David Litke, at The Blogs

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May 13, 2015, 2:02 PM

TO-DO list for retirees

TO-DO List for Retirees: Plan your retirement – get professional advice to calculate your assets and how they will provide for you on a monthly basis until age 90-95. Set goals - Discuss in depth with your spouse what quality of...

May 8, 2015, 1:50 AM

Harsh Reality Trumps False Hope

I was recently introduced to and taken hostage by the English production “Downton Abbey”. Among the more pleasant personalities in the series is Mrs. Hughes, ever dispensing wisdom to servants and nobility. In one scene, in which a character...

Apr 27, 2015, 9:15 PM

The New Government Will (not) Solve All Your Problems

In a few short days, a new government will take office in Israel. When reading the platforms of the various parties, be it those who will make it into the government and those who won’t, one is struck by...

Mar 8, 2015, 5:03 PM

Insurance: Determining What Risks You Will or Won’t Take

The rationale for buying insurance, in general, is to protect ourselves from an unexpected event with the potential for saddling us with a catastrophic financial burden. Conversely, there are certain categories of risks with a likely much smaller financial...

Dec 31, 2014, 8:47 PM

Paying in Installments: “You won’t even feel it!”

A few years ago, I decided to budget 300 nis towards buying my wife a gift. After consulting with my cultured and knowledgeable daughter who recommended I buy earrings, I made my way to a store well-known for its...

Dec 16, 2014, 9:43 PM

Lotto – The Poor Man’s Tax

Some call playing the lottery a voluntary tax or a poor man’s tax. A less complimentary description is the stupid man’s tax. All kinds of people from all economic strata can be found to play (well, maybe not the...

Dec 9, 2014, 11:58 PM

The Tyranny of Choice

We live in a world of seemingly endless choices and options. All one need do is enter a supermarket and count the number of breakfast cereals arrayed on shelves measuring about 3 meters high and 100 meters long. If...

Dec 5, 2014, 1:06 AM

Kids and the Makolet

Recently, I witnessed this scene outside our local makolet (grocery store). A mom and child were going at it over the child’s apparently unauthorized five shekel credit purchase of some candy. Mom reminded Daughter that she is not allowed...

Nov 25, 2014, 11:39 PM

My Grandkids as American Citizens: A Good Idea?

It's been much the rage for American olim - make the young ones born here United States citizens, enjoy the $1000 yearly allowance for each (courtesy of Uncle Sam), and thereby allow them to travel to and work in...

Nov 19, 2014, 8:16 PM

The Danger of Short Term Tactics

Households can learn a lesson on debt from the experiences of auto giant General Motors

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About Me

"Heaven never decreed that you must live forever in debt." David made Aliyah from the U.S. in 1983. He worked in education and hi-tech prior to establishing BONUS Family Budget Counseling. He counsels families and groups on proper money management and Israeli consumerism.