Invest in sustainable/socially responsible stocks

Investing has to wait for until other finacial goals are completed.

because realistically, I can’t afford to invest anything until I pay off all my debt, which I can’t foresee happening before March 2008. This goal IS important to me, so I’m not really ‘giving up’.

I received an e-mail from one of my ‘greenest’ friends, inviting me to a free showing of Peaceable Kingdom at the library. Looks enlightening but unfortunately I am not available at the scheduled time … HOWEVER, in the subject line of the e-mail she forwarded me about the film, were the words: “April 17 Green Drinks – Socially Responsible Investing”!!! I think it’s a sign!! So, I e-mailed the source and requested more info. I’ve been to a couple of these Green Drinks nights in town here; it’s a great idea – like-minded folks getting together for a cocktail and a very informal seminar/discussion about a particular topic once a month. I went to one once on ‘green’ pet care – it was very interesting and opened my eyes to so much about an industry about which I hadn’t given a bit of thought (also resulted in a fair degree of guilt over what I’d been subjecting my poor beloved pet to for the preceding 14 years, but, I digress :+)

Anyway, I hope to hear back so that I can attend the session about Socially Responsible Investing. I’m very excited!

In my endeavour to invest and let my money work for me, I do hold some standards – I want my investments to be in projects and businesses that are “green” and socially responsible. One investment opportunity, which appears to be more of a tax shelter, is called Universal Healthcare Trust. If I understand correctly, persons “donate” $1000 and receive in return tax receipts for about $5000. Obviously, there is a disconnect here, but it appears to be legal, if not ethical. Does anyone know anything about this? I just want to be sure that, IF I sign up, my donation of $1000 actually GETS TO the people around the world that the fund claims to help!

and no opportunity to investigate investment opportunities.

I still want to do this, but I’ll readopt it after summer.

Have started thinking about this. Pretty tricky business – it will take a lot of effort to find the right investments.

I just watched The Corporation, for the 2nd time. A lot to think about. Could also invest in a big corp and become a shareholder activist, but I don’t know that I have enough cash to have any clout. Will investigate that option more later.

For now, just saving up with short term investments.

I’ve made comfortable profits investing in socially responsible stocks, and even when I take a hit, I feel good for having supported positive change in our world. If everyone supports big oil companies, or environmentally damaging companies (Apple, i’m looking at you), then what does that encourage, right?
I don’t suggest just googling “socially responsible investing” or anything, because you won’t find good investments. But do your due diligence, research both the companies socioenvironmental practices and their financials, and you can be pretty successful. I’ve done pretty well with, among others, GMCR, SPWR, and ENER. It’s worth the time to make a solid investment for yourself and for the betterment of the world. And remember, socially responsible stocks should include stocks that have forward-thinking hiring practices (women on the board, minorities, etc) and benefits (bens for same-sex couples, etc).

Yes, I want to invest. But – loan payments come first.

Will finish loan by December. Then will divide Jan- July savings into 3 pools: Future tuition, long-term investment, post-July living expenses (including moving to Canada).

Because after July I’ll be unemployed. Whoopee!!! :-(

But I guess I’ll have a lot of free time to consider how/where to invest my money then, haha.

my work 401k and my own IRA. Makes me feel good. I have a rule or 6. Like no guns, no tobacco, no oil, no chemicals… yadda yadda yadda.

My husband and I are law students with plenty of debt and not rich, but we got together a few thousand dollars (some of it was his winnings from online card games:) and put it into a mutual fund at Ariel, which doesn’t invest in tobacco, guns, or environmentally destructive companies, among other things. We think of it as our mortgage downpayment some day! It feels really good to have done it – scary, but good.