There are many different views on the cause as you would imagine but the general consensus of opinion is that there was a misplaced belief that high share prices could be sustained indefinitely. The Bull market which had lasted throughout the 1920s had even led one eminent economist, Irving Fisher, to state that "Stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau. That is down to the high amounts of interest that the card companies charge on your credit card bill. Consolidation loans are usually far cheaper rates of interest and really can work out to be quite a significant saving. And it's not just the monthly savings that are appealing. The overall cost can be very substantial too. Of course there is always the option of using online brokerages which usually require only around $500 to get started. These can be an excellent alternative for anyone who has the confidence to make their own investment decisions. Something which does need considering is the question of charges. This applies whichever type of broker and whatever method is used for that very first investment. There does though have to be an explanation when you apply for a loan for debt consolidation. Poor credit requires you to explain how you came to be in arrears and, just as importantly, why things are going to be different now. You see both the banks and the loan companies understand that from time to time anyone can fall on hard times. Warren Buffett's approach of "KISS" or "Keep It Simple Stupid" is something that any novice investor can follow. He advocates never placing money into any venture that he doesn't immediately understand such as micro technology. A second guideline for the newcomer to stocks is to do your own checking before parting with any cash. For example you could choose gold or any other precious metal, real estate, Certificates of Deposit or even old automobiles. Your choice is limited only by your imagination and of course the depth of your pockets! Whichever way you decide to invest there are some "rules" which carry across regardless.