Directions for Monday 4/7/08

A Nation in Debt

Read the WSJ article on page 16 and answer the following questions in your blog. Also make sure your CPI post is up.



Questions

1. What is the size of the expected budget deficit for the final administration and the current size of the accumulated federal debt?

2. How do defenders of President Bush rationalize the federal spending that has increased 25%(adjusted for inflation) between 2001 and 2007?

3Who is criticizing the president for increased federal spending?

4. The article discusses government health programs and the cost associated with these programs. Do you think the government should provide health care for people? why or why not.

5. Use the web to find a live national debt calculator and post the link on your blog.

Directions for 4/03/08

Consumer Price Index Blog Post-provide the following in your post

• Provide a definition of Consumer Price Index in your own words.
• List your products(Brand), price, and size. Provide a picture of your products.
• Make a prediction-We will be re-pricing these same items in late May. Make a prediction on which products will go up and which will go down.
• I spoke with Scott and he said wheat prices have gone up the most recently. use the Internet to find out why and explain what you found . Link to the site you get your info from.

If you finish your post read 7.1 and answer question 1-4 on a piece of paper. we will finish this in class on Friday. Have a good day.

Was Babe Ruth Underpaid?

In 1931, Babe Ruth made $80,000 per year. Was the Great Bambino overpaid or underpaid according to today's standards? The average MLB player today earns $2,272,620 per year. This lesson will provide you with tools for answering this question.

http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.cfm?lesson=EM604

Higher Food Prices Start to Bite

Answer the following questions in you blog.

1. Why are food prices rising so quickly?

2. What are manufactures and retailers doing to curtail the increasing costs? How is this affecting the average consumers?

3. Create a shopping list of 10 items that an average family would buy. do not include brand names. we will be going to the store tomorrow so bring your coat. You will need to design a excel spread sheet with you list in it and two columns (Careful, Any Price) we will see how much you can save by watching the price and looking for sales. You should also have a total cost row. Print your document showing grid lines.

4. Take a look at the Consumer Price Index Web site. What does CPI measure? list one fact you got from this web site.

Credit Counselors

Remember you must answer the questions in paragraph form here is an example paragraph for client 1. Address each client thoroughly.

Client 1

The Electronic Fund Transfer Act limits your loss to $50.00 because your mom contacted the card issuer as soon as she found the card to be missing. Your legal rights have been violated and you have protection under federal law. You have been some what irresponsible but your mom has picked up the slack. I recommend you cancel the card immediately and continue to work with the company to solve the matter.

Complete the five other client scenarios on your blog and post what you have finished up to today. Remember to answer all four questions for each client. If you finish Go to the study site and study for tomorrow's test. You should print your notes to study off of.

Remember: Chapter 6 test tomarrow

What is a FICO Score?

After reading and discussing the Wall Street Journal article in class, you should have a better understanding of what goes into the FICO credit score. Answer the following questions concerning the credit score reports.

1.) Who is the main user of FICO credit scores and what do they use it for?

2.) What is "piggybacking"?

3.) What are the five factors that determine your credit score?

4. How does the FICO 08 scoring model differ from the previous scoring model?

Answer the following questions on your blogs and provide a picture in you post.

Student Debt Soars

Overview

More teens are taking out loans to go to college, and they are borrowing more money than ever before. And a recent survey show that it's not just students from low-income homes that are leaving school deep in educational debt.

Read "Student Debt Soars" article on page 17 of the Wall Street Journal found at the back of the room. and answer the following questions in your own blog.

Questions

1. Why do students who attend private collegest tend to have less debt than those who attend state universities?
2. Why might increased college debt encorage students to stay in school to finish their degrees?
3. Research the college cost reduction and access act, which President Bush signed into law last fall. What does it mean for students borrowing money? What does it mean for lenders? answer this question in a paragraph format.

Include pictures as part of your post.