Are you better off than you were 81 days ago?

[Fantine]

My life is unchanged from 81 days ago. My family's well-being doesn't depend on who is in the White House or Congress. At home, we work hard, spend wisely, and trust God in everything.

I wish that more Americans had asked for guidance before they voted last November, and, putting aside their own priorities, listened with the ear of their hearts for discernment.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Less snow for me. Foods a bit more but I can afford it, fewer food trucks for the needy people because somehow the Supply dried up. People still putting tarps on their trailers to keep water out because they can't afford to get the roof fixed, but that has been going on for years. Oh, I have to go back to the Red Sea instead of finishing my Masters, but at least they are letting me finish the quarter.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Definitely down substantially on investments/retirement accounts.

The uncertainty in global economy affects my business (negatively).

While I would be in one of the very last stanzas of an updated Niemoller quote, this doesn't make Trump 2.0 any better for me.

 

[durangodawood]

An 81 day moving window fails to account for longer term shifts underway that will almost certainly negatively affect people and places I care about.

 

[Laodicean60]

I am better off financially because I have most of my money in short-term Treasuries. I also short the market in some of my portfolio and figured that the market was due for a correction.

You are smarter than most about finances. I wish young people and old people would look into this stuff. People need to learn to protect their wealth.

Nope. Prior to the dead cat bounce, my accounts were down $150k since February (mainly flat for several months prior to that). Not sure where they are right now, but it’s probably still down over $100k.

Thus, the reason to hedge is to protect yourself. I also did what T did. With volatility, it's smart to manage your money actively.

 

[Say it aint so]

The good news is Christmas has come early for a lot of Americans:

"As Tariffs Hit, Americans Are Racing to Buy Car Seats, iPhones and Christmas Gifts"

Some early data show that consumers flocked to stores and stocked up on goods after the administration announced sweeping tariffs on nearly all trading partners. Mr. Trump backed down on some of those threats this week and instituted a 90-day pause on more punishing levies. But he said that the halt would not apply to China, and he instead raised tariffs again on all Chinese goods.​

China is the second largest source of U.S. imports, and makes the bulk of the world’s cellphones, computers and toys.​

According to Earnest Analytics, a firm that analyzes data on millions of debit and credit card payments, consumer spending at Apple was up 20 percent between April 2 and April 7 compared with average spending there in recent months. Spending was also up 10 percent at Home Depot and 18 percent at the department store chain Belk, according to the analysis. ++NYT​

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[Always in His Presence]

b

 

[Always in His Presence]

I wish that more Americans had asked for guidance before they voted last November, and, putting aside their own priorities, listened with the ear of their hearts for discernment.

They did, that is why Trump won

 

[Nithavela]

I am absolutely better. I have a new pc. I'm happy I ordered the parts at the start of the year, it would cost me 50% more today.

 

[Always in His Presence]

I am absolutely better. I have a new pc. I'm happy I ordered the parts at the start of the year, it would cost me 50% more today.

Most parts come from China or Taiwan, You are in Germany. Why would there be an increase in prices?

 

[GoldenBoy89]

They did, that is why Trump won

Is that also how Biden won?

 

[Fantine]

The good news is Christmas has come early for a lot of Americans:

"As Tariffs Hit, Americans Are Racing to Buy Car Seats, iPhones and Christmas Gifts"

Some early data show that consumers flocked to stores and stocked up on goods after the administration announced sweeping tariffs on nearly all trading partners. Mr. Trump backed down on some of those threats this week and instituted a 90-day pause on more punishing levies. But he said that the halt would not apply to China, and he instead raised tariffs again on all Chinese goods.​

China is the second largest source of U.S. imports, and makes the bulk of the world’s cellphones, computers and toys.​

According to Earnest Analytics, a firm that analyzes data on millions of debit and credit card payments, consumer spending at Apple was up 20 percent between April 2 and April 7 compared with average spending there in recent months. Spending was also up 10 percent at Home Depot and 18 percent at the department store chain Belk, according to the analysis. ++NYT​

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They did, that is why Trump won

You forgot what I said about praying for discernment. Silly me, I don't think God is ready for the world to end through climate disasters or nuclear wars yet.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Is that also how Biden won?

I thought Biden won because of 80 million illegal fraudulent votes.

 

[Always in His Presence]

You forgot what I said about praying for discernment. Silly me, I don't think God is ready for the world to end through climate disasters or nuclear wars yet.

No, I didn’t forget.

And God already spoke on the end of the age. Has ZERO to do with climate disaster or nuclear wars.

 

[NxNW]

Not so well off: Investment balances.

Better off: My arteries are probably rejoicing and I get to live 5 days longer since I haven't been eating eggs for a while. Probably a short-term win though because POTUS promised. Anytime now.

What have you planned for those five days?

 

[Nithavela]

Most parts come from China or Taiwan, You are in Germany. Why would there be an increase in prices?

Because a lot of international trade and the construction of video game software at least partially runs through the USA between the part producing countries and germany.

Trump's tariffs could significantly increase the cost of video cards

US President Donald Trump has imposed a 145% tariff on China, which could lead to a sharp increase in the cost of graphics cards. At the same time, manufacturers will try to move production to other regions.

mezha.media

I'm not sure if this is what has increased GPU prices directly. Perhaps traders just use the threat of possible tarriff price hikes to increase their margins while fleecing the FOMO buyers that want to get in early in front of the tarriffs.

You know. Capitalism.

Fact is, the graphics card I got for under 800 euros now is at almost 1600 euros.

 

[Fantine]

No, I didn’t forget.

And God already spoke on the end of the age. Has ZERO to do with climate disaster or nuclear wars.

I respect your interpretation of the Bible, but many Christian denominations believe God's creation, while recorded in the Bible in a way that primitive humans could understand, actually occurred (entirely through the orchestration and creativity of God) in a way consistent of what we now know about Geology, Cosmology, and Science. Similarly, we do not know exactly how the world will end--and how much of a part human greed, bellicosity, selfishness and denial may be a part of it.

One of my favorite deacons always says, "God is truth and scientific knowledge is truth, and the two need to be embraced holistically,"

I respect your interpretation, as I said, but it is only fair to mention that within Christianity many others have found belief and astonishment in a plan of creation even more awesome and comprehensive than Moses could have recorded in his time.

Just as Jesus used physical materials--mud, for example--to heal the blind, so our all-powerful God, in His permissive will, can watch while a government topples the world's economy, plunders the world's resources, and fuels devastating climate catastrophes.

And, to come full circle, in my prayerful discernment and accurate assessment of the dangers of a second Trump presidency, I mourn the carelessness with which some have thrown away all our futures.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

We live in a time when people want immediate reward. Immediate satisfaction. They gauge their success/failure based on the daily return.
They do not think about their lives three, five, or ten years down the road. They do not consider what the world will be like for their children. I say these things because we currently have a 37 trillion dollar debt hanging over our heads.

https://www.usdebtclock.org/

We are living on our children's future. You are enslaving your children to a debt not even they will pay off in their lifetimes. Today, every child born is born under water by $107,000. That is the day they are born. And fewer of them are being born, and people are piling up debt for the same reason. They are selfish. It is about me and "what am I getting out of it." They think they are owed something for existing. There will be fewer children, and that means fewer taxpayers. Fewer people are paying into Social Security.
Today, each taxpayer owes over $320,000 to the national debt. You will never pay that, and could not if you wanted to. You cannot pay it. Your children (if they are smart and have the courage) will refuse to pay it. They will get smart and realize they are paying for your party years. They are paying for your entitlements, your college tuition, your tens of millions of illegal immigrants (whom you allowed in for political reasons), and your robbery of the SS funds. So what will happen? It does not take a genius. The economy will fail, and the entire world will fall into a depression, making 1929 look like a party. There will be wars, famine, and unbelievable crime.
So when I see people ask short-sighted questions about how they are faring under the first few months of a new administration, I wonder what they expect. Someone is trying to do something about the problem described above. And all they can see today. Wait thirty years and ask your children who are either in chains paying off your debt or suffering a life of poverty and calamity... so that you could have fun and not be bothered with the real elements of life.

 

[Fantine]

I, too, am concerned about the national debt.

Do you realize that the deficit grows and grows and grows during every Republican administration since Reagan, and that the only time the deficit is ever reduced (even becoming a surplus under Clinton) is when we had Democratic presidents--Clinton, Obama, and Biden.

When Jimmy Carter was president, the deficit was only $25 billion...

How can this be? Easy. And it bears repeating.

Republicans keep giving the 1% big tax breaks--and borrowing more and more each year to do it.

They give away money they don't have to give.

So please don't misplace the cause of this problem.

Governments should never, never, never give away money they don't have just to add it to our national credit card.

And if our current Congress has courage and character, they will put an end to it right now.

 

[Always in His Presence]

And, to come full circle, in my prayerful discernment and accurate assessment of the dangers of a second Trump presidency, I mourn the carelessness with which some have thrown away all our futures.

With all due respect, I, along with 76,000,000 others do not find your assessment accurate.