FISH | Financial Independence Seeking Happiness: Black Swan

Fragilista - Part 2

Contender 1 Black Swan, Dividends, downshifting, early-retirement, Life, survival 08:01

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwAoXjEgKEvl3-F4XwJgGG12uNV84XrmmEkqzAtmV-2kuI97Dbhj0zC1ZLurY4WOrK0NffkfyQT7gNHHYWkPZk72pDdxWpgOtJeR3IxoVhwXCyGfqrqZEHmUGIDz_sHy-bTz3q92rOxr9/s1600/P1080350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwAoXjEgKEvl3-F4XwJgGG12uNV84XrmmEkqzAtmV-2kuI97Dbhj0zC1ZLurY4WOrK0NffkfyQT7gNHHYWkPZk72pDdxWpgOtJeR3IxoVhwXCyGfqrqZEHmUGIDz_sHy-bTz3q92rOxr9/s320/P1080350.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low cost fuel and no moving parts - a robust heating solution</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Have you ever wondered how some people get rich and are able to grow their wealth? 
 
In <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.fr/2017/01/Financial-Planning.html" target="_blank">part 1</a>
 I covered the principles of financial independence and shared a planning tool to work the numbers. I highly recommend you <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.fr/2017/01/Financial-Planning.html" target="_blank">check it out here  </a>before reading this post. 
 
Today it is all about taking "Talk the Talk" about wanting to be financial independent, happy and resilient to reality by "Walking the Walk". 
 
 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I gained an interest in wealth accumulation through a very dynamic friend Chris in 
university. He would read every autobiography of a successful person he 
could get his hands on and say that was going to be him one day. 
 
My take at the time was to get a good job work 
really hard and work my way up the ranks. Little did I know at the time 
that this actually takes a long time. After a few years I started to read up about rich people like Chris did. My general take at the time that they were not afraid to invest and take risks. So I changed jobs and started investing badly. I had a severe lack of financial knowledge and was letting myself to be guided by speculative investment newsletters.   
 
My first breakthrough was coming across the blog "Early Retirement Extreme" which turned on the light bulb of frugality = increased investments and a few blogs on dividend investing. Eventually I joined the dots to frugality = increased investments = increased passive income => financial independence + increased freedom. 
 
My second breakthrough was understanding the need to build resilience. This was triggered by two topics. First the blog LATOC - Life after the oil crash website (which no longer exists) which highlighted that the world is not infinite so some self sufficiency is a good thing. The second topic was the tech boom and bust followed by the sub prime meltdown and oil price crash which moved our investments all over the place. Importantly we waited it all out teaching us to be long term investors. We are unable \ lack the knowledge to "trade" short term effectively.  </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Finally I started to read about "Black Swans", "Business Cycles" and "Capital Flows". This made me realise that we needed to be serious about resilient living. This allows us to continue to live frugally and use the savings to re-invest in even more income investing assets. This is to help us ensure we can keep the financial independence dream alive indefinitely.</blockquote>
So today this post is all about what we are doing to keep the FI dream alive: 
<ul>
<li>A look at some potential risks we want to counter (several graphs)</li>
<li>Our "Walk the Walk" anti-fragile changes we are making to our lives (financial and at home)</li>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Personal - Family education \ health </li>
<li>Sustainability \ Antifragility - reducing our reliance on outside help</li>
<li>Community - Engage in the local community and with friends</li>
<li>Financial - building diverse assets and income (Our latest financials)</li>
</ul>
<li>Inter-generational wealth building </li>
<li>How you can start on the road to antifragility  </li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2>
Why we want to be Resilient</h2>
Over the last 10 years I have read, 
learnt, been lost by and perplexed by economics and life. My lifestyle has been 
cajoled by consumerism, dazzled by technology and awed by my ability to
 travel. Our modern world is great and we want to participate in it. 
 
We are looking at a substantial period of time without "jobs" and have two kids to raise. We need to make sure our standard of living remains the same or improves by: 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst"</blockquote>
In hoping for the best: we are waiting for battery storage to make the next step, solar panel efficiency to go to the moon, nuclear fusion, 99% recycling and an iRobot to do all our heavy lifting. 
 
While we wait for this Utopia we should "hedge our bets" and "plan for the unexpected".  I want to point out we are not Doomers but Realists. Risks may be small but we are well aware black swans can appear. For example having some alternative sources of lighting if a storm takes out the power lines for a few days is appropriate and cheap to implement. 
 
Other risks are harder to mitigate. Here are a few risks worth considering: 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
 </div>
<ol>
<li><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13n1KT5u1-wX-EzErxzDPcsbjKgWIewJ4pWvGTJvS-VSqPiUVREOqJXrEgO5TIsOvZaro3VQUj8zEioWeb5gs2RF4nu8736YzI2corDHb3E3Y9zZ75eDZwtr8c5SlkidB9CYHJrxp0gbX/s1600/2035.PNG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13n1KT5u1-wX-EzErxzDPcsbjKgWIewJ4pWvGTJvS-VSqPiUVREOqJXrEgO5TIsOvZaro3VQUj8zEioWeb5gs2RF4nu8736YzI2corDHb3E3Y9zZ75eDZwtr8c5SlkidB9CYHJrxp0gbX/s320/2035.PNG" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source http://populationpyramid.net/</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXLVUe15n6uW8jbzG6-LZfX3cr_k1tGVWt3b_bcRjk7wIdqAcgqQwZ-TFqHf5U3TuGoITUog1eVrhvTHmU9TrQfqKXfjWKQjvaIPBdoYrTwkHkliPnv7Fqzt3eCIjYCnOUtiIWJ8ybiDH/s1600/2015.PNG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXLVUe15n6uW8jbzG6-LZfX3cr_k1tGVWt3b_bcRjk7wIdqAcgqQwZ-TFqHf5U3TuGoITUog1eVrhvTHmU9TrQfqKXfjWKQjvaIPBdoYrTwkHkliPnv7Fqzt3eCIjYCnOUtiIWJ8ybiDH/s320/2015.PNG" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source http://populationpyramid.net/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Society is now rapidly ageing\ retiring in the west and dependency 
ratios are rocketing. 
Pension funds are massively underfunded and assume
 large percentage YoY growth. Risk: large liquidation of stock and housing by boomers paying for their retirement. Tax rises to pay for services and entitlements that are underfunded by the tax receipts caused by a drop in the workforce to retiree ratio? <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 163px;"><colgroup><col width="79"></col><col width="84"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="17">
 </tr>
</tbody></table>
  </li>
<li><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="CHART OF THE WEEK: European Debt-to-GDP Ratios | The Economic Voice" class="detail__media__img-highres js-detail-img js-detail-img-high" height="203" src="https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.economicvoice.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F10%2FEuropean-Debt-to-GDP-Ratios-Oct-2013.jpg&f=1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://www.economicvoice.com/chart-of-the-week-european-debt-to-gdp-ratios/" target="_blank">www.economicvoice.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Debt has been piled on at 
staggering rates. It is only really backed by the faith that some poor fools will foot the bill (us the tax payers). Risk: Debt jubilee, high inflation, currency devaluation, new currency? </li>
<li>Assumptions on 
property prices are <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE6IHdx7kRYEIRdQykxC_nzkNWGmAipHlcsI2r485tfUdSagHwf_MljdeOnboF4sUWPLQLefbqFWHsWJmTScOlR9TfJ2loI0kNufveQx0-aPe09Z9pBp_ARM_Cv6KthYOE1FMtGOZ0p5I/s1600/10Yr+Treasuies.PNG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE6IHdx7kRYEIRdQykxC_nzkNWGmAipHlcsI2r485tfUdSagHwf_MljdeOnboF4sUWPLQLefbqFWHsWJmTScOlR9TfJ2loI0kNufveQx0-aPe09Z9pBp_ARM_Cv6KthYOE1FMtGOZ0p5I/s320/10Yr+Treasuies.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it time for interest rates to rise.....The million $$$$ ?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
potentially widely wrong - low interest rates and 
credit have driven prices sky high. They are unaffordable to the young who can not get the
 high paying jobs needed to even get a deposit together. Risk: Onerous under water mortgages suppressing property values and rental incomes or a period of high inflation eroding their real value? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjE6IHdx7kRYEIRdQykxC_nzkNWGmAipHlcsI2r485tfUdSagHwf_MljdeOnboF4sUWPLQLefbqFWHsWJmTScOlR9TfJ2loI0kNufveQx0-aPe09Z9pBp_ARM_Cv6KthYOE1FMtGOZ0p5I/s1600/10Yr+Treasuies.PNG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> </li>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.newscientist.com/data/images/archive/2605/26051202.jpg" rel="nofollow" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Source newscientist.com Click to Enlarge" border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl2eWIlIXf0ZMut4TLkmnHfQa9eSkFhC3zJ-Yba4lLxH7021qaGn-pIEhY9_NhdmDDYN-GvvZ00f9HAJaH8Nob-sDh_noLb7b9OfMbJ0aS_9DANlB6_naFHNZqZuKFj_9DockVdtlArbV/s320/Years+Left.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Newscientist click to enlarge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li>We all 
live on one planet and consume more of its resources each year than can 
be replaced by equivalent alternatives. Liquid fuels, metals, fish, 
lumber and soil. This is just another form of debt we are piling on and 
the bill will become true at some stage. Risk: Lack of resources to build out our technological society of the future? </li>
<li><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWyPzjir7tFI4CtjEXpgHvssK0dWzkMMLROvwXjGijSdZmEUoAQATm_JDEkC4RY3Eg3JelAEIoCJigjq_uWXnp3abi5iXVRCzn1H7UCM0WHkosfgpRbsU-UeSlkIPg6CdiURKwBitzapY/s1600/Soil.PNG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWyPzjir7tFI4CtjEXpgHvssK0dWzkMMLROvwXjGijSdZmEUoAQATm_JDEkC4RY3Eg3JelAEIoCJigjq_uWXnp3abi5iXVRCzn1H7UCM0WHkosfgpRbsU-UeSlkIPg6CdiURKwBitzapY/s320/Soil.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.seafriends.org.nz/enviro/soil/erosion1.htm">seafriends.org.nz</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is about time food production
 is  re-thought to re-build soils that have been degraded 
by the green revolution. Organic farming (including pest and weed control), low tilling soil and replanting hedgerows and trees are gaining ground around the world. Perhaps the days of the 6000 mile lettuce has 
almost had its day - you can easily grow one in your basement with the 
right setup. Risk: large increase in cost of food as more resources are dedicated to its production?</li>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
</ol>
<h2>
What Resiliance means to us</h2>
My personal take on resilience is OPTIONS. Lots of them. Options to move, different income streams and multiple ways to provide the basics (food, water, shelter and warmth). 
 
As early retirees we have a likely 40+ years ahead of us. A lot of things can and will happen in those 40+ years. Most of them will be surprises good and bad. OPTIONS will either allow us to take advantage of these changes or ride them out. 
 
Staying financially independent = fix up our place, be 50% + self sufficient and build excess income streams. 
 
We need to be able to offset the risks we have listed above (and others) and setup our investments to to take advantage of any opportunities. 
 
This "work" has taken priority over this blog in the last year. We have been super busy but the benefits have been amazing for us. We are so happy that we have taken steps to anti-fragile our lifestyle which has relieved some of our anxiety of going it alone. 
 
First up here are our Anti-fragile / Resilience goals: 
<ol>
<li>We want to provide a normal middle class up-bringing for our kids and afford them opportunities to grow. This requires us to at least maintain our inflation indexed income and ideally grow it. We need to be able to ride out any large unexpected bills and save for the kids education.</li>
<li>Not to be a burden to the state \ provide adequate funding for our lifestyle through low living costs, excess passive income and a small amount of paid work. We will pay our fair share of taxes on time and limit our impact on local amenities (e.g. less waste, support fund raising for the school etc.)</li>
<li>Reduce our reliance on external resources - we will source as much of our food, building supplies and fuel locally.</li>
<li>Look after our health (again reducing the cost to state) eat our own organic food and fruit, cutting wood, cycling instead of driving etc. </li>
<li>Engage with other people, to share resources to help with maintenance issues for example. </li>
</ol>
<h2>
4 action areas</h2>
We have decided to consolidate our actions in to 4 main areas 
<ul>
<li>Personal - Family education \ health </li>
<li>Sustainability \ Antifragility - reducing our reliance on outside help</li>
<li>Community - Engage in the local community and with friends</li>
<li>Financial - building diverse assets and income</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Starting with our Personal Gaols</h3>
Adult Education - We continue to read up on wide ranging topics 
(Super-forecasting, Logic, Perma- 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51dNyxd1LKL._SX260_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51dNyxd1LKL._SX260_.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>
culture \ Market Gardening, the 1930's, 
Solar Energy to name a few) and most importantly put these into practise. An example 
of this covered in more detail below is our ability to grow our own 
food and generate some of our own energy. This improves our finances and health. 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEEeJUmovd94-JDI2UQwBml7YKK41iEGolEzxji18lBZj_Z4ghSP8oOyyZOFu9boQqmFjZi5LsMaQ-DURSZIWOUfKhg5BpABKcIGaIKxRRM7fxC87sIE_NrObi3cgtmQROgvbGTJdfcI2d/s1600/DSC_0181.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/AVvXsEjEEeJUmovd94-JDI2UQwBml7YKK41iEGolEzxji18lBZj_Z4ghSP8oOyyZOFu9boQqmFjZi5LsMaQ-DURSZIWOUfKhg5BpABKcIGaIKxRRM7fxC87sIE_NrObi3cgtmQROgvbGTJdfcI2d/s320/DSC_0181.JPG" width="212" /></a>Kids 
education - we continue to encourage the kids to learn through play and 
experience. The TV has long gone. This been a brilliant thing to do as their play is more beneficial helping them to develop personal / communication skills, anger and conflict management. 
The both take judo classes which we hope will help with confidence, control and respect. 
 
We take them to museums (locally we have a school and a bee\ honey museum, down the road we have the Airbus museum). We 
engage them in day to day activities, cooking, gardening, cleaning, 
painting etc. They are learning 4 languages.... wowser!  I struggle with English let alone French. 
 
Lifestyle - An added bonus is lifestyle here in the south west of France. It is a
 holiday for us. Our local town has just been added to the Michelin guide. In fact our whole area is a hot tourist area with lots
 of things to do. We have easy access to the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts 
as well as the Pyrenees mountains. 
 
We continue to improve our house and land. We are renovating, planting, repairing and cleaning. We love our flowering pots around our terrace, the picturesque views and starry nights. 
<h3>
Sustainability & cost reductions \ savings</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-UWfaUdD4ESx2rHKuxYN7jLFd6lxzinXZDaBRm4HVNZB5qHTtGjcKWy7dkSsP1JPqg0cSRFWaDFlyMAw6sXtdY_5EPOoi6SM2g-AwaPRqfOAfGsP1J5WWJLaO0Gn7XEpMhM_Cz2hidPQ/s1600/P1080133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-UWfaUdD4ESx2rHKuxYN7jLFd6lxzinXZDaBRm4HVNZB5qHTtGjcKWy7dkSsP1JPqg0cSRFWaDFlyMAw6sXtdY_5EPOoi6SM2g-AwaPRqfOAfGsP1J5WWJLaO0Gn7XEpMhM_Cz2hidPQ/s320/P1080133.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our preserves from the garden and batteries for 
off grid solar system</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBY4pvs2H3f9bEHJM9r8f9fK7TTI6OiBFI5x3udsydHPkLJTO_B6iW4Sp6nXaKW0E64QhEao0PATvYXRMHiJb4YOrjZpoxv3g-dDw1IYEED8gKpX6_LcDJ7HDQZOhV3VwgL2AySj00ev9/s1600/Solar.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBY4pvs2H3f9bEHJM9r8f9fK7TTI6OiBFI5x3udsydHPkLJTO_B6iW4Sp6nXaKW0E64QhEao0PATvYXRMHiJb4YOrjZpoxv3g-dDw1IYEED8gKpX6_LcDJ7HDQZOhV3VwgL2AySj00ev9/s320/Solar.PNG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eco-worthy.com/">eco-worthy.com</a> wind solar off grid system</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
</ul>
 
<ul>
<li style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> <div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
 
 
</li>
<li>We have built an intricate gravity and solar fed 
irrigation system - reducing our demand for mains water and allowing us to grow lots of lovely veg.</li>
<li>Done as much renovation work as possible by ourselves saving thousands</li>
<li>Replaced lots of damaged roof tiles </li>
<li>We have started to build a 
perma-culture garden, permaculture mounds, a couple of ponds and a poly 
tunnel.  </li>
<li>We have invested in manual garden tools.</li>
<li>We have invested in preserving equipment and Mrs C has been really busy canning (Bocals)</li>
<li>We have purchased a sun oven to cook and preserve our food </li>
<li>We have planted more fruit and nut trees </li>
<li>We have started making our own compost without fuel and fertilisers. It has no 
requirement for machinery only hand tools.</li>
<li>We have installed an off grid solar and wind system and are 
currently adding the option to run the whole house off it as required. 
It is a 1.4KW system (1KW solar and 400W Wind) with 4*130AH batteries. This system running at 1/3 of capacity daily = 1.4KW * 1/3 * 24 = 11.2 KWh per day Our average house consumption we believe is around 8.3 KWh per day (350 AH per day @ 24V) The
 only issue is that the battery bank (the 4 batteries give 260AH @ 24V) 
is not large enough for a prolonged period without the system running at
 1/3rd of capacity. 
</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xuiftzpCFkMOjt8Sh1Yi6yiiPU7K2R3CRzJr9vpE3WFGG5VLoJua9bCJK0lxbk0VQuwzoD6P3FkfM4n3R2b3lnIeO77L9HsVymF9H5NuWmvk_aP18G2B5ofS6EP1srlJ-Oa2auxQyJMw/s1600/P1080158.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xuiftzpCFkMOjt8Sh1Yi6yiiPU7K2R3CRzJr9vpE3WFGG5VLoJua9bCJK0lxbk0VQuwzoD6P3FkfM4n3R2b3lnIeO77L9HsVymF9H5NuWmvk_aP18G2B5ofS6EP1srlJ-Oa2auxQyJMw/s320/P1080158.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Permaculture "mounds" 
which have now been planted with fruit bushes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Benefits 
<ol>
<li>We can save and invest more each month increasing safety nets and future options </li>
<li>We are growing our own organic food - this is exercise, provides healthy meals (Vegan) and saves money</li>
<li>We are able to use resources on our land (we have solar electricity and hot water, a
 gravity fed water source, trees for firewood, fruit and nut trees, and 
we are developing good soil). </li>
<li>Our kids are learning real world skills with us such as solar system installations and calculations, water flow and management.</li>
<li>We are not buying loads of rubbish "entertainment" for the kids - they play outside making their own games. </li>
<li>We can repair things ourselves which is satisfying, saves time, money and stress.</li>
</ol>
We have reduced our necessary living costs (2 adults and 2 children) to ~£900 (1,050 EUR, ~1,170 
USD) per month (property tax, food, utilities, school fees and cars) as of Sept 2016. We can live on much less if needs be. 
 
From an Antifragile standpoint - we are able to provide for ourselves in an emergency and have reduced our "fixed" living costs. We have learnt additional real world skills that allow us to do things for ourself. 
<h3>
Friendships & Community</h3>
We have abnormal living arrangements in a normal community of hard working individuals. The "abnormal" part is that we do not have "normal" work and "normal finances". Talking about financial independence and resilience building seems almost taboo... We try not to talk about unless someone specifically asks. 
 
Financial independence is a bit like talking about how much you earn (ironically it is fine to talk about how much you spend;) see the following <a href="http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a28515/why-cant-we-talk-about-how-much-we-make/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">article.</a> I often wonder why this is the case. Surely it would be beneficial to know if you are being paid fairly? Wouldn't a discussion on money, budgeting and investing be beneficial for people to have? So talking normal finances or investments is not really touched either. 
 
 
Work has become so hectic and all encompassing most people do not have time to have a go at sustainable living. After all it is a lot of additional "work". Do you have the energy to dig the garden, chop some wood or insulate the house when you get home late and exhausted from work? Promisingly on this topic we are finding that people are more interested in this area and are taking small steps. 
 
Sport, weather, holidays, kids, homes and mainstream hobbies are all in the easy bucket. A good way to chat over a beer. We live in an outdoor party area so BBQ's are great places to catch up and make friends. 
 
Ultimately friendships take time and a lot of work. We can definitely do better. We want to have fun and relax with friends so it is important we build rapport by talking about stuff they are interested in.  So KISS (Keep it simple stupid!) really works here :) 
<h3>
Financial</h3>
Our financial plan is quite simple - take part in the ownership of productive "cash flow" assets. Have skin in the game. Our trading accounts are invested in individual companies. Our pension choices are limited to funds. We have part ownership of some commercial real estate. 
 
Thankfully building income is easy and can be done in small increments over time. We do this primarily through share and bond ownership. Lending clubs have also become popular. 
 
Unfortunately very few people we know actually"invest" perhaps due to the risk warnings written across all financial products. They rely on earned income. Any spare cash is generally not put to work but "saved" as cash or spent. 
 
Inflation means cash "value" is eroded instead of growing and providing an income through positive interest. Investing in dividend stocks opens the door to capital gains and cash flow. Admittedly you need to hold some cash - it gives you quick access, options to deploy the cash to an opportunity. 
 
Ownership can be expanded to other assets such as forestry, agricultural land, commercial property, private company investment etc. 
 
Our financial actions to increase our assets are as follows: 
<ul>
<li>We have opened tax efficient share savings vehicles in France (PEA - stocks and shares)</li>
<li>We are saving cash in multiple currencies (GBP, EUR)</li>
<li>We continue to re-invest dividends</li>
<li>We are investing in alternative diversified real assets (Sustainability projects, REIT (commercial real estate))</li>
<li>Mrs C's has setup as a small business </li>
<li>We have been saving for the kids who both have savings plans based on the permanent portfolio approach. (25% fixed income, 25% Shares, 25% Cash, 25% Commodities)</li>
<li>We have made our wills</li>
</ul>
Our preference is a take on the permanent portfolio approach.....at the moment we are overweight global stocks and underweight bonds and cash and commodities due to historical reasons and the way our pensions work (limited choice). 
 
Pensions 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
 
Global Stocks (EQ) 
Bonds (BN) - Final Salary Pension Scheme mainly high quality bonds 
Commodities  - (GLD) 
 
These have seen phenomenal gains on a small investment 500%+ since inception due to matching contributions from employers and the power of compounding. Both Mrs C and I joined our schemes as soon as we started work. We cannot access this money for 25 years...... 
 
Income 
 
Dividend growth stocks (EQ) 
Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust (PR) 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfEUgec6bIYbP7_pHSHb8TRXr7-mipGfnwxCZjsUbz4XDcZ9eTG7SEag14CaMNsj98hsb9THNJ2B6mz5h05JXTTF4IG9W_OcoN0T0wq4YMOzAal_exVaEzrcuNWdkJAOna7qAv0l8DOYQ/s1600/Financial+Investment.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfEUgec6bIYbP7_pHSHb8TRXr7-mipGfnwxCZjsUbz4XDcZ9eTG7SEag14CaMNsj98hsb9THNJ2B6mz5h05JXTTF4IG9W_OcoN0T0wq4YMOzAal_exVaEzrcuNWdkJAOna7qAv0l8DOYQ/s320/Financial+Investment.PNG" width="320" /></a>French PEA tax exempt stock and share account after 8 years of holding (EQ) 
 
Cash 
 
GBP and EUR (small holding as neither currency is great at the moment) (CA) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On the EXPENSES front our current budget is 1,709 Euros per month (~£1,450, ~$1,828 - FX is moving all over the place). 
 
This includes 300 Euros per month for holiday and entertainment, school fees (150 Euros) and after school activities (70 Euros). 
 
Our "bare bones" costs if we had to extreme economise would be 730 Euros per month. 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerUqq94Ad5AMX9jfdOe3TKrhn5Za8CayVddaFLrGfzPlSW8TlJVXkZCjrFY9JtSdth_TJPNuveAxjYJibnaV9UL0ZSlWOeJU3Jruwt5Yk2i73ecRInfrW7Uig9uwuRCIXmI3rqhkz86d-/s1600/Expenses.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerUqq94Ad5AMX9jfdOe3TKrhn5Za8CayVddaFLrGfzPlSW8TlJVXkZCjrFY9JtSdth_TJPNuveAxjYJibnaV9UL0ZSlWOeJU3Jruwt5Yk2i73ecRInfrW7Uig9uwuRCIXmI3rqhkz86d-/s400/Expenses.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<ul>

</ul>
We
 have ample safety nets, live a comfortable middle class lifestyle and 
do not go without anything. Our activities make us more robust and able 
to be in control of our lives. 
<h2>
Now Build Your Resilience</h2>
There are major benefits of building resilience and many steps will actually get you to financial independence earlier. 
<ol>
<li>You will reduce your living costs (hence save more)</li>
<li>Learn to do things for yourself such as basic plumbing, gardening</li>
<li>Start to adapt to a new way of life - a financially independent way of living</li>
<li>Be risk aware and adapt your plans accordingly</li>
</ol>
Considering these points (and some of the above risks) I believe that building resilience is an absolute must. Again 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Hope for the best and plan for the worst" </blockquote>
Considering the needs of resilience building this means early retirement is MUCH more than just investing to replace earned 
income to retreat to the beach. 
 
You can't leave all your eggs in one or two baskets or leave them to chance. I suggest you
 need to continue to live well within your means. Consider emergency planning (which usually requires more money than you think). Be able to look after ourselves in a 
time of difficulty such as a natural disaster. 
 
Additionally we need to take opportunities when they come our way (such a a bit of paid work). Use our new found freedom from debt and wage slavery to develop new skills to keep our mental skills sharp and hopefully gain a cash flow from them. 
 
Some resilience building strategies that come to mind are: 
<ol>
<li>Aim for low "fixed" living costs and continue to drive them lower - we have below average bills for utilities, cars and fuel.</li>
<li>Some self sufficiency in water, energy and food - make sure you live somewhere where you can provide some of the necessities of life on your own.</li>
<li>Easy to get a job if you need to (CV up to date etc) - can you work from home \ setup an on line business - give it a go and perhaps it could become your job.</li>
<li>Diverse income streams - Property, Shares, Work, Interest, Bonds, Capital gains. </li>
<li>Continued monthly saving - 10% per month as a minimum? </li>
<li>Have a large rainy day fund - 6 months + of living costs? </li>
<li>Speculate to accumulate (have 5% of your savings going for big gains at high risk)</li>
<li>Do stuff you enjoy - if you are not happy perhaps early retirement was not for you?</li>
<li>Continual learning - great for spotting opportunities and problems. I believe this is a good balance between opting out and keeping a good foot in the real world. Isolationism we believe is a dangerous approach to take when you need the help of others and want to have normal relationships. Extreme frugality (without excess cash flows) leaves you vulnerable and open to shocks. Lack of resilience could have you back to work to recover a capital \ cash flow shortfall quicker than you think. </li>
</ol>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcq3rK-SXzTK3tkEf934ky_nFcDG_QxxydMicB-G6_wYKVqkAgfWHl_EJuaiA0XaujZlqUje85Jd3BjcVnhgIskDzzirtQABzK7YAAHCSLj3KzZWO8kHVKTgEH28A7T1MC63fCCx5YBv9/s1600/disqus.PNG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcq3rK-SXzTK3tkEf934ky_nFcDG_QxxydMicB-G6_wYKVqkAgfWHl_EJuaiA0XaujZlqUje85Jd3BjcVnhgIskDzzirtQABzK7YAAHCSLj3KzZWO8kHVKTgEH28A7T1MC63fCCx5YBv9/s1600/disqus.PNG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commenting using Disqus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
** I have installed a new commenting tool for this website DISQUS which makes it easier to add comments depending on what type of account you want or just leave an Anonymous comment if you would like any more information or add useful information. 
 
<ol>
</ol>
 
Peace, prosperity and happiness 
 
CoNTeNDeR 
 
Welcome New Readers! Please take a look around.<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> to find out more about THE.TriBe and the blog is or perhaps browse the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/all-posts-get-in-ring.html" target="_blank">all posts list</a>, Please feel free to play with the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" target="_blank">planning tools and checklists</a>. If you liked this post can you please spare a few seconds to share it?

Fragilista - Part 2

Low cost fuel and no moving parts - a robust heating solution Have you ever wondered how some people get rich and are able to grow thei...

Phi, Hero and Forecast

Contender 2 Black Swan, Critical Thinking, downshifting, Early Retirement, financial freedom, financial independence, Investing 19:50

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31ms4DxaBN-Ndjp8N8378bEbc7byXzydp-uyLNDT-43Vymm6dqthY7hFy1Q5emohfZKEgyJ2MPO4kt3d5FjSV6FPZo90hWdraQIng22S8glTtacexVUiSEJB-hFbxw8PFh4d85hoQBAP8/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31ms4DxaBN-Ndjp8N8378bEbc7byXzydp-uyLNDT-43Vymm6dqthY7hFy1Q5emohfZKEgyJ2MPO4kt3d5FjSV6FPZo90hWdraQIng22S8glTtacexVUiSEJB-hFbxw8PFh4d85hoQBAP8/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's THE.FuTuRe Forecast?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
 
THE.FuTuRe: "I took you to the cleaners last year. I ran circles around you, give up, give in. It's a slaves life for you my lad. Live for today your past is gone and forget about tomorrow." THE.PReSeNT "Just let me look after you!" 
 
THE.CoNTeNDeR: "You're a happy bunch aren't you? Bog off! I can learn from the past to prevent mistakes in the future. I actually know of a few useful guys that can help me out." 
 
Forecasting is an inherently difficult and thankless task. Accepting that you will be wrong to a degree is the first step. Secondly you need to refer to the past to help to predict the future. Finally add in knowledge you know today and plans for THE.FuTuRe. 
 
Being partially right is better than being completely wrong. 
 
THE.CoNTeNDeR had a go at product sales #forecasting and can attest to the fact, through the use of clever mathematics and experience you can gain superior results. We want to think bigger though - what could happen in real life? Thankfully there are some people out there that specialise in the big picture in particular investment cycles and geopolitical events. 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Plan too far ahead and nature will seem to resist.” - Ancient Chinese proverb  </blockquote>
We live in a mind boggling, complex, constantly changing world and our understanding of it is still in its infancy. In this post we are going to look at  
<ul>
<li>How we humans are using patterns and cycles to forecast THE.FuTuRe. In particular Martin Armstrong's Confidence, Model, Nicolai Krondratieff's inter-generational cycles and Gerald Celente's Trend Journal.</li>
<li>Contemplate inter-generational impacts for the Boomer, Nomad, Hero and Artist generations. </li>
<li>A look at an investing approach, for the aspiring Financial Independent Person that is built to ride the waves of time....Harry Brownes Permanent Portfolio. </li>
</ul>
Phi, Cycles and the Nano Second Investing World we Live in 
 
Phi is represented throughout nature and is very evident in the cycle of time, plant structures and even human nature. Number patterns are everywhere have a look at the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/190426347X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=190426347X&linkCode=as2&tag=thecontfinain-21" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">Golden Section</a> for instance. We cannot ultimately fight nature - fundamentals win out eventually. We still believe we can geo-engineer our climate yet we cannot even get a weather forecast right! 
 
If nature does not have enough on its plate here comes MAN. We have introduced our logic to the real world which has huge implications on how we interact with the world. 
 
Just have a look at technical trading and the adornment of <a href="http://moneyweek.com/spread-betting-video-tutorial-elliott-wave-theory-13701/" target="_blank">Fibonacci levels Tramline analysis and Elliot Wave Theory</a>. With so many people using these "tools" the herd follow numerical trends against all reality for the underlining investment. Wall street has the power to wipe out entire industries. Often shipping them abroad where human rights and environmental controls are less strict. These beliefs are powerful forces that cannot be overlooked. 
 
We now have added HFT algorithms into the mix. Computers bash the price up or down based on more man logic to make huge profits on the smallest differences in price. MAN LOGIC is prone to herd mentality and emotions so these HFT can all feed on each other and cause ridiculous price distortions. 
 
How long until we introduce artificial intelligence to the computers to make the situation even worse. What common sense we do have will be removed. Perhaps we will have a Terminator Esq Financial Judgement Day. Computers deciding that destroying the entire financial system will lead to the most profit taking the real world with it? It is very strange that HFT is allowed......

Phi, Hero and Forecast

What's THE.FuTuRe Forecast? THE.FuTuRe: " I took you to the cleaners last year. I ran circles around you, give up, give in. It...

Learning from THE.PaST

Contender 0 Black Swan, Critical Thinking, Dividends, downshifting, Early Retirement, frugality, Gold, health, Oil, Silver, stock screen, Wheat 19:37

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsMOmYGDqb5s3zfNm9SdXkJ8axcEshFs4nv-qJjKlSNuqFpSugGmGmMOfsjnYNraQEwN7Xgn0kEVrUVmv4YI4mKFbFgp7zL1Pjh0xVolOwJtEynPU2mrbuLVSqgnfBgxrdAhx_oM7ODoa/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsMOmYGDqb5s3zfNm9SdXkJ8axcEshFs4nv-qJjKlSNuqFpSugGmGmMOfsjnYNraQEwN7Xgn0kEVrUVmv4YI4mKFbFgp7zL1Pjh0xVolOwJtEynPU2mrbuLVSqgnfBgxrdAhx_oM7ODoa/s320/DSC_0037.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cold start to the year?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
THE.FuTuRe: "CHUMP you still there? Learn from me and THE.NoW forget THE.PaST he is a has been, now look forward he can't teach you anything. THE.FuTuRe is mine all mine and it WILL be different than THE.PaST" 
 
CoNTeNDeR: "You are preaching to the converted, mate, but you forget one thing THE.FuTuRE may be different but it rhymes with THE.PaST and.....we are not having you mess up our enjoyment in THE.NoW" 
*CHUMP - Fool, loser, muppet, victim of THE.FuTuRe, loner, weirdo, odd, strange, picked on OR WINNER - Happy, healthy and challenged. 
 
TRiBe 2013 - Happiness and Investing...! 
 
We understand that money isn't everything but it alows us to do things that we want that give us..... happiness. It is damn nice but what is it how do we know? 
To help appreciate it (happiness) don't you need to experience its opposite as well? Can being rich in money mask real happiness by shielding you from real life
 experiences. 
 
So did the TRiBE have a rounded year.....with rich experiences both good and bad - even if we did not set out on that course - lets take a look:  
 
We really did have a roller coaster of a year. The sadness of a bereavement in the family. Lots of family illness 
in the form of all kinds of nasty bugs. Scarlet Fever, Schingles, 
Bronchitis, Chicken Pox and topped off with a nice bout of Gastro. That sure made us un-happy. Can we just mark that one down as couldn't do anything about due to the joys of having young kids and living in a large city. 
 
MRS.C
 left work followed with the normal withdrawal symptoms. From personal 
experience I actually think it is nicer to be sacked / made redundant than resign. It 
gets rid of the what in the hell am I resigning for / doing question. 
 
Bang! Suddenly the lack of work 
(job) = an empty void that you feel the need to fill back up OR was it too filled in the first place? 
 
We 
were very fortunate to be able to make these choices. At least our 
actions left a job behind for someone else to take up the financial 
independence mantra. 
 
So we packed up our belongings and 
gave away the rest then moved to another country. Fun, exciting and 
exhausting. 
 
This place is so different. How do you settle into a completely different culture as well as adapting to a complete change to family life (both parents at home and we have managed not to divorce yet). 
 
Yes family life. No more "shift 
family member from A to B refill on the way then into bed to recharge the 
batteries". THE.FuTuRe: "Fill the void! Do it now you must be busy all that free time together would drive you mad" 
 
Is he right what are we doing to fill the void - please read on for an investment review and some key learning's around our downshifting move to France from the year that was 2013

Learning from THE.PaST

A cold start to the year? THE.FuTuRe : "CHUMP you still there? Learn from me and THE.NoW forget THE.PaST he is a has been, now l...

The Ride of a Lifetime

Contender 0 Black Swan, Critical Thinking, Dividends, Gold, Inflation, Oil, Saving 18:10

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFA8PyDmpou-eLz7uXRny-Hts5fkz36_uwauIsleRrSNOCtQH7x4HbWbKFNmYlGoZv-TPXNfG7Cznows4dhMgLo1jiEYXsEoLbaM4y9ZsiOazizuvuBUDm228nYiXi5KrC82uryK0w_A4/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFA8PyDmpou-eLz7uXRny-Hts5fkz36_uwauIsleRrSNOCtQH7x4HbWbKFNmYlGoZv-TPXNfG7Cznows4dhMgLo1jiEYXsEoLbaM4y9ZsiOazizuvuBUDm228nYiXi5KrC82uryK0w_A4/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Fire - A warm fuzzy feeling what about 2013?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
*CHUMP - Fool, loser, muppet, victim of THE.FuTuRe, loner, weirdo, odd, strange, picked on. 
 
*WINNER - Happy, healthy and challenged. 
 
THE.FuTuRe: "Hey CoNTeNDeR you CHUMP, Did 2013 work out as you planned it? Of course it did not. Why did you even try? You know I have lots of unpredictable surprises for you so don't try to hide. Come out of the woodwork and GetInTheRingWithMe!" 
 
CoNTeNDeR: "You fight dirty! Sure I am up for it just like every year. Our TRiBe has a plan for you.... we know you will mess some of it up just look at some of last years silliness. Some people WON" 
 
Everyone has his/her own agenda. The rich want to stay rich, the poor want to get ahead, the politicians want to stay in power, the greens want to save the planet.... Every butterfly flap of a wing could cause a hurricane. 
 
There is no knowing what THE.FuTuRe holds, let alone the complexities of an individual in a specific place at a specific time - ain't it great! 
 
Rich and lose it all, poor and win the lottery, a survivalist without a match, a capitalist going long in a bear market, the gift of a new borne child. 
 
Today a brief look at 2013 which will have a follow up post on what, if anything, THE.TRiBe has learnt from it. 
 
Unique, unfathomable, awesome 2013 
 
Well, what a year 2013 was, just like THE.PaST. Unpredictable. Perhaps more unpredictable than ever. 
 
Great gains in US stocks with modest gains in the UK and Europe. Why amazing well company earnings are not exactly up 28% like the stock market. I wish I could have a business that gains 28% a year. 
 
Energy did ok - if you were invested in the US shale oil boom. As for how long the drilling of vast acres of the US will yield results is another question? Be pessimistic for 2020 or oil forever see <a href="http://srsroccoreport.com/" target="_blank">SRSrocco.com</a> for some analysis. 
 
Defensive stocks in the UK were on a blinder at the start of the year and lost out to risk on stocks later. Twitter, Facebook, Bitcoin get on the free money gravy train of the cyber economy. dot.com boom and prosperity is coming back. 
 
In the mean time we thought staying at home on the computer was a safe place to be. Yet this year we are told we are being watched and they have software to turn on your web camera to see what you are up to. Orwellian indeed.

The Ride of a Lifetime

Our Fire - A warm fuzzy feeling what about 2013? *CHUMP - Fool, loser, muppet, victim of THE.FuTuRe, loner, weirdo, odd, strange, picked...

Maintaining Wealth II - We are all Investors Now

Contender 0 Black Swan, Critical Thinking, Dividends, Finance, Financial Armageddon, Gold, Inflation, Investing, Saving 16:03

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT2LXXCUY23luSE5CxLn1XbS9-pqgbFpdkGkAGC9f6iS6tV8ZfI1oRSjy5P8pziPUudmLQ4mba0y1X5t_Cu7Z8fCibTcuEB86odvzRID7Uge_aI4-iLlTjqEswajXX2b_pWMvk9CVdDl6/s1600/InvestmentChoice.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT2LXXCUY23luSE5CxLn1XbS9-pqgbFpdkGkAGC9f6iS6tV8ZfI1oRSjy5P8pziPUudmLQ4mba0y1X5t_Cu7Z8fCibTcuEB86odvzRID7Uge_aI4-iLlTjqEswajXX2b_pWMvk9CVdDl6/s320/InvestmentChoice.png" width="320"></a> 
TiMe: "Dring, Dring, TiMe to wake up sheeple" 
 
THE.FuTuRE: "Shussssh! They are sleep walking towards a cliff. We are providing wonderful <strike>distractions</strike> entertainment for them. Just look at all of their happy faces. Everything is great. There is no need to think just enjoy! Until I am ready to claim my pound of flesh MurrrGH HA HA HA" 
 
CoNTeNDeR: "Oi you evil B****** we the people will not stand for your bull****. We are waking up in our droves, turning off the entertainment and thinking about what you are up to. Financial freedom from your tyranny.  We are  lemmings no more and are turning away from the cliff - watch out below FuTuRE" 
 
In <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2013/12/maintaining-wealth-i-bitcoins-and-real.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a> of this post we had a look at Paper Money, E-currency, Commodities, Real Estate and bonds. Today we are looking at Stocks, Land and investing in oneself as additional wealth preservation options worth considering. 
 
Stocks - Growing Profits? 
 
What
 value can you give to a company, let alone picking the winners in the 
stock market? This issue has flummoxed investors for years. 
 
Owning
 part of a company gives you an interest in that company's profits. 
Provided the profits keep rolling in due to a competitive advantage, the
 company should have some longevity. 
 
Perhaps looking 
for companies that have a distinct brand, product or advantage such as 
extremely difficult barrier to entry are the place to be. Those 
companies will grow in value along with their sales and / or return some
 of that profit back to shareholders through buybacks or dividends. 
 
Companies generate wealth - can you pick the right ones? THE.ConTeNDeR is trying see the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.fr/2013/11/screener-for-value-and-dividend-stocks.html">Screener for Value and Dividend Stocks Here</a> 
 
For a seasoned professionals take on stocks for the long term, check out some articles by <a href="http://www.investmentu.com/2013/October/a-near-perfect-portfolio.html" target="_blank">Alex green from InvestmentU</a> and I am a fan of his book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0470598204/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0470598204&linkCode=as2&tag=thecontfinain-21" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">The Secret of Shelter Island: Money and What Matters</a> 
Warren Buffet even has a <a href="http://www.ivillage.com/warren-buffett-teaches-money-lessons-kids-cartoon/6-a-533797" target="_blank">cartoon series for kids on investing</a>. 
 
Tribe's opinion - Stocks allow the building of a diversified set of businesses. If stocks were not available it would probably be difficult to invest in diverse ideas such as graphene, new drugs and technology companies such as Google. Core holding. 
 
Arable Land 
 
An interesting investment class in THE.CoNTeNDeR's
 opinion. Precious renewable resources can be harvested from arable land
 year after year making it a very profitable investment class.  
 
Invest
 in woodland and you get free winter fuel and can sell the excess. 
Farmland can be planted for delicious fresh vegetables to be sold down 
the market. 
 
THE.ConTeNDeR likes the idea of some
 arable land next to his house. From a purely financial independence 
perspective 'free' heating, vegetables and eggs would reduce our living 
costs substantially. 
 
The <a href="http://www.transitionnetwork.org/" target="_blank">Transition network</a>
 are keen on this concept to help preserve the planet and combat 
resource depletion. They do a good bit on supporting communities as 
well. 
 
Tribe's opinion - We really think owing a bit of land even if it is used by someone else is a good idea and something we are looking at for THE.FuTuRe

Maintaining Wealth II - We are all Investors Now

TiMe : "Dring, Dring, TiMe to wake up sheeple" THE.FuTuRE : "Shussssh! They are sleep walking towards a cliff. We are pro...

Maintaining Wealth I - Bitcoins and Real Estate

Contender 2 Black Swan, Critical Thinking, Dividends, Finance, Financial Armageddon, Gold, Inflation, Investing, Saving 20:18

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT2LXXCUY23luSE5CxLn1XbS9-pqgbFpdkGkAGC9f6iS6tV8ZfI1oRSjy5P8pziPUudmLQ4mba0y1X5t_Cu7Z8fCibTcuEB86odvzRID7Uge_aI4-iLlTjqEswajXX2b_pWMvk9CVdDl6/s1600/InvestmentChoice.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMT2LXXCUY23luSE5CxLn1XbS9-pqgbFpdkGkAGC9f6iS6tV8ZfI1oRSjy5P8pziPUudmLQ4mba0y1X5t_Cu7Z8fCibTcuEB86odvzRID7Uge_aI4-iLlTjqEswajXX2b_pWMvk9CVdDl6/s320/InvestmentChoice.png" width="320"></a></div>
THE.FuTuRE: "Contender you wuss, what is all this talk about income, growth and protection investments. I will take it all from you eventually. I have time on my side" 
 
TiMe: "Tick Tock, Tick Tock" 
 
CoNTeNDeR: "Precisely FuTuRe I have no idea what you are really up to. Heck I had a guess at the outlook for the year and how did that come out.....so I need a bit of diversification because of all of your conniving, plotting and outright corruption!" 
 
We are living in very interesting times especially with regards building and maintaining wealth. 
 
In this post we cover the TRiBe's options for investments in currency, commodities real estate and bonds with examples and opinions on some of the pro's and con's? 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
 "You have much more opportunity 
to earn money than you do to 'not spend' money, and yet most people spend hours 
upon hours clipping coupons and perusing daily deal sites instead of 
brainstorming how to earn more money and solve 
people's problems." - Susan Fujii</blockquote>
In the second post we will be looking at other investment classes such as stocks and yourself followed by the TRiBe is current thinking. 
 
Paper Money Supply - Blind Faith? 
 
Since 1970 when Nixon took the world off the gold standard there has been no anchor to excessive money / currency creation. Governments have control over the supply of their currencies and they can determine the ultimate value of the currency in circulation depending on the amount in circulation. 
 
Previously if people wanted to save their labour and future buying power through the means of a currency, they could chose a checking account. It earned interest that was enough to offset any excessive increase in the currency supply. This is certainly not the case at the moment, interest rates are artificially low and people are being 'guided' to riskier investments for a return. 
 
One may ask but why is the currency supply increasing above the increase in productive capacity of the economy. Unfortunately this is easy to attribute to governments' fiscal irresponsibility. Excessive overspending is used to buy votes from the electorate. 
 
Alternatively if a country has strong institutions, low spending and fiscal responsibility - holding that countries currency is less of a concern. 
 
Fiat Money is covered by <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005GSYZRA/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B005GSYZRA&linkCode=as2&tag=thecontfinain-21" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crisis</a> by James Rickards, and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0718192141/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0718192141&linkCode=as2&tag=thecontfinain-21" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">Paper Promises: Money, Debt and the New World Order</a> by Phillip Coggan. There is also a good video to watch by Warren Buffet highlights how <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DvuyvuHmJI" target="_blank">countries get into trouble in the first place</a>. 
 
See the video series <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyV0OfU3-FU" target="_blank">Hidden Secrets of Money</a> by Mike Maloney 
 
Tribes opinion - it is so easy to transact in paper money and in the governments interest to keep them in place we will always keep some in our portfolio. 
 
Electronic Currencies - How Many? 
 
We now have alternative currencies such as Bitcoin and Litecoin hitting the news wires for their massive gain in relative value to reference currencies such as the US dollar. 
 
Firstly there are many people in favour to the inbuilt scarcity of the digital coins. Secondly they are not issued by any government and they are scattered globally that make them uniquely difficult to manipulate. 
 
One thing that is a red flag to THE.ConTENdER is what stops an unlimited amount of new versions of electronic currencies being created? 
 
Will the herd just jump from e-currency to e-currency chasing gains - see a list of them <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cryptocurrencies" target="_blank">here (10 listed)</a>? THE.CoNTeNDeR thinks this is highly likely until the number of e-currency options goes to infinity or faith in them is destroyed. Their value will go the same way as fiat currencies trending towards their intrinsic production value of close to zero. 
 
What may save them is if the herd all commit to ONE e-currency. 
 
One thing preventing this e-currency utopia is ... human nature. We are opportunistic and after an easy meal / fast buck. Our prehistoric past moulded us that way. When we were being chased by sabre toothed tigers whilst eeking out an existence coming across a free lunch in the form of a dead Mammoth. 
 
Will everyone commit to one e-currency? I would like to think it could happen but who can tame  human nature. Will we have to live in a dystopian future where we all take the happy pill to keep us controlled? 
 
Zero hedge recently <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-11-27/presenting-bitkillers-these-are-richest-holders-bitcoin" target="_blank">reported that 100 people hold 20% </a>of the bitcoin currency - a new type of Ponzi scheme in the making? Create a new e-currency holding a large percentage of the issue then cash in and move on as the perceived value burns. Who is left holding the proverbial handbag - the new entrants - good luck or what a good SUCKER!- THE.FuTuRe would be impressed! 
 
See this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_hBhymFfm8" target="_blank">utube documentary on bitcoin</a> 
 
Tribes opinion - Speculative and almost impossible to value - mine some coins by all means* but only purchase if you have some spare gambling money :) 
 
* THE.CoNTeNDeR has had a go at mining. The setup is a pain, it is geeky, based on lots of technical know how. To mine alot of coins and to really exceed requires specialise mining rigs - a currency for the people - you must be joking! 
 
Next up commodities

Maintaining Wealth I - Bitcoins and Real Estate

THE.FuTuRE : "Contender you wuss, what is all this talk about income, growth and protection investments. I will take it all from you ...

Financial Independence and Happiness Books

Contender Black Swan, book, downshifting, Early Retirement, Education, Finance, financial independence, Freedom, Investing, Planning, Saving 13:01

SPEND.IT.NOW: "You say Read Read Read - I haven't got time to read! TLTM (too long too much?). I've been fed snippets all my life. The news in 10 minutes is all you need don't you know? That's what I want concise, short, to the point, none of this 300 page novel stuff. Crikey, even your blog posts are too long CoNTeNDeR. I've gotta do other stuff you know.  
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLclnDc3bXXYAUmvcIIV65Huqfz40tG-nnwbaOQPANt2qyOCbi_jC09RI-qo197YlNwdBfHgCYwX2Qfn5HybPpLJF1Q1ry1sTecjsrGqoTxqkUHeLWvcoXcnEvJzffOFEifW8aUWl5yXXP/s1600/Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLclnDc3bXXYAUmvcIIV65Huqfz40tG-nnwbaOQPANt2qyOCbi_jC09RI-qo197YlNwdBfHgCYwX2Qfn5HybPpLJF1Q1ry1sTecjsrGqoTxqkUHeLWvcoXcnEvJzffOFEifW8aUWl5yXXP/s400/Books.jpg" width="400"></a>Short is all I want! Let's start by sorting this blog out. 
 
Change it to "SMBH" Save Money, Be Happy" -  that's it nice, simple and quick to read! Genius!  
 
Delete everything on the blog and replace the front page with "SMBH". Job done. You will thank me CoNTeNDer you can pack up the website as you have done your bit and have all that spare time to fill with fun" 
 
CoNTeNDeR: "SMBH to you too!" 
 
Books are great, something to get lost in for a few hours, something to debate, something new to learn. A lot of what is discussed on this site has its starting point in a book or article. This post is all about the books we have relied upon for our financial independence and downshifting planning. 
 
Reading, Why Bother? 
 
Books, Books, and More Books, so many to read and so long. When will one ever the the time to read them all? 
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate" target="_blank"> </a></div>
Aren't a lot of books just fiction such as graphic crime stories and romantic slush. Yes they may be great to retreat into a fantasy world unfortunately they will not help with gaining financial independence (although they may help on the happiness side). 
 
What we are really looking for are reference and how to books and essays. 
 
It is all too easy to say "Come on, I had my share of serious books at university" unfortunately the books in university were generally just on topic. Too specific and not everyday real world challenges. 
 
For example <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0141038225/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0141038225&linkCode=as2&tag=thecontfinain-21" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">Antifragile</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0141034599/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0141034599&linkCode=as2&tag=thecontfinain-21" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable</a> by Nassim Taleb are the opposite of  "Don't worry about challenges, society will look after you, go to the pub, watch a movie or go to the shops instead. It is more fun". Taleb highlights how fragile some of our support systems actually are how unforeseen events will always exist and what we as individuals can do about it. 
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/WorldMapLiteracy2011.png/400px-WorldMapLiteracy2011.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/WorldMapLiteracy2011.png/400px-WorldMapLiteracy2011.png" width="400"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate" target="_blank">List of countries by literacy rate source: Wikipedia</a></div>

Financial Independence and Happiness Books

SPEND.IT.NOW: "You say Read Read Read - I haven't got time to read! TLTM (too long too much?). I've been fed snippets all my li...

Fighting Fear - Part 2

Contender 0 Black Swan, community, Critical Thinking, fear, financial independence, Freedom, health, stress, survival 14:51

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmc1_nBDd9JFeBRs31GT_XCS8KniWcJRWk_QN8nIuj0WREcsqxBvURpOR_ucI5SMkxRCPRTs2RoZvNhn0M9epqrLxFObct4MxCvNlcNY_mirxr2Josc14Uj-Z5H-0__pwN4wGuwHjjos0/s1600/FeaR.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmc1_nBDd9JFeBRs31GT_XCS8KniWcJRWk_QN8nIuj0WREcsqxBvURpOR_ucI5SMkxRCPRTs2RoZvNhn0M9epqrLxFObct4MxCvNlcNY_mirxr2Josc14Uj-Z5H-0__pwN4wGuwHjjos0/s1600/FeaR.jpg"></a>THE.PasT: "FeaR! I gave THE.CoNTeNDeR a few cure balls in THE.PasT for you. I told him what to do and where to do it. Since then he has gone off the rails a bit. He is not with the system. His choice to stop working - how dare he!  
 
He needs a bit of re-educating don't you think? I need to re-introduce him to THE.FuTuRe. He has lots of ideas on how to mess things up, surprise and misdirect this misfit. 
 
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
THE.FeaR: "He sure can't cross THE.FuTuRe. It is about time THE.CoNTeNDeR realised this and feels THE.FeaR. He needs reminding of what is on the road in front of him. I will rough him up a bit, I like doing that, I am just the man for the job! "</div>
 
 
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is the follow up post post to<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.fr/2013/10/feeling-fear-part-1.html"> Feeling Fear - Part 1</a> which covered FeaR's rampage in THE.CoNTeNDeRs past. Now it is is all about THE.CoNTeNDeRS top 3 FEAR's in THE.FuTuRe and 
what the TRiBe is doing about them on our road to financial independence
 and hopefully a contented life.</div>
 
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Fear 1 - fear of lack of purpose 
 
What is the point in gaining very early retirement? Just look at Jacob from ERE (Early Retirement Extreme) he went back to work for a challenge, not because he needed the money. Our TRiBE want to be useful to society not just sit in the sun in the French countryside - how sad. 
 
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41z1VU67aAL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX385_SY500_CR,0,0,385,500_SH20_OU02_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41z1VU67aAL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX385_SY500_CR,0,0,385,500_SH20_OU02_.jpg" width="153"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Praise-Slow-Worldwide-Movement-Challenging/dp/0752864149/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381995073&sr=1-1&keywords=in+praise+of+slow" target="_blank">Go Slow</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
First off sometimes some idleness /
a sabbatical / being bored / having time for reflection and to think is a REALLY GOOD THING. 
 
We are still de-toxing from the city, its noise, bright lights, pollution and overall speed of everyday life. Time is a great healer and in the last four weeks we needed the time to slow down. </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 
We only used to get 5 weeks
holiday a year. Typically this would be split into one two week
holiday preferably abroad followed by two one week holidays somewhere in
the UK. Our spare five days were taken as odd days off. NONE of these
holidays was long enough to completely recuperate / switch off / relax. Is that the point on only allowing five weeks holiday a year? 
 
What really speaks volumes is that in the UK if you are ill whilst on holiday you can
actually claim the time back from work. Perhaps it has become so common
for people to get ill in the first week off as the body
tries to let down the stress defences the government had to do do something about it?</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 
In the CoNTeNDeRs opinion we
should all have the ability to have 3 months + off each and every
year. Time to reflect, think, re-charge our batteries and de-stress ourselves. 
 
Will this ever be allowed - all that time to actually think deeply about want is going on around us. It is 
well documented how the mainstream media and education system is dumbing
 us down. Forbid us free time to think and read as adults in case we don't get with the system right? Would literacy 
rates jump and the system change because the public at large would demand it? 
 
Fortunately for the TRiBe we have time no what are we going to do with it.  Here are some current activities: 
<ul>
<li>Thinking and reading time is still be very important for us</li>
<li>This blog and the tools associated with it can be very time consuming and very enjoyable. </li>
<li>The children are getting lots of attention. We are able to be idle outside walking and playing with them in the garden, fields, hedgerows and local play dates and groups.</li>
<li>We are making lots of new friends. Such a diverse group all working hard to get ahead in their own little ways. The number of people with practical skills around us has multiplied ten fold. although they have similar problems with making ends meet they seem un-stressed and have time to talk. Going slow.</li>
<li>We are looking for somewhere to call home. Something ours to do with as we wish. We are finding that the housing market here is expensive as the area is highly desirable due to the local picturesque town and its facilities. </li>
</ul>
FeaR: "Ah but CoNTeNDeR you will soon be bored! What a waste of your training, your conditioning, you are a corporate greyhound - fast, nimble and loyal. Don't waste it! If you stay out of the workforce too long and you will be toast. Won't it be a shame R.I.P CoNTeNDeR that guy who really didn't do much." 
 
CoNTeNDeR: "What a lack of imagination old bloke! Yes we have skills to be put to use but on other pursuits. Corporate skills are transferable don't you know. Look at this blog would it ever have existed if it it was not for my work?"  
 
So should this FeaR - a lack of purpose put us off? We have been given the gift of time to find our real passion, our contribution to society, we must not waste it. It may take some time to land on our feet but we believe it will happen. 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div data-canvas-width="517.7965686054229" data-font-name="g_font_90_0" dir="ltr" style="left: 156px; top: 836px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(1.13598, 1);">
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little - death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." - Frank Herbert</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
THE.FeaR wins this round with a clip around the ear - what are you doing CoNTeNDeR  
FeaR 1 TRiBe 0 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 
Fear 2 - fear of lack of income / high inflation destroying our savings </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 
“The outcome (of all of this) will be more
 debt, more printed money, and more misery for the masses.  Remember 
that US debt was $10 trillion in 2008 when the crisis began and now it’s
 $17 trillion.  And the Fed’s balance sheet was $900 billion in 2008 -- 
it’s now at $3.6 trillion....On top of that, 
personal credit (in the form of) car loans and student loans is growing 
exponentially.  Every year now the US debt is going up by at least $1 
trillion.  In addition to that the Fed is expanding its balance sheet by
 another $1 trillion each year.  This means that the US government is 
currently printing $2 trillion per year. " - <a href="http://kingworldnews.com/kingworldnews/KWN_DailyWeb/Entries/2013/10/9_Governments_Will_Start_Panicking_As_Chaos_%26_Crisis_Accelerates.html" target="_blank">Egon von Greyerz - KWN Oct 2013</a> 
 
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://atomictoasters.com/wp-content/gallery/random-information/1trillion.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://atomictoasters.com/wp-content/gallery/random-information/1trillion.png" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://atomictoasters.com/2012/04/trillion/" target="_blank">AtomicToasters</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Incredible debt numbers are being talked about almost daily. Whether it be company, personal or government the numbers are hard to comprehend as the above graphic tries to portray. 
 
What is debt? Just paper promises, electrons on a computer. The problem is that governments and central banks are very good at creating it (currency) and paying for it by typing some numbers into a computer. The result is more inflation in everyday goods. Here is a video on the process from Mike Maloney: 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iFDe5kUUyT0?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div>
 
In the past money used to be tied to a hard asset such as a tradeable commodity. What we do know is that paper money has been <a href="http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/hanke-krus-hyperinflation-table-may-2013.pdf" target="_blank">destroyed several times in the past</a> due to the abuse of the ruling class. 
 
In the current era debt has generally been serviced and living standards have risen but <a href="http://srsroccoreport.com/guest-post-bad-advice-why-the-future-will-be-like-the-past/guest-post-bad-advice-why-the-future-will-be-like-the-past/" target="_blank">what if THE.FuTuRe is not like THE.PAST</a> what if the can cannot be kicked any further any longer? What may hold its real value in THE.FuTuRe? 
</div>

Fighting Fear - Part 2

THE.PasT : " FeaR ! I gave THE.CoNTeNDeR a few cure balls in THE.PasT for you. I told him what to do and where to do it. Since then h...

Stuck Generation

Contender 0 Black Swan, Conformity, Education 07:17

Stuck, spoilt, lost, directionless, manipulated...? 
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jobacle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/trapped_cube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://jobacle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/trapped_cube.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption">Source: <a href="http://jobacle.com/blog/does-work-suck-9-tips-to-break-out-of-the-funk.html" target="_blank">jobacle.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
 
I am now at the grand old age of 37. I have been fortunate to receive a good education at a low cost (well I got a small bursary to help me through). The generation before had it for free but places were limited and more of the generation following me have had access to higher education but had to pay through the nose for it. 
 
Our hard working 'frugal' Granddad's and Grandma's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss_and_Howe" target="_blank">silent / artist generation</a> (80+) used to war and service left behind a strong economy and institutions.  Fortunate was the next generation, the baby boomers,  to inherit, exploit, enjoy and ultimately abuse such strong economy and well accepted institutions. 
 
 
'Prophet - Baby Boomers' now covert and hoard the managerial positions in work. This leaves my generation Generation X, or Nomads - The Lost Generation, as '<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Willing-Slaves-Overwork-Culture-Ruling/dp/000716372X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381660997&sr=8-1&keywords=willing+slaves" target="_blank">willing slaves</a>' chasing the dangling carrot of a managerial job at much lower pay and benefits before us - <a href="http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20130710-the-forgotten-generation" target="_blank">Click here for an interesting BBC article</a>. 
 
We are voting with our feet and leaving the workforce in droves disenchanted by all of the 'old' hanger on  managers that believe they deserve their holidays in the sun. Just happens their search for sun is the other side of the planet. The cost of getting there would feed numerous families in poverty for several years. A $ a day living cost versus a $6,000 holiday - bull****! And what about the generation after the nomads, <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-10-01/millennials-devastated-american-dream-becomes-nightmare-most?page=5" target="_blank">Gen Y, or Millennial</a><a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-10-01/millennials-devastated-american-dream-becomes-nightmare-most?page=5" target="_blank"> </a>(HERO generation!). 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.instituteofcustomerservice.com/files/generation-cycle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://www.instituteofcustomerservice.com/files/generation-cycle.png" width="320" /></a></div>
 
We have failed them even further. Debt, Debt, Debt. Having got the university education after they have been told - you must go, even if it is completely the wrong thing to do. Perhaps different skills were better for a large number of students. It is the right thing to do. 
 
As for those who were suited to the high education 1. They had to pay an awful lot for it and 2. Good luck in getting a high paying job afterwards. Let's not forget you are last in the queue for a promotion, you are lucky to have a job and you are learning on the job to be the next leader. No pay rises for you then! You are one of the lucky ones. 
 
Now you want a car, house even a family. That is not allowed until you pay your debts. Actually let's forget that get some more debt - interest free for 3 months then 30% from there on - bargain! 8 x your earnings for a shoe box - we are not building housing quick enough you know. Buy now sign on the dotted line. 
 
Please do not forget to pay for the debt of the generations before you turn out the lights. 
 
Is it me or are things f***-ed up or what? Why is a 2-bed flat sold for $500,000? Why does it cost $50,000 to get a 3 year degree when books are available on the internet at almost no cost. Why consume, consume, consume, because there is nothing else to do, is there? At least that is what we are being told - it is for the good of the economy. 
 
What world for the kids? 
 
Our children? The ARTIST generation. Can they help to create a fairer society? Are they going to have to endure hardships, frugality and servitude like the previous artist generation (born around the 1930's)? All we can do as parents is help them thrive as human beings by exposing them to experience and helping them to learn as many life skills as possible. 
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theresilientfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Fourth-Turning.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.theresilientfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Fourth-Turning.gif" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.theresilientfamily.com/2013/03/prophets-nomads-heroes-and-artists/" target="_blank">TheResilientFamily</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
 
We want to make sure they have some sort of inheritance to help them along the way. Can we teach thrift and saving as a virtue in their mindsets - should we even interfere? Ideally we will provide them with a modest income from some investments help provide a financial education and hopefully some knowledge to use it to fulfill their dreams. 
 
Alternatively will 'pampering' be the completely wrong approach. The gift of knowledge and wisdom is often given through hardship.....leave them alone, we f***** it up so why would we know best? 
 
 
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
What type of world are we building for THE.FuTuRe? What will they think of us? Corporate ladders, fiat money, greed is good. What have we done? </div>
 
Peace, prosperity and happiness 
 
THE.CONTENDER 
 
Welcome New CONTENDER Readers! Please take a look around. 
 
<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">Here you can find out about </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">THE.CONTENDER</a> and the purpose of the blog is or perhaps browse the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/all-posts-get-in-ring.html" target="_blank">all posts list</a>, have a <a href="http://pinterest.com/gitrwm/contender-vs-the-future/" target="_blank">look at the pictures on the notice board</a><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me.html#random" rel="13"></a>. Please feel free to play with the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/muff-tools-and-check-lists.html" target="_blank">planning tools and checklists</a>. 
 
Keep in Touch:  <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MuffFreeLifeAndExtremeFinancialFreedomPlanningTools" target="_new">RSS Feed</a>, follow THE.CONTENDER on <a href="https://twitter.com/The__Contender" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Contender/368729006562792" target="_blank">Facebook </a>or subscribe to posts by email: 
<form action="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=MuffFreeLifeAndExtremeFinancialFreedomPlanningTools', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">
<input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /> 
<input name="uri" type="hidden" value="MuffFreeLifeAndExtremeFinancialFreedomPlanningTools" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /></form>

Stuck Generation

Stuck, spoilt, lost, directionless, manipulated...? Source: jobacle.com I am now at the grand old age of 37. I have been fortunate to ...

Feeling Fear - Part 1

Contender 0 Black Swan, community, Critical Thinking, fear, financial independence, Freedom, health, stress, survival 08:16

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmc1_nBDd9JFeBRs31GT_XCS8KniWcJRWk_QN8nIuj0WREcsqxBvURpOR_ucI5SMkxRCPRTs2RoZvNhn0M9epqrLxFObct4MxCvNlcNY_mirxr2Josc14Uj-Z5H-0__pwN4wGuwHjjos0/s1600/FeaR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmc1_nBDd9JFeBRs31GT_XCS8KniWcJRWk_QN8nIuj0WREcsqxBvURpOR_ucI5SMkxRCPRTs2RoZvNhn0M9epqrLxFObct4MxCvNlcNY_mirxr2Josc14Uj-Z5H-0__pwN4wGuwHjjos0/s200/FeaR.jpg" width="183"></a></div>
THE.FuTuRe: "Hey
FeaR! Get over here we need to talk. Contender
is getting ahead of himself he needs to feel THE.FeaR! Spar with him
for a few rounds – probe his weaknesses. Get under his skin and
into his psyche"
 
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
THE.FeaR: "Anything
for an old buddy of mine. Doubt – I'm your guy, Hesitation – got
it covered, Hope – destroyed, Confidence – history bring it on!"</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 
 
 
 
 </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In this post we are going to have a look at how FeaR has impacted THE.CoNTeNDeR in THE.PAST, what has been done about him and what he has learnt.   
 
As for THE.FuTuRe? What are the top 3 FeaR's the TRiBe has for financial independence and  downshifting and hopefully leading a contented life and what are we doing about them now - all to come in part two. 
<ol>
</ol>
<ol>
</ol>
THE.CoNTeNDeR's Introduction to FeaR</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I penned a post in April called <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.fr/2013/04/10-happiness-guidelines.html">10 Happiness Guidelines</a> in the post I covered the premise of learn from THE.PaST enjoying
THE.NOW but planning for THE.FuTuRe. All three have been followed by THE.FeaR starting at a young age.</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Being Welsh I come from a
Protestant work ethic background. You must sow the seeds of success today (advertised as hard work
until 65...) and then you can reap the rewards (retirement / scrap heap) in the future. Make sure you save enough though and to get a state pension you must work for at least 25 years. 
 
In the
west we have given ample bread (government funded backstops) and circuses
(TV and media) to keep
us happy, entertained, docile, conformist and obedient. </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
All is sweet as long as we go with the system right? Don't think about any real world problems out there work hard for your pension and watch TV! 
 
Was this FeaR talking? Work hard or else. Shut up learn to get with the system. We have everything in hand. So CoNTeDeR got on with the system and buckled down for the long haul...OR ELSE! </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Feeling THE.FeaR - not so nice </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
THE.CoNTeNDeR is a little older and a tiny bit wiser and now realises that one cannot live in FeaR of
THE.FuTuRe. He will always be there. 
 
In the past THE.CoNTeNDeR hunkered down and let FeaR into his life. Mainly driven by too much News and Newspapers! This had some very bad consequences physical stress and mentally holding CoNTeNDeR back :</div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 
Stress - FeaR's were allowed to sit there festering. In particular - 'I must buy a house or I will be left behind, I must work really hard or I will never get a promotion, I must look good and buy designer labels or I will never find a wife'. 
 
This a nagging voice in the background contributed to unhappiness that was being remedied by a high consumption lifestyle of partying and holidays. Admittedly this is not all bad...why was I dong it though. Everyone around me was as well. It must be normal. Keep with the system. Keep with the system. 
 
The partying kept me docile in a semi happy / drunken state preventing me from really getting on with life - fighting the FeaR's the main problem was work. 
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://filmnerds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/superman3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://filmnerds.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/superman3.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://filmnerds.com/2012/01/13/the-great-scenes-clark-kent-vs-superman-from-superman-iii/" target="_blank">Click here for source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Overwork, under appreciation, no rapid career progress caused insomnia, weight gain. THE.CoNTeNDeR was one of these people: 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“There are thousands 
and thousands of people out there leading lives of quiet, screaming desperation, 
where they work long, hard hours at jobs they hate to enable them to buy things 
they don’t need to impress people they don’t like.”<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 12px/16px helvetica, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: -4px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> <i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; color: #3f3f3f; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0.3em 0px 0px; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: -4px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">— 
Nigel Marsh</blockquote>
 
The cure to this? Tackling the problem straight on. Accepting that the situation was my own doing. Knowing that I could do something about it. Building up the guts to do something about it. Working out a plan to get out of the wage slavery, be financially free, be different. 
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
 </div>
<div lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
Please
 Read on for more impacts of feeling THE.FeaR in THE.PaST </div>
</div>

Feeling Fear - Part 1

THE.FuTuRe : "Hey FeaR ! Get over here we need to talk. Contender is getting ahead of himself he needs to feel THE.FeaR! Spar with hi...

Financial Independence in a FUBAR Economy

Contender Black Swan, book, Dividends, downshifting, Early Retirement, financial freedom, financial independence, Investing 11:14

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_e0QTj0TicInZ-UVEPRrwal_alj3I3f-3EPJboSlidMmNdgJBj45aazBx0ni0ZxntRHwm2yEje7Eww5cXRFEpFGCdDAyt0BdyZ0lR_mQeZbgeMVih5dfW6fqh-ZSxUc8LJeKAQspTaSW/s1600/FUBAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_e0QTj0TicInZ-UVEPRrwal_alj3I3f-3EPJboSlidMmNdgJBj45aazBx0ni0ZxntRHwm2yEje7Eww5cXRFEpFGCdDAyt0BdyZ0lR_mQeZbgeMVih5dfW6fqh-ZSxUc8LJeKAQspTaSW/s320/FUBAR.jpg" title="FUBAR Economy" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Photo by: Kheng Guan Toh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Welcome Fight Fans well THE.CONTENDER has got himself into a pickle. He is unsure of his next move.  
 
THE.FUTURE as ever is not following the script. Its tactics constantly change. What is CoNTeNDeR to do? Change his tactics, change his training routine, change the game plan? 
 
 
 
 
Are the financial markets FUBAR (F***** Up Beyond All Recognition)? Are there any "safe" places to put our capital to ensure financial independence for the Tribe? This post goes through some thinking on the challenges ahead and lists a few books that could shed some light on THE.FUTURE 
 
Financial independence \ Downshifting update 
 
Mrs C has resigned and we are definitely taking some time out as a family in the South of France. We will be renting a property for a period of time to check out the location and make sure we are happy before fully committing to France. 
 
We will apply for residency and buy a house with whatever our investments are worth in THE.FUTURE. 
 
A year ago we were on track to live off our income portfolio indefinitely WITHOUT considering our pension schemes. This is no longer the case. What has happened and what are we doing about it. 
 
Easy come easy go...... 
 
Tribe investments 
 
The latest investing mistake of the Tribe was to underestimate how schizophrenic the markets can be when the US Federal Reserve "speaks". 
 
They say "actions are worth a thousand words" however in the case of the Fed the opposite seems to be true! 
 
The mention of the word taper has dramatically hit our protection portfolio value - the precious metals component (but we have the gift of time). Our Growth and Income portfolios are also down a little this year. 
 
Unfortunately even cash, also known as un-backed fiat paper money, is not safe as its purchasing power is being quickly eroded by global QE. 
 
So even though we have been paid good dividends and income from Mrs C's work the total portfolio is down for the year. Just when we have both stopped working. Bad Bad Bad? 
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
So what is the Fed up to? Where do they want us to park our money and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
what are their plans for it? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do these really align with our goal of financial independence or does work beckon faster than we anticipated?</div>

Financial Independence in a FUBAR Economy

Original Photo by: Kheng Guan Toh Welcome Fight Fans well THE.CONTENDER has got himself into a pickle. He is unsure of his next move. ...

Facinating Real World People

Contender 0 Black Swan, Conformity, Education, Financial Armageddon, financial independence 08:27

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqw6ch1G42XumlDPQVyoGboXpKOrhxYnD8lusBGQ3LiB_o3Y9U7bioFnkBeAOkfdvWiLZVkz9EWvewQVfM3qy3mjeYSYphI_Fr6JumjP1Um7xWjYGRVMioIpcFQDj7vNLg5Pr6qJVGcolj/s1600/RomeSept2004+057.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/AVvXsEjqw6ch1G42XumlDPQVyoGboXpKOrhxYnD8lusBGQ3LiB_o3Y9U7bioFnkBeAOkfdvWiLZVkz9EWvewQVfM3qy3mjeYSYphI_Fr6JumjP1Um7xWjYGRVMioIpcFQDj7vNLg5Pr6qJVGcolj/s1600/RomeSept2004+057.jpg" width="240"></a></div>
THE.FUTURE: "So you think you have what it takes to survive what I have in store for you?  
 
THE.CONTENDER: "You are so full of it. I have a whole bunch of advisers that have you in their sights. They are free thinking and certainly not controlled by you!" 
 
This post is short and sweet. Below are some videos of some very interesting REAL WORLD outspoken people THE.CONTENDER keeps tags on. Covering future trends, investing, ecology, philsophy, fiat money and financial independence. A smart interesting bunch of free thinkers. Have a look at any of the videos that take your interest. 
 
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Celente" target="_blank">Gerald Celente </a>- Trend Forecasting Master Jedi 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
 </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ygYzQE646vk?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div>
 
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Keiser" target="_blank">Max Kaiser </a>- Maverick Ex Trader who Is not afraid to Speak his Mind here talking to the Dollar Vigilante 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cGNM0ZnkeA0?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div>
 
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassim_Nicholas_Taleb" target="_blank">Nassim Nicholas Taleb</a> - Black Swans and Anti-fragility 
<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;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BDbuJtAiABA?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k4MhC5tcEv0?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div>

Facinating Real World People

THE.FUTURE : "So you think you have what it takes to survive what I have in store for you? THE.CONTENDER : "You are so full ...

Welcome to FISH !
You have come here looking for answers. How to get out of debt? How to save and invest? How to retire early and how you want to live in retirement.

Well this is the right place for you as out tribe has been through all of these steps. We no longer work for a corporate employer and have saved enough to retire early. How we did this is shared here on this site for you.

Our little tribe found out these secrets to financial independence in our late 20’s. Since then we have taken early retirement, in our late 30's, in just 7 years. We now live in the South West of France with our two young children.

Along the way I decided to share everything I learnt. My articles and tips on aggressive saving and compound investing are there to help you meet your financial goals fast. I discuss ways to help you decide what you want by building a life plan. This helps to work out how to get where you want to be whilst avoiding the pitfalls along the way.

My expertise was built up working in blue chip corporate jobs, extensive reading and putting it into practice. I have condensed this knowledge into simple strategies to help you meet your goals and not those of the bank or the place you work.

There are free planning tools on this site that help you make a life plan. A plan for your future. The tools calculate how to reach your financial goals in a timeline that suits you. The tools help set out your life goals, make them happen and how to exceed them.

There are tips on how to simplifying your life to remove day to day headaches. These include ways to pay off debt fast buy eliminating wasteful spending habits. How to reduce your monthly bills through choices that actually improve your health and wellbeing. Identifying things you don’t need that sap your time and wallet.

There are little sustainability projects to reduce your dependence on shops and utilities whilst saving money to spend on things you want.

All of these little steps will show you how save 50%+ of your salary so you can meet your goal whatever it is. This huge saving rate can be compounded for very early retirement. I am sure you will find something here for you.

Darren Lee (A.K.A the Contender as in my blog)

FISH | Financial Independence Seeking Happiness