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21 years ago

SPIKE sure would like to see the investment forum open up!!

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Comments (12)

aileen
21 years ago
Spike may have thought that there was enough poor investment advice going around without the Garden Web adding to it.

Some of the advice was good, but some of it really was foolish. I sure hope that some of it was ignored. No one can afford bad advice when it comes to retirment money.
pinecone
Original Author
21 years ago
AILEEN, I am sorry that I confused you. I did not necessarily mean the stockmarket. To me investing is every thing you do with your money.
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The only thing Dave has said that I can disagree with, is that it's 'simple' to find all your posts by typing in your user name in a search. Yes, it does bring up all your posts, but it doesn't bring them up in chronological order. If you've been here for years as many have, you could have many pages of posts to review before you might stumble upon your most recent posts. I gave up on trying to find my posts in that way. I did decide to 'check the box' on each thread I post to, so that it will be sent to my email. That was not easy either. I had to contact support because after repeated efforts to set my account to allow emails, it wasn't changing it. Once I did contact Tamara, they did change it and now I do get emails for the threads I'm following. But, I don't always get them and sometimes they come into my email box days later. lol But, for now, that is working the best so far for trying to keep up with threads I am following. But my email box is now needing a lot more time weeding out. I use the Cornell site to read reviews on different vegetable varieties and like that site. I have however started following others' suggestions that Google/Gardenweb searches turn up better results than GW and have found that works better for me sometimes. I try the search function and if the results are just too random and I find myself *sighing*, I just start a new thread and ask for what I need. edit: I see someone above has said, that sometimes other members 'insist I do a search'. I have rarely had that happen to me, thankfully. My way of looking at it is, that every subject we discuss is a repeat of some earlier discussion. Some of the forums, especially over the winter, are so inactive, that any discussion is a bonus, even a repeat one. If we all did searches and found the answers we needed, we wouldn't need to be discussing live every day. And btw, even if you find posts on the subject you are looking for, they are not always giving you what you want. Sometimes there will be 3 posts on a thread. Or the exact question you wanted to ask was not discussed. Or the person on the forum with the most experience was not on that day. This post was edited by prairiemoon2 on Fri, Jun 27, 14 at 17:07
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A recent speaker warned newbies not to start marketing veggies until they had two things: a fence and an irrigation system. I'm just a tiny market gardener who hardly makes anything each year, but my first investment was a fence. White tail deer in the east can jump an 8 foot fence, but usually won't. I have an old barbed wire fence that is in rickety shape, but put a 6 foot welded wire fence 6 feet inside the barbed wire one. The deer don't seem to want to jump that much horizontal span, so I rarely have had any problem with deer over the last few years. However, once a rabbit or woodchuck gets in (when the gate is open presumably) he get "locked in." A live trap or a .22 works to solve those problems. Expecting most other solutions to work may be unrealistic, especially in certain years when the deer population is large, as they are forced to seek food where they normally might not bother. So the non-fence protection things work depending on the deer pressure. I love to wish people good luck in growing, but if they think they can outsmart nature in all years without fencing, I think they'll need a lot more than my good luck wishes. Ann
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Is your home an investment? (debate question)
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Surprisingly, I think I'm going to be one of the few people saying "Yes"...but it's a very risky one. If you buy a home when prices are going up, you can make a killing. If you buy at the wrong time, you lose your shirt. The problem is a house is an extremely undiversified real estate portfolio that is heavily leveraged and comes with tax implications so complex most people don't understand them. People who would never think of putting 20% of their portfolio in one stock put the bulk of their net worth into a single piece of real estate without hesitation. Since the Great Depression it's been illegal to leverage your stock portfolio as much as people leverage their house...because people figured out leverage dramatically increases market volatility and risk. Basically it is an extremely risky investment that people think is safer because it is familiar. Worse, your house is an illiquid asset that people have so much emotionally invested in, they make decisions that aren't rational from a fiscal perspective. People don't necessarily sell their homes when they can no longer afford them. Yet when people start thinking about that new kitchen, they rationalize it as an investment and delude themselves into thinking they will get their investment back. Many buy a home with a vague notion they will sell it and retire off the proceeds. It bugs me when people ask questions about whether this or that luxury renovation will pay for itself. Statistics show the answer is "usually not". Even if it does, though...putting $20,000 into an "investment" that gives you the $20,000 back in 10 years isn't as good a deal as just putting it in your 401k. People tell you to go for qualities in a house that you don't particularly want because they will increase the resale value. On the other hand, if you genuinely *DON'T* want something others want, it is a chance to get a bargain when buying a house. Supply and Demand...the house that has what everyone is demanding right now is likely to be way more expensive, so you will pay less now. This doesn't apply if you are considering a change to your house that others don't like. Even then, though...Are you going to live in a beige house for 20 years because buyers like beige? These things are fads, and could change before you sell. Following the advice to "buy the most house you can afford" or getting an ARM are risky real estate market gambles...if the markets go down or you suffer a financial setback. you are screwed. As far as the real estate agent who didn't own a home: I find there are two types of real estate professionals. The "Mommy Track" (Or "Daddy Track") ones who are looking for a job with flexible hours...and the Hustler/Salesmen/Gambler type who dominates the top of the profession. The latter tend to be big spenders. There is statistical evidence folks in sales tend not to save money...so the high-end real estate agent you are thinking of may spend as fast as he earns and not have the down payment for a house. This post was edited by edlincoln on Fri, Sep 5, 14 at 1:40
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Real Estate Investment Trusts
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lestard, I do some trading, on-line, through Fidelity. It is simple and I don't need a broker. Just do it on my computer. This allows me to check in each day to see what my stock is doing. Jim Cramer has never recommended a dangerous stock. He highly recommended Annaly which is a real estate Reit which pays a high dividend. I've held it for over a year and it only fluctuates a few points, up or down. If it begins to 'tank', I'll sell it. We have our retirement accounts with a brokerage firm and I suggested Annaly to our broker. He bought some (not alot) for the dividend in our portfolio. When I bought it I paid $16.00 a share. It hit $18.00 today. I just got my dividend last month. Pays every quarter. I'm not complaining! There are a few good REITS which are worth checking out. The bottom line is you have to research whatever you think of buying. Jane Here is a link that might be useful: some info
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Jonesy
21 years ago
We don't invest our money, it is in CD's and a good thing to. My sis and a couple of friends lost a great deal of money in the stock market. All of my family and friends are hanging onto their life savings and I can't figure out why. We are spending ours and enjoying it.
joyfulguy
21 years ago
The idea is to spend your last dollar on your last day of life.

Has anyone figured out how to do that (excepting committing suicide, of course)?

Unless one wants to leave a little for one's kids - or/and deserving charities.

I think that life will be tougher for the youger generation(s) - a lot of computer work is done in India.

I heard a while ago that recently a major call centre was established there, as well. Operates in a system similar to ones here - but at about half the cost. Staff using names such as "Kathy", "Linda" etc. They'll have to amend their pronunciation if they want to pass as local when talking to people here.

Our middle class is being eroded.

If a kid age 15 invests one single dollar ...
-and gets 5% rate of return - value at age 65 will be $11.00 plus;
-and gets 10% rate of return, value at age 65 will be $117.00 and change,
-and gets 15% rate of return, value at age 65 will be $1,070.00 plus.

No allowance for the erosion of ongoing income by income tax, or of value of the underlying asset due to inflation.

Learning how money works (and the effects of income tax) is an interesting hobby - that pays well.

Many people spend more time and energy planning their vacation that how to finance their retirement.

Good wishes to you and yours,

joyful guy/Ed
andrasnagy
17 years ago
Retire Worry Free: Essays on Risk and Money Management
Product Details:
ISBN: 0975309315
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: February 2003
Publisher: Murine Press
"Nearly 8 trillion dollars were lost after the dot.com bubble and the ensuing stock market sell-off between 2000 and 2002. This bubble caused life-style changes for pre-retirees and caused 10 Wall-street broker firms to pay off 1.4 billion to unhappy investors in settlements. It has become clear that one must manage one's financial affairs and try to do a better job doing it. Personal application of Modern Portfolio Theory and unique Money Management ideas in this book will help the reader to plan better. The book also explains in detail the long hidden secret of success of the famous Turtle Trading."

Here is a link that might be useful: Buy it from Barnes and Noble
devorah
17 years ago
Gosh, what a coicidence that you and the author have the same name. I think that separating me from $20 is your investment plan
joyfulguy
17 years ago
Jonesy

You don't invest?

Your money is in CDs?

It's "invested" - in an asset which can't grow in size.

On which the borrower pays you rent for the use of your money.

And pays you back, at the end of the term, precisely the same nmber of dollars that s/he borrowed.

Each one of which will buy less than when you began to let them use it.

ole joyful
pinecone
Original Author
17 years ago
Greetings to who ever reads this forum.
Gee it was a shock to see a post when I had asked Spike to open the Investing forum back up in 02 and here it is May 06 and a post shows up on my original question. How nice to see.
If I remember right I was to be the monitor. But there was no need at that time.
I am glad to see the interest the forum is generated.
Keep in mind you are not supposed to list an add for anthing to sale (I should check the rule, it may have changed). I think the book would be on the gray line. I will post on the investing forum soon. Till I do to ans the subjects that have come up about "investing" Here are my thoughts.
True life is an investment in Time, Talent, Looks, Money, Food, Love, Hate, Fear, Education, Music, Land, Timber, Bank CD, Stocks, Bonds, Cotton, Gold and the BEAT GOES ON and the LIST GOES ON!

Happy Trails till we meet again,
pinecone
joyfulguy
17 years ago
pinecone,

Be sure that your sins will find you out!

Actually, when you're out ...

... most likely your sins will get a recorded meswsage.

ole joyful
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
17 years ago
andras...Hate to tell you this, but all that book contains is some old and pretty common knowledge.

I'm with Devorah, and will invest my money on something with hopefully a better return...lol

Sue....enjoying retirement
joyfulguy
17 years ago
Chemo,

Your kids will tell you ...

... if you yell long enough, and often enough ...

... sooner or later, it usually gets action.

Sometimes the action that you want.

ole joyful
skagit_goat_man_
16 years ago
I've only taken an active interest into our retirement accounts over the past half year. But from what I've found it seems that a bank savings account at today's rates just looses you money or at best just keeps you even when inflation is taken into account. There are plenty of FDIC banks that offer money market accounts on-line and are paying just below or above 5% interest. In these accounts your money is available and it is just as secure as in your home town bank. Tom

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