Even in times of rising inflation, people seem to be going out and spending money. This is likely to occur for some time until things are too expensive and we fall into a recession or in stagflation state. At the moment the world has a handle on Covid and entertainment venues are filling the seats. So when going to an event, the question is: do you buy your tickets right away or do you wait? If it is a can’t miss, people will pay up. If you decide to wait, there are many apps out there to buy tickets in the second hand market. So for the next question: is it better to wait until to purchase tickets right up until the event occurs. Typically this is a good strategy, but more so when the event is not sold out as venues want to fill their seats. Recently, I went to a baseball game on Memorial Day weekend and it turned out that it was less expensive to buy the seats at Will Call rather than through an app. This is because the demand was high. As for sporting events, if the team stinks or you don’t mind showing up after it starts this will save you money. Another strategy is to search for events straight through the venue as you can find packages that will include parking. We have found this to be advantageous. We parked close to the building and saved money. There’s nothing like paying $60 bucks to park, right? The bottom line is that there is no right or wrong answer. As for my wife and I, being spontaneous keeps life interesting - we hop in the car, find an event and we keep some of our money from going to the overpriced ticket brokers. Website: https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Social Media https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

The Earth might seem like it has abundant water, but in fact less than one percent is available for human use and we are running out of it. So let’s push down the handle on some Flush Facts: According to the EPA, the average American uses 300 gallons of water per day or about 80 gallons per person. In addition, roughly 70 percent of this use occurs indoors. So it goes without saying that there is always something that we can do. So let’s talk about toilets. With that being said no one goes out and says that I am excited to shop for a toilet; however, over $10 Billion are sold in the U.S. each year. This means the odds you’ll buy one sooner than later. So let’s get to more numbers. The standard toilet in the past used 1.6 GFP or gallons per flush and with recent advancements, many have been reduced to 1.28 gallons per flush which is a reduction of 20%. WIth my recent toilet purchase, it uses just .8 GPF while still providing equal or superior performance. So I am happy with my choice knowing that the average person flushes five times per day which means I am cutting the water usage in half. Not to mention that I have incorporated other water reducing tactics with other low flow appliances and fixtures from our PFT #40 and PFT #6 which covered why there is no need to rinse your dishes by letting your dishwasher handle the load. Therefore, I am significantly reducing my water bill as my past purchases will pay for themselves over time - the best part is that I am preserving our environment and you can too! Website: https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Social Media https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

In times when inflation is rising, we experience higher prices for our goods and services as well as shortages. For example, In the grocery store, we’ve experienced products in limited supply from toilet paper to baby formula. When a desired product is available, it is emptied as soon as it was stocked. When it comes to gasoline, supply chain disruption was experienced in 1973 and 1979. This also occurs during natural disaster situations where shortages shoot up prices and then we hear about gauging. To make things clear, gauging does occur; however, there is a large misinformation notion that gas stations drive up their prices because they have us over a barrel. For the most part this is not true as our research on average tells us that most retailers make 15 cents per gallon after the consumer pumps it. To make things worse, most people pay via a credit card which has a merchant fee around 2.5%. Hence, when the price per gas is at just $4, the retailer pays 10 cents and in our example would profit just five. This is why we see a cash price listed on the signs that are lower than the credit price. Hence, if you have cash, this is another way to keep a few bucks in your pocket especially during long stretches. The bottom line is this is another way to save a few more dollars, yet the hidden point in this finance tip is when we understand how things work, we can accept things that we don’t like. Website: https://www.somethingonmymind.net/ Social Media https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

This week’s personal finance tip is about Better Battery Co’s Recycling and Delivery Program. Can you imagine how many batteries are in landfills considering every household uses them? According to The California Department of Resources and Recycling, it is estimated that 4 billion disposable batteries are shipped to the US each year and that means the average US household uses an estimated 47 batteries per year. Now this is a daunting piece of information; however, there is good news. You can now purchase batteries online while also disposing of them responsibly. Better Battery Co. has developed household batteries that are not only rechargeable, but also recyclable. Their program is designed to ship you new supplies as you deem necessary while providing the packing and the return packing slip. When it comes to your money, you’ll pay more for the batteries than you are accustomed to; however, they do come in a variety pack of sizes which is not how most batteries are sold and you don’t have to leave your house. Moreover, when you hear the words “cost more,” consider that many people pay double the price just to get their food delivered to their doorstep. The bottom line is that this battery product is an ongoing example of an innovative solution that is convenient and helps the environment. In time, this may be the norm rather than the exception. Social Media https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

It seems that everyone has a cell phone and back in the day that was the sentiment for owning a television.The difference is that people’s devices are attached to the palm of their hands. The interesting thing is that a cell phone can cost more than most T.V. 's but we tend to test their durability. It is plausible to say that people drop their phones at least twice a day. Moreover, we’ve all heard or had stories of losing them and dropping them into a lake. I actually dropped one into a toilet in Mexico - so that was an interesting experience and I pissed it away for a lack of a better phrase. So this leads us to cell phone insurance and like all protection plans, is it worth the cost? The answer is that it depends. From research, it typically costs $8 -$17 when using your cell phone carrier. You can also opt for third-party services from companies such as AKKO and SquareTrade which tend to be less expensive. Okay there’s no shocker here in that with just about each type of insurance, it comes with fine print namely in deductibles and the range of coverage. So understand the details before you commit. A good exercise is to determine the monthly cost insurance with a potential deductible over the cost of fixing or replacing your device over the duration of owning the phone. Typically, kids tend to damage or lose phones more than adults but in either case, many of the major phone makers in recent years design them to be waterproof. Either way, if you get a solid protective case and / or with screen protector you should be in good shape and may opt out of insurance. Social Media https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast The bottom line is that viable product solutions are being offered at blistering pace without sacrificing quality while improving the environment - and as always your pocketbook thanks you.

It seems that everyone has a cell phone and back in the day that was the sentiment for owning a television.The difference is that people’s devices are attached to the palm of their hands. The interesting thing is that a cell phone can cost more than most T.V. 's but we tend to test their durability. It is plausible to say that people drop their phones at least twice a day. Moreover, we’ve all heard or had stories of losing them and dropping them into a lake. I actually dropped one into a toilet in Mexico - so that was an interesting experience and I pissed it away for a lack of a better phrase. So this leads us to cell phone insurance and like all protection plans, is it worth the cost? The answer is that it depends. From research, it typically costs $8 - $17 when using your cell phone carrier. You can also opt for third-party services from companies such as AKKO and SquareTrade which tend to be less expensive. Okay there’s no shocker here in that with just about each type of insurance, it comes with fine print namely in deductibles and the range of coverage. So understand the details before you commit. A good exercise is to determine the monthly cost insurance with a potential deductible over the cost of fixing or replacing your device over the duration of owning the phone. Typically, kids tend to damage or lose phones more than adults but in either case, many of the major phone makers in recent years design them to be waterproof. Either way, if you get a solid protective case and / or with screen protector you should be in good shape and may opt out of insurance. Social Media https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast The bottom line is that viable product solutions are being offered at blistering pace without sacrificing quality while improving the environment - and as always your pocketbook thanks you.

When it comes to our finance tips, we haven’t covered reusable batteries as this seems like a no-brainer; and that exactly a case; however, sometimes we need a reminder. Rechargeable batteries have been around since I was a kid in the 70’s and they juiced up my remote control cars and my giant dual tape deck boom box radio. Now that we are in the 2020’s we still have an insatiable need for batteries for just about anything due to the advanced technology in our daily lives. So let’s run through some stats on batteries with the most common type which are Single and double A. When it comes to these rechargeable batteries they will cost more upfront; but the money that you save is far and away better than buying disposable batteries. Disposables last longer for a one-time use; however, most rechargeable batteries have at least 1,000 - 2,000 charges before they expire. The other factor is that in many states, the batteries are not recycled and therefore end up in a landfill. In fact, California considers them hazardous waste. Social Media https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast The bottom line is that viable product solutions are being offered at blistering pace without sacrificing quality while improving the environment - and as always your pocketbook thanks you.

This week’s episode is about the stock market and inflation capitulation. At the time of this recording the stock market as a whole is 20% down from its previous high water mark and inflation hasn’t been this high since Luke and Laura were popular on General Hospital. So when this occurs many people begin to panic about what to do with their investments. Now this is a logical thought especially for the Millennial generation and beforehand where these people have been through the 2008 Financial Crisis, the Pandemic downturn. The common question that we get is how do we handle our investments. We need to start by saying that each individual has a unique set of criteria meaning one has to decide for him or herself. With that being said, the common rule is that if you are more than five years out from needing to tap into your nest egg, then stay the course. If you are under five years, evaluate your positions and stay the course with your goals. Okay and if you are one-to-two years out, what do you do? Scale down your investments to protect against downside risk or stay in cash meaning stay liquid. The bottom line is that you need a set of goals to follow in good and bad times by staying educated or working with your financial advisor. The goal is to build wealth through your working years and scale down as you get closer when the need arises to tap into your money. Finally, as a credo, investing is a marathon; not a sprint. Therefore, when practicing short-term investing you have to be willing to lose everything that you put into the market; otherwise, it typically means that you couldn’t afford the money in the first place. Social Media https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

There is no doubt AI will impact the amount of jobs available in the future and how much money people can make. What jobs are at risk? Social Media https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast

The average cost for a gallon of gas as of this recording is $4.22 according to AAA. Not to mention that this has been going on for weeks and it may stay this way for several more cycles. So what can we do to get more out of our tanks of gas? #1 Use apps such as GasBuddy which is our PFT #23 to find the lowest costs in your area. I always go to Costco. #2 Keep your speed in check. According to Consumer Reports, driving 65 mph instead of 75 mph on the highway can increase fuel efficiency by 7 mpg for a mid-sized sedan and 6 mpg for a small SUV.In addition, our crack staff performed so math using the Distance = Speed * Time formula and for 60 mph that says when drive 70 mph vs 80 mph over the course of 60 miles you only save 6.4 minutes. #3 Each month your tires lose approximately one 1 psi, and low tire pressure negatively affects fuel economy. #4 You do not have to purchase premium gas. According to Edmunds.com even if the owner's manual recommends premium gasoline, the car will typically run on regular without issue and it will not damage the engine in any way. #5 Avoid hard acceleration and excessive braking and try to keep a steady pace, and remove bike, kayak and cargo racks as this creates a drag on your vehicle. The bottom line is that these tips are valuable at any time in life; however, most people are reactive rather than proactive. So take your time out there and you may be able to get a few more gallons between fill-ups. The new social and etiquette rules for 2023 Social Media https://www.instagram.com/somm.podcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChec5qcZBcGkIhUU3belNDw https://www.tiktok.com/@somm.podcast?lang=en https://www.facebook.com/somm.podcast https://twitter.com/Somm_podcast