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We recently got back from three weeks in Vietnam.
During that time, we visited Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat and Hanoi.
It was cheap, chaotic, interesting, and it taught me a few things about travel and myself.
In this week’s article, I share:
— A full breakdown of what each city was like (the best stuff and the not so good)
— What things cost (food, drinks, transport, accommodation, and the full trip total)
— How Vietnam stacks up versus Thailand and Malaysia
— Whether it would work as a retirement or Geo-FIRE location
Read: Vietnam Trip – Costs, Culture and Comparisons
STRONG MONEY PODCAST
Most people are intimidated by the idea of financial independence.
It feels like it’ll be too hard, there’s too much to learn, and it’ll take too long.
But the power of momentum (beyond just compound interest) makes it much easier than you think.
In my latest podcast, I unpack how to create self-reinforcing loops and identity shifts that propel you towards freedom.
Listen on Spotify, Apple, or on the website
Read the article version here
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AUSSIE FIRE PODCAST
I got an interesting question recently.
“If someone gave you $1m right now, how would you invest it? What about if you were 18 and starting all over? Or what if you were in your 50s and approaching retirement age?”
What’s interesting is my answer changes depending on the situation. In the latest Aussie FIRE pod, Hayden and I discuss how we’d approach the $1m windfall in all sorts of situations and why.
It was a really fun thought experiment and it became an interesting discussion about risk, freedom, tradeoffs, and priorities.
Listen on Spotify and Apple
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THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK
I’ll be adding a nice amount to our portfolio this year, but I don’t really care what the market does in the meantime. If prices go down, we get more shares per dollar invested. If prices go up, we get richer with zero effort. If prices go nowhere, we get dividends for doing nothing.
Work paradox: The more you are forced to go to work, the less you enjoy it. As work becomes optional, the same job is now more tolerable, because you can opt out any time. The power of self selection, flexibility and choice has an amazing effect on the human mind.
The value of your money is going to zero. Not this week, not this month, not this year. But reliably, over time, it’s losing significant value. $1 in 1974 was worth 10 cents by 2024. The only solution is to invest the money you have today to have more in the future.
INTEREST RATES
The RBA has bumped up the cash rate twice so far in 2026 – with a few more interest rate rises expected to come.
People have asked whether that’s changed my mind on paying down debt vs investing right now. Not really. I still prefer investing, but paying down the mortgage is definitely more appealing than before.
The mortgage market is still highly competitive, with some lenders offering big cashbacks and sharper rates for lower risk loans (under 80% LVR).
It’s worth checking if you’re still on a good deal, or if you’re casually getting screwed! Then you can either push your bank for a better rate – or switch lenders altogether
If you’d like a mortgage broker to help you do that, you can find mine listed on the resources page of my website. The higher rates go, the more bank margins improve – meaning more savings to be had by nailing down the best deal!
CONSULTING
After getting requests for a long time, I’ve finally decided to open my calendar and do a very small number of consulting sessions.
I’m not offering financial advice, investing guidance, or anything like that. It’s designed to help you think through decisions relating to wealth, work, FI, and designing your own freedom-based lifestyle.
An objective and supportive third-party can act as an ideal sounding board and be immensely helpful.
Whether you’re considering semi-retirement, pulling the pin on work, or you’re earlier in your journey and seeking clarification, my goal is to give you a space to talk it through with someone who’s actually lived it.
If that’s something you’re interested in, all the important details are on this page.
