This headline is in rotation on Yahoo right now on their Front Page:
Rebates could stave off long recession
Click on it to read the article proclaiming why $600-$1200 per household will mean the difference between the US economy going in the dumper and not.
I cannot believe there is anyone out there who thinks this will make a difference. Our president is proposing and looks like he will get approved a budget for this next year that will have our national debt soar to unheard of heights, the tech sector is yet to recover from the downturn it took during the first four years of this administration and the homes foreclosure rate is predicted to hit 1930s DEPRESSION levels later this year. The banking industry is in shambles. The average American household owes too much money and saves too little. Too many people can’t afford reasonable health insurance and other basics. This is a temporary stop gap to make the politicians look like they are doing something instead of actually proposing ways to improve the infrastructure of our economic base that has too long relied on a war based economy dependent on government spending to keep things going.
Where is some real relief and real ideas for change and stabilization of our country? I am yet to see any political candidate offer up the type of hard hitting realism in economics that is required to get our house as a nation in order so we can plan for a strong future.
My personal choices have included saving monthly whether I want to or not. I got rid of all of my credit cards several years ago and keep 1 for business travel which is paid off every month in full- otherwise I pay with my no interest check debit card for everything. I do not buy something unless I have the money to do so. I bought my last two cars with cash- one new and one used. I pay my car insurance in 6 month blocks saving about 25% on my annual total as a result. I buy my clothes on sale and at discounters like Marshalls and TJMaxx. I rent and do not own and am saving to buy a house cash. I have my eye on some undeveloped property north of Phoenix which I should be able to buy outright in about a year. I plan to do as my grandparents did and improve the lot and then build over about 5 years paying for everything in full as I go. After seeing way too many people lose everything- I don’t understand why more people don’t just suck it up economize where they can.
End of rant!
How do you feel about the rebate program? Will it really make a big difference to you? Remember- checks won’t arrive until summer.
