Mini Thoughts

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Category: The Snowball Experiment

  • May 2026 End of Month Update: Tiny Extras Until Covered Calls

    May 2026 End of Month Update: Another whirlwind month with car repairs, mower issues, and a new shed, but still seeing solid growth thanks to compounding and covered calls. Bonus income hit $2,177 this month with Covered Calls leading the way at $707.

  • Passive Income Progress May 2026: Almost to a Payout!

    Passive Income Progress – May 2026: Almost to a Payout! Honeygain is getting close, YouTube and Spotify listen hours are growing, and Google AdSense is slowly climbing. Dividends are still leading the way for now.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • April 2026 End of Month Update: Small Work Small Rewards

    April was a month of strategic shifts for the Snowball. While my motivation for side-hustle ‘grinding’ slowed down, the portfolio hit new milestones. From activating interest-free margin in my wife’s account to testing covered calls with my emergency fund (a move I’ve already corrected!), we’re breaking down the numbers. With $1,737 in dividends year-to-date, the…

  • High Dividends Can Fall: ORC

    The ‘Snowball’ just hit a patch of salt. Orchid Island Capital (ORC) announced a 16% dividend cut, dropping from $0.12 to $0.10. While a $170 annual hit might seem concerning, it’s a calculated risk in an experiment designed for high speed. Here’s why I’m not panicking—and how my recent covered call premiums are already outperforming…

  • Game Grinding Update April 25 2026

    Grinding isn’t just for the stock market—sometimes it’s for the games that fund it. After a month of hammering out bonus cash and exploring Crimson Desert, I’m checking in on the state of game-based side hustles. From navigating the FreeCash app store drama to hitting $20 milestones, here’s a look at the ‘slow and steady’…

  • When Does it Get Easier? Debt, Investing, Bills, Expenses.

    I’m 90 days into this daily blogging journey, and the reality of the ‘Snowball’ is setting in. It’s a psychological battle: do I shovel every penny into debt, or do I keep fueling the passive income engine? With OXSQ dividends nearly doubling this month, I’m seeing the math win out over the doubt. Here is…

  • 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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