FISH | Financial Independence Seeking Happiness

The Digital Hypocrite

Contender 0 #financialindependence, Blog, Critical Thinking, Finance, financial independence, Happiness, stock screen 19:17

<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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJmGOml8iow/UveM3EHNzeI/AAAAAAAADHo/9oBcABxhdI0/s1600/Technology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Financial Independence Through Technology" border="0" height="224" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EJmGOml8iow/UveM3EHNzeI/AAAAAAAADHo/9oBcABxhdI0/s1600/Technology.jpg" title="Useful Technology" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Useful Technology?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I started out in life fascinated by new tech. I adored the BBC computer in school, learning a little bit of programming and playing the odd game such
 as Boffin, Manic Miner and Castle Quest. I was in awe with my Commodore
 64. Technology was new, changing fast, cutting edge and innocent. 
 
Roll
 on 2014 and the technological innocence has almost been lost. Devices 
used to be were stand alone and you really had to learn how to use them,
 write some code. Now everything is connected 24/7 you can access pretty
 much anything on the web including stuff that one should not have 
access to. 
 
We have social media - plaster loads
 of personal information about you across the WORLD. Better still give 
all of the important information about you FREE to advertisers to target
 your desires and weaknesses! 
 
Without the internet is was not as easy to read a freedom of 
speech article. Alternative views such as this blog would only be 
available in a magazine such as <a href="http://idler.co.uk/magazine/" target="_blank">The Idler</a>.
 First you would have had to find it and understand its content, ideally
 reading a copy to see if it was what you would like. Then subscribe to 
the magazine and wait each quarter or year for the latest edition.  
 
Desolation of the young 
 
Technology
 is changing the young in ways we still do not understand. Providing 
access to violent video games and sex at earlier and earlier ages 
through their tablets and smart phones is including their adolescence 
and destroying their innocence. Shooting a human being becomes more and 
more real on the screen leading some to act it out in real life. 
Internet porn is heaping extra pressure on them to perform (and perform 
what) when that special moment occurs. 
 
Does this really encourage respect for each other and the formation of strong families? 
 
Further
 attacks are taking place on their attention spans. Sit down and read a 
book - no let's watch the movie instead. Interface devices encourage 
'browsing' and consumption of goods and services. Snippets of 
entertainment news have replaces the investigative journalist and the 
need to think about the content and challenges in the world. Back to the
 bedroom from the fields - it is save there with def recon armored 
pursuit 10. 
 
 
In our eldest child's pre-school in London tablets 
computers were made available to the kids. Instead of learning to play 
together, develop 3D dexterity and interpersonal skills they are tap tap
 tapping at a flat screen that is 'educating' them to work quickly and 
jump from sugar rush app to app. It is easy to learn how to use a tablet
 and play computer games so why so young?

The Digital Hypocrite

Useful Technology? I started out in life fascinated by new tech. I adored the BBC computer in school, learning a little bit of programmi...

Financial Independence Options

Contender 1 Budget, downshifting, Early Retirement, Finance, financial freedom, financial independence, frugality, Planning, Saving 18:30

<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BG85piBTkus/UuU-niALSnI/AAAAAAAADHY/88GfwH9Hgn0/s1600/TeddyFamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BG85piBTkus/UuU-niALSnI/AAAAAAAADHY/88GfwH9Hgn0/s1600/TeddyFamily.jpg" width="320"></a>Mr Teddy Bear: "Time to review our family finances and consider where are we going. Let's get the facts and run the cold hard numbers." 
 
Mummy Bear: "Oh daddy bear you are so cuddly when you talk tough" 
 
Baby Bear: "I want a games station, mobile computer, princess bike and trust fund...Now!" 
 
 
 
 This post is about a few hypothetical scenarios entered into the NEWLY UPDATED financial time line planner. 
 
The financial time line planner has received a little bit of tender and loving care in the last week. The following has been changed / added: 
<ul>
<li>Mortgage calculations</li>
<li>Debt repayments</li>
<li>Improved graphics</li>
<li>Financial scenarios</li>
</ul>
Here we are going to look at three different type of people and see how the timeline works for them: 
<ol>
<li>A fun loving/carpe diem 25-year old on a professional career who loves #selfies</li>
<li>A 35-year old looking to #downshift as fast a possible</li>
<li>A clued up 25-year old who is going for #ExtremeEarlyRetirement</li>
</ol>
Party on! CEO, Playboy, Sports car, Mansion, Hawaii 
 
Our
first example is the one THE.CoNTeNDeR started out in life believing would make him happy...
 This was soon dashed by the property boom in the UK effectively resigning him to having to rent for teh rest of his life. This caused a huge
 shift in THE.CoNTeNDeR's financial mindset. 
 
So here is a representation of an ambitious 
life and fun loving 25 year old looking to climb the corporate ladder. He is going to enjoy the high life and 
all the consumer goods on offer. The result shows 
the need for an ever increasing income to pay for the increasingly high 
life living costs. Although cash flow rich and materially wealthy on the outside he needs to keep the hamster wheel turning to avoid a nasty shock. 
 
<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://2.bp.blogspot.com/-74UIXtw9txg/UuPiBkUZPtI/AAAAAAAADG4/U19n5TSyFBs/s1600/25yrPartyOn.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-74UIXtw9txg/UuPiBkUZPtI/AAAAAAAADG4/U19n5TSyFBs/s1600/25yrPartyOn.JPG" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK ON PICTURE !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>

Financial Independence Options

Mr Teddy Bear : "Time to review our family finances and consider where are we going. Let's get the facts and run the cold hard num...

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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QxaOmSUDwkw/UtfLHcaX2nI/AAAAAAAADF0/ObYH9dyGPew/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QxaOmSUDwkw/UtfLHcaX2nI/AAAAAAAADF0/ObYH9dyGPew/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

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytau1k6mQS0/UslPUjxXEMI/AAAAAAAADFM/6FHndx0bVks/s1600/DSC_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytau1k6mQS0/UslPUjxXEMI/AAAAAAAADFM/6FHndx0bVks/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>
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<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...

6 Happy Time Ideas

Contender 0 downshifting, financial freedom, financial independence, Happiness 23:14

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple timeless pleasure - a free walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
THE.PaST: "Happiness is doing well in school, getting a god job yadda yadda......"   
THE.PReSeNT: "Happiness is having lots of fun. Party hard, party on......"   
THE.FuTuRe: "Happiness is having power, status, wealth, a legacy....."   
CoNTeNDeR: "Fu**ed if I know, but I am not listening to you guys." 
 
<a href="http://www.getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2013/04/10-happiness-guidelines.html" target="_blank">10 happiness guidelines</a> was posted earlier in the year which looked at a few topics around the happiness of the mind such as being positive and putting things into perspective.  
 
Here are a few ideas on actions on how the Tribe i sseeking achievement of personal happiness. 
 
What is personal happiness anyway?  
 
Whilst it is impossible to define happiness, after all it is a word that means a million different things. We can consider it a key part of our journey through life. We want to enjoy and extend ourselves to live our precious hours on this planet to the max. 
 
There are a few things that can be done to help seeking happiness such as avoiding distractions. Shopping and superfluous entertainment media such as soap operas come to mind. They waste time that could be spent with our friends, family and the great outdoors. Some free personal time allows you to reflect on what is really important to you and how lucky you are for what you have - there is always someone worse off (as for better off that is a matter of opinion). 
 
Most distractions incur a monetary cost and MONEY IS TIME. So avoiding frivolous distractions will reduce / eliminate unneeded spending. Keep your money and your time instead of selling it on the open market to someone else for their benefit. 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It's not a question of enough, pal. It's a zero sum game, somebody wins,
 somebody loses. Money itself isn't lost or made, it's simply 
transferred from one perception to another." - Gordon Gekko</blockquote>
Time Ideas for a Happy Life 
<ol>
<li>Meet your friends and family as much as possible  </li>
<ol>
<li>A meal, kids running around, bottle of wine and table talk. What a great way to relax, switch off and just go with the flow.  </li>
<li>Building strong relationships, helping out (when asked might I add) and giving are all simple pleasures in life and are free.  Have a look at the posts <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/community-help-part-1-10-amazing.html">Community HELP! Part 1 - 10 Amazing Blessings</a> and <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/early-retirement-at-36-charity-time-r6.html">Early Retirement at 36 - Charity Time?</a> </li></ol></ol>

6 Happy Time Ideas

Simple timeless pleasure - a free walk THE.PaST : "Happiness is doing well in school, getting a god job yadda yadda......" ...

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)