Here we are as a family, walking along the beautiful Newborough Beach on Anglesey, North Wales. Lately Rachel and I have been reflecting over how we operate with our money and how we have managed 22 years without any disagreements over our finances. We have pondered this, wondering how we have managed to get this mostly right all this time. Here’s a few thoughts…. Continue reading “Talking money and marriage”
Category: personal finance
Tale of the monkey puzzle investment

The tale of the Monkey Puzzle investment. In our front garden we have a Money Puzzle tree. We think it is about 40 years old and about 20 feet tall. We love it! The tree is quite a feature in our front garden and when we give someone directions to our house, we often say “look out for the monkey puzzle tree on the left”. Continue reading “Tale of the monkey puzzle investment”
Counting the days

I really am counting the days down to my retirement. This coming Friday 20th July will be my last proper day in the office.
This is followed by one more day on Thursday 26th when I am supposedly meant to chair a meeting during the morning and then handing my ICT equipment back in. Continue reading “Counting the days”
Pensions for children
Pensions for children might not be the most exciting demand on your money but it is worth taking that step. Continue reading “Pensions for children”
The importance of pocket money
You can easily think of pocket money as being childish, something you call money and give to your children when they are young. Not only that but for us as adults too and I have wanted to blog about the importance of pocket money for a while now. Continue reading “The importance of pocket money”
Holding our nerve

Heading rapidly towards early retirement on the strength of taking my pension early and counting the pennies behind the sofa, is a testing time. Together we have to be holding our nerve, as they say. Continue reading “Holding our nerve”
Why financial planning is important
Thought it might be worth sharing a few points here about why financial planning is important as we approach some major changes. The changes (i.e. my escape plan) are the culmination of plans made many years ago and are now coming into effect, albeit a little sooner than we had anticipated. Having a few long term goals is a good thing to do, although at times it can become very easy to simply drift through life in a haphazard way. Continue reading “Why financial planning is important”