What Should I Invest In?

[Syrinx]

I need more money, so I want to invest in something that will make some.

Stocks and bonds seem dicey. The world is so volatile.

What's going to happen next? Oil may be a good buy.

Is it true that real estate, long-term (not eons, though), is a perfect investment?

What's the best investment right now?

[Heidi]

1. Duct tape! Tinfoil!

Sorry, Syrinx. I couldn't resist. :hi:

[Syrinx]

4. I'm stocked up on those items!

Even my car is full!

And you are right. Their stock likely will rise in the coming weeks.

I bet $1,000 on 3M, Alex.

:hi:

[Heidi]

5. Hahahahahaha!

Nice to see you, Syrinx. I'm glad you've got the most important bases covered. :rofl:

[no_hypocrisy]

15. You forgot toilet paper and ammunition . . . . . n/t

[Heidi]

22. Have got plenty of both.

I'm in charge of toilet paper, but Call Me Wesley (the gun owner in our house) is in charge of ammunition: one bullet in his shirt pocket, not unlike his hero, Deputy Barney Fife. :P

[Sydnie]

18. You failed to mention canned tuna and powdered milk

I know my bed is three feet higher now since I became prepared. ;)

[Heidi]

21. Hahahahahaha!

Hi, Sydnie. :hi: I didn't mention powdered milk and canned tuna because I really like both of them and didn't want to be shunned by my fellow DUers. :blush: I think I'm the only person on earth who really likes powdered milk. :yeah,i'mnuts:

[AlienGirl]

2. In my opinion? Non-ferrous metals. Gold, silver, and copper.

Real estate is a good investment if you plan to live on it; if all else fails you can at least grow food.

Tucker

[ClintonTyree]

3. The defense industry...

our government just loves creating new and different ways to kill people. Check out the historicals on anything related to defense. They far outperform any other segment of the economy.
The Pentagon is a black hole from which no money ever escapes. I'd have an ethical problem investing in them but a lot of people don't. It sure is making the Reich-Wingers wealthy.

[SoCalDem]

6. I got a CD just today.. 4 month 5.45 interest

I am a conservative investor..

I did not claim a $30K life insurance policy for two years becaus eI did not want to fill out all the damned paperwork. By the time they finally called me to beg me to claim the policy, and sent me a paper requiring ONE signature, it had earned almost $1K.:) My siblings claimed their share of the policy as soon as the ink on the death certificate was dry :(

[GreenZoneLT]

7. My Nigerian bank scam, of course.

Dear Friendd, I am Fortescue Q. Nighthawk, and I represent the former minister of finance for an African nation currently riven by civil war. I just happen to have $100 000 000 000 in my control, which I need to launder in order to transfer to a numbered Swiss account. Please send me your name, Social Security number, date of birth, bank account number and bank routing number, and I'll wire you your cut.

Seriously, dude, as a former financial journalist, I'm telling you -- you don't make money by investing. You SAVE money through investing, because bank-account interest rates suck. You make money by working, either in a job or in a business. Trying to generate an income simply by leveraging your current savings is a good way to transfer it to investment-advice professionals or other con men.

Your best bet is a low-expense-ratio, no-load, large-capitalization stock index fund. Diversify (no more than your age as a percentage) with bond funds, REITs, and if you must, funds that invest in extraction industries like gold mines(don't buy actual precious metal unless you just love looking at it). Buy real estate if you want to own that particular property.

You'll probably make 6-7 percent annually in the long haul after inflation. Enjoy the compound interest.

[The Straight Story]

8. buy into a porn web site :)

those things seem to make a lot of moolah for someone.

[wakeme2008]

17. LOL do not say that to the ppl around me at the railroad

they put money into a gay porn tv channel and lost it all :rofl:

[wakeme2008]

9. LOL for real there is always

http://www.vicefund.com/prospectus.html

[DemSinceBirth]

10. It's all dicey... I like copper though. n/t

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

11. Just one word:

Plastics.

[MadHound]

12. You want a solid, stable investment that will make you a solid chunck of cash?

Invest in one of the many mutual funds for alternative and renewable energy. They get a solid rate of growth, ten-fifteen percent growth and alternative energy isn't going away, it's only getting stronger.

I would stay away from precious metals at this point, too many factors are combining to make them a dicey investment at this point. Gold, silver and probably copper have reached the peak of their value range for this cycle, and all three will be heading down soon. Copper is the only one that I'm a bit unsure about, but I'm fairly certain it's going to be heading downwards soon. Gold and silver are definetly going to head down, the latest gold rush has pretty well played out.

Whatever you do, do your research thoroughly. And don't go for the get rich quick scenarios. Instead, go for solid, reliable growth that will bring in good returns over the years. Oh, and stay away from real estate, it still hasn't deflated yet, and you'll get burned. And invest your conscience. You don't like our current oil based economy, then put your money where your mouth is. Investment is kind of like voting. Your cash can certainly make a tiny bit of difference, and with enough people it can move an industry.

Good luck

[Ganja Ninja]

13. European municipal bonds. n/t

[nealmhughes]

14. European industrials for stability. Real Estate but there will be a ton of headaches with tenants

and getting any cheaper rental property up to snuff to where anyone would actually wish to rent it.

Were you a bit of a gambler, biodiesel industry.

[malaise]

16. Euros n/t

[melm00se]

19. REIT mutual funds have

been cranking along over the last several years.

(REIT = Real Estate Investment Trusts)

[rpgamerd00d]

20. I was a financial advisor, here is my informal advice

The first thing you need to determine is what you want the money FOR. Is it for a high ticket item like a car, boat or house that you want to buy? Or is it for retirement? Or is it for a near-term goal like funding an education for a college-age child? This will affect dramatically where and how you invest.

Short term investment is right for that house/car/boat goal.
Mid-term investment is right for saving for college.
Long-term investment is right for saving for retirement.

Once you've determined that, you need to learn the basics of investing.
* Diversity - do not put all your eggs in one basket
* Time - investing over a longer period of time is more reliable (safe) than a short period of time

Aggressive investing: Stocks/Bonds
Moderate investing: aggressive Mutual Funds, Annuities
Conservative investing: balanced/fundamental Mutual Funds, Real Estate

In general, people consider Real Estate very "safe", yet historically, the stock market out performs real estate 2:1. But this requires time in your investments. Short term investments can have high returns, but carry greatest risk of losing it all. Long term investments have lower rates of return, but are far safer. Mixing and matching, having some short, some medium, and some long term investments grants diversity, and thus security in your investments.