Investing, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. Options

[frosty]

Does anyone here invest in anything like that? I've been contemplating investing to generate extra cash. Just wondering.

[celicaST]

investing is the smartest way to become financially secure, but make sure you know what your doing. it can also degenerate your cash if you not careful . do not trust other people with your money, period. i suggest reading the dummies books on investing and personal finance before you do. they also have them for mutual funds, stocks, and my personal favorite real estate. i found them very informative. rich dad, poor dad is also a good book to read. im personally involved only with mutual funds and CDs, im only 18. when i learn more about stocks and i have more cash to play with (think of it as a game, dont take money too seriously because you will lose some investing at times) then i will invest in other potentially higher ROI areas. good luck man

[Galcobar]

Anything with set interest rates is a little iffy right now, given the historically low interest rates and the probability they're going to go up in short order. Right now, they're barely beating inflation. However, compare that to the stock market over the last year. Personally, the safest stock funds I can come up with are the indexes. Highly diversified risk, and they move predictably with the economy.

[ArizonaRed]

stocks are unstable and bonds are stable. stock can have more earn potential though. There is also roth IRA for retirment i think. some good savings accounts have competitive interest rates. bank interest rates have declined since the wars though and look like they are slowly rising. overseas holdings can generate alot.

[Drocay]

I'm a loan officer / financial adviser: Always remember Warren Buffets rules, he has two.

1. Never Lose Money
2. Never forget rule one.

Now the best would Indexes like Galcabar said. You also need to see wut kind of investing you want to do. Long term or Short term.

if any of u guys need any help, i can always try to help.

[frosty]

Hey- hey thanks for the advice. I have been reading the "dummies" books and I know a bit about real estate. (even have family that invests in real estate)

I don't have much time at this moment to talk but I know I will be asking some more questions soon.

Thanks!

[frosty]

I've been thinking about mutual funds or bonds. There are a bunch of edward jones invensting places around here where I live. I thought about going in just to check it out but since I don't know all the "lingo" I didn't want to go in and be miss-lead by a sales pitch.

I read in the "dummy" book that investing in a small business is good. Whether it's your own or someone elses. Since I want to start my own biz I figure I know what my risks are and since it would be my biz I would be more motivated to see it take off. (plus, I have controll over where the money goes)

The only thing is that I don't know what would be better. To invest the money for the business in some type of bond or mutual fund to generate some extra cash for startup or go ahead and start the biz with what money I have and let it generate it's own cash.

I'm thinking that it may be better for starting my own business since I already have abunch of the materials needed so my start up won't be that much.

I'm open to suggestions.