Quote Originally Posted by FailSafe View Post
Quote Originally Posted by JPPR2
If I had $500K free cash I would not invest in anything but going off and having a good time in life while I have all my faculties to do so. With $500k spread out in CD's you can have some good fun. Why put $500K at risk?
With low interest rates, $500K isn't enough to do that anymore, sadly- I think about 6x that is a decent number, though- that would get you at least 100K per year even in the safest (and most modest) of investments.
^ True,
But only a handful sit on that much free cash to put it in a safe haven. CD's and money markets will return some (very little with no risk) while you live. $500K in Thailand is ton of cash as we all know. Of course like anything you have to manage it. Some cant. They want the big house, fancy car(I shutter when I know people are paying $100,000 for a Mini Cooper which is barely worth $25K) and all the bells and whistles they left behind in the home country. Of course with that comes carrying debt and the stress/worry that is part of it. Been there and done that. Lesson learned. Cash is King!!!! I found it is far more satisfying driving a nice little truck, living in a modest place and absolutely no debt. This is why I do not care what the US does with the debt ceiling. It will have zero impact on me. My friends are in a far different boat.

I will however look for opportunities to make some play money in it. Just have to watch for it and keep it simple.