Where are good places for money today?

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
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350
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In a more general discussion of the 'news' of the current economy, and indirectly how it affects the political policies:

Where do people think the economy is 'working' for investing today?

- There's always the 'doom and gloom' buy gold segment

- Are there any franchises/small businesses that are now good opportunities?

- Is now a time to buy into some investment real estate markets?

- Is now a time to invest in the stock market (US or foreign)?

- Other

Or is it pretty hopeless, a 'just sit on your cash' time?
 

nullzero

Senior member
Jan 15, 2005
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I will tell you what is booming... Gold, Guns, and Ammo. I also hear that heirloom seeds are selling out fast online as well. Here is what investment strategy I would do LOL; 30% Gold, 30% Guns, 30% Ammo, and 10% silver.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
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Originally posted by: nullzero
I will tell you what is booming... Gold, Guns, and Ammo. I also hear that heirloom seeds are selling out fast online as well. Here is what investment strategy I would do LOL; 30% Gold, 30% Guns, 30% Ammo, and 10% silver.

So, buy a golden gun that shoots silver bullets.

I guess if you use it to rob the right people...
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
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Originally posted by: bamacre
Are your goals short or long term? 3 months? 5 years? 20 years?

Yes. In other words, to be profitable both short and long term, not just either.

That leans towards short-term, because you can then shift approaches as needed.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
52,371
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Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: bamacre
Are your goals short or long term? 3 months? 5 years? 20 years?

Yes. In other words, to be profitable both short and long term, not just either.

That leans towards short-term, because you can then shift approaches as needed.

When you figure out a way to always be profitable be kind enough to let the rest of us know.
 

nullzero

Senior member
Jan 15, 2005
670
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0
Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: nullzero
I will tell you what is booming... Gold, Guns, and Ammo. I also hear that heirloom seeds are selling out fast online as well. Here is what investment strategy I would do LOL; 30% Gold, 30% Guns, 30% Ammo, and 10% silver.

So, buy a golden gun that shoots silver bullets.

I guess if you use it to rob the right people...

On a serious note we are entering rough times the best investment would be getting yourself out of debt and storing enough food and cash to survive without income for 1 year. You may even want to store that cash in gold or silver coins if you are scared of a rapid sudden decline in the currency. As for making money everyone is getting burned atm in all investment vehicles so making a stable return on investment is almost out of the question.

If I had to pick where to put the money in a investment vehicle, I would stuff it in stable electric utility stocks with good fundamentals.
 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,029
2
81
Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: bamacre
Are your goals short or long term? 3 months? 5 years? 20 years?

Yes. In other words, to be profitable both short and long term, not just either.

That leans towards short-term, because you can then shift approaches as needed.

Then, IMO, I don't think anyone has a crystal ball. I've still got some cash myself in a MM account just waiting for me to make a decision.

If you were looking long term, there are some strong tech companies that can outlast this market and make solid comebacks, be it 1-5 years from now, or even longer.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
40,730
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S&P 500 is a safe long term buy as long as we don't end up in a Road Warrior land where spike-haired leather punks with guns make the rules.

(Relatively) high-interest savings like INGDirect is still the place to put enough for a few months of living expenses.

With the S&P you're just betting that the economy will eventually recover, and that at least some of the 500 largest companies in the US will figure out how to make money again. It's less reward than guessing exactly right on what few companies to buy, but also much less risk.

That's too boring for many people though. Trying to research and pick the one or two best companies to buy is more exciting.
 

Craig234

Lifer
May 1, 2006
38,548
350
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Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
S&P 500 is a safe long term buy as long as we don't end up in a Road Warrior land where spike-haired leather punks with guns make the rules.

(Relatively) high-interest savings like INGDirect is still the place to put enough for a few months of living expenses.

With the S&P you're just betting that the economy will eventually recover, and that at least some of the 500 largest companies in the US will figure out how to make money again. It's less reward than guessing exactly right on what few companies to buy, but also much less risk.

That's too boring for many people though. Trying to research and pick the one or two best companies to buy is more exciting.

I like your logic - but on the facts, I'm concerned about the time frame for a turnaround, and the long-term/permanent issues facing the US in the global economy.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,749
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Originally posted by: bamacre
Originally posted by: Craig234
Originally posted by: sandorski
My wallet. Now Accepting Deposits!

Explain the high return to the investor.

"Well, it works kind of like Social Security..."

If you mean: You come back for it and there's no sign of it. Then you might be correct.
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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Originally posted by: Craig234

I like your logic - but on the facts, I'm concerned about the time frame for a turnaround, and the long-term/permanent issues facing the US in the global economy.

Then divide your investments into emergency money, near term, long term.

Put the long term into an S&P 500 ETF now to catch the recovery when it happens. Even while growth is stalled you'll at least earn some dividends.

Put the medium term into some more risky buy recommended by someone else, like otter futures. They otter do better than inflation.

Keep the emergency money in ING or similar.
 

squirrel dog

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
5,564
48
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Money Market or cd's . When Jimmy Carter was pres I watched my cd's go to 14% (I think)it didn?t last long as the market stablized.Do not go with stocks unless you are a very astute finance guy, and many of them are down 30-40% now .
 

nullzero

Senior member
Jan 15, 2005
670
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Actually if you get some good liquor that enhances with age it may be a good investment to buy some good quality liquor and wine and plan to sell in the future.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Among experts you will unfortunately not get agreement. Deflation may happen, inflation will at some point. You could do gold but that will never make you rich although if you want to remove yourself as much as possible to ward off a true end of world worse case maybe gold or simply a collection of nice rifles in your basement with resale--something completely unpegged from the dollar regardless of its direction.
 

MovingTarget

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2003
9,002
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With the way the economy is going, make sure you have your emergency fund large enough should you be faced with unemployment for a while. A regular savings or MM should do. These are for your short term investments, and they should remain liquid. For medium term, I would normally recommend a CD, but I don't know if the interest rates on those make them much better than regular savings accounts at the moment, although historically CDs have higher yield. Long term, you should have some invested safely into an IRA or some other stable/secure investment. The stock market right now is just too volitaile for my tastes. I'm normally pretty risk-averse financially, even when times are good. Whatever you can *afford* to lose should go into the stock market. In the near term during a recession, I'd go for companies that sell beer and cigarettes. People always find ways to spend on these items, so the market should be somewhat steady. :p
 

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
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Originally posted by: Craig234
So, buy a golden gun that shoots silver bullets.

I guess if you use it to rob the right people...
Or use it against werewolves in a James Bond film.

Originally posted by: nullzero
I will tell you what is booming... Gold, Guns, and Ammo.

No kidding, ammo sales are through the roof right now. I was browsing for some 5.45x39mm and every place seems to be out of stock (B&M and online).
 

DaveSimmons

Elite Member
Aug 12, 2001
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No kidding, ammo sales are through the roof right now. I was browsing for some 5.45x39mm and every place seems to be out of stock (B&M and online).
Probably fear that the anti-gun nuts will succeed in requiring laser-serialized ammo.

That seems unlikely since some Dems hunt too, and no Reps will vote for it.