Mini Thoughts

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  • Frugal Friday May 22, 2026: Memorial Day Weekend

    Frugal Friday May 22, 2026: A week of smart leftovers kept spending very low despite some medical bills popping up. Memorial Day Weekend is here — how are you staying frugal this weekend?

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  • Financial Education Series: Double Your Investment – Rule of 72

    The Rule of 72 shows how powerful starting early really is. $100k at 7% doubles every ~10 years — turning into serious wealth by retirement.

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  • Sell it All or Pay Down Slower

    I ran the math on selling everything to pay off debt vs. keeping the dividend snowball running. Even with the tax savings and interest reduction, redirecting $500/month in dividends still comes out ahead by $3,650 per year.

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  • Tuesday May 19th: When to Alter a Plan.

    Life doesn’t care about your carefully laid plans. After a brutal start to the week — medical bills, insurance fights, and a painful tooth extraction — I’m adjusting the debt snowball strategy. Starting June 1st, all dividends + covered call premiums are going straight to debt payoff.

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  • May Day: Is the Debt Ship Sinking?

    May Debt Snowball Update: From -$3,700 last month to +$7,712 this month due to the new shed and car repairs. With dividends approaching $500/month, the big question is: keep building income or slam the debt? Full breakdown inside.

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  • Sunday Play Day? I Love Free Stuff

    Free Swing Set Haul Today! My wife scored a massive swing set with a climbing wall and zipline. Today we’re disassembling, loading up the U-Haul (thanks, Mom-in-law!), and hoping those posts aren’t cemented in the ground. Free stuff + family projects = best kind of Sunday.

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  • Extended Family Time Cookouts and Company

    Extended Family Time, Cookouts, and Company — cousins in town means chaotic fun, open-fire cooking, pizza, and that famous ‘talking gene.’ Plus some shed organization on this hopefully sunny day. Family first!

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  • Frugal Friday May 15 2026: Working Hard

    Frugal Friday May 15, 2026: Finishing the shed the smart way — buying only what’s needed to complete the loft, organization, and protection. Sometimes the most frugal move is investing in the last steps. Happy Weekend!

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  • What Motivates You?

    Is focusing on frugality really just ‘focusing on money’? For me, it’s about something much bigger: Freedom. From the ability to garden on a whim to being present the moment the kids get home from school, the ‘Snowball Experiment’ isn’t just about dividends—it’s about regaining control of time. Even when car repairs and slow side-hustle…

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