Merry Christmas: Sunday Morning Thoughts 25 December 2011

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This is the last Sunday Morning Thoughts for this year. 

As we all have finished the shopping for presents and the rushing in preparation for the holidays, one would ask, did you remember the reason, what are you doing this for??

Do you remember why you rush around buying presents, preparing a feast, saying the words “Merry Christmas”, with a big smile and joy in your heart?

Many lose sight of this being the world celebrated birthday of the Christ Child.  Seriously, have you ever said or thought “Happy Birthday Christ, and thank you” (that’s between you and God) but give a moment in prayer/pause to the reason we say and celebrate Christmas.

Just think if it were your birthday and people gathered eating food, playing games, and ignoring you, would you have an issue.  This post is not to make anyone feel guilty or bad about enjoying Christmas, it is a time to celebrate and be celebrated. 

So to all of our readers whether Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Creationist, Pagan, Atheist, etc may you all be blessed. 

Merry Christmas to You.

Welcome to 2011: Sunday Morning Thoughts 2 January 2011

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With the New Year underway we are all looking more hopeful towards the immediate future.  This past holiday season showed signs of the return of consumer confidence.

All signs indicate we are still slowly emerging from our deep recession.  It is a slow process, but nonetheless we are emerging.  Consumerism from the holiday numbers looks like it is making a comeback, with a usage of cash instead of plastic.

Although the DOW almost made it to 12,000, it is now going into another cycle.

As for the housing market, even with the recent interest rate hike, will remain a flat line, then a sudden down turn and on to leveling out and slowly appreciating.  In the coming weeks you will hear and read more from many analyst about the impending double dip in the housing market.  Actually a good thing for investors; there’s always a silver/platinum lining to all clouds, buying now for homes, office space, and apartments deserves more than a light consideration.

Leveraging your money as a private lender can earn a nice return without the headaches of ownership, so if you don’t feel like owning an income property then make an income with being a private lender.

Retrospectively Looking Forward: Sunday Morning Thoughts 26 December 2010

The end of the year makes you think of what happened to time?  Didn’t we just do a New Year?  Almost 365 days have gone by and a lot has happened in this year which affects many of us.

We have witnessed healthcare, banking and Wall St Reform to lenders re-assessing foreclosure paperwork.  We have seen the real estate market go from a dive bomber decline to a flat line.

As far as investing goes, well the stock market has been surprising for some, investors have been realizing returns, and consumers are returning to consumerism.  All things look like we are returning to normal, but things are a little different.  Investors are not using all the traditional models of investing and consumers are not using the plastic money as much as they use to, paper takes precedence.

Interest rates are at an all time low.  Making it affordable to pick up housing deals but lenders have been so tight with credit that even a 750 credit score may not get a mortgage with favorable rates.

This has been the year of restructuring, rethinking, and basically a redo. Wow in school they always warned, that in life there aren’t any do-over’s, well, in some cases, yes.

We are living through a recession depression, not equal to the Great Depression, but still we are affected.  Unemployment, but a new job outlook is on the horizon; Employers are starting to hire again and set to do so even more in the coming New Year.

All in all, the New Year of 2011 shows promise, an increase in prosperity, and challenge.

Thanksgiving Tidings

The holidays are now in full swing while we are in a recession. But a recession should not stop people from gathering with friends and family. Thanksgiving originally started when our first American settlers were ill-prepared for the harsh New England winter.

If you are an American or someone who likes to study American history, then you already know the story about the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. Quick recap, the Native Americans stored food after the harvest knowing that the late fall would be a time of less food and resources. This meant you would have to kill animals and harvest crops before the harsh weather began. Killing animals for the meat and pelts, and harvesting and storing for a time when the crops would not produce.

The Pilgrims, not knowing the weather would be as harsh as it was found themselves on the verge of a catastrophe, no food or pelts. The Native Americans were very benevolent and shared with the Pilgrims. Fast forward to today we celebrate this same sharing spirit. But we need to remember in a time of recession there are others less fortunate. Others having issues with employment, finances, and many other things we take for granted such as food and shelter.

So remember the things that you are thankful for, such family and friends and help others that are struggling to get by.

Happy Thanksgiving.

For a story of Thanksgiving http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Thoughts of Labor Day: Sunday Morning Thoughts 05 September 2010

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This holiday we will all be celebrating has been in American history since 1882, but became a federal holiday in 1894.  It was granted as a federal holiday to help mend the outcome of the Pullman Strike.

The original intentions were to show camaraderie among trade and labor organizations with a parade then a festival for the workers and their families.

Today Labor Day means, we have the day off (for most people), watch T.V. – normally a game, baseball, football, basketball, NASCAR, and have BBQ with family and friends.

This is a big change from what it originally started.  Have labor organizations achieved everything in employment so there is not a need to remember the significance of the start of this holiday?

Far from the truth.

U. S. unemployment is at 9.6% according to the August 2010 stats.  It’s the common man who is suffering from the foreclosure crisis.  Our current economy is broken and will need more fixing as time continues.

But one thing history teaches us is that time will change and all things will improve.

Consumerism will make a huge comeback with the loosening of credit, and the economy, with all the hiccups, will find its way back as well.

Being on the right side of the recovery, doing the right type of investing is the difference between shoulda, woulda, coulda and profit.  Jack Rabbit investing does not make a profit, but can cause a lot of loss.

The stock market now shows signs of the beginning of a ‘heat up’, but as with history, dip thongs in the market are going to continue for a while.