FISH | Financial Independence Seeking Happiness: Freedom

2014 Financial Independence Progress

Contender 0 downshifting, financial independence, Freedom, Happiness 17:08

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSHxBb_VsqKo0kkIJNsxGUkpyu_Oe9SXJ6w6KofHsp2AhOeh5qfyBP8wKid-Dw0Drg1SFnTOtVtOwl5X8e7bY6MvtDGqLio9uEI2fOjVkUDA1GSSJ82iv819QX_t4WYz_byprTgp6ELtM/s1600/AngelfishGlovesOff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSHxBb_VsqKo0kkIJNsxGUkpyu_Oe9SXJ6w6KofHsp2AhOeh5qfyBP8wKid-Dw0Drg1SFnTOtVtOwl5X8e7bY6MvtDGqLio9uEI2fOjVkUDA1GSSJ82iv819QX_t4WYz_byprTgp6ELtM/s1600/AngelfishGlovesOff.jpg" width="200" /></a>Welcome to 2015 and a new year of FI (Financial Independence) and SH (Seeking Happiness) opportunities! 
 
Before ploughing ahead (literally for us) on some new articles for the year I thought a personal re-cap of the mistakes and learnings (in dark green) our tribe encountered on our FISH journey in 2014 is in order. 
 
Happy New Year! 
 
 
 
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
2014 a year of change and constant learning</h2>
We spent the majority of 2014 in our new country, France. Here are some of the main activities about FISH from last year: 
<ul>
<li>Activity 1: We have spent a lot of time recharging the batteries and de-toxing (mainly mentally - the wine is great here as well!) from work stress (no more long hours, difficult people, lots of travel, changing work, the "grid" performance scorecard and its intensification - all horrible and why in the h*** do we do it to ourselves - pointless management manipulative exploitation) from our long term corporate jobs.</li>
<ul>
<li>Learning: A dramatic change to our work / life balance is a challenge. Work provides challenges, deadlines and meaning (e.g. I am an engineer and this is what I do each day). A dramatic reduction in work and routine naturally leaves a void - a good void that needs to be filled - what should you fill it with?</li>
</ul>
<li>Activity 2: We have explored and enjoyed our local area and made lots of new friends (the Gascon accent is quite a challenge, food, weather and landscape a joy). The kids love their new school (anyone seen the French movie The Chorus?) - unfortunately for me their French is now better than mine so I have to be careful what they say behind my back!</li>
<ul>
<li>Learning: Moving to a new area is fun if it is approached in the right frame of mind and for the right reason. Moving for more money or a dream can have a detrimental impact on happiness if it is not thought out thoroughly.</li>
</ul>
<li>Activity 3: We have found a run down property that we have bought to renovate and call home mortgage free (it may be falling down in places but it is ours and we don't have to give money to someone else - YEH).</li>
<ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxWuOA-aVjjft2nV5b25fnqI3OXfeTU6MGZqXP5W602GJoWDot_VRUYKKcAtBt4P9-G8570sbA6MVVotNsFHntNeglGh2Ni_1buBo4hi2NVDbPDjf6XKwmQOTauQjbrJ4SXfgLrg0sV0x/s1600/P1040815.JPG" imageanchor="1" 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/AVvXsEiXxWuOA-aVjjft2nV5b25fnqI3OXfeTU6MGZqXP5W602GJoWDot_VRUYKKcAtBt4P9-G8570sbA6MVVotNsFHntNeglGh2Ni_1buBo4hi2NVDbPDjf6XKwmQOTauQjbrJ4SXfgLrg0sV0x/s1600/P1040815.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs Renovator</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li>Learning:  Paying someone else to do the work is VERY expensive. You are in effect paying double taxes (the taxes to earn the money in the first place followed by the taxes on labour for the renovation work). Do what you can yourself and learn something along the way. For example we now know how to cut holes in walls (accidentally as well), tile floors, make a concrete floor, insulate rooms, cut down trees and make firewood, repair windows, fix a roof and create a new ceiling out of floor boards,... to name a few.</li>
</ul>
<li>Activity 4: We are running over our monthly budget (still renting) and need to keep our expectations in check for the house renovation costs.</li>
<ul>
<li>Learning: Make sure you know what the end goal is. Overspending and finding out you do not have enough free cash to move in = a trip to the bank and debt. </li>
</ul>
<li>Activity: We have changed our residency tax status (confusing to say the least)</li>
<ul>
<li>Learning:  Get it right or get in trouble. Shop around for the best FX companies to convert money at the best rate. Minimise tax liabilities where possible when making large changes in capital allocation (e.g. capital gains taxes).</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
FI(sh) - Financial Independence in 2014 </h3>
<h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnY_L9XJqOYWvr_2yG6VBvMgo2BEmAhKIb2nM0iW5PKHViX2A-o4avtYnVnC7QxUYPEhbrBbDbyRZc9GA17Up6EI8sewVlSrsFXh4lC2IpG0K3M7cR1ZA67PEy2EKZx2VLcfvMvMGZL4R/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/AVvXsEhTnY_L9XJqOYWvr_2yG6VBvMgo2BEmAhKIb2nM0iW5PKHViX2A-o4avtYnVnC7QxUYPEhbrBbDbyRZc9GA17Up6EI8sewVlSrsFXh4lC2IpG0K3M7cR1ZA67PEy2EKZx2VLcfvMvMGZL4R/s1600/InvestmentChoice.png" width="320" /></a>What happened?</h3>
Our finances have been a bit all over the place (for once) due to the purchase of the house. 
 
During 2014 we had the oil collapse shock, gold going nowhere and general stock indexes up. This is how the 3 tiered portfolio we run fared: 
 
1. HYP - High yield portfolio (Dividend value growth stocks) and Commercial Property Investments - objective to pay our monthly bills 
 
  - down in value due to the oil price drop 
  - dividends overall have dropped but still have special dividends propping up the income for now. 
 
2. GROW - Growth asset portfolio (low to no dividends) - objective to provide a hedge and capital gains. This is the speculation portfolio and also contains our pensions 
  - All SOLD to buy the house except the pensions which gained 7%....All those gold mining shares sold before the recent gains DOH! 
 
3. PROTECT - Cash, Cash Equivalents and Physical Assets - objective to have liquid funds when we need them -  Cash has been used to buy and renovate the house.....bought in Euros which is a currency dropping like a stone and an area looking down at a deflationary gun barrel - what will European QE accomplish? Another DOH! 
 
SUMMARY: a slight loss on the year from a GBP perspective... or should I consider it a gain in barrels of oil or USD? What should wealth be considered in? At the moment it is the ability for us to pay the bills and what percentage we can save. 
 
From an original 40,30,30 split of the portfolios (all assets \ net worth) above this has changed to: 
 
HYP dropping to 27% 
GROW dropping 22% 
PROTECT increasing to 50% (Mainly assets (house and stuff to fill it) and some cash) 
 
We feel comfortable with the current mix due to the addition of the house. Our next step is to gradually change the allocation to something closer to 40,30,40 to increase income \ cashflow. 
<ul></ul>
<h3>
What did we learn?</h3>
<h4>
Currency, diversification and strategy learning</h4>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ3sq6tG_1ua0X6s9_aVznaxDYcqCD1eS9yssgREJUofnSe9ZQxbu8MMHI01MO1CgKn8uFvGKFrcQmiahcMAa9P9uIsiOJn968BjFqUzycypKLAwhjprB9FM34ehLDfKmBDbgXaLfzeQi/s1600/Cash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ3sq6tG_1ua0X6s9_aVznaxDYcqCD1eS9yssgREJUofnSe9ZQxbu8MMHI01MO1CgKn8uFvGKFrcQmiahcMAa9P9uIsiOJn968BjFqUzycypKLAwhjprB9FM34ehLDfKmBDbgXaLfzeQi/s1600/Cash.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<li>Positives</li>

<ul>

<li>Finding the FX service <a href="https://transferwise.com/" target="_blank">Transferwise</a> to move our money from GBP to EUR. The peer to peer money conversion service created by the guys who invented Skype (another favourite of ours) is transparent and have very very low fees.</li>


<li>Highly diversified pension funds continue to perform strongly  </li>
</ul>
<li>Lost Opportunities</li>

<ul>

<li>HYP portfolio's capital value has dropped - primarily driven by the performance of commodity stocks. Does diversification win each time - should the HYP NOT BE individual dividend value growth stocks but an income fund instead?</li>


<li>Renting can be expensive but can be a good investment by giving you a serious amount of time to find the right property at the right price.</li>


<li>Capital loss sales (Ouch!) to buy the house (growth funds and utility stocks) - When is there ever a right time to sell? - ALL our investments would have benefited from a trailing stop loss to lock in gains / minimise losses. </li>

</ul>
</ul>
<h4>
Risk and asset allocation learning</h4>
<ul>
<li>We now own a<strike>wreck</strike> property mortgage free - a core pillar stone of freedom and financial independence. This has significantly de-risked our portfolio - replacing PAPER investements with a physical ASSET. It is an asset that is a LIABILITY as it costs to live in it however it replaces our need to RENT. Is this going to be a good investment? Well that depends on the rennovation costs \ problems we encounter! For starters the pipes were frozen and cracked (as was the boiler), woodworm infected timber has had to be removed and replaced, a main wall partially re-built to stop it taking a barn down, numerous timbers and walls eaten by vermin, toxic roofing. It <strike>should</strike> will yield some benefits:</li>
<ul>
<li>You are not beholden to interest rates and currency fluctuations.  </li>


<li>You can make your house cheap to run </li>
<ul>
<li>Invest in lots of insulation</li>
<li>A solar hot water solution</li>
<li>Cheap heating solution. (we have installed a wood gassification boiler system with a large buffer tank - very efficient and we can cut our own wood)</li>
<li>Use a well if you have one (we are setting up an irrigation system for the vegetables from our well)</li>
</ul>


<li>Plant a forest garden (We have our own fruit trees and plenty of land to grow some of our own food) This increases your resilience from the system and you can reduce your food bill.</li>
</ul>
<li>We have diversified \ de-risked our asset mix (the majority of which was in stocks and cash) through the purchase of the property.</li>
<ul>
<li>Diversification is very important - at the same time making sure the diversification a) provides an income OR b) reduces your spending is highly desirable.</li>
<ul>
<li>A speculative bet on a stock, industry, new business is a huge risk to your earned cash. As they say ONLY speculate on what you are willing to loose. </li>
<li>In our experience ideally become financially independent first then speculate with spare cash. We would have saved a lot of precious time following this approach - reduced research and reduced losses.</li>
<li>If you have to speculate keep it to a very small percentage of your total pot (say %5) - If you win take some off the winnings off the table periodically e.g. re-balance at least once a year0 </li>
</ul>
</ul>
<li>We now live in an area where there are less temptations to spend money (and we avoid advertising and mainstream media).</li>
<ul>
<li>No shop windows on every corner (we still have too many gadgets 4, laptops (2 very old and need to go to re-cycling, 4 mobile phones (2, pay as you go and one a contract 2 euros a month with FREE MOBILE. We do accumulate phones.... a kindle for cheaper \ free books - still no TV, Blue Ray player, Projector, etc.)</li>


<li>No keeping up with the Joneses such as flash cars.... but we have 2 of them! We have bought a second hand 1.5 Diesel Eco2 Clio that sips fuel compared to my old car which now serves as a backup and spends most of its time in the garage)</li>


<li>Slow Internet connection (horror - it takes ages to rent a movie - we do rent quite a few) </li>
</ul>
<li>We are conscientious of our health (Temptations are a problem with the great wine, French bread, pastries and cakes) and are taking steps to improve it to avoid future medical costs. </li>
<ul>
<li>Being responsible for some land and house means you have to be more active. It is just a question of how active you want to be (such as choosing a manual lawnmower instead of a sit on.)</li>


<li>Access to fresh locally grown food</li>


<li>Living in an un-polluted area</li>


<li>Sunny :)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
(fi)SH - Seeking Happiness - Looking for more Tranquillity</h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSNKQivWXJ9XBSJftBikJ-2GoefB5r_MvVDDmcVEugrhMGSMhyphenhyphenlNSOvp7on_CCxr3iuKckb_BVxQcLBSykjgo6JCZI6wMwra9QPx06TeUtHb4-W8SeKR8Ro2p_m6Ycw96LrXQnEZD345a/s1600/P1030554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSNKQivWXJ9XBSJftBikJ-2GoefB5r_MvVDDmcVEugrhMGSMhyphenhyphenlNSOvp7on_CCxr3iuKckb_BVxQcLBSykjgo6JCZI6wMwra9QPx06TeUtHb4-W8SeKR8Ro2p_m6Ycw96LrXQnEZD345a/s1600/P1030554.JPG" width="240" /></a>It has been said that seeking happiness actually makes you un-happy in doing so. I can understand this point of view. If you cant be happy with what you have now how will you ever find happiness? It can imply that you constantly have something un-happy in your life - glass half full instead of reflecting on how good you actually have it. 
 
We enjoyed the city life in London, we always had distractions and entertainment and were surrounded by people, noise and lights. It was not a very tranquil place which we believe we have found here. 
 
At night we can see a carpet of stars with the only noise being your own breathing and the chirping crickets. 
 
Our other main love is the space, open the doors and you are in the countryside. Our kids (and ourselves) are not forced into a small living space and can run wild and safe outside for the majority of the year. We now have little to no concerns about the danger of cars, people and pollution. 
 
Here are a few learning's \ things the TRiBe need to continue doing ;) 
<ul>
<li>Appreciate what you have it can always be worse</li>
<li>Likewise do not dwell on what you don't have</li>
<li>Give yourself the gift of time, peace and quiet</li>
<li>Get outdoors - nature is a great healer</li>
<li>Ask - is it really necessary to get angry?</li>
<li>Move on - THE.PaST has happened enjoy today!</li>
</ul>
 
Peace, prosperity and happiness 
 
CoNTeNDeR 
 
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2014 Financial Independence Progress

Welcome to 2015 and a new year of FI (Financial Independence) and SH (Seeking Happiness) opportunities ! Before ploughing ahead (literally...

4 Happiness paradoxes

Contender 0 downshifting, Early Retirement, financial freedom, financial independence, Freedom, Happiness 19:39

<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/AVvXsEj_LwaAVPBwpCXZK2hJiOhCOLXQKEfWuegbp1Wi4JXFrhGAaGWVg9vVfEKEadve-4hXLqzyVVjjN7JX0NUAb2uL_-d8oi_je78MsgvRcLpslUSllzGF_9nGfxcr3-jsjmF_75l_wWMnE2TL/s1600/P1040209.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/AVvXsEj_LwaAVPBwpCXZK2hJiOhCOLXQKEfWuegbp1Wi4JXFrhGAaGWVg9vVfEKEadve-4hXLqzyVVjjN7JX0NUAb2uL_-d8oi_je78MsgvRcLpslUSllzGF_9nGfxcr3-jsjmF_75l_wWMnE2TL/s1600/P1040209.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning something new, making mistakes and having fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
 
We all have the choice of happiness, it all depends what we choose happiness to be. 
 
1. Accepting who you are, the mistakes you have made, the hand you have been dealt then do something about it. 
2. Finding time to be happy in a hectic life 
3. Searching for personal happiness 
4. What are some of the "costs" of seeking happiness 
       
<h2>
Finding time to Reflect, Learn then Move on</h2>
It has been a couple of months since I last posted. In this time our family has been learning a lot more about ourselves through the mistakes we are doing and new skills we are learning on a day to day basis on our house renovation. 
 
1. This is definitely a challenge for us. At the same time we are having a great time learning lots of new skills while messing up and then correcting our mistakes. 
 
I have accidentally knocked holes through walls whilst trying to lay electric cables and cut out the wrong 
duct for wiring. It did not stop there, outside I got with the chainsaw stuck (pinched) in tree trunks several times. On the roof I have 
probably broken as many tiles as I have fixed. 
 
2. The wife and I are getting to know what makes us tick day to day activity to activity. 
 
We have come to the same conclusion we can be both wrong at the same time ;) We respect that we both work differently and have learnt how to work around each other in this new lifestyle we have chosen. 
 
3. We are taking our time making sure we enjoying our surroundings, still seeing our new friends and the choices we have made. 
 
Our children adore the clearing we have made at the centre of a patch of bamboo. We have picnicked outside at every opportunity. Having a break on the roof to admire the view is priceless. 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Choose a life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a
 fucking big television. Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc 
players and electrical tin openers... Choose DSY and wondering who the 
fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching 
mind-numbing, spirit crushing game shows, stucking junk food into your 
mouth. Choose rotting away in the end of it all, pishing your last in a 
miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, 
fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourself, choose your future. 
Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that?”
 ―
 Irvine Welsh,
 
 Trainspotting  
 </blockquote>
<h3>
Make mistakes but don't beat yourself up</h3>
Yours truly has made many mistakes, I continue to make them. I am a continual pain to the family, teasing, demanding and being just me. I know this and consistently try to do something about it. 
 
It is the way I am. Thankfully I am not at the stage that I need go out and buy the new <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30182607" target="_blank">220V wrist strap electrocution habit changing device</a> that has been in the news. At least I haven't asked the wife and kids yet! 
 
The past has happy memories but constantly reminds you of past challenges. For instance from a stoic perspective, what was so bad? 
 
Making a fool of myself - sure I have been a fool but has it cost me a roof above my head? Even worse am I going without food or have a health problem? 
 
I may have compromised friendships in the distant past but I have time to correct the error of my ways. I move on with past reminders pointing me in a better direction. 
 
For example everyone is different and has different ideas. Understanding that they have problems and concerns nudges us to try and understand why we have not been replied to our emails, why they are not free or even if we are not the right type of people. We have lost touch with so many friends - a natural result of changing our lives and not being close to theirs.  
 
In effect we have opted out of the old way of life that we effectively ended those relationships. 
 
Making mistakes is part of life, you can look back on them laugh, take pride in what you learnt. 
So never be too hard on yourself, learn to move on, carry on making lots of mistakes, meeting new people and making new friends. 
<h2>
Learning about personal happiness </h2>
Happiness, life, peace and tranquillity are all helped by free time. Me time. Family Time. Friendship Time. Their Time. 
 
Without giving yourself and the people around you free time to reflect, think and relax, tranquillity will pass you by. An overly busy day schedule, massive to do list, or even procrastination of the big issues to be addressed distracts from the appreciation of what we have and the world around us. 
 
I find the need for free, quiet time, essential. It gives you time to think and understand who you really are, why you act the way you do, ponder how other people actually see you, what your real needs are and do something about it. 
 
After such a reflection free time becomes more precious as you can see the error of your ways or opportunities to be happier and help make the people around you happier. 
 
Seeking more free time can be the logical next step. Reducing material needs, increasing passive income allowing a change such as a new more enjoyable career, downshift, stop or just take time out takes on more meaning. 
 
We do not have long commutes to work any more. The combined 3 hours of free time we have taken back is there for us to do as we wish. The other day we just stopped by the side of the road and admired the clouds over the chin of mountains between France and Spain. Yesterday we got lost in the aisles of the local big city bookstore - no need to check if we were late to go back to work! The time is being used for us, doing the things we need to do to look after our family (fixing the roof) or enjoying each other's company (drawing cats and lions with our toddler). It is happier time as we are not being told what to do or how to do it, we are doing it of our own free will.   
 
Life is short, it can fly by so quickly so fill it with what you want not what your employer or your creditor wants. 
<h2>
I can't afford to do that, can I?</h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPzhnQZKdXjs55FOa1tXDqnVAn0uoerYHiP_nkK6TnLLrAQrhb0UPQk4pJ9Vp7Jza3QkXwPo9_-bBvV7P6tbCT0MmzcdHHS3oNCGPMbpDqC6HfcR5ohiHv9hb3Yymxg8NGndjx_dOmIYd/s1600/Maslow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPzhnQZKdXjs55FOa1tXDqnVAn0uoerYHiP_nkK6TnLLrAQrhb0UPQk4pJ9Vp7Jza3QkXwPo9_-bBvV7P6tbCT0MmzcdHHS3oNCGPMbpDqC6HfcR5ohiHv9hb3Yymxg8NGndjx_dOmIYd/s1600/Maslow.jpg" width="320" /></a>Money, time, friendships, status? What is the cost of this tranquillity, friendship, and reflection? 
 
I have touched on <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2012/10/muff-what-does-early-retirement-lean.html" target="_blank">Maslow's pyramid</a> of needs in several posts. 
 
Materially we really need very little to live.  
 
We now live with a quarter of what our income was. We still live normal lives with a car and house. We recently took the kids to the theatre to see a play. We visited a beautiful vineyard where they went on a horse-led cart across the fields while we tasted the wines. We still take holidays. What we don't do is waste money on unimportant short term wants such as magazines, newspapers, eating out too often and the latest gadget or craze. 
 
On the other hand we need to invest time wisely to be truly happy. I know that I need to see my friends several times a week and it makes me happy. I know that I need time to think and read a little. As a family we know we need to have balanced activities and look after ourselves. 
 
We must always have a lot of respect for the people around us and make sure we continually strive to live a good life. We will keep trying to do better even if we do wander from time to time (the Armagnac here is great and I do enjoy a glass of red wine frequently) 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“We start off with high hopes, then we bottle it. We realise that we’re 
all going to die, without really finding out the big answers. We develop
 all those long-winded ideas which just interpret the reality of our 
lives in different ways, without really extending our body of worthwhile
 knowledge, about the big things, the real things. Basically, we live a 
short disappointing life; and then we die. We fill up our lives with 
shite, things like careers and relationships to delude ourselves that it
 isn’t all totally pointless.”
 ―
 Irvine Welsh,
 
 Trainspotting  </blockquote>
<h3>
How much stuff and the right stuff</h3>
Frugality can be misunderstood and has rather negative connotations to many people. Frugality is really living within your means and making the right choices in its use for the happiness of yourself and the people around you. Example 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that
 what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
 ―
 Epicurus</blockquote>
 
Having very little but being rich in time is wonderful gift. It is freedom, freedom from debt, freedom to do as you please, and freedom to please those you love. 
 
Having a middle class lifestyle whilst lots of free time can offer other benefits as some increased material benefits such as larger living spaces and increased mobility. 
 
We have noticed we are now cooking and serving smaller portions of food than we used to when we lived in London. Was it comfort eating then? Now there is less waste (and less waist!). Our kids had been given too much stuff (toys sweets etc) - now they are learning to give the toys they don't play with anymore to good causes. We are prone to purchasing non seasonal products and using a bit too much heating on occasions.   
 
We need to give more of our time to others and make sure what time we do have is used wisely instead of wastefully.  
 
For example it is all to easy to catch a break from the kids by putting on a film. Now we have relaised that we just need to put the effort in to get them started on an activity (drawaing colouring painting jigsaw, lego, playmobil..) and they will carry on on their own. This is much better for them to learn something new through real play than pure entertainment. It has been amazing to see how inventive they can be with stuff lying around the house and garden. Our eldest makes robots or necklaces with sticks and eaves and the youngest still loves mud pies (mummy, less so). 
 
Being rich on the other hand requires a responsibility to use the wealth wisely. 
<h3>
Happy time</h3>
In all three of the above examples free time is available and in the middle class and rich class some "spare money" is available. So what is a good use of this time in the happiness stakes? 
 
Perhaps the answer to this (which is purely a personal preference) again revolves around balance. Spending too much time seeking shallow entertainment distracts from gaining wisdom. Seeking happiness too much can result in unhappiness when it is not found. 
 
It is nice to receive but better to give. Doing something new is stimulating and ultimately rewarding - you achieve something new. We had to unblock our sewerage system the other day - not a nice job but we did it ourselves. And felt so proud that we sorted the problem without having to call on any plumber and could look after our family ourselves. 
 
It has been proven that wealth helps towards human happiness probably because it gives you your time back to do what you want to do. <a href="http://www.voxeu.org/article/happy-peasants-and-miserable-millionaires" target="_blank">After a certain point more wealth has a substantially diminishing return on happiness</a>. At least put it to work in a constructive way. 
 
For example move money out of funds that invest in all sorts of destructive industries. Instead invest locally or only in ethical companies that provide for real needs instead of wants. You won't get super rich but you will make a real difference and set an example.  
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="copy-paste-block">
"It
 is impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well 
and justly. And it is impossible to live wisely and well and justly 
without living a pleasant life." Epicurus</div>
</blockquote>
Shop locally, employ local people, help out, make a difference and be happy. 
 
Until next time, 
 
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?

4 Happiness paradoxes

Learning something new, making mistakes and having fun We all have the choice of happiness, it all depends what we choose happiness to ...

20 Positively Stubborn Ways to be FI

Contender 3 Conformity, Critical Thinking, downshifting, financial independence, Freedom, frugality, Habits, Happiness, health, Risk 18:40

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning a new skill</td></tr>
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I love days when I am put in my place. Learning from an expert and proving to me how little I know. 
 
Today was one of those days - a humbling experience using a chainsaw. One I will reflect upon many years in the future. 
 
A chainsaw is a powerful and dangerous machine that you must respect. It is a marvel. At the same time cutting the trees is a bit of an art that takes time to perfect. 
 
Felling old and new trees will provide warmth for Tribe in the winter making way for new growth. 
 
 
 
 
Looking at THE.PaST I would never have done this if we did not stubbornly believe in our goal of financial independence in a countryside house. Below I have outlined 20 stubborn steps towards FI which will ultimately make you stand out from the crowd.  
 
Our Stubborn Waste of Wisdom 
 
You start out in life knowing nothing and leave this life knowing a lot. Unfortunately, in THE.CoNTeNDeR's humble opinion, western society does not value wisdom. It really does not give a f****. 
 
Get out of the way, old man, you are hogging the jobs. Retire, you dinosaur. 
 
Is it me or is there something seriously wrong in the western world where old people are marginalized and their wisdom is not passed on but mainly deemed outdated. What is out-dated anyway? Is "deliver to your door" and "work till you drop" in front of a computer all that matters nowadays or a means of controlling production and distribution in a way that means profits and taxes? 
 
We are a stubborn bunch and as a result we are not capable or knowledgeable of the basics of living. This may sound harsh but how many people understand how to wire a plug nowadays. 
 
The wise old men could teach us DIY and grow your own, tax returns, financial decision making. We are too busy, we do not need to know how to do this, we can take out a loan and pay someone else a lot of money to do it so that we can go and have fun playing videogames. 
<h2>
Ignore the crowd / society and be a stubborn bastard</h2>
Making a difference generally means being different. Sure, everyone is different, don't get me wrong but going to work for someone else generally reduces your ability to really make a BIG difference for society and yourself. 
 
Companies need people to do work accurately and quickly. Efficiency and productivity are the buzz words. Make lots of small differences in work and collectively the company does well. At the same time one's ability to make a REAL difference to society as a whole is EXTREMELY limited. 
 
Working for someone else 
 
1. Limits your income - the company makes more money from the work you do than they pay you. 
2. Takes up the majority of your time, thus limiting the time you can dedicate to thinking and actually making a real world difference. 
3. Conditioning - 9-5 is the norm, a monthly paycheck is the norm, a commute is normal.</div>
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I wonder what Plato and Socrates would have thought of modern society. I have a hunch they would marvel and be repulsed at the level of control society has over us. </div>
<h2>
Learn to Be Different</h2>
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Making a difference means breaking free from normal. Valuing risk over percieved safety and 
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conformity. Learning to embrace failure instead of fear? 
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeB0x3s3iJQAccXJ_DTqWOHOAdJI5XJIvOF7vQAOJI2SqF_6EhOowIMYWn5rx-5oPfVmADenIs0JWPXdHROUFZdpe53BtxNTxg9h6vf_T6TDTe4zggkwFOrdxzsM3CGjzRebZR2_vUdKbO/s1600/P1040203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Skills for life" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeB0x3s3iJQAccXJ_DTqWOHOAdJI5XJIvOF7vQAOJI2SqF_6EhOowIMYWn5rx-5oPfVmADenIs0JWPXdHROUFZdpe53BtxNTxg9h6vf_T6TDTe4zggkwFOrdxzsM3CGjzRebZR2_vUdKbO/s1600/P1040203.JPG" title="Learning something new" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching tiles at the renovation project</td></tr>
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Before we get to the Stubborn Financial Independent Ba***** List let's start with the difference between knowing
 and believing. They are completely different but both can be right and 
wrong. Always challenge the status quo thinking (ideally in your head and not out loud if you see what I mean). 
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Without trying something for yourself, you will never know. As mentioned above the best way to get ahead in life is to go safe my lad, collect
the monthly pay check and off to the pub. Let's break this down as an example and Ask WHY five times 
<ol>
<li>Why do I want to work until retirement & who said that we should? </li>
<li>Why don't I retire early?</li>
<li>Why can't I retire early?</li>
<li>Why do I need to save so much to retire early at my CURRENT living standard?</li>
<li>Why can't I save enough to have the living standard I NEED?</li>
</ol>
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The 5 whys is a powerful technique used to simply think. Seek questions and the answers will follow. It can be applied to so many things in life. Why do I need to buy THIS CAR / HOUSE / VACATION. Have this JOB, FRIEND, DESIRE. Perhaps give it a go now on a subject close to your chest.</div>
<h2>

</h2>
</div>
<h2 class="MsoTitle">
Be Different</h2>
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Perhaps being a right selfish bastard has some merits…. providing it is in the right context, taken with a pinch of salt and ideally hidden from sight and not talked about. 
 
A small note of caution, we need to be careful and stealth-full when starting out on a FI journey. Testing the waters with people around you is advisable before "coming out" full on about FI OR just keeping quiet may be in your best interest at first. Unfortunate consequences from being too bold could be to alienate family, friends and colleagues which may ultimately damage your happiness and ability to become financially independent. 
 
See the post <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2013/03/downshifting-what-are-you-doing.html" target="_blank">Downshifting are you mad???</a> 
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The Stubborn Financial Independent B****** List </h2>
<ol>
<li>Be strong minded and know what you want - dedicated to your mission to obtain what you want.</li>
<li>Keep to your goal but allow yourself to change the way to get there.</li>
<li>Refuse silly stressful timelines - pointless, showing off and asking for trouble.</li>
<li>Don't finish anything fully - waste of time and effort. 20% effort 
will produce 80% of the desired result move on and let someone else do 
the rest.</li>
<li>Question the given "truth" - there is always two sides to any "story" and ask what is in it for me.</li>
<li>Avoid all labels and brands and forget what people say - learn to dress well for less and have a signature. Perhaps a hat, tie, scarf or color. People will ultimately remember you more.</li>
<li>Refuse to accept the price you are offered - everything can be bartered or they loose your trade. Worst thing that can happen is you shop around for a better price cannot get it and have to go back to the same store.</li>
<li>Refuse to gossip - pointless, negative and destructive</li>
<li>Refuse un-ethical work / lying: leave it to someone else with no morals - do you really want to live with it?</li>
<li>Throw away the idiot box (TV) and avoid advertising. Always ask they are telling me this because... we want you to buy something</li>
<li>Do not give up private information for something "Free" - you will be marketed by something on a personal targeted note. </li>
<li>Never eat junk food on at least 6 days a week - go to a burger joint with friends once a week but otherwise eat well.</li>
<li>Refuse to "ride" when you can walk.</li>
<li>Pay a fair share of tax but take all the tax breaks you can get. They are there (such as paying into a pension) so you are entitled to them. I will leave up to you what you believe your fair share of tax should be (noting that the rich like capital gains tax as it is only charged at 18% in the UK)</li>
<li>Keep to your principles and habits if someone says come on this will be fun or are you a wimp - just say NO. </li>
<li>Don't buy presents and don't ask for presents - make them. A drawing, a cake, a pot of jam or tomato chutney.</li>
<li>Mothers / Fathers day, Christmas, Easter Bunny and the Halloween pumpkin lantern are all just clever marketing tools to make you waste money, food and resources on an unprecedented scale.</li>
<li>Avoid all expensive hobbies and sports, golf, skiing, wine club, going to watch games and sport, computer gaming with the latest equipment etc... find a cheap or useful hobby instead. Walking with the local ramblers club, playing football in a team.</li>
<li>Refuse to kiss arse, just be the best</li>
</ol>
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<h2 class="MsoTitle">
Go out and Be Stubborn</h2>
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So what if someone comes back to you and calls you STUBBORN a
MISFIT or a TROUBLE MAKER? Well, rise above that. How do you change the perceptions and how do you really MAKE A DIFFERENCE.</div>
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No matter what you do, make a POSITIVE difference. Be POSITIVE.
Have a GO. Stubborn is not bad, it is CONFIDENCE, CONVICTION and willingness to take RESPONSIBILITY. It is making a difference positive or negative. Shake the boat
and see what falls out. If it was you, it was for a reason and you learnt
something from it for a reason.</div>
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 </div>
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We only live one life. A sacking is a learning and an
opportunity. Standing up for yourself breads self-esteem, relationships and
confidence.</div>
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CoNTeNDeR Stubborn to the Core.</div>
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 </div>
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Peace, respect and tranquility to all stubborn b******* out
there :)</div>
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 </div>
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?

20 Positively Stubborn Ways to be FI

Learning a new skill I love days when I am put in my place. Learning from an expert and proving to me how little I know. Today w...

10 Reasons Why Financial Independence is Good for Society

Contender 0 #financialindependence, charity, Debt, downshifting, Early Retirement, Ethical, Finance, financial independence, Freedom, Habits 21:01

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0O1rMOthFNSEQgsy8Ah9frThxHxnaM8LyPuafJNkrX80RAR1WptLdL3ielJ-e92A91FJbPlKBXUXws9ox4eoLgXs84d3W9W3kAvoOuIdrqO6J7BULnfuDhJcv06PjCubZ9EzWF7tw-KjV/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Are financially independet people good for society" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0O1rMOthFNSEQgsy8Ah9frThxHxnaM8LyPuafJNkrX80RAR1WptLdL3ielJ-e92A91FJbPlKBXUXws9ox4eoLgXs84d3W9W3kAvoOuIdrqO6J7BULnfuDhJcv06PjCubZ9EzWF7tw-KjV/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" title="The road to financial Independence" width="212"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Road to Freedom</td></tr>
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Our little TRiBe is trying out the financially independent, idle life in France. Here are a couple of background posts: in <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2013/08/happiness-in-france.html" target="_blank"> Happiness in France</a> : finally landed in France and plan for the next 4 years & in <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2013/10/french-living-quelle-difference.html" target="_blank">French Living – Quelle Difference?</a> : this was a look at our expenditure in France compared to the UK. 
 
In this post here is a reflection on our current arrangement of living off investments and savings. We are now business owners instead of the wage slaves and 10 reasons why this is a GOOD thing. 
 
Wage Slave Exploitation 
 
We were wage slaves to big business. We were the ones being exploited.... 
 
THE.PaST: "Hold on there you were were doing it willingly and being paid for it right?" 
 
Willingly not so sure on that one and were we paid enough. Admittedly that is a matter of opinion. WILLING SLAVE BOOK? What can be said about it was that the companies that we worked for made large profits off our backs. Fine when you are the owner of the business receiving part of the profit (most likely through dividends) but what if the company is not listed and you are not a managing partner or the private equity firm. 
 
Sure wage slave is a harsh word it was not real slavery was it, chained to the desk and all that. Let's consider that further. We there are other ways of chaining on to his/her desk. Check out the book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005PROO5K/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B005PROO5K&linkCode=as2&tag=thecontfinain-21" id="static_txt_preview" target="_blank">Willing Slaves: How the Overwork Culture is Ruling Our Lives</a> on this topic. 
 
We really had to do exactly as we were told, do what the boss wanted and make him/her look good. We had to follow the company line and bend over backwards when needed or else there is the door! OR We are not making enough profits so there is the door anyway. The sword of Damocles was there and you sure knew about it. 
 
We were brought up to believe work is good for us. Sure there is some truth in it (a little). It can provide an identity - what do you do (<strike>engineer</strike> loafer!). It gives you a purpose (damn alarm clock). You get to learn new stuff (invoice processing, making toilet holders) and meet new people in places you would normally not go (or want to go). 
 
In the West we dedicate a large part of our prime years to work. To make matters worse we start work really late after getting the pass to work - University Debt. All of those years that could have been spent actually doing something productive and being paid for it - gaining financial independence could be so much earlier. 
 
I digress - back to the point, we allow ourselves to be exploited as a wage slaves to a business and we have been brainwashed into thinking it should be this way until retirement age at 70.  Now let's flip this on its head and become the business owners.

10 Reasons Why Financial Independence is Good for Society

A Road to Freedom Our little TRiBe is trying out the financially independent, idle life in France. Here are a couple of background post...

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>
 
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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>
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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>
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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. 
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"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>
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Fear 2 - fear of lack of income / high inflation destroying our savings </div>
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“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: 
 
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<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...

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

2014 Financial Independence Progress

4 Happiness paradoxes

20 Positively Stubborn Ways to be FI

10 Reasons Why Financial Independence is Good for Society

Financial Independence and Happiness Books

Fighting Fear - Part 2

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