I get paid from my gigs at all kinds of random times. So it’s kind of like having tips, you seem to always have little windfalls of $5, $20, $100. This month I had a few gigs that paid early and a few little windfalls that I was able to put to use right away.

I purchased the following this month:

Tmfc – the Motley Fool has an index etf, 2 shares. It’s doing pretty well!

Edit – Editas is a woman CEO genome company, 1 share.

Cva – covanta energy, focused on garbage incineration, 1 share.

Vslr – vivant solar, residential solar, 1 share. –

Bcs – Barclays, British financial, surprisingly under $10, 1 share

Levi – Levis, denim, 1 share.

After these purchases, my Robinhood portfolio is at $345 (i had a few stocks before I started this year-long project). Today, I’m up 2.47% over the last 3 months. Not great, not terrible. Better than my HYSA. I don’t anticipate any other windfall paydays until mid-Feb.

I sold two items this month on OfferUp. One was an extra nightstand, and the other was a brand new eyeshadow palette. It felt good to let these items go, since they weren’t getting any use. The nightstand had been listed for months, but it didn’t take up too much space in the garage so I kept it listed rather than donating to Goodwill. The palette I just received and it sold within a few days. This always makes me think I priced it too low but I know it was available at Marshall’s for about the same price. I usually price things “fair market value”, but occasionally I undervalue to get the piece out of my house, or overvalue because it’s something more limited edition or is in great shape.

I have gone through my house once using the konmari method but I didn’t make it all the way through. All the books and papers were easy, I got rid of a lot of beauty items at that time and didn’t progress to mementos. I’m moving to a much smaller wardrobe, which I do honestly prefer. I’d rather have 5 things that fit and look great with each other than 100 pieces that aren’t right.

I’d like to keep decluttering and thinning out my belongings (I kept about 20 DVDs that are hard to stream) but my approach to owning things has changed in light of the focus on the environment, disposable plastics, and maybe it’s part of my upper 30s, wanting to own more quality pieces that are more responsible. I don’t know if I’ll sell anything next month. I hope to let go of more than I bring into my home.

So I do some secret shopping; it plays well with my writing and critique skills. I also sell random things from around the house and do market research type surveys. I look for gig economy type jobs where I can control exactly when I work and how much free time I have. This spreadsheet looks a bit different than my 2019 one but I am enjoying the output thus far. I have some recurring gigs for next month already scheduled; they typically post one of two ways, either the scheduler will ask you if you want to repeat it for the following month, or the task is posted monthly and you cross your fingers as you apply each month.

The 2020 total includes my February scheduled tasks. The most I’ve made from a single task this year is $100. In another portion of the spreadsheet, I calculate my wage, including drive time, report time (sometimes the reports take hours) to help guide me in my selection process. I can also share this graphic. I use Google Sheets and I’m hardly ever at a desktop so it’s limited to mobile functionality.

There are at least 100 secret shopping companies and the rules for taxes are that you can be taxed anytime your income is over $600 with one company. My next task is to figure out how to label my graphs and keep track of each company as I approach $600. You’re not a w2 employee, you’re an independent contractor. I always look for new side hustles, in six months I might not use any of these companies but this is my strategy for now.

Hi there, my name is Cassandra. I live on the west coast/best coast and this is going to be a place to share my money decisions and journey.

High level view:

DINK

0 debt, credit score about 750

College-educated

Healthcare w2, 40hpw. 4.5 weeks PTO a year, one time bonus yearly.

H(ish)COL

I’m partnered with someone who makes double what I do but I pay 50% of rent, 50% of utilities, my own phone bill, my car insurance, my gas, car repairs, 50% of groceries. He pays for our dates (dinners, drinks) and some travel expenses like if we book a tour, but I buy my own flights and about 25-50% of the lodging…because he’s more picky and chooses nicer places. I buy our concert tickets and special events. My parents occasionally help me out with a random $50-100 especially if I have an unexpected expense. For the most part, I’d say I’m self-funded but I couldn’t live where I live by myself (the rent is over half my income but splitting it is about 25-35% and very doable). What is in my accounts I earned through my w2 and side hustles.

2020 I changed my 401k withholding to 18% from pretty much a lifelong 5-7%. My goal is to earn $5,000 in a self-directed portfolio (I use Robinhood) by the end of the year, from my various hustles.

2019 is also the year I broke 100k net worth. I hope to retire at 55 but it’s dicey now because I make so little. One can only hack and hustle so much before it’s simply evident one needs a higher income. My partner and I have spoke about house hacking (buy a duplex or triplex and rent the other unit[s] to pay our own mortgage) but we don’t plan to stay in this HCOL area.

To earn an extra $5,000 this year, I need an extra $416.66/mo. Since I just surpassed $425, I figured I’m *really doin’ this, Har’!* (Dumb and Dumber) & could document the process. You’ll be able to see what works on a lowish income and you’ll learn what I’ve tried and didn’t work for me (Postmates, among others).

Last thing, I’m in a no-buy low-buy month/quarter/year. I have too much crap. I will not buy makeup, skincare, hair care, misc beauty, candles, housewares, clothing, shoes or perfume unless I use something up or truly need it. I may share my monthly trash pile of what I’ve used up. I’m not zero waste but I have moved away from a lot of disposables and plastic for environmental reasons. I do eat meat and drink moderately. This is me. I’m not a financial advisor.