There’s a MAJOR stock market crash coming! – Stock Series Ep. 1 w/ Jim Collins

In this 10 part video series, Jim Collins shares his advice about investing in the stock market. He’s been investing for over 40 years and financially independent for 25.

Today’s topic: Why you should expect several major stock market crashes in your lifetime and that’s OK 🙂

DIY “Samsung Family Hub” Refrigerator with Raspberry Pi + Camera!!!

I got tired of seeing the commercials for Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator with the cameras inside, so I decided to make my own. I used a Raspberry Pi and USB webcam to take a picture inside our fridge and upload it.

Whenever the door opens, a light sensor triggers the a simple program I wrote to take a picture and upload it via FTP to our website. Total cost was about $80 dollars.

See what’s in our fridge!
https://www.inourfridge.com

Parts I Used (Amazon Affiliate)
Webcam – https://amzn.to/1ZMaJvg
Raspberry Pi – https://amzn.to/1tt1wOx
Light Sensor – https://amzn.to/28zYI1Z
SD Card – https://amzn.to/28zYg3H
Keyboard and Mouse – https://amzn.to/1tt1LsV

Download the python program:
https://gist.github.com/mmoyer2655/fdbf1aebe1db516f8c5893ae0cdbed8b

Prototyping a Modular Tool Storage Idea

I needed a way to store benchtop power tools in the mobile woodshop without taking up any bench space. I thought it would be cool to use the e-track welded to the walls in the trailer to create a modular power tool storage system.

It’s really only necessary because we need to have space to pull the car in the trailer. During travel they need to be locked in place otherwise a french cleat system would have worked.

What do you think? Is there a simpler way to accomplish this?

Thank you to LARK UNITED trailers for building our trailer!
https://www.larkunited.com/

Book Review: The Simple Path to Wealth by Jim Collins

SPW cover final

We’re excited to announce?that our friend Jim Collins has just published a book based on his wildly successful “Stock Series” articles. ?We received?a preview copy of the book a few weeks ago and Jim?asked us if we could write a “blurb”?for promotional material. ?We replied:

“Jim Collins has the gift of making boring financial concepts funny and interesting. He makes complicated subjects simple and easy to understand. The Simple Path to Wealth is the first book I recommend to people curious about financial independence.”

And we mean every word of it. There’s a reason why Lauren and I decided to drive 2500 miles to interview Jim back in 2014. It’s because the writing style on his blog made investing in the stock market seem more accessible for the average person. That’s not an easy task.

Many of you email us asking for investment advice and 8 times out of 10 we direct you to Jim’s blog. ?”The Simple Path to Wealth” is now our go-to recommendation for people interested in investing and financial independence as it’s an expanded and polished version of his blog.

But there’s a reason why we trust Jim’s opinion before anyone else’s.
He was doing this stuff before it was cool.

He achieved financial independence before the internet was even around!?He didn’t have books, blogs, and videos as a blueprint. He just wanted “F-you money” so he could live life on his own terms and figured it out.

As an investor of over 40 years and financially independent for 25, I think we have a lot to learn from him. I hope you agree 🙂

Here is a link to the series of videos we filmed with him:
https://goo.gl/7maKWd

And here’s a link where you can buy the book (amazon affiliate):

https://amzn.to/1UUjMJa

A Bad DIY Day…

This was my second attempt changing out the bushings in our 1999 Monaco Dynasty. I should have learned my lesson the first time. Maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but nothing is more frustrating than spending all day on a project only to end up worse off.

I took the RV to a semi-truck suspension shop and they are having an extremely hard time. I feel a little better knowing that it was a difficult job for a reason, but I’m not looking forward to the extra hours on the bill.

Sign up for monthly income, expenses, and net worth reports!
https://newsletter.mikeandlauren.com

Help us make these videos:
https://www.patreon.com/mikeandlauren

Twitter – https://twitter.com/mikeandlauren
Instagram – https://instagram.com/lauren_moyer/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/mikeandlaurentv

Drain Cleaner as Wood Stain?

For some reason my camera didn’t record that I used a very diluted lye/water mix AFTER applying the stain to make the wood appear a little darker. That’s why the cut to the polyurethane looked a little darker. It didn’t work as well as using lye directly on the cherry, but it helped a little when things weren’t looking right.

Patreon only videos!
https://www.patreon.com/mikeandlauren

Drain cleaner I used:
https://amzn.to/1ToYOVr

Our DREAM Mobile Workshop Is Happening!

Huge news…Lark United Trailers has agreed to help us build the ultimate mobile workshop from scratch! This is obviously very exciting, but we also want to make sure we think of everything possible BEFORE they start construction.

If you could build your dream mobile workshop, what features would you include? How would you organize it? How would you modify the trailer itself to be more comfortable to work in?

Reddit Post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/4ivceo/what_would_your_dream_mobile_workshop_look_like/

Link to Sketchup and PDF files:
https://mikeandlauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Trailer-Files.zip

Lark United: https://www.larkunited.com/

Beat Budget Burnout (Before It Starts)

How do we avoid getting budget burnout? We focus our attention on the things we DO care about, more than the things we DON’T. It’s not a perfect system if you struggle with spending, but so far it’s worked for us!

Check out these other awesome YouTube channels!
Budget Girl: https://www.youtube.com/budgetgirl
Mike and Lauren: https://www.youtube.com/user/MikeAndLaurenTV
His and Her Money: https://www.youtube.com/user/HisandHerMoney
Lydia Senn: https://www.youtube.com/user/highfivefourthree21
Annie’s Simple Life: https://www.youtube.com/user/Anniesimplelife
GazelleInTents: https://www.youtube.com/gazelleintents
The Former Mrs. Jones: https://www.youtube.com/user/theformermrsjones
TheNotSoOrdinaryWife: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNotSoOrdinaryWife
Jessica Ashley: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc9v6vQSntnR7Ux9dREM-tA
Pennies Into Pearls: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw0Peuah9Gmb184cW_syhNA
Life with Sarah: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZnczIS3k6jO7cv1WQPKDFg
Marriage&Motherhood: https://www.youtube.com/user/JayDyann
ImperfectMommyChaos: https://www.youtube.com/user/ImperfectMommyChaos

Our “Personal Finance Masterclass” Is Now Available!

We’ve created a Udemy course about the basics of personal finance! We cover how to master your money, grow your income, reduce your debt, budget the smart way, invest, and much more!

Course Overview – https://www.udemy.com/personal-finance-masterclass/?couponCode=YT25

$15 | 100 spots available – https://www.udemy.com/personal-finance-masterclass/?couponCode=ML15
$17 | 100 spots available – https://www.udemy.com/personal-finance-masterclass/?couponCode=ML17
$19 | 100 spots available – https://www.udemy.com/personal-finance-masterclass/?couponCode=ML19
$25 for our Youtube subscribers – https://www.udemy.com/personal-finance-masterclass/?couponCode=YT25