Happy belated Thanksgiving

 Yep a bit late on this holiday shout out. We were redecorating the household leading up to Thanksgiving and believe me it was a project that still needs some slight touching up, but we managed to get it done in time. The better half was on a roll so we got some things done. And believe me we were working and shopping till late Wednesday evening after having started last Friday.

Now the better half is already thinking about her next steps.

Anyway I hope you spent time with family and friends for Thanksgiving and had a great day. We certainly did and that is something to be thankful. 

As always the service industry workers get screwed. And shoot some people wonder why people aren’t excited about getting jobs for substandard wages and horrible hours. 

It kills me the “conservatives” in politics do not do anything for family values when some very basic steps like making sure people can be with family for holidays would be a giant step in the right direction. Conservative politicians have been all lip service for decades to the idea of family values. And you wonder why I call Republicans, conservatives in name only. (CINO)

One reason we struggle in this country is because making corporations excessively wealthy is more important than the family.

And there was a bit of football on yesterday and it appears the Cowboys are going to be closer to my preseason prediction than it looked like a few weeks ago. Denver exposed the weaknesses and teams are starting to figure out how to attack the defense. Some changes need to be made in a hurry. I am sure all other football fans who watched the game got their money’s worth, an OT game that had some excitement at the end. Yet if you cannot connect on a 3rd and 4 you are going to lose in OT.

Well again I hope you enjoyed some good food yesterday or maybe sometime this weekend. Folks we still need to remember the love of family is more important than these political divides so hopefully people shared that love and not the madness permeating our country right now. 

Cheers 

A flexible idea for the student debt crisis

 Everyone knows there is a problem with student debt, yet the only solution you here is for President Biden to cancel a certain dollar amount of the debt for each student. This is only a band aid approach. Some issues going forward are, what do we do with the portion that isn’t cancelled and how do we allow borrowing for future students to be an option to pay for college for those that need it.

Historically I try to come up with alternate solutions our country faces and so I have packaged some thoughts to address the present and the future. 

This may or may not be the exact answer we need, yet as always there is flexibility built into my ideas.

This is a three part approach for the current debt and then what to do going forward.

First I am going to say a certain amount of the loans will need to be cancelled. How much is the question. For right now I am not going to suggest an amount because that is dependent on two other factors and the first one is the next step.

This is the hardest step, not because it isn’t feasible or the logistics of it can’t be done. The hard part is getting a certain group of people to agree and then accept they need to act. I am talking about the colleges that have trust or endowment or any other types of funds, use a portion of each of their funds to make a one time payment towards the debt of students that attended their university. Trust fund managers are not the type of people who like to give money away and the boards of these universities are not inclined to accept they have a responsibility towards some of the debts their students incurred. This managing the public pressure and finding a way to induce government pressure will be needed. Their participation in this program is needed. And I think should be required. How do we get to the required is a sticky endeavor. I do feel their goal would be to help their students so eventually the students give back when able.

Lets say we get some buy in, then we need to determine that a percentage of the existing trust fund balances would be peeled off and split among the students that attended each university equally and not dependent on the size of the debt. 

A simple example and of course this can be adjusted once realistic numbers come into play. So each trust fund sets aside 20% of their total balance and for a period of time students with debt sign up. Once the number of students have signed up then you do the simple math, so if the trust fund is a billion, then 20% is 200 million and if 100,00 students sign up then $2,000 would be paid off for each student. Again this is just an example and is only part of the solution. This would include all loans including loans parents took out. And as time goes on there is a second step Trust funds would have to contribute

Add in what the government cancels and maybe you can get to a reasonable reduction of debt for many students. 

The third step is for the present and for the future. 

And as we resolve reducing the current dollar amount in debt we need to help people going forward and as a conservative I am anathema to saying this, but we need a one stop financial center probably similar to the social security system where the money is managed by government agency, but kept apart from the government budget. Basically I am saying we consolidate all of the non private student loans into one organization and charge a very minimal interest rate basically to pay the administrative costs, not interest used to make a profit. And when I say minimal rate, I mean one percent give or take. Again this is for administrative purposes only. This allows people to pay down the rest of their debt timely and quickly if possible. It is the interest rates that grow the debt so if we remove most of that issue then people will be able to make payments that actually reduce the amount they owe. 

And we also have a charge on the income of the above mentioned university trust or endowment funds, and it will not be a cumbersome amount to help fund the loan fund above. Why you ask, because this same administrative organization for paying back debt would now be in charge of loaning money to students through FASFA or something similar. Eventually the money paid back to the fund becomes the source for new loans and add in a small amount each year from the universities and now student loans become affordable with ongoing minimal interest. The universities benefit because students have another manageable resource and students benefit because basically they are only paying back the cost of their education not continuing interest fees. 

In the end we have one resource for all student loans, not motivated by profit and the current student debt is reduced in a one time paydown and the remainder becomes manageable debt because 99% of each payment goes to the actual debt. 

The math is all for example, but you can understand the gist of the idea and play around with it to make it work. 

Just a thought since no one else seems to have one.

Cheers

Where’s the money, Mike?

One of my offspring may write a more specific post or something somewhere down the line with this same title, however I am taking a more general approach.

And most of us have at one point, if not more than we can count, have experienced this issue and that is getting our money back for something.

And some places are better than others, for example retail stores will have real specific return policies or a few will still make the return right away. Some will give cash back if a debit card was used on the spot. Some will state specifically on the receipt that you have to have the receipt and return within so many days. I partially understand the need for this requirement since people do take advantage of certain situations. I have seen and it has been awhile you would be mailed a check. Most stores that instituted policies like that do not last long.

There are so many examples of where you, the consumer, put money up front then are bound by a whole host of rules and procedures you have no control over for when the money is returned.

This can be simple going to the gas station and fill up at the pump. There will be a $1.00 charge along with your actual purchase After a couple of days this charge will fall off your account. Sure not a big thing, just a simple inconvenience. It gets worse though. 

Another example is hotels are charging higher and higher amounts for potential incidentals, so you let your card be charged for this amount and then 3,4 5 days later the charge drops off. This can be a real inconvenience if you are traveling and going from place to place. This means managing a secondary budget to allow for money not available to you for days.

The first time this happened to me was in the 1990′s and I was caught so unaware. I got over it because I had to, yet it was a significant amount of money because we were on a family vacation and I had two rooms for about 4 or 5 nights and this “resort” hotel charged this fee per night per room so I had put up the money on the card thinking I would get it back when we drove home. Historically I keep my savings in a different bank than my checking so when they told me I would not see the money back in my account for about 3-5 days I was livid. I had let this money be deposited thinking this would be the money I would use for our drive home. Yes, folks that was one very tense drive home and it was two days. Lesson learned, but no one at the time told me that was the expectation. And unfortunately this is how most consumers learn what is going on, basically hard lessons.

I have been on two ongoing driving trips this year and each time I had to plan a budget that allowed for a moving target of money. I make this situation a bit more complicated than it needs to be, yet it shouldn’t be an issue to watch your accounts daily to make sure money is being  charged correctly. I use a credit card with a small credit limit that I pay off each month, but on these trips I am literally making payments as we go. The reward is a very good cash back plan so I make the effort. I do use this card frequently, but we pay it off each month so we do not incur interest charges. To help us achieve this goal we keep the limit in check. 

Anyway in one case it took over a week for the card to show the correct charge for one of the hotel stays. This shouldn’t happen, yet it does because corporations still rule the day. If a business does business well, it will continue to grow and prosper, but when they start using tax laws to increase profits and lobby against consumer protection laws that should be a hint that the consumer, you, is not their priority.

Capitalism and corporate profits should rely on how well they provide goods and services to you, not try and satisfy the needs of Wall Street. Investors will still make money if a corporation only makes 90 million instead of a hundred million because that extra ten million was spent on good relations with customers, higher wages to their employees or better products without raising prices every excuse they can find. Your money should be in your control not theirs. And the hotel example is just one example. 

Think about this, how many people are renting nowadays? How long do they take to get their deposit back when they move? How many people buy online nowadays? Is their a store nearby to return a bad item or do they have to wait x number of days and go through the hassle of boxing up and mailing? Or what about service contracts where you still have send off the item to be repaired and it could be weeks. 

If corporations want our business they need to show us they want it, not spend millions of dollars trying to influence laws at the national and state level for their benefit. In the long run their year to year profits may be a bit less at first, but over time the growth of their business as they build trust with their customers and employees will mean that business can last a long time if they put the people they interact with first. 

Think about what businesses thrive, some have loyalty programs that keep coming back, some have good products that people enjoy, some have employees that enjoy working for the company, yet to obtain this business they have invested in what the customers and employees want and need. These businesses will be around. Businesses that rely on taking advantage of the system eventually lose out. Okay some businesses have the market change on them, but could they have invested in the future while they were successful and changed with the times they may still be around. 

So why the title Where’s the money, Mike? Specifically because there was an incident where the incompetence of someone cost someone dear to me time and money and stress. And we made the joke, where’s the money? Generally because Mike is that business that thinks more of itself than you. It creates policies and procedures that allow for them to overly control a scenario to their advantage. Slowly but surely customers drift away and the business suffers. 

So whether it is a large deposit that takes time to return, or the effort to fix a problem, or a product that is difficult to return or get repaired, this costs you money. And where is it if you have to make an effort beyond paying for and obtaining the service or product. It is coming out of your pocket.

And again this is why I scream democrats and republicans do not care about you and you should help us have new major parties. If either party cared about you consumer protection laws would be high on their policy agendas. They aren’t and do not say it is the other guy because both guys have been in office and where are we? 

So where is the money Mike? Time for you to answer to the people that put that money in your pocket year in and year out. 

It is closer than you think, but

The infamous holidays are right around the corner and I wish I had thought of this post sooner. So if you are preparing for Christmas by going to the store and doing all your shopping, how about really preparing for Christmas and go to church. Walmart et all have ruined Christmas for me by putting out Christmas decorations in September and October. I just can’t stand to see rampant commercialism for three months.

I did receive some vindication a week or so ago. I briefly read an article that discussed a poll stating over 60% of Americans actually prefer for stores to wait till after Thanksgiving to put out Christmas decorations and merchandise. I did not get into the weeds of how extensive this poll was, but it felt good to see that number.

Anyway there was an election yesterday, and of course the Democrats lost the Governor’s race in Virginia because they were clueless as always. They should have paid more attention when the Republican candidate tried to distance himself from Trump. No, they went into anti Trump mode and botched the whole thing up. Apparently people in Virginia had other issues on their mind besides Trump is the boogeyman. Again if a Republican is distancing them self from Trump right now, there is a bright flashing sign that says you might want to dig a bit deeper into what is going on. I do not vote for either party as you know, but seriously I saw that coming all the way here in Texas. I wish I had put that prediction in writing, but if you read the last post I spent 7 days in a row behind the wheel with the only stop of any significance was to load up two vehicles to drive back to Texas. I did read the news some and it was obvious that train was coming straight at the Democrat party. The dust from the wreck will take a while to clean up. So if any Democrats are paying attention, better read the tea leaves carefully for 2022 and you will see more Republicans finding ways to avoid the Trump wreck. Some of it will be very subtle, but in many swing states and purple areas they will be walking that line with as much dexterity as they can muster. 

There will be Trumpian bandwagoneers, but these will be in true Trump base camps and that will be obvious, but anyone close to a tint of blue in their district will toe the line on what they say. 

Otherwise are you ready for the change of seasons and the holidays? It is time and I am certainly looking forward to a few holiday treats, some candy, some good wine, family, outings, friends, trying to avoid the music till late Thanksgiving day, yet ready for it, eggnog and more eggnog, good food, hopefully a bit of snow, the decorations after Thanksgiving, and more. It was a bit chilly today and will be tomorrow so time for the sweaters and the wishing for peace on earth.

Cheers

2800 plus miles later

So you are out and about or maybe halfway across the country, yet either way the more people are not wearing masks the more I want to wear one.

Remember when conservatives said they had common sense, so explain to me that when there is an airborne pathogen that no one can tell you with 100% certainty what this disease is all about why wouldn’t you practice a little common sense and wear a mask. Sure you can not trust the vaccine since it is not the typical vaccine that took years to develop, but the simple wearing of a mask is a problem??? Seriously, a little common sense goes a long way. And I know old news, but cannot be said enough. Hopefully someday someone will listen.

Anyway we are back home, hoping to rest, yet this is America, got to get right back at it as soon as you get home. I am too old for that crap, but still fell into it. Today was a long day at work just trying to catch up with emails. And whoever invented electronic mail needs to be tied to a park bench and covered with peanut butter. Let the squirrels eat those nuts.

Yep a bit bitter for having to work today, but overall in good spirits. We moved the youngest back home so much driving with a full vehicle,(actually 2) yet we did make a couple of almost side trips. So there were moments, but was in the vehicle even for just 3 or 4 hours every day. Eight full days of satellite radio and frustration that no one can drive anymore. Lucky to be alive a couple of times. It is simple folks, plan ahead and you won’t have to cut across 3 or 4 lanes at 70 mph. 

People generally are in better spirits I guess. Ate at too many restaurants and had some good food most of the time. Tried to eat local some of the time, but the theme of this on Godly endeavor was the Cracker Barrel road trip. We probably ate 5 of our breakfasts at Cracker Barrel along with a lunch or two. I did reach a saturation point.. I guess that is why we over spent for dinners.

The drive was across most of the south so Fall wasn’t completely in gear yet when it comes to the colors. There were strong hints here and there, but mostly a tired looking green. The great aspect of the drive is the South does have quite an enormous amount of forests so the drive was visually pleasing for long stretches. The closer you got to the coast it was a bit flatter, but the northern half of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia had quite a few tree lined highways. South Carolina not so much or at least the route we took, North Carolina is always beautiful and we did take a half day, day trip and walked through a bit of history and again spent too much on dinner, but it was beautiful view overlooking a river a few plus miles before it spills into the ocean. And of course one of us got the t-shirt.  The deep blue of the river stretched out in front of us with a gentle breeze blowing through the patio of the restaurant made for quite a pleasant evening. And of course it helps the food was good, some fish, some crab cakes, and a nice simple glass of white wine always makes for a good dinner. 

We also touched beach sand and got my toes wet for about a hour, and well then another seafood dinner. And this was good also.

Overall too much driving and not enough seafood and white wine, but the times we did take the break it was very rewarding. 

Now all of the adult munchkins are home, so the better half is really looking forward to the holidays.

Cheers everyone.