Coming to a Supermarket Near You - Higher Prices

Gasoline has topped $3 a gallon here in North Georgia (10 days later than I predicted).  Gold and silver have sky rocketed.  Corn has doubled in price over the last few months.  Oil is over $100 a barrel. 

Those last two sentences are the keys to rising food costs in the store.  It takes rivers of oil to get produce and processed foods from farm to plate and corn is in virtually all of our processed foods (in one form or another). It's the core feed ingredient for commercial meat animals from beef to chickens to tilapia.  The rising costs of ingredients, processing and transportation make inflation inevitable.  Get ready. Read a recent article about foodflation from Omaha.com right HERE.

I realize my last several posts have been variations on this theme, but that's because food is so critical to our survival.  Rather than fume, or panic, I want you to prepare and overcome.

Some steps to minimize the pain are: 1. Stock up now, while prices are lower.  Some things are already going up, so there's not a lot of time to waste.  2. Eat more whole foods.  It's healthier and, if local and in season, is still a good value.  3. Grow some of your own food.  4. Budget for the coming changes.

As I keep saying, the cost of living is headed UP this year.  But we can still win the war by creating a plan and by working that plan.

Still Want a Credit Card?

If ever I saw a case for getting rid of Credit Cards and Credit Card Debt, it is THIS ARTICLE from CNN Money.  It is plenty scary.  All I can say is, "Back away from the application.  Turn around and RUN!"

Latest Sign of the Apocalypse...

Ok, just a follow up to yesterday's inflation rant.  Even the Golden Arches are yielding to the higher cost of commodities.  Those McNuggets may soon be costing you more.  Read it HERE.

Just Another Inflation Warning

Have you noticed it?  Prices are going up.  It's obvious at the gas pump.  The place I buy most of my gasoline has fought like crazy to avoid topping $3 a gallon.  I'm thinking they will lose the fight sometime this week. 

Groceries are certainly on the rise.  I've noticed the prices on some items have risen considerably.  There has never been a better time to use coupons and watch for specials than right now.

On a related note, the cost of animal feed and things like day old chicks has also started to move in the wrong direction.  Packets of seeds are increasing in price as well.  That means that the cost of food production for small producers may well impact the prices of fresh produce in farmers' markets. 

It is not time to panic.  It's time to prepare.  Budget well.  Spend wisely.  Grow some of your own food.  Buy in bulk and preserve some.  Shop judiciously at consignment shops.  Frequent yard sales.  Plan your trips out to manage your fuel consumption.  We can win!  We can prosper!

Franchising Opportunities

Most people who have some entrepreneurial inklings, at least consider franchising as a path to consider.  I know I have.  In my case, I've just never found the right fit.  I haven't had the cash flow, either. 

This morning, I found a fun little article on forbes.com regarding the top 20 franchise opportunities for 'beginners'.  I thought some of you might like it, so click HERE to read it for yourself.

Discouraging Headlines

Have a look at these headlines from this morning's Drudge Report:

Census: Number of poor may be millions higher; 1 in 6...

Retailers report surprisingly weak December...


Jobless claims rise more than expected...

GALLUP: Broader underemployment worsened to 19% in December -- up sharply from 17.2% at end of Nov...

Wow!  These are not encouraging words, to say the least.  We CAN take steps to insulate ourselves against tough times.  We can't always escape them, but if we do the right things we can 'self insure' so that any economic impact we feel from downturns, recessions and depressions only affects us minimaly.  I'm serious.  IOU NO MORE 2.011 is coming. 

IOU NO MORE 2.011 Closer by the Minute

As you can see, I'm playing a bit with the title of the updated version of the book.  I started with "The All New IOU NO MORE", but yuck.  Then it became, "IOU NO MORE 2.0".  Finally, with a tip of the hat to the publication year, it is now, "IOU NO MORE 2.011".  We'll see if it sticks.

The new material is all written.  The next phase will be to edit it and to update the forms.  Then, it's off to the publisher.

Won't be long now.