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Financial Independence is about making your money work for you so that you can spend less time working for it if you choose to.
Getting and staying on a path to FI can be challenging, given how we’re often taught to value consumerism, which in turn is fueled by a lifetime of working and living to spend everything we earn.
If you’re determined to buck this ‘norm’ like I am, you’ll need lots of helpful advice and a constant dose of inspiration to keep going even when the going gets tough, which is why I scour the internet in search of the most helpful blog posts, videos, podcasts and everything else in-between that’ll keep you reaching for that FI finish line.
Here are my favourites this month. Go get yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy! ☕
The Top 9 (Bad) Arguments Against Bitcoin| JL Collins (guest post). I’ve seen many anti-bitcoin articles floating around on the internet and just as many that are for it. This is one of the most intelligent (and funniest) posts I’ve read that does an amazing job of debunking the biggest myths around this controversial currency.
Revamping My Investment Portfolio With My Financial Planner (2021) | Mr. Stingy. This is one post I was excited to dig into for the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of Aaron’s portfolio, revamped with the help of the more experienced, objective eyes of his financial planners. Having seriously considered signing up with a financial planner myself, it was an eye-opening read that gave me a glimpse into what to expect.
How To Be An Entrepreneur: Achieve FI/RE By Being Your Own Boss | think.save.retire. It seems like everyone wants to be an entrepreneur these days, but should you? In this episode of the tsr podcast, the folks behind it take you through your options, how to get started and the mistakes that most first-time business owners make. If you’re thinking of jumping on the be-your-own-boss train, listen to this first!
Beginner’s Guide For Malaysians To Invest Internationally | Ringgit Freedom. If you’re somewhat of a international investment noob like I am, you’ll want to dive into Gracie’s detailed introduction to the how, what, where, as well as the cost of getting your cash off the Malaysian shores and working hard for you. It’s gotten me thinking about options beyond robo-advisors like StashAway, and unit trust funds, which I’m more familiar with.
Comprehensive Guide: How to Read Financial Statements as a Stock Investor (With Case Study) | Marcus Keong. Yes, I invest in equities, but I’m no stock-investing maestro. I want to take my stock investment strategy beyond buying into companies I’m familiar with, and Marcus’s very-detailed post on how to read financial statements is just what I needed to start with. This is one post I’ll be revisiting often as I upgrade my investment skills.
21 Most Profitable Freelance Writing Niches (In 2021)| Out and Beyond. Thinking about quitting your job to freelance as a writer, or just want to give your income a boost with a couple of part-time writing gigs? No one knows the ins-and-outs better than Aisha from Out and Beyond, who’s built a profitable business around freelance writing herself. She gives away plenty of invaluable freelancing tips on her Instagram account too, so go check out her work!
Recommended Tools & Resources
*Note: Some of these suggestions contain affiliate links, which means that I’ll earn a small fee if you decide to use them. Using these links won’t cost you anything extra, but it’ll allow this blog to earn some money. If you use them, thank you 🙂
StashAway puts my cash to work by diversifying it into baskets of global exchange-traded funds (ETFs) safely and easily according to my risk appetite minus the freakishly high sales and management fees that come with unit trust funds. Sign up here to save 50% on management fees when you invest up to RM100,000 for your first 6 months.
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THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko
This is the very first book I ever read about money, and one that opened my eyes to what it really means to be wealthy and how the true rich (ie people who have a lot of money and are smart with it) make, manage and use the green stuff. You can get your copy here.
YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE by Vicki Robin
I consider this mandatory reading for everyone, no matter where you are on your financial journey. If you’ve got questions about how to develop good habits around tricky subjects like debt, earning, spending and your relationship with money, this book’s got the answers. You can get your copy here.
THE 4-HOUR WORK WEEK by Timothy Ferriss
This isn’t a personal finance book per se, but it is about making money in ways that have nothing to do with working a 9-5 job and introduced me to the idea of mini retirements. If lifesyle design is your thing, this is a must read. You can get your copy here.
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