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A Desperate FDIC Begs Americans To Open Savings Accounts During "America Saves" Week

Tyler Durden's picture




Just in case Americans weren't schizophrenic enough, listening to Obama and CNBC telling them to spend, spend, spend, even if that means maxing out all credit cards (relax, Uncle Sam will take care of that 1,800 day delinquent account by covering 99.999% of principal losses once hyperinflation hits a few quadrillion % per day), here comes the FDIC, with the other side of the coin, imploring "consumers across the nation to  consider
establishing a basic savings account or boosting existing savings."
And with that the insanity that is now the United States of America is laid ba(ir)re for all to see. The question of just how underfunded US banks are if the FDIC has to resort to such fund raising gimmicks is obviously irrelevant. Well, not quite - luckily, the FDIC will come out this week with its quarterly banking update so we can all see how many tens of billions the DIF burned through in the past 3 months.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2010     Media Contact:
Greg Hernandez (202) 898-6984
Cell: (202) 340-4922
Email: ghernandez@fdic.gov

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is calling upon consumers across the nation during America Saves Week to  consider establishing a basic savings account or boosting existing savings. FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair said, "One fundamental lesson of the financial crisis is that savings can help families withstand sudden changes in their economic well being. Establishing a savings account in a federally insured institution is a great first step to build wealth and begin a savings habit that will last a lifetime."

The personal savings rate rose to 4.6 percent in 2009 from 2.7 percent in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. "I am pleased to see that people are saving more of their hard-earned money and building wealth. Having personal savings for an emergency fund or saving for a future expenditure, such as a college education, can make a big difference in avoiding other costly alternatives. I've always been a big advocate of a back-to-basics approach to financial services; it's my hope that Americans' increase in savings is the beginning of a long-term trend," Bair said.

"Money saved by consumers also provides a stable source of funding for investments in the economy that benefit all Americans," said Bair. "In fact, a country with robust savings generally has more capital to fund investments and support economic growth over the long-term. As demonstrated recently, it is harmful to an economy when consumers spend beyond their means, financed by debt that they cannot afford to repay."

To learn more about America Saves Week and about savings-related resources from the FDIC, please visit http://www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/savings.html.




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Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:21 | Link to Comment Tripps
Tripps's picture

I've been hard on Zerohedge recently. I would like to point out the content is getting better again the last few weeks

 

stuff I wouldn't normally see is posted here. FDIC is pathetic....begging people to open up savings accounts for a 1.5% interest rates

 

if they want people in cash....#1 create jobs in this economy

#2- raise the fricking interest rates and people will move assets back to cash! simple stuff here. 

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:32 | Link to Comment seventree
seventree's picture

You actually get 1.5% on a savings account?

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:37 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:23 | Link to Comment Tripps
Tripps's picture

you're right..sorry. 1.15% with ING

 

i'm getting PORKED to save. that is why its laughable to see this fdic pr blitz

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:59 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:44 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Wed, 02/24/2010 - 16:26 | Link to Comment jmc8888
jmc8888's picture

ING? Might as well as have been in Lehman Bros in 2008.  ING is one of the doomed.  Don't know when, but I'd be prepared to jump out of that sinking ship....well if not soon...before everyone else exits at the same time.  Good luck.  It's like keeping anything above 250k in any of our big failed banks still operating here in the U.S. under the assumption that the worst is behind us.

Even then, I wouldn't count on the broke fdic to pay me out of even that much. 

I have no idea how it works down under, but I know I wouldn't trust ING with any faith they aren't completely mucking everything up.

Plus when you consider the Spain/Brazil Santander RBS troubles that will start striking right at the ING Inter-Alpha group nexus may or may not pop off before Greece, the time for ING to go AIG may be sooner than thought of.  Good luck.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 02:13 | Link to Comment snakeboat
snakeboat's picture

Well, 1.25% is slightly better than watching equities dissolve (soon)...

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:43 | Link to Comment merehuman
merehuman's picture

but still losing due to inflation

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:06 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:18 | Link to Comment VegasBD
VegasBD's picture

Inflation is the increase in the money supply, not rising asset prices. rising asset prices is a (usually) consequence of inflation.

So im gonna agree with the ignoramus, and say that yea, youre still losing becaues of inflation.

Deflation rears its head when you price assets in gold. But because of the recent inflating of the money supply asset prices are not deflating on par with real money (gold), but holding steady or losing moderately.

Massive inflation does not equal massive asset prices instantly, but in the end it will. Enjoy the ride.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:20 | Link to Comment VegasBD
VegasBD's picture

And before everyone argues that debt destruction is making the money supply smaller, you'd be right if the Fed didnt buy it all up and let it sit on the balance sheet. So the 'dollars' are still there.

There is no spoon (deflation).

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:48 | Link to Comment ghostfaceinvestah
ghostfaceinvestah's picture

food - inflating

energy - inflating

medical expenses - inflating

All according to the CPI.

So basically the shit you need is going up in prices, and the crap you can no longer afford is going down in price.  Excellent.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:06 | Link to Comment Rusty Shorts
Rusty Shorts's picture

 -

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:14 | Link to Comment tip e. canoe
tip e. canoe's picture

all the more reasons to grow a ghostface garden

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:45 | Link to Comment Missing_Link
Missing_Link's picture

food - inflating

 

energy - inflating

 

medical expenses - inflating

 

All according to the CPI.

 

So basically the shit you need is going up in prices, and the crap you can no longer afford is going down in price.  Excellent.

^^ This.

There's no inflation or deflation or hyperinflation or stagflation.  There's only this modification of prices -- transflation, if you have to have a 'flation' term for it.

Prices are going lower for the very wealthy and higher for everyone else.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 23:15 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 12:34 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

i'm dying in here you got to stop with the wit.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:49 | Link to Comment strike for retu...
strike for return to reality's picture

Will Sheila mail this to the millions of uncounted unemployed who've emptied their savings accounts and run up their credit cards so that they can buy food?

Calling Marie Antoinette, "Where's my cake!"

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 23:56 | Link to Comment Coming Down in ...
Coming Down in Powdery Sparks's picture

Don't forget the oh-so-useful educations that are being sold for $40k or $50k per year in private colleges.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 01:36 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

I was gonna say that.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 02:16 | Link to Comment snakeboat
snakeboat's picture

Indeed... pondering whether to even send my 9yr old girlie to the ivy towers at this point... maybe a mtn man education is the ticket now

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 08:36 | Link to Comment Miyagi_san
Miyagi_san's picture

As a Mounting man I agree

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:35 | Link to Comment DosZap
DosZap's picture

Make sure you have a NEW mattress...................

Or, what happened to Grandma, will get you.You forgot tires............

Also, Grandma, lost 1 Million dollars....for real, Mattress Savings & Loan.

Kids bought her  a new one, cause hers was old, and worn.

Took it to the dump................replaced it w/ a new one.

Sans the 1 mil.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:38 | Link to Comment DosZap
DosZap's picture

Ignoramus 2 here,

NO INFLATION?, you buy gas, or eat?.

CPI at 1.4x12=16.8%....................is that not Inflationary?.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:51 | Link to Comment merehuman
merehuman's picture

Thank you both. I shop. Wallstreet steals

I hope we all see a better day

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:59 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:20 | Link to Comment Mark Beck
Mark Beck's picture

Unfortunately, for a good debate on fundementals, inflation versus deflation, we must first define what we mean. However, the traditional use of these operators, in many ways do not apply to what we have today, when extrapolated from their historic norms. Some aspects may apply, but traditional models are broken. So this debate is perhaps a poor use of our time. What is more beneficial is in understanding what we would lossely describe as an economy.

Let me provide a few items:

1) First I would like to say that the actions of the FED are what I would call plausible distractors. That is an action, to fundementally address some economic historical norm, but in reality just a proping up of the banking sector, or some other FED agenda. The striking similarity to many of the FED programs are that success is plausible, but not likely (in terms of overall effects aiding our citizens), and funded from increasing the money supply (pulling aggregate worth into the present) or committing tax revenue (real worth = tax on labor).

Now this could be construde as monetary inflation, yes. However, there are more items in our economic soup.

2) Price manipulation (asset bubble creation or support), under the guise of price stability. Here again we see the FED hide behind the mask of plausibility. As to real estate, what really is their goal (as looked at over the past two years with the GSEs). Price stability as a goal is a misnomer when used to address the free market (self adjusting). For real estate the market should set the price, not the FED, and certainly not the FED at the destruction of our currency.

Is GSE FED action to prevent price deflation on this asset class? Perhaps, but this is a little strange on the surface. Because, really to be responsible, one would have to look at possible outcomes before committing to such massive programs. For example; what happens to price when the FED backs out? How will the MBS securities hold their value when the underlying asset class drops in price, or is there a market to sell these derivatives at or near cost? If not now, when? Maybe the MBS GSE buy is just to, once again, support the banking sector. This time to help de-leverage banking real estate debt.

3) What is really amazing is with all of the money spendt from the FED and the Administration (Treasury), that unemployment has not really been addressed. I also would like to say that, at some point destruction of the working base will diminish, because we simply do not have the possibility of a decline to zero employment. Companies can only lay off so many people before they cannot address their markets, and when this happens will either look for a buyer of file for bankruptcy. So the dynamics of employment go far beyond what is published publically.

And in closing, Fed Mission:

http://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/mission.htm

Also from within the FED purposes doc,

"The Federal Reserve sets the nation’s monetary policy to promote the objectives of maximum employment, stable prices, and moderate long-term interest rates. The challenge for policy makers is that tensions among the goals can arise in the short run and that information about the economy becomes available only with a lag and may be imperfect."

In the hearings we always here of these admirable objects, but without any accountability, or performance based on "real" FED costs. It must be nice to work where, there is no consequences of failure, and Trillion dollar mistakes are are resolved through destruction of a nations currency and dollar denominated savings.

Mark Beck

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 11:06 | Link to Comment hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

Mark, your three items above go along way to describing prestidigiflation.  Add a little bit more detail regarding the role of the failed fourth estate and you have it nailed.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 04:10 | Link to Comment dark pools of soros
dark pools of soros's picture

are boobs inflating?  or are they on the downtrend too?

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 12:43 | Link to Comment Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

stagflation on the boobs.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 10:01 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:01 | Link to Comment SteveNYC
SteveNYC's picture

No, it is now less than 1% I keep getting letters from the assholes trying to get my cash back.

"Quick, get in fast 1%APR!!" They want to pay you 1% to have your funds in an insolvent bank. Hahahahhahaa!!

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:10 | Link to Comment Problem Is
Problem Is's picture

"raise the fricking interest rates and people will move assets back to cash! simple stuff here."

Exactly Tripps!!! +1111.

Nothing price can't fix. Pay a decent interest rate and you may get deposits! That is why Bernank-ster upped the interest paid on Bank Reserves, right? Bobble that head Shelia...

As I learned from ZH commenters... 1.5% interest on constantly devalued Bennie Bernank-ster Bucks means...

Gold Bitches... and I would buy Silver blanks before I would take 1.5% on toilet paper Fed money too, bitches...

I learn so much reading here...

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:25 | Link to Comment Crodus
Crodus's picture

This made my stomach turn. The government first had to step in to cover the bad investments with blankets of cash and now they have to propagandize saving in order to cover another inflow of cash for bad investments.

Yes, America, start saving because the banks need to cover your eight neighbors on your street walking away from their houses. Our America has turned into a place of no-responsibility, a place where the leaders want to ignore cause and effect.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 23:13 | Link to Comment strike for retu...
strike for return to reality's picture

Maybe FDIC can commission some giant propaganda posters (as from the Soviet era) showing hardworking industrial workers taking their paychecks to the trustworthy bank.

This would go well with some big bronze statues of our esteemed leaders.

Kim Jong-il, welcome to America!

 

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:26 | Link to Comment ghostfaceinvestah
ghostfaceinvestah's picture

Are they fucking kidding?

You want to really fuck the banks?  Pay down, or default, on your debt, your choice.  No debt = no banks.

Putting your hard earned wealth into them so they can lend it out over 10X?  No thanks, I will keep my wealth in gold, fuck you very much.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:36 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:27 | Link to Comment bugs_
bugs_'s picture

Whip Inflation Now.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:34 | Link to Comment deadhead
deadhead's picture

bugs...very, very good!  I remember that campaign.  wow, brought back a memory.

 

gonna get my cardigan sweater out of moth balls and maybe do some orange barrel.......

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:17 | Link to Comment jimijon
jimijon's picture

sunshine

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 03:27 | Link to Comment PenGun
PenGun's picture

 A better idea. The little orange barrels were STP and nasty. The OS was straight up LSD 28 I believe.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:55 | Link to Comment Rusty Shorts
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:28 | Link to Comment Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance's picture

"The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is calling upon consumers across the nation during America Saves Week to  consider establishing a basic savings account or boosting existing savings."

What's the problem? Both sides can be happy with this request. America can save for one week and spend the other 51 weeks. Problem solved.

NEXT!

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 23:29 | Link to Comment Problem Is
Problem Is's picture

I am a citizen... not a consumer.

Put that bobble head to use and blow me Sheila...
To honor "American Banks Blow Week" of course...

NEXT!

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:28 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:33 | Link to Comment lizzy36
lizzy36's picture

Here is what the FDIC is doing with your money (hint, assume the position):

OneWest bank profit: $1.6 billion As IndyMac, it sold last year for less than that. Investors win, but the FDIC could still lose nearly $11 billion on bad loans that the Pasadena institution made before its sale.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-onewest20-2010feb20,0,880625.story

On on Friday: OneWest Bank purchased La Jolla Bank’s $3.6 billion in assets, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. In yesterday’s transaction, OneWest assumed $2.8 billion in deposits and will share losses with the FDIC on $3.31 billion of the assets, the FDIC said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a_StJNEqWrDY&pos=6

 

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:42 | Link to Comment ghostfaceinvestah
ghostfaceinvestah's picture

Someone is noticing.

I think they got handed another banks as well.

Oh yeah, here it is.

Pure theft.

http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/firstfederal-ca.html

All deposit accounts have been transferred to OneWest Bank, FSB, Pasadena, CA ("assuming institution") and will be available immediately.  On Saturday, December 19, 2009, the former First Federal Bank of California locations will reopen as branches of OneWest Bank, FSB.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 04:17 | Link to Comment dark pools of soros
dark pools of soros's picture

and lets remind the class that OneWest is a Goldman spawned venture...gobble gobble

 

and not publicly traded..  until they feel like dumping it.. then bring on the IPO and that great track record of hard work!!  massive earnings!!  

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:34 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Heh, heh, heh, heh...

My evil plan of keeping my money (except the bair minimum) is working.

Suffocate on the vacuum that is the absence of my funds and my brother's and sister's funds.

Starve the beast.

Suffocate the beast.

Money out of TBTF. Money only for bills, put that into credit unions,

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:00 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

pray tell me. i said i wouldn't come back to this site it is so depressing. i am not into gold. what to do if you have a lot of cash. out of stocks for now, tried to hide thousands of $100.00 bills that is a real drag. have any of you experienced putting back into the “system” large amounts of cash. well it is huge and takes hours and hours, you feel like the criminal  coming back to return the money so not get arrested. you have to tell them reasons where all this money came from and how did you get it. it is terribly invasive. money is quite dirty. unaccountable dollars that aren't in our system i heard is huge. i put it in safety deposit boxes but that sucks it is still in a phucking bank. any ideas people, i dumb and blonde.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:03 | Link to Comment jm
jm's picture

Allocate 90% in LQD.  10% in DOG.  Adjust DOG exposure depending on your loss tolerance.

This gives you IG corp yield with downside insurance.  Approx 5.25% less small basis point loss if DJIA goes up.

I'm not an advisor, just a quant.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:21 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

i said i am dumb and blonde. what does LQD or DOG or IG or PM mean. i had to dictionary quant. what in the heck is downside insurance. i know dow jones.

i have been thinking about this loaning it out to fellow americans with a pretty good interest rate return?

At Prosper.com individual private investors are able to assist in serving the needs of potential borrowers

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:43 | Link to Comment jm
jm's picture

Sorry. LQD is an exchange traded fund.  You can buy or sell it like a stock.  It tracks the IBoxx index for investment grade bonds. Every month it pays you a coupon payment for about 5.25%.

DOG is another ETF that tracks the inverse of Dow Jones. 

By putting 90% of your money in LQD you get the 5.25% return and appreciation on the bond index.

By putting 10% of your money in DOG, you protect your principal from downside shocks, because equity valuations go up and down more than fixed income paper like corporate bonds.

So... you have 5.25% yield.  You have some potential upside on the corporate paper.  Your insurance is that if a shock to bonds drops their value, the DJIA could go down more, and you make money on that, covering your losses.

Hope this helps.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 23:14 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

thanks jm, still just a little over my head. i use to think i was a genius when i knew how to press the buy button on my tdameritrade account page.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 23:48 | Link to Comment merehuman
merehuman's picture

if i was a dumb blond (oh shit i am) I would have a big german shepherd. Maybe  2.

To guard me and my actual metal in my pretty little hands.

Gold can be trusted to remain gold.

Dogs loyalty and love goes bejond most mens. And the dog will never try to steal my gold.

Its just so hard to get them to cook.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:30 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

crazy but i am a bob dylan fan only the way to get by right now i am thinkin'

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:38 | Link to Comment Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

you?  a bob fan?  who knew....

"I woke up on the roadside, daydreamin' 'bout the way things sometimes are....."

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 12:18 | Link to Comment WaterWings
WaterWings's picture

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:36 | Link to Comment Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

if i was a dumb, uh, not blonde, i would say you need an avatar.  woof!

http://salinakansas.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/puppy-009.jpg

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 01:44 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Waay cute!

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 09:40 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

when do you people sleep?

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:04 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

Use 60 percent to buy gold. Use the rest to buy safe, guns, etc.

The baby boomers are the problem. They are so fucked. They had problems with this during the 60's and instead of actually waking the fuck up and refusing to go along with it. Half of them are back buying pot and smoking it. Their denial ability seems endless for at least 1/4 of thier group and 1/2 will flounder around and only 1/4 seem willing to wake the fuck up. So I guess we just have to wait for the system to kill them before it becomes a more cohesive fight against power. I bet they have driven the pot prices up 50 percent the freaking ponzi loving bastards.

I generally don't prescribe to generational "faulting" but these fuckers won't leave their positions and they won't fire themselves. If you're a baby boomer and this offends you why let it. You are not your generation or your race or your religion or any of that shit. It seems pretty evident at this point in time that those who are ready to march to thier own drum are doing it and those that demand to be lead or will give you no choice but to follow are doing what they do.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:53 | Link to Comment jdrose1985
jdrose1985's picture

+1

I commented on Leo's pension thread yesterday, I really can't stand these prickly old farts..the greediest generation.

You hit it on the head...they watched friends and family be sent to a jungle to die and spoke out against the establishment and promptly proceeded to shed all responsibility for themselves and handed their future to the nanny state. Well, it worked for a while and now it doesn't, and it's getting worse.

They really are fucked for not learning from the get-go. How? It's beyond me...

And yes the FDIC had a huge impact on this. Bank runs are healthy and keep the system in check. A total collapse is now imminent. Could be 2 weeks or 10 years. Who knows?

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 09:51 | Link to Comment DosZap
DosZap's picture

jd,
Your too young to know WTF your talking about.
Sorry, but that's obvious.

The folks YOUR speaking of, are the same SOB's RUNNING this damn carnival.( the D.C. Crew).................

Who do you think put MORE into the system, only to NOW potentially get LESS back?.
Since inception?.

The 50-65yr old group.........

No pot smoking, drug taking BS,went to war, came back got jobs, raised a family, sent kids to college, got degree's, and all WE ask is what those that went before us( we paid for)recived.

WHO, BTW, paid in a hell of a lot less than the 55-65 generation DID.

Stop and think about it, before you make assertions you have no clue about.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 01:51 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 09:54 | Link to Comment DosZap
DosZap's picture

Thank you Anon,nice to know SOMEONE thinks of us as more than USELESS EATERS.
And looks at the FACTS.................
Were we/ are we perfect,hell no............but, WHO Is?.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 18:31 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

Fuck apple, Fuck Microsoft, and MOST OF ALL FUCK Intel. Nice post. Reminds me of why I use Linux. Use a energy efficient Dual core processor and played with setting up a hackintosh boot for a few days before deciding that it was not worth any amount of trouble.

Once these companies die. And they will die. Things will be better.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 04:19 | Link to Comment dark pools of soros
dark pools of soros's picture

i thought it was 90% in liquor and 10% on a new pooch

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:18 | Link to Comment Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

Babe,

Your story cracked me up!  I think you can understand ;)  I want to ask you to ask yourself exactly what you think is going to happen with the economy short, medium, and long term, then go from there on allocating your money.  You may be blonde, but you are smart enough to be on this site.

I have some friends who remind me of you.  They are learning bout the system, and are asking about what to do with their cash.  I told them to buy gold coins.  I also like silver coins.  I could give you a million reasons why to hold physical (one being it looks nice).  Babe, I can not give you one reason not to hold it.  

Also, I know it can all be depressing, but honestly, it is the truth that sets you free.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 23:08 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

gold weighs a ton. i think their is blood of their hands mining physical gold just like all my diamonds i own. i have a ton of silver coins with a female on them. doesn't do anything for me. i loaned my friend $100,000. to buy grapes with for his crush in 2008, and he pays me 8%. Hep, you crack me up so much i can't barely read your post. i thought we were in a deflationary pattern with pot prices. i know it is hard for us to raise our price for a bottle of wine, and we have to but the market won't tolerate it. i was in bernstein wealth management for years, but a friend told me to get out because they are just buying all their buddies stocks (banks). phuck

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 23:21 | Link to Comment Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

look I know there is no good option.  i know.  i feel the same way (blood on the hands) about doelarrs.  i do not like supporting such a fascist country as the US, so I try to get rid of them as fast as possible.  The other day Shameful (of ZH) said "If [he] had so much gold he couldn't carry it he would consider [himself] blessed."  I think this is the right way to think about gold.  and by the way, you sound like you are doing fine....

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:09 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

 blood on your saddle

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 23:42 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 01:55 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

Forget that. If you have alot of money. Get a solar/wind system. Seriously if you are hording money in mattresses then you should be installing a damn solar system. You don't have to go completely off grid but at least get one for emergencies. Because if this GOES far and it seems like it is going to. The derivatives shit will infest the power companies and some asshole will end up OWNING the rights to power that is produced on you grid. They'll then talk the power companies into turning your meter way up and charging you 300 bucks for 100 buck worth of power. This is just starting but it seems like there is going to have to be severe pressure to get people to wake the hell up.

http://www.altestore.com/store/

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 11:10 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 13:07 | Link to Comment WaterWings
WaterWings's picture

Great link. Here is an immediately actionable, inexpensive starter kit that would allow you to extend daylight, watch TV, and other relatively low-power devices. It won't power your entire house, but it's a damn good start.

http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-50044-60-Watt-Solar-Charging/dp/B000CIADLG

You do need to get a deep-cycle battery, however. Recharge car batteries for people, post collapse, for barter.

This also a great website for alternative energy:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category_6970_770399

If your main concern is to at least extend daylight so you don't have to burn candles, or sit in the dark, this is a great starting point (with battery!):

http://www.amazon.com/Sunforce-Watt-Solar-Lighting-Kit/dp/B001J3SI60/ref...

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 13:40 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

I looked into solar for my house. They wanted 38 K and then they were not sure it was going to work. No local installers so everything was coming in from out of state. Sure wish I had someone competent to pay to do this.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 14:06 | Link to Comment WaterWings
WaterWings's picture

DIY and buy more Au/Ag/Pb with the savings (forget large-scale and wiring your house; think charging a short row of batts in your garage/basement/wherever and running some extension cords (disclaimer: I have not tried this yet myself; my current solution is focused on mobility and basic needs). You might have to leave it all behind anyway. Imagine a 5x5 storage unit in an advance location as a back-up plan: some storable food, small energy solutions for cooking, heating, power and a four-season tent (put precious metals and firearms in an 8" PVC pipe and bury it nearby) - unless you are friendly with the locals (they will likely welcome trustworthy, armed individuals that have "extra food". Your house is too many eggs in one basket. Most Americans are about to have their basket run over by a MACK truck.

Acquire one less gold coin and get one of these:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&...

and a stove:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&...

Read the reviews for the stove.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 14:22 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

us original homeland security call those teepee's. had my first one in '69, even painted it with horses and wapiti.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 16:39 | Link to Comment WaterWings
WaterWings's picture

Nice. Sounds romantic now.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 18:52 | Link to Comment Hephasteus
Hephasteus's picture

Ya MsCreant you are falling for the all or nothing trap. Don't get an all or nothing system. Get a system that is reasonable. You can survive on a killowatt a day. You can be comfortable on 10 killowatts a day.

The trick is switching things to DC. Switch computer to DC. Switch fridge to DC. Get a 12 volt dc coffee maker, switch TV to DC. Wiring them is expensive as you have to use huge bus bars or huge gauge wires. But just using a pure DC-DC power supply on computer and charging batteries with a power factor corrected charger saves me a good 1/2 a killowatt a day. When you pay 12 cents for a killowatt it seems like a lot of trouble. But when power is out and you are trying to be comfortable theres nothing quite like being able to have the luxury of using a computer because your entire system only uses 100 watts. And heck even having 6 60 watt panels charging a battery and a 300 watt DC heater to be able to hold up in a room on a 20 degree night without needing to eat an entire seal to get your body to ramp up and make heat cause the house is 40 degrees. Those kinds of things. And the trick is to actually USE THEM. Not build an emergency plan system that you don't use at all. My charger runs every day. I don't have enough panels to use them yet all the time. But I deploy them sometimes.

The last icestorm here killed 2 people. Stuck in a frozen house without power. They were not healthy but even putting up with that kind of stuff for a healthy person is draining.

It's a fun way to learn about science and learn new skills and change your lifestyle and think about what you really really need and what you can live without.

Get the emergency stuff. Cause propane heaters and stuff are nice emergency equip but why not have a solar cooker and use the propane when you want to cook something and it's not sunny. And why not cook with it all the time when you can.

50 lb bags of rice are nice to have but you gotta cook it. Having it and not being able to eat it is just as bad.

http://www.12volt-travel.com/12-volt-fans-heaters-c-94.html

http://www.google.com/products?q=fresnel+lenses+for+sale&oe=utf-8&rls=or...

Sun, 02/28/2010 - 21:56 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Thanks to you and Waterwings. Wish there was a chatroom...

Wed, 02/24/2010 - 14:07 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 12:12 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 12:46 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

i care about people. innovation + people + money makes me happy.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:22 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:03 | Link to Comment merehuman
merehuman's picture

Empty pockets. I have given away silver. 30 oz last 2 months to various strangers and aquaintences. I believe in sharing, always have and found life has given me back much. Its not in me to hold on to tight to anything but my freedom and personal ethics.

I can be forgiven for this, as i am barely human

and less than a shadow.

If more of us did that we would all be lighter.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 01:16 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 02:09 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 23:37 | Link to Comment Problem Is
Problem Is's picture

"have any of you experienced putting back into the “system” large amounts of cash. well it is huge and takes hours and hours, you feel like the criminal"

So? Do like Ruthie Madoff and deposit $9900 at a time. Stay under that $10k IRS reporting limit, wear your designer pant suit and the usual diamond bracelet, earrings plus the 5 ct. marquise cut wedding ring... and no questions will be asked...

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:44 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:52 | Link to Comment mitack
mitack's picture

Monkey bussiness I tell ya...

http://www.welltrainedmonkey.be/images/Monkey-Business2.jpg

http://www.no-monkey-business.info/images/no-monkey-business-mem-card.jpg

How the f*ck do I insert an image ?

Tried BBCode- no luck... 

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:47 | Link to Comment Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

They are all vampires, and the monie is their lifeblood. 

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:49 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:52 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 01:50 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:53 | Link to Comment bugs_
bugs_'s picture

You know the FDIC could really do us all a

favor if they would get specific and tell us

_which_ banks we need to open our savings

accounts at - LOL!

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:05 | Link to Comment merehuman
merehuman's picture

up 1000

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:57 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 19:57 | Link to Comment SteveNYC
SteveNYC's picture

Hey, until I start seeing 4% plus in interest, fuck you. It stays in the safe or overseas.

I didn't pull funds from the banks for no reason, NO BANK will speculate with my savings. The nerve of this scum.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 12:50 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

whats overseas?

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:01 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:07 | Link to Comment merehuman
merehuman's picture

Inflation is like a secret. Dont tell.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:01 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:05 | Link to Comment jkruffin
jkruffin's picture

If the crooked banks paid more than  0.19% interest then maybe someone would save.  What is the point?  Before the FDIC begs people to save. maybe they should force the banks to offer a decent interest rate since they are charging people 30% on credit card interest.  People are finally waking up in this country it seems, and are not falling for the crap anymore.  Get all incumbents out of office this Nov.

 

www.goooh.com   run for office in your local area

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:06 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:09 | Link to Comment jkruffin
jkruffin's picture

HEHE,  reminds me also about Shitibank commercial offering 1.5% on a $25,000 minimum 5yr CD earlier this year.  ROFLMAO   I can get an I-bond right now for 3.36%, so why the hell would I put money in an insolvent bank like Shitibank?

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:12 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:45 | Link to Comment jkruffin
jkruffin's picture

Not sure if you are being sarcastic or not, ROFL   but just in case you are serious

 

http://treasurydirect.gov/indiv/products/prod_ibonds_glance.htm

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:20 | Link to Comment jdrose1985
jdrose1985's picture

Ok you guys may laugh at me...

I've just started looking into the I bonds and they are a pretty cool product..

Does anybody know how to get around the fact that you can only invest $5,000 in them per year?

Seriously, the gold bugs are wearing a little thin on me. If the world goes the way you guys are hoping, whatever gold you may have will be forcibly taken from you by the starving mobs. I really like gold as a hedge but I hopefully grew up and moved beyond the delusional stage of this crisis.

If the dollar hyperinflates we are all fucked beyond your wildest dreams. Learning how to fish, hunt and grow food should be your number one concern at this moment, not dreaming about how rich you'll be.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:46 | Link to Comment Winisk
Winisk's picture

Do you really think there will be enough deer and fish to feed all the poachers that will be shooting at eachother in the woods?  It's already a challenge managing wildlife populations to meet the recreational demands.  There's no sure way out of this one my friend.  We are entering a period of scarcity.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 23:06 | Link to Comment jdrose1985
jdrose1985's picture

LOL!

Yes I really do think so, just have to have a workable getaway plan to get to an area that wouldnt be over run by those crazy poachers...there are millions and millions of acres wide open land to scour for survival, I've been there and worked cattle in these areas. However, those in the cities with no way to get out are truly fucked. It's unimaginable, really.

I do foresee the period of scarcity you speak of. The supply chain collapse will be big and it will be bad.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 04:21 | Link to Comment perchprism
perchprism's picture

I'm going to raise chickens and sell eggs and vegetables (in season).  My neighborhood doesn't allow livestock, but that won't matter if the SHTF.  So, I have chicken wire, lumber for a coop, and 250 lbs of chicken feed in totes under the house.  Already have a big garden.  Half an acre of corn to feed chickens won't be a problem.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 13:30 | Link to Comment WaterWings
WaterWings's picture

+1

Eggs contain everything needed for healthy living save Vitamin C. Make a pine needle broth for that. Nature provides.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 09:32 | Link to Comment Winisk
Winisk's picture

Good plan.  I'm already out.  Surrounded by lakes and have deer roaming through my back yard for now.  That could change.  The woodticks living in these parts have no sense of conservation. It will be open season all year round if the situation gets desperate. There's no way I'm going to allow my children to live in the shitholes cities are about to de-evolve into.  Chickens and some top soil are this years investment.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 11:24 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

i can't stand it you people really are funnier than .........every comic i admire.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:53 | Link to Comment jkruffin
jkruffin's picture

You can buy up to 10k in I-bonds as an individual.  Hold $5k electronic at Treasury Direct and buy the other $5k in paper form from any bank or credit union.  Then get more in a spouse's, childs, parents, name and rinse and repeat.

 

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:16 | Link to Comment merehuman
merehuman's picture

   Suicide Match

For a small fee we match you with someone who also wishes to die.

We include a one time euphoria package.

Senior discounts at request.

Please pay your Federal premature  death tax

in advance of application.

You may not waive video taping.

 

Dont wait! See the unknown, discover mysteries never before seen.

Ressurection by government approval only

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 01:55 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Problem is your contestants would miss the show. And oh what a show, like none other. Get your Zen on babe.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 11:05 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:23 | Link to Comment buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

Go blow a goat Sheila. Sleazy lending whorehouse FDIC, agencies, FHLB. None of them can be trusted.

 

Listen to me people. Pay off mortgages and other debts, the banks are screwing you with zirp. Hide your remaining cash in the mattress or Ts. Starve the beast.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:18 | Link to Comment merehuman
merehuman's picture

Have you heard of  "MATTRESS FINDER?

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:24 | Link to Comment 35Pete
35Pete's picture

If you're gonna tell the truth, you'd better use humor. Otherwise the mob will kill you for it. 

I think Tyler (and Marla) get that. One funny mofo. 

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:29 | Link to Comment monopoly
monopoly's picture

OK Sheila...but, but can you find me a job first. Please.

Beyond words all, I wish I was good enough to make this stuff up

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 02:01 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Lotta folks on here in this fix. Many of us are just waiting, waiting, waiting, for the hammer to drop. You would not believe the stress I am under keeping my fucking job. I am both ashamed (survivor's guilt) and grateful. Talk to Dead Head, Tom Joad if you see him.

I once asked Marla to run a poll for ZH. The question would be:

Are you employed:

Yes

No

I could see other ways to word it, there are so many inbetween statuses to acknowledge. My way is like Clinton's revision.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 03:02 | Link to Comment poor fella
poor fella's picture

That poll would be interesting and a 'nope' for me. A degree in CS from a good UC yet I feel TPTB had to crush I.T., sys admin, and software engineering. Done everything, had great feedback, but laid off continually once things were cleaned up (having things work is an 'expense' you know). Looking around, it's a wasteland. Healthcare is not for me - and I keep warning those I know in the field that if the H1C ever passes - expect things to go the way of the dodo (or Jedi). Congress almost passed allowing +400k foreign medical workers in for the first year. There goes that avenue toward middle class pay (although the latest study shows many healthcare jobs are pretty low-paying jobs vs. mfg.) 

Not sure why the administration keeps pimping education and information techonology, because besides silly 'ole SEO, affiliate marketing, and social networking positions for children - people with real skills a.k.a. engineers are out of work. If I wasn't a saver and didn't always despise debt, my family would be hosed, but things are still terrible. It's depressing. Anyone need a house painted? ("under the counter" of course) - maybe I'll buy me a taxicab - ludicrous - bad trade policies and bad representatives all. Speaking of Clinton - hope he and Rubin are still happy about NAFTA (pretty sure they are) - and when it comes to Cheney's evil-sac popping today, hopefully somebody will refuse to suture it...

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 10:38 | Link to Comment Shameful
Shameful's picture

Sorry to hear that, IT bro. Don't know where you are at but I see a fair number of job listings come out all the time in different places for computer programmers. Most places want the magic land of 3-5 years experience but I see work out there. My best friend who is in the biz and damn good at it keeps getting offers from places. The work is out there, don't give up hope.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 14:14 | Link to Comment poor fella
poor fella's picture

Thanks man... We'll see how it goes. IT always gets shafted - I would love to see a nationwide strike so we could get some respect. Things seemed to quiet down after the hospitals laid off everyone and sent all the work to IBM Global Services (who themselves ended up getting let go - the irony) - but my bro up in Seattle sent me the news that 1020 IT folks were given slips yesterday from Boeing - ~500 in Seattle, ~300 in Cali, the rest in St. Louis I think. Anyway, something may come up - a lot of those ads are still fake (+5 yrs experience with Oracle, Crystal, SQL, Unix, Server2003, Access, Ruby, Perl, multithreaded OO Javabean COMs, and 2 years cleaving fiber =P  whatever!) - All to show lawmakers there's a shortage of I.T. staff - hence the need for visas, which is complete and utter B.S. I'd just as soon find another field - when shit is falling apart (like our roads and bridges) and our country's productivity is in the tank because the physical layer can't be troubleshot from Chindiazil - we may regret letting go of so many IT jobs. 

Gonna put some Sangiovese vines in the ground - in 2 years make some wine - and say a cheers for everyone. Hope ZH and all will be doing well. peace.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 11:33 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

poor fella, apparently this mancession is what you are experiencing. this is what i am condoning with supporting innovation, alternative thinking. taxi cabs maybe go further.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 13:40 | Link to Comment WaterWings
WaterWings's picture

Mancession: when only gov't-sponsored Education and Healthcare grow (non-exportable); small businesses, manufacturing, and construction are crushed; tech jobs go to H1-B visas.

Innovation: new ideas that are born in top, often American, universities that become owned by corporations that produce the products wherever predatory wages can be found (not in America).

Yes. Amerimancession. We are all screwed. Now Harry Reid is blaming this intentional de-industrialization for domestic violence:

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/82803-reid-men-when-the...

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 14:38 | Link to Comment velobabe
velobabe's picture

human nature isn't it. word of the day Amerimancession send this to huffpost.

i just went to my local whole foods, the homeless are just stacked out there. sitting around on the outside seating looking really comfortable, it actually warms my heart.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:31 | Link to Comment D.M. Ryan
D.M. Ryan's picture

Who would have thought that John Maynard Keynes would be thrown under the bus...

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:33 | Link to Comment Bonz
Bonz's picture

I have an online checking account that pays 4.30% - FDIC insured.

I had one that paid 4.75% but they recently lowered their rate to 4.01%

Here's a site that helps you find the best offers https://www.checkingfinder.com/

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:10 | Link to Comment SteveNYC
SteveNYC's picture

Dude, if you are in the USA, and are banking with a domestic institution getting 4.3%, I'll eat shit. There is NOTHING right now offering that type of interest unless it is Lenny the Loanshark in Brooklyn, who is lending your cash out at 100%, and may not collect it all back.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:03 | Link to Comment CD
CD's picture

You have cause to be skeptical, Steve, but it does happen:

https://www.cambridgesavings.com/pg_View.aspx?PageID=401

Shop around for small, local community banks and you may get lucky. I realize this is promotional and likely temporary, but has lasted thus far since Oct. 2009 - and is with a brick-n-mortar bank, if that matters (though not really close to NYC).

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:31 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Tue, 02/23/2010 - 20:18 | Link to Comment Bonz
Bonz's picture

Royal Banks of Missouri 4.30%
https://www.royalbanksofmo.com/home/home

County Bank - South Carolina 4.01%
https://www.ecountybank.com/index.html

You need to keep an open mind, and do a little research.....

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:33 | Link to Comment percolator
percolator's picture

I just sent Mr. Hernandez an email telling him "No thanks, I'll keep my money in gold!"

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:36 | Link to Comment 35Pete
35Pete's picture

They need more pigeons to keep the ponzi scheme going. Deposit your hard earned reserve notes into one of their shops, and out it goes the very same day to pay off their big clients. 

Folks. This is the equivalent of their attempt to suck the marrow out of the bones after they've devoured the collective American Middle Class' carcass. 

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:45 | Link to Comment john_connor
john_connor's picture

The FDIC can get phucked; it goes without saying. 

Folks, we are at war, whether you know it or not.  It is a battle for your freedom, your liberty, your soul.

It is time to MOVE YOUR MONEY if you have not already done so!  http://moveyourmoney.info/

Allright, I will now go back to sipping Crown.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:36 | Link to Comment Rainman
Rainman's picture

Excellent choice......the Crown, I mean.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 21:41 | Link to Comment 35Pete
35Pete's picture

What about Jack Daniels?

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:21 | Link to Comment Mr Lennon Hendrix
Mr Lennon Hendrix's picture

makers mark and wild turkey.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 22:25 | Link to Comment john_connor
john_connor's picture

I like Makers as well.  thumbs up.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 00:21 | Link to Comment merehuman
merehuman's picture

yea, but i would miss that funky odor.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 02:05 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

A nice red gents, or two, maybe three if I start too early...

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:45 | Link to Comment Anonymous
Mon, 02/22/2010 - 20:47 | Link to Comment Miles Kendig
Miles Kendig's picture

Which is why I have changed my direct deposit to check in the mail.  The banks will not be able to lever my future government deposits.  I suggest everyone else cancel their direct deposits as well.

Tue, 02/23/2010 - 02:09 | Link to Comment MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

You won't believe this shit. I was the last one at my institution to get direct deposit. There were three of us, and instead of putting our checks in our boxes, they made us go to the pay window. Fine. Then the other two dropped out (guess they did not like walking). I was the only one out of thousands. They told me I had to take direct deposit. Ya see I know this is illegal. I decided not to fight it. But THEY WON'T LET ME GET A CHECK. I am forced to have direct deposit or not get paid.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!