OT -- Cluelessness of the Year award

There has been a definite shift in the economy in the last few weeks. Things seem, inexplicably, to be looking up.

It would've been just stupid not to! I bought my house and then immediately refinanced because rates plunged.

As long as you save more than the 1% of the loan that the bank charges for writing up the mortgage.

Tina

Not all do that. Our last re-fi cost us just a title search and an appraisal. Oh yes, and a recording fee. And cut 1 1/2 percent off the interest rate. I cut a 20 yr note to a 15 yr note and kept my payments the same. The savings will be in the

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~~ Albert Camus

I keep trying to tell everybody, short of another major depression, it's in your hands. Particularly for those in small business or self-employed. Keep you mind-set in the "things are good" realm, and they will be. What you believe to be true, is. Are the shows what they used to be 15 yrs ago? No. Am I making more money than I did then? Yes. Why? Because I adjusted with the market, and will continue to do so. Because I believe in my capacity to make it so. And because I work very hard, every day that I am able to get out of bed, to make it happen. The one thing I DO know is, it isn't because of anything the shrub did! Barbara Dream Master

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~~ Albert Camus

Unless it isn't. "The power of positive thinking" only goes so far before reality intervenes. As you point out, if we go into a real depression *nothing* will do anyone any good... and we're overdue for one both historically and by analysis of the market.

Believing in yourself, and doing things to promote yourself, are always worthwhile. Where I reach the sticking point is when someone says that if things *don't* work out as well as you'd like, it must be your own fault because you didn't try hard enough. And unfortunately, that's what this post reads like to me.

Celine

Not my intent at all. Things don't always work out as well as I would like. As a matter of fact, they frequently don't work out as well as I would like--but then I set some pretty high standards for myself ;-)..... All I am saying is, you don't have to agree with the economy. A lot of people are doing quite well in spite of it. I am not an anomaly. And I am sure that if the economy were better, I would be doing even better than I am. Barbara Dream Master

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~~ Albert Camus

Not a complete anomaly, to be sure. However, even in good times some people have bad times and conversely, even in bad times some people have good times. You have to look at the overall picture to get a real feel for what's going on, and right now the overall picture doesn't look good for *way* too many people.

On that we can agree wholeheartedly! I'm sorry if I misread the tone of your original post.

Celine

LOL, I want a bumper sticker that says "My President is just part of the landscaping".