Friday Finance 6/30/2023: OOOOh, We're Halfway There!
Just like that, June is gone and we are halfway through what is shaping up to be a very interesting year for the markets and more specifically crypto. If you had told me back in January that the SEC would be waging all out war crypto, I probably wouldn't have batted an eye.
If you then told me that they would suddenly pivot and start approving BTC ETF's sponsored by the big finance companies, I likely would have been skeptical, but after thinking about it for a bit realized that probably makes sense.
Which brings us to where we are today. Despite the price of BTC holding steady just above $30K, it really does feel like we could be on the cusp of a bull run. Mabye? As a lot of people said over the past year or two, we still have a long period of sideways movement before that happens.
That's fine really, I'm just going to keep stacking, and showing up here doing what I do every day.
It is time again for another Finance Friday/Friday Finance. This is a series I started where I talk about random bits of financial stuff that I have seen, gathered, or experienced during the week. I hope as a reader you find it informational, entertaining, or both. I also hope it can generate some good discussion and edify the Leo community.
I had to make a couple stops around town this past week. Which means this is going to be another hybrid #fridayfinance/#marketfriday post. #marketfriday was started by @dswigle and it is really a pretty awesome initiative. If you have never checked out her blog, I encourage you to do so. I am always impressed by the number of comments her posts rake in.
As you can see, I had to visit the tire (tyre for you folks across the pond) shop this past week. It's crazy how expensive these things are. $700 bucks for a full set. Which drives (see what I did there?) me crazy because in a few short months we will be selling this car to my niece after she turns 16.
I didn't feel right giving her a vehicle with four bald tires though. She is my niece after all, so no expense should be spared right?
I'm always amazed by the variety of wheels you can get these days. It's almost like they have a different style for whatever personality you might have. This place offers a cash discount and charges you a 3% more if you pay with credit card.
It's a small town shop, but that's what I love about it. You set an appointment and they have you out in half an hour. When you go to the big name stores, you often end up sitting around all morning waiting (been there, done that).
It's scary how well the car drives now with new "kicks"!
After my nieces and nephews busy day at Detroit Lions Youth Camp and then an afternoon of swimming, we decided to try a new burger joint in my hometown. Big O's has a couple of locations another town over, but this is their first expansion outside that area.
Oddly enough, while we were entering Big O's, I noticed a sign in the same strip mall for Kzoo Bullion, this is a precious metal store that I have mentioned before in my posts. They sponsor a special night at our local minor league ball park where spectators get the chance to earn free gold or silver.
I checked out their site and it looks like they have auctions happening on a regular basis. I definitely need to get into their store sometime and check them out. Feel free to check out their site if you get a chance. For my fellow silver and gold stackers, let me know what you think!
Back to the burgers... Big O's is actually advertised as a burger and BBQ joint. You might think I would have went straight for the "Q", but I was actually in the mood for a burger.
I can't remember what my burger was called, but it had BBQ sauce on it as well as some other goodies like tomato, lettuce, and pickles. It was delicious. They did a fantastic job with it. The fries were cooked to perfection as well with a crisp exterior and a soft pillowy inside.
@mrsbozz ended up getting the "yardbird" sandwich and a side of macaroni and cheese. She said the sandwich was good, but she did find a couple of bones in it. For me that isn't a huge deal although it can be a bit dangerous. For her, it was nearly a deal breaker. She is more of a boneless skinless breast type of gal, so things like that hit a little different for her.
I had a bite of it and I thought it was quite good.
The kids all got burgers and virtually inhaled them. I think that is a decent sign of how good this place is. I also got a side of the baked beans and while they weren't amazing, they weren't horrible either.
I was just expecting something a little more. A lot of BBQ places throw some spare brisket or pulled pork in their beans to give it a little something extra. That would have went a long way towards making these amazing. As it is, they were just enjoyable, but not Earth shattering.
With a grand total close to $100 USD for the five of us (after tip), this wasn't a cheap dinner, but it filled us up and I would definitely go back and check out some of the other stuff from Big O's.
Anyway, back to the finance stuff:
DBOND
In case you missed it, the DBOND project by @silverstackeruk and @raymondspeaks has started up. The first wave of DBOND tokens were distributed last weekend and the second and third wave were dropped a couple of days ago.
DABS have started to drip into the accounts of DBOND holders. I'm really excited about this project. It might not make me super rich, but I think it is going to be a solid investment that will grow over time.
As SSUK said:
" we're aiming for a more consistent project compared to the normal boom and bust."
It sounds like there is going to be at least one more window where you can exchange 1 Hive for 1 DBOND before you have to start going to the secondary market to pick them up.
Soft Targets
With new movement on the crypto side of things and the possibility of a bull market looming large, I feel I need to go back and look at some of my soft targets that I have set for the next bull cycle. I have some already created, but I have a number of other tokens that I haven't set targets for yet. I feel like the more I put that off the worse shape I am going to be in when the bear is gone, so I need to get on that.
There is a good chance I will be liquidating a fair share of my less important crypto assets.
As I have said before, I think it is important to set some realistic goals so I can take at least some profits while the time is right. I also plan to leave myself a little to play with should the markets continue to rise and it turns out I sold a little too soon.
HPUD
Even though HPUD falls on a weekend, I still plan on doing some kind of post. Sadly, I won't be powering up another 1000 HP this week due to my investment in DBOND, but I will be powering up a little something.
Check back to find out what that might be!
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Legal age to drive is 16 in America? Does that vary by States?
I think it varies by State, yes, but around 16 or 17 is the norm.
Everywhere I have seen it is 16 unless you work on a farm then you can get a farm pass at like 13.
The legal age is 16 in the US, although you can get a learner's permit at 14 in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota. You are not a legal adult until you are 18, so as a parent, you are legally responsible for them until then. As a note, they can only get their license with parental permission, so legal age is only if your parents sign for you. :)
Today (30 June) is the last day of the financial year in Australia so it's officially tax time. I've been preparing for a month now, getting things in order and I'll bombard my accountant soon, sort of like an A-10 Warthog on a strafing run on a tank.
I hope you're well mate, just wanted to drop in and say a quick hello...bed time here.
Thanks! I appreciate it. My brother in law is and accountant, so he does my taxes. I know they can be a pain. Had to cut our camping trip short this weekend, so that is a bummer. Look for the post next week...
That's handy, load up the bro-in-law with piles of receipts and statements and you (hopefully) get a return at the end of it.
A bugger about your trip, I'll look out for the post. (I hope things are well though.)
Yeah, he owns crypto too, so he is able to handle the times I cash some out. I gave him a bottle of bourbon as payment this year!
I changed accountants because of crypto, the last was clueless. I've not cashed any out but when I do, I want the right person around. I pay more than a bottle of bourbon though. If only that was it. 😁
To be fair it was a really good bottle of bourbon. 😃
Haha, then it's a fitting payment, as long as he shared it with you.
Great to see you fitting some burger joint visits into a Finance Friday post! $100 seems a lot for just some fast food but speaking with my US colleagues, prices seem to be going up alot these days over there. On the flip side $700 doesnt seem so bad for some good quality truck tYres. Although maybe they used to be cheaper? I paid $5-600 for the best brand car tyres here I think 19".
These were for my wife's car. Yeah, 19". So really about the same I guess. The burger was delish! Just wait for Monday, I have a real treat for you.
This jumped out at me. With so many credit cards giving as much as 5% back, or even more if you pay for an annual fee card, I guess transaction fees for business must be pretty high, so I'm not really surprised that the store charges extra if you use a credit card, but it is interesting they do that. Is this becoming common in the States?
Yeah, I think it is actually. Some places let you know ahead of time. Others do not.
Oh my Gosh, I love the title so much, that I was going to use it for my "half of the year" posting post.
Well, I think I am going to use it as well :D
And much congrats for the target achieved!
Thank you! It's one of the best songs!
That food looks awesome, nothing like a good burger and fries. Beans look good too. I hate buying tires, they just keep getting more expensive!
DBONDS are great, I'm glad I bought in! I agree things are getting ready to move northward very soon and I'll be keeping more in my main accounts off Hive as well. There's going to be a lot of money to be made...
Thank you! Yeah tire shopping is a pain!
I'm hungry!!!
My previous @v4vapp proposal has expired. I have a new one which is running but unfunded right now. I'm still running @v4vapp and all my other services.
I've just updated v4v.app and I'm getting ready for some exciting new features after the next hard fork.
Please consider asking your friends to vote for prop #265 or consider unvoting the return vote.
For understandable reasons in the current crypto climate it is harder to get funded by the DHF, I accept this so I'm asking a wider audience for help again. I will also redraft this proposal with more details (coming soon). I'm also looking for other funding sources.
Additionally you can also help with a vote for Brianoflondon's Witness using KeyChain or HiveSigner
If you have used v4v.app I'd really like to hear your feedback, and if you haven't I'd be happy to hear why or whether there are other things you want it to do.
I love the Wheels and the meal. I missed it in Germany. It´s time for a journey to the States :)
Thank you!
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You covered all the bases here, quite gracefully floating from one to the other. It's a gift. ;)
One of my daughters just bought new tires for her vehicle, a Ford Escape. $699.00 out the door. I guess it has been a year or two since I bought tires and I don't mind saying that it appalled me, just a little bit. I know, I realize that I wasn't realistic, but, everything has gone up, as in way up! Nothing is a bargain anymore. I always check my credit card usage too. I get 5% cash back, but it sort of negates that if I get charged the extra 3%. I can rationalize that I am still getting 2%, but I am unwilling to do that right now. Maybe another day. I pay it off at the end of the month, so it doesn't matter if I pay cash, it is just the point. If you are going to pass on that 3% that they charge you, find another way to do it. I don't want to know that I am paying your bills. Anyway, I like going to a small place like that. I would do it every day of the week. Let's get back to supporting our small businesses! You are an awesome uncle making it good as new when you sell it to your niece. Kudos! And no, not everyone would do that. Just saying.
The burgers!!! I have to admit, you cannot keep me from a good burger. It is like steak to me. In fact, there are days I would rather have a well-made hamburger than a steak. Homemade fries? Yes! I'm in! I do like the chicken ones too and white meat, no skin is preferred. But... when I need a burger, white meat won't do. It is always fun to go in a group too, especially when they are kids. They are so much fun to take out, and I can see you are the popular uncle there. I think it is because you treat them well, you are like taking Fun Bobby out for the day. Who wouldn't want to go with you? I have several uncles that were exactly like that and it was because I felt special when they took me somewhere. They asked me to go and that in itself made me feel special. So, I have to give you a hand. You really do make all your nieces and nephews feel special. And $100.00 for five isn't cheap, but I figure that is probably between 15 and 17 each before tax and that isn't unrealistic for a gourmet burger place. Drinks, fries, and sides plus that ginormous burger? Not cheap, but, a fair price with the way things are now.
The financial news has been promising lately. Who knew? I am always a little fearful to be too trusting and always keep my guard up. I'm still stacking and well, probably a little heavier than normal. I have been a closet stacker for years now. I just got a few more bars in. I still really like the gold, but, lean heavier toward silver now.
As usual, your post is a winning combination - not sure how you do it, but, I like it! Thanks so much for taking us along for the ride!
#MarketFriday began as a way to reach out across the globe and learn about different cultures through their markets, especially local markets and farmers' markets, and eventually branched out and evolved over time from straight shopping to a cultural affair as it highlights how we differ and then again, how much we are alike. We have become a melting pot of culture, but it is still the Rituals, Festivals, food, architecture, and even your language/languages that separate us... Along with the fact that these things are normal for us. There are unwritten rules that rule our social behaviors. I see this as allowing for increased tolerance between cultures and nations, and opportunities to come together on an even playing ground. A strong culture can be beneficial to a country as it promotes unity, especially during a crisis, peaceful debate, and open dialogue. I have learned so much about all of you and it has been an amazing experience. I can only hope that learning about each other can help us work together for a peaceful world.
Thank you for being a part of #MarketFriday
Thanks, I appreciate the kind words! There are cheaper tires out there, but many of them are made in a particular country and have earned the nickname "china bombs" because they don't hold up very well. Many folks with RVs end up having issues with the cheaper tires. It's one of those cases where you get what you pay for.
I understand the 3% fee. It has to be hard for the smaller places that don't have the volume the big stores have so they can't cover that cost. Their only choice is to pass it on to the consumers. Really it's the processing companies we should be upset with.
I do my best to give the kids a great experience. I know I don't always succeed, but I have a feeling they won't remember those times as much as I will!
Oh, yes! You and me both with tires. Safety first.
I know you are right with the 3%, but they used to pass it on in different ways. The processing companies have changed scales. Now it seems like only the big box stores and Amazon are given a pass.
Trust me, they will always remember the good times and the others will become better as time passes. They might have already. You are already a legend between all the kids.
Will be really interesting to see what happens with the BTC ETF(s) and whether that helps pump money into BTC and the price. I'm going to be looking to see if I will have access to a BTC ETF or not, and if I do, with the current price, I'll probably chuck some money in there.
Doesn't sound like a bad idea at all!