This week’s topic is about how you can create bulk purchasing power to save money with quality. It is no secret that buying in bulk gets you larger quantities for lower prices.  We typically see this with the big players such as Sam’s Club and Costco and this can also be present with Internet shopping as well.  So this is a great thing; however, many of the products that are sold come in limited product offerings or for a short period of time.  Basically, bulk purchasing is designed for business rather than the consumer.  With that being said you can create this opportunity for yourself.  For example, my wife uses a named brand body wash that costs eight dollars for 16 ounces.  After a simple search, I found a similar all natural product in a one-gallon size that cost $22.  So when the math shakes out, I will get eight times as much product for $12 more. If we break it down further, I went from paying .50 per ounce to .17 cents which is about ⅓ less in cost. Now let's go to grooming. We use a hair spray product called Big Sexy Hair which I like to call BSH.  In the past I paid $19 for a 10 ounces bottle; however, I found a better arrangement.  After a few minutes on the net, I purchased six-eight ounce cans from Overstock for just $43 and I went from paying $1.90 an ounce to .90 cents; or in other words,  I am saving one dollar per ounce and $52 in savings over the course of a year.  So here's the bottom line: you have the ability to save money while getting the same or similar products without sacrificing quality  The key is to purchase items that you will consume within an acceptable timeline so that it is worth the investment.  This is especially important when it comes to perishable items as 40% of all food we produce is wasted.  In my case, I have a one-year supply for two staple products while saving $94 and it took me five minutes to make it happen.  Website   https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Merchandise https://www.somethingonmymind.net/shop Social Media  https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

In this week's episode we discuss the state of the American wedding with special guest Ciara Carter from the Run Thrive Survive. Are weddings cheaper during COVID? Why are people hurting themselves by not budgeting before entering into marriage? What's more important . . . the marriage or the mortgage.  In the roundtable, we discuss if their is a future with soylent as a replacement for solid food.  Website   https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Merchandise https://www.somethingonmymind.net/shop Social Media  https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

Super Bowl 56 between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams is projected to reach approximately 117 million viewers and in 170 countries. So let’s go through some current stats: -The average cost of a Super Bowl LVI ticket is more than $9,000.  -Nearly $30,000 was the highest price ever paid for a Super Bowl ticket. -17 million people are expected to miss work the day after Super Bowl -1.42 billion chicken wings will be eaten. -11.2 million pounds of potato chips are expected to be eaten. When it comes to personal finance the big game is all about the mighty dollar. According to the American Gaming Association, Americans are expected to break records this year by betting nearly $8 billion. With that being said, if you choose to gamble the biggest trap that people get caught up in are parlays which are known as sucker bets.  This occurs when you place at least two individual bets and lump them together. The only way to make money is when each bet wins. So if you place five bets, all five have to hit. The payouts are great but the odds are low. When it comes to bets, the safer ones are the spread, money line (or picking the winner) or the over/under.  Either way, when bets have a + next to them, the odds are much lower and pay higher and when there is a - the odds are much higher and pay lower The bottom line is when choosing to gamble like we’ve talked about in the stock market, you have to be willing to lose every dollar that you put on the line. So make sure that you can afford it.  Website   https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Merchandise https://www.somethingonmymind.net/shop Social Media  https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

This week’s topic is about managing your tax returns. By the beginning of February most people should have all documentation necessary to file their taxes.  When it comes to filing the standard date to complete this April 15th.  At this point in time, you can actually adjust your filing to a fiscal year. In my case, I account for the tax I need to save from March to March each year, rather than January to January. Hence, if you are in a bind this year and owe money to the government, this allows you 3.5 months to accumulate money to make things whole with the government.  This also allows for you to readjust your budget planning for the next tax year so that you are not in a bind - and this brings up a point that we consistently preach. When it comes to owing the government or receiving a return, the goal is to achieve a zero dollar result.  The reason is two-fold: if you have debts, especially home equity loans or credit cards and you receive a check, this money could have been used to pay down principal balances and the overall interest on your loans.  On the other hand, if you do not have debt, this is money that can be invested and collecting compound interest which we know is our best friend.  To sum things up, when preparing for tax filing, this is your chance to create and review your budget and improve your financial fitness. Moreover, this is one New Year’s resolution that you can actually stick to for the benefit that it provides.  Website   https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Merchandise https://www.somethingonmymind.net/shop Social Media  https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

Special guest Joe DiSanto of playlouder.com discusses his path to successful entrepreneurial investing and personal money management methods to achieve success and give yourself the option to retire earlier.  In the roundtable we discuss why isn't fun to be the only sober person in the room full of drunks.  About Joe Joe DiSanto is a fractional CFO and consultant to small businesses and high-income individuals. He also founded the blog Play Louder, which serves as an invaluable resource to help individuals and business owners increase their net worth and plan better for their future. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephdisanto/ https://www.facebook.com/playlouderblog/ https://www.youtube.com/c/PlayLouder Check out some of Play Louder’s most popular content… The Financial Planning Process: Your Route to Financial Independence! How to Incorporate Yourself to Save Money (and Protect Your Assets) How to Make Your Money Work for You: 7 Modern Methods for Investing in “The Market” Top 5 Personal Bookkeeping Software Options: Personal Capital vs Mint vs Quicken vs Money Dance vs Countabout Fundrise vs DiversyFund vs CrowdStreet: The Best Sites for Crowdfunded Real Estate Investing Acorns vs Robinhood vs Webull vs M1 Finance: Which One is the Best? Play Louder's free courses… Get a grip on your finances with Personal Budgeting Basics! Learn how to Incorporate Your Business to protect your assets and save money! Analyze your Real Estate Investments like a pro! Website   https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Merchandise https://www.somethingonmymind.net/shop Social Media  https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

This week’s topic discusses the world of cheese and how to get the most from this fermented product loved the world over.  According to Wikipedia cheese was cultivated approximately 7,000 years ago by accident, as a result of storing and transporting milk in bladders made of ruminants' stomachs, as their inherent supply of rennet (enzymes) would encourage curdling. So needless to say being cheesy isn’t easy as it is inherently tied to aging; however, the concoction creates delectable flavors and textures. When it comes to personal finance, pound-for-pound, cheese is one of the most expensive food items that you can purchase; yet people often make a crucial mistake; they throw it away when they see mold on it. It is a common misnomer to throw it away so here is few simple rules: Cheese should be thrown away when it wafting with a smell of ammonia or when you see red mold (this is not very common) If you see green mold simply cut off the decomposing portion or you can shave it down on all sides to a clean block to work from.  Now let’s switch to the health profile of cheese. When cheese that you purchase in plastic bags such as mozzarella, cheddar and Mexican blends, they contain chemicals to preserve it. On the flipside you can opt to purchase freshly shredded cheese which will last 3-5 days and you consult with the cheese master behind the counter.  You can also freeze for a few months; however, the flavor profile will change. Your best bets are Monterey jack, or a wedge of parmesan and stay away from soft, milky varieties.  So to sum things up, the best cheese to consume are those made naturally that come from a block and if you take care of them properly you can expect to keep them edible for 2-3 months. When taking this approach the cheese will last longer and less money will impact your budget.  Website   https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Merchandise https://www.somethingonmymind.net/shop Social Media  https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

In this week's episode we discuss what hawkish and dovish means when it comes to the Federal Reserve raising or lowering rates. With the supply chain and labor shortage intertwined with high demand for products core inflation has risen sharply.  We also will cover the playbook on how to manage your investments.  In the roundtable we discuss the option to put your body in a cryo tube with the hope to be pulled out in the future when medical technology has advanced.  Website   https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Merchandise https://www.somethingonmymind.net/shop Social Media  https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

This topic centers on the early child tax credit and filing your 2021 taxes. In an effort in 2021by the US government they wanted to provide more families with additional cash in their pockets, they issued early child tax credits from July through December.  If you qualified, these monthly payments were advances on 50% of the credit.  In the past they would have been issued in the following calendar year when filing taxes So, when preparing your documents, be sure you have received a mailed document from the IRS, titled Letter 6419. If you are married, two letters will be issued. In short, on the form Box 1 is for the total dollar amount of money you received for the advance child tax credit payments over six months in 2021. Box 2, is the number of qualifying children that were taken into account when the advance payments were determined for 2021.  This is important as some families have new additions from when the credits were issued. So here’s a couple points of note - when it comes to filing and you have not received the letter, you can go the IRS website at the Child Tax Credit Update Portal - you can find the link in the podcast show notes Secondly, keep in mind that the amount you owe or receive each year may be different from what you're accustomed to.  https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit-update-portal Website   https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Merchandise https://www.somethingonmymind.net/shop Social Media  https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

This week’s topic discusses how to save money on printer ink cartridges.  Over the years it has become commonplace for people to own a printer just like with a television or a cell phone.  This is a great convenience and is worth the money as paying for printing service over time is a much more costly affair.  When it comes to maintenance, ink cartridges will need to be replaced or refilled from time-to-time.  With that being said purchasing new cartridges is the most expensive option. Depending on the make and model of the cartridge, they can cost between 200 - 300% more than refilling them. When choosing this path, the first option is to find a retailer, typically a big box store that has equipment to provide the service to a large set of customers. The beauty here is that this is a clean and easy process.  The second option depending on the retailer, is to subscribe to an ink filling program which is typically offered by original equipment manufactures such as HP or Cannon. The third option is to refill the cartridges yourself which is equivalent to a small household project. The first step is to buy the replacement inks which are pervasive on the Internet. Next you'll need to locate the hole that was used to originally fill the ink cartridge or if there is not one present, then a small hole needs to be drilled.  Choosing this path is the most economical; however it can be messy so make sure to follow the instructions from the package or utilize self-help videos. The beauty in this scenario is that you have three options which allows you to choose the right one that fits and most people save between $50 - $100 per year.  The other benefit is that estimates show that cartridges can withstand 2-6 refills before a new one needs to be purchased and this equates to you saving money and putting less plastic back into the environment. Website   https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Merchandise https://www.somethingonmymind.net/shop Social Media  https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

This week we talk about the options of paying off the mortgage early: the advantage is removing debt which is always a good thing; however, does invest in real estate or the stock market have a better long-term benefit? In the roundtable we discuss that nerds can be popular too! Website   https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Merchandise https://www.somethingonmymind.net/shop Social Media  https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast