The best investment I am doing is getting out of debt. I gave myself a 5 year window to pay off ALL debts. I want to sleep in peace for a change without money debt worries, the freedom to finally leave a job I hate even though it pays well, to move away from a city I don't like living in and to hopefully retire earlier. Debt is a stranglehold that one needs to excape from so to breathe deeply again.
Smartest investment I have made so far is in my car. Public transportation around here is horrible! Granted it depreciated in value, like all cars, it's great on gas and still running 100K miles later :)
Jen - I've heard good things about mvelopes as well. They describe it as an electronic envelope system.
Guest - Thanks for sharing an amazing testimony. What stronger endorsement of the envelope system could there be than being able to retire in your mid 50s? Congrats!
My best investment was my Labradoodle. In one compact package I have an ever eager exercise partner, a playmate for my children, a pet that my husband tolerates because of his shed-free coat, a home alarm system, a conversation starter, and a warm belly to rub.
So David, what you're saying is that you're a big boy who can make his own decisions, and know what you want to pay more for, or what is worth paying full price for? Your words...
"I can make up my own mind whether the cost is worth it."
"please give the rest of us credit for being able to make our own decisions"
Why the hell are you reading this site at all then? You come off as a pompous, know-it-all a-hole to be honest. Did you even read his disclaimer. He didn't say these would apply to every single farmers market on the planet. He didn't say they were bad places to buy food. And last time I checked, this is a free blog. You sound like a blowhard who loves the sound of his own voice.
The best investment I ever made was buying my first home when I was in my 20's. It was old, ugly and cheap, but I paid it off in 3 years, then turned around and sold it for more than I paid for it. Renting just always seemed to me like throwing money out the window, with the exception of having someone take care of problems.
Investing in time has always been my best investment. Time to see our family who live out of state, time to take care of myself, time to spend with my spouse and kids. You can make or lose money, but you can't ever get more time back.
The smartest investment I ever made was in my three children. I was fortunate enough to have the option of being a stay-at-home mom and loved every minute of it! That wonderful time couldn't be purchased for any amount of money and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything!
The smartest investment I ever made was taking a computer typing course. Learning to type without having to do the "point and peck" method has saved hours and hours of time and now i type better than i write!
An easy answer for me, family and friends. They are certainly America's greatest commodity and the only currency we get to take with us. A fine investment with many years monitoring will pay dividends far beyond the imagination that will weather any recession. In this investment, I am a millionaire.
The smartest investment I ever made was my computer because my kids use it everyday for school I use it for games and bills so it's the best investment I ever have made.
The smartest investment I ever made was purchasing my Sony Vaio laptop computer! It is a few years old, but it has allowed me to be able to start my blog, enter contests(and win alot lol), and meet new amazing people online! It also allows me to stay in touch with family in different states via email, skype and facebook/twitter. I actually realized when I got home after buying it, they had given me the black model instead of the white(love it!), and took it back the next day & they told me it was on sale now for $175 less & refunded me the difference! SO, that was a REAL bonus on this investment!
the smartest investment i’ve ever made was my android phone [HTC EVO Shift 4g]. i have severe vision problems, and this phone makes it easy to keep in contact with everyone i need. i can have it read out loud to me, i can enlarge the fonts as needed, i can even forward all text messages from the phone to my desktop pc to view on the larger screen.
The smartest investment I made was the time and materials to repaint my living room. Having a color I love greet me when I come home greatly improves my mood and does good things for my attitude.
My smartest investment so far, was my MAC Computer. I was reluctant at first because it was more expensive than your typical PC, but overall, I have had absolutely no problems with my MAC, which has saved me money, whereas my PCs were always crashing and needing repairs which meant more money.
The smartest investment I've ever made has got to be going to a good university for engineering. I was able to work full time, second shift during my time there and avoided costly student loans. That investment is now paying dividends, not just monetarily but developing the work ethic that was required to get through a tough academic program with little or no free time has set me apart from my peers in the industry.
Sorry "adman" but I am not buying what you’re selling. It is apparent that you are writing on a subject that you know little or nothing about. I wonder if you are mistaking your local swap meet for a Farmer's Market. Let's review at least 9 out of 10 or more ways that you got this article wrong:
1. Do you really think that people need to be told to not buy the first items they see? Really? Most people, if not everyone, go to these Farmer's Markets for the entire experience of walking through the various stands and browsing the quality (and price) of the fruits and vegetables. Honestly, how many people do you know stop at the first stand, buy the first items they see, and go home? Nobody!
2. "Avoid the perfect looking stuff" -- are you serious? I am all for buying good tasting deformed fruit/veggies or shopping for a better price -- but that does not mean I should arbitrarily avoid the perfect looking stuff.
3. Well, you at least got this one right.
4. How many local beekeepers do you know? If any of us knew local beekeepers (other than those found at these Farmer's Markets), then I am sure we would consider going directly to them. But unless you live in some rural area, it is not likely. Besides, in my experience, most of the people selling honey at the Farmer's Markets ARE indeed affiliated directly with the Beekeeper. In any case, it is more convenient to purchase such honey while I am at the Farmer’s Market, rather than drive to the beekeeper separately. The savings, if any, is minimal.
5. If people want to buy socks at Farmer's Market, then let them. Who cares? Besides, the prices actually tend to be lower, not higher, than retail. Do we really need to concern ourselves whether the socks are "quality" or not? These are just socks, after all.
6. Despite your implications to the contrary, there is nothing wrong with buying baked goods at a Farmer's Market from a local baker in town. I would expect and hope that local bakers would sell at the Farmer's Market. What's the alternative -- buying "fresh" baked good at the Farmer's market from a major retailer? Or some stranger working out of their house? While I will often times purchase such homemade goods from a stranger working out of their home, it seems to me, that you take on a greater risk than you would with a local baker that has a storefront in town. As for your allegation regarding higher prices, that is not my experience. In any case, I can make up my own mind whether the cost is worth it.
7. See comments for #6.
8. Comments from other readers sufficiently demonstrate why you are misinformed on meats, seafood, etc.
9. If I want to pay a little extra for the "convenience" of a gift basket, then that, sir, is my prerogative.
10. What is wrong with buying ready-to-eat food at Farmer's Markets? If price is your only argument, then again, please give the rest of us credit for being able to make our own decisions regarding whether a particular cup of chili is worth $5.
With all due respect, your article is colored by the fact that you are a real cheap skate. For 7 out of the 10 items above, your reason for not buying such items at a Farmer’s Market, was because you believe that you could get these items cheaper elsewhere. While I certainly can appreciate the desire to be as frugal as possible, for purposes of this article I think you have conveniently overestimated the prices. In the end, I think that your obsession with cheaper prices prevents you from truly understanding and appreciating the overall experience of going to a Farmer's Market. At most Farmer’s Markets, you will find that prices are usually lower than retail; the quality and taste is usually higher; there is a sense of supporting local growers, bakers, barbeque, etc.; there is joy in walking outdoors through the Farmer’s Market and your local community; there is the convenience of picking up all of these items at one time; and so on.
My dear friend -- take the time to smell the roses, not just the cheaper priced ones.
No question - the $125 adoption fee that brought my dog Charlie into my home. He's the most kind-hearted person (yes, fine, dog) I know, and there are honestly days I can't clearly remember my life before him. He's always happy to see me, just wants to hang out with me, and every time I see him my day gets a little brighter. There have been plenty of costs since adopting him - food, toys, beds, cleaning supplies - but that adoption fee was the smartest investment I've ever made.
The smartest investment I've made it when I committed myself to become a life longer learner than goes beyond getting a college degree. I'm a first generation college graduate with an associate degree and am currently working on getting a bachelor in Human Resource Management. I regularly look for professional development opportunities to keep/build on my skills such as grant writing and social media. I also maximize the full value of my employer's tuition/professional development reimbursement program, so there is little olut of pocket expense.
I'm not sure if it's the best investment I've ever made, but I'd have to say getting an Android smartphone late last year was a great investment for a couple of reasons. I had originally gotten it because of my job -- I'm the editor of an online news outlet and the phone allows me to post breaking news and photos from anywhere.
However, I found it more handy once I had my baby earlier this summer. With my phone, I'm able to take photos of him at will, read ebooks, blog posts and online news during late-night feeding sessions, and e-mail and text message with family and friends one-handed. It has really come in handy!
A hand held gaming device for my son. Equals more me time. I love that thing.
The best investment I am doing is getting out of debt. I gave myself a 5 year window to pay off ALL debts. I want to sleep in peace for a change without money debt worries, the freedom to finally leave a job I hate even though it pays well, to move away from a city I don't like living in and to hopefully retire earlier. Debt is a stranglehold that one needs to excape from so to breathe deeply again.
Smartest investment I have made so far is in my car. Public transportation around here is horrible! Granted it depreciated in value, like all cars, it's great on gas and still running 100K miles later :)
Jen - I've heard good things about mvelopes as well. They describe it as an electronic envelope system.
Guest - Thanks for sharing an amazing testimony. What stronger endorsement of the envelope system could there be than being able to retire in your mid 50s? Congrats!
oops FORGOT my email
Oh and they did give me the white one..very nice!
My best investment was my Labradoodle. In one compact package I have an ever eager exercise partner, a playmate for my children, a pet that my husband tolerates because of his shed-free coat, a home alarm system, a conversation starter, and a warm belly to rub.
So David, what you're saying is that you're a big boy who can make his own decisions, and know what you want to pay more for, or what is worth paying full price for? Your words...
"I can make up my own mind whether the cost is worth it."
"please give the rest of us credit for being able to make our own decisions"
Why the hell are you reading this site at all then? You come off as a pompous, know-it-all a-hole to be honest. Did you even read his disclaimer. He didn't say these would apply to every single farmers market on the planet. He didn't say they were bad places to buy food. And last time I checked, this is a free blog. You sound like a blowhard who loves the sound of his own voice.
The best investment I ever made was buying my first home when I was in my 20's. It was old, ugly and cheap, but I paid it off in 3 years, then turned around and sold it for more than I paid for it. Renting just always seemed to me like throwing money out the window, with the exception of having someone take care of problems.
Investing in time has always been my best investment. Time to see our family who live out of state, time to take care of myself, time to spend with my spouse and kids. You can make or lose money, but you can't ever get more time back.
The smartest investment I ever made was in my three children. I was fortunate enough to have the option of being a stay-at-home mom and loved every minute of it! That wonderful time couldn't be purchased for any amount of money and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything!
The smartest investment I ever made was taking a computer typing course. Learning to type without having to do the "point and peck" method has saved hours and hours of time and now i type better than i write!
An easy answer for me, family and friends. They are certainly America's greatest commodity and the only currency we get to take with us. A fine investment with many years monitoring will pay dividends far beyond the imagination that will weather any recession. In this investment, I am a millionaire.
The smartest investment I ever made was my computer because my kids use it everyday for school I use it for games and bills so it's the best investment I ever have made.
The smartest investment I ever made was purchasing my Sony Vaio laptop computer! It is a few years old, but it has allowed me to be able to start my blog, enter contests(and win alot lol), and meet new amazing people online! It also allows me to stay in touch with family in different states via email, skype and facebook/twitter. I actually realized when I got home after buying it, they had given me the black model instead of the white(love it!), and took it back the next day & they told me it was on sale now for $175 less & refunded me the difference! SO, that was a REAL bonus on this investment!
Thank you for the chance to win!
the smartest investment i’ve ever made was my android phone [HTC EVO Shift 4g]. i have severe vision problems, and this phone makes it easy to keep in contact with everyone i need. i can have it read out loud to me, i can enlarge the fonts as needed, i can even forward all text messages from the phone to my desktop pc to view on the larger screen.
The smartest investment I made was the time and materials to repaint my living room. Having a color I love greet me when I come home greatly improves my mood and does good things for my attitude.
very cool! gonna try #8 and #12. don't even need to buy any expensive stuff to get rid of stains and ants now.
My smartest investment so far, was my MAC Computer. I was reluctant at first because it was more expensive than your typical PC, but overall, I have had absolutely no problems with my MAC, which has saved me money, whereas my PCs were always crashing and needing repairs which meant more money.
The smartest investment I've ever made has got to be going to a good university for engineering. I was able to work full time, second shift during my time there and avoided costly student loans. That investment is now paying dividends, not just monetarily but developing the work ethic that was required to get through a tough academic program with little or no free time has set me apart from my peers in the industry.
My cellphone is the best inestment I've made. It's so nice to be anywhere in the country and still be available to clients.....
Sorry "adman" but I am not buying what you’re selling. It is apparent that you are writing on a subject that you know little or nothing about. I wonder if you are mistaking your local swap meet for a Farmer's Market. Let's review at least 9 out of 10 or more ways that you got this article wrong:
1. Do you really think that people need to be told to not buy the first items they see? Really? Most people, if not everyone, go to these Farmer's Markets for the entire experience of walking through the various stands and browsing the quality (and price) of the fruits and vegetables. Honestly, how many people do you know stop at the first stand, buy the first items they see, and go home? Nobody!
2. "Avoid the perfect looking stuff" -- are you serious? I am all for buying good tasting deformed fruit/veggies or shopping for a better price -- but that does not mean I should arbitrarily avoid the perfect looking stuff.
3. Well, you at least got this one right.
4. How many local beekeepers do you know? If any of us knew local beekeepers (other than those found at these Farmer's Markets), then I am sure we would consider going directly to them. But unless you live in some rural area, it is not likely. Besides, in my experience, most of the people selling honey at the Farmer's Markets ARE indeed affiliated directly with the Beekeeper. In any case, it is more convenient to purchase such honey while I am at the Farmer’s Market, rather than drive to the beekeeper separately. The savings, if any, is minimal.
5. If people want to buy socks at Farmer's Market, then let them. Who cares? Besides, the prices actually tend to be lower, not higher, than retail. Do we really need to concern ourselves whether the socks are "quality" or not? These are just socks, after all.
6. Despite your implications to the contrary, there is nothing wrong with buying baked goods at a Farmer's Market from a local baker in town. I would expect and hope that local bakers would sell at the Farmer's Market. What's the alternative -- buying "fresh" baked good at the Farmer's market from a major retailer? Or some stranger working out of their house? While I will often times purchase such homemade goods from a stranger working out of their home, it seems to me, that you take on a greater risk than you would with a local baker that has a storefront in town. As for your allegation regarding higher prices, that is not my experience. In any case, I can make up my own mind whether the cost is worth it.
7. See comments for #6.
8. Comments from other readers sufficiently demonstrate why you are misinformed on meats, seafood, etc.
9. If I want to pay a little extra for the "convenience" of a gift basket, then that, sir, is my prerogative.
10. What is wrong with buying ready-to-eat food at Farmer's Markets? If price is your only argument, then again, please give the rest of us credit for being able to make our own decisions regarding whether a particular cup of chili is worth $5.
With all due respect, your article is colored by the fact that you are a real cheap skate. For 7 out of the 10 items above, your reason for not buying such items at a Farmer’s Market, was because you believe that you could get these items cheaper elsewhere. While I certainly can appreciate the desire to be as frugal as possible, for purposes of this article I think you have conveniently overestimated the prices. In the end, I think that your obsession with cheaper prices prevents you from truly understanding and appreciating the overall experience of going to a Farmer's Market. At most Farmer’s Markets, you will find that prices are usually lower than retail; the quality and taste is usually higher; there is a sense of supporting local growers, bakers, barbeque, etc.; there is joy in walking outdoors through the Farmer’s Market and your local community; there is the convenience of picking up all of these items at one time; and so on.
My dear friend -- take the time to smell the roses, not just the cheaper priced ones.
This is a great roundup. Thanks for including my article!
No question - the $125 adoption fee that brought my dog Charlie into my home. He's the most kind-hearted person (yes, fine, dog) I know, and there are honestly days I can't clearly remember my life before him. He's always happy to see me, just wants to hang out with me, and every time I see him my day gets a little brighter. There have been plenty of costs since adopting him - food, toys, beds, cleaning supplies - but that adoption fee was the smartest investment I've ever made.
The smartest investment I've made it when I committed myself to become a life longer learner than goes beyond getting a college degree. I'm a first generation college graduate with an associate degree and am currently working on getting a bachelor in Human Resource Management. I regularly look for professional development opportunities to keep/build on my skills such as grant writing and social media. I also maximize the full value of my employer's tuition/professional development reimbursement program, so there is little olut of pocket expense.
I'm not sure if it's the best investment I've ever made, but I'd have to say getting an Android smartphone late last year was a great investment for a couple of reasons. I had originally gotten it because of my job -- I'm the editor of an online news outlet and the phone allows me to post breaking news and photos from anywhere.
However, I found it more handy once I had my baby earlier this summer. With my phone, I'm able to take photos of him at will, read ebooks, blog posts and online news during late-night feeding sessions, and e-mail and text message with family and friends one-handed. It has really come in handy!