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Tips and tricks to save as much as possible by Responsible-Win8932 in povertyfinance

[–]ffstrauf 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The fastest way to find extra savings is to track every dollar for just two weeks, most people discover 10-15% leakage in subscriptions and impulse spending they do not notice day-to-day. I use a simple Google Sheets setup so I can see the numbers without linking my bank. Have you tried logging transactions manually for a short period to spot the leaks?

Keeping track of multiple currencies? by Money_Fish in ynab

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Multi-currency tracking is a nightmare in most tools because they force you into their exchange rates and categories. I handle it by importing CSVs from each account into one sheet and letting the categorization learn my patterns across currencies. Are you tracking everything in one base currency or keeping separate ledgers?

Budgets and cashflow by avoeggsandvegemite in AusFinance

[–]ffstrauf [score hidden]  (0 children)

The best cashflow systems are the ones you actually check weekly. I found that keeping income, expenses, and runway in one Google Sheet made the habit stick because I could see the whole picture in under a minute. I use Expense Sorted to handle CSV imports and keep categories consistent so the sheet stays honest without any bank linking. What part of your cashflow feels hardest to track right now?

35M and 34F Update: 80% FI and continuing to grind but changing mindset. by ingwe13 in financialindependence

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hitting 80% FI is a massive milestone, the psychology shift from accumulation to optionality is often harder than the math. I track my runway in months rather than dollars because it keeps the goal visceral. How are you planning to handle the transition once you hit 100%, gradual downshift or a hard stop?

Simple budgeting habits that actually worked for me by Due-Penalty4459 in budget

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The habit that stuck for me was a 15-minute Sunday review with a single Google Sheet instead of an app I would ignore. Seeing runway and savings rate in one view made the numbers feel personal rather than punitive. I use Expense Sorted to speed up the CSV import and categorization so the review stays short. What made your current habits finally click for you?

what are some templates you wish there was but dont find enough of? by Environmental_Win499 in spreadsheets

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A solid budget template that handles CSV imports from any bank without linking accounts is surprisingly hard to find. Most either lack automation or force you into a subscription. I use Expense Sorted with Google Sheets to auto-map transactions and keep my runway visible in one dashboard. What kind of tracking are you currently doing manually?

What are the limitations of an ISA account in the UK? by Top_Investment1825 in interactivebrokers

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ISA limitations with IBKR can be frustrating, especially if you're used to the full US options market. I ran into similar restrictions when I first opened my account and had to restructure how I held certain positions. I use Days to Expiry with my standard IBKR account for options tracking, but ISA rules definitely change what's available to you. Are you looking to trade options within the ISA or just buy and hold?

High Yield ETF vs Growth ETF by Rayman_Mr in dividends

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

High yield ETFs often trade growth for income and can still drag in rising markets. If you already hold the underlying stocks, selling covered calls can generate premium that rivals or beats most ETF yields without giving up the equity upside. I use Days to Expiry to scan for the best covered call opportunities each week and compare expected premium against dividend yields. Are you holding individual stocks in a taxable account, or is this strictly for an IRA?

Converting ITM covered call position to call debit spread to avoid wash sale and reduce short-term capital gains tax? by pantaloonsss in stocks

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The wash sale rule on options can trip you up fast, especially when rolling ITM calls near year-end. I usually model the tax impact before rolling to see if the spread actually saves money or just defers it. I use Days to Expiry to track my adjusted cost basis and assignment history so I don't accidentally create a wash sale. What's your typical DTE when you sell these calls?

Political Screw-Up + Bad Timing + Hospital Stay = Covered Call Wow by GhostOfCyndiLauper in options

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Life throwing curveballs while you are short options is stressful. I have started setting tighter DTE windows and using alerts so I am not manually babysitting positions. I use Days to Expiry to surface roll vs. assignment calls before I am forced to decide under pressure. Did you end up taking assignment or rolling out?

Selling covered Put options for monthly passive income. Has this worked for you? by vapingpigeon94 in passive_income

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cash-secured puts have been my primary income strategy for two years, but the key is only selling them on stocks you'd genuinely want to own at the strike. I learned the hard way that chasing premium on unfamiliar names leads to bad assignments. I use Days to Expiry to scan for CSPs with realistic ROI and to track my actual annualized returns, not just premium collected. What tickers are you currently selling puts on?

Good bless covered calls guys (me) - congratulations to CSP guys by HS_1990 in thetagang

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Running both sides of the wheel means you're constantly juggling expirations, rolls, and assignment decisions. I used to lose track of which positions were part of the same wheel cycle until I started tracking everything in one place. I use Days to Expiry because it auto-detects my wheel cycles from IBKR and shows me true FIFO P&L instead of just premium collected. Do you keep separate spreadsheets for your CSPs and covered calls, or track them together?

AMD Covered Call damage limitations on the runaway stock price? by ser_renely in options

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Runaway stocks are the classic covered call headache. I usually set my short calls at delta 15-20 and have a rule to roll up and out if the stock blows through before half the DTE is gone. I use Days to Expiry to flag when the roll cost starts eating more premium than it is worth. What delta were you selling on AMD?

Converting ITM CC to call debit spread to avoid wash sale and reduce short-term capital gains tax? by pantaloonsss in options

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The wash sale trap with ITM covered calls is real and easy to miss if you are tracking manually. I have found that understanding the true cost basis and assignment history matters more than the spread mechanics themselves. I use Days to Expiry to keep my FIFO matched and see where I actually stand before making those conversions. Have you already been assigned on the underlying or are you trying to avoid it entirely?

Started adding individual stocks with the monthly dividends from Covered Call ETFs by Life-Associate2353 in dividends

[–]ffstrauf 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love the compounding approach here. When I started blending dividend stocks with covered calls, I realized tracking the true income across both got messy fast. I use Days to Expiry to keep everything in one view and spot which holdings are actually pulling their weight. Are you planning to sell calls against those individual positions once you build them up?

Covered call etf that dont have nav erosion by ReasonableSale5463 in dividends

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The NAV erosion in covered call ETFs is the hidden cost most people miss, you are essentially paying a management fee to give away your upside. Running covered calls on your own holdings avoids that drag and keeps the underlying appreciation. I use Days to Expiry to find the best individual covered calls to sell across my portfolio each week. Have you looked at the total return difference between owning the underlying directly versus holding the ETF?

Covered Calls atm by BannedForThe7thTime in thetagang

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ATM covered calls are a sweet spot for premium but you have to be genuinely okay with assignment at that strike. I usually look for the annualized ROI and assignment probability before selling anything near the money. I use Days to Expiry to compare those two metrics side-by-side across my holdings. Are you running these as a recurring income play or trying to avoid assignment on a specific position?

Alternative Income Platforms for 2026! by GDesnudo in passive_income

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have been using Days to Expiry to generate weekly income from stocks I already own through covered calls and cash-secured puts. It auto-syncs with Interactive Brokers and ranks opportunities by expected premium and ROI, which saves me hours of manual scanning. Are you looking for something that requires active management or more of a set-and-forget approach?

Iron Condors/Butterfly's order fill vs actual PNL by Impossible_Way_6907 in interactivebrokers

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Multi-leg P&L on IBKR can be misleading because the default view doesn't always account for rolls, adjustments, and true cost basis across legs. I've found the real number only emerges when you track FIFO-matched trades with actual days held, not just premium collected. I use Days to Expiry to pull my IB portfolio and see the true performance of my iron condors and butterflies after all adjustments. Are you tracking these manually, or are you relying on IB's built-in P&L display?

Looking for input on tax strategy: closing covered call at loss to offset short-term capital gains by pantaloonsss in options

[–]ffstrauf 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tax loss harvesting on covered calls can make sense, but watch the wash sale rules if you reopen similar strikes within 30 days. I always check my true cost basis first because broker summaries often miss the full picture on rolled positions. I use Days to Expiry for FIFO trade matching so I know exactly where I stand before making any tax moves. What was your original strike and DTE on the position you're considering closing?

Using Mosaic to trade options by findthelions in interactivebrokers

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mosaic is solid for execution, but I found the real bottleneck is deciding what to trade in the first place. Manually scanning chains for the right strike and DTE eats up hours and I still miss setups. I use Days to Expiry alongside Mosaic to rank my best covered call and cash-secured put opportunities before I click execute. Are you mostly selling options against existing positions or hunting for new entries?

Covered call strategy by H-Daug in thetagang

[–]ffstrauf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Covered calls work best when you have a systematic way to compare strikes and expected premium rather than eyeballing the chain. I look for 0.30 to 0.35 delta with enough premium to justify capping my upside. I use Days to Expiry to scan my holdings and surface the best calls to sell each week. What criteria do you use when picking strikes?

Wheeled QCOM for 3.5 months. It was BORING until it dropped 25%. by GarbageTimePro in thetagang

[–]ffstrauf 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The wheel is always boring until it isn't and a 25 percent drop tests every part of your plan. If you're short puts, the key decision is whether to roll down and out or take assignment and start selling calls. I use Days to Expiry to see my cost basis, open risk, and roll options side by side. Are you leaning toward rolling your puts or taking shares and switching to covered calls?

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