You know why they sell those agreements? Because they’re huge moneymakers! No, I wouldn’t do that. We have exercise equipment in our home, and we don’t have any maintenance agreements. Lots of folks make resolutions to start working out and get into shape, but very few see it through to the end. A high percentage of expensive workout equipment turns into very expensive coat hangers in a short amount of time.

I don’t ever recommend maintenance agreements, or extended warranties. I self-insure by having money saved up, and buying quality items!

- Dave

Dear Dave,

Where did the government get all of that bailout money? Did it print it, or did it borrow it from China?

- Carl

Dear Carl,

It’s none of the above. When the government runs a deficit, which means it spends more than it makes (that, of course, happens every moment of every day) it borrows money by selling U.S. government bonds, or treasury bonds, on the open market. China owns some of these bonds, but they certainly don’t own them all.

Treasury bonds are sold to lots of investors. Corporations buy them, as do individual investors, because these bonds are theoretically some of the safest on the planet. So don’t worry about the China angle, Carl. They didn’t make us a direct loan of hundreds of billions of dollars to handle the bailout. That’s just another bunch of conspiracy theory bull.

- Dave