It’s been a long tough day, to start off the end of a long tough week last week. So I just wanted to write out some thoughts.
My goal at the end of last year was to defy the “you can’t get rich selling on eBay” adage.
I ramped up selling things in the 4th quarter of 2025
With the idea I was going to split the money in thirds.
1/3 set aside for taxes
1/3 set aside to buy more comics
1/3 invested in my kids acorns account.
I added over $1000 to that account, plus dividends, plus returns of $282 this past year.
In the past 90 days here is what has gone into the account
And my 1 year increase in value
So in addition to the $1000, earned $18 in dividends and $4.82 in shipping rewards just by using my bank card to make purchases at places that give reward bonuses.
There used to be a blog of a comic seller called “early retirement diary” where the guy would talk about selling comics with the idea that he would put away cash to retire. He succeeded. I think the blog has since ended.
Anyway, in that spirit I figured I would start talking about it. I will probably work until I die, but I want to set my kids up for the best possible future they can have.
My background is simple. I grew up poor in a trailer park. My parents purchased a house when I was in 3rd grade. No AC. No Cable. My parents worked hard and provided an education for me. I have always lived fairly simply and not splurged on things. I will not lie, it has been a struggle. CHU started out after my second son was born sharing tips on books that could sell for profit that could be found on shelves. People shared tips back.
Before my first son was born I had hit bottom. My father had died and the private mental health program I was running lost its funding (they were committing Medicare billing fraud and got caught, but it was the employees who suffered.) I was out of work and times were tight. I sold a ton of comics and art (con sketches mostly) to help pay the bills. Books I will never see again. I was depressed. We budgeted, couponed, never filled up our tanks. My wife as a surprise gave me $20 and said go buy comics. I did. I bought as many books as I could find early Walking Dead issues at the time that were selling for $20 and up and flipped them. Gave my wife back the $20 and continued on. I have used money from sales ever since. Over 15 years. No “out of pocket” just reinvestments from that original $20.
CHU grew out of that. I had previously written a blog for a shop and frequented a comic message board, and after a disagreement with the shop owner, went out in my own starting CHU. I have since written for Bleeding Cool, had articles picked up by the Associated press and have met a lot of cool people.
Anyway. I plan to document the “early retirement diary” But call it the “Comic Reinvestment Diary” since the money is going to my kids.
I have automatic deposits of $5 a week going into the account. In addition I put 1/3 of sales into the account. Last year my goal was to start investing in the account again, which I did. And then my goal became to double the value of the account, again, mission completed. This year my goal is to double the account again.
The money is all in an acorns account, fractional investing, if you want to try it out use my referral link.
Hey! Acorns makes it easy to save and invest. Join me and you’ll get a free $5 investment! As a perk of referring you, I can get a reward too. Learn more and see terms here. [Share | Acorns](https://Anthony’s Referak link)