Archive for January, 2006

Monday, January 30th, 2006

The Great Depression of 2006

I’ve known for some time that savings rates were down in the US.  People are saving less and less, and to make matters worse, they were buying things on credit as well.  But I never thought it would get this bad.

1 Comment » - Posted in Net Worth by coglethorpe

Friday, January 20th, 2006

Real Estate: Flip Them Houses

I just saw an episode of Flip This House, (not to be confused with Flip That House) and it really sparked my interest in real estate.  Of course, anything that shows people making a half million dollars in a matter of days sparks my interest.
However, I’m worried that there were problems with the show that [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Investing by coglethorpe

Thursday, January 19th, 2006

Age Discrimination

With the first grey hairs appearing on my head, I’m forced to think about the future of my career - perhaps 10 years sooner than I really should.  I’ve been the sad witness of 50-somethings (and perhaps one 40-something) who have lost their jobs and have had a very hard time regaining employment.  The hard [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Retirement by coglethorpe

Wednesday, January 18th, 2006

Financial Goals 2006

Yesterday’s post went over the various predictions people had for 2006, and where they thought you should (or shouldn’t) put your money.  After my head stopped spinning, I wondered what my financial goals for 2006 were.
It’s halfway through January - perhaps a bit late to make resolutions - but I thought I’d state my financial goals [...]

3 Comments » - Posted in Net Worth by coglethorpe

Tuesday, January 17th, 2006

Stocks, Mutual Funds or None of the Above?

With the start of the new year, comes everybody’s (or at least every magazine’s) preview of the new year.  Finance magazines aren’t any different.  They all have their own Mutual Fund Guide, How to Make Money guide or, for those of us who are broke, a Best Places to Work guide.
But while looking through the [...]

2 Comments » - Posted in Investing by coglethorpe

Monday, January 16th, 2006

Pension Panic

Part of the American Dream once included working for a company for 25-40 years and getting a decent pension that would let you live out your retirement years in peace.  I recall seeing that dream erode in the 1980s, and now it looks like pensions are near collapse.
Shouldn’t companies have put away enough money for [...]

1 Comment » - Posted in Retirement by coglethorpe

Sunday, January 15th, 2006

My First Rule of Money

I’ve read a few–ok more than a few–books on finance, money and business lately, and I can see common themes running through them.  There is, of course, the mantra of “pay yourself first,” which was apparently first chanted in The Richest Man in Babylon.  Others have worked variations on that theme.  For example, David Bach [...]

No Comments » - Posted in Net Worth by coglethorpe

Friday, January 13th, 2006

Bankruptcy 2006: Business as Usual?

I last wrote predicting that personal bankrtupcies would drop dramatically in 2006.  Now an article in MSN Money makes me think I might be wrong.  The dramatic dip in bankrtupcy filings after October 17th, 2005 has reportedly picked back up.  If the trend continues–and it isn’t like the entire nation collectively cut up their credit [...]

1 Comment » - Posted in Bankruptcy by coglethorpe

Wednesday, January 11th, 2006

Personal Bankruptcies on the Rise

CNN Money reports that personal bankruptcies are on the rise.  That may just be a yearly trend, because based on weekly data, the filings dropped dramatically after the magical date of October 17th, 2005.

No Comments » - Posted in Bankruptcy by coglethorpe

Tuesday, January 10th, 2006

Negative Equity

Heres a CNN Money article about a young couple’s journey to riches.  Hopefully that’s the path I’m on now.  But before I start, I need to find out where I’m at.  I think I’m going to need a sedative, because this is going to hurt…

No Comments » - Posted in Net Worth by coglethorpe