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Home > Fierce Tug of Avoidance, plus Mentoring Young Investor

Fierce Tug of Avoidance, plus Mentoring Young Investor

August 10th, 2012 at 05:09 pm

Good news first: We showed our embittered DS that his Berkshire Hathaway stock holding DID contain Burlington Northern (not sure it still does though), so he is feeling a little better. He has identified McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) as his next stock purchase. Lucky for us, custodial accounts require only a $100 minimum. I will put some money into Target (TGT) as well into his college account and into my Roth. Other stocks on his horizon: Pepsico, Coca-Cola.

Bad news: I avoided looking at our accounts for a full week after our return. I doubt I can pay all my bills right now without bringing my money market account below its minimum balance, unless I unload some CDs or some precious metals. I will divide $2500 between what I owe the painter and what I owe on the cards. My goal is to pay the painter in full by August 24 which is well within a 30-day period, and half of the credit card bill by August 27. Was most of what we charged worth it? I guess yes, to be hospitable to my brother, who turned out to be whiny, obstinate and pretty ungrateful for the $2400 we saved him (he threatened to go because only one of us thanked him and his wife for cleaning the kitchen, and I waved good morning instead of spitting out my coconut oil and saying hello. Also complained that he had no car even though he refused to drive, complained we had no television even though hulu.com was available at high speed on the laptops they brought and he knew on past visits we do not have cable). If God exists, it is patting me on the head.

I do not betray secrets, but I see that a friend has been putting money into her investment accounts while she is paying off debt, and I may do that too. She does heavy dividends, which is attractive if the debt balance APR is in the low single digits. Stocks that look good to me are ArcelorMittal (MT), Questcor Pharm (QCOR), Teva Pharm (TEVA) - I think I have this already but will accumulate, and Freeport McMoran (FCX).

5 Responses to “Fierce Tug of Avoidance, plus Mentoring Young Investor”

  1. ceejay74 Says:
    1344615419

    "Whiny, obstinate and pretty ungrateful" -- sounds like my brother-in-law, with whom we spent a less-than-delightful few days with last weekend. At least it makes me appreciate my routine life -- and my much more gracious friends and family, who far outnumber the whiners.

  2. PauletteGoddard Says:
    1344615679

    @ceejay74, I hear you! I was the only relative who flew to Japan to see his marriage, let him and his family in our house for three weeks! My revenge was to be silent, patient and calm, and to exemplify the loving, fun, conscientious family I have, leaving his wife to compare how I was as a guest with how her husband was with so many more amenities. The comment space isn't long enough to list all the accommodations we made for a multicultural, multilingual family with a toddler.

  3. laura Says:
    1344621451


    Yes, I've adopted the "kill them with kindness" attitude, not sure how I turned the corner, but I continue to amaze myself at how charitable I am becoming, despite complaining from the masses, and comments from people who feel compelled to share what they think about me and my parenting, despite having no right to do so. Smile Probably helps that I mention it here, so I am truly not "martyr" yet (just call me "St. Laura" Big Grin

  4. baselle Says:
    1344629525

    But being wicked, gossipy and sniping behind his back can be a wonderful release. I know I'd need a release after that!

    I started with the Drips before I fully paid off my debt and if debt payment is well on its way I recommend starting investing even that early. After all, if you keep saving after the debt is cleared, you have to figure out what to do with all the money.

  5. PauletteGoddard Says:
    1344708521

    @laura the only parenting things I meddled in with my brother and his wife were: 1) getting a car seat for their toddler's safety and to avoid fines; 2) suggesting moving most of the crayons away from the toddler's grasp so he would not toss them on the floor, rather than removing the child from the restaurant.

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