paid off my loan yesterday

[teacher]

I got my loan in the good old days...5.9% financing, and my down payment was $14000 interest free forever, from Citibank...so really I do owe $5,000 to them now, but it's not costing me anything so, life is good, they'll get their money when I'm good and ready! lol and they do, credit rating is everything today.

[vath2001]

Hold on... I'm confused. Its a Porsche, so you really never finish paying for it. Tires, belts, oil, fuel, upgrades, fuel, stereo, fuel, rims, fuel, more tires, fuel.

But I will say its nice to have the title at home.

Congrats... and drive it like you don't own it!

[Brucelee]

Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Citigroup Inc.’s largest individual investor, lost 19 percent of his personal wealth in the past year as the global economic slump reduced the value of banking and property assets, according to Arabian Business.

The Saudi billionaire was ranked the wealthiest Arab with assets worth $17.08 billion as of Dec. 2, the 2008 Rich List, published on the Dubai-based magazine’s Web site today said. That compares with $21 billion a year ago, the magazine reported, citing Alwaleed’s private financial accounts.

“Everyone has been guessing for 20 years” about the assets, Alwaleed was quoted by Arabian Business as saying. “I want you to get it right -- to get it absolutely right.”

Financial firms worldwide have taken $980 billion of writedowns, losses and credit provisions since the start of the current turmoil in the financial markets, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. More than 200,000 jobs have been cut across the industry and the U.S. benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 Index has dropped 40 percent this year.

Making Money

[husker boxster]

Originally Posted by Brucelee

Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Citigroup Inc.’s largest individual investor, lost 19 percent of his personal wealth in the past year

In the immortal words of John McClane - "Welcome to the party, pal!"

Don't think I'll be shedding any tears for the old Prince. It's interesting, it seems this economic downturn is really hurting the Arab economy too. Past recessions were partially their doing as they cut oil production, increased prices, and made boat-loads of $$$ at everyone else's expense. Maybe in an effort to diversify their economies they've become what they outwardly loathe - Capitalists. Hopefully they'll realize the importance a strong US economy plays in the world economy and think twice about hatching some death-blow move on us.

I guess it's good to know the really rich are worth 3/4 of what they used to be, just like us common folk. I'm glad I was able to pay off my mortgage last summer and all I have to do is pay the taxes on my house and make Boxster payments for 36 more months.