Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Not sure what your question is? But my 401K did lose value sm

Posted By: ChiaPet on 2009-02-04
In Reply to: I will ask you as I did another poster above - Questions

and it bothers me very much; I lost maybe 25K so it could have been worse. It forced me to diversify and take a closer look at bonds vs stocks, and other investments. Of course I would like to have more than 50K as liquidity and emergency funds, but at one time I was more than 20K in debt. This is a huge improvement in my life and a total change in mindset. It truly has created peace in my heart, to have control over what I spend and not be a tool of the consumer society that says "You are not happy unless you have the biggest, newest, brightest" thinga-mabob that we are selling this week / year / month.

You don't need to buy stuff for self-esteem. Being self sufficient lets me sleep at night.


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

Older folks sometimes lose it before they really lose it sm
It sounds like she having some issues with money and thought processes. Four potatoes and three sweet potatoes? She has lost touch with reality. I don't mean this in an unkind way. I think she didn't stop the think or plan the budget around this. Perhaps she has lost the ability to properly plan on some level. This makes no sense.

In my family, food at gramma's was always abundant. The woman always thought we were foot soldiers readying for a cold march across two states. The place she got miserly was with almost everything else. She'd have everyone over for a huge supper and have 2 rolls of TP in the house, one nearly gone, and there would be 10 of us. She stopped buying laundry detergent because it was "too expensive" and started using shavings of naphtha soap. She started saving little soap slivers and making "new" bars of soap with them. She stopped buying shampoo unless it was in the markdowns at the grocery store. She started using a baggie for her vacuum cleaner bag. You get the picture here.

The interesting thing is that truly, that gramma never fully lost it. We considered this idiosyncratic and went on. She kept the rest of her faculties, but had these odd ways of "saving money." My other gramma who never did any of these things did, in fact, suffer from profound dementia the last 10 years of her life. Of course, that set of grandparents had the issue the other way. Toilet paper: Bought in bulk 6 cases at a time. Find a salad dressing you like, buy a couple of cases. You never did want to tell them you liked a certain food, paper product or soap something because if you did, along would come a few cases of it!

We all do something when we get older. Help her out so she isn't embarrassed by this!
401K what to do?
Should DH cash it in or wait it out?

I have no idea about these kinds of things so please speak simple to me.
yes, we can have up to 3 loans with our 401k

and we can barrow no more than half of what is in it.  We have 5 years to pay it off.  Unless we are using it to buy our primary residence then we have 15 years.  What I worry about most with that is making my paycheck too thin.  They are already taking out 75 a week for health insurance, 56 for the loan, 20 for a spending account I have, plus 45 to 50 for my contribution to the 401k, 3% of my pay/per pay period. 


I had also thought about barrowing against it to pay off my morguage.  I owe somewhere between 7000 and 8000 at 6% interest.   I went to bankrate.com and did a loan calculator and they estimated 75 per paycheck.  I pay 333 a month now.  It would be less a month if i did that  and that would make me an official home owner, boy that would feel good. 


Also the scary thing is, too many people pay off their cc only to run them up again.  Once my retirement money is gone, it is gone then what 


401K contributions
WIth all this talk about losing money in our 401K did anyone stop making contributions to their 401K?  I'm not sure what is the right thing to do. I look at mine and I'm losing money (not as much as some because I am conservative but losing is losing) so I wonder if I should still be even putting money in it.  Thoughts?
We are quite happy with our 401K - sm
unlike many others we only lost 25% (about $100K). We are still relatively young, DH is 49, so have time for it to recoup. We have a Fidelity fund with 4 mutual funds and one bond market fund (that money is totally safe). In the last downfall of stocks about 5 or so years ago we lost $30K which recouped pretty quick. Though I don't see our boucing back for a while, we continue to put over $11K into it. Prices are low so in the long run we will do well. I think it all depends on who you have handling your 401K and what funds you have your money in. We are very careful and researched, etc. before opening each fund we have. Started with 2, and now have the 4 mutual funds and the one bond fund. At one point we were earning almost $800 a month in interest in the bond fund, of course that is not the case right now but at least it is still earning us about $300 a month now. It helps that my DHs father lives and breathes the financial markets, has a great broker himself, and passes the info onto us. He has never been wrong so far. it is a great way to make more money but you have got to start when you are 20 or so, the only way to actually have a substantial amount saved by the time you hit 65.
You had $400K in your 401K?
And how did you lose only 25%? If you had it mostly in bonds, how did you ever get it way up to $400K? After over 30 years doing MT, mine was almost going to reach $100K. Then the stock market tanked, and it's got less than $50K in it now. If the loss continues at the same rate, it'll be at $0 by about Nov. or Dec.

THAT'S why I'm not wasting any more of my hard-earned money in the stock market. Over my lifetime I've contributed more to the retirement fund than it currently has in it. I'd have been better off stuffing it under my mattress all these years.
Agree with poster above. DO NOT take $ out of 401K...sm
>> My H wants to take 15k out of his 401k and be done with it. He says we are still young and we can still make it up. >>

I was watching Suze Orman's show recently, and she had someone who wanted to do this. The woman was in her early 30s and wanted to take money out of her 401K to pay off $22,000 in cc debt, just to be rid of it.

Suze said NO, and here's why - taking money out of a 401K now, instead of at retirement, means you'll have to pay penalties (state and federal) plus taxes which will equal about 35%. So in order to end up with $22,000 (to pay off her cc debt), she would actually need to take out about $35,000 from the 401K! So it would cost her $13,000 to pay off that $22,000. Not worth it.

And if that isn't bad enough, look at what you lose by not having that $35,000 in your 401K for the next 30-40 years, earning money for you like it should be. At at average rate of return, that $35,000 would turn into around $353,000! So that's what it's *really* costing you. Tell your husband that and see if he still wants to do it. ;o)

Suze said we need to stop looking at our 401Ks like their our piggy banks/savings accounts. They're for us to live on in *retirement.*
I'm leaving what little I have left in my 401K for now - sm
(what's left wouldn't do me any good, anyway), with the hope that someday it will gain back some of what it lost. THEN, even though I probably still won't have as much as was in it before, I'll most likely take it ALL out of the stock market forever, and invest in something concrete, such as land (which even if it can't be sold for a profit, can be lived-on). The stock market has become so volatile and flaky that it no longer makes any more sense to put your hard-earned retirement money into that than it does to blow it all on Lottery tickets or slot machines.
Yes, I lose
money if I don’t work so very simple for me. I just have good work ethics.
I'm sorry. It is so sad when we lose a pet.
xx
I'm trying to lose too sm

I've tried all diets, have been successful, but once i stop doing the diet, then i gain back.  Atkins, WW, Jenny Craig.  Last year I did Nutrisystem, but food got expensive.  Now I'm just trying to eat healthy.  I can tell you that Nutrisystem food had fiber and protein in it.  It's tough.  I'm an emotional eater.  I would love to be a part of a losing weight forum.  there is a website www. weightlossbuddy.com.  It's free and you can find other people that live close to you and support each other.  I'd like to lose about 20 or 25. Hey monitor, didn't there used to be a diet board?  If not, that'd be a good board to have.


thanks


use it or lose it
They can keep you alive a very long time these days. I would try to die with my boots on. Have you walked through a nursing home lately? Just keep shuffling along and do not stop until you keel over, or you could have a manny nurse changing your Depends.
well, i try to eat right. i need to lose some weight sm

so i do buy whole wheat stuff, bread, wraps, spaghetti. i buy low fat/fat free lunchmeats, 2% cheese.  i don't buy cupcakes and cookies (or else i'd eat them!)  i don't drink much milk, not that i don't like it, just don't drink it much.  i drink more water than anything.  i'll have about one diet dr. pepper a day.  i love food, it's just trying to stay on a healthy track.  my problem is i don't get enough exercise.  i have a 5 y/o and an 8 y/o that keep me busy.  but i do like to exercise. 


 


But how did she lose all that weight?
She was really heavy and saw her lately in my weekly rags and so thin now.
Oh yes people will tell you you need to lose
weight. My own father was a good example of that. He tried to cut me down and made nasty remarks about my weight. Never mind the fact I saw pictures of his mother who was extremely obese. I guess he forgot about her weight. Anyone who is overweight knows that- does not have to be told- there are mirrors everywhere.
Trying to lose weight

Has anyone tried Hoodia and does it work?


Well, I DID lose 10 lbs. this summer without even trying-
That's about the only good thing that's come of all this. The rest sucks.
Sometimes you won't lose much 1 week but BAM sm
you lose a bunch the next week; sometimes it is water-weight related, other times related to your period or hormones. Some weeks I didn't lose anything, only to have a 4 lb loss the next time! Just be sure to start being active (even if it is only walking to the end of your block) and drink your water!
With depression you lose either way -- sm
depression pretty much kills sex drive, but so do antidepressants. Still, I prefer to be on the meds.
You're gonna lose your man if you don't at least

Men may act macho, but they have feeling, too and like to feel attractive and loved.


has anyone done nutrisystem to lose weight sm.....
and was able to keep the weight off after you stopped eating their food?  i'm tired of being stuck at the same weight.  i was thinking of joining weight watchers.  i've done that before and lost, but i had a 6 mos old baby dragging him along.  now he's 5 and i'm ready to try again. but just wondered if anyone had success with nutrisystem.  thanks
I lose focus after a few hours : (
x
you will not lose weight without exercise.
nm
Maybe didnt lose it. It just went south.
fasd
If he is otherwise healthy, I'd lose the tail.
He'll have to adjust how he balances but otherwise I think he'd be fine.
Me too, it is so very hard to lose a pet. What a beauty.
,
I'm trying to lose weight through the WW program
I started during the summer and kind of fell off of it. I'm trying to lose between 30-40 pounds. My daughter became a vegetarian about 4 months ago and she already lost 23 pounds. I like my meat so I won't go that route, but I'm trying to exercise a little bit every day and eat healthier. Good luck to you and everyone else trying to lose.
so sorry, it sure hurts when you lose your babies.. nm
m
I really lose a lot of respect for the candidates
that talk back to the judges. I know that Simon can be very mean, but it is not like these kids don't know this. I think the singers should bite their tongue and just try to take the comments and try to improve their singing next week.
Not a good way to lose weight
nm
People who type loose when they mean lose. (nm)
x
I'm hungry! I want to eat! I'm trying to lose weight and I've been
doing pretty well, but now I'm getting at that poing where I just want to eat anything and everything. Any ideas on what I can do to curb my voracious appetite?
yeah well it's only wasting money when you lose
a deal when you could win millions. I can give up a few cups of coffee or something else rather than my lottery tickets!!
We did lose some money, but not a huge amount
We have three different ones that we've been keeping an eye on.
Lose weight and learn to socialize. I
xx
new baby is making me lose my sanity

I just need a place to let out my stress. I just had my first baby May 5, and she is just beautiful. But I am about to lose my mind. I have chosen to breastfeed her, and everything takes so much longer than I thought it would. Thankfully she has switched to a "normal" day and night schedule so I can catch a few precious hours of sleep at night in between feedings.


Did anyone else find motherhood as hard as I think it is? I don't hate it or anything but it sort of makes me not want to have any more kids if just one is this stressful. Oh, and I have already returned to my IC job (part time) so that adds to my day. I also have become extremely bipolar in my moods. Yes, it is probably postpartum depression. I am happy one minute and bursting into tears over nothing the next. Did anyone take antidepressants for postpartum depression and how did that work out? I have never had depression issues until now, so I don't have any experience with that. Any kind words or insight would be helpful.  Thanks.


You'll lose weight & firm up doing ANYthing that you aren't currently doing
s
OK, first lose the WalMart shoes. Kids are brutal. sm

Being completely honest, you definitely need to not buy the shoes at Walmart. Kids are very, very cruel about that. You can sometimes get away with a couple pairs of pants from walmart, like the carpenter-type pants, etc., and maybe a T-shirt or 2. My son is only 10, but he's already really picky about what he will or won't wear.


 


Try shopping at JCPenney, BonTon, the Gap, Kohls, Macy's. Their clothes can be a bit pricey sometimes but just watch for sales now and start slowly collecting stuff. They have awesome sales, especially president's day, Memorial day weekend, thanksgiving (black friday), and awesome labor day sales which are usually just in time for back to school.


As far as the haircut, I would take him to a salon and let them offer some suggestions on what is popular and what would work good for your son's hair type and face shape. Maybe even try one of the hair places in the mall because they usually have younger, more modern people there.  Good luck! Hope it all goes well!


Does anyone else notice when you work too many days in a row you lose your focus or something. nm
:
Unless you stay on it forever, you will regain any weight you lose.
People I used to work with went on that diet once. Weight loss varied (nobody lost a lot, just a couple of pounds) and nobody kept it off.
my neck was my motivator to lose weight this year
I had already had a tummy tuck with lip and did not want to go through surgery again so I got down to 104 and finally lost the double chin. Yes I said 104 but i am also 4' 11"
A dentist who does breast exams should lose his licence. Besides...
I categorily refuse manual breast exams. If I want to check fir cancer, I go for a mommogram.
Does anyone notice you seem to lose more hair with washing and blowing dry than just brushing other
days.
I agree. I have to lose 80 pounds. Changed lifestyle, exercising now, sm
drinking more water instead of diet soda, life is good. I feel better now than ever before. Oh yea, I just quit smoking too... last cigarette was June 12th, the same diet I started my healthy way of living and lost 10 pounds so far.


Kodak easyshare questions. I have just bought a Kodak easyshare and it does lose a few minutes of
time it seems on its internal clock.  Anyone else have an easyshare and does it keep exact time for you.