Holiday Shopping – Is it for you?
November 29, 2008 | 21 Comments
Is holiday shopping right for you this year? You may think that holiday shopping is for everyone, but sorry, it isn’t. And this year, more than any other time in recent history, I am asking that people consider some things before they shop.
I did several interviews yesterday about Black Friday and people who were out at the crack of dawn looking for bargains. My position was that people should stay home and consider their situation before they rush out to hit the stores, unless they could truly afford to be out shopping. It was fun for the interviewers to portray me as a total Scrooge and I am sure they would have loved for me to say “Bah Humbug!”
In reality, I am not a Scrooge at all. I love to buy presents! I love to shop. I love for others to shop. I like for the stores to do well and for kids to get lots of presents and for everyone to have a great time exchanging gifts. But for economists to advise that shopping is good for our economy is short-sighted. It may be good for THE economy, but is it right for YOUR economy? That’s the real question. Is shopping the right thing for you to do with your money right now given your personal economic situation?
Back to shopping and whether it is right for you: If your obligations are all met and you have CASH left over, then shop. It’s that simple. If you can afford to shop, get after it. AFTER your obligations are met. What are your obligations? Your bills, saving for the future and being charitable.
Obligation #1. Your bills. That includes the money you have already spent and owe someone else. Your credit cards. (Many people are still paying for last year’s Christmas presents.) Your mortgage, car payment, insurance, utilities, etc. are also your obligation. Your obligation to these people does not go away because it’s Christmas and you didn’t plan better and set aside any extra money for Christmas. Pay your bills first!
Obligation #2. Your future. Save some money – no excuses – just do it. You are obligated to put away money for your kid’s future, for your retirement, and for health emergencies. You have always heard, “Save for a rainy day.” Folks, the sky is full of dark clouds and thunder right now . . . SAVE! You have to be taking care of your future today. Even though you want to buy presents with your money, do the right thing for your family and save at least SOME of your money.
Obligation #3. Charity. While I am a “life is your own damn fault” and “no bail-out for anyone” kind of guy, I also believe there are people, who through no fault of their own, need our help. That means that they need my help and YOUR help. Give to some qualified charity because I really see it as your obligation as a human being to do so. My favorite charity is Feed The Children (www.feedthechildren.org). I have done lots of research on this organization and they are rock solid. They feed children around the world. You can even earmark the area of the world where you want your contribution spent or you can designate that your money be used to feed children only in the United States. It takes so little to feed so many. Give to them or any of the other fine charities that help feed and clothe people.
Then . . . IF you have done those three things and have CASH left over, go shopping. But scale back on the number of presents this year if money is an issue for you. Sadly, Christmas has become the time of year when you spend money you don’t have to buy presents you don’t like for people you can’t stand. Stop that trend this year. Buy for those you really love and care about. Be thoughtful in your gift selection. Buy one present instead of ten. Make your gifts. Use Craigslist and eBay to get bargains on pre-owned items.
When I was broke and had gone bankrupt and lost it all, I had a garage sale and took a total of $50 to the Army Surplus Store to buy my two boys their presents for Christmas. Just the other day, my boys told me that was their best Christmas ever. It’s not how much you spend, it’s how well you spend it. Stretch your dollar this year. And if you are still strapped for cash, sell some of your old stuff to raise cash. And please notice that I said CASH left over. Whatever you do, please don’t go into debt to buy presents this year. The time is not right to go deeper in debt for any reason. Have a talk with your family, (even the little kids) and shoot ‘em straight about your financial situation. I didn’t grow up with much and my parents did this with me several times when things were particularly tough and I completely understood. I didn’t care for me that much but I hated it for them because I knew they were embarrassed. But it put me on the team and made me feel like I could be a part of making things better.
Christmas is about giving.
Give to those you owe money because you gave your word you would pay it back on time.
Give to your future by saving some money today.
Give to those who have even less than you do.
Give to your family the gift of honesty by communicating to them what your situation really is.
Then do what it takes to have a great holiday season full of love, knowing that you have done the right thing by your family and your self.
I am also including a podcast conversation with my good buddy, Mark Sanborn. Sanborn is the bestselling author of several books and a true friend. You have enjoyed his insights on my member’s site, I’m sure. This time, we just have a great conversation about the holidays, what they mean and what you can do to enjoy them more and keep them in perspective.
Click here: Simple Solutions to the Holidays
Happy Holidays! Larry
Stupidity, Ignorance, Hate and Politics
November 18, 2008 | 91 Comments
Yes, I voted for Obama. I don’t agree with all of his views in terms of the bailouts, but I do agree with many other things he endorses. I am a social liberal and a fiscal conservative. I have many Republican friends who are also fiscal conservatives and social liberals. You can belong to either party and believe that way. In my case, there are some things where I have extremely conservative views and some of my views would be considered quite liberal. I am not one of those stupid one issue voters. I have lots of irons in the fire just like everyone else and I want to cast my vote on what makes sense to me based on many issues, not just one. I also understand how desperately America needs hope right now and obviously others agree with me based on the overwhelming turnout at the polls. Obama represented hope to millions of Americans who are afraid and in trouble. We are tired of the fear and the negativity and the politics of politics. We want to believe in something again. That hope he brings is just as important as are his views on the GM bailout. And please realize that many Republicans voted for him too. Democrats alone didn’t put him in office. Nor did African-Americans alone. Or Hispanics. Or people under 30. Or women. Or white men. There was a consensus of many groups of people who believed in him as a MAN and were able to get past the small disagreements they had with some of his politics.
Next, to write me and tell me that I am a hypocrite and a socialist because I voted for him is stupid. To write me and tell me that Obama is a socialist is also stupid. You are too ignorant to be writing anyone if you believe that. Put the computer down folks and turn off Sean Hannity for a minute and think! I recently listened to a speech by Ronald Reagan. You can Google it and find it just like I did. It was the speech that Sarah Palin pulled an excerpt from trying to talk about how America was losing its freedoms. The speech was a strong one talking about how socialism was about to take over America and our freedoms were at stake and that something had to be done to stop this horrific new program that was about to ruin America. The speech was putting down Medicare. Yep, Medicare was our first step into socialism. So you ignorant dipsticks that write me and tell me that Obama and I are socialists, tell your parents and grandparents who are using Medicare to pay for their medical treatments that they are socialists and should turn down the help because Medicare is a socialist program. After all, Ronald Reagan said so! Seriously folks, get a freaking clue before you say something stupid. Read a book. Do some research. Watch a variety of news coverage. Watch some FOX and some MSNBC and some CNN. Watch them all so you actually get some balance because they all have a bias of some sort. Listen to someone other than Rush and O’Reilly. Know your history before you open your mouth and prove what an uninformed dumbass you really are.
Also, for of you who have written me saying that Obama is a Muslin, please, never contact me again. Don’t post on my blog and don’t contact me in any fashion. You may be too stupid to live on this planet, so please just keep your stupid opinions away from me. A church in Wichita, Kansas this week put on it’s marquee “America, you have elected a Muslim as President. That is a sin against God.” In an interview, the preacher said, “It’s not whether he is or isn’t a Muslim, it’s that he isn’t a Christian.” My Bible says no man knows another man’s heart. And that man should steer away from the whole judgment thing and leave that to God. Guess this idiot didn’t get the same Bible I did. This ignorant, uninformed so-called “minister” feels it his duty to proclaim to the world that Obama is a Muslim. No, he isn’t. Period. And what if he was? Why is this important? Did you see Colin Powell talk about this subject? If you didn’t, google it and listen to him talk about the American soldiers buried in Arlington with a crescent on their tombstones. (By the way, Abraham Lincoln was an atheist. As were Madison, Jefferson, Taft and Adams. Would they be elected today? Not a chance.)
Then you have the church in North Carolina whose marquee says, “Obama – Osama : Could they be brothers?” I am ashamed and so should you be. This is hateful, sad, and should make every American cringe. Be sickened too by the busload of elementary kids in Idaho who chanted “Assassinate Obama.” All of this hate-mongering MUST STOP.
By the way, every church that says one thing about ANY political figure or promotes ANY political agenda should be taxed. One of the core founding principles on which our country was founded was the SEPARATION of church and state. So separate or be taxed. Taxing churches who spout politics from the pulpit would raise a lot of money so I am totally for it. Churches should preach what the Bible, the Koran and every other religious book teaches: love your fellow man. And sadly, I am not seeing much love come out of some churches or their ministers or their congregations. And they wonder why church attendance is down and giving is off? Spread a little love – teach what Jesus REALLY said (love one another) and see if you don’t see an increase!
And for all of you who have piously told me that you are never going to spend your money on my books again. Thanks. I’ll be fine. But let me ask you: If my advice held value for you in the past in terms of handling your money, running your life or your business, why would that change? Did my advice suddenly go from good advice to bad advice because I believe in stem cell research, healthcare reform and other social programs? I am still a gun-toting, fiscal conservative who is anti-bailout. You can be both. No one candidate or political party will make anyone happy in every circumstance, that is, if you have any kind of a working brain at all. Be smart enough, informed enough, and open enough to having views that cross political lines. Be able to agree on some issues and disagree on others and vote for a total package. I didn’t drink the Kool-Aid folks, I voted.
This was an election that was held in a Democracy. We had record voter registration and turn out. That should be encouraging to every American. People actually CARED!! And Obama won. It’s over. If he sucks as President, then I will be the first to vote against him in four years. I will lead the crusade to elect someone else, even a Republican if their views are in alignment with mine. In the meantime, chill people. He was elected fair and square, unlike our last president. Give him a chance. Because if he does turn things around, all of you ignorant, redneck hate-mongers will be the first in line to take advantage of the SOCIALIZED medicine you will need because you don’t have any insurance because you didn’t set aside enough money to pay for it - and the SOCIALIZED handouts you think our new MUSLIM president is going to force on us, you will be there with your hand out to get them. You will also probably be right there to take a job to rebuild our infrastructure based on an economic stimulus program you will call a redistribution of wealth.
By the way, I am in the category of people who will end up paying MORE taxes. I am fine with that. I’m glad to do my part and then some. Most of my rich buddies feel the same way.
To sum up in case I haven’t been clear.
I voted for Obama. I’m a Democrat. If you think my advice is now bad and don’t want to hear it, then please go elsewhere. Don’t write me. Don’t threaten me. Don’t tell me you aren’t going to buy my books, somehow I will survive without your purchase.
The election is over. Like it or not, agree with him or me or not. You have a new President. I put up with George Bush for 8 years and you can put up with Obama for at least 4 years. After all, he can’t be any worse than what we have had. And Republicans and Democrats both believe that: 74% disapproval rating.
Lastly, before you spout off to me or to anyone else, become better informed. Be smart enough to know WHY you believe what you believe. Read. Listen. Do some research. Broaden your views. Think before you speak. Please.
Thanks! And thanks for voting regardless of who you voted for!
We have enough cars!
November 6, 2008 | 18 Comments
What do I mean by that? Automobile manufacturers want US (that’s you and me) to bail them out with our tax dollars. Well, to hell with ‘em. Yep. Let ‘em sink. Buh-bye!
Harsh? I don’t care.
1. If bad management is responsible for your problems, them fire their asses and get some good management in. By the way, filing bankruptcy would mean that the bankruptcy court would probably force them to hire new management . . . good.
2. If you sold your soul to the autoworker’s union and they have a strangle hold on you - tough. You should have told the union to kiss your ass and hired the millions of out of work people who would have happily done the job for less money and been willing to work harder to boot, I am guessing.
3. If you are so out of touch that you don’t understand that you should have been more responsive to the market and attentive to the environment, then you deserve to fail. Remember, these automakers are partially to blame for the fact that we are so dependent on foreign oil! Stop making Hummers, Stupid! Stop producing cars that get 8 miles to the gallon! How are you serving the American people well by doing that?
I travel all over the world. I see SMALL cars wherever I go. The Mini Cooper has been available in the UK since 1961. We got it five years ago. Why? Because American gas-guzzling manufacturers kept it out! The Smart Car has been around for years. We are just now seeing these delivered in the United States for the same reason: the Big 3 kept it out. Mercedes has the cutest little bitty car that has been available in Europe - the Mercedes 130 and the 150. They get great mileage. Can you buy them here? Nope. And India has the Tata. A car that gets 54 mpg and cost $2500 RETAIL. India??? Aren’t we as capable as they are? I would think the answer would be yes. So why don’t we have a $2500 car that gets 54 mpg? Those good ol’ American automakers that want us to bail their asses out don’t want to make them, that’s why. Besides the cost would be too high, they would argue. And whose fault is that?
By the way, we (you and me) are guilty too in this whole mess. We should have been tougher on them and demanded more from them. Instead, we bought our Hummers and Tahoes and Escalades and begged for them to be heavier and bigger. We were stupid. A few years ago, the government even encouraged us by giving us tax breaks for driving an SUV for business. I took advantage of that tax break and bought a car just heavy enough to qualify. I’m sorry. I wish I had not done that. Now, my wife drives a Mini Cooper and I drive a Dodge Dakota (the small one) pickup. Could I drive whatever I want? Of course I could. But I don’t need to impress anyone so who the hell cares? Besides, I get a kick out of pulling up in front of a fancy restaurant and making them valet my pickup!
Bottom line: No bailout for Detroit. I know people will lose jobs. Sorry. Maybe those autoworkers shouldn’t have been so greedy. (GM says that the average base pay is $40 per hour) Learn to run your business smarter like the rest of us have to in order to survive. If you have stupid management, fire them. Try responding to the marketplace with products that we can afford and that we would love to be able to buy. Products that are good for the economy and good for the environment and that might reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Be more responsible and maybe I might be more willing to lend you a buck or two! And if they all went out of business (and they won’t!) . . . don’t we have enough USED cars to survive for a while? Or couldn’t we just drive the cars we have for a year on two longer?
Thanks for reading! Larry
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