Finance Archives - shm notes & posts

Finance Health

Freezing my very own Easter eggs in Portugal

31 March 202431 March 2024

In which I talk about my very own internal and more affordable egg hunt. Open for 90% of all the thoughts I’ve ever had about my ovaries.

The only eggs I hunted for Easter this season were in me all along. Nearly 30 years together, but alas all things must end. Cold-take: freezing eggs in the United States is way too expensive. Being an aunt is an absolute delight, but I'm still on the fence about becoming a parent myself. Freezing my eggs was something that I've been mulling over for years, and then once I heard the price in Portugal I figured it was now or never. Plus, I like that I can ignore the tick-tock of my biological clock in the background as I navigate...

Finance Travel

Communism under capitalism [Cuba part 2]

1 December 202229 January 2023

In which I talk about Cuban economics. Open for my take on communism and its relationship to capitalism.

In order to evaluate the true efficacy of communism, it would require a controlled environment with little outside influence. Cuba would make an excellent case study were it not for its overbearing neighbor to the north. The United States’s embargo has a ripple effect (primarily via the Helms-Burton Act) which effectively prevents Cuba from trading freely on an international stage. International trade is a necessity for all nations’ current way of life. We should all commend how well Cuba has adapted to life under draconian policies that overstep the powers that any one nation should have. Looking for the touristy...

Finance

How to get a guaranteed* 10% annual return on your money

28 December 202014 August 2022

In which I break down cryptocurrency. Open to find resources about crypto and how you can get in on the action.

PLEASE NOTE: With Celsius filing Chapter 11 (technically not) bankruptcy as of July 2022, I no longer endorse holding funds with them. To be completely honest, while I believe in decentralization, I have more concerns with the current state of cryptocurrency. By now, many of us have heard of the high yield savings accounts (HYSA) with pre-COVID rates of up to 2%. At a certain point, I realized I had hit my savings goals and wanted more low-risk investments, and stumbled upon Celsius Network. The appeal comes with understanding of cryptocurrency, stablecoins, and traditional banking profit models. In this post,...

Finance

Keeping up with my cash flow

9 December 202029 October 2021

In which I detail the multi-layered financial system I built for myself that makes my money work for me. Open for financial recs!

Talking about finances is still somewhat taboo for normal folk, and I really need it to not be. Dealing with and optimizing money is hard to learn on your own, and at this point there is never a shortage of people telling you what to do with your money. So, I’m not gonna really focus on that, but more keeping track of where your money is and goes. First up…. BUDGETING Tracking spending is probably the hardest part about cash flow. Sometimes it seems like even breathing costs money (which if you’re doing it in your own place, it kind of does.)...

Finance Travel

How to travel on a budget

10 January 202024 January 2023

In which I recount my tips for traveling on the low. Open for ways to cut costs on the road.

If one thing in life keeps me going, it's travel. The sights, sounds, and tastes of different cultures energizes me. From eating in churrascos in Buenos Aires to breaking Ramadan fast in Turkey to bungee jumping off the Auckland Harbor Bridge, I live for all the world has to offer. Even and especially when it scares me. Flights Working for an airline, as I did in 2018, is the best way to get cheap flights. For the rest of us plebians, we must find deals. My favorite methodology to find cheap flights to a destination is as follows: Check which...

Finance Health

Healthy meal prepping on a budget

1 January 202024 January 2023

In which I talk about my low-cost meal prepping days. Open for tips on how to start prepping healthy meals.

Happy New Year! Meal prepping is one of those things that was thrust upon me as I cut costs to afford my apartment with a view of Lake Michigan, but I will carry with me forever. There is nothing better that the fruits of your own labor, especially when you know your way decently around a spice cabinet. In general, I try to follow a few basic principles around food: All meals are one protein (~25+g), one carb, and one veggie Snacks: fruits/yogurts/seeds/nuts/string cheese Drink water before and during meal Season liberally and be satisfied Even though I have the...

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