Comments on: This year’s new gift idea: Stock for stocking stuffers

By: Jason Stoons, Austin TX

Jason Stoons, Austin TX — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:20:10 +0000

We should all hold a stake in the future for the Vampires of Wall Street…is that what you are driving at?

By: Mike Jackson - Austin, Texas

Mike Jackson - Austin, Texas — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:58:54 +0000

Hey Bill in Laurel – I haven’t seen mom since 1994. She was doing okay with her portfolio then, and had a good broker. Despite everything, I would hate to see her suffer. She never took my advice. Lets hope she took his.

By: Josh, Huntsville, AL

Josh, Huntsville, AL — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:31:24 +0000

Bing,

This is completely brilliant. I love it!

By: Al, Los Angeles, California

Al, Los Angeles, California — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:16:59 +0000

I may not know much about these things, but I do know that the banks that survive through these times, will find a way to make a money off each and everyone of us down the road. Although not many folks are buying cars or houses or big ticket items right now, everyone will have to at some point in the future. So give your loved ones some decent bank stocks, since we’ll all be paying for it anyways whether its a bailout or interest or investment… You get the picture.

By: Bill, Laurel, MD

Bill, Laurel, MD — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:41:51 +0000

Mike in Austin: I have a few hundred shares of MOT which are worth almost nothing these days. I would send them to you, but the commission to sell them is probably more than they are worth right now!

MOT hit almost 60 in Jan 2000, and is about 4.5 right now. I hope that your mother sold at the high.

By: Laurel, Santa Barbara CA

Laurel, Santa Barbara CA — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:20:49 +0000

Is it just me Bing, or do others notice the comparisons being made to past years? I read, “not since 1987…, not since 2001…, and other years in the recent past that have had financial catastrophes and realize we recovered from then?

Honestly, I have been to third world countries and seen grinding poverty and am thankful and even embarrassed at my fortune. Americans live at such a high standard and we should look at the big picture; most of the time we have had a fabulous life of ease compared to so many others. The good years far outnumber the bad and we sound like a bunch of whiners’ when we complain about the bad. Last year, children in Haiti were eating dirt to stave off feelings of hunger as they died. Until the average american sees the true horrors of financial hardship, we need to see this for what it is, a period of time where the USA standard of living has decreased.

Looking at what you wrote about buying stocks illustrates the point that we are still wealthy enough to buy a few stocks and not worry about food and utilities. So people, do what I have done; make a fire, pop a little kettle korn, watch the giant tv, and rough it. We are working as hard as we can on the problem, with the brightest available and that is the best we can do.

One more thing, Jack of Canada is not only funny, he has a good idea for a novelty gift.

By: Isaac, Culver City, Ca

Isaac, Culver City, Ca — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:29:28 +0000

Bing wrote: “Let’s make this a merry and happy holiday season for all the needy around the world, including the fine companies whose stocks are stupidly undervalued by the moronic times in which we live.”. Exactly right, these are moronic times, fortunately time goes by and these moronic times will go away, I’m personally sick and tired about this over-analysis of what went wrong and the incredibly high amount of people who “saw this coming”, and it came regardless, as public we have to admit it: we were duped by a handful of celebrities, we are not as smart as we thought, now what? let’s teach our children the lesson: never ever trust anyone, no one can be trusted, no one has the truth, there is nothing like super intelligent investors, let’s recognize our weakness to fall prey of “celebrities”, do not believe whatever the Foxes, CNN’s, MSNBC’s, et al, want us to believe, do not tolerate talking heads and politicians who at the end of the day are nothing but bags of hot air, lets start now.

By: Mike Jackson - Austin, Texas

Mike Jackson - Austin, Texas — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:28:56 +0000

This was popular when my mom was a kid. My grandfather gave her a thousand shares of a new company called, at the time, Motorola (and a bunch of others). Too bad she doesn’t associate with me any more after kicking out, first dad, then me. It’s just she and her dividends hanging out together in the house we all used to live in, for many years now.

By: Bob Shelby Twp. Mi.

Bob Shelby Twp. Mi. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 02:09:28 +0000

In today’s enviornment, as stock certificates have declined in value, one can’t help thinking about other types of certificates i.e. graduation certificates.

While all else keeps devaluing, education costs increase; even while 529 plans, IRA’s, 401k’s, pension funds, housing, wages, and last but not least, the dollar itself decreases in value.

Jobs are disappearing as rapidly as automation replaces them.

Plastic, in its many forms, fills the needs for cost effective manufacturing and banking methods.

Wireless tends to reduce the need for bulky land line equipment.

Over production incites bubbles; Frantically, we’re trying to restart the economic bubble machine to accommodate a population bubble that for better or worse might possibly be addressed???

Did modern civilization paint itsel into a corner???

Hello-oooo! Is anybody listening???

By: Eartha Kitt - Gotham City

Eartha Kitt - Gotham City — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:14:58 +0000

Santa honey, there’s one thing I really do need,
The deed
To a platinum mine,
Santa honey, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex,
And checks.
Sign your ‘X’ on the line,
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight.

By: Bill, Laurel, MD

Bill, Laurel, MD — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:45:17 +0000

I have a mess of Stock Certificates that I was going to get registered with my DRIP plan someday. Now they are hardly worth the postage to send and insure them.

Maybe I’ll keep them in my safe deposit box, until Antiques Road Show comes to my area. My 15 minutes of fame. “These beautifully engraved certificates were issued by a once-powerful insurance company based in the Netherlands, blah, blah, blah. Now considered worthless except to collectors, these certificates might best be used to line the bottom of a bird cage.”

By: sawyerspeaks

sawyerspeaks — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:22:37 +0000

Someone actually gave me something like this at an office party this week. What’s “The Human Fund?”

http://www.sawyerspeaks.wordpress.com

By: Isaac, Culver City Ca

Isaac, Culver City Ca — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:11:57 +0000

Here is another idea: Actual stock certificates from Ford, GM, Citi, et al, can be used to wrap gifts! or even better: on your next xmas party you can use those certificates as napkins or, better yet, toilet paper!!! eat your heart out, Martha Stewart.

By: Bob Blocker, Irving, Texas

Bob Blocker, Irving, Texas — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:07:26 +0000

I love the thought, “Stock for Christmas”. What a great year to buy. Get YHOO that stock will increase 100% in the next three months. Good luck.

By: Insert Name Here, New Jersey

Insert Name Here, New Jersey — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:29:35 +0000

yes.

except that the money that would have been used to purchase goods now goes to buying stock. come January when sales numbers are much lower than expected your stock becomes worthless.

Guns and canned food my friends….

By: Jack Hammond Canada

Jack Hammond Canada — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:21:10 +0000

If they print GM stock on softer paper and on a roll, I will take a couple of rolls.

By: David, Los Angeles CA

David, Los Angeles CA — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:20:39 +0000

Bing, you may have exposed the next big market…can you imagine giving your girl stock of Victoria’s Secret and Tiffany’s for Valentines Day? Oh the possibilities! I guess as long as the share comes in the blue Tiffany’s box she won’t care.