You Owe What You Owe

Our society is given more and more to laziness and victim mentality, or so it seems.  I’ve conducted no scientific research but the prevailing winds of conversation, and print stories, and news ‘events’ seem to prevent as much.  Perhaps this is just the vocal minority – I so hope – or perhaps we’re on a horrible downward trend. A pair of illustrations resonated, or more accurately collided,...

Money Buys Us Options

We are all familiar with the saying “money can’t buy happiness” and because it has been repetitively drilled into our heads for so long, it is something with which we largely agree.  From a literal standpoint, I know that I can’t run down to the “Happy” store for their latest buy one get one free sale, but, at the same time, I can also appreciate the levels of joy I’d experience if...

Adjust Your Oxygen Mask First…

“In the event of a decompression, an oxygen mask will drop from a compartment above your seat.  To start the flow of oxygen, pull the mask towards you.  Place it firmly over your nose and mouth, secure the elastic band behind your head, and breathe normally.  Although the bag does not inflate, oxygen is flowing to the mask.  If you are travelling with a child or someone who requires assistance,...

Black Friday, Yours or Theirs?

The Friday after Thanksgiving has long been called the single largest shopping day of the year.  It is a perfect storm of availability, as many American’s enjoy the day away from work, and transition into the Christmas season. Retailers have hyped us into believing that today is itself a shopping holiday.  Early morning door busting openings and sales that once started at 7 or 8am are now launching...

Link Round-up – Thanks In Advance edition

  Hello everyone, today I want to take pause and share with you some good stuff from other sites I’ve been keeping an eye on.  I hope you’ll check out the efforts from these talented and insightful folks. I also want to call your attention to a 2 part series I am launching next week on the issue of Healthcare Reform.  The timing of last weekend’s vote and my article is ironic...

Crap On A Bun Is Still A Bad Sandwich

  A couple months ago I wrote an article asking if your money likes you.  In a transitive way, I was really asking if you like your money.  Of course you may think that you like your money, but your actions are often the final arbiter. I’ll let you have the morsel for free, because today I want to spend some time talking about a group that I know who does love your money – Retailers. Of course...

Too Smart For Their Own Good

  I was listening to a Dave Ramsey show podcast and just had to offer up a brief rant about one of the callers.  It seems that this couple was calling under the guise of wanting to buy a larger home and did not know if they were ready.  That is not such an unusual question and Ramsey certainly has a sound theory on the characteristics that indicate when someone is ‘ready’. However, as he started...