19 Sep 11
I have noticed for awhile now that I can get real good deals on services that I pay cash for.I have a project going on back home, and the dirt work was considerably cheaper when I paid cash..... since I am building this without a construction loan, and at my own pace, it makes sense..
yesterday i had a carpenter come to look at a job I could probably do myself..he quoted a price that was way too good... but he wants to work it on Saturday, for cash..... any thoughts? has the middle american found a way around paying taxes too?
19 Sep 11
Originally posted by Hugh GlassThat's an old story here in the Motor City. We have at or near the highest unemloyment in the nation, but you still see lots of expensive vehicles being driven, and a lot of ecomomic activity, much of it undocumented. When times are good, the auto workers do their side jobs in spare time. In bad times they expand as much as the need to, and aren't bashful about taking unemployment for as long as it's available.
I have noticed for awhile now that I can get real good deals on services that I pay cash for.I have a project going on back home, and the dirt work was considerably cheaper when I paid cash..... since I am building this without a construction loan, and at my own pace, it makes sense..
yesterday i had a carpenter come to look at a job I could probably do ...[text shortened]... turday, for cash..... any thoughts? has the middle american found a way around paying taxes too?
It isn't only taxes, but working under-the-table eliminates a lot of expensive paperwork, and regulation. The downside is that buyer beware. A lot of shoddy work and cheap materials are used.
19 Sep 11
Originally posted by normbenignBuyer beware is a great point...... one has to have knowledge of the work at hand..
That's an old story here in the Motor City. We have at or near the highest unemloyment in the nation, but you still see lots of expensive vehicles being driven, and a lot of ecomomic activity, much of it undocumented. When times are good, the auto workers do their side jobs in spare time. In bad times they expand as much as the need to, and aren't bash ...[text shortened]... ion. The downside is that buyer beware. A lot of shoddy work and cheap materials are used.
digging a foundation hole is no big deal, easy to check depth and grades.... auto work could be tough for the inexperienced, but I have always done the majority of my own work. still change the oils and work the brakes...
Now if I could find a good neuro who worked under the table,,lol
19 Sep 11
Originally posted by Hugh GlassTell you an neat story. A couple of summers ago I was battling a mysterious malady, and paying cash for my medical attention, no insurance.
Buyer beware is a great point...... one has to have knowledge of the work at hand..
digging a foundation hole is no big deal, easy to check depth and grades.... auto work could be tough for the inexperienced, but I have always done the majority of my own work. still change the oils and work the brakes...
Now if I could find a good neuro who worked under the table,,lol
My doctor wanted a doplar ectocardiogram. The test was billed at $3000, but because I paid cash, retail price was $200.
A few years back I had cateract surgery on both eyes, in Canada. Had I been Canadian, and on their health care, I'd have waited 9 months, and the system billed $5000 per eye. Medicare wouldn't pay quite as much, and the wait was only a couple of months.
Paying cash, about $2k per eye, it was done the next week.
I don't know if this was "under the table", but I'm enjoying the best vision of my life.
19 Sep 11
Originally posted by normbenignGlad your eye sight was taken care of.
Tell you an neat story. A couple of summers ago I was battling a mysterious malady, and paying cash for my medical attention, no insurance.
My doctor wanted a doplar ectocardiogram. The test was billed at $3000, but because I paid cash, retail price was $200.
A few years back I had cateract surgery on both eyes, in Canada. Had I been Canadian, an ...[text shortened]...
I don't know if this was "under the table", but I'm enjoying the best vision of my life.
I was talking big savings on my cabin foundation.. 3 years ago I had trouble getting anyone interested in loading a track hoe to even come up the road.. a guy quoted 15K for a 24x28 hole...I had it done for 9000.00!
That more than pays for the concrete footings, and more.
I can do this now, easily without borrowing money.....
19 Sep 11
Originally posted by Hugh GlassAll things considered, the more we return to a cash economy the better of we are personally, and as a nation. The worst economic problems are always the result of over extension of credit resulting in bubbles that inevitably burst.
Glad your eye sight was taken care of.
I was talking big savings on my cabin foundation.. 3 years ago I had trouble getting anyone interested in loading a track hoe to even come up the road.. a guy quoted 15K for a 24x28 hole...I had it done for 9000.00!
That more than pays for the concrete footings, and more.
I can do this now, easily without borrowing money.....
20 Sep 11
Originally posted by normbenign"Cash economies" don't produce bubbles?
All things considered, the more we return to a cash economy the better of we are personally, and as a nation. The worst economic problems are always the result of over extension of credit resulting in bubbles that inevitably burst.
20 Sep 11
Originally posted by normbenignAnd spending other people's money (e.g. the faceless insurance company's money) is always easier than spending your own. No need to worry the price.
All things considered, the more we return to a cash economy the better of we are personally, and as a nation. The worst economic problems are always the result of over extension of credit resulting in bubbles that inevitably burst.
20 Sep 11
Originally posted by KazetNagorraOf course they do. But when the bubble bursts the hardest hit are those that borrowed money to invest in the bubble. Those that saved money to invest in the bubble have a smaller nest egg. Those that borrowed, have a larger debt.
"Cash economies" don't produce bubbles?
Those that saved can also potentially ride out the bust.
20 Sep 11
Originally posted by techsouthSpending other people's money (e.g. the government) is also always easier than spending your own. No need to worry the price.
And spending other people's money (e.g. the faceless insurance company's money) is always easier than spending your own. No need to worry the price.
20 Sep 11
Originally posted by techsouthThe faceless insurance company doesn't act like people, it acts like a business. If businesses get too nice they fail at their objective which is to obtain money.
And spending other people's money (e.g. the faceless insurance company's money) is always easier than spending your own. No need to worry the price.
20 Sep 11
Originally posted by AThousandYoungI'm reminded of a Dilbert Cartoon where Dilbert and Wally are eating on a business trip, courtesy of their company of course.
The faceless insurance company doesn't act like people, it acts like a business. If businesses get too nice they fail at their objective which is to obtain money.
Wally orders: "Endangered Species Kabob"
Dilbert orders: "Big-foot sirloin grilled over moon rocks"
Presumably more expensive than they would choose if spending their own money.
Likewise, how much would one pay for a boob job if she was spending other people's money? How much would she pay of her own hard earned cash?
All I would expect from an insurance company is to fulfill their end of the agreement, and manage expenses responsibly so that they'll be able to be around long term. Where as I wouldn't criticize a person for offering charity, I wouldn't want an insurance company to get so generous they can't stay in business. And I wouldn't want the government requiring insurance companies to be so generous they can't stay in business.
20 Sep 11
Originally posted by techsouthDoesn't work in the health care market, though, because there is often little choice, people are prepared to pay anything they can to stay healthy, and people generally understand very little about medicine so they don't know what they are buying and can't compare the quality of health care providers.
And spending other people's money (e.g. the faceless insurance company's money) is always easier than spending your own. No need to worry the price.
Works fine in the case of cosmetic surgery, alternative medicine, etc. though.