May be a dumb investment, but most of us cannot afford to buy stocks, seemed like a good time to take a risk with only $500 invested.
They are making a 'for sale' list to sell off divisions, repay loan ASAP. Will this help or hurt them on Wall Street? Should I buy more stock? My bills are current, $$ only collecting 3% interest in savings.
All the fallout right now is actually good for us rookies, even Microsoft is in our price range now. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

If yu wanna invest in stoks, put yer munee intu a mutual fund...spred the risk over many stoks.& yuze dollar kost averaej tu redues risk more.

Microsoft would have been the smarter move, by far. Microsoft is sitting on a mountain of cash and an established customer base (often a disgruntled base, who looks at every alternative they can, but usually finds them too risky or difficult to employ to replace Microsoft products).

AIG's problem is a shortage of cash.

I wish you hadn't but since you are committed, wait to see how the bailout plays unfold. If it comes in time and in a way that AIG can benefit from, then your high risk investment will come out smelling like a rose. Otherwise, it will stink like fertilizer.

If you come out okay, remember this, and it is important -- you got lucky. IF ...

You have a great price on AIG, but no one knows where it will settle out. I can tell you this. It is not a long term buy and hold stock.

Yes, the fallout is a fantastic opportunity for newbies. Those who buy the right stocks will be the geniuses 5 years down the road. Just don't risk the rent.

I'd get out of AIG. At current prices you've made decent money. But it's future is very uncertain. It's not a secure long-term investment like someone above mentioned.

On the other hand I do think it's a good time to buy more stock. Wall Street is currently holding a fire sale on many good companies. But I'd buy companies that you can be reasonably confident will continue to grow & profit.

Good luck...