The federal government is set to add another $1.5 trillion to the national debt this year. To put this in perspective, note that one trillion is a thousand billion. A billion seconds is roughly 32 years – thus, a trillion seconds is 32,000 years. The national debt currently stands at $34 trillion. Counting to $34 trillion, assuming each number took one second to count, would take roughly one million years. The Great Lakes were not even formed yet one million years ago! The debt-to-GDP ratio is now at 120% – what it was during World War II. This is an unfathomable amount of debt.
Few things are as cute as a puppy. In fact, they are so lovable, there is an entire day – National Puppy Day – dedicated to the little fur babies on March 23. The day is set aside, in part, to remind people to adopt shelter puppies, especially given the prevalence of puppy mills. In reality, however, it is not puppies that have the toughest time in shelters.
With winter almost behind us, I find myself thinking about taking a vacation somewhere.
Many of us have childhood memories of reading books by Dr. Seuss. To honor the birthday of the famous children’s book author and cartoonist, March has been designated National Reading Month.
In Spring-Summer 2024, sustainability reigns supreme. We are constantly on the lookout for measures that have a positive impact on the environment and the local community.
Marriage symbolizes a beautiful union – not only of hearts, but also of lives and finances. It’s an exciting milestone that often prompts couples to consider the complexities of merging their financial worlds. The process requires thoughtful planning, open communication and a shared vision to navigate the waters of fiscal harmony successfully.
Although it’s winter, we’re all dreaming of spring and welcoming the flowers that come with it. When decorating special baked goods, incorporating crystalized (sugared) edible flowers can be a game-changer!
Higher interest rates usually result in falling house prices, as the higher mortgage interest rate increases the monthly payment. Consider a $250,000 house purchased with a 20% downpayment. When the 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 3%, as it was in 2021, the monthly payment is about $850. When this interest rate rises to 7.5% as it did in 2023, the monthly payment doubles to $1,400. Housing thus becomes less affordable and the demand for houses falls, reducing their price; the fact that this did not happen in 2023 was surprising. A likely explanation for this is that housing supply remains constrained, which is keeping prices elevated.
It’s February, when Valentine’s Day gives us an opportunity to show our loved ones how much they mean to us. In 2023, Americans showed their love to the tune of nearly $26 billion in greeting cards, candy, flowers, fine dining, jewelry, clothing and more. But contrary to popular opinion, Valentine’s Day is not really a “Hallmark Holiday.” It has actually been celebrated since the 5th century, long before any of the businesses benefiting from the day existed.
Joe Gage wanted a quiet birthday. On the day he turned 87, he was to be honored by a small group of local businessmen for his contributions to Flushing’s economy as a member of its Board of Commerce, for his voice on the Village Council and for his unwavering support of its community at-large. As word got out, however, what was meant to be a small ceremony became one of the biggest community dinners, drawing the largest crowd to Flushing in its young history. The event was attended by over 1,300 people who all came to pay their respects to Flushing’s top man of integrity and high-esteem. Gage was moved, saying “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve all this. I don’t think I deserve it. I’ve lived a long and happy life, especially the part I’ve lived in Flushing.”
As this is the annual My City “Bridal Issue” I want to set the tone for this month’s “My Style” piece with some recent wedding statistics from Vogue and Pinterest.
