76 million American crumb-bums are struggling financially or just getting by!

[Ultralight]

"...31% of American adults, or 76 million people, say they are struggling to get by or just barely making it, according to the Federal Reserve Bank's latest survey (http://www.federalreserve.gov/2015-report-economic-well-being-us-households-201605.pdf) on Americans' economic well-being, which looked at 2015."

Wait for it... wait for it...!

"And that's actually good news. Two years earlier, the Fed found that 38% of Americans were in weak financial shape."

http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/10/news/economy/americans-struggling-financially/ (http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/10/news/economy/americans-struggling-financially/)

[Williamsmith]

As soon as The Fed raises the interest rates significantly.....and I watch the ensueing crash of the stock market along with my small retirement nest egg disappearing from my IRA........I will believe it.

[LDAHL]

As soon as The Fed raises the interest rates significantly.....and I watch the ensueing crash of the stock market along with my small retirement nest egg disappearing from my IRA........I will believe it.

If you think that's going to happen, why not shift to short term bonds?

[Williamsmith]

If you think that's going to happen, why not shift to short term bonds?

I don't think The Fed will ever raise the rates. I think it is more likely they will adopt Negative Interest Rates in order to continue to feast on our debt. But yes, as soon as I can get out altogether without a 10% penalty and an additional penalty from the account manager......which is in two and one half years........I will be out altogether.

[bae]

I don't think The Fed will ever raise the rates. I think it is more likely they will adopt Negative Interest Rates in order to continue to feast on our debt.

I concur. Unless they decide to act as some sort of demented Praetorian Guard and use their power to influence elections...

[LDAHL]

I don't think The Fed will ever raise the rates. I think it is more likely they will adopt Negative Interest Rates in order to continue to feast on our debt. But yes, as soon as I can get out altogether without a 10% penalty and an additional penalty from the account manager......which is in two and one half years........I will be out altogether.

If you think that, wouldn't you want to buy fixed rate securities with the longest possible duration on the assumption we'd be experiencing long term deflation?

[bae]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JITC1fo2HA

[Williamsmith]

If you think that, wouldn't you want to buy fixed rate securities with the longest possible duration on the assumption we'd be experiencing long term deflation?

Im not sure exactly what investments make sense because every development up until the time to act impacts on that decision. I am more committed to a diverse set of circumstances. Gold being a part of that, no debt being another, useful critical commodities, easy liquidity and some well placed real estate all seem to make more sense than investment in stocks that rely on central banking and the expansion of an elastic money supply. Like the Big Bang, contraction follows expansion.

[ToomuchStuff]

"...31% of American adults, or 76 million people, say they are struggling to get by or just barely making it, according to the Federal Reserve Bank's latest survey (http://www.federalreserve.gov/2015-report-economic-well-being-us-households-201605.pdf) on Americans' economic well-being, which looked at 2015."

Wait for it... wait for it...!

"And that's actually good news. Two years earlier, the Fed found that 38% of Americans were in weak financial shape."

http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/10/news/economy/americans-struggling-financially/ (http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/10/news/economy/americans-struggling-financially/)

What is a crumb bum? So does it mean that 7% learned that debt/payments are not savings, and things like emergencies, happen just like rain?

[organictex]

What is a crumb bum? So does it mean that 7% learned that debt/payments are not savings, and things like emergencies, happen just like rain?

I guess it means we're living on crumbs, and thus "bums" to this person's thinking...

[Ultralight]

Crumb bum is something said in my neck of the woods. I thought it was universal.

[Teacher Terry]

I haven't heard that expression since I left Wis!

[Ultralight]

Street toughs is another one. haha

[ToomuchStuff]

Street toughs is another one.....

...that is not defined. Slang certainly isn't universal. It does vary by both age and locations.

[organictex]

to me it just sounds like ignorance if you are equating poverty with moral turpitude
or violence...

[Ultralight]

to me it just sounds like ignorance if you are equating poverty with moral turpitude
or violence...

I was being sarcastic.

[jp1]

to me it just sounds like ignorance if you are equating poverty with moral turpitude
or violence...


I was being sarcastic.

Organictex, ULA fancies himself as the Stephen Colbert of the simple living forums...

[ToomuchStuff]

Organictex, ULA fancies himself as the Stephen Colbert of the simple living forums...

He does?
Sarcasm in the written word, is so much different then the spoken word. (and as I have said, there are reasons for smiley's)

[organictex]

well, I 'm sorry I didn't get it. guess I should hang out here more often before wading in ;)

[iris lilies]

Sarcasm is a way of being duplicitous. and, a little goes a long way.

But since I do it myself, I am offering this up as a thought about human failings.

[Molly]

How can interest rates stay this low forever? Don't they need to rise soon? I don't know anything about economics.

[LDAHL]

Nothing is forever. Although "markets can stay irrational longer than investors can remain solvent'.

Anyone who thinks he can predict interest rates is either lying or deluded.

[sweetana3]

Ditto the stock market.