June ’24: Election fever

June was busy.

I travelled more than usual in June. Partly in the UK – visiting Glasgow, the west country, the south coast and the Isle of Wight; partly overseas – I visited Ibiza for a few days of R&R.

Meanwhile, the election campaigns were in full swing. Nigel Farage did his Nth U-turn, and decided to enter the race after all. I didn’t write it about it contemporaneously, and now that it’s after the election I’m not going to say much about it here.

My main observation is that Labour’s talk about supporting ‘working people‘ was defined pretty sharply by Sir Keir Starmer as thus meaning that investors (people who can “write a cheque” when they need to) are likely to end up paying more tax/contributing more. That means me, and every other reader of this blog.

Continue reading “June ’24: Election fever”

I’m 28, and can’t figure out how to start on FatFIRE – what would you do in my shoes?

From: Taz
To: FvL

Hi FvL

I’ve read your blog on and off for the past year or three. I graduated from the London School of Economics in 2017 after which I went through the hardest few years of my life mentally and ended up unemployed or in dead-end low paid jobs.

I currently work in the motor trade for Jaguar Land Rover earning £35,000 which I can save most of as I live at home.

I’m now 28 and can’t seem to figure out how to begin my FatFIRE journey, in terms of a job/career what would you do in my shoes?

Continue reading “I’m 28, and can’t figure out how to start on FatFIRE – what would you do in my shoes?”

May ’24: UK election called

The month of May seems a little while ago, so I’d better get on and write it up. This will be quick.

The big news in the UK was Rishi Sunak, the outgoing PM, calling a general election for 4 July. Independence-from-the-Tories Day. May was also the month that u-turner/blowharder Nigel Farage also confirmed he wouldn’t be standing in the election himself. A u turn ago, May was, in other words.

Continue reading “May ’24: UK election called”