Do you think the rally has stalled?

Question:

The stock market really hasn’t moved too much one way or another for a few weeks. Do you think that the economic rally has stalled?

Answer:

I think that it has stalled for now, but that could be due to the poor reports coming out about unemployment. If you look at other factors such as retail sales (which were up for the past month) then the economy is doing a bit better in the way of consumer spending.

I think over the next few months, the rally will continue but it will be more gradual.

Are you ready to sell your house?

Question:

It looks like there could be a break for house sellers in the market. Are you ready to sell your house?

Answer:

I have to say that I’m not ready to sell my house just yet. While the market in my area IS picking up, it still isn’t where I would like it before I decide to put my house up for sale.

I think that if you give the market some more time then you may be able to see a bit more money than if you sold now. Especially if you wait until the Spring, when the market gets hot again.

Are you being ripped off by an online company?

Question:

In 2006, AOL announced that it would stop charging for @aol.com email addresses. Since then most of the customers have been switched to the free service, however there are still a few less internet savvy users out there that are paying for email service that is supposed to be free; many of them not even noticing.

This is just one example of how people are being ripped off every day from online companies. Are you being ripped off? How about someone you know?

Answer:

While I am not currently being ripped off by AOL’s shady business practice of continually billing someone for something that is free, I think I might know someone who is. And all I have to say is: If this person is paying for this service than he/she is less internet savvy than I could have ever imagined and he/she deserves it.

Other than that, I am not currently being ripped off by any online company to my knowledge. There was a time a few years ago, however, that “someone” I know was being ripped off by a company who cheated him out of a couple hundred dollars…he has not seen that money to this day.

Do you need to have a buying agent when you go to buy a house??

Question:

When you’re looking to purchase a new home do you find it easier to have an agent represent you and help you complete the transaction?

Answer:

There are a lot of new houses just sitting on the market along with many used homes up for sale. Most of these houses are listed with an agent who is known as the listing agent. They represent the seller and will do what’s right for the seller.

Do I think that you need to have a buying agent to represent you if you’re buying a home? No, but should you have one to have someone on your side, yes.

When we bought our house we didn’t have a buying agent, but the sellers listed the home for sale by owner. It was quick and painless.

How often do you think minimum wage should go up?

Question:

Minimum wage has had quite a bump over the past few years. After staying at a meager $5.15 for years, it is now up to $7.25 an hour. How often do you think minimum wage should go up?

Answer:

I actually think that there should be some kind of law that has minimum wage increase gradually over time rather than having huge increases over just a couple of years. This way the employers that only pay minimum wage won’t hurt so badly when the rate goes up.

Some employers get away with never giving their employees a raise. This is why minimum wage should have a steady, but gradual increase. Those are the same employers who complain about a huge jump in minimum wage and say that they’ll have to fire people or up their prices to keep up.

Would you be willing or have you ever shopped online for your prescriptions?

Question:

Buying medicine at the pharmacy (like Walgreens or CVS) is expensive when you don’t have prescription drug coverage. Have you ever considered shopping online for your prescriptions?

Answer:

I believe that as long as the pharmacy was reputable and had a good track record there is nothing wrong with buying your prescriptions online. As a matter of fact, I think that would be a much better way to go if you are extremely busy. Recently, I went to pick up a prescription for my husband and waited in line for 45 minutes because there was one (very old) man working the register and several people waiting in line. This was at a Wal-Mart pharmacy and the line wrapped around the pharmacy and into the beauty section. It was ridiculous.

Do you plan on getting vaccinated this flu season?

Question:

Everyone is warning about the upcoming flu season. Do you plan on getting vaccinated at all for either type of flu?

Answer:

I have only gotten the flu shot one time in my entire life, and the one time I got the vaccine, I got sick with the flu. Ever since then, I have not gotten a flu shot. This year, though, the H1N1 Swine Flu is going around and it has actually hit my town relatively hard because of the college campus here.

Even though there is an outbreak of the flu, I will still likely not get a vaccination because there are more high risk people who need it a lot worse than I do.

Why are people taking out cash advance loans?

Question:

Cash advance loans are notoriously bad loans. They typically have outlandish APRs and often leave the borrower in some kind of financial turmoil. So, why would anyone take out a cash advance loan to begin with?

Answer:

People take out cash advance loans because they need emergency money and their credit isn’t good enough to get traditional loans. This is one of the only reasons that I can imagine why people would want to take out payday, title, or cash advance loans.

Many people can’t afford the outrageous APRs, so I am not too sure why these companies pop up just about anywhere there is a hole in the wall. I suppose it’s because they make so much money off the people who do pay, that the people who don’t or can’t pay are overshadowed by the other customers’ payments.

What was the most embarrassing job you’ve ever had?

Question:

There are so many embarrassing jobs out there. They’ve really created an entire TV series around jobs that no one wants called “Dirty Jobs.”

Every now and then people will have to hold a job that may not be the most flattering for them, but it will pay (at least some) of the bills.

So, what’s the most embarrassing job that you’ve ever held?

Answer:

Even though I never “reported for duty” on the job, I was hired to be a debt collector hours before getting hired to work as an intern at a marketing magazine. That was really a no brainer in my opinion. After getting the job at the magazine, I simply didn’t show up for the job at the debt collection center. I never really wanted to do that and would have hated every minute I spent there.

By the way, this collection center is always looking for workers.

Was cash for clunkers a success?

Question:

After all the media hype and the commercials surrounding the cash for clunkers or CARS program, do you think it was actually a success or did it fail to bring real sales to the automakers?

Answer:

I was always a little weary of the program because the rules that came from the government were a bit easy to find loopholes in and while the automakers did see sales increase dramatically over the past few weeks, the program didn’t last as long as the government had hoped and now the car companies are dealing with the sudden jump in sales with low production.

The sales were only due to the program. If the program had never existed, sales would still be flat. So, in a way it was a success, but overall I don’t think that the government really saw what it hoped for.

What do you do about your dead end job?

Question:

We all feel like our jobs hit low points at times, but what do you do when you know that your job isn’t going anywhere and you’re basically stuck doing the same job with no hope of ever being promoted or getting a raise?

Answer:

That question is easy; you start looking for another job, but be responsible and find another job before you quit the first one. Most people have lots of responsibilities and can’t just go around quitting their jobs without something else lined up first. Then again, you could quit your job while you have no prospects and get in the unemployment line in your parents’ house.

Where are you putting your money?

Question:

Recession! That’s a word that people are really turning a deaf ear to. However, there are a few things that we all still need to remember and do while the market is still down and the economy is nursing it wounds.

Money is the biggest issue. It’s something everyone wants, so where are you putting your money these days?

Answer:

Right now, analysts are warning against putting your money in the stock market, they’re warning against putting your money in real estate, it doesn’t seem like your money is safe anywhere. However, if you put your money in a mutual fund that tracks the market on a whole, perhaps you may just beat inflation for the time being. This may have to do for some of us who don’t have the time to micromanage our portfolios and watch every move the market makes.

Have you found your place in a recession proof industry?

Question:

With the recession looking like it might be winding down (hopefully), but with unemployment still hovering just below 10%, have you found a job where no matter how bad the recession has gotten, you don’t feel threatened?

Answer:

I don’t have a job, so I’m hoping that some of you will answer this. I don’t think that there is one person out there who doesn’t worry about their own job security from time to time. Perhaps the exception is nurses and people who work in the medical field. I have a friend who is a RN and I really don’t think she ever worries about whether or not her job will be there the next day. I would love that kind of job security in a field that I actually wanted to work in.

Is it time for the Fed to relinquish some of its power?

Question:

The United States Federal Reserve has a lot of power when it comes to the economy. They oversee more than just the money the country has, but other things too like consumer issues. So, is it time for the Fed to give up some of the control?

Answer:

I think the Fed needs some of the power that it has. I don’t think it needs to be able to move the interest rates without a longer bureaucratic process simply because the movement of the economy is settled on the shoulders of the Fed.

Overall, the Federal Reserve does good things for the economy and typically works in the interest of the people. However, the economy is more than just interest rates.

Do you agree with the “mutual decision” of Eric Schmidt leaving Apple’s Board of Directors?

Question:

Yesterday Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, announced that he would be stepping down from Apple’s board of directors. Do you agree with the move?

Answer:

I do because Google has too  much interest in the products and innovations coming out of Apple. Even if Schmidt were to excuse himself from every single meeting when a competing product came up, he would be nearly useless when it came to make board decisions. The seat is better suited for someone else at this time.

I don’t think he should have been on the board for as long as he was. I think that he should have left the board once Android went into development.

Have you or would you use Hotwire?

Question:

I was looking into booking a hotel somewhere for a trip away form my house and was wondering if anyone has ever used Hotwire and gotten a good result?

Answer:

I would assume that plenty of people use Hotwire everyday, otherwise it wouldn’t be doing as well as it is. You do get to pick the area your hotel is in and the “star rating” of it. However, the star rating can be kind of subjective because there’s no industry standard.

I haven’t personally ever used Hotwire, but I have booked hotels on websites like Orbitz. I suppose I just like knowing what I’m getting myself into.

Do you need to have a buying agent when you go to buy a house??

Question:

When you’re looking to purchase a new home do you find it easier to have an agent represent you and help you complete the transaction?

Answer:

There are a lot of new houses just sitting on the market along with many used homes up for sale. Most of these houses are listed with an agent who is known as the listing agent. They represent the seller and will do what’s right for the seller.

Do I think that you need to have a buying agent to represent you if you’re buying a home? No, but should you have one to have someone on your side, yes.

When we bought our house we didn’t have a buying agent, but the sellers listed the home for sale by owner. It was quick and painless.

How much are you paying for electricity this summer?

Question:

This summer, so far, has been strange. Much of the Northeast has seen very wet weather and it’s pretty cool there too. It’s been ridiculously hot in the Mid- South.

With the (kind of) strange weather, how is your electricity bill looking and now does it compare to last year?

Answer:

I live in Mississippi and it’s been hot. Every time I watch the news, the same three words come up: Hot, Humid, and Hazy.

Our electric bill is actually very similar to last year’s prices. We own a 3 bedroom 1200 sq. ft. house and it was around $120 last month, which was the same as last year. We try to keep the house between 72 and 75 degrees and I try not to use the oven too much in the summer at all.

If you had a choice where would you retire?

Question:

While people are losing jobs and portions of their retirement funds have been wiped out, is there anywhere in particular that you would like to retire to, or have you changed your retirement plans?

Answer:

I recently read that Panama is the “new Florida” as far as retirement goes. Thanks to cheap, and good quality, health care and the low cost of living, Panama has become a great place to retire to.

I would consider moving to another country once I retire, but that is a few years away and I have a lot of time to think about it.

Are you any more likely to buy a Hyundai with the Price Assurance policy?

Question:

Recently, Hyundai has been advertising their “price assurance” policy which states that if you lose your job you can return the car without any negative effect on your credit score. Now, they are even offering to “pay” you monthly for six months.

With these new measures in place, are you any more likely to buy a Hyundai?

Answer:

I am more inclined to look into a Hyundai car but wouldn’t necessarily say that I would choose it over Honda or Toyota.

However, for the price, Hyundai’s (in my opinion) are great cars. You are definitely getting more for your money with that company than many other companies.

Were you ready when your TV signal switched to Digital last night?

Question:

For well over a year now, tv stations have been promoting the “Digital transition” and trying to get the word out to viewers about the switch.

Last night/ This morning at midnight, tv signals switched over. Were you ready?

Answer:

If you go back and read my posts about the tv transition, I have been ready for awhile and was kind of annoyed when it wasn’t switched over earlier only because it is annoying to hear the local anchorman nag every night about the transition.

So, yes, I was ready.

However, I can see how some would not be ready if they don’t watch local programming or perhaps live under a rock and the switch can be slightly confusing. Especially for those in Arkansas and Texas, who last night, were going through some fairly heavy storms.

Do you think purchasing a home is still a good, solid investment?

Question:

Home prices have been hitting new lows all year and people are losing their shirts in real estate. With sub prime lending, maybe, behind us, do you think that going back into home buying is a good investment?

Answer:

Sure. Once this recession is over, homes will once again be a safe investment. Historically, homes have always been a good investment.

Right now the market is low and it is a buyers market. If you were looking into getting into the real estate market, now is the time to do it. Some markets are down far less than others and it would be a good time to get into any of the markets that have experienced a lot of decline like Phoenix, Arizona.

If I had the money to get into real estate right now, would I? Probably, but I am not really willing to be tied down to one place right now.

What do you think about the reincarnation of Circuit City?

Question:

Talk about “zombie retail.” Circuit City is coming back in the form of an online store. The name was recently acquired by Systemax and will be re-launching sometime soon. What do you think about this?

Answer:

Well, honestly, bringing back the store means that some jobs will be going back to Circuit City. Systemax is also promising a larger selection with lower prices, so that could be good right now also. However, I do think it’s strange how the store went extinct and before anyone really had time to lament the loss of Circuit City it may be coming back in the form of an online only store.

Would you buy a car from a dealership that was going out of business?

Question:

Since GM and Chrysler both announced they would be closing almost 2,000 dealerships between them, would you buy a car from one of the dealerships that you knew would be going out of business?

Answer:

I don’t know that I would. In a small town, there is only one GM dealership. If it were to go out of business the next closest dealership is almost an hour away. At the same time, there are also Toyota, Ford, and Nissan dealerships in my town. If I had to have my car serviced, I know (at least for now) those dealerships aren’t having the same hardships that are facing Chrysler and GM and will likely still be around.

At the same time, I know that those companies will likely still be around in whole. So if I was determined to purchase a car from that COMPANY, I would.

*Image from Shazam791′s Flickr

Can Chrysler make a comeback from bankruptcy?

Question:

Yesterday, one of the Big 3 U.S. automakers filed for bankruptcy protection. Chrysler hasn’t really had the best time during the current recession. Was filing for bankruptcy the right decision and can the company make a comeback?

Answer:

I feel as though Chrysler’s options were very limited. Bankruptcy was really the only way to ensure that the company sticks around in the future. Hopefully creditors will work with Chrysler on payments so the company may be able to turn a profit again sometime in the future.

I think that if Chrysler plays the right cards it can come out a stronger company…What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, right?

Is the U.S. government ready for a H1N1 Swine Flu Outbreak?

Question:

Over the past week, every media outlet has been warning the public about a possible Swine Flu pandemic. The outbreak has many worried in countries bordering Mexico as well as others. There have already been over 100 cases in the U.S., is the government prepared for a severe outbreak?

Answer:

In a short answer, somewhat.

The government has already shipped hundreds of thousands of doses of anti-virals to different states in preperation for an outbreak. It has also gotten word out to many about prevention.

However, I do not believe that any government is ready for how bad it could get. In the United States so far, no one has died from this strain of flu while many in Mexico have. However, I’m sure that has more to do with the health care system in that country versus the health care system in the U.S.

Photo Source: brightlifephotographydotcom’s Flickr

When is it time to just give up the Senate seat?

Question:

Since November the Minnesota senate race between Al Franken and Norm Coleman has been going on. The votes were counted and recounted. The Minnesota supreme court declared Franken the winner, who has a 312 vote lead after all the recounts. So, when will this race be over?

Answer:

Honestly, I don’t think Norm will ever give up this seat. He thought he won and when he lost to a comedian he wasn’t laughing.

I’m sure at this point, if people could go back and vote again he would be losing by a lot more than 300 votes due to his lack of maturity in this situation. Even Al Gore conceded after the votes in Florida were recounted.

This race could go into Fall of this year as Coleman is thinking about appealing all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Is Online Banking Really the Way to Go?

Question:

With identity theft as well as bank systems having a hard time surviving in the current economy, is online banking really the most efficient and safe way to go?

Answer:

Banking systems are safe. There are rumors going around the internet that banks are unsafe and aren’t the place you should put your money, but you have to realize that the FDIC has your best interests at heart and unless you carry a balance of over $250,000 in one bank account at a time, you’re fine.

That being said, online banking is also safe as long as you double and triple check the website address before you enter your personal information in the site.

While I know this wasn’t an attempt to grab my bank account information, it was still an attempt to take some of my personal information: I was on MySpace.com and a friend had posted a bulletin about something that had a link in it. The link was to rnyspace.com…Notice the RN makes the “m” in myspace.com…This has to be watched carefully to make sure you aren’t being “phished” for information.

When you’re careful, online banking is safe and efficient.

How can Sprint and the Palm Pre compete with AT&T and the iPhone?

Question:

With Sprint coming out with the Palm Pre in just a month or two, what does it need to be able to do to directly compete with the iPhone?

Answer:

In my opinion the Palm Pre will be Palm’s saving grace. The Centro has enjoyed some very positive publicity for the company, who could really use some good publicity right now. Sprint also needs the phone to do well and is hyping it up to be the greatest phone to ever come to the carrier.

The phone itself needs to be able to do everything the iPhone can do and more. It HAS to be fluid in gestures, meaning no lagging between applications. It has to be reliable and be generally easy to use.

This phone is positioned to be the make or break phone for Palm. Hopefully, everything will go right for Palm and Sprint and this phone will be the huge success they are hoping for.

Why are gas prices so high when the price of oil is low?

Question:

Oil was trading around the $35-$45 a barrel mark for over a month (February – March). Why was the price of gas per gallon going up without a significant jump in oil prices?

Answer:

At the time gas was going up and oil was trading around the same price and sometimes lower, inventories were changing at refineries. Refineries were switching from winter to summer operations. This matters because the type of gasoline is different for the seasons no matter if you live in Colorado (where winter lasts until April) or Florida (where it’s summer all year).

Also, the price of oil we all see trading on the NYSE is West Texas sweet crude. It is typically the most expensive type of oil, but at the time it was trading lower than the usually cheaper Middle Eastern and other OPEC oils. This caused the price of gas to be higher than what it appeared it should have been.