Recent articles by Laura Bell.http://www.trcb.com/en-Us60Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:29:30 ESTCopyright 2012 Laura Bell, TRCB.com All Right Reservedhttp://www.trcb.com/finance/economics/how-does-the-government-mess-with-the-economy-3370.htmWe have all heard that our credit problems are because of the government. I dont think so. Prior to the depression, the governments attitude towards the economy (aggregate market), was to leave it alone. We all know the results.Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:18:29 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/finance/economics/how-does-the-government-mess-with-the-economy-3370.htmTRCB.comFinance / Economicshttp://www.trcb.com/business/networking/networking-has-never-been-so-important-3369.htmWith our world crashing about us, there is only one way not to feel hopeless. You need to have a better golden rolodex (virtual) than the next guy.Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:18:20 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/networking/networking-has-never-been-so-important-3369.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Networkinghttp://www.trcb.com/finance/personal-finance/the-wealthy-put-their-money-to-work-3368.htmHowever, the only thing we are teaching our children is how to spend money. What if anything have you done to show your kids that money can make our future better? We need to learn how to put our money to work.Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:18:10 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/finance/personal-finance/the-wealthy-put-their-money-to-work-3368.htmTRCB.comFinance / Personal Financehttp://www.trcb.com/finance/personal-finance/can-we-benefit-from-the-substitution-effect-3345.htmThere has been a lot of substitution going on during the Christmas holidays. I have never seen the discount stores so crowded.Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:43:09 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/finance/personal-finance/can-we-benefit-from-the-substitution-effect-3345.htmTRCB.comFinance / Personal Financehttp://www.trcb.com/finance/finance/lets-take-a-look-at-present-versus-future-value-in-the-current-market-3344.htmValue has been a hard concept to grasp since so many investment products (stocks, commodities and real estate property) have had their prices decrease so much.Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:43:01 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/finance/finance/lets-take-a-look-at-present-versus-future-value-in-the-current-market-3344.htmTRCB.comFinance / Financehttp://www.trcb.com/real-estate/real-estate-investing/people-are-still-investing-in-real-estate-3338.htmAre they nuts? Have they not read the headlines that scare the rest of us away from real property for years?Fri, 26 Dec 2008 11:36:39 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/real-estate/real-estate-investing/people-are-still-investing-in-real-estate-3338.htmTRCB.comReal Estate / Real Estate Investinghttp://www.trcb.com/finance/finance/will-we-ever-know-what-happened-to-the-bailout-money-3320.htmRight now it appears as if that is doubtful. I did some research on it and discovered that there were many bailouts: different investment banks, at least 21 banks and then there is the auto industry. The total is hovering around $1 trillion.Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:39:30 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/finance/finance/will-we-ever-know-what-happened-to-the-bailout-money-3320.htmTRCB.comFinance / Financehttp://www.trcb.com/finance/personal-finance/changing-the-next-generations-personal-finance-habits-3308.htmAmericas personal finance habits need an overhaul. This is not new to anyone who has seen a news headline during the past year. We, America as a whole, are in a financial mess. We havent a clue as to how to use logic when it comes to money.Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:40:22 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/finance/personal-finance/changing-the-next-generations-personal-finance-habits-3308.htmTRCB.comFinance / Personal Financehttp://www.trcb.com/business/business-startup/will-there-be-any-new-business-start-ups-3263.htmWith all the fuss about the economy being unstable will anyone else have the courage to start their own business?Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:17:34 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/business-startup/will-there-be-any-new-business-start-ups-3263.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Business Startuphttp://www.trcb.com/finance/economics/everyone-wants-answers-to-the-crisis-3235.htmNot a day goes by that there isnt another headline about whats happening with the credit crunch and the worlds financial crisis. Lately, it has been the Fed lowering the interest rate thats a record-breaking low. Credit card companies are getting hit with new rules and we still dont know whats going to happen with the auto industry. Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:51:43 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/finance/economics/everyone-wants-answers-to-the-crisis-3235.htmTRCB.comFinance / Economicshttp://www.trcb.com/business/fundraising/charitable-contributions-3123.htmWhat to watch for anytime you get a call asking you to make a contribution on behalf of a public agency, such as local or state police, fire, or emergency rescue workers.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:24:54 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/fundraising/charitable-contributions-3123.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Fundraisinghttp://www.trcb.com/health-and-fitness/health-and-fitness/finding-a-cure-for-snake-oil-3127.htmMany people use the Internet as a research tool, searching for information on their favorite topics. For some, that search turns serious as they look for information to help them comprehend a disease which has either struck them, a friend or a loved one. Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:23:06 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/health-and-fitness/health-and-fitness/finding-a-cure-for-snake-oil-3127.htmTRCB.comHealth and Fitness / Health and Fitnesshttp://www.trcb.com/business/ethics/break-the-chain-3126.htmAlmost everyone with an e-mail address has received an Internet chain letter. And those netizens that read newsgroups are used to seeing them posted constantly. Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:22:59 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/ethics/break-the-chain-3126.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Ethicshttp://www.trcb.com/business/security/eureka-3125.htmAmericans are renowned for our Yankee ingenuity. We seem to love to tinker, create and invent. When someone does invent something new, they quite rightly want to get it registered and promoted.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:22:50 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/security/eureka-3125.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Securityhttp://www.trcb.com/real-estate/real-estate-investing/is-real-property-still-worth-the-effort-3121.htmBuying and owning your home has always been the American dream. Since the 80s, it has been harder to make this come about. Mortgage craziness and nutty prices have put many middle class people out of the market.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:22:35 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/real-estate/real-estate-investing/is-real-property-still-worth-the-effort-3121.htmTRCB.comReal Estate / Real Estate Investinghttp://www.trcb.com/real-estate/real-estate-news/more-craziness-in-the-real-estate-industry-3120.htmThe real estate industry is in flux and will be for quite some time. The latest are bailouts to various banking institutions. We are jumping back to the 80s. Some may not remember the savings and loan bailouts. It was a mess. The recession of the early 90s exploded shortly thereafter.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:22:21 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/real-estate/real-estate-news/more-craziness-in-the-real-estate-industry-3120.htmTRCB.comReal Estate / Real Estate Newshttp://www.trcb.com/book-reviews/business/it-isnt-that-easy-3119.htmIf you listen to those who are making big money from selling the get-rich-quick books, you will believe that starting a business on the Web is easy enough for a toddler.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:22:14 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/book-reviews/business/it-isnt-that-easy-3119.htmTRCB.comBook Reviews / Businesshttp://www.trcb.com/finance/personal-finance/making-a-pricing-decision-3118.htmThis may seem to be a simple concept, but nothing is farther from the truth. When it comes to economic decisions, there are always two sides to the picture. Taking the cheaper option may end up costing more later on.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:22:06 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/finance/personal-finance/making-a-pricing-decision-3118.htmTRCB.comFinance / Personal Financehttp://www.trcb.com/business/small-business/pricing-strategies-3117.htmMany small business owners don't realize that they can run their shop with a several tiered pricing structure and still be successful. This by my definition means profit. Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:21:59 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/small-business/pricing-strategies-3117.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Small Businesshttp://www.trcb.com/business/marketing/hints-on-test-marketing-3116.htmWriting a proper business plan requires that you have done some market research on the baby you want to launch. This also requires you knowing some info about your closest competitors. Don't know your competition, go back to the starting gate.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:21:51 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/marketing/hints-on-test-marketing-3116.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Marketinghttp://www.trcb.com/sales-and-marketing/marketing-strategies/marketing-strategies-3115.htmBefore you conclude that no one could say a thing about the subject you haven't heard already, give me a second or two here. My last post showed that even Bill Gates sometimes loses sight of his marketing.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:21:41 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/sales-and-marketing/marketing-strategies/marketing-strategies-3115.htmTRCB.comSales and Marketing / Marketing Strategieshttp://www.trcb.com/business/marketing/promises-promises-promises-3114.htmWe've all experienced folks who can't seem to understand the importance of keeping their word. If they fail to make an appointed date, they don't seem to realize why someone maybe upset because of the wasted time waiting. Somehow, our society has promulgated this as being an accepted societal faux pasThu, 18 Dec 2008 03:21:34 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/marketing/promises-promises-promises-3114.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Marketinghttp://www.trcb.com/business/business/monkeying-around-with-prices-3113.htmThis is always a subject of great discussion when it comes to business owners. It is just as important for those who sell products as for those who sell their services.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:21:27 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/business/monkeying-around-with-prices-3113.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Businesshttp://www.trcb.com/business/strategic-planning/competition-is-good-for-the-marketplace-3112.htmCompetition in the market doesn't mean there is a winner and a loser. It simply means that it is the opposite of a monopoly or another controlled market.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:21:19 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/strategic-planning/competition-is-good-for-the-marketplace-3112.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Strategic Planninghttp://www.trcb.com/finance/economics/economics-101-yet-again-3111.htmMost people cringe when their hear economics mentioned. The problem is that a basic understanding is necessary if you want a shot in this race we call the world of business. I thought I was going to die from stress from the first class I took.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:21:07 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/finance/economics/economics-101-yet-again-3111.htmTRCB.comFinance / Economics