You have to do some work to get better returns. A couple of years ago I spotted a possible trend for example. Older model diesel engines and model ignition engines out of production seemed to be gaining strength pricewise. Plus they would become tomorrows antiques.

I suspected the rate of increased valuation would be about 30 percent per year initially. It turned out to be about fifty percent. Deducting the costs of time for aquisition and reselling if the return rate drops too far. I will probably average about twenty five percent per year. Discounting this by 7 percent for inflation per year of course.

If not the adding of these items to my collection of things is not offensive to me. So for me at least there was not much downside present. Simply put if I see or suspect something is well below pricewise what I suspect it should be currently. Plus I suspect the demand and price may increase rapidly I buy some. It usually works out well. I still never buy enough unfortunatly. Nor do I fixate on a given pursuit.

For example I am still very low volume averaging in on some model ignition engines. The floor prices now have been pretty well established. That indicates there may still be some worthwhile upside to me. Of course I do not have a crystal ball and little is really rideing on this. Perhaps it is just a form of entertainment for me. The game being more important than the dollars. It may also be a form of compusive behaviou as I find I am always alert for other simular commodities to act on. What I posted are just a couple of examples. One with unusual and exceptional returns. One with the return if any unknown currently as it is still in active process.

Same with good used cars. About two to three years ago local car auction prices here were very very low I thought. So I grabbed four good ones. Sat on them for six months and resold one. The return on it paid for them all. Now car auction prices are high locally and have been for quite some time. Timing seems to be almost everything. I also brought some more for direct resale and use in the same time period.

I really just see these things as a challenge to a persons dexterity. Or proof that you can still see things most people miss. You can keep your stick in the fire in many many ways.

Sitting back totally is not good for the mind or keeping you currently tied to things. That should be reserved for the really really old. My crude methology tends to work as far as I am able to accertain. At least I do not seem to have any form of serious mental slippage at age 70. In fact I will be out on construction for the remainder of the afternoon. I do not have to do these things but looking at many of my contemporaries I want to keep doing them. I am all too aware of the price of not doing them. Plus overall they are enjoyable as there is no pressure.

My point is we all deal with things differently. I did not reach my age to do only what other outside forces wanted or dictated we do. Basically just following convention. Other than things for the wife and kids and friends that is. I guess I am and have been pretty well free of commitments. Retirement to me originally and still is basically not having to work to put food on the table . Long ago I felt that way and still do. It was the yardstick of when I could originally step aside to some degree.

Certainly not a fixed time when pensions came on line. Nobodys crystal ball can acuratly predict what shape you might be in at sixty or sixty five years of age. Or even if still around. As I used to kid the wife. If I have to go back to steady work at age sixty or whatever so be it. I just did not think it was a probability. Twenty years later it seems I called it pretty well. This is not for everyone and perhaps I have less of a fear component than many of my contemporaries. I figure that I was not really born smart yet have somehow made adaquate compansation for this shortfall in my own way. Overall without the ongoing love and involvement of a good wife I doubt that things would have worked out as well. She always had faith in me while supporting and being involved in most things we accomplished. Of course there were a few errors as well. They were basically insignifigant in the overall picture though. No pain no gain comes to mind. I saw them as just a learning experience. You learn what not too do.

You mean like send a Terminator back in time to assassinate Reagan?

Larry has opted out of Medicare. Awesome Larry, I can't thank you enough. If only more of your generation would do the right thing.

You'll get your SS. But, as the article points out, inflation is the way the next generation will steal back what the prior generation failed to save enough for.

Inflation! The gov gets to keep its promise to you by sending you checks. That they're worthless, well, it's in the fine print!

__________________
Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

I like that idea!

How about this, we suspend SS and medicare for the next 25 years to pay down the debt?

I like that idea!

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

We'll call it austerity!

__________________
Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

I'm in.

Sounds good.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200