FISH | Financial Independence Seeking Happiness

Defensive Investing

Contender 0 Critical Thinking, Dividends, downshifting, financial independence, frugality, Planning, Saving 17:41

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6l9SplfyyjtKqRtXxwTuVxJ6dmEdF6e5IcUCRtZW-a5JtdVRCca_-SZXXJcBMdA4Xg55YAhHwVWKwr2Vs6WE5AzLWn40s-T00BukpfVSRCJs4kKUIoBgLn1KSJK3H3QF6GFT-dkGES9Z/s1600/DVGI.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6l9SplfyyjtKqRtXxwTuVxJ6dmEdF6e5IcUCRtZW-a5JtdVRCca_-SZXXJcBMdA4Xg55YAhHwVWKwr2Vs6WE5AzLWn40s-T00BukpfVSRCJs4kKUIoBgLn1KSJK3H3QF6GFT-dkGES9Z/s1600/DVGI.PNG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone needs a system to select shares</td></tr>
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<b>In this post I am going to talk about  investment timing decisions in particular:</b><br>
<b><br></b>
<b>1. A new financial independence striver<br> </b><br>
<b>2. Someone who has already amassed significant investments<br> </b><br>
<b>3. Changes to the TRiBeS investment approach <br> </b><br>
<b>4. <u>The latest DVGI (Dividend Value Growth Investments) screener results for the UK and US (at the end of the post)</u></b><br>
 <b><u><br></u></b><br>
<ul>
<li>No one can accurately predict THE.FuTuRe</li>
<li>Human beings are emotional and sometimes delusional</li>
<li>Timing is important </li>
</ul>
So what is the link between these statements and financial independence planning? Well over the past five years the stock market has done very well. At the same time THE.PaST tells us it corrects around every 5 - 8 years. Does it continue to rise over the next few years or do we get a correction. There are numerous opinions out there on the web.<br>
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<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://dshort.com/inflation/inflation-recessions-sp500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://dshort.com/inflation/inflation-recessions-sp500.gif" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: dshort.com</td></tr>
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But this time is different right? There is no need to be cautios as the Fed has our backs covered. So go ahead and go all in now.<br>
<br>
Hold on a second....If you are starting to invest in the stock market at this juncture is this wise?<br>
<br>
If you are fully invested and enjoyed the good run should you be cautious and check out some of your chips? <br>
<br>
Or are you confident of further gains and are adding to your positions?<br>
<br>
Here is a quote from a seasoned trader Dan Norcini on holding onto a loosing position which I think is pertinent if you flip it on its head and consider it from a winning position as well:<br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"They may pride themselves and 
encourage their followers to, "Stay the course". That is great if you 
are a sailor on the ocean and are being buffeted by some high waves and 
gusty winds but at some point the winds and the waves will force even 
the most stalwart of mariners to take a detour out of their way if they 
wish to avoid getting slammed into the rocks or going down. It is called
 "prudence". </span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br>   </span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br>Those who "stay the course" and keep
 pushing ahead out of sheer stubbornness often pay the price with their 
lives. Same goes for trading or investing - at some point one has to 
"take a detour" to skirt the danger so as to arrive safely at the final 
destination. </span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br>   </span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br>Spitting into the eye of a hurricane
 just gets your face wet and does nothing to force the hurricane to 
change directions. It is going to go wherever the hell it wants to go 
and it could care less what you want. This is how markets are - they go 
where they want, when they want. If you are smart, you learn to either 
go with them or get out of the way"</span></i><br>
<br>
<a href="http://traderdannorcini.blogspot.fr/2014/05/euro-weakness-remains.html" target="_blank">Trader Dan Norcini</a></blockquote>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">Time to sell growth and cyclical stocks?</span><br>
<br>
Are we now in a position with the markets we we could be lured into the trap outlined by Dan above. Could the market change direction and we hold on for dear life waiting for the tide to change.<br>
<br>
I have first hand experience of working on a cyclical business - semi conductors. A new super chip would be designed the factories built then the chip sold for the next few years until the next super chip is designed and the whole cycle starts again. The business knew this happened therefore it set itself up for, and planned ahead, for these cycles. It did this through sub contracting, temporary contracts and stock management.<br>
<br>
Coming back to point can we manage our investments in this manner or are we doomed to failure? Are we doomed to re-produce past mistakes such as the Tech Bubble.<br>
<br>
Growth stocks have been back in vogue and are trading at very high price to earnings ratios. Well known names such as Facebook, Amazon, Twitter have soared based on future growth and revenue expectations / forecast. Are they really going to deliver unlike the companies in the last Tech bubble? Should we downsize our investments now?<br>
<br>
Lets consider some different circumstances:<br>
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Defensive Investing

Everyone needs a system to select shares In this post I am going to talk about investment timing decisions in particular: 1. A new...

The Joy of Gardening

Contender 0 downshifting, Early Retirement, financial freedom, financial independence, Happiness, health 19:07

The Joy of Gardening

A garden with a view One key aspect of our downshifting plan has always been to have a nice garden. A garden is hard work, right? It is ...

Financial Independence through Dividend Value Stock Investing

Contender 4 #financialindependence, Compound Interest, Dividends, downshifting, DRIP, Finance, financial independence, Inflation, Investing, Schiller PE10, stock screen 07:35

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<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></div>
#FinancialIndependence requires setting up multiple income streams to replace your income from your labour.<br>
<br>
#Downshifting may mean that you still work but rely on a smaller income from some work and possibly some investments.<br>
<br>
<b>Today the focus is on <u>dividend value stock </u>investing to <u>provide a passive income</u>.</b><br>
<br>
Buying shares in a company has several advantages<br>
<br>
1. You have access to many companies in many different businesses<br>
2. Companies can grow their earnings and dividends rapidly<br>
3. Companies can be out of favour and cheap to buy<br>
4. Companies are strictly regulated and lots of information is available about them<br>
5. Companies can have a competitive advantage \ high barriers to entry<br>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;">"One of the biggest mistakes investors make </span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;">is to focus on stock picking for 
capital gains. </span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size: small;">The reality is that if you're not looking at 
</span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;">dividends when you buy a company... you're </span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;">likely not going to make much 
AT ALL. </span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size: small;">Did you know that without dividends, stocks </span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;">have actually 
UNDERPERFORMED bonds </span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;">for the last 113 years? </span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size: small;">This is not hype, a 
study by the London Business </span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;">School found that without dividends, stocks 
return </span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;">a measly 1.9% per year... LESS than Treasuries!"</span> <b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br><br>Gains, </span>Pains and Capital</span></b></blockquote>
</div>
To help identify companies that are of interest to invest in  I have been spending some time <u>massively improving the stock screening tool</u>  to find some cheap #dividend stocks out there. Here is a look at the new screen (The UK all share list as of the 6th April is available towards the end of the post):<br>
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<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKG1J-p6L6SRJAhMxH3yBS6dQ3HQd0HFDsBsbGKKdlG11TbNHV0-NzXhOELzI9oWs4T2CX4jPGva84VYnLW65sjurZHqtF68rg-X5Ig_AUuVFilaJc00iwAerwZV9CrpnUfvC8cLgqnAN/s1600/10YrScreen.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKG1J-p6L6SRJAhMxH3yBS6dQ3HQd0HFDsBsbGKKdlG11TbNHV0-NzXhOELzI9oWs4T2CX4jPGva84VYnLW65sjurZHqtF68rg-X5Ig_AUuVFilaJc00iwAerwZV9CrpnUfvC8cLgqnAN/s1600/10YrScreen.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sample from a stock screener created with 10 years worth of data</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It has been made very <u>visual</u> with its <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><u>colour coded</u></span> formatting. 10 years worth of financial data is used for graphs and calculations. More of the major indices have been added. <u>It has been made easier to use</u>. Easy to <u>personalise</u> with your own portfolio of stocks. Backed by a <u>large powerful data set and statistical data analysis</u>. <br>
<ul>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHX_XuYh9NK5qtOnhOJ7BocXylAjDT-zl3CYmSLkMtSSNH35I31GoG26urt84z1VI677QX1YiyWTDYFK3Nd3QAbpPUwSltlg-npDAfSsgLPQA947E04TNMw3vrP4PtneB0NKsQFcbPQrt4/s1600/PG.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHX_XuYh9NK5qtOnhOJ7BocXylAjDT-zl3CYmSLkMtSSNH35I31GoG26urt84z1VI677QX1YiyWTDYFK3Nd3QAbpPUwSltlg-npDAfSsgLPQA947E04TNMw3vrP4PtneB0NKsQFcbPQrt4/s1600/PG.JPG" width="320"></a>
<li>Contains major market data (US, UK, EU) </li>
<li><u>Current data</u> can be evaluated on the fly for the <u>Value Screener</u> and <u>Dividend Value Screener</u> by clicking the <u>magic button</u></li>
<li>Stocks can be interrogated individually with 10 years worth of data in the <u>graphical evaluation tool</u></li>
<li>10 years of financial performance is used to create the <u>10yr Value Dividend Screener</u> to check the quality of the stock - has it made a regular growing profit and paid a regular increasing dividend?</li>
<li>"My Portfolio" can be setup to show the screener results for your stocks <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIgQZ-EaJrZ7NJH1g0-aW4PDlIhsaiHrjFdZUnmXgD-CTQV0oWnDAVFvDoMqg7y-xDvuGxFB4GKB7SukMemE26DSlNCq0nYYwP0zvMbHeHO9PZu6FU_-O1vwDtpOX2AtvXQuNcZ4t0z6q/s1600/Portfolio.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIgQZ-EaJrZ7NJH1g0-aW4PDlIhsaiHrjFdZUnmXgD-CTQV0oWnDAVFvDoMqg7y-xDvuGxFB4GKB7SukMemE26DSlNCq0nYYwP0zvMbHeHO9PZu6FU_-O1vwDtpOX2AtvXQuNcZ4t0z6q/s1600/Portfolio.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Fe2TuX0Ec6bIb0Eytdx_T-yyKayX4tXgJq9x-XpES2vbkyBSiDs0zJMMrfqicwucnaN-JUD9bIGIkR5EaYaoqqa9j7DXyoEHtTozpMfC3rWVAu_AObPV2n7EN3gkzXl6vz1hUoC2LfIV/s1600/ValueStocks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Markets no longer perform true market functions. In markets today, the dead hands of the academic and the rentier have replaced the invisible hand<br> of the merchant or the entrepreneur.<br><b> <br>James Rickards  </b></span></i></span></blockquote>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Why Look at History</span><br>
<br>
The <b>Value Stock Screener </b>and <b>Dividend Value Stock Screener</b> allow the user to click a magic button to download the latest data from the web. The tool then allows individual stock evaluation. The screen looks for undervalued stocks based on the methodology of "The Little Book That Beats the Market".<br>
<br>
1. Stocks with a very high Return on Capital - are they a well run business?<br>
2. Stocks with  high earnings yield (i.e low PE) are they currently cheap <br>
<br>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Why a spreadsheet - there are loads of options on the web? So why use this tool instead of one of the numerous screeners out there? Well in my opinion spreadsheets are more personal with the data, you can add your own comments and keep them for reference. Websites have flexibility in the type of graphs and how the data is shown on the screen.  </i></span><br>
<br>
This is great at looking at <span style="font-size: small;"><b>THE.PReSeNT</b></span> but this is not the full picture. The stock may be cheap for a very good reason and can get cheaper.<br>
<br>
In order to avoid this trap further research is required.<br>
<br>
One part of the research is looking at <b>THE.PaST</b> and secondly can we be confident about <b>THE.FuTuRe</b> performance? How good is the stock really? Is the company solid, has solid earnings growth and good dividend cover? This needed to be added.<br>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">Introducing 10 Year Dividend </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Value </span>Screening</span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Dividend champion investing is not new and numerous lists of stocks that have consistent dividend growth can be found across the web. What is more difficult to attain is weather you <u>are paying too much for a champion share?</u> </span><br>
<br>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;">We need to gain in capital and dividends overtime. That way buying lowly valued stocks that become expensive can be sold and re-invested to gain MORE income. </span></i></div>
<br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The new screener has the ability to analyse 10 years worth of financial data for selected Markets </span>(NASDAQ, NYSE, DJIA FTSE 100, FTSE 250, DAX, EURSTOX50).<br>
<br>
 Its purpose is to ask the following questions:<br>
<ol>
<li>Is the current PE ratio expensive for the share in comparison to its historical PE10 (10 year average PE <br>     PE10 = 10 year average share price / 10 years average EPS </li>
<li>Is the company growing its EPS (Earnings per share) consistently?<br>     What is the average EPS growth rate over 10 years?<br>     How many years has the company made a profit?</li>
<li>Is the company growing its dividend?<br>    What is the average dividend growth rate over 10 years?<br>    How many years has a dividend been paid?</li>
<li>How much debt does the company currently have?</li>
<li>What overall score is the company on Quality, Income and Value? </li>
</ol>
All of this information is used to create a score and rank versus other companies. <br>
<ol></ol>
<span style="font-size: large;">10yr Data Screen Benefits</span><br>
<br>
The screen can be looked at stand alone via Google spreadsheets however the excel spreadsheet has some distinct advantages<br>
<ol>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9YEXBHqCTE9KtBxO-njGNrubmKJMA3F27OeD2ZoCm3jwf1j93FMnKamE5DFmPzs-6bWwEfZ_8m52kBJNY3vJvGfldpheVj39_1a8uwvv52XGuC_UZdcWGiIAl8C-FosQM6ZKHhjt7WzG/s1600/PG.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>
<li>Enter your portfolio and watch stocks to see what the screen results are. Here is a screen shot with some well known companies:<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIgQZ-EaJrZ7NJH1g0-aW4PDlIhsaiHrjFdZUnmXgD-CTQV0oWnDAVFvDoMqg7y-xDvuGxFB4GKB7SukMemE26DSlNCq0nYYwP0zvMbHeHO9PZu6FU_-O1vwDtpOX2AtvXQuNcZ4t0z6q/s1600/Portfolio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIgQZ-EaJrZ7NJH1g0-aW4PDlIhsaiHrjFdZUnmXgD-CTQV0oWnDAVFvDoMqg7y-xDvuGxFB4GKB7SukMemE26DSlNCq0nYYwP0zvMbHeHO9PZu6FU_-O1vwDtpOX2AtvXQuNcZ4t0z6q/s1600/Portfolio.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A manually entered portfolio showing 10YR data quality results and current value result</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>Query the data by bringing up a graphical interface. Here is a screenshot of Proctor and Gamble:<br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9YEXBHqCTE9KtBxO-njGNrubmKJMA3F27OeD2ZoCm3jwf1j93FMnKamE5DFmPzs-6bWwEfZ_8m52kBJNY3vJvGfldpheVj39_1a8uwvv52XGuC_UZdcWGiIAl8C-FosQM6ZKHhjt7WzG/s1600/PG.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_9YEXBHqCTE9KtBxO-njGNrubmKJMA3F27OeD2ZoCm3jwf1j93FMnKamE5DFmPzs-6bWwEfZ_8m52kBJNY3vJvGfldpheVj39_1a8uwvv52XGuC_UZdcWGiIAl8C-FosQM6ZKHhjt7WzG/s1600/PG.JPG" width="640"></a></li>
<li>Record reasons for investing in the stock in the spreadsheet for future use <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Lq_hdZnY86jba5V6cMynqSfgWClSeoxuHyKTYBCy9WsKevQjjIft9HBXp2Dkdd7GwuEvZ-jBFRfpv9iQYJeudR6wFuQWwbkJkWjy7DN5q_GO00zvyM4bdFKi1HgPaJDy9tXvrugXDb_7/s1600/Comment.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="42" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Lq_hdZnY86jba5V6cMynqSfgWClSeoxuHyKTYBCy9WsKevQjjIft9HBXp2Dkdd7GwuEvZ-jBFRfpv9iQYJeudR6wFuQWwbkJkWjy7DN5q_GO00zvyM4bdFKi1HgPaJDy9tXvrugXDb_7/s1600/Comment.JPG" width="640"></a></div>
</li>
</ol>
<ul>
</ul>
<b>Please read on for the 10 Yr Data Screen for the United Kingdoms FTSE All Share index (Yahoo! ^FTAS):</b><br>
<br>

Financial Independence through Dividend Value Stock Investing

#FinancialIndependence requires setting up multiple income streams to replace your income from your labour. #Downshifting may mean that...

Finally There (Guest post)

Contender 4 financial freedom, guest post, Happiness, stress, Work 15:48

<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span>
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<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;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1WCkyaKCq3EEOWSB75XeTWgC5EaOABURk0j-Zue04TvSAFsmn6m3pqM58tx-UL8tbyyhfbikXy7UPPnVLOG1E6ohiuAPxyqkGm-A_rd-MR9pGdA3cPm5QLu9gSxG6GKzp5nZwm-9gg2p/s1600/Mountains.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1WCkyaKCq3EEOWSB75XeTWgC5EaOABURk0j-Zue04TvSAFsmn6m3pqM58tx-UL8tbyyhfbikXy7UPPnVLOG1E6ohiuAPxyqkGm-A_rd-MR9pGdA3cPm5QLu9gSxG6GKzp5nZwm-9gg2p/s1600/Mountains.PNG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>The Pyrénées, "un réservoir de beauté", by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/feyte/11624814914/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Pierre-Paul Feyte</a></u></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mrs C's New Life</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This evening whilst I was sawing some wood for our evening fire and at the 
same time looking at the sunset on the French Pyrenees, it suddenly happened. 
This is it, my dream of a Good Life, finally there!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The majestic mountains, all 
pink and blue in the sunset, the cold crisp evening air after a beautiful warm 
spring day. It was not much really, just chopping a big oak branch we cut off a 
tree a few days ago that needed to be cut into smaller chunks to fit in the 
fire place.  </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But that was it, with hands firmly gripping the oak branch, all 
covered in lichen and a beautiful bottle green</span>  and grey colour, I was finally closer to Nature – far closer than I had ever been in the last 20? 25 years?<br />
<br />
Tonight, when I was closing the shutters of my kids’ bedrooms and putting them to bed, I saw our French friend Paul-Alexandre, who is a very busy corporate executive, come and pick up his 12-month old child from the child-minder at 7 pm. It made me realise that I could not live that busy corporate life anymore. I am not saying any more ever never never, but right now, this is not for me. <br />
<br />
<b>No more</b> power suits from lovely Italian labels that make a lovely thin waist and a terrible dent in the wallet and Harvey Nicks newsletter with more lovely dresses to get. Just a cotton skirt or a pair of dark blue jeans. No more high heels (and the back pain that goes with it) and no more carrying a so-called book bag to hide a pair of sports shoes for when running from meeting to meeting becomes impossible to manage in Louboutins. Just a really comfortable pair of dark green Hunters bought years ago when still dreaming the dream. <br />
<br />
<b>No more</b> macho bosses, even the female bosses are macho in the City. Just lovely neighbours who invite us to parties and to watch the 6 nations at home or share home-made cakes and biscuits. No more tossing and turning every night whilst worrying about work where I had to negotiate 300-page long commercial contracts and be an impossibly hard negotiator (the Iron Lady was the lovely nickname clients gave me).<br />
<br />
<b>Just </b>getting enough sleep so that we can go for a walk to town (6 km back and return), take the girls swimming and spend 2 hours gardening without feeling tired.<br />
<br />
I could go on and on with the list of “<b>no more's</b>” and “<b>just's</b>”. Now I am appreciating those long years of effort, saving every penny and planning every step we made. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thinking, Planning, Money.....</span><br />
<br />
The effort of our monthly financial reviews and planning have finally paid off....even if at the time I had to be dragged screaming to each financial review for our little tribe. I found that these reviews could sap what was left of my limited post work energy and..... <br />
<br />
It is true that I have never enjoyed talking or even thinking about money, other than seeing is as a both a way to control people and a mean to travel to far away places. Two sides of the same coin, if you excuse the pun, which interested me but I never wanted to spend more time arranging my finances than was strictly necessary. <br />
<br />
I was a passive saver and stayed away from debt. Also I have always liked to manage my pension funds and investments by choosing funds and monitoring their performance myself. But that’s just because I have always seen myself as a feminist and never wanted to have to rely on a man for financial support. Hence I wanted to do “all” by myself, studies, career, travelling, and investing my savings. It is also down to not wanting any man to control my destiny, whether a boyfriend or a financial advisor.  <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Changing to an Early Financial Independence Mindset</span><br />
<br />
I was set on the normal path, work util retirement in my 60's. I was happy with the returns on my savings and investments were generating. I could leave them on autopilot until later in life. I was a “don’t touch if not broken” type of woman.But I was seeking a "way-out" out of the rat race, feeling it was not going to make me happy and that the sacrifices required to obtain the top managerial role would not be worth the results.<br />
<br />
But change we did as a couple when we started putting our heads together to look at our finances. After all these years of planning for financial independence and creative freedom for our family these efforts are paying off. I did resent the monthly financial reviews a bit Mr C says "a lot") but they were to be done. How could we get to our dream if we sleep-walked all our life and not got our house in order?<br />
<br />
And here we are in the south west of France! We work in our vegetable patch together every sunny day (i.e. almost every day). The girls are playing in the field full of daisies (paquerettes) and we all go for cycle rides on paths with views over the Pyrenees mountains. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Mrs C</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Welcome New Readers!</b> Please take a look around.<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">Click here</a><b> </b>to find out more about <b>THE.TriBe</b> and the blog is or perhaps browse the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/all-posts-get-in-ring.html" target="_blank"><u>all posts list</u></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 like this post please spare a few seconds to share it >></span>

Finally There (Guest post)

The Pyrénées, "un réservoir de beauté", by Pierre-Paul Feyte Mrs C's New Life This evening whilst I was sawing some 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

<br>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/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>
</tbody></table>
Our little <b>TRiBe </b>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.<br>
<br>
<b>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.</b><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wage Slave Exploitation</span><br>
<br>
We were wage slaves to big business. We were the ones being exploited....<br>
<br>
<b>THE.PaST:</b> <i>"Hold on there you were were doing it willingly and being paid for it right?"</i><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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).<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br>

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...

56 Ways to Be Free, Financially Independent and Happy

Contender 0 #financialindependence, Early Retirement, Happiness 09:24

<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb07BfsO81VAt9Dkh-B6ZiGRKRLSygNcgUR3XTjbs-WhRLCWStIuwTZVmycfcfsfk1sBHvMYwnjL3PJp0NKmbfEUDL0IGod1O_V2eS8BI23mFw9h0FGvH1nk2QtMwpQQFWDbglNje0-mF-/s1600/WordCloud.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb07BfsO81VAt9Dkh-B6ZiGRKRLSygNcgUR3XTjbs-WhRLCWStIuwTZVmycfcfsfk1sBHvMYwnjL3PJp0NKmbfEUDL0IGod1O_V2eS8BI23mFw9h0FGvH1nk2QtMwpQQFWDbglNje0-mF-/s1600/WordCloud.JPG" title="Be Free, Financialy Independent and Happy" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Live free from debt</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Have fun with the kids</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Climb trees</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dig the garden</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Own the house outright</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cancel the contracts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
 Consolidate the insurance</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Freecycle</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Play with the cat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Walk in the hills</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Make cakes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cut up the credit card</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bin the TV</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Avoid plastic junk</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Setup direct payments </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Listen to music </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Spend less than you earn</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Burn something</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Drink some wine and dance</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Delete online shopping accounts </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Shop local</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stand away from the herd and observe</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grow some veg</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Start your own business</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Walk and cycle</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mend your clothes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Invest</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cuddle and kiss</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Delete email subscription spam </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Put the kids in the garden</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Vote for the outsider</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Have a party</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Know your neighbors</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Delete social media</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do you really need to buy it?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Read a book</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cook fresh food</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Install an internet ad blocker </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sit in the dark</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Doodle on a piece of paper</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Turn everything off at night</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Get a job you actually like</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wear <i>weird</i> clothes </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Resign</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Keep calm and opt out</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Be free from the State</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stay away from the mainstream media </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Be naked</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Why being Angry? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Get lost in the countryside</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Laugh out loud in public </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Is it really that bad - frame it</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Enjoy today, plan for tomorrow</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Exercise naturally ;)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
#FinancialIndependence </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seek #Happiness </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
FISH!</div>
<br />
Peace, prosperity and happiness<br />
<br />
<b>THE.CONTENDER</b><br />
<br />
<b>Welcome New CONTENDER Readers!</b> Please take a look around.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html" target="_blank">Here you can find out about </a>THE.CONTENDER and the purpose of the blog is or perhaps browse the <a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.com/p/all-posts-get-in-ring.html" target="_blank"><u>all posts list</u></a>, have a <a href="http://pinterest.com/gitrwm/contender-vs-the-future/" target="_blank">look at the pictures on the notice board</a><u><a href="http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me.html#random" rel="13"></a></u>. 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>.<br />
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56 Ways to Be Free, Financially Independent and Happy

Live free from debt Have fun with the kids Climb trees Dig the garden Own the house outright Cancel the contracts Consolida...

The Optimist, Realist and Pessimist

Contender 0 #financialindependence, Critical Thinking, financial independence, Happiness, Risk, Saving 22:10

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu6r6Zk5MzlkjY6ooW-OLcXtL7kTYx0qzbIVJMDeh9X8d4Vi_tOUVbJwwEaL-JIJ2bnPQ4j8xFrVWlmgTpb21_C5veeV7jabEilgcDHZ1vOKQEyZM_564zURATZBTuXVmoGRMiqEAEsbD/s1600/Optimist.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu6r6Zk5MzlkjY6ooW-OLcXtL7kTYx0qzbIVJMDeh9X8d4Vi_tOUVbJwwEaL-JIJ2bnPQ4j8xFrVWlmgTpb21_C5veeV7jabEilgcDHZ1vOKQEyZM_564zURATZBTuXVmoGRMiqEAEsbD/s1600/Optimist.JPG" width="320"></a></div>
<i></i>
<i>Once upon a time there was an <b>OPTiMiST </b>he went about his day with a smile on his face and the wind in his back. He was off to see his friend the <b>PeSSiMiST</b>. </i><br>
<br>
<i>Mr </i><i><i><b>PeSSiMiST</b></i> was having his usual grumble about his day and life in general, why doesn't anything work and I am stuck with this life? Just listen to the news a meteor is going to hit the earth any time now Doomed, Doomed I say!</i><br>
<br>
<i>Naturally Mr<b> OPTiMiST </b>shrugged his shoulders (whatever next he thought) - and moved onto his joke of the day to cheer up the poor old chap unfortunately to no avail</i>.<br>
<br>
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Then along came Mr <b>ReaLiST </b>he was going about his business, walking past the local lottery machine shaking his head on his way to deposit some savings at the bank...Hi guys see you in the pub after work for a beer.</span></i><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who are We?</span></span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br></span>
We can all probably place ourselves in each of these classifications depending on our circumstances and mood.<br>
<br>
Perhaps whole countries could be generalized in one of the classifications - in the UK we always complain about the weather and always look at the other side of the coin. Not everything is rosy but it ain't bad. So we are probably more of a plan for tomorrow realist bunch.... Whenever I have worked in America I consider them as optimistic go-getters, very driven and optimistic about almost everything. These are <span style="font-size: small;">generalisations for sure and completely off the mark depending on your point of view.</span><br>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Exploiting the moment</span><br>
<br>
These traits can be the financial independence worst adversary or even weakness. The world is setup to prey on these traits so that you squander your money.<br>
<br>
The optimistic young adult starting out in the real world looking for an identity is quickly lured into the world of Sex. You must buy this brand of clothes, listen to this music drive that car. While you are at it buy this perfume / deodorant it is all you need to have scantly clad members of the opposite sex running after you. Feeling more optimistic about your chances?<br>
<br>
On the flip side we have the DOOMERS! BEWARE THE DOOMERS! The end of the world is neigh, load up on food, guns and ammo - you can't eat it but you can use it and trade it. A trade in death - nice..... Hunker down, save cash under their pillow don't speculate don't get rich.<br>
<br>
What about those weird realists - stuck in the middle - middle class? A nerd - you must have this games console, this most awesome powerful PC. A striver - buy these books to make you rich attend this course and buy these stocks. Save for your pension work hard until you retire at 70. Spend the rest and get the biggest mortgage possible. Bahh Humbug!<br>
<br>
Now after recognising some of the weakness and what does the #financialindependence #downshifter do?<br>
<br>

The Optimist, Realist and Pessimist

Once upon a time there was an OPTiMiST he went about his day with a smile on his face and the wind in his back. He was off to see his fri...

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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kK20fen8DpCO8JGmXIUPt2lsM0x8700-wzodkJiXKgeE6GHGFFw-smHSBVOjGXF-1ACfGB0_Ubi0YPb2Ic8VzC3zOgbPAvseXASFwARAP1hwhzgvGhTfGQYYUEnwLkdyI-fXJ6-0SN5-/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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kK20fen8DpCO8JGmXIUPt2lsM0x8700-wzodkJiXKgeE6GHGFFw-smHSBVOjGXF-1ACfGB0_Ubi0YPb2Ic8VzC3zOgbPAvseXASFwARAP1hwhzgvGhTfGQYYUEnwLkdyI-fXJ6-0SN5-/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 <b>programming </b>and playing the odd <b>game </b>such
 as Boffin, Manic Miner and Castle Quest. I was in awe with my Commodore
 64. Technology was new, changing fast, cutting edge and <u>innocent</u>.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
We have <b>social media</b> - 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!<br>
<br>
Without the <b>internet </b>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. <br>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">Desolation of the young</span><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Does this really encourage respect for each other and the formation of strong families?<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>

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

<br>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1syanQlk2GItLa_aUGHnkZXNH83nxU8ahTEr603DmyM4I0b7y00Sh4quRdifApXN6uRThdjLv9Fz7HCn_qPjuxjktxgX-C5IW1htIFSJCg4FwX8hdJN7jPlMmXygZPwyU9bF98-kMaRQ/s1600/TeddyFamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1syanQlk2GItLa_aUGHnkZXNH83nxU8ahTEr603DmyM4I0b7y00Sh4quRdifApXN6uRThdjLv9Fz7HCn_qPjuxjktxgX-C5IW1htIFSJCg4FwX8hdJN7jPlMmXygZPwyU9bF98-kMaRQ/s1600/TeddyFamily.jpg" width="320"></a><i><b>Mr Teddy Bear</b>: "Time to review our family finances and consider where are we going. Let's get the facts and run the cold hard numbers.<b>"</b></i><br>
<br>
<i><b>Mummy Bear: </b>"Oh daddy bear you are so cuddly when you talk tough"</i><br>
<br>
<i><b>Baby Bear: </b>"I want a games station, mobile computer, princess bike and trust fund...Now!" </i><b></b><br>
<br>
<b><br></b>
<b></b><br>
<b><br><br><br><br>This post is about a few hypothetical scenarios entered into the NEWLY UPDATED financial time line planner.</b><br>
<br>
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:<br>
<ul>
<li>Mortgage calculations</li>
<li>Debt repayments</li>
<li>Improved graphics</li>
<li>Financial scenarios</li>
</ul>
Here<u><b></b></u> we are going to look at three different type of people and see how the timeline works for them:<br>
<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>
<span style="font-size: large;">Party on! CEO, Playboy, Sports car, Mansion, Hawaii </span><br>
<br>
Our
first example is the one <b>THE.CoNTeNDeR</b> 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 <b>THE.CoNTeNDeR's </b>financial mindset.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpB7FSHuFFq8TAcVD_asBjBQM7RfN5sEv1nRMLb3J64muOSkLcGy8xKjM3PECY7aw67xshcKnH00X2mg5XNdz8M9zWiS0WhxNjQKx3X11porbBrw9AITggaolEfXRPMIxnx896jgfjt1Z/s1600/25yrPartyOn.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpB7FSHuFFq8TAcVD_asBjBQM7RfN5sEv1nRMLb3J64muOSkLcGy8xKjM3PECY7aw67xshcKnH00X2mg5XNdz8M9zWiS0WhxNjQKx3X11porbBrw9AITggaolEfXRPMIxnx896jgfjt1Z/s1600/25yrPartyOn.JPG" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CLICK ON PICTURE !</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>

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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31ms4DxaBN-Ndjp8N8378bEbc7byXzydp-uyLNDT-43Vymm6dqthY7hFy1Q5emohfZKEgyJ2MPO4kt3d5FjSV6FPZo90hWdraQIng22S8glTtacexVUiSEJB-hFbxw8PFh4d85hoQBAP8/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31ms4DxaBN-Ndjp8N8378bEbc7byXzydp-uyLNDT-43Vymm6dqthY7hFy1Q5emohfZKEgyJ2MPO4kt3d5FjSV6FPZo90hWdraQIng22S8glTtacexVUiSEJB-hFbxw8PFh4d85hoQBAP8/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>What's THE.FuTuRe Forecast?</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<b>THE.FuTuRe: <i>"</i></b><i>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."<br><br><b>THE.PReSeNT</b> "Just let me look after you!"</i><br>
<br>
<b>THE.CoNTeNDeR</b>: "<i>You're a happy bunch aren't you? Bog off! I can learn from the past to prevent mistakes in the future.</i><i><i> I actually know of a few useful guys that can help me out.</i>"</i><br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Being partially right is better than being completely wrong.<br>
<br>
<b>THE.CoNTeNDeR</b> 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.<br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>“Plan too far ahead and nature will seem to resist.” <br>- </b><b>Ancient Chinese proverb<br> </b></i></span></span></blockquote>
<b>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 </b><br>
<ul>
<li><b>How we humans are using patterns and cycles to forecast THE.FuTuRe. In particular Martin Armstrong's Confidence, Model, Nicolai </b><b>Krondratieff's inter-generational cycles and Gerald Celente's Trend Journal.</b></li>
<li><b>Contemplate inter-generational impacts for the Boomer, Nomad, Hero and Artist generations. </b></li>
<li><b>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. </b></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">Phi, Cycles and the Nano Second Investing World we Live in</span><br>
<br>
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!<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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......<br>

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...

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)