Julia's coding blog - Practice makes perfect

From January 2015, she started to practice leetcode questions; she trains herself to stay focus, develops "muscle" memory when she practices those questions one by one. 2015年初, Julia开始参与做Leetcode, 开通自己第一个博客. 刷Leet code的题目, 她看了很多的代码, 每个人那学一点, 也开通Github, 发表自己的代码, 尝试写自己的一些体会. She learns from her favorite sports – tennis, 10,000 serves practice builds up good memory for a great serve. Just keep going. Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

也许您的亲戚很多，但这四种亲戚最好不要来往

Here is the article link.

每个人都会有自己的亲戚，只是多与少的差异罢了，七大姑八大姨等，在相互交往过程中，由于每个人的素质，做事风格、明白事理程度等有差异，久而久之，就会出现“远亲不如近邻”的现实情况；也许您的亲戚很多，但这四种亲戚，最好不要来往。

1、长“富贵眼”的亲戚

在亲戚当中，有的可能手里有点钱，小日子比别人好过一点，此时的金钱就助长他拥有一对“富贵眼”，金钱改变了他的生活方式，同时也改变了他思想观念，只认钱不认人，欺贫爱富，当你和他经济差不多的时候，会对你热情万分，来往很频繁，似乎每天来你家十八趟；当你因为某件事失败后，经济处于最低谷，人落魄的时候，他的身影就消失在你的视线里，不见人影，逃之夭夭，就连一个电话，一个短信都没有；很明显，怕你伸手向他借钱、请求帮助、揩油等，这种亲戚最好到此为止，不要有任何来往。

2、借钱不还的亲戚

亲戚之间，有时候为了某种项目，或遇到突发性事情，急需用钱，作为他的亲戚，是应该伸出援手大力支持和帮助的；如果事过许久，确实家中有钱了，具有偿还能力了，但迟迟不还，继续拖延，借口搪塞，赖着不还，让人推进两难；这样的亲戚，最好不要来往。

3、背后说“小话”的亲戚

亲戚之间在来往和相处过程当中，有个别亲戚两面三刀，搬弄是非，挑拨离间，背后说“小话”，搞得亲戚与亲戚之间不和谐，甚至吵吵闹闹，争执不休，甚至相互间大打出手，闹得鸡犬不宁，这样的亲戚，最好不要来往。

4、吃里扒外（泄密）的亲戚

亲戚应该相互尊重、相互信任、相互来往等，但有时候也难免有些小摩擦，小误会什么的，有个别亲戚就会四处偏低对方，添油加醋诋毁对方；另外在亲戚间有些大的计划，很快外人都知道，但他还是保持很冷静，笑里藏刀，不希望你过得比他好，想通过外人力量让问题复杂化，有些计划实现不了，让你搁置，这样的亲戚最好不要来往。

如何维系亲戚关系，一定要做好这7大原则，特别是第一条！

Here is the article to read.

1，礼尚往来。,常言说，你敬我一尺，我敬你一丈。亲戚之间要常常保持联系，互相来往，以礼相待，不但要主动赠送礼品，还要适时回馈礼品。

2，保持距离。,虽然说亲戚之间要常来常往，但还是需要保持一定的距离，保持边界，不要在亲戚面前真的做到“不把自己当外人”。

3，帮忙量力而行。,如果亲戚要求你的帮助，你无能为力，不可死要面子活受罪，要敢于拒绝，或要明确地跟亲戚说清楚，避免亲戚产生误会。

4，心存感恩。,对于亲戚曾经的帮助，要保持感恩之心，不可将亲戚的帮助视作理所当然，而且，在有机会的时候，也要尽自己的能力帮助亲戚。

5，常保持联系。,不要临时抱佛脚，没事的时候不找人家，有事求亲戚的时候才想到提着礼品登门拜访。

6，讲信用。,如果你有困难，向亲戚提出借钱，你一定要在约定好的时间还钱，如果到了时间实在没钱还，也要跟亲戚说清楚，并约好好下一次还钱的日期。

7，坦诚相待。,有些人喜欢过度吹嘘自己的能耐，有些亲戚不明就里，如果遇到困难，比如找关系解决工作问题，就会把希望完全寄托在他的身上，到头来，浪费了很多时间，好话讲尽了，钱也花了不少，却什么事都没办成。所以，亲戚之间一定要坦诚相待。

创业后谨记十条与亲戚保持距离

Here is the link.

1、别帮亲戚炒股

　　赚了觉得你赚得不如以前吹的那么多，赔了就剩翻脸了，搭时间搭功夫还不落好。

　　2、别和亲戚一起做生意

　　道理同上，而且听谁的不听谁的？大姨、二表舅都要来帮忙，用谁不用谁？

　　3、别借钱给亲戚

　　也可以说别找亲戚借钱。俗话说远亲不如近邻，老朋友比亲戚知根知底，问题是朋友之间为钱撕破脸大不了绝交，亲戚之间闹翻了逢年过节怎么办？

4、别给亲戚做担保

　　人对于感情的理解有差异，亲戚万一不道义跑了，你是替他还钱还是替他坐牢？这事儿不但伤钱还可能人财两空。

　　5、别和亲戚“拼”东西

　　拼车、拼租、拼折扣？？啥啥的，省点儿小钱却费了大脑子，亲戚不计较也保不准亲戚家的谁谁谁不算计，长久下来积累的都是抱怨。

　　6、别找亲戚当中介

　　买车、买房、买电器、买保险？？这些有高额提成的东西，你不清楚门道，也许人家真给你便宜了也许就是行价，但你怎么判断？最好让他们当顾问，但不让他们参与最后选择。

　　7、别找亲戚当供应商

　　装修、育儿、治病、买电脑、材料采购啥的，都是细水长流的事儿，售后服务比事情本身麻烦多了，日后给不给钱给多少谁都不好掌握，还是，让亲戚顾问，供应商自己找。

　　8、别和亲戚住太近

　　我的原则是：可以和父母住的近、不要和亲朋住的近，越大家庭越如是。大家记得我的“运气守恒”定律吧？我觉得“亲戚运”也这样：小事儿用别人多了，大事儿就没人帮你了。

　　9、别雇用亲戚

　　不管多大的企业、不管多有能力的亲戚，除了子承父业非得这样，其他亲戚能干的也一定有其他人才能干。否则，贡献和报酬的天平永远摆不正。同理，也别去亲戚的公司工作(国企除外哈，那是国家的企业不是亲戚的)。

　　10、别打听亲戚家的资产

　　这还用说吗？天底下名正言顺互相打听钱的只有夫妻，以“共同生活、共同规划未来”为前提，还不一定有没有小金库私房钱。除了“我愿意”外，谁花谁钱都不天经地义。那还瞎问什么呀？

Most challenge is to handle bully in personal finance research

January 1, 2018

Introduction

It is the most challenge problem I find in my personal finance research starting from Nov. 2018. I have to go over those finance mistakes and then I have to talk to my elder sister who is a physician and talk about bully issues from those elder sisters and young brother and sister before new year's day.

Hard to look into

It is the pain to learn from my personal growth as a Christian. I decided to choose to be a Christian starting from 2001, but I still found out that it was so hard to stay away from bully from relatives. I reviewed my finance history from 2010 to 2018, I have to bring up the topic about bully and talk about it.

What is bully?

Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini - Dare To Live (HD) ft. Laura Pausini

Here is the song I like to learn and learn again.

Dare to Live (Vivere)

Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini

Try looking at tomorrow not yesterday
And all the things you left behind
All those tender words you did not say
The gentle touch you couldn't find

In these days of nameless faces
There is no one truth but only pieces
My life is all I have to give

Dare to live until the very last
Dare to live forget about the past
Dare to live giving something of yourself to others
Even when it seems there's nothing more left to give

My personal finance remembrance day

January 1, 2019

Introduction

I like to choose Feb 27, 2002 as my personal finance remembrance day, more than 17 years ago, since today is January 1, 2019. I sold the mutual fund VIGRX in 2002 and took $1000 dollar loss and then forgot it. I come back in 2019 new year's day, work on personal finance research and found this biggest finance loss in my personal finance. Here is the blog. I like to make Feb 27, 2002 as my personal finance remembrance day.

How to educate myself and keep learning?

It is most challenging for me to learn and open, stay confident on USA economy. I had one laidoff from a startup called Trendium in Sept. 2001. I had time to think about my loss, and also I chose to be a Christian and I like to have a happy life in 2002.

I do not know why I cannot find opportunities in my life to build wealth. I decided to start to work on my personal finance in Nov. 2018.

Follow up

March 11, 2019

After more than three month study of personal finance, over 300 hours study, I learn the concept called psychology finance, one of common mistakes in investments are called loss aversion.

I tried not to lose money, even in the short term. I chose not to study personal finance, stock market, Warren Buffet at all. I just made decisions based on my emotions.

The idea is to hold VIGRAX fund on the long term.

Case study: Biggest three mistakes as a home maker in 2002

January 1, 2019

Introduction

It is the idea to write top three mistakes I made from Sept. 2001 to August 2002 as a home maker. I decided to study bible and learn to be a Christian, I baptized with my mom in 2001 in Palm Beach Christian church. I like to do a case study on this topic called biggest three mistakes as a home maker.

Case study

I stayed at home and invited my mom to come to Florida second time in 2001 Sept, I made so many mistakes in terms of being a good person in the community and also in my personal finance.

I made so many mistakes and it was so hard for me to learn how to make a living without income. I just made net income over $110,000 US dollar from 1999 to 2001 two jobs in three years. But I did not calculate how much my net income is. I only had less than $20,000 US dollars net asset in my checking and saving account. I burned net income with $90,000 dollars with a 3 years old Ford Explorer with $8000 debt (I paid 27 installments + $3000 down payment), a mortgage, paid off my mom's home and internal furnished ($8000 US dollars), all those cashes went away under pressure of relatives, vacation to Shanghai, long distance phone calls with arguments (60 cents/ minute international long distance), furniture, vacation to California, New York, and Smoky mountains, Miami, Orlando (4 round trips from Boca Raton to Orlando from 1999 to 2002).

Overspending problems

I still paid $2,000 US dollars to my relative after I paid off my mom's home. I paid one way airline ticket to invite my mom to visit me in 2011 second time. I like to live with my mom and try to help her recover from her first stroke in her 70s. She was 70 years old.

I did not have skills to make a living and learn how to save money. I had to push myself learn and live without income in USA.

Waste of food

For example, I bought a bag of white flour, more than 50 lbs from Costco. I tried to learn how to make bread, and then I tried to learn how to use baking soda to make a bread. After a few months, I threw away whole bag of white flour since there were some bugs growing inside.

I also have to learn how to deal with my loss of job, learn how to handle finance challenges. I decided to attend bible study in a small group.

Liabilities

I had car loan to pay every month $376.95 (47 installments, 20 left, $7539), and mortgage to pay $480/ month for a condo, and also I had to pay food and gas and car insurance etc.. Only thing I learned is that Ford manufacturer interest rate is low as 1.99%.

Careless and minor incident

I made a lot of mistakes in terms of driving my car Ford Explor 1999. I did not pay attention to what I did, one time I forgot to close gas cap, the light shows to check gas; I called my friend to ask his advice, and I tightened the gas cap.

Bible study

I already built a bad habit to show off the wealth. This is the first time in my life that I chose to be a Christian and learned to be humble. I stayed with bible study small group and I chose to be a Christian.

Canadian immigration

I had to push myself to overcome the stigma on myself. I learned that it was hard for me to make a living now. I did not have permanent resident in USA, I started to search for my opportunities, I consulted the Canadian immigrant, I did not have enough score to immigrate to Canada, I missed two points; If I have a spouse with a university degree, I can add 3 points; Or if I have a relative in Canada, I also can have additional 3 points. I had to stay in Florida.

Biggest finance mistake

First thing I found out today, this New year's day, the biggest financial mistake I made in Feb. 2012. I sold VIGRX mutual fund in my IRA account. Here is my blog.

I may argue to myself that if I do not learn what is growth index fund, then I will sell it as a loss in next recession around 2008 as well.

One of ideas is to purchase the growth index fund back in next recession in 2008. When I closed stock and IRA stock account in 2010, actually I should put everything in VIGRX growth index fund instead, 15 years lowest point, 15 years implies from 1994 to 2009.

Actionable Items

One thing I analyze today, new year's day after more than 17 years.

My top three biggest mistakes in personal finance

January 1, 2019

Introduction

I am so glad to celebrate new year's day to stay at home to work on my personal finance. I find my third biggest loss in my personal finance from 2001 to 2019. This one is the decision I made from 2000 in purchase and 2002 in sell. VIGRX mutual fund in my IRA stock account back in Florida, USA. I could not believe that my achievement of new year's day in 2019. I like to write a blog called top three biggest mistakes in my personal finance.

My top three biggest loss

No.1 mistake is the one I found in new year's day 2019.

Top one mistake is VIGRX mutual fund purchase and sold in 2002. I did not understand growth index fund, recession, time is on my side a few concepts. I was too young and did not learn to document my finance decision and review them in December holiday season as a single person, I did this first time starting from Nov. 2018.

I documented the loss using a case study. Here is the link.

No. 2 is my SONY laptop purchase in 2002. I found the receipt in Nov. 2017, I was so shocked to find out how much I paid. I totally forgot the price I paid, the good quality of product, I still made two more laptop purchase from 2002 to 2010. I left the laptop to my friend's house in 2010 when I left Florida. I did not take it back in 2014. I need to get it back and enjoy the good quality of a laptop, it should be good for me to write some C# algorithm and practice.

Case study: 2001 IRA and stock purchase VIGRX fund

January 1, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I spent time to review my files and then I found two documents related to my stock and mutual fund purchase. I like to do a case study on them.

Case study

Life is so challenge and I also like to share my limited experience. I am a single person and I do not know what the single means. In terms of personal finance decision, I like to write down my decision making mistakes and share with others.

My problem is to buy high and sell low. I do not understand time is on my side. I was so young back in 2002. I have over at least 30 years to benefit the growth of economy, what should I worry about?

I like to do a case study on a mutual fund VIGRX.

Here is the folder containing my purchase detail in my personal finance folder. I had Atlantic Entertainment 401 K rollover in 2001. Here is my 401 K statement at the end of 2010.

Share Price Action
2001 Dec 10, 2001 Fidelity advisor equity 158.915 $25.90 Bought

I sold the mutual function Fidelity advisor equity in 2012 with loss over $1000 US dollars.

My analysis

I sold mutual fund in 2002. I totally forgot the fund after Feb. 27, 2002. I did not have job from 2001 September to August 2002, I was a home maker. I need to do research how to be a good home maker.

Today on January 1, 2019. Fidelity advisor equity has price $69.10. If I took the loss in Feb. 27, 2002, and do nothing, my original $3000 dollar fund will worth more than $10981.00, without considering dividends.

Price review

VIGRX fund - from Vanguard website - January 1, 2019

Performance review

VIGRX mutual fund - January 1, 2019

Actionable Items

In order to solve my house problem in the city of Vancouver, I decided to work on my personal finance research. I like to figure out what decision making process I have and how I can make improvements.

In year 2000, I have a good friend from FAU shared me with the tip to buy growth index fund, so I had no idea what to do, I decided to purchase four funds instead. Growth index fund minimum $3000 dollar, other three funds $1000, $500, $500.

When the fund price went down, I really did not understand what the problem was. I just sold it and took the loss. After that, I did not review and try to purchase back to cover the loss in 2002. If I understand the growth index fund long term is up, then I will get back and keep last 18 years.

I like to call my finance lesson worth over $7000 US dollar, 18 years time. Personal finance No. 2, growth index fund, $7000 at least loss.

My learning and decision making has flaws. I listened to my friend's advice, I decided to open IRA stock account, I did purchase. I did not spend time to review my every piece of transaction, and also analyze what I should learn from the transaction.

I have to push myself to learn decision making. Go for one case a time, and go over to review my choice. What is the problem? How to recover? Should I go back to purchase again?

Since I am a single person, I choose not to share my struggle and is shamed about my wrong judgement. Today I like to share and push myself to learn from the mistake, and be a good manager of my money.

I have to push myself to be gentle, and kind. Document every purchase, and do not try to kill wealth from a seed. Specially when I took loss, it was pain. But that is the chance I can really grow. I have to believe in USA, USA economy, and try to think about how hard Facebook, Amazon and Facebook to recruit best problem solvers to work for them. People with best education, reasoning, and family support, there is no way the whole economy will stay down.

One of ideas is to purchase VIGRX mutual fund in 2010 instead of closing the account for investment and IRA. If I purchase growth index fund at lowest point of last 15 years, in 2010. If I put another $3000 dollars, or $6000 dollars, then I will have very successful story to share after 18 years.

Follow up

April 22, 2020

Based on my research, MSFT stock ten times more from 2010 to 2019. So if I hold MSFT 10 shares stock purchased back in 2001, then the value of stock 660 US dollars will be worth more than $6600 dollars.

Show case: Check completeness of a binary tree on interviewing.io

January 1, 2018

Introduction

It is my strategy to learn one algorithm to apply in my mock interview as an interviewer on interviewing.io again and again. This way I can full grasp thinking related to tree algorithm. I had mock interview and then the interviewee like to show case the interview. I choose to support his decision.

Show case

The show case is on interviewing.io, complete binary tree.

Talking Narwhal interviewed by Platinum Burrito 12/31/18 at 10:00 PM ~Practice

The algorithm I asked in the second one is Leetcode 958 Check completeness of a binary tree.

The idea is to use queue to do level order traversal, when a null pointer is dequeued, the rest of queue should not include any node with value except null pointers.

My personal experience

I wrote the algorithm first time in weekly contest 115. And then I wrote a comment in my favorite coding blog from Microsoft.

Our Budget for Financial Independence - How to Pay Yourself First

Here is the link.

Monday, December 31, 2018

'The whip cream on top of the sundae': Homebuyers writing heartfelt letters to sway sellers in hot housing markets

Here is the link.

You can walk away from your mortgage (if you live in Alberta), but should you?

Here is the article.

Buy Nothing Groups = Random Acts of Kindness All Day Long

Dec. 31, 2018

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I came cross this idea called buy nothing and share on facebook.com. I like the idea, I was shamed by myself to throw so many clothes in 2014 in Florida since I like to empty the space to give renters to use. Here is the article.

Case study

In Oct. 2014, I did spend over $250.00 US dollar to rent a car to stop by Florida, and then I did not spend efforts to donate those clothes. I opened those hundred items I made purchase, from 1999 to 2001, I still remembered the price I paid, and some of them I only wear a few times.

I talked to the new neighbor and she complained the rent was too high. I even did not notice and ask her if she likes to choose some clothes. I just went over so many bags of cloths and threw into huge garbage can in the community.

Actionable Item

It is very important to be a good citizen, avoid wasting time and money. Control spending, and also I need to learn how to share frequently. Every year or every two years.

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Homeowners who just walk away

Dec. 30, 2018

Introduction

It is tough time for me to admit that I cannot make money to afford my own housing in Vancouver area, so I am glad to rent instead of owning any real estate in Canada. I am planning to find a remote small city to live somewhere in Canada in the future if I plan to make a purchase of home. One thing is to read some article about home owners and how they make decision back in 2009.

Research helps me to understand more

Here is the article I choose to read.

Outwitting The Devil by Napoleon Hill

I remembered that I tried to mail TV set back to city of Yichun in 1996. I paid taxi to Shanghai rail station and then wasted money since the driver tricked me to expensive mailing place.

I break the law called delay of gratification. I do not treat hard earn money carefully and with respect. I gave away one year salary from 1992 to 1993 - over 1,000 yuan ring to my mom. It was early in my career, but I did not learn that the job was so risky and not stable. I just took the risk the whole career without considering options carefully.

Dhando — An Intelligent Investor

Power of your Subconscious Mind

Here is the medium article link. I gave more than 10 claps.

The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind

Here is the audio book.

Weekly contest 117 performance review

Dec. 30, 2018

Introduction

I spent over hours to go over leaderboard of weekly contest 117. What I like to learn is from those top 200 players in the leader board.

Performance review

I came cross the principal programmer from Microsoft, he solved Q1, Q2 and Q4. He only spent less than 20 minutes on Q2. His ranking is 186. I have a ranking 1299/ 3420.

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I came cross this receipt and the purchase I did in 1995. I like to do a short case study on this purchase.

Case study

By my research, the necklace has double the value. Now it should worth more than 3000 Chinese Yuan for 9999 10克 gold.

Here is the update of Gold price in China retail store.

I like to provide facts of my salary history to show the value of necklace:

I worked for research lab in Shanghai from 1992 to 1994, a startup software company from 1994 to 1996.

1988 - 1989 80 yuan/ month
1992 - 1994 120 - 180 yuan/ month
1994 - 1995 1000 yuan/ month
1995 - 1996 1800 yuan/ month

Actionable Items

I did spend more than one month salary to purchase a necklace, and a ring. The ring costed me a month of salary, and then I gave it to my mom. Since I felt that it was too heavy to wear when I worked on the computer.

I chose to leave the job in Shanghai research lab, and then worked for a startup company. My ex-coworkers in the reserach lab started to save money from the salary and then purchased a home in the city of Shanghai from 1996 to 2001, they left research lab and went for high pay job from 3000 - 8000 yuan maybe.

I decided to apply for graduate school in United States instead of continuing to work in the city of Shanghai from 1994 to 1996.

How do I evaluate my finance activities?

I think that I already had a lot of alarming sign to control spending. I should save those two year salary since 120 yuan is the salary I used to make in research lab, which I could cover all expenses. I should save 80% of salary, but I spent on grocery, and gold, English education, and also give away money to my mom.

I spent most of them on food, clothing, attending TOEFL/ GRE study, and applied the admission of school. I gave away money to my mom, a gold ring costed more than 1 year salary from 1992 to 1993.

I should start to learn person finance back in 1994. I had hard time to learn and under stress of working and learning technologies.

I tried to comfort my mom since she was depressed since the old home was destroyed and that was home she lived with my father over 20 years. She was 61 years old and she got her one eye damaged because of mistakes she made.

At the end of two years full time work in August 1996, I purchased an airline ticket to Florida, and paid over 8000 yuan for one way ticket, I had nothing left.

I sold a less than two years old TV costed me two month salary $2,000. And I paid rent $250/ month, the same size of room of next door shared by three or four man, under stairways from second floor to first floor, the bus driver rented the place to sleep in weekdays.

I lived in the biggest city in the world, Shanghai from 1984 to 1996.

Big item purchase:
From 1994 to 1996
1. 2000 yuan TV
2. Bicycle - 500 yuan, I ride bicycle to work every day round trip
3. 1500 yuan necklace
4. 1000 yuan 9999 ring
5. Grocery - monthly expenses
6. Rent $250/ month - two month salary I earned to work for Shanghai research lab, the lab paid free dorm room to live from 1994 to 1996.
7. A trip to Shanghai in 1988 for a group of 6
8. 200 US dollar = 1800 yuan application fee to USA graduate school
9. TOEFL/ GRE test
10. TOEFL/ GRE preparation class $400 each
11. A few more gold 9999 items, ear sets, pendant called Horse and Success. more than $1000 yuan purchase
12. Training NT operating system in Shanghai Jiaotong university. A few hundreds of yuan.

House problem

Lesson learned

Actionable Items

I was a single person. I was reminded by my sister in 2018 that I do not have high responsibility, therefore all my relatives try to get something from me. They do not want to pay their own bill. I can be easily emotionally manipulated by my relatives. My sister is a single mom and responsible for her teenage daughter, so she is more responsible and controlling of her expenses .

I will conduct some research and figure out my approach to solve the problems. Right now, I just educate myself using audio book Think and Grow Rich Audiobook 11 hours.

Case study: Florida palm beach condo property tax

Dec. 29, 2018

Introduction

It is my intentional training to help myself to get used to ask why, think about how to get the detail. I like to do the case study of the condo I owned in Palm beach and then property tax for the condo.

Case study of property tax

I learned that I have to work on my personal business research. Last night I went over all pieces of paper work I kept. I found out two pages with property from 1998 to 2013.

It is easy for me to find last 10 years property tax using palm beach papa website. So I put those information together. I can easily tell all property tax I have made from 1999 to 2018.

It is a small milestone for me to learn to be a good project manager. I like to figure out how many small things I can do in terms of management.

Actionable Items

It is important for me to save all bank statement, bills I have to pay.

I need to be a financial responsible person. I need to make sure that I pay what I should do, and do not pay relatives bill.

I cannot use the money to purchase things wanted, not needed. Otherwise I will have nothing left. And also I will not have any wealth after many years hard working, and no way to retire.

Reference:

Office public record to look up is here. https://www.pbcgov.org/papa/

Here is the article.

Success: a worthy destination Article by: Earl Nightingale

Here is the link.

Setting Worthy Goals Is The Secret To All Success - Earl Nightingale

Here is the link.

9:00 - 12:00 / 12:38

What do we think about? Move toward it.

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Goal setting mastery

Here is the article link.

As this study and the experiences of millions of people have proven, the ability to set goals and to make plans for their accomplishment is the “Master Skill” of success.

Earl Nightingale’s Checklist for Success (How to Get Rich)

Here is the article for me to read.

"The only difference between the men who earn big incomes and those who earn small incomes is that those earning big incomes decided to earn more. They are the people who made it their business to earn more."

Earl Nightingale

"We are all self-made, but only the successful will admit it!"

Own everything you do. Celebrate your achievements and embrace your mistakes and failures as well.

The checklist

1. Our rewards in life will always be in exact proportion to our contribution, our service.

"The money you’re paid by the company you work for will always be in direct ratio to the need for what you do, your ability to do it and the degree of difficulty involved in replacing you."

2. The key to every human being's success lies in his mind - the gold mine between his ears.

Track down my car expenses

Dec. 27, 2018

Introduction

It is so important for me to find solution how to save more than 30% of net income instead of 15% from 2010 to 2018. I like to document my gas purchase and also mileage on my car. I like to track down how many miles I can drive for this tank of gas.

One receipt

I need to learn how to build a habit to document my expenses. I start the first time to track down how many kilometers for those $65.00 Canadian dollar purchase.

Follow up

I added another tank of gas on Jan. 27, 2018, the mileage is 169046 KM. 218 KM for $65.48 Canadian dollars, $0.30/ KM.

Date your money - No. 2

Dec. 27, 2018

Introduction

It is a simple idea to purchase more Canadian dollars using US dollars. So I cover my loss in my three transactions over years. I also like to learn how to date my money.

One deposit

I went out to deposit a check from USA checking account to my Canadian USA checking account. I plan to purchase Canadian dollars later. It will take 21 business day to go through the transaction.

Actionable Items

I need to practice small transactions so I learn the importance to play with the market. Be consistent.

It takes 20 business day to process deposit. I checked on Jan. 30, 2019, the US dollar $3,000 is available now. I like to purchase Canadian dollars in short future.

Date your money - No. 1

Dec. 27, 2018

Introduction

I have one week break since it is holiday season. I like to go out to learn how to do business in this cold winter weather. More than two months ago, I spent time to do case study of $17000 US dollars to purchase Canadian dollars in April 23, 2010. Here is the blog. What I learn is to date your money. Try to find a good solution to cut loss to minimum.

Go out to purchase Canadian dollars

I went out to kingmark to purchase Canadian dollars. It is my baby step to learn how the exchange rate goes up and down. How should I do the work and make myself better?

Dec 27, 2018

Rate: 1.350 / invert rate: 0.7407407
Scotia bank: 1.3257

Actionable Item

It is my baby step to train myself to learn personal finance. Get educated, learn my own mistakes first.

The difference between kingmark and Scotia bank is 0.0243, in other words, 2.43%. My transaction in 2010 with $17,000 US dollars, if I choose to exchange with kingmark, then I can save 413 dollars.

Learning personal finance takes patience and also I need to push myself to think slowly, think one thing a time.