As a society, we've been living large for so long, we truly have no clue as to the absolutely difference between need and greed. I see that everywhere in our society, myself included. Convenience stores are becoming larger than grocery stores and the truth of the matter is, the majority of Americans do not put their money where their mouth is, they put their money where the convenience is.
I'm sick to death of hearing the demand for job creation when I see most of the citizenry standing around waiting for it to happen! Life will pass by those who are waiting for someone else to make it happen! Start a business . . . Hire an unemployed friend . . . Time to use our talents to carve out our own niche.
As for pro-life folks. Why buy products from a country that mandates abortion for the second baby girl in a family? While that nation is having the unwanted girls make cheap products to export, the nation is building quite a powerful army.
We may say we believe in something, but the truth is, our lifestyle says otherwise. We like lots and lots of stuff at our convenience. Some of our supposed "need" is actually just laziness. We have become such a society of relaxers that need to be entertained, most wouldn't know what to do if faced with an actual day's labor that needed to produce tangible results and accomplish a finished product.
We've become a nation that chooses to not see the bigger picture or the next step, but expects someone else to have the next comfortable convenience available when we get there and want more! We talk big about what we can do without, but most folks that are talking that way, have had it and didn't decide to do without, they lost it. Our nation has been operating on borrowed money and a pawn mentality for so long, we have the audacity to justify it and expect more perks or more understanding.
We cannot sort out each other's priorities. If we actually focused on what we could do to make things better, and tossed a few things that are truly unnecessary, we might discover we could actually offer more in the way of contribution, rather than criticism.
These articles this week, have really spurred my soul searching. Just because I'm not at the local mall or Super Center doesn't mean all my priorities are in order. I may not stop at the convenience store for coffee and cigarettes, but is there something I could be doing or someone I could actually be helping with that money I'm not spending? I've had a few of those moments of clarity and revelation of opportunity!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
The One Percent
I'm usually in disagreement with the 98% because the truth of the matter is, money seems to matter too much to them, and it comes across just, envious. I'm tired of the rich vs. poor debates that call upon the extremes to make their point. If someone has extra stop griping about sharing. If someone is truly in need, don't flaunt poor spending habits. Easy enough!
Now, I want to talk a moment about some research I've done from a spiritual perspective of this 100% money based argument. First, the 98% was fairly satisfied when it was divided. When the majority of the 98% viewed themselves to be Middle Class, the impoverished 20% was not as big an issue. Now I know, the real power in this is the newly formed majority, but really, the extravagantly rich folk have always been in an unreachable class of their own. Actually, I now know some 1% that weren't there 35 years ago, so not everyone has been "pushed down."
For those of us who have chosen to pursue hobbies and preferred the enjoyment of the moment, rather than savings and investment, we can't begrudge the others now . . . Besides, when it comes to the One Percent, it seems for so many of them, that's truly all they have, and they can't figure out a way to take it with them.
I've listened to more than one discussion on the "Living Trusts" and I just feel so sorry for the people who feel they have to pay someone to maintain those. That in itself is a sizable expense, but I've noticed three common traits in these people who have invested in "Living Trusts." They have all been executors of someone's Will before. So, either they felt that was a horrendous burden to bear for someone who obviously trust them, or they didn't handle that responsibility with such integrity and they don't want that to happen to them. The second thing I've noticed and this is truly sad. These folks with Living Trusts didn't raise children they can trust. Speaks volumes . . . Last, but certainly not least, I read that the Living Trust is the only way to control disbursement after death.
Until The One Percent figures out a way to take it with them, at least they can make sure they will have the final say long after the funeral. I'm not so sure that's how I'd want to be remembered . . .
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. from Ecclesiastes
Now, I want to talk a moment about some research I've done from a spiritual perspective of this 100% money based argument. First, the 98% was fairly satisfied when it was divided. When the majority of the 98% viewed themselves to be Middle Class, the impoverished 20% was not as big an issue. Now I know, the real power in this is the newly formed majority, but really, the extravagantly rich folk have always been in an unreachable class of their own. Actually, I now know some 1% that weren't there 35 years ago, so not everyone has been "pushed down."
For those of us who have chosen to pursue hobbies and preferred the enjoyment of the moment, rather than savings and investment, we can't begrudge the others now . . . Besides, when it comes to the One Percent, it seems for so many of them, that's truly all they have, and they can't figure out a way to take it with them.
I've listened to more than one discussion on the "Living Trusts" and I just feel so sorry for the people who feel they have to pay someone to maintain those. That in itself is a sizable expense, but I've noticed three common traits in these people who have invested in "Living Trusts." They have all been executors of someone's Will before. So, either they felt that was a horrendous burden to bear for someone who obviously trust them, or they didn't handle that responsibility with such integrity and they don't want that to happen to them. The second thing I've noticed and this is truly sad. These folks with Living Trusts didn't raise children they can trust. Speaks volumes . . . Last, but certainly not least, I read that the Living Trust is the only way to control disbursement after death.
Until The One Percent figures out a way to take it with them, at least they can make sure they will have the final say long after the funeral. I'm not so sure that's how I'd want to be remembered . . .
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. from Ecclesiastes
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Wall Street is Still Going
I have truly determined, the one way to deal with the excessive wealth of the One Percent, is to quit looking for a common ground or fair shake from them. I am saddened by the envious hope of the 98%. Sharing the wealth simply isn't going to happen. It isn't just on Wall Street or Washington, although they will definitely continue to help each other feather their nests, the problem is really much closer to home. It doesn't matter how much or how little one acquires and amasses, they want to invest in their own best interests and in those who share them.
We've all realized just how much, money really does control others and the world around us, so like it or not, rich or poor, the ones with the most money make the rules.
The hatred for probate laws has caused a public transition from Wills to Trusts. I remember in the funeral industry, trying to keep up with probate laws and enjoyed some interesting continuing education, but that's been 20 years ago, now, and folks still haven't figured out how to take it with them, so controlling the purse strings from the nursing home and beyond the grave is the best they can do. As the older middle generation in a six generation family, I've learned quite a bit by listening.
I've listened to the expenses of the oldest generation as she lives out her final years in a nursing home, private room, no less. It's funny how everyone refers to "her money to spend how she wants to." Well, it is her money now, but for the most part it was other people who left her theirs, not to mention the younger generations are paying pretty hefty tax withholding for her health care and some of the other residents' accommodations. Then there's the attorney who keeps track of this. See how the big money just keeps changing hands at the top?
My other grandma, now deceased, made different decisions. When my Grandpa died, she made her kids co-owners of her assets. She raised kids who she obviously trusted, and when her numbered days ended, the "stuff" was efficiently and fairly dealt with, without great expense or payment to attorneys of the One Percent.
I am aware of three situations in which big money goes out annually to the Administrator of Trusts, because apparently these people didn't raise children they can trust. I was shocked when I discovered the annual fee people pay to have these trusts maintained. Of course, these people are not poor, but it's clearly another example of the big money staying in the upper tier of our economic strata.
For everyone in the 98%, I invite you to the Other 1 Percent, because The One Percent is going to just keep passing their money around to each other!
We've all realized just how much, money really does control others and the world around us, so like it or not, rich or poor, the ones with the most money make the rules.
The hatred for probate laws has caused a public transition from Wills to Trusts. I remember in the funeral industry, trying to keep up with probate laws and enjoyed some interesting continuing education, but that's been 20 years ago, now, and folks still haven't figured out how to take it with them, so controlling the purse strings from the nursing home and beyond the grave is the best they can do. As the older middle generation in a six generation family, I've learned quite a bit by listening.
I've listened to the expenses of the oldest generation as she lives out her final years in a nursing home, private room, no less. It's funny how everyone refers to "her money to spend how she wants to." Well, it is her money now, but for the most part it was other people who left her theirs, not to mention the younger generations are paying pretty hefty tax withholding for her health care and some of the other residents' accommodations. Then there's the attorney who keeps track of this. See how the big money just keeps changing hands at the top?
My other grandma, now deceased, made different decisions. When my Grandpa died, she made her kids co-owners of her assets. She raised kids who she obviously trusted, and when her numbered days ended, the "stuff" was efficiently and fairly dealt with, without great expense or payment to attorneys of the One Percent.
I am aware of three situations in which big money goes out annually to the Administrator of Trusts, because apparently these people didn't raise children they can trust. I was shocked when I discovered the annual fee people pay to have these trusts maintained. Of course, these people are not poor, but it's clearly another example of the big money staying in the upper tier of our economic strata.
For everyone in the 98%, I invite you to the Other 1 Percent, because The One Percent is going to just keep passing their money around to each other!
Monday, October 7, 2013
Time Value of an Entrepreneur
I truly believe a great percentage of the 98% have amazing talents that have been relegated to the back burner in an effort to make money. We've been programmed that a task of value must be weighed in currency.
So I sat down to figure just what each hour nets in our every day life. There are 168 hours in a week..How does that divide out for the average wage earner? I have discovered so many things, in doing what I was created to do. First, work doesn't feel like work at all, so I enjoy what I do and I am certainly not watching the clock waiting to time out, although I do keep an eye on the sun, as it relates to chore time. I've gotten so engrossed in writing or had in figuring one more step or ingredient into the formula of a product that the sun was sinking pretty low, when I came to my senses . . .
Say a person makes $100.00 an hour, because I do know an individual who claims such an income, but it is by appointment and if there is no appointment, they are simply standing there by the phone making ZERO. There are those who make $30-40 dollars an hour and many who make sizeable commissions, but regardless, there is still time in a week that they are not on the clock or time spent, leading up to that commission. Now, I realize there are doctors and lawyers who do bill exorbitant amounts for their time, and to be real, I'm not including them in this article. Their vast income appears, to me, to be established by their higher education to take advantage of frightened, desperate people. Let's get back to the say $30.00 an hour pay check, which I think is probably still well above the average.
Thirty dollars an hour for 40 hours is $1200.00 a week. In figuring, and this is only an approximate figure, the individual's take home after taxes would be just under $800.00. Our tax system consumes at least 1/3 of most earnings in withholding. Now to divide $800.00 by the hours in a week, it takes it down a bit more. Say you take an hour getting ready for work each morning and driving 30 minutes to and from work, plus you are actually at the work site for 9 1/2 hours to cover a lunch hour and breaks. That ups the time invested in the job to 57.5 hours a week which drops the take home pay to less than $14.00 an hour.
Then there is also the cost of driving to work that is not tax deductible and the time spent trying to wind down. Without counting sleeping hours, there are still a number of hours in the evening that are simply "spent" without thought of income or value. To translate all that to a person who is self employed or an entrepreneur. It is up to the individual, as to how many hours count toward their business . . . usually every waking hour. Taxes are a different matter also, in that income tax is actually paid monthly or quarterly based upon revenue. The taxes are based upon what is actually owed, not withheld to be used for a year and refunded the following year.
When a person works for themselves, they are actually investing time into their income. When a person is on someone's time clock, forty hours of their 57.5 hours is merely compensated. Frequently a self-employed person spends their "free time" in research and development, rather than entertainment. Entrepreneurs have the distinct advantage of never feeling the need to "wind down!"
So I sat down to figure just what each hour nets in our every day life. There are 168 hours in a week..How does that divide out for the average wage earner? I have discovered so many things, in doing what I was created to do. First, work doesn't feel like work at all, so I enjoy what I do and I am certainly not watching the clock waiting to time out, although I do keep an eye on the sun, as it relates to chore time. I've gotten so engrossed in writing or had in figuring one more step or ingredient into the formula of a product that the sun was sinking pretty low, when I came to my senses . . .
Say a person makes $100.00 an hour, because I do know an individual who claims such an income, but it is by appointment and if there is no appointment, they are simply standing there by the phone making ZERO. There are those who make $30-40 dollars an hour and many who make sizeable commissions, but regardless, there is still time in a week that they are not on the clock or time spent, leading up to that commission. Now, I realize there are doctors and lawyers who do bill exorbitant amounts for their time, and to be real, I'm not including them in this article. Their vast income appears, to me, to be established by their higher education to take advantage of frightened, desperate people. Let's get back to the say $30.00 an hour pay check, which I think is probably still well above the average.
Thirty dollars an hour for 40 hours is $1200.00 a week. In figuring, and this is only an approximate figure, the individual's take home after taxes would be just under $800.00. Our tax system consumes at least 1/3 of most earnings in withholding. Now to divide $800.00 by the hours in a week, it takes it down a bit more. Say you take an hour getting ready for work each morning and driving 30 minutes to and from work, plus you are actually at the work site for 9 1/2 hours to cover a lunch hour and breaks. That ups the time invested in the job to 57.5 hours a week which drops the take home pay to less than $14.00 an hour.
Then there is also the cost of driving to work that is not tax deductible and the time spent trying to wind down. Without counting sleeping hours, there are still a number of hours in the evening that are simply "spent" without thought of income or value. To translate all that to a person who is self employed or an entrepreneur. It is up to the individual, as to how many hours count toward their business . . . usually every waking hour. Taxes are a different matter also, in that income tax is actually paid monthly or quarterly based upon revenue. The taxes are based upon what is actually owed, not withheld to be used for a year and refunded the following year.
When a person works for themselves, they are actually investing time into their income. When a person is on someone's time clock, forty hours of their 57.5 hours is merely compensated. Frequently a self-employed person spends their "free time" in research and development, rather than entertainment. Entrepreneurs have the distinct advantage of never feeling the need to "wind down!"
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