Money and the way we look at it

Unfortunately, money is something we all need. Even those of us who are attempting to live a back to the land lifestyle. No longer can any of us raise every thing we need to get by in the modern world.

Our jobs are taking us farther and farther away from home. Plus you have the expense of clothing, lunches and other necessities just to spend eight hours of a day away from home to earn money.

And it seems, the more you make, the more you need. I guess we're lucky in that we always seem to have enough. Even in the lean times.

And then there are the credit cards. You just can't get by in today's world without at least one. And the banks know this. Which is why, almost daily we get offers in the mail for another one. I mean, try to rent a motel room with one, or take a flight or rent a car. All of these things are impossible without that little bit of plastic.

And for emergencies, like car repairs or medical bills they can be a lifesaver.

So how do you know, which is the best credit card for you out of all of the offers you receive. Good question. Speaking of credit, how many folks actually know what's in their credit report? Does the amount of offers we get mean our credit is outstanding? I don't know, but if we took every one of them, I'd need an extra purse just to carry them all.

While we all know we need credit cards to get by, choosing the credit cards that match our own needs is never an easy task.

I suppose the reason that the economy and the way things are going lately stems from the fact Kev and I have both went back to work. Earning a living from the homestead will happen, but just not as fast as we both hoped it would. We haven't given up, just supplementing the best we can. Until the day that the sawmill and the furniture can supply everything we need, it's just the way it is in this wonderful, modern world.

More thoughts on the economy

After my post the other day, I got to thinking more about the state our economy is in. Supposedly it is getting better, at least that's what the government and financial pundits are telling us.

But, then I watch commercials and see how the car companies are practically begging consumers to buy a new car. Or the furniture companies that are offering NO down Payment/No Finance Charges/No Payment until 2009 or whatever means they can come up with to convince me that I have to have a new bed or whatever.

So my question is, how can the economy be better when day after day, I see more of these types of commercials. I mean, they wouldn't be doing this type of begging if people were really buying their products, right?

The other side of this is the prices, companies are charging for their merchandise. We were at Home Depot the other day and couldn't believe the price tags on some of the items. I know all manufacturers have to meet a bottom line that's in the black, but really, do things have to be so expensive that it is prohibitive for the average income worker to buy it?

Maybe it's really not that prices have gone up so much as it is the value of the dollar that has gone down. I can still remember back when you could get paper money that was backed by silver. Currency, called 'silver certificates', was backed dollar for dollar by silver. Take a silver backed dollar bill to the bank and you could receive a dollars worth of silver. You can't do that today; a dollar doesn't buy much of anything of value anymore. But silver will buy as much as it always has.

Okay, I guess I'm rambling. But, I really can't see that anything dealing with our economy is getting any better. With high gas prices, and all other goods rising in price because of those prices, I don't get how some people are going to be able to maintain the standard of living they are used to. And goddess help them, if their job is outsourced to another country. I read somewhere that a good portion of American families are two paychecks away from homelessness. Not a pretty picture of the economy to me.

Well, times are a changing again…

Starting Sunday, Kevin’s going back to work at the poultry plant. Which mean, it’s back to night shift for both of us. No, we’re not giving up on the mill or the lumber business, it’s only that’s going to become a part time thing – at least for now. It's going to be strange - him shifting from being gone all day to being gone all night. But at least this will be closer and he won't be gone as many hours and we'll still have the mornings to get things done around here before we sleep the afternoon away.

Been thinking a lot about the economy lately. From where I’m sitting, doesn’t seem to be getting any better at all. Gas prices are only rising and along with that comes higher everything.

Every time I think about stuff like this, can’t help but think about the price of gold. Read a web release earlier today that talked about gold and how it is really the only stable currency left in the world. Funny people have been talking gold for years, but it seems to be getting more attention this time around. A dollar may still be worth a dollar if it's a dollars worth of gold. Might want to check out the link yourself if you have ever thought about wanting to