Cruise to Baja – A Trip Report

We embarked on a short 3-day cruise to Baja during the Labor Day weekend. As this was our maiden voyage no expectations were set in place. The timing was around our friend and his family’s visit from overseas. As that was a popular weekend we did not land one of those deeply discounted rate – our deal stood at $1334 (around $350 for the first two passengers and about $70 less for the 3rd and 4th sharing the same ocean view cabin). An additional 10% in taxes apply from that listed on their website. A semi-mandatory expense is the $10 per-person-per-diem tip that is automatically added to the bill but can be overridden. Tipping the maître d’ (the individual responsible for the show in the formal dining room) and room service is recommended but completely at one’s discretion. From our booking experience we learned that flexibility matters for we have noticed the rates dip to as low as $179 for first two passengers and $109 for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th passenger sharing the same interior cabin. Also, often the 4-day Baja cruise on the same ship (Carnival Paradise) with a bonus stop in Catalina Island is priced below their 3-day cruise underscoring the might of flexibility.

Carnival Paradise is a 12-year old cruise ship which underwent a major revamp in 2008. From the outside the ship sports a brand spanking new appeal and its public areas for the most part can be graded good (decks, pool, dining, mini-golf, etc) but some parts of the inside loses the sparkle completely (elevators, cabins, the Grand Atrium which is the main common-area inside the ship). First time cruisers will certainly find the sheer size of the vessel overwhelming – it has ten decks (D4 to D7 are primarily cabins while D8 thru D14 are public areas), two main theater areas (lounges), restaurants, pools, day-care facilities, mini-golf, running track, etc. To get the bearings right we highly recommend early boarding for practically speaking the first few hours is the only time you find the ship at your disposal – once the capacity of 2000 people is reached, privacy is a thing of the past!

We drove down from the Bay Area and reached the cruise terminal around noon (231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, CA-90802 – GPS is spot on with the address – the right-most entrance is to the cruise terminal parking - $15 per day). Queen Mary is docked alongside the dome (entrance to the cruise ship is via the dome where the immigration/customs formalities are handled). We were one of the early birds aboard around 12:30 PM, although the check-in guidelines said 1:30 PM as the earliest and the immigration process was a snap. Having the FunPass information pre-filled online prior to departure helped speed up the check-in process as well – FunPass, Passport, and Credit Card are required at the check-in counter. The port personnel at the parking lot conveniently whisks the baggage away (recommended tip is $1 per bag – cabin number from the FunPass printout is required to tag the baggage) sparing you from the hassle involved in having the baggage as an attachment until the cabin is officially ready which is around 2:30 PM. There is a mandatory evacuation boat-drill at around 4:30 PM.

Cruise ships cater to the stomach like no other and the Paradise is no exception. Most everything (exceptions are drinks, liquor, and premium coffee) is “free”. The included beverages are limited to regular coffee, a few varieties of soft drinks, and water. A beverage card can be had for a daily rate of $5.50. Paris restaurant on Lido Deck (Deck 10) is the focal place for food. This is a multi-faceted eatery – one side of the buffet area is the grill (Lido Grill) and the other side has open-air seating (Seaview Bistro) – the main buffet area is open for the better part of the day and until 1AM past mid-night – some areas are cordoned off at certain times, but the pizzeria, the grill, and/or a bistro section is mostly open. Pizza is served at the far corner of Paris restaurant round the clock. More than the food it is the exceptional service that deserves accolades– the tables are cleared as soon as they are vacated and rarely are people waiting for a table. Casual dining is in effect for the entire Lido Deck. The sushi bar on Promenade Deck (Deck 9) open from 5PM to 8:15PM – has just one counter and generally a line can be found winding around here. For dining, the other option is the allotted restaurant which is a formal dining area. Here also the service is excellent and some program is roped in too (music and/or dance). Attire is cruise casual (no shorts, flip-flops, beach wear, etc). There is a special dinner on one of the nights called the Captain’s Dinner where the attire is Cruise Elegant – a jacket or sport coat is a perfect cover. The food is similar to the Paris restaurant, but it is full service. One can choose a specific time (5:45, 6:30, or 8:00) or opt for flexible time for dinner when signing up for the cruise. We chose the flexible option and recommend this – there is no obligation to dine at a particular time and given their efficient service we never had to wait.

The ship was majestically resting at Ensenada when we woke up around 6 AM the first day. Carnival offers a number of on-shore day trips. The pricing varies between $25 and $125 depending on the excursion – the sightseeing only tours that typically take between 3-4 hours are priced in the lower end of that spectrum, while tours that include some activity like golfing, kayaking, horseback, ATV, buggy rides are priced higher. Staying in the ship or venturing out on your own are the other options. We chose the Blowhole tour for $25 and found it to be of good value. The 3-hour tour includes a half-hour bus ride and a guided tour of La Bufadora, a natural spout that shoots sea-spray high into the air. It is a half-a-mile walk from the parking lot to the Blowhole and en-route vendors’ hawk wares from bags to medicines. Bargaining is the order of the day, should you decide to shop. Food and drinks are generally not included on these tours hence having bottled water and snacks around can be handy – a small cooler, a bottle of wine (per person), and small amount of snacks are allowed per person when embarking the ship. The immigration facility at Ensenada also houses shops selling souvenirs.

We spent the final day, the ‘Fun Day at Sea’, checking out the public areas of the ship. The kids whiled away some time at the day care facility – it is free for parts of the day and around $4 per-hour (50% discount for second child) for other times. The public areas were crowded by around 10 AM and it progressively got more so as the day progressed. The kid’s pool area (Deck 11 aft) was somewhat of an exception – the pool and the jacuzzi are smallish, and though the water was cold and brackish the kids enjoyed it. The jogging-track goes around the mini-golf area and the enclosed skylight area (Deck 14 fore) – it takes around seven circles to cover a mile. The one area that was completely vacant was the library – stocked with some hundred or so books and some board games. The most popular (if crowd is any indication) area was Deck 10 – Paris restaurant grill area where the stage for competitions and music, and the main pool are located. The ‘Fun Day at Sea’ is the happening day for activities – Bingo, the Main Show at Normandie Lounge ( no photography or videotaping – quite good), various competitions (ping-pong, men’s hairy chest, etc.), activities (music, dancing, casino, yoga, duty free shopping, yoga class – fee, pilate class – fee, golf clinic, etc), are the highlights. Although the ship is anchored mid-ocean, most everyone should be able to find something to their liking. There is also a debarkation talk at 11AM but that can be tuned into at will from the cabin. Debarkation can take a while and handling your own luggage speeds up the process.

People react to their first cruise experience very differently and the feedback generally covers the gamut. Many love the all-inclusive, carefree atmosphere that is freely promoted and they yearn for their next trip before they even leave. Then there are those while appreciative of the all-inclusive, finds it hard to get past being stuck in a ship and in the company of 2000. And some absolutely refuse to go back citing claustrophobia. We were not buoyed at all by the experience and might reluctantly fit the middle group. It is obvious that if one has the flexibility, there are some outstanding deals to be had - ~$40 per-person-per-day is an unheard of deal with good food, boarding, and pampering being part of the package. However, given our zest of seizing the day, and our passion for the outdoors, we will consider another cruise only if it includes numerous calls at port that would allow us to incorporate ample sight-seeing. European river cruises, and Panama Canal/South American cruises could be a fit, but we have not researched this yet to make a recommendation.

Last Updated: 01/2012.

Belize (formerly British Honduras) Stamps Profile

Belize is a small country in Central America bounded by Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea. Belize was known as British Honduras during the period from 1862 to 1974 – after the Spanish domination of Central America, Great Britain declared the region a crown colony named British Honduras. The early history of the region dates back to 1500 BC when the Maya civilization flourished. During the latter stages of this era (AD 800 thru AD 1000), it is estimated that the population of the area stood at around 400,000 interestingly comparable to the current population of the country of Belize. Belize has a total land area of just under 9,000 square miles and a population of around 325,000 making it a scarcely populated country at less than 40 per square mile. The country has several ethnic groups due to the combination of early Mayan presence, colonization by Spain and Great Britain, slavery, and immigration – Mestizos (35%), Kriols (25%), Spanish (15%), Mayan (10%), Garinagu (5%) and a few others. English is the official language making it the only country in Central America to have that, although Spanish is equally popular. The GDP (ppp) stands at around $8000 – it is a developing economy dominated by agriculture and tourism.

The first stamps of British Honduras were Queen Victoria (QV) keytype issues released in October 1866. The set of three stamps (Scott #1 to #3) were in three colors and denominations (1p pale blue, 6p rose, and 1sh green). The set is valuable at around $800 for MNH and around half that for Used. One interesting note with these stamps is that the two higher denominations were only printed in a sheet with the 1p pale blue. Gutter pairs showing two of these denominations are known to exist and fetch a huge premium at close to $40K. QV keytypes of different designs and a few varieties and overprints (denomination changes) were the only stamp issues of British Honduras till 1901. Many of these stamps in lower denominations are affordable at a few dollars with the higher denominations going into the 100s. Revenue Error Overprints that read “Bevenue” and a couple of other variations do exist for the QV keytype (revenue overprint) released in 1899 (Scott #48 thru #51). The set catalogs for around $200 MNH and double that for Used. The error overprints fetch around $100 for the lowest denomination (5c ultramarine) while the highest denomination goes for as high as $4K (50c on 1sh gray).

The period from 1902 to 1920 saw a few KEVII and KGV keytypes – a few short sets and a couple of long sets. The long sets (Scott #62 to #71 and Scott #75 to #84) are both very valuable with the former fetching around $500 MNH and $750 Used and the latter fetching a little less. Certain Common Design Types showing KGV head were the only stamp issues during the period from 1921 to 1937.

Following are prominent issues of British Honduras from 1938 to 1973:

1. A beautiful set (Scott #115 to #126) of twelve stamps in as many denominations (1c to $5) and design showing local scenes and the seal of the colony with KGV head as a common factor was released in 1938. The set catalogs for around $80 MNH and about half that for Used. The designs show Mayan Figures (1c green and violet), Chicle Tapping (2c car and black), Cohune palm (3c brown and dark violet), list of local produce (4c green and black), grapefruit harvesting (5c slate blue and red violet), Mahogany logs being shipped (10c brown and yellow green), Sergeant's Cay (15c blue and brown), Dory (25c green and ultra), Chicle Industry (50c dark violet and black), Court House ($1 olive green and carmine), Mahogany Cutting ($2 rose lake and indigo), and Seal of Colony (brown and carmine). Mahogany and Chicle (sap is used to make gum – chiclets were named after this tree) sap export formed the bulk of exports in the early periods and so appear prominently in this set. The set catalogs for around $80 MNH and around half that for Used.
2. A set of six stamps released January 10 1949 to mark the one-fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of St. George’s Caye – the battle took place in September 1798 between Spanish invaders and Baymen who first settled there in 1650. The designs show St. George’s Caye and H.M.S. Merlin, the sloop used by Baymen against the Spanish. The set (Scott #131 to #136) is very affordable at less than $5 for MNH and around $2 for Used.
3. Another beautiful set of twelve stamps (Scott #144 to #155) in as many denominations (1c to $5) and design showing local scenes were issued between 1954 and 1957. This set is also valuable at around $80 MNH and less than half that for Used. The designs were Arms, Tapir (national animal), Legislative Council, Pine industry, Spiny Lobster, Stanley Field Airport, Mayan Frieze, Blue Butterfly, Armadillo, Hawksworth Bridge (built in 1949 across Macal River), Pine Ridge Orchid (the black orchid from this area is the national flower), and Maya woman.
4. A long running set of stamps first released in 1962. The original set of twelve stamps (Scott #167 to #178) in the Birds theme was released on April 2nd 1962. Part of the set (Scott #167a to #175a) was reissued in 1967 with a different watermark. In the interim, part of the same set (Scott #182 to #186) was reissued with a “SELF GOVERNMENT/1964” overprint. The original set is pretty valuable and catalogs for around $75 MNH and around one-third that for Used. The 1964 overprint is inexpensive and can be had for a few dollars. The 1967 reissue is also fairly affordable at well below $10. The design shows a bird and a QE head at the corner. The birds depicted were Great Curassow, Red-legged Honeycreeper, American Jacana, Great Kiskadee, Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Scarlet Macaw, Massena Trogon, Redfooted Booby, Keel-billed Toucan, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Rufoustailed Jacamar, and Monte-suma Oropendola.
5. A set of stamps first released in 1968 in the Fish theme. Part of the set along with a half-cent denomination was reissued (Scott #234 to #240) between 1969 and 1972 with a different watermark. The original set of twelve stamps (Scott #214 to #225) catalogs for around $20 MNH and $15 Used. The reissue catalogs for around $30 MNH and $35 Used. Crana, Jewfish, White-lipped Peccary, Grouper, Collared Anteater, Bonefish, Paca, Dolphinfish, Kinkajou, Yellow-and-green-banded muttonfish, Tayra, Great Barracudas, and Mountain Lion.

In 1973, stamps inscribed “Belize” started to appear following the country’s name change. Following are significant issues of Belize from that time onwards:

1. A set of thirteen stamps (Scott #312 to #324) released on June 1, 1973 which were reissues of the Fish theme sets originally released in 1968. The reissues used an overprint that featured a silver panel over which “BELIZE” is inscribed in black. The set is remarkably affordable at around $10 MNH and around $15 Used, considering these were the first issues with the Belize inscription. A reissue of the same set (Scott #327 to #339) followed in 1974, this time without the overprint but instead using a direct inscription. That set is also similarly valued.
2. A set of sixteen stamps in the ‘Butterflies of Belize’ theme released between 1974 and 1977. The set (Scott #345 to #360) catalogs for around $35 MNH and $25 Used.
3. A set of two stamps (Scott #381 and #382) released on October 18, 1976 to mark West Indies winning the 1975 World Cup Cricket Championship. The set catalogs for just $2 MNH or Used. The first design (35c blue, white, brown and red) show a map of the Caribbean with West Indies marked in Red and showing cricket equipment in the middle – it is a great design that show cricket as the unification factor for modern West Indies, a mix of small countries in the Caribbean sea – although Belize opted not to join the West Indian Federation in 1958, this issue shows their strong cultural association. Belize started issuing Canceled-To-Order (CTOs) in 1979 and those stamps have very little value.
4. Belize issued three different sets of stamps in 1981 to mark independence from United Kingdom (September 21 1981). The first two sets released on the day of independence were “INDEPENDENCE September 21 1981” overprints on previous issues. The first set (Scott #563 to #569) was the issue to mark the 75th anniversary of the Rotary Club and catalogs for around $35 MNH or postally used. The second set (Scott #572 to #587) is the beautiful Shells set first released in 1980. The set catalogs for around $80 MNH or postally used. The third is a short set in an orginal independence theme design. The set (Scott #594 to #599) catalogs for around $50 MNH or Used. The designs show Flag, Map, Black Orchid, Tapir, Mahogany Tree, and Keel-billed Toucan. Collectors need to be careful when acquiring one of these sets as the CTO equivalents of these sets have very little value.

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Last Updated: 07/2011.
 

A Peek Into Our Roadmap to Financial Independence

As discussed previously, frugal living, reducing expenses, investments guaranteed to beat inflation, and passive income generation are key issues on one’s road to financial independence. Each of these contributes to either:

1. Reducing the amount of money required on a monthly basis, and
2. Generating income to offset living expenses.

Having been in the software industry for over 15 years, and having worked full-time at it we are aware that though stressful at times the jobs are well-paying and intellectually challenging. Simultaneously juggling the responsibilities involved in bringing up two young children in elementary school has flavored and toughened us. The never-ending slew of layoffs in the recent years, not isolated to just our industry, has been gentle on us. It has always been our dream to resourcefully manage time until the nestlings confidently take to the sky.

Bay Area living, in an excellent elementary public school district comes with its own suite of out sized living costs to which we are not immune . A residential area with excellent schools and low housing costs is a holy grail. Below is a look at our expenses in a typical month:

• Housing (Mortgage, HOA, Property Taxes) – 65%
• Basics - Food, Fuel, Attire, Utilities, etc. – 12%
• Travel and Entertainment – 10%
• Children's schooling, training, and misc. – 7%
• Others - Insurance (housing, personal, auto), Home Maintenance, etc. – 6%

For minimizing expenses beyond what can be achieved through frugal lifestyle, relocating to a lower-cost area has been on our radar for a long time. Frugal lifestyle has helped us build liquid investments but income generation (dividends and interest) from the same are petite compared to our salaries. Another diminutive source of revenue is this blog and together they account for the bulk of our passive income which is woefully very modest now.

Our plan to achieve financial independence can be summarized as follows:

• Relocate to the South of India (our native soil). Infrastructure is practically non-existent there, when pitted against Western standards, but the area offers some distinct advantages and below are a few highlights:

1. Lower living costs.
2. Proximity to our extended family.
3. Immediacy to growing areas of the world.
4. Opportunity to experience global living thanks to our US citizenship.

• Our primary residence there will be the house we bought outright a few years ago. Housing which accounted for 65% of our monthly expenses in the Bay Area should then account for a much lower portion of our total expenses – zero mortgage, much lower HOA and property taxes.
• The children will be attending private school and that is one area where the costs will be significantly higher than in the Bay Area. The kids now attend free public education and the decision to private school them comes with a higher price tag, although it will be less than private schooling in the US.
• As for passive income – slowly, but surely we have been adjusting our stock portfolio toward investments in companies with consistent dividend growth. By selling our house and realizing the equity tied up there, we should be able to increase the size of our stock portfolio, thereby increasing dividends (passive income). Developing other streams of passive income as time allows is always in the offing.

We hope to pull this strategy off in the next six-months around the coming school year. As with all ventures there are several unknowns and uncertainties:

• How well will we deal with the new environment?
• How long will it take before the avocation becomes a vocation?
• How successful will our passive income strategies pan out to be?

There is no denying the comfort zone we are in currently but despite it, it is our gut feeling that this opportunity will cease to exist, once the kids start middle school. Details of our progress will follow in future posts.

Belgium Stamps Profile

Belgium is a country in Western Europe bordered by the North Sea to the West, Netherlands to the North, France to the South, and Germany & Luxembourg to the East. Belgium has a total land area of just under 12,000 square miles and a population of around 10.7 million making it a densely populated country at more than 800 per square mile. The country has two main ethnic groups – the Flemish community in the North that speaks Dutch, and the French community in the South. There is also a small German speaking community to the East. There are three official languages with about 59% of the population speaking Dutch, 40% speaking French, and about 1% German. Belgium became an independent country following the Belgian revolution of 1830 from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was occupied by Germany during World War I and II. Belgium has few natural resources, but was the first continental European country to undergo the industrial revolution. The GDP (ppp) stands at around $37K making it a solid developed country. Its highly productive workforce makes it possible for them to import raw materials and export finished products to the very competitive global marketplace.

Belgium gained independence from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815 to 1830) following the Belgian revolution of 1830. Since then, Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The first stamps of Belgium were released in 1849 and depict a portrait of King Leopold I. The issues until 1867 all show portraits of King Leopold I in five different designs. Most of these stamps (Scott #1 to #22) are very valuable in MNH with a value range between $150 (Scott #18 10c slate) and $4000 (Scott #8 40c car rose). Used copies can be had for much lower with the lowest (Scott #18 and #19) selling for the $2 range and the highest (Scott #5 40c carmine rose) going for around $500. Following the 34-year reign of Leopold I, a coat of arms theme appeared in the period from 1866 to 1867. The set of four stamps (Scott #23 to #26b) are also very valuable with catalog values in the $600 range for MNH and around half that for Used – these were used only as newspaper stamps and for printed matter and that accounts for the rarity. Counterfeits exist and so collectors need to be careful when trying to acquire this set. The issue was promptly followed by the monarch theme with issues of different designs of Leopold II portraits.

The 20-year period from 1893 to 1913 saw more issues primarily in the monarch theme with King Albert I debuting in 1912 (Scott #103 to #107). The set is very affordable at less than $2 for MNH or Used. One distinct characteristic of the issues during this period is a label attachment to the bottom. The issues with label attached are generally more valuable than their “missing label” counterparts. Other themes during the period include:

1. The Arms of Antwerp set of three stamps (Scott #76 to #78) released in 1894. It catalogs for around $10 MNH and about half that for Used.
2. The Saint Michael and Satan set of three stamps (Scott #79 to #81) released between 1896 and 1897. This set also catalogs for around $10 MNH and less than half that for Used.
3. The Lion of Belgium theme of 1912 released as part of a long set of eleven stamps (Scott #92 to #102). The lower denominations of this set are in this theme while the higher denominations show a portrait of King Albert I. The set is valuable at around $140 for MNH and less than half that for Used.

Germany invaded Belgium in 1914 during the beginning stages of World War I. Two large sets of 15 and 14 stamps respectively (Scott #108 to #122 and #124 to #137) and a couple of other smaller sets in World War I related themes were the only stamps released during this period. The former set (Scott #108 to #122) includes eight different designs - Albert I, Cloth Hall of Ypres (the famous Cloth market first constructed in the 13th century hit by German artillery), Bridge of Dinant (another landmark hit during world war I), Library of Louvain (the building and 300000 books destroyed during world war I), Scheldt River at Antwerp, Anti-slavery campaign in Congo, King Albert I at Fumes (Belgian military headquarters following German invasion), & Kings of Belgium Leopold I Albert I and Leopold II. The set is valuable at around $350 MNH and less than half that for Used. The latter has a single deign of King Albert I in a trench helmet with different colors for the denominations. The set is very valuable at almost $1200 for MNH and about half that for Used. The design showing the Fountain of Liege (a major first battleground in World War I) completes the designs during this period. The issues that followed till World War II were predominantly based on the Monarch theme with occasional issues of other great men, arms, and certain overprints. One significant issue during the period is the set of three stamps (Scott #251 to #253) showing Auguste Piccard’s (the Belgiun scientist who pioneered research on helium balloons – Herge, the creator of ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ cartoon books was inspired by his distinct figure for the creation of the cartoon character, Professor Cuthbert Calculus) balloon. The set is sought after and catalogs for around $100 for MNH and one-tenth that for Used. Other significant Belgian stamps issues include:

1. Following World War II, industry became a common theme on Belgian stamps. In this theme, one significant issue is the set of twelve stamps (Scott #374 to #385) in six different designs released in 1948. The set catalogs for around $50 MNH and less than $10 for Used. The designs were – Chemical Industry, Industrial Arts, Agriculture, Textile Industry, Communications Center, and Iron Manufacture.
2. A set of twelve stamps released on May 14, 1952 during the UPU Congress Meeting in Brussels depicting Barons, Counts, and Princes. The set (Scott #435 to #445 and B514 – Beaulieu Castle) is very expensive at around $300 for MNH and $200 for Used.
3. Belgium issued many stamps over the years in the Stamp Collecting theme with a focus on youth philately. The first such issue was a stamp released on October 1, 1960 showing two children examining a stamp using tongs with the picture of a globe in the foreground. The issue comes attached with a horizontal label with a post horn design. The stamp is inexpensive and can be had for a few cents MNH or Used. Since then, Belgium issued a stamp in the same theme every year in October until 1995 when it became less frequent. Most of these stamps are inexpensive and so theme is a good collecting area, especially for budding philatelists.
4. A set of five stamps issued on June 22 1974 depicting historic buildings and monuments of Belgium. The set (Scott #871 to #875) is affordable at around $2 for MNH or Used. The designs were Planetarium of Brussels, Pillory of Braine-le-Chateau (16th century), Soleilmont Abbey Ruins (Abbey of Trappist nuns founded in the 11th century), and Belfry of Bruges (13th Century).
5. A set of four stamps issued on May 6 1985 depicting locomotives to mark the year of public transportation. The set and a souvenir sheet (Scott #1194 to #1198) catalogs for less than $10 MNH or Used. The designs were Steam Tram Locomotive (1896), Locomotive Elephant and Tender (1835), Tank Engine (1935), and Electric Locomotive (1975).
6. A beautiful sheet of nine stamps issued November 18, 1996 to mark Christmas and New Year. The colorful set (Scott #1634a-i) catalogs for around $10 MNH and a little less for Used.

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Last Updated: 07/2011.
 

Economy, Business, Credit, and Debit at the Roundup #13

Welcome to the November 18, 2009 edition of the Roundup.

lifestyles presents The Case for Real Estate Investing as The Best Vehicle for Financial Freedom posted at Lifestyles Unlimited Real Estate Investing and Mentoring, saying, "Damon Janis on the Case for Real Estate Investing as the Best Vehicle for Financial Freedom"

Debbie Foster presents What Is A Continuity Program? posted at Internet Income - The Journey.

KCLau presents Investment Strategy for a Student posted at KCLau's Money Tips, saying, "Investment advice for a student"

Ben presents Variable Annuities Overview posted at Money Smart Life.

David Carlson presents Dual Income No Kids: Book Review: Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover posted at Dual Income No Kids, saying, "This article is about the author's experience with Dave Ramsey's total money makeover. He reviews the various chapters and how Ramsey is helping people achieve financial independence."

debt kid presents How To Stop Money From Ruling Your Life posted at Debt Kid.

Silicon Valley Blogger presents 0% Interest Credit Cards, 12 Months Balance Transfer posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Using 0% interest cards can lower your credit card bills, only if you are able to pay them down before intro rates expire."

Billeater presents Mortgage Options You Can Afford to Pay posted at Billeater.

All Others

Tyler Tervooren presents Quit Worrying About 80% of Your Life posted at Frugally Green, saying, "When it comes to managing my goals, I am a classic over analyzer. I want complete control over every detail, right down to the finest minutia. But, what I didn't realize until just recently is that I was wasting all kinds of time and energy worrying about things that didn't make much of a difference whether they went right or wrong. Taking a step back to look at the "big picture" of my finances and environmental goals allowed me the space to see the few core activities that had the potential to really change my life. Embracing Pareto's Principle, or the 80/20 rule, I've taken major steps to reorganize my effort and spend more time on things that matter. When you take care of the important stuff, the unimportant takes care of itself."

MoneyNing presents Help Your Children Visualize Money Mangement with the Four Jars Approach posted at Money Ning, saying, "I was taught the four jars approach when I was young to learn personal finance. How about you?"

Mihaill presents How motivated are you? About soft skills. posted at SKILLFUL BEHAVIOUR, saying, "My articles will make you think about how motivated you are."

Colin Robertson presents How Does Refinancing Work? posted at Mortgage Tips and Credit Help, saying, "When you refinance your mortgage, you are essentially trading in your old loan for a fresh one with a new interest rate and set of terms."

realta presents We are NOT who we are supposed to be posted at We are NOT who we are supposed to be, saying, "RELATIONSHIP with LIFE not with Thoughts..."

Patrick @ Military Money presents Choosing Between a Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA posted at Military Finance Network, saying, "Which is better - a Traditional IRA or a Roth IRA? The answer of course depends on your specific financial and tax situation, but this article gives tips to help you determine which is the best for your needs."

JL 4 Media presents 3 Things to Do Before Changing Your Life posted at Live Life to Fullness, saying, "Before doing something we need to prepare. This is just a simple preparation and simple checklist before going to the battle towards financial independence."

nissim ziv presents Coping With Getting Fired From a Job posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, "Getting fired doesn’t have to mean failure, it can mean opportunity."

FMF presents How to Make Money as a Soccer Referee posted at Free Money Finance, saying, "A simple way to earn extra money."

Ted Reimers presents Tips for making a Career Change posted at A Degree Online, saying, "The road to financial independence requires many changes. Here we advice when making a career change."

Tom @ Canadian Finance Blog presents Check Your Credit Reports - Canadian Finance Blog posted at The Canadian Finance Blog, saying, "When you apply for a credit card, loan or mortgage, the bank will check your credit history before making a decision to lend you the money."

Wenchypoo presents "I Blame EVERYONE For the Credit Card Fiasco" posted at Wisdom From Wenchypoo's Mental Wastebasket, saying, "An article, plus a method of improving (even doubling) your credit limit and FICO score in 30 days."

The Smarter Wallet presents Credit Crisis and Subprime Card Traps posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, "On the pitfalls of subprime credit cards."

Evolution Of Wealth presents Return On Equity Is Always Zero posted at Evolution of Wealth, saying, "Everyone tells you to build up equity in your home. Do you ever ask why? What they don't tell you is the return on your equity is zero."

Kathleen Gaga presents That which we believe...is! posted at Daily Awareness, saying, "How often do people affirm all their abundance in one breath, and then in the next breath they say, “How am I going to pay the bills?”
The fact is, there is a source beyond what can be seen, touched or talked about. It is The Source. It is the manifestation of all we are deserving of. Yet, so often we invalidate that which is our birthright."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
road to financial independence
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Carnival of road to financial independence #13

Welcome to the November 17, 2009 edition of road to financial independence.

Beating Inflation

Tyrone Solee presents How to Fight Inflation posted at Millionaire Acts, saying, "These are some of the ways on how can you fight inflation that eats up your money's purchasing power."

Frugal Living

FIRE Getters presents The Witch of Wall Street - Henrietta "Hetty" Green posted at FIRE Finance.

Scott Mills presents Save Money by Growing Sprouts posted at Wisdom Lion, saying, "This post is about how growing and eating your own bean sprouts can save a lot of money and it is extremely good for you. The cheapest food doesn't have to be the least healthy."

Steve Faber presents Propose To My Girlfriend » How to Get the Lowest Airfare Available – Read This or Spend Too Much For Your Airline Tickets posted at Propose To My Girlfriend, saying, "Frugality is one of the cornerstones of financial independence. Live on less, invest the rest, you know... In any case, here are some great strategies to stretch your air travel dollars this holiday season."

TJ Smith presents Frugal Doesn?t Always Mean Cheap posted at Downturn Living, saying, "This article offers a different way to buy produce that is healthy, economical and fun."

Peak Personal Finance presents 6 Types of Financial Apps for Your Smart Phone posted at Peak Personal Finance, saying, "Smartphone apps that can save you money!"

Emily Simmons presents My Journey Towards Financial Freedom posted at Be In Health Now, saying, "The first in my series about achieving financial freedom, this post talks about how I got started on the journey."

Braudis Lee Pegram presents Goodbye Capital One posted at The koH Resources Blog, saying, "Goodbye to the big banks."

Joe Manausa, MBA presents How The Cap And Trade Bill Affects Real Estate posted at Tallahassee Real Estate Blog, saying, "I believe that if the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 is enacted, new home construction costs will go up, and home affordability will decline. It appears as if a “national building code” will be created, thus usurping some of the rights of State’s to control building quality as they see fit."

Darwin presents Why Do People Pay More Money for the Top of the Line Model? Incremental Value Analysis posted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "Did you ever try to objectively assess just how much you're paying when you buy a premium brand or model above the base/generic? This article questions everything from cars to coffee makers in an analysis of Incremental Value."

Joseph presents how to become wealthy posted at Penny Pinching.

Passive Income

Kevin Blank presents Keystone Catalyst Blog: Master Franchises Offer a Unique Work at Home Opportunity posted at Integrity First Associates, Inc Blog, saying, "Master franchises are a unique opportunity to have big pay days as well as passive income."

The Debtress presents Tips for Scoring a Holiday Job posted at - The Debtress Blog -, saying, "Need a little extra money in your pocket or your savings account? Taking on a second (or first) job this holiday season may give you a financial boost."

Reducing Expenses

Claude presents Thousands Of Help Dollars For Solar Energy posted at Solar Home - Solar Systems for Homes.

CreditCardAssist presents Consumers Remain Cautious About Spending During Holidays posted at Credit Card Assist, saying, "Despite positive signs in the stock market and overall economy, consumers are very cautious about holiday spending this year and will continue to pair back their credit card use now and in the future."

Four Pillars presents Get Out Of Debt With YNAB – You Need A Budget Financial Software Review posted at Quest For Four Pillars, saying, "Indepth review of You Need a Budget software."

Mr Credit Card presents Macys Visa Credit Card Review posted at Ask Mr Credit Card.

Credit Shout presents Chase Blueprint Program Review posted at CreditShout.

Stock Investments

GeoffG presents Technical Analysis and Market Timing Update for 10/22/09 posted at Market Timing and Top Stock Picks, saying, "Weekly market timing signals, technical analysis, top stock picks, blog, forum and more, all free."

anotherjen presents Rich Girl Lingo: What the Heck is a Mutual Fund? posted at The Next Rich Girl, saying, "A little financial literacy 101 from Next Rich Girl: Mutual funds explained in plain English"

ABC presents “Bottoms Up” Investment Method posted at ABCs of Investing, saying, "A short description of "bottom's up" investing style."

Aussie Investor presents How To Buy Shares In Australia posted at Australian Investing, saying, "Investing in the stock market can be a rewarding experience, but where do you start? This post introduces the mechanics of buying shares. What sort of things do you need to consider beforehand and how do you actually go about making your first purchase?"

Praveen presents Just Bought Hyatt Hotels (H) posted at My Simple Trading System, saying, "About the recent Hyatt IPO and why it's a good buy."

cesare presents Over and Under pattern posted at cesfx.

jim presents 2010 Roth IRA Conversion Rules posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of
road to financial independence
using our
carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our

blog carnival index page.

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road to financial independence, blog carnival.

Sold Patni Computer Systems Limited (PTI) –Portfolio Update for November 2009

As twittered previously, we sold our entire position in Patni Computer Systems Limited (PTI) at a loss of close to 8%. The Indian stock market had a great run and Patni stock outperformed the index by rising almost 300%. With this transaction, our cash position has increased to 14%.

Another development in the last month is Harvest Energy (HTE) selling out to Korea’s KNOC. The transaction is expected to close in December and that will result in the realization of around 55% loss on our holdings in Harvest Energy. Over the years, we have held several Canadian Royalty Trusts and our performance overall has been mixed – the investments provided significant monthly dividend income but these were largely offset by capital losses.

Below is our updated portfolio – it is about 6% in the red:

Stock	Buy Date	Buy Price	Current Price	Current % Of Portfolio	Unrealized % Return	Yield as % of Portfolio Value
Altria (MO)	Various	16.69	19.34	2.99	15.91	0.38
Philip Morris International (PM)	1/4/2005	32.19	50.64	6.06	57.30	0.45
Kraft Foods (KFT)	Various	24.03	27.63	2.85	14.96	0.23
Pfizer (PFE)	Various	24.37	17.94	4.62	(26.38)	0.30
ICICI Bank (IBN)	5/18/2006 and 08/01/2008	25.28	39.78	10.25	57.38	0.30
Advantage Energy Fund (AAV)	11/2/2006	11.22	6.30	1.62	(43.87)	0.17
Central Europe & Russia Fund (CEE)	Various	39.23	35.16	6.34	(10.36)	0.03
Itron Inc. (ITRI)	11/07/2007	85.01	63.91	3.29	(24.91)	None
Anthracite (AHR)	11/09/2007	7.97	0.38	0.10	(95.23)	0.00
Harvest Energy (HTE)	11/28/2007	21.01	9.41	1.94	(55.22)	0.22
iRobot (IRBT)	12/18/2007	18.65	14.10	2.91	(23.75)	None
LDK Solar (LDK)	01/22/2008	30.49	6.98	1.08	(77.11)	None
Aegon N.V. (AEG)	04/28/2008	15.99	7.73	1.20	(51.65)	0.00
TD Ameritrade (AMTD) – Call Value	05/21/2008	17.68	17.50	3.61	(1.04)	None
Costco (COST) Call Value	08/01/2008	62.28	60	3.09	(3.66)	0.07
Frontline Limited (FRO)	10/06/2008	36.95	27.62	2.14	(25.24)	0.17
DryShips Incorporated (DRYS)	02/09/2009	6.96	7.01	2.53	(0.66)	0.00
Plum Creek Timber (PCL)	07/23/2009	30.50	34.61	7.13	13.48	0.46
CPFL Energia S.A. (CPL)	07/28/2009	50.45	58.22	6.00	15.40	0.55
BP plc (BP)	08/05/2009	51.49	59.26	6.11	15.09	0.45
AT&T (T)	08/27/2009	26.38	26.29	5.42	(0.36)	0.39
Sysco Corporation (SYY)	10/13/2009	25.23	27.35	5.64	8.38	0.39
Cash				13.93
Total Portfolio					(6.09)	3.81

• For Altria and Philip Morris International, assumed spin-off ratio of 30.83:69.17. Altria is yet to supply the cost-basis info
• For Ameritrade (AMTD), we wrote Jan 10, 17.5 Covered Calls on them at $2.80 on 9/10/2009. Since the current price is above exercise price, exercise price is above.
• For Costco (COST), we wrote Jan 10, 60 Covered Calls on them at $2.90 on 9/21/2009
• For ICICI Bank (IBN), we wrote March 10, 40 Covered Calls on them at $5.90 on 10/06/2009 against 40% of our shares

Below is a summary of transactions during the year:

Stock	Buy Date	Buy Price	Sell Date	Sell Price	% Gain (Loss)	% Portfolio Return*
DryShips (DRYS)	Various	11.66	01/29/2009	8.96	(23.29)	(1.39)
DryShips Feb 15 Calls (OOCBC)	01/29/2009	0.20	01/16/2009	2.50	922	0.58
Companhia Siderugica Nacional (SID)	Various	11.03	01/29/2009	16.01	44.86	1.73
Taiwan Semi Feb 7.5 Calls (TSMBU)	Expired	NA	01/09/2009	0.90	NA	0.77
Taiwan Semi (TSM)	7/27/2006	8.70	03/03/2009	7.76	NA	(0.78)
Direxion Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS)	03/16/2009	5.09	03/19/2009	6.53	28.31	1.26
Direxion Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS)	03/23/2009	5.94	03/23/2009	6.22	4.63	0.19
Direxion Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS)	03/24/2009	6.45	03/24/2009	7.12	10.30	0.44
Direxion Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ)	03/26/2009	19.67	03/27/2009	19.91	1.22	0.05
Direxion Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS)	03/30/2009	5.49	03/31/2009	5.20	(5.35)	(0.23)
Direxion Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ)	04/09/2009	10.47	04/13/2009	11.03	5.40	0.22
RQCDU – Ericsson April 7.5 Calls	1/21/2009	NA	04/18/2009	7.50	NA	0.65
Ericsson ADR (ERIC)	5/5/2008	11.83	04/18/2009	7.48	(36.80)	(3.04)
FASEB – May 10 calls on FAS	4/27/2009	0.58	04/22/2009	0.90	NA	0.14
FASEJ – May 8 calls on FAS	5/01/2009	0.93	04/30/2009	1.47	NA	0.14
Direxion Financial Bull 3X (FAS)	4/13/2009	9.86	06/18/2009	8.78	(10.95)	(0.47)
FASFI – June 9 calls on FAS	6/18/2009	0.28	05/18/2009	1.52	NA	0.54
Trina Solar (TSL)	Various	24.90	6/20/2009	22.50	(9.65)	(1.05)
TSLFX – June 22.5 calls on TSL	6/20/2009	0	05/27/2009	2.77	NA	1.21
CKSW	11/09/2007	4.61	07/01/2009	6.84	48.37	1.95
COP	7/29/2009	43.08	08/05/2009	44.44	3.16	0.24
PTI	8/10/2007	20.87	11/02/2009	19.24	(7.79)	(0.60)
Realized Gain/(Loss) YTD	-	-	-	-	-	2.41

• % Gain/Loss Relative to Portfolio Value at Beginning of Year + Deposits
• The table assumes realization of profits associated with selling options only after the option is exercised or expiry.