March Challenge - Fiscal Fast

March 4, 2008

The wife and I are committed to a fiscal fast for the month of March. What is a fiscal fast? Let me explain below.We will not spend money.

  1. We will still pay our monthly bills.
  2. We will do our best not to buy ay groceries besides the necessities (milk, eggs, and bread)
  3. We did not stockpile a bunch of food to make it through the month.
  4. Not buying any alcohol. Now if friends want to share that is a totally different story.  ;-)

Today is day 4 of the fast and so far so good. I think we’re heading to the mall tonight to get some exercise. There will be plenty of temptations around us, but I think we’ll be ok with NOT spending any money. Stay tuned…

Written by Mike · Filed Under FEATURED, MONEY | 2 Comments 

Cheap Way to create a Podcast/Radio Show

February 7, 2008

I’ve searched high and low to find an easy and cheap way to Podcast/Radio Show. Here’s what I came up with.

TOOLS
PC Microphone - A generic PC microphone will do. I use this one Logitech USB Desktop Microphone

SOFTWARE
Audacity - Open Source sound recording and editing software. I learned how to use the basic features on this in 30 minutes.

OTHER
Intro music - Revostock - This site has a great selection of stock music you can use for your Podcast.
Hositng at BYO Audio - Some people think that iTunes stores and shares your Podcast. That is not the case. You need to host it with someone (or if you have the capabilities to do it yourself). This company charges $20/month up to 5GB of transfer. Additional $1.95 per 1GB. You can sign up for this service here.

PUBLISHING
I use iTunes to distribute my Podcast. You can also embed them on your website. Most of the time I do both.

That’s it. All the tools you need to create a Podcast/Radio Show the Cheapest Man Way!

Written by Mike · Filed Under CHEAP LIVING, CHEAP TIPS, FEATURED, MONEY | 1 Comment 

Two incomes down to one

January 31, 2008

Savings TagMy wife and I are going to try and experiment. We’re going to go from two incomes down to one without quitting a job. We’re going to put all the money from my wife’s job into our savings and see how long we can do that without touching it. Sounds easy, huh? We’ll see.

Why this change? Well, we had a baby a couple weeks back and have been living off one income (mine) for now, and you know what…life wasn’t that bad. We’re obviously going to have to budget and spend a little cheaper, but I think we can do.

Either way I’ll keep all of you informed as to how it goes.

Written by Mike · Filed Under MONEY | 2 Comments 

Millionaire by 30 - Positive Thinking

January 30, 2008

Alan CoreyLiving cheaply can make you a millionaire…here’s proof. Alan Corey didn’t have a high paying job (~$40k per year) but managed to become a millionare by 30 years of age (he turned 30 on Jan. 20th). Here are a few of his “methods”:

  • He opened a savings account at a bank far away from his $400-a-month one-bedroom apartment in Spanish Harlem to make it hard to get close to the money — and force him to save.
  • He filled out surveys, if the survey companies offered money. Once, he was hired to walk around a movie release party as a Great Dane — for $350, he said.
  • He saved every nickel he could, and he crashed parties and art gallery showings to take advantage of free cheese and wine.

Those are just a few things he did. The best part about this story is he didn’t win the lottery, he didn’t inherit a bunch of money, he didn’t marry some old rich lady. He just busted his butt and now he’s got the bucks!

Alan’s even wrote a book.

Props: AJC

Written by Mike · Filed Under CHEAP TIPS, MONEY | 1 Comment