I’ve been a collector for over 50 years. I’ve had a wide variety of collections, and love the thrill of the hunt. I don’t spend as much time buying anymore. I’m selling. I have friends who do their own sort of collecting, except they do that at thrift stores. They love thrifting, but when the…
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We’re all worried about our bank balance right now. The economy is causing many people significant turmoil. And no matter whether the president agrees or not, affordability is a key issue for most families. Experts, economists, and stock market analysts use indicators to determine how things are going. Of course, they all look to the…
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The economy is putting a lot of strain on many people. And the current state of politics plays into that. But many businesses are still trying to recover from pandemic-related losses. Some companies try to push the extremes to increase profits. Others do it as a form of survival. But these businesses often push things…
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Have you ever heard of the lipstick index? It’s a term economists use to gauge whether we’re on the way to a recession. They base it on the idea that people buy certain items in advance, in bulk, when the economy starts to go south. For women, things like lipstick, eye shadow, and most makeup…
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Right now, there’s a lot of discussion about the economy. People are arguing about how we’re doing. Is there a recession or just a lull? Several indicators suggest when people are starting to tighten their belts. One indicator that may surprise you is the sales of Hamburger Helper. If you’re of a certain age, you…
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If you’ve scrolled through social media this week, you’ve probably seen an announcement from a group called People’s Union. They’re calling for an economic blackout from Midnight to Midnight tomorrow. Their goal is for everyone to boycott fast food, gas stations, and big box retailers for 24 hours. The goal is to show everyone that…
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Recently, bank failures have been in the news. Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse shut their doors when they couldn’t cover some transactions. Most of us don’t understand the nuances of the banking industry, so our first response is to panic. A couple of days ago, Chase Bank had some problems with their website, so…
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Recently I’ve received numerous emails telling me they’ve selected me to receive a new credit card. I’m not sure why I’m the sudden target. Is it because of my new job? Perhaps it’s due to the unsure economy. The best part about these emails is for me to receive this card, I still need to…
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I’ve loved graffiti since I first saw it in New York City. For decades, you’d see subway cars covered in paint. But, in the late 80s, the city did its best to make it go away. Recently graffiti has been showing up again on subway cars. And some say the reason it seems to be…
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Have you seen the sudden spike in prices this week at the gas station? I filled up last weekend, and prices have already jumped nearly 40 cents this week. And it seems everyone thinks they know the reason for these increases. Of course, I have a theory, too…
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