November 7, 2023
On Money
Income
Our primary income comes from our full time jobs. We have minimal income from investing in index funds and dividend stocks (all reinvested). We earn money on the side to supplement our main incomes. We get a bit of income from Swagbucks, cash back sites (Rakuten, Mr.Rebates) and affiliate links to Bookshop and Amazon sometimes pay a micro-commission to keep the blog running. The sidebar has ways to support the blog and our charitable giving.
Our long term goal is to replace our day job income with passive income before my health prevents me from working. I know from my Mom’s experience that qualifying for or relying on disability is incredibly tough or near impossible here in CA. Aside from that, I aim to do my best to make the most of what we can do while we can.
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Dividend income. We received $223.60 in dividends from the stocks portfolio.
I wrangled for a solid salary bump for the whole crew this year and it’s finally in place! 🎉 I’ve been feeling that pinch, The bills keep going up, chatting with friends about the costs of college (!!!) gives me heartburn, and thinking about the future healthcare costs that we have to save for gives me MORE heartburn. But the most immediately frustrating part of having less disposable income is being unable to do more for folks in a tough spot. This year has felt really tough economically for people far more on the edge than us. This will give us more breathing space to meet our obligations and help folks. It’s hard to balance our needs which are more about the future and the much more immediate needs of folks all around us who are going through rough patches.
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October 3, 2023
On Money
Income
Our primary income comes from our full time jobs. We have minimal income from investing in index funds and dividend stocks (all reinvested). We earn money on the side to supplement our main incomes. We get a bit of income from Swagbucks, cash back sites (Rakuten, Mr.Rebates) and affiliate links to Bookshop and Amazon sometimes pay a micro-commission to keep the blog running. The sidebar has ways to support the blog and our charitable giving.
Our long term goal is to replace our day job income with passive income before my health prevents me from working. I know from my Mom’s experience that qualifying for or relying on disability is incredibly tough or near impossible here in CA. Aside from that, I aim to do my best to make the most of what we can do while we can.
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Dividend income. We received $415 in dividends from the stocks portfolio.
PiC also unexpectedly received an out of cycle cost of living adjustment. We’re more than happy to have the few extra dollars. Bills keep rising like yeast. It does make us wonder when and how his salary falls behind enough that his company notices and adjusts. The cynical part of me assumes he’s been underpaid for longer than we’d like but I have to ignore that voice because he doesn’t have much recourse. We’ll just focus on stretching our dollars.
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September 5, 2023
On Money
Income
Our primary income comes from our full time jobs. We have minimal income from investing in index funds and dividend stocks (all reinvested). We earn money on the side to supplement our main incomes. We get a bit of income from Swagbucks, cash back sites (Rakuten, Mr.Rebates) and affiliate links to Bookshop and Amazon sometimes pay a micro-commission to keep the blog running. The sidebar has ways to support the blog and our charitable giving.
Our long term goal is to replace our day job income with passive income before my health prevents me from working. I know from my Mom’s experience that qualifying for or relying on disability is incredibly tough or near impossible here in CA. Aside from that, I aim to do my best to make the most of what we can do while we can.
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Dividend income. We received $864.54 in dividends from the stocks portfolio.
Both of our Well Fargo bank bonuses paid out this month. I transferred out the whole kit-n-caboodle to savings: credit card and banking bonuses, the seed money to replenish our precariously low Emergency Fund.
PiC picked up $35 worth of gift cards in bike commuting rebates from one program and separately. Thank goodness he is able to, I couldn’t have, and also loves the bike commuting. Both his health and our finances thank him.
He also finalized $500 worth of gift card health incentives from his employer. I’ll be using that to pay some bills!
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August 8, 2023
On Money
Income
Our primary income comes from our full time jobs. We have minimal income from investing in index funds and dividend stocks (all reinvested). We earn money on the side to supplement our main incomes. We get a bit of income from Swagbucks, cash back sites (Rakuten, Mr.Rebates) and affiliate links to Bookshop and Amazon sometimes pay a micro-commission to keep the blog running. The sidebar has ways to support the blog and our charitable giving.
Our long term goal is to replace our day job income with passive income before my health prevents me from working. I know from my Mom’s experience that qualifying for or relying on disability is incredibly tough or near impossible here in CA. Aside from that, I aim to do my best to make the most of what we can do while we can.
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Dividend income. We received $223.60 in dividends from the stocks portfolio.
We’re both working on other ways to bring in income on a small scale. Me with my banking and credit card bonuses, him with his bike commuting to earn rebates. They’re not great gobs of money but they add up.
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July 4, 2023
On Money
Income
Our primary income comes from our full time jobs. We have minimal income from investing in index funds and dividend stocks (all reinvested). We earn money on the side to supplement our main incomes. We get a bit of income from Swagbucks, cash back sites (Rakuten, Mr.Rebates) and affiliate links to Bookshop and Amazon sometimes pay a micro-commission to keep the blog running. The sidebar has ways to support the blog and our charitable giving.
Our long term goal is to replace our day job income with passive income before my health prevents me from working. I know from my Mom’s experience that qualifying for or relying on disability is incredibly tough or near impossible here in CA. Aside from that, I aim to do my best to make the most of what we can do while we can.
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Dividend income. We received $387.50 in dividends from the stocks portfolio. All reinvested, of course. Someday it’ll add up to a real income.
We picked up $20 from the Lithium Ion battery class action settlement.
PiC is signed up for our city’s bike commuting incentive and rode enough to redeem $25 in gift cards. That’ll pay for more bike equipment: A better bike light, safety is important!
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June 6, 2023
On Money
Income
Our primary income comes from our full time jobs. We have minimal income from investing in index funds and dividend stocks (all reinvested). We earn money on the side to supplement our main incomes. We get a bit of income from Swagbucks, cash back sites (Rakuten, Mr.Rebates) and affiliate links to Bookshop and Amazon sometimes pay a micro-commission to keep the blog running. The sidebar has ways to support the blog and our charitable giving.
Our long term goal is to replace our day job income with passive income before my health prevents me from working. I know from my Mom’s experience that qualifying for or relying on disability is incredibly tough or near impossible here in CA. Aside from that, I aim to do my best to make the most of what we can do while we can.
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Dividend income. We received $969.74 in dividends from the stocks portfolio.
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May 2, 2023
On Money
Income
Our primary income comes from our full time jobs. We have minimal income from investing in index funds and dividend stocks (all reinvested). We earn money on the side to supplement our main incomes. We get a bit of income from Swagbucks, cash back sites (Rakuten, Mr.Rebates) and affiliate links to Bookshop and Amazon sometimes pay a micro-commission to keep the blog running. The sidebar has ways to support the blog and our charitable giving.
Our long term goal is to replace our day job income with passive income before my health prevents me from working. I know from my Mom’s experience that qualifying for or relying on disability is incredibly tough or near impossible here in CA. Aside from that, I aim to do my best to make the most of what we can do while we can.
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Dividend income. We received $223.60 in dividends from the stocks portfolio.
Note to self: We spend way too much at Costco. Our rewards hit about $450 this year.
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Setting the wheels in motion: I applied for two Wells Fargo checking accounts for their $300 bonus. (Not a referral link) If you’re interested, it’s relatively simple as these things go. Open with a minimum of $25, then direct deposit (must be ACH) $1000 within 90 days. If you can float $1000 for 3 months then you will get the $300 and can close the accounts after. I’m using it both to get the $300 bonus but also to redeem my $225 from the Wells Fargo credit card offers I completed earlier this month. These efforts won’t pay out until about the end of July.
I planned to use this money to cover direct aid to friends in a bind, and we also need a bit of extra cash to even out our own cash flow. It’ll all go to some good use.
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