wages are slipping :-(

[Luminous_Rose]

And big bankers take advantage of this (actually, i think they created it) and exploit them.

I agree! I ended up calling credit cards, "Satan's spending," because it caused us so much grief...nothing good came from it. I felt like instead of praying for our needs and waiting for God's timing to bless us, we went ahead and got it in our timing and used the card and it always came at a heavier price. How many, "Wow! Thank you for this blessing, Lord!" moments have we missed?

Anyway, I found out overdraft protection was more like "overdraft-punch-you-in-the-wallet" in nicer words. A bank we were using would reorder our transactions, double up transactions, and taken out some transactions that had already been posted and we didn't always see that...why should we if it had been posted for days? We would think we had more available than we really did and they would overdraft $30 from our credit card and on top of that they would add extra interest for that because they counted it as a cash advance. This happened like 4 or 5 times and I shut off the overdraft protection, but we still hit the negative. We switched banks and dare I say, we have saved money doing so! We did a no interest balance transfer on that credit card to a different bank, too. It baffles us that when we first got the credit card it was by a friend who worked there that we trusted. She never used the word, "Credit card," but we were deceived with the terms, "Build your credit so you can buy a home or a car some day by using this special account." I wish she would have been honest because we are paying it off 7 years later....good news, we will probably have it paid off in about 3 or 4 more months.

Banks are learning that people recognize the word "credit card" as being off putting, but not "build your credit", "another unique account", etc. By the time you realize it is a credit card when you get it in the mail, the banker probably already has their bonus or job requirements done. It is deceptive.


It is annoying how they give loans on cars and other goods "for only 36 months!" That doesn't sound like a ling time, but it is really a ball and chain for 3 years. That is a while.

Banks get smarter and more deceptive. They love taking money from people that can't afford it. They make thousands off of interest and overdrafts. We have always kept up with our payments, but can't imagine how much it ruins things to have to claim bankruptcy or be bombarded with collection calls.

 

[Luminous_Rose]

I,do my,own work.on my,Nissan alone.

A.c. numerous times,fuel injectors ,valve cover ,exhaust manifold ,alternator,radiator ,belts houses,thermostat,clutch .brakes,ball joints ,tie rods.

That's good. Knowing mechanic work can save hundreds =D wish I knew more about it. Thankfully people on YouTube can show hoelw to do minor repairs yourself.

 

[jasonc]

That's good. Knowing mechanic work can save hundreds =D wish I knew more about it. Thankfully people on YouTube can show hoelw to do minor repairs yourself.

Minor repairs are becoming,things of,the,past .100 dollar light bulbs,with cheap wiring to them.

 

[Michael74]

What is an honest dollar.

One that is not constantly being debased by creating too many of them. Zero inflation.

A product or service's value is in the eye of the beholder.

If the number of dollars doubles, this doesn't double the number of goods at stores. Prices double if bankers double the number of dollars. If bankers give the newly created dollars to their friends and allies, their friends and allies can buy additional goods. Everyone else can buy fewer goods.

 

[Corn Pop]

What is an honest dollar. A product or service's value is in the eye of the beholder. I can mow lawns for hire in exchange for cash. How much cash? Well, it comes down to two things. How much is my customer willing to pay and how much do I feel my labor, equipment costs, advertising costs, insurance costs, etc. are worth. If we are both at the same price then whalla! we have an agreement.

But with health and safety these days it might be a high price you charge, it could take you an hour just to scan the area first for hazards, put out safety cones, and write a report before you start mowing lawns that take half an hour. Don't forget to wear your high vis t-shirt.

 

[Michael74]

Its not the safety cones that account for most of the costly price, its the license to do the job that is only given to certain people. Monopolies can charge a pretty penny because no one is allowed to compete with them. Free market capitalism competition isn't allowed to work. Monopolies are an artifact of inefficient central planning.

 

[jasonc]

Its not the safety cones that account for most of the costly price, its the license to do the job that is only given to certain people. Monopolies can charge a pretty penny because no one is allowed to compete with them. Free market capitalism competition isn't allowed to work. Monopolies are an artifact of inefficient central planning.

Govt regulations make it much harder ,you can't run a small grocer and compete with Wal-Mart because of trade tariff favors or other things like that .

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Minor repairs are becoming,things of,the,past .100 dollar light bulbs,with cheap wiring to them.

At times this is true, I suppose. It is like $35 for two high beam light bulbs so it isn't too bad, but the bigger the vehicle the more expensive it gets. Windshield wipers are about $10-$20 per blade. Some minor repairs still there.

 

[jasonc]

At times this is true, I suppose. It is like $35 for two high beam light bulbs so it isn't too bad, but the bigger the vehicle the more expensive it gets. Windshield wipers are about $10-$20 per blade. Some minor repairs still there.

Cheap light bulbs are going away .wipers not yet .in,time newer cars will have those expensive bulbs in either cost to replace from labor,caddilac,one must remove the fender to replace the bulb .dodge ram the same .

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Cheap light bulbs are going away .wipers not yet .in,time newer cars will have those expensive bulbs in either cost to replace from labor,caddilac,one must remove the fender to replace the bulb .dodge ram the same .

I suppose we will have to see. I haven't dealt with newer cars. I try to avoid newer cars for many reasons. One day it could be inevitable, sure, but for now older cars seem best. It does seem like the material for newer cars is cheaper and made to crumple and not thick metal anymore. I remember my husband drove a 90s truck to work, got hit on the side from a wrong way driver...barely a dent, but the other newer car was smashed pretty good.

The future of cars doesn't look too amazing, but we will see.

 

[jasonc]

Sometimes finding parts for older cars isn't possible

 

[Luminous_Rose]

Sometimes finding parts for older cars isn't possible

This is true, especially if the manufacturer has discontinued parts. We dealt with a car that had this issue, except there were still parts floating around. The price tag wasn't nice, though.

 

[jasonc]

This is true, especially if the manufacturer has discontinued parts. We dealt with a car that had this issue, except there were still parts floating around. The price tag wasn't nice, though.

I was thinking,after market

 

[Corn Pop]

Govt regulations make it much harder ,you can't run a small grocer and compete with Wal-Mart because of trade tariff favors or other things like that .

I find it amazing how people can legally grow produce in there yard or catch a legal quota of fish but it's illegal to sell or trade.

As I have said it many times, for example if I can legally catch and keep 7 snapper a day for consumption, and I have both NZQA food safety certificates so they cannot cry health and safety, why can I not sell or trade my catch and pay taxes on it?, people have to buy it from the giant multi billionaire corporations at very very high prices. Snapper is like up to $40 a kilo when fish is on everyones back door. The ocean is right there.

What happened to true free trade?

For anyone to sell or trade fish they must go though the commercial sector and buy from a middle man who has an approved fish recievers licence, or direct from commercial vessels only if you have a fish recievers licence.

For me to sell fish I would need a registered vessel (big dollars) , buy a ACE quota (big dollars) and have a fish recievers licence (big dollars).

Who can compete in the market?.

 

[Michael74]

It does seem like the material for newer cars is cheaper and made to crumple and not thick metal anymore.

Fuel economy standards force automakers to use super thin steel on cars. Many people switched to SUVs and trucks in self defense, because the standards were more generous on them. Ford has decided to just not make hardly any cars anymore, because many people won't buy them.

Clean air standards are good, because people need clean air to breathe. However, the fuel economy standards are just not realistic. The technology isn't there yet to make safe cars that use such scant amounts of fuel.

 

[stovebolts]

I don't agree with the bankers exploiting customers. There is nothing to gain by helping someone go into debt beyond their means only to have to reposes later.

That's because your responsible, and know how to manage "your" finances. Our oldest son was a banker in the late 90, early 2000 so I know how they try and exploit those ignorant of their finances, especially under the guise of "building credit"

 

[WIP]

One that is not constantly being debased by creating too many of them. Zero inflation.



If the number of dollars doubles, this doesn't double the number of goods at stores. Prices double if bankers double the number of dollars. If bankers give the newly created dollars to their friends and allies, their friends and allies can buy additional goods. Everyone else can buy fewer goods.

Bankers do not control the printing of money. That is government responsibility and when government spending is high, government increases printing rates to pay for it. That is why it is so important to establish a balanced budget in the federal government. But sometimes things get in the way like wars. Those have to be paid for and one way to do that is to increase printing of legal tender, so long as the dollar remains strong relative to the rest of the world.

 

[stovebolts]

At times this is true, I suppose. It is like $35 for two high beam light bulbs so it isn't too bad, but the bigger the vehicle the more expensive it gets. Windshield wipers are about $10-$20 per blade. Some minor repairs still there.

Yeah, but the newer bulbs will last 5-10 years and the wiper blades can last at least a year so they're actually cheaper in the long run. In all, newer manufacturing capabilities make repairs less frequent.
For example, in 2016 I purchased my first new car. I've got 98,000 miles and the only repairs have been oil changes, air filter changes, new tires and I replaced the brakes at 94,000 miles and wiper blades twice. Oh, and I changed the spark plugs at 65,000 which cost me $45 for all four.

BTW, I will only purchase parts from a certified GM dealer. I'm done with aftermarket parts. They simply don't last.

 

[WIP]

I find it amazing how people can legally grow produce in there yard or catch a legal quota of fish but it's illegal to sell or trade.

As I have said it many times, for example if I can legally catch and keep 7 snapper a day for consumption, and I have both NZQA food safety certificates so they cannot cry health and safety, why can I not sell or trade my catch and pay taxes on it?, people have to buy it from the giant multi billionaire corporations at very very high prices. Snapper is like up to $40 a kilo when fish is on everyones back door. The ocean is right there.

What happened to true free trade?

For anyone to sell or trade fish they must go though the commercial sector and buy from a middle man who has an approved fish recievers licence, or direct from commercial vessels only if you have a fish recievers licence.

For me to sell fish I would need a registered vessel (big dollars) , buy a ACE quota (big dollars) and have a fish recievers licence (big dollars).

Who can compete in the market?.

Commercial fishing is regulated specifically to protect it from your train of thought. You said, "Snapper is like up to $40 a kilo when fish is on everyones back door. The ocean is right there." That's the attitude that can result in extinction of species. Here's an example. In the US during the early 19th century there were estimates as high as 60,000,000 bison roaming the great plains. Because some native Americans relied so heavily on bison for food, clothing, and shelter and they were blocking our expansion westward, the US military began a campaign to eradicate the bison herds. Bison were also a very prices source of meat and fur for the US as well and were also hunted heavily without regard to the species. The result was that within about 50 years the bison population dropped to an estimate 325 and nearly rendered extinct.

When Europeans first began to settle in Minnesota in the 19th century they found a vast white pine forest covering nearly 2/3 of the state. Without regulation they quickly wiped out most by the end of that century and today there is very little left of that forest.

I'm not a tree hugger and I'm not a member of animal rights groups or any activist groups but I do believe in common sense management of the resources God has provided. We need them and God has provided but we also need to manage them wisely.

 

[WIP]

Fuel economy standards force automakers to use super thin steel on cars. Many people switched to SUVs and trucks in self defense, because the standards were more generous on them. Ford has decided to just not make hardly any cars anymore, because many people won't buy them.

Clean air standards are good, because people need clean air to breathe. However, the fuel economy standards are just not realistic. The technology isn't there yet to make safe cars that use such scant amounts of fuel.

It's called pushing the envelope. If they aren't pushed to make the improvements, they have little incentive to do so. Just like you and me. We have to be pushed so laws are passed that require septic system upgrades when we make changes to our homes (talking about home with their own systems), and new building codes, etc.