Wednesday, October 31, 2007

FMJ - Day 581

October 31: Happy Halloween! Found 19 cents. A stop for cash at Wells Fargo Bank and I find a penny under the ATM. Then, shopping for candy at Dollar Tree -- found a nickel and 2 pennies in the store. For dinner, we went to In-N-Out Burger in Moorpark, I found a dime and a penny on the bench where you wait for pick-ups.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.19
Bottles & Cans Collected: 2
Running Stats
This Month: $3.79
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $190.99
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $374.99 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $835.39 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 193 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,028.63

FMJ - Day 580

October 30: Found a dime and two pennies. The dime was found at the New Panda restaurant in the Sycamore Village Shopping Center in Simi Valley. The Pennies were found in Trader Joe's.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.12
Bottles & Cans Collected: 5
Running Stats
This Month: $3.60
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $190.80
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $374.80 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $835.20 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 191 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,028.63

FMJ - Day 579

October 29: No finds.

Monday, October 29, 2007

FMJ - Day 578

October 28: Happy Birthday to my wife! I won't reveal her age but she still looks young. We found 2 pennies. The first at the 7-11 at the corner of Tapo Canyon & Cochran Aves. The second at Von's on Yosemite. I collected a bunch of beer and water bottles while jaunting around Sanata Monica and Hollywood, yesterday.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.02
Bottles & Cans Collected: 31
Running Stats
This Month: $3.48
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $190.68
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $374.68 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $835.08 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 186 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,028.63

FMJ - Day 577

October 27: Played a tough tennis match against the Oxnard Team. Congratulations to them for beating the pants off us in 3 straight matches. Jay and I did the best in our match with a 3 set score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. I didn't make any money finds but I did collect about a dozen bottles from our match.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

FMJ - Day 576

October 26: I found a quarter near the newspaper machines at Ralph's in Wood Ranch. At Lenny Dykstra's car wash, I found a nickel and a penny. Ajay found a penny in the parking lot.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.32
Bottles & Cans Collected: 6
Running Stats
This Month: $3.46
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $190.66
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $374.66 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $835.06 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 155 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,028.63

Friday, October 26, 2007

Recycling Update!

October 26: This morning, I took a load of bottles and cans to the Wood Ranch Recycling Center to cash them. We received $12.70 for our efforts.

Total cash value of return recyclables in the B&C Fund: $1,028.63

FMJ - Day 575

October 25: 4 pennies found. Three pennies at Carls, Jr. on L.A. Ave. One penny at In-N-Out Burger on Stearns Ave.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.04
Bottles & Cans Collected: 12
Running Stats
This Month: $3.14
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $190.34
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $374.34 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $834.74 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 149 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Dividends!

On October 15, 2007, we were paid a dividend on the FMJ holdings of Glimcher Realty investment Trust (GRT) in the amount of $9.85. This was automatically reinvested by our broker for fractional shares. Our new holdings in GRT are 20.903 shares.

FMJ - Day 574

October 24: We found a nickel and three pennies. The nickel was found a Carl's Jr. on Madera Rd. The pennies were found while walking in the morning.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.08
Bottles & Cans Collected: 2
Running Stats
This Month: $3.10
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $190.30
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $374.30 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $834.70 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 137 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

FMJ - Day 573

October 23: I found a nickel near the America's Tire store in Simi Valley.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.05
Bottles & Cans Collected: 3
Running Stats
This Month: $3.02
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $190.22
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $374.22 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $834.62 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 135 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

FMJ - Day 572

October 22: FIRE, FIRE, Everywhere. There's a huge fire about 12 miles away from our house that's blowing smoke and ash right over us. The Santa Ana winds are gusting at 80m.p.h. and our electricity has been out all day and through the night. I took the kids to Cerritos to stay with their Mayma. There safe and comfy at grandma's house. Their school was closed for fire evacuation needs.

Money finds: Found two quarters and five pennies in the morning near Jack in the Box on L.A. Ave. At the Alliance gas station in Thousand Oaks where we pulled in the change a flat tire late last night, I found a nickel and two pennies.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.62
Bottles & Cans Collected: 8
Running Stats
This Month: $2.97
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $190.17
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $374.17 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $834.57 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 132 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

FMJ - Day 571

October 21: Found a penny... forgotten where.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

FMJ - Day 570

October 20: Found a lone penny on the floor near the concession stand at Mann's Westlake Village Theater.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.01
Bottles & Cans Collected: 1
Running Stats
This Month: $2.34
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $189.54
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $373.54 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $833.94 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 124 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

Saturday, October 20, 2007

FMJ - Day 569

October 19: Unfortunately, Civic duty kept me out of the game on this day... I had JURY DUTY. I had to be at the Ventura Court House at 8:00AM so that meant getting up at 6:00AM to get ready, putting on my best suit from my working years and drive 48 miles north to Ventura. I and 200 other people spent the full day waiting to be called for a jury panel in a large jury assembly room. At 4:45p.m., they let everyone go and not a single jury panel was called.

What did I do during the 8 Hours of sitting around? I brought 3 books, my sony walkman cassette player to listen to Hendrix, China Crisis & The Who, cashews &, crackerjacks, and 4 newspapers.

I completed 95 pages of Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD. I read several entries in THE Incomplete Education and started to read a book about American cabins called THE CABIN.

Did I enjoy myself? I MOST CERTAINLY DID!

Still no money was found.

FMJ - Day 568

October 18: I found a single penny at McDonald's on Washington Blvd. in Commerce, CA where we stopped on our way to pick up Mayma in Cerritos to stay at our house for a few days.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.01
Bottles & Cans Collected: 7
Running Stats
This Month: $2.33
Last Month: $3.4
2007 Finds: $189.53
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $373.53 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $833.93 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 123 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

FMJ - Day 568

October 17: I found a dime at Carl's Jr. on Madera Rd. Ajay found a quarter on the playground at his school.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.35
Bottles & Cans Collected: 8
Running Stats
This Month: $2.32
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $189.52
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $373.52 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $833.92 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 116 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

FMJ - Day 567

October 16: 11 cents (dime and penny) found while walking across Denton St. towards the kids' school.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.11
Bottles & Cans Collected: 5
Running Stats
This Month: $1.97
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $189.17
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $373.17 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $833.57 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 108 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

FMJ - Day 566

October 15: 13 cents found. At the Marshall's store in Thousand Oaks, I found 3 pennies near the check-out. An afternoon bike ride around our neighborhood gave us a dime found on Anasazi Way.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.13
Bottles & Cans Collected: 1
Running Stats
This Month: $1.86
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $189.06
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $373.06 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $833.46 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 103 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

Monday, October 15, 2007

FMJ - Day 565

October 14: In Westwood Village at the Falafel King Restaurant, I found a quarter and a penny. Love that Falafel King!

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.31 (5 cents from yesterday)
Bottles & Cans Collected: 13
Running Stats
This Month: $1.73
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $188.93
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $372.93 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $833.33 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 102 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

Sunday, October 14, 2007

FMJ - Day 564

October 13: Found a nickel in the check-out line at Best Buy in Simi Valley.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

FMJ - Day 563

October 12: No Finds except a few cans.

Friday, October 12, 2007

FM - Day 562

October 11: Found 2 pennies at Carl's Jr. at the corner of L.A. and Yosemite Aves.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.02
Bottles & Cans Collected: 3
Running Stats
This Month: $1.42
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $188.62
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $372.62 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $833.02 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 89 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,015.93

Thursday, October 11, 2007

FMJ - DAY 561

October 10: I found a single penny in the Pavillion's parking lot on Alamo Rd. We turned in $2.75 worth of bottles and cans at the recycling center near the Ralph's on L.A. Ave.

We will combine today's posting with the next day's.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

FMJ - Day 560

October 9: Ajay and I found two pennies at McDonald's on Yosemite Ave. An afternoon bike ride around our neighborhood and we find a quarter on the next street over.

Yesterday, we turned in $6.00 worth of bottles and cans.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.27
Bottles & Cans Collected: 6
Running Stats
This Month: $1.39
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $188.59
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $372.59 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $832.99 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 86 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,013.18

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

FMJ - Day 559

October 8: Ajay found a dime, nickel and a penny at the Subway sandwiches in the Camarillo Outlet Center. I found a penny earlier in the day while at the AMC Theaters in Woodland Hills.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.17
Bottles & Cans Collected: 0
Running Stats
This Month: $1.12
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $188.32
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $372.32 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $832.72 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 80 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,007.18

Monday, October 08, 2007

First Stock Purchased for B&C Fund.

October 8: Today, I invested all of the B&C Funds which totaled $1,013.18 after this morning's turn-in of $6.00 of CRV bottles and cans. The stock is United Dominion Realty Trust (UDR) which mainly owns apartment communities. It owns over 77,000 apartment units across the country including developments here in Los Angeles, CA.

We bought 39.331 shares of UDR stock at $25.76 for a total purchase price of $1,013.17. Currently, the stock pays an annual dividend of $1.32 per share which is an annual yield of 5.2% on our purchase price. We should expect about $53.00 in income from this investment in its first year.

So, here are the FMJ and B&C Funds current investments:

15.425 shares of PEI @ $40.29 $ 621.47
20.487 shares of GRT @ $23.65 484.52
39.331 shares of UDR @ $25.73 1,011.99

Total value of investments: $2,117.98

Forward Annual Expected Dividend Income: $128.00
(Equates a 6% yield.)

FMJ - Day 558

October 7: On the way to Santa Monica, I found a dime at the USA gas station on Kanan Rd. Along the 3rd Street Promenade, Ajay and I found 6 pennies.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.16
Bottles & Cans Collected: 2
Running Stats
This Month: $.95
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $188.15
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $372.15 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $832.55 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 80 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,007.18

Saturday, October 06, 2007

FMJ - Day 557

October 6: 49 cents found. Fist find was made in the morning at the Carl's Jr. in Westlake Village -- a single penny. A stop at the 99 cents store on Tapo St. and we find two pennies. Maya attended a birthday party at the Brunswick bowling lanes on Cochran Ave. Upon picking her up, I found a quarter and two pennies.

In the evening, we ventured to Topanga Promenade Mall -- Ajay and I found a dime and nine pennies walking around.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.49
Bottles & Cans Collected: 8
Running Stats
This Month: $.79
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $187.99
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $371.99 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $832.39 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 78 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,007.18

FMJ - Day 556

October 5: No Finds. But, I did discover that I've miss numbered the last few days. I'll fix it quickly.

Friday, October 05, 2007

FMJ - Day 555

October 4: Found a single penny at Carl's Jr. on Erringer Rd.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.01
Bottles & Cans Collected: 16
Running Stats
This Month: $.30
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $187.50
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $371.50 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $831.90 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 70 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,007.18

Thursday, October 04, 2007

FMJ - Day 554

October 3: No money was found... 10 water bottles were collected.

FMJ - Day 553

October 3: No money was found... 10 water bottles were collected.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

FMJ - Day 552

October 2: 26 cents found. We found a penny in the parking lot outside the Trek Bike store in Simi Valley. Ajay and I needed some color ink for a school project so we headed to Staples. On the way out of the store, I noticed a quarter laying near the entrance just inside the store... picked it up with nary a trace of effort.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.26
Bottles & Cans Collected: 3
Running Stats
This Month: $.29
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $187.49
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $371.49 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $831.89 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 64 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $1,007.18

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Bottles and Cans Fund over $1,000 Mark!

Today, October 2, 2007, the Bottles & Cans Fund passed the $1,000 mark within its second year that will end of October 5, 2007. This afternoon, Ajay and I returned $8.00 worth of recycling. This brings our new B&C Fund total to $1,007.18!

The goal of recycling $500 of bottles and cans per year is intact! Kids, you did it!

Congratulations to Maya and Ajay for their strident efforts and hard work in accomplishing their financial goal. You can be proud of yourselves for a long time to come.

Love,
Dad

FMJ - Day 551

October 1: Found three pennies while taking an afternoon break with the kids at Del Taco on Cochran Ave. I counted the cans and bottles from the tennis match -- 29. Aunt Anju's donated 23! Also, Ron Roth donated 5 of his water bottles down at the Rancho Simi Tennis Courts this morning. Thanks to all our helpers.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.03
Bottles & Cans Collected: 61
Running Stats
This Month: $.03
Last Month: $3.46
2007 Finds: $187.23
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $371.23 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $831.63 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 61 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $999.18

End of the Month -- September 2007!

End of Month Stats:
Total found - September 2007: $3.46
Average Amount Found per Day: 11 cents

Holdings
Stock Held:
15.425 Shares/PEI Worth: $609.29
20.487 Shares/GRT Worth: $493.74
Month End - Total Stock Value: $1,103.03
Value at August 31, 2007: $1,032.76
Stock purchase cost: $743.97 (includes reinvested dividends & interest)
Excess Value of Stock Over Cost: $359.06

Other Funds Owned:
Non-deposited FMJ Funds(still in the jar): $206.49
FMJ Savings Account: $18.91

Income
This month: $8.66
Savings Interest 2007: 98 cents
Savings Interest 2006: $1.77
Dividends 2006: $34.30
Dividends 2007: $54.20
Non-reinvested Dividends: $17.10
Total Dividends Received: $154.55 (Since 2003 merger of CWN & PEI)

Total Asset Value of FMJ Fund: $1,328.43

Bottles and Cans Fund
This Month: $999.18
August 31, 2007: $962.38
Increase in B&C Fund: $36.80

Total Value of Both Funds: $2,327.61
Last month: $2,217.07
2 months ago: $2178.49
*Increase from Prior Month: $110.54

* Increase due to decent bottle & can redemptions, money finds and favorable share prices increases for REITs.

Monday, October 01, 2007

FMJ - Day 550

September 30: 33 cents found. Last night, Ajay was bitten across his face by a neighbor's dog... so, a hospital trip was made... luckily it was just a slight puncture to his cheek -- no stitches required - hopefully no scar. Anyway, he's been put on Augmenten , an very expensive antibiotic, for the next 7 days. He was a little shaken by the dog attack and we decided to spend the night at his Mayma's house in Cerritos, CA.

While shopping Pioneer Blvd. in Cerritos, Ajay and I found a dime and two pennies. At Burger King, we found a penny. A stop at 7-11 for soda, I found a dime. While getting gas at the Exxon on Norwalk Blvd., I scooped our final find of a dime near my pump.

We also collected a donation of bottles and cans from Aunt Anju. I'll add them when I count them.

Today's Stats
Money Finds: $.33
Bottles & Cans Collected: 10
Running Stats
This Month: $3.46
Last Month: $6.21
2007 Finds: $187.20
Since FMJ Blog Inception: $371.20 (March 28, 2006)
Total Found for FMJ Fund: $831.60 (since 1-1-2000)
Bottles and Cans Collected: 183 for the month.
Bottles & Cans Return Fund: $999.18

FMJ - Day 549

September 29: No Finds. I played in the tough match against the #1 doubles team from the Ojai Tennis Club and lost 6-0, 7-5. The kids did collect a bag full of bottles from the after party at the courts.