The Weekly Review

Update on my Frugal Freedom Funds!
Since Creation 10/19/2014.

• Frugal Freedom Fund up 12.2% (Still better than the S&P 500)
• Frugal Freedom Fund Dividends up 6.5% (Still better than the Bank, plus dividend)
• Motifinvesting Website

  

  

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How to Have More Money in 2015

1. Educate yourself online  My favorite online courses are Here. 
2. Apply online to Fortune 500 jobs.
3. Ask for a $10,000 bonus at work, you will be surprised, you just might get it.
4. Do NOT shop Till You Drop, only shop when you need too.
5. Do NOT bank your money (read "Banking is for Suckas"), invest in 30 stocks Here.
6. Have a savings plan, start with $10, $25, or $50 Here.
7. Shop 2 days after Christmas or all of January, everything will be on sale.
8. For New Years Eve, do your own countdown and sing "Auld Lang Syne", at HOME.
9. Stop going on expensive dates, you ain't nobodies baller or shot caller.
10. Get married and share expenses. 
11. There is life after 500 cable channels. Go back to Basic Cable, you are not missing anything.
12. Buy Nike Stock (NKE) instead of Nike sneakers
13. Become HUSTLE MAN and monetize your Blog or Youtube Channel.
14. Learn how to grocery shop with only $25 dollars and cook at home.
15. Make a budget and stick to it.
16. Learn how to double your money using the Rule of 72 or be risky and double in a year.
17. Reinvest your dividends in a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP)
18. Use Compound Calculators for budgeting savings goals
19. Read online Dividends Growth Investors (DGI) and Personal Finance (PF) bloggers and bloggettes. (RIF) Reading is Fundamental.
20. Housing should be no more than 20% of your yearly gross income.
21. Vacations should be no more than 5% of your  yearly gross income.
22. Read the $5.00 Millionaire
23. Celebrate life achievements with your family  instead of with expensive Champagne.
24. Strive to be thrifty and frugal instead of just plain ole' cheap.
25. Learn  how to say "Thank you". People remember thankful people and will help you again.

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This is what happens when your schitt is made in China.

Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks

This is what happens when your schitt is made in China. 
Carmelo Anthony becomes white or Asian-looking and his name is backwards "Anthony Carmelo". There are a lot of pissed off children. I know heads rolled on this one.

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President Obama: Companies that are Reshoring

"Reshoring" Remember this word. It's about to become big in 2015 and thank President Obama. The manufacture of U.S. products are coming back to the U.S.A. We're seeing companies from General Electric (GE) to Ford (F) to Apple (AAPL) joining K'NEX in the trend to bring American products' production back here to America itself.

Companies that are Reshoring
AMZN      Amazon.com Inc.
AAPL       Apple Inc.
ADSK      Autodesk, Inc.
GE        General Electric Co.
HON        Honeywell International Inc.
IBM        International Business Machines Corp.
JBLU      JetBlue Airways Corporation
LMT        Lockheed Martin Corp.
NUE        NuCor Corp.
TSLA      Tesla Motors Inc.
YHOO     Yahoo! Inc.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Build-a-Bear Workshop stock has more than doubled this year! It almost tripled! Thank you for buying and Merry Christmas! 

Build-a-Bear Workshop (BBW) -- Up 174 percent in 2014. 
52 Week High: $21.22
52 Week Low: $7.30

About Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
Founded in St. Louis in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. There are approximately 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, and Mexico. The company was named to the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the sixth year in a row in 2014. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW) posted total revenue of $379.1 million in fiscal 2013. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the Investor Relations section of its website at buildabear.com®.

Key Facts:

First Store Opened	1997
World Bearquarters	St. Louis, Missouri
Revenues	$379.1 million (FY 2013)
Employees (as of Dec. 29, 2012)	1,000 full-time 3,400 part-time
Number of Stores (as of Dec. 31, 2013)	323 company-owned stores in U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. 86 franchised retail stores in International locations – Germany, Japan, Australia, Denmark, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Singapore, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Norway, and Sweden.

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Parmesan Portabello Pasta

This meal can be made with just about any leftovers from anywhere like Christmas parties, office meetings, restaurant  (take home),  family dinners, etc . . .

I got most of the leftovers from the end-of-year office meeting.

The only thing that needs to be purchased is the Portabello Mushrooms and the Parmesan shaved cheese.  You should already have onions, garlic, and olive oil in your pantry.

Olive Oil

Put a little Olive Oil and and chopped garlic in a pan. I put a little too much oil, but I like it.

Chopped Onion and Mushrooms

Chop up the onions and mushrooms and throw them into the pan. Let them cook covered for 10 minutes. After 10 mins. the mushroom will begin to look and taste like meat.

Random Veggies

Throw in whatever veggies that you have. I actually had some leftover string beans, broccoli and a few stems of cauliflower. 

Pasta

Throw in some pasta (any kind). I had a big bowl of bow-tie pasta leftover from the meeting. No one wanted to eat the carbs. I'll eat them!

Let it all cook for another 10 mins. and it's done! 

I didn't add any salt, but you can season to your liking. Cover it with Parmesan cheese. Serve with salad. 

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The 50/30/20 Budget

Harvard bankruptcy expert Elizabeth Warren and Special Advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under President Obama - coined the 50/30/20 budget guideline in the book she co-authored together with her daughter, "All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan."

The 50/30/20 budget is broken down into three categories:

Needs - Fixed Costs: 50%

Wants - Flexible Spending :30%

Savings/debt payoff - Financial Goals: 20%

Please note: This budget is for a persons after-tax net income. Medical and 401K retirement accounts are PRE-TAX  expenses and are not included in this budget.

Needs: 50%
Housing 20%
Car/Transportation 10%
Utilities (including cable, phone and internet)10% 
Food 10%

Wants :30%
Tithes and Offerings 10%
Recreation 10%
Personal 5%
Clothing 5%

Savings: 20%
Emergency Fund 10%
Savings Roth IRA 5%
Debt 5%

Here is the 50/30/20 Breakdown for $3,750 Monthly Income:

Needs:$1,875

Housing $750

Car/Transportation $375

Utilities (including cable, phone and internet)$375

Food $375

Wants:$1,125

Tithes and Offerings $375

Recreation $375

Personal $187

Clothing $187

Savings:$750

Emergency Fund $375
Savings Roth IRA $187
Debt $187

Tip of the Week: Christmas

Christmas Shopping should begin 2 days AFTER Christmas, that's when everything will be on sale.

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When Stocks Go Through the Roof

Bluebird Bio Inc (BLUE) went up 72.39% yesterday, (Tuesday, December 9, 2014).
Yes, I own this stock, like Tony the Tiger,  I had a GRRRRRRREAT DAY!

Company Description (as filed with the SEC)

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on transforming the lives of patients with severe genetic and orphan diseases using gene therapy products. Many diseases have a genetic aspect whereby a mutated gene linked to a disease is passed down from generation to generation and causes the disease. Gene therapy seeks to introduce a functional copy of the defective gene into a patient’s own cells, a process called gene transfer. We believe that gene therapy has the potential to change the way these patients are treated by correcting the underlying genetic defect that is the cause of their disease, rather than offering solutions that only address their symptoms. Accordingly, we believe gene therapy has the potential to provide transformative disease modifying effects with life-long clinical benefits based on a single therapeutic administration.

Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/blue#ixzz3LXeHlJEU

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Quote of the Week

"Whatever it is you spend your money on, it’s either supporting the things you really care about in life or it’s taking away from them." - Warren Buffett

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Monday Money

Each Monday,  I take a a  fresh, crisp 20.00 dollar bill out of the ATM, fold it twice 2 times, slide it into my wallet and keep it moving. If I spend it, so what. If I don't spend it, so what. Anything left over, I invest. Simplify.

(this takes in account that all my bills and living expenses are paid first through automatic bill pay, my commuter card, My Subway Giftcard, and my Sunday food shopping is done.)

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The Weekly Update

Update on my Frugal Freedom Funds!
Since Creation 10/19/2014.

• Frugal Freedom Fund up 12% (Still better than the S&P 500)
• Frugal Freedom Fund Dividend up 6.4% (Down from last week but still better than the Bank)
• The dividends have started rolling in November: $5.68

(I am not selling nor do not draw any commission on my Frugal Freedom Fund motifs.)

  

  

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The Weekly Update

Update on my Frugal Freedom Funds!

• Frugal Freedom Fund up 13.5% (The DIVIDEND increased! and it's still doing better than the S&P 500, this motif is a true winner!)
• Frugal Freedom Fund Dividend up 8.3%

(I am not selling nor do not draw any commission on my Frugal Freedom Fund motifs.)

  

  

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November Dividends 2014

Well, it's been a month since I started reviewing Motif Investing. It has been a fun experience creating different Motifs with different themes, ideas, etc,  all for the cheap commission of $9.95

Now for the dividends . . .

Dividends

The dividends (total $5.68) have started to trickle in, with Apple ($2.24) and UBS ($2.26) being the dividend leaders in my little Motif account. As the account grows, so will the dividends. Most people are not impressed by dividends because the amount seems so small, but they add up. I plan on reinvesting the dividends and growing them exponentially. My investment philosophy is inspired by Warren Buffet, I intend to hold these stocks forever.

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Startup of the Week: HomeHero

Finding home care for your elderly loved ones is a challenging, time-consuming, and often heart-wrenching process. Agencies can be prohibitively expensive, and yet you're rolling the dice with high stakes indeed if you rely on Craigslist. Finally, there's a solution. HomeHero is an online marketplace that closely vets caregivers, matches them with clients, and then manages their relationships with ongoing support. CEO and Co-Founder Kyle Hill sits down with Jason to share his thoughts on the home care conundrum, his vision for the product.

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Vacation Planning: New Orleans Essence Music Festival 2015

LL COOL J CONCERT
(I took this picture!)

Hotel
I started planning for my yearly vacation to New Orleans for the Essence Music Festival.  I have my hotel booked. The hotel is booked for 5 days, 4 nights for $1,422.31. I plan on sharing my room with 4 People, which will be $355.58 each. The hotel includes a free southern (grits) breakfast,  free internet, and a pool/jacuzzi. This does not include Concert and Airfare.  

Concert
I looked at the 3 day concert ticket package and it ranges from:

• TERRACE LEVEL SEATS - Starting at $130.50 = $43.50 per day
• LOGE LEVEL SEATS - Starting at $235.50 = $78.50 per day
• PLAZA LEVEL SEATS - Starting at $300.00 = $100.00 per day

Because I'm  frugal, any concert tickets above these prices is out of my budget, there are some very expensive tickets closer to the stage.

Airfare
My airline of choice is Southwest (LUV). Southwest is my favorite airline,  I'm a stockholder and I genuinely love the service. The reservation calendar is not open yet for July 2015, but I've been buying the Southwest Giftcard, which is a travel hack that I learned about, that allows me to pay for the airfare in $50, $100, or $200 increments.

Food and Tours
I'll be updating this blog post with more information about food and tours.

Links:
The Frugal Guide to New Orleans
My $50.00 Cheap Seat Ticket for the Essence Festival.
Essence Music Festival Budget Calculators
Essence Music Festival Budget Tips
General Vacation Info: (all vacation info will be listed under this link)

Budget
My total budget is $2,250 or  less.

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Interesting Motifs of the Day

Since the market is closed today and I'm addicted to Motif Investing. I figure I would post a few of the more interesting motifs. It's good to see people trying their hand at investing.

Disclaimer: I am not invested in any of the motifs below, but I sometimes like to use my blog as a watchlist.

Single Mothers to Independent Mothers - (she made mad money! Plus dividends! You Go Girl!)

The Empire Strikes Back - (heavily invested in Alibaba stock. It is going to hurt when it crashes. I hope there is a parachute.)

 

Single Sister Soaring Stocks - (Sistah trying her hand at pennystock investing. Been there, done that. hated it.)

How Jay-Z Invests His Money - (this looks stable and very well diversified.)

 

Ritchie Rich Dividend Stocks - (who didn't love the cartoon? The dividends are impressive!)

 

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Video: I Need A Dollar

An Evening with Aloe Blacc

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$5.00 Millionaire

Just $5.00 invested monthly at the interest rate of 100% could make me a Millionairess in 14 years! A lot of folks discourage people from investing in the stock market because it is considered to be a gamble. Investing in stocks is not FDIC insured like the banks so there can be a 100% loss of money, so there is risk. That risk may be mitigated by diversification.

High Annual Interest Rate Stocks

There are many successful businesses (stocks) that have sustained a high annual interest rate over 100% - 500%, for years. Many investors are not afraid to invest in them.  Stable companies like Southwest Airlines which have over 100% annual returns. have doubled their investors money in one year. Impressive. Two investments in particular, This Motif and That Motif  focus on 30 high annual interest rate stocks (Avg. 1 YR RETURN 197.3% ). However,  these two motifs do not produce enough dividends, so I'm not invested in them yet. I'm a Dividend Growth Investor. My question would be, could a company sustain this type of return for the long term?

You could buy a motif of up to 30 stocks for a one-time fee of $9.95, instead of spending $238.50 in commissions to buy 30 individual stocks.

The $5.00 Breakdown

$5.00 monthly is $60 per year = $1.378 million in 14 years

$5.00 weekly is $260 per year = $1.492 million in 12 years

$5.00 daily is 1,825.00 per year = $1.289 million in 9 years

Use the calculator below:

But don't take my word for it, I'm not your financial adviser. Do your own research and due diligence. 

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Start Using a Basic Grocery List

I use these list below religiously and rarely go over $25.00.  The grocery lists feed a family of 3 for over a week. Always buy store brand and frozen vegetables. Frozen vegetables last longer. Get the store loyalty card for a few cents off.

The Chicken List
1 can Black Beans - 15.00  oz - 0.79
1 pack of Soup - Ramen Noodle - 0.25
1 Cut Okra or Corn - 14.00  oz - 1.77
1 Marinara Pasta Sauce - 26.00  oz - 0.88
1 Large Eggs - 1.00  doz - 1.99
1 Sweet Peas -16.00  oz - 1.77
1 Broccoli Florets - 16.00  oz - 1.77
1 Fresh  Chicken Drumsticks - 3.00  lb - 4.47 - 5.00
1 Fresh  Chicken Thighs - 3.00  lb - 4.47 - 5.00
1 Rice - Jasmine - 32.00  oz - 3.39
1 Tea Biscuits - 4.20  oz - 0.50 -.99
1 Cheddar Cheese Crackers - 7.00  oz - 1.00 - 2.29
1 Spaghetti - 12.00  oz - .99

$25 max

The Beef List
1 can Black Beans - 15.00  oz - 0.79
1 pack of Soup - Ramen Noodle - 0.25
1 Cut Okra or Corn - 14.00  oz - 1.77
1 Marinara Pasta Sauce - 26.00  oz - 0.88
1 Large Eggs - 1.00  doz - 1.99
1 Sweet Peas -16.00  oz - 1.77
1 Broccoli Florets - 16.00  oz - 1.77
1 Ground Beef - 3.00  lb - 4.47 - 5.00
1 Beef Stew - 3.00  lb - 4.47 - 5.00
1 Rice - Jasmine - 32.00  oz - 3.39
1 Tea Biscuits - 4.20  oz - 0.50 -.99
1 Cheddar Cheese Crackers - 7.00  oz - 1.00 - 2.29
1 Spaghetti - 12.00  oz - .99

$25 -30 max

The Fish List
1 can Black Beans - 15.00  oz - 0.79
1 pack of Soup - Ramen Noodle - 0.25
1 Cut Okra or Corn - 14.00  oz - 1.77
1 Marinara Pasta Sauce - 26.00  oz - 0.88
1 Large Eggs - 1.00  doz - 1.99
1 Sweet Peas -16.00  oz - 1.77
1 Broccoli Florets - 16.00  oz - 1.77
1 Whiting or Tilapia - 3.00  lb - 4.47 - 5.00
1 Salmon - 3.00  lb - 4.47 - 8.00
1 Rice - Jasmine - 32.00  oz - 3.39
1 Tea Biscuits - 4.20  oz - 0.50 -.99
1 Cheddar Cheese Crackers - 7.00  oz - 1.00 - 2.29
1 Spaghetti - 12.00  oz - .99

$25 - 35 max

The Vegetable List
1 can Black Beans - 15.00  oz - 0.79
1 pack of Soup - Ramen Noodle - 0.25
1 Cut Okra or Corn - 14.00  oz - 1.77
1 Marinara Pasta Sauce - 26.00  oz - 0.88
1 Large Eggs - 1.00  doz - 1.99
1 Sweet Peas -16.00  oz - 1.77
1 Broccoli Florets - 16.00  oz - 1.77
1 Egg Plant, Zucchini, or Squash - 3.00  lb - 4.47 - 5.00
1 Avocado - 3.00  lb - 4.47 - 5.00
1 Rice - Jasmine - 32.00  oz - 3.39
1 Tea Biscuits - 4.20  oz - 0.50 -.99
1 Cheddar Cheese Crackers - 7.00  oz - 1.00 - 2.29
1 Spaghetti - 12.00  oz - .99

$25 - 40 max

The Pantry List
1 Milk - 2.00
1 Vegetable Oil  - under 4.00
1 Salt, Sugar, & Spices  - under 4.00
1 Coffee or Tea  - under 4.00
1 Butter -  under 2.00
1 Mayonnaise - under 2.00

$19 max

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Subway's is having Customer Appreciation days!!!

$2.00 Sandwiches!!!

Subway's is having Customer Appreciation days!!!

I lunched on mine yesterday with my Subway Giftcard (my gift to myself)

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How Would LL Cool J Invest 1 Million Dollars

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How I Save $1 A Day.

I created a car maintenance account for my daughter so she can handle her car maintenance needs. She paid cash for her car, but she sometimes need "things" for her car.  So I setup a recurring deposit of $1.00 every day for one year, which would give her $365 a year for the upkeep of her car. At the end of the year, she can go and spruce up her car with the money and I start all over again. Pain free.

How to Save $1 A Day.

A lot of people have difficulties saving money for financial goals or a material goals, I found the simplest automatic solution at American Express Serve.

1. Open an account at American Express Serve
2. Schedule auto add
3. Automatically add $1.00
4. From:  Your bank or brokerage account
5. Frequency: Daily
6. Start Date: Today
7. End Date: 1 Year from Today.
8. Open a Sub-Account for your Child or Another person
9. Transfer that $365 into the Sub-Account at the end of the year.

The person will receive a card that look like this:
(you can open as many sub-accounts as you want)

The card comes with free road side assistance and other discounts.

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