Disqus - Latest Comments for Ron@TheWisdomJournal

Re: People Will Judge You Based on Your Name

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:41:20 -0000

I had a friend who would only put his first two initials and his last name on business cards. That way people were forced to call him "Mr. Fowler."

Re: Wedding Donations, Smart or Tacky?

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:34:26 -0000

Tacky...and that's from a guy's perspective.
The per person cost could be HUGE if the bride was a spendthrift.

Re: What’s Important to You in Healthcare Reform?

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:20:05 -0000

And chief amongst those lies is that the current legislation solves any real problems.

Re: Stealing Entertainment, Revisited

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:17:14 -0000

The sooner companies realize that we're entering a different economy, a "sharing" economy, the sooner they will develop a model to profit from it rather than trying to sue a homemaker for dollars she doesn't have (and never will).

Re: Study: iPhone Users Are Younger, Richer and More Productive

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:24:23 -0000

Staying connected to your employer's network doesn't mean you're more productive. It means you're anal.

Re: President Obama Proposes Executive Pay Legislation

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:35:54 -0000

Does anyone realize how many of these "czars" we've accumulated? Drug czar, education czar, pay czar. I've heard that we have about 20 different "czars" to oversee something or other. When does it end?

Land of the <strike>free</strike> CZARS

Re: Majority of Bankruptcies Due to Medical Bills

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:51:26 -0000

My 13 year old daughter was diagnosed with Crohn's disease last year and I personally spent over $10,000 in medical costs despite having what is considered very good medical coverage at work. She was in the hospital three separate times and our medical costs, paid by our insurer, totaled over $35,000. She is currently on a highly specialized treatment that costs $1,700 every eight weeks, but insurance covers 80 percent of it.

It's been a rough stretch, but she's finally doing better.

Re: Would You Buy a Car From Wal-Mart?

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:07:25 -0000

Sure. They're subject to the same market forces as other dealers (at least for now), so why not? Chances are very good the cars would be cheaper there than anywhere else. Besides, my father works there and it would help support HIS job as a truck driver.

About 40 years ago, the Federal government nationalized Amtrak. How's THAT going? They were "projected" to be profitable in 3 years, but here we are 38 years later and we've wasted $30 BILLION on them.

Today, we're in the process of nationalizing the automobile manufacturing industry. Don't kid yourself. That IS where it's headed. We have bureaucratic fat-cats with almost no business background and with zero experience in the auto industry calling the shots. Do you really think they won't be dictating everything about how a car is built? At least Wal-Mart knows how to generate profits for it's shareholders (which includes pension funds, mutual funds, and many retirement accounts).

So yeah, I'd buy from them. Long live free-enterprise.

Re: Airline Fees for Checking Bags

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Thu, 14 May 2009 22:52:01 -0000

I have started sending my bags ahead to my hotel via FedEx. Then I take a few items in a carry on and life is GOOD. I pack light anyway.

Re: Suze Orman Says Stop Paying Off Debt

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:15:09 -0000

When the economy turns around will she flip-flop again? Personal financial advice shouldn't be determined by consumer sentiment, fear, or what leads the news but by what makes sense for each individual situation.

Re: Am I Required to Report All Income to the IRS?

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:51:48 -0000

Things may have changed, but about 20 years ago my mother was awarded a mega-dollar lawsuit when a guy struck her from behind while she was sitting in her car at a traffic light. She broke her neck, had internal brain injuries and had to learn to walk again. Her lawsuit proceeds were not taxable at that time according to her attorney, her accountant, and the IRS.

For the record, the guy was a VP for the largest privately owned insurance company in the state ... and he was driving the company car. From the attorney's point of view, it didn't get any sweeter than that.

Re: How Obama’s 2009 Economic Stimulus Will Affect You

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:04:11 -0000

"Stimulus" is all about political payback. Just try and convince a Washington politician that these checks are foolish. Good luck. No amount of logic will work.

Re: I am Debt Free as of Today!

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:33:40 -0000

That is AWESOME! When I read the title I felt a sense of relief. I think I'll have everything paid off (sans mortgage) by late February. That will be $65,000 in three years ... paid off and GONE! I cannot wait!

Re: Rich People are More Likely to Cheat on Income Tax Returns

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:00:20 -0000

I wonder what will happen when the Feds increase taxes on all these rich people? That will increase compliance I'm sure ...

Re: Emotions and Money: When to Keep Them Separated

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:13:18 -0000

Thanks for the mention Flexo. My wife and I purchased a house one time based solely on emotion. This was the ONLY house for us and no other would do. Not only that, but we were under some severe time constraints. Biggest mistake of my life ... live and learn, right?

Re: 10 Tips for Buying a House in Any Market Condition

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:24:38 -0000

One thing I would add, and it's very difficult to do, but try to take emotion out of the buying process and especially the negotiation process. Emotions can cause you to pay too much and make a decision that you'll later regret.

Re: Thieves Smashed Into My Car and Stole $700 Worth of Stuff

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:21:31 -0000

Sorry to hear that, but it sounds like you have your emotions in check. Stuff is always replaceable.

Re: Apologies to Internet Explorer Users: SiteMeter Broke Consumerism Commentary

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 06:42:10 -0000

Yet one more reason I only use Firefox!

Re: The Four-Day Work Week: Is it a Good Idea?

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:33:41 -0000

I'd love to work a 4 day week, but as a district manager for a retail lumber and building materials company, I just can't pull it off. It would be sweet heaven though...

Re: Waste of Money: Excessive Oil Changes (Every 3,000 Miles?)

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:51:29 -0000

I follow the manufacturer's recommendations at 5,000 for my wife's 2005 Honda Odyssey. It has a OIL CHANGE light that is reset when we take it to the dealer and it shows what percentage of oil life remains (kinda like a countdown timer). The bummer is that only the dealer can reset the light, otherwise I would try it myself.

People who change their oil frequently say, "Of course the manufacturer wants you to change it at 5,000+...they hope to sell you a new car." They never think about the unneeded oil changes that are advised by oil change companies and mechanics! Their motives are as pure as the driven snow...

Re: Carnival of Personal Finance #157: Third Anniversary Edition

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:42:05 -0000

Great job Flexo! Thanks for including my article as one of your editor's choices! Looks like I have quite a lot of articles to read!

Re: Why Our New Year’s Resolutions Are Doomed Before We Even Begin - And What We Can Do About It

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:30:25 -0000

Love the idea of "dissoulutions." I've called these posteriorities rather than priorities because they need to be moved to the back of the line! Start each day with 5 things you won't do and 5 things you will!

Re: happy independence day!

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:12:05 -0000

For the record, the US isn't a democracy, we're a republic. If we were a democracy, we would have to vote on every single bill brought before Congress.

A democracy is two wolves and one sheep deciding what's for dinner...and no one votes "present" 130 times.

Re: linklings, jimmy buffett and being there edition

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:42:23 -0000

I like margaritas, therefore I like Jimmy Buffet. :)

Re: the myth of stable employment

Ron@TheWisdomJournal — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:24:02 -0000

Well said. Now can you please excoriate all those blog posts about how to "recession proof" your job?!!!

There are no stable jobs in the dictionary sense of the word and the sooner people realize it, the sooner we can move on. A stable job? Hah -- you're just one big screw up from having to find another job. You're just one political move by your boss from having to find another job. You're just one merger from having to find another job. You're just one called loan from losing your job as an entrepreneur.

Several years ago, I worked for my state's largest privately held company in my industry. We were a powerhouse and as the head buyer, I had a fabulous job. Authority to match my responsibility. Fun. Challenging. Fast paced. Financially rewarding -- very rewarding. Wined and dined by every rep in the region. Free season tickets to the box behind home plate for the MLB team down the road. Tickets to attend the PGA Tour Championship At East Lake in Atlanta with two nights with my wife in the Ritz Carlton. Limos, dinners at the posh restaurants, you name it. It was great.

Then - we were shut down in one week when the bank's auditor discovered that the owner was extending credit to less than credit worthy customers. The owner was an entrepreneur, his penchant was the "sale." The details would get worked out later, and I had to tell 142 people that we no longer had a job.

Stable job? Yeah, right.

I landed on my feet though and started my own company. Later I sold my shares to my partners and went to work for a corporate behemoth again. Don't ask why. I have no idea. But I AM building income streams like you said.