Cent by Cent

Our journey to Financial Independence

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The Productivity Myth – Less is More

Do more in less time! Every minute must have a purpose. There is no other option, you must hustle and you must be productive. Productivity has become the end and be all of our cultures. 

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Whether it’s at work or in our free time we are pressured into consistently hustling and being productive. Yet, this advice misses the mark. We don’t get the most done by hustling for the longest; on the contrary, watching a movie or going for a drink won’t set you back years.  Most importantly take the time to sleep. 

Let’s take the time to see how much you really get out of constant hustling and most especially what does the constant pursuit of more cost?

What is productivity?

Let’s go straight to the source and see what the Cambridge Dictionary tells us:

Productivity is the rate at which a person, company, or country does useful work.

Cambridge Dictionary

Quite straight forward isn’t it! You put the effort in and yield the rewards. Yet at no moment in this definition is working hours, grinding, or hustle mentioned. With this in mind… the question comes? Why do we think that to produce useful work – we need to be at it constantly. Surely 1 hour spent in a state of flow yields better results than 4 hours multitasking and hustling?

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The correlation of productivity to hours worked can be calculated by GDP per capita divided by hours worked. Within the top 10 countries, only 3 worked over 1600hours in 2019. Whereas the top 4 all were more productive per hour worked as well as being some of the happiest countries on earth. 

Society has built a cult to productivity on an erroneous basis. So much so that nowadays Americans sleep 6.5 hours on average. As we know lack of sleep leads to a mountain of problems in the long run from an increase in illnesses and a challenge in focusing. Sounds like the epitome of counterproductivity doesn’t it?

What does it mean?

We have been led to believe hard work and hustle are a badge of honor. Nothing matters more than long hours! How often do I hear “I can rest when I die”. But when it comes to producing results and growing, less is most definitely more. 

It’s not always that we need to do more but rather that we need to focus on less.

Nathan W Morris

Hustling might lead to success in the short term. I’m more interested in the marathon and succeeding in the long term. For that rest is not only important it’s necessary. By taking the time to regenerate we maintain our mental health and rebuild our focus. When we look for a job after remuneration work-life balance is often at the top of the list. It begs the question, why don’t we seek it in our personal life?

It’s not all doom and gloom though. Our working addiction can be cured and there are ways to make rest feel productive. I know firsthand how difficult it is to rest. The constant thought of “you should be doing something useful” nagging at the back of my mind. Society has shaped me to almost feel culpable about doing nothing. 

The Pillars of productive resting

There is no doubt that feeling your best is what will yield the best results. Any illusion that it’s possible to be consistent performant comes from survivorship bias. I address this in detail in my article “How Survivorship Bias Affects Your Decisions”. What are the different tools to restore your mind?

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Peace and Quiet: Meditation is a game-changer for me. All it takes is 10 minutes a day, truly enjoying the silence and drawing away from my daily struggles. It isn’t the end of all. It’s merely a tool that helps you control your emotional response and thoughts.

Sleep is magical: Sleep isn’t an option… It’s an obligation we owe it to our body. Statistics say we need anywhere between 7 and 9 hours a night. Sticking to a healthy sleep schedule and valuing your sleep will lead to a lower need for caffeine and higher productivity.

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Make Life Fun: Play is mistaken as being beholden for children. Playing is simply taking the time to enjoy yourself. When we get lost in the hustle of life we often forget hobbies and enjoyment. Whether it’s picking up a guitar or playing a video game. It might not feel productive at the moment but is a great outlet for stress.

A healthy mind in a healthy body: It doesn’t mean lifting weights every day or running marathons weekly. It is the idea of exerting yourself not only mentally but physically. Whether it’s as small as a brisk walk or a proper session of exercise. The best way for me to kickstart my creative juice is to go for a walk. 

Don’t work hard but work smart

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As time goes I believe I have found a balance between resting and working. It all started with building my sleep routine. The rest of my life is built around it. I’ve set ambitious objectives from performing at work, to exercising 3 times a week and posting on my website regularly. None of this has come at the expense of my social life. 

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.

Steven Covey

It all starts by understanding what triggers you and what times of the day are your most productive. I personally work best in the early morning. Which means that when the need for extra work arises… I wake up earlier and get down to it! Does that mean I slept less last night? Absolutely not, I’ve padded my sleep schedule with a couple of hours. It gives me the time to enjoy my book every evening and if I have some leeway for social or professional commitments. 

Please share how you approach productivity and rest! What are your beliefs and how do you apply them?

50/30/20 Rule Is It The Way To Go? 5 Problems with it

If you are reading this chances are you follow some rule of money management or you might just be getting started. Either way, chances are you have heard of the 50/30/20 rule. This dictates you should spend your paycheck as follows:

  • 50% on needs (rent, healthcare, food, etc.)
  • 30% on wants (gym, gaming, take-out, etc.)
  • 20% should be saved 
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This rule was popularised by Senator Elizabeth Warren in her book “All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan”. It’s seen as a straightforward way to get started with your finances. I suggest it as a starting point to stop living Paycheck to Paycheck in this article.

On the other hand, I don’t believe we should deal with absolutes. If anything money is personal and decisions will depend on your unique circumstances. Let’s go through the 5 flaws I have identified and how you can bend the rules to fit your lifestyle.

Only 20%?

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If you follow this rule to the letter, you are ultimately encouraged to live wastefully. If you earn more than a median income (UK: £29,900 /US: $31,133) chances is are you could be saving more. Of course, this is contingent on the cost of living in your area and the localized median income. But if you earning a high wage this percentage can easily be increased as you no longer need to allocate 50% to your housing situation.

This is a cautionary tale when it comes to lifestyle inflation. It could be tempting to “upgrade” your life with a new phone or even a new flat. Yet. what is the point of a 10% raise if you increase your living cost by 9%? Following the 50/30/20 rule blindly will only lead to a loss of opportunity.

Understanding this has helped me go from saving 15-20% of my income to consistently saving above 40%. These savings are spread between my Emergency Fund and my investment portfolio that is hosted with an 80/20 split on both Vanguard and Trading 212. (article).

What are your goals?

As you embark or travel along your financial journey you need to set targets. You might be saving for your first house or because you aspire to achieve Financial Independence. Either way, you need to decide on what your financial goals are. 

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Based on your financial situation 20% might be too high or too little. If you are having a hard time deciding on your target check out Brandon’s article “How much money is enough?”. He dives into the numbers and shares 8 ways of figuring out what your answer is. I’ve quickly come to the realization that if I want any chance to achieve my financial goals, I cannot save less than 30% monthly. 

Additionally, if you have a high income, increasing your saving rate could help you achieve your goals faster. Of course, we all remain subject to compound interest and the time it takes to get the ball rolling.

Not as clear cut as it seems

When you read the rule at first it can seem very straightforward. Yet the 50/30/20 rule doesn’t account for the gray areas. The 6 pack of beer or the pack of crisps I bought aren’t essential. Yet I picked them up during my weekly shop. Doesn’t it qualify these items as needs? 

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Additionally, it opens the categories to interpretation. If you are a smoker and it will give you an inclination to include your cigarettes as a need. Although it would cause withdrawal symptoms, we can hardly put cigarettes and housing in the same group.

50/30/20 rule still needs tracking

Although the rule is presented as a simple solution, it still requires that you track your expenses. It isn’t possible to know where your money goes otherwise. You can decide to follow the 50/30/20 rule but without clear tracking, you will have no idea if you are hitting your targets or not.

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A good starting point here could be “paying yourself” first by investing/saving 20% on payday. This way you make the funds inaccessible and make sure you are progressing towards your goals. Automation makes your financial life a breeze. If you want to avoid the headaches that come with constant tracking Financial Minimalism is for you.

50/30/20 is a strain

As much as this rule could lead to wasteful expenses, it might not be possible on a minimum wage. We all have different circumstances and must adapt to them. How often do we hear gurus proclaiming “we can all be rich”. All you need to do is save $500 a month. That isn’t a realistic target for everyone and it’s ok. 

Comparing yourself to others and following arbitrary rules isn’t necessary. I know life can feel hopeless and tough at certain times but there are no certainties. Even if right now all you can save is $10 per month. Well, you are better off than last month. Rinkydoo Finance has a great article to get you started when your pockets are empty.

Should you use the 50/30/20 rule?

There is no 1 size fits all solution. It’s a great starting point to frame your saving strategy. The problem is just like everything else you must take it with a grain of salt. The problem of generalizing financial tips is that all of us have different circumstances. What applies to me might not apply to you.

It’s why I urge you to question everything and do your own research to find what fits you.

Do you follow the 50/30/20 rule or have you adapted it to your lifestyle?

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Financial Minimalism Builds Wealth Simply

Money doesn’t need to be complicated. Actually, it’s one of the key reasons people are scared to embark on their financial journey… it just feels too hard. Between the overwhelming amount of well-meaning misguided advice and scammers. Differentiating right and wrong can feel impossible. 

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Yet, whether you are a beginner or advanced streamlining your finances is liberating. Not only do you gain a clear understanding of your Net Worth but budgeting and tracking become easier. The idea behind Financial Minimalism is to identify what you truly need and cut the superfluous stuff. 

What is Financial Minimalism?

To answer that question, I looked into what Minimalism itself is. The definition from the Oxford Dictionary is: “an artist, a musician, etc. who uses very simple ideas or a very small number of simple things in their work”. Just like beauty can come from simplicity wealth doesn’t need to be complex.

Minimalism has gained popularity as a lifestyle. Stereotypically we picture it as wearing the same thing every day and living in a tiny house. Yet, one of my favorite creators Matt D’Avella shares shows through his YouTube channel that there is more to it. Finding the most efficient and simple way to lead your life. It allows you to focus on the parts of daily life you value. 

Doesn’t sound so bad, does it?

Financial Minimalism in simply put terms is using a small number of tools to power your wealth journey. As it’s key to remember that simplicity doesn’t mean easy or bad. It’s quite simply the idea of streamlining your processes. Making your money management an efficient afterthought instead of a constant struggle. Radical Fire shares great insights into saving rates with a simplified look into them here.

What do minimalist finances look like?

As I started my journey into personal finance, I decided I wanted it to remain manageable. It’s the main reason I invest but don’t trade. Instead of looking for small advantages every day – my money is in it for the long run. 

So it led me onto focusing on 3 key points:

  1. Consolidation
  2. Optimization
  3. Automatization

Consolidation

The first step of my minimalistic journey was identifying all the different accounts, brokers, pensions, and more I was “using”. 

less is more
Photo by Kaboompics

Oh my gosh… there were so many. On the plus side, I was able to increase my net worth by 1.5% by finding accounts I forgot about. A financial spring cleaning if you will. Thankfully I didn’t find any new debt. Since then I have decided to limit myself. I know have:

  1. Joint Account
  2. Current/Checking Account
  3. AMEX Platinum Everyday Cashback
  4. Pension Pot
  5. Vanguard Stocks & Share ISA
  6. Trading 212 General Investment Account

Ok, it’s still quite a list… But you should have seen it before. All accounts now have a clear purpose and use. My biggest decrease was taking my credit cards from 3 to 1. I was always hunting for the best reward program. Until I realized I don’t spend enough for it to be worth it. The conclusion of my research was the AMEX platinum as it gives me 0.5% cashback. 

Additionally, a joint accounted with my partner makes bookkeeping for our flat and relationship much easier. I keep my money in a current account with Virgin Money as they have generous interest rates at 2% for the first £1000 and 0.5% for the balance of the account. I avoid changing bank account regularly as going from 0.5% to 0.6% interest rate isn’t worth the admin. 

Instead of relying on abysmal bank account interest rates I’ve consolidated my investments into my Stocks & Share ISA with Vanguard and hold about 10% of my NW in individual stocks with Trading 212. You can learn more about investing styles with my article “Trading 212 or Vanguard, which investor are you?”.

Streamlining my accounts simply helps me keep track and answer my own questions rapidly. No longer do I wonder how much I have in X obscure brokerage account. A straightforward account structure makes it easier to seize investment opportunities when they present themselves.

Optimization

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Photo by Karolina Grabowska

Great you’ve now streamlined your accounts and feel 2 tons lighters. Does it stop here? Of course not, we can go deeper. I know this whole minimalism thing is feeling like a lot of work right now. Yet, it’s momentary pain for long-term gratification.

So what do I mean by optimization?

It’s simply the B-word… time for a good old budget. Although the way I like to approach it is to track my expenses and identify my spending patterns. This way I get to know myself and my habits. Following the trail my money left allowed me to find subscriptions I forgot about and sneaky platform fees. 

It also gave me a lens in how much I save without trying. I quickly realized I was consistently saving 25% of my income with close to no effort. Since then and by optimizing my expenses and increasing my income it has climbed up to 40% every month.

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Photo by energepic.com

By cutting superfluous expenses and optimizing my overall expenses I have been able to increase my monthly investments.

Automation

The hard work is behind you! Now that you have identified how much you can consistently invest and save monthly time to automate it. Using financial gurus favorite saying “pay yourself first”. I have a direct debit set to send 70% of my projected savings to my Stocks & Share ISA. The other 30% goes to my high yield saving account. 

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Photo by Luis J.

To become true to financial minimalism you want to have the less work possible. By automating every possible transaction you cover yourself from “forgetting”.

I used it first to build my emergency fund and now am saving to build my prospective house deposit. I was lucky enough to never have debt. If it’s your case focus on reimbursing your loans first whether they are credit cards or car payments. You can learn more about going debt-free with this article.

Once you have achieved a debt-free lifestyle it’s time to build your emergency fund! It might feel like you will never get to investing but having a strong financial foundation is the key to any strategy! Learn more about emergency funds here.

Are you a financial minimalist?

If you are reading this article you probably are. Yet there is always more we can do to simplify our finances. If there is one thing I want you to remember it’s that complex doesn’t mean good. 

Simply investing in an ETF tracking the S&P500 will outperform most complex portfolios. You might beat the market in 1 day but it’s highly unlikely in the long term. How have you simplified your finances?

It’s time to embark on your financial minimalism journey!

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How Survivorship Bias Affects Your Decisions

I opened YouTube this morning. Time for some inspiration and to learn about personal finance. Yet, the algorithm is convinced I want to learn how much X was paid for 1 million views. They’ll of course share a few tips on how they attained this amazing amount of revenue. 

The only problem is all we see are the successes… we are constantly put in front of successful creators, investors, and entrepreneurs. It makes us believe it’s accessible. The issue here is the sample size. We forget to look at the overwhelming amount of failures. Survivorship bias is in action!

Let’s dive into what survivorship bias is and how it influences choices.

What is survivorship bias?

When researching the feasibility of an opportunity, I start with the tip of the iceberg – success. What would it mean if I became a successful investor or chef? It’s a natural instinct, we look for the best-case scenario. We fantasize about how better our life would be in X scenario. Completely neglecting those that failed.

When only focusing on top performers and statistical outliers- we become victims of survivorship bias. As conclusions are drawn, based on overwhelmingly positive examples the idea of failure becomes abstract. It’s the reason we constantly hear about unicorn startups and successful traders. Without, giving space or a voice to those that gave up along the way. 

An amazing example is Jeanne Calment (1875-1997), the human to live to longest, she ate over 2 pounds of chocolate on a weekly basis (almost 1kg). Madame Calment also credited her longevity to her diet. Yet, it would be preposterous to expect that eating 1 kg of chocolate a week would ensure you live till 120.

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Photo by Polina Tankilevitch

As soon as you understand survivorship bias it becomes easy to spot. From the lottery winner to the millionaire day trader. Yet you never see the thousands that lose every week playing the lottery or the traders that gave up along the way. I dive into the broader issue of comparison in my article “Comparing Yourself To Others Is Expensive”.

Biased inspiration

When you decide to undertake a new endeavour ask yourself where your new-found love comes from. Are you starting a blog or YouTube channel to make money or as a passion?

To create a successful creative venture or company, drive must come from elsewhere. Success and riches cannot be the sole driver of any endeavor. Or we risk going up in flames. Success whether financial or personal is often built on failures. 

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Photo by olia danilevich

The problem is we idolize successful outliers from dropping out of college to quitting your job with no plan. They are invited to talk at seminars and give presentations in companies. They write books on their story. 

This leads us to think “If he can do it, so can I!”. It can’t be that difficult, can it? Every year we read interviews from those that beat the odds. The one in a million genius entrepreneur. That’s the thing, isn’t it… They are 1 in 1,000,000. Why would emulating their lifestyle make me any more likely to be the 0.0000001%? 

Beating the odds takes an unimaginable amount of risk and has a small chance of success. If we were all capable to win the jackpot there would be no appeal. Don’t get me wrong… drawing inspiration from the Elon Musks of the world is normal. The problem comes when we convince ourselves that we can be as successful. Whereas, in reality, 57% of startups from 2013 were gone 5 years later. 

How to survive the bias?

The first lesson is an obvious one. Making a decision based on an inspirational tweet or video is a terrible idea. Blindly following financial gurus or simply legit investors can lead to making impulse decisions based on perception. Taking a step back to understand our own biases is key. Yet it’s easier said than done, isn’t it?

My favourite serial-entrepreneur, Richard Branson has shown that it takes failure to find success. Who doesn’t remember the terrible Virgin Cola… All aspiring entrepreneurs have looked at multi-millionaires that bet their last dollar or dropped out.

On the other hand, they rarely look at the number of failures. Worse yet, it’s almost impossible to hear from true failures. Google “Failed Entrepreneur”, you will see that quickly you hear about JK Rowling or Oprah. We forget about those that never found mainstream success.

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Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

When getting started I take the time to look into the statistics and trends of the market. Go further than the headlines. This is especially true when it comes to trading. Once mass media reports a great investment that has 10x. It’s probably too late. It’s ok to miss the wagon don’t beat yourself up. Risking everything without in-depth research is lunacy. 

As explained in my article, “Why I invest but Don’t Trade”, the reason I’ve decided to put most of my portfolio in index funds is security. Based on historical data the S&P 500 has returned 9.1% over the last 30 years. On the other hand, most day traders lose money within 300 days of trading. Yet, all we see are the successful traders flouting their wealth online. Effective investing is boring… learn more about it here.

Do your research

Whether it’s investments or health tips… take the time to research. We aren’t owed success. The achievements of a human must not set your expectations. Taking the time to understand average is great and knowledge lets you grow. Life is all about calculated risks and understanding most parameters. 

There is nothing wrong with becoming an entrepreneur – it’s simply crucial to understand the risks.

Comparing Yourself To Others Is Expensive

Why do we do anything? Is it from an innate desire to succeed or is it to show off?

No matter what I undertake – my brain tends to compare myself to others. How is John doing on this project? Will he succeed and where I failed? Although I’m able to control these impulses better nowadays… it has been quite the journey. I used to see life as a zero-sum game. For one to succeed others must fail. 

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Photo by Kevin Bidwell

As I grew and took a step back, I realized how nonsensical it was. As time progressed humanity grew. Yet, we arguably have never seen as many successful people. Paradoxically, mental health has been on the decline. As a result, I’ve decided to dive into facts and studies.

Is comparing yourself always bad? And most importantly how can we solve it?

As always sources and complimentary information available at the bottom of the article.

What does the research say?

30 studies or more have shown that constant comparison leads to both mental and physical ailments. Not only are we pushed into a toxic spiral but the impact varies in every case. There is no concrete evidence that looking up to someone or on the opposite saying that you are doing better than someone else helps you grow. 

The best way to recognize our biases and decision trees is by accepting our flaws. True introspection is shown to have decreased the negative spiral. Furthermore, instead of nurturing hate, understanding that we can learn from our perceived foes is key.

Simon Sinek clarifies that it isn’t only social media that is to blame. He indicates that we have a tendency to psychologically self-harm by creating rivals and only focusing on their strengths. Looking inward and focusing on our strengths opens us up to growth. By doing so he was able to learn from his former rival.

Additionally, consistently looking up to others leads to unrealistic expectations. Contrary to what gurus say it’s unlikely you will have a private jet or become a billionaire.

Studies have shown it is unsustainable to draw motivation from unrealistic goals. As you constantly fail to achieve them. On the other hand, Research shows a change in perspective can counteract it. 

As we understand that comparison is a vicious circle how does it impact our finances and investments?

The Financial Impact of Comparing yourself

Weirdly enough constantly comparing yourself can cost you thousands. October 2020 was when I finally pulled the trigger on Instagram. I said goodbye to the temptation of showing off in Stories or posts. The amount I have saved isn’t quantifiable but my saving rate has increased and my impulse buys have diminished.

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Photo by Gratisography

Purchasing behavior

Since then I’ve focused more on the utilitarian side of purchases. When shopping for groceries or medicine, I go to the store-brand. The quality is on par and no one will know the difference.

Although, my friends have purchased beautiful german cars. I realized that in the long run it will cost them more than a beat down car. Additionally, we earn the same income why spend more upfront?

Recently, I wrote about how much we can truly afford. As impulse and status buy often end up costing tenfold in the long run. You can learn more in “How Much Can You Really Afford”.

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Photo by cottonbro

Furthermore, peer-pressure is a strong component in your purchase decision tree. By including and seeking the opinion of others we influence ourselves. This plays into the hand of marketers and “fake gurus” leading you to believe outlandish claims or programs. Multi-Level Marketing bases most of its strategy on this.

Additionally, studies have shown that we gravitate to shopping sprees to boost our self-esteem. This is built on the idea that something new will make you feel better. On the contrary, a study shared on the “Oxford Academy” shows that when you have low self-esteem you will gravitate to lower quality products. Therefore not only does comparing ourselves to others lead to lower self-esteem and impulsive purchases but it’s a vicious circle.

A Study by HEC Paris found that:

“We found that the willingness to pay for status products did result in self-repair, but only for the people who saw the ad with no tagline.”

Although, there is a positive impact from status products as soon as we let ourselves be influenced by external forces… the positive impact is lost. 

Realizing that most of my “want” purchases were based not on my desires but societal pressure has lead me to save substantially more. Since coming to this realization in September has helped me skyrocket my savings rate by 4%. Learn how to stop living paycheck to paycheck here. 5 Ways to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck.

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Photo by Anna Nekrashevich

Wealth insecurities

Whether it’s on social media or in the news we are constantly bombarded by wealth signals. To such an extent that we don’t question how the money was made or if it’s truly affordable. The problem is we only see the positive online.

From your colleague’s brand new car to the gains your favorite influencer has made. You never get to see their Profit & Loss (P&L) statement. Without that, it’s impossible to know their true position.

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Photo by olia danilevich

If an influencer was truly making 6 figures a month by trading or with dropshipping. They wouldn’t need to sell you a $50 course. Don’t get me wrong not all courses are scams. But it’s impossible to make a 2% gain daily constantly that would be over 600% a year. 

Warren Buffet is often regarded as the greatest investor of all time. Over the past 30 years, he has returned on average 20%. Which makes it highly unlikely that someone selling their signals would help you achieve anywhere near this. 

Constantly comparing ourselves to unachievable targets leads to us chasing returns. Asking the question “why haven’t I bought into Tesla, Dogecoin, or GME?” Without understanding that by the time a stock has hit the news you probably missed the train. And it’s ok! My friend Steve, the Frugal Expat, goes in-depth in his article “How Chasing Returns is a loser’s game” a brilliant read that shows how flawed this idea is.

Stop comparing yourself start building 

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Photo by Anna Shvets

Overall taking a step back and focusing on growth gives you time to build. It’s the main reason I don’t share the exact value of my Net Worth. Instead, I want to focus on growth, diversification, and progress as percentages. 

Recognising we all have a different path and expectations was what allowed me to truly embark on this journey. Wealth and Life aren’t a competition as nobody will ever walk the same path. I invite you to discover my Financial Origin Story to discover more of my philosophy. 

This research has comforted me in the idea that; although I’m not alone in the journey – it’s mine to travel. My key takeaways were:

  1. Comparison leads to impulse buys
  2. Envy leads to unnecessary risks
  3. Jealousy leads to a lack of productivity

How do you deal with comparing yourselves to others?


Sources

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Why I Invest But I Don’t Trade

Investing and Trading use similar tools but are extremely different. Neither is inherently better than the other. Both of them work by buying assets on the stock market with the goal of a Return on Investment.

The big difference is the approach. When it comes to investing, you buy assets and hold them for years. You bet on the future of a company and how well you believe it will do in the long run. It sounds boring, right? Well, my strategy is boring. I focus on the long-term returns, not the thrill.

On the other hand, a trader focuses on short-term appreciation to make gains. The objective is to maximize returns on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Some would call it speculation and gambling. At the end of the day, both investors and traders are betting on the future of a company whether it’s short or long term.

Morgan Housel puts it beautifully when he says:

“Every investor is making bets on the future. It’s only called speculation when you disagree with someone else’s bet.”

Morgan Housel

His article “When Everyone’s a Genius (a Few Thoughts On Speculation)” is a gold mine. It showcases the importance of storytelling when it comes to investing. 

It’s time to dive into why I focus on investing for more than 80% of my portfolio. As I see myself as a Sheriff when it comes to investing. I’m open to some risk but want controlled exposure for a long-term return.

Different kind of traders and investors

When it comes to investing or trading your wealth there are a plethora of styles.

Investors 

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Photo by Jordan Benton on Pexels.com

Investors tend to focus on real-estate, equity, bonds, or angel investing. The majority of casual investors, myself included, focus on index funds and ETFs. These particular tools allow me to diversify my investment and bet on the market and not specific companies. 

A real estate investor will look at purchasing multiple properties with the objective of flipping them or renting them out. The problem of real estate investing is it takes considerable initial investment. It’s, therefore, less accessible and takes more time to get rolling. Yet it remains one of my diversification goals. Currently, I stick to REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) as they allow me to tiptoe into space before my first property. 

As for Angel Investing, it is a whole other can of worms. It takes substantial capital and is a long-term bet on start-ups. The goal of an angel investor is to bring expertise and finances to a burgeoning company with the hopes of a high return in the long run.

Traders

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Photo by Black ice on Pexels.com

I personally don’t trade anything that I cannot afford to lose. My total trades in the past year amount to less than $500 dollars. I’ll simply stick to summing up what each type of trader does. 

  • Day Trader: seeks to make profits on short trades throughout the day. They hardly hold any funds overnight.
  • Scalp Traders: only holds their position over a few minutes/seconds and never overnight.
  • Swing Trader: surfs on trends and looks at making a profit on trades over a few weeks/days. 
  • Position Trader holds positions for months to years but always has the goal to sell for a profit.

The style of trading you decide to follow depends on the time you will hold the stocks or options. Recently with the GME short squeeze, we saw retail traders become position traders and hold with the hope to swing the price. 

Overall whether you are trading or investing your decisions will depend on your risk tolerance, knowledge, and time you have at hand. Time is key as being a hobbyist day trader isn’t possible.

Success rate for Traders and Investors

When researching investing at first, I kept bumping into day trading gurus. They were selling a magical system to make millions day-trading. As always, I was cautious about things that sounded too good to be true.

It’s not to say that you can be successful day-trading it is a job in itself. My eyebrows simply rose… why would you need to sell me a course if you made that much money? Recently in a discussion with Coffeezil (Youtuber), Jason Calacanis an angel investor. Explored the fact that successful entrepreneurs and investors share their knowledge for free with retail traders. They don’t need your $300 dollars to make a profit.

Learn more in the video below.

First of all, there are 2 ways to start trading either you go professional or head out solo. When you join a financial firm, your salary itself is set but additionally, you can expect a 10%-30% bonus on the profits you realize. Of course, the returns are capped. But the losses do not impact your wealth.

On the other hand, most traders go out solo. Not only is the capital small at first but you have no safety net. Learning about charts and signals is a step. The only problem? On average successful day-traders will make an annualised return of 10%… Even with a starting fund of $30k you would only be making $3k a year…

Stock options then become a tempting idea as they allow you to swing bigger wins. The only problem is it’s a double-edged sword. As you are exposed to higher losses. 

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In a study by the University of Sao Paolo and the Sao Paolo School of Economics, it was found that it’s virtually impossible to make a living day trading. When analyzing all traders that began day-trading between 2013 and 2015 they found 97% lost money when trading more than 300 days. 

Additionally, despite the high risk, only 1.1% earned minimum wage. Only 0.5% earned the equivalent of an entry-level bank teller. 

In Taiwan, day treaders were studied for 15 years from 1992 to 2006. The results were only marginally better. With only 1% achieving what they refer to as abnormal results. 

What about investors?

ETFs and Index funds have consistently outperformed day traders. Not only is it easier to get started as you are able to bet on the overall market. For example, using the VUSA, Vanguard’s ETF tracks the S&P500. As long as the S&P 500 rises so will your portfolio. 

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Over the last 100 years, the S&P500 has returned an annualized return of 10%. Don’t get me wrong investing in index funds is boring. Yet, I much rather prefer boring to terrifying. It also is a terrible place to put your money in the short term. Not one year is guaranteed to be positive. Yet the S&P 500 has never had a negative return in any 20 year period. 

You can learn more about my portfolio and investing mindset here. If you haven’t started investing with Trading 212 yet. Today is the day – if you invest as little as £1/$1 using my link, we will both receive a share worth up to £100. 

Why do I Invest and not Trade?

I acknowledge that I don’t know enough. That I’m not good enough to beat the market. My objective is not to be rich tomorrow or even next week. Actually, I’ve set my target at 25 years from now. Yes, you read that right. 25 years. 

It might be faster if luck strikes and I’m able to pick some good real estate investments or funds. But overall I’m in no rush, I would rather a consistent 10% return that compounds to my benefit. Then going out every day to risk my wealth on some options. 

If any of you decide to go the trading route. I wish you every success and hope that you will be in the 0.5%. On my side, I will stick to my 85% index fund strategy.

Banks abroad piggy bank and coins

How Much Can You Really Afford?

No matter how hard we try to save… Society is built on spending. From the roof over my head to the food on my plate. Everything comes at a cost. The only way to be free of expenses is by living off the grid. Then again that isn’t feasible for most of us.

So how much can you afford? Truly… It depends on who you are. The principal of the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement is to maximize income and minimize expenses. Optimizing your saving rate to achieve freedom in x amount of years. 

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Even if FIRE isn’t your cup of tea and you just want to set a few dollars aside. There is one inevitable question. Can you afford it? Having the exact amount on your credit line or on your checking account means nothing. 

So what is affordable and why can you afford less than you think?

What does affordable mean?

Affordability is often only taken into account for big purchases. For example, the bank will calculate your affordability before allowing you to mortgage a home. You might also give more thought to a car purchase as it’s a milestone. 

Yet, we often overlook the affordability of everyday items. How many beers can you truly afford? Or a phone plan are you sure you can afford it? The biggest culprits are monthly payments and 0% financing. They insidiously increase your expenses.

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What is $20 more a month for a brand new TV! It will completely change your life, 8k is the new thing. On the other side, your monthly expenses have increased for an asset you won’t own for another 47 months. 

Understanding what you can truly afford is the key. Are there any rules? Not really. It’s up to you to find the best system and stick to it. To help you in this journey and avoid living paycheck to paycheck: this article will go into each type of expense and give a rough idea of ratios.

Let’s break it down into 3 categories: Transportation, Lodging, and leisure.

How much transportation can you afford?

Transportation covers as much a car as a commute. Are you truly making the most of your salary if most of your time and money is sunk into your commute? Let’s take London as an example cost of life overall is extortionate and living centrally on an entry-level salary is challenging… A yearly railcard costs over £2600/pa. 

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The cost of transportation therefore not only factors into a new car but into your choice of work… If you were to move out of the city center the savings on rent might be offset by your commute. Not only will it cost you financially, but your time will also disappear into the back and forth. 

How about a car? People tend to think their car is their business card. That it’s something they will be judged on. So much so that in the USA the median cost of a new car is $40,573 with the average buyer borrowing $35k. The median average salary in the States is $49,724… 

More than half of the yearly income went to buying or borrowing to buy a car. Without taking depreciation into account it’s a significant hole to put oneself in. As this doesn’t cover insurance or taxes. My friend Yasi from Fast Track Life makes a great case for the hidden costs of a car in her article “The Under Estimated Costs of Owning a Car”.

I personally don’t own a car but I have been on the prowl for a new ride. I’ve decided to apply Andrei Jikh’s idea of no more than 10% of my annual salary. The car won’t be anything fancy but it will get me from A to B without bankrupting me! You can discover his video below:

Just because you can pay for it today doesn’t mean you can afford it. Remember the long-term implications and how it will tie you up. I explore this more in-depth in “5 Ways To Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck”.

How much housing can you afford?

Whether it’s buying or renting you are going to need to pay to get a roof over your head. Of course, you could go off-grid but even that would cost up front and still need to be factored in. 

Renting

I won’t delve too much into buying versus renting as that will be the object of a future article. I for one rent in London, England. The way my girlfriend and I have approached it is our share of the rent can’t be higher than 33% of our net monthly salary.

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This was a big factor when deciding to move to the UK from my native Switzerland. I explore more of it in “Should I Live Abroad?”. It allowed me to get started with the 50-30-20 rule. In which you should spend no more than 50% on needs which include energy, food, and shelter.

I decided to stick to 33% at first for our rent as it allows me to set aside 40%+ of my income monthly. Since then, we are looking to increase our income and take the cost of shelter below 30%. 

Would we like a new fancy flat with a gym etc? Of course, who wouldn’t? The problem with this is it inevitably leads to Lifestyle inflation and an infinite circle of loss.

Buying

I’m yet to acquire my first property as I value geographical flexibility highly. But there are a few things to keep in mind. The goal of a Bank is to loan you the highest amount of money that you can afford. In this case, it would be as little as making ends meet. 

Having saved up the exact amount of money for a deposit is risky. It leaves you with no capital for unforeseen costs and taxes. You might be a homeowner but a mortgage can set you back.

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Old school sources would recommend you only by property worth 4.5 times your annual income. It would give you a strong ratio of debt to equity. I would personally always look to a mortgage when the interest rates are as low as today. You have a high chance to make a higher return by investing the remainder of the sum.

There are many reasons to invest in real estate as long as you can cover your cost. Check-out “Real Estate Investing: The 3 Edged Sword” by Plant Money Seeds for an in-depth look.

How much fun can you afford?

There is less of an absolute side here. Of course, some will tell you to stop drinking your Starbucks or getting a pint after work. But these are not the reason your portfolio isn’t growing. Leisure expenses can become insidious.

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Whether it’s spending a few thousand on a holiday or a new phone can you afford it? My rule of thumb here is if you were to spend twice as much would you still get it? This gives you a healthy mindset towards spending. 

Most importantly, will you need to go into debt for it? There is absolutely no reason to get into debt for a want. This is where monthly payments pile up. We all know about Credit Card payments and how easily you can overspend. 

The positive side of Credit Cards is that they immediately show you how little you can afford. On the other hand, the new financing options lead you to spend more than you should. 0% APR and only £75 a month! What a great deal for the new iPhone. Yet, when you add it to the new TV payment, your car payment, and all the other “bargains”. You end up starting the month with 90% of your income dedicated to fixed expenses. 

Time to spend

Here’s the bottom line… we are going to keep spending money. No matter what we think we will. The trick is to understand how much we can truly afford and let our money grow around it. 

For mid to long-term goals investing is a great solution. It allows you to fulfill your “buying” urge but put your money to work. Of course, if you are going to need the money in less than 10 years going to the high-yield savings account is the way.  

If you want to start your investing journey why not find out which investor you are and start off with my article “Trading 212 or Vanguard? What investor are you?

What are your tips and trips to figure out affordability?

Don’t forget to sign up for my monthly Newsletter which hold unique insights and much more!

origin stories matter on old typewriter

My Financial Origin Story: Cent by Cent

First I’ve got to clear the air this article was inspired by the Monevator’s article “What’s your financial origin story?” The challenge has been taken up by Sovereign Quest and was an amazing opportunity for some self-reflection.

This introspection is definitely welcome as a thought experiment. Why have I fallen head over heels for personal finance? What motivates me to stick with it and more importantly what was the deciding factor?

Who am I?

My financial Origin Story starts here

At the time of writing this, I’m a 24-year-old Swiss expat based in London. I won’t divulge my exact net worth but I’m 2 years into my personal finance journey and loving it! By day, I strategize and grow revenue for hotels across Europe as a Cluster Revenue Manager and by night I work on Cent by Cent.

 Now that we know where I am, how about we discover how I got here?

My financial origin story starts in Lausanne Switzerland. Where I grew up in a blue-collar family. My paternal grandfather had started his butchery from scratch in his 30s. My father took over the shop early in my childhood and has been running it ever since.

Lightning struck twice as entrepreneurship ran on both sides of the family. With my maternal grandfather traveling to East Africa and setting up a company there.

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Being raised in not only a multicultural but business-minded environment meant I was exposed to “shop talk” from an early age. As a curious-minded kid, I would butt it and give my very “thoughtful” advice. At least I used to think it was… 

Money was never taboo at our table. My family would discuss investments, financial upswing, and downfalls alike. This candor and openness gave me the bug for good deals. To such an extent that some could see it as cheap. I see it as thrifty.

Every cent has a purpose

From my 11th birthday, the Christmas holidays were spent helping around the shop. The frenzy would go crescendo until the 24th of December. It was complete pandemonium and hard work. 

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Although, some parents would have expected the help and given nothing in return. Mine saw it differently. In their eyes, any job deserves a reward. They taught my sister and me, that every franc had to be earned. Whether it was through chores, work at the shop, or in general.

Your work won’t always pay off but you need to learn the value of each cent.

My father

Growing up I would, of course, spend my money on silly impulses from video games to sodas. Yet all these “blows” to my net worth were a learning step.

I might have spent a little too much money on Steam… But the hours of joy follow me to this day. Say what you will but managing an in-game economy in MMORPGs had a lot to do with my origin story as well.

As I got the university… I was able to find side jobs as a waiter, bar manager, or simply event staff. It was relatively well paid and allowed me to fund my backpacking trips.

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My aim was to discover the world on a budget and on my dime. It led me to 3 continents and unforgettable experiences. When I say budget I mean it… I spent a month in Indonesia for a total cost of $1200 flights included.

Of course, I could have started investing earlier or saving aggressively. But the worthwhile investment in my eyes was to expand my mind and grow my knowledge of the world.

Money isn’t happiness

As I was graduating in 2018, I decided I wanted to leave Switzerland. Although, the cushy salaries were attractive – I could always come back. No departure is definitive but the risk of being locked in a golden prison was too high. I discuss this more in my article “Should I live Abroad? To Leave or Not To Leave”.

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My dream was to work in a strategic role of some capacity. The opportunity to join a brand new graduate program in Revenue Management was perfect. So I packed my bags and flew out to London. On the way there I waved goodbye to Swiss Salaries. 

It was the financial kick in the butt… I was breaking even monthly sometimes saving as much as 10%. But always looking over my shoulder raised a red flag. It was time for a change in my financial philosophy. Down the rabbit hole of Personal Finance, I went. 

It started with Graham Stephan on YouTube, which led a couple of years later to starting Cent by Cent. 

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Throughout the first 18 months of my contract, I managed to settle my savings at 10% monthly. My Net Worth wasn’t going leaps and bounds but at least, I built my Emergency Fund. A safety net of 4.5 months of expenses saved up in case hard times hit! 

2020 the game changer

And oh boy did they… As 2020 came around I was promoted and saw a salary increase of 50%. A game-changer I would be able to save and invest almost 50% of my salary! 

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The only problem? My flatmate left leaving with a full rent to pay. I could have found a replacement right? Well… COVID-19 hit and no one was going anywhere. I quickly found myself on furlough and having my income match my expenses. 

For almost 6 months, my current account would show £100 before needing to reach into my emergency fund. I can’t tell you how happy I was to have my emergency fund. On the other hand, it was an amazing opportunity to review my expenses and learn to live a more frugal lifestyle. 

I realized that I miss very little. The opportunity to fly home once in a while, pay rent now that I moved in with my lovely girlfriend, and put food on the table. Those are the true essentials! Thankfully since October, I’ve returned to full-time employment. Since then I can proudly say that I’ve consistently been saving 40+% of my income. 

Where am I now?

I’ll be turning 25 in June… and although Financial Independence is a long way. The journey has been thrilling so far. Most of my investments sit with Vanguard in different ETFs and grow monthly. As I look to the future, I draw inspiration from practical guides and build my plans accordingly

It might take me more than 10 years to achieve Financial Independence but articles like “How To Become Financially Independent in 10 Years” are a source of practical inspiration.

Cent by Cent is yet to generate revenue but allows me to share what I’ve learnt so far. My net worth grows more every month and keeps me focused on my goal! Personal Finance might be personal but it’s a team effort. By working together and sharing our tips and tricks we all move forward. 

What is your Personal Finance Story? How far along of the journey are you?

person signing loan agreement for purchase of apartment

5 Ways To Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

No matter how much they earn, people end up living paycheck to paycheck. Whether you are a professional athlete or a student with a side job you might be in this situation. But stay positive, because you are struggling today doesn’t mean there is no hope.

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Although, many will have managed to save some money during the pandemic. It’s often down to having fewer opportunities to spend no more clubs, restaurants, or shops. The likelihood of us going on a spending spree diminished greatly.

“Act your Wage”

DAve Ramsey

It would be naive to think that once the opportunities return, spending will remain in place. So why not create healthy habits now and protect ourselves from temptation and expenditure?

The vicious circle of living paycheck to paycheck

32%, you read that right 32% of people, surveyed in 2020, were in financial distress. Whether they earned $40,000 or over 200,000 the result was the same 30% or more ran out of money before payday. Unsurprisingly, below that threshold people ran out closer to 40%.

Whether it’s taking on debt early in life or succumbing to Lifestyle inflation. The continuous chase for more leaves many behind grappling at straws. When your checking account approaches the inevitable overdraft – credit cards become a saving grace. 

Summers might be easier but when winter hits and the energy bill goes up things can change drastically. That new iPhone or brand new car might seem like only a few hundred per month now… In the long run, monthly payments and debts add up.

“If you can’t pay for it twice cash don’t buy it”

Peter Saddington

Lifestyle inflation is the culprit when wages go up, we tend to want to live “our best life”. Worse than that we increase our expenditures with the hope of a windfall. That is nothing short of lunacy. In an episode of the Fast Track Podcast, Peter Saddington shares the spending habits that brought him to 1milion net worth at 26!

Of course, it’s easier said than done once you have reached Financial Independence. Yet you need a backup plan and solutions. Time to dive in:

How to escape living paycheck to paycheck

You aren’t as smart as you think

I know it hurts to hear… But studies show that 71% of people have an inflated perception of their Financial Literacy. Only 34% of people were able to answer basic Financial Literacy questions.

That percentage rings a bell, doesn’t it? There might be no correlation but it seems like an unlikely coincidence. If you want to test your knowledge follow this link.

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By accepting our true knowledge we make a giant step towards saving more money. Lower financial knowledge leads to riskier investments. Not only does it mean you are taking more risk you lose track of your portfolio. 

Take the time to educate yourself and learn there are many resources out there to get yourself started.

BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET

If you want to get out of this vicious circle… you need to know where your paycheck is going. Track all your expenses and money sinks. Don’t be ashamed of where the money is going but try and understand why you are spending it. 

A great rule of thumb as a beginner is to follow the 50-30-20 rule. No more than 50% of your expenses go towards needs, 30% towards wants, and 20% towards savings. 

The 50/30/20 rule to avoid living paycheck to paycheck

By reverse engineering a budget you can make it fit your lifestyle. The biggest problem with budgeting and following plans is the same as with fad diets. They don’t fit you or your lifestyle. 

Build your budget from the ground up to protect yourself from financial trauma. Understanding why you are saving money and where it’s going will also give you a clear purpose. It’s also likely to help you stick to your habits! 

Debt First

Paying back your overdue debt is the highest guaranteed investment you can make. Credit Card debt is typically 15% and higher interest. If you stick to minimal payments and max out your credit line… You will quickly be in over your head.

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At a 20% interest rate, your debt will have doubled within 4 years. The compounding effect isn’t always your ally if you aren’t ready for it. Paying back debt should be your number 1 priority.

Debt will trap you into the vicious circle of living paycheck to paycheck.

Sneaky Influencers

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Our generation deals with a new kind of financial pressure: social media. Seeing people living their amazing lives on Instagram or quitting college to hustle on Twitter… It’s enough to drive anyone incoherent. 

Schwab’s “Modern Wealth Survey” showed FOMO is the leading cause for spending. 35% of people surveyed spend more than they can afford to join experiences. 34% will make unexpected purchases based on Social Media.

This is where lifestyle inflation often hits the hardest. Now that your salary has increased you need to show it through your lifestyle. You make $50k a year, so you definitely deserve a brand new BMW worth 40k. It doesn’t matter that you will be making a $600 payment monthly. 

The other trap is moving to a higher cost of living area to fit with your new lifestyle. The biggest fixed cost often is rent. Once you’ve signed a contract for 2 years you are stuck. No matter what happens you will be shelling out “the appearance cost” of your apartment. 

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By “improving” your lifestyle and de facto increasing your expenses you negate the effect of a raise. By relocating to a cheaper neighborhood, downsizing your flat, or finding a flatmate you will effectively decrease costs.  

Living in a mansion isn’t worth it if you end up bankrupt. If you want to learn more about how to avoid lifestyle inflation and other financial sins read my article “7 deadly Personal Finance Sins”.

Prepare for the worst

You’ve finally gotten out of debt and cut out most of your superfluous expenses! Congratulations. Unfortunately, you aren’t quite ready to invest yet. I know this feels like it’s taking forever but you are getting there!

Before, investing you need a security net. It will protect you from falling back into old habits and lose all the progress you have made. This magic tool is an Emergency Fund. Typically, an emergency fund is anywhere between 3 and 6 months of expenses saved. Having it at hand guarantees that you are ready for let’s say… a global pandemic?

Emergency Fund Piggy Bank

This is not a future “enjoyment” fund it’s the last resort. Having an emergency fund allows you to keep your head cool when a medical emergency arises or you lose your job. Additionally, you will feel at ease when looking at your bank statements. 

Breaking the Vicious Circle!

Now that you have the tools, how are you going to use them? Learning about Personal Finance and how to manage my income has changed my life. I’ve been on this journey for a little over a year now and would love to see you join me!

There is always more to be done and to be learnt. Living paycheck to paycheck isn’t a necessity. What was your first step towards living a Financial Stress-free life?

Passive income is alie

Passive Income, it’s all a lie!

We all dream of it… the coveted passive income! Picture that income flowing in and no need to work! Truly a dream come true. We’ve all seen the YouTube ads, this one simple trick will allow you to unlock unlimited income! What if I told you passive income is a lie?

There I said it – there is no such thing as passive income. At least not entirely. You can earn some income on the side with low effort. But there is no such thing as completely work-free income.

If anyone promised a completely work-free income it’s a major red flag! They are lying or looking to scam you.

What is Passive Income?

At the end of the day, we are all in the pursuit of carefree income. Therefore holding onto the mirage of passive income is wonderful. It feels dreamy and special. Just like someone playing the lottery we hold out with the hope of a consistent payout. 

To figure this out let’s look at the proper definition of passive income: “Passive income has been a relatively loosely used term in recent years. Colloquially, it’s been used to define money being earned regularly with little or no effort on the part of the person receiving it.” Investopedia

Navigating as if Passive Income exists

I don’t believe a single job out is lucrative with no work. To get behind this we need to understand what it takes to get a profitable and regular passive income. It usually will come from investments, entrepreneurship, or royalties. All of these need varying amounts of work to set up.

So yes passive income might exist but it’s hardly completely hands-off.

What is real passive income?

The idea behind passive income is to build new income streams. The average millionaire having 7 income streams. They will vary in activity level but will all need a level or another of supervision.

Isn’t it exciting the idea to work from home and get money funneled to your account regularly? But all 7 income streams have some kind of maintenance. Even the epitome of passive income: dividend stocks or bonds require maintenance. You need to pick the right portfolio and stay diversified! You can learn more about that in my article “Trading 212 or Vanguard? Which investor are you?

What are your options?

What do people mistakenly take for passive income? The list is long I will tell you that. Whenever you find an article titled “top 5 passive incomes for 2021” you should probably run. Let’s take the time to list out the commonly touted options and understand why they aren’t so passive after all.

  1. Airbnb or House hacking
  2. Ecommerce
  3. Youtube
  4. Podcasts
  5. eBooks and Courses
  6. Blogging/Medium
  7. Affiliate Marketing

All of the above are often cited as sources of passive income. Ways to become your own boss. Yet what most omit to share is that you need to work extremely hard to set up these income streams. Let’s look into what each of them needs to be set up.

AirBnB

House hacking sounds easy, right? You’ve got a spare room put it on Airbnb and boom regular easy outcome. Sounds great! Easy income from a spare room that would otherwise drain energy. 

passive income from AirBnB

This is vastly miss understanding Airbnb. The best way to drive consistent bookings and revenue is by being a “Super-Host”. To become one you need to have had 10 guests stay and leave a high star review.

Becoming a “Super-Host” is all but easy. In order to get high reviews, you will need to create an experience. Remember the sensation you feel when your bed is set up in the perfect way. Some soap and shampoo in the bathroom and maybe a guide of the city!

That makes all the difference. But getting your spare room ready multiple times a week to incur “passive income” seems like work to me. What do you think about it?

eCommerce

Just set up a store and find something to flip and sell online. Just pop over to Teespring. Create a viral design and start selling T-shirts. Not only do you need to acquire the skills for basic design and the communication skills to sell your designs. 

What about flipping items? Well, let’s say you decide to flip tech items such as vintage consoles. You need to:

  • Research Them
  • Test and buy them
  • Find a buyer

Repeat this for every item and marginal gains. Once more you might be able to set yourself up and get evergreen designs that will sell months after publishing them. These designs will payoff regularly with low effort on your side. This is still disregarding the past work needed.

YouTube, podcast, and blogging

Any of these 3 needs a strong amount of work. They might, in the long run, lead to consistent revenue from your portfolio. Yet setting them up in the first place is insanely difficult.

YouTube keeps you from earning revenue until you reach 1k subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time. It takes on average 22 months of consistent posting to reach this milestone. Almost 2 years and no income? Doesn’t exactly sound like passive income to me. In the long run, it might return dividends but nothing is guaranteed.

Content Creation for Passive Income

Podcasts take months to earn an income. You need to build a loyal fan base and stand out from the crowd of similar products. You’ll also need to find a way to advertise your product and drive consistent income. There are some fantastic podcasters out there like Yasi at Fast Track Life and seeing her drive I can tell you there is nothing passive about it!

Blogging/Medium with a blog you start at a loss. You have to pay for hosting fees and produce content consistently with the hope of an increase in Domain Authority and on Google’s rankings. 

Find your balance and push but more than anything writing is a passion. I wrote on Medium for 6 months before starting Cent by Cent and made $12. 26 articles for $12 and I still loved it. Remember that on Medium only 7% of writers make $100 or more a month.

If anything these creative outlets is a form of passion income more than passive income. Down the road, you might see some regular revenue but right now you do it by passion.

eBooks and Courses

Both of these can become a great and regular passive form of income. The only problem? It takes an immense amount of work ahead of publishing it. Graham Stephan created the YouTuber Academy and he says it took a month of 18hour workdays to be ready to publish it. Even with 1000 newsletter followers and thousands of subscribers, he sold 1 course in the first 24 hours.

Learn more about it in his interview with the Colin and Samir podcast.

Courses can lead to a regular income screen but even with a loyal following, it can be hard to have a regular income. If you want to make income from educational content you will need to build a strong community around you first!

Affiliate Marketing

Similarly to courses, you will need to be trusted and build a strong community. Whether you create an affiliate marketing blog or do it via Social Media it won’t be easy. Building an audience can be done in a few months. But we can’t expect a reliable income. 

Once you manage to set up your community you will need to consistently market your products. It will always take a certain amount of work.

Not so Passive after all

Whatever angle you look at it… true passive income is a myth. You won’t sign up for a new service and receive money daily for free. It always takes a certain amount of work and dedication to be launched. 

Your income-generating assets always need some looking after however small. So if you are thinking about setting up a new income stream. I have one piece of advice that was given to me by Matt the Financial Imagineer. Look for your passion income if you can do it for free the revenue down the line will be a bonus.

So how are you going to set up your passion income to create some passive income?

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