Michael
I'm living the path to financial success and sharing everything I learn in this blog. I believe in the power of cash flowing investments, due diligence and time. This is my journey so far.
I learned everything I know from books, podcasts, conversations with friends and family and of course through real world experience as a cash flow investor. And I'm always pushing to learn more.
To see my investing timeline, check out our about page
What’s A Good CTR In Google Search Console? A Case Study
I use Google Search Console for many things. One of them is simply to track the progress and success of my articles in organic search. After 2 years of observing my own websites and studying the data of websites that are for sale in online marketplaces, I’ve come to this conclusion: As a general rule, a good click through rate in Google Search console is about 3% to 4%. One out of my three sites hits this range, and I think about 1 in 4 sites I’ve seen for sale fall inside or above this range. Sharing CTR For My Sites I currently own three websites and of course I have Google Search Console (GSC) set up on all three. I follow the GSC numbers pretty closely, checking them 2-3 times a week for each site. Here’s a breakdown of…
How To Prepare For, Fight and Survive Inflation
There’s been a lot of talk recently about spikes in inflation (at least in the US). There are a lot of factors that cause prices to increase, but most of those things are outside our control. As prices rise, we must find ways to change our spending habits and/or increase our income in order to survive. I will be documenting my three primary strategies to prepare for, fight and survive the effects of inflation. And they are: Monitor your spending and foster good spending habits Constantly fight to improve your cash flow situation with three strategies Invest every dollar you can spare to ensure your long term security from inflation The key to improving your financial status is to continue learning and investing. If you sit idle for too long then inflation will catch and surpass your finances until you…
Our Top 2 Bed Frames In Our Airbnbs
Your beds are one of the most important parts of your Airbnb. After all, your guests are going to be spending at least one night in your space, and if they aren’t able to sleep it could result in poor reviews. So it’s important to think through your sleeping quarters, from the bed size, to the mattress you choose, to the pillows your guests sleep on, to the sheets you use. Considering the bed frame supports all those things, it’s important to get it right (or at least not get it wrong). It’s true, not everything has to be perfect, and you don’t have to use the best, most luxurious products. The most important thing if for your guests not to notice anything wrong. They should be able to sleep comfortably without the distraction of a squeaky bed frame or…
The Best Fire Extinguisher For Airbnb
The best fire extinguisher for your Airbnb is one that will work if you ever need it to and won’t have to be replaced often. After more than 5 years of running Airbnbs we’ve come to the opinion that you should put every available amenity in your listings whenever possible. And adding a fire extinguisher is a quick (and cheap) win. We put a fire extinguisher in all our listings, and we are always looking for other easy wins as well (like hair dryers). Our Experience with Fire Extinguishers Yes, we’ve hosted hundreds of guests across our currently (as of March 2022) 4 Airbnb listings and we’ve had to solve all kinds of problems for guests. We’ve had ant infestations and faulty fire alarms waking guests up in the middle of the night. We’ve had guests locked out and heating…
Superhost Shares Best Hair Dryers For Airbnb
When my wife Kate and I buy a hair dryer for one of our Airbnbs we always go with a basic model. The best hair dryer for your Airbnb is one that is easy for guests to operate and hard for them to break. There are purchases for your listings where it makes sense to splurge. One example would be a mattress. But the hair dryer is not one of those items. It’s best to buy a basic model that is durable and cheap to replace. Hair Dryers in Airbnbs Let me be up front with you. I’m an adult male who has lived most of his life with short hair. The only time I’ve used a hair dryer is the three years I grew my hair out for my rock band after college. So I don’t know hair dryers.…
The 2 Best Comforters We’ve Used For Airbnb
The best comforter for your Airbnb is one that fits your bed, fits in with your bedroom’s interior design, is durable and doesn’t break the bank. The reality is that there are dozens of comforters that fit this description, but there are also some that can cause minor headaches for you. Today, I’ll share two blankets that we’ve used in our short terms rentals and have served us well for many years. I can’t promise you that they are “The Best,” but I can confidently tell you that they have been great for us. Our Comforter Method We host Airbnbs in a part of the country where temperatures fluctuate from well below freezing to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). This typically means that our guests will want very warm comforters in the cold months and a different, cooler…
Superhost Picks The Best Duvet Covers For Airbnb
The best duvet covers for your Airbnb is affordable, easy to put on a comforter (and easy to remove), and is durable enough to last a few years. Duvet covers can protect your comforters from accidental damage from guests. They can also make it easier and cheaper to redesign your bedroom when the need arises. You may think of duvets as a luxury, a needless extra, and to be honest I used to believe that myself. But time and experience as an Airbnb host has taught me that they are actually an investment in your listings. It just takes one guest to ruin bedding, and as a host you’re always happier to replace a duvet than an entire comforter. Our Experience With Duvet Covers If I’m honest with you, before meeting Kate, I had never even heard of a duvet…
How Much Cash Flow Do I Need to Retire?
If you want to retire, you’re going need enough cash flow to cover all the expenses in your life. So in order to determine exactly how much cash flow you need you’ll need to do an extensive and in-depth analysis of your personal finances. It’s your job to comb through your bank statements, credit card statements, cash transactions and all records of your spending to determine exactly how much money you spend in a month (or a year). Your monthly (or yearly) cash flow will need to equal or surpass that amount before you can safely retire. Your Minimum Requirement is Net Zero Cash Flow Cash flow is literally just the amount of cash flowing into your bank account minus the cash flowing out of your bank account. The absolute minimum you need to retire is net zero cash flow…
Best Luggage Racks for Your Airbnb Guests
Most of your Airbnb guests will be living out of their suitcase while they stay with you. If they are forced to keep their suitcase on the ground then that will be a real inconvenience for your guests. This is why we keep luggage racks in all our Airbnbs. Choosing the best luggage rack for your space isn’t rocket science, but there are a few things I like to keep in mind when we buy one for a new listing. Do you need a luggage rack? The truth is that a luggage rack is not one of the most important decisions you will make as a host. Your beds, amenities and interior design are all far more important. Luggage racks are just one of those nice to have items that can make your guests more comfortable, or make your place…
How to Double Your Money in a Year
If you could double $1,000 every year for 10 years, you’d be a millionaire. Doubling your money in a year is something that sounds easy when you say it out loud, but when you realize that this means you would have to get a 100% return on your money it doesn’t sound as easy. If you put your money in the stock market, you’ll be lucky to get 20% on that investment in a year. So how on Earth could a person invest their money and have a pretty high confidence that they’ll double their money in a year or less? I’m in the process of attempting to double a $100,000 investment and I’ll tell you exactly how I plan to do it in about 9 months. Plus I’ve got a few other ideas to share with you. These aren’t…