Three for Thursday 11.02.2023
Nov 2, 2023 4:00 AM
TrustDALE's Three For Thursday
Let’s talk about a very boring subject, the US Federal debt, which is now 33 trillion dollars. Why should you care? If you think of the US economy as a household that earns $50,000 per year, we spend $65,000 per year, and we have a debt of $300,000. The real problem is that with the acceleration of interest rates, we will be paying more for the interest on our debt than we do on our military. Oddly, there are some simple fixes, which include increasing taxes and/or decreasing spending. I’m not advocating for either, but simply making a point. Our tax revenue in the US as a percentage of GDP is less than 17%. That compares to Germany at 24%, and the UK 27%. At the end of the day, it’s a balancing act, but the people in charge are far more concerned with remaining in the exclusive club we call congress than reaching reasonable compromises. Like 1929, no one knows when the chickens will come home to roost, but we all know, chickens do come home to roost.
Watch this Investigation
Today’s investigation - Broken Bed Base. Watch because this could happen to you!
Ask Dale
Today’s Ask Dale question comes from many of you, who want to know if the real estate website Zillow’s value estimates are accurate. Great question! Watch the video for the answer!
Today's Lesson On How To Be A Savvy Consumer!
Today's seven-point lesson is on trusting online sources.
Fast - Do they want your money NOW? Most online sources that offer free information are still trying to sell you something. Don’t let the “freebie” deter you from following my seven simple steps. Funds - Is the investment required relevant to the promised payoff? Online is the playground of “too good to be true,” because, with no physical address, it’s way too easy to get away with fraud. Found - A person who intends to rip you off will make certain he cannot be found after he gets your money. Let me repeat, online makes it way too easy to avoid accountability. That’s why you must be extra careful. Define – Your deal by comparing Product, Offer and Price. Arriving at a fair price gets you half-way, now it’s time to follow the remainder of my seven steps. Ensure - Your deal with an Ethical negotiation, an Equitable contract, and an Effective Guarantee. Online offers MUST meet these three standards, or don’t bite. Authenticate – Your deal by requesting References, checking reviews, and examining government and watchdog reports. This is your path to verify the authenticity of an offer. No reviews? Be suspect. Legitimize - Your deal by determining if the company has a business license, liability insurance and is Lawsuit and background searched. It’s too easy to check lawsuit history, even in other states, before a major purchase. If you don’t know how to do it, hire a lawyer to do it. For a big investment, it’s worth it.
