Cost Averaging - It Makes Sense (Dollars & Cents)

It's no secret that the market goes UP...the market, goes DOWN. That's the basics of Investing 101.

For many of us the shape of the market day to day has about as much influence on our lives as the time of the tides that day. But for investors - especially first time investors - it can be a rollercoaster of heart racing highs and stomach churning lows. Every movement is being carefully reviewed and if it turns down then investors with itchy feet jump out.

If you know the benefits of investing, how can you avoid the stress of putting your hard earned money into the market?

Financial planners and investors are quite clear on the subject. New investors should not make an investment unless they are going to let it sit at least 5 to 7 years - the longer the better.

Why?

Well, the economy DOES move up and down, but we have never seen it bottom out (and if it did - well, you'd have much bigger concerns than your investment).

By selecting a diversified portfolio, such as a mutual fund, you can usually base your prediction on past activity and you'll see that in any 7-15 year period the investor always came out with more than he put in.

How do you take advantage of that? When should you invest?

Well, if shares were being sold for $10 each and you had invested $100 you would have purchased 10 shares. Now, if that is your whole investment you would be very upset if the value went down to $5, wouldn't you? Now your stock is worth $50. What would you do? Sell before it goes lower and loose $50?

Using the 'Cost Averaging' technique:

Cost averaging means you continue to put the same amount of investment into the market regularly - preferably every month. Now if you did that you would have invested another $100. At $5 a share you would buy 20 shares. Right now you have invested $200 but only own $150 worth of shares.

What happens when the price goes up?

When the price goes back up (and it will) it may stop at $8 per share. Now what? Well, you invest your next $100 and buy 12 shares.

You now have 42 shares valued at $8 each. That totals $336. Your investment was $300 so you just made 12% off of your investment.

Combining the cost of averaging with the 10% recommended for us to set aside for savings or investment - what's stopping you from jumping in?

Lucy Vestirian is the webmaster for http://www.fyinvest.com which is the premier invest site on the Web. Visit http://www.fyinvest.com to learn about different investment ideas and strategies

disinfecting cleaning services Winnetka ..
In The News:

Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.
Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.
Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.
Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.
Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.
New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.
Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.
Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.
Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.
Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.
Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.
Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.
iPhone and Android users can reduce battery drain and data usage by restricting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi connections instead of mobile networks.
Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.
FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.
Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.
Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.
Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.
Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.

New Year Resolutions to a Better Financial Future

There could not be a better time to mull over... Read More

10 Ways To Find The Money Hiding In Your Paycheck

No matter how tight things are financially for you; no... Read More

The Making Money Obsession - Discover The Real Truth

In most societies, we are raised to believe in the... Read More

Does the Moon Have Covers?

Recently, one late winter night, my four-year old son and... Read More

Do You Want To Save Money Easily?

Living on credit is fashionable. Indulging oneself is fashionable. Saving... Read More

7 Power Habits that Build Financial Independence

Financial independence is having the freedom to support yourself through... Read More

Thought Creates Reality Even When It Comes To Money

What if I told you that reading a book would... Read More

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Steve Martin once delivered an opening monologue for Saturday Night... Read More

The Parthenon Principle

Have you seen a picture of the Parthenon in Athens,... Read More

Five Straight Steps to Opening an Offshore Bank Account

Despite what you may have read or heard, anyone is... Read More

Why do Some People Rake in the Dough while Others Spin Their Wheels to No Avail?

Here's the truth: I have read hundreds and hundreds of... Read More

Is Accumulating a $1,000,000 Net Worth Easy? Yes and NO

Is accumulating wealth as easy as following a 3-step plan?... Read More

Money Mastery

Money can be your servant or it can be your... Read More

How to Grow Your Very Own Money Tree

Okay. So money doesn't really grow on trees. Unless you... Read More

Mastering Your Money

One of the things most of us have old ideas... Read More

A New Paradigm Shift In Earthly Wealth

Hello,If you dont understand this yet, or have not heard... Read More

Retirement Planning the Offshore Way

Retirement Planning the Offshore Way Why do so many of... Read More

10 Wisdom-Based Wealth-Building Strategies

"It's the business of your life?and you're the CEO!" Gala... Read More

Turn That Fixed Rate Mortgage Into A Goldmine

When you purchased your home, you most likely got a... Read More

Saving Money - 35 Pieces of Advice to Save

There are only 2 ways to grow your wealth -... Read More

Residual Income - 3 Ideas for Long Term Profits

A residual income is one that comes in no matter... Read More

Residual Income - The Myth

"Join our program and retire in 3 months..." yeah, right.We... Read More

Plan For Wealth

One very important wealth creating habit is to set up... Read More

Who Else Wants To Know Oprahs Secrets To Wealth & Success?

Before I had a lot of money, I was really... Read More

Methods Of Raising Instant Cash

The inability to come up with the necessary cash when... Read More

last minute cleaning help Highland Park ..