It's Christmas Time, Again

Christmas time is here again. Gifts will be given, lights will be strung, and people everywhere will have good-will in their hearts. This year people will be cutting back because of the economy. Less spending is not good for the overall financial health of our nation, but maybe reining in the extravagance will be good for our mental and personal health. Christmas giving has gotten to be way too much anyway. Maybe the crisis on Wall Street, with the banking industry, and with the Big Three automakers has made us look at ourselves and made us realize we are indeed a nation of excess. Even people who are not in fear of loosing their jobs are cutting back and are spending less. This could be a good thing...

The gift of helping others may get a big boost, especially when we see how lucky we really are, and how we need to stick together to get through this financial mess.

Good wishes to all, and peace on earth...

I'm tired of this

I am tired of trying to figure out what I should do. Do I buy, sell, or hold. It's not that I have all that in the stock market, but I do have some. And I don't like losing.

Maybe it's the loss of control I feel, knowing forces are out "there" that are determining my financial fate.

Is it true that Obama won the election because of the bad economy?

What are we going to do? Will we have the guts to buckle down and start paying our way instead of borrowing it? How much do we owe to foreign countries? Can our government ever get itself under control and start spending OUR money on the people of the United States instead of making huge interest payments on the money we owe others?

I decided I should buy a few stocks while the prices are low, but now I am second guessing myself and wondering if it is worth it. I decided to buy and hold on to some old timers that have been around for decades, hoping that they can weather any storm. I feel like a kid still believing in Santa Claus. Only time will tell if I get the gift or the bucket of coal and ashes.

If we had listened to history, we would have learned that we can only count on the money that is in the bank, not on that elusive money that is only on paper. We need to put a real value on things rather than an inflated idea of what we think it is worth. Oh, but wait...if we did that???

What to do, what to do...

What? Did you say "Buy"??

Too late to sell, but afraid to hold on to a sinking ship? They keep telling us not to sell our stocks and mutual fund shares, but people keep selling. Does this contribute to the stock market fall or is it just fear that keeps the slippery slope slippery? I think it will be years before the answer is found. All conventional thinking is out. Leaders in the US, Great Britain, and Europe are still throwing more money at the bank and credit industry. Is this going to work or will our governments only get into deeper trouble...

I hope we bounce back soon. Is it time to think about buying? After all, they have always said to buy low. How low will we go? Aye, there's the rub. No one knows.

The financial crisis has stressed us all. I think we are only skimming the surface. We need honest leadership. Greed and selfishness has to be banished before we can begin to recoup. I hope a financial leader will come forth and bring confidence and recovery back to the markets of the world.

Fear of unknown, uncertainty

The fear of the unknown and the uncertainty of the past few days may be taking it's toll. The mental stress of the financial crisis can overwhelm us if we dwell on it.

President Bush was very reassuring in his address to the nation yesterday morning concerning the money markets. He is right when he says we can and we will get through these problems. It is fear that has caused the stock prices to bounce and wobble. It may take awhile, but we will recover.

We sometimes have to let go of things for a while, so we can gain perspective of what is important. The mind and body have to recoup and renew, so that they can have the strength and energy to start all over again.

Take time this week-end to enjoy the things you do have; relax with friends... gather with family... get some exercise... clear your mind... maybe even get out and do a little fishing.

Do whatever it takes for you to get some mental and physical R&R so that you can face the issues of the upcoming week with a fresh out look and attitude.

Thrift and Generosity

I have been reading a book named "Thrift and Generosity..The Joy of Giving" by John M. Templeton Jr., MD. This is a book we all should be reading. In these uncertain times of stress and financial turmoil, the wisdom of saving and of giving may seen an oxymoron, but this book puts everything in perspective. Good advise. Good read.

I especially liked the words of wisdom taken from The Bible, The Talmud, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Kahlil Gibran and others.

Sometimes the words of old tell it best.

We should take time to consider how our actions and attitudes influence the world in which we live.

"One man gives freely, yet gains evermore;
Another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A generous man will prosper;
He who refreshes others, will himself be refreshed."

Poetry from Proverbs 11:24-25.

Wall Street Financial Crisis

Our leaders in Washington,DC have a crisis. The financial crisis didn't occur overnight and it can't be resolved overnight; but, we are being told that if we don't agree to throw lots of money to bail out Wall Street (no questions asked!!!) that our entire economy will collapse. Bull.

This sounds like the old sales pitch that goes: "The deal is only good for today! The price goes up at midnight!! We have to have your answer now!!!"

I can't believe President Bush went on TV and told the American people that MORE people would lose their homes, their pensions, their jobs unless we agree to this bailout...since when did he get concerned about this??? Yesterday??? Apparently while the American people were being tricked and duped, the leaders of our country sat back believing that unregulated greed could rule the day. Who has been looking out for the average citizen??? Not the CEO's or CFO's, not the banks or mortgage houses.

The free reign given to banks and credit companies on Wall Street during the 1990's needs to be brought under control. If they can't do honest and responsible business, they don't deserve to be in business.

Why do these irresponsible entities think the taxpayer should rescue them after they have run the well dry by reaping gigantic profits for themselves. Being irresponsible should not be rewarded.

I fully understand that my 401(k) has already decreased in value and will probably look even worse as the next few weeks and months go by; but, I do not care to see my hard earned money thrown out to fix a problem that should never been allowed to happen. Yes, it needs to be fixed. Yes, government oversight is needed. I don't have to like it. I don't want to see the same people who got us in this crisis in the first place to be rewarded. I am stressed out by the lack of leadership by our government. I want to see thoughtful, carefully planned out solutions. The knee-jerk reactions of DC have surprised me. Maybe I am naive. I believe all will eventually be straightened out, and hopefully we will become stronger. In the mean time, I hope real solutions will be found and implemented, and that measures will be taken to prevent this bailout mentality.

Accountability needs to return to business. Large profits can't be artificially produced and then Woops! disappear overnight. This shifting the blame and pretending not to know how on earth these things could have happened has got to stop. Theories of finance and how money markets work may need some tweaking. Are the experts that far off the track?