Category Archives: Investment Concepts
Work as Punishment
A 3,650 word article in the New Statesman reflects on our rather unhealthy obsession with work at the expense of recreation. I wrote some notes on a few of the facts which struck me as being relevant to my cause: … Continue reading
No Charity for Old Men
1130 words I once spoke to a lady who wanted to establish a charity to care for abandoned elephants in Australia. She had two problems. First, all the elephants in Australia belong to zoos and circuses. Second, there are already … Continue reading
001 Quote for Today
“If speculation keeps you awake at night, sell down to the sleeping point.” Dickson G Watts. This is probably the most famous quote from Mr Watts’ Speculation as a Fine Art. It’s a classic quote because there is so … Continue reading
Shaking up the Wine Establishment
A 4,500 word article on Fred Franzia, the US winemaker responsible for inventing the ‘two buck Chuck”. It outlines the history of his business life and his adverse relationship with high end wine makers. “Two buck Chuck” is the term … Continue reading
How the NFL Fleeces Taxpayers
I’ve been reading about how the owners of NFL teams lobby local governments to fund their stadiums at little or no cost to themselves. It’s no surprise to me, as I’ve plenty of experience of the non-profit sector. But if … Continue reading
Boy Crazy: The Fraudster Lou Pearlman
The story of Lou Pearlman is set out in a rather lengthy but compelling article by Bryan Burrough. In short, Mr Pearlman swindled about $300 million from people who thought they were investing in his (fake) aviation business. It seems … Continue reading
Why the Poor Stay Poor
1100 words I have often heard people who ridicule the poor, blaming them for their poverty. They consider the poor to be wasteful and foolish. They imagine that if they themselves were poor, they would be able to lift themselves … Continue reading
How to Negotiate your Salary
1270 words. The best opportunity for you, as a salaried worker, to improve your income is through the salary negotiations that occur when you are offered the job and usually every year after that. It is hugely important to negotiate … Continue reading
How to Set Up a Budget
Add up all the income you get each year, from your job, dividends, interest, gifts from family, everything. Allow for tax. Divide the total by 52 to give you your weekly income. Make a record of everything you spend. Check … Continue reading
Tips on Getting a Rental Flat
You will need to have enough savings to pay for the bond as well as rent in advance. Costs might be higher than they were in your previous situation, so budget for that. Put the word out that you are … Continue reading