FISH | Financial Independence Seeking Happiness: Habits

Being the best

Contender 0 Critical Thinking, fear, Habits, Happiness 09:01

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" 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src="data:image/png;base64,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" /></a>In life being the best has a lot more to it than a high IQ a trophy degree or even good looks. Skills are developed to be an individual (in school) whilst often being pandered to (at home). Admittedly, perhaps, this is a more modern phenomenon. As we have got wealthier (work harder and longer) our kids can be afforded an "easier life" and be outsourced (nannies and media entertainment). This is not providing them with the skills to be the best.<br />
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Key social skills are not developed in this false, individual, pandered environment. To be the best a large swathe of personal and social skills need to be developed. Here are some of the desired skills listed in the book for kids "How kids Fail"<br />
<ul>
<li>Confidence</li>
<li>Curiosity</li>
<li>Self control</li>
<li>How you relate to other people and understand their point of view (do not jump to conclusions)</li>
<li>Communicate (Listen, clarify, understand, empathize)</li>
<li>Cooperativeness</li>
</ul>
Key work / personal skills should seek to instill:<br />
<ul>
<li>Be positive about everything and everyone </li>
<li>Always do your best</li>
<li>Always look to improve</li>
<li>Always ask what you can do better (not what you have done well) \ collaborative</li>
</ul>
These skills help to develop a rounded, grounded, confident, go getting individual:<br />
<ol>
<li>good social skills</li>
<li>no dwelling on past mistakes (just learning not to repeat them)</li>
<li>forward looking and suppression of wasteful negative thoughts </li>
<li>a can do (and will do) attitude</li>
<li>taking responsibility instead of being a victim seeking excuses.</li>
</ol>
Acting this way will open doors of opportunity no matter who you are and what age you are. They make you a valuable person. Financial reward will follow and then you can decide what you want to do with it.<br />
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Even better still you will already have a plan, goal and desires already mapped out giving life direction and purpose (goals).<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
None of this is easy. I personally have only developed some habits recently. I have to constantly remind myself of my conduct. I often fail and have to try harder.<br />
<br />
I can easily critisise my conduct in the past. I sincerely regret some of it and have spent lots of time kicking my-self. Thankfully I have learnt to move on. Did I learn from my mistakes? In some ways yes. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Now something goes off in my head that says stop when I am going to do something stupid. All those past mistakes needle me to stop and change course. Is that what wisdom is learn from loads of past mistakes.<br />
<br />
I guess the more mistakes you make when you are young the better. Mistakes early are a blessing. Generally the don't have dire consequences either. </blockquote>
<h2>
Develop some habits?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Listen, Pause and think before replying. If you are unsure wait until tomorrow especially when angry.</li>
<li>Learn to be critical of yourself and ask what would I do different next time.</li>
<li>Have goals and a plan well into the future</li>
<li>Identify and make friends with the right people - positive, happy and energetic types whilst avoiding the wrong type of people - negative, excuse driven individuals.</li>
<li>Read and learn from philosophers, strivers, thinkers, go getters and people who have faced adversity and won.</li>
</ul>
<h2>
We have TIME on our side</h2>
Thankfully we ALL have TIME to make changes and that is a gift we have to use. If something is not working do something about it. Quit, move, fix and buckle down to some hard work.<br />
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Some reading ideas:<br />
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Stephen Covey:7 Habits, 8th Habit, 3rd Way<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-OwG0rfML._SX316_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""></a><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-OwG0rfML._SX316_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-OwG0rfML._SX316_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
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The Magic of Thinking Big<br />
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How Children Fail<br />
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Epictetus<br />
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Peace, prosperity and happiness<br />
<br />
<b>CoNTeNDeR</b><br />
<br />
<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 liked this post can you please spare a few seconds to share it?

Being the best

In life being the best has a lot more to it than a high IQ a trophy degree or even good looks. Skills are developed to be an individual (in...

Spendaholics

Contender 0 Early Retirement, financial independence, frugality, Habits, Saving, spending 17:03

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good investment?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>The Tribe is currently going through a period of EXTREME spending</b>. <br />
<br />
First up this post is not about idiotic hedonistic spending. We have not been to Bali (ever), we do not have silly fuel guzling, flash cars, we do what we can ourselves and do not rely on expensive services. It is about:<br />
<ul>
<li>What have we spent money on</li>
<li>A case study on good spending</li>
<li>Have a play with the free FISH timeline planner </li>
</ul>
<h2>
 
<br /><br /><br />THE.FuTuRe: "I did not think they would last long in financial independence - the spending bug has finally got them"</h2>
Let's have a look at what we have spent (invested) money on and why we consider it useful in the pursuit of FISH.<br />
<ol>
<li>We have installed a really cool eco heating system for new house: </li>
<ol>
<li>25kw wood gassification boiler with a 1000 litre water buffer tank</li>
<li>300 litre solar water tank with heat exchange between the two tanks - new unpressurised design.</li>
<li>3 chimneys </li>
<li>two 4kW wood  burning stoves</li>
<li>So much insulation we do not know what to do with it all other than double it up</li>
<li><b>Very low running cost  - minimal electricity (pumps and controllers), Purchase of wood (currently free as we are using the wood we have available around the house (~15 dead trees).</b></li>
<b>
</b><ol><b>
</b>
<li><b>Electricity - break even</b></li>
<b>
</b>
<li><b>Wood cost of £500 per year </b></li>
<b>
</b>

</ol>
</ol>
<li> Grow some of our own food and medicine</li>
<ol>
<li> Tools and machines: vegetation mulcher (to fertilise and protect the fruit trees), chain saw and safety equipment (we have lots of 
dead trees), axes, shovels, well pump (this will halve our water bill as we can water the garden and vegetable patch with free water)</li>
<li><b>Aim is to grow
 our own Fruit and Vegetables in the Summer \ Autumn. Initial aim is to 
save 30% of our grocery shop for 6 months of the year (we currently 
spend £321 on food and consumables per month so saving 30%*321*6 = ~£580
 per year</b></li>
<li><b>Have free wood for several years </b></li>
<li><b>Free water for the garden</b></li>
</ol>
<li> Our second hand 1.5 Diesel Renault Clio consumes HALF of the fuel of my 1.6l petrol WV GOLF</li>
<ol>
<li>Re-negotiated the insurance and BOTH cares are less than our payments on ONE CAR in the UK</li>
<li>No yearly road tax in France (was £180 in the UK)</li>
<li>Bi Annual Car Check (Control Technique) in France versus Yearly in the UK<b> </b></li>
<li><b>Saving 180(tax), 50(insurance) £700(Fuel), MOT £30  =£960 - Car Cost £5800 time to payback = 5800/960 = ~ 6 years</b></li>
</ol>
</ol>
<b> </b><br />
<ol>
<ol></ol>
</ol>
<b>Estimated total reduction in living costs per year £580 (food),  £240 (water), £700 (Heating), £960 (Car Costs) = £2,480 savings per year</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>THE.FuTuRE - </b>"What a waste of time CoNTeNDeR all that work - why bother. New technologies are making everything CHEAPER - keep with the system."<br />
<b>CoNTeNDeR - </b>"It's an investment - the value of your investments may fall, blah blah blah. At least it is in my control not yours!"</blockquote>
<h3>
How much would we need to earn each year to pay for the savings?</h3>
Consider this £2,480 having to be earned after tax. Tax at the lower rate of 20% and Social charges at 8%, you would need to earn £3,174<br />
<br />
Assuming a 5% return on investment you would need £3,174/.05 = ~ £63,500 working for you that needs to provide a return that increases at least in line with inflation.<br />
<h3>
How much have spent / invested to get the savings?</h3>
Compare that to the investments we made above to reach the same amount of "return", Car £5,800, Heating £19,000, Gardening Equipment £1,500, Insulation and shutters, £7,000 = £33,300 & we get some completely inflation proof protection with regards solar hot water, home grown food, well water and wood.<br />
<h2>
Does it make sense to spend savings in this way?</h2>
<ul>
<li>£63,000 need to be invested to pay for living costs of £2,480 (£3,174 before tax)</li>
<li>£33,300 need to be spent to reduce living costs by £2,480 </li>
</ul>
<b><i>It
 seems that this is a wise "investment" to spend the money to reduce our living costs. We will have less capital invested but can save more per month. Will compound interest work for or against us?</i></b><br />
<br />
Consider the following case: if you had 100,000 in savings, your earned income is 25,000 per year (post tax) and you are saving 30% of your income (living costs = 25,000 - 30% = 17,500)<br />
<br />
<u>Case 1 - You don't spend the money</u><br />
<br />
100,000 <b>invested returns 5,000 per year</b> at 5%<br />
You can <b>save </b>30% of a salary of 25,000 = <b>7,500 per year</b><br />
Living <b>cost 17,500 per year </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5841097566669291663" imageanchor="1" style=""></a>TOTAL SAVINGS = 12,500 per year   STARTING CAPITAL = 100,000<br />
<br />
<u>Case 2 - You spend the money</u><br />
<br />
100,000 - 33,300 = 66,700 <b>invested returns 3,335 per year</b> at 5%<br />
You can <b>save </b>30% of a salary of 25,000 = 7,500 + the savings of 2,480 = <b>9,980 per year</b><br />
Living <b>cost </b>17,500 - 2,480 (reduction due to savings) = <b>15,020 per year</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5841097566669291663" imageanchor="1" style=""></a>TOTAL SAVING =  13,315 per year    STARTING CAPITAL 66,700<br />
<ul></ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
In this case (*see parameters) this is what your investment capital <u>may</u> look like in 25 years time. It takes around <u><b>19  years for the "purchases" to reach the same capital balance if you just carried on saving</b></u> </div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Income increases at 3% per year (25K starting point)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Inflation increases at 4% per year</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Investments return <u>on average</u> 7% per year </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Living costs start at 17.5K (15K reduced living cost)</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>THE.FuTuRe</b>: "19 years! to catch up and that is assuming just 7% return on invetment - aren't you just betting on your Eco system which will probably be obsolete before long! - Burn the hydrocarbons baby and smell the smoke of progress you tree hugging chimp."</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>CoNTeNDeR - </b>"Sure I should be one of the sheeple, go with the flow, listen to the mainstream media, <strike>indoctorate</strike> educate the kids to be good consumers, build reliance instead of resillience, be part of the team instead of an odball fanatic hiding in a eco hideout scared to go out"</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>MR.REaLiST</b> - "Sounds good to me <b>CoNTeNDeR</b> plan ahead a bit, why sit still and wait.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>MR.PeSSiMiST</b> - "What are you doing - ruining the lives of your kids - molly coddling them from the real world. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>MR.OPTiMiST</b> - "Everything is awesome, chill, relax and have some fun man, thinking is so outdated. Everthing is Now Now Now and to your doorstep if you like!"  </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>What can we learn from this case study?</b></div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Spending is bad for very early financial independence (especially unproductive spending)</b></li>
<li><b>A large starting point (inheritance) makes a massive difference</b></li>
<li><b>Productive spending will pay off in the LONG term - if you need to move the investment in the house may be "lost"</b></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>You need to SAVE and BUILD capital to benefit from the power of COMPOUND INTEREST instead of SPENDING to reduce your costs for very early retirement.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>You should look at ways to reduce costs through lifestyle choices. For example, choosing not to buy something or some service and live in a cheaper place. </b></div>
<br />
<h2>
Why did the TRiBe do it then?</h2>
Like any decision there are unique reasons and circumstances behind any decision. Arbitruary if you forego all spending it (saving and no spending) can have different outcomes. Some can be negative such as not moving (costs) for a higher paying job, failing to look after your health.<br />
<br />
In the Tribe's case the bucks have <b>really </b>been invested for the <b>long term </b>in our new life. This investment reduces our dependence on VARIBLE or DECLINING CASH FLOW, to some degree PROTECTS CAPITAL and increases our resilience \ self sustainability:<br />
<ol>
<li>We get to live in a mortgage-freehouse</li>
<li>The house had <u>no heating and minimal insulation</u> so we chose an energy efficient solution. </li>
<li>My old car had already done 150,000 miles - a new car was needed for reliability and backup. </li>
<li>We have a degree of self sufficiency (land, water and fruit trees)</li>
<li>Our net worth is not <b>as exposed</b> to market crashes as we now have a wider asset allocation.</li>
</ol>
<h2>
Why this case doesn't make sense for Financial Independence Seeking</h2>
<ol>
<li>House prices are at historical highs versus earnings. </li>
<li>Renting can often be cheaper than buying and paying for a mortgage </li>
<li>Buying a property generally means SPENDING your investment pot to INVEST in lower living costs - Think this through carefully.</li>
<li>Owing a house can reduce your flexibility to move for a better job.</li>
<li>A house is a liability. You have maintenance costs and property taxes. </li>
<li>A larger capital investment pot can compound very fast in a bull market providing more capital to re-deploy in housing etc later. </li>
<li>Cheaper heating systems (inital installation costs) are available. Personal choices such as live in only a couple of heated rooms in the winter (which is fairly short in the SW of France) would only require one 12kW stove.</li>
<li>Live close to your work to avoid the car costs</li>
</ol>
Why not have a play with the free financial projection spreadsheet on this site? Play with the numbers for your personal situation and dream of <i>your</i> future.<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://sites.google.com/site/lifeplanltd/home/TimeLine_Financial.xls?attredirects=0&d=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Click to load excel file" border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgseOx2p561RjMAeqvEbYHvzlIcnyiAjrYMfzu4Oks76D6wVV0lbRuz2Dth6CEvetKa3iWOCajvVgbOfvqh2yqZtmeSHby6sRBPUoU5BH-khjO_qJljjKK5vyhZjUeWpjhbw88IybiOmwDx/s280/25yrFI.JPG" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/lifeplanltd/home/TimeLine_Financial.xls?attredirects=0&d=1" target="_blank">Financial Timeline Planner (click to download excel file)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Perhaps if we all conserve resources better we would actually have more as a society. We would leave more for the future and instead of just burning fuel (also known as money) the savings can be used to build a better world to live in. <b> </b></i><br />
<br />
<b>THE.FuTuRe</b><i> - "Wake up you muppet - that is <b>NOT </b>how we have been told the world works, don't think just do it" </i><br />
<b>THE.CoNTeNDeR</b><i> - "We will just do it... our way</i>"</blockquote>
</div>
<br />
Peace, prosperity and happiness<br />
<br />
<b>CoNTeNDeR</b><br />
<br />
<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 liked this post can you please spare a few seconds to share it?

Spendaholics

A good investment? The Tribe is currently going through a period of EXTREME spending . First up this post is not about idiotic hedon...

Spendthrift Or Save Bore

Contender 2 Budget, Dividends, frugality, Habits, Happiness 20:47

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corfe Castle - A bad investment?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
Bad advice on Spending, Saving and Investing</h2>
I have been reading a few posts recently going along the lines:<br />
<br />
1. If you have a dividend stock portfolio you need 3 years in cash to cover the ups and downs - why?<br />
2. The classic: draw down 4% a year of your portfolio and you will be fine - always?<br />
3. Index funds have always done the job (Warren Buffet has just said so) - aren't they fairly new in the scheme of things?<br />
4. Live in a trailer on the street next to your job (or work for Google and live in the car park) and save $$$$$$ - sounds cosy!<br />
5. Invest in non ethical ventures such as ATM machines, pay day loans etc. - "If I don't provide the service someone else will" - what is the real cost?<br />
<br />
Ideas and advice are easy to give out (yours included) however this practise can be either misplaced irresponsible or downright dangerous. Getting something that REALLY WORKS requires the individual to take control and responsibility for their decisions. Mindlessly following can be leading oneself straight off the cliff.<br />
<br />
<i>What if you follow the passive investing approach in a country with a collapsing financial system? <br />What if your money is tied up and you cant get hold of it when you really need it? <br />What if it is the wrong time to sell the investment? Have you REALLY diversified?</i><br />
<br />
Just because certain investments have worked out well over the last 60 years why should they continue to do so? Yes they have opened door to early retirement to more people than ever but is this just an aberration? I believe it is worthwhile asking these difficult questions in order not to mislead FI seekers.<br />
<br />
For instance just look at the financial repression we are under. Interest rates at 1% anyone? Who would have thought that and how much would you need in an annuity to live off at that rate of return? No wonder a record number of people are having to postpone retirement.<br />
<br />
To be sure of early retirement what is really needed is a rock solid diversification - more saved at a lower return. secondly it needs to provide you a lot more income than you spend so you can continue to save.*<br />
<h2>
Spend and Save </h2>
Today lets have a look at what really drives peoples ability to be FI - their self control over spending, saving, personal expectations and desires.. <br />
<br />
In particular what HAS to be spent and what NEEDS to be spent to be <u>HAPPY</u>. Why save everything to be FI and be miserable - absolutely pointless - have a re-think of your goals.<br />
<br />
Likewise if you have a desire to spend, spend, spend to be happy :) this is not the blog for you check out the Hiltons and Beckhams.<br />
<br />
Saving has been portrayed as boring, missing out, repressive.<br />
<br />
Saving is generally hard to do in large amounts - consider the challenge to save $100 per month compared to how easy it is to spend $1000 on a credit card.<br />
<br />
It really is a mind game - small amounts snowball, over time <u>compound interest</u> generates wealth. Unfortunately saving too slowly that happy time for (rest, personal pursuits and personal work choice) will be a long way off.<br />
<br />
Something has to give. <br />
<h2>
How much should I spend to not be a misery guts?</h2>
It is easy to really hack your spending. Several posts on this site have covered the steps our TRiBe <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu2jN3nKq762EwDH49xJuCM6QgWug5kJX0uVb3mheEdEhCeKGd69pYxufoBruq1ea9ejG3xC98FyLHueAt-HGUNir0ZE0NZbrRON2In3EduQFD_HSaE2RMn8-XVNMsFX1sNLM9-6IthEY/s1600/DSCF0385-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu2jN3nKq762EwDH49xJuCM6QgWug5kJX0uVb3mheEdEhCeKGd69pYxufoBruq1ea9ejG3xC98FyLHueAt-HGUNir0ZE0NZbrRON2In3EduQFD_HSaE2RMn8-XVNMsFX1sNLM9-6IthEY/s1600/DSCF0385-001.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Worth Visiting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
has taken to annihilate our WASTEFUL spending in a way that did not detrimentally affect our comfort and happiness. <br />
<ol>
<li><b>Transport </b>- Simple - buying a car that is too big or too fuel in-efficient does not make sense. You just need to get from A-B. Why do it expensively? At the end of they day you might as well take the notes from your pocket and set fire to them - a massive waste of resources for you and the nation.</li>
<li><b>Heating </b>- going freezing cold is probably a bad idea and likewise being too hot is a waste (see transport). Spending loads of money on a fossil fuel means you are reliant on someone else providing it. Perhaps you should invest your hard-earned money in changing the fossil-fuel heating to wood (or a heat pump for instance) and insulating your home. Again what is too much? 10% of your income spent on heating/ cooling is probably fine so forget about it and move on. </li>
<li><b>Food </b>- going cheap probably = poor diet and = future health costs > buy fresh food and don't waste food. </li>
<li><b>Fun Pot</b> - Upgrading a gadget, a coffee, beer or cake or visit to the zoo- make sure there is a % of your income to LIVE in THE.PReSeNT - that is our happy time - NOW.</li>
</ol>
<h2>
How much should I save to gain my freedom?</h2>
<ol>
<li><b>Too much</b> - you will not have much of a life - scrimping and saving at a time when you are in the prime of your life. That proverbial bus with your name on it could be around the corner. What about finding that perfect partner, travelling and experiencing different cultures. Invest in expanding your knowledge and learning lots of new things who knows where it will take you (literally).</li>
<li><b>Do not forgo Ambition </b>- Don't be afraid to take financial risks when you are young. At a young age the amounts involved are likely to be trivial (put things in perspective what is $10K lost on a business compared to the opportunity of $$$$ when you are young and have nothing to really loose except face? Go on and take a risk on a better job, don't be afraid to move to a different country, have a go at starting your own business. Be fearless. Soon you will have a substantial income instead of a mediocre income to save substantial sums.</li>
<li><b>Start Cash Flow Investing</b> as soon as possible. Try starting with readily available assets such as rental / commercial property, REITS or dividend stocks where small amounts of money can be easily deployed. Alternatively invest in YOU perhaps some training or equipment that you can use to gain money e.g. an embossing machine, lawnmower for a gardening business, programming course etc.</li>
<li>Saving can mean <b>other things</b> as well such as</li>
<ol>
<li><b>Reductions</b>: always asking for a discounts and deals, surf the net for discount codes</li>
<li><b>Choose not to incur an expense</b>: can I walk,and have a meal and movie at home instead of cinema. Lots of little compromises really add up - think before you spend or sign up for any contract.</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<h3>
A reasonable budget for a FI enthusiast?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Food (10%)</li>
<li>Transport (5%)</li>
<li>Utilities (5%)</li>
<li>Mortgage (30%)</li>
<li>Other (5%) - fun stuff and unexpected costs</li>
<li>Savings (35%)</li>
</ul>
Why not pull together your spending and group them into categories and percentages. Do they seem reasonable to you? Are you missing out on something? If I moves some spending from A>B will i be happier or will i reach my goals earlier? <br />
<ul>
</ul>
<h2>
When have I saved enough?</h2>
In the TRiBeS experience what we thought we needed versus what we actually need are VERY difficult to reconcile. What will you new life look like and how much will it cost?<br />
<br />
I guess the question for us was how much can we continue to save once we have stopped working. <i><b>It would be idiotic to retire on just enough</b></i>. Shit happens all the time in the world. A safety buffer is always needed and is very sensible.<br />
<br />
For example we have seen some of our dividend income reduce due to the commodity crash. It will return in THE.FuTuRe but now we have less money coming in. Perhaps commodities could reverse and inflation will begin to outstrip our income for a while or taxes rise faster than our ability to pay them - who really knows? <br />
<br />
Our pre-financial independence saving rate was North of 50% (of a large corporate salary). Now we are aiming at saving 20% of a substantially smaller income.<br />
<br />
Additionally we are putting aside a further 20% of our income for "fun stuff". Our kids need experiences to grow, mindlessly penny pinching would be at the detriment to their futures. We need to arrange trips to interesting and fun places and plan challenging activities for them.<br />
<h2>
Making the right personal choices </h2>
<b>So there you have it the pursuit of financial independence and happiness on the opinion of this author is <i>REALLY</i> about gaining personal wisdom. </b><br />
<br />
<b>This mainly takes the form of financial (tracking your finances and making informed, thoughtful, good decisions) and emotional intelligence (growing up and learning to be being responsible, not panicking and jumping to conclusions). </b><br />
<br />
<b>Wisdom is knowing, not being told or shown, what makes you happy - are we there yet?</b><br />
<br />
Peace, prosperity and happiness<br />
<br />
<b>CoNTeNDeR</b><br />
<br />
*The alternative is becoming very good at following capital across the 
globe. You would need the ability to move capital from country to 
country and between asset classes - not easy to time or identify where 
it will go next and well beyond a person with average means.<br />
<br />
<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 liked this post can you please spare a few seconds to share it?

Spendthrift Or Save Bore

Corfe Castle - A bad investment? Bad advice on Spending, Saving and Investing I have been reading a few posts recently going along the...

20 Positively Stubborn Ways to be FI

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

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

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

20 Positively Stubborn Ways to be FI

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

10 Reasons Why Financial Independence is Good for Society

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

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Road to Freedom</td></tr>
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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...