Weekly contest 116

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is the weekly contest 116. I wrote the first two algorithms. And I like to spend a few minutes to document my experience.

weekly contest 116

Here is my performance.

Changes I made

This time I started to write the code directly on Leetcode.com. I tried to simplify the process, avoid debugging the code. I had to push myself think hard.

The first algorithm took me almost first 30 minutes to solve it. I did not read carefully about the problem statement, I solved one I practiced before; after I submitted and failed, I learned that the giving condition is different, N + 1 unique numbers, one unique number has N + 1 copy. So only one number has more than one copy.

The second algorithm I also worked on preprocessing carefully. I ran into so many issues and it took me almost 50 minutes. I need to learn how to expedite the process. I spent over 25 minutes to debug the code, and I found out that I failed so many edge cases. I submitted five times.

Good discussion about last algorithm is here. I spent over 5 minutes to look into the top player with a lot of competition experience, the leetcode profile is here.

Statistics 

Q1 1939 solved
Q2   990 solved
Q3   301 solved
Q4     40 solved

My ranking is 1045/ 2964. Starting from ranking 306, players solved only two algorithms. I plan to spend to go over those players with the score 7 as I have.

Here is the link of algorithm 962: Maximum width ramp.

What is definitely amount money I desire?

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is my study about book called think and grow rich. What is definitely amount money I desire? Today is Dec. 22, 2018, I like to figure out my desire in 30 minutes.

Facts to review

It is hard to make more money at work.

It is risky to go for a new job with more pay and more challenges.

I have to cut all expenses to minimum, no shopping, only minimum to survive. No entertainment, no vacation, only take walks, public transit, research and study.

I have to start to build habit to document all expenses, review and audit them.

I can adapt to a new city in Canada to make a living. I can go for cheap town to live or I can continue to live under means in the city of Vancouver.

I have to understand how things work in Canada.

I have to cut down all expenses. I have to ask relatives to pay their own bills. It is hard for me to do it, but I have to learn and push myself hard to do it.

Definitely amount money I desire

I used to think about if I can go to Canada and find a steady job to make $30,000 dollars/ year in 2009, I worked on my appeal case from January to Oct. 2009.

I need to desire more, if I can not achieve the goal, then at least I may have the experience.

Let me give a desired amount money I desire. Based on money rules, I have to learn how to play double game first and then how to get the result.

I like to write down the money I desire today is $100,000 Canadian dollars in Canada asset first.

First principle is called Desire

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

What is the principle called Desire? Why it is the first principle in think and grow rich Earl Nightingale. Here is the link.


Burning bridge, never going back.

Ideas, thoughts, organized plan

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is the first time I learned at work called ideas and thoughts and organized plan. I learn how to work with new designer and  marketing coordinate at work starting January 2017. I had to learn how to work and it take some time for me to learn how to work with people.

Case study: My laidoff in 2001

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

The habit to do more than paid for is one of principles I learn today. It is one of principles I learn today from think and go rich Earl Nightingale. I like to apply this principle to write a case study why I got myself laidoff in 2001.

Case study

It is one of stigmas in my career and also a business woman.  I could tell so many mistakes I made in the short career to work for a startup called Trendium.

I did write a big check syndrome to document my first three years career in United States.

Case study: decision should be made quickly and definitely and change it slowly

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is the video 23:00 / 38:58, one of mistakes decision making is to make decision slow but change very often. Here is the video. I like to case study how many cases I make decision and they are not good ones based on this process.

20:00 - 25:00 / 38:58

neighbor, cheap commodity newspaper, 
keep master mind group - twice a week, maintain harmony
close relatives - not good for decision make

23:00 - 25:00 / 38:58
Be optimistic
quick to make decision and not to change
Make up your mind and stay with it
Gossiping neighbors

27:00 - 29:00 / 38:58
Master your mind group

Stimulate your own thinking.

case study: Decision making slow but change very often

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is the video 23:00 / 38:58, one of mistakes decision making is to make decision slow but change very often. Here is the video. I like to case study how many cases I make decision and they are not good ones based on this process.

Specialized knowledge

Dec. 22, 2018

It is one of principles called specialized knowledge from the book Think and grow rich earl nightingale - Napoleon Hill.

Faith and self confidence formula

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is time I listen the audio 30 minutes from this link on youtube.com. Think and Grow Rich Earl Nightingale - Napoleon Hill, here is the link. 

10:00 - 13:00/ 38:58 topic about faith 

Giving out thanks to people

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is time for me to work on a list of people to give thanks this past 2018. I practiced a few times yesterday, I learned how to express myself quickly and catch the chance to express to my friends.

Apply appreciation principle

I learn that I make so many mistakes in my personal business decision. I lose thousands of dollars because I am lack of finance knowledge, good habit to think, and a mindset to make decision. One example is $17,000 US dollar one exchange to Canadian dollar in 2010, I did this case study recently in 2018.

I gave out a bottle of wine and a box of chocolate to my friends I made at work. I like to seek out more opportunity this weekend.

Think and Grow Rich Earl Nightingale - Napoleon Hill

Here is the link.

From an idea, mindset, and then organized plan.

But control your mind, you can control your destiny in the world.

My asset in China

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is so hard for me to write on this topic. I went back to China last 22 years a lot of times. I always want to purchase a home for myself in my home town Yichun city. Until last year I found out that I cannot purchase a home any more since I am a Canadian citizen starting from 2014.

What is my asset in China?

I do not have any asset except $20,000 Chinese deposited into China bank in 2014. Since I planned to support my late mom. At that time, she started with dementia over 83 years old.

I earned my interest starting 2010, first two years 3.25%. And now it is 1.75% interest annually.

I need to figure out how to build wealth in China. Instead of spending $5,000 Canada for a vacation one month in 2012, I had to support my mom as a daughter. Now I have no excuse to waste money in China, I have to push myself as an adult, and then figure out how to build wealth instead of spending.

I documented my mistake in 2001 to spend $5,000 us dollar on a vacation to China, and also I took extra trip to Mexico to get visa for H1-B first. I learned the vacation costed me money I could pay for a condo in the city of Yichun in 2001.

I learned the lesson to make a plan, adapt to life challenges based on society, countries, and economy and other things.

What is my financial IQ?

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is my short research I like to do. How to evaluate my finance IQ? I like to learn how to build wealth, and I like to figure out how to do it in this winter break from Dec. 22 to Dec. 31, 2018. I like to do non-stop research and work on my personal finance.

10 Best Ideas | THINK AND GROW RICH | Napoleon Hill | Book Summary

Here is the video to summarize the book. I like better this one. I need to get ideas quickly.

(2:15) 1. MINDSET The real thing that will make you rich is your mindset. Focus on modeling how successful people think. Thoughts ARE things. (3:00) 2. DESIRE Want it bad enough - it becomes an obsession. "Burn the ships" mentality vide. (6:00) 3. FAITH Fake it till you make it advice: “Dress for job you want, not job you have” with his discontentment of being able to sit in a room alone” -Seneca Do the work. Active form of boredom by journaling: http://www.mybestjournal.com (21:00) 10. JOURNAL WORKSHOP MONEY FROM CH. 2 1. Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire. 2. Determine exactly what you intend to give for this money. 3. Establish a definite date by which you intend to acquire this money. 4. Create a definite plan to acquire the money, and take the first step immediately. 5. Put the four items above into a clear, concise sentence describing each part. 6. Read the statement aloud twice daily, in the morning and at night.

Think and Grow Rich

Here is the article link.

Here’re Napoleon Hill’s seventeen principles of success. Think about how they can work towards bringing health and happiness into your life.

1. Definiteness of Purpose
2. Positive Mental Attitude
3. Self-Discipline
4. Personal Initiative
5. Enthusiasm
6. Creative Vision
7. Accurate Thinking
8. Controlled Attention
9. Learning From Adversity and Defeat
10. Maintenance of Sound Health
11. Budgeting Time and Money
12. Pleasing Personality
13. Applied Faith
14. Teamwork
15. Going The Extra Mile
16. Master-Mind
17. Cosmic Habit-Force

These principles are of no particular order, but they follow a pattern.

To achieve something, you must first conceive what you want — your definite purpose — knowing where you want to go. Then, you must have a positive mental attitude to go with it.

In other words — you must believe you are going to achieve your definite purpose —then you must build your world around it — using all these principles — especially the mastermind.

Go read, or re-read, Think And Grow Rich.

And I’ve already given you a spoiler. The Napoleon Hill secret is:

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve with positive mental attitude.”

Think and grow rich - Napoleon Hill

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

It is a book called think and grow rich. Here is 41 audio book by Earl Nightgale.

Learn how to apply 10 hours rule

Dec. 22, 2018

Introduction

I like to write a blog and then do some research about how to apply 10 hours rule. I spent a few hours to review my 2012 vacation shopping expenses. I like to conduct analysis, and then I like to figure out what kind of person I am as a consumer. What are my weakness as a consumer?

Earl Nightingale - WINNERS ATTITUDE (Earl Nightingale Motivation)

Here is the link.

Earl Nightingale - How to Become Financially Independent (Earl Nightingale Personal Development)

Here is the link.

Earl Nightingale The formula to becoming rich (the most powerful motivational speech ever)

Here is the link.

12:00 - 13:00 / 18:59

13:00
One hour early a day - clean sheet paper, write your financial goal.

What is goal? How to reach your goal? Ways to improve? Contribution and service.

Five ideas a morning.

Most of them are worthless. One idea can get the income.

15:00
Think well, you need to discipline your attitude and mind.


16:30
Act like the person you like. Before you can do something,

Always get suspicious.

Cause and effect.

Three things to remember.

How To Be Wealthy And Why 95% Never Will Be

Here is the link.

14:00 - 16:00/ 16:43

To be a rich grad

1. Continually educate yourself in business & investing.

(The 'B' & 'I' Quadrants) - B (business owner), I (investor)

Once you have knowledge, you can seize opportunities when they come along, because you can recognize them.

2. Become an Entrepreneur

 On the right side of the quadrant, as an entrepreneur, you gain time freedom and financial freedom.

WHY the Rich get Richer

Here is the link.

Joshua Fields Millburn on The Power of Being a Minimalist with Lewis Howes

Here is the interview link. 

How Minimalist Living Can Help You Pay Off Debt

Here is the link.

How To Get Out of Debt

Here is the link.

Happy new year - MP Lighting

Dec, 20, 2018

It is my favorite time to choose a Chinese song to sing for the party 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Dec. 21, 2018. Next week we will have one week off. I found a few of them.

Here is NO.1., 10 minutes.

南方群星大拜年 - 新年團聚+ 赚钱的年+ 爆竹 / 红包/ 年糕+共渡幸福年

Here is No. 2, 8 minutes. 

Here is No. 3, first three minutes. 

Here is No. 4, eight minutes. 

南方群星大拜年 - 年年欢乐年【南方年年欢乐年 / 金狮来拜年 / 都说新年好 / 新年好运乐陶陶】MEDLEY

Life is tough and I like to write down lessons I have learned

Dec. 20, 2018

Introduction

It is 12:31 AM, and I have to go to sleep now. I spent over two and half hour from 8:30 PM to 12:30 AM to go over all those shopping receipts from 2010 to 2018, and figured out how much money I sent to my mom from 2010 to 2017. I like to write a blog to document my learning.

Life is tough

I have to learn how tough life is. I have not learned enough lessons. I went through all the documents of expenses I used for west union, thousands dollars I paid for supporting my late mom from 2010 to 2017. I like to look into how many issues related to this area, I wish that I negotiate the different way to pay instead of giving out cash. Life will be much more tough for me to handle since I am aging as well. Siblings in China are tough, I have to learn how to make a living in Canada, instead of taking so many trips to China from 2010 to 2017. Over ten thousands of dollars were wasted on those trips.

I also went over hundreds dollar purchase I made. I think that it will be very helpful for me to figure out what kind of consumer I am, how I make decision through those purchases.

In order to survive in Canada, personal finance is such tough to learn and I have to figure out ways to continue to learn by myself.

418 13228 Old Yale Road, Surrey

Dec. 20, 2018

Introduction

Here is the home I like to study.

Why You Shouldn't Loan Money To Family

Here is the link.

The Secret to NOT Being BROKE! - Dave Ramsey Rant

Here is the link.

Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey Summary | 7 Baby Steps

Here is the link.

An animated summary of the Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps explained. The 7 Baby Steps: Baby Step 1: $1,000 cash in a beginner emergency fund Baby Step 2: Use the debt snowball to pay off all your debt but the house Baby Step 3: A fully funded emergency fund of 3 to 6 months of expenses Baby Step 4: Invest 15% of your household income into retirement Baby Step 5: Start saving for college Baby Step 6: Pay off your home early Baby Step 7: Build wealth and give generously

958. Check Completeness of a Binary Tree

Dec. 19, 2018

Introduction

It is one of algorithms in weekly contest 115. I learned a new idea to solve the algorithm today.

A new idea 

It is so busy recently but I had chance to explore the idea I saw in the coding blog from Linkedin.com sharing post. Here is the link.

I wrote a comment after I learned the idea, and I did some minor change. Here is my comment.

Thank you for sharing. 

Your solution will be perfect one since it is much easy to write compared to my solution written in last week Leetcode contest 115.

But I played with different ideas based on your approach, and the map using size N = 100 is very challenging one. I came cross the index out of range error. I did not fully understand the given condition of 100 nodes at most in the tree, if it is a complete tree, then map should be fit into 101. Otherwise, the size can be 1 + 2 + ...+ 2^100. 
I spent time to learn your idea and play with different approach. None of them works and I could not make any improvement, so I tried to make a minor change to entertain the hard work and things I learned. 


I chose not to use map instead, I choose to use two variables to help me track, count of nodes in the tree and sum of index. The code passed Leetcode online judge. You give us a lot of inspiration I am talking from weekly contest players viewpoints. 

Leetcode discuss link is here.

How do I approach personal finance research by myself?

Dec. 19, 2018

Introduction

It is a good idea to write down how I approach my personal finance research today. I think the idea is kind of creative.

My research 

I did spend over one hour to review all blog posts I did related to personal finance research 48 hours. And then I found one making most sense for my level and my understanding ability. It is called

10 Things The RICH Teach Their Kids About MONEY.

Next step what I did is to replay the video, and try to find a good keyword to search. I found the keyword called rich habit. 

The rest is easy for one hour or two hour research. I found a book called rich habit, and then I narrowed down the topic called Watch your spending.

My research report 

I understand that this habit requires study and patience and delayed gratification. 

This habit is called control your spending. I missed delayed gratification. 

Find if there is a rectangle in binary matrix with corners as 1

Here is the algorithm to work on.

The brute force solution:

rectangle top left, (rowStart, columnStart), rectangle bottom down (rowEnd, columnEnd), the time complexity is O(Rows * Rows * Columns * Columns).

It is a not good solution for very sparse matrix.

One thing is to brute force all element in matrix with value 1. First spend O(Rows * Columns) to put all nodes with value 1 into hashSet.

Now the time complexity can be simplified to O(M * (M - 1)), M is total number of elements with value 1.

Here is my practice.

Case study: 1999 my mortgage closing statement

Dec. 18, 2018

Introduction

It should be very good idea for me to study my mortgage close statement back in 1999. I did not spend time to review line by line, word by word until this November, 2018. I like to build a good habit to do things.

Case stduy

How to Get Rich by Breaking Poor Habits with Author Tom Corle

Here is the link of 28 minutes interview.

Case study: My mortgage interest statements

Dec. 18, 2018

Introduction

I like to build good habit to keep tracking of all expenses. Today I just quickly went over the mortgage interest statement of a home in Boca Raton. I only can find 9 years mortgage interest statement.

Case study

Here is the interest I paid from 2010 to 2017. I did not have all statements.

Facts to review

1. I could not find all mortgage interest statements
2. The interest rate makes huge difference, 2000 year interest rate is 7.125. The loan I got in 1999 is less than US Dollars $25,875.00
3. I need to build good habit, document all expenses; Try to work on basic things.

Idea to recover the data is to look up the prime rate, or I can search all my paper work again.

1999 closing facts:


Purchase price:  $345,00.00
Earnest money: 1671.80
Mortgage amount: $25,875.00
Interest rate: 7.125%
120 months

Cash $9094
Total cost: $36,694.72


Go over second time to help me understand the process.

1999 closing facts:

I met the owner who owned #25, since I still rent the place #22 with my roommate; I took the price to go for the purchase.
Purchase price:  $345,00.00

I paid deposit first, called earnest money.
Earnest money: $1671.80

I visited Amtrust bank to get loan.

Mortgage amount: $25,875.00
Interest rate: 7.125%
120 months

In total, I paid those cash amount. My saving is around $10,000 since I purchased a Ford Explorer in March, $3000 down payment, monthly payment $375.00. I had a job to pay $3600 monthly.

Cash $9094

In 2010, I left USA to immigrate to Canada. My home equity line used is $38,000 dollars. I took cash $18,000 dollars with me. I paid floor ($3900, 2003), new AC ($1900, 2003), refrigerator($500, 1999), furniture over $4000.00, condo association fee over $15,000 (?), property tax ($8000?), interest ($10,000?)

Arguments

 I did not learn the lesson very well after I failed to submit the bank statement for my immigration application in 2007; Later in 2009 I spent over 10 months to file appeal for leave; I still had the habit to ignore the basic book keeping, record and review and audit from 1984 to 2017.

 It is hard to break bad habit. It takes a lot of effort to find the problem in my personal finance, I have to be very humble, find things I can control and work hard on those things first.

Follow up

Feb 7, 2019
I found two more mortgage interest statements.
2002 interest statement $1465.19
2006 interest statement $1405.21

Another two statements were found today. I learn that it takes time for me to get those paper work organized.

It takes time for me to learn how to get organized. There are so many areas I can look into, and it is so exciting for me to learn how to manage myself, parent myself to track my expense.

How (And Why) To Master The Habit Of Delaying Gratification

Here is the article link.

12 Free Apps To Track Your Spending And How To Pick The Best One For You

Here is the link.

The 1 percent will always control the wealth—and here’s how they do it

Here is the article.

Watch your spending

Over two-thirds of the rich in my study were frugal with their money. They spent their money thoughtfully, not emotionally. They bought the highest quality products at the cheapest prices. This habit requires study and patience and delayed gratification.

I like to memorize the whole paragraph. 

I want to be frugal with my money

I decide to spend my money thoughtfully, not emotionally. 

I will buy highest quality products at the cheapest prices

I understand that this habit requires study and patience and delayed gratification. 

Author who studies millionaires: Here’s how habits can make you rich—or poor

Here is the article to read.

Book review: Rich habits

Dec. 18, 2018

Introduction

I like to spend 20 minutes on the book review: rich habits. Here is one hour long interview.

Spending pattern of poor

Dec. 18, 2018

Introduction

It is a short study for me to do called spending pattern of poor. I like to find as many as possible.

30 minutes study

Here is the article to read called bad spending habits that rich people always avoid.

One more comment

Dec. 17, 2018

Introduction

It is 12:39 AM. I need to call it a day and take a shower to go to bed. I like to document one more comment.

Algorithm is my first priority

I spent 10 minutes to write a comment. Here is the link. Here are the comment.

Thank you for the kindness to share your personal experience with my favorite algorithm: longest univalue path. I like to share more if you do not mind. We may bring more people to join the discussion on the most favorite tree algorithms. It is marked easy on Leetcode.com but it is hard than some hard level tree algorithms. 

Because I used this algorithm to interview over 15 interviewees on interviewing.io last 10 months over 100 mock interviews. I learned so many solutions through so many talents. 

One more sharing

The intern did share his solution when I interviewed him on interviewing.io recently. I just like to share the link, it was fun to work with young talent and stay open.  And the end of mock interview, the interviewee told me that he is a facebook intern. 

10/29/18 at 10:04 PM Lexical Lguana interviewed by Platinum Burrito on interviewing.io

Second sharing 

What I learned most is to interview another intern recently but he did not choose to showcase the interview of his approach. At the end of mock interview, he told me that he is a facebook intern. I will write the blog to share with you later. 

My blog will be ready in any time soon, here is my plan to write here:
http://juliachencoding.blogspot.com/2018/12/case-study-longest-univalue-path.html

Third sharing 
I learned how to write a recursive solution directly instead of working around using brute force solution you provided. I learned from one of senior engineer as an interviewer as well.

I learned all kinds of ideas to solve it, you name it. 

How to end 48 hours marathon research in my home office?

Dec. 17, 2018

Introduction

It was long weekend, I stayed at home last 48 hours. I only did personal finance research and wrote blogs. I need to quit now, it is 12:34 AM. I am watching the favorite interview here and then I just wrote the sharing on Leetcode.com about my only algorithm written in weekly contest 115.

I called it quit

It is time for me to quit and prepare to go to bed, I need to go up and go to work this morning. I was late to work every day to get office after 10:00 AM.

Here is my algorithm sharing on Leetcode I wrote in less than 10 minutes.

Tony Robbins - The Secret To Making Money By Starting A Small Business

Here is the interview more than one hour.

The best sharing about career starting from 40:00 - 45:00/ 1:57:40

This is my most favorite interview. I just find that it is so relax and learn things from the talk. I could not believe that the talk was so impressing, hopefully I can make such great presentation through my personal finance blog.

I like to have an interview like this one day with my friend.

THE OPPORTUNITY MINDSET: HOW TO FIND YOUR NEXT BIG OPPORTUNITY | EBEN PAGAN

Here is the link.

What is Chinese dream?

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is well known topic called American dream. But how about Chinese dream? It is my research topic and I like to contribute the idea about what is China dream. I used to have chance to make myself super rich in 2000, I found a job with a startup company but I wasted the opportunity until I was laidoff in Sept. 2011. Let me write a blog and continue to work on this research. What is China dream?

Case study about China dream

Case study: my shopping trips to Berllingham, WA

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

I like to drive my Ford Explorer and take road trips to shopping. I like to study how I built this habit starting from 2011 and ended up in 2015.

Case study

How does it start?

What is the problem?

When I stop to take the road trip?

Why I learn personal finance so late?

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

My life is so special and I came cross so many problems. I went through those experience and I decided to study personal finance by myself. Why do I come out the idea so late? Not just after my first job laidoff in 2001?

Lucky to have a physician sister

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is just for education and research purposes. I like to write a blog using this topic called "What if I can get along with my youngest elder sister?". I grew up with a few sisters, one of them was retired and her goal is to enjoy life and show off her wealth. I like to explore the relationship with another elder sister, she is a physician and works full-time to treat patients.

I may have retired in the year 2001

My youngest elder sister is a physician. She was very popular in treating people nicely and was a director in her 20s years career as a physician. I was just a few years younger than her.

What if I can get along with my young sister? I came out with this idea and would like to write a blog about it.

I owe a big thanks to my sister since she saved my life once when I was young in the last year of 4 years of college.

My doctor's sister told me that I had an appendix infection when I took winter break and stayed in my hometown with my mom. I did not go to see the doctor for a few days until my two sisters accompanied me to see a doctor before I took the train to go back to Shanghai. The doctor in the hospital pushed my stomach very hard to give me the diagnosis, and then I could not walk to my bed while two sisters held me on two sides.

The young sister is also a college teacher with a medical major, she was so scared and left the hospital, and then the elder one stayed with me overnight. She is a physician as well and she knew the dangers of my disease, and she was a very responsible person as always.

I refused to have surgery in the daytime, but in the middle night, my infection went out and I kept calling to help me in the middle of the night; my sister held my hand and messaged my back without painkillers, with surgery. Until the morning I was sent to the surgery room, all my stomach was infected.

I still remember that my sister held my hand all the time when I had the surgery. It took hours and I was totally numbed.

It took nearly a week to kill all the infections and I stayed in the hospital without any money. I did not have any money more than 100 RMB at that time.

Follow up 

Oct. 4, 2021

I like to read my own story back in 2018. I was shy at that time, my writing was not so good but I saw the biggest courage in my life. I started to learn how to share my own story, and write down and enjoy hard work. 

I was so blessed in my early 20s with a big family, sisters, and mom back in the early 1990s. Life was so good after that surgery. 

Largest Binary Search Tree (BST), by Apple

December 16, 2018

Introduction

It is my first time to write a comment on my favorite algorithm called largest binary search tree.
Here is the blog's link.

My sharing

I finished all unlocked tree algorithms from easy to medium and hard this month. I really enjoy to solve a new algorithm called largest binary search tree. I will write something here later.

I wrote a comment in the following:

This one is my most favorite algorithm. Thank you for sharing. 

I just write a few comments based on my experience. 
1. Your algorithm time complexity is O(N), N is total number of nodes in tree, bottom up since post order is used in the traversal, most time efficient. Not top down. 
2. Every node is considered for the candidate as a root of binary search tree. Very good brute force idea to search maximum one. 
3. Base case is correct, one node is BST with value 1; Count nodes not edges. 
4. a tip to share, this algorithm is similar to Leetcode: longest univalue path.

8 BIG IDEAS FROM ‘ THE NEW COFFEEHOUSE INVESTOR ‘

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

I like to get some ideas from the book called "Coffee house investor". Here is the article.

I always have time for Principles 

The three principles of investing

• Save for a rainy day. (Develop a long-term financial plan- how much you will spend and how much will you save)
• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. (Diversify in different asset classes-stocks and bonds.Bond percentage=age in years)
• There is no such thing as a free lunch (Capture the entire return of each basket, or asset class, through low-cost index funds( because higher expenses will decrease future returns). Reinvest your dividends. Invest for the long term- decades, not years. Start as early as you can, which is, now. ).

7 MILLENNIAL MONEY MISTAKES

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is not an easy task for me. I like to read an article in less than 15 minutes, and I like to write a blog about it. The article is here to read.

Reading is such enjoyable 

I like to copy and paste my most enjoyable reading here. I also like to highlight a few keywords to look into. I added subheading for paragraphs.

5. RENTING FOR TOO LONG

There are so many advantages to owning a home versus renting. You can also deduct your mortgage interest on your taxes, which ends up being thousands and thousands of dollars back for most people (it’s like a rebate for buying a house!). Buying a house or condo is also a tangible asset and a great way to diversify your portfolio. You can also live in your investment and let it appreciate (which if you live in a nice in-demand location it probably will).

Hone a new skill using 3 - 5 years

The one advantage of renting that pro-renters tout is “flexibility,” but you still likely have a lease you can’t get out of. You can probably sell a house in most markets faster than getting out of a lease, but I digress. In most markets in the US it’s cheaper to buy instead of rent if you are going to live in the same place for at least 3-5 years.

Julia think that I can learn a lot as a condo owner in 3-5 years. 

Know the market 

I rented for an extra year when I should have bought a condo at the bottom of the market. I was trying to save money for a 20% down payment, which was a stupid decision. Once I saw the property values starting to bounce back I jumped and bought my condo with only 5% down with a small PMI (private mortgage insurance) premium of $61/month to be able to buy my apartment.

No asset except down payment 

This isn’t always a good decision, but for me it was and here’s why: I saw that prices were going up and I was confident that I could pay the mortgage at my current rate for at least the next 2 years comfortably. I was confident that a new job and learning how to start a consulting business were going to pay off. I also saved the $30,000 in my emergency fund in case I needed it for the mortgage down the road.

Work with bank

I made a very calculated decision and ended up paying down the mortgage quickly over the next year until I owed less than 80% of the assessed home value on the mortgage. I got the condo re-appraised the next year and refinanced to a lower rate without the PMI. If I would have bought the condo a year earlier with the same down payment I would have made 25% on my investment given rising home prices in my area.

Seek the second project

Currently I have a 15 year mortgage at 2.625% and I am keeping the mortgage even though I could pay off my condo fully, because I am confident that I can get a higher return on my money than the 2.625% I would get by paying off the mortgage. Do the math, use a simple rent vs. buy calculator and buy it the numbers make sense. It could be one of the best money decisions you can make.

Case study: over 4,000 Canadian dollar sponsor application project

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is time for me to review how I am as a project manager. I just order a $650 us dollars DNA test using a lab six minutes drive away from my home less than one week ago. I have to do a case study how I manage the project and cut down the cost.

Case study

What is my mistakes?

What I can do to make myself more responsible?

What are most challenging tasks for me in the process?

I will write down more later.

A return to frugality

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

I like to write a blog called a return to frugality. I like to study this article first, and then I will write one based on my own understanding as well.

HOW I SAVED 82% OF MY INCOME

Here is the link.

I DIDN’T BUY ANYTHING UNLESS IT WAS USED ON EBAY

Re-discovering eBay was a huge revelation for me. You can literally find anything you want, used at likely a much lower cost than you would pay to buy it new. I needed a pair of new dress shoes this past month (it was my only clothing purchase) and I found a pair of handmade Allen Edmonds for $12 that usually cost over $350 new. They are made in the USA and it’s pretty easy to find barely worn pairs online. They also last forever. I have now made it a habit of looking for anything that I need on eBay first. I have also set up a bunch of alerts for some of my favorite items so I can snag the deals when they are added.

How to teach myself personal finance?

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is most challenging job for me to teach myself personal finance. I have to push myself to learn, and write, and watch more videos on youtube.com, and read more tips from the well-written articles.

3 Things That Allowed Me To Save Half My Income Without A Budget

Here is the link.

The article is well-written. I like to write down a few ideas based on the article in the following:

Go over the article like the following:

Budgets and I, however, have never gotten along. Every month, Mint sounds the alarms telling me in which categories (plural) I have overspent.

Julia's thinking process:
what is Mint? an app I just found out this Nov. 2018. After I paid over $300 inactive fee on BB&T account. 

Budgets and I, however, have never gotten along. I totally agreed. 

I was single all my life. I did not learn to work with high skilled person all my life. I lived with my 70 years old mom in Florida 4 months in 2010 and 5 months in 2001. I learned and copied all her ideas. She only had less than three year formal educations. 


All other times I live with roommates. They are professors right now, some are Ph.D. with Tsinghua universities, business owners. They taught me a lot of things about business. However, I still fall behind in terms of wealth building, career development. 

1. Cut fixed expenses to the core.
2. Force myself into savings.

Thinking about purchases in terms of cost per hour

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It was busy Sunday afternoon, I spent hours to take pictures to document some expenses I made from 2010 to 2018. I could not believe that I spent thousands of dollars on those clothing and shoes. I like to do a research how to change my mindset.

One video to watch 

Here is the video I choose to watch.

By thinking about purchases in terms of cost per hour.

To achieve a high savings rate, start viewing your purchases in terms of units of your time. 

I could not believe that I spent over $5,000 Canadian dollars on one trip to China for one month vacation. How can I spot the problem right away, and stop to spend money like crazy.

6 strategies to save a fortune, from real people who bank half their income

Here is the article link.

Saving 50 Percent of Your Income

Here is the article I like to read.

Weight watch research

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

I did some weight research starting from 2014, and then I spent a lot of money on food. I like to write down my research and figure out what I should do.

The 50/30/20 Rule of Money

Dec. 16 2018

Introduction

It is my short research called save over 50% income, and then I came cross this video called "The 50/30/20 Rule of Money".

The 50/30/20 Rule of Money

Here is the video link.

Is Facebook Stock a Buy? | FB Stock Analysis

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is my favorite company. I like to spend time to learn more about Facebook from stock analysis.
Here is the video link.

Is Microsoft Stock a Buy? | MSFT Stock Analysis

Here is the link.

Taylor Morrison CEO Offers Read on U.S. Housing Market

Here is the link.

Consumer research

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is something new for me to look into called consumer research. I like to start some baby steps to look into the area.

U.S. Housing Market Struggles With Rising Rates, Prices

Here is the link.

Priced Out: The Bay Area Housing Struggle

Here is the link.

Priced Out: The Bay Area Housing Struggle

Here is the link.

Working Abroad - Top Five Companies Always Hiring

Here is the link.

Most hard thing to do this weekend

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It was busy Saturday and Sunday. I take picture using CamScanner app to document all my expenses so that I can get organized on my personal finance. I spent so many hours to review those expenses. What is most hard thing to do this weekend?

A few things to reflect

One of hard things is to read those purchase of clothing. I had difficult time to figure out what item on those receipts. The cost of each receipt is over 50 dollar minimum, if I add all those items together, then it will be over $10,000 Canadian dollars. I need to review my personal consumer history once I put all them in my github.

My personal finance journey in Canada starting from 2010 (first 24 months)

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is very tough journey for me to stay in Canada starting from 2010. I did not have a job and I immigrated to Canada without enough working skills and also financial knowledge on April 23, 2010. I like to write down my journey starting from April 23, 2010.

My rich journey

April 23, 2010 

I arrived to Canada, and then I made a transaction almost losing $4,000 dollars based on my real consumption. I purchased Canadian dollars using $17,000 dollars in one transaction, the first day I arrived in Canada. Here is the blog to document my purchase.

Actionable Items:

Learn asking questions. Think about alternatives. Do some research in advance. Do not go for a big purchase any time. I did make mistake on brand new car in 1999 Ford Explorer, 2002 on SONY laptop $1800 us dollars, 2001 Shanghai vacation with my relatives over $6,000 us dollars. I have the issues to handle big projects, I am not a good project manager at all, I could not make a plan and a budget and I was under influence of people.

Anything above $1,000 dollars, there is business opportunities for me to learn save at least 10% cost.

January, 2012 

China vacation over one month. I ended up spending over $5,000 Canadian dollars, more than 50% saving from June 2010 to 2012 January, 18 months full time work.

Here is my cashout in China in one month vacation. I took the cash over $16,000 Chinese yuan. I was an ATM machine; I did not do enough research how to protect myself financially. I chose the wrong time wrong place to take vacation,

Here is the summary of withdraw.

I have to go through the learning process again, how to learn to stay away from impulsive spending, without a budget, and I did not have my own home in the city of Vancouver. My mom had her salary enough for two people expense, her home paid off by me back in 2000. I just spent those cash for a holiday. It was so brutal to learn those financial mistakes I made in January 2019. Personal finance research is a tough business to push through.

Actionable Items:

I also needed to learn how to take vacation. When to take vacation, how long should I take when I have a full time job. I was lucky in 2012 to take one month vacation. The website was not down. A few years later, the website was hacked and I learned that I was luck those years from 2010 to 2014. I should take one week vacation only at most one time, and be a responsible person. If anything happens at work, then I will be back in less than one week. I also need to cut expenses down, say no to a lot of expenses. Specially I should say no to extra spending. I bought over 10 pieces coat prices in 2002 vacation in China alone.

I will write down more challenges I came cross after 2012 January.

I do not take any vacation day in 2010 and 2011. Instead I should take 1 or 2 vacation days to get familiar with small cities near Vancouver, and I should start to learn to invest in real estate. At least I should spend time to study videos on youtube.com.

Big waste

I took FAU graduate study on research from 2010 June to 2011 August, I did  not have income from United States. Instead I paid over $2,000 US dollars to pay 2010 Fall term, 2011 spring and fall term out-of-state tuition. I learned that I cannot make it work for a late project.

$2,000 dollars is over 400 hours work as a minimum wage worker. If my research has value, then some one will pay for me to do the work. I was so scared to stop the program when I signed to quit the program, relinquish my F1-status in 2011.

Summary 

It was very tough first two years in my life in Canada in terms of my personal finance and I did not learn the value of dollars, my vacation of China $5,000 dollars, which can be 30% of 1500 square condo in the city of Yichun, Jiangxi province. I did not learn how much power I can use those money on investment instead of on food, travel, sightseeing, and those cash gift. I like so many expensive things, road trip, winter coats, and gourmet food.

Statistics 

It is easy to come out the loss of all the cash in the following:

$4000 one transaction loss, $17000 US dollar to purchase Canadian dollars
$2000 US dollars tuition
$5000 Canadian dollar one vacation to china

In total, over 10,000 dollar loss.

Opportunity cost - I should invest a condo in Chilliwack with price around $50,000 Canadian dollars in 2011, so I sell it with triple price in 2018.

I no longer can purchase a condo in China since I am in Canadian citizen. But I got Canadian citizen in 2014. I should consider to purchase a home in 2001 in my home town.

Why Your Home is Too Big - Downsize & Make $2 Million

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is very good presentation and I like to write down what I learn from the video. I like to write a blog about it.

Downsize study

Here is the link.

2:00 - 3:50
based on UCLA study - 2,000 SF Living space case study
Excellent presentation
We look for amenities for ...
Common living area space
Needed space

6:00 - 8:00/ 9:07

Why people buy the big house?
Status - Finance independence
Big space for entertainment purpose
Expectation/ reality

Invest money?
Mortgage and comparison

Difference = $1,000 month

Another idea is to rent out extra rooms in the big house.

Passive Income Ideas - Our Top Six Money Makers!

Here is the link.

Can I save 70% income monthly?

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is very hard for me to work with expenses, specially on food expenses. I like to brainstorm the ideas for me to cut down the expense, how to save 70% income monthly?

My 30 minutes research

I like to do it just for one month.

The idea is to cut down the food expenses monthly to $200 dollars. No clothing purchase, no road trip besides Costco, work and church.

I will only choose to purchase milk, bread, potato, chicken, and carrots, once a month I will buy some green leaf vegetables.

I need to spend time to study all my auto maintenance history. I will like to change engine oil only once a year, and do not go for the auto shop who does on purpose create problems on my car. I need to be willing to pay Canadian tire service for an oil change, but politely decline extra service.

I need to say no to any vacation idea, and I have to study my problem as an impulsive shopping, push myself to learn how to do good booking, calculate how much it costs me as a home owner in Florida, a renter in the city of Vancouver. I will spend time to do research on real estate market near my home.

Those research I choose to do is to help myself to handle irregular expenses like auto maintenance, and other things like vacation, immigration project, tutoring service.

How to Make Money - 8 Side Hustles You Can Start Today (#SideHustle)

Here is the link.

Case study: four vacations in 2014

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is so hard for me to review my vacation history in 2014. I did not plan very well and almost got my messed up financially and affected my work and emotions. I like to case study my four vacations took in 2014.

Case study

January - 2 weeks vacation in China
August - 9 days vacation to California
Oct - vacation to Florida and Philadelphia

I will add more detail here later.

House Buying Hacks – 5 Tips We Use to Buy Real Estate (#RealEstate)

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is most favorite video I like to watch. Since I heard something called city master plan. I like to learn from the video. Here is the link.

My study

staged home - case study: while owners still lives in the home
How to hack and find a solution?
Thanksgiving and Christmas
Redfin.com

Tip $5
Do not get emotion attached

Beware:

How We Save 70% of Our Income - Financial Independence Journey

Here is the link.

72 hours rule

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is my favorite video to talk about 70% of your income. There is rule called 72 rules. I like to think about how many hours rule I should apply for me to learn. I made an impulsive brand new card For Explorer 1999 in 1999, and top expensive 1800 laptop in Sept. 2002. And the pattern persisted in 2012 China vacation, 2014 vacation.

72 hours rule

Here is the video for me to study, the title is called "How We Save 70% of Our Income - Financial Independence Journey".

Achieving Financial Independence in a Consumer Culture

Here is the link.

We Invested $10,000 Today & We’re Sharing Our Stock Portfolio (Ep. 1 - Dividend Income)

Here is the link.

How to Start Investing & Our Financial Independence Plan (#FinancialIndependenceRetireEarly)

Here is the link.

From 2008 to 2018, index fund gain is more than 80%. I did sell the IRA stock in 2008 and then put into CD. Over 10 years I got around 20% over 10 years.

How We Save More Than $30K a Year - Things We Don't Buy

Here is the link.

Case study: 10 mistakes I made as a sister in my personal finance from 1996 to 2018

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I found out that I had a huge problems to deal with my relatives as a sister. I have to work on the problems, and I like to figure out how to find solutions.

Case study: 10 mistakes I make as a daughter from 1996 to 2017

Dec. 16, 2018

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. All I like to do is to find things to work on. I have limited time to start all over again to build wealth. I have to admit my mistakes I made as a daughter from 1996 to 2017.

Case study