This might be a weird answer, but the best investment I ever made was joining the military (via ROTC during my undergraduate years). Not only did they pay for school, but they also jump-started my career and gave me some valuable experiences. I left after serving my four year commitment, but I still reap the rewards of being a former military officer whenever I have applied for jobs or requested promotions.
The best investment I've made is in a Footbike Street. Not only has it helped me get a lot of FUN exercise, it has also made me more aware of my body's athletic performance and abilities. This is great because I don't have a background in anything to do with athletics. My endurance, health, and general appearance has benefited from this.
Zorcy, thanks for the reply. So when using sugar or molasis.....pretty much nothing to worry about in terms of methanol. I wish I hadn't wasted a full mason jar on the "heads". Oh well. What about proper temperature regulation? Let's say I don't really pay close attention, and it gets to 190, 200 or even 212? At 212, I'll be getting more water than alcohol, so that sort of defeats the purpose; but, is there a safety issue at all at 190 or 200, assuming sugar is used?
I'm always amazed when I see people burn bridges with former employers. I know that it might feel satisfying, but good referrals and references can be so important.
Does anybody have any other reasons to be nice at work -- or to not be nice?
The smartest investment for me has to be - reading all the personal finance blogs and using www.Mint.com. I recently graduated from college and have a well paid job. I thought I was frugal and a hawk on every little spending until I heard about Mint.com. Mint helped me manage my money and give a snapshot view of all my expenses (and incomes). It was an eye opener - a little embarrassing to admit considering I am a Financial Analyst. But even when you track the smallest expenses, getting a look at the combined broader picture can have its own set of surprises.
Reading stories from fellow readers at personal finance blog introduced me to new ways to save and mistakes to avoid.
Since Mint & a lot of reading, my investment portfolio has gone up. I've almost stopped eating out completely. My savings account grows by the day.
About the skip-the-puree advice. There is a reason why tier1 and tier2 baby foods are pureed. Fork mashing is likely to leave chunks. It may be okay for an older baby that is ready for texture but for younger babies it may be a disaster. Babies just starting solids usually have trouble learning to swallow anything that isn't a liquid. Introducing larger chunks invites a choking hazard.
The best investment I ever made was buying a good mattress. It helps me get the sleep I need to have to energy to workout each morning before I go to work. Working out in turn keeps me healthy and out of the doctors office allowing me to be more productive at work.
Learning to build my own PC's was probably my best investment in myself. By learning I know more about PC's and how they work. It also allows me to build better PC's that last a lot longer for a cheaper price. Currently I am still using my $500 PC that I built 5 years ago and it is still running strong and it is still better than PC's being sold at retail outlets today.
Cars are not investments, they are means of transportation. You use them to get from place A to place B.
As to the eternal new vs old debate, it depends on the car. For some car models it may be cheaper to buy a new one than an old one e.g. Toyotas, Hondas, etc. It also depends on the area. Most of comparisons are done on suggested retail price, and nobody pays suggested retail for a new car. Instead of blindly following a dogma, one needs to actually look at the prices in one area, negotiate and compare costs.
The best investment I've ever made is spending money on new and interesting adventures for me and my family. I'd rather invest money in having memorable experiences and build a strong relationship with my children than invest money in anything else. The "return on investment", while it isn't measurable in terms of money, is far, far more valuable to me.
The best investment I ever made was adopting two cats. An investment in my well being is what I needed the most and this was perfect. Lots of love and helped my blood pressure. An investment in my health I guess as well.
I'm sorry, but cars are not an investment, they are a durable good. You are deriving value from it every time you drive it. Who buys a car, expecting to sell it in the future for a profit? It's not like a stock you put money into and let sit over time. Frankly, if cars were a worse "investment" than putting that money in stocks, everyone would be riding public transportation or walking.
Also, have you compared the price of new vs used cars recently? It was cheaper for me to buy a new car rather than a used one, as the triple disaster in Japan left markets with a shortage of new car inventory, which put pressure on used car sales and drove the price up.
My smartest investment so far has been the investment I've been making on my education. I am not talking about college. I'm talking about after college and self-learning. I am a student of personal finance and personal development. I'm amazed by the fact that books which help you develop yourself are far more inexpensive than textbooks. I love the philosophy that I learn and I'm learning more and more everyday. My mentors are Jim Rohn, Denis Waitley, Brian Tracy, and Bob Burg.
In terms of numbers, my smartest investment was my education, at UC Berkeley. I can't say my graduate degree was as good an investment, but I am seeing some returns on it, and I've been able to switch into my chosen field- hard to value that. My luckiest was in an energy company that was acquired twice and gave me a return of 400%.
I have always loved lemons, but I didn't realize they had so many uses. I use small pieces of the peeling freshening my garbage disposal, like you suggested. The skin care is a new idea I haven't thought about, a lemon sugar scrub sounds amazing! Using lemons as part of weedkiller and ant repellent are great tips too. I'm bookmarking this article and sharing. Thank you!
I have not been smart when it comes to money, but I'd say the smartest investment is the time I spend entering contests. It has allowed me to get so many things for my family that we could not afford otherwise, both neccessities and recreational.
The smartest investment I ever made was a laptop, why because even if I can not afford internet I can go get it free in so many places. I do not have a phone, and use the computer as my source of study, work and communication.
I hope I'm filling this out correctly lol
@JoeyfromSC
see y'all there!
@mikedachuk
This might be a weird answer, but the best investment I ever made was joining the military (via ROTC during my undergraduate years). Not only did they pay for school, but they also jump-started my career and gave me some valuable experiences. I left after serving my four year commitment, but I still reap the rewards of being a former military officer whenever I have applied for jobs or requested promotions.
The best investment I've made is in a Footbike Street. Not only has it helped me get a lot of FUN exercise, it has also made me more aware of my body's athletic performance and abilities. This is great because I don't have a background in anything to do with athletics. My endurance, health, and general appearance has benefited from this.
Hmm... the best investment I ever made is in my children. Whitney Houston was right... they are our future.
Zorcy, thanks for the reply. So when using sugar or molasis.....pretty much nothing to worry about in terms of methanol. I wish I hadn't wasted a full mason jar on the "heads". Oh well. What about proper temperature regulation? Let's say I don't really pay close attention, and it gets to 190, 200 or even 212? At 212, I'll be getting more water than alcohol, so that sort of defeats the purpose; but, is there a safety issue at all at 190 or 200, assuming sugar is used?
I'm always amazed when I see people burn bridges with former employers. I know that it might feel satisfying, but good referrals and references can be so important.
Does anybody have any other reasons to be nice at work -- or to not be nice?
Looking forward to the chat about better investing.
The smartest investment for me has to be - reading all the personal finance blogs and using www.Mint.com. I recently graduated from college and have a well paid job. I thought I was frugal and a hawk on every little spending until I heard about Mint.com. Mint helped me manage my money and give a snapshot view of all my expenses (and incomes). It was an eye opener - a little embarrassing to admit considering I am a Financial Analyst. But even when you track the smallest expenses, getting a look at the combined broader picture can have its own set of surprises.
Reading stories from fellow readers at personal finance blog introduced me to new ways to save and mistakes to avoid.
Since Mint & a lot of reading, my investment portfolio has gone up. I've almost stopped eating out completely. My savings account grows by the day.
About the skip-the-puree advice. There is a reason why tier1 and tier2 baby foods are pureed. Fork mashing is likely to leave chunks. It may be okay for an older baby that is ready for texture but for younger babies it may be a disaster. Babies just starting solids usually have trouble learning to swallow anything that isn't a liquid. Introducing larger chunks invites a choking hazard.
The best investment I ever made was buying a good mattress. It helps me get the sleep I need to have to energy to workout each morning before I go to work. Working out in turn keeps me healthy and out of the doctors office allowing me to be more productive at work.
The best investment that I made was a home. It gave me financial security as well as help pay my kids schooling.
Learning to build my own PC's was probably my best investment in myself. By learning I know more about PC's and how they work. It also allows me to build better PC's that last a lot longer for a cheaper price. Currently I am still using my $500 PC that I built 5 years ago and it is still running strong and it is still better than PC's being sold at retail outlets today.
Cars are not investments, they are means of transportation. You use them to get from place A to place B.
As to the eternal new vs old debate, it depends on the car. For some car models it may be cheaper to buy a new one than an old one e.g. Toyotas, Hondas, etc. It also depends on the area. Most of comparisons are done on suggested retail price, and nobody pays suggested retail for a new car. Instead of blindly following a dogma, one needs to actually look at the prices in one area, negotiate and compare costs.
The best investment I've ever made is spending money on new and interesting adventures for me and my family. I'd rather invest money in having memorable experiences and build a strong relationship with my children than invest money in anything else. The "return on investment", while it isn't measurable in terms of money, is far, far more valuable to me.
The best investment I ever made was adopting two cats. An investment in my well being is what I needed the most and this was perfect. Lots of love and helped my blood pressure. An investment in my health I guess as well.
I'm sorry, but cars are not an investment, they are a durable good. You are deriving value from it every time you drive it. Who buys a car, expecting to sell it in the future for a profit? It's not like a stock you put money into and let sit over time. Frankly, if cars were a worse "investment" than putting that money in stocks, everyone would be riding public transportation or walking.
Also, have you compared the price of new vs used cars recently? It was cheaper for me to buy a new car rather than a used one, as the triple disaster in Japan left markets with a shortage of new car inventory, which put pressure on used car sales and drove the price up.
When I was working, I signed up for a matching fund annuity. It was a solid investment and I am so happy I did it.
My smartest investment so far has been the investment I've been making on my education. I am not talking about college. I'm talking about after college and self-learning. I am a student of personal finance and personal development. I'm amazed by the fact that books which help you develop yourself are far more inexpensive than textbooks. I love the philosophy that I learn and I'm learning more and more everyday. My mentors are Jim Rohn, Denis Waitley, Brian Tracy, and Bob Burg.
In terms of numbers, my smartest investment was my education, at UC Berkeley. I can't say my graduate degree was as good an investment, but I am seeing some returns on it, and I've been able to switch into my chosen field- hard to value that. My luckiest was in an energy company that was acquired twice and gave me a return of 400%.
I have always loved lemons, but I didn't realize they had so many uses. I use small pieces of the peeling freshening my garbage disposal, like you suggested. The skin care is a new idea I haven't thought about, a lemon sugar scrub sounds amazing! Using lemons as part of weedkiller and ant repellent are great tips too. I'm bookmarking this article and sharing. Thank you!
I have not been smart when it comes to money, but I'd say the smartest investment is the time I spend entering contests. It has allowed me to get so many things for my family that we could not afford otherwise, both neccessities and recreational.
The smartest investment I ever made was a laptop, why because even if I can not afford internet I can go get it free in so many places. I do not have a phone, and use the computer as my source of study, work and communication.
I'll be there
Alka-Seltzer has Tylenol in it. Tylenol will kill your liver when mixed with alcohol thus killing you.