A joyless job. 40 years of being kicked out of bed by an alarm. Living for the weekend, wishing every month, year, your life away... It doesn’t have to be this way.
If financial freedom is on your mind, you're probably one of two types of people:
If you identify with this group, you're not exactly mad about your work, but racing towards early retirement or that place where you never need to work again is not your focus. Instead you want to gradually explore different routes of working and earning a living. You want to keep on learning, changing, and shaping your life until you’re leaping out of bed every morning to get going on that dream project of yours. You understand this might mean studying full-time at some point, starting over at less pay, volunteering, or even having to throw a truckload of capital at your start-up. Claiming your freedom is a journey and the destination keeps on changing. At the same time you know your dreams will require capital, so you're serious about living below your means and saving up for your next goal.
You're part of the FIRE (financial indepence, retire early) community in SA - intently focused on reaching that place where you no longer need to work. You might be so fed up, burnt out, rusted out by now that your response to a job change is “Same shit, different place.” You want to never, ever work again. And you're willing to save at least 30% of your income every year for as long as it takes to eventually get where you want to be - unencumbered by work.
The main difference between the two types of journeys is that the first is mainly about FI (without the need for an early retirement), while the second one is about FIRE (with a strong drive towards early retirement). Without a doubt, the first approach puts less pressure on you. There’s less risk of running out of money, your brain stays active and challenged if you continue to do meaningful work, and you’re more likely to leave a legacy. If you still prefer to go all-out for the destination, not looking left or right, I do have a roadmap to complete financial freedom for you. So you never, ever have to work again.
Racing towards retirement is not your focus. Instead you're exploring different routes of making a living. You want to shape your life until you’re leaping out of bed every morning to work on your dream project. The destination Financial Freedom keeps shifting. You realise your dreams require saving and living below your means, though.
If you identify with the race towards financial freedom, you're part of the FIRE community in SA - intently focused on reaching that place where you no longer need to work. And you're willing to save at least 30% of your income every year to get where you want to be - unencumbered by work. If you're going all-out for the destination, I have a roadmap to complete financial freedom for you.
Tax 101: Tips to avoid the most common tax mistakes
22 February 2024
In the words of The Beatles, "Let me tell you how it will be There's one for you, nineteen for me 'Cause I'm the taxman." If you're new to the world of paying tax, make sure you use all your tax deductions while always staying on the right side of the taxman.
Reader: I'm 50 with no retirement savings. Is it too late?
29 January 2024
Tia says, "I’m self-employed and enjoy my work. Even though I’m fit and healthy, I’m thinking I should get a back-up plan and make sure I no longer need to work by age 65." Tia is 50 and by most standards a late starter to financial freedom. She has zero retirement savings. Is it too late for her to reach financial freedom?
Hello. I’m Lizelle and I have no intention to retire from a working life. Only from my corporate life. I’ve tried on many skins over the past 29 years: actuarial technician; investment performance analyst; product manager; hedge fund manager; client experience designer; finance forum owner; communication specialist; coffee stall owner; and Nia teacher (much fun). And I've been on a few sabbaticals, being a strong believer in proper breaks. I’ve been a salaried worker and a freelancer, and definitely prefer the latter. To me, financial freedom is a journey towards doing only the work I love with no retirement in mind. Our life's work never stops. In my case, that means to leave the world a healthier, dancier and more at peace place.
Aside from work, I love to grow my own food and create healthy ecosystems, and nurture healthy relationships. I come alive when I dance, yoga, play board games with family and friends, and walk/drive on roads I've never been before. I absolutely love picking up new practical skills. In 2019, with my own website in mind, I signed up for a short course in Web Design through UCT GetSmarter. The result: Go Freedom - a bit wonky but nonetheless a DIY labour of love.
Hello. I’m Lizelle and I have no intention to retire from a working life. Only from my corporate life. Over the past 29 years, I’ve been a salaried employee and a freelancer, and I definitely prefer the latter. So, my goal is to save up enough to return to that freedom. I absolutely love picking up new practical skills. In 2019, with my own website in mind, I signed up for a short course in Web Design through UCT GetSmarter. The result: Go Freedom - a bit wonky but nonetheless a DIY labour of love.