Future Sight

A Macro view on the economy, markets, investing and business.

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Entries from November 27th, 2007

Credit Cards and The Growing Consumer Debt Epidemic

November 27th, 2007 No Comments

Household debt has now exceeded the national debt of the USA – what does this mean, this means that the people who live in America, you and me, owe more money to companies (particularly banks) than the entire government does to other countries!!!!
This figure is incredible but how has debt spiraled so far out of [...]

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Credit Cards and American Consumer Debt

November 27th, 2007 No Comments

Household debt has now exceeded the national debt of the USA – what does this mean, this means that the people who live in America, you and me, owe more money to companies (particularly banks) than the entire government does to other countries!!!!
This figure is incredible but how has debt spiralled so far out of [...]

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Happiness – Materialism Vs. Spirituality

November 24th, 2007 1 Comment

Happiness – Materialism Vs. Spirituality
There is no question that I am very materialistic, I am the first person to admit that I love nice things and spend fortunes purchasing them, be it a Brioni suits, Rolex Watches, Jewelry, Fast Cars, Nice Houses, Big Screen TV’s with separate speakers and amplifiers etc etc (By the way, [...]

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50 Basis Points

November 24th, 2007 No Comments

With the fed cutting 50 basis points today we have to wonder what the long term effects will be.

The dollar has taken a quick response and devalued further.
Gold is rising in value letting everyone know that the dollar is getting worth less daily. It seems only yesterday that gold sat at $350 instead of the [...]

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Everybody wants to be an instant millionaire these days! Here's a fairly easy way to achieve it in far less time than you would imagine!

November 24th, 2007 1 Comment

Everybody wants to be an instant millionaire these days! Here’s a fairly easy way to achieve it in far less time than you would imagine!
Guess what, you don’t have to be a football player, a “pop idol” or win the lottery to become a millionaire, you can just do it the old fashion way (saving).
The [...]

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Diesel Vrs Hybrid Vrs Petrol Cars – The great deception

November 24th, 2007 No Comments

I love to hear people talking about hybrids and buying them at many thousands of extra dollars! But do these people really understand what they are doing.
a) MPG from EPA. To calculate the fuel economy of a vehicle in the US to the best of my knowledge the EPA uses a rolling road and essentially [...]

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Credit Card Credit Crisis

November 24th, 2007 No Comments

It is only a few month since I was discussing the impact of credit card and consumer debt on the economy and that everyone saying American Express etc would not be impacted by the sub prime meltdown was crazy. If you aren’t paying your mortgage and are establishing bad credit , why would you pay [...]

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Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend – Or Are They

November 24th, 2007 No Comments

I regularly end up having conversations with people who oooh and ahhh over diamonds, possibly the best marketed commodity on the planet. People have connotations of rarity and value when they look at diamonds and one cannot but applaud DeBeers (the cartel that makes Microsoft’s anti competitive litigation with Netscape look like small children throwing [...]

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Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend – Or Are They

November 24th, 2007 No Comments

I regularly end up having conversations with people who oooh and ahhh over diamonds, possibly the best marketed commodity on the planet. People have connotations of rarity and value when they look at diamonds and one cannot but applaud DeBeers (the cartel that makes Microsoft’s anti competitive litigation with Netscape look like small children throwing [...]

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Saving Plan

November 24th, 2007 No Comments

I was asked last week about how to save money in the current economic situation and where to invest.
My answers surprised them, as I am a staunch property supporter……… Don’t buy anything yet – the bottom isn’t even close, I returned to my old adage that when we see rents covering the mortgage payments [...]

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