Heavy Metal Money: The Podcast
By Chris Luger
Heavy Metal Money: The PodcastMay 17, 2022
019 - Failing Better with Justin from The Road to Wealth Podcast
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Heavy Metal Money on Instagram
I'm wicked-excited as we begin a series with Justin from the Road to Wealth Podcast around mindset and being able to "fail better". Justin and I go through one another's past and present endeavors around how we view failure and our methods of overcoming. We touch on a number of topics, and can't wait for more collaborations with Justin.
Go check out his podcast and follow him on social!
Twitter: @roadtowealthpod
Some things we talked about:
https://jordangrumet.com
017 - Do You Need To Go To College? Can you Get Ahead Without a College Degree?
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Heavy Metal Money on Instagram
Do You Need To Go To College? Can You Get Ahead without a College Degree?
The US Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) states those with a bachelor’s degree was around $55,000 a year, and this is about 59 percent higher than the earnings of those who completed high school, at about $35,000 per year.
I know that many people discuss the importance of college and continuing education. I am an advocate of going to college, getting an education, and being an active member contributing to society. I also don’t think anyone should finish school with $40k, $60k, or $100k, or more in student debt.
There is a wicked problem with the ever-growing student debt crisis. Yes, I did say “crisis”. Forbes reported that total US student debt was about $1.52 trillion and that 44.2 million people owed debt, with average individual student debt at about $38,000!
016 - Are You Frugal or Cheap? What's the Difference Between Frugal or Cheap?
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Heavy Metal Money on Instagram
Are You Frugal or Cheap? What's the Difference Between Frugal or Cheap?
Have you been accused of being a tightwad? Have people told you, you are cheap? Do you think you are cheap or frugal? What's the difference?
Do you drive across town to save five cents on gas? Would buy expired food?
If you use a coupon to eat out, is that being frugal or cheap?
I remember this hilarious episode of the TV Show The Middle where they were diluting the fruit juice with more water to make it last longer.
When does being frugal go too far?
I think: BEING FRUGAL IS BEING INTENTIONAL WITH HOW YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY, YOUR TIME, AND OTHER RESOURCES
What are your thoughts? Let's comment below. I wanna hear your stories! #frugal #cheap #savemoney
015 - Save Money On Electricity Even During Peak Usage Times
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Heavy Metal Money on Instagram
015 - Save Money On Electricity At Peak Times
https://heavymetal.money/peakusage/
It’s super easy, to participate in your electric company’s Peak Rebate Program! You can earn $1 rebate for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy that you can save!
A notification is sent via email and text that a Peak Time Event is goin to happen. This typically is received a day or two head of time. These events are a few hours long. For example; 4pm-7pm.
They encourage you to not consume excess amounts of electricity during these times.
Some Things You Can Do to Save Electricity:
Turn off appliances.
Pre-cool your home ahead of the event
Delay using your electric stove/oven.
Turn off all incandescent lights.
Unplug phantom loads – like game stations, TVs, chargers, etc.
Schedule and turn off Central Air Conditioner and other unnecessary lights, TVs, and electronics during this time. Including phantom power suckers! These are those devices that can even sip power while OFF or Sleeping, but still plugged in. So, pull the plug! There are areas where I have a TV, DVD, and game consoles all plugged into a surge protector where I can flick a switch to STOP THESE POWER HUNGRY ELECTRICITY VAMPIRES!
I may choose to run errands and be out of the house during this time. I’ll make sure blinds and curtains are pulled on those sides of the house that get hit by sun. I’ll choose to be in the basement
It has been kind of like a game, to see how munch savings, or what my rebate will be for the week.
While this initially doesn’t seem like much, these add up over time. If I can be saving approximately $5.00 per week just for turning off my AC for a few hours, that’s $20 a month, or MORE! Dude! That’s more for groceries, a couple movie rentals, or meal out. SCORE!
014 - Spend Money On What You Value! Don’t Spend Money On What You Don't Value.
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Heavy Metal Money on Instagram
https://heavymetal.money/spend-on-value/
http://www.fiveoclocksteakhouse.com/menus/dinner-menu/
I headed down to Milwaukee for the day to catch a great Metal show by Steel Panther. It was their Very Hairy Christmas Show just before the holidays! It was at one of my favorite venues, The Rave, downtown Milwaukee.
In my planning, I had asked my uncle if he’d be around to drop me at the Airport. Keep in mind, he lives less then a mile from me, and is always up super early. Schedules didn’t work out, and he had questioned me, “why don’t you just park at the airport?”
Normally, I do park at the airport for work-related trips. But this was for pleasure. This was a personal trip that I’d be paying for. Parking at the airport is $22/day! I understand that I could park a little further away, and save some money. One thing that I value most is my time. Time is so very precious, and I’ll do what I can, and sometimes pay for me to save on this extremely valuable resource. This is why I typically park at the attached ramp at the airport, use Clear and TSA PreCheck to pass through security, in literally, a few minutes. Clear is worth every penny to me! If you use this link, to try it for a couple months, I’ll get a couple for free too!
013 - When It Pays to Buy Name Brand! This Generic Part Caused a NIGHTMARE Plumbing Repair.
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Heavy Metal Money on Instagram
https://heavymetal.money/shopnamebrand/
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/water-hammer/
https://heavymetal.money/ways-i-save/
I have spoken many times about shopping generic can save you money. In this previous post, we discussed how the price differences on many things, and when generic is perfectly fine.
I do mention that for some things, it is better to shop brand name. There are times when you paying more for a higher quality product is best. You’ll get longevity, durability and perhaps even have it more effective.
This was so crazy… First, I’d like to express that in no way am I a plumber, and would attempt any complex plumbing work without a certified contractor to complete the work. However, I had to replace a leaky shower faucet cartridge, and it was simple enough. I head to my local home improvement store, and I have two options:
- A third-party replacement cartridge for $26.22
- A Name Brand Delta replacement cartridge for $50.73
You probably know where this story is going…
012 - Get Paid While You Drive To Work! How to Get Paid To Drive Around Town?
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Heavy Metal Money on Instagram
https://heavymetal.money/get-paid-while-you-drive-to-work/
https://www.sidehustlenation.com
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could earn a little extra cash as you just drove from one place to another? Let’s say you were driving from one business meeting to another, and during that time you could earn real cash. Especially in these crazy times of high gas prices.
That’s what the company Wrapify can help you do. It turns your vehicle into a traveling billboard. As you drive within a designated area, you can earn money per mile, and it can add up.
011 - Easy Ways to Declutter and Downsize Your Stuff!
Contact:
Heavy Metal Money on Instagram
Can I Retire by age 55?
https://heavymetal.money/can-i-retire-by-age-55/
Downsizing and Decluttering
https://heavymetal.money/decluttering/
40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS DECLUTTERING CHALLENGE
https://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days/
Books Referenced Here:
The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life
https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/the-minimalist-home-a-room-by-room-guide-to/id1444932484
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up-the/id1424474611
Making Space: Creating a Home Meditation Practice
https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/making-space-creating-a-home-meditation-practice/id1420685347
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Decluttering at the Speed of Life
https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/decluttering-at-the-speed-of-life/id1441465447
How to scan documents on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210336
I had started a plan to have the option to retire by the age of 55. For the past year or so, I’ve been slowly decluttering, organizing, and becoming more of a minimalist.
I just cringe at the thought of moving and transporting all the belongings that had to overflow from my closets, drawers, and shelves.
Another reason to trim down is there will be a time when I do leave this earth, let’s be real. We all do die at some point. I remember when my father passed away, I worked for weeks going through his home. It was an emotional time, but also very stressful with figuring out what to keep, what to toss, donate or sell. Then, years after his passing I still had bins and boxes of things I kept and put in my own garage. Now I’m challenged with going through all this stuff again.
I’d like to not leave these experiences for my children. I’m going to do what I can to simplify my life and my belongings to ease any burden left on my kids and family when I pass away.
BONUS EPISODE! - Instagram LIVE Discussion with Joe Saul-Sehy - How I Almost Fell For A Dating App Scam
010 - I Fell For a Romance Scam...Almost
In this post, I wanted to share how I almost fell for a romance scam.
After listening to the recent podcast, How to Money with Joel and Matt. Their Episode 485, Sneakier Scams Targeting Younger Folks, talked about several different scams, and tips on how to protect yourself.
https://heavymetal.money/romancescam/
Being a single guy, I occasionally use current dating apps in hopes of finding a potential match. In this particular situation, I was using the App Hinge. You’ve probably seen their commercials, with the tagline, “The App That Wants To Be Deleted.”
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009 - Renting An RV or Camper For Fun and Profit!
https://heavymetal.money/rvrentals/
In this post, we’ll talk through what it means to rent your camper or RV, how much time and effort it can take, and understand how much money you can actually make. Keep in mind, this is just my experience and your mileage may vary.
The camper I rent is a 2016 Salem CruiseLite 21Ft Trailer. The attraction of this particular model is it’s approximately 3000lbs. It can be towed by many V6 vehicles. I found and purchased this camper on craigslist for just over $9k. I’ve experimented with a couple different sites/platforms, marketing, as well as pricing. I’ve found that keeping my rates lower, equates to more consistent rentals throughout the season.
Let’s break down this past weekend rental:
1 Hour for return/prep
30 minutes for instruction and send off
After all fees and commissions $255 was transferred to my bank account.
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008 - The Difference Between Price vs. Cost
https://heavymetal.money/cost-of-ownership/
Clear 2 Month Trial
https://refer.clearme.com/share/chris494
When shopping for things we often talk about the cost of something… but really what we are doing is comparing the Price. It’s interesting, the price is what we pay for a good or service, while the cost can be the actual or perceived value over time, of the lifetime of the product or service we are exchanging for money.
A car is a very good example. The price of a car may be a particular amount. However, the cost of the car also includes the registration, insurance, repair and ongoing maintenance, gasoline to get around… These are things that someone can factor into the total cost of ownership.
There are many other examples, like appliances. Let’s compare two washing machines. One machine has price of $400, while another has a price of $550. The model with the higher price, may have a much lower repair rate. It may also be more energy efficient, and use much less water.
Sometime the value can be convenience, or comfort that you get for what price you have paid. I’ve used this example before, but it’s a great illustration. I do value my time and convenience, so I elect to pay for Clear to breeze through Airport security and not wait in line. In this case the price I pay has a value to me.
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007 - It's Easy To Gift a 529 Education Savings Plan
https://www.sec.gov/reportspubs/investor-publications/investorpubsintro529htm.html
In 2013 only 2.5% of all families had a 529 Education Savings Plan. This is so easy to set up, and contribute to that it is a shame more parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends or others aren’t using this investment vehicle for a child’s education.
Changes continued to the program and additional qualifying expenses were added. Not only Tuition but also room and board, fees, books, other equipment required for the education. In 2015 it was expanded to include a computer to be used for school and even internet access! Then, in 2017 the funds in a 529 Plan can also be used for up to ten thousand dollars of K-12 education per year! As recently as 2019, a 529 Plan can also be used to pay student loan payments as well as the costs incurred by apprenticeships.
What makes a 529 Plan wicked-awesome, is that it behaves much like a Roth IRA, in that the money that is contributed into the plan is after-tax, and the growth is free from federal tax. The user also isn’t taxed when the money is used for the qualifying education expenses.
I mentioned that the after-tax continuations will grow. See, this isn’t just an education savings account. This is an investment account! Yup within the 529 Plans there are dozens of funds to choose from. This can vary by the state offering the plan. In general, the plans are made up of portfolios, and the portfolios are then made up of mutual funds, Index Funds, & ETFs (exchange-traded funds) CDs (certificate of deposits), or high-yield saving accounts.
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006 - Guilt-Free Spending by Using a Simple Budget
https://heavymetal.money/setyoufree/
IRON MAIDEN PICS!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rBNFdFyWT/?utm_medium=copy_link
By preparing, and allocating money for a particular purchase, it can free you from the guilt of spending money.
In this video we talk about how we prepared for our annual trip to the MN State Fair. Was able to spend money of food, drink, entertainment, and spend the entire day guilt free!
We used the Envelope method of budgeting. Every time you are paid, you place an determined amount of money in an envelope. You can spend only money in that envelope for that category. Dining, Groceries, Gifts, Auto Repair, etc.
It’s a great way to begin budgeting. It helps with overspending, and also allows you to spend with out feeling the guilt. You’ve already allocated the money for that purchase!
Easy Peasy!
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005 - The Journey To Retirement After Divorce
https://heavymetal.money/divorcejouneypart2/
https://heavymetal.money/divorcejouneypart2/
Divorce can be a shock to the System! Your world turns upside down and your finances are part of this!
After divorce, we are now responsible for living and affording to live on our own. There is a lot of anxiety an uncertainly.
We begin to review expenses, review the mortgage, and refinance.
We need to create a budget, open new accounts, close older accounts, determine if you’ll continue to invest, and become more intentional in spending, saving and investing.
We now have to dig in a little deeper in how we were spending, and how to change our saving and spending.
We needed a way to see everything as once. I needed a dashboard of sorts to see all accounts to see what we were spending, and on what.
Personal Capital
Mint by Intuit
Determine categories, and those recurring expenses and what we can do without.
Determine what is important to you, and what you’ll spend on what you value!
Contact:
004 - Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage?
https://heavymetal.money/should-you-pay-off-your-mortgage/
Investing in Mental Health - The Fairer Cents
Sometimes it’s more than Math.
The Math doesn’t always make sense when paying off a mortgage. It’s a headspace. It’s psychological. It’s a state of mind. It changes the way you think, and the feeling you have when you wakeup in the morning. It allows some to truly go to work because they choose to, and not because they have to.
It can change the way you care for your home. You own your home, not the bank! It is a different feeling.
When a person no longer has this major living expense, like a mortgage or rent payment, it allows you to funnel of this money into investment accounts, or allows you to max out your tax advantaged accounts like a 401k!
It allows you the ability to more easily pay for your vehicle, vacation or home renovation in cash, not needed to incur any additional debt.
Contact:
003 - Money Discussions For Couples
Contact:
Heavy Metal Money on Instagram
https://heavymetal.money/couples-and-conversations/
https://heavymetal.money/affordanything-nyc/
Do you talk to your significant other about sex, politics, religion? Do you talk about money? So many people would rather talk about these topics uncomfortable topics over talking about money.
Money can give us feelings of guilt, shame, embarrassment, and sadly, can even keep some in abusive relationships.
What are some things to consider regarding Money and divorce?
Should couples join their finances or keep them separate?
Couples can be successful by setting financial goals and priorities together!
Couples can avoid conflict by being open and honest about money.
In addition to couples and money, having money discussions with Parents or In-Laws change be a challenging situation.
Sandwich
002 - Ways To Save Money Today!
https://heavymetal.money/ways-i-save/
Here are some simple ways to save money!
Don’t Pay for TV
Simply use an Antenna for over the air broadcast. Catch local football games, local news and live network television for free!
Don’t be afraid of the clearance rack or thrift store
Take a look at the off season, or clearance areas at Kohl’s, Macy’s, or Target. Don’t feel shame about checking out those thrift stores either. Name brand dress shirts under 5 bucks!
It’s okay to buy Generic…sometimes
There are times when it pays to shop name brand. We have a great story in another post about that. But for those consumable products buying generic is totally fine, and can save tons of money!
The Home Workout
Joining a gym can be a costly recurring expense. I scored a perfectly fine treadmill from craigslist for only $40! I now can get daily walk for pennies!
Use Daily Deals & Coupons
You can score big discounts by signing up for rewards programs. I get weekly coupons for restaurants that can stretch your dining budget!
Contact:
001 - What is Your Why For Fi (Financial Independance)?
What is Your Why for FI? Why Do You Want to Retire Early?
Why do you pursue FIRE, or, reach financial independence with an option to retire early?
Welcome to the very first video on the Heavy Metal Money YouTube Channel. Thanks for dropping by, and I really do appreciate your support!
Do you want to do more meaningful work with your life? Do work that fill your heart regardless of the pay?
Do you want to spend time traveling the globe and visiting amazing places before you are too old to really enjoy it?
Do you want to spend more time with your family or your children. Spend more time with them at activities, school functions, or maybe it’s just a mid-day walk to the park for lunch.
Perhaps you want to spend time learning new things, or digging into hobbies like painting, knitting, music, or other types of art?
Maybe you’d like to volunteer your time for a cause that you are deeply passionate about. Helping the elderly, helping animals, packing food for those less fortunate? The list can go on and on.
Let’s hear from you, drop your comments down below, and please tap the Like and subscribe. We’ll see you next time on Heavy Metal Money!
Contact:
Heavy Metal Money on Instagram
Episode 005 - Pros & Cons of Renting vs Buying
Contact Us!
chris@heavymetal.money
Facebook Page: facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal
Twitter: twitter.com/moneyheavymetal
Get your FREE Divorced Dad's Financial Checklist at https://heavymetal.money
A Rental vs. Buy Calculator from the Nerd Wallet
The Heavy Metal Money Podcast - Episode 004 - A Kickstarter Teaches Kids About Money and A Real Estate Investment Strategy
chris@heavymetal.money
Facebook Page: facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal
Twitter: twitter.com/moneyheavymetal
Get your FREE Divorced Dad's Financial Checklist at https://heavymetal.money
Kickstarter Project: M is for Money | Teach Financial Literacy to 3-8 Year-Olds
Everything I Wish I Knew About Money That Wasn't Taught In School Paperback
A New Real State Investing Strategy: Lease Options
Wandering Through An Empty Nest
The Dwelling Place Shelter
Providing healing and hope to victims of domestic abuse through supportive services
and a safe, transitional place to call home
The Heavy Metal Money Podcast - Episode 003 - "Shopping Generic vs Name Brand"
The Heavy Metal Money Podcast - Episode 003 - "Shopping Generic vs Name Brand"
Contact:
www.heavymetal.money
chris@heavymetal.money
twitter: @moneyheavymetal
instagram: @moneyheavymetal
Facebook: @MoneyHeavyMetal
References:
Top Ways I Save Money
When It Pays to Shop Name Brand
Get Your FREE Financial Checklist for Divorced Dads! Subscribe Now!
Thank you for listening, please support our podcast! Subscribe and leave a review!
Heavy Metal Money: The Podcast - "Looking back on 2020 & Goals for 2021 with April Durow"
Heavy Metal Money: The Podcast - "Looking back on 2020 & Goals for 2021 with April Durow"
Episode 002 - Looking back on 2020 & Goals for 2021
My good friend April joins me for this look back on 2020. What goals were met, and what fell short with area for improvement. We look at what existing and new goals we are setting for 2021, and ways that we can stay accountable to meet them. We review keys to making and achieving goals by setting S.M.A.R.T. criteria.
- S - Specific. Make goals less vague. Rather than "I'm going to lose weight." try "I'm going to lose five pounds.
- M - Measurable. With something we can measure we can track progress. By stating 5lbs as our goal we can measure how much we've lost and how much we have left to lose.
- A - Attainable. By keeping the goal something that is realistic and attainable we have something we can actually reachable. Rather than arbitrarily stating I'm going to loose 30lbs would cause possible health issues, make it very difficult or even impossible to reach based on my height, weight and BMI.
- R - Relavant. Goals need to make sense to me, and be relevant to me and my life. I'd like to lose some of the weight brought on by the pandemic, and being at home snacking all the time. I'd like my Medium-Sized shirts to fit more comfortably. This is totally relevant to me. It makes sense.
- T - Time Sensitive. If we can have specific, and measurable goals, we need a way to keep motivated, and review progress. By keeping a goal time-bound, we don't keep extending the goal and become a contestant Someday Isle. Ya know, I'll get that someday? "Someday I'll lose the weight." Get voted off the Island, and set a timeframe for the goal, and perhaps periodic milestones along they way. This will keep you on track, motivated, and more likely to make progress in reaching your goals.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Wishing you a Heavy New Year! A look at 2020 Goals
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
Contact:
chris@heavymetal.money
Facebook Page: facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal
Twitter: twitter.com/moneyheavymetal
Subscribe to get your FREE Divorced Dad's Financial Checklist at https://heavymetal.money
Heavy Metal Money: The Podcast - Episode 001 - "An Introduction, and finding your WHY"
Contact:
chris@heavymetal.money
Facebook Page: facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal
Twitter: twitter.com/moneyheavymetal
Get your FREE Divorced Dad's Financial Checklist at https://heavymetal.money
This very first episode is an introduction and a little preview of what's to come, and we talk about our 'Why.' We talk about how there are so many reasons why people work towards financial independence. We'd love to hear your 'Why.' I talk a little about that over in this post. Please send me a note at chris@heavymetal.money, leave a comment, or touch base on the Facebook Page or Twitter. Let me know your 'Why!'
Heavy Metal Money: The Podcast - Episode 000 "Trailer"
I know we all need another podcast about personal finance, right? - Probably not…Well, I’m doing it anyway!
A host a blog about A Divorced Dad’s Journey to Retirement - Check it out at heavymetal.money - I’m excited to add a podcast the Global Heavy Metal Money Media Empire!
I'll be talking about saving, spending, investing, and my approach to personal finance. Sometimes, we'll also take a look at what my journey to retirement is like as a single father, after divorce. I'll be joined by my friends, colleagues, and guests along the way. Join me as we talk about personal finance and crank this to 11!
Contact:
chris@heavymetal.money
IG @moneyheavymetal
Twitter @moneyheavymetal
FB - https://www.facebook.com/MoneyHeavyMetal/