In 2007 I was 18, and had some scholarship money to invest, because I didn't think I'd need it for a year. The bank manager wouldn't let me buy Apple, because

In 2007 I was 18, and had some scholarship money to invest, because I didn't think I'd need it for a year. The bank manager wouldn't let me buy Apple, because there was a lot more paperwork to buy stock in the US (from Switzerland). Instead, he told me to buy shares in the bank for no commission! They have my money anyway, it should be a safe investment. I hedged against it by also buying a small bar of gold (over the counter, got to love Switzerland). That year, the banking crisis hit. The shares went from 1000 CHF to 300 CHF. The gold went up: from 1000 CHF to 1070 CHF. But worst of all, I needed the money that year due to visa issues, and it was locked up in stocks and gold that I couldn't turn into cash until I could get back to Switzerland. The cash flow issues drove me to surviving from free pizza at careers talks, where I met Sma who introduced me to dumpster diving, hitchhiking, and CouchSurfing. I learned then that money doesn't buy happiness. Food, transport, and shelter can be obtained for free within a community. And I'm forever indebted and trying to pay that support forward to others. Still not rich, but joyful.