I’ve decided I want to start investing. I’m permanent now; I’m going to receive a fixed paycheck on a biweekly basis, and I want the money to do more than just sit in my checking account.
I have no idea where to start. I’ve dabbled in researching investment in the past, and my eyes always start to water when I read sentences with a lot of financial jargon. Even words like “equity,” “deductible,” and “dividend” I have to think about for a minute before I grasp their meaning and their relation to the words around them–it’s not a natural thing by any means.
But I want to start. I’ve got some life goals, now I need to start structuring my finances more accurately around those goals. Here’s the plan:
• Keep track of finances and work out a budget for at least three months
• In the meantime, learn financial jargon and become fluent in it
• Research avenues (internet, local courses, etc) to learn more about investment options and strategies
• After about three months, decide on a course of action and invest money
For the record, I’m looking at low-to-medium risk investments–it’s not like I’m going to start day trading or anything. But I’m tired of living hand-to-mouth, or seeming to. I’m an expert in things car-related; I know what that feels like. I want to have that same expertise when it comes to financial matters. There was a time when I didn’t even want to get my hands greasy, and now I’ve performed five engine swaps and fixed countless other major peripherals. So I know any present lack of understanding or hesitation can be overcome. I think a big incentive is to actually have money in the system–it would influence me to keep track of it regularly and research things in my spare time. I know that’s how it was with car knowledge–I had a decent theoretical knowledge of automotive matters, but my practical (read: useful) knowledge increased exponentially when I finally had my own ride. Same with money. Hopefully. So…yeah. Gonna do it.
“Have fun” doesn’t seem very appropriate… so, uh, good luck with all of that. Numbers and I don’t get along very well, so reading this entry, like, made me antsy.
Happy weekend!
You should buy a Haltech ;-)
Wish I could have… :o) But the Audi won out last month. Have you sold the car itself yet?
It made me antsy writing it… But I gotta get over it if I want to make any headway financially.
*sigh*
Happy Friday afternoon :o)
Nope, then again, I haven’t really tried. I’m starting to think about parting out the entire chassis and just start selling pieces of it at a time, but it hasn’t gotten to that just yet.
oh man, all that money talk makes my head hurt! :)
Mine too, actually… haha
Maybe I should just buy lottery tickets instead? :o)
*adopt a foreign med student living in beijing for only 1.79 a day!*
;)
its a sounder investment than any other, as when I’m fed, I can listen to music (thus sending on good recommendations to you) which just improves your quality of life manifold ;)
I can just see you now on one of those commecials hunched over a bowl of noodles or the like, munching hungrily, when the camera finds you and look up and beam contentedly… Voice over: “Your donation can help feed and clothe this lonely student. Call now!” …as the 1-800 number is displayed continuously at the bottom of the screen…
:o)
Heard anything noteworthy lately?