Shaloms Blog

A while back I had written a blog post about how I was investing some money and some of the research I had done. Unfortunately I somehow killed my blog and was unable to recover it and figured now was as good a time as any to dispense what little advice I can. Remember I AM NOT A FINANCIAL ANALYST, everything here is just advice from my personal experiences.

Consolidate your bills
I can not stress this enough. In these hard economic times we need to trim our bills to the absolute minimum and build from there. If you bring in $1000.00 a month and your bills are $900.00 then you need to cut back. If you need to get rid of your home phone, cable or high-speed internet then do it for now so you can enjoy it once you have your budget and income/expenses balanced. The best advice I can give is always try to keep 1/3 of your income each month after your bills are paid and food is bought. I mean this really shouldn’t have to be said but I see so many people living from paycheck to pay check and doing the credit card cycle. Pay off your credit cards and only use them for emergency’s or a few things here and there, do not live your life off of them. They will nickel and dime you to death.

Stocks
Now I know what your saying the market us FUBAR and it is but that’s why I think this is a good time to buy thinking long term strategy. Look for companies who’s stock has dropped but you know they are not going anywhere. slowly buy some stock (I say anywhere from 100 to 1000 shares) and just sit on it. you know there stock will go up again, maybe not as high as it was but definitely higher than it is now. Right now we are rock bottom or near rock bottom and it can only go up. As an example I currently have 300 shares of Fannie Mae (FNM) and 10 of palm (PALM). The Fannie Mae has lost a little and the palm has gained some. My plan is to get about 1000 shares of Fannie Mae and maybe 100 – 200 of palm and just sit on it while the market rebuilds. Then I’m going to sell pay my taxes and dump my income in a nice stable CD or Mutual fund.

CDs/Mutual Funds
Right now returns seem to be low on both of these though CD’s are likely the most stable and safest investment right now. Just don’t expect it to produce fountains of gold for you. Check with your local bank for the minimum to open and maturity lengths they offer along with the current interest rate.

With mutual funds I have to be completely honest go talk to a qualified investor. I don’t know much about them except that like stocks you can loose money in them. One cool thing is if you have a pay pal account you can convert it into a mutual fund.

Ok that’s everything I know about investing. What you want more you say, well the only way to know more is to go talk to an expert and make some simple and small investments (anything under 500 in my book is small). Now get out there and try and strike it rich.

Ok just wanted to give a quick update on my housing situation. I have a ratified contract, am getting all my docs in order to get my loan and am just waiting to hear back from the sellers bank because it’s a short sale.

OK so I just wrote my first paper for health class. We had to read a essay written by President Kennedy in 1960 and write our opinion of the paper. I really enjoyed the essay and think every American should read it(click here to read it). Enjoy my opinion below and let me know what you think about the topic.

Opinion: The Soft American

I couldn’t agree more with the sentiments expressed by President Kennedy. I look back at my youth and how little physical activity was emphasized by my parents and my schools. When I reached 10 or 11 and stopped riding my bike and playing outside and started playing Nintendo and other such games my parents didn’t mind as I was not outside getting into trouble. Flash forward to high school, I had no interest in track or other sports and would routinely not show up or participate in gym and yet I still got an “A” and passed the class. I feel that if physical fitness and the benefits of it had been more important in the home and classroom I and others of my generation would be in better shape today.

I actually think that more than President Kennedy’s ideas needs to be done. The culmination of each of the phases of school such as the passing from elementary school to middle school and then to high school and graduation should require a physical fitness exam that must be passed. Also any schools who’s students are not making the cut physically should risk having there funding cut from both the sate and federal levels. If the schools feel the pinch in there budget they will make the time to further the physical education and development of there students. Outside of school we need to have more opportunities for parents to go outside and do things with there children. Activities such as community marathons or mini Olympic style games would not only further the physical fitness of Americans but would be positive community events.

While I agree whole heartedly with the article “The Soft American” more must be done. We are fast becoming a nation of expanding bellies and McDonalds addicts. If more people thought and felt as President Kennedy and myself Americas fitness would be in much better shape. Without a heightened level of importance I don’t see the slacking of American fitness reversing its downward spiral.