Why Inflation Matters.

A few days ago I bought a drink on my way into work. As I made my drive into town I reflected on the price of what I had just purchased, having paid about $1.90 for something I paid $1.00 for just ten or twelve years ago. It just served as a small but stark reminder of why inflation matters.

The ninety cents extra isn't going to cause me any financial woes but it got me to thinking about other examples. It has been almost two decades since Mrs. Bell and I were married. We took a honeymoon trip to Disneyworld and stayed about a week. I can recall paying a little less than $900 for our tickets and accommodations at the park. Out of curiosity I checked the rates for a similar package now (tickets and the same hotel) and found the price to be well over $2,000.00. We bought our first new car together in the mid 1990's for about $14,000.00. A similar vehicle today starts around $35,000. My wife has even commented how the cost of her grocery shopping trips have gone up noticeably over the last year or two.

Inflation is a wealth cutter

Inflation is a part of life. You can count on one hand the number of years since 1950 in which we experienced deflation. Some years it seems manageable and in others it can be daunting (think late 1970's to early 1980's), but over the course of time it adds up and creeps in to your wallet.

With two children approaching college age, a family with a renewed interest in travel, and a desire to retire comfortably I am now even more mindful than ever of inflation.

This all just serves as a reminder of why I remain invested. Up and downs are part of the investing but my core holdings of dividend stocks grow their dividends every year at a rate that has exceeded that of inflation and I'm betting that trend will continue.

The opinions presented here are mine and not meant as financial advice. Do your own due diligence.

More thoughts and ramblings on twitter @MattBellWrites

The Dallas Arboretum: Beauty By The Lake

With the cooler weather approaching it's a great time to visit one of my favorite places. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a wonderful experience for gardeners and those who appreciate nature's beauty. Set on White Rock Lake, the Dallas Arboretum features 66 acres of  fountains, beautiful gardens, and displays full of seasonal color. 

I have been visiting the arboretum for years and though I no longer live in the Dallas area I do find time to occasionally return and enjoy the serenity and beauty found at the arboretum.

Pumpkins

The holiday season, Halloween to Christmas, is my favorite time to go. From the pumpkin patches to the incredible display of Christmas decorations at the DeGolyer House located on the grounds the atmosphere seems to celebrate "Holiday."

The weather is usually quite pleasant during most of the season as well.  I love wandering through  the arboretum, enjoying the views of the sailboats on the lake or watching the squirrels gather nuts for the oncoming winter.

Colorful display

Depending on the time of year, the Dallas Arboretum offers a variety of exhibits and celebrations, including the annual Dallas Blooms, a festival celebrating an amazing display of spring blooming bulbs.

You can find the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden online at dallasarboretum.org.

More thoughts and ramblings on twitter @MattBellWrites

(pictures are mine)

A Weekend Stay in Comfort and Style in The Woodlands

We recently stayed at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott, located in The Woodlands, Texas, an upscale community just north of the greater Houston area. We traveled there to attend a concert as a gift to our oldest daughter for her 16th birthday. I chose the hotel due to its proximity to the concert venue and because I am a longtime Marriott Rewards member. The hotel's website also indicates that it was named the "2013 Americas Marriott Hotel of the Year." In my opinion I made the right choice.

 

The first thing I noticed when I walked into the hotel was just how wonderful it smelled. I don't know what it was but the scent made me think "clean and elegant." The lobby is very nice. Just steps outside the back is the waterway itself.

Hotel lobby

Parking was easy. We had a choice of self-parking or valet parking. Even though we opted for self-parking the valets were very helpful with directions and never pushy. Parking in the adjacent parking garage is just seconds from the lobby entrance.

Just steps outside the lobby

Both check-in and check-out were fast and easy. Every staff member we encountered was courteous and professional. Around midnight we called the front desk for more towels and in a matter of minutes they were delivered to our room.

We stayed in an executive level room on one of the upper floors. The room itself was quite spacious, very clean and had a great view of the waterway, pool, and the concert venue. (the venue, the Cynthia  Mitchell Woods Pavilion, was only a few minutes walk from our room across a skywalk and through a parking garage). Our room included a sofa and a chair for lounging and the bathroom, with a large marble vanity area, was roomy enough to suit the needs of our group. 

The concert venue from our room

I tried to find something about the hotel that I did not like but I couldn't. Our experience with The Woodlands Waterway Marriott was great and I feel the price was quite reasonable. In my opinion we definitely got what we paid for if not more. We will be staying here again on future trips to the area.  



 

 

View from our room



                                           (All pictures are mine).



More thoughts and ramblings on twitter @MattBellWrites