[thechat] investments, gasoline, and stupidity (not necessarily in that order)

[David Wagner]

Well, due to a reduced caffeine intake, I managed to send a reply to 
thechat instead of thejudah. Not that the post is any less relevant 
than most of the others I've seen lately, but I suppose a little 
additional context would have been nice. Sorry.

(The beer invitation is hereby extended to all list members, and you 
don't even have to be able to discuss rally -- though it helps.)

I will now attempt to provide some sort of actual content:

via Metafilter -- the 14 Bucks Project (http://www.14bucks.com/), an 
attempt to turn $14 into $1000 in 1 year through low-risk investments. 
Many people consider it a waste of time; I'm fascinated.

And, to chime in on fuel prices: I can safely estimate an average 
annual expenditure of about $40 per year on fossil fuels, so the 
ups-and-downs don't interest me too much. That's $40 in direct 
purchases of gasoline, of course, when borrowing cars (or rides) from 
friends. It does not take into account the indirect contributions when 
I ride a bus or get a (rare) free ride from someone.

I take a great deal of pride in the fact that my last bike, which was 
in good shape and which I enjoyed riding, cost me about $200 a year, 
total, including initial purchase cost. (Before it was stolen, that 
is.) I know people who have spent more per year on junky cars that they 
never drive.

--

David Wagner
dave at worlddomination.net