Roaming Returns

148 - Van Life Portfolio Update (Dec–Feb): Main vs Income Account Results

It’s time for our quarterly van life portfolio update (December, January, & February) — and this is the portfolio we’re using to support our lifestyle experiment: live off portfolio income while our long-term holdings compound in the background. We run this strategy in two pieces: 1. Main Portfolio: long-term, reliable dividend/stability holdings designed to compound 2. Income Portfolio: higher-risk, high-yield positions intended to generate bigger payouts and stretch our runway (even if NAV declines) This quarter is a unique comparison because condo proceeds were invested throughout the quarter, so it’s not a clean apples-to-apples versus last quarter — but it is a powerful snapshot of what happens when you deploy capital in real time. In this episode, we cover: * What stocks/ETFs are in each portfolio (main vs income) * What changed: buys + sells and why * Our month-by-month income results for Dec / Jan / Feb * Yield trends we’re noticing (what’s paying less, what’s consistent, what’s volatile) * What looks overvalued vs undervalued (watchlist + “safety margin” ideas) * Which positions have DRIP turned on vs off and why * Our strategy: use the income account to cover expenses while the main portfolio compounds * The reality of what happens when an income month comes in lower than projected 📌 Spreadsheets Included: 1. Here's the ticker valuation spreadsheet [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1egP100_N3Q4IoEFcu615UBSgTC7X3j9_ApdRngNT9sk/edit?usp=sharing] for buy-up-to prices 2. Here's the dividend totals spreadsheet [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_MzI5gNCl9g0qAKKbZ_PFAhxJ46hiq0dVMxCtXiUueE/edit?usp=sharing] so you can review the numbers after listening If you’re curious about building a lifestyle around cash flow, experimenting with high-yield income, and balancing risk while still playing the long game—this episode will give you real numbers, holdings, and decisions. _________________________________________________________________________________ Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com [debrine9@gmail.com] Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe [https://7d8d938c.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAC2P1gd1IKcEf6iAVgPoW4CoIe-iQ6EoFIEDr4TJGPPL9wAG7vtXTAJGxScQmvLb8Yo4Z2zLvnIrJ5YrLKIxMNkSqdAdOTYFIrH_50zRx3ZSbIJB-NV0aPsJwwFEuETbFfTnm78yo_QIoAjEg5ley21fpYuMiKGz-UrP4Gql_FVQubzpajSb-4Cape68AgyXRPafNE40GJMn] to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! [https://incomeinvestingnomads.com/contact/] DISCLAIMER Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here [https://incomeinvestingnomads.com/disclaimer/]. Episode music was created using Loudly [https://www.loudly.com/].

147 - Retirement Portfolio Update (Dec–Feb): Holdings, Valuations, & Dividend Results

It’s time for our quarterly Retirement Portfolio update (December, January, & February) — this is our more conservative portfolio, built to stay steady and generate reliable dividend income. In this episode, we keep it short, clear, and practical, because the portfolio didn’t need big changes (which is exactly what we want in a conservative account). We cover what we hold, what changed, what looks overvalued vs undervalued (watchlist-worthy), and where we have DRIP turned on or off. We also break down the dividend results month-by-month and compare them to last quarter so you can see exactly what shifted — including why February came in lighter and the specific tickers that drove it. In this quarterly update, we cover: * What tickers are currently in the retirement portfolio * What changed (and what didn’t) since last quarter * What looks overvalued vs undervalued (ideas for a watchlist) * Which positions have DRIP on vs off * Dividend income results for December, January, and February * Quarter-over-quarter comparison + what caused the dip * Our 12-month dividend run rate and what it signals for the portfolio 📌 Spreadsheets Included: 1. Here's the ticker valuation spreadsheet [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1egP100_N3Q4IoEFcu615UBSgTC7X3j9_ApdRngNT9sk/edit?usp=sharing] for buy-up-to prices 2. Here's the dividend totals spreadsheet [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_MzI5gNCl9g0qAKKbZ_PFAhxJ46hiq0dVMxCtXiUueE/edit?usp=sharing] so you can review the numbers after listening If you like conservative, income-focused portfolio tracking with real numbers and clear reasoning, this episode is for you. _________________________________________________________________________________ Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com [debrine9@gmail.com] Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe [https://7d8d938c.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAC2P1gd1IKcEf6iAVgPoW4CoIe-iQ6EoFIEDr4TJGPPL9wAG7vtXTAJGxScQmvLb8Yo4Z2zLvnIrJ5YrLKIxMNkSqdAdOTYFIrH_50zRx3ZSbIJB-NV0aPsJwwFEuETbFfTnm78yo_QIoAjEg5ley21fpYuMiKGz-UrP4Gql_FVQubzpajSb-4Cape68AgyXRPafNE40GJMn] to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! [https://incomeinvestingnomads.com/contact/] DISCLAIMER Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here [https://incomeinvestingnomads.com/disclaimer/]. Episode music was created using Loudly [https://www.loudly.com/].

146 - Our Road Trip Budget: Estimated vs Actual Numbers

We’re back with the real numbers from our 9-day drive from Pennsylvania to New Mexico—after sharing our estimated travel budget and plan in the last episode. And the results were surprising. ✅ Estimated total: $1,356 ✅ Actual total: ~$946 (and possibly lower if you account for unused groceries) In this episode, we break down exactly what happened—where we spent more, where we spent less, and the real-world factors that no spreadsheet can predict. Here’s what changed from the plan: * Restaurants came in higher than expected * Gas was lower than expected (better mileage than we planned for) * Groceries were lower than expected (including a huge boost from a friend who was moving) * We forgot a necessary expense in the original estimate * We had to buy car fluids because one vehicle burned more oil than anticipated * The trip took 9 days total, including 3 non-driving rest days * Our average speed was only 50–55 mph, which stretched the timeline * And “night driving”? That plan died within the first two hours * We never activated our internet because the drive was long, stressful, and exhausting This is the part nobody talks about: planning is useful—but reality is the final editor. If you’re budgeting for a road trip, a cross-country move, or any big lifestyle transition, this episode will help you think in ranges, identify the hidden line items, and build a plan that survives real life... or add buffers for the unexpected. Roswell Photos --> HERE [https://www.facebook.com/CarmelaCrusades/posts/pfbid02dByywupEDGV7Ly4RoBLnV8QvEgEwoExnBpEDvKk5EFKTX3AkEo4GnhyuRmqq55BGl] _________________________________________________________________________________ Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com [debrine9@gmail.com] Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe [https://7d8d938c.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAC2P1gd1IKcEf6iAVgPoW4CoIe-iQ6EoFIEDr4TJGPPL9wAG7vtXTAJGxScQmvLb8Yo4Z2zLvnIrJ5YrLKIxMNkSqdAdOTYFIrH_50zRx3ZSbIJB-NV0aPsJwwFEuETbFfTnm78yo_QIoAjEg5ley21fpYuMiKGz-UrP4Gql_FVQubzpajSb-4Cape68AgyXRPafNE40GJMn] to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! [https://incomeinvestingnomads.com/contact/] DISCLAIMER Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here [https://incomeinvestingnomads.com/disclaimer/]. Episode music was created using Loudly [https://www.loudly.com/].

145 - Road Trip Planning Like an Investor: Plan, Customize, Pivot

We’re finally doing it: the drive from Pennsylvania to New Mexico—the move that launches our downsized, nomadic lifestyle we’ve been building toward for years. But this trip isn’t happening the way we originally planned. Winter weather, slow progress on a condo rehab and van build, and Tim’s last-minute training push for a 3-day bike race have changed everything. And that’s the point of this episode: life is always in flux—so your plans have to be built to flex. We Hate Highways… Guess Where We’re Driving In this episode, we compare: * A conventional road trip plan (typical route, hotels, eating out, standard timing) vs. * Our real-world plan (highways for time, possible night driving, slower pace for two older vehicles, frequent stops for cats, cooking + sleeping in the van at rest stops) We also talk through the constraints that force smarter decisions that deviate from our normal preferences: * Why we’re avoiding forest overnights (snow, mud, getting stuck = losing time) * How time pressure changes the “ideal” route * How preferences (like avoiding highways) shift when the stakes change * What we think this trip will cost—before we track the real number And in a future episode, we’ll report back with the actual totals: what stayed on-plan, what surprised us, and what we had to pivot on. This isn’t just travel planning. It’s the same framework we use for investing: Start with the conventional path → tweak it to fit your life → plan intelligently → pivot for reality. If you’re planning a big move, a road trip, or a major lifestyle change (financial or otherwise), this episode will give you a practical way to think through costs, tradeoffs, and the hidden variables people forget. New Money Rewired Podcast [https://rss.com/podcasts/money-rewired/] - click here or find it on your favorite platform _________________________________________________________________________________ Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com [debrine9@gmail.com] Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe [https://7d8d938c.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAC2P1gd1IKcEf6iAVgPoW4CoIe-iQ6EoFIEDr4TJGPPL9wAG7vtXTAJGxScQmvLb8Yo4Z2zLvnIrJ5YrLKIxMNkSqdAdOTYFIrH_50zRx3ZSbIJB-NV0aPsJwwFEuETbFfTnm78yo_QIoAjEg5ley21fpYuMiKGz-UrP4Gql_FVQubzpajSb-4Cape68AgyXRPafNE40GJMn] to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! [https://incomeinvestingnomads.com/contact/] DISCLAIMER Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here [https://incomeinvestingnomads.com/disclaimer/]. Episode music was created using Loudly [https://www.loudly.com/].

144 - The Era of “Mindful Money”: How Americans Are Managing Money in 2026

2026 is the year of financial realism. Americans are still dealing with high prices and inflation fatigue… but the shift is this: people aren’t just panicking anymore—they’re getting strategic. In this episode, we break down what the data says about the average American’s relationship with money in 2026: * persistent money stress + cost-of-living pressure * “paycheck-to-paycheck” life becoming normal (not fun, just normal) * record debt levels + why credit is being used as a bridge * and the biggest change: a widespread determination to improve finances—cut debt, build savings, and manage money more intentionally. Then we move from “yep, that’s the problem” to how people actually implement the changes they want, including: * Loud Budgeting: saying “that doesn’t fit my goals” without embarrassment * Sinking funds: turning predictable “surprises” into planned expenses * Convenience tax audit: finding money without a raise * Loyalty tax check: retention pricing, renegotiating recurring bills * Value-based spending: stop budgeting like a punishment * automation + micro-saving to build momentum without relying on willpower * and simple accountability systems that don’t feel like financial prison If you’ve been feeling the pinch and feeling ready to get your money together—this is your episode. _________________________________________________________________________________ Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com [debrine9@gmail.com] Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe [https://7d8d938c.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAC2P1gd1IKcEf6iAVgPoW4CoIe-iQ6EoFIEDr4TJGPPL9wAG7vtXTAJGxScQmvLb8Yo4Z2zLvnIrJ5YrLKIxMNkSqdAdOTYFIrH_50zRx3ZSbIJB-NV0aPsJwwFEuETbFfTnm78yo_QIoAjEg5ley21fpYuMiKGz-UrP4Gql_FVQubzpajSb-4Cape68AgyXRPafNE40GJMn] to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! [https://incomeinvestingnomads.com/contact/] DISCLAIMER Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here [https://incomeinvestingnomads.com/disclaimer/]. Episode music was created using Loudly [https://www.loudly.com/].