The Friday Financial and Health Follies (FFHF) are designed to summarize the important financial and health issues of the week.
- Share the humor of the funny
- Make fun of the stupid.
- Highlight and explain new financial and health news-so you don’t miss it!
I’m on my way to spend the weekend with my “second daughter”. Years ago, we hosted a Rotary International exchange student from Venezuela. After she finished college, she married a local young man in our home and we continue to be close to her and her family.
A Monument in La Paz, Venenzuela
Her parents are visiting her during the holidays and we look forward to partying with seeing them again. The benefits of that relationship for our family have been so numerous it deserves a post of it’s own-I promise to write about it soon.
If you ever have an opportunity to host a student from another country and culture, take advantage!
Let’s get started with the
Friday Follies:
A new deity?
The people of Venezuela not only have to deal with a socialist dictator taking control of private business, they now have Chavez showing up in their nativity scenes…. Feliz Navidad indeed!
Pawn Stars meets the European financial crisis!
The Greek government warns the public about illicit pawn shops who are ripping people off who are trading in jewelry for cash. I think I would rather keep the gold, rather than change it into a currency that’s in free fall!
Kindle Competition?
Wine maker sells bottles with a short story published on the label….I wonder if Amazon is nervous? Naahhh, they’ll probably just buy the company?
Poor taste maybe but worth a jail term?
Father in China buys jail time when arranging a stripper for his son’s wedding. It seems the whole village got a peekaboo…
Diamonds are not always a girl’s best friend.
Diamond worth 2 grand found in the Salvation Army Kettle! How’s that for a way to end your engagement? (yes, my imagination runs wild!)
Saving Money on YOUR Christmas Card
Did the Canadian Prime Minister Photoshop his Holiday Card? Does anyone really care? If he saved himself or the country a few bucks, I’m all for it!
Butter entrepreneurs NOT welcome!
In one more sign that centrally planned economies don’t work, Norway is out of butter. (There is only one “legal” butter supplier in Norway)
Personal Finance Reads:
Invest it Wisely writing at Yakezie.com started an interesting discussion about how salary information is much more open and transparent in other societies. Do you want your check amount written on the company bulletin board?
Invest in the Markets is writing a stock picking series. Check out his stuff if you have any interest in investing.
End of year tax planning is the subject at Bucksome Boomer. Yes, take a minute away from your tinsel time to check on your tax situation while you have time to make adjustments. We did.
Khaleef at KNS Financials discusses the controversy over “pay for spray”…I first thought he wrote “pay for spay”- thinking “what does that have to do with firetrucks???” What are your thoughts? Could you watch a house burn, holding the fire hose in your hand without turning it on?
Saving money automatically with a step by step by Jeff at Sustainable Life Blog. Good goal stuff!
How to dump those unwanted Christmas gifts? Money For College Project has three worthwhile tips. Here is a place for transparency. If someone is going to buy you a gift, let them know what you want You can do it by making lists or hints. Beats the heck out of a sweater you’ll never wear. (I need to be better at this myself….)
Sam at Financial Samurai tells us why the temporary payroll tax holiday is a mistake. I think any temporary plan is usually a bust as people don’t change behaviors for the long term over temporary tax policies. The more Congress tinkers the more people feel insecure. We need a tax overhaul from top to bottom, then leave it alone for a long while.
Don’t miss Len Penzo’s Aunt Doris series.
Carnivals:
Financial Camaraderie at My University Money.
Stock Carnival Ecstasy at Fast Swings
If you’ve linked to a post or I’m in your carnival, make sure you let me know so I can put your name here! Track backs don’t always track back!
Thanks for reading!
{photo credit: jopimalg c.c.}
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Tags: financial and health news of the week, financial follies, important financial news this week, this weeks financial news
Have a safe trip, and thanks for the mention!
Thanks!
Thanks for including me dean – as for the shoplifting – i’ve never actually seen someone do it
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