What should I do with $12,000?

Invest.

@Dutchess_III Investing feels like resigning myself to my current life with the hopes of freedom someday, when I’m maybe too old to really enjoy it. That’s my fear with that one.

Invest in what? Stocks? Peer-to-peer lending? etc…

What short term goals do you have? Do you want to relocate? Do you have a portable skill? If you want to spend $12,000, you could travel for a month or two and look for new opportunities.

Give it to me. Spare yourself the agonizing decisions involved with doing the “right” thing. Give me the money and allow me to do the suffering for you.

I am also willing to do some suffering for you. I will pm you my contact details. :)

You clearly need a break. And that is really normal.

12K can burn up pretty fast when you have no income.

If I was you I would try to get a few weeks off work and ride around on a train. I’m not joking. Fairly cheap and you will have a lot of time to think and see new things.

I like @johnpowell ‘s idea of a cheap traveling couple of weeks to clear your head.

If you do decide to invest all or some of it, you can talk to a banker or financial adviser.

Creativity benefits from R&R.
taking a trip, doing some new things, giving your laboured soul a chance to ditch the mundane is often the very best tool you can use to improve your productivity and success.
Do something you never heard of before, maybe even get a little daring.
That would be your best approach to spending the money for a getaway.

Sometimes, focusing on a particular creative endeavor for a prolonged time, we fashion our own personal box. To think outside of that box, you have to take yourself someplace new, even in regards to play.
Explore something new, and it doesn’t have to be far.

Please do not invest in stocks. This just happened..

https://i.imgur.com/nPK2t78.png

That is my mom..

She also told me it was time to get into bitcoin when it hit 14K. Then it went to 7K. Something about your shoe-shiner giving you stock tips.

Regarding the product development cycle that you seem to have hit a wall in – and never mind the “form a company” objective that lurks behind that (those are each difficult goals in themselves) – $12K to manage both is… probably iffy at best. So there’s no way to advise on those goals (or either of them) without a whole lot more information (and it’s probably wise of you to not provide that here).

But let’s assume that those remain long-term goals that you want to hold onto, and you’re only looking for something in the short term right now. You’re not asking “how do I manage this product development cycle” or “how do I start my company”.

I guess I would have to go along with the “take a break” advice in this case. You need to clear your mind of the current malaise you seem to be feeling, maybe to get some fresh perspective (or ideas), find new inspiration… or take some time to decide whether these are realistic, achievable and still-desireable goals.

I would get with a financial company like Edward Jones for advice on investing.

When my Dad passed, he left me a small inheritance. I needed it but it wasn’t a life changing amount 7 it wasn’t long before Christmas. I have a disability where I find it difficult to cook for myself so I eat out every day. I had had some really sweet waitresses that year. So, for Christmas I decided that the week before Christmas that I’d leave a $50 tip for EVERY waitress who got stuck with me for those days. At the end of the week I had only spent $250 & I had seen a thousand smiles & heard many a squeal on my way out when they cleared my table. My New Years was complete with stories of how much my tip had meant to them. One girl in particular explained that she was a single Mother of 3 & she needed exactly $50 to have enough to keep her power turned on for the holidays. She cried as she thanked me. For me the $250 wasn’t enough to break me; but to the recipients, it had meant more than I could have imagined. I also did the pay it forward thing when in line at a drive thru. I’d tell the cashier that I wanted to pay for the food for the car behind me & to wish them a Merry Christmas. As I was driving away, I’d hear a horn blowing & people yelling “thank you”. I also watched a Mom eating alone with her 2 toddlers doing her best to keep them under control; so, I paid her tab & thanked her for attempting to teach her children how to behave. For some people none of that is life changing; but it did give me a lot of pleasure & a feeling of a happy heart. It was better than donating to an organization that spends it all on overhead administrative expenses & nothing to the supposed recipients. Now, my waitresses work hard to spoiul me in hopes of another Christmas gift. One now has me over to her house to share Christmas with her family because she knows I have no family members left. Sometimes it’s the little things that count & become big things!!!

Great stories, @LadyMarissa! You have taught me a lot of life lessons today. Thank you!

@2davidc8 Thank you. I try to live my life stress free & in a Hate Free Zone. With all the hate & bullying going on now days, I hope to remind people that Peace & Love have NOT died…I hope they’re just napping!!!

You’re a very good human being @LadyMarissa!!!

@imrainmaker Thank you. I try to treat others the way I prefer to be treated!!! I believe that what you put out into the world is what you will receive back into your life!!!

Pardon me, can you ^^^ spare some chump change?

Looks like the dirty drawers brought this one back. I wonder what happened to the 12k?

<holding out hand>

If you’re beyond 11 years old, I’ll be shocked. Pull your hand back ms. Melt. The best you’ll receive is whatever stained those kiddie briefs.

Where’s the vampires when we need em?

Ah yes tasteless, AND stupid. We have a real winner. 11 is much too old. Maybe 8?

I’m thinking two 13 year old girls at a sleepover.

I’m envisioning your future, and laughing my ass off! Good night & good luck. Now who here is going to argue against abortion?