Robinhood - The Commission-free Stock Trading & Investing App

Have you checked up Robinhood?  It's an investment app that is great for the beginning investor.  And if you sign up using my link we both get free stock.  It is a hit or miss what you get but it is fun.  I got a stock that wasn't worth much, but my wife got one share of Visa.  All you have to do after you sign up, is connect your bank account and you should get your free stock in no time.  Check it out .  Here is my link to sign up.

FBJ Creations and living and traveling in a Bus

Photo Source: Mrs FBJ

While camping on Assateague Island this past week, I saw this creatively painted bus and had to check it out. There was a canopy outside advertising FBJ Creations and I had thought they designed the bus. Actually, they make custom bike bags and had converted the bus as a traveling home, workshop and office. Yes, we went to talk with them. They even let us see the inside of the bus. Very cool!

Bryon and Becky, their two children and dog are living the dream. Originally from Idaho, they are currently touring the east coast – working, biking, camping and doing what they want. Many of the craft fairs they were to participate in were cancelled due to the pandemic but are doing well with online sales. Bryon told me that the pandemic actually helped them in starting their dream quicker as he had the time to refurbish the bus and get on the road.

The day after we spoke with them, they left Maryland and from their blog post, they headed to Connecticut where father and daughter participated in a BMX bike race! Now if that isn’t living the dream, I don’t know what is! You can check out their website here and read their blog. If you are a bike enthusiast, and want a custom bike bag, check out their shop.

We all can get out there and live our dreams!

2019 Passive Income

My second year of keeping track of my passive income saw an increase by 12%.  Total passive income for 2019 was $8,755 (2018 was $7,803).  Most of it (72%) was from dividends but that counts, doesn’t it?  My plans are increasing this each year before my wife retires.  Sure wish I did this decades ago.  I am all increasing my presence on eBay, not so much on Amazon.  Other income includes sales of my artwork, garage sales and recycling.  I also received gift cards totaling $756.  Although, not cash, I include this as I use it to buy gifts and/or household items.  Sure helps with the budget.

Here’s the breakdown of passive income for 2019:
Survey Income $282
Interest Income $3
Divident Income $6,314
Shopping Rebates $13
Ebay Sales (net fees and shipping) $1,409
Amazon Sales (net fees and shipping) $53
Blog Income $227
Other Passive Income $337

2019 Expense Percentages

I just did an analysis of all our expenses for 2019.  I was somewhat surprised to see the results.  Although I won’t give dollar amounts, I shall share the percentages of money spent last year.  It was too much, with little going to savings, but hopefully 2020 will be better.

House repairs was almost 19% of our expenses and the biggest expense.  Let’s hope we have none of that this year.

Net up are incomes taxes which was about 15%.  I guess when we retire this will become less.  It is a necessary evil.

Third highest expense is loan payments 13%.  That will end soon and we will have more money in savings.

Number four is the car, which includes car payments, gas and maintenance at 8.35%,

Number five is retirement contributions at 8.25%.  This is a good thing, just wish we could make it higher.

Next up is health insurance, another necessary evil but was only 6.25%. Thank goodness my wife’s company pays for half, making our payments so low.

Number seven is groceries.  I do the shopping and think we spend too much.  It is 5.5% of our expenses.

The last two that I will include as everything use in under 2% is vacation and entertainment.  Both are 5% each of our total expenses.  We love to travel and I thought it would be more but then again, we are frugal and find great deals!

All these are 85.35% of our expenses.  Percentages will change when our incomes change, so it will be interesting to see what 2020 brings!

WeAre8: The People's Platform

Have you checked out the WeAre8 app?  I did and was skeptical at first, but then started using it in the past month I have made $86.00.  Sure, it all hasn’t hit my bank account yet, but it will be.

What is We Are 8, you may ask?  Get creative and get paid!  What is We Are 8, you may ask?  I got this from their Facebook page:

At 8, we build relationships between brands and millions of people. On 8, everyone on the planet is economically rewarded when they share or create high-quality brand content. Get creative. Get Paid.

How does it work?

1.) Download the WeAre8 app & accept sponsorships from brands you love.

2.) Depending on the sponsorship, either share or create branded content on your social media account(s).

3.) Get paid through your PayPal account.

4.) Do it again!

And it is fun.  I am having a ball and putting money in my packet to boot.  Check it out, there website is https://www.weare8.com/ And no, I do not get a referral fee.

Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days - Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

I read about Side Hustle from a finance blog that I regularly read and thought this is a book that I WANT to read.  I’d love to have a side hustle to make extra cash.  Who wouldn’t?  Anyway, after reading the book, I found it isn’t really easy to do it in 27 days.  You’d really have to hustle, try and come up with an idea (although he does suggest stealing other ideas.  And first, it would have to be something I am passionate about to put all that time and energy into such idea.

Don’t get me wrong, I think that he has some great ideas and if one wants to be an entrepreneur, it could help.   And if one doesn’t know where to begin, this book would be helpful in getting that ball rolling.  And isn’t that what we all need, to get a push and get the proverbial ball rolling?

Overall, it is good for the beginner, although it doesn’t add anything new if you have been through this before or read other books on the subject.

3 Stars

Fetch Rewards

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

The latest app that I have installed on my phone is FetchRewards.  It's a free app that turns grocery receipts into rewards.  All you have to do is scan any grocery receipt, and earn points towards awesome rewards (gift cards). You'll earn at least 1% on all listed brands and products, and gain access to exclusive offers that earn you even more points. No more entering codes, completing tasks or jumping through any hoops! Just scan your grocery receipt, and get rewarded.  I have been using it for two weeks and have accumulated 4,000 points, and I only shop once a week.  As an example, 3,000 points gets you a $3 gift card.

Use my referral code, QT6PD, during signup and you'll get 3,000 Fetch Points ($3.00 in points!) just for starting.

Why wait? Download Fetch Rewards free here: https://bit.ly/2zwOdBK

Happy New Year!

Wow, the whole month of December and I didn’t write a single blog post.  It was like I had a time out.  Many reasons for that.  One, I was busy with the holidays. Two, I wasn’t in the mood. And three, I had nothing to say.

I hope that everyone had a happy holiday and enjoyed themselves.  I know I did.  I was able to see my daughter twice in December (and she lives over 1,000 miles away).  Family time is important to me and we got to spend some quality time, just never enough.

I wasn’t in the mood.  Do you ever that feeling when you don’t want to do something?  I had that last month.  I just couldn’t get into writing; whether for this blog or in general.  It was certainly a blah moment for my creative juices.

Lastly, I had nothing to say.  I wasn’t going to talk about the stock market dropping. I think by now we all know about that.  It didn’t help my net worth, but I continue to strive for financial independence.

It’s a new year and a new year brings hope.  And for those who make resolutions, more power to you.  MY resolution is, nope, not to write more, but to run more.  I have become inspired to run the Walt Disney World Marathon Dopey Challenge in 2022 for my 60th birthday.  I haven’t run since last January, so it is time to train.

If you are reading this, Happy New Year and you may see new posts in 2019.  Carry on!

Community Garage Sale Earnings

Three years ago we packed our bags and moved from New Jersey to Florida. Two months ago we moved to a new home I Florida.  In all that time we’ve accumulated stuff.  Stuff we didn’t use anymore. Stuff we didn’t appreciate anymore.  Stuff we thought was too good for Good Will.

Our development(s) don’t allow for individual yard sales.  We were unaware of the community garage sale the first year, were not around last year, but we were able to do it this year.  I was skeptical since it only ran from 8:00 am to noon.  Up in NJ, it was until 4:00.  Turns out I didn’t need to worry.  In the first hour, we got rid of so much, that I raised the prices.  I like to price low just to get rid of stuff.  And we did get rid of stuff.  A lot of stuff.  We cleared $200!  That’s better than what we’ve had done in New Jersey. I think our best in NJ was around $60.

And since I’m so frugal, my half of that money will probably last me three months or more!

Survey Savvy - Intelligence Adds Up

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

My wife tells me I do too many surveys online.  And she is correct. They do get repetitive and it seems that they are all linked to one another somehow.  But one survey site I like is Survey Savvy.  Why?  Because they pay more than others.  On average they pay about $2.00 a survey.

But the problem is that you may not be what they are looking for.  I have been declined more than I’ve been accepted.  It almost made me decide not to continue.  But now that I have more time on my hands, I choose their surveys over others.  And they are not short.  They could take 25 minutes or more.

Survey Savvy has been around since 1999, so they are not some fly-by-night company.  They also do NOT use PayPal or direct deposit.  So you have to request a check to be mailed to you (no minimum) and it could take 4-12 weeks to receive your check.  I’ve made some spending cash from them and will continue to respond to their survey requests.

If you want to learn more, click on my referral link here.  How knows, I may make a small fee when you complete a survey.

Why Do I Spend Money?

And to get back into writing this blog, I started thinking about ways to save money, the question I ask myself and you should ask yourself is why do I spend money?  Take a moment to think about that.  Then take out some paper and a pen and write down the reasons you spend money.

Of course, there is the obvious and legitimate reasons we spend money (the basics – food, clothing and shelter).  But then there is everything else.  We buy things out of boredom, because we are depressed or just trying to impress others.  I used to buy CDs when I was sad.  If I had that money now.  I certainly don’t have the CDs any more.  Trying to impress others is a waste of time and money.

Somehow we associate buying new things with being happy.  My experience is that rush of happiness does not last long.  We buy things to numb our emotions (and I’m not talking about drugs and alcohol).  Money doesn’t buy happiness.  That is one thing to remember.

So with your paper and pen, write down all the reasons you spend money.  Cross of the legitimate ones and look at the ones that are not legitimate.  Think about why you purchase these items and are they really needed.  Think of what you could do with that money if you didn’t spend it on these “illegitimate” things, like paying off debt or saving/investing.  Think of things that you could do other than shopping to deal with your emotions.

I’ve stopped buying so much stuff and have saved and invested more since I’ve started questioning everything I purchase.  I also like to keep my wallet empty.

Good luck!

October's Passive Income Recap

October was not a good month for me and my passive income. Not only is dividend income low, so is everything else.  October is usually not a good month in dividend cycle.  But my motivation to make other income was low.  I did get more in gifts.  And now that my Christmas shipping is completed, I can save that for next year.  I hope November will improve, but half way through the month I don’t think so.

My net worth decreased less than 15 from September but is still 6.5% higher than this time last year.  Would like to keep it 105 better. I have to work on that.

But what really bothers me is that our expense are increased instead of decreasing.  I know we bought a new home in September and had some adjustments in October, but I am hoping that it will go back down as we approach the coming months.  The more expenses increase the longer it will take to get to FIRE.  Keeping my fingers crossed and my wallet closed!

I Have Writer's Block Big Time!

You ever have that feeling when you don’t want to do anything?  That’s the way I have been feeling lately. Mostly with my writing.  I haven’t been inspired to write any blog posts or ever get back to that book I was writing.  Why is that?  IS this block mental or something more?

In the course of my lifetime, I have written many unproduced screenplays, unpublished books, stories, and even two blogs.  I was much more motivated when I was younger.  As I get older (I am not going to say mature), I seem to have lost that mojo.

There are ideas running through my head and thoughts written on scraps of paper that go nowhere.  You would think that I could something with that.

Not only have I lost the mojo, I lost the structure.  I keep telling myself that I need to schedule time to write, whether it is readable or not.  I just need to do and not procrastinate!

So do I start reading books on dealing with writer’s block and delay the writing or do I just write, even if it is garbage.  Love to get some feedback.

Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need

On Being Stuck: Tapping Into the Creative Power of Writer's Block

On Writer's Block: A New Approach To Creativity

When being frugal – plan ahead!

Other than keeping little money in my wallet when I go out shopping (and yes, keep those credit cards out of there too), the greatest tool to being frugal is planning ahead.

When planning ahead, you save money by not spending money needlessly.  Example, if you are going out, you can make your own coffee and/or lunch so that you don’t have to buy while out.  The same goes with refillable water bottles.  Bring your own, and don’t need to buy.

Planning ahead could meaning cooking your meals for the week ahead of time.  Save not only money but time.  I used to do that when we used to commute and it was late when we got home at night.  With meals ready to reheat meant we didn’t need to go out to eat or order a pizza.

Planning ahead for the future is great for being frugal.  Whether it is clothing, trips, appliances, etc.  We plan ahead for all big items and for trips.  My wife is good at finding deal, coupons and such others.

Little did my wife know that I was planning ahead and saved money to make the move from New Jersey the month we started living there.  It was never to be our forever home (only to be closer to my daughter).  So when the time came some fourteen years later when she had enough of the snow and I couldn’t or wouldn’t shovel it anymore, I showed her the bank account.  This made the decision and the move to Florida very easy.

When we have goals and save for them, you find that it is not hard to be frugal.  You see the big picture.

So plan ahead, establish goals and see where you can save every day, every month, and every year.

Ibotta the free app that pays you cash for everyday purchases

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

I usually don’t go for shopping apps, but I have to tell you that Ibotta is working for me.  Not only can you save money on groceries (just scan your receipt), you can also save shopping online.  And alcohol and liquor is included too.  Sure helps when you are having parties.  It is not just brand names, there are many “any item” choices and even an “any receipt” option.  I’ve been using it for food shopping and love to get money back.  You can cash out when you reach $20.

They also and promos and contests to help you save more money.  And I love saving money!  If you sign up through my link, you get $10 to begin with.  There are stipulations though.  I also like that when friends (those who sign up through your link), they can save even more money be reaching certain goals.  Ibotta makes shopping and saving fun, so why not check it out and sign up today!

September Passive Income Recap

September wasn’t a bad month but it was a good month.  Although my passive income stay around the same, the majority of that was from dividend income.  Make note to self to purchase stocks that with dividends in different months than I already have.  I like the $600 range each month but would prefer to increase slowly over time.  Not happening yet.

Also, September was the month we moved into a new home (moving expenses) and sold our old home (broke even).  It wasn’t a great month for extra cash, that’s for sure.  My newt work decreased 3% from the previous month (damn stock market roller coaster) but still up 11.70% from the previous year.

Book Review: The Wealthy Barber - Everyone's' Commonsense Guide to Becoming Financially Independent

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Some say that The Wealthy Barber is outdated.  I read the revised third edition which was published over twenty years ago.  Times have changed but the words in this book is still relevant for the everyone that wants to become financially independent.  If you look at it as your first book to read as you make your path to reach that goal.  Although, I have been doing much of what is written, it was still helpful.  I would recommended this book to those starting out on their own and don’t know what to do with the finances.  He covers not only saving, but life insurance, with a bit or taxes and real estate.  Not in depth though, but more as a starting point.  Easy and fun read that I would recommend to everyone who wants to a push in the right direction for their personal finances.

The No Spend Challenge

I recently came across 10 Tips For A Successful No Spend Challenge and although I may have mentioned in other posts some of these tips, I want to share again because I think this is a great way to budget one’s money.

If you are wondering what no-spend challenge is, it is a challenge to stop impulse buying and use what you are already have.  You can do it for a month, a week or just a weekend.  I try at least one week out of the month.   But remember, paying bills are not included. You must pay your bills (that’s not really impulse spending).

1) The first tip is the pantry challenge.  I wrote a whole post on this.  You can visit that post here.  Mainly, you are using up what you have in your pantry to prepare meals.  Waste not, want not.

2) The second tip is to plan your meals.  If you plan your meals in advance and purchase only what you need, you can cut your grocery bill in half.  When I plan my meals, I plan for more than two people and freeze the rest to enjoy it another day.

3) Free activities.  Great advice.  There are always something going on in the neighborhood that doesn’t cost money.  Last weekend, my wife and I went to a Rocktoberfest, which was free. We brought out lawn chairs, a cooler and listened to three local bands without spending a dime.

4) Stock up.  If there is a sale for something we need and use on a regular basis, I will stock up (especially toilet paper) and save money that way.

5) Unsubscribe from emails, especially ones from stores.  They’re nothing but advertising and they want you to spend money.  No emails, less temptations.

6) Be accountable to someone.  If this works with weight-loss programs, why can’t it work for money saving programs?  Let people know you are trying to save money and are keeping within a budget.  It helps.

7) Use up everything.  Not just food, but everything!  Don’t buy something at the store if it is a good deal when you already have it at home.  Kind of goes against #4 Stock up, but I get where she is coming from.  I don’t need two dozen pens, the same amount of markers or jars of salad dressing, etc.

8) Plan Family Fun At Home.  And we do.  Although there are no children at our home, my wife and I love to play card games and board games.  It’s fun and doesn’t cost more than the purchase of the game.  Of course, we’ve gone through three decks of Phase 10 since we play so often.  Okay, my wife did splurge on a Skee-Ball game, but she plays often and sometimes to relieve work stress.  Does that mean I can use it as a tax write-off?

9) Leave Money At Home.  That’s easy for me because I never have money.  But then again, I mainly use credit cards.  Not that this tempts me to buy things when I am out.  I also don’t carry all my cards when I go out.

10) The last on her list is to use up gift cards.  If and when I do get gift cards, I sue them. If I get Visa gift cards, I redeem them for Amazon gift cards and keep the balance in my Amazon account.  It also works if you have pennies left on a Visa gift card.  I use my Amazon credit to buy gifts all year long.

So, try a no spend challenge.  I did and it is a challenge but it is fun and we saved money or better yet didn’t spend money when we didn’t need to.

Moving Is A Bitch

Moving to a new home is a bitch.  We’ve moved twice in the past three years.  First from New Jersey to Florida.  This past week just five miles north of where we were.  Being frugal, I didn’t hire a moving company to make the long trek to Florida.  Why?  We thought we could do it ourselves.  We did, but not all at once.  First trip we drove my car down, packed with as much as we could stuff into a Mazda 6.  Then flew back home.  The second trip, a month later we took my wife’s car loaded up, spent the weekend and headed back home.  Next came the rental truck which had everything but our bed and essentials.  The following month was the finally trip with a little trailer attached to my wife’s SUV.  Our poor cat didn’t know what to think.

Anyway, we had gotten rid of half of our stuff by selling it, giving it away or throwing it away.  When we left our home in New Jersey we left behind a dining room table, two dressers, a kitchen table with bench, a microwave oven, a grill and picnic table.  In another six months we would sell the house and the new owner would get most of that since our friend watching the home would get rid of whatever.  She was good like that.

After moving to Florida, we realized we didn’t need more of the stuff we brought down.  Slowly started getting rid of that stuff. We bought this house furnished and got rid of the furniture we weren’t going to use.  The Salvation Army loved us.  Now moving again recently, we downsized some more.  Our new home is larger, but if we don’t use it, why keep it.

Since we were moving 5 miles away and had eight days to clear out our old home, we moved most of the stuff ourselves, but rented a moving company to haul the big stuff.  It took them only two hours to load and unload.  It wasn’t expensive at all.

I’m waiting for community garage sales to finally rid the stuff that we actually make a few bucks on.  Makes me think who much money we could have saved if we hadn’t bought those things to begin with.  We had to have a desire for them at one time, but now more.  Now, we think twice, even three times before purchasing stuff.  We don’t plan on moving again and I don’t want my daughter have to deal with my ‘stuff’ when I die.

How about you?  Has anyone else moved and got rid of stuff and downsized tremendously?  Or do you keep it and store it?  Would you move yourself to save a few bucks or hire a moving company?  Needless to say I hate bubble wrapping everything!

Book Review: Your Money Or You Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

I found this book to be quite informative, especially for those who are beginning to handle their own finances.  I have been tracking my finances for some time and recently watching those expenses so that I can reach financial independence sooner.  Still, those book was helpful in rethinking some things and reinforcing others.  Yes, it is not the perfect book on financial independence but it is a very good book in assisting one in rethinking how they handle money.

I am a frugal person by nature, but have changed my perspective and approaches to reach my goals sooner.  Not everything may work for everyone.  Each has to find their own path and figure what works for them, but this book is a good start and should be a recommended read.