Monevation

Think long term (or kiss goodbye to civilisation)

November 11, 2009
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Nobody ever won a girl or wrote a pop song by thinking long term. But being a little bit boring goes a long way.

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The unseen assets on your balance sheet

November 5, 2009
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My friend suspects I’m wealthier than him just because my money is in shares, while his is in property. He’s wrong.

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Perfect 10 investing

November 2, 2009
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The world of chasing endless beauty queens in the absence of all other kinds of women or relationships isn’t for me.

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You don’t have to be rich to treat yourself

August 10, 2009
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Once you’re aware of the process of your perception of the value of money changing over time, I believe you can take steps to try to master lifestyle inflation.

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How buying an iPhone can help make you rich

July 31, 2009
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I can afford to buy an iPhone. So why haven’t I bought one, and can I afford not to?

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10 money mistakes I have made

July 24, 2009
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I have made financial mistakes just like anyone else – but maybe not the same mistakes.

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Young people are already rich

July 22, 2009
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The difference that spending £100 a month less on clothes in your twenties and investing it will make to your future is incredible.

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How to make one million pounds

June 15, 2009
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I have written before about how much interest you’d earn on a million pounds. But how do you make your million pounds in the first place?

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Coping with the guilt of losing money

February 9, 2009

It’s normal to feel frustrated, angry or even foolish when you lose money on your investments. But what about guilt? My portfolio’s fall from its peak value in summer 2007 to a low in October 2008 represents a big loss for a 30-something private investor like me: at least a couple of years of after-tax [...]

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The really obvious thing we all forget when borrowing money

January 23, 2009

Have you ever wondered who you’re borrowing money off when you go into debt? If you think you’re being given money by a bank or credit card company, think again. In this post I will explain in one sentence who is really lending you money when you borrow. The rest of the article will explain [...]

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Money can’t buy me love

December 31, 2008

What follows is a personal post, but I believe it’s relevant to investing. I won’t be discussing underpriced stocks or earning more money. Instead I’ll share something that for me puts the business of personal finance into perspective. Call it an end of year message. I’m visiting my parents. In the next room, my gentle and intelligent [...]

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Stanford researchers prove you can spend 20% less on gifts for the same result

December 30, 2008

Image by: monstershaq Bad news: When your sister, mother or lover said “You really shouldn’t have” when you gave them that expensive gift, they meant it. You should have shopped smarter and saved your money instead.

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Do you run a tight ship or are you just a tightwad?

December 21, 2008

Anyone who reads personal finance blogs is clearly more interested in money than the average person. If you write a personal finance blog, you’re even more interested in money (even if blogging won’t make you any). Can you be too interested? Are we deluding ourselves into thinking we’re being economically literate, whereas really we’re just [...]

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How much interest do you earn on a million pounds?

December 15, 2008

Congratulations, you’re a millionaire, and you found this site by asking Google: How much interest do you earn on a million pounds? How did you make a million pounds? Perhaps: You won the lottery You robbed a bank You sold a small terraced house in central London You married someone who owned a large terraced [...]

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Three new ways to control your spending

December 12, 2008

In this post, I’ll outline three methods I’ve successfully used to stop me spending money on stuff I didn’t really need. Warning: All three methods are a bit unusual! 1. Reserve it on Amazon Nearly everything is cheaper to buy online. If I’m out shopping and I see something I like, I try to: Postpone [...]

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Proof that falling share prices can be good for your portfolio

December 5, 2008

When you’re investing in a bear market, it’s easy to forget that share prices can go up as well as down. This daily volatility scares people off during bull markets, too. It can be hard to watch your net worth fluctuate according to the whims of Wall Street (which is one reason I believe it’s [...]

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Learn how to get rich from a video game

November 28, 2008

Fable II is a video game, in which you play a hero and business mogul. In this post I’ll explain what it can teach you about making money. Lesson 1: Jobs mean money, but gosh they can be dull You begin Fable II as an orphan with a dog. Slaying bandits and collecting gold to [...]

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Five ways your pet could cost your pension dear

August 26, 2008

(Image: annia316) I love animals, and I’ve kept pets since I was a child. They’re funny, sometimes loyal, they make me happy, and they keep me in touch with nature. Over the past 20 years or so, though, pets have turned from being relatively cheap additions to the household into major moneypits. I’ve succumbed myself. [...]

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Five lessons for investors from Michael Phelps’ Olympic triumph

August 15, 2008

Do you have the vision, determination and commitment of swimmer Michael Phelps? You might not have his 6′ 4″ tall frame and dolphin-like body, but even as investors we can learn from his stunning achievements. I let go of my Olympic dreams when medical complications sent me to hospital aged 18. Before then, I’d been [...]

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How a boring broker will make you richer

August 14, 2008

What do you really want from your online stockbroker? Security? Cheap dealing charges? Low or no annual fees? Special offers? All well and good. After five years of dealing online, however – and especially during the recent bear market – I’ve discovered something else matters. Something you may think sounds silly, but which will make [...]

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Four more ways to stop a financial crisis derailing your money goals

April 1, 2008

So you’ve done your four financial crisis checks: Your savings are safe They’re earning more interest You’ve got a plan to pay off any debt Your mortgage is sorted for the foreseeable future. Time to turn over and fall back to sleep? Possibly. I’m serious! It’s often too late to Do Something once a financial [...]

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Who’s your Star Wars money hero?

March 4, 2008

Space operas are exciting, with droids, blasters and galaxies far, far, away. Financial advice is often dull, and focussed on doing without, dying, and matters down, down to Earth. Is it any wonder millions more of us watched the lamentable Episode 1: Phantom Menace than will ever read The Millionaire Next Door? But what if [...]

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The secret to investing when stock markets are falling

February 20, 2008

Catching up with some of my favourite financial blogs (no, Monevator.com is not an island!), I’ve noticed a sour note on those that follow the net worth of the author (e.g. My 1st Million at 33 and Accumulating Money). I admire these writers for putting their cojones on the line so publicly. My thoughts certainly [...]

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The one number to beat if you want to retire early

February 15, 2008

There are no true short cuts in investing, but I believe there are some subtle benefits in targeting income when making your investment plans.

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The hidden cost of not saving and investing because you’re in debt

December 9, 2007

Debt isn’t just painful because of the interest bill you pay. There’s also the long-term value of that money if you’d saved and invested it instead.

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Why you must get out and stay out of debt

December 6, 2007

Your debt makes other people rich. You’re borrowing from your future self, who will be poorer, less secure, or lead a less abundant life because you wanted something now, before you could afford it. You must get out of debt. You can’t save while you’re in debt, and it grows like a weed. Kill it! [...]

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Taking stock: Your Statement of Affairs

November 28, 2007

To get the most from your money in the long-term, you need to know what you own, what you owe, how much you bring in every month from your earnings, savings and investments, how much goes out again, and thus whether you’re living beyond your means. Completing this personal reckoning is step two of my [...]

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How talking about money is like French kissing

November 21, 2007

Don’t overdo it, and don’t shove it down other people’s throats, but enjoy it when you get the chance – and never be ashamed of it.

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From now on, you’re good with money

November 19, 2007

The first step to financial freedom starts with how you think about money. You must resolve, now, to get your financial affairs in order. Stop fantasizing that a lottery win or an inheritance is going to make you rich overnight, and instead resolve to do it for yourself. Commit to setting long-term financial goals, and [...]

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The 10 eternally true steps to financial freedom

November 19, 2007

Whoever you are and wherever you come from, there are 10 steps you can follow that, given time, will secure you a wealthy future. You’ll need to cut you cloth to suit your own position, sure, but don’t fool yourself – these steps have applied throughout the ages, across civilisations, and they certainly apply to [...]

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