Relocating as saving option

As i read about some people struggling with the new achieved financial independence (really people, it this a real thing?), i decided to have some test runs, and to live for 10 days in two of the countries i was considering for retirement (this being Morocco and Italy - Sicily). I went to Morocco as i always wanted to see how it is to live in a hot country (as opposed to the rainy and windy Britain). And boy, how i could be wrong, as i am not prepared to live in a hot, tropical country yet. Test success achieved, and some lessons were learned. The second choice was Sicily, as the climate is more friendly, the food is awesome and i could use the full immersion in the Sicilian culture to speak my long forgotten Italian. This time was pleasant enough, and the results were positive, but i'm afraid that i could become bored over time if i lack a clear objective and some activity schedule. But that being said, one can be bored easily everywhere in the world, right. Sicily good points where 3-500 euro monthly rent for a nice flat or small house (why would you need more), food cost was 10-20% less than England if you cook, with 30-50 % less in restaurant if you don't - but still more expensive than the cooking option), the heat combined with a Mediterranean diet is keeping you from gaining weight, and you have seaside swimming ready nearly 6 months per year.

But this came with a cost - £1000 for Morocco and £820 for Sicily, both 10 days for 2 people. And included plenty of trips and exploring. In conclusion, now i need to build my cash reserves back, with should be not so hard as my next holiday is scheduled in May 2019.

Have a nice day!
G.

July 2018 - Monthly report

My Overview

Total portfolio: £32319(+44)
Debt: £3668(-255)
External funds: ZERO
Car: No
Net Worth: £28651(+225)

Investments UK: £17212(+537)
Investments overseas : £3606 ( same)
Cash: £703(-457)
Pension: £10215(+410)

Total Income: £1797(+293)
Passive income: £503 (27.98%)
Savings rate: 12.24%

Side hustle 2 value: £2.04
Side hustle 3 value: £476.51 (Profit June -0)
Side hustle 4 value: £520 (Funds:4528)

Total portfolio going up a bit, but the net worth increased with £337, as the debt is slowly decreasing. The investment in UK increased with half a grant, so i am pleased with this. Cash reserves are low, as i am getting ready to my next 2 holidays in two months. passive income was decent, thanks to £476 from World Cup match betting, which is not too awesome as i was taken by surprise by Germany loss. Side hustle 4 slightly increased, but not by much, as the crypto-market is still down. 

My main hope is to be on the positive side at the end of September, after all the holiday madness and other expected and unexpected expenses. We will see what the summer breeze will bring with it!

Have a wonderful tan! See you!

June 2018 - Monthly report

My Overview

Total portfolio: £32275 (-9)
Debt: £3923(-206)
External funds: ZERO
Car: No
Net Worth: £28226 (+71)

Investments UK: £16875(-7)
Investments overseas : £3606 ( same)
Cash: £1160(-327)
Pension: £9805(+199)

Total Income: £1504(-68)
Passive income: £52 (3.46%)
Savings rate: 14%

Side hustle 2 value: £3.30
Side hustle 3 value: £0 (Profit May-101.75)
Side hustle 4 value: £462 (Funds:4548)

What a month! What a story!

Not many changes, as a loan taken at the end of the year seems to stop all my growth (learn from my mistakes, not from yours). Anyway, it is half paid, and i am trying to pay it ASAP. Surprisingly, the net worth is up by £71, which it is a win for me. The two incoming holidays are not helping either, but we need to recover for time t time, so i put that on the good(ies) list, as the improved rest and productivity will make a difference.Due to economic environment, the investments are down by £7 (the horror!). Passive income is less than expected, as the matched betting will be counted at the end of July (World Cup was over June and July). I should probably focus a bit more on matched betting, and i decided to use a separate card for it, hoping to accumulate there all my future winnings. Cryptocurrency is still not moving much, so i am just waiting for the market to move first.

Children and financial illiteracy

This is a very interesting article about finance and childhood.

Check this out!

May 2018 - Monthly report

My Overview

Total portfolio: £32284 (-95)
Debt: £4129 (-400)
External funds: ZERO
Car: No
Net Worth: £28155 (+305)

Investments UK: £16882(-750)
Investments overseas : £3606 ( -300)
Cash: £1487(+427)
Pension: £9606(+111)

Total Income: £1572(-249)
Passive income: £119 (7.57%)
Savings rate: 14%

Side hustle 2 value: £3.70
Side hustle 3 value: £101.75 (Profit March - 200)
Side hustle 4 value: £484 (Funds:4653)

Net worth increased as i was saved a bit more in cash reserves, just to buy flights for my future holidays right after (cost for two for two flights return - 800). Debt is decreasing, but not as much as i would want, so this is one of my priorities, and the interest saved will be reinvested monthly. As i used the money from savings, i can see a 750 drop in investments. Pension is increasing steadily and the passive income was free falling, as i got through a bit of burnout phase. Crypto market is still free falling, with a decrease from 700 to 484, but i am building some nice portfolio aiming for the future. Match betting was not the priority in May, with  big error from my side, which resulted in approx. 320 loss and only 101 pounds profit left. But this month is the world cup, with some decent bets, so i hope to go over 300. Saving rate is still low, mainly due to the loan that i pay monthly, leaving me with only 220 left for savings.

I hope June will be a bit better than May.

Best regards
G.

Preview May 2018

This was a difficult month, and i was slowly running away from my FIRE objective. It is harder and harder for me to achieve my goals, because of a loan that i took in times of need. Now seems that is sitting screwed on my brain, and the only way to achieve piece is to pay it completely, as soon as possible, instead of waiting the whole 5 years for the monthly payments. The rest of the work is still in progress, and i will probably do not see much profit until the summer of 2019. I am not very patient at the time. I made also a major mistake with the match betting, also not the same magnitude of the previous one (1500), this time it was only 320 of my profit, and hopefully i learned to not repeat it in the same way. I will probably have a minimal profit on matched betting this month, and i used a good part of the cash reserves to book flights for two future holidays in August and September. I try to use the passive income for the coming holidays, as i do not want to get money fro my wages.

Let's see what future brings (Hopefully a lot of luck in the coming World Cup betting)!

The numbers will be posted as soon as the month is finished.

April 2018 - Monthly report

My Overview

Total portfolio: £32379 (+595)
Debt: £4529 (-249)
External funds: ZERO
Car: No
Net Worth: £27850 (+844)

Investments UK: £17632 (+195)
Investments overseas : £3606 ( -300)
Cash: £ 1060 (+260)
Pension: £9495(+511)

Total Income: £1821(-203)
Passive income: £214 (11.74%)
Savings rate: 17.57%

Side hustle 2 value: £3.40
Side hustle 3 value: £200 (Profit March - 523)
Side hustle 4 value: £757 (Funds:4653)

This month I was slightly over-working, with little to no break. I am aware of this, and i will try to relax in May. Th net worth increased with more than 800, with almost 600 on the portfolio increase and 249 debt reduction. The investments overseas took a hit due to the pound losing value, while the ones in UK slightly increased. Monthly income was a bit lower, with only 11% passive, mostly because of a miscalculation on matched betting (lost some bets and got only 200 profit instead of the average 3-400). The saving rate is still quite low, because i am paying at least 300 out of the debt every month. As major expenses, i an thinking to build an ethereum mining rig and to go in two holidays, in August and September, 10 days each. I am confident that i will manage to hit at least some winning jackpots with crypto, as i got some small amounts of altcoins growing up quite nicely. I am focusing of Proof of Stake altcoins such as Neo and Gridcoin (PoS means monthly or even daily interest if i will manage to get a significant amount).