Gas Prices Down

If you are looking for something to smile about. Go fill up your car / truck at the local gas station. We have an Ford F150 truck that is used from time to time by members of the family. We purchased in 1998 for cash and our middle son drove it until 2 years ago when he purchased a more gas conscious small car. It is in good shape and the insurance on it is about $400 dollars a year so we keep it around. In the summer when we were doing some landscaping we used it a lot and the fill-up was just under $100 a tank. We have adjusted our driving and will not be going back to being high gas consumers. Now that out 401K accounts are down and our portfolio looks pathetic we still need to save for retirement. Plus it must be better for the environment to conserve a bit.

Fireproof

I was at a meeting yesterday with a group of women and we were taking about ways to bring us back together as a group outside of the workforce. Our conclusion after a spirited discussion is to have a movie afternoon. Since we are a very vocal group we decided it would be best to rent / download a movie to watch at someones house since as a group we might be disruptive in a movie theater. We were looking in the line of "chick" flicks or movies that our husbands would never never have an interest in viewing. Today I came across a movie "Fireproof" that explores marriage. I like it because it is a low budget movie, it has Christian values, and was made by people who are passionate about the movie. Despite its limited release it is doing well in theaters.

Rage on the Campain Trail

The current election seems to be going on forever. I have listen to a few of the debates and have been following the economy very closely. I am still listening for a PLAN from the candidates. Of interest is a video that was shown of a McCain supporter in Wisconsin basically stating he is angry about potentially having a "socialist" party running the country. John McCain has not expressed his economic plan strongly enough to have it heard. The promises that Obama is making absolutely scare me. The general population does not realize that we are the government and with the recent financial collapse many people making $250,000 dollars are year are now worth a lot less and some have even been downsized from their jobs. People with money in saving have usually accrued a healthy savings plan by putting away small amounts over the years. Right now I angry at all the politicians who have spend my tax dollars on projects that the government has no business funding. Maybe we all need to get a little angry at our leaders and at least get out and vote.

Is it time to revolt against the government?

The stock market just slipped below 9000, my TIAA-CREF has dropped, our three adult children are out on their own but their jobs could disappear in a second. We all gathered to celebrate my husbands birthday on Sunday and all decided that Christmas would be simple this year. NO presents! Downsizing Christmas is not the only change we are making. We started brewing our own coffee months ago, we carpool to our workout place, we pack our lunches, we are staying out of department stores and malls. Why are we all just quietly suffering and cutting back when our politicians have managed the country so poorly? It is not just the Bush administrations - we have had a Democratic congress for at least 4 years! Maybe it is time to stand up and storm the government offices and demand answers to the current financial mess we are in.