about some comments here on the guy collecting gold coins, money- banknotes or coins- are beautiful in themselves, they are not collected for their value but also for their representation of different epochs.

Being fit will not keep you from injuring yourself on your bike; it won’t keep a drunk driver from hitting you. It won’t keep the cancer that has been building in you for the past ten years from being diagnosed. It won’t keep that autoimmune disease that runs in your family from manifesting in you. It won’t keep you from getting a nasty infection.

By all means, work on feeling better with eating and exercise. Just don’t indulge in magical thinking!

If you have extra money that you want to earn a return on, why not go the easy and low-risk way of bonds or CDs?

All this talk of collections ignores the money value of time: you really need to be passionate and dedicate quite a bit of time to your hobby if you want to hope for any kind of return. Also, if you do it systematically, as others have already pointed out, there are tax issues.

Too much of the stuff everyone lists just sits around gathering dust. Even if you’re a musician and they increased in value, how many saxophones do you want lying around the house? And sitting around looking at your money?

In terms of things that will create real value, maybe the best way to go is donating money and/or time to worthy, credible charities?

My husband and I own a comic book shop. Over the years, a lot of people have asked us what to buy “that will be worth a lot of money.” We always tell them to buy what you like to read, not what you think will make you rich.

If a comic has “collectible” printed on the cover, you can bet that it’s not.

Once the comic is officially graded and sealed, you can’t open the package. That ruins the appeal for us–there’s some great art and great writing out there and you’re missing out on it if it’s sealed in a plastic box.

Don’t think of inflation as “higher prices” because it costs more dollars. Think of it as “each dollar is WORTH less”, because that’s what inflation is. The more of something there is, the less it’s worth.

They are doing this on purpose.

— at the poker table. Then — antique radios.

And, maybe I’m just missing the boat here, but I can’t see how the whole “encapsulated, graded comic” thing can really catch on with the masses. Once it’s sealed up, you can only appreciate a fragment of the whole. It somehow seems like sealing the Mona Lisa up in an opaque, chemically-neutral environment. Sure it’s less likely to be damaged, but what good is that if you can’t look at it?

Thanks for the food for thought!

I’ve been seeing a dietician for a while now, and while the appointments may seem expensive – I’m actually spending less money all up because I am eating proper portions and therefore need less food. Trent, I know you are passionate about food – so am I – and I actually think I am buying *nicer* food now – maybe cause I appreciate it more? And I know how to moderate my sugar intake better so I don’t feel guilty about buying and making the sweet stuff.

It’s had other personal benefits aside from finanical – for example I am so much more organised now, have a better work/life balance and my relationship with my partner has improved because I don’t carry around my unhappiness about my weight anymore.

But wait – heres the ironic thing – and it applies to personal trainers too – I now need a whole new wardrobe! I dropped 2-3 dress sizes and all my clothes are too big! Some things will be tailored – ‘taken in’- so I can use them again. That’s an expense I wasn’t expecting. What are your thoughts – on getting your clothes “taken in” as opposed to just buying a whole new wardrobe? The obvious answer is that I could very well “take them in” myself – and with some of the easier stuff I have done – but I don’t have the skill required for particular parts.