The Usual Suspects

June 30, 2008

            It was a 1995 movie that has a great plot and has developed a bit of a cult following. The movie starts out with a high profile robbery taking place. The police have no idea who committed the crimes, as a result they arrest the five usual suspects on trumped up charges and make them stand for a lineup.

            It’s a great flick with crazy plot lines and a dramatic ending–I highly recommend it. It got me thinking of the usual suspects in America when it comes to the news today.

 

Wal-Mart

Exxon and Company

Investment Banks

McDonalds

Coal Companies

 

            These ‘big five’ are constantly featured in the press usually with negative story lines. Many people advocate suing or taxing these companies back to the Stone Age. I will tell you why that is probably the worst idea that I have ever heard.

 

Part I: Wally World

 

           AKA Wal-Mart. It has any number of complaints about it, low wages, sexism, drives out local business, shady business dealings with suppliers. You name it, they have been sued for it.

 

            You don’t have to go to Wal-Mart folks. If you disagree with them for any of the above reasons don’t go there. But millions of people still do, and why is this? Wal-Mart is the Best I repeat BEST retailer that has ever existed. They have constantly maintained the lowest price on goods that can be found anywhere. If your local store goes out of business due to a Wal-Mart, it is just survival of the fittest; only the strong (best) survive.

 

            If you have not noticed Wal-Mart has single handedly lowered the cost of living for all Americans who shop there. The other big box retailers and groceries resort to loss leader tactics to get you in the store. They lose money on certain products in hopes that you will spend money on their high margin products.

 

            Wal-Mart does not do these, and I bet their everyday low price still is close to or beats their competitions’ loss leader prices. At the risk of sounding like an advertisement, I will end with one more point.

 

            You might be rich enough, or green enough, or snobby enough not to shop at Wal-Mart, but if you’re complaining about the cost of bread, or meat, or light bulbs get over yourself and go to Wal-Mart.

2 Comments | The Usual Suspects | Permalink
Posted by fubar1383

The Four Day Work Week

June 24, 2008

           My employer has the policy of allowing an employee to work “Four-10’s” so I am putting in ten hours Monday to Thursday and taking Friday off. I have been able to do this the entire time I have had my job, but I have just never tried it for a number of good reasons.

            It is currently about halfway though my second day, and I am staying strong. Working 25% longer every day definitely takes some getting used too. I am just focusing on Thursday night when I will be free to enjoy a long weekend.

           

Now how is this related to personal finance you ask?

           

            My original goal was to save some money on gas, and make my car last longer. I started to car pool with someone who kept the same hours as me. And it did save me money and wear and tear on my car. At the same time it was a bit more inconvenient, then I would have liked, and the cash benefit was just about equal to the amount of inconvenience that I had to go through. At the same time I still had to drive about a mile everyday to meet my driver/rider and wait. So the second option is to try to work four-10’s.

            Now I can save myself 20% on commuting costs, and have a free day. All I have to do is come in early and stay late…..

 

On that note, who wants to go out Thursday night?

 

More to come on this experiment…..

1 Comment | Career | Permalink
Posted by fubar1383

VK in Paris

June 5, 2008

          

           As someone who contends that they live below their means, and aggressively saves for a home and retirement how can I justify a pricey trip “across the pond” to France?

 

            If you know anything about world currencies you know that the dollar is currently in the doghouse. One American Dollar will get you about .65 of a Euro. Put it another way if I spent 1000 Euros in Europe is  more then 1,500 USD.

 

Ouch

 

            So yeah the Dollar pretty much sucks but I am saving more then enough to make up for the lousy exchange rate.

 

1) Airfare: Flying directly into Charles De Gaulle airport on Paris costs around $1300 bucks per ticket. We chose to fly into Luxemburg for less then half that, spend two days in a very small country then take the high speed train to Paris.

 

2) Lodging: In Lux. We are going to use my Hilton points for free hotel rooms. Hopefully we will not have to pay sales tax on the room. In Paris we are staying with my Aunt and Uncle who have rented an apartments for six months.

 

3) Food: It is going to be a challenge for me, I love eating out, especially in the thousands of open air cafes that Pairs has to offer. But if we limit ourselves to a nice dinner every other night, we should be in great shape.

 

4) The Sights: Hilary has done a bit of research and lots of the attractions: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, the Orsay have free or discount prices at the non-peak times.

 

5) Getting Around: Paris has a great subway system and we plan to use it. Cabs are a huge waste of money.

 

            Moral of this story: if you do a little research before hand you can reduce costs without reducing the fun.

4 Comments | Expenses | Permalink
Posted by fubar1383

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