We're Moving!

It has been just over a month since I started this blog and I am so glad I did - mainly because it has enabled me to make contact with some very nice and knowledgeable people in the personal finance blogosphere.

Before I wrote my first post on this blog, I promised myself that after the blog attracted a certain number of visitors, I would get a new website. That was vanity.

In hindsight, the promise proved to be a good move as more than a few visitors to this blog have fed back that the comments system isn't as easy to use as they would like. I think our new website will make commenting much much easier.

Please take a look at the new website and let me know what you think. All feedback, positive and constructive, welcomed.

Many thanks
The Money Grower (formerly GMO)

What to Do When Fire Rages?

At this time of economic uncertainty and stockmarket turmoil, I thought about the following. It may not be immediately obvious why I am writing about a SATs paper from years ago but I hope it will become apparent.

Years ago there was a reading SATs paper entitled ‘Fire: Friend or Foe’.

In my opinion, it was one of the more interesting SATs papers. I base this on no more than its contents stuck in my head and inspired me to learn more.

One of the sections of the paper was about how certain forests and bush areas rely on fire to keep them regenerating – burning off the dead wood and allowing new seeds to grow, if you like.

Since reading the paper for the first time, I sort of think of it as a metaphor for major investing cycles. Yeah, I know that’s arty farty but it helps me understand things.

The idea is that certain habitats occasionally get destroyed by fire. Devastating you would think, but actually, not necessarily so.

High Street Slashers: The Real Time Observations of a Shop-a-holic (GUEST POST)

Numbers and graphs are great. I love them. But I do concede that they have their limits. That's why I like to keep it real by walking the floors and talking to knowledgeable people that love the products they are buying.

Company reports have their place and I like to look in the rear view mirror as much as the next person but when I want to hear a real time report from the bad lands of the fashion retailers, I like to hear my friend Tara's take on things - she's got her finger firmly on the pulse.

I'll hand over now.

 

The Rucksack Strikes Back: There's No Accounting for Fashion!

'Never think you've seen the last of anything.'

Eudora Welty, Author

Conventional wisdon has it that very few new ideas are created:- sometimes ideas evolve, sometimes ideas are given a shine up and recycled but precious few are totally new.


Rucksacks, so beloved of European students and Japanese tourists, seem to be making a fashion comeback.

Cool people seem to be wearing rucksacks! More shockingly, the wearers seem to be wearing their rucksacks on BOTH shoulders.

Whoever persuaded the buying public that these duel shouldered darlings are a must have accessory is, in my opinion, a genius. Or maybe the humble rucksack symbolises the 'no frills' reaction to our current economic situation.

Ra-ra skirt or split caps, anyone?

Never say never.