What Pedro says

Leave yours...

Keep up the good work, Pedro (and Ramit). Unfortunately, you'll continue to encounter hypocrites, naysayers, and big spenders, but when it comes to important things like owning your own home, sending your kids to college, or retiring comfortably, you'll kick their butts.

Congratualtions to Pedro. I would like to point out that a lot of international students who come here to study and then go on to make a living, face the same situation as Pedro's peers. Some dont even know the value of investing and to some, not knowing what to invest and where to invest brings along its own hurdles. I am sure Ramit's website would be of great help to them. I wrote a small piece on my blog specifically targetted at savings by non-residents. Hope the readers check it out and offer suggestions.

http://wanderingindianmonk.blogspot.com/2006/01/investing-options-for-non-residents-in.html

Let's have a three cheers for upward mobility!

Congratulations Pedro. it's good to see that you started early. Although I haven't actually opened my investment account, I have been doing a lot of research and I will start my retirement portfolio April 1st of this year, that way my contributions will go toward the 2004 year.

Like Miling said, when it will come to the important things such as owning a home, sending the kids to college etc, you will be ready and they'll be starting late.

Keep on doing what you do!

in general, US trading and stocks will going down. for those who want to get involved with US market, becareful.

Contrary to comment five, there is always a bullmarket somewhere. Every day there are stocks that have good days, you just have to do your research. Its not about being careful, its about being smart.

Way to go Pedro!!! Cracking the books and learning for yourself is the best way to go, welcome to the Street!!!

The kid's delusional. I'm a history major, too. We're all destined for unemployment and poverty, and the sooner we admit it, the better.

Congratulations to Pedo! It always boggles my mind too when recent college grads seem to have no concept of how to save money. They just went through at least 4 years of eating Ramen noodles and living in cheap dorms or apartments and suddenly they feel they are owed the new car, fancy apartment, and expensive toys. Here's some advice, LIVE CHEAP FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! I did this for the first four years after college and saved enough to put 20% down on my home, build an emergency fund, and start a great portfolio. It can be done. It just takes discipline.

In re: in general, US trading and stocks will going down. for those who want to get involved with US market, becareful.

You can make a ton of money in a declining market if you know where to look or what to buy. As long as you're informed, a stock market decline isn't scary. A stock market crash however... kinda scary haha

"The kid's delusional. I'm a history major, too. We're all destined for unemployment and poverty, and the sooner we admit it, the better."

Come again?

http://search.lausd.k12.ca.us/cgi-bin/fccgi.exe?w3exec=darc3

At the bottom of the page, you'll find that teachers' salaries in LA unified fell between 36K for beggining teachers and 71K for the highest paid teachers. Condsidering that the median income in the US is 50K, that really doesn't seem too shabby to me. Additionally, do you know of any qualified HS teachers that CAN'T find work? Especially if they speak Spanish?