Thursday, 5 May 2005
Unions Told to Not Use Pension Funds for Lobby
This story caught my eye. Apparently, unions are considering using pension money to lobby against Social Security reform. I'm sure I don't speak for everyone, but if I were a union member, I'd be a little ticked off knowing that the union officials were thinking of taking my pension money to lobby for anything.
Hobbies
I bought an Olympus C-8080 about a year ago. I wanted a good camera that I could grow into. I have to say, I love this camera. I'm so low on the photography ladder that I can't even be considered a novice. But, this camera has a way of making taking pictures easy.
I'm only having fun with my camera. I have serious doubts as to the artistic quality of what I have done, but I wanted to share them with you. You can check out what I have done on JLP's Picture Blog.
It has turned out to be a fun hobby.
Tag: Photo Blog
I'm only having fun with my camera. I have serious doubts as to the artistic quality of what I have done, but I wanted to share them with you. You can check out what I have done on JLP's Picture Blog.
It has turned out to be a fun hobby.
Tag: Photo Blog
Why Are Real Estate Prices so High?
I'm thinking "out loud" so bear with me. Also, if you have something to add to this, feel free to post a comment.
I was driving back from an errand and I took a drive through a housing area around where I live. There was a decent house for sale. It didn't look like anything fancy (at least from the outside). They were asking $140,000. The neighborhood was nothing to write home about.
This got me to thinking. Why are home prices so high? What is driving the housing market? Here's what's been rolling around in my head:
1. Is the growth coming from low interest rates? If this is true, would the apartment rental market be hurting? If that is true then why has apartment construction been so robust lately? With all the new houses being built in my town, you wouldn't think we have a housing shortage.
2. Is the population growing? I don't know the answer to this. Perhaps the population is relocating (moving from one area of the country to another).
3. Are Boomers driving the housing market by buying 2nd homes?
4. Or, is this all being propped up by real estate tax appraisals? THIS is my theory. I think appraisals are on the rise because cities and counties desire the increasing tax base and the resulting revenue. Appraisals are raising the threshold price of homes. Builders are motivated to build more houses because they have the "insurance" of a high appraisal. I THINK I SMELL A BUBBLE!!!!!
The last point is just my theory. I haven't researched this enough to know whether or not it holds water. I would be interested to know what my readers think.
Tags: Housing Market, Home Price Bubble
I was driving back from an errand and I took a drive through a housing area around where I live. There was a decent house for sale. It didn't look like anything fancy (at least from the outside). They were asking $140,000. The neighborhood was nothing to write home about.
This got me to thinking. Why are home prices so high? What is driving the housing market? Here's what's been rolling around in my head:
1. Is the growth coming from low interest rates? If this is true, would the apartment rental market be hurting? If that is true then why has apartment construction been so robust lately? With all the new houses being built in my town, you wouldn't think we have a housing shortage.
2. Is the population growing? I don't know the answer to this. Perhaps the population is relocating (moving from one area of the country to another).
3. Are Boomers driving the housing market by buying 2nd homes?
4. Or, is this all being propped up by real estate tax appraisals? THIS is my theory. I think appraisals are on the rise because cities and counties desire the increasing tax base and the resulting revenue. Appraisals are raising the threshold price of homes. Builders are motivated to build more houses because they have the "insurance" of a high appraisal. I THINK I SMELL A BUBBLE!!!!!
The last point is just my theory. I haven't researched this enough to know whether or not it holds water. I would be interested to know what my readers think.
Tags: Housing Market, Home Price Bubble
Wednesday, 4 May 2005
Casket Lawsuit
According to this article ($) in the Wall Street Journal, consumer advocates are suing the biggest funeral home chains, accusing them of price-fixing to keep the price of caskets high. The suit also claims that the funeral home chains charge more for services like embalming if the customer uses a casket purchased from one of the cheaper outlets like FuneralDepot.com or Costco, which sell caskets for a lot less than the typical funeral home.
I have often wondered about the integrity of funeral homes. They are in a perfect position to prey on people's emotions, making them feel guilty if they don't fork out the money for the best send off of their loved one. Maybe somebody should start a "Dig 'em Yerself and Save" funeral home.
Tags: Lawsuit Against Funeral Industry, Funeral Expenses
I have often wondered about the integrity of funeral homes. They are in a perfect position to prey on people's emotions, making them feel guilty if they don't fork out the money for the best send off of their loved one. Maybe somebody should start a "Dig 'em Yerself and Save" funeral home.
Tags: Lawsuit Against Funeral Industry, Funeral Expenses
Tuesday, 3 May 2005
Blogshares
I started messing around with Blogshares, which is a blog directory and also a blog trading game. It is a LOT OF FUN! If you don't have an account with Blogshares, go set one up. Then you can buy "shares" in your favorite blogs. As the blogs grow in popularity, your investment will grow. So far, here's what I "own:"
Anyway, go check out Blogshares.
# of Price per
Shares Blog Share Total
500 AllThingsFinancial 552.27 $276,135.00
1250 Irregular Payments 0.66 $825.00
1250 MyMoneyBlog 73.47 $91,837.50
1250 StocksorBonds 1.12 $1,400.00
250 BudgetingBabe 374.55 $93,637.50
150 WealthyBlogger 92.59 $13,888.50
1250 WealthToday 0.33 $412.50
$478,136.00Anyway, go check out Blogshares.
Tax Appraisal
I got my lovely tax appraisal notice today for my house. They jacked it up another $3,200 for 2005! Our property taxes have gone up nearly $2,000 since we bought our house six years ago. When will it end?
In case you aren't familiar with the property tax formula, it works like this:
Property Tax = Value of Property X Tax Rate
If you'll notice, they have a two-pronged method for raising taxes. First they can raise the property value (which they have done every year since we bought our house), then they can raise the tax rate.
Personally, I think we are headed for a real estate bust. I think property values are not worth anywhere close to what the tax office says they are worth. I think I see a bubble in real estate values. Just my opinion, of course.
Tags: Real Estate Taxes, Appraisal, Taxes
In case you aren't familiar with the property tax formula, it works like this:
If you'll notice, they have a two-pronged method for raising taxes. First they can raise the property value (which they have done every year since we bought our house), then they can raise the tax rate.
Personally, I think we are headed for a real estate bust. I think property values are not worth anywhere close to what the tax office says they are worth. I think I see a bubble in real estate values. Just my opinion, of course.
Tags: Real Estate Taxes, Appraisal, Taxes
Brian Tracy's Seven-Step Method for Achieving Your Goals
I tried to post this in the wee hours of the morning but Blogger kept messing it up. Here it is:
Here it is 1:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. I don't know why, I just can't seem to drift off. So, instead of laying there awake, thinking about stuff, I got up and decided to do a little reading. I was reading Brian Tracy's Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
when I came across his seven-step method for goal setting and achievement. I'd like to share it with you:
Step One: Decide Exactly What You Want
Makes sense to me. However, it is a lot easier said than done. What EXACTLY is it you want?
Step Two: Write Down Your Goals
Once your goals are written down you feel a sense of commitment towards their achievement.
Step Three: Be Willing to Pay the Price
If your goal is to get out of debt, you are going to have to be willing to pay the price. You may not be able to eat out as much or you may have to put off buying those new golf clubs. In other words, you have to be willing to pay the price.
Step Four: Make a Detailed Plan
Using the goal from step three, you could write down what you owe and to whom you owe it. Then, look at your budget and decide how much you can put towards your debt. Then decide how much you are going to put towards each individual debt.
Step Five: Take Action
You have to start somewhere. Start from where you are at. Taking action is the hardest part.
Step Six: Do Something Every Day
Again, if your goal is to get out of debt, make a list of your debts and post it on your refrigerator. Then, each time you make a payment, cross out the old balance and put in the new lower balance. This will help you stay motivated.
Step Seven: Never give up
As soon as you start on the path to accomplishing a goal, you are going to want to give up. That's human nature. However, you have to keep at it.
There you have it! That's Brian Tracy's seven-step method for achieving any goal. Now that it is nearly 2:00 AM, I'm off to bed for the second time!
Tags: Brian Tracy, Goal Setting, Goals
Here it is 1:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. I don't know why, I just can't seem to drift off. So, instead of laying there awake, thinking about stuff, I got up and decided to do a little reading. I was reading Brian Tracy's Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life
when I came across his seven-step method for goal setting and achievement. I'd like to share it with you:Step One: Decide Exactly What You Want
Makes sense to me. However, it is a lot easier said than done. What EXACTLY is it you want?
Step Two: Write Down Your Goals
Once your goals are written down you feel a sense of commitment towards their achievement.
Step Three: Be Willing to Pay the Price
If your goal is to get out of debt, you are going to have to be willing to pay the price. You may not be able to eat out as much or you may have to put off buying those new golf clubs. In other words, you have to be willing to pay the price.
Step Four: Make a Detailed Plan
Using the goal from step three, you could write down what you owe and to whom you owe it. Then, look at your budget and decide how much you can put towards your debt. Then decide how much you are going to put towards each individual debt.
Step Five: Take Action
You have to start somewhere. Start from where you are at. Taking action is the hardest part.
Step Six: Do Something Every Day
Again, if your goal is to get out of debt, make a list of your debts and post it on your refrigerator. Then, each time you make a payment, cross out the old balance and put in the new lower balance. This will help you stay motivated.
Step Seven: Never give up
As soon as you start on the path to accomplishing a goal, you are going to want to give up. That's human nature. However, you have to keep at it.
There you have it! That's Brian Tracy's seven-step method for achieving any goal. Now that it is nearly 2:00 AM, I'm off to bed for the second time!
Tags: Brian Tracy, Goal Setting, Goals
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