FISH | Financial Independence Seeking Happiness

THE FUTURE

Contender 2 Blog, Early Retirement, financial freedom, financial independence, PERL 09:05

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Vision of THE.FUTURE (<a href="http://www.edenproject.com/visit-us/whats-here" target="_blank">Eden Project Cornwall UK</a>)</td></tr>
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THE.FUTURE "Contender I'm out to get ya! Yeh I'm watching you, I'm your shadow, I'm your worst nightmare! 
THE.CONTENDER - nice bloke THE.FUTURE time to put him in his place. 
 
<a href="http://www.getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-past.html" target="_blank">THE.PAST</a> - is a has been, in <a href="http://www.getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-present.html" target="_blank">THE.PRESENT</a> we enjoy the things we do each day. Now for THE.FUTURE! What is he up to in the investment world? Lets try to <strike>forecast</strike> guess a few things. What may happen across the planet in 2013? What can we work on on this blog this year? Let's guess. 
 
Guessing THE.FUTURE and Redundancy 
 
Contender used to forecast the sales of a very well known billion dollar brand consumer good. Forecasting as it turned out was educated guessing. As an engineer making a "Best Guess" versus an accurate answer was a bit of a change in mindset. 
 
To counter error in engineering you "add" a bit of redundancy in-case the calculations or assumptions are a little bit out. Forecasting THE.FUTURE on the other hand is guess work based on observations, thoughts and inherent human biases. 
 
Being incorrect with a sales forecast is countered by holding safety stock. You have options - plan for the best case scenario, make the stock early in case you need to make more, have idle machine capacity to "turn on" if required as a few examples. All redundancy and risk mitigation. 
 
So is forecasting about where redundancy is required? Savings are redundancy, food in the house is redundancy. Heating oil / lumber in the shed is redundancy. THE.FUTURE holds many surprises and cannot be forecasted accurately; so where shall our tribe add some redundancy this year? 
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
THE.FUTURE</div>
 
CONTENDER 2013 <strike>Ramblings</strike> <strike>Forecast</strike> Guess 
 
UK:
 In good old blighty QE will re-start hitting the pound and driving inflation higher. 
Economic growth will come but in the wrong areas creating new bubbles in
 the UK economy. What happens when they pop this time? George Osbourne 
will continue to say how well Austerity is going but knows differently ;) 
 
GDP Growth
 forecasts are only a representation of the money printing not real GDP 
growth. Inflation will stay high although it will be reported low (just 
what they really want - how is the UK going to get out of its debt trap 
otherwise?) 
 
More rain? - It is getting wetter in this 
country? The weather more extreme each year. One year a massive heatwave and the
 next year the country is underwater. <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/new_scientist/2012/09/will_2013_be_the_hottest_year_climate_change_and_el_ni_o_will_make_next_year_sweltering_.html" target="_blank">Time for a heatwave?</a> 
 The UK Populus starts to make more noise about the financial systems confiscation of their wealth. People will continue to scale back on expensive consumer goods and move to own label products. The own label products do the job at a much lower price. 
 
In realising that they need to be "savvy" consumers all areas of spending will start to be scaled back.  Holidays aboard, expensive fashion, gadgets, eating out, entertainment. All GDP negative. 
 
Riots in London are unlikely (we had them at the end of our street in 2011) but inflation is pressuring the population all it needs is an increase in interest rates to make times much harder for people. 
 
More people start to move out of poor performing "active" investment funds (who charge high fees) into  low cost tracker funds or invest directly themselves. The cities lavish fund industry marketing teams go into overdrive to save their jobs. 
 
The economy shows some signs of life after all of the money lavished on it but is held back by tail winds from the continent. 
 
Please read on for Continental Europe, China, Japan and the USA, our investment approach, What is going on with the blog this year and some closing thoughts....

THE FUTURE

One Vision of THE.FUTURE ( Eden Project Cornwall UK ) THE.FUTURE "Contender I'm out to get ya! Yeh I'm watching you, I...

THE PRESENT

Contender 0 Blog, financial independence, frugality, Life 08:07

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THE.PRESENT: "Come on Contender have some fun, get yourself one of those gadgets, go on holiday you need one and the kids do as well, a few more presents - they have not had enough for Christmas" 
THE.CONTENDER: "Thanks for the pointers. At the moment we are happy with our little lot, love our community and have some great laughs." 
 
 
This post - Enjoying life one day at a time, Embracing Change through planning and a little list of things to do at the start of the year. 
 
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
THE PRESENT</div>
Enjoying life now 
 
January 2013! Waking to the smell of freshly ground coffee. Our kids are playing happily with their generous Christmas presents, thank you Santa / Grandma. School starts next week. We meet and chat about random topics with friends in the park and run around the library. 
 
Hot warm home cooked meals are the order of the day. Delicious porridge for breakfast. Lentils with french sausages, vegetables and the last of the clementines a satisfying lunch. Soup and dips for tea. 
 
Skype the grandparents in the evening to amaze them with the new skills the kids have learnt. Bath time, story and bed. 
 
Time to enjoy a good book and perhaps a glass of wine, cozy on the sof,a stroking the purring cat on the lap. 
 
Simple times for a cold, damp dark time of the year and time to get on with a few things......

THE PRESENT

January in London? - So Pretty under Snow THE.PRESENT: "Come on Contender have some fun, get yourself one of those gadgets, go on ...

THE PAST

Contender 0 Black Swan, Blog, Dividends, Early Retirement, financial freedom, financial independence, Investing 20:12

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Romieu Gers France</td></tr>
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THE.PAST: "Well you did not see that coming did ya man!" 
THE.CONTENDER: "We planned enough of it mate!" 
 
This is the first of 3 posts, a look at THE.PAST, the year that was 2012.  
<ol>
<li>THE.CONTENDER Tribe 2012 road to Financial Independence and this year's highlights. </li>
<li>What happened in the financial world and the impact on the THE.CONTENDER investment portfolio.</li>
<li>What we learnt as a family over the year. What did you learn about yourself?</li>
</ol>
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
THE.PAST</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it” George Santayana </blockquote>
Tribe road to financial Freedom and France in 2012 
<ol>
<li>Mr C takes over the parental duties while Mrs C goes back to work </li>
<li>Our eldest child left creche and started nursery school </li>
<li>Spending was cut dramatically with no impact to our standard of living, as described in <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/father-muff-financial-frugality-case.html">Father C a Financial Frugality Case Study of Bringing up Baby</a></li>
<li>Standard of living actually increased as we had one adult at home, which is positive for the children and less stressful for the parents (no more rushing around to pick up kids, having to book days off when they are sick and finding child care solutions)</li>
<li>Both children have grown up immensely this year and are showing real progress - the eldest with reading and writing (just turned 4) and the youngest is a real little person now she is mobile. </li>
<li>Saving exceeded expectations but investments were flat (see below)</li>
<li>Investment knowledge has increased see <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/round-5-156s-investment-challenges.html">Investment Challenges</a> and <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/risk-versus-reward-round-5-2m-59s.html">Risk Versus Reward </a>and <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/financial-independence-planner-stock.html">Financial Independence Planner & Stock Screener</a></li>
<li>The Tribe has improved its knowledge and use of alternative health practices, see <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/keeping-muff-healthy-round-6-1m-37s.html">Keeping the Tribe healthy</a> </li>
<li>Wonderful holiday in the south of France researching where to live (photo above from the Gers region of France).</li>
<li>Started this blog! see <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/10-blogging-mistakes-muff-styleee.html">10 blogging mistakes - CONTENDER styleee!</a></li>
</ol>
Financial Impact of 2012 
 
First for all those Boggle heads out there our investments came out at a slightly positive 1.5% gain compared to an approximate 7% gain for the US market. 
 
We did exceed our savings plan but took a hit when Mr C left work and hence lost his share options. 
 
Overall this is disappointing but there is always a silver lining! First let's have a look at what happened across the world and why the THE.CONTENDER investment portfolio turned out flat. 
 
By World Region 
 
UK: Austerity is doing its job, shame about the un-realistic growth figures (as usual) along came the double dip recession. Odd thing is that the "austerity" still means that the national debt is increasing year on year...... Nothing to see here, move on, all is well! (quick, appoint another ex Goldman Sachs employee as the Governor of the Bank of England as Merv has stopped printing to cover up the mess that the UK finances are in). 
 
Olympics - good job and pulled the UK out of recession due to the ticket sales alone..... Record haul of medals and Sir Bradley Wiggins won Gold following on from his Tour de France success.  And UK sports personality of the year to boot. GO WIGGO! 
 
Rain - funny that and in the UK of all places - IT HASN'T STOPPED!!! Why invest in wind power we need hydro dams! 
 
Tribe Investments 
<ul>
<li>Stocks generally positive for the year. Income stocks did OK (oil and gas, utilities, telecoms and pharmaceuticals)</li>
<li>Funds generally negative due to exposure to precious metal miners which have had a second poor year of performance in a row compared to the underlying metals which were both positive for the year. </li>
</ul>

THE PAST

La Romieu Gers France THE.PAST: "Well you did not see that coming did ya man!" THE.CONTENDER : "We planned enough of it...

Some of the best FI / ERE Posts of 2012?

Contender 1 Early Retirement, financial freedom, financial independence 08:20

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Hi fight fans, nearly the end of the year already! Where did it all go. Who were the winners in the game of life?   
THE FUTURE is still lurking there ready to take THE.CONTENDER to the cleaners when he gets the chance. What is THE.CONTENDER to do? Keep on LEARNING.  
 
Below are some of the favorite posts THE.CONTENDER has read this year and a brief summary of what they were about, and what can be learnt from them. 
 
January Freeze - too cold for brass monkeys. New Year Resolutions for the rest of the year anyone? (<strike>P.S. </strike><strike>CONTENDER remember last years and don't kid yourself;o</strike>) 
 
jlcollinsnh<a href="http://jlcollinsnh.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/index-funds/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to The bashing of Index Funds, Jack Bogle and a Jedi dog trick"> - The bashing of Index Funds, Jack Bogle and a Jedi dog trick</a> 
What: Why cheap index funds such as Vanguard are a great way to invest and why the financial media and investment houses hate them* 
Early Retirement Angle: Cut out the investment fees to retire early 
 
February Blues - bills bills bills Christmas overspend? 
 
Brave New Life - <a href="http://www.bravenewlife.com/02/how-to-get-your-significant-to-embrace-a-brave-new-life/" rel="bookmark" title="How To Get Your Significant Other To Embrace a Brave New Life">How To Get Your Significant Other To Embrace a Brave New Life</a> 
What: Change of direction, stop wasting money and being a good little consumer? What about the rest of the family? 
Early Retirement Angle: Taking people with you all working towards a common goal of early retirement is a change in mindset. The consumerist live for today lifestyle needs to countered with save to day to enjoy tomorrow financially free. 
 
March Madness - It is getting lighter in the evenings and the world is a better place 
 
Brave New Life - <a href="http://www.bravenewlife.com/03/core-principle-6-this-is-water/" target="_blank">Core Principle 6 This Is Water</a> 
What: David Foster Wallace inspiration talk on life - what is it all for / have some perspective on life? 
Early Retirement Angle: Consider the big picture in life who are you and think carefully about the world 
 
Brave New Life -<a href="http://www.bravenewlife.com/03/10-reasons-not-to-retire-early-uh-oh/" rel="bookmark" title="10 Reasons Not To Retire Early? Uh-Oh!">10 Reasons Not To Retire Early? Uh-Oh!</a> 
What: Nice post on the financial media's excuses \ procrastination against early retirement. 
Early Retirement Angle Grinder: Doubts, herd mentality, media - think clearly set your own goals and try to shut out all of the negativity that is out there about "retirement" and "frugality".

Some of the best FI / ERE Posts of 2012?

Hi fight fans, nearly the end of the year already! Where did it all go. Who were the winners in the game of life? THE FUTURE is still ...

Get Real

Contender 0 Compound Interest, Early Retirement, financial freedom, financial independence, Gold, Investing, Oil, Schiller PE10, Silver, Wheat 14:40

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real Stuff (munkee.com)</td></tr>
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 PLAN.AHEAD: "Where have you been CONTENDER we need to get on with your training?" 
 THE.CONTENDER: "THE FUTURE caught our little tribe out with the evil flu but we are back in the game now" 
PLAN.AHEAD: "Right C your NEW training program is called LEARN.SOMETHING.USEFUL" 
THE.CONTENDER: "Is it going to help me defeat THE FUTURE?" 
PLAN.AHEAD: "Now don't get carried away. One step at a time. I have so many things you need to learn. What I need from you is Focus, Listen and Actually Understand, Take your time and let it all sink in" 
THE.CONTENDER: "Yes master tell me tell me I want to know the secrets of the FINANCIAL.INDEPENDENCE.SHIELD and the HAPPINESS.PUNCH (hopefully it is alcoholic ;) 
 
In this post a thesis that the next 30 years are going to be very different than the last 30 years (à la <a href="http://www.peakprosperity.com/" target="_blank">Chris Martinson</a>). In particular considering investing in REAL NECESSITIES instead of passive INDEX investing. 
 
Next post will provide a new stock screening tool that analyses up to 3000 stocks at a time AND an update to CERP - financial planning tool to incorporate an individual stock analysis dashboard as well as a 10x boost to the speed of the tool! 
 
 
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Return of Capital 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It not the return on capital but the return of capital" - Jim Rodgers 
 
 "The first rule of investing has always been don't lose money!" - Warren Buffet</blockquote>
 
For those seeking very early financial independence we need to to grow money faster than inflation and build up a passive income. 
 
In order to do this THE.CONTENDER has looked to first understand what is money and investing (after making a few mistakes) before taking the plunge into the stock market. 
 
Ever since our Tribe started to invest in precious metals in 2005 (a very small amount after talking to an investment banker at a party and being inspired by his outlook on investment) we have been interested in what is money? Why is it valuable? Why does it lose its value over time? 
 
We want our savings to AT LEAST buy comparative goods in the future. $10 for a bag of potatoes today + bank account interest should cost $10 in five years time. 
 
If we are growing our money what is the REAL return after inflation? 
 
10 years ago you could get a loaf of bread for 0.5 monetary units,  now it costs 1.5 monetary units in only 10 years! Supposedly technology has improved so the cost of my loaf of bread should be coming down right??!!!: 
<ol>
<li>Transport is more efficient (we mix truck loads to get max fill / weight ratios with complex computer programs and collaboration across multiple companies)  </li>
<li>Energy is captured and recycled in the baking process  </li>
<li>Agriculture productivity is up - better machines, fertilizers and weather prediction systems....  </li>
<li>Waste is down due to efficient inventory management and improved sales forecasting.  </li>
<li>Competition is rife and profit margins are being reduced  </li>
<li>The USA is going to be energy independent and oil and gas prices are going to plummet!</li>
</ol>
Why Why Why has the cost of my loaf of bread trebled after all of these cost saving improvements? Why is THE.CONTENDER paying so much more for the basics of life compared to 10 years ago. Inflation has been reported as very low.....????

Get Real

Real Stuff (munkee.com) PLAN.AHEAD: "Where have you been CONTENDER we need to get on with your training?" THE.CONTENDER: ...

6 Habits for Very Early Retirement

Contender 2 Early Retirement, financial independence, Habits, Rules 20:50

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps a leaflet instead..</td></tr>
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THE.CONTENDER is on a Scrap in the Savannah! - he is only fighting a has been in UP.TO.HIS.EYEBALLS.IN.DEBT so needs something to hype up the fight. Unfortunately Rhumble in the Jungle has been done.... shame:( 
 
Africa's heat, humidity, local culture, dance, song and animal instincts fuel CONTENDERS's ambition to coax THE.FUTURE to getintheringwithme after putting away this lightweight. Pounding the watermelons for the camera was satisfying but CONTENDER  wanted to prove his killer instincts to the world. He headed out into the Savanna in search of some prey. 
 
Following on from the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/2012/11/30-rules-of-very-early-retirement.html" target="_blank">30 Rules of Very Early Retirement </a>THE.CONTENDER thought it 
would be fun to list 6 Habits of very early retirement he has developed down the years...... 
 
THE.CONTENDER came across the idea of embedding habits in your daily routine from Steven Covey. He is world renound for his <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Habits-Highly-Effective-People/dp/0684858398/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352709552&sr=1-1" target="_blank">7 Habits of Highly Effective People</a> see summary <a href="http://www.change-management-coach.com/stephen-covey.html" target="_blank">here</a>. THE.CONTENDER highly recommends his follow up book the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-8th-Habit-Effectiveness-Greatness/dp/0743206835/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352708902&sr=8-1" target="_blank">8th Habit</a> as well, it includes a brief description of the other 7 - time for a trip to the library?). 
<ol>
<li>Emotional intelligence - Stalking the springbok his head is turned by a rhino - surely that would be the ultimate trophy for his first outing? Very tempting... focus THE.CONTENDER , smell the roses! Its too big, too precious too stupid! The early retiree does not have his head turned by the latest marketing campaign easily (unless it is half price consumable offers in the supermarket - we like those). He stalks his prey for the best deals and he ignores the glitzy, shiny gizmos that cost a fortune and "need" upgrading every year - to whose benefit is that?  </li>
<li>Financial Intelligence - All those years of training. The prey does not stand a chance . Statistics, PE (Price to Earnings), PEG (price to growth), balance sheets, rental yields, mortgage rates, you name it it is all in his arsenal along with the ultimate weapon of choice A SPREADSHEET*. The early retiree has put the hard yards in (New Zealand rugby saying for working really hard as a team to move very slowly forward up the rugby field) he spends time learning the basics, then the ins and outs of finance. What is money "money doesn't grow on trees" todays fiat money is trees - as much paper printing as you like and electronic entries on the computer called QE (quantitative easing) i.e money printing, debasing the currency....more for another day. The early retiree understands the rules of the game and learns all the tricks to get check mate.  </li>
<li>Determination - Slowly moving forward through the savanna he has his prey it in his sights... getting closer and closer as it twitches its ears can it hear him.  It is still a long way in the distance. Getting closer, getting there, getting there...keep going your time will come. Patience is a virtue and planning for early retirement will take time and will power to stay the course. You need to <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-free-Productivity/dp/0749922648/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352708994&sr=1-1" target="_blank">get things done </a>and be bloody minded in this time. Our fledgling hunter eyes the goal of master early retiree huntsman, nothing is going to stand in his way!  </li>
<li>Mental agility - thinking on his feet he spots some big rocks in the landscape ahead. They are in his way what does he do? Good job he thought of packing a few sticks of dynamite! Thinking and planning ahead to avoid the big rocks. The early retiree has developed the planning habit. He has worked out his retirement needs and how to deal with any challenges THE FUTURE holds...probably. He regularly checks his progress and changes course if needed. He learns on is feet (actually getting stuck in, not just reading a book or this blog;) He can critically evaluate an opportunity or pitfall. </li></ol>

6 Habits for Very Early Retirement

Perhaps a leaflet instead.. THE.CONTENDER is on a Scrap in the Savannah! - he is only fighting a has been in UP.TO.HIS.EYEBALLS.IN.DEBT ...

30 Rules of Very Early Retirement

Contender 3 #financialindependence, Early Retirement, financial freedom, financial independence, Rules, Saving 07:07

30 Rules of Very Early Retirement

Lots of Rules Today THE.CoNTeNDeR and trainer SORT.YOUR.LIFE.OUT have a look at all of the rules of the Very Early Retirement Fight. ...

A Good Day To Live

Contender 3 Blog, Early Retirement, early-retirement, Happiness 06:59

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qJiqB4piXXw/UJbclGXTzyI/AAAAAAAACDs/JZWLKuSKq0U/s1600/AGoodDayToLive.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="87" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qJiqB4piXXw/UJbclGXTzyI/AAAAAAAACDs/JZWLKuSKq0U/s400/AGoodDayToLive.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: A good Day to Live</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Fight fans it is a <a href="http://gooddaytolive.wordpress.com/">Good Day To Live</a>! There is a contender out there with strong credentials, a vision for THE FUTURE and a conviction to see it through to the end. MR WOODPECKER is a fellow European who is lighting up the Early Retirement and Live Life to the full movement. His posts on saving for the future, experiences from all the beautiful places he visited, perspectives on early retirement and the beautiful world around us, all that through the photographs he shares from his travels.  His philosophy on life resonates to the CONTENDER tribe! 
 
THE.CONTENDER has been fortunate to work with several people across countries in Europe. Europe is an amazing place full of extremely different cultures, working practices, traditions, sense of humor, rivalries and politics to name a few! This is why it is so good to have another European perspective from Woodpecker. His posts cover similar goals to THE.CONTENDER 's in his own unique way. Being only a few hundred miles away (UK / Germany) you can see the clear cultural differences from the styles. 
 
THE.CONTENDER has more of a western capitalist slant to this blog whilst Woodpeckers is more easy going and philosophical. Just an observation! 
 
THE.CONTENDER enjoys reading about Woodpecker's adventures, analysis of work life balance and what is happiness for Woodpecker and his tribe. THE.CONTENDER sees clearly that he has been dealt a great hand by living in Europe. It may have tones of bureaucracy, too many politicians and silly rules but it works. We have amazing geography and landscapes on our doorsteps, a mature society (as in stable populations and over population limited to some of the European mega cities). 
 
Our architecture may be crumbling in places but new exciting architects transform European cities  (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilbao_Guggenheim_Museum" target="_blank">Bilbao Guggenheim</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%BCsseldorf-Hafen" target="_blank">Dusseldorf harbor</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagrada_Fam%C3%ADlia" target="_blank">Barcelona familia sagrada</a> and good old Blighty's modern glass ode to capitalism the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_St_Mary_Axe" target="_blank">Gurkin </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shard" target="_blank">Shard of Glass</a>. Shame we can't look after our crumbling (literally as well as morally) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Westminster" target="_blank">Houses of Parliament in London.</a>... Old and New, Splendor and Shock all there to be marveled or abhorred! 
 
Woodpecker's posts are clear and nice to read, and contain lots of personal thoughts on how to achieve work-life balance in a fast paced, modern, corporate lifestyle in a big European city. For instance Mr Woodpecker describes in one post how he considered applying for a promotion and the implications this would have for him and his tribe, read on to see what he chose to do in the end. Quite inspiring for THE.CONTENDER. 
 
This is why <a href="http://gooddaytolive.wordpress.com/">Good Day To Live</a> is a must read. It is a celebration of life an all things good in Europe. What is happiness? Why travel far when there is beauty on your doorstep? The joys of raising a family.  
 
THE.CONTENDER 's favorite posts from A Good Day To Live 
<h1 class="entry-title">
<a href="http://gooddaytolive.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/a-new-era-of-work-part-2-women-back-to-kitchen/" target="_blank">A new era of work – Part 2: Both partners working full time – what a crazy concept!</a> </h1>
This is
 a great post considering the change in the working patterns of the 
"average" family from 30 years ago versus present. The post is a good critique of the crazy change from one wage earner to both parents working and the impacts this can have on your lives. 
 
 <a href="http://gooddaytolive.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/the-income-and-consumption-illusion-more-and-more-will-not-make-you-happier/" target="_blank">The income and consumption illusion – Part 1: More and more will NOT make you happier!</a> 
 
A post on what is enough? Woodpecker considers discussed does a higher grade model of car really make you happier? What is an agreeable income threshold for happiness? All in this post an one to definitely ponder upon. What do you really need and what would your family budget look like if you re-size your lifestyle? 
 
THE.CONTENDER's Favorite Part of the Blog 
 
A small selection of Woodpecker's wonderful photos of Europe which are dotted all over his blog: 
 
 
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gooddaytolive.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/xdsc_6495-e1349775071411.jpg?w=640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="213" src="http://gooddaytolive.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/xdsc_6495-e1349775071411.jpg?w=640" title="Source: A good Day to Live" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gooddaytolive.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/italy-part-6-san-vito-lo-capo-and-genoa/" target="_blank">AGDTL - San Vito Lo Capo and Genoa</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gooddaytolive.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/xdsc_6299.jpg?w=640&h=425" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="212" src="http://gooddaytolive.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/xdsc_6299.jpg?w=640&h=425" title="Source: A good Day to Live" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gooddaytolive.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/italy-part-5-sicily/#more-780" target="_blank">See Woodpeckers post on Sicily</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">  </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gooddaytolive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/xdsc_6058.jpg?w=640&h=425" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="212" src="http://gooddaytolive.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/xdsc_6058.jpg?w=640&h=425" title="Source: A good Day to Live" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gooddaytolive.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/italy-part-4-tropeacalabria/" target="_blank">AGDL - Tropea Calabria</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h1 class="entry-title">
Keep up the good work <a href="http://gooddaytolive.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank">Woodpecker</a>!</h1>
Peace and prosperity 
 
THE.CONTENDER 
 
Welcome New Contender Readers! Take a look around. <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me.html">Find out who THE.CONTENDER is</a> or <a href="http://www.getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/why-why-why.html">Start at the first article</a>, browse the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/all-posts-get-in-ring.html" target="_blank">all posts</a> or just go for a <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me.html#random" rel="13">Random Post</a>. Please feel free to play with the FREE <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 our Tribe on <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/MUFF68989945" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or subscribe to posts by email: 
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A Good Day To Live

Source: A good Day to Live Fight fans it is a Good Day To Live ! There is a contender out there with strong credentials, a vision for...

Community HELP! Part 2 - 8 Contributions and Develop New Skills

Contender 0 charity, community, Early Retirement, early-retirement, Happiness, health, Life 08:29

<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://4.bp.blogspot.com/-muFcr5auTXk/UJE6h8yQ3OI/AAAAAAAACDM/JfKvxRSt_sQ/s1600/TheFuture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="248" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-muFcr5auTXk/UJE6h8yQ3OI/AAAAAAAACDM/JfKvxRSt_sQ/s320/TheFuture.jpg" title="Source: nhs" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look to your community and learn new skills</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
SPENDITALL: "CONTENDER, when you decided to hang up your gloves, you talked about giving back to the community. Have you thought about it more? What are your thoughts now? Are you going to make a comeback????" 
 
THE.CONTENDER:  "Hold on, one question at a time! Yes I have been fortunate to be the UNDISPUTED CHAMP! but now it is pay back time. THE FUTURE may still taunt me, he may want me back in the ring. Why? I have nothing more to prove to him. He is still strong and lurks just around the corner in my mind. I must accept he will always be there and get on with life. There is no good looking back, what is important now is life, family, community and everyone's happiness. I'm not here to entertain anymore, too old for the silly games and pranks; brawls and spectacles. Time to move on. Time to live!" 
 
In the last post we had a look at some of the ways our local community has helped and supported us. In this post we are going to consider ways in which we can contribute to the community in early retirement and how you can add to \ improve your skill set. 
 
Giving something back 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Early retirement has to be earned but it is a blessing; why not using some of that time to help improve your local community?  </div>
</blockquote>
THE.CONTENDER is fortunate to live in such a nice community. It supports our family, provides friendship and safety. We will miss it when we leave. In the future we are keen to give back and help improve the community we live in. 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Let me tell you something you already 
know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and 
nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to 
your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or 
nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you 
hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how 
much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! 
Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re 
worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing 
fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or 
anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that! - Rocky Balboa</blockquote>
What
 can early retirees give back to the community in this tough old world
 we live in? This is something we have been thinking about for some 
time. Early Retirement can be great from a selfish standpoint. Loads of free time to do as you wish.
 In our opinion early retirement is about living a happy life which means a happy family and a happy community. Anything we can do towards this will benefit everyone please read on for some that we would like to choose from in the years ahead.

Community HELP! Part 2 - 8 Contributions and Develop New Skills

Look to your community and learn new skills SPENDITALL : "CONTENDER , when you decided to hang up your gloves, you talked about gi...

Community HELP! Part 1 - 10 Amazing Blessings

Contender 0 charity, community, Early Retirement, Education, financial independence, frugality, Happiness 13:48

<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://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DxKG6LKTt3Q/UHKAppmXVZI/AAAAAAAAB68/5SYKoWrX7mw/s1600/Rocky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DxKG6LKTt3Q/UHKAppmXVZI/AAAAAAAAB68/5SYKoWrX7mw/s200/Rocky.jpg" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Community guy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
INTERVIEWER: Rocky you are relatively unknown, a southpaw fighter from the harsh streets of Philadelphia, scraping a living in the lower reaches of boxing. What makes you think you have a chance at toppling the champ? 
 ROCKY:  Don't really know, got this chance, need to take it. Guess he's gonna be complacent and underestimate me I guess. Gotta go and run up some steps see ya! 
 
Rocky was more than boxing, more of a life saga that is really a credit to Sylvester Stallone; uplifting, inspirational and down to earth at the same time. The films covered several social themes; poverty, family and community. Rocky wore his heart on his sleeve, never forgetting his roots. He was committed to the community he lived in. 
 
In this post we are going to look at 10 ways our community, its resources and have helped us. A follow up post will cover ways in how we can contribute ourselves, especially in early retirement with all that free time! 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Well I'd like to get a couple of hats and maybe a 
statue for the church and some of those Muppets for the kid, you know, 
Kermit and Miss Piggy and a Snowcone machine for Paulie, you like 
Snowcones don't you?"-Rocky</blockquote>
Rocky is in a different class in the ring. THE.CONTENDER would be in big trouble. Nevertheless can THE.CONTENDER in Early Retirement engage with the community in the way that Rocky did? 
 
Community Spirit 
 
Since THE.CONTENDER has stopped working, the people and resources in our local community are more important than ever. THE.CONTENDER has met so many generous people who give up their valuable time to make local play groups, farmers markets and Sunday schools happen. Local government maintains the parks and libraries our little tribe enjoy on a day to day basis. Our Local resident group help improve our environment 
(such as new trees for the streets and organising events for the children in our local park). They petition for improvements to 
parking, access, parks and libraries. These are all massive resources that we are very grateful for. 
 
Our area would be poorer culturally and the community would not be so vibrant if it were not for the efforts of these individuals. 
 
New Friends 
 
When THE.CONTENDER was working he had a long commute to and from work, had to rush to go home just in time to pick 
up the kids from childcare then get them to bed leaving little time for anything else. Our tribe hardly knew our neighbors and did not find the time to properly engage with most people around us beyond the polite hellos and goodbyes. 
Our evenings were primarily filled with watching films, reading books, exercising, internet then bed. At weekends we recovered and sometimes a play date with one of our eldest child's friends.We used our community resources only fleetingly at 
weekends such as a visit to the park and library. 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Stay in school and use your brain. Be a doctor, be a lawyer, carry a 
leather briefcase. Forget about sports as a profession. Sports make ya 
grunt and smell. See, be a thinker, not a stinker. -
Apollo Creed  </blockquote>
With the birth of our second child Mrs C was able to take some maternity leave followed by THE.CONTENDER taking the reigns when Mrs C went back to work, with his paternity leave and now full time commitment to raising the kids. During this time we have both been very fortunate to meet new friends. Especially when we needed them 
most. 
 
After starting to look after the children full time THE.CONTENDER has met many people in
 the community who have welcomed him with open arms. THE.CONTENDER would like to consider them all friends. They are from 
all walks of life, have very different backgrounds and challenges to overcome. They are very different to the people from working in a corporate environment where most people put on a very "professional" persona. Now THE.CONTENDER meets musicians, teachers, fashion forecasters, editors and publishers, carers, builders, retirees, professional doing an MBA....from what THE.CONTENDER sees they all care deeply about their community and so do we.  
 
Time to have a look at 10 areas of help and resources from our wonderful local community. Please read on: 
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>

Community HELP! Part 1 - 10 Amazing Blessings

Community guy INTERVIEWER : Rocky you are relatively unknown, a southpaw fighter from the harsh streets of Philadelphia, scraping a liv...

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)