Last year, I gave you the best and worst housing markets for the 2009 year, with the average percent fall (and very rarely, gain) in selling prices.

This year, real estate prices seem to follow no pattern. In some areas, they are recovering from their 2008 price lows and in other areas, foreclosures keep piling up. Investors have it tough… speculators are everywhere, pointing to positive signs in the economy one day and then predicting doomsday the next.

We like real hard facts at SmarterSpend.com… so let’s go over some of the best and worst housing markets of this coming year, and predict what will happen to them in the long run.

Let’s hear the good news first.

Best Housing Markets of 2010

1) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Growth rate: 2.67%
Foreclosure Rate: Under 1%
Affordability (Median House price vs Median Salary): Very High
Tidbits: Pittsburgh was hit adversely by a manufacturing slump before the current crisis. This helped it avoid the current recession. The city is being revitalized with service jobs and is a great place for investors.
Prediction: Pittsburgh will remain stable, but I don’t see any possibility of double digit growth because of  a low economic base.

2) Louisville, Kentucky
Growth rate: 1.05%
Foreclosure Rate: 1.15%
Affordability (Median House price vs Median Salary): Very High
Tidbits: The city never had any growth in prices to begin with and was not severely affected by a fall in prices.
Prediction: Louisville will slowly become a large urban center, but not until there is some easing of the lending policies and business can thrive. Look for steady growth in the future, around 5%.

3) Houston, Texas
Growth rate: 11%
Foreclosure Rate: Under 4.5%
Affordability (Median House price vs Median Salary): High
Tidbits: Houston had a foreclosure panic in 2008, but quickly recovered due to job creation in the energy sector, which allowed median home prices to remain stable.
Predictions: I believe Houston has the best chance of double digit growth for any city in America. It has a booming metropolitan area, fueled by net population migration from other cities and lots of job creation.

Worst Housing Markets of 2010

1) Las Vegas, Nevada
Growth rate: -33%
Foreclosure Rate: 12% (Five times the national Average)
Affordability (Median House price vs Median Salary): Average
Tidbits: Las Vegas is the prime example of housing bust. In fact, according to Forbes, the average mortgage on a house in Vegas is greater than how much an average house is worth.
Predictions: I feel like  a turnaround will eventually happen for one reason: There is so much investment value and money at stake in Vegas. I just can’t imagine Vegas losing in the long run.

2) Phoenix, Arizona

Growth rate: -25.9%
Foreclosure Rate: 12.5% (Five times the national Average)
Affordability (Median House price vs Median Salary): Average
Tidbits: In Phoenix the fallout from the financial crisis is deflating home prices rapidly due to the overabundance of homes in the city. Phoenix has been suffering through the housing depression in one of the worst crashes in the nation and has one of the highest foreclosure rate in the country.
Predictions: Phoenix will need a lot to recover and it will take almost a decade for home prices to be at their pre-2008 respectable levels. It seems that the worst is over, but there are so many homes for sale, its unbelievable. Again, this can only be achieved by allowing residents of Phoenix access to loans on a wider level.

3) Detroit, Michigan
Growth rate: -21.66% (average house price is $6,500.. yes… SIX thousand)
Foreclosure Rate: 6.6% (Five times the national Average, Delinquencies at 18%)
Affordability (Median House price vs Median Salary): For people that have a job, a home is virtually free.
Tidbits: Detroit’s median house price was close to $100,000 before the recession and the real estate bubble burst. It has been speculated that Detroit was actually what caused the recession. Although investors are buying houses by the dozen, will there be a Detroit as we know it in the future?
Predictions: I feel like Detroit needs government intervention to survive. What does this mean? The Fed’s should put up some companies and jobs there. If there is no job creation in the near future, this could mean an end to the city as an American metropolitan giant.

—

How do the rest of you feel about the current real estate market? Will it turn around in 2010? What are the hottest cities to buy a house in? Join the discussion.

Ever since high school, I have been making great money without having a regular job. I have been resourceful, doing research on what kinds of jobs and services are in demand, and doing freestyle work.

I currently web design part -time and do some tutoring for most of my money.

Here are some easy ways for YOU to make extra cash.

1. Sell things on eBay – You can find lots of valuable things at local garage sales and swap meets. Focus on a particular thing so that you become an expert and know the prices. For example, I used to buy and sell mobile phones for about 7 months and made about 800 a month. I even had a website to sell by myself without paying extra to Ebay/Paypal but sold the domain on Sedo for $1100.
2. Paid Reviews – Paid reviews are becoming a big hit. You can easily make $50 a day by writing product reviews. Depending on your writing cells and readership, some companies are willing to pay hundreds for good reviews. PayPerPost is a great online service which acts as a middleman between writer and buyer.
3. Tutor- I tutor math and science because my degree is in Biochemistry, but you can make a bunch of money offering tutoring services around your community. Spread the word, make a website, and enjoy earning money while helping someone in need.
   I made this website: http://lasciencetutors.com for my tutoring.
4. Begin a Blog- Sure, for the first year or so, you will probably make a measly few bucks a day. But if you are a determined writer and can do some social networking espionage, you can build up a nice reader base and sell advertising spots to markets in your niche.
5. Write a Book – I recommend this step if you have a particular skill or interest along with some monetary cushion as publishing a book can take almost a year and a half. However, if you’re lucky and your book starts selling, you will quickly find yourself with enough money for a nice house down payment.
6. Sell Stock Photos- Are you a great photographer? You can make great stock photos and sell them to larger websites for extra money. Have some samples of your work ready.
7. Sell an eBook – You can make money faster making an eBook and selling it on a related blog or website (could be your blog or website). eBooks with tutorials and tips are good seller. You can also keep most of the profit and track your sales much easier than an actual book. Tons of websites are available to help you publish your eBook.
8. Become a Social Network Guru – Large companies are willing to dish out hundreds to savvy social networkers with lots of readers. For example, I have heard of offers in the ten thousands for the top Diggers to submit a link. Could that be you? Your credibility and status could take time to build up, but the market is there for sure.
9. Design Twitter backgrounds- Twitter is the next big social networking website. Celebrities, businesses, and bloggers are flocking to Twitter – most of them without any tech skills. You can design them a nice Twitter background and make some quick money. It took me like ten hours to design my Twitter page and I still think a redo is around the corner.
10. Social and Micro Lending- Got a few grand to invest? You can lend it out on social lending sites like Prosper.com or LendingClub. With default rates at a low 2.5%, you can spread your notes around and make substantial amounts on interest alone. Why not help people out and make some extra cash doing so?
11. Start an Online Store- You can sell everything and anything. I have male friends selling cosmetics and lady friends selling car equipment. Use Cafepress or start your own shopping site. Design unique products and make a ton of money.
12. Get a Job with The US Census- Thousands of jobs will be added this year to finish the 2010 Census. These great government jobs can bring in thousands a month if you have time. Census offices in my area are going to grow from ten to hundreds of workers by the time applications begin rolling in.
13. Sell Custom Designed Water Bottles at Events- Find local events in the newspaper or online and order custom designed water bottles. You can buy them very cheap and sell them for an extra dollar or two a bottle. Imagine how much money you could make at a big event?
14. Teach English classes at Adult Centers or Colleges- Does your city have a large immigrant population? There are almost always employers looking to pay a native speaker good money to teach a class. Here in Los Angeles, these classes pay $45-55 an hour for 8 hours a week – almost $1,200 a month.
15. Sell Homegrown Fruits and Vegetables- You don’t have to be a agribusiness to make money selling crops. Grow a few exotic fruit trees or vegetable patches and sell the harvest to locals. I guarantee you, not only will your food be better than what they are eating, but also less expensive. You can even use this to supplement your own purchases and save a bunch of money.

These are the legal and scam free ways to make money that I have thought of. Have you made money doing something else recently? Please share your tips and experiences with the rest of our readers.

Since we are all ambitious people, I am going to list you the best jobs that are in demand for the current year. In demand means “where employees are needed.”

Do you know any websites that show job demand or would like to add to the list? Please let me know.

Here is how this list is broken down- since yearly job growth is hard to predict due to fluctuations, we have included the number of jobs that will be opening from 2008- 2018 (one decade). The education factoid shown is not the required education, but the level needed for good job prospects. Finally, the earning range is from the 25%-75% percentile. If you have questions about any of these, please let me know.

I. Biomedical Engineers
Job Growth in Next Decade: 72% (#1 in all jobs)
Education: Master’s Degree
Earnings: $57,000 – $77,0000

Most of the growth seen in this field will be caused by the aging baby boomer population, which will rely heavily on medical devices and other equipment designed by biomedical engineers. This is especially true in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

II. Computer Systems Analyst
Job Growth in Next Decade: 53.4% (#2 in all jobs)
Education: Graduate Preferred, Bachelor’s with Experience also Preferred.
Earnings: $77,000 – $89,0000

As the Internet and IT becomes more common in many households and offices, the demand for CSA’s will increase heavily as experts are needed for computer networking and intranet responsibilities.

III. Physician Assistants
Job Growth in Next Decade: 39.0% (#7 in all jobs)
Education: PA degree required (2 years plus prerequisite coursework)
Earnings: $68,000 – $97,0000, average is $81,000

Doctor offices, hospitals and other institutions will employ more PA’s to provide care and to assist with medical and surgical procedures because PAs are cost-effective.

IV. Biochemists
Job Growth in Next Decade: 39.0% (#9 in all jobs)
Education: Graduate Preferred
Earnings: $59,000- $108,000

Growth in the field is due to continued development and reliance on newer biotechnological research. Positions are available in private science firms, academia, and federal laboratories.

V. Dental Hygienist
Job Growth in Next Decade: 36.1% (#11 in all jobs)
Education: Post- undergraduate (2 + 3 years) Dental Hygiene certificate
Earnings: $55,000- $78,000, average is $82,000

The projected growth of dental hygienists is the highest in the dental field in response to increasing demand for dental care and more use of cost effective hygienists, similar to PA’s for physicians.

VI. Computer Software Engineer

Job Growth in Next Decade: 34.0% (#14 in all jobs)
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Earnings: $67,000- $104,000

New job growth is propelled by the need for rapidly evolving technologies and the increasing use of the world wide web for marketing and sales.

VII. Veterinarians

Job Growth in Next Decade: 33.3% (#17 in all jobs)
Education: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M) + Undergraduate Degree
Earnings: $61,000- $104,000

There are only 28 vet schools in the country and admission is very competitive. With the low number of graduates every year and increasing demand, vet’s are becoming one of the fastest growing jobs in the United States.

VIII. Environmental Engineers

Job Growth in Next Decade: 30.6% (#21 in all jobs)
Education: Graduate Preferred
Earnings: $56,000- $94,000

As public awareness for the environment increases, more environmental engineers will be needed to help companies comply with environmental regulations and to develop methods of cleaning up environmental hazards.

IX. Survey Researchers

Job Growth in Next Decade: 30.4% (#25 in all jobs)
Education: Bachelor’s
Earnings: $43,000- $85,100

People with backgrounds in science or math related fields have the highest pay and overall better job prospects. Private research firms are the best employers for survey researchers.

X. Physical Therapists

Job Growth in Next Decade: 30.3% (#27 in all jobs)
Education: Prerequisite coursework followed by 2- 2.5 year PT program
Earnings: $50,000- $104,000

The rapidly increasing elderly population will require a need for PT’s and need for cardiac and physical rehabilitation.

This concludes my top ten list for most demanding jobs, if you are thinking about a career change, look more into these jobs to see if they fit you. The US Department of Labor website, http://www.bls.gov , is a vast resource that you can look for more jobs.

What do you think will happen with the job market in the upcoming years, join in the conversation…

I have searched the Internet and local magazines for the ten best fast food promotions (and coupons) that will surely save you money.  If you know some more, please let me know and I will incorporate them into a future article.

1) Wienerschnitzel – Special Offer Coupon: Free Medium Drink

URL: http://wienerschnitzel.com/email/coupon.html

Click Here for Printable Coupon

2 ) Carl’s Jr. – Special Offer Coupon: Grilled Cheese Bacon

URL: http://www.carlsjr.com/promotions/coupon/one-dollar-off-gcbb-combo/

3 ) KFC. – Special Offer Coupons: Several Coupons

URL: http://kfccoupons.cre8.com

Enter your zip code and enjoy 6 free coupons.

Planet Hollywood USA

URL: http://www.planethollywood.com/partners/entertainment_coupon2.htm

5 ) El Pollo Loco. – Special Offer Coupons: FREE Steak & 3-Cheese Quesadilla with Any 9 or 14 Piece Feast

FREE-Quesadilla-Feast-Promo

URL: http://www.elpolloloco.com/whatsnew/promotions.html
6 ) Donut Connection – Various Printable Coupons (Small Free Coffee with any purchase, Buy one coffee get another free, etc)

URL: http://www.donutconnection.com/NewFiles/coup.html

7 ) Godfather’s Pizza – Various Printable Coupons – Buy One Medium Pizza Get another free and MORE

Godfather Free Medium Pizza with Purchase of Large

URL: http://www.godfathers.com/coupons/

Boston Market – Catering Special- $10 off a $60 or more purchase

Boston Market Catering Special

URL: http://www.bostonmarket.com/specials?page=coupons

9) Jack in the Box- Printable Coupon – $1 off Grilled Sandwiches

Jack in the Box $1 off Coupon

URL: http://www.jackinthebox.com/coupon/grilled-sandwiches_20100201.php

10) Panda Express – Printable Coupon – Free Firecracker Chicken with Purchase

Free Firecracker Chicken

In the Summer Olympics, the United States Olympics Committee committee spend half a billion. Similar heavy spending has allowed the US to rank number one in the overall medal count in the last 4 Olympics.

As a website geared around finance, we like to see things in terms of monetary efficiency. Of course, countries with more resources, population, and money will do better as more funding is available. It has been proven as a country modernizes, they will win more medals. In fact, Colorado College Professor Dan Johnson uses pure economics to predict the number of medals countries will win with a stunning rate of accuracy in the 90s (although neglecting numerous Post-Soviet countries which combined for almost 80 medals).

However, we collected a list of countries that performed the best and worst compared to their GDP? Our findings are amazing and we can attribute significant patterns to the rankings.

2008 Summer Olympics by GDP ranking:

1) Zimbabwe – 4 medals. 2008 GDP: $4.2 billion
GDP per Medal: $1.05 billion per medal

Before the economic destabilization of the country in the second half of the decade, the country had a GDP of about $32 billion.

2) Mongolia – 4 medals. 2008 GDP: $5 billion.
GDP per Medal: $1.25 billion per medal (Former Communist Country)

Armenia at the 2010 Olympics

3) Jamaica- 11 medals. 2008 GDP: $15 billion.
GDP per Medal: $1.4 billion per medal (Former Communist Country)

Democratic Socialist / Communist from 1972 – 1983.
All in track and field.

4) Armenia- 6 medals. 2008 GDP: $11 billion.
GDP per Medal: $1.83 billion per medal (Former Communist Country)

5) Georgia- 6 medals. 2008 GDP: $13 billion.
GDP per Medal: $2.16 billion per medal (Former Communist Country)

During the Soviet Period, Armenia and Georgia combined for over 60 medals.

6 and 7) Kyrgyztan and Tajikistan. Each had two medals and a 2008 GDP of 4.5 Billion
GDP per Medals: $2.25 billion per medal (Former Communist countries)

Kyrgyztan still practices seasonal semi-nomadism and its largest city has 750,000 people.

8 ) Cuba- 24 medals. GDP: $55 billion
GDP per Medals: $2.30 billion per medal (Current Communist country)

Fidel’s country has always outperformed expectations in the Olympics.
9) Belarus – 19 medals. 2008 GDP: $60 billion

Cuba Gold Winner

GDP per Medal: $3.05 billion per medal (Former Communisty country)

Belarus is the second largest country in terms of GDP in the top ten of the rankings.

10) North Korea- 6 medals. GDP: $26 billion
GDP per Medals: $4.33 billion per medal (Current Communist country)

Many people claim that North Korea’s only strong suit is its army…however the athletics program must also be pretty good, as a top ten ranking in the world only attests to success.

The Bottom:

- India is last, with one medal for $400 billion dollars.
- Venezuela had one medal total, and a GDP of $332 billion.
- Japan had a lot of medals (25) but a GDP of 5 trillion, for a GDP per medal of $200 billion per medal.
- The United States had the most medals (110) but a GDP of 14 trillion. GDP per medals for United States: $129 billion
- Israel, Austria, Mexico, South Africa and Egypt rounded out the bottom, ranging from 130 billion to 300 billion per medal.
Surely, something interesting is going on here. Why do nine of the top ten countries have communist backgrounds? Why are the bottom countries the most capitalist ?

From those failures, a few stood out as disasters. Leading healthy corporations, they disappointed investors, shareholders, and the economy. Thousands of large businesses have failed, thousands taken over by more powerful and better managed competitors.

In an attempt to differentiate the bad from the worse, Smarter Spend has dug into the past and brought you the Worst CEOs of the 2000s Decade.

I. Robert B. Willumstad
Company: AIG
Tenure: June to September 2008

Robert Willumstad

In a short three months, Willumstad guaranteed the failure of AIG and the necessary government intervention which cost taxpayers $180 billion dollars. During his short tenure, AIG shares dropped 97% and the world economy was shaken.

II. Robert “Bob” Nardelli
Company: Home Depot and Chrysler
Tenure: Home Depot, 2000- 2007. Chrysler, 2007 – 2009

Robert Nardelli

During Nardelli’s reign with Home Depot, Lowe’s nearly doubled in size while Home Depot sales remained steady. He was forced to resign, with a severance of $210 million dollars and total earnings of $400 million with the company. Shortly after his failure with Home Depot, he became a failure with Chrysler. The company declared bankruptcy in 2009, received almost a billion dollar loan from the US government, and was forced to close down most of its dealerships.

III. Richard S. Fuld, Jr.

Company: Lehmann Brothers
Tenure: 1994 – 2008

Richard Fuld

Fuld received nearly half a billion dollars of compensation during his fifteen year tenure. He sold his 13 million dollar house to his wife for $100 to avoid seizure and currently has an active lawsuit against him by the state of New Jersey. In 2008, Lehmann Brothers declared bankruptcy with $630 billion in assets and a quarter trillion dollars of debt – the largest ever bankruptcy by an investment bank.

IV. Rick Wagoner
Company: General Motors, Inc.
Tenure: 2000- 2009

Rick Wagoner, the look of failure.

In his 9 year tenure, GM cut jobs, reduced production and tarnished its image, as Wagoner focused on profitable fuel guzzling cars. $20 billion was not enough to save GM from declaring bankruptcy and Wagoner was forced to resign by the federal government in exchange for a short term loan and restructuring promise.

V. Alan Fishman
Company: Washington Mutual (WaMu)
Tenure: September 8 to September 26 , 2008

Alan Fishman

During one of the shortest CEO tenures in recent history of only 18 days, Fishman received $19 million dollars in pay while WaMu’s shares tumbled from as high as $45 in 2007 to pennies in 2009. Washington Mutuals bank failure was the largest in American history and the near-trillion dollar company was sold to JP Morgan and Chase for close to $10 billion. Fishman’s approval rating of 7% was the second lowest in 2008.

VI. Angelo Mozilo
Company: Countrywide Financial
Tenure: 1997 – 2008, 11 years

Angelo Mozilo

Rated as one of the worst CEO’s of corporate America and in the list of CEOs blamed for the Great Recession now haunting our country, Mozilo earned over half a billion dollars from Countrywide while the country fell into the subprime mortgage crisis.

There are several advantages to franchising: benefiting from an already successful or tested businesses model, sharing risks with a larger amount of people, technical support for problems, marketing and brand names are already well known, and finally, you are your own boss. These advantages have helped a franchise boom since the 1960s, with the ubiquitous McDonald’s the clear-cut leader in world wide franchises.

2010 presents a unique set of problems for franchises- decline in consumer demand, artificial raising of prices to cut losses, and overall investor fear. Many people are searching for an honest, neutral article on best franchises to open. This list, which shows important statistics for opening a franchise, provides you with non-biased findings that will help you make your decision. We will assign an overall “SmarterSpend investment rating” to each franchise.

Pinkberry:

A Scoop of Pinkberry

The Tidbits: Pinkberry now has 50+ stores in Los Angeles and New York. It has a strong cult following and is considered a healthy desert alternative, with medium sized alternatives around the 200 calorie range.  Store designs are trendy and modern, with comfortable seating.
Industry: Frozen Yogurts
Industry Outlook: $35 billion a year in 2009, predicted to increase by another $3 billion (~9%) by 2012.
Financials: $45,000 licensing fee + $600,000 assets ($200,000 liquid needed per store)
Royalties: 2% marketing fee, 6% general revenue fee
Positives: Affordable franchise, trendy stores and management, just received $9 million for second round of investments
Negatives: Relatively new franchise, competition from Yogurtland, SpoonMe, and other similar brands, class action lawsuit for ingredients (not really Yogurt).
SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 7.0 / 10

7- Eleven

7- Eleven Brand Marketing

The Tidbits: Seven-Eleven Japan Co.,Ltd., primarily operating as a franchise. It is the largest chain store with more than 36,842 outlets operating around the world and has surpassed the previous record-holder McDonald’s Corporation in 2007 by approximately 1,000 retail stores. It is found all over the world and is very prominent in Asia. They offer training in local training centers. At the moment, there are almost 7,000 franchises in the United States, and 30,000 worldwide.
Industry: Convenience Stores
Industry Outlook: 20% of all retail sales and 8% overall growth in 2008.
Financials: Net worth requirement: $127,000, with a range of total investments of $100,000 to $700,000, initial franchise fee of $25,000
Royalties: Ongoing Merchandise Gross Profit royalty of 25%
Positives: One of the fastest growing franchises, old and successful history, worldwide corporation, training centers, revenue on profits
Negatives: Most large metropolitan areas are saturated with 7-Eleven’s, Competition from other convenience stores, requires 7-10 employees
SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 9.0/ 10

Hampton Inn/ Hampton Inn & Suites

Hampton Inn and Suites

The Tidbits: The first Hampton Inn opened in Memphis, Tennessee in 1984. Hampton Inn was the first mid-price national hotel chain to begin offering a free continental breakfast and free local phone calls. In 1995, the Hampton brand introduced Hampton Inn & Suites, which consisted of two-room suite hotel rooms with living rooms and kitchen areas. As of March 2009, the chain comprises more than 1,700 hotels. It was acquired by Hilton in 1999.
Industry: Hotels
Industry Outlook: 8.8% drop in hotel occupancy in 2009.
Financials: Total investment: $3,716,000 – $13,148,800, $50,000 franchise fee
Royalties: Ongoing 5% fee
Positives: Top American franchise, one of the fastest growing franchise, International company, Training, Marketing and Ongoing Franchisee Support Available
Negatives: Higher than regular hotel vacancies due to economy, very expensive franchise, long (22) years terms of agreement
SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 7.5 / 10

Subway

Subway Franchise Numbers Increasing

The Tidbits: Subway was founded in 1965 and began franchising in 1975. Offering a fresh, healthy alternative to fast-food restaurants, Subway has franchises throughout the United States and in several countries, with locations in traditional and nontraditional sites alike. There are currently over 22,000 franchises in the United States and 8,000 around the world. It was rated by Entrepreneur as the best franchise to open for 14 straight years, before it was beaten by 7-11 in 2008.
Industry: Food (Sandwiches)
Industry Outlook: Increasing revenue and profits; Subway hopes to open 2,000 more stores by 2014.
Financials: Total investment: $84,300 – $258,300, $15,000 franchise fee
Royalties: Ongoing 8% fee
Positives: Rapid expansion plans, increasing market, good media coverage, 65% of all franchisees own more than one Subway, affordable products
Negatives: Saturated in larger cities, long term of agreement
SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 9.5 / 10

H & R Block

The Tidbits: H & R Block is a tax preparation company in the United States, claiming more than 22 million customers worldwide, with offices in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Kansas City-based company also offers banking, personal finance and business consulting services. They have over 22 million customers and a large number of new franchises opening.
Industry: Tax Preparation
Industry Outlook: Increasing revenue, but decreasing net income ( lost 300 million in 2008).
Financials: Total investment: $84,300 – $258,300, No Initial Fee, No additional costs for advertising
Royalties: Varies
Positives: Very low franchise costs, old brand with lots of clients, lots of company owned stores
Negatives: Competitive industry, net income loss in 2008, lots of stores currently being sold
SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 8.5 / 10

In this blog, I will analyze the statistics behind budget inequality and its ramifications. I promise you will find this amusing.

First, I would like to share with you a simplified version of the US Budget:

Budget 2009 Proposed Discretionary 02102009

Yes, thats 58% of the 3.1 TRILLION Federal Budget on Defense.

If a family spent over half its money on defense, it would be starving, illiterate, and without shelter, and broke.
Sound familiar? It should.

In this article we will compare spending on these vital areas: Education, Health, Defense, Social Security, and finally: Natural Resource and Conservation

I. Education
“The whole object of education is…to develop the mind. The mind should be a thing that works” – S. Anderson

Countries with Highest % Of GDP Spent on Education:
1. Cuba – 18.7 % – Literacy Rate: 100% (Unicef) – 1st in the world
2. Yemen – 9.5% Literacy Rate: 67% (UN) Note: Yemen has recently made education its top priority.
3. Mongolia – 9%  Literacy Rate: 97.8% (Unicef)
4. Denmark – 8.5% Literacy Rate: 99.0% (Unicef)
5. Guyana – 8.4%  Literacy Rate: 98.8% (CIA.gov)
37. United States 5.7% – Literacy Rate: 86% – US Department of Education

The United States ranks far behind most developed countries and several second-world countries. Post-Soviet nations such as Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia have literacy rates over 99.5%.

II. Health
“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” – Gandhi

Life Expectancy VS Spending

1. United States – 16.0% – Life Expectancy: 78 Years
2. France – 11.0 % – Life Expectancy: 81Years
3. Switzerland – 10.8 % – Life Expectancy: 81.7 Years
4. Germany – 10.4 % – Life Expectancy: 79.7 Years
5. Belgium – 10.2 % – Life Expectancy: 80.2  Years

Amazingly, the US Spends 2 trillion dollars in both public and private sectors, but the leading cause of bankruptcy is medical and our spending is far less efficient that countries like Cuba, Singapore, and Japan. In Japan, the life expectancy of 82.6 years is the highest in the world. Yet, most Japanese live in industrialized areas, such as Tokyo.

III. Defense Spending
Army: A body of men assembled to rectify the mistakes of the diplomats. - J. Daniels

WorldWwde Military Spending

1. United States (19.2 %) – 41.5 % of the World Defense Spending. 96th on Global Peace ranking.
2. Oman – 22nd on Global Peace ranking
3. Qatar- 30th on Global Peace ranking
4. Saudi Arabia – 90th on Global Peace ranking
5. Iraq – Last on Global Peace Ranking

With the exception of Oman and Qatar, both peaceful Arabian peninsula states, countries with high defense spending usually are the least peaceful. Least peaceful countries have more deaths due to war, economic instability, and less focus on social services.

IV. Social Security
One of the most urgent orders of business at this time is the enactment of hospital insurance for the aged through Social Security to help older people meet the high costs of illness without jeopardizing their economic independence.” – President Lyndon Johnson

1. Sweden – 20.9 % (7th Happiest country in the world)

Performance of Social Security Portfolios

2. Finland – 20.3 % (5th Happiest country in the world)
3. Netherlands – 20% (15h Happiest country in the world)
4. Denmark – 19.1% (Happiest country in the world)
5. Austria – 18.8 % (3rd happiest country in the world)
13. United States (12.6%)  - 17th happiest in the world.

The correlation cannot be rejected. If one looks at the list of happy countries, most of them stress social services above all forms of government expenditure. Happiness also leads to longer lives (Sweden is third in life expectancy).

V. Environmental Spending
“Your descendants shall gather your fruits.”— Virgil

1 Netherlands: 1.8 % of GDP
2   Austria: 1.7 % of GDP
3   Japan: 1.6 % of GDP
4.   United States: 1.6 % of GDP
5.    Switzerland 1.6% of GDP

Natural resource conservation has been growing all around the world as global warming fears heighten. It is also used as a political tool for both Democrats and Republicans.

Growing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Budget

The point of this article is one. The current fiscal crisis and federal deficit is going to have to be paid somehow. Already, $250 Billion a year is spent just paying the interest on the national debt and with trillions more being tacked on, where is the funding going to come from? It’s simple: the feds will cut back on vital funding for education, slash social services and health care, and increase taxes. What we need is someone in charge that can manage the debt, and although a surplus looks like a very bleak possibility, and balance the ballooning budget without compromising the necessary expenditures.

SmarterSpend has compiled a list of top ten ‘traditionally less known’ countries where investments can prove highly beneficial- whether it is a business or a real estate purchase. These countries are in no particular order.

Scroll through and let us know what you think.

1. Belarus

Belarus Buildings

2008- 2009 GDP Growth Rate: 10.0 %

GDP: $118 billion

Population: 9.6 million

Human Development Level (HDI): 0.817

Government: Presidential Republic

Exports: machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals; textiles, foodstuffs

Imports: mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, metals

Natural Resources: Forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay

2. Brazil

SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 10.0 / 10

(+ for diverse economy, stable government, low threat of war/civil unrest, GDP growth, vast untapped natural resources, labor force, upcoming World Cup and Summer Olympics)

Aircraft Industry In Brazil

The Tidbits:

Brazil’s economy is the tenth largest in the world, but with a constant increase and a large population, it will be a focus of international investments in the future. Brazil has a strong agricultural sector fueled by coffee and soybean exports, oil reserves, industrial capability (VALE is a huge mining company), and petrochemicals. The trade balance is positive and there is no reliance on a single trading partner. The 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, arguably the most international events in the world will be held in Brazil.

Look for Brazil to be in the news in the recent future as investors flock there.

2008- 2009 GDP Growth Rate: 5.1 %

GDP: $1.6 trillion

Population: 192 million

Human Development Level (HDI): 0 .813

Government: Presidential Federal Republic

Exports: transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos, automotive parts, machinery

Imports: machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil, automotive parts, electronics

Natural Resources: Forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay

3. Slovakia

SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 8.5 / 10

(+ for diverse economy, stable government, low threat of war/civil unrest, GDP growth. – for landlocked, – for negative growth rate)

Bratislava Financial District

The Tidbits:

Slovakia is a post-communist country in Central Europe and a member of EU, EuroZone, and NATO. Its economy is marked with the lowest income disparity in the world and foreign investment oriented laws. 1.6 million tourists visited Slovakia in 2006 as it features a beautiful natural landscape and rich cultural heritage marked. The southern part of Slovakia (bordering with Hungary) is known for its rich farmland. Growing wheat, rye, corn, potatoes, sugar beets, grains, fruits and sunflowers. Vineyards are concentrated in Little Carpathians, Tokaj, and other southern regions. The breeding of livestock, including pigs, cattle, sheep, and poultry is also important.

2008- 2009 GDP Growth Rate: 6.1 %

GDP: $119 billion

Population: 5.3 million

Human Development Level (HDI): 0.88

Government: Parliamentary Republic

Exports: Automobiles (16%), iron and steel (9.5%), and refined petroleum products (6.5%) apparel (4.3%), motor vehicle parts and accessories (3.6%)

Imports: consumer goods, 12.3%; food, 4.5%; fuels, 17.6%; industrial supplies, 30.6%; machinery, 19.9%; transportation, 15.0%; and other imports, 0.1%.

Natural Resources: Brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land

4. Argentina

SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 9.0 / 10

(+ for diverse economy, stable government, low threat of war/civil unrest, GDP growth, high literacy rate, – for wide income disparity)

Buenos Aires Skyline

The Tidbits:

Argentina may be the most European influenced country in the Western Hemipshere, with 93% of the population coming from European ancestry. Argentina has a very high literacy rate and was considered one of the richest countries in the world in the start of the 20th century. Foreign nationals hold $76 billion worth of investments in Argentina and the country is open to moderate amounts of migration. Also, the country has rich mineral deposits and arable farmland.

2008- 2009 GDP Growth Rate: 6.97 %

GDP: $578 billion

Population: 40 million

Human Development Level (HDI): 0.86

Government: Federal Presidential Republic

Exports: Soybeans and byproducts, 23.4%; cereals (mostly maize and wheat), 9.7%; motor vehicles and parts, 9.3%; refined fuels, 6.5%; chemicals, 6.2%; aluminum and steel, 4.9%; natural gas and petroleum, 4.4%; other industrial products, 11.1%; all other (mostly processed agricultural products), 24.5%.

Imports: Industrial and computing machinery and parts, 39.4%; industrial supplies, 35.2%; automobiles and other consumer durables, 12.8%; refined fuels and lubricants, 7.5%; all other (mostly consumer non-durables), 5.1%

Natural Resources: Fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium

5. Panama

SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 8.0 / 10

(+ for diverse economy, stable government, GDP growth, – reliance on few trading partners, large trade deficit)

Panama City

The Tidbits:

Panama, an American invention, is a fully dollar based market economy with an emphasis on the banking and tourism sectors. Its near future economy will be bolstered by tolls from the Panama Canal rebuilding project, which will allow for twice the number of ships to pass. Unemployment is minimal and the country exports heavily to the United States.

2008- 2009 GDP Growth Rate: 9.21 %

GDP: $42 billion

Population: 3.3 million

Human Development Level (HDI): 0.840

Government: Constitutional Democracy

Exports: $10.29 billion: bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, and clothing

Imports: $15 billion: capital goods, foodstuffs, chemicals, consumer and intermediate goods

Natural Resources: Copper, Mahogany Forests, Shrimp, Hydropower

6. Romania

SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 8.5 / 10

(+ for diverse economy, stable government, GDP growth, trade surplus, numerous trading partners, rich in natural resources – irregular government planning)

Bucharest Chamber of Commerce

The Tidbits:

Romania is a EU member that has recently shown high growth rates and development, and the 11th largest economy in Europe. The country has high per capita incomes and a growing middle class. It has declining oil reserves but enough mineral output to supply its industry. The country is planning on extending its highway system and has a strategic location in SE Europe, where it is an important stop for commerce. Also, a tertiary economy is present with 51% of the GDP coming from the service sector.

2008- 2009 GDP Growth Rate: 9.37 %

GDP: $270 billion

Population: 22 million

Human Development Level (HDI): 0.837

Government: Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic

Exports: agricultural products, chemicals, footwear, fuels, machinery, metal products and textiles

Imports: machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, metals, agricultural products

Natural Resources: Petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land,
hydropower

7. Dominican Republic

SmarterSpend Investment Rating: 8.5 / 10

(+ for free trade zone earnings, stable government, GDP growth, availability of labor, rich in natural resources

- resource mismanagement, reliance on remittances, energy shortage )

The Tidbits:

The Dominican Republic is the second largest economy in the Caribbean and Central America. It is now the largest tourist destination in that area and mostly serviced based, although sugar cane and ferronickel production are one of the major sources of revenue for the country. Underdeveloped energy and fishing sectors are the prime areas for future investment, along with a booming tourism sector. DR trades heavily with the United States, although it has been diversifying in recent years with Japan, Venezuela, and Mexico.

2008- 2009 GDP Growth Rate: 9.37 %

GDP: 10.7% (2006), 9.1% (2007)

Population: 10.1 million

Human Development Level (HDI): 0.777

Government: Democratic Republic

Exports: ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Imports: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Natural Resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, fisheries

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El Pollo Loco is moooving from the coop to the field with its newest menu items. While we’ll still offer our famous citrus-marinated flame-grilled chicken, Sirloin steak is making its debut in a big way. Our new Sirloin steak menu items include:

Two Steak Tacos: citrus-marinated, flame-grilled Sirloin steak, with cilantro and onion in authentic corn tortillas

Grillmaster Steak Taco: citrus-marinated, flame-grilled Sirloin steak layered with melted Jack and Cheddar cheeses and topped with fresh Pico de Gallo and guacamole in an authentic grilled flour tortilla

Sirloin Steak Bowl: citrus-marinated, flame-grilled Sirloin steak served with fresh cilantro, onions and Pico de Gallo salsa, atop Spanish rice and pinto beans

Steak & 3-Cheese Quesadilla: citrus-marinated, flame-grilled Sirloin steak layered with three melted cheeses – Jack, Cheddar and Cotija- grilled in an authentic flour tortilla and served with guacamole and sour cream

We’d like you and your readers to be among the first to try El Pollo Loco’s Sirloin steak. Below is a link to a Buy One Get One FREE coupon for a steak taco. Please feel free to pass it around to your friends and family too.

Coupon link: www.elpolloloco.com/freesteaktaco

Also, El Pollo Loco will be hosting a Stampede for Steak on Wed., Jan. 20 from 10am-3pm at their Sunset Blvd restaurant in LA (8154 Sunset Blvd at Serrano). Anyone who shows up with a cowboy hat or cowboy attire will get a free Sirloin steak taco. Those who tweet a photo from the event of themselves in cowboy garb using the #eplsteak hashtag will be automatically entered to win El Pollo Loco Sirloin steak for a year!

Hope you’ll tip your cowboy hat and join us! Have a great weekend!