Drug of choice...

[JayBird]

I recently bought 145 shares of Sirius Satellite Radio. Now I can't get the TV off of channel 203 (Dish - Bloomberg stock report) and www.etrade.com is listed under my "favorites" on the computer. I'm counting on Howard Stern to make me rich!

I've recently noticed that I've turned into my father. I justed turned 30 and things that I never used to care about are slowly creaping into my "like" category. I now enjoy watching the news every night...not just the 6:00, sometimes I'll even watch the 5:30 early edition. I used to love sleeping until 10:00ish (when I could), but now 6:30 rolls around and I get up without an alarm. I used to stay up until 1:00 in the morning, now 10:30 dials in on the clock and I'm fighting my eyes from rolling back into my head. Plus, I'm playing the stock market...does one year in age really transform a person that much?

[bassist_25]

Once I'm out of grad school, you better believe that I'll be playing the stock market. Wealth is rarely, if ever, created through wages, and I want a little wealth in my life.

[songsmith]

One year can be huge. I was right there with ya at 30... up at 6:30 without an alarm... and that was sleeping in! I'm in the Mid-life Crisis phase now... playing music, getting up at 11:30 am, watching the soaps, getting in trouble and such. On the upside, I find I love playing even more than I did at 20, because I pay them dues, and I have the experience behind it. I have as much fun playing in other people's bands as in my own projects. I still suck at it, but now nobody wants to make fun of the old guy, 'cause he keeps on pluggin' away.---------->JMS

[Blain]

Once I'm out of grad school, you better believe that I'll be playing the stock market. Wealth is rarely, if ever, created through wages, and I want a little wealth in my life.

Wealth is created through wages. Your most powerful wealth building tool is your income. Debt is what keeps most people from building wealth. Stay out of debt, invest what you make, and build wealth.

[Bit*chenWomen1029]

hey songsmith,
you say you are at the mid life crisis stage now,,, HOW OLD ARE YOU??
just wanna know when my husband will be in that stage LMAO!!

[bassist_25]

I have to disagree. I've said this before, but I think it warrants repeating. Wealth generally isn't created through wages; it's created through profits (i.e. owning stock or owning a business), and to a certain extent, rent. Obviously wages give you the capital to earn profits, but wealth itself is usually a result of the profits themself. Obviously wealth is also a sum total of your liquid assets, but I'm just simplifying for the sake of my point.

But I agree with you 100% on staying out of debt. I've always paid cash for vehicles and I'm going to attempt to do that for the rest of my life. Someone once told me something that really stuck with me: Don't go in debt unless the thing you are going in debt for is going to make you money somehow. Sage words indeed.

It's funny. When I was younger I use to look at my neighbors who were living in biggers homes and driving new cars, and I thought that they must have earned a lot more money than my parents. As I got older, I realized that they didn't earn all that much more - They were just deeper in debt.

[Bit*chenWomen1029]

One thing we all can agree on DEBT SUCKS!!! If its peeking at you around the corner RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNN!!!

If you are Tempted to buy that 2000.00 NEW PA system......CUT THAT CREDIT CARD UP AND RUNNN!!!!

Get the idea?

[f.sciarrillo]

As soon as I get the money saved up ,, which should be with in the next month or two. I will be getting an account with etrade. I been weighing to them or ameritrade for the past year. Haven't been able to make my mind up. I am also getting a CMA (Cash Management Account) with Merrill Lynch as well ..

[f.sciarrillo]

Someone once told me something that really stuck with me: Don't go in debt unless the thing you are going in debt for is going to make you money somehow. Sage words indeed..

This is why I haven't bought a house yet. I am afraid to get into a thirty year liability. Now if the house I was buying was making me a passive income, then yes it would be easier. But as long as I am paying it for it I will be broke, well, for thirty years of my life anyhow ..

[JeffLeeper]

If you're going to pay rent for the next 30 years anyway , why not have something tangible to show for it other than rent receipts?

[JayBird]

I went with ETRADE because I was advised to. One of my landscaping clients owns a family investment practice. They do mostly mutual fund and insurance investments. He was the one who pointed me towards ETRADE for the stock trading. I really don't know which company is better, but he said ETRADE had been around for years...and...they are listed on the NYSE. I'm in this for the long term, but it's soooo tempting to, everyday, watch to see what the stock is doing!

[JeffLeeper]

If you do that , you'll drive yourself crazy.

[lonewolf]

Etrade vs. Ameritrade....Etrade is a little cheaper on commissions for trades of 2000 shares or less. HOWEVER, they have a surcharge of .015/share on trades above 2000 shares. That would translate to into $120 to $1,470 commission on one of my typical trades of 10,000 to 100,000 shares. Etrade also kills you on mutual fund trading, as high as $50 commission for exiting a fund within 90 days of purchase. Ameritrade doesn't do this.

Both companies have instant execution, so, it depends on what you're trading. If you commonly trade quantities of 2,000 shares or more, you want Ameritrade hands down. With 2,000 or less, eTrade is a little cheaper, but no better. If you are using mutual funds, eTrade will lock you in for 90 days.

For accounts larger than $100,000, Ameritrade offers APEX which is a host of services and information free of charge. It is very useful.

[f.sciarrillo]

If you're going to pay rent for the next 30 years anyway , why not have something tangible to show for it other than rent receipts?

I can see having something to show. It's just that liability. As long as that is there. I can't see the point in it. I'm sure eventually I will break down and buy one. But right now, I am in no hurry ...

[f.sciarrillo]

Etrade vs. Ameritrade....Etrade is a little cheaper on commissions for trades of 2000 shares or less. HOWEVER, they have a surcharge of .015/share on trades above 2000 shares. That would translate to into $120 to $1,470 commission on one of my typical trades of 10,000 to 100,000 shares. Etrade also kills you on mutual fund trading, as high as $50 commission for exiting a fund within 90 days of purchase. Ameritrade doesn't do this.

Both companies have instant execution, so, it depends on what you're trading. If you commonly trade quantities of 2,000 shares or more, you want Ameritrade hands down. With 2,000 or less, eTrade is a little cheaper, but no better. If you are using mutual funds, eTrade will lock you in for 90 days.

For accounts larger than $100,000, Ameritrade offers APEX which is a host of services and information free of charge. It is very useful.

Thanx for the info .. I been looking at a couple of others as well. I know a couple of people who have ameritrade accounts. They say they like them. Etrade looked like a better deal. I'l figure out which one to use when the time comes .. You info was really helpful though ..

[Quail Whale]

That would translate to into $120 to $1,470 commission on one of my typical trades of 10,000 to 100,000 shares.

Hmmm...could it be that Warren Buffet posts on rockpage? I guess he did admit once that he has a BMW, and enough cash in his slush fund to buy 1,000 brand new Harleys.

[lonewolf]

That would translate to into $120 to $1,470 commission on one of my typical trades of 10,000 to 100,000 shares.

Hmmm...could it be that Warren Buffet posts on rockpage? I guess he did admit once that he has a BMW, and enough cash in his slush fund to buy 1,000 brand new Harleys.

lol...that was 5 new Harleys...lol

[Ron]

If you're going to pay rent for the next 30 years anyway , why not have something tangible to show for it other than rent receipts?

I can see having something to show. It's just that liability. As long as that is there. I can't see the point in it. I'm sure eventually I will break down and buy one. But right now, I am in no hurry ...

I'm with Jeff on this one. If you live with your folks rent free that's a different story, but if you're renting and unsure of the risks of owning a home, the risks of playing the stock market should really make you uneasy.

IMO the market should be treated like Vegas... Only play with money you are able and willing to lose.

[bassist_25]

Some people dig apartment living though. I think it's all a matter of priorities and lifestyle. I'm pretty sure that I'll eventually own a home, but I probaly won't be thinking about that for another eight or so years.

[paulwunder]

Once I'm out of grad school, you better believe that I'll be playing the stock market. Wealth is rarely, if ever, created through wages, and I want a little wealth in my life.

Wealth is created through wages. Your most powerful wealth building tool is your income. Debt is what keeps most people from building wealth. Stay out of debt, invest what you make, and build wealth.

Wealth is NOT created through wages. Very few people get rich working for someone else.

[lonewolf]

Some people dig apartment living though. I think it's all a matter of priorities and lifestyle. I'm pretty sure that I'll eventually own a home, but I probaly won't be thinking about that for another eight or so years.

So then....buy an apartment building and move into one of the apartments! Let your tenants pay your rent and your bills! Make sure you get the nicest apartment....spend a few extra grand and put in a jacuzzi and all the other bells & whistles. If you live there 2 years, you can eliminate a % of the capital gains when you sell it.

[Blain]

Wealth is NOT created through wages. Very few people get rich working for someone else.

You've missed my point. Try building wealth with no income. Unless you win the lottery, it's tough to do. You can use your income as a tool to build wealth, by investing your income. You don't have too many other wealth building tools. There is no get rich quick scheme that works.

[f.sciarrillo]

If you're going to pay rent for the next 30 years anyway , why not have something tangible to show for it other than rent receipts?

I can see having something to show. It's just that liability. As long as that is there. I can't see the point in it. I'm sure eventually I will break down and buy one. But right now, I am in no hurry ...

I'm with Jeff on this one. If you live with your folks rent free that's a different story, but if you're renting and unsure of the risks of owning a home, the risks of playing the stock market should really make you uneasy.

IMO the market should be treated like Vegas... Only play with money you are able and willing to lose.

The thing with playing the stock market is that if you lose, you don't wreck your credit and and if you win you can make some money instead of throwing it away for thirty+ years .. I can see the point you are making. I just have a diff view on it. I am still young, so I have plenty of time to decide.

I am starting an account with the bare minimum. And plan on raising it from there. Based apond how much I make .. At which point I will start putting a percentage of what I make into mutual funds and bonds. I refuse to buy cd's, so they are out of the question. It' basically the same plan I had while in high school, and college -Which I am going back to college starting in january. And I am majoring in economics and finance, Minoring in real estate. How about that . ... Anyway, what I am starting with I know I can handle if I lose it, and it won't hurt my bank account ..

[paulwunder]

Etrade vs. Ameritrade....Etrade is a little cheaper on commissions for trades of 2000 shares or less. HOWEVER, they have a surcharge of .015/share on trades above 2000 shares. That would translate to into $120 to $1,470 commission on one of my typical trades of 10,000 to 100,000 shares. Etrade also kills you on mutual fund trading, as high as $50 commission for exiting a fund within 90 days of purchase. Ameritrade doesn't do this.

Both companies have instant execution, so, it depends on what you're trading. If you commonly trade quantities of 2,000 shares or more, you want Ameritrade hands down. With 2,000 or less, eTrade is a little cheaper, but no better. If you are using mutual funds, eTrade will lock you in for 90 days.

For accounts larger than $100,000, Ameritrade offers APEX which is a host of services and information free of charge. It is very useful.

Thanx for the info .. I been looking at a couple of others as well. I know a couple of people who have ameritrade accounts. They say they like them. Etrade looked like a better deal. I'l figure out which one to use when the time comes .. You info was really helpful though ..

If anyone would like to buy stock in just about any major company and pay virtually no commisions or fees, e mail me and I'll tell you.

[tornandfrayed]

I still like qualudes (714 variety) and pot!