Waiting for the storm to arrive in Hemet, California on Wednesday evening…
Recently John and I listened to The Dave Ramsey Show. “Dave Ramsey is an American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker. His show and writings strongly focus on encouraging people to get out of debt.” (Wikipedia) His program reminded me of a post I wrote in 2012, one year after retiring. It was an attempt to give a heads up to the kids about the do’s and don’ts of investing. Although I updated the pictures and the text, the bones of the post remains the same as we are still fortunate enough to be on the road. |
You are at that point in your lives where you are successfully pursuing your careers, off your parents’ payroll (hopefully), almost finished repaying loans to us (Not you Ash!) and in a position to think about what to do with your savings.
So, I thought I would pass on some obvious and not so obvious do’s and don’ts of investing.
#2) Do your homework before making any financial decisions (placing your money in savings accounts, real estate, bonds, stock, etfs, your husband’s trousers …) and continue to educate yourself.
That means talk to professional investors, grandpa, watch BNN, read books, articles, blogs.
#3) Don’t use investment strategies you don’t understand.
I still don’t understand what selling short means, despite Grandpa trying to explain it, the good folks from RBC trying to explain it and investment advisors trying to explain it. So, I don’t do it.
#4) Do use your teabags more than once. You would not believe how much money that will save you. Kidding! Who wants weak watered down tea? That’s Uncle Spencer’s advice.
In other words, figure out what your risk tolerance is and invest accordingly. GIC’s are pretty low right now, but you’ll sleep well at night. And, if we had bought them 12 years ago, instead of believing we would average 6% per year from the long list of financial advisors we’ve hired and fired, we would have the same bottom line as we do now, but without the night sweats. Go figure.
#8) Don’t check E-mail, Facebook, Blogs and other accounts while investing.
Multi tasking while investing died a death when the following took place…
RBC Rep.: Mrs. Smith, did you just place an order with RBC?
Shelley: I sure did. Did I buy it?
RBC Rep.: Your order was to sell. That might be a little difficult as you don’t own any of that particular stock.
#9) And to piggy back on #8, no talking on the phone, on Skype or face to face with others while purchasing or selling. Focus.
Just last week…
Grandpa (Roy): I’m going to put a buy in at 24.
Shelley: I like that stock too. Let’s see who can get it first.
Grandpa: Ha! You better not buy it before me. You’ll drive up the price.
Shelley: Ha! Ha! Ha! I just bought it.
Grandpa: No! Wait. It’s OK, I got in at 24.
Shelley:That’s because I just bought the wrong preferred.
#10) And as Dave Ramsey said, don’t lead a “big hat, no cattle” life.
If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it. You’ll just look silly. And being in debt is not fun.
Love,
Mom and Dadxoxoxox
PS: If anyone else out there has more advice for these young ones, pass it on!
Shelley and John
A fun and educational primer on investing…and not just for young folks! 😉
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Why thank you! I have done a few whoozies since then but I didn’t want to make it too long.
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What great advice! All I can add is to invest in a good therapist for life! HA,HA..really.
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Will keep that in mind. Just watched an older episode of Mike and Molly. The show revolved around her visiting a therapist. Too funny. Last scene when Mike joined her was my favourite.
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OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!! I feel absolutely ASHAMED at how hard this made me laugh…your pain is NOT my amusement, HoneyDidYa!!!!
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It’s OK. No need to feel ashamed. Since then I bought a stock that had the same symbol but a different company came up after I bought it….
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Great stuff Shelley. And I can certainly vouch for the ‘don’t invest in what you don’t understand’ after the Beaver Lodge incident! Presumably this is how you guys have financed your travels? I love it. The advice and how you’re living you life.
If. Sorry, when I make it to BC again, I’d love to have a few beers with you two.
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Aww thanks. I didn’t update my whoopsies from the last couple of years. But we are still not working. As for our rental, last year, after replacing the roof, the floors, the carpet, painting inside and out, the hot water heater, I said to John, “Thank God, nothing else to replace.” And the freakin’ dishwasher went.:( Still am too afraid to be entirely at the whims of a stock market. Yes, we have to stay in touch so when we head to England or you return to check on your property we meet.
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I dont drink tea or coffee.. is that a saving already?:)
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Indeed it is Linda! 🙂 As for our rental property… duh duh duh…
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Listen to you mother!
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Of course. That goes without saying! 🙂
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And, after all is said and done, the armored truck will not follow you to your grave!
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Definitely a delicate balance. 🙂 We’re off to Palm Springs for a almost a week. You????
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Hey Shelley! Just started following your blog. Thanks for dropping by mine. I will admit that I let my retired dad handle all my investments as he did that for a living. Just hope he doesn’t blow my 401K!
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Hey! Thanks for the follow. My dad and I have investing hour when we get together. Because we taught overseas, we don’t have a pension. Fingers crossed I don’t blow it as I really like travelling. 🙂 Am in the truck heading for Palm Springs, but will head back over to read more on New York after we check in.
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Forgive me for butting in, but this is the best news I have heard in a while. 😉 I just assumed since you were teachers, you DID have a pension. This gives me hope that we can swing it without pensions!
Now back to your regularly scheduled commenting…
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So now I want you to picture me buying 100K worth of stock and being short by 75k. I’m having a hot flash just remembering. 🙂 I keep a daily expense chart to make sure we stay in our budget. I thought we would average about $125 per day, all year. That includes insurances and taxes, but we are closer to 165. I guess we also have never tried to keep up with the Joneses. As some friends say, we’re cheap. I wish we would have had all of our dental work and new glasses taken care of before we handed in our notice as we were almost 100% covered. BC medical does not cover eyes or dental unless we go private. :(.
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I am having a hot flash in sympathy…that would be awful! Good advice for us for our planning. Are you talking $165/day in Canadian or US dollars? I keep monthly expenses now, but I know there are things I am missing. Daily would be more accurate and I should start that now and get in the habit. We don’t care about the Joneses either, but I am afraid no one would call us cheap, lol. We will definitely plan to get any dental work or glasses or similar done before the corporate benefits end. Look at it this way, at least there is a BC medical. I guess we would be exploring Obamacare once I quit the corporate life…I am learning ever so much from you, Shelley, thank you! 🙂
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Glad to help. I’m talking in Canadian. But maybe with the exchange rate, we might have to bump up to 175 per day. It’s true, our medical is pretty good unless you want to have a special procedure – like an MRI. My mom gave up after a couple of years and paid for one down here. Crazy!
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Well I need to start doing some math so we have a better idea of what we will need. I will continue to pick your brain if that is ok. 🙂
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Of course!
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My gosh, that first pic with the palm trees, the clouds and the house is incredible!!! I love the look, the feeling–hey, I love it completely! Gorgeous. *sigh* And I’m following your journey on the map. What a wild ride you’re going through. Amazing, Shelley
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Thanks so much for following our travels!! Incredible that the rain didn’t hit until the next morning as we were driving through Cabazon.
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I feel richer already, and I haven’t done anything but read your blog!
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Thanks! It’s been a steep learning curve. If I think about how we are depending on what decisions I make too much, I can’t sleep. YIKES!
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