MES News: 2nd stimulus package?

Months after saying no to a second economic stimulus package, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is now saying yes. With a twist, according to this Wall Street Journal article. Not as intoxicating as vodka with a twist, but this is still interesting news.

Is it wrong that I'm salivating about a second $600 check? Does it show desperation? Never fear, I will keep paying Powerball. But facts are facts: Powerball gave me $8 this year, mostly thanks to two times I got the Powerball number and nothing else. The government gave me $600! (Should I be given another $600 check since I saved it and turned it into $400, according to this morning's trading?)

Of course, the story doesn't say $600 yet or any other figure for that matter. Just stuff about encouraging spending among the masses while helping the credit and housing markets. Hope I don't have to wait until next year's tax rebate check to find out more. Sphere: Related Content

MES To Do List: Take the emotion out of this painful game

Between playing Word Twist on Facebook and checking the status of My Economic Stimulus Portfolio on Yahoo!, my right wrist is really starting to throb. The pain starts in the knuckle of my middle finger and darts back to my wrist.

A self-imposed break from Word Twist has helped. But I can't stop checking for numbers in the green on my personalized My Yahoo! page. Not even on weekends when -- duh! -- the markets are closed. Sad to admit, but last Sunday I was actually looking forward to the workweek because the markets reopen Monday morning.

Just checked my stocks again. (There were 2 "in the green" when I began this post and now there is only 1). Slowly, the pain trickles up my forearm. By the end of the day, my shoulders will hurt too. Not sure if that's due to the obsessive clicking or daily stress and my office chair that is set too high for my desk.

Thankfully I also clicked on this Kiplinger.com article about how to keep your sanity and emotions in check as the greens fade to red. Its message is in the same vein as advice I've received lately. If I take the emotion out of investing, that will alleviate the pain.

The article offers a good exercise to chart your stocks. If I simply write down my high and low thresholds for each stock, that will help me determine when to sell and when to stock up. Whether it's a diet or a to do list, putting "something" in writing has helped me stay on track toward my goals. To accomplish two goals with one cliche, writing things down has helped me put my money where my mouth is. Sphere: Related Content

My Economic Stimulus Portfolio Update: Fully INvested

The $600 that prompted My Economic Stimulus is finally fully invested.

Here's My Economic Stimulus Portfolio Update: I spent the last $30 earlier this week on a low-priced stock. Can't beat $1.75 a pop. Hope it was worth it. Of course in this market, what was low-priced on Monday is even lower on Wednesday. Such is life right now.

I'm not going to worry about it for 2 reasons:

1. The market swings in cycles. What goes up, must come down. What goes down, must go up. Unless, of course, you're stepping off a building. No worries for me -- I live in a raised ranch and have no access to the roof.
2. The experts say there's no tried and true method for timing the market. Sure, everybody gets lucky sometimes. And even though my Dad reminds me, "It's better to be lucky than good," he and I both know the lucky gene belongs to my brother, John, not me. Good thing too since John, not me, fell off a second-story porch once. (My falls are usually from 5 feet, 5 inches or less.)

I plan to post My Economic Stimulus Update weekly. Here's what I picked for my portfolio, why and the "what now":

• EFJI - This is my most recent buy. The company develops secure communications for first responders and just got a $48 million contract from the Navy.
• GLW - I blogged about Corning recently after receiving a tender offer from a company wanting to unburden my portfolio. But at the price I bought, selling wasn't worth it. Since then, the price dipped. I bought a second batch. It dipped again. Yikes. But the big reasons I got into it (twice) are its corner on the LCD market the fact that its software was being used to help build greener cars, not because I have a stockpile of Corning glassware in my cabinets. People aren't buying flat panel TVs as much right now. Hopefully that will change around Super Bowl time ... maybe even if our house too.
• DLIA - Delia's was my pride and joy, mostly because it made me look like I could time the market. I researched it, followed the charts, and then bought it at 1.82. It shot up a few days later and hovered around $3 for a while. It was tempting to sell and make about $30. I held onto it. Now, like other retailers, the price has dipped. I'm hopeful it will rise again soon.
• MAR - Bought this because Smart Money Magazine rated it as a long-term gem. Still remains to be seen, thus the long-term tag. In this market, less people are traveling and staying in nice hotels. I'm considering a Super 8 for this weekend.
• ANSS - This was my first buy. It's a software company in Pittsburgh that helps a lot of big name companies get better products to market faster. Though it's slipped a bit since June, this stock is on a lot of Strong Buy lists.

All told, my $600 is worth about $387. It's less than a $171 loss (or dip) if you consider the $7 per trade I have paid to Scottrade to get this thing stimulated. Sphere: Related Content