 8 to 9% return on investment. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it. Well, it's not. This is not only legitimate and legal way to make money, many people are involved in it. What is it? Lending money.

Let me explain. This is a company that has filings with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) which also oversees businesses traded on the stock exchange. The Lending Club allows you to either borrow money, lend money or do both, but not at the same time - you do one or the other at one time (unless rules change). I am a lender on the Lending Club. Yeah, you can worry about losing money, and sometimes it happens. What's nice though is the ability to check the background information of a borrower, to see their credit rating, have they ever been delinquent on a loan, and how long have they been a member of the Lending Club. You can even send them an email, asking a question, so the whole thing is much more personable.

If you are either in need of money or would like to make some money, then at least check out the Lending Club. I started lending a small amount, $100, and as I make money I will loan out more. If you are skiddish, that's fine, but still want to make some money, then invest very small amounts, like $50, so if a person does turn out to be really unreliable and defaults, at least not much was lost. When was the last time your bank gave you a 9% return on your investment? Its worth checking out the Lending Club. 

On a cautionary note, don't invest your entire nest egg in one place, that includes having your money in one bank. That's how fortunes are lost.

What is the cost of living?

What exactly is the cost of living. I guess that depends on who you ask. The government figures it one way while news outlets, well I can't say where they get their data, but they say another thing. Here are some categories I've used:

• rent/mortgage (got to live somewhere)
  
• transportation (got to get around)
  
• phone (one with basic service only-it's a must to get a job)
  
• education (to keep a job or get a new one, can't do without)
  
• food (if people eat more at home the cost is lower, but I figure 50/50-home/eat out)
  
• clothing (or you get arrested and need it for the job)
  
• toiletries (I think you know why on this one)
  
• utilities (the basics, nothing fancy)
  
• home furnishings (the basics-someplace to sit, tables, bookshelf, etc. - nothing fancy)
  
• appliances (can't cook without a stove and can't keep food without a fridge)
  
• electronics (only those needed, no extras or fun things-no game boy)
  
• vacation (can't live without some R&R, it also makes people more productive and reduces stress -> less medical costs! - some employers are stupid when it comes to giving people time off, they just don't get it.)
  
• medicine (all the things not covered or have to pay extra for)
  
• retirement funding (since employers are pushing it onto employees to do their own doesn't mean they shouldn't cover it in increased pay!)

Did I miss anything?  You tell me.

I figure cost of living in two ways: 1) what it actually costs plus 15%, or 2) if minimum wage had kept up with the cost of living. Either way, both numbers are real close.  Ready?  It costs an individual $68,000 to $75,000 a year to pay for everything, and I am not talking extravagantly or in any way with a lot of extras, like cable TV or fancy clothes.

Now I want to hear from others. Give me your feedback, I want to know what you have to say.

Five Days Left!

Wow, only five days before my book is released.  I've been so busy thinking about all the details, creating a website, who will host it, press releases, promotion and so many other little details.

Now I'm no big name author like, King; Koontz; or even JK Rowling, but I am sure that my book will sell just fine.

I've been working on this book for some months now.  The book, Recession Survival Guide, is about money, its history, why and how we got into this financial mess, banks, savings, creating wealth and like the title says, survive this, or any, recession.  It was written to help anyone who makes use of the information I present.

Stay tuned, as I will provide a link here on January 20^th where you can buy a copy of my book.

Happy New Year Everyone!

The first thing on most people’s mind is, making a resolution. In my opinion, stop making yearly resolutions, especially financial ones.  Why do people torture themselves, especially when they know that they don't keep a resolution?  Make a life plan instead.

Here are some financial suggestions I have for you:

• stop living on credit – get rid of your credit cards or using only one for business


• use cash, limiting how much you spend each week


• pinch every penny you have, investing it


• walk more often, its both healthy and saves you money


• build an emergency fund along with other funds for long-term goals (a new car)


• create a budget, adjust it regularly until it reflects your needs, then stick to it


• saving small amounts add up, especially with compound interest

People often refuse to believe that saving a small amount will add up to much. If you put aside $20 a week for 30 years earning 10% interest (the historical rate of the stock market) you end up with $188,200 and you will only have had to save $31,200 yourself. The rest is all compound interest.

Can’t find $20? Spend less each day. Buy less: lattes, chips, minutes of gossip on your cell phone, candy bar, less bottles of water and you can actually save more than $20 each week. If you also put aside all of your pocket change each day adding it to your weekly deposit, you will have an additional $6 each week. Saving money doesn't have to be hard. You just have to do it on a regular basis.  This can't be that hard to do, or is it?

Make this your Life Resolution instead.

Book Release: Recession Survival Guide

I will be releasing my book on January 20, 2009.  As the title suggests, it is about the current Recession.   The book covers:

• The history of credit
• How to best survive a Recession
• What sort of goals a person should have
• How to set yourself up so another financial disaster won't effect you as badly
• How to get ahead and stay ahead

The book will be released in PDF format.  Price of the is $13.95. 

(More information to follow.)