Economy

The Best Advice for Saving as Much as You Can

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The Best Advice for Saving as Much as You Can

That’s because understanding personal finance is an uphill battle for many Americans. We’re not taught about the practicalities of money in school, because the truth is many industries profit from our ignorance. While wages have hardly budged in decades, shareholders and CEOs have never been richer. The cost of living in many major cities is prohibitive to just about anyone but the super privileged, or those willing to take on a lot of debt or make enormous sacrifices. While the stock market soars, just 52% of U.S. adults actually owned stock in 2016, according to Gallup, and the wealthiest 1% of households owned 38% of all stock shares in 2013. The government is actively working against consumers to make it easier for financial institutions to prey on its citizens, and a single medical bill can send a person into debt for the rest of their lives.

Economy Will Be ‘Supercharged’ After Pandemic But There’s One Big Risk, Moody’s Says (It’s Not Inflation)

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Economy Will Be ‘Supercharged’ After Pandemic But There’s One Big Risk, Moody’s Says (It’s Not Inflation)

As early indicators point to a strong recovery that will create a “supercharged” economy once the coronavirus crisis slows down, Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi says that the biggest risk to that recovery isn’t the runaway inflation that has many experts sounding alarm bells but a dangerous surge in asset values.

My sneaking suspicion that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is advertising to QAnon supporters

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My sneaking suspicion that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is advertising to QAnon supporters …

I’ve been noticing that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is increasingly advertising on Facebook feeds and prepper and homesteading websites. I couldn’t help but think they are going for the QAnon crowd, trying to raise donations from conspiratorial minded individuals, who think the government prostituting children. Maybe it’s a good thing — redirecting funds that might otherwise be used for buying merchandise supporting the bizarre conspiracy theory, but it sure seems exploitative of individuals that are suffering from delusional, conspiratorial thinking about their government.

The GOP is Trying to Turn the Stimulus Checks into Obamacare

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The GOP is Trying to Turn the Stimulus Checks into Obamacare

Simply said, the GOP is trying to stimulus package into another Obamacare debacle, by limiting who can get stimulus checks to low-income and lower-middle class families, citing budgetary concerns. The lower-middle class income restriction will lead many middle-to-upper middle class families without a check or a reduced check, and it will be pure class warfare again.

The Republican television commercial is almost written, should the stimulus checks be capped at $40k or $50k a year. The welfare recipient or immigrant takes his or her stimulus check to the local Cadillac Dealership, puts down a down-payment and walks out with a shinny new Cadillac SUV, while the hard-working middle class family gets nothing. Or if it’s not a Cadillac, the poor folk will be buying a big-screen, colored television at Walmart, while you the Middle Class Family, tough turkey.

A lot of the complaints about Obamacare were the same way. If you made $30k or $40k and lacked health insurance, heavily subsidized plans would be available at an affordable rate. If you made $70k or $80k, you might be able to buy into an Obamacare plan, but chances are it would be expensive and you would be stuck affording a high-deductible plan. You can say middle-class families can afford a big health insurance bill, but let’s be honest, our budgets are just as tight as the poor folk.

I know I would be super cranky if I saw all the poor people were getting big checks, buying televisions and cars, while I am struggling to pay my bills and save for my future. It really doesn’t seem like the government should be choosing the poor people over the Middle Class with their emergency stimulus package.