Tag Archives: college

Past Attempts at Starting a Business

December 2, 2025 Kasanje Leave a comment

In late 2012 I first heard about Bitcoin and started learning about how it worked and its potential to replace fiat currency. That never really came to fruition as we now know, but the world is perhaps getting more comfortable with the idea of transacting with crypto on occasion.

In 2013, I decided I wanted to buy one of the ASIC mining machines from a European company, it was called a Neptune or Saturn, I think. I didn’t have enough money in savings, so I headed to Suntrust (now Truist) and spoke with a loan officer.

My loan application was rejected; as I had no verifiable credit history. The only thing on my report was a credit card that had been opened without my consent back when I lived in Astoria, OR, by Wells Fargo, back during that scandal.

So, I went off to build a credit history, and that led me to Doctor of Credit and the FatWallet Forums.

First Business

I picked up several personal credit cards (Delta Blue) and also started mining Litecoin with a couple of old computers. I formed a Sole Proprietorship (Kasanje Technologies 13′-20′) and applied for an ITIN number, which I then used to apply for business credit cards.

All this while still working at nearly minimum wage for CVS/Health. At my peak I had 80k in personal credit and 14k in business credit. This was sometime in 2014-16. Of course by then the chip technology had vastly improved and the mining rig I originally wanted was obsolete.

Many things happened during my crypto period. I added more GPUs to my home rig, I fell for several scams, I bought and spent a couple hundred bitcoin on aging equipment, and my final mining venture was buying several Apollo Scypt miners. I still have those in my closet.

After some lightning strikes in 2019 and legal trouble in 2020, I closed the business and sold my remaining bitcoin to cover a portion of my debt. I had gotten a $3,500 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the Small Business Association (SBA) during COVID. I managed to pay it off in 2021, by paying $100 every month.

A couple of months later, Bitcoin hit 10k and I lamented my decision to sell. I would had enough to more than cover my expenses and been left with profit had I “HODL” a bit longer.

Second Attempt

In the course of my legal problems I struck upon the idea of building a talent agency for YouTubers. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I managed to convince myself enough to file Articles of Incorporation and start an LLC.

This is an old bad habit of mine going back to elementary school. I’ll often come up with an idea and create a framework around the idea without actually having any content to fill the space.

I still do it on this website, where I get hooked on a subject and then go out and design a template tailored to the topic without knowing anything about the topic or even knowing where to start researching.

Typically, I finish the template and then lose interest in the topic. That’s my Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) at work.

I had named the business “Bliss in Bloom: Influencers LLC,” I think it was the moment I came up with the name that triggered my old habit. I made social media accounts and a website for it. I designed business cards and had them printed. I went all out; without any idea of how to recruit anyone to join my idea.

That’s all it really was, just an idea. I went all in on an idea.

I did this recently when I coined the MSTT (Marginalized, Sexualized, Traumatized, and Trivialized) acronym. That led me to writing up a post, but all I had was those 4 words, so I had to research and build from the ground up.

That post didn’t really go anywhere because, its not in this site’s niche, and there really isn’t anyway to refer to it in conversation without things getting uncomfortable.

A week after forming the LLC I closed it. But I didn’t do it right, and I got a strongly worded letter from the NC Secretary of States office. I had to pay a small fine and then properly close the business.

3rd Times a Charm?

In July of 2024, shortly before graduating from Vance-Granville CC, I started selling items on eBay in earnest. I had previously sold Star Wars novels on eBay back in 2014-16, so my account had a good rating and history.

I had been getting a bunch of thrifting and reselling videos in my YouTube feed and that led me to getting hooked on the idea of being a full-time reseller.

So far its going slow, but I am making a small profit. Last year, I was in the red by about $30 come New Years Eve. This year, I should be finishing off with around $500 in net revenue from my eBay shops.

My main shop is (fatwalletrefugee). I sourced mostly men’s apparel from Goodwill, Safe Space, and Cause for Paws in the beginning. Over time, I picked up the odd women’s garment, mostly items with the tags attached.

After awhile I hit my free listings limit and looked up whether you could have more than one store. It turns out you can have multiple shops, they just need to have separate email address associated with them.

I have shops for women’s wear (lafemme1st), golf apparel (golfforless), and home hardware/automotive/building supplies (kingcastle).

Golf for Less is the sportsperson's apparel shop that won't hurt your wallet. Enjoy low fixed prices on all shop items, New and Used.

Golf for Less, where we always: Aim for green on the field and green in your wallet.

At King's Castle Home Improvement, we believe every home deserves to be a fortress of comfort, style, and functionality—your castle should be as grand as you envision. From expert renovations to premium materials, we’re here to help you reign supreme over your domain. Upgrade your home today and transform it into the palace you deserve.

Please reach out to us directly with any questions you may have.

Note that we offer free, no-questions-asked returns for up to 30 days after purchase. If you're not happy with the item for any reason after purchasing, simply open a return, send it back for free, and we will refund your money in full.

Thanks, and have a great day!

Earning as of November for these other shops are:

Lafemme1st: $379.94
GolfforLess: $237.92
King Castle: $113.46

On my main account, I recently signed a revenue purchase agreement with Liberis (Oct. 30th). I received a $600 deposit to my bank in exchange for 30% cut of my daily sales. There was a $79 fee for getting the agreement completed.

Supposedly, this will be paid off sometime in June of 2026. My sales for the 4th quarter had plummeted so I am a bit concerned. But the 600 bucks was well spent paying down my AMEX balance after that trip to Washington State (Domestic Travel: Washington).

I had tinkered with the idea of this website being a part of my business, but I still feel its more of a hobby, especially now that I have purged the site of certain content (Hard Choices). Although, I have come up with a compromise that I think will allow some wiggle room.

Since I graduated from my college and am now holding a nice Business Degree, I ought to make some use of it.

So here are some tips for getting started with entrepreneurship.

Funding a Business

Securing funding is important for small business success and needs a smart approach to financing options. Considering personal risks and control can help you make informed choices that match your long-term goals.

Where do I get the Money?

Determining how much money you need is the first step in choosing the right funding source, like self-funding, investors, loans, or a mix of these.

Most places will want you to borrow a minimum amount ($1,000) they can charge interest on. For small amounts you might get sent to a Cash Advance site so be careful.

Self-funding means using your own money, like savings or family help, which allows you to have complete control over your business.
Crowdfunding is a low-risk way to keep full ownership while getting support from many contributors. I used Kickstarter for an art project once. IndieGoGo is another option.
Small business loans help you keep control of your company while getting needed funds. A good business plan and financial forecasts can improve your chances of getting better loan terms.
Venture Capital is a good choice for startups looking to grow quickly and willing to give up some ownership for funding.
Grants offer funding that does not need to be repaid, but competition is tough. Many grants are available for women and minority-owned businesses, like the Amber Grant.
Microlending can help startups that can’t get bank loans. It offers small loans that are important for starting up, though they come with interest payments.
Peer-to-peer lending platforms connect borrowers directly with investors, often offering better terms than traditional banks.

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is crucial for new businesses. It provides funding options like SBA-backed loans, which reduce risks for banks, helping entrepreneurs get financing.

They also have loans and resources for veterans, women, minorities, Native Americans, and rural businesses.

Using the SBA’s counseling and training services can greatly help entrepreneurs in securing funding and managing their businesses. Your local community college likely has a business aid office.

Long-Term Success

Selecting the right mix of funding sources (family loan?) for your business is essential. Entrepreneurs should consider options like personal savings, loans, grants, and investors, while keeping a balanced approach.

Taking into account risks, control levels, and financial knowledge can help in successfully financing business operations.

Continuous learning and consulting with financial experts (on Reddit) can help optimize capital structure, leading to new opportunities for business growth.

That’s it for today. It’s been rainy so I haven’t been out photographing towns this week. Expect a new Travel post sometime next week.

Thanks for reading!

Errant Literary

The 2024 Fall Semester Begins

August 17, 2024 Kasanje Leave a comment

I am now into my third day of fall classes, well class, I only have a single enrollment this time around. I will be finished with my degree program in December.

It is perhaps a bittersweet feeling knowing I will be finished, but that I may not be able to put my degree to work for an employer. My 3-month job search was a total failure. It has become quite clear that I will not pass a background check.

If I am going to work it will have to be for myself.

But that is very much a consideration for the future. Presently, my goal is to earn an A+, or close to it in my Business Communication course.

Writing has never been a strong suit of mine. Neither was math, but I suddenly found it understandable once I started college. Somehow I couldn’t grasp numbers in middle and high school. Perhaps it was my ADD interfering?

I came across a quote in my textbook which I found quite humorous and wanted to share:

If you think an apostrophe was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, you will never work for me. If you think a semicolon is a regular colon with an identity crisis, I will not hire you. If you scatter commas into a sentence with all the discrimination of a shotgun, you might make it to the foyer before we politely escort you from the building.
Kyle Wiens, CEO, iFixit, the largest online repair community

I got a real kick out of this quote. From my experiences posting on social media, I can attest that punctuation is often treated as an afterthought if it is not completely ignored.

Far be it for me to morph into some sort of “Grammar Nazi,” I try my best to muck through the walls of text to get the message the OP wishes to relay.

Daily Writing

Work…in Progress?

June 3, 2024 Kasanje Leave a comment

What jobs have you had?

Impact-Site-Verification: da6265b8-2e56-42cf-8fbb-8d98c8c33ebc

My work history is rather short, but I am currently in the process of adding to it.

While I search for a new job, I may as well speak about my previous work and remember better times.

My first job was as a doorman at a dance hall. On the weekends of my senior year in high school, I would ride my bicycle to the local Masonic Temple. The business owner rented the facility to host his DJ work. I would help him set up the sound equipment and then I set up a station near the entrance to collect entrance fees.

For my work, I received a portion of the proceeds from the event each night. I usually spent the money on my ride home each night. I would stop at the grocery store and buy a computer magazine, something to drink, and a sandwich for my dinner.

The ride home was around 11pm and the town was completely dark except for a few street lights. I knew my way around so this wasn’t a great issue. The traffic lights couldn’t see me in the dark so I would just ride through all the red lights or I might take a shortcut through the lagoon park.

This was my first job and I recall the time fondly.

While not quite a job, I did join a trail crew for the summer just after graduating from high school. The other members were an eclectic group of similarly aged people from around the county. The trail crew was led by older volunteers I think. I recall getting homesick and leaving the program partway through only to regret the decision and ask to be reinstated.

The trail crew was a stopgap. I was not looking forward to attending college after high school. It seemed ludicrous to go from school, which I didn’t enjoy, to another school right away. I was looking for an alternative. The trail crew was one option. The next option that I went with was applying to the Job Corps service.

I completed two vocations and attended a little college while attending the Job Corps Center in Astoria Oregon. After that, I moved to North Carolina and I got a job working at a pharmacy chain local to the Carolinas.

I got burned out working there and sort of fell to pieces. I couldn’t work for the next 2 years and eventually went to vocational rehabilitation and received counseling.

There was a short period when I worked as a Maintenance Technician for a local business owner and did lawn care, pool cleaning, and groundskeeping work for him. I also cleaned out rental houses and did some restoration and painting work.

After that short summer job, I applied to and was hired at another pharmacy. I worked there for a little over a year before injuring my back. I didn’t take the injury seriously enough and left it until my whole leg began to seize up.

I was fearful of reporting the injury at work. I had been reading horror stories about workers being mistreated by that employer on Reddit and this clouded my judgment. I made an excuse to my boss and resigned to focus on my recovery after that.

Two more years passed before I was able to walk properly without a cane again. Thankfully I was able to get employed back at my old job again and I happily returned to working at the pharmacy.

I kept working there until 2020 when I decided to return to school to get a college degree. Now I am one class away from graduating. I bought a car and now I need to find a job to pay my bills.

The job hunt has been difficult, but I will continue to apply to whatever is available. Hopefully, I can get something that aligns with my degree.

That’s all for today. Thank you for your time.

Questions or comments? Please level them below.

Daily Writing, Errant Literary

Ableist Ideology

January 16, 2024 Kasanje Leave a comment

#Ableism

Center for Disability Rights

On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College, Career, and Life

Authors: Skip Downing, Jonathan Brennan

Publisher: Cengage Learning 2019

For myself, I have difficulty seeing differences between the Victim/Creator dynamic presented by the authors and the precepts of ableism.

The text and accompanying materials routinely present situations and circumstances in absolutes. Indeed the text plainly states that if you disagree with the lesson, that you are acting as a Victim. This is simply gaslighting.

However, I believe there is a middle ground not mentioned in the text that would be preferable to the Creator dynamic presented by the authors.

Something similar to that dynamic has historically been adopted by certain groups and employed to atrocious ends.

Certainly, I recognize that this may not have been the intent of the authors. But from an ethical standpoint, these parallels should not be overlooked. Good intentions are not an excuse for bigotry.

Cengage, through their role as a publisher in higher education, wields ample powers of influence on present and future generations of learners.

Careful consideration must be given by editors to insure that hateful perceptions are not unintentionally woven into their finished works.

Daily Writing

Coast to Coast

January 6, 2024 Kasanje Leave a comment

Daily writing prompt

What colleges have you attended?

View all responses

Clatsop Community College (OR) and Vance-Granville Community College (NC).

After completing two vocational certificates in Landscaping and Facility Maintenance at the Tongue Point Job Corps Center, I applied to the local Clatsop community college.

I took general courses for a year and a half. My electives included a Local Government course that had me attend some local legislative meetings for the county and write a report on each.

I also took 3 semesters of World Religions. The first semester centered on early cultures and the relevance of spiritual belief and tribal/shamanistic practices.

The second semester covered the Eastern religious systems including Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Daoism, and several minority systems for smaller cultural groups.

The third semester focused on Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Our professor suffered a medical condition and was unable to teach during the third semester and another teacher took over. The book curriculum stayed the same, however, the new instructor suggested a field trip to Portland to visit some temples and so I and a few classmates went on a trip.

We visited a Mosque where the men and women went into separate sections of the building and received differing instruction on the principles of faith and the teachings of Muhammed. I received a copy of the Koran which I still keep.

Afterwards we visited a synagogue attended by Reform Jews and got to speak with some members of the community. Reform Judaism differs from the Orthodox faith you find in Israel.

Reform Judaism is the largest Jewish denomination in America. It emphasizes adapting Jewish tradition to contemporary needs, with a focus on social justice, gender equality, and making Judaism accessible to a wider audience. They are cool with interfaith couples, ordaining women and openly gay people as rabbis. They view the Torah as a living document that evolves with time.

More recently, I am attending Vance-Granville community college through an online degree program for Business Administration. I enjoy the classwork and the modules in the learning platform they use.

I hope to graduate sometime in 2024 and get a job in banking or finances.

Investing

Investing Update for 2022

January 18, 2022 Kasanje Leave a comment

Hello everyone, I am Kasanje-카산제.

I just wanted to give an update on my current portfolios and generally where I am with my varied investments. Gains and Losses and how I am planning on investing in this new year of the black tiger.

First, though, I should offer some background information for context. I am currently living essentially rent-free in a family home owned by a relative.

I try to live simply and keep my expenses low. I resigned from my retail job of 11+ years in 2020 and have been unemployed since.

I decided to go back to college last year and am currently enrolled full-time at a local community college.

The FAFSA, plus other financial aid, more than covered my tuition needs and left me with a sizeable chunk of change left over.

I know it has been some time since I last posted anything about #investing, but I had some good news today, so I will get right into it.

I use five different brokerage apps to manage my portfolios.

On Webull, I have all of my speculative stocks, including picks from Green Energy, Hotels, Space, IPOs, Electric Cars, and DOGE/SHIB.

This account started out with around $3,000 back in 2019, and currently, it sits at a value of $1,884.

It was mostly downhill until COVID-19 hit, and then I started to crawl my way back up.

Still, though I am looking at everything I hold being RED.

On Sofi, I have two dividend-paying stocks: Credit Suisse Silver (SLVO) and Orchid Island (ORC).

The rest of the portfolio includes SPACs that I thought had potential and a few Meme stocks, including Genius Brands International (GNUS) and Ocean Power Technologies (OPTT).

I’ve had the account since July 2019 and am down 42% unfortunately. Last year, I liquidated my HSA account from work and tossed the lot into Sofi, which put me at around $25k account value.

That number has dropped, and I now sit around $15k, which has been somewhat painful. I have earned around $1,990 in dividends, though.

My Charles Schwab brokerage includes funding from a home business mining the cryptocurrency Litecoin (LTC).

Sadly, I had to stop mining in 2020 and eventually shut down in 2021. I have an SBA loan from disaster relief financing that I am currently paying off using the dividends from Schwab. (Schwab won’t let you take screenshots as a security precaution.)

I have an account with Firstrade, which holds all of my OTC market stock.

I have small investments in ClickStream (CLIS), Farmmi (FAMI), Hyper Solar (HYSR), Envirotech Vehicles (EVTV), and Unrivaled Brands (UNRV).

These are all long-term plays, and I don’t check in on them all that often.

The last one is Robinhood.

I had some Green Energy stocks and Cannabis stuff in here for a long time, and they really didn’t fare well.

I also did crypto for a bit and failed. It is very RED in this portfolio. I think back in November 2021, I heard about Renaissance Technologies and the dividend stocks that were included in their portfolio.

That got me inspired, and I made a Watchlist on Webull that included all of those stocks.

I have started closing my GREEN positions at Robinhood and moving the funds into the Renaissance Dividend list.

Robinhood started with $1,935 in 2017 and is currently UP 3.32%, but used to be much higher.

For my future plans around investing, I recently threw the bulk of my Schwab cash into Retail Value (RVI), which is paying out a special dividend tomorrow of $3.27 per share.

I was able to buy 780 shares and am expecting a return of $2,550.50 from that, which should be enough to clear the SBA loan in full.

I will continue to chase dividends with the Schwab account. I have also been playing around with new YouTube and Instagram accounts to explore other topics I am interested in.

The Game Girls Gallery is one of the more popular pages that gets a lot of traffic, and so I made YouTube/Instagram pages for it.

If you are not already a member of Swagbucks, MyPoints, or InboxDollars, I strongly suggest you sign up. These sites are a great source of extra income for spontaneous purchases.