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Thank you Orthonomics

Picking up the tab!

The topic of Octo Mom has been hot on the news, so I thought I'll chime in too.

I'm not sure if I'm upset or just bothered by all of the ridiculous attention that this woman is getting. It seems that America needs and wants something to get mad about. This woman happens to be the one that fits both these bills at the moment.

I suppose she would bother me a lot less if she would just disappear from the spotlight. The problem is that she won't be able to do that for a while. One of the reasons is that she claimed to not want any publicity. She also claimed that she didn't want any help from anyone and she didn't need t.v show's or endorsements and she just did it because she loves children!

Now that we know all of that was a big fat lie...everyone can apologize to me for calling me critical. I said as soon as the news broke that the only way this woman expects to pay her bills is by hoping and praying for a t.v show or some kind of endorsement's like from pampers!

Unfortunately she got something that she didn't bank on...severe backlash from tax payers!
Why was the backlash so severe, well it appears that the average Joe in America is sick and tired of being taken advantage of. It seems that this economy has not only had an impact on jobs and people's stress but also on people's ability to be sympathetic.

Does this effect me somehow? To be completely honest with you, not really. I pay my taxes, I will continue to be a law abiding citizen and pay my taxes. Do I agree with crazy people having children? NO...but is it because I'm a tax payer or is it because I'm concerned for the well being of children in the hands of crazy people? I think its the latter.

So, now that we agree that Octo Mom as she has been nick named by the 'media' is an attention seeking loony lets move on to the rest of the Octo Mom's family, her mother and father. Her father has gone on Operah to plead the case of Octo mom. Even though at the beginning you feel bad for him, he's been put out by his own daughter in the end you get the idea that maybe he's in on it as well. He pleads that the American public not punish the children, and for endorsements to please roll in so that they can help pay the bills.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

So, next time someone feels like they need a movie contract they will go and have nine kids and then the American public will feel sorry for them, they will get a movie contract or some kind of a show and all the bills will be paid and the cycle continues!

Then again if you think about it...it makes perfect sense. Since Wall street decided to plunge they got a bail out (or are in the process of getting a bail out), the banking system and countless others get bailed out when they get themselves in trouble. So, why can't this mother of 14.
If you think about this case in terms of government and helping out, it makes complete sense that this crazy person feels that she is entitled to be bailed out by the American public. Heck, everyone else is doing it.

Exxon Mobil posts record $45.2 billion profit

Why, oh why did I not work for this Company?

Here is what I'm thinking:
DOES ANYONE ELSE SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS?

NOPE, Neither do I ;-)

Have a great weekend!

Responsibility for one’s own actions

I once watched a very interesting program in regards to debt. It was a show based on how to get out of debt. The show found people in debt and provided them with a financial adviser who gave them a plan on how to get out of the situation that they were in. The show centered around three big points; how these people got into debt, what kind of lives they are living to continue their debt problem, and how they are doing nothing about it. Out of the two cases that I watched there was a re-occurring theme. The people in debt felt that they deserved a much better life style than they could actually afford. In one situation it was a female who had graduated university with a student debt of forty thousand dollars. She was able to find a job right out of school which paid fifty thousand dollars a year. With her new found job she decided that she must move out, because her style was slightly cramped living with her parents. This is how her cycle started. Then, for her new job she needed a new wardrobe which added another thousand dollars to the debt. Then she needed to furnish her apartment, the first and last month rent, security deposit and other miscellaneous fees all added another ten thousand dollars to her debt. At the point of the show she had been working for three years and getting nowhere fast. She was always stressed out, and at her ropes end. When the financial adviser came on the scene she started asking questions about her credit cards and any other debts that may exist. There was another couple thousand on credit cards that this girl owed. So, the financial adviser sat down with her and explained to her that if she ever wants to get out of debt that is currently eating her alive she needs to make some changes right away. Some of the things she listed were: not going out as much, not eating out at all, not buying new clothes or shoes for at least a year and possibly moving back home. To most of these suggestions the girl agreed. Then there was another little part where the financial adviser said that she should find a second job to relieve some stress from her and for her to be able to have some kind of spending money. Needless to say the girl did not agree to that. With the plan that the financial adviser made, it would take the girl three years to pay off her credit cards, and her student loans. This would be a hard three years with no savings account and no luxuries, everything going towards paying down the debt. I would love to see if she was able to accomplish that and to see what she is doing now.
Most of the advice given by the financial adviser was good sound practical advice that I agreed with and so did her client. Yet, it seems like if this was so practical and the girl could really understand it and see it, why was she not doing it earlier?
Are some of us like that girl? We know what we should be doing, and what would make financial sense but we are so stuck in our routines and in our own worlds that we do not do it. Are we all running the risk of being so in debt as this girl was just because we are in a routine? Does tightening your belt have a much different meaning now then it did years ago? Do people in general not know how to ‘tighten belts’?
It seems that we live in a very interesting era. We live in a time unlike any other before. Everyday people live as king’s used to live back 3-4 hundred years ago. We live not only to survive but also to derive pleasure. People don’t just want to work to survive; they want to like their work. People want different things out of their lives and therefore choose work that compliments that lifestyle. People have more clothing than they can wear in a month, more shoes than they can wear in a week. In the olden days only the kings and queens were allotted such luxuries. Yet, in our society it is no longer a luxury it is now a necessity.
Is it that we no longer discern what a luxury is and what a necessity is? Or is it that it varies from person to person and there is no more a general definition of those words.

Bonus!

As an employee you are an asset not an expense.
Not only is this true for us, it is also true for people that we employ.

Now, remember the holiday season is upon us. Like you, everyone likes getting bonuses. Keep this in mind this time of year.

Awesome city!!!

Yesterday I had to go downtown to meet with a placement agency. I had so much fun!
My experience getting to the agency was so nice. I was holding a map and every time I stopped to look for street names there were at least two people asking me if they could help me find my way. SO NICE!
The agency was good too, I want to take pictures and post them next time. Its actually really fancy and for me its free to use their fancy facility.
Woooohooooo
Now, all I need is a job.

Selfish Society

We live in a selfish society

On my way in to work this morning I heard the most interesting broadcast about American society and its selfishness. It appears that people have finally realized that Americans are selfish! The reason they realize this is because people are now refusing to have children. They don’t want the responsibility; they don’t want to grow up. People like their lifestyles and they don’t want to change because of little kids.
The best part was when the leader of the show declared that people don’t want to think that the cost of college is about $200000 and how will that effect retirement funds! This made me think of the Jewish way of life! We send children to private schools where the cost before college will equal way above $200000 more closely for one child it will be close to $400000 before they enter college years. So if the goyim are complaining about children and going off to college and how that affects their funds, how should we feel about all this?
I think this is like some people thinking that NY is the only place in America that Jews can exist. They have no idea how other people do it. Same as goyim they have no idea how other people do it. Whereas people, sending their kids to private schools have a real good idea how one can survive all of this.

Thoughts?

Can Pack rats complain?

I’m not saying that one cannot be a packrat; I’m just saying that I don’t want to hear your whining and complaining about money problems. Some examples of this ignorant behavior are people that collect things. Why on earth would anyone collect Barbie’s? They are worthless now and they will be worthless later. Overly decorating the house, to the point where brand new things stay in their packaging for YEARS…tell me that’s not money wasted? What of the people that their houses are so cluttered with junk they have no idea what they have…so when in doubt they just buy more!
Where does this rant come from? Well upon hearing a friends complaint that they were having money problems I politely suggested that this friend not go shopping for clothing (2 sizes too small anyways) and save that money. I also suggested selling off some of the junk stuff they own. Well, this friend got so upset and irate that I understood that they have deep psychological issues. If you feel that your shopping habits are more important then providing a good family environment for your kids then you are crazy. Part of the good family environment would include not having fights over money with your husband who doesn’t see why you need 4 salt and pepper shaker sets. I happen to agree, you really only need one.
Well now that I am a traitor I figure I’d vent.

Enjoy~!

Just a quick blurb about finding sales and stocking up!

Savings!

I understand that we live in a society of instant gratification. If it isn’t right now and cheap then we don’t want it. Yet, there are times when one must look around and smell the roses. Even though I’m not always good about this task I must admit that my husband and I had an awesome stocking up/shopping day. We are now stocking up for both Purim and Pesach of next year. There are some items that people can by that are just that much cheaper and I most happy to inform that I have found the said items and bought them…in bulk.
Again I understand space restraint for stocking up. Yet, I must say in America there is space for this. Most people have basements. Although we live in a high rise we too have basement space. If the basement space isn’t used to clutter ones life with silly things that one will never use again, its actually pretty useful space for stocking up on caned goods with no expiration dates. The truth is I understand people that tell me that it doesn’t make sense to stock up…I really do hear your point. Now here mine; I would rather put it in my basement and have it sit there for a year then have it sit in a store basement for a year and pay double if not triple the price next year. One tomato sauce was over $2 for this Pesach, if I can spare myself that kind of ridiculous price gouging for next year then why should I not take the opportunity? When grape juice for a small bottle is $0.33 rather than $0.79 (on sale) then you can disagree all you want, but my shaluchamanot just cost 2.4 times less than what I paid last year. So there you have it ladies and gentlemen money saving techniques for the future.
On the other hand I would like to slip in this little piece of advice; if you are saving $10 just make sure you know how much time you will spend on trying to save $10 then do the calculation of time vs. money and see what makes sense. $10x1 hr x2 people…doesn’t make tooo much sense. Yet again, $10 doesn’t exactly grow on a tree.

People, and the dream world.

This post is a long time coming.

People are crazy. That is my statement and I’m sticking to it. It seems as though this world has become one big luxuries cruise ship and everyone is on it. At this point you are wondering what the heck am I talking about it, I’m talking about luxuries that have come around to being misinterpreted as necessities. I see this in all different backgrounds of America. The one I am most associated to is of course the orthodox Jewish community. So I will speak on that mainly, drawing references from my other experience as well.
Through the years there has been a trend of luxuries turning to necessities one example is undergarments. It was not so long ago that they were considered the clothing of the noble and upper crust society. Now it’s almost un-heard of for someone not to wear undergarments. Same thing could be said for silverware, once upon a time your hands is what got you fed, not a fork and knife. Keeping these examples in mind I would like to go onto some interesting comparisons in the year 2008. I overheard people complaining about their budget and how kosher food is just so over priced. Well, I happened to take a peak into their grocery cart just to have an idea of what they were talking about. Then I had an audible laugh. ‘ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!’ is what I wanted to say. OF course I didn’t. She had half a cart of T.V dinners, the other with coke and chips, hummus, and sporadic veggies that were overly priced since it wasn’t a produce store and it was a large food chain store. Let’s analyze this further shall we.
T.V dinners= A lot of money for a little food. = Over priced dinner= silly decision= waste of money.
MAKE A POT OF NOODLES and you’ll feed the whole family for half the price if not more of a T.V Dinner. Give me a break.
Coke and Chips= both go into a category of useless food items. DO you really need to feed your children this junk?! Even though I personally love coke, I’ve started to cut back really because of the health concern rather than anything else. BUT chips that is non excusable.
Hummus….WHAT, ever heard of a chick pea. Really, chick pea smashed with garlic=hummus…not the $5 kind, the $0.99 kind. Nothing wrong with cheaper!
Veggies not in a produce store….what do you just like throwing your money away.

I really hate it when people complain about prices and yet do nothing about it. I understand that in order to get vegetables you might have to drive 2 miles away. Yet, if it’s on your way to work, from work or on the path to another errand why not take advantage of it! Yes I agree driving to three different stores spending gas at $4.00/gal doesn’t make sense, but when you break it down unless you are driving 35miles out of the way it really does make sense. Over paying for someone else to deliver to your local supermarket does not make sense. Also, what is necessity? Yes, vegetables are more expensive. Yes, milk is more expensive, same as for eggs, BUT, pre-packaged hummus….common. Another delight, the people that buy pre-cooked food from the deli and then have the audacity to complain about it. Are you kidding me? Someone is making it for you, putting it in a box and you’re going to give him attitude.
In other words, when you complain that prices are going up and oh dear this economy, maybe it is worth it to analyze how you are spending your money currently, and maybe making some changes in that department.
It seems to me that we live in a society where no matter how much money a person makes; they feel like they should live like millionaires. There is people living pay check to paycheck complaining about it and driving BMW’s. Here’s a thought: don’t do that and you won’t be broke. Then on a smaller scale there are people complaining about food prices that are eating caviar, here’s a thought: Don’t do that and you’ll save that money for something that is really worth it such as milk and eggs.
If I were a financial advisor I would love to just analyze people’s budgets and make recommendations and see what happens from there.

You know the saying: You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink!
Need I say more?

Yup, I’ll save that for another post.

Pesach Lists

List, what list?

As some of you know we have been remodeling our bathroom for the better half of 3 months now. This situation has not really bothered me, up until this week. This is my power week! I NEED to have 90% of cleaning and organizing done this week so that can flip my kitchen next week! As I am not completely crazy (and the fact that I like to keep everything clean anyways) I am not in full out panic mode…yet. Really though I would love to be able to clean my room, curtains that need washing, floors that are so neglected!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH.
Yesterday I had a moment of weakness. It came at about 11:30pm and after yet another trip to the store equaling $150 on food that I cannot eat today. Honestly, it’s like Pesach is out to ruin any budget that you may have set. Since, this is my first Pesach I’m taking it in stride and trying very hard not to panic. Yet, it still feels like a gigantic money pit which I just have to keep buying for. The truth is it is our first Pesach and a lot of the items we don’t have and we truly do need them in order to make Pesach. Such items are like pots, pans, mixers, dishes, serving dishes, utensils, serving utensils and etc. We started to shop sales months ago and yet I feel like I’m not any closer to having everything that I will need. I do realize that if I were to just go to a store and buy things at regular price that I would be spending 3 maybe even 4 or 5 times as much as I am now shopping for bargains there is just a little piece of me that wants to just go to one stop and get everything done! Then the rational part of me says: “ARE YOU CRAZY!!!” You really want to pay full price when you know you could do a little bit of research and get it so much cheaper??? This is the statement that makes the constant shopping and stores and price checking worth it.
On that note, I have renounced the idea of saving any money on food at this time. This goes against all of my theories and my general principal, but there is truly nothing I can do. I cannot go to a different store and get a better price on Mayo, because there is no better price. There is Mayo for the price that it is set for Pesach or there is no mayo at all. Other than the fruits and vegetables I have let down my money saving guard (on food items).

Purim vs. Finance vs. Mitzvah

I'm sorry for posting yet another finance vs. Purim, but with some question as to my first entry, I feel that I need to expand on what I have already written.

One of my friends (not a blogger), who has had difficulty posting her comments, has expressed her concern to me in regards to a few of my posts, and, of course mainly to the content in the blog as a whole. So, I'd like to address these concerns as I feel she is not the only one.

In regards to spending money on Purim and it being a Mitzvah:
This to me is a clear contradiction of what Purim giving is truly about. I may be wrong but there are two mitzvot involved: one mitzvah is to give Mishloach Manot to each other and the other is to give the poor. Now, here is where a lot of people have the dilemma. The purpose of those mitzvot is not to spend more than what you could possibly afford on giving Mishloach Manot to your neighbours friends and family; and then drop the minimum amount allowable into the pushka to 'just' be "yotze" of the other mitzvah! Why drive yourself into debt in order to really achieve nothing? On the other hand, one could do smaller packages of Mishloach Manot and whatever they 'saved' on the Mishloach Manot they can give to the poor, thereby truly fulfilling the mitzvah.

I have more to say on this in regards to different circles. Usually, if you belong to one social group or another, you have different customs and traditions of what to do or what not to do for presents, weddings, mishloach manot and such. One of my friends lives in a 'nicer' area in America. A couple of years ago she got a beautiful mishloach manot package with an obvious Apple theme. Everything had something to do with apples, ...including the apple Ipod in there! This to me sounds as a little too much. YET, in that particular neighborhood, it was right in line with other mishloach manot packages that were being delivered. Then, there are other examples that go from there to any other extreme or go to a paper bag with food for two brachot in there, and given over. Any one of the examples above or anything in between fulfills the mitzvah or distributing mishloach manot to at least two people, with food for at least two brachot. NOW, cue in the politics of some communities, along with people not managing money, and what we have is: disaster.

Now with all that said, my friend who does not post comments, but maybe will, or at least will email me back, said that her mishloach manot are usually simple, with some items bought, and some items found around the house, such as tuna, fruit cups, etc. Here is where I have a problem: "FOUND AROUND THE HOUSE"! I understand that this phrase is a figure of speech, but it is so frustrating for me. This is why:
Yesterday, I went to Costco. I bought tuna: 12 cans for $11.49. If this is one of the things found around the house, whoever does not plan for Mishloach Manot costing them money just put in ONE item costing $0.98 otherwise known as a DOLLAR for that one item! This example is what I'm talking about! If a family does not keep track of how much they spend on EVERYTHING, then they WILL spend more than they need to or want to. My example of Mishloach Manot: fruit cup: $1.79 for 4 meaning one will cost $0.45; carrots (mini pack) $5.79 for 24 meaning one will cost $0.24; mini bottles of water: $7.35 for 48 so one costs $0.15; meaning for the price of one tuna can that was "found around the house" that still needs at least one more item that will be bought to be considered a mishloach manot package, I have gotten a nice package together for $0.84 which is actually even less money then the tuna.

This is just one of the examples that I see that people are just not aware of that they do. One feels that if it's already in the house, it means that it is free. In fact, it is not free! If a family is responsible for their finances by keeping track of all the purchases they make, then they would be able to see that in fact, they are not saving money.

The other point my friend brought up was the initial investment involved in trying to save money. On this point I agree with her. In order to save you have to watch for sales and be willing to spend. She also brought up the point that in a sale you will buy more than what you usually would buy. This is true. That is why it is a sale. They want you to buy all 10 items to get it at the price that usually 3 would cost. Yet, if it is a non perishable food item, and it can last a long time, and you know that eventually it will be consumed within the time that it can stand, then it is worth it..., again it's worth it in the long run. For example, I bought shampoo. On sale, at Costco, with a coupon. The price was too good to pass up on. So naturally, I bought it. I spent less on shampoo and conditioner than the usual cost at the store. My point is: I'll put it under the cabinet and in a year this will be used. I know that that quantity will last a year. Now, I'm all set with shampoo, and at a MUCH cheaper price than the bottle that would only last me two months. Yet, initially it cost me $9. However, in the end it will cost me less than $2 than if I would have waited till I ran out and went to the store to buy it at full price with no sale or coupon.

I am not trying to be a mean or an awful friend. I'm just trying to open people's eyes and minds to the idea that money can be saved! Money if used wisely will stretch more!



That's all for now.

Soon to come, organization!

Knowledge is power

Before starting I'd like to give a hit tip to SephardiLady with the following articles that inspired me to become an advocate: Finances, and: Our Finances.
Knowledge is power!
Why is it that I've spoken to countless young women who have no idea what is going on in their finances. They are intelligent, hard working people that are kept in the dark. Some are kept in the dark by choice, others don't want to stir the pot.
The ones that are there by choice, why? Because it stresses them out. I completely understand being stressed by finances. I personally hate paying bills...but that is not an excuse not to know where my family finances are. I do not pay the bills. I hate parting with money especially when its so hard to earn. I do however make a spreadsheet every month and break down where the money is going, what bills were paid and how much and why the credit card was to high or to low. Having the breakdown in front of you, makes you knowledgeable in where you can cut back and save or spend (more on this in further postings). Not knowing where your money is going makes you vulnerable to overspending and maybe even being taken advantage of by the credit card company for over billing you on something or other.
The ones that are kept in the dark because they don't want to stir the pot have serious miscommunication issues in their marriage. Thinking that it is normal to avoid a topic rather than to talk about it because it may anger or worse enrage the spouse is a bad case of being mentally abused. If you don't know where your finances are I hope that you trust your spouse enough to ensure that it's not being gambled, used on drugs, smokes, liquor, prostitutes or many other facets to waste money on especially when given full range from the spouse.
The last point I'd like to make on this for today is the fact that all of the people that say that they aren't involved in family finances because it stresses them out all of them have said they would be in deep trouble if anything would happen to their spouse. They also all said that their spouse would never mess them about. Although I hope that is true and everything will be fine for these people forever. I keep reading these cases where women find out that there husbands got them into huge credit card debt and other sorts of financial issues and left them with it when they filed for divorce. Also, other women were left with nothing when the husbands drained the bank account of all its assets and then filed for a divorce.
What I'm saying is that yes we all hope/pray/wish for the best and not think about the worst but it does not help by being in the dark. Just know what is going on in your own family finance. That is all.
Thoughts?