My grandparents have already pulled all of their stocks. My dads 401k has dropped $17,000. My mom says all the old people are coming into the credit union and taking out large sums of money to hide in their matresses. I'm making friends with Canadians to jump the border when things finally melt down.

(SFX: Crash!)

Satan: What the fuck was that?

Demon: The stock market .

Satan: Damn.

(oh, sorry I thought this was a caption competition.)

They say everything happens for a reason so maybe this is the real reason for my divorce.

I cashed my retierment last November and had to pay (what i thought was hefty) around 35% percent in penalties and taxes. Turns out, i saved a shitload. If i still had the same plan today, i would be down around 47%.

YEAH for me! kinda

Good for you, phatlard.

Now, that is what I call making "lemonade!"

Phatlard - great timing. It was a gutsy plunge, but it paid off well for you.

I still don't understand why the government doesn't waive the 10% penalty for 6 months or so and let people take money out for the sole purpose of buying a home or paying off an existing mortgage. What would be the problem with that? Still pay capital gains taxes (if there are any) but save the 10% penalty if under 59 1/2. Hell, that alone would stimulate the housing market. (I know that the penalty is the only thing holding me back.)

As far as the market is concerned, we're just about at the bottom. In fact, I started cost-averaging everything back in today. With all the juice we have in the system, the initial rebound will be hard when it happens. 2010-2011 should see hefty returns.

I never played the stock market. I never had enough money to even get started! Right now all my worth is tied up in real estate, which is supposed to be worthless. But lo and behold, a guy wants to give me hundreds and hundreds of dollars every month just to live in my old house for a few years until the market recovers. And he's willing to repair it. Someone is looking out for me.