I just want to extend a heartfelt thanks to Ken for helping me pay off the mortgage on my tree farm. In another post one reader referred to Ken as a "rich playboy", and slagged him because he has earned money from his investments. At the time it sounded like a case of sour grapes to me. It has long been said that the AVERAGE American worker will never get "ahead" just by working for wages. With inflation, etc., to truly get ahead you need to first work for your money, then invest it, and use the proceeds of your investments to fund the bulk of your living expenses. By doing so, you preserve your earned income and retain it for future investments, savings, "big ticket" items, etc. Well, it's worked for me. And, because Ken was generous and thoughtful enough to share some investment advice with other forum members awhile back, I was able to take advantage of an opportunity which has yielded me in excess of $25,000 in the last few weeks. Today I wrote a check for $19053.60 to pay off the balance of the mortgage on my tree farm. By the time I pay the capital gains tax on the investment income there won't be anything left of the 25k, but I still have my capital invested, and with a little luck I may well be able to earn enough to pay off the mortgage on my home farm as well, which is the only other debt that I have. Anyone who thinks Ken is just a rich playboy is entitled to their opinion, but I think he is a pretty smart guy, and I really appreciate his willingness to share his knowledge and experience, in financial matters as well as homesteading and farming, because, face it, for most of us, our ability to remain on our farms/homesteads, or our ability to get out of the towns/cities and live in the country are directly tied to how much income we can produce in order to finance our dreams. So, thanks again to Ken for helping me to reach my financial goals, which in turn allow me the freedom to enjoy living on my farm.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), February 21, 2002

Answers

That is great news Elizabeth. There is nothing wrong with being rich, or smart in my book!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), February 21, 2002.

Elizabeth,

congratulations!!!! Woo Hoo you must feel GREAT!!

Now, I must have missed that thread and would appreciate you pointing me towards it or, briefly explaining what it was about.

By the way Chuck, saw you were a stock broker, got any tips for new investors??

-- Carol K (ck7951@bluefrognet.net), February 21, 2002.

Carol K, Buy low, sell High.

-- David in MatSu, home of the 100#Cabbage (mncscott@ak.net), February 21, 2002.

Don't invest your milk money.

-- Chuck (reply@mission4me.com), February 21, 2002.

Thanks too Ken for the E-book on earning in the country.

Time for me to re-read it and make a short list.

-- Rick in Southwest WV (Rick_122@hotmail.com), February 21, 2002.

WAY TO GO....ELIZABETH!!!! We too have paid off one mortgage and hope to get the second one there too! It's a GREAT FEELING!!!! There's nothing better, is there. Celebrate BIG!!!!! To all homesteaders everywhere get out of debt FAST...... It is a killer to finances,marriage,freedom and family life.

-- Carla (herbs@computer-concepts.com), February 21, 2002.

What is the web link to where this "Ken" info is posted Elizabeth?

Thanks, Michael C

-- Michael C (noemailon@webposts.com), February 22, 2002.

Wow, thanks to everyone who responded, both to the thread and by email. I am still kind of stunned by this entire turn of events, so I haven't gotten used to the reality of this yet. Some readers might recall that barely 5 1/2 months ago, just after the WTC attack, I lost most of my freelance work and didn't even know how I was going to pay my bills then, let alone pay off any mortgages. Actually, I think I'll go back and try to find some of those posts in the archives- it will be interesting to compare our thoughts and feelings from that time with those of the present. Just proves the old adage, when you've hit bottom, there's no place left to go but up!

A number of people have emailed asking for information regarding the above-mentioned investment. I must state here very clearly that I am NOT qualified to give investment advice, and so I will not go into details here. Remember, there is always risk associated with investments, and anyone who acts on a "hot tip" must take responsibility for doing their own research and making their own informed decisions. With that disclaimer, the information can be found in the archives in one of the K-Mart threads.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), February 22, 2002.

Congratulations Elizabeth, that's absolutely wonderful! I tried to go back and search the archives to read the posts you mentioned, but the 'search box' that pops up with Ctr. F doesn't work. Is there another way to view the archives, anyone? I'm really lame with this computer stuff.

-- Jorja Hernandez (jorja@color-country.net), February 22, 2002.

Go to the archives, open the Misc category, then scroll down till you come to the K Mart posts. Not sure which one it is so you'll have to read through all of them.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), February 22, 2002.

Elizabeth, that's great. I've had fairly good luck with investing too. Also had a failure. Anyone interested in 30 shares of Enron?!?

-- Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania (kirklbb@penn.com), February 24, 2002.

As to the Enron stock just my luck when I can finaly afford it it is bankrupt.

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef@getgoin.net), February 24, 2002.

Elizabeth:

Rich Playboy! Now that is amusing. On the Playboy aspect, I don't seem to be reaping any of the benefits of it lately. Maybe put me in the 'Retired' Playboy category.

On whatever successful I have had in the stock market, believe me, I kissed a whole bunch of frogs before I found a princess. How did I get the funds to invest in the first place - by living well, well below my means and investing as much as I could in both land and stocks.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 21, 2002.