Fabulous Financials

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It’s that time of year when many of us are gearing up for the holiday shopping season, making our lists, checking them twice, and (hopefully) spending wisely.  As you know, I am always on the lookout for a fabulous deal, but when I find them, I don’t always have time to post them on the blog.  In fact, many of them are time sensitive or a deal for THAT day only.  But I always share them immediately in my Google Reader because all I have to do is click a button.  So if you want to keep up with the fabulous deals I find during this holiday shopping season, use Google Reader to subscribe to my blog, then sit back while I send the deals to you. Another advantage of subscribing to my blog via Google Reader is the interesting articles I share throughout the week.  For example, here are several that my subscribers have already seen:

• $1,000 scholarship for teens who can ace a 35 question financial literacy quiz and five things to take when you’ve been laid off @ Savvy Sugar
• MyCorporation is offering free business incorporation/LLC services @ My Money Blog
• A free guide to make over your debt @ Brown Eyed Girl and Money
• How to save $9,000 a year and deducting your IRA losses @ CNN Money
• Lessons learned from a rich pothead @ Baglady
• Seven deadly shopping sins @ apresenta concept

With Google Reader, you can also share your fabulous finds with those who are subscribed to your blog.  Happy shopping and happy reading!

P.S. If you have subscribed via Google Reader but can not see my shared items, send me an email and I will fix it right away.

Yea, I said it.

I can’t believe how many people are so afraid of what’s happening in our economy that they are withdrawing all deposits from their banks.  “So what are they doing with the money?”, I wondered.  According to an article in the New York Post, savers are banking on shoes boxes.  *blank stare*

Richard Cruz, 48, of Manhattan, said he’s moving money he’s saved for his daughter’s college education out of his bank and into somewhere he thinks is safer.

“I’m afraid we’re going to lose it all. I’m going to put my money into a shoebox,” he said.

Cruz said he contemplated going to the mattresses, but decided that was too “last century.”

“No one hides their money under a mattress any more,” he said. “That’s the first place people would look.”

Get the f*ck out of here!!  Dude, for 75 years, the FDIC has insured depositors up to $100,000.  Furthermore, as of October 3rd, Congress temporarily increased the FDIC limit from $100,000 to $250,000 through December 2009.  So why in the world would anyone withdraw all of their money from a bank and think it’s safer to keep at home?

In my opinion, this type of fear based, irrational behavior will only make matters worse.  Apparently, they’re more concerned about Wall Street than Pookie ‘n ‘em.  Hmph!  If you know like I know…never mind.  I wish the ‘hood had an index fund because their holdings are about to soar!

AIG execs’ retreat after bailout angers lawmakers:

Days after it got a federal bailout, American International Group Inc. spent $440,000 on a posh California retreat for its executives, complete with spa treatments, banquets and golf outings, according to lawmakers investigating the company’s meltdown.

AIG sent its executives to the coastal St. Regis resort south of Los Angeles even as the company tapped into an $85 billion loan from the government it needed to stave off bankruptcy. The resort tab included $23,380 worth of spa treatments for AIG employees, according to invoices the resort turned over to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

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“Average Americans are suffering economically. They’re losing their jobs, their homes and their health insurance,” the committee’s chairman, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., scolded the company during a lengthy opening statement at a hearing Tuesday. “Yet less than one week after the taxpayers rescued AIG, company executives could be found wining and dining at one of the most exclusive resorts in the nation.”

This Fox article has a link to the full hotel bill and it states:

According to the receipt from the St. Regis, the eight-day company retreat was a lavish one – $139,000 was spent on hotel rooms, while even more money — $147,301 — was spent on banquets. Another $23,380 was spent on undisclosed spa treatments and another $6,939 was spent on golf. A full $9,980 was spent on room service and food and cocktails at the hotel lounge.

Obama was quoted saying…

“Those executives should be fired,” Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama said at a debate with Sen. John McCain on Tuesday, referring to the retreat participants. Obama also said AIG should give the Treasury $440,000 to cover the costs of the retreat.

Not only should they be fired and forced to pay back every dime, they should go to jail for fraud, waste, and abuse of tax payers dollars!!  Ugh!  This makes my blood boil!

For some reason, I think this is only the beginning. *sigh*

Today has been a lazy, lounge day for me.  Nice, slow, and relaxing.  I’m back to my regular schedule of every other Friday off and it makes me so happy because I’ve done absolutely nothing all day.  I received my Sex and the City movie on DVD and I’ve already watched it twice. LOL  I baked a whole chicken, rice, gravy, and greens so BabyGirl can have dinner before she goes to work.  I also sorted through all the mail and paid bills online.  Nice, slow, and relaxing.

Now I’m reading articles online and this is what I’ve enjoyed so far:

Historic bailout bill passes Congress and Bush signs it

Could you survive on half your pay?

Market in sharp decline, stocks on sale?

The end of the shopaholic nation?

Stressed mothers raise fat children

How much is $700 Billion?

50 most powerful women in business

I’m still reading and may update this post later with more links.

I hope you all have a GREEEEEEEEEEEEAT weekend!