Reading Time: 4 Minutes Well guys it’s finally here aye. The end of 2019. Had to happen of course, I mean each year is the beginning of the rest of our lives and all that. In a bit of a philosophical mood as you can tell, just finished reading a post from a blogger who I respect and follow about his 2018. It was a fairly reflective and raw piece, he’s achieved a lot, said a lot, done a lot – but you know I get the feeling that he’s not satisfied a lot. At least that’s what I’m reading it as, could just be that he’s becoming more grumpy…
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There’s Something Going On With This Year’s Melbourne Cup…
Reading Time: 4 Minutes Howdy peeps, how’s everyone’s week going! Yesterday in Oz, we just had the “race that stops a nation”, the annual Melbourne Cup. Although a workday traditionally (except for our Melbournian cousins – who are bestowed a public holiday, (yes gambling is so in our blood, we need a mandated day off just to gamble)), everyone knows that you don’t do actual work on the first Tuesday of every November. It would be un-Australian to do so. Hmm you know, between you and me – this year I can’t help but feel a different vibe beneath it all. I mean, in years past the day would go something like…
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From Small Things Big Things Grow!
Reading Time: 4 Minutes What’s up guys! Welcome back for another installment of your favourite Frugal Samurai! There’s a general sense of optimism in the Frugal Samurai household recently because we’ve been attending a number of weddings in these last few weeks – Kev/Di, Viv/Juju, Cosi/Nick, Spencer/Jess – all whirlwind romances. You know how it is at weddings – where the weather is glorious, the venue is amazing, people look beautiful and where, the bride and groom are radiating perfection. All that good vibes can’t help but rub off on ya right? Every time we attend one it reminds me of that magical day in April when MrsFrugalSamurai and I…
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Australian Household Wealth Update – and How YOU Can Get There!
Reading Time: 6 Minutes Ever wanted to know how Aussie household wealth is doing? Well, it seems like the gap between the have’s (them) and the have-not’s (us) is increasing. That is to say, methinks dem rich are gettin’ richer. But don’t just take my word for it – the latest Roy Morgan (amazing research guys) Wealth Report has shown that the biggest gains in the past decade have been among the wealthy top 10%. What about us poor buggers in the bottom 50%? Our share of private wealth fell from a measly 3.9% (yes, 3 point freaking 9) a decade ago to… 3.7%. “Shakes head” Just wow, those at the…
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4 Things to Know in Beijing (and My Brush with the Authorities)
Reading time: 6 minutes “Halt!” Shouted the voice outside the barracks. I turned, to come face to face into the glaring eyes of a soldier on duty. “What’s wrong?” I enquired with a quizzical look. ”Show me your phone”. I looked around, there were now FOUR soldiers in a semi-circle facing me. Without further protest, I handed it over to the first soldier, who proceeded to scroll through my photo album. “Delete this”, he pointed at the last two pictures I took. Meekly I obeyed, what else could I do? Because this here is China – the country of my birth. In China, taking pictures of government buildings and military…
