Teach Your Kids About Money

I am nearly 50 years old, have a college degree, have worked for the same company for 27 years in the field my degree is in. I am married and have two teenagers.

Sounds like I should be in reasonably decent shape financially, right?

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!

I am broke. I have spent every penny that I have ever had. I do not own a home or property; no savings, stocks, bonds or anything like that. Both of our cars are financed. Essentially I have nothing except for some clothes and shoddy old furniture. I am living paycheck to paycheck and many months not making it so actually my wife and daughter are chipping in to help meet expenses. I will likely not be able to put one cent toward my children's college education.

So what happened?

I could spread the blame around like saying my employer doesn't pay enough and other things, but truth is, most of the blame lies with me. I have always been a very impulsive person and have made many stupid decisions that caused my family to go backwards financially rather than forwards. I guess I do blame one party for my situation: my parents. Don't get me wrong; I love my parents and they are great, but they really did not teach me about money. And they were not in financial ruin. They did not go to college, but they both worked and there always seemed to be enough money. In fact it seems like they had more money then than I do now. They were not in debt (that I know of). They were able to pay for a large part of my college education so that I had no student loan debt upon graduation. We had what we needed and for the most part what we wanted. Of course they did not have some of the expenses that many people have these days: no cable bills, internet, cell phones or computers that always seem to need to be upgraded. (I think the cell phone and computer industry is all a big conspiracy to relieve us of our money).

So I would consider my parents financially successful. Not rich by any means, but certainly well able to provide. But they did not pass their know-how on to me. They did not teach me about saving for purchases versus buying on credit; waiting patiently until I had enough money rather than "whipping out the plastic"; they did not teach how do distinguish wants from needs and to act accordingly. And so instead of being a financial success, I consider myself a financial failure.

So what about my children? My oldest will be a senior in high school this coming school year. She has a job and is saving her money well as she looks forward to college. Her younger brother is more like me. He spends eveything he gets and so at any given time has virtually nothing.

So here is some advice for parents to teach their kids about money. (Do as I say and not as I have done!)

1: If possible, give them an allowance and set up a savings account for them. If you can join a credit union, do it at a credit union rather than a regular bank because they generally pay better interest. make the allowance contingent on doing certain chores around the house. If the chores are undone or not done up to standards, withhold part or all of the allowance.

2: encourage them to get a job; a part-time job in high school makes most kids more responsible and many actually do better with their schoolwork than those without jobs.

3: have them pay with some of their allowance or job money certain household expenses that pertain to them, such as cell phone bills or internet costs, and car insurance, gasoline and maintainance if they are driving.

4: if they need/want more money than they have, lend them some if you can, but charge them interest and be sure they pay you back; otherwise, withhold the allowance. Make sure to help them distinguish wants from needs when borrowing. If they can do without it, it is unadvisable to borrow for it. It is also a bad idea to borrow for something that will be outdated before they get done paying for it.

5: let them in on the famly budget and decision-making process. Have a "family budget meeting" once in a while so they can see how things work in real life.

Don' let your kids end up like me because it really sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So Sayeth The Shack

Something To Be Thankful For

As one of the world's biggest cynics, I rarely feel thankful for anything, but I think I have finally found something...

With all the pollen that has been in the air for the past few weeks, I'm really thankful that I'm not allergic to the stuff. Otherwise I'd be miserable (or at least more miserable than I already otherwise would be).

So OK; THANK YOU FOR NOT GIVING ME ALLERGIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So Sayeth The Shack

Ding Dong The Bitch Is Gone!!!

So Rosie is leaving "The View"! That's the best news I've heard in years!

While she's at it, maybe she can leave the planet..or even the universe!!!
She is a big fat ugly frickin' a-hole.

But...she has the right to say anything she wants...just like Imus, right?
(At least Imus is better looking!)


So Sayeth The Shack

It Could Have Been Me

Whenever something like the Columbine shootings or the latest incident at Virginia Tech happens, I think to myself, it could be me doing that.

Generally, the perpetrators of such deeds have been loners, outcasts, generally shunned by society. I too am somewhat of an outcast and a loner...even though I have a family and a decent job.

In grade school I was the one who was always picked on and bullied. It wasn't so much physical bullying as it was phsycological and verbal. Being called names and left out of things because I was fat (a lot less common back in those days than it is now) and awkward. I was always picked last when teams were formed in gym class or at recess because I was lousy at sports. Having no siblings, I had not learned how to get along with and react to other children my own age. So I reacted in peculiar ways and therefore was teased and tormented. I did not have any friends.

In high school most of the teasing and tormenting had ended. But I was still an outcast. There were many cliques in high school. There were the jocks...obviously I was not one of those. There were the brains...not quite; I wasn't that smart. There were the band kids, the drama club kids and the shop kids (auto mechanics etc.). Nowhere did I fit in. I still had no friends.

The first part of college was a little better. I attended a small branch campus of a large university. There I finally had a small group of friends, at least for a while. But I have not heard from any of them since; so were they really friends? The second part of college went downhill. I was at the main campus of the large university. I found that the other kids in the dorms were a bunch of inconsiderate assholes...blasting stereos at all hours, setting off firecrackers in the hallways, etc. I had 1 friend. He is still pretty much my friend now. At least we still communicate from time to time, even though we live nowhere near each other.

Since college I have worked for a company, gotten married and raised 2 kids to high school age. But people still pretty much ignore me. In a social or party situation, no one sits with me/us unless it is the only place left; then they still ignore us. I still have no other friends. The town where I live is filled with inconsiderate generally drunk assholes....still blasting stereos, setting off firecrackers and yelling at the top of their lungs for no reason at all. College students that never grew up I guess. I am a quiet, shy, soft-spoken person and I am frightened by loud obnoxious people and unexpected loud noises.

I have done many things over the years to try to "fit in" somewhere. I became a volunteer first responder/firefighter for a time, but could not break into the clique so did not fit in there. I joined a different church than the one I was raised in, but then discovered that I was unable to live up to their expectations, so I don't fit in there either. Prettty much the only women who were ever interested in me were either fat, ugly, stupid or some combination of the 3. I have grown tired and unhappy with my career and wish I had gone into something else. My financial situation is bleak as I have spent all my money trying to make myself happy but to no avail. I cannot see any improvement in the future. Rarely a week goes by that I do not consider killing myself. Sometimes I think about it every day for a period of time but then my mood lightens and it is back to once a week for a while. I guess I am too chicken. Maybe it will hurt too much. Maybe I will fail at it like I have failed at most everything else in life. At least if I ever do do it, I will probably only kill myself and not take a bunch of other people with me.

So Sayeth The Shack

Finally Cutting Back?

I took a trip to Ohio this past weekend to see my Mom for her 83rd birthday. With gas prices already at or above $3/gallon, I noticed less non-commercial traffic on the road that on most other times that I have made the trip over the past few years. Could it be that people are finally wising up and curtailing their travels?

No matter what anyone says, I fully believe that gas will hit $4/gallon this summer. All will take is one hurricane, or someone's camel sneezing in Saudi Arabia.

The only thing that will bring the price down, if there is indeed anything that will, is people lowering their usage by cutting down on unnecessary travel. You can complain all you want, but it won't do any good unless you speak with your wallet instead of your mouth.


So Sayeth The Shack

No More Sperm Donations!

The other article in today's paper that I found interesting was one where a sperm donor was required to pay child support for his progeny. According to the article, this man helped a lesbian couple conceive two children. After the couple split up, he was required to pay child support! Wow! if that won't cut down on sperm bank donations I don't know what will!

So what will they think of next? I suppose if I donate blood which saves someone's life, I might be found liable to pay their taxes? Helping people is a dangerous thing in this day and age.


So Sayeth The Shack

Mind Your Own Business, Government!

There were two articles in the paper today that I felt compelled to comment on.

The first has to do with gas prices and the government saying they are too low!!. Apparently a service station in Merrill, Wisconsin has been offering a 2 cent per gallon discount for senior citizens and a discount card that lets youth sports boosters pay 3 cents per gallon less. Now given the outrageous price of gas these days, 2 or 3 cents isn't much, but the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (they're protecting consumers from low prices?) claims that it is a violation of the state's "Unfair Sales Act" which requires stations to sell gas for about 9.2 cents above the wholesale price.

How is it that government, be it state, federal or local, has the right to tell businesses how much to charge for their products? No wonder there is no competition! There must be a law like that around here too because all the gas stations have the same price and whenever one goes up they pretty much all do at the same time. I remember when I was a kid there used to be "gas wars" with stations competing against each other for the lowest price. But not anymore, thanks to the government I guess.


So Sayeth The Shack

Another Stupid Lawsuit

OK this is even stupider than the woman who sued McDonald's because their coffee was hot (duh!) and she was so clumsy she spilled it on herself.

Apparently someone is suing a dry cleaning business for $65 million over a missing pair of pants!!!

WOW! $65 million for a pair of pants...are they made of gold or something?

I hope that no judge or jury is stupid enough to award this lawsuit.

The original cost of the pants and maybe a little extra for the trouble is all that the dry cleaner should be liable for.

If it's really that easy to make $65 million, I should just start suing people. Oh, wait, I can't afford a lawyer in the first place.


So Sayeth The Shack

Getting To the Cause

In the wake of the recent massacre of over three dozen innocent people at Virginia Tech, there will be the usual calls for beefing up security at schools and other institutions as well as for more stringent gun laws. However, no amount of security nor the strictest gun law will solve the actual underlying problem. To do that, we must answer the question: what is the cause of such an action? What kind of hate or rage drives someone to go out and gun down a bunch of innocent fellow human beings?

I believe that all of us have a "breaking point", a "last straw", so to speak, that can send us over the edge. Very few people ever reach it and most of us never even get close. But at any given time, there may be a handful of people out there, somewhere, who have "had it up to here and can no longer cope". Some will say that such people need mental help. Maybe so, but most do not get the help they need. So they are out there, one spark away from an explosion. Who knows whether or not an action on my part or your part is that "last spark"? Maybe the person I tailgated and honked at for going too slow on the way to work this morning is that person, or maybe they will pass that frustration and inconsiderate action on to someone else, and so on down the line, until it reaches someone that is at that breaking point. That person then "goes berserk" and kills or injures one or more people, perhaps including themselves, or blows something up, or whatever. No amount of gun control will stop this. If one of the innocent victims had had a gun, he or she might have been able to injure or disarm the shooter before things got as far as they did. If not a gun, some other weapon will be used. Perhaps fewer people would be killed, but even one innocent life lost is too many. Security will not stop this; no one knows who will be the next person to "lose it". What will stop it? Perhaps if we all treated each other better, people would not be reaching that "breaking point". If we all treated each other the way we would like to be treated it might go a long way to preventing these kinds of tragedies. And unlike other options it wouldn't cost a penny.


So Sayeth The Shack

In Defense Of Imus

OK it is not good to call anyone names, not matter what your race or nationality or their race or nationality.

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As long as Black people can call other Black people nigger, ho, or whatever (see rap music, etc) then White people should not be punished for doing the same thing. Certainly Imus does not deserve the punishment he has received and certainly does not deserve to be fired.

As far as I'm concerned, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are just as much racists (in the opposite direction) as any white supremist Nazi skinhead!

Seems to me that some people, especially some Blacks, need to get a thicker skin.



So Sayeth The Shack

No More Boundaries!

Iran's recent reaction to the "trespassing" on its waters by some British sailors reminds me of some old mountain man (my apologies to Jeni) shooting at people that wander onto his property either by mistake or on purpose. This whole concept of "my land" or "my water" or "my property" must be done away with. This earth belongs to all of us. We are all the same, each and every one of us. There may be some minor variation in skin color, place of origin, what we believe in terms of religion, and whether or not we posess certain sexual organs. But basically we are all the same. We are all human. We all have certain basic needs and, I believe, certain basic rights. Instead of differentiating ourselves along national, religious or racial lines, and hating those who do not "belong", we should understand who much the same we are. We are all in the same boat, and that boat is called Earth. We need to start getting along, sharing our resources and loving each other rather than killing each other. The people in Iran are acting like a bunch of 3-year-olds who have not learned how to share.

So Sayeth The Shack

Food or Fuel?

Within the past couple of years there has been a big push for the use of ethanol and other biofuels, partly to reduce our dependance on imported oil. This is a good thing, right? Maybe not.

The diversion of part of the corn and soybean crop for the production of these fuels is already causing an increase in food prices. Part of the crop is being used for the production of fuel and so the supply goes down and the price goes up. The latest news is that the price of milk may rise nearly 10 per cent, partly because of the increase in cost of feed (mostly corn) for the cattle. Meanwhile, the price of regular fuel oil continues to rise. So we are being hit by price increases both at the grocery store and at the gas pump. Some of us may have to decide between feeding our families and putting gas in the car so we can go to work. And get this....as I understand it, it takes some amount of energy to covert the corn into ethanol, so in terms of actual energy, are we really getting much value out of it?

Furthermore, you think the price of oil is volatile? (News Flash: the price of gas rose $0.30/gal today after a camel crapped in Iran). Just wait until a hailstorm destroys a cornfield in Iowa or a drought hits part of the corn belt. Heck even the forecast of a drought will bring huge price increases...and remember these increases will be for both fuel and food. We are treading down a dangerous path here. I think is a bad idea to be converting some of our food supply into fuel.

Instead of biofuels we should be looking at solar and nuclear power as well as geothermal energy and wind power. Solar power, wind power and geothermal energy are totally sustainable. They use essentially no resources and produce essentially no pollution.

So Sayeth The Shack

What Goes Around Comes Around

From this morning's paper, in an article titled "Economy May Be In For A Rough Ride" by Kevin G. Hall: "Higher lending rates in China matter to average Americans. Most large American corporations either manufacture there or purchase from contract Chinese manufacturers. Higher lending rates in China would slow economic activity there and raise the cost of doing business. The cost could be passed back to Americans as pricier imported goods."

So let me get this straight here. The companies that used to employ Americans and pay them good wages to produce products for other Americans but in the last few decades have moved overseas to take advantage of lower labor costs are now going to raise the prices they charge their former (American) employees for their products because their costs are going up? So they screw us by outsourcing our jobs and then screw us again by raising the prices on the products we used to make over here that we can no longer afford to buy because all of the good jobs are gone .

We are consumers. We shall be screwed. Resistance is futile!!!!

So Sayeth The Shack

What To Do With Anne Nicole's Body

Wow! Even long after she is dead, it seems everyone still wants Anne Nicole's body! (Now that just sounds wrong, doesn't it?

Well here is the (obvious) solution: Cremate her and divide up the ashes. That way everybody who wants can have a piece of her (sounding wrong again!)


So Sayeth The Shack

Mormons ARE Christians

Mitt Romney's recent announcement that he will run for president has created quite a bit of controversy about his religion. Some of the remarks that were made by other politicians and so-called Christians are absurd. It is sad how little people know about this large and still-growing faith, especially since there are missionaries in almost every country teaching about it.

First and foremost, Mormons ARE Christians. The full name of their church is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints". They believe in Jesus Christ just like all other Christians. They believe that he is the son of God and that he died and was resurrected. They also believe in both the old and new testaments of the Bible. The Book of Mormon is believed to be a scripture supplementing the Bible and dealing with people living on the American continent before, during the after the time of Jesus. This includes a visit by Jesus to the people of this continent after his resurrection. This makes a lot of sense. Why would Jesus only visit one place on earth when there were people living elsewhere and there was no means of communication between them?

Mormons believe that God again speaks to His people through a prophet (the head of the church). This prophet directs the church and receives revelation just like the old testament prophets. I don't know about you but this makes perfect sense to me. Why would God no longer give revelation to his people, especially now when we seem to need it more than ever.

The practice of polygamy by the true Mormon church ended long ago. There are "splinter groups" that may practice it but they are not true Mormons. Once of the teachings of the church is that people are to obey the law of the land, and if that law prohibits polygamy, then polygamy shall not be practiced. I doubt that Mr Romney will try to change that law and besides I don't think that polygamy is any worse than the idea of same-sex marriage. (I'd rather have 2 wives than a husband, but I can barely afford one wife!)

Yes there are some secret ceremonies in this religion. These are conducted in the temples and are open only to highly worthy church members. But other societies also have secret ceremonies. What about the Masons? What about the Knights of Columbus?

My aim here was to educate the readers a little about the Mormon church and take away a little mystery. Do not discount Mitt Romney because he is Mormon anymore than you should have discounted Kennedy because he was Catholic.

So Sayeth The Shack

DST About Money, Not Energy

This year, daylight savings time will begin a few weeks earlier and end a few weeks later than in the past, plunging early risers back into darkness and offering some extra light to the night owls.

The government claims that this is an energy-saving measure but I fail to see how any energy is saved. If it is dark for an extra hour in the morning we will use lights in the morning rather than in the evening. So where is the savings? Plus school kids will be heading to school or to bus stops in the dark for a time. I remember back in the 70s where we had year-round daylight savings time for a year. It was pitch dark going to school in the winter. Not exactly the safest thing.

I really think this is all about money. I think merchants and restaurant owners want the extra daylight in the evening so that people are more inclined to go shopping or out to eat after work, thereby spending money and increasing their business. I think these people have secretly lobbied congress to extend daylight savings time for several weeks. Energy has nothing to do with it.

So Sayeth The Shack

Poor Anne Nicole

So some real rich and famous person died a few days ago. Wow! Big deal! As far as I know, Every person who has ever lived on this earth, who is currently living, or who has yet to live, either has died or will die. It is pretty much inevitable. So why make such a big deal about it? Oh Yeah...she was rich, famous, a big celebrity. Wow! I think her death has gotten more coverage than that of former president Ford (which I also thought was excessive). Should I lower my flag to half staff? Maybe I should lower my underwear to half staff.

Don't get me wrong...it's sad that she died, especially at such a young age, but does there really need to be so much hoopla about it? I'm sure that when I die, no more than 3 people will know about it...a bit shy of the entire planet.

Oh and the big thing...she was depressed? Maybe on drugs? Wow! I think if I had as much money as she did, I would be able to keep from being depressed. They say money doesn't buy happiness, and she is a prime example. Nevertheless I think I would be just a bit happier if I weren't always running out of paycheck before I ran out of month.

So Sayeth The Shack

A Super Yawn

Wow! I haven't had a more boring Sunday evening in a long time! Of course I'm talking about the Super Bowl. The game itself was unexciting. After the first few posessions by the Bears, it was pretty much dullsville. The commercials were not all that great, either. And could they have found a worse halftime performer? I could not understand a word he (and I use that term loosely....more like an it...one of the ugliest things I've ever seen on stage) sang, or shouted or screamed or whatever he was doing. It was more like a bunch of noise. He gets paid for that? I could get up on stage and make a bunch of racket too. At least they had someone decent for the National Anthem so it didn't get murdered like it usually does. And it was pouring the whole game, so where were the wet cheerleaders? Come on guys! At least next Sunday it'll be back to Desperate Housewives.

So Sayeth The Shack

Global Warming Thoughts

In the light of yesterday's report on global warming (coincidentally released on the same day Punxatawney Phil predicted an early spring and just prior to one of the worst cold snaps in years), I would like to add my thoughts.

OK the planet is getting warmer. There is data that supports this and I will not question it.
We (people) are the cause of it. Well, maybe we are hurrying it along, but who is to say that it would not be occurring anyway? To determine that, we would have to remove all the people, turn back time, and see what would happen.

Our planet, at various times, has been both warmer and colder than it is now. There is fossil evidence and other data that indicates this. These warm and cold spells (ice ages) have occurred without the presence of humans on the planet, or at least before we were burning fossil fuels. These are natural cycles that the planet goes through over long periods of time.
Humans are not the only things that have impacted the climate and wrought changes in the weather. Volcanos have often thrown so much material high into the atmosphere so as to dim the sun and cool the earth for years afterwards. In addition, large meteors and asteriods have had similar effects.

My conclusion is what we are calling "global warming" is at least partly a natural cycle of the earth, climate and weather. Perhaps human activity is making it go faster than it would otherwise but I do not believe that we are completely responsible. That does not mean that we should not work on cutting back on our emissions and burning of fossil fuels. There are other compelling reasons to do this besides the global warming issue, such as availability and cost of these fuels (The fact that a small group of mostly unfriendly countries controls most the world supply). Just as importantly, if not more so, we need work on our adaptability if we are to survive as a species. As the earth warms, certain areas may become uninhabitable or unsuitable for growing food while other areas become better suited for living or growing crops. So we need to look for new areas to grow food and also consider the possibility of having to shift population from one area to another. This will require cooperation between nations, something that we, as humans, have not always been good at. But it is something that we will have to do if we are to continue to inhabit this planet.

So Sayeth The Shack

Still Getting Screwed

Over the weekend I spotted an article in my local hometown newspaper complaining that the gas prices there were the highest in that particular state. Mind you, they are nearly 20 cents per gallon lower than they are locally. This means that prices across the Buckeye State are mostly under $2.00/gallon. That's far lower than they are around here. So why are we still getting screwed by the oil companies. Prices of crude have dropped precipitously. Yet the price at the pump, locally, has only gone down 4 cents. Someone should take a car bomb to one of the oil companies and blow it sky high!

Better yet...I should just get a tanker truck, drive it to Ohio and fill it with gasoline, drive it back up here and sell the gas for $2.20/gallon. I could undercut the local prices and still make a profit. Maybe even enough to ditch my real job.

So Sayeth The Shack