Money

The home building market took a huge hit over the last several years. As home prices dropped and left many people underwater, the market tanked and left thousands of home builders out of a job. For a brief time, the new home buyer tax credit offered by the Obama administration steadied the market, but that has run out and home sales are down again.

The housing market is slipping all across the U.S. many major cities report that home sales are down and prices are falling. Many homeowners who were hoping to sell and move are now reconsidering their options. All in all, things look bleak for the near future.

One thing I would like to start working on this year is doing a better job of saving money. It seems that when I get a check, it’s gone before you know it. My bank account isn’t growing any and I am living from week to week. I was hoping to find a few ways to save money and build a cushion in case times get really hard.

One area where I spend a lot on is food. I eat out a lot and thought that if I could eat at home more often I would spend less on my food. I have also been living high on the hog recently and spending a lot on home repair. I may want to take a little break from that and save some of my money instead. What would be really nice is to make more money in the first place. That would be the best!

With all the news about jobs lately, it’s about time that the congress does something about it. I was glad to hear that the house passed a bill today that will address the issue. A 217-201 vote decided that $35 billion dollars will be allocated to give tax incentives to employers who hire new workers.

There are still many debates about the bill as some feel it does too little while others feel it is unnecessary. The bill will move back to the senate for a vote before it is sent to the President. Another part of the bill dedicates money to federal highway programs until the end of the year.

We were all glad that the government has finally stepped in and cracked down on abusive credit card companies. The new rule changes will help eliminate some of the shady practices that are used by the banks to generate income. While there has been much improvement over the old ways, there are still some things to look out for.

One item that consumers should be aware of is a new policy that consumers must agree to overdraft protection services. The banks want this so that they can keep on charging people who overdraft their accounts. This has been a major source of revenue for the banks in the past. One alterative to this is to use an overdraft protection service that takes money out of another account or credit card.

Whatever the case, be sure to understand the policies of your particular bank. A little research may turn up the best protections for your money. Make sure to set a budget and stick to it. Try to put a little money aside for emergencies by forming a rainy day fund. Above all, keep track of your finances and use common sense when making purchases.

One of the great American institutions is the American Red Cross. They have helped millions of people throughout the years when there was no one else to turn too. The problem is that they are now operating at a loss and need money to help bridge the gap. This has led to the sale of over 100,000 items of historical items that they have amassed over the years.

Most of the items can be bid on or purchased on the internet. Some items have been saved by sending them to the National Archives or museums. I hope that everyone will remember to donate a few dollars this year to this worthy charity.