Category: Finances

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Tough work ahead

The congress of the United States has some tough work ahead. The budget is busted and there is much debate over how to fix it. Some want to raise taxes and some don’t. Some want to slash spending and some don’t. What everyone can see clearly in my opinion is that both things must be done.

The constant fighting between democrats and republicans is getting old. I think they really need to learn how to work together and deal with the issues at hand. Their decisions may be unpopular, but the country needs it!!

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Financial futures

One thing that everyone needs to be doing in these tough economic times is making sure that they take care of their finances. These days, every penny counts and it’s important to use the money you have to make money. This is especially important for those who plan to retire at some point in their life. The good news is that there are ways to do this easily and cheaply.

For those who are in this position, there are some good sites on the internet to help with the task. You can find some Do it Yourself portfolio management tools that will steer you in the right direction. By using the information obtained from these sites, you can almost guarantee yourself a bright financial future. Many experts have done much of the legwork for you and that gives you a leg up on everyone else.

You can use an Online Portfolio Manager to help you as well as using Portfolio rebalancing software to ensure that you are on the right path to a secure retirement. This is serious business as your future depends largely on how you manage your money in the years before retirement. For those who wish to retire happily I believe this is good advice. I hope everyone will take this advice to heart and look into the situation today.

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All That Glitters

If a person from the local Television station was doing “Man on the Street” interviews with a camera crew and he asked you to tell him the price of gold what would you say? I would have to be honest and tell him that I have no idea what today’s gold prices could possibly be. I do know a little about gold, like it is the purest form of money and cannot be devalued by Governments like the American dollar can be devalued.

Twice a day, a group of bankers in London meet and decide to announce the current gold spot to the world. They make the announcement by telephone and the rest of the world makes their investment decisions based on that announcement. The five banks involved in making this twice daily decision are World Heavyweights in the banking industry. I know you have heard of most if not all of them, including Barclays Capital, Deutsche Bank HSBC Scotia-Mocatta and Societe Generale. I believe that all of these banks have a presence in America, too. I’m pretty sure the last time I was in New York City we took a cab down Wall Street and saw signs for all of these.

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Loans for Greece

Everybody knows by now that the country of Greece has had some major economic problems. It seemed for awhile that the country would devalue its currency and forfeit on a number of its loans. This is no longer a problem as Greece has received loans from European countries.

The only sticking point has been how much Greece would pay on the loans it receives. The matter is still in talks. In the mean time, citizens of Greece will have to tough out the new economic measures that are being placed on them by the government. I hope they will understand the need to pay their debts.

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Budget deficits

The federal government is borrowing money at a fantastic rate. As of right now, the American taxpayers are paying a rate of 40 cents for every dollar they spend. It is a wonder how much longer we can go on paying these types of charges on our money. The budget is out of control and needs to be trimmed in a serious way.

The congress is still debating a balanced budget amendment and things are not looking good. The republicans and democrats are auguring over what items need to be trimmed. I say that all items should be on the table and the budget should be balanced as soon as possible.

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China trade

There is some good news today and that is the fact that China has agreed to purchase more American made goods. After a visit today of Chinese leader Hu Jintao to the Obama white house, the deal was struck. This is good news for American workers.

The trade gap between china and America has worried experts for years. They have wondered how long the American economy can sustain sending millions to china every month. China has agreed to purchase over 200 Boeing plane for a total of about $19 billion dollars. I hope this trend continues!!

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After the pain

Ever since the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico by the oil giant BP, there has been a lot of talk about compensation. BP has offered many people settlements with the stipulation that they will not sue the company. While many have accepted the offers, many are skeptical.

The Attorneys generals of at least four states have offered advice to those who have not accepted any offers as of yet. They are saying that it would be wise to consult a lawyer and that they could be eligible for more money. The cases will undoubtedly tie up the courts for years to come.

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Suggestions

A friend of mine asked me if I would be able to help him out. He was looking for a new car and was a little overwhelmed by the situation. It’s a lot of work and can be very confusing and intimidating for those who are not used to it. I was glad to help and after doing a little research, I made a few suggestions.

The first thing I did was ask him what kind of car he needed. Knowing what you will use the car for will go a long way towards making your decision. He expressed some interest in getting a truck. If that was the case then I would suggest the Chevy Silverado. It’s a good vehicle that is solid and dependable. I might also suggest a Range-Rover. They are good for many things as well.

He also indicated that he may be more interested in something that was a little sportier. In that case, I would suggest the Nissan Altima. There are a number of cars to choose from and knowing what you want is a key. There is always a lot of information and some can be found in the car encyclopedia. It’s a good source of info to help you with your decision. I know my friend will make a good choice and I can’t wait to see him in his new car!

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Be glad you did

There are many things that play a major role in our lives. One thing that always has a big impact is money. It’s not always how much money you have, but how you handle it. Taking care of the money you have is extremely important. The thing is, no matter how good you are at money, there are times when having good credit is a must. That’s why knowing what your credit score is can make all the difference in your life.

There are many times when we need to borrow money. whether it’s for a car, student loan, or a house, your credit score will play a big role in whether you can borrow the needed money or not. The good news is that there are many places online where you can receive a free credit score. A simple search on the internet will have many sites to choose from.

One of the most common things that lead to a bad credit score is errors. Most credit scores have some bad information on them that hurt your score. A simple review of your credit score can potentially save you thousands of dollars. It’s worth your time to check it out. I would certainly encourage everyone to take a few minutes and find out about your score. You’ll probably be glad you did!

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Help for Us

The financial world seems to be in turmoil. All around the world businesses are having a tough time getting the customers attention. That’s why it’s important to take advantage of every possible venue of sales to potential clients. Getting your product onto the internet is a great way to do that. The problem is that before you can get on the internet, you must set up a site. That’s why a good web hosting service is crucial to anyone who wants to pursue this avenue.

The internet can be a tricky place for those who have marginal computer skills. Having a professional help keep your site up and running is only good business. I have more than a few friends who use a managed hosting service to keep their websites going. They don’t have to worry about backups or trying to fix a technical problem when it occurs. That’s a big relief for those who want to run their business and not spend hours trying to fix a glitch in their system.

Some of my friends are a little more advanced in the computer world. But even these people find it easier to use colocation as a way to keep their servers running. It only makes sense and it saves a lot of time and hassle. I’m glad to know there are so many people who will reach out to a broader base of customers because of these services.