tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:04:25 +0000health careself employedcollege educationcancermortgagepart-time businessstocksretirementsavingsocial securitymoney crunch401kdebtmedical costsIRSinterestThere are thousands of companies whose very job is to make money off of you. I share personal opinions on such programs on this site and how best to avoid getting trapped.http://providecare.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)Blogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-2490813552956396477Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:35:00 +00002008-04-04T11:35:04.018-07:00As Boston Gal put it.  It's just fraking bad. http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/04/hows-economy-looking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-7852374440452864983Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:31:00 +00002008-01-31T11:32:48.654-08:00Keep on adding water into a sinking ship. The US economy is toast ...buh-bye!http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/keep-on-pumping-feds-cut-rate-050.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-6308897629533789961Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:45:00 +00002008-01-25T08:47:32.456-08:00Tax rebate to help simulate the economy. Instead of controlling inflation - they choose to pump more funny money. Can't wait till it all boils over.http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/whopee-500-from-government.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-4099682316446748897Thu, 24 Jan 2008 15:22:00 +00002008-01-24T07:24:59.772-08:00Same old news. Markets move up and markets move down. If you don't know what you are doing - stay away from the market.If you think you know what you are doing - stay away from the market - you don't know.If you know what you are doing - be very cautious.Thank God for $800 from Mr. Bush - whopee - that'll save my retirement - or help me buy an iPod -http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/market-drops-market-rises.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-8262976243785561798Tue, 22 Jan 2008 15:24:00 +00002008-01-22T07:26:42.170-08:00retirement401kmoney crunchstocksWhat's a money crunch? This term is current mentioned over and over in the media - yet it isn't clearly defined anywhere.Quite simply, a money crunch (or crisis if you want to call it that) occurs when you "feel" that you are short of money. In simpler terms, money is simply a mode for doing trade. Thus, if you want to buy something, you give money in return. Simple laws of supply and demand.http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/money-crunch-sky-is-falling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-9215888304029731695Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:42:00 +00002008-01-15T06:58:44.150-08:00social securitydebtCitibank announced another $10 billion write-off in their portfolio attributing the mortgage meltdown. I am starting to believe that the next big entity to default on their loans will be the US government. The trade deficit (which doesn't include numbers for Social Security and Medicare by the way) continues to grow. The national debt is just funny money business to me anyway.Also, depending http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/banks-and-us-government.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-4132430425884115090Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:49:00 +00002008-01-14T07:38:41.610-08:00retirement401kself employedsavingMy employer offers 401k. They match 50% of the contributions dollar for dollar. I'd be "stupid" NOT to participate in such a plan!I've heard this argument for investing in 401k over and over again. The "so called" financial gurus tout 401k as the best thing since sliced bread and the best way for the common Aamerican to get rich. Suze ORMAN has been bombarding the airwaves (wire-waves for http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/to-invest-or-not-to-invest-that-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-8101316014244627580Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:27:00 +00002008-01-10T11:03:20.051-08:00retirement401kIRSIn 1978, the US congress amended the taxes laws to include a brand new section 401(k). Companies quickly realized that there were tremendous advantages in offering 401k plans in lieu of pension plans to their employees. While, I don't have exact numbers, I believe that a significant portion of the current USA population does contribute religiously into this program. Also, a significant http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/401k-living-in-house-of-cards.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-3577288754004874747Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:27:00 +00002008-01-09T07:26:09.466-08:00My prior posts have all been about how my parents history and how it played into the money crisis that they are currently in. Looking back, you always start thinking if you had done things differently then you might not be in the current situation. But life doesn't quite work this way. As the saying goes "there is no use crying over spilled (spoiled) milk".So it's time to digress from history http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/building-safe-retirement-portfolio-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-4025294739146033261Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:45:00 +00002008-01-08T08:55:05.442-08:00retirementmedical costscancersavingPart 3My Mum and Dad had sold their home/business and moved to a larger city where the accounting opportunities were better. Dad moved onto a salaried job. The home sale brought in approximately $10,000 (a large sum in East Africa).The finances took the biggest hit due to a medical emergency. My Mum came to visit me in the US (where I was then studying in college) and was diagnosed with http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/its-hard-knock-life-part-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-710458124246459006Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:59:00 +00002008-01-07T11:30:33.357-08:00retirementpart-time businesscollege educationPart 2The cold drink business started out great as initially we were the only few in town who owned a refrigerator and sold cold drinks. On peak days, we probably sold close to a 1000 bottles of drinks a day. I remember spending evenings cleaning down the bottles (yes they were transported on open trucks and got very dusty and muddy) stocking up the 3 refrigerators with drinks. Soon the cold http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/its-hard-knock-life-part-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-7698106838405615605Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:32:00 +00002008-01-07T11:30:51.846-08:00retirementmortgagePart 1I promised to post more about my parents and the reasons why they have so little saved up for retirement. Both my parents have college degrees from the 70s so it wasn't an issue of education . The main issue (I think) was the lack of opportunities in East Africa where they were born and spent their adulthood lives. Also, it is excruciatingly difficult for someone in a "3rd world " http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/land-of-opportunities-part-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015423900030525238.post-2587437444541959182Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:47:00 +00002008-01-07T11:34:18.816-08:00retirement401kmortgagehealth careinterestsavingOk, before you start slinging mud at them or at me saying that it's their own damn fault for not saving for retirement, please bear with me while I clarify the situation. All four parents are hard working individuals who worked their entire lives and sacrificed a lot for others. They are all very giving. In what I call a "true test of times", it just so happens currently if I were to http://providecare.blogspot.com/2008/01/help-my-parents-and-my-wifes-are-broke.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Next Generation)0