Ouch!

[maat55]

I looked today, help someone, i need oxygen.

[kork13]

I finally figured out a way to not see my investments when i go online to see/use/check on my bank accounts, so happy me.... BUT, i just got sent the quarterly reports! I'm trying not to look, but then, it would be almost irresponsible for me to ignore them... aaarrrrgggg......

I've seen the dollar figures online of current holding values, but without getting into the math, don't know the percentages... don't really want to, thus my hesitation with the quarterlies.

I just keep telling myself, "Paper loss.... not real..... yet.... paper loss.... not real..... don't do something stupid.... "

[woodie96]

I finally registered and quit lurking....so hey, I can make all you guys/gals feel better and breathe easier....DW and I got in mutual funds about a year and a half ago when we sold a rental property and things were looking good....just looked today at COB yesterday....down a whopping 28.5%....talk about OUCHHHHH......big 'ol paper cut......holding tight cause like kork said...paper loss...not real....paper loss...not real.....

[Scanner]

Silver was up. . .acting weird.

[Broken Arrow]

Ok, precious metal gains. That's more like it.

Please don't worry guys. Seriously, it's bad but is it really that bad? The dot com crash has sent the Dow down even lower than this (but we're close).

The financial outlook for some financials (not all) are still looking good, despite everything. In fact, some are literally fighting over fire sales right now.

What's causing the current drop right now is a rippling out effect of the subprime-- which to some extent has been a long time coming-- as well as the resulting crunch from all the fear in the credit market. A global, concerted effort is being made to address these issues, but please remember that this economy isn't going to get well overnight.

Personally, I wish I had more money to buy into this. Yeah, I know I'm probably going to rub some people the wrong way with all this bullish contrarian talk, but seriously, is anybody really talking about the end of the world as we know it? Is this the end of America? No. We need to tough this out and that's all there is to it. We will recover. It just takes time.

The first rule in any crisis is Don't Panic. Let's think this through and weather this storm.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

-30% in our 401ks. I am not sure if I should even look at our Roth IRAs.

[Broken Arrow]

My Roth is actually doing well, but that's what I use to trade with. It also kind of skews things because I know I'm just getting lucky more than anything with it....

[Coleroo]

I just peeked at my ROTH today (we have a target 2045 fund). In 2006 (when I entered), the fund was selling for $11.50 per share. In mid 2007 or so it had reached almost to $14 per share.

This week is has dropped to $8 something per share.

...my "less than 10k" 403B has lost nearly $2000 in exactly one year. I've been watching it steadily drop since Oct of 2007.

[Coleroo]

i think i'm gonna cry...lol (totally emotional response..i know..can't help it)

i just looked at my 403b again (i last looked at the beginning of the week). I've lost another $1000 in it.

It was paltry in the first place, but hey, i was (at one time) proud of it. In Oct 2007, it capped at a worth of $7,438.

I JUST peeked at it. It's at $4,345.

....and to think, i thought my risk tolerance was high because i am only 25. LOL...losing money is losing money is losing money, no matter how old you are, huh.

[Scanner]

It's okay.

I swear to God this is the truth when I say this:

It's only money. They print more of it everyday.

[disneysteve]

It's only money. They print more of it everyday.

That doesn't help if they aren't giving any of it to me.

[kork13]

That doesn't help if they aren't giving any of it to me.

I think what you need to do is go take a trip to the nearest and most expensive resort & spa, then give a call to the Treasury with you hands out. Works for AIG, so you never know! Even if don't get a payout, at least you'll have enjoyed a relaxing weekend!

[Broken Arrow]

Coleroo, the guys above are kind of being wry, but seriously, just keep hanging in there. Today has been a historic day. It isn't normal. If anything, I recommend to stop look at your portfolio until the storm subsides.