Asset Junkie ! dot Com

The holidays are a time of family and friends, good food and high debt. The only thing that seems to remain after the holidays are over is HIGH DEBT (and sometimes the weight gained depending on how much you eat). But one thing we can do to ease the wallet strain is to find great deals.

Here are some ideas for that perfect gift that everyone wants!

OPEN BOX – Open box items are those that are either low on stock, returned without problems, maybe they are missing something simple like a cable or part of the item has a small chip or crack. Most of the time open box items are perfectly fine to use and take some serious looking over before the flaw can be found. Best Buy, HHGREGG, Sears, Walmart, etc. all have open box and discount item deals. The key to finding these deal is to check the stores. These items are usually short lived and go fast because they are a great deal so make sure you’re prepared to buy if you find the right deal.

WINDOW SHOP THEN BUY ONLINE – Sorry local retailers but the truth is your service sucks and the deals you have, for the most part, are NOT deals. A great way to shop anytime, especially during the holiday season, is go shopping but make a list while out. Return home and check online for deals. Even if you want to purchase the item locally retailers such as Walmart and BestBuy have lower online prices and free shipping to the store. And if the purchase is big buying online will (in most cases) save you money no only on the initial price but by not paying sales tax which can be nearly 10%!

HAPPY SHOPPING AND MERRY….holiday season?!

Hedge funds are not some mystical creature that only the rich can see. Investopedia has a definition of Hedge Fund for those of you wondering.

“For the most part, hedge funds (unlike mutual funds) are unregulated because they cater to sophisticated investors. In the U.S., laws require that the majority of investors in the fund be accredited. They are similar to mutual funds in that investments are pooled and professionally managed, but differ in that the fund has far more flexibility in its investment strategies.” (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/hedgefund.asp)

The truth is, any intelligent investor has the opportunity to create their own hedges against loss and market risk. Another word people do not seem to understand is “investor”. An investor is not always someone who owns stocks and bonds. You can go to college as an investment in your future, you can purchase a classic car and hold it as an investment, even loan friends money with a predetermined amount in addition to the amount loaned (thats how bonds pay) and you are an INVESTOR.

Tips to hedge your investments:

• Listen to financial advisors, but do not take their opinions as fact. They work for a paycheck not your best interest; I know this because I have worked as a financial advisor and quit because of this. They are knowledgeable in their product line but that is about all.
• Do your homework via the internet, there are tons of great sites with great advice.
• Think outside of the box with potential investments.

Here are some great investment ideas:

1. Go old school and buy stocks – remember owning stock is owning part of a company.
2. Mutual Funds – extremely lame and you have no control over the holdings.
3. Online Peer-to-peer lending – these investments earn an average of 7%!
4. Real Estate – an old house you can rent near a college, maybe few trailers you can rent.
5. Collectibles – this can be everything from baseball cards to classic cars.
6. Local businesses – become a partial owner with a local business in need of capital for expansion.
7. Franchise – some are not too expensive, considering buying one of these.