Mega Lottery – Mega Rip Off
There has been a lot of news the past few days about the $600+ million Mega lottery. If people knew the facts, they would never spend the money. It is crazy to see all of those people lined up with pockets full of cash to buy a chance at winning. Consider the facts: Tax on… Read More »
Bank of America New Plan for Foreclosing Homes
The Wall Street Journal reported that BofA is initially offering in New York, Arizona and Nevada homeowners who are having difficulty making mortgage payments, to lease their home back to them, at market rates, in exchange for transferring the deed to the bank using a ‘deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.’ This could be a win for the… Read More »
The Challenge of Low Interest Rates
Interest rates are extremely low, providing challenges for borrowers and investors alike. For potential buyers there may be the temptation to purchase things using debt, instead of saving money for things that are wanted. Renters of apartments are attracted to buy homes since interest rates are at historical lows in the ball park of 3%…. Read More »
GM Chevy Volt Cancelled?
General Motors (GM) announced another “temporary” production halt for its $40,000 electric hybrid Volt car. This car was doomed to fail from the start when they priced it almost twice the cost as Toyota’s Prius. The average passenger car shopper is looking for a car that is priced similar to other cars in the size… Read More »
Stock Act Gaining Momentum
I previously wrote about the federal lawmakers exemption from insider trading laws, allowing them the ability to buy and sell stocks, bonds and real estate using inside information. The lawmakers have access to privileged information that helped many of them to become multimillionaires, peddle influence, and secretly make the information available to hedge-fund managers that only… Read More »
Bad Credit the New Scarlet Letter?
In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel set in the 1850’s the Scarlet Letter, Hester Pyrnne struggled to regain dignity following an adulterous affair. In antiquity, lepers were scorned because people believed they were dirty and being punished by God. In 2012 60% of jobs filled are screened for bad credit ratings. Individuals you may know of good… Read More »
Global Warming and Personal Finances
A recent column in the Wall Street Journal “No Need for Panic About Global Warming” written by 16 prominent scientists, seems to cast serious doubt in global warming (GW). GW seems to be quite a divisive issue these days, at least that is what it seems as if you pay attention to the national media. As a… Read More »
Obama Rejects Keystone Pipeline: Jobs, Energy, Politics and Money
We have not heard the end of the story of the trans-American pipeline to bring Canadian oil sand derived crude though a 1,700 mile pipeline, that Obama rejected yesterday (1/18/12). Conservationists are celebrating, since they believe the negative environment consequences of the line and special process to remove the oil from the sands. It seems… Read More »
$7.5m Donation to You and Me
Billionaire David Rubenstein today made a $7.5 million donation to repair the Washington Monument, damaged from last summer’s earthquake, the government will pay the other $7.5m.
Indiana and the Right to Work Laws
The Indiana legislature is battling over putting the Right to Work referendum on the ballot. Right-to-work laws exist ins 22 states, which prohibit agreements between labor unions and employers that make membership, and union dues a condition of employment. What this means to worker’s personal finances in the short run is having to pay mandatory… Read More »
