November Updates and other happenings.

Stocks: The stock market was no friend in October (October is historically a down month). I ended the month down $1,500 I sold 2/3rds of my stocks during the month. I had to pay some taxes and a few other unexpected expenses came up. I will buy back in a little at a time over the next ninety days. Keep in mind I use stocks as a place to park money until a more controllable investments that are more to my liking surface. I have a taxable income on stocks so far this year of $21K (You can read more on my stock playing here on Towards Wealth).

Trailer house re-hab project: The House is finished, after pictures have been posted and I have a buyer lined up. I will not start another until spring with a goal of doing two more next year. (You can read more on my this money making project in the article section). I will make $6,000 on the sale and I plan to finance half of the sale price of $24K.

Patiostore.com: My retail business is 22 years young this year (12 years on line). Sales are down about 33% this year. Sales volumes are unpredictable at best. Margins are down a little due to increasing shipping cost. I finally made the payroll cuts that needed to be done months ago and it looks like the year will end with a 3% loss on sales. The outlook for next year is uncertain but I am optimistic. We have updated are web sites, added to sites and have more improvements planned. If next year is not profitable I will be winding things down so that I can reduce operating cost even further. The one main difference will be that we will no longer borrow money for the business. The gaol is to have the business debt free by mid summer 2010.

It won't be to hard to accomplish as the debt is equal to only about 10% of what are annual sales volume is.

Economic outlook 2010: Positive! Yes as in good. The past eighteen months have been an economic adjustment for every sector of the economy including every person and business in the world. Those adjustments are ongoing and the results are now showing up in how everyone conducts business and how they consider debt (this is a fundamental change in the consumers thinking and in their actions). But a fundamental fact or two remain. The amount of money floating around in the world market place is still the same or greater then before the recession and all that money is looking for a place to go, and everyone has to do business to survive. Everyone is scrambling and looking for ways to improve their situation and that means opportunity to those who do something positive to take advantage of the realities of the situation. That means YOU, how do I know that is you? You are reading this and that is a positive step to thinking about getting richer. Good for you. 2010? more of the same, with all the cuts producing rising profits and more disposable income thus stimulating the economy. 2010 will be a slight improvement over 2009.

Pay Raises: Slim to no chance. You want to make more money? Find ways to make money outside your job. There are lots of ideas on this web site and many books are available on the subject. The trick is to get started doing something.

Rental real estate: I own an office building and there has been increased activity of people looking for space to rent to expend their businesses. I hope to rent one or two spaces this month. (Craig's list has proven to be the best place to advertise) I also have a cell tower ground lease on the site. I was offered $100,000 as a buyout on the lease. I turned that down because I do not have a good place to get better then a 12% return on that $100K and that is what it would take to match the rent. (The offer was about 15% higher then the last offer they made me).

BTW: It is a great time to be buying real estate for rental purposes. Low home prices, low finance cost, and rentale rates have remained the same. It is the best timing that I have seen in twenty plus years.

That is enough for now I do not like the post to get to long.

Best wishes on all your endeavors.

P.S. Don't forget to let everyone know what you are doing to make money. If you talk about making money it is more likely to happen. If you have a business share your P& L statement (anonymously of course) just send it to me.