Middle aged father of 3 boys from Copenhagen blogging about financial independence, minimalism and reducing my family’s carbon footprint. Spoiler alert – it’s not an easy task.
Well, that’s obviously 🙄 not a very S E O friendly headline that will be bringing in a whole lot of algorithmic google traffic. It will be some creepy dudes googling nose hair. Thing is, it turned out to be just one of those days. Had to bring the car 🚗 to the auto repair … Continue reading I would rather pull my own nose hair
We had an "action packed" weekend coming up this weekend. The oldest had a soccer match saturday, we had a house warming Saturday at my sister in law, and the the Grand Finale, a romantic getaway from Sunday to Monday. Immediately my mind spins into a cost controlling state. A present 🎁 for the hosts … Continue reading How to choose experiences over consumption of stuff
Everybody who is embarking on a journey towards financial independence find themselves pondering three things; ✅How much do I spend? ✅How much do I make? ✅Is the differential enough to make me financially independent - and when? Usually, if the difference between how much you earn and spend is positive, then at some point a … Continue reading How to bring cost down, improve Free Cash Flow and build lasting wealth
Obviously, the headline is not possible - not even on a long shot. Sorry 😐 about that. But it is just what I would really like. To have a huge vegetables garden, where I could grow all necessities for my household. Hence, I would have liked to name this post - How to...but as I … Continue reading Self-sufficiency on a sqm?
Christmas 🎄 is just around the corner, and between all the time spend at work, corporate Christmas dinners, Christmas breakfast and socializing in 5 grade, 3 grade and kindergarten and private "gluhwein" get togethers, the Minimal5 Mom and Dad have to find time trying to do some Christmas shopping 🛍 for presents. While all of … Continue reading Christmas gifts planning and execution at Minimal5
Starting of my blogging career a little over half a year ago, never quite knew where it would take me. Writing in a financial independence/minimalistic/sustainable niche - anonymously I have started to read/follow a lot of different blogs from around the world in this space. It has actually been quite interesting and insightful. Facebook groups … Continue reading Family/Dad work-life balance – in an international context.
It's funny how you sometimes get an idea 💡 for a blog post that you don't quite know where will end up when you are done. I recon this post will be such one. My chain of thoughts were actually triggered this morning, where I was woken up by my wife and two oldest, as … Continue reading Family minimalism – How to?
October is turning into November. Days are getting shorter here on the northern latitudes of Copenhagen. It is now dark when we wake up, and darkness comes sooner and sooner in the evenings. Even though we try to trick reality by arbitrarily turning the time an hour, we cannot escape the turn of time. Only … Continue reading Savings “fatigue” – does it happen to you as well?
Who would have thought that being benched for 3 1/2 hour on an airplane seat would lead to a minimalistic/financial independent blog post. Nonetheless that is what happened yesterday. I was in the middle seat, with my oldest on the right and middle one on the left. It got pretty boring, so at one point … Continue reading High asset prices and the effect on our kids?
If you are a regular follower of this blog, then you will know that I have just spent a week vacating with the in-laws in beautiful Cyprus. You can read more on that here. So what is the most natural thing to do when you are on vacating ... well thinking 🤔 off course. I … Continue reading The negative side effects of having debt
Almost thought about naming this blog post - how to swallow your pride, in order to save a few bucks. But as you have guessed by now then, from the title and follow up, I am going on vacation with the in-laws. Only 7 days away now. Sigh. 😔 I am not an ungrateful middle-aged … Continue reading Vacating with the in-laws (MiL,FiL +++)
Well, obviously not by doing what I am doing, and doing it within a personal finance/minimalistic blogging niche. 😉 But hey, now you are here, so please do read on. Even though there is progress, I have to say that I am still not where I want to be; namely as the most cited, most … Continue reading How to become a full time, stay at home, influential blogger in 2019.
School strikes are all the rave these days. Ms Thunberg set sail over the Atlantic, to participate and speak at the climate strike event in NY yesterday. It got me thinking about what we are doing in the Minimal5 family, in order to help battle climate change, and if we are indeed doing enough. When … Continue reading Climate change action – the Minimal5 way
To consume or not to consume, that is the question. If you, like the author of this blog, is pursuing a route towards financial independence, the answer to the question will increasingly be not to consume. How low you can bring your monthly expenses down will be very individualistic, and how much is left when … Continue reading How to stay the course towards financial independence…
There is no getting around it, the very reason some of us devote our life to a FIRE way of life is the ultimate Financial Independence part, so that we have the option to Retire Early. The Financial Independence part is basically driven be capital income as opposed to labour income. So the goal is … Continue reading How to escape the rat race…
Choices, choices...choices They are everywhere, at every time, ever present. They are present in our daily lives, at work, at home, everywhere. We are constantly bombarded with choices in every aspect of life. Choices that require our attention, decision making and ultimately - A Decision. That is, unless you deliberately ignore them. See that is … Continue reading Reflections on Dividend yields vs. capital gains.
So the ECB lowered their interest rate today, in a move that saw the interest level drop to a staggering -0.5% ...(yes that is a minus sign). Shortly after, the head of the national bank of denmark followed up, with a move down in the danish lending rate to -0.75. (Again, yes a minus sign). … Continue reading Save us Ogier…
If you have been following this blog on a recurrent basis you will have learned by now, that I am actively trying to pursue a financial independence strategy. I did my first post on my portfolio of listed and unlisted shareholdings some time back, which you can find here; How my DGI portfolio performed in … Continue reading How I am building my DGI portfolio – Update #2
Once in a while you have to remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing. Why have I insisted in trimming down our fixed and variable cost in our household, why are we targeting a 50% savings rate, why are we actively plowing all of our proceeds into active investments. Why are we … Continue reading The F*ck you account – net worth update #2.
I have been wanting to do this post for quite some time now, but never really got around to do it, but here goes... In the spirit of this blog, and the fact that I happen to be a Copenhagen dad, I guess it is only obvious that a blog post about last mile transportation … Continue reading Last mile transportation
It's a big world out there, and currently we are not anywhere near normal economic circumstances. Every day that goes by, and I keep reading more and more extreme economic and financial stories. Lately read, that the 100 year Austrian bond that was recently issued had gone parabolic, due to the ever falling interest level. … Continue reading The death of animal spirit
So about that FIRE thing, Minimal5 dad, how are we progressing on that. - "well, the short answer is that I actually don't know." That is not entirely accurate, but OMG, with a full time parental thing for 3 boys going on, and a full time job on the side, a full time working mom … Continue reading Behold my new invention – the zero (0) cost ($) day!
Back from vacation and I can't help thinking about the one topic we have been debating a bit in our small Minimal5 family. The car 🚗 situation. A bit of background information for all of you new comers to the Minimal5 blog; we have a Citroen grand C4 Picasso, with the smallest gasoline engine - … Continue reading Car considerations – I so want that Tesla …
Summer vacation is officially over, and then Minimal5 family is slowly getting back into the normal rhythm of what ever work-life balance we have. Slow start up at work, did one day of working from home, in order to take the top of the realities. Sitting here in the first weekend after a week of … Continue reading Zero cost (0$) activities for any vacation
I have to admit up front, that this is a blog piece I had not anticipated doing when I started out blogging about three months ago. My chain of thoughts started this morning, 2 1/2 week into our vacation, with me getting up as the first one in the family at around 8. I made … Continue reading On consumerism, sustainability and doing your laundry.
So we have arrived at Lazise at Lake Garda in Italy. The 34 sqm mobile home at camping Lido is just perfect. Weather is good, around 30 degrees, and sunny with a bit of clouds. Camp site very well equipped, with pool area, pool bar, sports facilities, mini marked and restaurant. Nothing more can really … Continue reading On excessive needs and vacation in the south.
OMG ... its been 3 months already. Being a part time blogger, I recon 3 months is not that long of a time. When you only have an hour here and there, you really have to prioritize what you do, and where you focus our time. This post will be a follow up, on my … Continue reading My first 3 months of blogging – the dreaded status
Don't worry, we don't have a homeless guy living on our balcony now or anything, but this story is kind of a weird one. It does involve money though, which by some completely random events have found its way back into my wallet. Which is why I will be writing about it. Because hey, any … Continue reading We sold our balcony – I know – weird?
Summer time is coming close. Kids off from school. Vacation planning. Pulling the plug from work, and procrastinating the last working assignments. Your mind goes into vacation mode. Zzz... ~This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may make … Continue reading 7 great summer activities with kids
Progress on our minimalistic journey is moving on slowly but steadily. We are saving where we can, doing a bit of recycling, up-cycling and what not. ~This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may make a commission~ My … Continue reading Being struck by minimalistic nemesis
Why go where everyone else has already been? Why not go somewhere, where you can enjoy nature in all its beauty. Somewhere quiet, with time for reflection. Somewhere with beautiful landscapes instead of a city skyline. I give you - National Park Thy. This is where the Minimal5 family will be going for the second … Continue reading Minimalistic hiking vacation in National Park Thy
Actively pursuing a financially independent lifestyle will require you to understand your financial situation in detail. You need to understand your personal balance sheet and financial net worth. I have written a blog post about that here; Family Net Worth Update #1. Additionally you will need to understand your income statement, and especially the cost … Continue reading My 19 steps to sanitize the family budget.
I like to think that we don't buy a lot. On a personal level I still have some of my T-shirts from my teenage years. Way before any one had invented concepts like Maria Kondo, decluttering, zero waste, minimalism, F.I.R.E. and the like. This is good, because both me any my wife also tend to … Continue reading Circular economy or just being plain cheap? The
Planning a little getaway for the weekend even including the kids and the spouse, but feeling repelled by the cost outlook, the carbon footprint associated, and the inflation of material expectations of your kids. ~This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through an affiliate link and make … Continue reading 9 essentials for the camping trip
I have been wanting to do this post for some time now, but as we haven't got around to actually do the planning before now it hasn't been quite possible. ~This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may … Continue reading Vacation planning 2019
Walk the walk, talk the talk. Shine the divine light upon the Minimal5 family, and let us all rejoice in a veggie feast on this very special veggie Tuesday. ~This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may make … Continue reading Veggie day at Minimal5
Lifestyle inflation, I think we have all experienced that concept in one shape or form. It is rather hard not to when you go through the various cycles of life. ~This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may … Continue reading How to counter lifestyle inflation
Minimalism....the holy grail of our 21st century, that lures you with all its promises. 💵Cut down your cost 🥡Cut down your waste 🧼Clean up and declutter you home 🛍Free your self from earthly belongings 🦶Reduce your carbon foot-print and help save the planet I am all for minimalism as you know. I think it is … Continue reading Failing on minimalism
Let's face it, keeping daily costs down is not an easy task, and living in a city you are surrounded by possibilities and opportunities. Possibilities that will help your money crawl out of your pocket. ~This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through an affiliate link and … Continue reading My top 9 products to help keep costs down.
Remember some years back, when Micro Adventures we're suddenly a thing. I love the concept. It's great. But somehow it seems it was kinda forgotten again. I think the concept deserves to get a renaissance in these times of austerity and sustainable living. If you have followed my blog, by now you will know of … Continue reading What happened to those Micro Adventures
Continuing from my last blog post about me and my family's income levels, and the tax rate in Denmark, let's use this update to dive into the current state of wealth for the little Minimal5 family. We currently live in a flat in downtown Copenhagen. It is a cooperative housing flat, which basically just means … Continue reading The financial status – part 2
No reason to have a blog about financial independence with out providing some sort of financial overview of the blogger - right, so we might as well get to it. First a bit of background information about this blogger, so you have some sort of context to put it into. Basically, being "middle-aged" means that … Continue reading The financial status – part 1
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