It is necessary to question. It’s also necessary to trust. Science is designed to be refined over time. It sets up questions, that can get refuted. Something, that can be proved wrong. The scientific method is the process of making…
Category: Aspiration
When the likely outcome occurs and you regret it – is it a mistake or a choice?
I have cultivated a lot of good better habits. I stopped drinking for 18 months to curb the occasional (or frequent) binge sessions. I took up running for fitness, weight loss and mindfulness. I went mostly vegan for 9 months…
My Year of Reading in Review for 2020 – by Mark Doolan
I got some good reading in this year. I wanted to clock 40 books as a goal but didn’t quite get there. Thirty five is pretty close and it is more about the journey of growth than simply ticking off…
The 5 Love Dissuasions – How acts of love are unknowingly rejected
I recently read the 5 Love Languages. It is a powerful read and I encourage anyone looking to enhance their intimate relationships to add it to their reading list. But I feel it is incomplete. As is my intention, I…
First Order thinking is limiting – Make slower and better decisions
A simple question that could fundamentally change your thinking. “What are the second and third order consequences?” Ray Dalio I was chatting with my cousin and his wife. They are both involved in the military. She mentioned that they were…
Your Deceptive Values, Your Reflective Habits
It was windy and raining, a cold front was passing over. The weather was not appealing, but it would have been more uncomfortable not to go. I put on my running shoes. If I hadn’t, it would have itched at…
Should I Rent or Buy? – What does the maths say
When I moved back to South Africa last year, I couldn’t understand the fixation on buying property. There is of course the ill-informed – “paying someone else’s mortgage” argument, rather than the “paying a subsidized amount for the use of…
The New Car Trap – Too Many People, Too Often – make this crucial financial mistake
This week’s guest post is from Jack Atlas – the nom de plume of a fellow aspiring Financial Independence seeker. He has kept things frugal and focused during his early financial journey which has allowed him to build a tidy…
Building a Property Portfolio in South Africa – Personal Tax, Endowment or PTY?
I generally subscribe to the Simple Path to Wealth. My strategy is generally equity based, with the highest likely return over time. The over time being crucial, it is no where near as consistent in terms of cash flow. In…
Contribute more to a Retirement Annuity or go Offshore and pay CGT? – Why a South African RA isn’t for me on my journey to FIRE
I started this post with the intention of explaining why an RA isn’t for me. I’ve been skeptical for a while now that it’s advantages outweigh the constraints for disciplined investor. So, I built a model to prove my point.…