10 Rules of Extreme Saving

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <b>Is a 50% saving rate really possible?</b></h2> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGHQEqmJeSKRIkurYC4U477eaw1KZF-saHRyuy0q_gbQYg3AX_L1x0tDHN2ch8e8GcDhxExCBDoh2cry0_LVgvbQKKMPmMVDHtgItV3o_-UF3nWXtDsyeK-GUz3HzZQnObXR4M4OoYSlF/s1600/Savings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGHQEqmJeSKRIkurYC4U477eaw1KZF-saHRyuy0q_gbQYg3AX_L1x0tDHN2ch8e8GcDhxExCBDoh2cry0_LVgvbQKKMPmMVDHtgItV3o_-UF3nWXtDsyeK-GUz3HzZQnObXR4M4OoYSlF/s320/Savings.jpg" width="320"></a></div> Living in a high tax and benefit system such as the UK saving 50% of your pay seems extreme. I recently had a conversation on this point with a colleague - he could not believe how we as a family of 4 could still manage to save a 50% of our take home pay. He sat there playing with a very expensive mobile phone. He was working out how to use the latest app to track how much faster he was on his top of the range carbon fiber bike.<br> <br> As you can already gather <b>THE.CONTENDER</b> was trying to refrain himself for not stating the obvious. One of the most difficult topics I have encountered in professional social and family life is how to approach difficult subjects and significant change:<br> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <i>So and so is really good I could never be as good as..., that is not possible....., my circumstances are special...it is OK for you but it would never work for me..... </i></blockquote> So the problem is not the subject per say - surely everyone would like to be financially free. It is the person's initial mindset and perception of sacrifice that goes with it. Where has that perception come from in the first place and is it misplaced? So how do you get your point across \ engage them or should you try and discuss further, at the expense of coming across as pushy.....****!!!<br> <h3> <b>Buy now and retire at 70 or save a lot and be financially free after 10 years? </b></h3> So if you need to save 50% or more of your salary to be financially free quickly what is the "sacrifice". Expensive, fun (tropical holidays \ designer suits) are delayed. In budgeting and saving (investing) diligently you will build the capital to be financially free for you to pursue your dreams in a surprising time frame. Could this be true?<i> </i><br> <br> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <i>"Don't forget  you could be knocked down by a bus tomorrow. So don't be silly LIVE FOR TODAY! consume, enjoy your shiny gadgets - forget about financial freedom that is only for the wealthy you are a worker bee in the middle class. If you are a good little worker and make it to 70 you can retire on us" - Anon </i></blockquote> <br> Advertising, peer pressure, fear and not being part of the crowd are very powerful influences on everyone in society. How is the financial independence blogosphere really going to get its point across? Are people going to give their precious time between distractions like films and the challenges of our hectic daily life to understand the benefits of saving like mad? <br> <br> My concern is the powerful media message to buy, buy, buy is backed by the best advertising talent and research money. It tells us how to spend our money and is very persuasive to boot. We are exposed to advertising from a very early age when we have very few defenses. Society has been educated to listen and be a good consumer of needs that are actually wants. A lack of inquisitiveness has been instilled in young minds. Subordination to hierarchy is "normal" in the western education system. Young people are at its mercy and do not have the mature skills to critically challenge the status quo.<br> <br>

10 Rules of Extreme Saving

Contender 0 14:23

Is a 50% saving rate really possible? Living in a high tax and benefit system such as the UK saving 50% of your pay seems extreme. I recently had a conversation on this point with a colleague - he could not believe how we as a family of 4 could stil… Read more »

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Financial Independence in 7 Years!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSNKQivWXJ9XBSJftBikJ-2GoefB5r_MvVDDmcVEugrhMGSMhyphenhyphenlNSOvp7on_CCxr3iuKckb_BVxQcLBSykjgo6JCZI6wMwra9QPx06TeUtHb4-W8SeKR8Ro2p_m6Ycw96LrXQnEZD345a/s1600/P1030554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSNKQivWXJ9XBSJftBikJ-2GoefB5r_MvVDDmcVEugrhMGSMhyphenhyphenlNSOvp7on_CCxr3iuKckb_BVxQcLBSykjgo6JCZI6wMwra9QPx06TeUtHb4-W8SeKR8Ro2p_m6Ycw96LrXQnEZD345a/s1600/P1030554.JPG" width="240"></a></div> <b>What an idea we had in 2005: could our little tribe be financially free in 7 years! Feelings of crazyness, being excited yet a sense of daunt and dizzyness all at the same time. </b><br> <br> <b>As I update this in early 2014 we consider ourselves financially free. All those emotions followed us along the way on what has been a very bumpy rollercoster.  </b><br> <br> <b>Here is the story of how our little tribe ended up financially independent 7 years after the inital thoughts about or finances and what really made us happy. </b><br> <br> <span style="font-size: large;">Finding Our Feet</span><br> <br> Financial independence was never spoke of in our families our our up bringing. Both my wife and I had different but comfortable up bringing.<br> <br> Me, my sister and mum getting on as a single parent family in the SE England Sussex countryside. We lived in a little cottage in an idyllic village surrounded by field where we ran free, collected tadpoles and rolled in the mud. We moved closer to family in a South Wales mining village surrounded by hard working families. Great times and fond memories. Money was tight but we did not want for anything.<br> <br> I excelled through education culminating in an engineering degree from a prestigious red brick university. Fun times were had, reckless spending and childish, stupid and regrettable pranks. Did I actually learn anything? I certainly did not have a clear direction to my life, no mentor to knock some sense into me. I was just making it up as I went along.<br> <br> My first "proper" job was a sea of figures, terms and diagrams. People dressed in suits jockeying for the top jobs. Still no direction. What is this career thing all about? Why does that manger make things so difficult for our department and what is the point of a deadline?<br> <br> Time for a change of company. A bigger beast altogether. Even more dog eat dog, downsizing the workforce, appraisals and feedback. B- my son - must do better. It was all so serious and deadlines had to be met.  <br> <br> These early experiences shaped me. The desire to run in the wilds. Knowing that I should respect  money and save for retirement. I had to get organised, grow up and be more responsible, tame the silliness but keep some of the fun.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Our Financial independence Story</span></div>  <span style="font-size: small;"><br></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Our Environment Shaped our thoughts</span><br> <br> Our local environments have always shaped our thoughts and ideas. Fortunately we have lived in the countryside, villages, towns and mega cities. We have worked in numerous countries and cultures and visited ancient ruins and tropical beaches.<br> <br> At the time In 2005 my then to be wife and I moved in together in the most expensive city in the world London.<br> <br> We had bright lights, amazing attractions, comfortable houses and plenty of entertainment. Not forgetting the UK's status as a major transport hub for all those exciting getaways. What a great place to live right?<br> <br> Especially when you have money. I had just paid off my student and car loans $30K. I was finally looking at a positive balance sheet for the first time in 10 years. Our living costs were reduced as we shared the bills. We had money to spend!<br> <br> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iMUiwTubYu0?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe>We were renting a modest one bedroom apartment in a Victorian house. It had a huge garden with a beautiful blossoming cherry tree. It was located in an affluent area with great restaurant's, pubs and shops.<br> <br> Each weekend we would go out to try different cuisines. Visit sparking, thumping night clubs. Entertain our selves at the cinemas and have friends around for meals and drinks before hitting the tiles once more.<br> <br> Frequently we would take cheap city breaks around Europe. Lots of income was spent and little was saved.<br> <br> Thankfully we lived within our means and avoided all forms of debt. Our spending was controlled through a joint bank account and a budget.<br> <br> <span style="font-size: large;">Changing Direction</span><br> <br> My wife and I sat down one cold dark February night in 2005 to consider our future. Sure we were having a great time but something was missing. We talked about family, where we wanted to live what type of life we wanted, family, kids and seeking some tranquillity in our lives.<br> <br> We had both heard about downshifting. Perhaps we could work less and live more simply but we needed to get rich first! Let's invest.<br> <br> We had no property to speak of so did not consider real estate investing. We had good jobs so did not see the need to setup our own business so for us the most natural place to start was the great casino of the stock market. <br> <br> Unfortunately no one tells you how to invest. We subscribed to a few stock picking news letters and rolled the dice. The result was not pretty. Too much, too soon and on too few.<br> <br> <span style="font-size: large;">More Money than Sense</span><br> <br> Bonus Time more money to invest and spend! We wanted to buy a house - house prices always go up right and we were missing out. Well that would have to wait as London housing was so expensive. Back to the stock market.<br> <br> In London we were surrounded by stories of the ridiculous bonus culture of the city with everyone getting filthy rich. Warren Buffets latest stock winner. Google shares shooting to the moon. This  encouraged us to plough everything we had saved and we were earning back into shares.  <br> <br> <b>TFD</b> <b>T</b>ribe <b>F</b>inancial <b>D</b>isasters ensued. Penny shares promising the moon going to zero, the latest and greatest mutual fund idea languishing in the gutter. What was I doing wrong?<br> <br> Fortunately Mrs C on the other hand had taken advice from a financial adviser and her savings were growing steadily.<br> <br> The route to riches was through 10 bagger shares though. Instant riches. Bring it on<span style="font-size: small;">. One was bound to hit the jackpot soon.....learn from my mistakes the next pick will be a winner. Oops!!</span><br> <br> <span style="font-size: large;">Hindsight</span><br> <br> In hindsight I was lured by the financial press (magazines, newsletters and the mainstream financial media). It was a hard learned lesson. Luckily it was out of the way early in my saving and investment career :o) I stated to save more carefully from then on. Here is the <b>TFD</b> list of losses :o(<br> <ol> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"></a> <li>The penny stock miners - total loss in the region of £5,000</li> <li>The New Technology Energy Stock £4,000</li> <li>Buying Europe just as Europe goes down the pan £3,000</li> <li>A consumer goods technology stock - wiped out £500</li> <li>Green energy bio fuel stock - worth 1/100th of the purchase price another £500</li> </ol> Stock picking for 10 bagger gains gave way to mutual funds and large cap stocks who paid dividends.....<br> <br> These dividends grew and grew. Slowly our modest passive income goals looked feasible, but how much did we need and what were we going to do <span style="font-size: small;">with it? </span><br> <br> <span style="font-size: large;">In the Meantime - We must get on the property ladder quick!</span><br> <br> We had amassed enough money for a deposit on a home by 2007. A home is a much better investment right? <br> <br> We looked around and were perplexed by extremely high prices. Property was in a huge boom in London. We were looking at huge mortgages on what would have been a shoebox apartment. <br> <br> This did not make sense to us as we could rent a much larger property (a house with a garden) at less than the interest payments on a mortgage. Additionally we did not have to spend money on decorating or repair costs, building insurance or expensive conversions let alone porter and leisure fees.<br> <br> Renting it was, even though there was peer pressure to buy.<br> <br> <b>Please read on for the financial crisis and light on the other side</b><br>

Financial Independence in 7 Years!

Contender 2 08:17

What an idea we had in 2005: could our little tribe be financially free in 7 years! Feelings of crazyness, being excited yet a sense of daunt and dizzyness all at the same time. As I update this in early 2014 we consider ourselves financially free.… Read more »

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Free Tools

<br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_-GTaGJkN5eKhH4iSLD5zAlmuZg9sE4g_2B1BpfRgv_cTVT_SmQhMb6uCrx-li8hN3CIOfltidtr52kmLde26-hj2q1Os1vHyT-jYfmCwtuvAtBDukCOj3QLF4GB6CA5fWwJSEvS1xZf/s1600/toolbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_-GTaGJkN5eKhH4iSLD5zAlmuZg9sE4g_2B1BpfRgv_cTVT_SmQhMb6uCrx-li8hN3CIOfltidtr52kmLde26-hj2q1Os1vHyT-jYfmCwtuvAtBDukCOj3QLF4GB6CA5fWwJSEvS1xZf/s400/toolbox.jpg" width="400"></a></div> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <h2> <b>Free Toolkit Manifesto </b><b>- Provide simple, accessible, customizable planning tools</b></h2> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_tJJBfdEcjYj8hSe6G74uOkYPZdhtdvUjHlD66iDSU-DDkHu3ga_HfgHks_i1d_8T14tBYvTCra_s6KmbaqeiUZkh0TVDkWPeTO1BasqeCXSrNbM009OsiGvcohCmAN1cKCIvm1mpU_e/s200/Muff+Tool+Kit+v6.jpg" title="PLANNING TOOLS AND CHECKLISTS" width="200"></a><b><br></b></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> Free<b> CPT</b>'s (<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" target="_blank"><b>C</b>ontender <b>P</b>lanning <b>T</b>ools</a>) that cover radical solutions to life's challenges are a key part of this blog. A blog post will accompany each tool and a how to use guide. Is this a new concept - definitely not. My objective may be different though : <b>"Provide, free, clear simple, very user friendly planning tools with the specific goal of the Pursuit of Happiness"</b>. I know this is a very ambitious, difficult, complex if not impossible task but I sincerely hope it will be a fun collaborative effort and interesting to see where it ends up. </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <i><span class="huge">All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.</span> <br><span class="bodybold"> Winston Churchill </span></i></blockquote> <span style="font-size: large;">Qualified???? - CLSAD (<b>C</b>ontender <b>L</b>ife <b>S</b>kills and <b>D</b>isasters)</span><br> <h3> </h3> How have I learnt how to plan \ create ad-hock tools? 12 years work in process design has laid a solid foundation. I have found that business tools are readily transferable into social life. The challenge is to simplify and adapt their purpose.<br> <br> I have read a huge number of business books gone on numerous training courses. A vast amount of information and too much to remember and apply. I applied, succeeded and messed up in places but then adapted and ultimately worked hard to get results in work. The same is true in my personal life and a <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/round-5-15-secs-muff-family-financial.html" target="_blank">later post</a> covers some of the bad decisions the Tribe have learnt from. <br> <br> Does this qualify me to have a go at a bunch of tools for life? Definitely not but someones got to do it. I am willing to have a go, try them out in real life situations to find out<br> <br> <span style="font-size: large;">Tool Contents - CBBT (Contender Big Bag of Tricks) </span><br> <br> CBBT includes planning, strategy building, risk planning, tracking, calculations, graphs and diagrams. They cover the key points from the start of the planning process to the final long term goal (it is almost always a good idea to state your long term goal and work backwards). <br> <br> I have found that having a plan that you can update easily with checks \ action lists is extremely important. This makes sure you do not miss the obvious and you stay on track. A plan helps you to be realistic with yourself. A regularly reviewed plan gives you a sense of control and comfort that you are going in the right direction. If you are off track you can adapt and not panic onto bad decisions. </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> </div>

Free Tools

Contender 0 12:46

Free Toolkit Manifesto - Provide simple, accessible, customizable planning tools Free CPT's (Contender Planning Tools) that cover radical solutions to life's challenges are a key part of this blog. A blog post will accompany each tool and a how to u… Read more »

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Four Key Planning Rules

<br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTNGn9mqYdCB-M52lodoYGULz5iQbgfTOomJgwuErpvT68bjmUPK6pLYaq-VCn9W2n_5RRXIvqkyst_gVwwF4NxtYeZbtT4CqMYOYDaBeZ7RxBahJLdgMZvPhpTedr1evW9AOYjkavgJp/s1600/On+The+Ropes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTNGn9mqYdCB-M52lodoYGULz5iQbgfTOomJgwuErpvT68bjmUPK6pLYaq-VCn9W2n_5RRXIvqkyst_gVwwF4NxtYeZbtT4CqMYOYDaBeZ7RxBahJLdgMZvPhpTedr1evW9AOYjkavgJp/s400/On+The+Ropes.jpg" width="400"></a></div> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <h2> <b>Pulling himself off the floor and onto the ropes - Learning to fight back</b></h2> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> </div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br> <b>THE.CONTENDER</b> has always had a go at work and life challenges and took some knocks along the way. <b>THE.CONTENDER</b> never liked failure and generally took failure to heart (still the case). Perhaps that was because <b>THE.CONTENDER</b> was never really taught that failure was actually a really good thing. Learning from mistakes is a gift and structured feedback is invaluable (but don't repeat the mistake again!).<br> <br> <div style="text-align: left;"> <i><b>THE.CONTENDER </b>has learned a some very important lessons and skills from my failure in work that are invaluable in my personal life. </i></div> <br> Interestingly, in my corporate career, having a go was not really encouraged. Generally it was do as your are told and cover your back. <b>THE.CONTENDER </b>found that having a go in work came at a cost to my career. Steady as she goes and take you time to set expectations. Expectations were everything.<br> <br> <i><b>THE.CONTENDER </b>may have been late on a few projects but why the demonisation of the late delivery? The new process </i><i><b>THE.CONTENDER </b>had devised off his own back was saving significant time and money. It was all politics, egos and control tactics. As a result the majority of people kept their heads down and just wanted to go home each day. Is this true in other workplaces?</i><br> <br> Failure at a young age should be embraced and encouraged. With extra coaching expectations can be managed while problem solving and common sense nurtured. <b>THE.CONTENDER</b>'s mistakes in the work environment could have been "learnt" earlier. Here are some of them:<br> <br> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_tJJBfdEcjYj8hSe6G74uOkYPZdhtdvUjHlD66iDSU-DDkHu3ga_HfgHks_i1d_8T14tBYvTCra_s6KmbaqeiUZkh0TVDkWPeTO1BasqeCXSrNbM009OsiGvcohCmAN1cKCIvm1mpU_e/s200/Muff+Tool+Kit+v6.jpg" title="PLANNING TOOLS AND CHECKLISTS" width="200"></a><br> <ol> <li>Keep it simple stupid -  being well educated I expected other people to be able to understand complex issues as well.</li> <li>Setting expectations and planning ahead - being over optimistic can cause problems come up with a plan make sure it is realistic (criticize it) make sure if it is going wrong you are open and address the issues early.</li> <li>Falling for the latest gimmick - this can being sold some thing you don't need at great cost and time to making bad choices (where to live, choice of job, latest investment mania)</li> <li>Is there another way to get this done faster what are the risks if we go down this route and how do we manage them?</li> </ol> This blog is my attempt to take some of the "work" tools and skills and adapt them to life in general. Here are the 4 core principles of this blog which may well expand with time.<br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u5um8QWWRvo?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> </div>

Four Key Planning Rules

Contender 0 21:44

Pulling himself off the floor and onto the ropes - Learning to fight back THE.CONTENDER has always had a go at work and life challenges and took some knocks along the way. THE.CONTENDER never liked failure and generally took failure to heart (still … Read more »

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Awakening

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OBX6v-OqlX9Y9oeuIlSMChjBboHaBSyxJSfeS5alU_G5yJhnXJiAauGIyqytlLVwOJFOraz6LH5OMIAqdhWqbo27hGGXt-R1x1KwiQf8jgQAQ1630Xtfy7iylESgCVxaMC25T-s3ZAHB/s1600/Awakening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OBX6v-OqlX9Y9oeuIlSMChjBboHaBSyxJSfeS5alU_G5yJhnXJiAauGIyqytlLVwOJFOraz6LH5OMIAqdhWqbo27hGGXt-R1x1KwiQf8jgQAQ1630Xtfy7iylESgCVxaMC25T-s3ZAHB/s400/Awakening.jpg" width="400"></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Round 3 - He hits the deck and is seeing stars - the power of the world wide web</b></div> <br> Looking for Financial Freedom and Life Skills on the World Wide Web? Where to start? The internet is a  wonderful freedom tool but you can easily be affected by<i><b> information overload</b></i>! How do you quickly find the right websites \ blogs where ideas are expressed without censorship and hidden agendas so you can take informed action (Otherwise the website is just for fun and entertainment;).<br> <br> <i><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>has come across a large number of very clever people provide this concise, relevant information on key life topics for free. This took a lot of research and actually cost me some money: </i><br> <ol> <li><i><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>was drawn into one paid news letter on penny stocks. BIG mistake. We lost at least £10K on its recommendations. </i></li> <li><i>Whilst browsing </i><i><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>inevitably saw all of the glitzy consumer goods and fell for temptation on numerous occasions.</i></li> </ol> <i><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>would like to point out a few of the blogs listed on the left hand side of the screen as a starting point in my humble opinion.</i><br> Due to the vast amount of information, what do you need to know, how do you find it and is it unbiased? Often knowing what to look for is the hardest part. Maybe this site has intrigued you about early retirement. Now it is easy to run a Google search to get all the information you would ever need. About <b>10,900,000</b> results according to Google on early retirement!!!!<br> <br> How can this vast amount of information be filtered and condensed into a usable format? This is critical in today's world where people are bombarded with "information" - surfing the web implies browsing, in one ear out the other and generally a lot of advertising. The web can actually be a distraction tool where you can just loose yourself like a soap or a good film. In order to find out what you are looking for how do you slow down, absorb the information and pick the best bits? Lets have a go at defining what to look for:<br> <br> <h3> </h3> <h3> What is worthwhile investigating for a happiness goal?</h3> <br> Trying not to be distracted in life is an endless task due to the bombardment of advertising and other types of media on every street corner. So unless you live in a box and stay there, how do you know what information or good is of use and what is not?<br> <br> Sometimes it is worthwhile standing back and pausing for a while. What do we really need to live happy? Is happiness in life, a gadget, exotic holiday, big house..... I am advertised these items daily as something that will give me happiness.<br> <br> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_tJJBfdEcjYj8hSe6G74uOkYPZdhtdvUjHlD66iDSU-DDkHu3ga_HfgHks_i1d_8T14tBYvTCra_s6KmbaqeiUZkh0TVDkWPeTO1BasqeCXSrNbM009OsiGvcohCmAN1cKCIvm1mpU_e/s200/Muff+Tool+Kit+v6.jpg" title="PLANNING TOOLS AND CHECKLISTS" width="200"></a><br> I have been to Africa a few times and the people there are smiling, chatting, cooking, playing, singing and dancing. I recently took part in some charity work in a rural part of Africa and their idea of happiness I would argue is very different that the average westerner. School followed by games a good meal and singing is an amazing sight. Their community happiness is truly evident. Yes they could do with better healthcare other than that would excessive material things in life (a huge wardrobe of clothes for example) really make them happier?<br> <br> <h3> Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs</h3> <br> I came across a review of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs" target="_blank">Maslow's Hierarchy</a> of needs presented by Chris Duane* of the u tube channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x_qPPTRR80&feature=BFa&list=PLD31E34390C5017E8" target="_blank">The Greatest Truth Never Told</a>. I used this to really place the needs of life in perspective:<br> <br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ynLVswBrk1s?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> <br>

Awakening

Contender 0 13:46

Round 3 - He hits the deck and is seeing stars - the power of the world wide web Looking for Financial Freedom and Life Skills on the World Wide Web? Where to start? The internet is a  wonderful freedom tool but you can easily be affected by informa… Read more »

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Brainwashed

<div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <h2> </h2> </div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <h2 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cKoK-TXn1qNqKfbtIjueW1jfR30UqxATxL1sOh3alrZ-3LrpA5FcztC2MmnpBoK1JKbyZ_ysNzT9iFQfkJNlbS6ZO2MBzw11nbrQtf2OZvl3E29_yFfeN-l-35_FQ7vkHrfTcq1x4O1o/s1600/IShop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cKoK-TXn1qNqKfbtIjueW1jfR30UqxATxL1sOh3alrZ-3LrpA5FcztC2MmnpBoK1JKbyZ_ysNzT9iFQfkJNlbS6ZO2MBzw11nbrQtf2OZvl3E29_yFfeN-l-35_FQ7vkHrfTcq1x4O1o/s200/IShop.jpg" width="200"></a></h2> <h2> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Round 2 - The Naive Fighter – La La La (when is X factor on?)</b></h2> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <b>In the last post we had a look at the "middle class lifestyle"<i>. </i>How was this seen as a normal lifestyle in the first place? Here is an overview of how it is easy to get into debt (especially a mortgage) and its consequences.</b><br> <br></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> You have been taught how to look, talk and act the right way to get ahead in life. You get a good degree, a corporate job, expensive car, mortgage, go on expensive holidays, get married have kids etc. This is the good life…… unfortunately all of a sudden you are seriously in debt unless you are fortunate enough to earn mega $$$$$. </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br> <span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>went down the generally accepted route "to get ahead in life". <span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>had student loans and a brand new car (investments in my future). A significant daily commute  burning through my pay checks. I was "entitled" to expensive gadgets, movies, games and exotic holidays. At the end of each month I had no savings, just debt repayments. Pressure to conform continued - you must get on the housing ladder. How could I? Debt payment was a large chunk of my salary and taking years to pay off (5). Did I really want mortgage payments on top - it was supposedly good debt?<br> <br> <span style="font-size: large;">Work <span style="font-size: large;">= <span style="font-size: large;">Significant increase in Spending</span></span></span><br> <br> <span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>needed to excel at his corporate job - work harder and climb the corporate ladder. Surely the salary would sky rocket and a <b>CVP </b>(<span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>C</b>ontender </span></span><b>V</b>ice <b>P</b>resident) in 20 years! So next steps:<br> <ol> <li>Make sure <span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>looked the part - expensive suits, shoes, leather designer computer case, flash mobile - <span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>was going places (factories)</li> <li>Study - buy all of the latest books on professionalism and business management - why can't it be simple and in one book or in 5 page books? </li> <li>Go beyond the call of duty in work - work on additional or suggest new projects whilst putting in all of those extra unpaid hours</li> <li>Go to a bigger company for more opportunities</li> </ol> <i>It is hard to quantify how much was spent on "getting ahead in work". As an estimate suits and computers etc must have cost at least £7K. Books another few hundred of pounds. Hundreds of extra hours worked for no overtime and a small end of year bonus (probably the bonus worked out at a£1 and extra hour worked). 1,000's of pounds!!! </i><br> <ol> </ol> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_tJJBfdEcjYj8hSe6G74uOkYPZdhtdvUjHlD66iDSU-DDkHu3ga_HfgHks_i1d_8T14tBYvTCra_s6KmbaqeiUZkh0TVDkWPeTO1BasqeCXSrNbM009OsiGvcohCmAN1cKCIvm1mpU_e/s200/Muff+Tool+Kit+v6.jpg" title="PLANNING TOOLS AND CHECKLISTS" width="200"></a>Life was still good. <span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>was working hard and slowly progressing his career, as was his wife. Frequent holidays were a must to unwind and relax. We needed those breaks as work was becoming harder and more time consuming. Downsizing the workplace resulted in greater and greater workload. 9-5 working hours seemed like a pipe dream.<br> <br> Our always "on" connected culture left little time to turn off from work. Weekends turned into recovery time from the increasing hours and stress levels. As high skilled individuals with good jobs we were not being significantly rewarded for these sacrifices. The idea that good job = good stress somehow introduced itself in the workplace - <i>what rubbish is that</i> - and who in their right mind thinks continuous stress is a good thing? In our opinion work life balance was going in the wrong direction <br> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <i>How could we possibly keep this up for at least another 30 or 40 years without developing health complications?</i></div> </blockquote> <br> This is where we stopped and started to question our lifestyle. At that point we decided we did not want to spend all our time at work just to pay off the next piece of debt. Work did not really care about us. Why should all our effort and time be spent on it - did WORK=HAPPINESS? Retirement at 67 seemed a long way off.<br> <br> <b>Please read on for the two hottest topics we had: Debt versus Saving and getting on the housing ladder.</b><br> <br> </div>

Brainwashed

Contender 2 13:45

Round 2 - The Naive Fighter – La La La (when is X factor on?) In the last post we had a look at the "middle class lifestyle". How was this seen as a normal lifestyle in the first place? Here is an overview of how it is easy to get into debt (especia… Read more »

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Bonkers Lifestyle

<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUkkRThgG0d24n0IoX8MW8OP-s6LHUt19RpjBiWt8NWNSQUXzPBlt-kuFEL1ZZSgC5qhDiKGqDCGV1E2uJMqC0Yj3kO6oakScO5z10iCsVNbD0Gm02MdSzxPYwksxyKoB_CDzYP0f2jma/s1600/Control.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUkkRThgG0d24n0IoX8MW8OP-s6LHUt19RpjBiWt8NWNSQUXzPBlt-kuFEL1ZZSgC5qhDiKGqDCGV1E2uJMqC0Yj3kO6oakScO5z10iCsVNbD0Gm02MdSzxPYwksxyKoB_CDzYP0f2jma/s400/Control.jpg" width="400"></a></div> <br> <b>Round 1 - The Rookie  – steps up to the ring – what is he letting himself in for?</b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The purpose of this post is to consider the "standard" middle class mindset and why financial independence is a lost caus<span style="font-size: small;">e for the majority because of their habits</span>. Yes it is generalised and a bit stereotyped. What is interesting is standing back and having a think about how silly some of it is?<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <br></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: large;">A quick generalization of middle class life (And<span style="font-size: large;"> CONTENDER</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span> mistakes)</span></div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <h3> <b>Early Years (Creche)</b></h3> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Both adult's work to pay the bills (fairly new phenomenon). Stressed, extremely busy ever wonder why? The government needs its workers to pay the taxes for its largess (they know how to spend our money……). So baby is placed in care of a creche looked after on an initial 1:3 then 1:6 ratio of career to child relationship instead of a 1:1 relationship with a parent or grandparents. Generally parents had to move away from home to get a “good” job so grandparents and children miss out. “Love\Care" provided by someone else other than the parents. The child is already being indoctrinated into the system.<br> <br> <i><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>was fortunate to be brought up by his mother however we had handed over our first child to the creche at 9 months old - were we doing the right thing? </i></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <h3> </h3> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <h3> <b>Early Years Education (Primary School)</b></h3> <br> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_tJJBfdEcjYj8hSe6G74uOkYPZdhtdvUjHlD66iDSU-DDkHu3ga_HfgHks_i1d_8T14tBYvTCra_s6KmbaqeiUZkh0TVDkWPeTO1BasqeCXSrNbM009OsiGvcohCmAN1cKCIvm1mpU_e/s200/Muff+Tool+Kit+v6.jpg" title="PLANNING TOOLS AND CHECKLISTS" width="200"></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Take a group of children that are all the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">same age</b> place them in a room doing the<b> same activities</b>. (good that they are getting the basics but are we helping the next Einstein?) </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Fail-Classics-child-development/dp/0201484021/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339142323&sr=8-1-spell" target="_blank">How Children Fail - John Holt</a> <br> <br> <i><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>cannot remember much about early years education only that I moved countries and fitting in was a big challenge for me. I was sport mad learned how to read and write (badly!).</i> <i>Generally spent my time kicking a ball around and messing around on my commodore 64 personal computer - cool new gadget.</i></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <h3> <b>Mid Years Education (Secondary School)</b></h3> <br></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Now lets place the same group in a room for an hour to absorb information and learn how to regurgitate. Ring a bell then move into another room and repeat. No time provided to actually learn, master and question the subject but perfect for obedience to the bell.<br> <br> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Children-Learn-Penguin-Education/dp/0140136002/ref=pd_sim_b_1" target="_blank">How Children Learn - John Holt</a> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WGL8FEMc378?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> <i><span style="color: red; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">THE.CONTENDER </span></span>was immersed in lots of subjects in school but was still more interested in kicking a ball around. I was still poorly read but excelled at maths and sciences which I studied in college. I still had no idea what adult life was about and was generally a normal irresponsible teenager. The money I had was from some door to door sales. The little money this generated was all spent on games, magazines and food. </i><br> </div>

Bonkers Lifestyle

Contender 0 13:10

Round 1 - The Rookie  – steps up to the ring – what is he letting himself in for?  The purpose of this post is to consider the "standard" middle class mindset and why financial independence is a lost cause for the majority because of their habits. Y… Read more »

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Get In The Ring?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSHxBb_VsqKo0kkIJNsxGUkpyu_Oe9SXJ6w6KofHsp2AhOeh5qfyBP8wKid-Dw0Drg1SFnTOtVtOwl5X8e7bY6MvtDGqLio9uEI2fOjVkUDA1GSSJ82iv819QX_t4WYz_byprTgp6ELtM/s1600/AngelfishGlovesOff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSHxBb_VsqKo0kkIJNsxGUkpyu_Oe9SXJ6w6KofHsp2AhOeh5qfyBP8wKid-Dw0Drg1SFnTOtVtOwl5X8e7bY6MvtDGqLio9uEI2fOjVkUDA1GSSJ82iv819QX_t4WYz_byprTgp6ELtM/s1600/AngelfishGlovesOff.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>FISH | Financial Independence and Seeking Happiness<br /><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b></span></span><br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> <div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <i><b>CoNTeNDeR</b>: "Who is next in the ring?"<br /> </i></div> </div> </div> </div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <i><b>PLAN.AHEAD</b>: "The future my son he is unforgiving, surprising and always your shadow"<br /> </i><br /> <i><b><i><b><i><b>CoNTeNDeR</b></i></b></i></b>: "A venerable adversary what do I need to learn if I am going to face him?"<br /> </i><br /> <i><b>PLAN.AHEAD</b>: "</i><i><i><b>CoNTeNDeR</b></i>we constantly need to learn. <b>THE FUTURE</b> is there he is real and he is constantly changing. Are you ready to getinthering my lad?<span style="font-size: small;">"<br /> </span></i><br /> <i><i><b>CoNTeNDeR</b></i>: "I am only on this planet once and I intend to make the most of it lets get on with it"</i><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Welcome! Lets get straight to the chase this blog is all about gaining <b>financial</b> <b>independence </b>as quickly as possible<b> </b>while<b> </b><b>seeking </b><b>happiness</b> along the way.</span></div> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE.FuTuRe</b> <i>"I'm one step ahead of you boy, look left, look right, around every corner I am ready to strike. Go home boy to your job, your routine accept your fate."</i> </span></span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">W</span>hy<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">the FISH</span></span> Blog? </span> </div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /> Our Tribe have been on quite a ride for the last 15 years.<br /> <br /> We have taken some hard knocks from <b>THE.PaST</b>, picked ourselves up from the canvass <span style="font-size: small;">and are </span> expecting <span style="font-size: small;">surprises from </span><b>THE.FuTuRe</b>.<br /> <br /> All the time we have grown a little older and hopefully a little wiser :0) Learning bit by bit how to set ourselves up for life.<br /> <br /> We are in better shape for <b>THE.FuTuRe</b> after a dramatic change in lifestyle over the past seven years saving like mad to gain financial independence.<br /> <br /> This change has caused us to addressed the challenges of a growing family, education, finance and work. We have changed from short term consumer thinking to long term goals of the <b></b>pursuit of financial independence and happiness.<br /> <br /> Old habits have died hard (reckless spending, hedonism, just living the now) and replaces by new ones where we can clearly see <b>THE.FuTuRe</b> and are taking him on <i>on our terms</i>.<br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>This blog is a collection of articles and tools that we found useful in planning for Finacial Independence and Seeking Happiness. </b></div> <br /> Here are a few backgroun articles from the site:<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">Who Am I</a></span><br /> <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2012/07/round-5-15-secs-muff-family-financial.html">Family Financial Independence in 7 Years! Almost FI this is how we got there</a></span><br /> <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2012/11/30-rules-of-very-early-retirement.html">30 Rules of Very Early Retirement</a></span><br /> <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2012/10/10-career-skills-for-early-retirement.html">10 Career Skills for Early Retirement</a></span><br /> <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2013/10/stuck-generation.html">Stuck Generation - Generational cycles and the impact on the next generation</a></span> </span><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/all-posts-get-in-ring.html" target="_blank"><img alt="All Posts" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubHYk5t29Fqnad4iyBU8MwpHCm64Sra9FAbn7f2mv4S0lmGPCeQTyAYUPbIHPkt8w0TS2Kj5ykp1WPHMHo5J9mhyks53jwlS8yINVf5-zLtQ-Pz5W4yGrWhCgUdOFDgsqtdVIkPYAc6SZ/s1600/Focus1.PNG" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: large;">How do you become Independent?</span><br /> <br /> Gaining financial independence and working out what you want requires alot of research, thinking, learning and doing. Some of the key sources of information are linked from this site.  <br /> <br /> Skills need to be honed in finance, health, work, education, environment. Unfortunately it is is easy to get overloaded by information and sidetracked by marketing.<br /> <br /> <div> <i>This blog is primarily about providing the information in one place. Discuss how to create a personal financial independence plan and how to put it into action. It further considers future trends and why become financially free and seek happiness in the first place.</i></div> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> "It's all about money, not freedom, ya'll, okay? Nothing to do with fuckin' freedom. If you think you're free, try going somewhere without fucking money, okay?"<a class="extiw" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American:_The_Bill_Hicks_Story" title="w:American: The Bill Hicks Story"> American: The Bill Hicks Story</a><i> </i></blockquote> </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size: large;">FISH Blog Goals</span><br /> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a> <br /> <ol> <li>Poke some fun at conventional wisdom</li> <li>Share useful information</li> <li>Investigate topics such as finance, health and education and their impact on happiness</li> <li>Provide a set of simple<b> </b>planning tools for you to hopefully view \ use \ get some ideas <b>>>>> </b></li> <li>Have some fun </li> </ol> <span style="font-size: large;">A bit more information on the Blog</span><br /> <ul> <li>Work out how to be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">financially independent</b> and understand WHAT is happening in this world and how to GROW wealth regardless of world events</li> </ul> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"> a.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">     </span>Real World Education – what are we <u>NOT </u>taught in school about finance</div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"> b.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">     </span>Getting the right job and the benefits of multiple income streams</div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"> c.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">     </span>Compound interest - One of the wonders of the world and its impact on growing your   savings and investments.</div> <div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -18.0pt;"> d.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">     </span>Investigation of different investments and how to evaluate their worth <br /> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/stock-screen.html"></a></div> <ul> <li><b>Applying Simple Business skills</b> (project planning, negotiation, influencing etc.) to plan for financial independence<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">  <span class="huge">"Children are smarter than any of us. Know how I know that? I don't know one child with a full time job and children."</span><span class="bodybold"> </span><span class="bodybold"><b>- Bill Hicks</b></span></blockquote> <span class="bodybold"><b></b></span></li> <li>How to get a continuous balanced <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">real world education</b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> for life  </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /> </b></li> <li>What is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Self-sufficiency and resilience </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">what can be useful whilst not being extreme and living in a hut in the woods.</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></li> <li>What can constitute a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">good life?</b></li> </ul> <b><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/stock-screen.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkWERHEhnInixQ4cAtQT5ZaCq_dErIUiYnskPiigKOXguD7T99k75RBX1_6TVJhhqISp9hv-Vw337yUzmaQ_4KtWPIrSmgZvGZZ2rHL2jkUV-z8lTQ7DP0RYpum-UJgWvBMITewH2x8oQ/s1600/Focus3.PNG" /></a> </b><br /> <b>Please feel free to have a look around perhaps start with the </b><b><b><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/all-posts-get-in-ring.html" target="_blank">All Posts</a> </b> </b><b>page which has summaries and descriptions of the sites articles</b><b> </b><br /> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span class="huge">"I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.</span><b>" - </b><b>George Carlin   </b></blockquote> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>FISH</b> Tools </span><br /> <br /> <b><span style="font-size: small;">THE.CoNTeNDeR</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"> has developed a<b> F</b>inancial <b>I</b>ndependence and <b>S</b>eeking <b>H</b>appiness</span><b><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></b><u><b><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" target="_blank">Tool Kit</a></b></u>. Hopefully the tool will be a valuable addition to the financial freedom and life hacking / planning community.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Financial Timeline Planner Tool" border="0" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksOogbmFVUGjJEgu-zrad7E4slMAeQRT46ENZplM7GBGKj6N-RWeRiNfvQcwr9bf2rfv_AzYx755mNNAHtdNqwUfX7QvwUDSpy81CJ7gDp6UE9LcHl-nUL0L2AleROi6N_rWBfXRMOETz/s1600/Focus2.PNG" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> The tool covers financial freedom, health, education and general life. It is really a continuous self education planning tool interspersed with investment choice and management. </div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <blockquote class="tr_bq"> <div class="MsoNormal"> <span class="huge">"Most people work just hard enough not to get fired and get paid just enough money not to quit.</span>"<span class="bodybold"> - </span><span class="bodybold"><b>George Carlin</b></span><i><span class="bodybold"><br /> </span></i></div> </blockquote> <div style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eyWsFfd9pqE?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> <br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">A CoNTeNDeR after all? </span></span><br /> <br /> Whilst our Tribe has made some blunders on our road to Financial Independence that is part and parcel of the joys of learning from mistakes. On top of that life has a habit of throwing up the unexpected. <u> Don't worry they are all covered in this blog</u>.<br />   <br /> These blunders were a gift to us that helped us learn some skills that are benefiting us to this day. Does <b>THE.CoNTeNDeR</b> have a chance against <b>THE.FuTuRe</b> after his scrapes with <b>THE.PaST</b>? They will all be documented here on this blog.<br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span> Peace and prosperity and I hope to see you soon,</div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"> <b> <span class="notranslate" id="altHeadline"> </span></b><br /> <div style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">THE CONTENDER</a><br /> <br /> Kindly share this post >>>></div> </div> <!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Qa8eONAOZxA%2FU4HmozW1lkI%2FAAAAAAAADPc%2FttZMRslvSJk%2Fs1600%2FFocus3.PNG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkWERHEhnInixQ4cAtQT5ZaCq_dErIUiYnskPiigKOXguD7T99k75RBX1_6TVJhhqISp9hv-Vw337yUzmaQ_4KtWPIrSmgZvGZZ2rHL2jkUV-z8lTQ7DP0RYpum-UJgWvBMITewH2x8oQ/s1600/Focus3.PNG" -->

Get In The Ring?

Contender 0 09:53

FISH | Financial Independence and Seeking Happiness  CoNTeNDeR: "Who is next in the ring?"  PLAN.AHEAD: "The future my son he is unforgiving, surprising and always your shadow"  CoNTeNDeR: "A venerable adversary what do I need to learn if I am going… Read more »

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