stupid beliefs about finance

kidmugsy

atush wrote: »

Certainly has over the last 100 years or so.

But only in carefully selected markets; usually the US and UK. In many others you would have suffered horribly. So as a generalisation, it's tripe.

grey_gym_sock

atush wrote: »

Legislation must by definiton not be made for YOU but for the masses. Who given the chance would p*ss it away and do manage to fall into debt/disaster.

some would, some wouldn't.

the discussion has drifted somewhat. it started out not about what the legislation on pensions should be, but about under what circumstances it's a good idea to contribute to a pension (given the current rules).

grey_gym_sock

1 danger with shares is that the long term (when they will come good) may be longer than you're investing for. even if that's for decades.

however, shares and property are the only 2 plausible candidates for the best asset class for the long term.

Dilly

Rafter wrote: »

ii) Interest free credit
Nope - you are just paying more for the sofa/car/electrical device than you would if you had paid up front.

R

Well I never noticed that I got 'it' cheaper if I paid cash!! You might get a better price for by offering cash, but that is up to you to ask. Which we on here would probably do. Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Also I thought it was illegal to offer a cash price and a higher credit card / loan price

Rollinghome

atush wrote: »

"Shares will always outperform everything else in the longer term"

Certainly has over the last 100 years or so.

The wacky idea that what happened to any investment 100 years ago is indicative of what is likely to happen in the next 5-10 years would be close to the top of my list.

Reaper

Dilly wrote: »

Also I thought it was illegal to offer a cash price and a higher credit card / loan price

That was done away with some years back. Book a flight or holiday online and you will quickly discover many places charge extra for credit cards v debit cards.

atush

kidmugsy wrote: »

But only in carefully selected markets; usually the US and UK. In many others you would have suffered horribly. So as a generalisation, it's tripe.

Given those are the only 2 markets I have invested in/thru, then I am sticking with my guns. Feel free to let us know your other information about other markets. Including ones that have had revolutions, or Nazi dictators might be interesting, but had you lived in either then you would have had greater worries about keeping alive than your portfolios.

atush

Rollinghome wrote: »

The wacky idea that what happened to any investment 100 years ago is indicative of what is likely to happen in the next 5-10 years would be close to the top of my list.

The wacky idea that investing is of a 5 yr horizon is interesting too

In all seriousness though, lookign what has happened historically does at least give you an idea about bubbles, crashes, inflation and the like. History should always be learned from.

grey_gym_sock

atush wrote: »

History should always be learned from.

sometimes it's more fun to repeat it.

GeorgeHowell

atush wrote: »

Certainly has over the last 100 years or so.

The clue lies in "will" rather than "has". Past trends are not a reliable indicator of future performance. The world moves on and things change.


And here's another stupid idea about finance :

The Euro can be saved because there is sufficient political will.