Podcast* "Airport Daze and Delays!"

I'll Fight Them Myself !

Podcast Airport Daze and Delays!.wma

Airport Daze and Delays...

Airline safety questions...still up in the air!

When we fly anywhere these days we're always thinking of the risks.  I know I always worry about the plane crashing.  A little bit of turbulence and I start praying, my stomach starts contracting and tensing up, my wife tells me to calm down.  But it's not easy for me.  I have never gotten over the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. 

Even today, over 8 years after them, I still watch all planes as if a disaster is imminent.  We lived on Long Island on 9/11, about 50 miles from Manhattan, and it seemed like the end of the world to me that day.  I couldn't leave the TV set, except to go to the liquor store... 

We still fly frequently, but my uneasiness has never diminished.  The recent new attempt to blow up the Northwestern airliner got me actively thinking again.  All the old worries came back strong, until last night that is. 

Jasper Schuringa

You are my hero!

This is the passenger who stopped the bomber!

 My wife and I were discussing the recent attack that was unsuccessful, and how the passenger, Jasper Schuringa, fought the bomber, probably saving everyone on board.  Then it hit me. 

If I were on board a hijacked aircraft, and terrorists were about to use it to kill people, then we would die anyway.  I knew then, last night, that I would  fight the terrorists too.  It makes no difference that I am a sixty-year-old man!  I would fight them to my death, hoping to surprise them, kill them, and stop the horrible event from happening.  And this is not BULLSHIT!  I know I would do it now. 

Actually I feel very calm about the whole idea, much better than I used to feel when I went on a plane.  In February we'll be flying to California for a little vacation, and I am no longer apprehensive about it. 

The terrorist who tried to blow up the plane had the bomb sewn into his underwear!  I thought that they could see objects hidden in our clothing?  That's why we walk through those whole-body scanners  isn't it?  Were those scanners being used at the airport of departure or not?  What next, will they be checking our underwear more thoroughly?  More "deeply?"  OK, if that's what has to happen!  Also, isn't there supposed to be at least one Sky Marshal on every flight?  Someone who can shoot the bad guys?

Well, expect longer delays when you're traveling by plane, it has to happen.  Don't get mad at the people who are there working to ensure your safety.  Be patient, get to the airport earlier than you used to, travel light and think about what you're packing in those carryons, so you don't make things unnecessarily worse.  Have a good trip, and remember, We can all fight back!

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast* "Baby, It Is Your Fault!"

Podcast Baby, It Is Your Fault!.wma

"BABY, It Is Your Fault!"

I looked in the mirror this morning, and it hit me right in the face, "Baby, it is your fault!"

Has that ever happened to you before?  I think maybe it has...

What causes all those New Year's resolutions? 
Why do we have so many things we say we want to change?
Did we really do so many things wrong all year?  
Almost everything was too much, too little, too late?
Who's fault is it, Baby?

We didn't make enough money?
We didn't work hard enough to get that promotion?
Our appearance was less impressive than what we thought?
It was too difficult to get out of bed early enough most days?
We weren't awake enough and alert enough to be effective at work?
Who's fault is it, Baby?

There was never enough time for us to do things right?
Shortcuts, half-assed production, and cheating were what got us through?
Procrastination was the only thing we actually had enough time for?
Did we put off that annual physical because we weren't ready for it?
Who's fault is it, Baby?

Are we happy that it's now winter and we can cover up with extra clothing?
Are we going to make our New Year's resolution list at the last minute?
Is it because we already know what the resolutions will be?
Are they almost the same ones as every other year?
Who's fault is it, Baby?

The economy is the blame for all of our debt?
Shortage of time to exercise is why we're out of shape?
We'd never let bacon grease go down the drain, but we'd eat it?
Cigarettes are sometimes the only enjoyment we have?
We're going to have a few drinks as soon as we get off work?
We're so tired most days we just can't wait to go to bed?
Who's fault is it, Baby?

What about all those senseless purchases we made this year?
How come we agreed on a budget but we didn't stick to it?
What about those promises we made to our families?
Have we dumped our responsibilities onto our husbands and our wives?
Who's fault is it, baby?

Will we have to work this hard for the rest of our lives?
Did we listen to people who were trying to talk to us?
Do we ever take the time to read the directions first?
Have we helped anyone who needed us this year?
Appreciated the good things we already have?
Learn anything new during the last 360 days?
Who's fault is it, Baby?


There's plenty of time to think about things.
You already did it!
Write it all down if you want to.
Like to make some changes?
Eliminate some habits?
Improve some skills?
Rebuild your body, better your mind?
You can, and it's not a matter of time or money.
There is enough time, and it takes no money....
Just go ahead and do it, start right now. 
Forget waiting until January something!

Because "Baby, it is your fault!"

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Bank Goes Thru Withdrawals & Casinos Quarterless!

"Don't order any more withdrawal slips!"

"We're keeping our cash from now on."

Have you heard this yet?  The National Irish Bank has notified all of it's customer that starting in February, they will stop handling cash withdrawals.  They want to save employee costs by eliminating any cash withdrawals by their customers at all of their branches.  They told the customers that they will have to use ATM's or request cash back from a merchant whenever they use  their debit cards!  Don't even think about cashing your paycheck there either!  They just don't want to handle cash at all.  But, they did not say they wouldn't accept cash deposits...no kidding!

The National Irish Bank also announced that it's closing 25 of it's 58 branches because of unprofitability.  Is this a new shitty banking practice that will torment consumers world wide?  Maybe it is.  This is not the first bank to go "almost cashless".  Other European banks have already done it.  In all of Europe, the Irish are regarded as the people who are the most cash dependent.

Oh Shit No!

You can still withdraw ALL YOU WANT from

Banks in the United States, because we will

Never run out of .....money? cash? credit? FDIC?

What will be the banks' next magical trick?

Will United States banks try eliminating cash withdrawals?

Remember that the Casino Slot Machines used to pay off in quarters or other denominations?

Not any more, now the slot machines print you a voucher, which you can feed into another machine, or back into the machine that just paid you.

So, the banks want our deposits, any way they can get them.  But they don't want to handle cash going back over the counter to you.  It seems like it would work, but it adds inconvenience to the customer, while saving the bank money.  I think it will also mean that the banks will have  at first thousands, but quickly millions, and eventually billions of dollars of additional cash flow by reducing the amount of cash in their customers pockets, which would be the certain result of slowing down the time period in which a paycheck becomes a handful of cash; that is because much more of the deposited funds stay in the bank a day or so longer.  It's a windfall of free cash for the banks to use.

Just wait, I think it'll be happening here one day.

Fat cat bankers like to say,

"Our Bank is pleased to earn your business"

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 john DeFlumeri Jr.

Tis Not the Season to be Foolish and Take Chances!

Don't be a stupid ass!

There's nothing to prove, really.  They know it already!

They know how much you can drink.  They know how clever you are.  They know you are the life of the party!  Don't be the death of it now....

Too much celebrating can hurt you in so many ways.

It can damage your liver, and your other organs.  It can diminish your mind.

It can make you fat, it can make you sick.

It's possible that one crazy night can ruin or end your life.

Just take it slow, and don't be a showoff.

I want you to have a good time, but don't hurt yourself.  Don't take a chance on hurting others, hurting your family, your friends, or chance acquaintances.   Accidents of all kinds happen when we drink and party excessively, car accidents, slips and falls, mistakes of every sort.  You could get arrested!  One bad decision leads to another, and we set poor examples for our children.

I'm encouraging everyone to use better judgement this year than we ever did in the past.  I will be to.

Lots of people made asses out of themselves at company holiday parties, and they had great fun doing so.  Even the attendees thought it was great.  But in many cases, employers and supervisors formed new, lower opinions of the party stars and remembered their performances when it came time for salary reviews, promotions, and future assignments.  Some people have lost their jobs a day or two after the company affair.  I've seen it in person, in fact I'm lucky that I wasn't a victim of my own undoing years ago.

 

Don't let this be your misfortune!

Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and a Happy, Safe, and Prosperous New Year to All!

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

"Would You Still Go to the Doctor?"

Would you still go to the

doctor, if you had no insurance?

You're probably thinking that this question is irrelevant, because you do have insurance.  But what if the copay, or the uninsured portion was so large that it represented a financial disaster for you, Would you still go to the doctor?

This can easily happen even today, before the changes in health care take place.  A medical procedure that you and the doctor both thought was covered by your insurance company, can sometimes be found not to be covered in full, for example it may be classified as "out of network" and only covered 30% by the insurance company, meaning you pay the other 70%.  I know this, because it just happened to me at my eye doctor's office.

Doctors across the country are banding together to protest new cuts in Medicare that they say amount to 21%.  Cuts which the doctors say will cause lengthy delays in diagnosis and treatment.

I think every one is aware that medical providers who accept insurance or Medicare as part of a network agree to a fee schedule set by the insurance companies and Medicare, a fee schedule that is negotiated with heavy hands, which means low reimbursements for the promise of higher patient volumes and easy processing of claims.  For example, an MRI that has a non-insured patient "price" of $1500 could have a Medicare "price" of $191.  Sharply lower.  But that's the deal the doctors and hospitals agreed to.  If a 21% reduction in payment becomes the new standard, many doctors will not be able to afford to treat patients who are covered by these health insurance plans, so say the doctors.  WHO pays them the difference?  The patients do, if they want the treatment.  But what if they don't have the money and they die waiting?  Don't think it can't happen...

Do the math with me now.

A patient on Medicare who has an expensive heart surgery costing $80,000 (eighty thousand dollars), normally covered completely, might have to pay over $16,000 (sixteen thousand dollars).

That's a 21% reduction in the previously discounted plan payment to the hospital.

You could get stuck for crazy amounts of money, just do your own calculations.  And that's with health insurance coverage from Medicare, for a covered procedure!

? Wasn't one of the ideas of health insurance reform to CUT WASTE, Not essential services?

Better pay attention because it looks like the politicians may be able to RAM this new legislation into law this week.

Will the changes be so severe that it forces some of us to postpone or forget having our health cared for? Or shop around for a cheaper doctor?  Will we die waiting to see if we're covered?

 

This place looks affordable!

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast* Beware that Holiday Mindedness at Work!

Podcast_Beware that Holiday Mindedness at Work!.wma

Beware Holiday Mindedness and Preserve the Job!

Don't forget to work these last two weeks of the year! Beware becoming too holiday minded and make sure you preserve your job! 

Work is a place to work!

It is easy to lose our concentration this week and next.  To daydream ourselves right into ineffectiveness.  That is a dangerous place to be.  Our employers are spending the next two weeks analyzing their business's performance for the year that's ending soon.  They are have having meetings with staff and with their professional advisors, accountants, bankers, and attorneys. 

Discussing and evaluating the contributions each employee made to the company during the year.  Measuring everyone's value.  It's not the time for you to be holiday minded at work!

Danger lives in the corner office, danger for anyone who's seen as not living up to or exceeding the bosses's expectations.

Holiday cookie platters, 6-foot hero sandwiches, free lunches, salads, and fruit baskets, invitations to Christmas parties, happy hours, a drink after work, Sexy Santa outfits, holiday songs, etc.  They all distract us from the responsibilities that come with every job position.  They influence our thinking, compromise our thought processes, take us away from the mission that is our position.

There are over fifteen million Americans out of work right now, and they need employment.  They'll consider any kind of work, and they would like to have your job too!  I bet that if they were offered your job, even at a lower rate of pay then you receive, they might eagerly accept it.

See the danger? 

It's a danger to you if you are not doing your work as agreed, or better than as agreed.  So now is not the time to reduce your personal output, to be slacking off on the job.  It's not the time to be complaining about your boss, the working conditions, the benefits, the pay, your parking space, or anything else that has to do with the generation of your weekly paycheck.

An overheard indiscretion could cause you to lose your job... The point is for you to do your work cheerfully this week and next, and be seen as a conscientious, and serious, hardworking employee who has the company's goals and best interests in mind at all times, and You will be noticed and judged as an important member of the company, someone who is valuable to the business.

Others may be regarded in dismay by owners and managers.

The beginning of a new year always brings the possibility of new attitudes in business, new policies, and it's a time that new ideas and new business plans are usually implemented.  You've heard it said a million times like this "Right after the first of the year...etc, etc"

You know what I'm talking about...

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast* "Seven More Banks Go Broke!"

On Friday nights, the FDIC Repo Men go to work, after the stock markets close!

Podcast_Seven More Banks Go Broke!.wma

Banks Disappear on Friday Night Again!

Seven more banks went out of business last night.
You remember that 4 months ago I predicted 150 bank failures for the year?  Well now we are at 140!

It hardly makes the news anymore. 

These banks failed Friday:
First Federal Bank of California
Imperial Capital Bank
Independent Bankers Bank
New South Federal Savings Bank
Citizens State Bank
Peoples First Community Bank
Rock Bridge Commercial Bank

Depositors are generally protected by the FDIC, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Can this country be in any worse of a financial mess than we are in already?  Yes, we can.  There is so much bad news being warned about that it's easy to miss it.

"Don't ask us for more money, we're out of cash too!  There's almost no gold left either, we had to sell it to pay some bills.  Right now we are just Living on credit, the same as you guys!  If you don't believe it, just click here--see the National Debt Clock!" 

I think it will scare the living shit out of you!

President Obama said a few days ago that the United States runs the risk of a National Bankruptcy if we don't get our health care costs under control.  Did you hear that statement?  Maybe not!

Alan Greenspan, who is the former head of the Federal Reserve, warned 2 days ago that the threat to the U S economy is larger than ever, because Medicare and Medicaid costs are rising so fast and the government doesn't have the money to pay those bills (back to health care costs and the new legislation that is pending).

Governments that go bankrupt, whether city governments, state governments, or national governments, usually escape all contractual obligations, like union contracts with workers, things get reset to Zero.  Persistent rumors exist that the city of Detroit is contemplating bankruptcy, and that the state of California is contemplating bankruptcy, both after the first of the new year.  I hope it isn't true...

So it gets me to thinking about the underlying reasons for all the healthcare reform legislation.  If you remember I previously questioned why the system had to be overhauled anyway?  I knew about the uninsured Americans, but I also knew that they could receive health care on an emergency basis just by walking into a public hospital and requesting treatment even if they couldn't pay for it.    (Same way all the illegal aliens do it)

But now, I think the reason for the entire health care reform legislation is actually to get the costs of Medicare and Medicaid under control!  I believe that President Obama and the Congress realized that these two government-run healthcare systems were being Wildly Overcharged and ripped off by the big insurance companies and the medical community.
I think that they didn't want to come right out and say it like this, so they talked in mostly vague terms about "saving billions of dollars by reforming the system."  If I understand it correctly, then the President is right, and we need this legislation passed immediately, as a vital step in preventing our Nation from bankruptcy.   Just my opinion!

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast* "Force Yourself with Determination!"

Podcast_Force Yourself with Determination!.wma

"Force Yourself with Determination!"

Stop fooling yourself...

It's possible to accomplish much more than you previously believed.  All you need to have is the right amount of Determination! 

Define what it is you want, form a plan of action that will lead you there, then do it.  Do it.  That's the hard part; we know the other 2 parts, they are easy, it's in doing it that we fail.

Let's use exercise as an example, because it's one of the most avoided things.  I bet everyone would agree that it's important, and that we could all benefit by more exercise, and we know what to do , where to do it, we have the time for it, we can afford it, because it can be totally FREE, no cost whatsoever.  Since we know all that, the main thing is just to DO IT.

It is a natural "law of physics" that a body at rest tends to remain at rest!  OK then, let's blame it on that?  NO GOOD, it's You who is to blame.  You're not determined enough.  To be determined is to force yourself to get up from your chair and exercise. 

Start like this:  I don't feel like it, I'm tired, I didn't sleep much last night, my back aches, I hurt my leg, I have a blister, I don't have time, I really should pay some bills first, I have to go somewhere, it's too cold out there, too windy, it's raining, it's too dark, I just ate, the last time I tried it I hurt myself, I want to wait for....., in a few minutes....., right after I finish this...... etc etc.

Stop it right now!  Get changed into workout clothes, put those sneakers on, go to the bathroom, drink enough water, tie those sneakers properly, let's go we are taking a walk to warm up.  I am going to do this no matter how much I don't feel like it.

This is just like work, but I am going to do it.  Hey, I am walking!

I am still walking, it's been 20 minutes, and it's not as bad as I thought. I'm not even tired, another 10 minutes!  I feel like walking a little faster to see how it feels.  Wow I walked over a half hour today.

Now it's tomorrow.  I was going to go for another walk, but I don't feel like it right now, and I'm a little sore from yesterday, so maybe later...Stop the shit, get ready and get out there!

That is how it works, that's the only way it works, and it will always work.  Determination!

If you know me, then you know I am a determined person.  In 1996 I had a goal of running 100 miles in a single week.  On January first that year I was running about 20 miles a week, so I planned how I would get it to 100 miles in one week.  I knew I had to divide my week's goal by 6 to get my average running day, giving myself one day a week off to rest.  I was determined to make 100 miles, so I gradually increased each day's average run over a period of 9 months until I finally ran seven 15-mile days in a row, the first week of September, for a total of 105 miles that week.

During that year there were many days that I didn't feel like running at all, because I was working as a salesman and my work schedule was 50 hours a week.  The only way I had time for all that running was getting up early, like 5am and getting out of the house by 5:30 no matter what the weather.  On the days that I slept late, I ran after work, before I went home, I was determined to get the running in.   Most of the time at night I was too tired to stay up late watching TV, but I was determined to run that 100 miles. 

Hey, when I made it to 50 miles a week, on my journey to the 100, I needed to average over 8 miles a day for 6 days!  Plenty of those days it was hot, windy, slippery, rainy, cold, freezing, icy, uncomfortable, or I just didn't feel like it!  But I was determined.

As the weeks went by and I passed through plateaus of mileages 60, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90,  I became more and more tired, but I became more and more determined also.  During the summer there were 6 different weeks that I ran between 80 and 92 miles each, and I started thinking that the 100 mile goal was out of my reach, after all 7 x 13 is 91 (7days running 13 miles per day was not enough to get to the 100 miles, and even 14 miles a day would only produce 98 miles).  I was still determined to get to the 100 miles.

On the 40th week of the year,  I decided to run 15 miles a day for 6 days and on the 7th day run only 10 miles, giving myself the magic 100 miles!  I was so determined that I forced myself into the 15-mile regimen, so determinedly that on the 7th day I ran 15 miles out of habit, and that's how I did the 105-mile week.

No one could ever convince me that I couldn't do something that I put my mind to, because I am DETERMINED.

Now here is a little secret, I am no different than You, as long as you have determination, and you force yourself to do the tough things, at work, or at play!

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast* "Great Britain-No Checks Accepted"

Podcast Great Britain No Checks Accepted!.wma

Great Britain "No Checks Accepted"

The UK Payments Council, which regulates check writing in Great Britain has decided that checks will be eliminated as of October 31st, 2018.

They claim it costs the banks about $1.65 to process every paper check, and they want to go paperless, or all electronic by that date.  That's how long they figure it will take to make the adjustment.  Probably it's the way of the world and we will see such developments in the United States one day too.

You can forget writing checks with insufficient funds after that happens!  Shouldn't do it anyway right?  Oh, you don't do that?

Electronic transactions...

Zoom---the money's out of your account!

No float anymore.

Cash---Debit---Credit Card  (only)

Do you think you'll miss using paper checks when it happens here in the United States?  Do you ever write a check for more than the amount of money in your account, planning to somehow "cover" it before the check "hits"?  Oh never!  Bullshit, never.

What about this, does a merchant ever sell goods and accept a check that day, agreeing to hold the check, that is to not deposit the check until a certain date, in order to make the sale?  Yes they do; desperate sellers make risky decisions like that when they can't complete the sale any other way, they trust the buyer additionally. Trust the buyer to have enough money in the checking account when the check finally does get presented for payment.  Well that's coming to an end soon! 

I've worked in places, in different businesses, that accepted  postdated checks, checks with a future date written on them, a date that the check could be presented for payment.   That practice has diminished in some jurisdictions however, as certain state laws have interpreted postdating checks to mean "I promise that this check will eventually be good on a non-specific date".  In places with this definition in effect, the merchants have requested of the buyer a check instead written with the current day's date on it, with  the seller's promise that the check would not be deposited until a certain date, a situation in which the roles of trustor and trustee are somewhat reversed, where the buyer trusts the seller as well as the seller trusts that the buyer's check will be good.  Another risky transaction that still occurs when desperate sellers decide to make the sale anyway, believing of course that there would be no sale otherwise.

Who are the people that want to write checks in circumstances like that?  They include customers who are maxed out on their credit cards, or who don't have credit cards to use.  Or stubborn consumers who really do have the cash available, but not for a few days, and refuse to "charge it".

Oh, are we only thinking of others now?  Not US really?  Because WE don't have such needs, WE don't write checks for more than our balance?  We have enough money, we have enough credit, we have the cash?  Because we know what the balance in our checking account is?  We must be thinking of somebody else, not ourselves...

Why are some people constantly looking at the status of their checking account online then?  Why do people go to ATM's just to check their balance frequently?  Why do some people check their account balance all the time by phone?  Possibly because they know they wrote checks when they had insufficient funds?  Those other people, I am talking about!  Not You, not me either, some other people.

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

New Year New Expectations?

The New Year of 2010, What are You Expecting?

Will it be much different from 2009?

Things could get worse, or things could get better.

Things won't stay the same, they never do.

Things  (what are "things" anyway)

To an unemployed person things are jobs.

To a business things are sales.

To a sad person things are  no longer being sad.

To a homeless person things are shelter.

To a shoeless person things are sneakers.

To a depressed person things are hope. 

In two weeks we pull the plug on 2009.  I don't want to wish my life away, so I try to enjoy every day and live in the present.  But it always feels good to me to start a new year.

It means new wake-ups, new sunrises, fresh new air, new opportunities for living, for thinking, for doing things. 

All my mistakes were in the yesterdays.

I can use what I learned then to better my tomorrows, today.

Maybe I'll spend more wisely, and save more regularly. 

Maybe I'll take better care of myself.

I believe that the country will recover from some of the economic strain that's been killing us.  I believe that interest rates on savings will rise a little.  I believe that homes will sell more and the values of residential real estate will rise a respectable amount.  I believe that more people who want to work will find jobs.  I believe that we will commit more and more soldiers into more and more conflicts around the world.  I believe that people will become less "brand conscious" and more "value conscious" about the products they buy. 

I want the Bad Things in life to go away, without any effort on my part!  I hate crime, I hate drugs, I hate depression,  I hate hate, I hate sickness, I hate suffering, I hate death, I hate diets, but I hate fat too!  I hate high prices, I hate payments, I hate taking out the garbage, I hate cleaning the house, I hate 60-hour work weeks, sometimes I even hate the mailman!

I'm eager for the Good Things, all the good things to happen next year, starting in a few weeks! But I know that they will require some effort from me.  I'll try to reconnect with friends and relatives that have become distant.  I'll try to learn some new things.  I want to eat better, be healthier, and more stress-free.  I want to be a better listener, and I want to give better advice.  I'd like to worry less about world events, and the news.  I want to drive my cars less, walk more, ride my bike.  I want to spend more time outside, walk the dog, go to the park, swim at the beach, talk to my children, share more good times with my wife.  Live my life...

John DeFlumeri Jr. in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast* "Just Throw All the Money Away!"

Podcast Just Throw All the Money Away!.wma

Just Throw All the Money Away!

Throw All the Money Away!

Burn it, shred it, bury it, lose it, donate it, give it away, smoke it, dissolve it in acid, throw it somewhere that you'll never find it again.   Just as long as you throw the money away!

Throw Away All of the

$7,300,000,000.00

The seven billion, three hundred million dollars!

That's how much money the government is WASTING on the 2010 Census.  Does that seem like it's worth it?

Here are the ten questions they're asking!

1. How many people live here?

2. How many additional people live here that you left out of question #1 ? (that your were lying about)

3. Do you own this place, rent it, or live here for free?

4. What is your phone number?

5. What are the names of each occupant?

6. Are they male or female?

7. What is your age and date of birth?

8. Are you Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin?

9. What is your race?

10. Do any of the residents at this address sometimes live elsewhere, such as college, military, jail, nursing home, or seasonal residence?

That is it, that is the entire census right there!

What a big waste of money!  7.3 billion dollars.  It's a Disgrace!

The yearly budget for the FBI for the year is 7.9 billion, for comparison, almost the same amount...

Why don't we let the FBI count up the illegal aliens who are using up the resources in this country, and send them back to wherever they came from!  Forget that stupid census...

I've heard all the arguments why the government needs the census, and it's just a bunch of Bullshit as far as I can see.

I don't want the government to spend 7.3 billion dollars of taxpayer money to answer those ten questions, that's outrageous.  Let them use federal workers who are already on the payroll in non-essential positions to go door to door collecting this information!  Wouldn't that save 7.3 billion dollars? 

Authorization for this expenditure in the 2010  Federal Budget

is sitting on President Obama's desk right now awaiting signature.

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast*Resolution Headstart and Heart-Smart!

Podcast Resolution Headstart and Heart Smart!.wma

~Resolution Headstart Heart-Smart~

Happy New Year to You!

Today is December 14, 2009.

Soon we'll be making our New Year's Resolutions, most of us will, that is!  Not me, not this New Year, I made mine already...

I'm not changing anything!

Why should I, it never worked before.

I'm not serious, it did work before, a little bit.  One year I decided to cut my consumption of alcoholic beverages in half.  I resolved that it would be easy and achievable for me to do that, and it worked!  The first day I left work and drove right up to the nearest convenience store.  I walked in quickly and bought a 6-pack of the tallest cans of beer they had. I thought "Hey, this is working out very well!" Are you wondering how that was possible?  Simple, I was going to buy two 6-packs, but I cut it in half.....

Let me use that same technique for all of my other resolutions too!

The technique of fooling myself.  I used to be pretty good at it; in fact I was successful 98% of the time.

This is all I'll eat next year.  Or will I eat this kind of healthy food and still have 2 pieces of cake for dessert?  Big pieces, the kind your mother would never serve you.

Diet?  Exercise?  Budget?  Education?  Better Job?  Better Habits?  Better Person?

This is a photo of a figurine sold by Kayne Galleries.

My wife did not take this picture of me last week!

Sure, sure, all those things.  Just like last year, the year before, and every other year.

It's December 14th, not too soon to make those resolutions and start today, but it'll take courage and determination and willpower!

Why do you have to wait until next year to get your budget under control?  You don't have to wait.

It doesn't make sense to gorge ourselves with an extra thousand calories or more per day for the next 18 days until the new sensible eating plan begins, we'll be 10 pounds heavier by then!

I suggest to you that we start now, that means today.

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast "Lost and Found But Still Lost!"

Podcast Lost and Found But Still Lost!.wma

Lost and Found But Still Lost!

Thinking of the money we spend on holiday gifts, and wondering where the cash will come from to pay those credit card bills when they come in next month (next year!).  Where did all my money go?  I made enough to pay for this stuff didn't I?

Ever have these kind of thoughts?  I have.  I've wondered what I did with all of the money the last few years, just what did I spend it on?

I couldn't easily think of the answer so I decided to take a notebook and go around the house room by room, noting things that I did purchase and assessing the wisdom of each of them.  To be fair I figured I would only include recent purchases, say in the last 24 months or so, paused and said to myself, "Hey, that's about the time, two years ago, that I started to feel an income squeeze, and started to see the expenses going up along with the dropping income".  So 24 months is a good time period to use.

Then with notebook in hand I began.  First my clothes closet.  There was something jumping out at me right away...I normally keep two sections for all of my shirts and pants, the one in front is for the clothes I wear every day.  Behind them are the too small, too tight pants and shirts!  That second section of the tighties was crowded with 27 or 28 dress shirts that were hardly used, like new almost.  Plus each one had a fresh dry cleaning tag on it!

Let me compute something here.  Oh No, those 27 shirts cost me $550 to purchase and $42 to dryclean.  Now let me check the tight pants!  Almost as bad--twelve pairs of tight pants @ $37 avg. pair, all freshly dry cleaned.  Another $480.

Let's move around the room a little....There is a stack of CD's that I never listen to anymore, that's about $350.  And there is my cable TV box--I wonder what's on those 250 channels?  I usually watch the news and maybe 2 shows a nite, all on about 5 different channels, but my cable bill (with phone and internet) is $215 a month, fifty or sixty dollars worth a month more than I have time or desire to watch.  Hey that's throwing out $600 to $700 a year.

My wife told me not to try that shit in her closet!  I peeked in there anyway   (estimated her unused clothing at $300.  Any higher than that, and she'll kill me)

Let me go look in the garage, we don't keep the car in there because we needed the storage space instead.  I like to keep returnable deposit bottles in there until I have enough to make it worth my trouble.  The last time I took them back was the 4th of July.  Lets see now, 46 six-packs of empty beer bottles represents about $220 in beer purchases......Enough of this exercise!

That is $2200.  I did have the money for the holidays, and more, but stupid choices used up the cash!

Don't try this at your house,

It'll be too much reality.

The yard, the shed, the garage, the spare bedroom, the den the family room, every bedroom, the kitchen, the bathrooms, the cabinets, the closets, the basement, the attic, everyplace is loaded with impulse purchases, stuff we like to forget we even bought.  Honesty is not the best policy when we're trying to fool ourselves.

Maybe this year we'll make a realistic budget and see how it changes things.  The budget will included an "automatic savings deposit" every month, and a "debt reduction plan".

I don't want to go through this again next December.

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

"Shopping Bewares"

Shopping for holiday gifts is supposed to be fun, but it can be a lot of work, it can get frustrating, and you may not end up purchasing what you went there to get.  Look out for these "Shopping Bewares".

I went shopping for my own Christmas gift yesterday.  I wanted to get a bigger, wide screen monitor for my computer.  My old 17" one is hard to look at any more.  For a week or so I had watched the advertising circulars and checked prices and offerings on the internet.  I had decided on a 24.5" Handspree model.  A local chain store was advertising it for $259.  Perfect for my tired eyes, as I am on the computer a lot every day blogging and such. Well the floor model on display was the only one they had, and it was not available at any of the other stores in a 20 mile radius. (shopping beware).   Too bad for me, it figured that that model came with a 3-yr warranty too!(shopping beware).  OK, I'm flexible, so I looked at a "better one" they recommended, smaller, at 23", but a Samsung LED model $299, they said it was the best, so I said OK, I noticed that it had a 3-yr warranty also, tried to buy that one, but it too was out of stock and not going to be available for a long time, undetermined.(shopping beware).

I wanted to get a monitor that day (shopping beware) so I looked at every other one they had.  They did have a nice 23" widescreen LCD Samsung model #2333 for $239.00, it was available, but the "sale tag advised that the warranty was for one year parts and labor, and they tried to sell me a 3 to 4 year extended warranty for an additional $59 (shopping beware) which I declined, thinking maybe for that difference, the out of stock one had the 3-yr warranty, hmmm?  Should I wait for it to become available?  And will the price still be the same when it is?  No, I'll just buy the one for $239 and get out of here!

This is the one I did purchase!

At the cash register they rang it up as $259, a twenty dollar overcharge, but I caught them and made them fix it (shopping beware again!)  Once more they tried to sell me the 3 or 4-yr service contract/warranty, this time for $49, ten dollars less (shopping beware) I said "No thanks", paid for it and we left the store.  At the car I took a minute to look at the box the monitor was packed in and guess what it said?

"Covered for three years 100% parts and labor"

So the store sign had said 1-year warranty, and two employees tried to sell me a warranty which was already on the product.

~Shopping Beware~

Be careful out there when you're shopping, not all the danger is in the darkened parking lot...

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast* "Do You Want a Job Like That?"

Podcast Do You Want a Job Like That!.wma

Do You Want a Job Like That?

Prestige, power, authority, respect, a big salary, high expectations, promises, exaggerations, negotiations, re-negotiations, compromises, concessions, hirings and firings, scheduling, assignments, planning, forecasting, support, reports, small successes, inevitable failures.

People quit their jobs every day

in this country, in spite of

the economy!

That seems impossible to regular people who go to their jobs every day, hoping that they won't get any bad news.  That they won't be the victim of a layoff, a downsizing, or that the company they work for won't suddenly close its doors.  Because this kind of thing is happening with still-increasing velocity!

However,

I read in the papers, I hear on television, almost daily about these executives at those big firms like Bank of America, or General Motors who quit their jobs and abandon those multi-million-dollar compensation packages, because they "just can't take it anymore", and it makes me so disgusted I want to break something!

What is it that's so bad about those jobs?  It can't be the pay, can it?  I bet they don't go out to the bank on payday like I used to, to cash their checks and get fifty dollars of pocket money!  One day a week I could afford to treat myself to a bought lunch.  These type of executives probably have a 3000-calorie feast spread out for them in the corporate dining suite, complete with French wine every day.  They might have to work late some nites?  Take a few phone calls when they're playing golf, catch up on some emails at home?

What's so difficult that it's unbearable, when you get paid so much money that the average person could live their whole life happily on one year's worth of a salary like that!  Do you think that those Fat Cat executives like that ever buy LOTTERY TICKETS? I don't think so.

Would you be able to cope with working conditions like that?

I wouldn't.  I'd prefer to make a terrible hourly wage, be forced to come in early, stay late often, miss my kid's activities when they're growing up, pay for my own health insurance, be unable to afford to take a vacation, have no pension or retirement plan, give up all hope of a pay increase or a promotion, and be afraid to take off on my day off for fear of them wondering if they could do without me every day!

Let's shit can that stupid news coverage of crap like executive searchs, high compensation agreements, and golden-parachute retirements.  I want to hear about Jobs for the Average American!

Show me a sign like this!

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast* "Insuring the Youngest Older Americans"

Podcast Insuring the Youngest Older Americans!.wma

Medicare for the "Youngest Older Americans"

Did you hear that as a compromise in the

new health care legislation, that an

agreement has been reached to make

eligible the Youngest Older Americans?

People who are aged 55 to 64!

I think it is a great idea for several reasons.

First of all that group of people, 55 to 64, numbers more than thirty-one million (31 million+) most of whom are still working.  A lot of them are working because they cannot afford to buy health insurance coverage on their own, so they need to stay on the job and be covered under their employer's group plan.  Other than that a good number of them would have retired before age 65.  The new proposal would include them under Medicare, at a nominal cost per person.  That sounds great!

Realize the impact on unemployment if Half of those people, (say 15 million of them) immediately retired because they could get Medicare insurance coverage under the new legislation!

Would it leave open 15 million jobs?

Fifteen Million...

Why does that number sound so familiar?  Is it because we keep hearing that fifteen million Americans are unemployed?

Let's think about that for a few minutes now. 

By the way, of the 31 million Americans aged 55 to 64, almost 20% are in fair to poor health, that's according to government compiled statistics.  So because of their pre-existing conditions, the cost of any health insurance they could purchase would be very high anyway, which contributes to their having to work to at least age 65, when they would be eligible for today's Medicare coverage.

So my question is this "Can lowering the age of Medicare eligibility to age 55 significantly help with our national unemployment situation?"

I think that Yes, it Can!   Wouldn't that help to solve the biggest crisis in this country right now?  All those people out of work, working again!

Let me ask that question again, another way!  Can we incentivise millions of people aged 55 to 64 to retire right now, by giving them Medicare coverage, and at the same time replace them in the workforce with the great masses of the unemployed Americans?

Are my numbers calculated exactly, of course not?  Do we know how many people would retire immediately because of their eligibility for Medicare, of course not.  I don't know how many of the 31 million Americans aged 55 to 64 are still working or how many are already retired, but I'm guessing that about half of them are still working, and that ALL of them dream of retiring if they could somehow afford to.  This could be the "somehow".

So, I will give you a few easy ways that you can contact President Barack Obama, if you want him to know how you feel about insuring the youngest older Americans, and putting the 15 million unemployed Americans back to work.

1. MAIL a letter to the President at the White House; the address is 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC. 20500.

2. FAX your thoughts to the President at 1-202-456-2461

3. PHONE the White House comment line at 1-202-456-1111

4. EMAIL President Obama using this link that I provided.

You can tell the President that you got his number from me!

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Would You Lend Money to "YOU" ?

Maybe Not!

Need to borrow money?

The bank is not in a hurry to lend it to you?  In fact they already said "no"?  So now you're trying to get someone to cosign for you?  Want them to guarantee the repayment of your debt?  Put their credit rating and their money at risk for you, so you can get a loan for something!  Would you lend money to YOU?

Are you serious?

Cosign a loan?

Are you a new borrower with no credit history and you need some help getting established?  Do you have a steady job, have you learned to save money on a regular basis, as evidenced by your bank account?  Is the purpose of your loan for something useful, or are you going to waste the money?  Are you really a responsible person deserving of the trust of others?

Or, are you a previous borrower, who has already demonstrated your ability and your willingness to repay your debts, rather unconvincingly so?  Can I trust you now, this time?  Should I, would I, will I?  I don't know if I can...

You haven't paid your obligations to others, you never pay on time.

You're late to work, you change jobs often with frequent gaps in your employment, you don't follow through when you make promises, you disappoint me.  You don't write the letters, you don't make the calls, I see that you have a lot of time off, and you don't take good care of yourself or your things.  You look a mess to me.

That's how the world sees you, it's your public profile.

They can't see your heart, your goodness, your kindness.  It's never going to show up in the computer!  Your good points are invisible, they're hidden, they're lost, because you didn't take care of your exterior self.

What did you do with your dollars?

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

The Value of Gifts Remembered?

Are you shopping your brains out again this year?

Struggling and stressing out while trying to find the most meaningful, most affordable gifts for the people you want to give to?  Trudging hurriedly from store to store, one parking lot mania to the next?  Waiting in endless, slow-moving lines for a cashier? 

Fighting the crowds, needing the bathroom, hauling those purchases to your "where did I park it?" car.  Putting off the gift wrapping 'til you get enough paper, not wanting to do it until you can get it over with in one or two sesions, the tape, the scissors, the wrapping, the bows, the labels.

Did you buy a gift for everyone that you "should" get one for?  Did you spend the right amount on each person?  Did you forget anyone?

Want to make a special list now?

How about make a list of every present you gave and received last year, and the year before?

What did you get from everyone?  What did you give to people the last two years.  Who did you give to, and who gave to you?  Do you still have those gifts, and do the people you gave to still have theirs?

It's not going to be so easy to write it all down....

Maybe you don't remember many of them, and they don't remember what the gifts were either.

Maybe Time Spent Together With

Family and Friends is One of the

Greatest Gifts!

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast-"My Bank, My Paycheck, My Money, Oh No!"

Podcast My Bank, My Paycheck, My money, Oh No!.wma

My Bank, My Paycheck, My Money, Oh No!

Six more banks failed this week and I didn't even see it in the newspaper!  It doesn't even make the headlines anymore.  That's 130 so far this year, and if you remember, several months ago I predicted a total of 150 bank failures, when we were at 89 for the year.  I said I hoped there wouldn't be any more, but I believed that there would be many; It sucks to be right sometimes!

Banks are not the only businesses in trouble today.  Every industry is hurting, whether it's from lack of sales, or inability to collect the money that is owed to them.  People have reduced their unnecessary spending and their necessary spending too.  That means that many of us are NOT BUYING the things we "have to have".  Hey, do we have to have things or do we simply want to have them?  Maybe we're just not purchasing as much or we're not paying for the purchases we made on credit.

Everything is somehow connected.  Their business affects your job and my job.  Our jobs affect dozens of other businesses and that affects a lot of other jobs.  I don't pay you, and you don't pay them, and they go out of business, and so forth.  

Speaking about Your Paycheck....... 

This Friday is payday.  The checks get handed out at 11:30 am.

Not this week, my sad friend.  It's 1:00 pm and still no check, what is going on?  I'm starting to get nervous now.  Oh, here comes the boss and she looks very serious... The announcement "We cannot pay you today because we're having a temporary cash crisis".  Everyone is shaking and talking excitedly, incredulous, non-believing, crying, hearts banging in their chests, now yelling and slamming things.  The boss promises "Everything should be resolved in a couple of days, please calm down!"

But it's not going to be resolved, it's going to get worse, and the place closes it's doors, FOREVER>

All the employees left work immediately and headed home, and most of them stopped at the ATM for some cash on the way, before heading to the liquor store.  They did not use the ATM at Greater Atlantic Bank, Benchmark Bank, Am Trust Bank, The Tattnall Bank, First Security National Bank, or The Buckhead Community Bank.  Because those were the 6 banks that closed in the last 48 hours!

Know what else happened last week?

The FDIC released a report saying that about 25% of the households in the United States are either under-banked or unbanked.  By that they mean one out of four households are unable to maintain a checking account (forget savings accounts).  They discovered that a fourth of the families in this country don't have enough money available to ever write checks, that they have to operate on a loosely based system of cash and money orders.  That they are compelled to cash their paychecks, if they still get a paycheck, at the company bank, or at a check-cashing place.

There are still at least Fifteen Million unemployed Americans.

Every day I keep asking myself the same question that they are asking themselves, "How can they get jobs?"

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast! "Go Shopping For Only a Dollar or Two!"

Podcast Go Shopping For Only a Dollar or Two!.wma

Only a Dollar or Two!

Get a lot more for your money this year when you do your holiday shopping.  A lot more for only a dollar or two!

Always visit the "Dollar Store"

These type of stores sell almost everything you can think of at prices as low as a dollar, sometimes 2 for a dollar.  Often you can get the very same new items that you would pay $3.99 for anywhere else for a dollar.  Most of the time it's because the stores purchased whole inventories of other stores that went out of business, and they got the things for 10 cents on the dollar.  Or they are selling items similar to what you find elsewhere, but their source is a foreign manufacturer and the goods may be equal or lower in quality.

 Sometimes lower quality makes no difference at all!  Low priced toys that will get broken or lost in a short time anyway are ideal things to look for in a dollar store.  And the price you pay has nothing to do with a child's satisfaction with their gift.  The same with gifts for adults, too.

Flea Markets are another great place to find the perfect gifts for people.  The variety of items could surpass what is available in the department stores or the malls.  Unusual items abound and the prices are much, much lower than you could imagine.  A potential drawback to purchasing clothing there is only that usually it can't be returned or exchanged, but it's so much less money that I would advise anyone to spend some time at their local flea market and just look around. You can pay with cash, debit, or credit these days too.  While you're there, you might have a really good time as well.  Many interesting people work and shop there, and lots of good food is served.  It's  a fun and relaxed atmosphere, unlike the aggressive,  crowded mall scene.

The third specialty item, usable for stocking stuffers, and to enclose in holiday cards could be scratch-off lottery tickets, which are available in increments of one dollar and up!

Let's Go Shopping!

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

"Underinsured ! Are You Really Covered?"

You may be underinsured.  You might think that you have enough liability insurance already, but there is a chance that there's a huge hole in your protection!

Sudden lightning strikes occur!

Most people have insurance on their homes and on their automobiles, insurance coverage that protects them against personal liability responsibility following an accident, injury, or mishap.  State laws require auto insurance liability coverage at minimums as low as $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars), and mortgage companies and banks require homeowners to have fire insurance on a mortgaged residence.  But those basic insurance policies do not adequately protect you when a real-life catastrophe occurs.

LAWSUITS!

If a person is hurt on your property, for any reason, you might find yourself involved in a nasty lawsuit, even though you may not be at fault at all.  Contractors working at your home may be injured, or cause injury or damage to a neighbor or neighbor's property while working for you. 

If you own or operate an automobile, whether you are driving it, or someone else drives it, you are likely responsible for any liability that arises from a vehicular accident involving your car. 

Consider the following now:  As you drive down the road you are surrounded by cars and trucks of all different values, some personal vehicles cost $15,000 to $150,000.  Commercial vehicles could be a lot more expensive than $350,000!  These numbers are of the costs to replace the car, truck, bus, or whatever the vehicle is.  The amount of liability damage determined from personal injury and deaths is not yet considered.

Juries award enormous amounts to injured parties and to the families of passengers who became fatalities in automobile accidents.  Awards that run into the many millions of dollars.

If you have only the basic insurance coverage at the time you are involved in an accident, it will feel like you have no insurance at all after a lawsuit against you begins, and especially if you become the victim of a jury's large award.

"Umbrella Insurance Policy"

If you don't have one now, it's smart to protect yourself by purchasing additional liability insurance in the form of an umbrella policy.  These policies are commonly sold in amounts of one million to five million dollars, and they are not very expensive.

After a car accident and notification of being sued, most people would hire a lawyer.  That's going to cost a lot, and who's going to pay that lawyer?  You are!  What kind of shape will you be in when you have $100k to $300k liability insurance, but 3 other carloads of people are suing you for causing the 4-car accident?  If you lose the case, you will be ruined!  There will never be enough money in your basic insurance policy to pay the jury's award, and your legal fees will be expensive too.

If you had a two-million dollar "liability umbrella policy" in force at the time of the accident you would no doubt be in a much more secure position.  And MAYBE, the insurance company would have one of their lawyers in court there with your lawyer to try to minimize the amount of the lawsuit! 

Wouldn't that be convenient!

I carry a two-million dollar umbrella policy myself, and it's only about sixty bucks a month.  It's well worth it.  Call your insurance agent and see for yourself.

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Podcast-"How Many Salespeople Are Working for You?"

Podcast-How Many Salespeople Are Working for You!.wma

How Many Salespeople Work For You?

Does that sound like a stupid question?  How many salespeople do you Really have working for you?

Are you working as a salesperson, or a sales manager?  How's business these days?  Could it be better?

It doesn't matter what you're selling!

You can have an unlimited number of salespeople working for you.  That's right, they can be working day or night for you, even when it's your day off, or even when you're on vacation!

Aren't we good salespeople already?  Yes, of course we are, but customers are in short supply!  If we just had more opportunities, we could definitely make a lot more sales, and earn a lot more money.  So where could we get those new opportunities from?  From referrals sent to us by our satisfied customer base...

We'll get them if we keep our existing customers happy.  We'll get them if we stay in contact with every customer we ever had.  We'll get those referrals if we treated our previous customers well.  We get them if we delivered on every promise we made. We'll get more referrals than we can handle if our customers are made to feel like we are the best salespeople they ever encountered in the lives!

Is it easy to accomplish that?  No, it's not easy.  But it is definitely worth the trouble that it takes to nurture this money-generating garden of fruitful referrals.  Just think it over a few seconds; if you had plenty of customers coming in to see you, or calling you on the phone, you'd be rolling in commissions!

The reason it isn't happening now is because you haven't been convinced that the way to generate future business is to conduct exceptional business!  Asking for referrals is important too.  But nothing is stronger than a "growing army" of satisfied customers who tell their friends and relatives to do business with you.  No advertising budget could buy anything as effective as an  encouraging word from a trusted friend.

Stay in contact with your previous customers.  Call them often, see how things are going.  It doesn't matter what you sell, they may buy again soon.  They want to share their excitement about  their purchase with their friends.  They could do that without mentioning you at all, if you haven't impressed them.  That's why you want them to associate YOU with the product you sold them. 

Start today, call every old customer, reconnect with them.  See what's new in their lives.  See if they are still happy with the thing you sold them!  If they are not, do something about it!  Ask for new business, ask for referrals.  Make sure they know several ways to contact you.  Send them a newsletter, some literature, an email, call them up frequently, stop by and visit them.  Plant your name and your image into their heads, so they will always think of you when the subject of "buying" comes up in conversation.

You are the Recruitment Officer

in your own sales army!

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in  Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

Listen to "Could Your Cash Become Worthless?"

Listen to Could Your Cash Become Worthless!.wma

What If Your Cash Became Worthless?

North Korea this week revalued it's currency, a move which wiped out the personal savings of everyone in the country!

Their government stopped almost all business, closed stores, and suspended all commerce.  People who had savings were allowed to convert a small amount of it into the "new currency" but only forty to sixty dollars worth.  All the rest of their money is GONE!

Their money is trashed now.

Could it ever happen in the United States?

That our government could so radically change our money system like North Korea did?  Some people say YES, that our currency is so dangerously mass-produced, that it will also become worthless paper.  I've read that there is talk of converting all of North America's currencies to a standard "dollar", possibly called the Amero.  Look at the situation with the money in Europe, all the countries that converted their currencies to Euros!  It's said to be the only way to stabilize the economy in this part of the world.

How radical is that idea? Do you think it could happen?  And what would happen to our way of life if the government took away our money? 

Rioting, panics, weeping, screaming, suicides, all are occurring right now in North Korea, because the population, who are always on the edge of starvation anyway, were just robbed of what money they had, by their own government!  Could such robbery occur in this country?  If all of our money were declared worthless, and some people believe that it is gradually becoming that way, how would you buy your family's food?  *As of yesterday, it takes $1217.00 in our dollars to buy one ounce of gold.  That means the price of gold is $19472.00 per pound!  Eat That Gold!

Our country's economy is all screwed up.  Everyone agrees with that.

The people in North Korea would love to have some of our devalued dollars right now, instead of their own.  The only currencies with much value in North Korea now are the Chinese Yuan, the Euro, and the American Dollar.

John DeFlumeri Jr.  in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

"I Don't Have the Time!"

I Just Don't Have the Time!

I got home from work very late.

I have to pick up something for dinner.

The dog needs to go for a walk.

My kid has to be driven somewhere.

The brakes seem funny on my car.

There are 6 messages on my phone.

Look at all that mail.

Damn it, we're out of milk, too!

Cable just went out, the internet too.

What does this letter mean?

Did you pay the mortgage today?

I forgot the dry cleaning again.

I don't have time to defrost it now.

We have to leave in a minute.

Are you almost finished with that?

Where are the keys?

Will we be back by 9 pm?

Criminal Minds, The Mentalist!

I need to go look in the kitchen.

Shower in the morning, Dear!

I'm not falling asleep.

What did you you say.

I have to get up & brush my teeth.

I just had another nightmare.

Me too, what was yours about?

Oh shit, the alarm clock.

What time is it?

Wake the kids up, it's late!

The bus is coming soon.

Did you make their lunches?

Make them brush their teeth.

What am I going to wear to work?

I don't know either.

I should have bought gas yesterday.

I just didn't have time.

Don't run out, you'd better stop.

I don't have time, I'll drive slow.

I'm late, have to run out the door.

Kiss me goodbye first!

I'll throw you a kiss...

What time will you be home?

I'll call you when I know.

See you tonight, I love you!

I love you too. Bye.

Sorry I'm late, the traffic.

Wanted to leave earlier.

Get to work early.

I didn't have time for breakfast.

If anyone goes out, I'm in!

Look at all this work!

How did we get this backed up?

There's no time to do it all.

If we work through lunch...

We still won't have time.

Can you stay late tonight?

I don't want to either.

Not getting enough sleep.

Neither is my wife.

There's not enough time.

All we do is argue.

No time for loving.

No time for fun.

No time for the kid's game.

No time for the gym.

I don't have time for a haircut.

I need to go to the dentist too.

I don't have time.

Will there ever be time?

John DeFlumeri Jr. in Clearwater

"Decisions About Money and Controversial Commentary"

copyright 2009 John DeFlumeri Jr.

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