A little update
I suppose you realise that I haven’t been blogging with much fervor since returning from the weekend in Florida. The only blog I have visited is Mad Bull’s. I have just been too tired and Monday was a very long day. Last night, my other bredren Dr. Spanish came to give me a check, so it would have appeared rude to sit in front of the computer while he was here. Actually, he brought up a few DVDs of porn and we were watching on the computer for about 30 minutes. Hey, the picture quality is almost life like. I may rent a couple myself!
Yesterday was payday. One of the best parts of work I suppose, though some do not look forward to it as they say the pay is too damn small. Have I ever told you that I work on a renewable contract basis? Yup. No job security there, is there? Well, as part of my pay for February, I received my gratuity for the contract period that ended December 31, 2002. We get a paltry 10% of our basic salary for the period of our contract as gratuity. And it is not taxed. (It couldn’t be, or it would not be worth a fart!) And yes, I am not pensionable!!!
Had a brief chat with Mad Bull and I had mentioned it while shooting the shit with him on the phone. He was saying that the fact that I am not pensionable should not bother me. What I should do is use the gratuity and put into some sort of investment. Quite true. Then we got around to insurance policies, which I perhaps have too many of. One for mortgage, an accident and dismembership policy, a cancer policy that pays once I have been diagnosed with a malignancy (kind of fucked up just to think about it), and another life insurance policy. I spend about 6,500 Jamaican dollars per month (about 120 US) servicing these policies. Hmm. I guess I am really no economist. I do have a few bucks earning some interest at one of our local investment companies, but, it is really just that, a FEW bucks to rass! Anyway, why complain? I am sure there are many who cannot say the same. Perhaps I need a financial advisor, but then again. Fe wah? I really don’t have a shitload of money, do I? To others who are loaded, what little I have amounts to a lunch money to rahtid!
Anyhow, money ain’t all. Life live and hope for the best. That’s all that matters really, good health, good family and bredrens, as there is one ting fe sure, when we dead, we caan tek dat rass wid us anyway. Somebody else benefits.
Anyway, I man gaan still…. work. That evil place where we try to make the buck. Later if anything.
February 26th, 2003 at 9:31 am You gwaan… What you are describing as “your little much” is a hell of a lot to some people. So you can’t afford two manshins on the North Coast in addition to your swanky villa in the cool, cool St. Andrew hills… My youth, funds are flowing well for you, don’t think we don’t know
February 26th, 2003 at 12:23 pm When I was single I also had all the insurance policies to cover anything because I knew if something happened to me I still had a child to consider. A financial advisor isn’t such a bad idea actually, no matter if you are rich or if you are not, because they can advise you the best place to put your money to have it turn into a larger gain. Just my two cents. Hope you catch up on your rest
February 26th, 2003 at 6:50 pm Well, Mad Bull seems to know more about my ‘loads’ of money than I do. Maybe I can speak to him and officially appoint him my honorary financial advisor.
Seriously though, one of the questions that I have been asking is whether to save in Jamiacan or the US currency. You see, our dollar is by no means stable and devaluing rapidly. Presently it is at about 52-53 Jamaican to 1 US dollar!
Then there are those who say that folks who keep converting their money from Jamaican to US help to keep devaluing our dollar. This is because this practice creates more demand for foreign currency, and Economics claims that when demand is high and supply of any commodity is low, then it drives the price up. Nuh true?? BTW, I have absolutely no formal training in Economics.
Actually, I was chatting with someone who is pretty well versed on this finance business and he said that our dollar is overvalued at present. He reports that our exchange rate to the US should be about 70 to 1. I won’t even bother to go there. That would make any big man weep and get brindle (angry)!
Anyone with a little financial know how about the devastated Jamaican economy want to give a little free advice??
February 26th, 2003 at 8:44 pm Let me do some checking for you hon, I’ll get you some good advise for free…..I only have to make a phone call or two…..I’ll inform you of what I find out privately…but if you don’t want me to do this, just let me know, I’ll only go on and ask NO questions, tiz none of my business, only ask questions from what you’ve posted, if they’ll adivse free of charge, and connect the two of you….
February 26th, 2003 at 8:44 pm did I forget to mention NO PROMISES, but I’ll at least try for you darlin’
February 27th, 2003 at 12:17 am sorry for ‘overstepping’, hope all is not lost!!!!
February 27th, 2003 at 7:49 am Relax Jamie. Everyting well kriss! (All is cool!)