Should I buy stock?

[uRabbit]

I have been wanting to buy stocks in AAPL since it was under $20. Now, they just closed at an all-time high of $373. Apple is only going up, and I am wondering if I can wait...

Should I buy stocks in AAPL? I am still paying down debt (see my blog sidebar for details), and just sold $381 worth of gold.

What do you think? I would only purchase one share, as I do not have a large income ($1,500/mo), and have $1,500 in savings (under EF, medical, and auto).

[bjl584]

There are probably a lot better ways to invest your money than with one share of Apple. That would be putting all of your eggs into one basket.

I can't make individual stock recommendations to you, but if you have some extra money laying around and want to open up a brokerage account, then it may be worth your time to sit down and talk to a financial advisor that can steer you in the right direction.

[uRabbit]

Hmm. Well I certainly don't have money laying around. Haha. If I were to invest, I would want to do it with a company/organization that I believe in.

Guess I will just keep wishing is purchased stocks before. ;P

[KTP]

I would save up $3000 and then open a Vanguard account with a Roth IRA and put everything in total stock market index fund. This way you will have a piece of Apple and every other stock. Reinvest dividends and try to keep contributing each year.

[uRabbit]

So the way I am interpreting an index fund is that I would just follow the market as a whole? "Oh, NYSE closed at +13" or whatever. Correct?

I'm new to all this!

[Petunia 100]

KTP, Vanguard has lowered the minimum on target retirement funds to 1k.

URabbit, yes, an index fund tracks an index. In my opinion, a Vanguard target retirement fund is an excellent choice for most people. They track the US stock market, the US bond market, and several foreign stock markets (European, Pacific, emerging markets), all at a rock bottom expense ratio. When you start investing, you should do so in tax advantaged accounts whenever possible.

Your statement "Apple can only go up" is incorrect. Apple may go up, but it certainly can go down.

[timbuckley10]

Definitely not worth it to buy one stock of AAPL. A Roth IRA is a good safe place to go for those of us who aren't market wizards but want some exposure.

Don't beat yourself up too much for not buying AAPL however many years ago. It's not worth it to stress over what you could have done. And if you ever do decide to begin trading avoid using hindsight to place bets.