Local Stock Market 💹 

$OC ( ▲ 0.87% ) 

$DAN ( ▲ 5.95% ) 

$ANDE ( ▲ 1.57% ) 

$OI ( ▲ 1.2% )

$WELL ( ▲ 1.13% ) 

Welcome to town, Big Cat!

Eddie George is, officially, in town and I don’t believe he’ll be leaving any time soon! 🏈 

Bowling Green just made a $3 million bet on a Heisman winner. Eddie George, the Ohio State legend and former NFL workhorse, is now the Falcons’ head coach, earning $600K+ per year over five seasons. With the opportunity for additional income for any ‘side hustles’ (endorsements) he chooses to participate in. I only hope for the region’s benefit that Thayer Chevrolet 🚗 steps up to get Eddie on a commercial or two 😆 

Beyond the Xs and Os, George’s arrival is a financial touchdown for the region. Expect packed stadiums, boosted merch sales, and a hospitality boom as fans flock to see if he can turn BGSU into the next Cinderella story. If nothing else, the local economy just got a five-year stiff-arm of cash.

Last but not least… you can still get an Eddie George jersey today.

Freeeeeee* Walleye

Shoot, heard walleye and immediately thought of chili. Not bad marketing Wendy’s…

However, this time we are talking real walleye and we are talking about the 8,000 - 10,000 fishermen (and women) 🐟️ that visit the region for the infamous Walleye run. Believe it or not, the muddy Maumee river is a premier fishing destination.

In 2019, it was estimated the economic benefit to the region from hotels, camping, gas stations, local pubs, and restaurants contributed to $7mm - $9mm in economic uplift. I have to assume >20% of that was spent on pizza and burgers at the Village Idiot 🍕 and Dale’s 🍔🍺 

Embracing the walleye run, the fishermen (and women), and the economic benefit is certainly in the region’s best interest. Now if only we had a local festival or kick off party to celebrate the annual traditions.

Money Confessional | Late 30s Single Mother Spreading $80k Salary and Giving Back

Living Situation: “Owns a home in Old Orchard. She put down 20% to avoid PMI and elected to take care of the note in 15 years to expedite equity growth. Luckily, her interest rate is a 3.2%. She recommends buying within your means and reviewing the cost of property taxes!”

Children: “Two kids. The most stressful thing about money and kids is balancing childcare costs with saving for their future.”

Salary Journey: I started as an administrative assistant making $40K. After getting my master’s degree (paid for with tuition reimbursement from work), I moved into management and got a jump to $65K. Promotions and experience got me to $80K. Biggest tip: Take advantage of employer-paid education and negotiate every raise!

Credit cards: “I use the Chase Sapphire Preferred card—great for cashback and travel rewards. Paying my cards in full each month.”

Best expense: “Gym membership ($40 / moth) - it is my stress relief”

Net worth: “Roughly $250K—mostly from home equity, savings, and retirement investments. My advice: Live below your means, invest early, and automate savings.”

Toledo Money Hack: “Join local Buy Nothing groups on Facebook—great for getting kids' clothes, toys, and household items for free. Also, use the Toledo Library —it’s amazing for free activities, audiobooks, and even career workshops.”

Financial Knowledge: “Learned from my parents (who were frugal), books like The Simple Path to Wealth, and trial and error. Also, following personal finance experts on YouTube.”

Rich in Toledo: “Very hard to gauge… I say if you are mentally happy you are rich!! But… financially, $250K+ per year or $3M+ in net worth. That’s enough to live comfortably and give back.”

Giving back: “With my financial resources allocated elsewhere I give back to the community by volunteering my time with Lucas County Canine Care & Control (LC4). I think I benefit more (mentally), in taking care of spending time with the pups.