The hell with the stock market

[Tero]

I did not actually lose anything in the 401K plan with the big crash.

But then last fall, late, I put some money in stocks. It went up, it went down. I am where I was last September. Now I sold all stock.

My old 401K plan, 13 years worth, is doing nothing. Inflation is eating it up.

I can see why rich people want to own land etc.

[JimC]

Yep, the effects are similar here, though not as severe. My wife and I figure we will have to work a couple of years longer than we originally thought before we retire...

[LaMont Cranston]

I have been involved with real estate for much of my life, and one of the keys to doing well in real estate is buying at the right time. For much of my life, real estate in California and Hawaii kept going up, and it was a good way to make money, arguably, the best way. However, I would be very cautious about the current real estate market. That huge bubble, the subprime mess and some other factors make buying real estate, at this time, much less attractive than it used to be. Of course, a great deal depends on where you live, what your plans are, etc.

On the other hand, I can't say that the stock market or much of anything else looks any better than real estate. I wish you the best in whatever you do with your money.

[DRSB]

Real estate makes sense if it is for personal use only, not as speculative investing. Especially so if it is bought on debt. So many people have huge liabilities but consider them assets. Stay away form debt!

Buying individual stocks is an attempt to beat the market, which is not a realistic goal. You'd do better with ETFs and other index trackers. Right now, precious metals look interesting, will be even more interesting when inflation picks up.

My 2 cents!

[Pappa]

I bought some Royal Bank of Scotland shares after they crashed. Two years ago they were 600p a share. I got them for 14p (their lowest was 12p). They're about 40p now. I plan on just sitting on them until they get up to about 300p, no matter how long it takes. If/when it happens, I'll have made a few thousand quid for very little risk. I like that.

[Tero]

All the stock I owned was mutual funds. Some fund manager is doing their best to spread it at least risk, but nearly all mutual funds lost money in the last 3 months. All the money they gained in spring.

here is the 2008 crash, then the recovery that fizzles out last few months

[Robert_S]

I did not actually lose anything in the 401K plan with the big crash.

But then last fall, late, I put some money in stocks. It went up, it went down. I am where I was last September. Now I sold all stock.

My old 401K plan, 13 years worth, is doing nothing. Inflation is eating it up.

I can see why rich people want to own land etc.

Why do people call me naive when I suggest that they invest locally, or at least in enterprises that they are familiar with?

[LaMont Cranston]

Robert S., I don't know who calls you naive, but I think what you wrote is an excellent idea. If you're investing in something close to you, you can keep an eye on it.

[JimC]

I bought some Royal Bank of Scotland shares after they crashed. Two years ago they were 600p a share. I got them for 14p (their lowest was 12p). They're about 40p now. I plan on just sitting on them until they get up to about 300p, no matter how long it takes. If/when it happens, I'll have made a few thousand quid for very little risk. I like that.

When the glorious and bloody revolution comes, you will be the first of the capitalist pig-dog swine to be swinging from the nearest lampost!

[Pappa]

I bought some Royal Bank of Scotland shares after they crashed. Two years ago they were 600p a share. I got them for 14p (their lowest was 12p). They're about 40p now. I plan on just sitting on them until they get up to about 300p, no matter how long it takes. If/when it happens, I'll have made a few thousand quid for very little risk. I like that.

When the glorious and bloody revolution comes, you will be the first of the capitalist pig-dog swine to be swinging from the nearest lampost!

As long as they strangle be with the entrails of the Queen, I'll die happy.