To members – all checks finally were mailed out on the 18th of this month! As of this writing, 24% have been cashed. This is the best early return to date and we here at the Mathmatecum thank you. It would be awesome to be done with this yearly ritual by the end of February. The largest check was for $16.50 without any sponsorships being included.
Most, if not all, financial experts agree that when the Fed sets its biannual rate on May 1st the new rate on I bonds will go down from the current rate. There is an unusual feature to I bonds that whatever the rate is when you purchase one of these bonds you will receive that rate for six months. Whether purchasing a bond for yourself or acquiring a membership in the Mathmatecum it would best be done before April 30,2023. Time to add children, parent(s), and/or other loved ones.
I have explained in earlier blogs about getting a bank account for those who are at the moment the least financially fortunate among us. For those somewhat better off who have a desire to save money for their future we know from reading that is best done in a diversified manner by also investing in stocks. Open an account at any of the more popular brokerages. Most brokerages do not charge to buy or sell individual domestic stocks. Trying to keep up with the economy is daunting! One of my least favorite things growing up was hearing ‘what prices were when I was young’. Just listen to this for 1954 average prices.
Average House $9,500
Yearly Wage $4,000
Car $1,600
Ground Beef $.59/lb.
Eggs $.27/dz.
Gas $.20/gal.
All this in my lifetime! Actually, I remember gas at .17/gallon! Inflation has been always with us.
BIO
Last week I mentioned how my life has been filled with coincidences! Here are two that came to mind while thinking of my Paterson, NJ days. The Brooklyn Dodgers had a pitcher named Joe Black who I admired very much even though I was a Yankee fan. He was from Plainfield, NJ. Many years later while living on Hilton Head Island, SC I was asked to help with the Mike Schmidt golf tournament. I was in charge of the bet the bookie concession on the par three holes. The tournament was a charitable event and had players who were current and past baseball celebrities. The first day of the tournament a gentleman introduced himself to me saying he was Joe Black! He could not believe he found a fan in SC who was familiar with his career – what a nice man.
JAI BABA
TTFN
JU
