this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2024
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No Stupid Questions

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Assuming I have a time horizon >10 years.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Yes, in 35 years with compound interest that would end up between 35-85k ;) sounds great to me

[–] 13esq 26 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (2 children)

$50 per month for thirty five years saved with no interest at all is $21k, so I can absolutely understand the point of view that it's not worth it if you're currently struggling to scrape by to wait 35 years for what might be just an extra $14k

If that $50 has literally no other use to you, then great, if that $50 can provide fair value for you now, it's a much tougher decision.

[–] FireRetardant 7 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

I blew a lot of my money when i was younger, something I don't regret spending lots of money on is decent tools, they can last a lifetime if taken care of and can save you money in the long run if you learn to do your own work. Sometimes stuff now is a better investment but it can be super specific depending on your situation.

[–] 13esq 4 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

I absolutely agree. I used to have no choice but to buy budget and have to deal with it when stuff inevitably failed and broke. But now I'm much more financially stable, I made a commitment to buy quality when I can, the old "buy once, cry once" mantra.

With clothes I'm in the best of both worlds. I'm a proper hawk for charity shops and if you're patient you can get both budget and quality. I bought a £100 shirt for £3 the other day and it looked like it had never even been worn, there's no reason it won't last me decades if I look after it. Good riddance to TK MAXX and fast fashion. Charity shops are especially good for suits and smart shirts as a lot of men only get them out for interviews and weddings, meaning they are usually in great condition and can be bought at a tiny fraction of the original price, you just have to be patient waiting for ones that are the correct size for you.

[–] JoshuaFalken -5 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Taking a step further, if the last thirty five years are any indication, that future $21k would be worth less than today's $10k.

Besides, to overcome inflation, you'd need to average double digit returns on your investment every year for half a lifetime.

Like you say, it's a tough decision if there's anything that can provide you value now. Not to argue against savings, but expecting it to grow exponentially with no effort is folly.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

To overcome inflation you need returns higher than inflation. That's it. Historically the markets outperform inflation. You're saying things out of fear and not reality.

[–] JoshuaFalken 0 points 2 hours ago

Funny how a mistake in a single sentence earns vitriol on the entire comment.

Despite what I'd mistakenly wrote, I meant that to overcome inflation and see a return of double to quadruple your investment - which is what the comment starting this thread suggests as the outcome - you'd have to beat the market by around 10%.

Regardless, my point was more to do with whether someone with only $50 to spare a month is truly in a position to invest in anything or whether they might be better off saving it for a rainy day or something like that.

If someone has a few dollars to spare come month's end, but has found themselves skipping the odd meal, that money would probably be better spent on a small grocery trip than putting it into an ETF that'll take years to turn a profit.