Sunday, December 28, 2014

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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Saturday, December 27, 2014

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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Thursday, December 25, 2014

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. LouisMissouri
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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Wednesday, December 24, 2014

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


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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

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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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

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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Saturday, December 6, 2014

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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