Mini Thoughts

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  • Financial Education Series: Build Wealth with an Investment Policy Statement

    Investing without a plan is like driving without a map—you might move fast, but you won’t know where you’re going. An Investment Policy Statement (IPS) is your personal roadmap to financial discipline. Whether it’s a detailed document or a simple email to yourself, having an IPS keeps you calm when the market gets volatile and…

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  • Covered Calls and the Snowball 2026

    Taking a leap into options trading to see if it can supercharge the Snowball Experiment. I’m testing the waters with Covered Calls on GEVO and RIOT to turn existing shares into immediate cash flow—here’s how the first week of “renting out” my stocks is going.

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  • Investing and Options Trading: Dangerous or Lucrative for the Snowball?

    Options are often dismissed as pure gambling, but could they be the secret to accelerating the ‘Snowball’? As I dive into the world of 100-share batches and covered calls, I’m exploring whether these advanced tools are dangerous traps or lucrative income streams. Here is my early take on how options fit into a dividend-focused mindset.

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  • Cold Wet and Soaking Spring

    A night of Brats, Brews, and Chain Saws.

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  • Where Did the Elementary School Birthday Parties Go?

    My oldest is turning 17, and it’s got me reflecting on how much childhood has changed. I remember a time when every weekend was filled with classmate birthdays—simple backyard hangouts with pizza and tag. Today, those invites are rare. Have we traded the importance of socializing for the pressure of expensive, ‘perfect’ event parties? It’s…

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  • Frugal Friday April 17, 2026: A Week of Spending

    Life comes at you fast when you have a 17-year-old’s birthday, summer camp dues, and home insurance all hitting in the same week. This Frugal Friday, I’m looking at the reality of ‘spending to live’ and how a frugal mindset helps mitigate the damage—from $200 hotel savings to navigating local grants for kids’ activities.

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  • Building a Shed vs Buying a Shed in 2026

    The garage is full, the french drain is dug, and it’s time for a new 12×12 shed. But as I price out lumber and hardware for a DIY build, I’ve hit a classic ‘Time vs. Money’ crossroads. In this update, I’m breaking down the raw costs of building a shed from scratch versus hiring local…

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  • April Showers, Bring Debt Down

    After a rough March, the debt battle is showing some real green shoots this April. With a net progress of over $3,700 down, the ‘Snowball’ is doing its job—even with $1,800 in insurance and medical bills looming. This week, I’m breaking down the decision to prioritize summer camp and sanity over pure debt repayment, and…

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  • Financial Education Series: Free Money Following Investing Order

    Are you working for less money than you agreed to? If you aren’t meeting your employer’s retirement match, the answer is yes. In part two of our Financial Education series, we’re breaking down Employer Sponsored Plans (ESPs)—from the common 401(k) to the TSP—and using the math of a 30-year career to show why the employer…

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  • Back to Basics: Intro To Finance Continues This Week

    Post-vacation reality has set in, and the to-do list is formidable. From catching up on the ‘Intro to Finance’ series to getting the YouTube audio channel back on track, this week is about reclaiming discipline and tackling the backlog. Here’s a look at the plan to get back to basics and push the Snowball Experiment…

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