My Financial Journey Progress and Future Plan

Today, I want to talk about my current personal net worth and my progress in my financial journey. I’m showing you, readers, this not because I want to brag, but to show a tracking record of my performance in managing my personal finance. Yes, I did inherit some money from my dad as a starting capital. The total amount he gave me is $350,000. It’s not a small sum amount of money, but I manage to turn that starting capital into $1,400,000.

My current net worth (July 2021) is more than $1,400,000 if I combine both assets in Indonesia and United States. I’m not trying to brag but to show my tracking record of managing and building my personal wealth. I’m pretty satisfied with my progress overall. My investing journey wasn’t smooth, for I also made many bad decisions and mistakes that cause me to lose money. However, even though I made a lot of errors, I was able to turn the $350,000 my dad gave me in total into $1,400,000. In this article, I want to share my strategy to manage to have the current personal wealth I have right now. I am also going to talk about my plan for the future.

Is Inflation Coming? How is it Going to Affect the Economy & What You Should Do!

Recently, the Federal Reserve kept printing new money into the economy. The government did this to stimulate the economy during the Covid pandemic crisis. However, all this money printing has its side effect. Inflation is here. As with the April report, the May CPI inflation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlighted that prices rose across the board by a lot. Overall, prices in May climbed 5% year over year, the biggest such gain in the headline CPI data since August 2008. Even when you strip out volatile food and energy prices—so-called core CPI inflation—prices rose by 3.8% year over year in May.
 
Investors are spooked because rising inflation, which threatens investment and consumer spending, would need to be tamed by a rise in currently rock-bottom interest rates – and that would be anathema to markets and a corporate sector that has grown used to cheap money. Due to all this money printing, the economy is in a bubble that might eventually burst. The S&P 500 Index has risen so much recently due to all this money printing. I believe the market is overvalued, and the upcoming collapse of the U.S. economy might occur. In this article, I'm going to emphasize how impending inflation is coming and how it will affect the economy. Moreover, I will explain what I did to my stock portfolio and what financial advice I recommend.

My New Business Plan - Bun's Bargains E-Commerce

I have created many side businesses during the journey of my career path. I enjoy the process of creating new business ventures since it’s my passion. I decided I want to do something about my grandfathered Shopify account (free membership) to be used as a new business. My older brother was the one that created the Shopify account. I have been thinking for a long time about what I can do about it. Because I have background experience in selling electronics and gadgets on the internet, I believe starting an online store that sells these goods is a good idea. When I was still living in the United States for my education, I bought and sold electronic goods. I was buying them wholesale from China and selling them at a markup price.
 
Anyways, let me explain my business plan for this e-commerce website. Bun’s Bargains will be a new online store that sells electronics and gadgets on the internet. I am going to use my grandfathered Shopify account for making this online business store. However, before I start this new business venture, I still have to ask my older brother for permission to use the Shopify account. I am willing to give him a 50% cut if he lets me use the Shopify account. In this article, I will discuss why I want to create this business and what my plans are. Moreover, I will explain how this new business will generate cash flow for me and how I can monetize this business. 
 

Why Did Charlie Munger Buy Alibaba Stock

Readers probably already know that I'm heavy on Alibaba stock. Because I invested a large sum of my capital in this stock, I decided to research this company more. Charlie Munger, a close friend to Warren Buffett, has invested a large percentage of his portfolio in Alibaba stock. Charlie is a value investor, similar to Warren Buffett. Buffett has described Munger as his partner and "right-hand man."

I'm curious why Charlie Munger invests a large sum in Alibaba Group (Ticker: BABA). I decided to research the reason why he invested in that company. I'm pretty sure Charlie has a solid reason to invest in Alibaba. After all, he is more experience in investing compared to me. I want to make sure my investment in Alibaba is not a mistake. In this article, I will discuss the research I found to why Charlie Munger decides to purchase a significant stake in Alibaba stock. With this research, I can feel more comfortable investing a large portion of my money in this stock.  

Why I Need To Take Care of My Health to Beat the Game I'm Playing

Health problems, even minor ones, can interfere with or even overshadow other aspects of your life. Even relatively few health issues such as aches, pains, lethargy, and indigestion take a toll on your happiness and stress levels. One way to improve your ability to cope with stress and feel better is to commit to healthier habits. 

Poor health habits can add stress to your life and also play a role in how well you can cope with stress. The stress that comes from poor health is significant. Health challenges also affect other areas of your life. Health problems can make daily tasks more challenging, create financial stress, and even jeopardize your ability to earn a living.

Part of my goal to reach financial freedom is to maintain a healthy lifestyle—what's the point of having all the money in the world but have poor health. Let me explain why possessing good health is essential for me to become wealthy and beat the game I am playing. Moreover, I am going to explain what I am doing to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Why Buying a Home is usually a Bad Investment

A home can be a place that provides a permanent place for your family and kids, a great place to hang out with friends and family, and it may even provide you with confidence and pride of ownership. But don't be fooled by thinking your house is an excellent financial investment — because nothing could be further from the truth.
 
Many people buy a house because they believe it's an excellent investment. When I was young, I also thought a house is a good investment because housing prices always go up. But did you know that your house is actually a liability? Owning a home requires you to pay taxes, maintenances, insurance, and many more. All of these other things happen with your home that you've got to pay for. This is why I am not leaving my parents' house yet, and decide to keep living with them until I am financially ready.
 
You shouldn't treat your home as an investment; however, if you are buying it for personal use, then it's okay. In this article, I will explain why you shouldn't treat your home purchase as an investment. In addition, a home is a lousy investment, and don't fool yourself into buying a home as an investment. You should only treat purchasing a home if you want a place to settle down.
 

Alibaba: One of the Cheap Bargains in This Market

I have been looking around in the stock market and haven't found many stocks that are undervalued. Currently, in a market full of elevated asset prices, it can be difficult for investors to find underappreciated securities on a valuation basis. I have seen stocks like Game Stop Inc. (Ticker: GME) gone up in price without seeing any fundamental value for its price appreciation. 

I have been following Alibaba Group (Ticker: BABA) for quite some time already. I have a friend who invested all of his capital in this stock when the price was $290-$300. I placed BABA in my watch list and got my attention when the cost of the stock goes down to $210-$220 level. I believe Alibaba (Ticker: BABA) is being underappreciated through the lens of both valuation and growth potential. While investors may fear regulatory risks, management stability, and financial legitimacy, BABA's growth runway coupled with discounted prices could potentially produce a valuable investment opportunity.

 

This is the reason why I sold all my other stocks in my portfolio and invested 63% of my capital in Alibaba stock. I have written an article as to why I invested a lot of my money in this stock. Because I invested a lot of my money in Alibaba Group, I decided to research this company. I want to make sure what I did was a wise investment move. In this article, I will focus more on information about Alibaba Group (Ticker: BABA) and why I think the current price Alibaba is at is great for investors to enter. 

Why I Hate Debt So Much

Many readers who had been following my blog know that I'm not too fond of debt. I hate debt so much that I never touch it a single time in my lifetime. If I do not have the cash to purchase something in my life, I will avoid buying it at all. This means I will only buy that product until I saved up the cash for it. You probably say a little debt will not hurt, but this is exactly how it starts. You make a small purchase on your credit card, and then before you know it, you are thousands of dollars in debt.
 
Debt can be a constant pain for some people because of its sheer nature. Everyone knows that debt is a struggle, but not everyone knows the extent of impact debt problems can have on a person's life. The amount of debt that can pile up throughout your life can create serious problems. Not handling debt-related issues immediately can leave you open to worse financial issues down the road.
 
The prime reason I can create and build a wealth of my own is that I had always avoided debt all the time. I learn this trait from my father, as he also avoided going into debt as well. In this blog post, I am going to explain why debt is bad for you. Moreover, I am going to give my reasoning as to why I hate debt so much.
 

I'm Now Heavy on Alibaba Stock

Since peaking in October 2020 at over $300 per share, Alibaba (Ticker: BABA) has lost approximately one-third of its market value. Alibaba stock price is currently trading at the $210-$220 range as of May 2021. The stock price caught my attention to take further research of the company. I became attracted to the company due to the fundamental and solid financial statement of the company.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides online and mobile commerce businesses in the People's Republic of China and internationally. It operates through four segments: Core Commerce, Cloud Computing, Digital Media and Entertainment, and Innovation Initiatives and Others. The company operates Taobao Marketplace, a mobile commerce destination; Tmall, a third-party online and mobile commerce platform for brands and retailers; Alibaba Health Internet platforms for pharmaceutical and healthcare products; Alimama, a monetization platform; 1688.com and Alibaba.com, which are online wholesale marketplaces; AliExpress, a retail marketplace; Lazada, an e-commerce platform; and Tmall Global, an import e-commerce platform.

 

On May 20, 2021, I decided to sell all my other positions in my portfolio and use the money to purchase Alibaba stock. I bought 3200 shares of Alibaba stock at $216.20, making this the most prominent position in my portfolio. As for now, my portfolio is very concentrated, holding only two stocks. I know readers might ask why I sold all my other stock positions and holding only two stocks now. In addition, Alibaba is not a stock that pays out a dividend. This is because I see an excellent opportunity that makes me decide to change my investing style. In this article, I will explain why I'm heavy on Alibaba and why I think this is an excellent investment. Moreover, I will talk about the recent earnings results, the stock setup going forward, a valuation update, and the critical risks in the investment.

Why Moissanites are the Best Diamond Alternative

When we think about expensive rings, the first thing that comes to most people's minds is a golden band with a bright, shiny diamond gem. Of course, a diamond ring is beautiful, and anyone who owns one is a fortunate person. However, not everyone can afford to purchase a diamond-encrusted engagement ring, even if they believe that it is only suitable to get one to mark their special moment. Diamonds are expensive gemstones. It is no wonder they do not fit everyone's budget. 

I personally like diamonds myself; however, I do not have that kind of money to purchase a real one. Well, maybe I do, but I do not want to waste my money on a diamond. This is the reason why I am looking for a diamond alternative. I have my ear pierced on my left ear when I was still in high school. Recently, I am interested in wearing an earring piece again. I wanted to have an earring that is very close to a natural diamond. I am not talking about zircon since it is easy to differentiate from the naked eye. This is the reason why I recently bought myself a moissanite stud earring. I like moissanite because this gem is considered a potential alternative to a natural diamond. If you are looking for a diamond gem, but don't have the kind of money to purchase one, then this article is right for you. I am going to explain what moissanites are and why they are the best diamond alternative.

How to Make Money on Fiverr: The Basic Guide to Succeed as a Fiverr Freelancer

If you work remotely and know how to make money on Fiverr, your earning potential is endless. Fiverr.com has exploded as the premier source of micro outsourced services on the Internet. Thanks to a multi-million dollar advertising campaign, it is increasingly tough to find people who have not at least heard of Fiverr. Not surprisingly, more and more businesses, both online and offline, are using the services offered on Fiverr. On gig site Fiverr, freelancers offer their services for $5 and up a piece in areas as diverse as graphics and design, writing, music and audio, video and animation, programming, and more. As Fiverr’s ability to draw clients to explode, the good news is that there is more and more demand for whatever services you offer to the global market for digital services.

I got interested in Fiverr.com because I can use this site to make money from my hometown. I know I have the disadvantage of earning money like people working in the United States, so I have to find ways to make money from my country. Fiverr allow me to offer my skills and services on the Internet. Because I think Fiverr is an excellent site for anyone interested in making money on the Internet, I decided to do more research on this topic. Becoming a Fiverr freelancer is another way I can try making money (U.S. currency) on the Internet. This article will explain what Fiverr is, how it works, and what jobs you can offer. Moreover, I will share tips and information on how you can succeed as a Fiverr freelancer. Hopefully, after reading this article, readers can find a new solution to making money on the Internet. 

How to Make Money as an Amazon Affiliate

Imagine yourself owning a business that requires no inventory or startup capital but partners with the most prominent internet retailer in the world. It can be done from anywhere in the world and generates potential significant earnings. Sounds pretty interesting, right? This business model exists, and it's called the Amazon Associates program. It is a free-to-use affiliate marketing program where you can promote and market any product selling on your media.

I got interested in Amazon Associates program because I am also about to apply this business technique myself. I believe applying this business idea can help me generate additional cash as a blogger and YouTuber. Because of my interest in this business model, I will share it with readers on this blog. This article will explain what Amazon Associates program is and how you can make money as an Amazon Affiliate. Moreover, I will explain the step-by-step method to do it yourself.

Why is Learning New Skills Important?

Part of my journey to financial freedom is to build up my career. I need a career that can boost my earnings so that I'm able to invest more and increase my monthly spending budget. I can't rely just on the wage I'm receiving from working in my dad's company. I know it's considered a lot in Indonesia; however, if I compare it to the United States wage, it's considered very little. This is the reason why I'm trying a lot of things at once. 

During the process, I discovered that learning new skills is essential to building my career. Learning new skills is essential to advancing my career. Having new skills I can acquire, I can do more things that can potentially help my career. It might sound unimportant; however, the more things I can do, the more value I can offer. This is why I am always trying to learn something new to do more things by myself. New skills diversify your job options and help you develop new techniques to keep up with the fast changing world. In this article, I will explain why learning new skills are essential to building your career life. Moreover, I will discuss the skills I want to learn and why it is vital for me.

Why I'm Not Buying a New Car & Sticking to My Awesome Beater Car

I have been driving my Mitsubishi Pajero 2009 Model since I moved back to Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2013. The car used to be my brother's, and he let me have it when I move back to Indonesia. The car is quite old now for it has been used for almost 12 years now. I am planning to keep using this car for another 5 to 10 years ahead. My parents did offer to buy a new car for me; however, I decline the offer. I believe the car I have been using is still fine and runs perfectly. Many readers are probably wondering why I don't get myself a new car since I'm well-off now. The reason for this is because I still want to focus on building my personal wealth. I find buying a new car doesn't give me the satisfaction I want. In this blog post, I will talk about why I don't want to switch to a newer car. Moreover, I will mention my reasoning as to why I love my Mitsubishi Pajero so much.