America Saves Week is upon us. In today’s economy, it may be hard for a lot of us to find ways to save money, but we can. There may not be a lot to spend, but you can do things like turn off the lights, turn down the thermostat or stop making repetitive trips in the car (conserve gas). These are just a few of the ways you CAN save money, but by no means all.

Visit the website (www.americasavesweek.org) and make a plan to save and stick to it so that when the next recession hits you will say “What Recession?”

My previous post contains more information on America Saves Week.

I look forward to a very prosperous year for all of us in 2009.

Yours in prosperity in 2009,

Joseph R. Mays

I am changing my FreeLotto.com advertisement. They changed their advertiser.

You can find the new banner in the sidebar. I also have a new related promotion in this post at Online People Finders Search Engine Resources Blog. For more information visit both links today.

The Free Lotto post (FreeLotto.com “Where $10,000,000 Changes Everything”) on this blog will be updated to reflect the new changes.

We wish everyone good luck.

Yours in multi-million dollar jackpots,

Joseph R. Mays

PS. Free Lotto Offer is not Valid for US Citizens – Sorry

After President Barack Obama went on television emphasizing his point about how serious the financial crisis is, a response was brokered by Congress to get the stimulus plan rolling and signed into law. President Barack Obama said that NOW is the time for ACTION.  Now is NOT to time tobe sitting around bickering and taking bipartisan stances. Not when the American people need us to help get the country moving in the right direction again. Thouands of jobs are being lost all across the country and businesses are shutting down and/or going bankrupt in record numbers. The desired objective/outcome of stimulus plan is to create new jobs, put money in taxpayers hands and jumpstart the economy.

For more on this story, please visit Yahoo! News.

Yours in news that matters to YOU,

Joseph R. Mays

President Barack and Michelle Obama shed the spotlight on a new bill called the Fair Pay Act that is intended to ensure that fair pair is given to workers for performing a job. All too often women are paid less than their male counterparts to their detriment. If a woman (sometimes the situation is reversed and it is a man) is working as an engineer, she might receive less pay for the SAME work. This bill was crafted to ensure that if she (or he) does the same work as a man (or woman) then they should be paid the same/equal pay. For more details on this story, please visit the Christian Science Monitor.

Yours in equal rights for all,

Joseph R. Mays

As if we needed to hear more economic bad news, Starbucks joins other companies with sagging and or negative growth. This has resulted in a move to eliminate 6,000 jobs (layoffs) and close 300 more stores. They join Circuit City and National Wholesale Liquidators. These retailers are shutting down all their stores. Office Depot announced back in December that it was closing 10% of it’s stores. The story link here is from USA Today.

For more information on this story please visit MarketWatch.com.

Yours in economic news,

Joseph R. Mays

Electronic Retailer Circuit City is going to shut down it’s stores. Just when we thought we’ve heard enough financial bad news another retailer is closing it’s doors. This means more jobs lost (layoffs) and a big impact on loyal Circuit City customers and suppliers. Circuit City provides consumers with electronic goods like cameras, iPods, steros, televisions, computer software and movies to name a few. Even I was shocked as I read the news. For more on this story, please go to cnn.com for the full story.

Here’s to keeping you informed on what’s going on,

Joseph R. Mays

At a time when they were grilling automotive executives about their bonuses and raises our own congressmen and women are voting for their own pay raise. I am not saying that they don’t deserve to get paid for what they do, but I would think it would be wise to forego a pay increase when a lot of America doesn’t know where their next paycheck is coming from or when. It doesn’t show a sense of compassion for these people of whom many lost their jobs due to the economic downturn and they were let go as a result. My heart goes out to the men and women who were victims of this. I wish you much success in finding new employment soon.

For more on this story go here and here.

Yours in support of the American Worker,

Joseph R. Mays

The financial crisis continues it’s hold on the financial world spreading like a plague through businesses around the world. Nortel Networks, one of the biggest makers of telephone equipment has filed for bankrupty protection today. The crisis seems to be deepening and shows no signs of letting up. Their shares dropped on the news of the bankruptcy.

For more on this story visit Reuters.com.

Yours in news and information,

Joseph R. Mays

Financial powerhouse Citigroup, in a move indicative of the seriousness and deep scars of the current financial crisis, is in talks with Morgan Stanley to sell it’s Smith Barney brokerage unit. For more information on this story follow this link.

Yours in finances and information,

Joseph R. Mays

Hello readers.

The third annual America Saves Week is scheduled for February 22-March 1, 2009, and early reports indicate that the Week will have more participation and a broader reach than ever before.

Activities for America Saves Week 2009 are being coordinated by the America Saves campaign and by the American Savings Education Council, who are working with a large coalition to promote the savings message and foster better savings behavior. Among the many companies, agencies and organizations committed to participating are the Cooperative Extension Service, WorldatWork and the Department of Defense.

During America Saves Week 2008, over 80 national organizations and over 500 local organizations participated, reaching millions through the press and internet. Over 75,000 people attended over 1,800 events, and tens of thousands joined the America Saves campaign and committed to begin saving.

Yours in saving money and prosperity,

Joseph R. Mays