Economy Woes
I’m curious. Has anyone considered changing the amount of money they are investing in retirement or other savings accounts with a stock/money market component? Someone I know suggested perhaps we should place our monthly savings in a regular ol’ bank savings account for the time being. I’m not talking about liquidating accounts or pulling already-invested money out.
October 1, 2008 at 12:35 pm
We’re sticking with fixed rate investments – CDs and such – for the moment. I won’t be touching my IRA this year until the end of the year when I know how things are going to look.
October 1, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I’m putting in more money. I just transferred all available cash into our investment account. The simple rule is “buy low, sell high”. I don’t need to sell now, so this is a golden buying opportunity. Will it be rocky for a while? Definitely. But I believe history will show this to have been an ideal buying time. Fear and greed drive the markets, and right now we’re in a fear cycle. If you are brave when others fear, your chance of reward is greater. You just have to hang on for the ride.
October 1, 2008 at 12:58 pm
So this is investment money you don’t plan on needing in the next 6 months?
October 1, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Correct – I’m investing for long term only at this point, but if I need it sooner and have to take it at a loss, then that’s the price of investment opportunity. Really for people at our age a decade of depressed uncertainty is really a good thing (unless it means our parents have to move in with us), as we are just buying at a lower rate than we will sell at. Short term is always rocky for any stock/mutual fund, but unless you predict a wholesale collapse of our nation, I believe the market will rebound as it always has before.
October 1, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I totally understand that principle, and have always been a fairly high-risk investor, looking at the long-term benefits and not worrying about short-term ups and downs. I’m scared to look at my accounts now, so I think I won’t. I’m just contemplating what to do with the money I’ll need for tuition in the next few months. Normally I’d put it in a money market account.