Saving is Not the Same as Investing

I'm really good at saving money - so good that one of my friends thinks I should start teaching others (specifically her) how to do it.  The problem I have is that the things I know seem so obvious to me, I don't even know other people need to be taught!  Does that make sense?  If only I'd thought of it first - there are lots of people out there telling people how to use coupons, how to shop when things are on sale, how to stock their pantries, etc. - things I've been doing for years!

If only I'd gotten an Online Broker way back when and started investing all that money I've been saving!  I really don't know anything about investing, though.  I'm really clueless.  The only thing I know about Stock Trading is what I've seen in movies like Wall Street and The Pursuit of Happyness, and it made no sense whatsoever to me.  I still can't figure out why people lose money when the stock market falls.  So you buy a stock at one price.  If the price of that stock goes up then the stocks you own are worth more - but how do you make more money unless you sell them at that higher price?  Same with when the market goes down - the stocks you own are worth less, but how do you actually lose money unless you sell them at that lower price?  See, I don't understand it at all. 

I'd need someone who's good at Online Trading to explain all the basics to me.  Someone who can tell me - If I'd started investing all the money I've saved, would I have more money now or less?

Stock Trading and Interest Rates

We've been talking about it for a while, and we're finally going to re-finance our mortgage tomorrow.  The rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage had been at 3.75% for a while.  Occasionally, it dropped to 3.625% and then went back up.  The day we went to the bank to sign papers for Beth's car loan, the rate dropped to 3.625% again, and we decided we better grab it - so we locked the rate in.

That was right about the time the government was in a big mess because of the whole debt thing, and nobody could really tell us what that might mean for the the interest rates.  Well, it turns out we should have waited, because the rates went down - to 3.25%.  I guess it's all a gamble, like Stock Trading and playing the market.  Some people have a good feel for the direction things are going and know when to buy and when to sell.  I don't think we have that talent - at least if you're going to judge our financial savvy on how well we hit the interest rate at the right time.

There's quite a bit of information about Online Trading available, information that we'd definitely need if we decided to get involved in investing.  With all the turmoil in the stock market recently, I'm a bit worried about how that's going to affect Jeffrey's 401K.  I've heard that people who are in the market for the long-haul should be OK - meaning, if you aren't planning on retiring right away, it should be all right.  So, maybe...

Or maybe we should look into IRA Accounts.  Probably should.  I think I'm going to have to do some reading and learn a bit more about investing and trading.

Here's Your Chance to Help Rebuild America

Our economy seems to be in a downward spiral. People are losing their homes and losing their jobs. They're watching their retirement money disappear because of the woes on Wall Street. People are buying less and less and, because demand is down, factories are being shut down and stores are being closed, and people are losing their jobs. Then, because they don't have jobs, they buy less, and we're caught in a vicious cycle.

To fix the economy, are we really supposed to buy more and spend money we don't really have? I have a really hard time accepting that. I think first we have to make sure people have jobs. We need to put our money not into consumable goods, but into worthy projects that will get people working, earning money, and able to support their families.

Rebuilding of America makes it possible for all of us to invest in worthwhile construction projects, projects that will get people working again. They acquire properties that have defaulted to their original lenders, putting people out of work. Rebuilding of America then puts people back to work and finishes the project.

Americans can invest in these projects for as little as $25. That's not much. It's so easy to blow $25 without thinking about it, maybe a dinner out or a movie. Then it's gone. You have nothing to show for it. Or, you can invest it with Rebuilding of America and make a huge difference. Help put some people to work and, yes, make some money in the process. Each investment is fully insured and guaranteed against loss. Every Certificate of Deposit is a securitized FDIC insured investment through a reputable financial institution, and 100% of profits are returned to the investors.

By keeping the initial investment low, Rebuilding of America lets more people get involved. All the $25 investments will be bundled and used to get worthwhile projects up and running again. Rebuilding of America believes in the strength of grassroots community involvement. Do you?

Want to Make Money in Real Estate?

We watch those shows on TV, where people buy a house or property, fix it up or do something to make it more attractive, and sell it for a profit. You know how the shows are. They make it look easy. Unfortunately, there is more to it, or everyone would be buying and selling real estate, right?

Now there's a powerful online investment property calculator that helps make it easier. You plug in all the information about the property you're interested in and Real Estate Genius builds an entire financial model within minutes. You can look at it and see whether that property will earn you money or lose you money. It doesn't take hours, and you don't have to figure out on your own what is important and what isn't. You get the same information the experienced real estate investors get and know. You can run best case scenarios and worst case scenarios and get a clear picture of the deal before you get involved. I'm sure that would help in deciding whether the risk is worth it.

Playing the Stock Market

It seems that the stock market is a good indicator of how the economy is doing. If the market goes up, everyone is happy. If the market goes down, people get worried. People can make lots of money, or they can lose lots of money - all based on what the stock market does. But what does that actually mean? And how does it actually work? If you're anything like me, you have no idea.

MyWallSt.net looks like a good way to learn a little more about that. You can sign up for a free account and start trading stocks from real companies, but with virtual money, using their trading simulator. It works with real stocks and real numbers from the real stock market. I think it sounds like an interesting educational tool - a way to learn how the stock market works without any risk to actual money. Traditional publications are often dated and the learning curve can be costly. Here's a way to get 'hands on' stock market experience without risking your own money.

MyWallSt.net doesn't just leave you to your own devices to figure out how the stock market works, either. It's a social networking site that allows you to find and add friends. I'm thinking that adding friends who seem to know a little bit more than I do about the stock market would be a big help for me and help me figure out how things work - how to pick stocks, when to buy, when to sell, all that stuff. If they're doing well with their stock picks in the trading simulator, hopefully they'll be willing to share some secrets or advice. I need all the help I can get! There's also a forum to join, to ask questions and get advice.

If you're interested in learning how the stock market works, you might want to check out MyWallSt.net to see if it might help you. They'll even give you a free hat for signing up and building a profile, and you could win some real money, too.