In response to Saving Ninja, here are some thoughts on if I lost everything Continue reading “If I Lost Everything”
Author: GentlemansFamilyFinances
How to put out a FIRE? Use Liquidity
Recently our plans for FIRE took a slight turn for the worse. It’s a reminder that paper profits can flatter your balance sheet but when the SHTF it’s all smoke and mirrors. The importance of liquidity is hard to ignore.
Anything which has a value which depends on the whims of individual buyers is a risk. Think fine wines, classic cars, private shares, property, antiques, stamps.
You could have just invested in a FIRE extinguisher!
Early Redundancy: lessons from life’s veterans

I was at an industry conference/exhibition this week and it was the usual mix of BD/Sales, time-wasters and giveaway hunting students. But I had a good chat with one guy who really made me think about work and life. He was made redundant in 2015 and despite not needing the money, was bored out of his mind and desperate to work again. Continue reading “Early Redundancy: lessons from life’s veterans”
Month-end Accounts: January 2019
The Winter is upon us and I am sitting here in our upstairs lounge (we call it the fridge) working on my accounts and January is all wrapped up nicely for us
Tax return completed
January 31st is the deadline for submitting your tax return online to the HMRC. Depending on your circumstances you may want to submit as early as you can (to collect a rebate) or delay as long as possible (to postpone paying). For me it’s a matter of good housekeeping to have a final review before the window shuts* Continue reading “Tax return completed”
6 Top Tips for Millennials to Solve the Property Puzzle
Everyone knows that a big house is the sign that you are a success in life and if you don’t have one by the time you hit 30, you are a loser!
Property is the best asset class and the ladder to the riches you deserve.
Millennials take note, it has never been easier to buy a property – and if you don’t, then you will remain renter scum forever!
Here are six tips to get you the housing ladder of riches.
Continue reading “6 Top Tips for Millennials to Solve the Property Puzzle”
Geoarbitrage: how to survive in London with less than a million quid in the bank!
This week I was in London and met up with the SavingNinja – and we had a nice chat and coffee around the Barbican. Sometimes it takes you a few days and a bit of thinking to process what you hear from someone else. What I was thinking about was how can you use a bit of geoarbitrage to work in London but still keep you expenses low – SavingNinja gave me a few lessons Continue reading “Geoarbitrage: how to survive in London with less than a million quid in the bank!”
Fire & Ice: the cost of family holidays
Last weekend, the Lady and I were sitting at home enjoying a quiet Saturday morning after the busy Christmas and New Year holidays. It’s one of the favourite times for me, when there’s a bit of peace and quiet and no need to rush off somewhere.
I hear the postman drop off the mail and in the bundle of bills and letters was a lovely glossy brochure for family ski holidays for 2020. And like a fool I opened it and proceeded to have a look with the Lady. We can’t ski this year with the Little Lady being so young, but we can always go in 2020 and before that we can dream… Continue reading “Fire & Ice: the cost of family holidays”
Month-End accounts: December 2018 (2)
So December is been and gone and it’s now 2019.
The market gods looked unfavourably on us all this December with stock markets hitting lows. My net worth was down about 1.3% which might not sound like a lot but it feels like a lot to me, it is over £10,000 after all! Continue reading “Month-End accounts: December 2018 (2)”
Month-End accounts: December 2018
I decided to wait until the full end of the month before doing my month-end accounts. I honestly couldn’t be bothered and it takes me maybe too long to do a good job and the analyse the results. I’ll wait until the new year and then post.
Instead, GFF will be basking in the warm blow of a woodfire and the love and adoration of his Gentleman’s Family.
It’s a good time for me to think less about money and more about what’s important in life. Remove distractions from life and focus on what’s truly important – and that would be eating mince pies and drinking coffee all day. 🙂
Have a good Christmas everyone!
Thanks, GFF