Hypothetically.

What would you do if suddenly you won a small amount of fortune?
Rather than winning $50 million in the lottery (because really, you could do anything you wanted if you had that much money), what if you one only $100,000 or how about $50,000? How would you use this?I’m curious about lottery or jackpot winners…they must have a stream of people nag them about money. I always wondered what would be the best way to avoid this.It must suck to win the lottery.

I got it all wrong.

I added Focus Media to my portfolio thinking it was Focus Features (production co. that produced such films as Lost in Translation, Eternal Sunshine).So I’ve been following along with the ups and downs thinking, “What is going on? Why is Focus (Features) going up so much?”

After hitting 50, I decided to look up some more info on Focus Media Holdings and found out that it is, in fact, it is this.

Oops.. Hm.. It’s doing well though. I started tracking this stock over a month ago at about 36.. and it’s now gone up 14.

Conclusion:

• I need to carefully read the stocks I’m looking at and not make impulse decisions.
• China’s where it’s at!

Chuck Norris facts.

This is hilarious.

ING’s temporary rate for new deposits – 4.75%

ING Direct - I probably won’t make much interest off of this deal since most of my savings is already in ING, but I guess it’s better than HSBC’s 4.25% rate?

I forgot to mention Young & Broke’s post about values, saving & spending. I get into these discussions a lot with my bf…A LOT. Especially when we discuss my need to eat out during the week, or my tendency to binge spend and how I try to curb it by splurging bit by bit each month to get it out of my system. I’m not super-human and cannot live every single day for several months straight without some indulgence.

I have a lot of spending to do this month:

• I am planning out Anniversary arrangements this time around. Nice dinner & +++
• Niece’s birthday gift. She wants something called Polly? That has stretchable apparel?
• Dreamhost web bill for the year…$90 !!

Oi.

On the flipside, my Marketwatch fantasy stock portfolio is up again. This makes me happy because I will do some real investing in a couple of months. A few friends and I are starting an investment club.. $500 initial & $50/month thereafter.

Also, have you noticed that every other story on NPR is about China?

Down, down, down.

My Marketwatch portfolio has gone down for the past couple of days. I guess I should get used to this since investing is risky. Overall, it’s still up about 2-3% since it’s start two weeks ago.

A good way of visualizing your taxes.

Sitting pretty financially posted a little bit about taxes. See tax not only as a percentage taken out your income. Visualize it: for most, it’s about 3-4 months income out of the year. So, for a year’s worth of work, I/you receive only 8-9 months salary. Kinda makes you think more about your spending habits and being serious about your finances.As mentioned on an earlier post, I think I will open a Roth IRA with Fidelity since I have no retirement account and have already saved 3 months of emergency funds. I’ve also been playing with the idea of CD laddering through GMAC. That bank’s interest rates look hot.

Surprise bonus.

Yesterday, I got an end-of-year bonus from my boss.
I surely did not expect more than a couple hundred dollars for a holiday bonus. But, he gave me a little less than 1/2 my monthly salary.

I’m not sure if this is our yearly bonus (if it’s the case, not much of a bonus but I can understand a man trying to give the most for his few employees in this small business). Whether this is the yearly bonus or just a holiday one, it was generous. He gave it to us in cash, too so that we wouldn’t have to deal with taxes.

The bonus cash will be put into a ROTH IRA, I decided.
My employer currently does not offer a retirement program, so I have to take it onto myself.

Fidelity is my top choice because I like their website, their fees are minimal, and their minimum start is one of two:

$2500 customizable ROTH IRA acct

$200/mo simple-start ROTH IRA acct

I’ll let you know my progress once I receive Fidelity’s information packet.

Investing practice w/ Marketwatch.

I’m testing out a fantasy portfolio through Marketwatch. Most of my selections are technology/software/telecom related. Let’s see how it goes-When I am ready to invest, I wonder which broker to use. Ameritrade?