The US Postal Service has introduced the "forever" stamp. This special stamp, good for any first-class letter weighing up to one ounce, is valid forever, no matter how much postal rates increase. That means consumers can purchase these special stamps at today's rate and use them for years to come, even if postal prices double or triple. And, while there are definitely better places to invest your money in the long term, the forever stamp offers consumers protection against rate hikes and the annoyance of having to purchase one- and two-cent stamps whenever prices do increase.

In 1968, first-class stamps were six cents. Since then, the price has risen 14 times, including the May 2007 increase to 41 cents. This past December, a new law was passed linking postal rates to the consumer price index, which could cause rates to increase annually. The forever stamp, an idea adopted in Europe years ago, features the Liberty Bell, which hasn't appeared on a US stamp in over 30 years.

The US government expects to collect some $2.6 trillion in tax revenue this year! That's a 6% increase over last year, and a 13% jump since 2005. With the tax season behind us, did you ever wonder how your tax contributions are spent? Well, according to the government's 2008 budget, nearly 71% of this money is already slated for mandatory programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and interest toward the national debt. The military receives about 17% of the total budget, with another 1.3% funding homeland security. The remaining discretionary revenue not only funds highways, railroads, airports, etc., it also pays for federal agencies responsible for science, space exploration, medical research, education, environment, labor, law enforcement, etc. Finally, about 0.5% is spent on foreign aid.

Mandatory Spending (Billions) Social Security $612 Medicare $405 Medicaid $219 Interest on debt $266 Other $340

Discretionary Spending (Billions) Military $438 Homeland Security $35 Other $484

If the estimated numbers don’t seem to add up, that’s because the government expects to fall short of its fiscal budget by almost 8% this year, adding $200 billion or so to an almost $9 trillion national debt.

Selling your home on your own is a commendable achievement – if you can actually pull it off. But did you know that nearly 70% of For Sale By Owners end up enlisting the help of a professional? Of course, a few years ago, the real estate market was booming and obtaining a quick sale at the desired price was a much easier task. However, in today's challenging post-subprime market, buyers have more leverage and more inventory from which to choose. Beyond sheer negotiating power, a real estate agent can provide sellers with a comparative market analysis, accurate statistics which show exactly how much homes in your neighborhood are selling for. They will also have access to more serious and qualified buyers. Remember, your home is the most valuable asset you have. Having a qualified professional in your corner could make all the difference.