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Update: A Thought Experiment About Happiness

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 06:29:18 +0000

Hey guys,

This post is one of my new ‘update’ types, so it’s a bit different. I’ll be posting my thought experiment questions as an actual post from now on so I have them documented.

The next Thought Experiment (number 7 by the way, can you believe it?) will be released on the 15th of August. This is slap bang in the middle of my honeymoon to California, but I’ll still be writing my response and scheduling it for release at 7:30 am on that day.

I’ll try my hardest to add everyone who takes part to the list during the holiday, but I’ll probably be a bit slower as our times will be all messed up.

If you want to be on the response list at release, let me know what your link will be and send it to me (on Twitter or via my contact page ) before the 23rd of July and I’ll add you before I jet off.

So, without further ado, I present to you, Thought Experiment #7:

Most people’s lives are filled with so much commotion. We’re constantly moving and thinking like an electron jumping from atom to atom. There are very few moments when we experience true clarity, when we have a chance to really think clearly. These moments may come when reaching a mountain peak in the early hours of the morning or when you’re sitting up late one night and silently staring at the stars. Lots of life-changing decisions can be made in these moments; when you have the time to think about true happiness.

So, for this Thought Experiment, I’d like you to create one of these moments for yourself. I’d like you to think, and I mean really think about what you want and need to make yourself and your family happy.

What do you need to achieve real, true happiness? What are you aspiring to? Paint that perfect picture, you will need it as a guide whilst you make your way through life.

I’m really excited about taking part in this one myself, I’ll be finding a quiet room, putting on some classical, and grabbing a drink so I can really focus on thinking about my happiness goal, I might even light a candle!

So many people on the pathway to financial independence focus too much on the process and not what they’ll do when they get there. Use this Thought Experiment as an opportunity to really take the time to think about what you want.

If you haven’t got a blog and would like to take part, write it out on Word and send me a copy, I’ll feature it on the blog.

I can’t wait to hear your replies!

Thinking About the Future

Thu, 23 May 2019 06:30:24 +0000

Every now and again you realise that things need to update, as time continues on its constant asymptote into the future, things begin to get old. As you learn and grow, your goals may begin to change as your pathway begins to reveal itself.

SavingNinja is almost a year old now, I think it’s about time for a refresh. Technology advances all the time and people’s needs change right along with it. It’s probably a good idea to think about a serious website update at least once per year.

So, this is my ‘backlog’ post. I’ll be detailing all of the changes that I want to make and what my vision is for the future of SavingNinja.

Pillar Posts

One thing that SavingNinja is sorely missing are pillar posts. These are posts that depict your main philosophies and strategy. I currently have zero posts explaining what Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) actually is. I just assumed my audience would already know.

Pillar posts are important for your brand as it helps people understand who you are and what beliefs you hold. They should be your root posts (hence the name) for each section of your brand, with all of your other posts leading off from them.

These posts are also important for people who make it to SavingNinja who have no idea what FIRE means. For example, a lot of my Google search traffic is coming from posts that are unrelated to finance. These people should be able to quickly and easily find a pillar post and learn about the FIRE movement with very little effort. If they can’t, I’ve failed at promoting the movement (which is one of this websites main goals).

Structure

My categories and top menu are currently a mess, this was expected as before starting the site, I had no idea what type of posts I would be writing. Now, a year on, it’s a lot easier to categorise my content.

I want to fit all of the content on SavingNinja into these 5 main categories:

These categories will also be book-ended with ‘pillar posts’ as described above.

As well as these main categories, I’ll also have a couple of others:

Updates - For posts such as this one and any other announcements.

Reviews - For book, software, or product reviews.

These categories should clearly (and simply) define all of the SavingNinja content. It will give readers a chance to compartmentalise the site into what they want to read about, with the pillar posts guiding them.

Theme Update

Although I really like the current SavingNinja theme (and I did pay for it), it doesn’t have as many features as I would like, it’s actually quite an old and clunky theme. I’ll be looking for a more feature rich theme which suites the SavingNinja brand, and now that I know I’m sticking with blogging, I don’t mind paying a bit more for a good one.

Along with the theme update I’ll be looking at creating a better quality logo and header artwork, I may even get them professionally done as I know a few really awesome professional designers.

More Experimentation!

I love starting new side-hustles and experimenting. One of the reasons that SavingNinja was born was to document these experiments. I still have so much that I want to try! Kindle publishing, affiliate websites, Udemy courses, to name a few. It’s just finding the time to slot these in. Maybe my first experiment should be how to manage my time better? :)

Microfiction #1 - Fire

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 20:14:27 +0000

Below is an entry into Marc@FinanceYourFire’s Microfiction Series . He states a word and participants are asked to write a short story (less than 350 words) on the subject. Head over to the article to see his own and any other entries.

I’m seeing this as a great way to practice fiction writing. Who knows, maybe one of these short stories could turn into a book as, when retired, one of my projects is to write an epic fantasy !

It is hard to conceive the destruction one such as he can wreak. A sweet boy, to the casual observer, but hidden from their view lays his insurmountable ability to hate. Not just any old hatred; hatred with a burning passion. The type that is normally reserved for individuals who have suffered from a catastrophic wrong. Some would call one such individual a demon sent from the depths below; a beast to be strung to a stake and burnt. But burnt he cannot be, for the hatred is concealed deep within himself, manifesting only inside his own mind…

‘How dare he speak to me like that! What a swine! A cretin! A dirty little Grumpkin. I’ll show him what it costs to defy me!’ He feels his anger putrefying within his gut and collects it like candy from a jar, he funnels his toxicity into his one singular goal, yearning for it like a mother yearns for her dead child. Beads of sweat form on his brow as he forces his image into existence, bringing it forth from deep within his loins. He sees it, smells it, talks to it, and caresses its smoldering heart. He begins to taste its charred fragrance upon his tongue; this is a friend who he has called upon before.

He eagerly slams his journal shut and bolts through his dormitory door. As he makes his way through the twilight streets he starts to hear shrill voices cry out, “Fire!” Scarlet twinkles begin to catch his eye in the distance as he observes the billowing flames pouring out of his Professors quarters. Shyly, he smirks to himself; ‘My nights just about to get a whole lot better.’

HSBC £200 Switching Offer

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 06:30:48 +0000

This is a bank account switching offer. Read The Full Guide to Bank Account Switching for more information on how to make the most of offers like these.

This generous offer from HSBC has been around for a while now, but since I’ve referred to it in a few different articles I thought I’d make an official post documenting the details.

Before taking on this offer, be warned; it’s a tricky one due to the high pay in requirement and HSBC will do everything in their power to not pay you and stall. They’re the worst bank I’ve ever dealt with, so be prepared to ring them up if when need be.

Notes

Must pay in £1,750 per month (doesn’t have to be all at once)
At least two direct debits or standing orders have to be switched over from your closing bank
Not held a HSBC current account since 1st of January 2015
First £150 is paid within 30 days of account opening
£50 will be paid after 12 months if you’ve been paying the £1,750 per month and had the direct debits running the whole time

Fast-track

Ensure that two two direct debits via Little Debits have been set up on the current account that you will be switching from. Make sure these have ran for at least 1 month.

Go to the offer page and sign up for a new HSBC account, make sure that you opt in to the switching service when prompted. Once opened set up standing orders to transfer £1,750 in and out of the bank account (or transfer smaller amounts to make up the full £1,750 through-out the month).

Check back after 30 days and make sure you have received your £150. Either switch to another account now or wait an additional 11 months to receive the remaining £50.