Mark B.'s Comments
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May 6, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 6
Mark B. May 13, 2009, 3:53am EDT
Good for you, Jeff S - more people should be so fiscally responsible!

I agree that if you have the money, paying off a student loan is a good thing to do, especially if your income is not secure. On the other hand, if you have just acquires a lump sum, and you have a secure income which is gradually paying off your student debt, you may be able to pay it off faster by investing the lump sum and feeding teh returns into the student loan along with your normal payments - and when the student loan is paid off, you still have the lump sum investment paying you an income.

It really comes down to one's individual risk tolerance, and the importance of the other psychological benefits of being completely debt-free.
May 6, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 6
Mark B. May 6, 2009, 9:46pm EDT
Thanks for that list, Jeff S - I'd be careful about paying off all debts, because some student loans are at quite low interest rates, and the money is better placed in an investment which earns more than the student loan costs, and in some cases with tax deductions mortgages are also lower cost than the available investment returns, but aside from that one note of caution, I agree with your advice. Thanks for stopping by!
Jul 4, 2008 | rating: 7.9 | comments: 12
Mark B. Feb 9, 2009, 7:46pm EST
Yes, it does take two to tango.

However, many people give up simply because they don't know how to get that dialogue going again.

Learning how to re-engage is a key to long and successful relationship.
Jul 27, 2008 | rating: 9.6 | comments: 8
Mark B. Aug 29, 2008, 12:41am EDT
It's definitely something that needs consistency and commitment!
Oct 30, 2007 | rating: 9.3 | comments: 60
Mark B. Aug 16, 2008, 6:28am EDT
I couldn't agree more, Dave. Young people these days seem to trade partners in like cars - but making a relationship last is a vital life skill.
Jul 14, 2008 | rating: 9.3 | comments: 23
Mark B. Aug 15, 2008, 10:51pm EDT
Fascinating to think of video games being "recycled" like that - I had no idea ...
Oct 30, 2007 | rating: 9.4 | comments: 61
Mark B. Aug 15, 2008, 10:49pm EDT
Great article, and great photo, too!
Jul 21, 2008 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 19
Mark B. Aug 12, 2008, 8:44am EDT
It's true - men can get these, too, and the symptoms are much harder to spot in men.
Oct 28, 2007 | rating: 9 | comments: 60
Mark B. Aug 12, 2008, 8:42am EDT
Oh, the chickens are definitely coming home to roost! We should have been investing all those Social Security contributions, not spending them. By now, we could BUY other countries whole if we had done that.
Aug 6, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 2
Mark B. Aug 6, 2008, 11:08am EDT
Thanks, Jennifer! I like the contrast, the bright purple, but most of all the sentiment, or what it represents - financial freedom!
Jul 4, 2008 | rating: 7.9 | comments: 12
Mark B. Jul 28, 2008, 6:16am EDT
Yes, Bob - if they know enough not to go off the deep end and burn bridges, I think two people who love one another can always work things out.
Jul 25, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 8
Mark B. Jul 28, 2008, 6:12am EDT
It's good to get the thumbs up from the ladies on this! And yes, Bob - it should be taught in schools, I tell you ...
Jul 25, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 3
Mark B. Jul 25, 2008, 6:06pm EDT
Thanks!
Oct 3, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 15
Mark B. Jul 25, 2008, 9:44am EDT
Mary, I am hoping you can help me. I no longer have a "publish" button on my Gather profile. Fortunately, I can still comment. What should I do?
Jul 15, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 4
Mark B. Jul 20, 2008, 5:17am EDT
Good point, J.F. - thanks for adding that!
Jul 15, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 3
Mark B. Jul 16, 2008, 3:52am EDT
Blast it, how an Earth do you make live links in comments?
Jul 15, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 3
Mark B. Jul 16, 2008, 3:51am EDT
Yes, it's a very appealing concept, isn't it? [link url=http://computer-island.com] This is the Computer Island website.[/url]
Jul 9, 2008 | rating: 9.9 | comments: 42
Mark B. Jul 9, 2008, 8:44pm EDT
Interesting read - he makes a good point about treating kids with a healthy diet before reaching for the prescription pad. And the notion of 8-year-olds on anti-cholesterol medication is appalling!

However, correlation is not causality, and people on lots of medications are usually sick, but not necessarily BECAUSE of the medications. Many of them would be sick even if they weren't taking medication.

That said, over-medication is a dreadful problem, and another symptom of the "instant gratification" culture which is killing not only our health, but our wealth and our relationships, too.
Jul 4, 2008 | rating: 7.9 | comments: 12
Mark B. Jul 9, 2008, 8:33pm EDT
Thanks, Dan - and thanks for being my first friend at Gather!
Jul 4, 2008 | rating: 7.9 | comments: 12
Mark B. Jul 5, 2008, 9:43am EDT
Best wishes for you finding the right person, Laura!
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Mark B.
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