Retiring early

[disneysteve]

The way I understand hard assets like gold is that it doesn't generate anything unless you sell some of it. Currently, gold is kind of low compared to the time you retired, what's your strategy?

I believe the answer is income from rental properties.

[TexasHusker]

As as been mentioned before, the word "retirement" is about as ambiguous a term as "the stock market."

Retirement for me came three years ago at age 46. I have two businesses that I spend a few hours a week on, plus 4 vacation home rentals.

Real estate investments rents/yields from land, houses, commercial, retail, etc., generally are a multiple of what you can achieve with bonds and CDs.

If you aren't yielding 8-10 percent annual with real estate, something is way out of whack.

Hard assets and natural resources should certainly be a part of everyone's portfolio. Coal, agri, gold, silver, and oil are all good places to start. The long term horizon on all natural resources is definitely UP, simply because the world population is exploding and there is more and more demand (long term) on fewer resources.

Another staple is Phillip Morris. Have you looked at a 30 year chart of PM lately? People are going to keep smoking. That one is a no-brainer. It pays a 4% dividend at the current price.

Lots of options out there for GOOD, SUSTAINABLE income.

[disneysteve]

Another staple is Phillip Morris. Have you looked at a 30 year chart of PM lately? People are going to keep smoking.

Sad but true. The smoking rate has dropped significantly in the US but it's been matched and exceeded by smoking in other countries. The rate in China is downright terrifying.

[Nutria]

Sad but true. The smoking rate has dropped significantly in the US but it's been matched and exceeded by smoking in other countries. The rate in China is downright terrifying.

It's a sinister plot by the Illuminati for destroying the US economy...

[sv2007]

It's a sinister plot by the Illuminati for destroying the US economy...

Smoking isn't all that bad, it gives some poeple a cheap and legal way of relaxing and pass their time. If this forums shuts down, we should all go buy MO (philip moris US operation) because all that free time needs to be wasted some how.

[disneysteve]

Smoking isn't all that bad, it gives some poeple a cheap and legal way of relaxing and pass their time.

You've made some wild posts at this site but this has got to be the worst.

Smoking isn't that bad? Seriously? Have you never heard of lung cancer, COPD, heart disease, stroke, etc?

And cheap? I'm not sure where you live but around here, the minimum price on brand names is about $8.00/pack and about $6.00/pack on generics. Considering that the majority of smokers are poor, $180-$240/month can hardly be called cheap.

About the only part of your post that is true is that smoking is legal. It's severely restricted as for where you can and can't do it but it is legal in appropriate places.

[corn18]

This post fits right in with the sugar daddy post. This site has gotten mean and bizarre in the last 6 months.

[rennigade]

This post fits right in with the sugar daddy post. This site has gotten mean and bizarre in the last 6 months.

Theres really only one newer user that is a complete d*ck in 99% of their posts. The bizarre poster...probably dont have to name names...their new threads are out of control and will respond to anything just to see their name in the threads.

The spam is under control as far as Ive seen but yeah...this site isnt nearly as enjoyable as it used to be.

Guess its time to fire up the ignore list option and add those 2 users. We'll see how well it works.

[Butterscotch]

This post fits right in with the sugar daddy post. This site has gotten mean and bizarre in the last 6 months.

I agree! I feel like new people might not be joining because threads become so defensive and judgemental. If someone new does post a question or comment they get ripped apart and likely don't ever come back. It seems like it is always the same 8-10 people discussing on threads...and it goes round with people trying to have the last word, rather than offering helpful input.

[Jbone]

Theres really only one newer user that is a complete d*ck in 99% of their posts. The bizarre poster...probably dont have to name names...their new threads are out of control and will respond to anything just to see their name in the threads.

The spam is under control as far as Ive seen but yeah...this site isnt nearly as enjoyable as it used to be.

Guess its time to fire up the ignore list option and add those 2 users. We'll see how well it works.

Kind of off topic but slightly related.. I'm a manager at a grocery store and experience this on a daily basis. People do troll (in person) and say the most bizarre, off the wall, rude and degrading things to me or my employees just to get a reaction out of you and see what they can get away with. I have no other explanation. And it's getting worse and worse every year. I honestly don't get it.

For example.. I had a lady today ask me where the Starbucks coffee was. I said in aisle 2, the next aisle over. Pointing to the next aisle over. I EVEN OFFERED TO SHOW HER.. But she ignored me. Then she goes where's aisle 2 at? This way? And started to go the wrong direction. She then started yelling at me for "wasting" her time.

[sv2007]

Smoking isn't that bad? Seriously? Have you never heard of lung cancer, COPD, heart disease, stroke, etc?

Well, people who smoke will have to seek alternatives when that's taken away. These are people with for whatever reason have decided that they need to smoke despite all the known negative issues.

So, is weed better? or some LSD (ok, I'm not all that current on the latest cool street drugs) but just to illustrate the picture. Or maybe they get all antsy and start to beat up other people. Oh, if there's no benefit, people wouldn't be doing it. Simple economics.

[sv2007]

This post fits right in with the sugar daddy post. This site has gotten mean and bizarre in the last 6 months.

That post was a joke.
Wife read a news article and discussed with me the morning and I remembered it while reading OP's post (fits the situation nearly perfect).
I can't believe anybody taking that seriously.

[Nutria]

I can't believe anybody taking that seriously.

People on the Internet believe some really crazy stuff, so it's perfectly reasonable to think that you're Yet Another Troglodyte hiding your cro-magnon beliefs with "Ha ha".

[Fishindude77]

Six months and three weeks but who's counting.

[rennigade]

For example.. I had a lady today ask me where the Starbucks coffee was. I said in aisle 2, the next aisle over. Pointing to the next aisle over. I EVEN OFFERED TO SHOW HER.. But she ignored me. Then she goes where's aisle 2 at? This way? And started to go the wrong direction. She then started yelling at me for "wasting" her time.

Well as odd as that is at least that person had the gonads to troll in person. Either that or she was a little off. Either way you gotta give those people credit.

Anyone can be a keyboard warrior. There usually is not a consequence when you troll online. Its kind of like people with road rage...you will see them screaming in their cars, swerving at other cars, cutting people off, brake checking, etc etc. Now imagine that same scenario walking down the sidewalk. Whens the last time you had someone run in front of you while walking then suddenly stop directly in front of you then run again and stop. How about just someone screaming at you when passing you on the sidewalk. Doesnt happen much if ever. Everyone is suddenly tough when they are in their steel box traveling at high rates of speed. They know the chances of having an actual face to face conflict are slim to none.