*** The OFFICIAL Weekend Singles Thread *** September 14-16 2007 - Saving and Investing

September 14, 2007 | WFTR

[WFTR]

Greetings, and Welcome to another Weekend Singles' Thread.

I've been planning all week to do one theme this weekend, and I realized just a few minutes ago that the theme that I planned is a week early. Furthermore, the discussion that I wanted to start was one that Dave wanted to join, and he won't be here this weekend. Because my timing would be wrong for the original theme and because I'd like to let Dave participate, I'm going to change topics at the last minute. (My apologies to the other hosts.) If things seem disjointed and unorganized, there's a good reason. I was confused and am putting together a different idea at the last minute.

This week's topic will be saving and investing. As always, participation is completely voluntary, but I want to emphasize that point when we're talking about money. The goal here is not to put anyone on the spot. What I hope we can do is talk about things in a way that lets people pick up bits of information that can help them without feeling embarrassed. I've written a bunch of the standard questions, but feel free to talk about any aspect of the subject that you find interesting or ask any questions that you want to ask.

How much time do you spend on investing your money? How long have you been investing? Do you have a modest amount in a 401k that you invest following pretty normal ideas of diversification or do you like to day trade taking big risks for big rewards?

How well do you understand investing and how the process works? Do you wish that you understood more? If so, what are you going to do to educate yourself? Do you ever watch financial shows or listen to them on the radio? Do you enjoy them?

Do you think investing is different for singles than it is for married people? Do you accept more risk as a single or do you accept less risk? A single person doesn't have a spouse who's going to argue about money, but do you have someone who knows how you are investing your money and who likes to talk about investing with you? If you were married, how much would you want to discuss investing with your spouse?

If you'd like to tell us, what are your financial goals? Do you feel that you can reach those goals?

[WFTR]

Friday Night Singles
Please freepmail DaveLoneRanger to be added / removed

---

This week's bonus questions are these.

1. Which would you choose?
a. Leading 20 people from a burning building after a terrorist attack, or
b. Forcibly preventing terrorists from setting fire to the building even if the force you use is lethal or nearly lethal force.

2. You get to spend a week on a "dream vacation." Would you rather
a. Spend the week in the penthouse suite at a luxury hotel in the big city of your choice, or
b. Spend the week in a beautiful house on a mountain with a view of mountains in every direction?

3. Besides making and receiving calls, what features of your cell phone do you actually use?

As always, we want to hear why you'd choose the choices you'd make if you'd like to share your reasons.

Bill

[Gay State Conservative]

Lots of folks in my neck of the woods got rich by smart (or lucky) real estate purchases.I certainly didn't get rich but I made a profit from a recent sale which gives me some good breathing room,financial security-wise.

That's the extent of my wisdom in the world of investments.

[WFTR]

I'm going to start the discussion with a little background about why I chose this topic.

When I was in my 20's, I knew nothing and to be honest cared nothing about investing. I knew that saving money was a good idea, and I was careful with my money. However, I always felt that developing a good understanding of investing was a bad use of my time. I loved outdoor activities and if given a choice between reading about investing or reading about a great place to go hiking, I'd read about the hiking trail. I was also very involved in the church back then, so I'd be much more likely to read the Bible than to read something about investing.

When my company offered a 401k, I asked my Dad what I should do. He told me to sign up and told me where to put my money. I didn't understand the details and didn't care. I don't begrudge myself the ignorance that I enjoyed back then. While I might not have been making the most of my financial opportunities, I was much happier with my life than I am now even though I understand much more about money now.

I ended up losing more money in the "dot com bust" than I would have lost had I applied my mind to understanding more about finances. I'm not rich, and losing that money wasn't a good thing. As a result, I've tried to gain a bit more understanding in hopes of not making the same mistake again. I'm certainly no expert, but I think I'm better protected than I was back then.

I realized then that I really should understand the issue better, but one of my secret hopes was that I'd someday marry a woman who was good at investing. I would have been happy to leave most of those decisions to her, and one delusion that helped me continue to delay educating myself was the hope that she'd arrive in my life before my ignorance caused me any loss.

I wonder how many other singles are in that situation and wanted to throw open the topic for discussion.

[WFTR]

That's the extent of my wisdom in the world of investments.

If we only spoke from wisdom, the internet would be a dull place. Do you have any foolishness that you'd like to share?

Seriously, congratulations on making a profit on your recent sale. Had you originally bought that property as an investment or did you have other uses for it?

Bill

[WFTR]

Friday Night Singles
Please freepmail DaveLoneRanger to be added / removed

---

Please see post #2 for the Friday night bonus questions. I knew I forgot something on the ping.

[Gay State Conservative]

If we only spoke from wisdom, the internet would be a dull place. Do you have any foolishness that you'd like to share?

I figured that I'd avoid foolishness given that the topic of the evening was "investing".If you want foolishness I'll include a link to a video of me doing the Funky Chicken! ;-)

(Only kidding,I've never done the Funky Chicken.)

[WFTR]

LOL

[DancesWithCats]

Well I'm no investments whiz by any means. Lost much shifting out of mutuals to stock options under the bad advice of a broker when the last really bad crash happened ... so I'll contain my comments to the second bunch of questions and kill terrorists instead ...

1. Which would you choose? a. Leading 20 people from a burning building after a terrorist attack, or b. Forcibly preventing terrorists from setting fire to the building even if the force you use is lethal or nearly lethal force. 2. You get to spend a week on a "dream vacation." Would you rather a. Spend the week in the penthouse suite at a luxury hotel in the big city of your choice, or b. Spend the week in a beautiful house on a mountain with a view of mountains in every direction? 3. Besides making and receiving calls, what features of your cell phone do you actually use?

In #1: I'd choose slaughtering the terrorists ... I'm not into taser guns as weapons or plastic bullets. If someone is threatening the lives of innocents, away they go, no hesitation. buh-bye.

In #2: Definitely the penthouse! I've had my fill of roughing it at campsites and if I'm on vacation, somebody else is doing the cooking! UNLESS ... if the cabin in the mountains consists of a full staff to do all the cooking to order? I'd prefer the cabin ... and the fresh air and the wildlife and my best camera!

#3: None. I receive calls. I take calls. LOL I don't get real technical with my cell phone. Only JUST upgraded from the same cell phone I've had for five years and only because I lost that one somewhere along the way and had to. And no it doesn't have a camera. I'm too cheap. LOL

[WFTR]

In #2: Definitely the penthouse! I've had my fill of roughing it at campsites and if I'm on vacation, somebody else is doing the cooking! UNLESS ... if the cabin in the mountains consists of a full staff to do all the cooking to order? I'd prefer the cabin ... and the fresh air and the wildlife and my best camera!

We can make it a luxury cabin in the mountains if you'd like. Do you want a big building so that the staff lives in the same building or do you want a little cabin with the staff living at another building down the mountain a little ways? If you go for the big building, do you want other guests to be staying in the building as well? In that case, each of you would have huge suites and huge private balconies, but you could still eat in a big dining room with other guests.

[Hot Tabasco]

This week's bonus questions are these. 1. Which would you choose?

a. Leading 20 people from a burning building after a terrorist attack, or

b. Forcibly preventing terrorists from setting fire to the building even if the force you use is lethal or nearly lethal force.

2. You get to spend a week on a "dream vacation." Would you rather

a. Spend the week in the penthouse suite at a luxury hotel in the big city of your choice, or

b. Spend the week in a beautiful house on a mountain with a view of mountains in every direction?

3. Besides making and receiving calls, what features of your cell phone do you actually use?

As always, we want to hear why you'd choose the choices you'd make if you'd like to share your reasons.

Bill

My Answer to Number 1 would be terminating the terrorists with lethal force, thats why I have a CPL....

As for question 2, I'd rather spend the vacation in some unobscure little resort in the caribbean with access to complete native menus (been there, done that and want to return to Honduras)

and 3, I think that I'm the last person on this planet that doesn't have a cell phone.......

I get very few phone calls at home on my land line so there is no need to be available anywhere else.........Leave me a message and I will call you when it is convenient.

[DancesWithCats]

LOL Oh we’re really dreaming here, aren’t we? OK. Let’s make it more like a Camp David compound! LOL Staff in separate buildings but there to do the cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the critters (dogs, cats and horses!) Lots of rooms for lots of guests and a huge dining room by the fireplace for all to gather and enjoy! No hunting allowed except with a camera and a private jet with wonderful food supplies coming in daily (lobster and scallops and shrimp and steaks for those who like ...). Great cooks who make up fresh bread daily and lovely crepes and omelettes and a bit of Mexican food as well. Sounds like heaven to me!

[WFTR]

As for question 2, I'd rather spend the vacation in some unobscure little resort in the caribbean with access to complete native menus (been there, done that and want to return to Honduras)

Your digestive system must be better than mine. I'd be afraid to go anywhere and eat the native food.

I don't use my cell phone much, but I like having it available in case I have car troubles on a long trip or need to let someone know that I'll be late. I also need to available most of the time in case something comes up at work. I certainly know what you mean about getting so few calls on the land line that the cell phone seems to be a waste.

Bill

[WFTR]

LOL Oh we’re really dreaming here, aren’t we? OK. Let’s make it more like a Camp David compound! LOL Staff in separate buildings but there to do the cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the critters (dogs, cats and horses!) Lots of rooms for lots of guests and a huge dining room by the fireplace for all to gather and enjoy! No hunting allowed except with a camera and a private jet with wonderful food supplies coming in daily (lobster and scallops and shrimp and steaks for those who like ...). Great cooks who make up fresh bread daily and lovely crepes and omelettes and a bit of Mexican food as well. Sounds like heaven to me!

Now all you need is to be elected! LOL

[DancesWithCats]

Oh well ... not much chance of that then, is there?! Guess I’m back to Holiday Inn and Denney’s ... well that was over quick!

[WFTR]

When all is said and done, Holiday Inn and Denny's is probably less stressful than being president.

Have you ever been to some kind of mountain resort? You mentioned camping, but have you ever had a more leisurely setting? Are there any places that you'd consider for that kind of vacation? I've noticed that many national parks are now offering some kind of lodge accommodations. I've wondered whether they are worth visiting.

[DancesWithCats]

LOL This is true. Don’t think I’d want the job, in spite of the wonderful perks.

Yes I’ve spent time in some lovely lodges, most notably in Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona, Arizona. Very very beautiful settings, lovely cabins, comfortable accommodations with kitchenettes and local restaurants as well so did some cooking and did some eating out and some picking it up and bringing it back to the cabin. Lovely. Would of course, do it again. These were privately owned though. I don’t know about the national parks’ ones.

[RockinRight]

I’m in the mortgage business. We show our clients how to use their mortgage (responsibly) as a tool to help with investing by using the right balance and tax benefits to grow their wealth.

Me, personally, well...I am nowhere close to where I want to be but in the right job and mindset to get me there.

[PinkDolphin]

1 B And then A would not be necessary. I guess my sheepdog friend has rubbed off on me, or maybe i have a little sheepdog in me too.

2 B I’m just more into a romantic retreat in the mountains than I am into luxury penthouses.

3. I answer it and make calls, that’s all I want the darn little intrusion for!

[RockinRight]

Hiya, PD. I guess I’m not single anymore so I shouldn’t be here. But Hoodie’s sitting right behind me, so I guess it’s OK.