I think my best investment was in continuing education for my job. The more I learn, even if I'm not right away sure how I'll use it, the better I am able to help my clients and the more profitable my business can be.
I could survive without a cell phone, but having a cell phone in an emergency does increase the likeliehood of surviving. That's part of the reason that I keep a prepaid Tracfone in my purse (at the cost of about $6 per month).
My absolute favorite investment has been in a vacuum sealer. We use ours all the time and it continues to save us money. We have a small family but with the vacuum sealer we can buy things like family packs of meat, repackage when we get home, and save money without wasting food!
I think to make a statement that “401(k)s don’t work” is a generality that is a bit misleading. Retirement savings; be they 401(k)s, Roth or Traditional IRAs or non-qualified investments do work. The challenge is that one must contribute in much larger percentages than is currently occurring. The investor who contributes 3-4% each year and then blames the retirement vehicle is misleading himself/herself.
Saving and planning for retirement is hard and requires most of us to save 10% or better each year for decades. And while many cannot afford to do that, many others have simply chosen to live large in the present and not worry about the future except when it comes to complaining about their meager SS payouts.
You state that 401(k)s rely on “the health of the market *when you decide to withdraw funds*.” Of course they do – that is why we should practice asset allocation. If one keeps 100% of his/her funds in the stock market up until the retirement day, he/she is setting himself/herself up for failure.
You also state that “401k's have no inflation protection.” Again I would disagree. Keeping a portion of one’s funds in the stock market is the best way to provide inflation protection. Is that protection guaranteed? Of course not, but as students of finance understand, there are risks in every type of investment.
In conclusion, SS is a safety net, designed to keep you off the streets in your old age. It is not a retirement plan – that is your responsibility.
I rarely use my cell phone. Most of our calls are "honey, I'm at the store, what else do we need?" That's why we went prepaid, and mostly for travel emergencies.
I could definitely live without my cell phone. When I misplace it (oops?) or when we go on vacation (I never take it with me) it is so liberating! I'm 28 and have had a cell phone for at least 12 years...and I hate it. Hate it, hate it, hate it! I'd get rid of it, but my husband, who can't live without his, insists it's for my safety (as do my parents). Oh well.
I barely use my phone as is, so... sure. The biggest issue (and the only reason I keep one!) is emergency situations, or being outside of our normal routine (out of town, etc).
Are people actually reading what they're writing? They couldn't "live" without a cell phone? As in, you'd die or want to commit suicide without it? Give me a break! That's just plain sad.
I've never had one, have a professional job, travel lots, and don't need it. Maybe twice in the last 15 years could I have used one. Does that justify a monthly cost? Nope.
My Dell computer has been the sweetest investment I have ever made.
I can do school work, pay bills, chat with friends, and do my sweepstakes on one machine.
The Smartest investment I ever made was when I bought some dolls at a yard sale and found out that it played my mother's favorite song. I couldn't have been able to 'find' anything like this if I were looking for it. It is truly abundant in sentimental value
Def I could live with out a cell phone, mine barely comes in anywhere anyways way up here in the middle of no where. My kids do not have phones I htink my daughter is the only one in HS who does not - so uncool
I DO survive without a cell phone. Fact is, my home internet access is more valuable and requires a separate land line in the home. So, I cannot afford to have both cell and land line (even with the most basic services) and internet. My 17 yr old son is on aunt & uncle's plan (really nice of them) and 14 yr old daughter doesn't need one (really!). My husband has a Blackberry for work. Who knows if I'll ever get one-the convenience would be nice at times.
http://twitter.com/#!/BlogandSave/status/116231123629129728
no way! my cell phone is my life. GPS, texting, calling and social media.
I think my best investment was in continuing education for my job. The more I learn, even if I'm not right away sure how I'll use it, the better I am able to help my clients and the more profitable my business can be.
I could survive without a cell phone, but having a cell phone in an emergency does increase the likeliehood of surviving. That's part of the reason that I keep a prepaid Tracfone in my purse (at the cost of about $6 per month).
My absolute favorite investment has been in a vacuum sealer. We use ours all the time and it continues to save us money. We have a small family but with the vacuum sealer we can buy things like family packs of meat, repackage when we get home, and save money without wasting food!
If not for needing it for work, I would be fine with a home phone, as I did for years.
I think to make a statement that “401(k)s don’t work” is a generality that is a bit misleading. Retirement savings; be they 401(k)s, Roth or Traditional IRAs or non-qualified investments do work. The challenge is that one must contribute in much larger percentages than is currently occurring. The investor who contributes 3-4% each year and then blames the retirement vehicle is misleading himself/herself.
Saving and planning for retirement is hard and requires most of us to save 10% or better each year for decades. And while many cannot afford to do that, many others have simply chosen to live large in the present and not worry about the future except when it comes to complaining about their meager SS payouts.
You state that 401(k)s rely on “the health of the market *when you decide to withdraw funds*.” Of course they do – that is why we should practice asset allocation. If one keeps 100% of his/her funds in the stock market up until the retirement day, he/she is setting himself/herself up for failure.
You also state that “401k's have no inflation protection.” Again I would disagree. Keeping a portion of one’s funds in the stock market is the best way to provide inflation protection. Is that protection guaranteed? Of course not, but as students of finance understand, there are risks in every type of investment.
In conclusion, SS is a safety net, designed to keep you off the streets in your old age. It is not a retirement plan – that is your responsibility.
I could get by without my cell phone, except for the fact that we no longer have a land line.
I rarely use my cell phone. Most of our calls are "honey, I'm at the store, what else do we need?" That's why we went prepaid, and mostly for travel emergencies.
I like you guys on fb!
I could definitely live without my cell phone. When I misplace it (oops?) or when we go on vacation (I never take it with me) it is so liberating! I'm 28 and have had a cell phone for at least 12 years...and I hate it. Hate it, hate it, hate it! I'd get rid of it, but my husband, who can't live without his, insists it's for my safety (as do my parents). Oh well.
I barely use my phone as is, so... sure. The biggest issue (and the only reason I keep one!) is emergency situations, or being outside of our normal routine (out of town, etc).
Tweeted. http://twitter.com/#!/Tifflonn/status/116212926188232704
I like you on FB. @Tonya Rader
Not at all. I constantly have my phone by my side and couldn't imagine it not being there.
Definitely could NOT live without a cell phone!
This.
Are people actually reading what they're writing? They couldn't "live" without a cell phone? As in, you'd die or want to commit suicide without it? Give me a break! That's just plain sad.
I've never had one, have a professional job, travel lots, and don't need it. Maybe twice in the last 15 years could I have used one. Does that justify a monthly cost? Nope.
I use a cell phone for emergencies so yes, I can definitely survive without one LOL! :)
I would have a hard time- but would manage in time.
My Dell computer has been the sweetest investment I have ever made.
I can do school work, pay bills, chat with friends, and do my sweepstakes on one machine.
The Smartest investment I ever made was when I bought some dolls at a yard sale and found out that it played my mother's favorite song. I couldn't have been able to 'find' anything like this if I were looking for it. It is truly abundant in sentimental value
Def I could live with out a cell phone, mine barely comes in anywhere anyways way up here in the middle of no where. My kids do not have phones I htink my daughter is the only one in HS who does not - so uncool
I like WB on FB and liked this post on FB.
I DO survive without a cell phone. Fact is, my home internet access is more valuable and requires a separate land line in the home. So, I cannot afford to have both cell and land line (even with the most basic services) and internet. My 17 yr old son is on aunt & uncle's plan (really nice of them) and 14 yr old daughter doesn't need one (really!). My husband has a Blackberry for work. Who knows if I'll ever get one-the convenience would be nice at times.