Why Americans Feel Broke in this "Strong" Economy

Why Americans Feel Broke in this "Strong" Economy

Hey Satsmate Stackers,  I hope you are doing well! It can be seen that gas is remaining elevated, the bond market is uncertain, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. This is causing consumers to feel increasingly squeezed, and the numbers show it. The Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index has hit all-time lows over the past couple of months, a strong indicator that people are not doing well. In this podcast, I go over the following:  * The Michigan consumer sentiment came in the other day, and we now see an all-time low of 47.9 * This is literally the lowest reading ever recorded * Some perspective is Black Monday crash we saw it in the 60s, .com crash 70s-90s, great financial crisis 55-60, and generally in a healthy economy, you see it in the 90s to 100s * With the latest reading being low, something is very wrong, but what is driving this?  * It is no surprise that the war in Iran and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz are causing elevated gas prices * But further, when gas goes up, so does everything it touches. All supply chains or anybody who uses freight. Grocery prices, parts, pretty much everything go up * Automation & AI is making it so that what used to take 3-5 people to do things, now only takes 1 person overseeing AI * Weakness in the labor market due to war & uncertainty * Weakness in the labor market due to AI/Automation * Further, wages haven’t been keeping pace with the general increase in goods and services * Most consumers don’t have access to the stock market, and while the stock market is hitting all-time highs, many people on the lower end of the K don’t feel like they are getting wealthier * It is key to get exposure to assets, especially as inflation goes up * I think the FED has done a god-awful job ensuring that inflation stays below 2% * You can make the case they have done an okay job keeping unemployment low, but is having to work 2-3 jobs really a sign of health in the economy?  * Many people aren’t working these extra jobs to hustle; they are working them because they have to make ends meet * People are sick of paying over $100 at the pump, and $4.00 for a potato at the grocery store * People are sick of being forced back to the office, to do something they were doing remotely just fine * People are sick of paying an arm and a leg for daycare, when their work salary barely covers it * People are overpaying for things that don’t make sense and aren’t of value anymore. So much in our society is a complete rip-off  * Discussion of what my coworker said the other day about how he's making more than ever * Everyone is making more, but we all can see through the illusion * The silver lining is that we are cooking at home more, we are becoming more crafty, more measured with our approach to things, and seeking true intrinsic value in things If you like this, feel free to share it, leave a like, or comment. Also, check out the links in the description that help support my channel and podcast. Best Regards,  SatsMate Stack Referral to Stacker News: Circular economy with bitcoin discussions involved!  https://stacker.news/r/SatsMate [https://stacker.news/r/SatsMate] Primary Bitcoin Buys Through Strike: The primary place I go to buy Bitcoin. https://invite.strike.me/2MSTYG [https://invite.strike.me/2MSTYG]  Secondary Bitcoin Buys Through Fold: A nice exchange w/ rewards & bitcoin buys. https://use.foldapp.com/r/HTFKVY9L [https://use.foldapp.com/r/HTFKVY9L] https://zbd.gg/GalmaDuFria [https://zbd.gg/GalmaDuFria] This is my personal QR code. It allows anyone to send me Bitcoin and messages directly to my ZEBEDEE. lnurl1dp68gurn8ghj7ctsdyh85etzv4jx2efwd9hj7a3s9aex2ut4v4ehgttnw3shg6tr943ksctjvajhxtmpxuurjcmxxvuz6wf58q6z6drpv5uj6c3jvy6z6epexe3ryd3kxe3kvcnr7y2uzj Financial Disclaimer: Nothing stated in this video is a recommendation from SatsMate to buy or sell a particular security or asset class. It would help if you wisely considered your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals before investing. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265292/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265292/support] Youtube: SatsMate X: SatsMate Instagram: SatsMates website: https://satsmate.wordpress.com/

The Death of the Single-Income Family: Money, Roles & Retirement

Hi Satsmate Stackers,  In today's day, it is much more common than not to have a dual-income household. Homes are priced this way, and education and even jobs often don't pay enough to support a household anymore. In this podcast, I will go over my thoughts on the dual-income household and how it can benefit the family (or potentially cause headwinds). Specifically, I will go over the following:  * I grew up with my dad working, and my mom raising my sisters and me at home * Then and especially now, that is extremely difficult and rare to see - due to the cost of everything where it's at * The John Wayne days of society are almost closed, with just a few situations, I see it working out * From my view, I think the man should try to go out and make as much $ as possible * The women should try something part-time & remote - enough to contribute a bit * An entire family riding on one income nowadays is extremely risky, and it could hurt in the long run * I don’t like how this society is constructed to begin with - I think we should have the option for one income, but the way things are, that's not tenable as much anymore * Overview of my situation * Overview of other family situations * The approach I am going to take  * Mistakes I have seen (HELOC, Refinancing, not having multiple income sources, buying useless shit, taking on debt, not being tax advantaged).  * We need to be more adaptive with our approach to retirement, how we earn, and investments we make - or we may be in a situation that ends up hurting us significantly down the road If you like this, feel free to share it, leave a like, or comment. Also, check out the links in the description that help support my channel and podcast. Best Regards,  SatsMate Stack Referral to Stacker News: Circular economy with bitcoin discussions involved!  https://stacker.news/r/SatsMate [https://stacker.news/r/SatsMate] Primary Bitcoin Buys Through Strike: The primary place I go to buy Bitcoin. https://invite.strike.me/2MSTYG [https://invite.strike.me/2MSTYG]  Secondary Bitcoin Buys Through Fold: A nice exchange w/ rewards & bitcoin buys. https://use.foldapp.com/r/HTFKVY9L [https://use.foldapp.com/r/HTFKVY9L] https://zbd.gg/GalmaDuFria [https://zbd.gg/GalmaDuFria] This is my personal QR code. It allows anyone to send me Bitcoin and messages directly to my ZEBEDEE. lnurl1dp68gurn8ghj7ctsdyh85etzv4jx2efwd9hj7a3s9aex2ut4v4ehgttnw3shg6tr943ksctjvajhxtmpxuurjcmxxvuz6wf58q6z6drpv5uj6c3jvy6z6epexe3ryd3kxe3kvcnr7y2uzj Financial Disclaimer: Nothing stated in this video is a recommendation from SatsMate to buy or sell a particular security or asset class. It would help if you wisely considered your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals before investing. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265292/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265292/support] Youtube: SatsMate X: SatsMate Instagram: SatsMates website: https://satsmate.wordpress.com/

I Had Bitcoin Conference Tickets But Still Didn’t Go — Here’s Why

Hey Satsmate Stackers,  I have been going to Bitcoin conferences for several years now, and at this most recent conference in Vegas, I decided not to go even though I had tickets in hand. My conviction towards Bitcoin is still near all-time highs, but from a cultural standpoint, I think BTC is at all-time lows. I personally didn't want to surround myself with people who are focused on hype, treasury companies, and grifters. Specifically, in this podcast, I go over the specific topics:  * They’ve gotten old and repetitive * Speakers are saying the same things over and over, fewer new ideas & more shills * I think David Bailey did really bad things to personally enrich himself, and I don’t want to support that * The conference is taking more of a corporate suit angle than ever before, that isn’t what btc is about * I do like the people of Bitcoin, but I have seen different conferences around the world, and I like some of those more * Vegas is a shitcoin casino, and a meal for two easily costs $120  * I feel like I am getting ripped off at every turn (stories) * Many of my favorite speakers are no longer there, and people I look up to are no longer going * The air is different; it is much more treasury-focused, and much less focused on the core ethos of Bitcoin * It drifted heavily once Strategy entered the mix, but concurrently, when the ETFs were approved * This isn’t to say I won’t attend again, but when I do have the time off, I will prefer going to El Salvador or to Europe instead * We mustn’t blindly follow people in this space, so many grifters and people with not great intentions are going to these things If you like this, feel free to share it, leave a like, or comment. Also, check out the links in the description that help support my channel and podcast. Best Regards,  SatsMate Stack Referral to Stacker News: Circular economy with bitcoin discussions involved!  https://stacker.news/r/SatsMate [https://stacker.news/r/SatsMate] Primary Bitcoin Buys Through Strike: The primary place I go to buy Bitcoin. https://invite.strike.me/2MSTYG [https://invite.strike.me/2MSTYG]  Secondary Bitcoin Buys Through Fold: A nice exchange w/ rewards & bitcoin buys. https://use.foldapp.com/r/HTFKVY9L [https://use.foldapp.com/r/HTFKVY9L] https://zbd.gg/GalmaDuFria [https://zbd.gg/GalmaDuFria] This is my personal QR code. It allows anyone to send me Bitcoin and messages directly to my ZEBEDEE. lnurl1dp68gurn8ghj7ctsdyh85etzv4jx2efwd9hj7a3s9aex2ut4v4ehgttnw3shg6tr943ksctjvajhxtmpxuurjcmxxvuz6wf58q6z6drpv5uj6c3jvy6z6epexe3ryd3kxe3kvcnr7y2uzj Financial Disclaimer: Nothing stated in this video is a recommendation from SatsMate to buy or sell a particular security or asset class. It would help if you wisely considered your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals before investing. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265292/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265292/support] Youtube: SatsMate X: SatsMate Instagram: SatsMates website: https://satsmate.wordpress.com/

The Government Failed the Free Market - Spirit Airlines Bankruptcy!

Hey Satsmate Stackers,  Spirit Airlines just declared it will be winding down operations as of 3 AM last night. While the airline wasn't the most efficient, it did provide the market with something it needed - low-cost fares and many routes across the country. With the failure of this airline, there will be many downstream consequences that will impact you and me. Unfortunately, all of this wouldn't have happened if it weren't for the poor decisions made by government bureaucrats such as the Biden admin and Elizabeth Pocahontas Warren. Specifically, in this podcast, I go over the following:  * My experience flying Spirit, the cheapest airline - where you get nickel and dimed for everything * I had to fly it a handful of times when I didn’t have a lot to my name * Things weren’t run the best, my story in Miami * Bad companies that operate poorly do need to fail * Elizabeth Warren, a corrupt socialist politician, stopped a deal from going through a few years ago * JetBlue offered to buy for $3.8B, and everyone voted yes, Biden’s DOJ sued from Pocahontas influence * 14,000 jobs gone (pilots, flight attendants), don’t even get started on the vendors… * A lot can be blamed on the increased prices of fuel * Now I am not for the government bailouts; we need to let poorly run companies fail * What I am against is the government's intervention in 2022 of a free market activity that would have occurred * JetBlue had the cash, could have expanded its fleet & competed against the big 4 * Now we have a further consolidation into an oligopoly * Where will all the current spirit customers go now?  * Fewer routes, fewer competition, the incumbents are very excited for what is happening here - and it will cost all of us more * We genuinely need more options, more routes, and less intervention, because any further intervention will be bad for consumers and employees * Hope everyone lands something new at these carriers If you like this, feel free to share it, leave a like or comment. Also, check out the links in the description that help support my channel and podcast. Best Regards,  SatsMate Stack Referral to Stacker News: Circular economy with bitcoin discussions involved!  https://stacker.news/r/SatsMate [https://stacker.news/r/SatsMate] Primary Bitcoin Buys Through Strike: The primary place I go to buy Bitcoin. https://invite.strike.me/2MSTYG [https://invite.strike.me/2MSTYG]  Secondary Bitcoin Buys Through Fold: A nice exchange w/ rewards & bitcoin buys. https://use.foldapp.com/r/HTFKVY9L [https://use.foldapp.com/r/HTFKVY9L] Financial Disclaimer: Nothing stated in this video is a recommendation from SatsMate to buy or sell a particular security or asset class. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265292/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265292/support] Youtube: SatsMate X: SatsMate Instagram: SatsMates website: https://satsmate.wordpress.com/

AI Moving Faster Than Ever: Claude Cowork, and the Job Displacement Wave!

Hey Satsmate Stackers,  I hope you are all doing well! AI is moving at lightspeed currently, and Claude CoWork is able to perform countless tasks autonomously that individuals used to perform. The future is moving very fast, and it is key that we learn about these developments as they come, and lean into the change - or we risk losing our livelihoods. In this podcast, I go over what AI can do and the job displacement risks:  * We have heard so much about AI over the past couple of years, and often it has felt like a glorified search engine * Each iteration has made a decent leap forward, some like GPT 5, have felt like a step back * CoWork seems to be taking a massive step forward on many important tools we use all the time (like Excel, desktop organization, file management, and running activities while you aren’t there) * It can take care of a lot of the boring tasks that we don’t like to do, like taxes * Further, it can help with complicated expense reports, and one can shoot them pretty easily * Email and inbox management is something it can do as well, saving dozens of hours of our time * Report generation is also something it can do, and this is another white-collar activity that may be replaced in the future * Remote controlling your browser * What's crazy about this AI is that it can perform many actions on its own, without you there overnight * It is essentially working 24/7, and in the future, I can see this happening even more  * Leadership will ask themselves at these companies, can AI do this activity, or do we need to hire a headcount for it?  * Watch the Excel Claude plugin, for example - you don’t need to know any Excel formulas anymore * You can just type in natural language what you want to see, and the AI will perform all the technical stuff on the back-end * Think about this for any job on the computer, any specific software skill can be done by an AI now  * The future jobs will need a lot of human touchpoints * Many hands-on fields in the medical industry will remain insulated (nursing, caregiving, or PT/Therapy) * Teachers and leadership-related positions may be safe (albeit reduced to a certain extent) * Many lawyer positions, accounting, and software engineering - positions that have a lot of repeatable computer-related tasks are at risk * Now it is important to lean into skills that AI can’t replace, and build things now while the monopoly board is still somewhat open * Disruption is coming fast with what AI can do, if you don’t believe me - watch the AI Claude CoWork videos for yourself If you like this, feel free to share it, leave a like or comment. Also, check out the links in the description that help support my channel and podcast. Best Regards,  SatsMate Stack Referral to Stacker News: Circular economy with bitcoin discussions involved!  https://stacker.news/r/SatsMate [https://stacker.news/r/SatsMate] Primary Bitcoin Buys Through Strike: The primary place I go to buy Bitcoin. https://invite.strike.me/2MSTYG [https://invite.strike.me/2MSTYG]  Secondary Bitcoin Buys Through Fold: A nice exchange w/ rewards & bitcoin buys. https://use.foldapp.com/r/HTFKVY9L [https://use.foldapp.com/r/HTFKVY9L] Financial Disclaimer: Nothing stated in this video is a recommendation from SatsMate to buy or sell a particular security or asset class. It would help if you wisely considered your tolerance for risk, time horizon, and financial goals before investing. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265292/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2265292/support] Youtube: SatsMate X: SatsMate Instagram: SatsMates website: https://satsmate.wordpress.com/