Case study: Longest univalue path mock interview

Jan. 19, 2019

Introduction

It is my mock interview and I had discussion with a young talent from a startup company in California. We worked together and wrote together a solution, but this morning I tested against Leetcode online judge, the code failed one test case, I could not figure out. I decide to move on now.

Case study

Here is my code gist.

Here is the code to read.

My analysis

Failed test case should return value 2, the code returns 5. So I have to figure out what is the possible reason for those extra values. 

I should add one more check, set left = 0 if there root.val does not equal to its left child's value. Same as right child's value.

Vancouver Amazon makes the city more beautiful

Jan. 19, 2019

Introduction

I start to like Vancouver as a city. I live here more than 9 years now. I went to Amazon Vancouver AWS woman breakfast in Jan. 18, 2019. I like to say that Vancouver Amazon makes the city more beautiful.

A short story

I do not have experience to work for downtown office, but I got up early at 7:00 AM, and walked to sky train station, arrived in the down town Vancouver at 8:00 AM. I went to 14th floor, and went to reception desk. I still remembered 3 years ago in 2016 I had my first onsite interview and sat in the lobby for the exciting moment. The lobby was so familiar and felt like a home.

We had breakfast served with not too much food, remind me frugal principle. The view was so nice through the window, and also the Amazon leadership principles are so familiar since I worked hard on those principles since last June 2018 my second onsite with Amazon Seattle.

I also heard a few stories from those woman working in Amazon AWS team. I checked all the profiles of panel interviewees after the event in the evening at my home office. One of them and I both can connect to internet network industry and get connected through the employee from my ex-employer Trendium Inc in Florida.

I have to work hard to push myself to grow rich; Right now, I am working hard on my personal finance research first to see how I can build wealth.

Vancouver Amazon makes the city more beautiful.

Case study: Longest univalue path mock interview

Jan. 19, 2019

Introduction

It is my mock interview again in Nov. 18, 2019 as an interviewer. I asked the interviewee to solve the longest univalue path. I like to do a case study on the interview.

Case study

I like to push myself to learn how to be a good interviewer. This time the interviewee wrote a solution with a bug, but I did not find the bug in the mock interview.

The interview was on Jan. 18, 2019.

Now it is Jan. 19, 9:54 AM. I put the idea into C# code and run Leetcode online judge. The code failed.

Here is the gist.

Uncover the problem

The problem is on the recursive to solve the cross path.

Line 35 return 2 + LongestUnivaluePath(root.left) + LongestUnivaluePath(root.right);

The counter example is the following:

Line 1:         3
Line 2:      /       \
Line 3      3        3
Line 4:   /   \
Line 5:  3    3

The above tree's longest univalue path is 3, not 4.

Actionable Item

I wrote an email to sam@interviewing.io and ask how I can modify my feedback.

Focus on Fundamentals First

Wealth, like a tree, grows from a tiny seed
the richest man in Babylon, Georges Clason

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to read and learn some fundamental first. Here is the article. 

Amazon leadership: dive deep

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is one of Amazon leadership principles called dive deep. Look at data, and analyze the data. I am working on my personal finance research, I learn how important it is for me to learn from my citi credit card statements from 1998 to 2002, I can easily learn from the analysis what I spent, and learn what mistakes I made in those four years.

Count the hours for my personal finance research

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I learn the mistake I made to sell VIGRX mutual fund in 2002, I sold it when it was low price. It was more than 17 years ago. I did not take time to learn how index fund works. Later I played on stock market, and never considered VIGRX mutual fund again. I like to be patient to myself, count hours to study personal finance first. If I did not sell it in 2002, then the fund will have market value $10,000, with $7,000 dollars gain.

100 hours mark

Knowledge is power. I should start to learn basics first.

I spent 4 weekends in November, 4 weekends in December, and also one week holiday break to study.

Total hour:
  8 * weekends (10 hours a day)
  5 week days ( 10 hours a day)
---------------------------------------
130 hours

200 hours mark

300 hours mark

400 hours mark

500 hours mark

Actionable Items

I do not save my VIGRX statements in 2001. I should parent myself and give myself warning since only thing I care about is to make profit, but I do not give myself chance to learn. One thing is to learn from my own mistake, my own experience. In order for me to do that, I have to save those finance records, so I can easily review all the transactions and learn from the mistakes.

This is basic personal financial habit. I should learn to build a good habit at the very beginning.

16. Majority element

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my mock interview algorithm I chose to work on. 

Six solutions

Here is the link for me to read and have discussion with the interviewee.

Hash table

Sorting 

Randomization

Divide and conquer

Moore voting algorithm

Bit manipulation

How to Hedge Your Portfolio

Here is the link.

Market Too Risky? Here's How To Hedge Your Portfolio

Here is the article for me to read. I plan to read it in 10 - 15 minutes.

Are You Too Materialistic?

Here is the link.

Materialism is bad for you, studies say

Here is the link.

 Kasser argues that when people turn to material things to feel better, they compound the problem, because they seek experiences that "don't do a very good job of meeting their psychological needs."

Less stuff, more happiness

Here is the link.

Large credit card debt.

The goods on good materialism: how to have a better relationship with your stuff

Here is the article.

Excess materialism is also partnered with unhealthy realities like hoarding, addictive shopping, consumer debt and antisocial behavior.

8:34 PM
Look into those keywords:

hoarding
addictive shopping
consumer debt
antisocial behavior

9 Steps To Financial Freedom Audiobook * Suze Orman

Audio book, two hours 52 minutes.

Plan to spend time from 8:22 PM - 12:00 PM, Jan. 18, 2019.

Can I say that over $5,000 dollar cloth purchase is money wasted?

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I did research and come out my 1998 to 2002 citi credit card clothing purchase. I never believed that I spent over $5,500 us dollars, in my memory, I only remembered that two sofa set, black leather sofa and projection TV. But there are so many leaks in my spending. All those expense have nothing left on those $10, 000 on citi credit card in 1999. All money are wasted. It is the fact, a truth.

Build a new mindset

I like to figure out how to research, what topic or concept I should learn based on those impulsive shopping of clothing.

Suze Orman on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos

Here is the link.

How to hedge my asset after my first laid off in Sept. 2011?

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I did my first analysis of my citi credit card statement analysis from 1998 to 2001. I like to look into some idea how to hedge my asset after my first laid off in Sept. 2011.

How to come out ideas?

Now it is 2019 January 18. I like to come out some ideas how to analyze and come out the ideas what I should in Sept. 2011.

I need to read a few article related to hedge first, and I will come back later.

Barbara Corcoran on Risk-Taking, Failure and How to Get Back Up

Here is one hour video. I like to write a few blogs when I watch and listen the presentation.

20:00/ 1:05

Phenomenal sales person - great people different from the ordinary people.

Secret? Facts? Argument?

They take less time to feel sorry for themselves.

Separate from great sales from ordinary people.


35:20/ 1:05

#3: Everybody wants what everybody wants.

Creative idea related to weight control

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. One of ideas I come out recently is to limit my expense on grocery, cut to $200 dollars. I used to spend $500 or $600 dollars on weight control back in 2014 to 2016, unprocessed food, avoid red meat. I like this new idea.

My motivation

I need to learn how to budget and then one area I can control is to cut down my grocery expense. One motivation is to invest those saved money on stock market, if I lose 50%, then I know that those money I may spend on the grocery, I should live without.

That is $200 to $300 dollars/ month investment to stock market. I like to try out this idea.

If I cut down expense 

If I cut down the expense on grocery, then it will be much easy for me to lose some extra weight.

Case study: How should I understand the market based on my own experience?

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to work on the area and I start to develop strong interest in the area. I do not see there is any different from the area I like to work on, algorithm and data structure. Problem solving is the key. I like to learn how to catch day by day through one idea a day.

Barbara Corcoran | How to Achieve Success Over and Over Again with Kelsey Humphreys

Here is the link.

I like to get some good business education. I like the teaching style from Barbara Corcoran. I like to figure out how to learn day by day through the short interview like this one.

44 minutes is good time for me to relax and also surf the internet to read some article related to the topic.

AWS - women's panel breakfast - Jan. 18, 2019

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my vacation day and I spent time in the Amazon office in the city of Vancouver, I had chance to learn more from AWS women. Such great time to learn so many things.

Sweat memory

It is the beginning of 2019. I like to work hard and push myself to learn more and open my mind to find a few things to work on, like personal finance, and other personal related area.

I also like to thank those ladies who shared with us their stories today.

Daryna bronnykova

Jenny Fang

Rebecca Sanders

Julia Lasarte

Tara Van Unen

DNA test - second sampling

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal sponsor project.  I need to go to Genetrack to get second sample for my DNA test. I need to sponsor my relative and need to do sibling test with my brother. Somehow, last December the sample did not work very well.

Case study: what activities hurt me most in down time (Series 2 out 3)

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to write a blog about the topic what activities hurt me most in down time. This one is called time is on my side; How should I embrace my failure?

Case study

In 2001 Sept., I got laid off from Tredium Inc. I think that is the down time. The activity hurt me most, I think, I made decision to throw away some personal finance records. I could not analyze in Jan. 2019, after 18 years.

What should I do at that time is to figure out how to invest some money left after I made net income over $110,000 us dollars?

I should figure out something for me to hedge loss of my asset, cash or hard working net income. It will take years for me to figure out how to be super talent programmer in the world. But I believe that there is a plan for me to come out how to hedge against all possible risks and come out reasonable plan.

Always work on personal finance habit

I am so surprised to learn that I have to build so many personal finance habits until January 2019; I made decision to start my own personal finance research starting from Nov. 2018, I try to push mysef every day to learn something, write down in my blog, and then look for data like credit card statement, saved printout invoices, and old emails in my Google gmail, Microsoft outlook, yahoo email. Dive deep on those data, I like to put together my analysis based on those financial data.

I will have to work on so many day one. I need to get annual credit report, I need to do my monthly income expense report similar the one I do at work every month. I did the first one this January, 2019, I need to do my annual asset report the first time, counting the inventory of cash, clothing, and all other items in the home. 

Case study: what activities hurt me most in down time (Series 1 out 3)

Jan. 18, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to conduct a topic called what are good activities in down time.

Case study

I like to get an example about my first laid off from a startup company called Trendium in 2001 Sept. I did a few things to surprise me, and I had no ways to recover those data for my personal finance research.

What I did is to destroy those personal return checks, and bank statements from Chase, and all the letters from my relatives in China, and all other personal documents from 1996 to 2002.

I am lucky to have those W2 Form, and a few pay stub for each company I worked for.

How are those decision made? I had no idea. I learned the concept called parent myself after I turn 18. It is hard for me to do the job, because I am single. And back in 2001, I did not have a roommate to talk to, I purchased a condo, 2 bedroom, I left extra bedroom empty from August 1999 to August. 2002, only used for my mom two times for her USA visit.

How to parent myself? 

In 2019 January, I started to get the credit card statement from 1996 to 2018. So I can analyze my expenses from 1998 to 2001. I had net income over $110,000 dollars, citi credit card statements from Dec. 1998 to Sept. 2001 are available for me to analyze. Those amount of purchases are $40,000, but there are still $70,000 dollars, more than 60% I could not analyze dollar by dollar since there are no returned check, bank statements.

60% of those net income $110,000 are hard for me to analyze, so I only can do some estimation. But I can not learn the truth from those financial data.

Case study: Longest univalue path algorithm as an interviewer

Jan 18, 2018

Introduction

It is hard to be an interviewer. I have over 144 interviews as an interviewer on interviewing.io. On Jan. 17, 2019, 10:00 PM, I worked with a young engineer and then we worked together to come out the perfect solution together using JavaScript.

Case study 

I need to push myself to write down the process to explain the solution, and share the interviewee how I hack the solution for this tree algorithm.

The problem was that I memorized the solution, I wrote the idea with a bug, and then the interviewee helped me to fix the bug.

Here are a few steps to show how we work together. Another comment is to have a lot of fun to work with a senior developer from California sillicon valley startup. I checked the website and learned that the culture in the startup is pretty interesting and very good experience to work with people from the company.

The Secret of Waking Up Early | Best Inspirational Speech (ft. Mel Robbins)

Here is the link.

The hard truth about making your dreams come true | Mel Robbins Live

Jan. 17, 2019

Introduction

It is called to parent yourself after you get 18 years old.

How to Stop Buying Things You Don't Need

Here is the link.

Five second rule to stop materialism.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Out of Debt

Here is the link.

3 Things You Should Never Do In A Job Interview | Rachael Ray Show

Here is the link.

What to Do if an Attacker Grabs You By the Hair

Here is the link.

Tips for Protecting Yourself and Your Home

Here is the link.

Meet Jordan Page from FunCheapOrFree.com!

Here is the link.

Super simple budget technique (old version - see my new video!)

Here is the link.

Be the Queen of Your Finances | Jordan Page | MyMommyStyle

Here is the link.

Here is the page "Meet Jordan (AKA, the "Fun Cheap & Free").

I am lazy in fashion

Jan. 17, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I did come out the clothing purchase amount I put on Scotia credit card from 2010 to 2017, it is more than $6500 Canadian dollars. I like to write down my analysis how those clothing is such huge problem to take away my space in a small bedroom.

I am lazy in fashion

I bought so many coats for winter. I used to wear one by one. But I am too busy to change coat in this winter season. I have so many things going on, my personal finance research and full time job.

I worry about the fashion complaint. Since I wear same sweater in December, 2018. I changed another sweater and wear the same one in January, 2019.

The Double Life Of Rachael Ray

Here is the link.

The Terrible Things People Have Said About Rachel Ray

Here is the link.

This is my most favorite show as well.

0:50

Entertainer not a good teacher

Too amateur for E...

1:53
Not gellin's with Giada

2:14

Giada De Laurentiis

Do we hang out all the time? No. Are we best friends? No.

2:45/ 4:11

Too brash for Anthony Bourdain

3:55/ 4:11
Sara Dikerman

50 personal financial habits

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

It is time for me to spend 20 - 30 minutes to build my own check list weekly, monthly, annual related to personal finance. One thing I can read is to read more articles on this topic.

Personal finance habits

Here is the article I choose to read today.

No. 2  Tracking your income and expenses.

I should work hard to try to track my income and expenses from 1988 to 2018. I like to learn from my own personal finance research. 

I like to find more topics to work on. 

No. 4 Paying attention to mortgage interest rates — even after you buy a home. People who fail to do this may miss out on refinance opportunities that could save them tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their loan.

I did good job to get home equity loan in 2006. So I could use the home equity line from 2006 to 2017. 

Rachael Ray: What You Can Learn From Her Rise To Fame

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

It is my favorite thing to do. I like to read the article written on Forbe.com. I like to look into success story of Rachael Ray. Here is the article.

Thank you citibank

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

I like to write a short blog to give thanks to citibank since the citi credit card has product feature to allow me to download statements from 1996 to 2017.

Facts

I went to Florida in 1996 and my account was closed in 2017 since I stopped to purchase using citi credit card starting from 2016.

I had tough time to handle my first laidoff in 2001, I made wrong decision to destroy those returned checks and also I did not keep all bank statements from 1996 to 2010. I have hard time to do personal finance research.

I have hundred of pages of documents, I keep them and brought to Canada. I learned my appeal for leave case in 2009 for my Canada skilled immigration case.

I did not spend time to dig into until Nov. 2018. I like to be my own finance analyst, and be my own problem solver. I think that it all takes the determination, hard work, and also good intention to document journey and share with others.

Big hero

I came cross the product feature on citi bank credit card website. I found the product feature to download statements from 1996 to 2018.

That is such great feature, I like to write a big thank you blog to Citi bank.

Things You Didn't Know About Rachael Ray

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

It is five minutes video called "Things You didn't know about Rachel Ray". Here is the link.

Self-Made Millionaire Barbara Corcoran Refuses to Splurge on These Items

Here is the link.

A Divorce Attorney Explains What's In a Prenuptial Agreement

Here is the link.

How long it takes me to prepare all documents for RBC mortgage specialist?

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I learned from Suze Orman that I need to date my money. I need to learn how to work on small projects first. I talked to RBC mortgage special list on Jan. 8, 2019 for over 30 minutes, and I was told to prepare a list of documents. Here is my blog I wrote for the experience. How long does it take me to prepare those documents?

Preparation 

I did first time in my life to calculate my asset in New year's day. I wrote a blog to document my experience. I brought the document and showed the worksheet to RBC mortgage specialist.

I like to show my credit report, but I have difficulty to get free credit report in 2018. I checked my history, I only have three credit report from USA in 2014. I never got my credit report from Canada.

It is important to build a good habit to do personal finance work every year. Get credit report.

I need to get 2017 and 2016 T1, but it took me some time to find those documents. I work on my personal finance starting from Nov. 2018, weekends and evening time, but I have not put all my T1 from 2010 to 2018 in my github yet. I could not find my 2012 and 2013 T1 electronic copy.

Another red sign that I should prepare myself to get my personal financial document ready. I like to be a manager one day, project manager or program manager.

I spend time to write five or 6 emails to send documents.  I spent a few hours in the last weekend, and I visited Scotia branch in lunch break to get a receipt of accounts with balance, and also a stamp from the branch.

I spent over 4 hours to work on the documents at least.

Book: Financially Fearless

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

It is a book called Financially fearless. I like to learn a few things from the book. Fearless is such great attitude. I did some research and then I just decided to share my $40,000 dollars expenses on my citi credit card on my github, and I like to learn how to analyze based on those transactions.

Alexa von Tobel

Here is wiki article about Alexa Von Tobel.

Alexa Von Tobel: "Financially Fearless" | Talks at Google

Here is the interview link.

41:10 / 1:19:17
Put money in the market that you can afford to keep there for the long run.

Last 30 minutes question and answer.

Barbara Corcoran Offers Advice to Struggling Entrepreneurs

Here is the link.

Citi credit card statement 2008 January - August

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I feel so desperate since I heard first time that I may need social housing in the city of Vancouver area in Nov. 2018, my tear just came out after I had the conversation. I decided to slow down algorithm and data structure practice, I like to work on personal finance research. I like to figure out what are things I like to learn and how to be a problem solver of my housing need.

2008 January to August 

My statements are ready for me to review. In 2008, it is a special year. In January, I booked the airline ticket to China, and then I planned to get back to my Ph.D. study and so I applied USA visa for F1 in February.

Citi credit card statements 2007 from July to December

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. Once I started to work on Nov. 2018, I try to work on and find projects to work on. More than two weeks, I found out that I can download my citi credit card statements from 1996 to 2018. Today I got an email that my statements are ready, since it takes 24 to 48 hours.

‘Shark Tank’s’ Barbara Corcoran Tips for Living Like a Boss, Even When You’re Broke

Here is the link.

2:00 / 6:02 -
Barbara coached how to start a business.

How her mom managed 10 kids with socks.

One size two color, that is all.

Save like Dave Ramsey... Just Don't invest like him

Here is the link.

I spent over 20 minutes to read the whole article. I like the analysis of how to invest long term and make choice better than money market rate return.

Case study: top 22 expense by categories

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I put together all transactions from 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007 citi credit card statements, and then I like to do a case study of top 22 items.

Case study

I have to push myself how to analyze mini leaks or major leaks from my citi credit card statements. I made net income from 1998 December to 2001 Sept, but I only saved $16,000 US dollars in checking and saving account in Sept. 2001.

The citi credit card transaction all together has the amount of $40,545 dollars, those top 22 items are 35,239 dollars.

Two years I drove less than 3 miles to work, 12 months I drove 22 miles one way, 44 miles round trip to work every week day.

I had car installment $395/ month, $490/ month on mortgage, and $2000 black leather sofa paid by personal check, not on citi credit card statement. Those $40,000 dollars only grocery are necessary. I can save $30,000 US dollars for those three years.

How to save those money?

First I should have some analytical skills. I did not have stable job as a software programmer. I was lucky to get an offer from Trendium in 2000 Sept.. Since I chose not to go to Las Vegas to continue to work on the gaming software. 

What was my finance goal back in 1999 to 2001, or 2007? 

Phone calls are $892 dollars on citi credit card. Those are long distance international calls. I should look into the business area how to improve my communication.

Books 

In 2014, I visited Florida and threw away all those books I had. I did not know how much I paid for those books.

In the above table, the cost is around $795.93 dollars.

Clothes

In 2014, I went to Florida and threw so many clothes in garbage can. I did not know how much I paid for clothing over years. Now it shows at least $5524.04 dollars. That is the money I paid for my mom condo in the city of Yichun in 2001. Now its value went up to half a million Chinese dollars, almost $100,000 US dollars.

I should be a nice person and live with less than $1000 dollars wardrobe. I should set capped value to the clothing.

Reference:

Here is the github folder containing the excel sheet with all transactions (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) and how I analyze.

Personal finance research is tough and I like to push myself to be a problem solver. I like to dig into the area quickly and then find out things to learn.

Case study: my purchase related to electronic

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research.  I have to learn how to reduce the cost and loss from all my purchase from 1999 to 2002.

Case study

Scotia bank credit statement 2010 - 2013

Jan. 16, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. The scotia bank only provides me statements from 2013 Sept. to Dec. 2018. I have to scan the paper statements from 2010 to 2013 Sept and plan to do analysis.

It is the best practice to save all statements in January for the past year. Now I did not have all statements from 2010 to 2013. I also had some difficulty to get my checking account statements from 2010 to 2018 as well.

Find a solution

I will have to find a solution to those statements.

Don't Co-Sign for Family Members!

Here is the link.

We Are Behind On Retirement Investing!

Here is the link.

Case study: 2010 June - 2014 December Ford explorer maintenance

January 15, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to put together how much I spent on the maintenance on the car from 2010 to 2014. It was tough task for me to go over the study. I have to look into all past records and try to figure out the payments.

Case study

It is tough for me to review the maintenance history. I have to figure out, I need to find one repair a time from my credit card statement, cash payment by checking ATM withdraw, and any receipt available.

How To Keep Boundaries With Family and Money

Here is the link for 4 minutes video.

Wealth Expert Chris Hogan On 5 Key Habits Millionaires Have (That You Can Copy)

Here is the link.

Suze Orman's Organize and Protect Financial System with Jennifer Coffey

Here is the link.

What the Clutter in Your Purse Might Say About Your Debt

Here is the link.

Rachel ray finance show

I like to watch shows on Rachel ray by searching using keyword "Rachel ray finance show".

Case study: clothing purchase from 2010 to 2019 on Scotia visa card

Jan. 15, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to calculate how much I put on my scotia bank credit card on clothing shopping. I only can download 2013 August - 2019 Dec credit card statement, I had to look up some of paper statement from 2010 June to 2013 August.

Motivation

The reason I started to work on personal finance research is that I do not own any home in Vancouver are when condo price was low from 2010 to Dec. 2016. I was busy shopping trips to USA bellingham, and then spent thousands of dollars to maintain the car, and I had vacation to China in 2012 and 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018.

Case study

I finally came out the minimum number spending on clothing. It is $6895.00 dollars.

It is not most important how much I earn. It is important how much I save. I just worked on my 1998 to 2002 clothing shopping, the amount is over $6,000 dollars. I just worked on 1999 citi credit card statements analysis by categories, $8000 dollars out of $10,000 are not needs, they were my wants. When I left USA Florida, I did not know how much I spent on credit card 1999. All I knew is that I do not have any money left, only $17,000 US dollars.

The habit stays the same from 1999 to 2001, and I did same thing from 2010 to 2016. I need to break the bad habit.

Actionable Items

It is not how much I make. It is important how much I save. If I learn the lesson in USA Florida from 1999 to 2001, then I may save those clothing expenses. I start to learn how to invest.

One case study I did in Nov. 2018, a chilliwack condo with price $55,000 from 2010 to 2016, now it is selling around $150,000 dollars.

Small leaks will create a big problem. One pen, one paper, one diligent heart to write down every dollar I spend. I should record and review all expenses.

Why you should think about financial independence and mini-retirements | Lacey Filipich | TEDxUWA

Here is the link.

Are You Making These 3 Common Financial Mistakes?

Here is the link.

A pen, a paper and a diligent heart to write every dollar expenses

Jan. 15, 2019

Introduction

It is the first month of 2019. A lot of people start new jobs or look for a new job with more pay or more challenging position. But it is not only how much you make matter, it is also how much you save matters. I like to write a blog to document my research on this topic called a pen, a paper and a diligent heart.

How to build a money community?

Jan. 15, 2019

Introduction

It is 12:35 AM. I just give myself a small topic to work on called why is so important to build a money community. I learn from my algorithm and data structure problem solving, I have over 500 mock interview experience from April 2017 to January 2019. I like to adapt the learning experience to my personal finance.

What is fashion? It is time for me to learn

Jan. 15, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I cam out US dollar amount I spent on clothing in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007. I spent over $5500 US dollars. I did not learn what is the art. I made over $3500 Canadian dollar from 2010 to 2018 on clothing as well, I plan to spend time to do analysis in short future.

What is fashion? What is the art?

I like to do some research on this topic. I did not learn personal finance, I found out that I kept making mistakes on fraud auto shoppers, buy same cloth 4 pairs in superstore in 2012, in Shanghai vacation.

Small research: how often I do house cleaning vs how much I can save

Jan. 15, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. Today my smart roommate Emma put a stick on refrigerator door. She reminded me again and tried to coach me how to be a good manager of house hold. She is an English teacher, I learn from her how she controlled her expenses on clothing, food. I like to write a blog to express my gratitude to have good community for me to learn and grow.

A small research

Today after dinner I started to clean the kitchen again, I spent over 30 minutes and I did similar thing in last day of 2018. Emma asked me why I chose to clean today, not on weekend, wait for us to work together.

I came out the idea to do some short research how two factors are related. How good a person can do house cleaning and how good a person can learn how to save money. There must be good relationship on this.

ANC On The Money: My Money Story: Anton Diaz

Here is the link.

On The Money: My Money Story [Dr. Antonio Huerto]

Here is the link.

It is not how much you make, but it is how much you save.

Common money mistakes among doctors:

1. Investing in the wrong instruments

2. Spending on luxurious items


3:55/ 23:55

Don't peg your future on a hit-or-miss strategy

5:13/ 23:55

A budget gives freedom rather than puts constraints.

6:03/ 23:55

Immediate changes:

Become disciplined with the budget
Started an investment plan
Create a buffer fund
Protected against risks through insurance

9:52

Don't put all your investments in risky assets.

Case study: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007 airline ticket expenses

Jan. 14, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I worked three startup companies Atlantic Entertainment, Online Gaming, Trendium, Siva, I was under stress to survive in the full time job, developed the skills in terms of problem solving skills. Of course, I did not do very well. I like to do case study how I spent money on. I believe if I can control my income and expense very well, I may be able to survive and today I should live in USA happy and have very good career.

Case study

I like to case study my trips paid by myself, and trips I paid for my mom to visit Florida two times from 2000, 2001, 2002.

More detail,

Actionable items

It is my personal finance research. I worked and made income from 1996 to 2010 over $250,000 us dollars, from 1999 to 2001 I made net income over $110,000 us dollar.

But when I left USA to immigrate to Canada in 2010. I knew that I did not learn how to handle money very well, I put all my IRA and 401 K in money market fund, less than $25,000 US dollars. And I borrowed against the condo I purchased in 1999, with home equity loan $38,000 dollars, less than $25,000 US dollar cash, I landed in Canada to start a new life. The condo I owned had market value $48,000 US dollars.

It is not how much I made mattered. It is how much I saved mattered. 

As a person with some management skills, I noticed there are hundreds of mistakes I made in terms of money.

I did not learn personal finance in 2001 my first laidoff; I did not learn personal finance in 2007 second laid off. After I worked full time job over 8 years in Canada, I found out that I could not afford and got a loan in Chilliwack, two hours away small city one bedroom home. I decided to learn personal finance in my life first time.

I just could not believe that I can get a golden medal on hackerrank weekly contest, but it took me hundreds of hours to work; I start to work on all my personal finance study by myself.

Jeremy Siegel

I plan to study Jeremy Siegel 30 - 60 minutes in next 7 days.

Here is the wiki page. I like to read some summary about those books.

1993 Revolution on wall street
1994 Stocks for the long run
1994 Stock long run
2005 The future for investors

ANC On The Money: Q&A Friday [August 31, 2012]

Here is the link.


1:33/ 18:56

Jeremy Siegel:

As the holding period increases, the probability that stocks will underperform fixed income assets drops dramatically. For 10- year horizons, stocks beat bonds and bills about 80% of the time; for 20-year horizons, it is over 90% of the time; and over 30-year horizons, it is virtually 100% of the time.

(stocks for the Long Run)

Case study: clothing expenses 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007

Jan. 14, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I do not know how much I spent on clothing in United States until today. I like to do a case study on those expenses.

Case study

Here is my personal finance github folder.

I do not know how much I spent on clothing shopping in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007 until 19 years later. I did personal finance research starting from Nov. 2018, I came out the idea to calculate the amount last few days.

Stores - purchase amount 

Clothing - Store - purchase

Actionable Items 

Most important is the problem solving skills. The thinking process is so important. I should push myself to learn personal finance. Through my analysis, I understood how much time I wasted on the worry. Even I chose to be a Christian in 2001, I still have to learn how to master personal finance. I am glad to make decision to start to learn Nov. 2017 the first time in my life, I like to spend 300 hours first. 

I did purchase a condo using $10,000 US dollar in 1999 August, my elder sister purchased a condo in 2000, I paid the cost less than $8,000 US dollars. But however, I did not learn how to solve my problems in terms of building wealth, grow rich; I never thought about saving every day, I should purchase a condo in Shanghai. Why? Shanghai is the biggest city, I lived and worked there from 1984 to 1996, 12 years.

Delay gratification

I should learn money rules called delay gratification.

I spent over $5,500 us dollar on clothing.

Clothing shopping definitely was a biggest waste. I did not know that the small amount can be added up quickly to big amount. Even I have a mathematics major, but good habit to handle money, purchase, I like the statement, a pen, a paper, a diligent heart to write down all expenses in every penny.  Be careful Small leaks.

Case study: 1999 August - 2002 July

Jan. 14, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to work on the research I chose not to rent out the extra bedroom when I purchased the condo in August 1999. What are possible reasons? How should I make decision based on my personal finance?

Case study

It was economic bubble. I graduated with computer science master degree in Dec. 1998,  and I got a full time job. I purchased a home in 1999 August. I decided not to rent the extra bedroom, market rate is $350 US dollars. I had full time job until Sept. 2001. I did not try to rent out the bedroom 35 months. That is $ US dollars 12250.

It was very tough for me to find a better stable job, I worked for a few startup companies. I got Microsoft phone screen in 2000 but I could not pass the phone screen.

I started to learn how to rent out extra bedroom in 2002.

I paid interest 7.125 on my mortgage, and my loan amount is $25,000. In August 1999, I did not have any saving left after I purchased the home. I had car loan, and it was very tough and I worked for a startup company.

Say goodbye to a weekend personal finance research

Jan. 14, 2019

Introduction

It was a busy weekend since I only spent one hour on tennis court. All other time I watched ANC money videos and read articles, and wrote some blogs in the same times. I like to select three blogs to mark the end of personal finance research for this weekend.

My learning

I start to learn personal finance, and I understood that what was wrong with my mindset. When I first time spent time to analyze my expense from 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, first surprising is the total amount clothing amount is $6500 US dollars. I just could not believe that, that is the amount I gave to my mom to pay her condo 890 square foot.

Second thing is to understand that those citi credit card statements expenses 80% are not needs, those are what I want. I could save 1999 at least $8,000 out of $10,000 expenses, I should get rid of Bally gym contract, I should rent extra bedroom out. Same applies to 2000 and 2001. I just could not believe that I was behaving like a lottery winner.

No. 1, ANC on the money: My money story - Francis Kong

No. 2, ANC on the money: Cost of Setting Up A Business

Marie Forleo & David Bach: How To Live and Finish Rich

Here is the link.

Automatic millionaire - book study

David Bach, I like to spend 20 minutes on this book.

David Bach on how to get rich

Here is the link.

Chris Voss: "Never Split the Difference" | Talks at Google

Here is the link.

Salve Duplito

http://moneystories.ph/

ANC On The Money: Retirement Planning Mistakes

Here is the link.

In your 20s or 30s, use an 80-20 allocation:
80% in high-risk
20% in low-risk

In your 40s
50% in high-risk
50% in low-risk

In you 50s or 60s

ANC On The Money: Earning Your First Million

Here is the link.

Delay gratification

Income - savings = expenses,

Not
Income - expenses = savings

Need to change savings paradigm.

Spend 20 minutes to read the article on https://www.millionaireacts.com/about-me

As Warren Buffet said:

Do not save what is left after spending, but spending what is left after saving.

If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need.

LEGENDS OF TRADING: THE STORY OF JESSE LIVERMORE

Here is the link.

ANC On The Money: Couple Finance

Here is the link.

6:19/ 23:07

Focus on building up your savings to a point where passive income from it can take care of your needs.

ANC On The Money: Understanding Money Behavior

Here is the link.

mental accounting, paradigm shift, and ...


10:00 / 22:59

Emotions affect the way we look at money.

10:55

Best trader in the world Jesse Livermore:

"IF THERE ARE ABCs IN INVESTING, THERE ARE ALSO FGHIs ... FEAR, GREED, HOPE AND IGNORANCE"

11:00 - 12:42 quick overview notes

On The Money: Financial Literacy

Here is the link.

5:00 / 25:53

Lesson #1: Once your child reaches 21 years of age, you can stop sending money and save for yourself.

6:00 / 25:53

If your family wants your remittance to be permanent, it means one thing:
they don't want you back home.

20% of income on average is sent home.

17:00 / 25:53

She now is ATM machine.

Strategy for Rhoda:

Half of the time you said yes before, say no.

22:00 / 25:53

Culture of dependency is a big problem in Philippine society.

Love is when you let the other person grow.

ANC On The Money: Forex

Here is the link.

I learn one thing, I brought US dollar $17,000 to Canada when I landed in Canada. I should sell $8,500 US dollars. So it is  a hedge. If US dollar go down or up, then my asset can hold the risk.

The 4 Best S&P 500 Index Funds

Here is the article.

ANC On The Money: Your Money Questions [June 14, 2013]

Here is the link.

Charles Schwab fund performance study

Jan. 13, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I plan to spend time to study Charles Schwab fund performance. I have 401K with par tech from 2007 to 2018. I never studied the fund performance, and this is the first year I have to give myself assignment to review fund performance.

Fund performance

I did not spend enough time to manage my portfolio. I invested $8000 dollars into 401K, when the fund lost the value to the minimum in 2009, I sold every thing to keep it money market fund. That is all. I have not done anything from 2009 to 2019 Jan. 13.

ANC On The Money: Your Money Questions [May 17, 2013]

Here is the link.

Spend 70%, save 30% working in Philippine
Save 70%, spend 30% if working in overseas

Case study: tennis sport cost

Jan. 13, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to do a case study on this sport, how much I spend, what I learn and how I should manage myself better through the sports activities.

Learning process - money mistakes

Jan. 13, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I like to learn from those years from 1988 to 2018 until I started to work on my personal finance research Nov. 2017. I learned from the talk from ANC, the quick money does not provide me the learning process, so it is a big check syndrome. Easy come and easy go. I need to work on my personal finance research and find out my real personal finance personality fatal issue. 

How much lessons I learn in terms of dollar amount?

Currency exchange

US saving rate from 1.2 to 2.85% in Jan. 13, 2019.
But Canadian dollar worth lowest value compared to US dollar, now it is 0.75
I bought us dollars $3600 for a central AC for my boca raton Condo
I bought us dollars using Canadian dollars,  $22,000 Canadian dollars -> $18,000 US dollars
2010 April 23, I sold $17,000 dollars one deal -> $15,000 Canadian dollars

I learn from lottery winner, quickly gain and quickly loss. One thing I like to do is to protect myself to avoid this problem.

Credit card debt

Credit card is a plastic, it is so easy to make purchase. But I quickly make purchases without carefully recording all expenses. Review and audit, and design a strategy to find those negative influence friends and relatives.

1999 I spent $2,000 on clothing
1999 I spent $6000 on material things, vacations, and restaurant, gadgets
2000 I spent $2,000 on clothing,
2000 I spent $6,000 on material things, my mom vacation, and restaurant, gadgets
2001 I spent $2,000 on clothing 
2001 I spent $5000 on China vacation in August,
2001 I paid for six people vacation to Shanghai over near 2000 us dollars

2010 - 2018
I spent over $3,000 Canadian dollars on clothing
I will continue to count all expenses.

Total expenses on clothing  over $10,000 dollars from 1998 - 2018


What did I learn from those money mistakes? Am I bread winner hard working? Am I a lottery winner?

Date my money - third date on my money

Jan. 13, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. I learn that I need to date my money, I need to set up fourth date on my money. I documented my first three dates early this year by using tag "Date my money".

My fourth date

This one is not an easy date. I have a CD over $2600 New York community bank in the city of Boca Raton. It is not an IRA CD, I can break 6 years term. I like to break CD term of less than 2%, and I like to transfer to US Chase bank my checking account, and then I will write a personal check to my Canada scotia bank. I will go to kingmark to sell US dollars to get Canadian dollars.

It is a complicated date. I like to get into more structured way to describe and push myself to learn how to date better next time.

New York community bank - CD with six year term - break the contract
Chase bank - transfer $2600 US dollar to Chase bank
Scotia bank - US saving account - write a personal check from Chase and deposit to Scotia bank
Scotia bank - wait 21 business day, cash to sell in kingsmart, save personal check fee $7.5 dollars
Scotia bank - save 1.3 * 2600 Canada dollars. The rate is 1.32, 3348 Canadian dollars, 748 extra dollars.

That is my date, I will cover the loss of my three transactions from 2010 to 2017.

Learning process

US saving rate from 1.2 to 2.85% in Jan. 13, 2019.
But Canadian dollar worth lowest value compared to US dollar, now it is 0.75
I bought us dollars $3600 for a central AC for my boca raton Condo
I bought us dollars using Canadian dollars,  $22,000 Canadian dollars -> $18,000 US dollars
2010 April 23, I sold $17,000 dollars one deal -> $15,000 Canadian dollars

I learn from lottery winner, quickly gain and quickly loss. One thing I like to do is to protect myself to avoid this problem.

1999 I spent $2,000 on clothing
1999 I spent $6000 on material things, vacations, and restaurant, gadgets
2000 I spent $2,000 on clothing,
2000 I spent $6,000 on material things, my mom vacation, and restaurant, gadgets
2001 I spent $5000 on China vacation in August,
2001 I paid for six people vacation to Shanghai over near 2000 us dollars

What did I learn from those money mistakes? Am I bread winner hard working? Am I a lottery winner?

Case study: How to measure the loss?

Jan. 13, 2019

Introduction

It is my personal finance research. How to measure financial loss? I am not sure in personal finance business, how to define those expenses and analyze them properly.

Case study

In 2012, I sold VIGRX fund since I original paid $3000 dollars, but the value went down below $2000, so I sold it in 2012. And I never review again and try to purchase again the same fund. I did not spend time to study the economics and market, and understand the growth and up-and-downs.

From 1999 to 2001, I spent clothing shopping over $6,000 US Dollars, I spent in 1999 on citi credit card $7000 dollar wants not need items. I did not know how to classify those items in personal business accounting term. One thing I knew that I could not take with me from Florida to Vancouver, since I could not put all those items into my Ford Explorer. How to count those expenses as loss?

I just learn a term called mini leaks, I like to learn personal finance and how to handle those disposable expenses, how to budget and manage those expenses.