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.
These are unprecedented times. Unprecedented indeed. Stocks are dropping, bonds are dropping, bitcoin is dropping, various fx against the dollar 💵 is dropping. Not even gold is holding up 🆙, and at the same time inflation is coming back hard, eating away at your nest egg. What are you doing. How are you positioning yourself? … Continue reading My views on the market
Corona came and went, and I completely lost interest in updating my blog. Sad though. However, I am still here, Minimal5 mom is also still here, and the kids are getting bigger. On a personal note, I decided to start my own consulting / advisory company roughly a year and a half ago. It’s been … Continue reading Long time no see…
Its been a while since my last update, I know, but finally found some time to sit down and do a proper Net Worth update at end of July. Not really that hard or anything, it just requires a bit of data collection across all of our family's various collections of wealth. Looking at the … Continue reading Mid Year balance sheet reflections
What an absolutely stellar year 2020 🎉 has turned out to be so far. Well at least in one aspect, namely the SAVINGS RATE 💯 for the Minimal5 family. I just sat down, and did an overview of the first 4 months of 2020, in order to sanity check if we are still trending on … Continue reading 2020 Savings rate update; 67% achieved so far.
With my net worth pushing incrementally higher and higher for every month that passes and the resulting transfer of wage slave money 💰 to the stock market, a new set of reflections are starting to set in. What will I eventually use my soon to be financial independence for? What is it that I am … Continue reading 6 reasons why it is so hard to choose Early Retirement
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
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
I have recently seen the notion of "Delayed Gratification" mentioned in various FIRE 🔥 related posts. Delayed Gratification, what a brilliant concept. It does not come more FIRE like then that. I first noticed it in one twitter/Pinterest/Insta post some time back, and snipped it out offcourse... I think 🤔 it was some time before … Continue reading Delayed gratification
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?
The vision is clear 💯- financial independence and potential early retirement. Or at least having the choice of an early retirement. The strategy is clear 🎯- trim costs, keep savings rate high and invest, invest, invest. The tactics is clear 💡- conservative dividend paying stocks (listed and unlisted), activating assets to yield additional income. The … Continue reading My financial goals for 2020
Portfolio status for 2019, outlook for 2020 and evaluation of strategy. 2019 is coming to an end, and what is better then to look back and evaluate and then look forward and confirm/renew your strategy. The Minimal5 portfolio - which is the one that will bring me to FIRE - is currently standing at 2.837.211 … Continue reading Dividend Portfolio – Ultimo year status and 2020 outlook
There is an old saying that goes something like "when the tide comes we'll know who has been swimming naked". We are currently writing anno 2019, and it seems like a long time ago, that the tide was here. That is in a lot of senses good, as we are currently enjoying the economic benefits … Continue reading When the tide comes…why we might need a new recession…
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?
If you are a recurrent reader of this blog, you would have run in to one of my monthly blogging updates where I try to share some insights and learnings from my newbie/rookie blogging endeavors. Historically, ...well the last 5 updates or so...I have focused a lot on all my blogging/SoMe activities I have run … Continue reading “Passive” income from blogging – I’m killing it !
There is so much cool stuff on the internet, and recently I found one of those things that I just have to share with my crowd. It's the campfirefinance blog/website. Not only is it a really cool FIRE blog, but it also sports a very comprehensive list of all the FIRE blogs that can be … Continue reading Am I there yet – The FIRE calculator
WTF - I got into my first blogging fight the other day. On twitter. Over optimal retirement withdrawal rates. Zzz 😴. Background story: I saw a tweet from someone saying something in the likes of; "why you might need to save more then 25 years of net worth even if applying 4% withdrawal". Off course … Continue reading Girl on girl cat fight on twitter – Grrr. Topic; 4% withdrawal rule.
Aarh finally a bit of computer alone time. 💻 What a great opportunity to update my dividend portfolio overview with the latest additions and developments. 💰🤔💰 Since the last update, I have actually done two additions. ✅ First, I purchased 100 shares in the danish farmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. ✅ Second, I purchased 100 shares … Continue reading Dividend portfolio update – Tops and Bottoms are for Fools and Liers..
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
Finally - I've finished a book. I've finally done ✅ it. I've finished one of the great classics that I have wanted to finish for so long now. 🎉🎉🎉 ~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 Book Review – The Grapes of Wrath – by Minimal5
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 +++)
How excellent is that, just when you thought the Airbnb renting season for our vacation home had faded away, then I managed to get a mid October request, from a young German couple 🇩🇪 who wants to visit the northern part of Denmark 🇩🇰. Total for the 7 nights is around 500 USD 💵💵💵 I … Continue reading Yihaa…a new renter…passive income rules!
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.
Vacation time is long gone, and I am slowly adopting back into the normal 9-17 corporate grind, feeding my kids, and then some left hand blogging. I have to say, that I took a deliberate pause from blogging in July due to vacation, and it has actually been kinda hard to get back at it. … Continue reading The secrets of blogging – #5 month update…
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
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?
I am not out of a wealthy family. So no inherited capital here, as Mr. Thomas Piketty concludes is the easiest way to a worry free financial life in the 21st century. No money at all, or lots of money, we cannot escape the topic of how we go about teaching our kids about wealth, … Continue reading Saving for the next generation – why and how much?
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
Earning season is coming to an end in Denmark. Most companies in Denmark only pay out dividends once a year in combination with the publication of the annual reports and the general assembly. Hence most dividends will be arriving at investors accounts between March and May. This means it is time for a summary of … Continue reading How my DGI portfolio performed in 2019
Finally found the time to sit down and do a proper calculation of the net worth. I will be aiming to update it monthly going forward in order to properly track the progress of this financial independence barometer. It's actually quite a healthy exercise, to be so specific about your own personal net worth, and … Continue reading Family Net Worth Update #1
Setting goals is important. What are you striving for? What does success look like? What is your vision and what is your mission? What are your short term goals in fulfilling those visions and missions? I know I started off on my blogging journey a bit impulsive, basically from one day to the other. Had … Continue reading My 7 short term blogging goals
It's that time of the week. The big laundry day. 🧺 Or should I say the minimal laundry day now that the minimal 5 family is actively trying to reduce, reuse and recycle. Somehow though, I am kind of getting the feeling that the efforts is not really kicking in though. Having come out of … Continue reading Minimal laundry day – I love thee.
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
Following the various debate and posts on financial independence - early retirement here in Denmark, there is a lot of focus on real estate investments. I am a strong believer in real estate in any dividend portfolio, and I have been thinking/dreaming/planning my own journey into real estate for years. I have always known/wished that … Continue reading How I ended up with my first real estate investment
Passive income - the holy grail of F.IR.E. Lean back, kick your feet up, and enjoy that steady stream of income hitting your PayPal account while zipping Pina Coladas at the pool bar. Sounds intriguing right. Well, news flash - get ready to work hard for that steady stream of income. Admitted, I could have … Continue reading How I made 1$ blogging
Solar power, wind farms, I love thee. If you are a regular follower of this blog , you will know that I am a current investor in two photovoltaic solar power projects. Sensible investments in renewable energy So naturally I am also very interested in investing in wind power. How? Why? What? You ask! Ask … Continue reading How to invest in German windfarms
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
I know what you are thinking - this guy is a hoax, right. How can any one with a full time job, a wife and 3 kids, an apartment and a vacation home, find time to also run a blog? Finding time in a packed calendar can be a difficult task, and building out a … Continue reading How I manage to blog with 3 kids and a full-time job
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
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