Thursday, February 17, 2011

US Healthcare System Is "Evil," Says Justin Bieber

NYC signing September 1,2009 Nintendo Store - NYCImage via Wikipedia
When I think of words to describe the U.S. Healthcare system, the word "evil" has never entered my mind. But to our young friend Justin Bieber, it's evil. Recently, I don't know how this could come up, but Justin Bieber commented on the U.S. Healthcare System. Here's what he told the Rolling Stone magazine when asked if he would switch from being Canadian to a US citizen. Bieber says:

"You guys are evil. Canada's the best country in the world. We go to the doctor and we don't need to worry about paying him, but here, your whole life, you're broke because of medical bills. My bodyguard's baby was premature, and now he has to pay for it. In Canada, if your baby's premature, he stays in the hospital as long as he needs to, and then you go home."

Even though he is only 16 years old he does have his opinions. I did not know he was a Canadian. He has grown up in a country that has socialized medicine. He believes it is a good thing. Lets remember that because of his youth he has a very limited knowledge of finances and paying your own way. Also remember he is being sympathetic to his body guards situation. He is coming from a good heart.

By his comments, I believe he is not that involved with his personal finances. Someday when he is old enough to take an interest in his tax returns, he may think differently. His future looks bright, with music, TV and movies in his future. He will be making obscene amounts of money and paying obscene amounts of tax. He may wonder when that day comes where his money is going to. That day hopefully he'll put 2 and 2 together and realize that his Canadian Healthcare System is not so free anymore.


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Your Budget Will Always Fail If You Don't Have This One Ingredient



Budgeting is the backbone of your financial plan. It's a spending plan that tells your money where to go every month. We all have various reasons to have a spending plan. It can be saving for retirement, getting out of debt or saving for a house or car.

The fuel to make this plan come all together is your income. Budgeting your income channels the money to a future purpose. Now a days money is at a premium, people have lost jobs and income is reduced. On the other hand expenses are going up. My insurance, property taxes, and consumables have all risen sharply in the last few years. The spending plan is tighter than ever.


How To: Create A Budget



The problem is that you don't have the money to save anymore. Your just making the bills and this is the worst time to put money into retirement or paying off debt. In my own situation, my health care used to be paid for at my business. Now the money just isn't their anymore. It now comes out of my income every month. Like me, many others have incomes reduced or eliminated causing a drastic cut back in lifestyle and spending.

The cure for all this is to find other channels of income. Whether it's a part time job or a home based business. If you are thinking you already work 6 or 7 days a week now, how can I work more? You will have to find the way that works in your life. This is not going to be easy. If your fluent in computers build a website and sell something. Have a garage sale on Ebay.

Budgets: Hold Your Nose and Try One

If computers are not your thing then, find a way to use your job specific knowledge and do what you do at work for clients. Starting a business at home will have low start up costs and it lets you test the waters cheaply to see if your idea will fly.

You need the increased income to jump start your goals. We all need to do something on the side. It may grow into to something substantial, it may flounder, or it may make you some money that will give you an income, that will take you into retirement. Don't just sit there in front of the TV complaining. Shut off "Biggest Loser" and make yourself the biggest winner.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Is It Fair Baby Boomers Are Getting Blamed For Everything These Days


Image via Wikipedia


If you are of the Baby Boomer generation are you to blame for the Social Security and health care problems? I am seeing in the news more and more how the Boomer's are beginning to be used as the scape goat for the nations problems. The trends are starting to show that the shear number of Baby Boomers will effect the economy and jobs in this country for the next 30 years. In many ways they will be blamed for the future economic woes of this country.

The boomer's are getting blamed that, as they age, they will be using more than their share of medical resources. They will be the generation that will enjoy the best of the medical benefits this country has to offer. They will be living longer than any generation has ever in this country. Their longevity will cause Medicare to become insoluble.

Social Security is teetering on bankruptcy more and more every year. Guess who will be blamed for pushing it over the edge. Boomer's, with their state of the art medical care will have extended life spans that will allow them to receive benefits much longer than the system was built to sustain. The X and Y generations will have to foot the bill for their longer lives. Not only that the X and Y's will have to be paying more in to support their eventual retirement. They are not going to like that.


Enjoying a longer life span comes with a need to work longer. The bulk of Boomer's are ill equipped for retirement. You will see retirees keeping their jobs longer, not passing their businesses on to their children because they need money to live. Boomer's will be seen everywhere. We will have a gray army of workers bagging groceries, doing office work and working in McDonald's. The X and Y's are not going to like the Boomer's taking jobs, they may need or want.

The first Boomer's are the children of the "Greatest Generation", the generation that saw the end of World War 2 and the greatest rise in the economy this country has ever known. Their progeny will rewrite the book on retirement, aging and end of life issues for future generations. The first Boomer's are turning 65 this year, with 76 million of them, it's just beginning


Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentines Day Roundup

Victorian style Valentine's Day postcardImage by karen horton via Flickr

Well todays is the big day. Cupid is on the prowl to get your heart. I am doing some shopping today for my wife. She said not to get her anything for Valentines Day, so I am out getting her something for Valentines Day.

Cheap Valentine's Day Gift at Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance


Dollar Matters: Fun with Investing at Financial Highway

Fighting Fair: How to Disagree About Money in Marriage at Free Fro Broke



Join 1000's of People Following 50 Plus Finance
Real Time Web Analytics