Shortest day of the year

I thought for this winter solstice I would write a letter to myself 10 years ago being that it's the end of a decade and I did. Then I deleted it. After writing it I found it did very little to achieve the winter solstice meaning which is to leave the dark of your life. Something that is bothering you and bring in more light which is what starts to happen tomorrow. So for this historical winter solstice being the last one of the decade I am going to TRY to let the past go. Especially the last 10 years. They were some of the hardest financial years I've had. Although I think 2008 was my worst year financially. I learned alot from the last decade. One is to stop being so independent. Another is to be more giving. I'm sorry I'm not "there is no try" kindof guy. I will try as practice and will do later. The next decade is a mystery that I'm excited about.

Brighter days ahead guys. Literally.

Enjoy the shortest day of the year.

Thoughts on my new phone purchase.

So my phone is BEYOND its last leg and it's time for a new one. Here's the problem. I obviously want new tech but I cannot Justify buying it. I don't get it. Someone tell me why you need to pay a thousand dollars for a new phone. Hell, even half that price is too much.

So I thought about it. Thought about what I want and need did some testing of a few different phones over the summer. Here is what I came up with.

I need a functional phone that has good screen quality a decent processor, and at least 32 gigs of storage space. A decent camera for shooting simple photos would be nice too. I DON'T need a payment plan that takes two years to pay off. I don't need a camera that can capture the stars. I don't need the latest tech.  Do I want it? Honesty no. I find more happiness navigating around the "Jones's" not keeping up. In my experience the "Jones's" are heavily in debt, the economy crashes, and eventually they declare bankruptcy. They then lose their house and eventually the cycle repeats..

Anyway,

My final dilemma was whether or not to upgrade from my current phone. I actually slightly downgraded. My final cost. Around 70 dollars for a refurbished google pixel.  An up to date phone perfect still for 2020. Saving me over 200 dollars. 

That's the key people. Finding ways to continually save money helps you prepare for an uncertain future and provides more financial independence.

Tabernacle Christmas Choir New and Better Ticket Process!

So It's that time of the year again where I ponder and look up what The Church of Jesus Christ Tabernacle Choir (formerly known as the Motab choir for short or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir before our new prophet instructed the members to remove "mormon" and "LDS" From our definition) ticket process will look like for this year's Christmas concert. I for one am excited. 

According to the Tabernacle Choir blog The title reads 

"New Christmas Concert Ticket Process Gives Equal Chance for All"

I'm not sure how it's new compared to what they ended in 2015 but I am glad they have returned the so called "mormon lottery" 

Before I give my commentary on their blog let me give you my history trying to get tickets to theTabernacle Choir Christmas concert. In doing so, I hope you can understand why I have my opinions on what the church and ticket office could be at least considering in future decisions on ticket distribution.

This will be a quick version. 

  

In 2008 my wife and I moved to Utah from Arizona. My mom let us know about the concert and how to put in for a chance to get tickets. My wife and I put in our first request for tickets along with my mom and my sister. Back then you could request a max of 6 tickets. Non of us drew tickets that year. We made new friends who were able to get tickets through Parents who worked for the church. 

We tried our luck the next year, 2009, Again, no tickets. We also tried to get Devotional tickets and our bad luck prevailed. It was after this failed attempt that I started to do some blog spying. I wanted to find out how people were able to get tickets when I wasn't. This bad luck continued 2010, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Thankfully in 2013 we did get Christmas Devotional tickets but Christmas Devotional tickets our not as highly sought after as Christmas concert tickets. In 2010 David Archelletta had over a million request for tickets.(from rumors I heard) I believe it was 4 times the normal request for tickets. Our friends who's parents worked for the church once again got tickets.

Just a side note, when I say friends parents I mean our friends were a husband and wife couple. The husbands parents are "their" parents. So, Husbands parents, wife's in laws.

In 2016 they changed the ticket process from the "Mormon lottery" to a first come first serve. Finally! I thought I had a chance. At 10:01 a.m. I struggled for 5-6 minutes just to get 2 tickets. Every time I refreshed more and more tickets sold out. By 7 minutes every ticket was gone. I wasn't crushed but I did question why? My question was to God. Why are Missionaries, why are my friends, why are employees of the church, and why are choir members able to get so many tickets year after year and I am not able to?

2017 It was the same system. First come first serve. Before the lottery draw I decided to take advice from a sister missionaries blog I read. I  prayed for help. It worked for her when she wanted tickets, maybe it would work me. 

I felt it was an unfair advantage to pray for help. God loves us all. Yet I read in several blogs how people's prayers were answered while my attempts to get tickets kept getting kicked aside. 

So I prayed. 

I finally got tickets.

Yet the story does not end.

Because the ticket process is still unfair 😁

I loved the concert. It was awesome. When we sat down a group of 8 people sat by us. A kid around the age of 14 looked like he didn't care to be there. He wasn't dressed in formal clothes and he was non stop looking at his phone playing a game. I wondered how and why they were able to get 8 tickets while the max I could request was 4. P.s. I got 2.  After ease dropping in on their conversation I found out they had another 8 people in their group who were seated behind us in the lower balcony. Again I asked myself, how is it that this family was able to get 16 tickets when it took me 10 tries to get 2! Soon the answer was clear when they were trying to find a relative in the choir. 

A choir members was able to get 16 tickets.

Here's my question. Is that fair?. Given the circumstances that so many people want to go to this concert is it fair that the choir gets so many tickets? I get it. A person who is performing should have tickets for their family. But how many is fair and how can the ticket office get more people WHO HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED the Christmas concert a chance to go. At least consider my suggestion.

First let's go to the Tabernacle blog and find out what new changes are able to give "equal chance for all" 

Just wondering. Does "All" refer to family members of the choir, general Authorities, or Employee's of the church?

From the blog.

"Hundreds of thousands of ticket requests are received each year. In order to give everyone an equal chance to get tickets, in 2019 the Event Services Ticket Office which distributes tickets for Choir events will use a random selection method for ticket distribution."

So it sounds like we are back to the old "lottery" system. But it does get better.

"Your registration will automatically enter you in the random ticket selection for two (2) tickets. The concert date for the tickets will be randomly assigned for either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday"

Did you get that? No more requesting more than 2 tickets.

I LOOOOVE THIS!

I really do. This will allow more households an opportunity to go. Some might say they can't bring their kids. I would have loved to go as a kid but I'm going to tell you. In my opinion. The concert is a perfect adult dating place. Kids are not going to appreciate the concert as much as two people in love.

Lastly.

"Registration is limited to once per household.

Patrons registering with an address other than their principal home address or registering multiple times may have all their registrations canceled."

2 tickets, one household. YES!!

Ok so now here is my suggestions on making the ticket process even better.

1. Reduce the amount of tickets that each choir member is allowed to have. Each household is only able to request 2. Can we at least get more tickets from these wonderful people in the drawing so more households get an opportunity to go?
2. Stop. Please stop giving tickets to church employees. Unless they are part of the production of the Christmas concert, they should have the same "fair" chance the blog claims everyone will have. They should be registered for the drawing like everyone else. 
3. I have not come across one blog that said a general Authoritie gave them tickets yet it's just common assumption that leaders of a church probably get tickets and maybe the best tickets. Middle row up front. I don't know. I'm just assuming. To this I leave this simple thought. Didn't president Monson come home from Germany shoeless?
4. Lastly, why are politicians getting tickets every year? I mean I get it. They are public figures. It makes sense to invite them to a public event but every year? Just my opinion. Unfair.

That's it for me. I am going to put in for tickets this year. I have never won at the Mormon lottery. Maybe this will be my year.

How to save on Netflix

Quick saving money tip.

Have a netflix account that only allows one screen limit? Here's how to get 2.

Simply download the show you want to watch on your mobile device. Once it's downloaded watch it while your netflix account is being watched by someone else

Problem solved.

Now the question is is it worth the 4-5 dollars saved each month. Eh It's t.v. Come on you can't sacrifice a little bit on t.v.

Want to get 5% cash back on your netflix bill?

lf you have an Amazon Credit Card with an Amazon account, Simply purchase a netflix gift card through Amazon, have it e-mailed, and upload the code. Your credit card will reward you with 5% cash back.

Just another rant on Labor day

Well. It's another Holiday Weekend staying home. I do have over 200 dollars in rewards and gift cards to use at hotels.com and we were close to booking a hotel about 3 hours away. Our friends who we planned on visiting had other plans. 

Can I just rant for a bit. When I started this blog I did it out of frustration. I've said this over and over again. I was tired of the same entertainment. I was tired of lack of freedom. I was tired of the lack of money that leads to freedom. Really! Money, not always but in my case would have lead to more freedom and a better variety of entertainment. That's not to say that I haven't been blessed these last few years. I really have. I've had vacations to Disneyland a Cruise. One vacation cottage on the beach and another on a working farm. Each one had its own setbacks too. The Cruise although great was work related and somewhat Demeaning. We went with Coworkers who all started with this company within a 4 month period. They all became very wealthy within this company and my wife and I had setbacks including raising a young family and having a baby. Again although it was great, it was also hard to go with people you knew and feel like an outcast. Our sponsor within the company was in humble circumstances when she started the company just like us. She was at one point close to losing her house. When we were on st Thomas She was purchasing a 25000 dollar diamond ring without a care. Good for her but could she even imagine how we felt when not once did she ask for us to sit at her table. Not once did she have a meeting with just her team. It felt demeaning. At times my wife and I went to bed on this dream vacation with broken hearts. On our way home we really felt our place when we were placed in the very back windowless part of the plane. Even behind the 3 passengers who were friends of the company owners and hadn't worked as hard as we had to come on this trip. Plus before this trip even happened I had the worst headache and earach pain of my life which almost cancelled the trip. I bring this all up because even though yes I experienced a cruise and it was fun. It still came with alot of restrictions and complications. That's how I feel like my life is lately. Restricted with lots of complications. 

So here we are another Holiday Weekend which happens to be my wife and my Anniversary. We are now finishing 13 years of wonderful marriage. It's also 13 years without a Honeymoon. We are at home no plans to go anywhere and due to a few bad months if income we also don't have the money to go anywhere. We don't have ties to family that have a vacation home. We weren't invited in on a shared VRBO. It simply sucks I honestly wish that I could just win the Powerball Jackpot so if nothing else at least I have the ability to get some of what I want. 

So if your a family who is camping, staying in a hotel, invited to a family cabin, or visiting family, Good for you. I hope your at least not going further into debt doing it.

Market info, just for the heck of it

So a quick market update on saving money or in some cases what makes money sense.

First of all the Dollar store. One of my favorite go to stores when you need something quick and cheap. They have been my go to place for things such as cold medicine, dental medicine snacks and drinks for my kids. The dollar store is on my "Avoid list" for two items. 

Batteries and ibuprofen.

I actually liked the dollar store batteries. As far as I know they were the best value. Sure Duracell and Energizer had longer lasting power but they were up to 4 times the price (5-6 times at my grocery store) which means the battery would have to last at least 4 times longer to match the dollar store value.  Yet the dollar store just did something I don't like. They reduced their batteries by 25%. Now in their defense they may be affected by the tariffs? But here lies the problem. Now Amazon basic batteries are CHEAPER yes I said cheaper than the dollar store batteries. The dollar store being 33 cents per battery while the Amazon basic battery comes in at 22 cents for AAA and 29 cents for AA. I've seen many videos raving about the value and longevity of these batteries But therein lies the problem for me. I don't have a lot that uses for batteries. So if I were to buy these batteries I'd be investing in 2-3 years worth of batteries. For me it doesn't make sense. Instead I will be trying an Alkaline battery charger connected to my small solar plant. I probably will use the dollar store batteries and buy 1 pack to charge until they stop working but that's just me.

Second the dollar store will continue to be my go to for pain killers and some over the counter medicines for common illnesses. I remember being in a lot of pain durring a trip and buying 2 NyQuil pills for around 6 bucks at an airport. Even though the dollar store reduced their ibuprofen by 25% (from 40 to 30 pills) they are still cheaper than a convenient store. Yet I still look for ways I can be prepared and not have to fork out unnecessary funds. So I personally have made a goal to stop buying ibuprofen at the dollar store. Instead all of my vehicles will have a bottle I will refill from Walmart. So will my suitcase and packing list include ibuprofen to help prevent buying it overpriced at a convenient store.

California Sucks (yo money right out of yo pocket)

So my family survived another trip to California. Here is some highlights of are trip and what I learned.

#1 I don't think I'll be returning to California any time soon. You realize real quick you are small and valueless in Cali. Nobody cares and it seems as if every driver in Cali. Needs to get somewhere quick. What's the rush?! Seriously.

#2 Going along with number one, I don't think I'll be returning to San Diego unless I'm completely out of debt and have my honeymoon done. Again with my "finding value" thoughts. For an out of stater California has some of the highest prices and lowest value for an economical traveler. I personally feel like I gained very little visiting such a crowded city.

#3. This isn't something I learned but I did get into an argument this last trip that turned the trip from a good trip to a worthless trip. After examining it in my mind. I feel I'm right and my wife's right. In the end my wife should have been "more"right and the trip could of been a bit better had I put my wife first and my feelings last. Without going into what happened. Here is the jist. I argue that for a short trip to get the maximum out of a trip plan on one fun activity to do and then plan around that activity. That way your not using alot of time traveling on overcrowded roads from one place to the next. My suggestion was the beach. My wife wanted a few bucket items off her list. I failed to see value in it and when things started to go sour I let my emotions get the best of me in a crappy situation. To prevent this from happening again 1st during the planning is where we will have our arguments, not on the road. There are no "I told you so" once the plans are made. We make a plan together and stick to it.

2. I am going to have an envelope with a certain amount of cash in it. I'm thinking it may be called, the "no questions asked cash". This will be determined at a future date but I'm thinking 100 dollars. The purpose of this cash is for those moments where the service or product doesn't meet our, or more commonly, my standards for value. For example. Let's say I'm at a restaurant where the prices are 50% higher than what I am used to. Maybe they are a 100%. Like Disneyland? I would then take out the difference in cash from this envelope to cover the difference. It also would be for unexpected purchases. You go to an attraction not realizing they charge for it or they charge more than you were planning. The "no questions asked" cash envelope would pay or make up the difference.

#4 Don't always trust your road directions. I did that and in my opinion I ended up taking an extra half hour to get back to our hotel.

#5 I usually abide by hotel guest rules. If I have 6 in my group I'll pay for a room for 6. I broke rules on this trip and it was an interesting experience. We decided to fit 6 in room that only fits 3. How'd we do it? We snuck in the side door. We used sleeping bags to sleep 3 on the floor and we split up to go eat. When we realized the hotel wasn't watching our every move we relaxed and decided to just see what happens. Nothing did it was actually kind of fun.

#6 again I did not pay for ice. I refilled old water bottles to freeze, used the free ice machine at the hotels and even filled up my small personal cooler to freeze a huge chunk of ice. Unfortunately it didn't last all day but it did save me money!!

I think that is it for now.