Gyroscopic Investing

I am a firm believer in 100% PP and my own worst enemy as a person who likes to tinker.  So, how do you guys limit your urge to tinker?

Set up an account with a new broker, throw some mad money in the account, and get out all of your speculative urges in that tightly cordoned off account. Basically like going to the casino with a set amount of money.

Set up a "funny money portfolio" on Yahoo Finance or some other site.  Put whatever you want in this portfolio that is publicly traded.  Check back months or years later and find out how much funny money you would have made or lost.  Then decide if you want to try it with real money.

figure out your tax situation and try to  maximize your advantage,  this can prove to be a Chinese puzzle box of complex interactions and ever changing possibility's, that can fill endless hours with research and may even provide you with a clockwork orange style conditioning against the tinkering urge...


and you might get a bit of extra return for the effort..   

Get married and buy a house.  I don't have time to think about tinkering with a portfolio anymore...too many projects. 

Otherwise, read the forum and evaluate everyone else's tinkering; most of the time I conclude it's better not to mess with it.

Bean wrote: So, how do you guys limit your urge to tinker?

I just look back at my previous attempts to speculate. 

AdamA wrote:

Bean wrote: So, how do you guys limit your urge to tinker?

I just look back at my previous attempts to speculate.

Heh heh.

You know the best way to make a small fortune, right?  Take a large fortune and become a speculator.

MediumTex wrote: You know the best way to make a small fortune, right?  Take a large fortune and become a speculator.

So true.

I will be very happy this year at tax time when I do not have to report a bunch of ridiculous speculations to my accountant.  It's been a source of embarrassment in the past.