Quote:
Originally Posted by aka123
"Investment is time, energy, or matter spent in the hope of future benefits actualized within a specified date or time frame."
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That's a VERY broad definition... almost pointless definition (??)... pretty much ANY activity one does fits that definition...
learning a new skill = investment, as is buying food (you "invest" an hour or 2 of your time + a few bucks, to go to a grocery store, to buy food, so you get benefit of not being hungry any more), even bullshitting on gfy is an investment (benefit = entertainment), or going out to drink on Saturday night (benefit = maybe you'll get laid?)
"Investing" in derivatives is closer to going to a casino or buying insurance (which both are "investment" using broad definition) than what is meant by "investing" in a more traditional sense...
you both are right, just depends how broad of a definition of investing one wants to use...
typically though, good rule of thumb I think is, if you expect the benefit to be more than 1 year away = investment, otherwise not...