Our Favorite Things – April 6, 2012
Happy Friday, Happy Passover, Happy Easter and Happy Weekend to everyone! Here’s Our Favorite Things this week. Enjoy!
- “Taxation with representation ain't so hot either” – The real truth about taxes and your payment options.
- Financial Literacy Month – 5 Tips for improving your finances.
- Help Wanted – These companies have jobs but can’t find people who want them.
- More than just coffee – Starbucks wristbands have raised more than $7 million and the program will create approximately 2,300 jobs.
- It’s taxing – The best and worst places to live based upon taxes.
Our Favorite Things – 1/27/2012
Unfortunately many Americans are still struggling financially and are finding it hard to find good paying jobs or put food on their table. If you or someone you know could use a little help, the links below could be just what they need.
- Buy groceries without money - Thanks to organizations like Equal Dollars, people can provide community service work in exchange for "dollars" that can be used at local businesses to purchase goods and services--even food.
- You're hired - Job search tips to help you land that job in 2012.
- Help Wanted - Companies with openings right now.
- We're the best - 2012's list of the best companies to work for and there impressive list of perks.
- Come on get healthy - January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Get a list of free or low cost screenings available.
Putting Band-Aids on a Stab Wound
Another hot and humid Monday in Philadelphia! As I try to stay cool, drinking my iced coffee and reading the latest tweets and articles, I came across a rather depressing story on Philly.com. The article was about the hidden homeless in New Jersey, living in motel rooms that cost New Jersey $85 a night. One dad, who recently found a new job, lived in the motel with his 5 children. At $2550 per month you can’t help but wonder wouldn’t it have been cheaper to find an apartment for this family? This problem is not limited to just the homeless, we speak to many holders of structured settlements and annuities who end up living in motels because their situations change, be it a divorce, job loss or just a rough patch in their lives.
Homelessness and budget deficits are serious problems in this country. There are so many people who are unemployed or underemployed struggling to get by. Many states and charities are seeing an increase in people seeking assistance, yet their budgets have been severely cut. Times are tough for everyone and many people are doing less with more. So many bloggers and journalists have been writing about ways to stretch your dollar, how to budget as well as how to save. Yet this doesn’t seem to be the case with government.
In a groundbreaking study by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in March 2010, HUD discovered that it was more cost effective to help the homeless obtain apartments instead of housing them in temporary solutions. Housing experts suggest that the housing bust and job losses have swollen the ranks of the homeless. Many are families who don't have the same mental illness and substance abuse problems of the chronically homeless. Obviously there is a need to address this situation from a cost stand point but the nation as a whole need to address how these people got into this situation in the first place.
Job training and creation is a step in the right direction. But the government needs to get their spending in check and spend their money wisely. Throwing money at the situation isn’t necessarily the right idea, it’s just a band-aid. Making sound decisions that look at the whole picture including the future is the only way we can thrive and stop the bleeding.
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