The Economy

[yellomalibu]

Re: The Economy

Do you think those stimulus checks will count as earned income next tax year? I think they are more or less just an advance. They don't have the money to give us and let us keep it.

Things in the auto industry are not too good as far as new car sales. Some smaller cars are selling well obviously. Parts and service haven't suffered so far, people are repairing cars it seems instead of buying new ones at the first sign of trouble. Probably not a bad idea if it's paid for.

First, no. I got the notice in the mail informing me that I would be getting my $600 (after it was already direct deposited into my account). On the notice, it explains that it doesn't count as earned income or taxable income. It's just a free bonus... that future generations are going to have to pay back somehow.

Even the auto parts industry is slow. The garages in town are slow. People are putting off maintenance until it's absolutely necessary, apparently.

[Turbo Regal]

Re: The Economy

I sell barbecue grills for a living and we are having a great year, especially our most expensive models! What I am seeing is more of my customers are having credit issues (slow pay, being put on credit hold). I guess people are staying home and grilling instead of going out to eat at expensive restaurants or going on spendy vacations.

[BillBallinger Sr]

Re: The Economy

The last 10 years have been a challenge for us. My wife finished her Masters degree a few years ago and has a good job in a hospital. I on the other hand have fallen pretty hard. I was in logistics and production management, but my vision and vestibular (balance) system got bad and other health issues have forced me to medically retire. I hate it because I love to work. I had to surrender my drivers license at 47 yrs old for being legally blind, and I have PTSD and depression for the things I have been through. A good day is when I don't get the .45 out of the drawer.


We have lived frugally though, and we have a nice modest home and we are really close. I love my wife, son and daughter both grown, very much. They are my world. My wife has been so patient with my blindness, rage, agoraphobia (ashamed of not being as productive and using a white cane to get around mostly), and debilitating pain. I would not be here if not for her. How does this effect the economy, well I was hugging $55K a year and had Blue Cross, and was running an extremely profitable operation. Now I am on disability and Medicare and can barely get out of bed some days. My 73 year old father in law mowed my yard today, that's f'n humiliating, but I did help him figure out what puller he needs to pull the drums off of his '35 Ford, and fixed his laptop by telling him what to do to get Wi-Fi.

I dunno. I think we are all just a couple of pieces of bad news from living in a fridge box. I am displacing it the best I can, playing some guitar, it will all come back around.

[tiresmoke!]

Re: The Economy

That's about all we CAN do, honestly.

I find myself avoiding the news networks and newspapers when I can.

Things aren't the greatest out there....but it could be a hell of a lot worse.

As long as military aircraft and tanks require fuel, my job security is golden.

[morley]

Re: The Economy

On Friday the 9th the plant manager of the machine shop I was working in broke the bad news, our shop was moving the whole plant down to the main corporate plant at the end of the month . We all had the option to move down to the Metro Detroit area if we wanted to but with the cost of living in that area we'd need more money and that wasn't happening. So the meeting started at noon and was over by 12:07, by 12:30 that afternoon I had an interview and started at the new shop Monday morning. I think even in Michigan (worst economy in the country) you can have a job if you want one and can do the job! Just my $.02

[HEMI]

Re: The Economy

wow, let me in your secret :P

Joe,and anybody else, I'm making money in stocks.Buy low sell high.I'm not educated,licensed,or qualified to give finacial advivce.Just go with my gut feeling.
I've been interested in stocks for a long time,just like hot rodding.Just do your homework,just like buying a car.I've been doing homework on this co.since last August.
The currant compay that I bougt into issued it's IPO last March at $55.00 per.It's closest(and smaller,and I know that 95 percent of you use these companies) competetor issued it's IPO at $55.00 exactly 2 years ago and has been as high as $301.00 per.The one I invested in went up too high too fast and has stabilized for now.So I bought more.I've made 40k on a 100k investment in less than 30 working days,before I bought more.Went up .47 cents since Monday,made almost $1200.00 more.
Now I'm not giving any advice here,nor am I going to do what I am about to say.Earth quake in China.In 5 months snow will be setting in.China will need foreign help to feed,clothe,and shelther the poor victims of this disaster.The foreign workers will buy some local goods.Money will have to be transfered.Reaserach the company's that will provide the the needed serivices.You won't have much time to do home work.
Live with in your means.My newest vehicle is a 1989.Live in a modest 42 yr.old house,2 car garage.Buy my colthes at Salvation Army type stroes,Etc.Was always know as a penny pincher,built my '39 coupe in 1968 cheap(but not ratty).

[BillBallinger Sr]

Re: The Economy

wow, let me in your secret :P

Joe,and anybody else, I'm making money in stocks.Buy low sell high.I'm not educated,licensed,or qualified to give finacial advivce.Just go with my gut feeling.
I've been interested in stocks for a long time,just like hot rodding.Just do your homework,just like buying a car.I've been doing homework on this co.since last August.
The currant compay that I bougt into issued it's IPO last March at $55.00 per.It's closest(and smaller,and I know that 95 percent of you use these companies) competetor issued it's IPO at $55.00 exactly 2 years ago and has been as high as $301.00 per.The one I invested in went up too high too fast and has stabilized for now.So I bought more.I've made 40k on a 100k investment in less than 30 working days,before I bought more.Went up .47 cents since Monday,made almost $1200.00 more.
Now I'm not giving any advice here,nor am I going to do what I am about to say.Earth quake in China.In 5 months snow will be setting in.China will need foreign help to feed,clothe,and shelther the poor victims of this disaster.The foreign workers will buy some local goods.Money will have to be transfered.Reaserach the company's that will provide the the needed serivices.You won't have much time to do home work.
Live with in your means.My newest vehicle is a 1989.Live in a modest 42 yr.old house,2 car garage.Buy my colthes at Salvation Army type stroes,Etc.Was always know as a penny pincher,built my '39 coupe in 1968 cheap(but not ratty).

Buying real estate is a good investment, especially building new stuff like apartments,duplexes, and modest single family homes right now if you are in the money. The market should be about bottomed out and ready to start back up in a year. These types are going to be the first to rebound. Farm land is through the roof, because of ethanol, so its on an upswing and isn't as good of investment right now. After the corn bubble bursts though, it will become viable.

The has been some China bashing around, but my heart is with those folks right now. That quake was devastating, and it hit an industrial center hard. It is going to take a huge effort to get things straightened out over there. People are still looking for relatives.

Thats all good advice. Just watch out for the tax man. As soon a sector gets on its feet, they will try to tax it half to death.

[Not A Duster]

Re: The Economy

Pretty simple to see where the economy is going. It's good or bad depending on who you are.

Those who do well are still doing well, but they are doing so at the expense of the middle class which is being strangled out of existance. It's not going to be too long before we return to a two-class system: The rich, and the poor with nothing in between.

I don't think it's any kind of accident that things are the way they are. I think it's a very well, thought out plan.

[squirrel]

Re: The Economy

I doubt it's any kind of well thought out plan...it's just the way people are. Some folks are good at building wealth, most folks are good at going broke. Urban legend has it that if you took all the money in the US and divided it evenly among all the people, within a year there would be 5% of the people with 90% of the money! not hard to believe, either....

[Brad54]

Re: The Economy

Pretty simple to see where the economy is going. It's good or bad depending on who you are.

Those who do well are still doing well, but they are doing so at the expense of the middle class which is being strangled out of existance. It's not going to be too long before we return to a two-class system: The rich, and the poor with nothing in between.

Then I suggest you work your ass off to become one of "the rich."

-Brad

[joe_rocket45]

Re: The Economy

wow, let me in your secret :P

Joe,and anybody else, I'm making money in stocks.Buy low sell high.I'm not educated,licensed,or qualified to give finacial advivce.Just go with my gut feeling.
I've been interested in stocks for a long time,just like hot rodding.Just do your homework,just like buying a car.I've been doing homework on this co.since last August.
The currant compay that I bougt into issued it's IPO last March at $55.00 per.It's closest(and smaller,and I know that 95 percent of you use these companies) competetor issued it's IPO at $55.00 exactly 2 years ago and has been as high as $301.00 per.The one I invested in went up too high too fast and has stabilized for now.So I bought more.I've made 40k on a 100k investment in less than 30 working days,before I bought more.Went up .47 cents since Monday,made almost $1200.00 more.

I don't have the money to invest but I play yalicoo on free thrusdays, last thursday I made $1100 + on there in less than 30 minutes of time. I've been making at LEAST $500 a day playing the game. They give you 100,000 in your account to work with and you can have no more than 10% in any one stock. Even though the game is free they pay out for the top 3 positions and I've made a real $20 a couple of times and $100 once.

[Fordplay0621]

Re: The Economy

I start wrok again in about a week, things are thight and I really don't care about what happens to anyone right at the moment. It always work it out in the end, and always will. Attitude is everything and the willingness to do well. Hell, I've had the last month off and I'm starting to like it.

Yesterday My Brother-in-law and his wife stopped to help someone laying on the side of the road, She was tied up and had crawled from the Woods where she was left for dead. At least 20 or more cars had just driven by and did nothing. She is going to make it. But I hope that everyone that Drove by and did'nt render any help has a really tough year. This country has no more Compoassion and it just a matter of time before we all suffer a little bit more. I guess they all had better things to do. The People in our country need to figure out what is more important? life Itself, or all of thier FU'd Toys and meaningless existence. Could'nt even tell if it was a Man or a Woman, She was beaten so badly, and Tied with Electrical Wiring that had to be cut with Wire Cutters. At least she knew who did it...So I guess some of you are doing fine. Just ask yourself, Would you have Stopped?

[fahrenschnell]

Re: The Economy

In a Second...I stop for anyone in need. I just hope that people will return the favor if I need help..

Seth

[Not A Duster]

Re: The Economy

Then I suggest you work your ass off to become one of "the rich."

-Brad

Interesting you should say that, because I'm pretty sure that if you were to spend a week with me at work doing what I do you would be bailin' out after the first couple days. I often work shifts that approach most people's work - weeks. Matter of fact just the past 7 days totalled 96 hours on the job. Pretty typical for this time of year...during the winter months we slow down to 40 - 50 hour weeks.

So yeah - I work my ass off. And I do pretty well at it - because I bust my balls, show dedication and genuinely care about what I do.

But regardless how dedicated and good I may be at my job, I know that it's also because it's difficult for some prick in a two thousand dollar suit to find a way to outsource me so that he can pocket my paycheck.

Because that's what they do.

[Not A Duster]

Re: The Economy

Just ask yourself, Would you have Stopped?

In a heartbeat. Without a thought. And hearing stories about those who won't makes my shake my head and wonder about where folk's priorities are these days.

People need to remember that they might need the kindness of strangers someday, but even if not - it's just the right thing to do..