Why George Bush Must Be Smiling.

I was going through the news sites tonite and something on CNN.com caught my eye. The headline read "Why George W. Bush must be smiling". I thought how odd that was. Usually, President Bush is getting trashed.

The author writes in his article how the ex-president must really be enjoying all the hoopla over the current tax debates. Knowing his tax cuts are surviving his presidency; he deservedly should feel proud.

Though President Obama ran on a platform of change, not much has changed. Most of Bush's policies are living on. Most of his counter terrorism policies have survived. The expanded off shore drilling are continuing. Afghanistan is still in the forefront overseas and has expanded.

But mostly the current tax rates will be continuing. Obama knows that they are inevitable, so why not just go along and put a little of his own flavor on them.

For a presidents decisions to live on in further administrations is not an unheard of event. Take F.D.R.'s social security. Lyndon Johnson had Medicare. So also, Barack Obama will have health care.

The decision to leave the tax rates as is and not raise them makes sense for the hard times we are in. If taxes were raised, the backlash would be tremendous. Just revisit the question in two years and then make the decision. Better yet, just keep the rates as is and cut the budget by 10%. But that's another post altogether.

Old George W. Bush hasn't said much since leaving office and basically I like it that way. But as time goes on, we are seeing the good things he accomplished for the country, bear fruit. The democrat that replaced him has basically  accepted many of his policies. Keep smiling George, you did good.

Related articles

• Why George W. Bush must be smiling (cnn.com)
• Why Were Republicans Silent During The Bush Years? (outsidethebeltway.com)
• George W. Bush job approval rating now higher than Obama's on Gallup (fireandreamitchell.com)
• America Likes George W. Bush More Than Barack Obama (perezhilton.com)
• George W. Bush: the Rocky Balboa of American presidents (blogs.telegraph.co.uk)

The Greatest Gift You Can Receive Is Friendship

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The culture we live in teaches that it's the accumulation of things that will give us true happiness. During the Christmas season this is driven home. Just check the malls with all the crowds pushing and shoving to get the latest electronics and video games. What are we teaching our children?

I'm guilty I have done this too. But as my life has progressed  I have become aware of how material things are fleeting. Ask yourself what gifts did you get for Christmas last year, 3 years ago or 5 years ago. You probably don't remember. I'll also wager your kids don't remember. This is why the gifts you think are so necessary to get your children or friends, aren't. I don't remember the gifts but I do remember the experiences I have shared. The time I have spent with friends and family are etched in my memory.

There's an old saying that states, "A good friend forgives your faults. A loving friend doesn't see any". Having friends has become more important to me as the years have gone by. The things that your work can bring are  becoming less and less important.

Don't get me wrong, I haven't lived the hermits life. I have had friends and acquaintances forever. They have always been important. But recently they have been more important.  In my early years I always spent my time working to accumulate all the things that gave pleasure.  Those things were the house, car, vacations and children. After getting all those things what was there to satisfy.

The more friends I embrace, the more this circle of wisdom, common sense and laughter enriches and nourishes me. Some of us remember black & white TV, 10 cent phone calls and life before e-mail. These are friends that  can relate to me and my time. Even the younger ones who think I'm a relic of ancient history can also be satisfying for their individual point of view. It doesn't matter. True friendship trumps accumulated days on a calendar.

This is my hope for everyone. That you will come to realize that friendship are more rewarding than accumulating things.

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Rent Your Christmas Tree This Season

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One of the controversies that pop up every Christmas Season is the ecological consequences of having a real tree vs. a fake one. The arguments are a fake tree is reused over and over again while the real tree uses resources and eventually ends up in a landfill. Artificial trees are made of plastic, made overseas, take up storage space and don't always look that authentic.

Keen entrepreneurs have given us a third option and that is to rent your Christmas tree. Several firms on the West Coast have come up with the idea of renting living trees. Trees are delivered to your home in pots, and picked up after the season is over. During the year the trees stay in a nursery and our cared for to use again next season. You can even adopt-a-tree. This allows you to receive the same tree every year. You can even give it a name.

For all the tree huggers maybe the rent a tree is the best option. The tree is used over and over again saving the environment. You will be able to rent different kinds and sizes of trees every year so maybe it's not such a bad idea. It doesn't end up in a landfill.

Personally my family enjoys going down to the tree lot picking out the tree and carting it home. It's a fun tradition we aren't going to change for the near future. The kids have always enjoyed it. We have been able to get an even lower price this year with the competition from private tree lots and their big retail competitor (Home Depot). This year we spent half of what we usually spend.

After the season ends the city picks up the discarded tree separately from the other trash and they bring it to a place where the tree is put in a chipper to make mulch. Seems pretty ecologically friendly to me.

So how does the prices compare? The price for a living tree runs between $100-$150 to rent versus $50- $65 to buy a cut one. I paid $32 for mine. What a deal.

Related articles

• To Be Real Or Not To Be Real (daveramsey.com)
• You: Renting a really green Christmas tree (latimes.com)
• Have a green Christmas: rent a tree (content.usatoday.com)
• How to Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh Longer (thedailygreen.com)
• Woman Has Used the Same Christmas Tree Every Year Since 1928 (treehugger.com)

Countdown Till Christmas Weekend Roundup

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It's been a busy week as usual. Still decorating the house and shopping. The weather has changed and its been very cold lately so we have a fire going and we're trying to stay warm. Looking around the web I have seen many inspiring stories of Christmas, but none as good as these:

Over at Personal Finance By The Book Joe tells us The Story Of Irvin's Christmas Tree.

Get Rich Slowly wants to Ask the Readers: Is It Okay to Buy a Christmas Gift from a Thrift Store?

Five Cent Nickel tell how to make Do-It-Yourself Christmas Gifts.

Free By Fifty write how Christmas Toy Shopping: Amazon versus Toys R Us versus Walmart.

Dinks Finance tells us DINKS Reality: Do you have a Holiday Party Budget?

Frugal Dad asks us Do You Still Send Out Christmas Cards?

Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance says Have the Best Holiday Ever-Part 4

My Year of Spending Less and Living More (Musings from a Midlife Mom)  says December Challenge: Christmas Shopping....In Stores or Online?

Enjoy your weekend and these great stories.

Related articles

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• 10 Holiday Date Ideas (artofmanliness.com)

Thanks For Nothing Uncle Sam

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Today government debt and social security are the greatest financial challenges facing our country today. Social security is on unstable ground, not being able to sustain itself. The future holds for it reduced distributions and benefits. It's on a collision course to collapse. So many retirees are dependent on it as their only means of support.

To make matters worse for the social security recipient there is no cost of living increase. The government in it's infinite wisdom says inflation is so low that the cost of living increase is not applicable this year. Even though health care, food and gas prices are rising through the roof.

This lack of an increase in social security has caused quite a stir in the senior community. To keep them happy a $250 check has been talked about being sent out to every social security recipient to make up for the lack of increase.

The problem is that this week it was put up for vote and it didn't pass. Sorry Grammy and Grandpa. This must be devastating for these people. They already live day to day with the checks they get now.

The problem with all this is the people have become all to dependent on their government for all their needs. They have trusted the government to take care of them in their old age and it's failed miserably. It's only going to get worse for them as prices get higher. Even Medicare only goes so far and will probably continue to do less as the budget and austerity program begin to happen as the national debt increases.

Europe's austerity programs are just starting and they're not very popular. The United States will be following their lead very soon.

It only makes me wonder when I am living in retirement, what I will be doing. I don't want to be living under the hopeful good intentions of a government led by men who have to do things not for my benefit but to get themselves elected again. We have finally pushed the limits on the nanny-state. Cradle to grave care by the government is a dismal failure. Trusting in a government that can give a retirement check can also be a government that can takes one away from you, too.

The most important lesson learned from all this is that you are responsible for your own welfare. It's your job to take care of you. Only you can take care of yourself, well and fairly. Preparing for your health care and retirement is your job. Remember the old saying, "If you want it done right, you have to do it yourself."

With the new year coming, make a resolution to prepare for your future. Save and invest to take care of yourself before the time arrives. Start that Roth Ira, get that health care arranged. Quit buying everything in site. Invest the money into your future.

Related articles

• "House rejects bill for $250 payment to Social Security recipients" and related posts (personalmoneystore.com)
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• Senate to vote on bonus Social Security payment (dispatch.com)
• Retirement Benefits: What to Expect in 2011 (money.usnews.com)

7 Youtube Channels That Teach You How To Handle Money.

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In our quest to learn what to do with our money we seek information from friends, family and also professional financial planners. Some of the things we need to know are: Are you saving and investing enough? Do you know how to save and invest? How do we plan for retirement? We need information to make decisions. A lot of us go to the web. We read blogs and information websites. What else can do to get the information needed? A lot of good information is on YouTube. YouTube is great, just sit back, watch and learn. I'm listing a few of my favorites. Check them out.

Kiplinger

Kiplinger on YouTube has hundreds of videos covering a wide variety of subjects. It has something for all ages and  knowledge levels. It's brought to you by the people who publish the Kiplinger Magazine.


Morningstar

Everyone has heard of Morningstar, the people that publish the great information on mutual funds. This page concentrates a lot on investing subjects. There is a good amount of interviews with the industry leaders. You will find the interesting Morningstar lead financial planner Christine Benz. She has a lot of good financial planning information to share.

CBS MoneyWatch

Here you will find good advice concerning Real Estate, Investing, Banking, and Personal Finance. This channel has the backing and resources of CBS News. You will see CBS reporters filling their network stories and web only financial stories.

Sound Investing TV

Sound Investing TV is produced by Paul Merriman founder of Merriman Investing. Paul is dedicated to teaching and giving good information about investing and finance. He is a big advocate of the Lazy Portfolio theory of investing through index funds. You will find Paul's homespun style of teaching very informative. I highly recommend this channel.

The Saving and Investing Channel

This channel is run by Michael Fischer, author of "Saving and Investing". This channel has Michael teaching the concepts his book describes. He covers all subjects from banking, no-loads, shorting and mutual funds. He really covers the entire gamut of investing and financial information. His videos usually run about five minutes and are concise and informative. A good reference source for all you new investors.

Money Talks News

Money Talks News has hundreds of quick 2 minute videos with the most variety of topics of all the channels. From foreclosures to Thanksgiving tips, this channel covers it all. You will be kept busy for hours watching all these videos, but you will definitely learn a lot.

Cambridge Credit

Cambridge Credit Counseling focuses on credit, debt, and saving. They cover other things like banking and budgeting. They try to help people through their offices with debt problems. Their videos teach people to save and budget as a way to get out of debt. They have a very informative channel.

You will find a lot of other videos scattered all over YouTube concerning financial teaching and information. These channels put it all in one place so you don't have to go all over searching for that needed information. So sit back with a nice cup of coffee and enjoy some videos

Related articles

• Why Mutual Funds Are the Best Investment (money.usnews.com)
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