Sherlock Holmes

Have you read the one set at Christmas? The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle (1892)? It has snow, involving a stolen gem found in a goose.

Go read.

Thank You

An enormous thank you to Kurt for his generous, kind words. Kurt and I have ‘known’ each other for a long time now. His blog is an inspiration of a life well-lived, a deep understanding of what’s important and a wonderful old-school philosophy of work hard, play hard.

Thank you, Kurt.

The Rules of Money, 7 of 7

Does money make you happy? That’s a tricky one. What is certain is that the lack of money makes you miserable. Make it an objective to get the finances sorted and then the field is wide open on the true quest for contentment.

The Rules of Money, 6 of 7

What might retirement be? It might be 1. Working part-time 2. Doing something you enjoy and 3. Maintaining your health. That’s easier-and perhaps more enjoyable-than the old formula which was to suddenly stop with the implications for cash-flow and physical and mental health.

Something to consider.

The Rules of Money, 5 of 7

If you do not yet have the number, calculate your personal balance sheet. Or, what are you worth? Add up your assets: what do you own, what money do you have…..add it all up. Take away your liabilities: what do you owe such as a mortgage, a car loan……add it all up. Now subtract the latter (the liabilities) from the former (the assets). Clearly it would be nice if the answer were large positive but depending where you are in your life and career it may be large negative. That’s why it’s useful to know the number and re-calculate it regularly. It helps you with your financial decisions and long-term planning. Go do some arithmetic.

Easy Break

Only listen to vinyl when working; a break and a walk will be naturally necessary every twenty minutes or so.

The Rules of Money, 4 of 7

If time=money, your earning potential is limited. If value=money, your earning potential is unlimited.

Daily, boost the value you offer until you become indispensable and you can command your fees. Easy? Of course not! Possible? Absolutely.

Go be better.

The Rules of Money, 3 of 7

Decide your ‘pots’ of money. For food, for bills, for a rainy day etc. A spread-sheet is a good place to plan this. Once a month-payday-allocate money to the pots. Month by month optimise to 1. Pay your bills 2. Manage the future 3. Have some fun.