Here is the holiday aparments I stayed in, in Crete
Posted on 09/14/2007 3:18:34 PM PDT by 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?
Here is the holiday aparments I stayed in, in Crete
The second question I think I would choose the mountain retreat or maybe a luxury villa on the beach. I have always stayed in apartments or hotel rooms so a villa sounds a great idea. Not swimming I would not mind if it had a pool or not but I suspect those that I was holidaying with would insist on one. I have found it often much more expensive to get accommodation with a pool than without though most travel companies negotiate the use of a pool at local hotels or apartments if your one does not have one at no extra cost.
I have several, my main 2 are old technology and all my are pay as you I do not have any monthly contracts.
I have a Siemens A55 and a MC60, also an Ericsson's K500i which does have a reasonable camera but I rather take this phone out of the house as it looks more expensive than it is and is in fact a second hand replacement for the original one I had that was stolen so because it looks more expensive I just use it indoors as an alarm clock - crazy I know - it does not even have a current sim card in it.
The MC60 has a very basic camera which I never use and bought the phone second hand on ebay for about 20 dollars. The A55 also bought second hand on ebay for about 15 dollars and has no camera.
The MC60
Click here for details
I mainly use mine for receiving calls so that dad can keep in touch with me when I am out. I make the occasional call and text (I used to text GretchenM - God rest her soul)
Yes, I'm running late tonight. I was cleaning a gecko cage and then took a walk before supper. I'm afraid that I completely forgot the ping.
I've been informed that Wednesday, September 19, is National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Mind you, you'd have to offer me Kierra Knightley back before she became anorexic to persuade me to talk like a pirate, but this occasion inspires a few bonus questions.
1. If you were a pirate, what would you name your flagship?
2. Where would you rather sail, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, or do you have another idea?
3. What kind and color of bird would you keep on your shoulder?
You're one of the first on this thread to join the modern world of using a cell phone for more than just making calls. I'm afraid many of us just make and receive calls.
On your other two answers, I completely agree.
Texting does not seem as popular in the States as it is in Britain, it is not unusual for people in Britain to send in excess of 300 text messages a month.
I hope you had fun at the game. I can imagine that Friday evenings are starting to get a nice chill at this time of the year in your neighborhood. I remember when the chill would first start to hit back in the Tennessee mountains when I was a teenager.
In one sense, I like your idea of teaching this topic in school, but in another way, I am wary. I think we too often fall into the habit of believing that the government should teach us everything that we need to survive in life, and adding another of life's essentials to the list seems to be a step in the wrong direction. The other problem I see is that too many young people may not remember anything that they hear at that time if they see no immediate application. I'm not sure that I would have remembered that kind of class by the time I had graduated from high school and been through seven years of college. I agree that people need to have that understanding. I just don't know the best way to give it to them.
I can see you as more of the rescuer than the vigilante. My training in industrial firefighting really hasn't focused on rescuing people. We have a drill on going into a building every few years, but most of our work is outside firefighting. Still, I'm more qualified to lead people from a building than I am to fight terrorists. Even so, in my heart, I'd rather attack the terrorists. Unlike those who are wiser and less passionate than I am, I'd even prefer to take them out with a baseball bat instead of a gun. Dealing with hurting or killing another person might be difficult later, but there's a part of me that would love to go crazy against one of these mutts.
Using the cell phone as your timepiece is clever. I typically don't take a watch into my workout room when I work out, but I take my cell phone. I've actually used it to get the time exactly as you describe, but I didn't think of that use at all. My compliments for a unique way of interpreting the question.
Bill
Your ISA sounds very much like what Americans have called a 401k or IRA. The 401k is something we have through our employers. We can put money directly into the account from our pay, and the money never shows as income. Because the money never shows, we pay no taxes on it. In addition, the money can grow through investments without our paying any taxes on the growth. The drawback is that we aren't allowed to withdraw the money until we are 59 1/2 years old. If we make early withdrawals, we pay a penalty. Once we turn 59 1/2, we can withdraw the money as we need it and will pay taxes on it at that time. The idea is that we will have less income at that time because we are retired, so the taxes on that money will be less then than now. An IRA is similar except that people can set up an IRA independent of their employer. Unfortunately, people who have a 401k at work are not allowed to contribute to an IRA also.
Is your pension scheme tax free as well? I would think that they would allow that money to be tax free as well as the ISA money. Your pension scheme sounds somewhat similar to how some of our 401k plans work. Many of the big American companies will match a certain percentage of what people put into their 401k plan.
Bill
Your big day coming up. Talk like a pirate day.
You’re the second person who is modern enough to text. I’ve never learned how to text on my phone, and I’m not even certain how the text feature works or whether my plan allows me to text.
I think teenagers in the United States text a great deal. I find it too frustrating to try to type using a keypad. I love typing on a regular keyboard, but I would go crazy trying to say anything worthwhile picking letters with only 9 keys.
After I got in I gave my signs to some others in the audience. I gave that sign to a cute as a button little girl, the rest went to people who I would be willing to bet are either FReepers or GOE'ers
Same here and the mode where it guesses what you are going to type I find even worse.
Thanks for making the effort to show your support. America needs people who are willing to take a stand.
http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=pirateshipnamer
Maybe something noble sounding like Liberty Queen or Ranger Queen. Or maybe something more amusing like the Limping Dutchman.
2. The Mediteranean seems more interesting.
3. Shiver me timbers! I don't want some stinking bird pooping on my shoulder! I should make you walk the gangplank for even suggesting it.
Bill
You rock Martha! just got a few pings from luvw at the canteen from the events today in DC.. awesome
Hey!! Very cool ... was it fun?
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