Economy

I bought $65 worth of groceries today at Aldi’s …

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I bought $65 worth of groceries today at Aldi’s …

  • I was surprised I spent that much but when I got home I realized I got a lot of food – freezer is full – and that’s good to have things well stocked up in case I do get sick and because Aldi’s is on the other side of the river so I don’t get over that way often
  • Seems a fair bit cheaper than Walmart for the essential goods that I want – my budget is always tight and I’m always looking to save a buck
  • I like shopping at Aldi’s because not only is it affordable it’s fast – I never buy name brand or boutique products so their limited selection covers – everything that I could want
  • There odd and creative brands are amusing – they’re store brands but their more upscale than the store brands you find at Walmart or Price Chopper. Happy Cow, Happy Harvest, Friendly Fisheries, Millville, etc… Names are cute
  • I think the quality is a bit better then other store brands in generally, although their apple juice is somewhat lacking
  • I wish they had more bulk and large packages – often their packages are smaller then the sizes you can get at a Walmart or even Shoprite – means more trash but also more option to mix and match
  • I think it would be good for shopping especially when I want a lot of food for camping, although I’d have to follow it up with a visit to Walmart to buy beer, anmo, bait and other camping supplies
  • Made the mistake of buying uncooked, breaded chicken instead of microwavable chicken so I’m cooking up a full cookie sheet and will freeze leftovers – my mistake I’m unfamiliar with the store
  • I like how fast the checkout is and how they have real people scanning your items quickly – never a line – and they fly through your order putting it back in your car unbagged. Beats having to deal with those self checkout lines at Walmart
  • Then you just bag it as you want on the shelf after you pay – no rush bagging it and you can make sure cold stuff remains in one bag

Truth be told…. I was kind of off-put by the oddity of the store when I went there 10 years ago in Niagara Falls… But now a days with plastic bags banned in New York and Aldi’s taking credit cards it is a lot more like shopping at any other supermarket except with a lot less walking and time wasted to get the things you need.

Economic Development Country Classification

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The World Bank breaks countries down into five categories based on their Economic Development Level. More of North America and Europe is High income: OECD, while other countries that aren't part of the OECD represent those with lesser levels of economic development.

Data Source: World Bank Development Indicators. http://wdi.worldbank.org

NPR

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5 Of The World’s Smartest Economists Share Ideas On Saving The Economy : NPR

The U.S. economy has been staggered and shocked by the coronavirus pandemic. A stock market meltdown was followed by a more seismic event — waves of business shutdowns, putting millions of jobs at risk.

The moment is unprecedented because we are fighting a deadly contagion and a sudden economic downturn simultaneously. Both health and material well-being are at risk. That makes the way out even more challenging. And there's no guaranteed playbook from past economic downturns to rely on — because this one is like no other.

How They Work : NPR

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Stock Market Circuit Breakers: How They Work : NPR

Under market rules, circuit breakers kick in at three thresholds:

Level 1: A drop of 7% from the prior day's closing price in the S&P 500 triggers a 15-minute trading halt. Trading is not halted if the drop occurs at or after 3:25 p.m. ET.
Level 2: A drop of 13% triggers a 15-minute halt. Trading is not halted if the drop occurs at or after 3:25 p.m. ET.
Level 3: A drop of 20% triggers a halt for the rest of the trading day and trading resumes the following day.

NPR

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Dow Dives 1,900 Points, NYSE Halts Trading As Stock Indexes Plummet : NPR

Trading on the New York Stock Exchange was halted temporarily Monday after indexes plunged 7% in reaction to Saudi Arabia's shocking oil price cut. Trading later resumed and stock indexes recovered some of their losses.

The financial market chaos comes amid increasing worries that the coronavirus epidemic will plunge the global economy into recession.

In early trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down more than 1,900 points — more than 19% off its February peak. Stocks also fell sharply in Asia and Europe.

Expensive Coffee

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Did you know a $5 dollar cup of coffee ☕ can actually cost $150?

Coffee

If you are age 30, and buy a cup off coffee for $5 instead of buying an index fund that has a 9.8 percent return, the average of the S&P 500 over the past 90 years, and let it mature for 35 years, you would end up with about $150, which of course doesn’t include inflation or fees.

The point is every consumer item you buy, is essentially stealing from your future.

We all have to live, spend some money, get enjoyment out of today. But certainly something in a styrofoam or paper cup, that’s going to end up in a landfill or a fire shortly after use should be avoided, especially if you can make due without or find a less expensive option for enjoying today. I drink coffee, but I make it in my percolator pot, using my reusable mug.