Are you Buying in This Market?

20289 Views 60 Replies 46 Participants Last post by FinancialJungle, Apr 22, 2009

FrugalTrader

Discussion Starter · Apr 3, 2009

With the markets as low as they are, are you buying in this market environment? Or are you waiting for the volatility to settle down a bit?

1 - 20 of 61 Posts

CanadianCapitalist

· #2 · Apr 3, 2009

I've been buying periodically through the market turmoil. I wish I can tell when is the best time to buy but I can't. So, the contributions to the Group RRSPs happen automatically and I invest savings regularly. Wish I had waited for the lows of November 2008 and March 2009, though

bingfot

· #3 · Apr 3, 2009

I buy the same amount every month, regardless of the markets. I gave up trying to time them; you'll time right just as much as you'll time wrong, so I prefer to just buy on a set periodic basis and let the markets work their (eventual.. I hope..) magic

Canadian Finance

· #4 · Apr 3, 2009

I've kept making my regular contributions into eFunds in my RRSP.

Really looking forward to starting a SM in a couple months with my new house, lots of buying opportunities out there!

wx_junkie

· #5 · Apr 3, 2009

Well, I'm about to start the Smith Manoeuvre, and I'm pumped, but pissed at the latest market rally.

I, by nature, try to time the market. I try to fight it, but I'm always fixated on making things the *best they can be*, so I need to go in low.

Once my SM is fully up and running, I'll be satisfied, because each month I'll have $700-$800 to invest like clock work - I'm not going to sit on it and wait. I'll just invest it on that day into what company I want.

That being said, I've got an initial lump sum to invest on the order or $22k, and yes, I'm in it for the long haul, so I shouldn't care about where my entry point is, but the "buy on weakness" in me wants to wait for a large correction. But what if a large correction comes in 2 weeks, and the trough of the correction is actually higher than were we stand right now? Arrrggghhh! But on the flip side, once invested, I could care less if this is a dead-cat bounce, and we see lower lows in the months ahead. I can handle volatility, and I certainly won't be loosing sleep (25 year window). Shoot.. I'll be thankful once this is past me and I'm into my monthly SM investments choices.

Timing is less critical on $800 bucks than it is on $22k. Ahhhh... the human brain....

Anyhow, in respect to the topic subject, yes, I am definitely a buyer in this market. Quality stocks are definitely on sale. Buy when others panic. I'm just struggling with how / when to stage in my lump sum.

Cheers.

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lakota

· #6 · Apr 3, 2009

yes, i am buying .

Canadian Finance

· #7 · Apr 3, 2009

wx_junkie,

Sounds like we're in the same place... just about to start a SM and bitter about the current rally!

Of course, it's hard to complain, we could have started last September!

FrugalTrader

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 3, 2009

Canadian Finance said:
wx_junkie,

Sounds like we're in the same place... just about to start a SM and bitter about the current rally!

Of course, it's hard to complain, we could have started last September!

At least you guys are better off than me, I started the SM in early 2008.

Canadian Finance

· #9 · Apr 3, 2009

FrugalTrader said:
At least you guys are better off than me, I started the SM in early 2008.

Yeah, that's a little rough, but as long as your holding them for a long time AND the dividends are holding up, the temporary lower price only hurts on paper.

wx_junkie

· #10 · Apr 3, 2009

FrugalTrader said:
At least you guys are better off than me, I started the SM in early 2008.

EEK.

While it looks bad, and it probably would bother me to be in your shoes, it wouldn't make me loose sleep. I'd be more pissed of the *what could have been*, if I had have waited until now, rather than *my darn portfolio looks like a stupid quarter-pipe".

CanadianCapitalist

· #11 · Apr 3, 2009

wx_junkie said:
I, by nature, try to time the market. I try to fight it, but I'm always fixated on making things the *best they can be*, so I need to go in low.

It is close to impossible to successfully time short term moves. All you can do is buy when you think prices are "reasonable". You might get lower prices but then you might keep waiting for a long time. Warren Buffet puts it best: "If you wait for the robins to sing, spring might be over" (or something to that effect).

Sampson

· #12 · Apr 3, 2009

still buying - sort of

My wife's RRSP plan through work is still on auto pilot - aside from that, we've only made a few small new contributions here and there - hoarding, hoarding hoarding mentality.

I'm itching though. We did sell out of some mutual funds at various smaller rallies and bought back into ETFs so although not a lot of new money is going in, some of it is working much better for us.

Northern Engineer

· #13 · Apr 3, 2009

Great idea on creating the forum, guys.

I am also buying right now. I just started my "career" three months ago and have a 40 year timeline, so volatility doesn't scare me at all. I've been giving as hard as possible to the DCPP at work to maximize my employer contribution, and I just opened a TD TFSA Mutual Funds account, which I'll switch to an eSeries account this week and start investing my savings automatically.

It's good to see I'm not the only one looking to use this dip (or recession or whatever you want to call it) to maximize gains.

Alexandra

· #14 · Apr 3, 2009

Yes, I am definitely still buying. I keep making contributions regularly through my work (which has a percentage match) and separately through my financial advisor as well. I am stoked at the number of shares my dollars buy compared to last year. I wish I wasn't so unsure about my job future, or I would buy a larger amount instead of small steady deposits, but I figure it's better to have a larger emergency fund right now.

There are very few people who can accurately predict "the bottom". And by the time people figure out where the bottom is, prices have already risen.

Boozer

· #15 · Apr 3, 2009

I still have 3 investment plans on autopilot. Haven't been making many stock plays on the side though.

GeanOliveira

· #16 · Apr 3, 2009

Northern Engineer said:
Great idea on creating the forum, guys.

I am also buying right now. I just started my "career" three months ago and have a 40 year timeline, so volatility doesn't scare me at all. I've been giving as hard as possible to the DCPP at work to maximize my employer contribution, and I just opened a TD TFSA Mutual Funds account, which I'll switch to an eSeries account this week and start investing my savings automatically.

It's good to see I'm not the only one looking to use this dip (or recession or whatever you want to call it) to maximize gains.

I'm like you. Just opened a TFSA and I'm going to convert to e-Series soon. In addition, I am buying stocks from my company (they match 50% at the end of the year) and also making regular contributions to my spouse's RRSP.

fifi

· #17 · Apr 3, 2009

Buying as well right now--I was waiting for a little dip, which happened a week ago, then jumped in to the market...

lb71

· #18 · Apr 3, 2009

I have not stopped my semi-monthly contributions to my RRSP.

Once my wife returns from mat leave, I plan to do some leveraged investing, similar to the smith manoeuvre but not as aggressive.

captainjamie

· #19 · Apr 3, 2009

I'm investing a bit more than I did. Before I just invested whenever I had enough money to throw into my RRSP. A few months ago I set up an automatic contribution that pulls money into my RRSP twice/month when I get paid. Fire & forget, that's enough for me.

sleepingbeauty

· #20 · Apr 3, 2009

I think you all should just watch what I do and do the exact opposite. I have never made money on the market, although I tried lots of times. I once invested in a good mutual fund and came back in ten years (not last October) and it was down. Now I am sticking to real estate. I have made some real money there.

Blessings
Connie

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