The Money Manual

Trying hard not to let money run my life.

Philosophy

• The best things in life are free
• The best thing money buys is freedom
• The goal is Financial independence (how to)
• Simplify your finances

Savings

• Save more than you spend.
• Keep a solid cash buffer for unexpected expenses. Put it to use for low risk yield.
• Keep cash at hand for everyday expenses. Don’t worry about getting a return on this or trying to keep the cash at a bare minimum — the extra money you may earn is not worth the effort.

Investing

• Only invest in things you believe in long term. No trading.
• If you feel anxious about an investment, get out. Health is more important than money.
• Set and forget. It is likely the best strategy anyways and frees up time/energy.
• Play around with a small portion of your portfolio. Investing in interesting projects is fun, and doing it will a small amount will keep you from gambling away your full stack.

Spending

• Until you reach financial independence, everything but the essentials is a luxury.
• Experiences > gear > stuff.
• Remember that all things have an ongoing maintenance cost.
• Spending less can often enhance your experience — and help you develop new skills.