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Post by macrockett on Feb 23, 2010 16:10:22 GMT -6
Arch, do you have the bait and switch clip from the feb 08 meeting? That is my personal favorite. I give it five stars! |
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Post by macrockett on Feb 23, 2010 16:18:00 GMT -6
Arch, for the financially prudent the increase in interest rates are are of no concern. No one should have a credit card balance... EVER.... while in theory I would get this- remember even before credit cards there were 'lines of credit @ stores, car payments etc... however there also was one other thing, people went to work every day, and as long as you did a good job, you had a job. ( and a pension) Obama is finally starting to get it -- my nessage to him all along while he pushed healthcare because he could be history making was'' " it's about jobs stupid" back in the day people's job weren't shipped off to Brazil/ SE Asia/ India so that people making pennies on the dollar could do them- corporations make even more money for their executives, and the government either turns their back on it, or in some cases actually makies it worth while for the corp's to do so. I can't tell you how many 50 something people I know who are unemployed ( or at best underemployed) because of their age...insurance expensive for them so they are unhirable- regardless of their education or skill set. So for many people life has gone on, and kids still need clothes, and the house still needs to be heated and credit cards are the answer. Not everyone with a credit card balance lives in a McMansion and has 3 BMW's they can't afford in the garage. It has become fashionable to portray the lot as such, it is simply not true. Agree Doc. If you are in the private sector in America today, you are on your own. |
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Post by sashimi on Feb 23, 2010 18:07:16 GMT -6
Not that this is a surprise to any of us, but D204 looks like a bunch of bumbling idiots once again.
I still have a couple of years until my first child goes to high school. Looks like they will be using the Route 59th street bridge after all.
The reality is that we will have spent 150M plus of our money to close WVHS (still waiting for an accounting, so your guess of the overage is as good as mine). Even worse, the district negligently (or worse) forced through MVHS and the unnecessary expidition costs knowing full well that the student population numbers were 8800 (2000 students less than the sky is falling projects that they used to justify the new high school).
What a bunch of mother$^%&^*'s!! I hope the State does not give the District another dime and that the District addresses the fact that it does not need to operate three high schools to accomodate the DECLINING student population.
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Post by Arch on Feb 23, 2010 18:10:36 GMT -6
Would have been nice not to see a District 204 Bond and Interest portion on your tax statements, wouldn't it? In 2014, it will be like that 'interest only'-like loan you've been paying for the past couple of years will all of a sudden bump like a hockey stick.
I hope everyone saved for a rainy one or has an exit strategy.
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Post by casey on Feb 23, 2010 18:58:11 GMT -6
Looks like they will be using the Route 59th street after all. Oh, don't worry sashimi. There's a certain administrator at the district office who lives west of 59 and south of 103rd. I'd expect to see some kind of special exception made. There will be gerrymandering (or Michael-andering  ) taking place to keep certain neighborhoods at Neuqua. |
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Post by lacy on Feb 23, 2010 20:16:57 GMT -6
Not that this is a surprise to any of us, but D204 looks like a bunch of bumbling idiots once again. I still have a couple of years until my first child goes to high school. Looks like they will be using the Route 59th street bridge after all. The reality is that we will have spent 150M plus of our money to close WVHS (still waiting for an accounting, so your guess of the overage is as good as mine). Even worse, the district negligently (or worse) forced through MVHS and the unnecessary expidition costs knowing full well that the student population numbers were 8800 (2000 students less than the sky is falling projects that they used to justify the new high school). What a bunch of mother$^%&^*'s!! I hope the State does not give the District another dime and that the District addresses the fact that it does not need to operate three high schools to accomodate the DECLINING student population. I think when we all contact Springfield and our state representatives as directed, we should remind them of all the waste in the district. |
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Post by doctorwho on Feb 23, 2010 20:27:00 GMT -6
Not that this is a surprise to any of us, but D204 looks like a bunch of bumbling idiots once again. I still have a couple of years until my first child goes to high school. Looks like they will be using the Route 59th street bridge after all. The reality is that we will have spent 150M plus of our money to close WVHS (still waiting for an accounting, so your guess of the overage is as good as mine). Even worse, the district negligently (or worse) forced through MVHS and the unnecessary expidition costs knowing full well that the student population numbers were 8800 (2000 students less than the sky is falling projects that they used to justify the new high school). What a bunch of mother$^%&^*'s!! I hope the State does not give the District another dime and that the District addresses the fact that it does not need to operate three high schools to accomodate the DECLINING student population. I think when we all contact Springfield and our state representatives as directed, we should remind them of all the waste in the district. done here... and to more than one rep |
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Post by doctorwho on Feb 23, 2010 20:37:39 GMT -6
Would have been nice not to see a District 204 Bond and Interest portion on your tax statements, wouldn't it? In 2014, it will be like that 'interest only'-like loan you've been paying for the past couple of years will all of a sudden bump like a hockey stick. I hope everyone saved for a rainy one or has an exit strategy.  |
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Post by southsidesignmaker on Feb 23, 2010 20:44:01 GMT -6
Arch in reference to your comment "Tell that to the struggling families in 204 who also have been suffering from lack of employment or pay cuts. . .
Then again, I'm not sure if you meant that sarcastically or not since our own district is how many million short and that's projected to keep on growing...? Ironic, eh? And each taxing body is thinking: taxes, taxes and more taxes to fix the problem... "
_____________________________________________________________________________
I can only say that what many folks are going through with this economic crisis... our family went through in the 2001-2002 crisis. At the end of 2002 we looked at our financial situation and noted that with a ever higher ballooning second mortgage we would be in a difficult situation within 18 months.
The decision was made to refinance once and only once, our first mortgage. This meant that we were exchanging short term debt into a 15 year mortgage, not a situation I relished.
Then all family members (excluding the youngest) went to work. This was needed as my company went into survival mode. This stopped the bleeding on a month to month basis. A line of credit was never renewed... As we would live within our means at all costs.
We use credit wisely and pay our short term credit off every month avoiding thousands of dollars in interest and fee costs. When it was time for our children to start college the "marching orders " were clear. The student is responsible for the freshman year expenses... All the Expenses. I was in no mood to hear how hard school was... drop a class it is not on my dime.
I struggle as a small business owner to understand a 40 to 50 something person exclaim how hard it is in the working world. Of course it is hard... it is always hard to keep up with the younger worker... What happen to the idea of gaining wisdom as we age. The good lord gives us the gift of wisdom to go along with the graying hair and increased size prostrates.
As I sell to new accounts I am starting to dread listening to middle age men bit h about this or that. The world is not ending, our infrastructure is still standing. We are experiencing a large structural change that has been needed for decades.
When I hear neighbors openly complain about how they are going to get their children through college, I wonder if paying 80 to a 100 grand is some new revelation. Guess what college costs have been high for decades. The time for saving was not when the kid turned 17, rather when he was a baby.
Folks will do more research on the family truckster and conveniently forget about basic financial planning.
Simple ways to save cash:
Burn all but (1) credit card.
Purchase a used 2-3 year old program car. Shop your loan rates if you can not pay in cash. (note your loan should never be more than 48 months).
Take a 15 year mortgage (can't afford a 15 year mortgage... Guess what ..you can't afford the house)
Smoke... Not any more ... QUIT.... Savings short term 2,000/ year, take this savings and invest in a Roth IRA (do it now before the increase in federal taxes).
Others can fill in cash savings ideas.
And yes Arch I have saved for a rainy day ( in my world every 4-5 years brings a hurricane) and indeed also have an exit strategy. My exit strategy has more to do with downsizing right here in my town as I like it here.
Please note, I do not want to sound uncaring, I am very sympathetic to those that have experienced rough times through no fault of their own. I struggle rather with those that fail to plan and then blame others or the unforeseen for their "lot in life".
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Post by doctorwho on Feb 23, 2010 20:52:58 GMT -6
Arch, do you have the bait and switch clip from the feb 08 meeting? That is my personal favorite. I give it five stars! I only have one mystery left - why is orange not a school color @ MVHS- it would be only fitting when they put the JC statue out in front |
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Post by doctorwho on Feb 23, 2010 21:04:34 GMT -6
Arch in reference to your comment "Tell that to the struggling families in 204 who also have been suffering from lack of employment or pay cuts. . . Then again, I'm not sure if you meant that sarcastically or not since our own district is how many million short and that's projected to keep on growing...? Ironic, eh? And each taxing body is thinking: taxes, taxes and more taxes to fix the problem... " _____________________________________________________________________________ I can only say that what many folks are going through with this economic crisis... our family went through in the 2001-2002 crisis. At the end of 2002 we looked at our financial situation and noted that with a ever higher ballooning second mortgage we would be in a difficult situation within 18 months. The decision was made to refinance once and only once, our first mortgage. This meant that we were exchanging short term debt into a 15 year mortgage, not a situation I relished. Then all family members (excluding the youngest) went to work. This was needed as my company went into survival mode. This stopped the bleeding on a month to month basis. A line of credit was never renewed... As we would live within our means at all costs. We use credit wisely and pay our short term credit off every month avoiding thousands of dollars in interest and fee costs. When it was time for our children to start college the "marching orders " were clear. The student is responsible for the freshman year expenses... All the Expenses. I was in no mood to hear how hard school was... drop a class it is not on my dime. I struggle as a small business owner to understand a 40 to 50 something person exclaim how hard it is in the working world. Of course it is hard... it is always hard to keep up with the younger worker... What happen to the idea of gaining wisdom as we age. The good lord gives us the gift of wisdom to go along with the graying hair and increased size prostrates. As I sell to new accounts I am starting to dread listening to middle age men bit h about this or that. The world is not ending, our infrastructure is still standing. We are experiencing a large structural change that has been needed for decades. When I hear neighbors openly complain about how they are going to get their children through college, I wonder if paying 80 to a 100 grand is some new revelation. Guess what college costs have been high for decades. The time for saving was not when the kid turned 17, rather when he was a baby. Folks will do more research on the family truckster and conveniently forget about basic financial planning. Simple ways to save cash: Burn all but (1) credit card. Purchase a used 2-3 year old program car. Shop your loan rates if you can not pay in cash. (note your loan should never be more than 48 months). Take a 15 year mortgage (can't afford a 15 year mortgage... Guess what ..you can't afford the house) Smoke... Not any more ... QUIT.... Savings short term 2,000/ year, take this savings and invest in a Roth IRA (do it now before the increase in federal taxes). Others can fill in cash savings ideas. And yes Arch I have saved for a rainy day ( in my world every 4-5 years brings a hurricane) and indeed also have an exit strategy. My exit strategy has more to do with downsizing right here in my town as I like it here. Please note, I do not want to sound uncaring, I am very sympathetic to those that have experienced rough times through no fault of their own. I struggle rather with those that fail to plan and then blame others or the unforeseen for their "lot in life". what you accomplished is admirable and I sincerely applaud you for it....but as you saynot everyone can make it happen. try being an out of work 50 something with health issues. Your chances of employment are virtually zero---I can tell you the job market past 50- even with multiple degrees and keeping current in school etc. is almost non existent. And really the most complaining I hear is from 20 somethings in the workforce who think that overtime is something from a basket ball game...being on time to work an option... I am 50 something as are many of my peers within my corp who are at my level. I regularly take calls at 4 AM and 5 AM-- then again at 8 PM the same day because I have people from Singapore to Bratislava to Dublin to Brazil...so I have to be available all the time. I rarely if ever complain, and most of my peers do not either, because we know we're fortunate to have a job. How do we know- our company tells us every time another year passes without an increase. Pension- nope, went away 10+ years ago..so I know I have to work for a long long time and am reconciled to that fact. I will say that what you accomplished should be something taught to every young person starting in the workforce.. The one difference is I would like to provide the college education for my kids - with their help if they get scholarships. One down, 1 to go - and with the competiton so fierce for college, especially for one who wants a 'pre professional' major as my youngest does is brutal, and working full time while going to college as I did for most of it doesn't make you stronger - it burns the hell out of you- even at 21. I remember working 50+ hour weeks and going to school. Doesn't make me right, but it is my opinion |
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Post by Arch on Feb 23, 2010 21:34:03 GMT -6
Let me just add that even in 2002, people could refinance without much trouble (remember, places were all too happy to still have someone sign on the dotted line, and even roll one's credit card into their house payment; getting a tax deduction in the process from the mortgage interest). Not so in today's time.
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Post by southsidesignmaker on Feb 23, 2010 21:57:17 GMT -6
Arch, I would wholeheartedly agree that in 2002 getting a mortgage was much easier than today.
Arch I have had realtors, lawyers, & financial advisors all tell me how how conservative I am financially. Many hawking the credit card conversions you speak of. My point is simply ...we are all responsible for our own actions, living within one's mean's (no matter how meager), can be a refreshing way to go. This can be especially true when the ever present hurricanes roll in. The real joy is when you have a son or daughter tell you that they understand why we live the way we do, and then follow through and live within their own means .
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Post by Arch on Feb 23, 2010 22:01:09 GMT -6
Arch, I would wholeheartedly agree that in 2002 getting a mortgage was much easier than today. Arch I have had realtors, lawyers, & financial advisors all tell me how how conservative I am financially. Many hawking the credit card conversions you speak of. My point is simply ...we are all responsible for our own actions, living within one's mean's (no matter how meager), can be a refreshing way to go. This can be especially true when the ever present hurricanes roll in. The real joy is when you have a son or daughter tell you that they understand why we live the way we do, and then follow through and live within their own means . I'm just setting it out there that it's not everyone's boat out there in the district and there are many many many more people out there in situations where they are stuck and the screw job of playing musical chairs and not having a seat when the music stops is going to get far far far worse before it gets better. The avenues available 8 years ago to get out of the situation are gone. |
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Post by southsidesignmaker on Feb 23, 2010 22:24:42 GMT -6
DW,
I do agree that there are many that are over 50 and finding it very difficult to find employment in their chosen fields. This is why a plan of action needs to be taken by "up and coming professionals" when they are in their thirties. The assumption must be that they have max. 20 good income producing years in their chosen fields. If they have the opportunity to get 25 or 30 years that should be considered a bonus.
If this plan of action went into affect early in one's career silly things like imported fancy cars and "granite counter top" big homes would take a back seat to keogh pension plans, college accounts, Roth IRA's and the like. No one would be foolish enough to do silly things like take out 30 year mortgages, lease cars, and taking out second mortgages
Instead all these folks would steadily keep their "eye on the ball' full well knowing that the best earning years would be in their forties. The real beauty of this plan is the children of the new "conservative minded" parents would immediately pick up on this value mindedness and mimic the same behavior.
Fast forward to NOW... The twenty somethings of today take witness to a bunch of rather portly middle age folks who park their rather portly rear ends in their rather portly supersized SUVs. Driving their rather portly "gas hogging" steroid driven vehicles to the Walmart to $ave the reported $3000+/per year, purchasing cheap goods made in other countries, while their neighbor sits idle, collecting unemployment benefits because his job at Tellabs just got shipped off to India. The rather portly parent goes to Wallmart to pick some good quality food along with the $5.00 prescription generic drugs to treat his Diabetis, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
When dad arrives home his twenty something son asks if he wants to play a little ball or take the dog for a walk. The dad replies he would like to but just doesn't have the energy. The dad then turns to his wife and exclaims the saving at the wallmart and informs her of the cheaper gas prices and that it only took $75.00 to fuel up the super tanker..
Now let me ask you, when the twenty something son takes a good look at the "old man", do you think he say's, Gee I can't wait to sign up for that program, when do I get to join AARP!
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