If you had $10,000 laying around...

[TeamOxford]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

Its the big dirty secret of most 401k plans that try to steer you into mutual funds instead of index funds.

An index fund IS a mutual fund, just one that is not actively managed, and carries a lower expense ratio.

If the OP is seriously considering investing $10k, I would suggest that he do nothing (other than putting it in a savings account) for at least six months, while he does his own research on the subject. It's not rocket science, trust me.

It was originally stated that the money was"$10,000 that you don't need(assume that all bills, etc. are paid" and that the OP was "thinking of investing, but haven't the first clue where to start."

I'd make sure that some of the tenets laid out by fatmike had been fulfilled first:

1 - Have 6 months of living expenses in a savings account. If you don't have this already, do it and maintain it.
2 - Pay off any high interest debt (credit card, car loan, etc.).

But if you're really looking for more of a kick than watching your money grow, I'd do what Porsche Chick suggests:

"spend a month in France, renting an apartment, flying cheap, and eating cheap."

OR............for just $10,000, you could subscribe to the TeamOxford Postcard Club, which guarantees you a brand new postcard EVERY WEEK for a full year, from some new exotic locale!

Just PM me, dude!

TO