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Hola amigos!
Been a crazy crazy few months – I know I have been slacking in regards to this blog dear readers, but strewth it’s been a whirlwind.
Mainly to do with juggling two young ‘uns, the business and a whole raft of other bits and pieces which make this life oh so interesting.
Finally have about 5 minutes to breathe, so Imma gonna punch out a short snappy post to try and catch you guys up (and also a bit of self-reflection).
Given it is almost June 30, I’d thought it’s timely to post a half-yearly report with all the bells and whistles.
Without further ado…
Finances
Ha! What finances?
If you have kids, and young ones at that – you’ll understand that this period of one’s life is when your finances seemingly move two steps forward, three steps back.
CHILDREN ARE FUCKING EXPENSIVE.
Ours are in childcare 5 days a week, plus the regular rigmarole of food, entertainment, extra-curricular, toys etc – means that we are barely breaking even on our monthly cash-flow.
My savings rate – which was a phenomenal 90%+ at its peak (in my early 20s), would be lucky to make it to 10% these days.
Coupled that with the opportunity cost of time, means I’m not really in the headspace to look into making any major investments, that’ll be the case for the the next couple of years I imagine.
Rating: C- (FK the kids, treating me like a giant wallet).
Net Wealth
This brings me to Net Wealth… and I hear you say – hey TFS! Why haven’t you posted any NW updates recently?
I know it’s been many moons since I’ve done one, and the truth is that my NW needle has moved a bit since then.
Fair to say, I’m now gunning for the top 1% (which estimates have as around $7m) because fuck it – we have to aim high right?
The only problem is…
See post above – I’ve not done anything remotely close to moving the dial (except “investing” in absolute dogshit crypto altcoins WEN ALT SZN?).
Rating: D (cos the one thing I bought recently, crypto – has done worse than fuckall, it’s gone backwards – by a lot (spits on ground in disgust)).
Family
I was going to put this one as the first heading, because family is and always will be the most important thing to me.
But having said that sentence out loud, I now don’t feel the need to put this heading first.
What can I say?
So far 2025 – has been one absolute mutha-roller-coaster of a ride, we’ve had extreme lows and a couple of moments of letting-huge-sigh-of-relief moments.
It is what it is.
What is more important is the relentless self-sacrifice MrsFrugalSamurai and myself endure day after muthachuckin day to raise MiniFrugalSamurai and BabyFrugalSamurai into adulthood and beyond – just ask any parent, it never ends.
But this year has been special, I don’t think my relationship with my family has been closer – so there’s a silver lining to everything.
Rating: A (rating purely based on the family relationship between myself, MrsFrugalSamurai, MiniFrugalSamurai and BabyFrugalSamurai).
Business
Going well, going better than well actually.
It’s taken me a little by surprise but KNOCK ON WOOD it continues.
I guess working for corporate for over 17 years has its benefits.
That, and also when I started I took a long term approach, building relationships slowly and not just chasing a quick buck.
At the risk of sounding wanky, but I genuinely want to help people nowadays.
This differed significantly with my mindset back in corporate-land, where you can hide behind the organization, and treat clients as just another number.
Now, I am the face and brand of my business – so damnit if it ain’t going to be done well.
Rating: B (there’s still many, many things which I should and could do, but like I said – long term approach, it’ll get there).
Personal Health
Ack! On the wrong side of 30 now and just the other day I found the first flecks of white hairs in my stubble.
There’s now noticeably more grey/white hairs on my scalp than any other year too.
I still gym as much as I can – nowhere near as much as I used to, but the biggest thing has been…
… my metabolism has finally slowed.
Anyone who knew me (or watched me eat) knows that I can pack away more vittles than a Mongolian wrestler, AND not put it on.
Unfortunately in the last 12-18 months I’ve noticed my metabolism just isn’t what it used to be, and those kilos are much, much harder to shred now.
My weight, which had always remained around 78-80 kgs since uni (I was quite proud of this) is now stubbornly hovering around the mid 80s.
What can ya do? That’s just another sign of aging. SIGH.
Rating: C (it could be much worse without the gym – but having to watch what and how much you eat is a foreign concept to me, and I slip up often).
Looking Ahead
I think all things considered, the first half of 2025 has been rough with green shoots – our finances have taken a hit sure, but the family dynamic has never been stronger.
My main focus on the 2nd half of this year is really on the business and as always, health and relationships.
One of the goals I set myself is not only to be in the top 1% of NW but also to be in the top 1% of income earners (which is estimated at around $375k).
Suffice to say that I am nowhere near that figure, but hey – long term right?
Oh yeah, and all the usual good stuff as well – good health, good relationships and good will hunting.
~~~
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