Is money linked to our ego? It’s a question that invites us to reflect on the deeper motivations behind our financial decisions. Morgan Housel, in his thought-provoking way, suggests that “savings is the gap between your income and your ego.”  This statement can be confronting, especially because it challenges us to consider the extent to which our financial behaviours are driven by a desire to maintain or enhance our sense of self-worth. While Housel’s observation holds […]

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Have you ever paused to consider what your behaviour might be saying about you… to you? It’s a fascinating thought, isn’t it? All behaviour is a form of communication. Every action we take, every choice we make, sends a message, not only to the world around us but also to ourselves. In the realm of financial planning, this idea becomes particularly intriguing. What are our financial behaviours trying to tell us? Think about it. When you […]

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Life’s a bit of a puzzle, isn’t it? We look at our problems and think, “Oh, that’s straightforward enough.” But then we start digging, and suddenly we’re in a whole different ballgame. It’s like peeling an onion – layer after layer, each revealing something new. And you know what? There’s a reason for all this complexity – and it’s not just to bring tears to our eyes…  Most of the time, the issues we’re facing are […]

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What if the key to unlocking a richer, more fulfilling life lies not in doing more, but in doing less? In our hyper-connected world, where the lines between work and personal life are increasingly blurred, this question has never been more relevant. The older we get, the more we see and learn how burnout can impact not just our emotional well-being, but our relationships and finances too. The constant pressure to be “on” can lead to […]

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ENHANCING FINANCIAL WISDOM: FROM PRICE COMPARISON TO SPENDING AWARENESS The simple act of pausing before making a financial commitment can transform your budget and savings strategy, echoing the thoughtful approach advocated by Benjamin Franklin: “Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.” Taking a moment to think before you buy significantly encourages better spending decisions. This brief pause allows you the opportunity to conduct a quick search for better prices or alternative […]

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Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there lived a magical creature known as the Retirement Fairy. This benevolent being was said to wave its wand and miraculously transform meagre savings into bountiful nest eggs, rescuing procrastinators and under-savers from financial distress in their golden years. It’s a comforting tale, isn’t it? Unfortunately, like most fairy tales, it’s just that – a story. Yet, surprisingly, many adults seem to believe in this […]

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THE ART OF MINDFUL SPENDING: HOW TO COMBAT IMPULSE BUYING In the rush of daily life, the urge to make spontaneous purchases can be compelling. Yet, giving in to this impulse often leads to clutter, not just in our homes but in our financial lives as well.  Warren Buffett wisely advised, “If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need.” This caution speaks volumes about the value of […]

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Also known as the gambler’s fallacy, the Monte Carlo fallacy is the mistaken belief that past events can influence future outcomes in situations where the events are actually independent. This fallacy, or cognitive bias, originates from the world of gambling, where players may erroneously believe that a streak of losses makes a win more likely or vice versa. In reality, each spin of the roulette wheel or roll of the dice is an independent event, unaffected […]

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The road toward financial independence and a meaningful life is seldom straight or smooth. It’s a path fraught with challenges, requiring not just financial acumen but also a steadfast commitment to your long-term goals. The words, “I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy. I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it,” resonate deeply in this context, offering both a sobering reminder and a hopeful promise. It ain’t gonna be easy. Embarking on this […]

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Sometimes, we can be hardest on ourselves (and others) when working with money! This could be because we’ve been taught to think that our success is largely determined and defined by numbers, investment strategies, and external factors that impact our financial well-being. However, true financial success is most often rooted in our internal world—our thoughts, beliefs, and the narratives we tell ourselves. So – it’s a much bigger picture. As we begin to explore this bigger […]

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