Conclusion of the financial journey

As I have specified, this was never meant to be a course, but rather a journey that, in a simple and clear way, aims to improve your relationship with money and give you a correct understanding of the financial markets. They are too often seen as negative, yet they are the best way to make your savings return something.

If you want to improve your financial situation, you have two options: hope to win the lottery or get busy. Here is a way to start: saving. It may not be easy, and it will certainly require sacrifices, but ask yourself this question: how much do I really want to change my life for the better?

The day that changed my life, and I kid you not, was when I first kept a household budget. Seeing how much money I was needlessly spending opened my eyes and made me realise that I needed to change my mindset. I began to give up some small things and save that money.

My goal was to become financially independent, so that money would work for me and not the other way around. This took time, perseverance and determination, but today I can say that I have achieved my goal. I am 51 years old; I am a successful trader (if I may be allowed a touch of arrogance), but that is not all. I have three other activities that give me a passive income every month, in addition to my accumulation plan, which in ten years will allow me to retire and enjoy life to the fullest.

And I started from scratch. My family was far from rich. The only salary was that of my father, a simple worker, who had to support me, my two brothers and my mother. The word “save” was not in our vocabulary.

So, don’t make excuses, they don’t work. Do not put this off, do not procrastinate. I am especially addressing young people, who have many years ahead of them and, alas, an uncertain future. There is no minimum amount to start saving: you can begin with even 20 or 50 euros per month. Starting an accumulation plan when you are young, even with such a small amount, will give you great benefits in the future.

I created this journey with the sole purpose of helping as many people as possible improve their financial situation. And you can experience the benefits right away by simply keeping a household budget. Over time, seeing your savings grow will give you a feeling of satisfaction and greater peace of mind. The knowledge that you have done the right things will strengthen the change in your mindset and increase your self-esteem. It will bring more serenity to your family as well.

It is also important that, if you have debts, you pay them off, and quickly. Debts are a source of worry and often of family problems. It is not always easy to get rid of them, but you can contact the creditor and agree on a monthly repayment. If they are reasonable people, they will understand your situation and agree to help you.

You must use a portion of your income to honour the agreements made. “Make sacrifices today for a more peaceful life tomorrow.” This is the motto that should accompany you at this stage.

One last note. The data and examples in this guide date from 2021, as shown at the top of each post, so prices, rates and figures will have changed since then. Use them to understand the concepts, and always check the current values before making any decision. Likewise, taxation varies from country to country, and it is impossible to cover them all here. Before investing, find out how the income and capital gains of the products you choose are taxed where you live.

So, I urge you to put into practice some of the aspects you have seen on this journey and to explore the topics covered in greater depth. Along the way, I have mentioned some books that I recommend you read. On ETFs, there are many books in all languages. Two other books I recommend are Ray Dalio’s “Principles: Life and Work” and Burton G. Malkiel’s “A Random Walk Down Wall Street”.

If you have read this far, it means that what you have learned has at least intrigued you. Now you have to take the first step, but you are not alone. If you have any questions, you can contact me, as always, by filling in the form on the page “Contact David”. I will be happy to help you along the way, drawing on my knowledge and experience, or to explain any concepts that are not yet clear to you.