Douglas Hvistendahl

Beware 'Dividend Aristocrats' that Actually Offer Low Yields, No Real Income

One of the best possible investments in our current situation is "reality investments." For example: I'm using spare time to modify the house for "annualized geo solar" which moved attic summer heat into the soil under the house. Combining this with reducing winter losses cuts the heat bill. An inexpensive version is to arrange fans to blow summer air through the basement and into the house. This provides low cost cooling and makes a small but noticeable dent in the heat bill. Be sure to use a dehumidifier for the first year or two if you do this one.

The reality investment with the best payoff is a back yard garden, using the new intensive gardening techniques. I suggest "How to grow more vegetables than you ever thought possible on less land than you can imagine." by John Jeavons. The title is accurate! :-))