If you had $10,000 to invest, you could put it in stocks—but what if the nine-year rally is just about ready to end and you get in at the top of the market?
You could put it in bonds—except that’s supposed to be risky now that interest rates seem to be headed up.
You could invest it overseas, or help fund that can’t-miss startup your friend told you about. But you’re not supposed to invest in things you don’t understand.
Or, you could buy a 12-month certificate of deposit and earn 1.5% return. Bleh.
There’s actually another option that will completely free you of researching risky investments, as I explain in the video above: Spend that $10,000. You read that right. Buy something. Live large. Liquidate that cash.
You’ve probably always heard that the wasteful spend and the thrifty save. True enough, usually. But there are some purchases that qualify as an investment, especially in unsettling times when every kind of traditional investment seems to be unusually risky—and incoming President Donald Trump seems bound to shake up markets.
Now, don’t convince yourself that a spa vacation or choice seats at the Super Bowl are an investment, because they’ll bring satisfaction and improve your state of mind. They might, but they’re still indulgences. To qualify as an investment, purchases have to save you money, compared with the alternative, and bring some kind of financial return that can be measured in dollars.
But such purchases exist, provided you plan carefully and always shop for the best deal. And investments often provide satisfaction as a collateral benefit. Watch the video and let us know if you agree.
Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.
