Mahfuz's Econ Blog

How To Save Money

2007-06-04T05:52:00.000-07:00

The article suggests that youngsters should start saving money now instead of waiting till their 45 to save money for retirement at age 65. The author suggests that we spend less and think about our future and save as much amount as we can. The author also gives helpful tips such as : Do not pay Real Estate agents 6 percent commission, buy use items, don't have people call you or you call people so you wont be seduced into spending your money, and more helpful tips like that.
I think I'm going to use the authors idea of not using your home as piggy bank, and use the real bank to put your money in so the money will grow as time passes. I believe the author is righ on saving money at a early age, because that way you don't have to save a large amount at an older age to have enough money to live when retired, so if a person starts saving money at young age this person doesn't have to save a large amount so it will be easier for that person.

Taxes- How Does The Government Spend Money?

2007-05-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

Government take our taxes money to keep everything in system, such as paying teachers for teaching in public schools, paying the Police Departments, paying the Doctors, paying the men and women who put their life on the line to save us in the army. The money is used to make things for the country, such as roads, bridges and to run the government itself you need money. The money is used for public services. These services include transportation, security, water, waste management and many other everyday things.

21 percent - Social Security, 21 percent - National Defense, 12 percent goes to Medicare, 13 percent - Income Security, 10 percent - health, 9 percent - net interest, and 14 percent - other needs.

Savings and Debt

2007-05-21T06:07:00.000-07:00

I think that people should examine the credit card company before they apply for the card, because some company's interest rates are higher then coustomers expect, also the late fee can be higher then what the coustomers expect. I think the reason people get into debt easily is because people usually pay minimum payment and when you pay minimum payment you are usually paying alot more money then you spent. Also because people don't check how much the interest rates are and keep spending till there is a point when they cant afford to spend anymore and have to pay back the money they owed, and even when you cant afford to spend money people usually end up spending more because you have to buy your needs sooner or later.
The reason Americans dont save money anymore is because now days American spend more then they make, and when they spend money they usually use a credit card, and the more you buy the extra money you give to the bank, but people cant afford to give any extra money when they already owe alot.
The U.S is known for buying more then selling. In other countries people are always thinking of ways to save money, people buy less and save more. I believe that Americans are too luxurious, they spend too much money on their wants and as well as their needs.

Critique of GDP Podcast

2007-05-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

I revied Richard and Ronalds Gross Domestic Product Podcast. They both seemed very interested in the topic and looks like wants to learn more about this certain topic. They didnt have much pictures to share, and also their podcast was very short. Though they did give some useful information that you should know about GDP. I think that they should work on speaking a little more profesionally and they should work on getting alot more information then the ones they have.

Taxes- How Does The Government Get Money?

2007-05-09T05:50:00.000-07:00

The taxes we pay are property taxes, sales taxes, federal taxes, and income taxes. The biggest federal tax is the IRS. Taxes are what is used to pay for school budgets, city repairs and alot of service workers that work for the city are paid from everyones taxes. Taxes are being taken off from the people that work for checks and when you get your check you will get tax deduction from your pay check. By paying these taxes we made this country the way it is today. However alot of people prefer wo the books because that way they do not lose money by tax deduction. I think working for check is better because, you can always file for your taxws especially when you recieve you W2. You also recieve retirement and benifits with it when you retire, and the best part of all is you are helping the U.S. to be a better nation.

Student Loans Beware

2007-05-08T05:50:00.000-07:00

Students take large ammount of loan to cover up their college and their expenses because their normal job does not pay enough to cover up. The careers they go for sometimes doesnt have the job openning they need or wanted. Even if they get one they dont get paid enough to pay back the loan and to use it for their regular day expenses. I believe that student loan is a good thing, but if you can afford to go to college you shouldnt take student loan, but for the people who have financial problem should take it, and work part time to save up money to pay back. I am not sure if im going to take the loan or not, i doubt im going to take it because ma parentws plan on giving me the money for college.

Critique of Federal Reserve Podcast

2007-03-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be reviewing Anthony's podcast. I think hes Podcast is pretty good for the fact that he did it by himself. It discusses mostly all important aspects of The Federal Reserve. I think that the recording could be better, he talked very low it was hard to hear but it was ok. The images was pretty good all the pictures fit the screen perfectly but he needed more pictures. It kind of matches the verbal content but not all the way. Anthonys podcast was pretty interesting he did it by himself and put it on his own word so it was pretty good since he did it on his own. He has almost the same idea as my podcast so i really didnt learn much but it was very educational and people who dont know about The Federal Reserve can learn from this podcast.
Link to Anthony's Podcast

Compound Interest and the rule of 72

2007-03-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

Compund Interest is like whenever interest is calculated, its based on both original principal, and on any unpaid interest that has been added to the principal. The faster the interest is compounded, the faster the balance will grow.

The rule of 72 is a easier way to determine how long an investment will take to double, given a fixed annual rate of interest. By dividing 72 by the annual rate of return, investors can get a close estimate of how many years it will take for the initial investment to double.

Insider Trading Scandal - What Happened

2007-03-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

The whole trading scandal started about 6 years ago, there were two guys working for the wall street. The two friends were in debt of about $25,000. Now in March, 2007 the federal authorities found one of the guy that was involve in this illegal trading scandal. The federal authorities investigated in four related investment banks. These guys blackmailed the traders to keep quiet so they dont get caught. They told people about what new upgrades was made and alot of other secrets for srock markets.

Dow Down 416 Pts!- Why

2007-02-28T06:13:00.000-08:00

The reason Dow went down is probably because people started selling stocks rapidly, and the Asians companies weren't doing so well in producing their goods. Asians depoend on the U.S. on buying the goods they create, specialy China. This is just like what happened before the great depression. I think if the rate of Dow keeps going down then we might have another depression, but i highly doubt that. When i first saw my stocks going down i sold some of them, But now i seen that when the stock market goes down you get a chance to buy expensive stock for cheaper, but its a big risk, because you dont know for a fact if its going to keep going down or if it is going to go up and make you money.

Opportunity Costs

2007-02-27T06:01:00.000-08:00

when economists talk about oppurtunity cost they mean that you have some money that you need, and you can use the money, but if you do use the money you are taking a risk because if you lose the money you end up having nothing at all. Oppurtunity cost is kind of goes like the prhase "to earn something you have to lose something". You don't neccesserly get something back, thats why it is called a opportunity cost, you are taking a risk to achieve your goal, a goal that can give you more money then you spent and don't have to worry about financial problem for the rest of you life. For Example if you take a loan from the bank, you can use that money to invest something somwhere so you money can grow, or if you own a house you can sell that house and make profit and out of that profit you can use that money to go to college and if you have enough money left you can buy another house. The last example kind of connects to me, because when im turning 18 i am going to get one of my parents house under my name, so if i dont have enough money to go to college then i would think of selling the house and using the money to go to college.

Types Of Economic Systems

2007-02-16T06:01:00.000-08:00

Traditional Econmic System is kind of like a private stock where only the family members can buy,sell, or trade stocks. This kind of stocks are mostly found in Asia, South Amarica, and Africa. Its mostly people with farms.
Centrally Planned (Command) Economy is mostly in a communist country, Where people cant buy or sell stocks on their own, the government has the power to buy and sell stocks. People cant start a small buisness and start selling stocks. Everything has to be decided by the Government.
Market Economy is most likely to be in a Deomocracy government. Where you get to decide what you want to do with your money and how you want to spend it or use it. In a Market Economy you take the risk of your money and you do what you think is the best way to make money out of the money you have.
Mixed Economy is where people have private stocks public stocks and a command Economy. Almost every country nowdays have mixed economy.
The difference between Communism and Socialism is that in a Socialist society the consumers get to make the decision for their stocks, and in a Communist society the Government gets to decide what to do with the stocks even if you own it. In a communist society you can have both Public and Private ownership of the market, and in a Socialist society you can have only private ownership of the market.

Stock Market Game-1- Initial Investment Stratagy

2007-02-16T05:54:00.000-08:00

I decided to invest on Bank of America , because i am interested in banks and buisnesses and i saw that this company does good every year and its stocks prices increases. I also chose to invest on the company Taiwan Semicond, because its a small company and from the graph i assume it will do good like it did before.

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2007-02-02T06:13:00.001-08:00

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