Personal Finance – #retirement income

July 20, 2026

The Magic Power of Compounding

Written by R. A. Stewart

If you have any kind of financial knowledge you will know that the process of investing your money for years, sometimes decades and leaving your interest or dividends accumulate so that you end up earning interest off your interest is known as compounding.

Your investment starts to snowball once you have built up a decent portfolio. Using the process of compounding will enable you to achieve your goals faster.

Compounding also helps you to beat inflation which is a thorn in the side of those who are trying to get ahead in life.

Investors who choose to have their interest or dividends paid into their bank account rather than have them added to their investment will find that their original investment will lose it’s purchasing power thanks to inflation.

Your investing timeline is a big factor and the purpose of your investment.

If you are retired then you may prefer to have dividends paid into your bank account to help pay the bills and many do just that. The young ones usually let the income from their investments accumulate. This is common in retirement and mutual funds.

When you are saving for something then consider whether they are short-term, medium-term, or long-term goals. This matters because choosing the wrong type of investment for your timeline can affect how much you will end up with when it comes the time to cash in your investment.

For example it is not appropriate to invest your emergency fund in a growth fund due to it’s volatile nature because what is liable to happen is that just when you need the money the markets are down and there is less money available in your emergency fund than you thought there was.

At the other extreme, it is foolish to just leave your retirement fund in an ordinary savings account where you are paid minimal interest because inflation will erode the spending power of your money.

Here is a break-down of the timelines of Short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals.

Short-term goals are within 12 months.

Medium-term goals are 1-5 years.

Long-term goals are over 5 years.

Getting into the habit of saving and investing will put you into a good position to withstand the financial shocks which life throws at you. This could be illness, job loss, family emergency, car breakdown, or anything else.

It takes vision to make some kind of provision for your future because you are preparing yourself for an event which may or may not happen.

Then there are events which most people planned for such as buying a new car, further education, saving for a house deposit, marriage, family, overseas trip, and retirement. People who have common-sense will make provision for events in their life which they expect to happen.

Investing your money for compound interest will help you to achieve your money goals sooner rather than having your interest or dividends paid to your bank account to spend. But it all depends on your personal circumstances.

About this article

This article is not financial advice and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised.

You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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July 12, 2026

The SpaceX Bandwagon should be treated with caution

Written by R. A. Stewart

Elon Musk has sold or is going to sell 4% of SpaceX.

The first thing I have learned is that when a company gets a lot of publicity and there are shares in the company the Fear of Missing Out or what it is often called FOMO takes hold of a lot of investors who want a piece of the action.

In the past FOMO euphoria has caused the share price of some companies which were just floated to be inflated and then they did not stand the test of time. The result being that investors were left with burned fingers.

That is not to say that SpaceX will suffer the same fate.

But…

There are some negatives which mean that investing in this SpaceX can be classed as speculating rather than investing.

The main one being that a company which is hyped up by the media is usually over valued as has already been talked out. Then there is the fact that the company has not made a profit but is expected to.

Most people who are jumping on this bandwagon turn a blind eye to the possible pitfalls and risks of investing in such companies.despite all of the negatives. They get comfort from the fact that others are also investing in this company.

Investors need to take stocks and think of the past when others have jumped on bandwagons and got their fingers burned.

The 1987 share market crash, known as “Black Monday” an example of how the “Follow the herd” mentality led to paper fortunes being lost. Some investors borrowed heavily to purchase shares and as the company shares rose they were able to borrow more money using the inflated value of their shares as collateral. It all ended in disaster as the value of the shares were only a fraction of the loans taken out to purchase the shares.

Something is only worth what others are prepared to pay for.

Many of those companies which fell during the 87 crash were basically paper shuffling companies which were not producing anything tangible. All of those investors who jumped on the bandwagon were responsible for creating an inflated value for these companies.

Then there is the Global Financial Crisis when lots of people lost their life savings because they invested in finance companies which were offering high interest rates. Some financial commentators warned that the high interest rates do not reflect the risk which investors are taking on.

Many of these companies were advertising on national television and used well-known advertising to promote these companies.

SpaceX may not fall into the same category of those companies which failed during the 87 crash or the GFC but if a herd of investors are buying shares in the company there’s little room for capital gain.

Always remember that if there is an opportunity for capital gain there is also a chance for a capital loss.

This all does not mean that SpaceX is a bad bet but rather where it all fits into your financial plan. If you just want an interest, albeit a small one, then go for it. You may just end up with a winner. Just follow the basic rules of investing such as “don’t plunge all of your life savings into one company.”

About this article

The contents of this article is of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances therefore discretion should be advised. R. A. Stewart is not a financial advisor and the information and opinions here should not be taken as financial advice.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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July 6, 2026

Inflation is the enemy of savers

Written by R. A Stewart

If the return on your investment does not keep up with inflation your money will lose it’s purchasing power, therefore you must invest for a return which is greater than the inflation rate. This does not mean that you should speculate and take unacceptable risks with your money but rather make investments which have the potential to grow in the long term.

Imagine if you left $5,000 in an ordinary savings account for 20 years earning 0.5% interest, but the average inflation rate during that period was 3% your $5,000 may still be intact but it has lost over half of its purchasing power.

You may not have been robbed in the normal way of thinking but the value of your $5,000 was eroded by inflation.

When goods and services rise in price, this is inflation, your money buys a smaller percentage of those goods and services.

The Rule of 72: A quick way to see inflation’s destructive power is the Rule of 72. Divide 72 by the current annual inflation rate to find out how many years it will take for your money’s value to cut exactly in half. At a seemingly mild 3% inflation, your wealth loses half its purchasing power in just 24 years. At 6% inflation, that devastation happens in a mere 12 years.

Inflation does not treat all assets equally. It penalises those who have left their money in low interest accounts but rewards those astute investors who have made the right kind of investments.

It therefore acts as a redistributor of wealth.

Wealth erosion is just not about the investments you make, it is also about the cash flow. If your costs this year are up 5% but your employer gives you a pay rise of 3% you have less cash to spend for your day to day expenses.

Inflation forces people to take risks with their money which they are not comfortable with just to keep pace with the falling spending power of their money. You are forced to move your money into the stock market, real estate, or other volatile assets just to protect its baseline value. This exposure to market crashes and liquidity issues is a secondary, structural risk that inflation inflicts on everyday savers.

To protect their wealth people must shift their focus from being a saver to being an investor. Historically, certain assets have acted as excellent shields against inflation. Equities (Stocks) have acted as an excellent shield against inflation because companies can just raise their prices in line with the inflation-rate, this flows through to investors in these companies.

Inflation is a mandatory feature of modern economics. You cannot stop it, and you cannot opt out of it. The only variable you can control is how you store your wealth. By recognizing that cash is a melting ice cube, you can structure your financial life around assets that grow faster than the cost of living—ensuring that the wealth you build today is still meaningful tomorrow.

This does not mean that you should start taking unnecessary risks with your money and look for investments with a high return because you will be vulnerable to online scammers who target the greedy. The rule is, “If it sounds too good to be true, it most certainly is”

Having the common-sense to discern a good investment from a bad one sometimes takes a bad experience. It is important to read books by reputable financial writers to get a handle on investing strategies.

Another way to reduce the effects of inflation on your finances is to reduce your discretionary spending. Most discretionary spending is on stuff which does not add value to our lives and is worth only a fraction of what you originally bought them for.

It is important to point out that your strategy for dealing with inflation must be one suited to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion must be exercised when taking advice.

All of the best with your finances.

About this article

You may use this article as content for your website/blog, or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

Working in your chosen field

You may not have the talent or inclination to be an international sportsperson but you can be an asset in your chosen field and that does not mean that you have to be something out of the ordinary to become a valued member of society. A person who works at an entry level job can do so with such a good attitude that their diligence will not go unnoticed by their employers.

You may not particularly like your job and have any control over what happens at work but your attitude is something you can control. An employer with a bad attitude will take that bad attitude with them wherever they go.

If you enjoyed this article then this ebook may interest you:

How to Enjoy Your Job

June 28, 2026

The Rule of 72: The Ultimate Mental Math Trick to Double Your Money

The Rule of 72

Written by R. A. Stewart

When investing your money there is a formula for calculating how long it will take your money to double. this is known as the Rule of 72. It is a quick, useful mental math shortcut used to estimate how long it will take an investment to double in value at a fixed annual rate of return.

Here is how it works:

The Formula

Divide 72 by the rate of interest or the expected rate of return per annum.

Note: When using this formula, you use the percentage as a whole number, not a decimal. For example, for a 6% return, you use $6, not $0.06

How It Works (Examples)

At a 6% return:
72 divide by 6 = 12
Your money will take approximately 12 years to double.
At an 8% return:
72 divide by 8 = 9
Your money will take approximately 9 years to double.
At a 12% return:
72 divide by 12 = 6
Your money will take approximately 6 years to double.

Reversing the Formula

You can also flip the formula to find the interest rate required to double your money within a specific time frame:

72 divide by 3% = 24

If you want your money to double in 24 years, you need a 3% return

72 divide by 7.2% = 10

If you want your money to double in 10 years, you need a 7.2% return

Why 72?

The number 72 is used because it has many low divisors ($2, $3, $4, $6, $8, $9, $12), making the mental math incredibly easy.

Mathematically, the exact number for natural log-based compounding is closer to $69.3, but $72 provides a remarkably accurate approximation for typical investment returns (between 5% and 12%) without needing a financial calculator.

Here is an example of how your money can double using the Rule of 72 Formula.

Expected return per annum (per year) is 8%

Maria has $1,000 to invest and she has decided to invest it in kiwisaver at an expected return of 8%.. Here is a breakdown of how this initial investment will grow.

Age Investment Age Total

18 $1,000 27 $2,000

27 $2,000 36 $4,000

36 $4,000 45 $8,000

45 $8,000 54 $16,000

54 $16,000 63 $32,000

63 $32,000 72 $64,000

When an investment is left to compound it means that the interest or dividends are added to the original investment which means that you are earning interest fro the interest.

This is how kiwisaver fortunes are being made.

At the other extreme, Jasmine invests $1,000 at the age of 18 but instead of just leaving the interest with her $1,000 investment she gets her interest or dividends paid into her bank account to spend. The spending power of her original investment of $1,000 has been eroded by inflation over the years. This means that her $1,000 if she were to spend it when she retires would not go as far as her original $1,000.

Example

Age Investment Age

18 $1,000 27 $1,000

27 $1,000 36 $1,000

36 $1,000 45 $1,000

54 $1,000 63 $1,000

63 $1,000 72 $1,000

Retirees who have built up a good nest egg sometimes like to have their interest and dividends paid to them to help with day to day living costs but this is not suitable for the young ones who seek to build their wealth over time.

About this Article

The information in this article may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your website, blog, or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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June 21, 2026

Mistakes with Money

Written by R. A. Stewart

1 They make poor life choices

The difference between the rich and the poor is because their choices in life are different. There is a stark difference between what a rich person and a poor person does with their discretionary spending money. All of those satellite dishes on council estates tell a tale. A rich person will find ways to invest their discretionary dollar so that it multiplies while a poor person will spend all that they have and more when you consider the consumer debt that they take on. It is also a fact that the poor tend to have more children and having kids does not come cheap, so this further compounds their vulnerable financial position.

2 They do not save

People in a poor financial state do not save money. They fritter away their money with no thought for the future. Their financial situation is made worse because of their poor lifestyle choices. They borrow for stuff which is not essential to everyday living and spend money on things of no lasting value and this leaves them with nothing to show for their labors.

3 They do not invest

Wealth does not increase when money is not invested. Instead it loses its value due to the effects of inflation. Investing gives you a financial education and this leads to better decision making when it comes to money matters. This in turn leads to better financial outcomes for the future.

4 They do not take risks with their money

Investing involves taking some risks with your money but this does not mean speculating which is really just gambling on some favourable outcome going in your favour. It is having a strategy of investing which enables you to make the most of what you have

5 They do not get financially literate

Lack of financial literacy is the number one reason why so many people are broke. Lack of ambition to rise above mediocrity is the main reason and there is little hope for the individual who lacks the will to improve their financial situation. I know that you are not one of those people otherwise you would not be reading this.

They hang out with the wrong people

People tend to associate with like-minded people. You are the average of the person you spend most of your time with. You will learn money attitudes from whoever you spend most of your time with.

They have a poor attitude

Having a poor attitude to money is one sure way to live in mediocrity all of your life. When you receive a windfall do you invest it or spend it? Most people do the latter then accuse those who make the most of what they have as stingy.

Having the will to improve your finances is one thing but putting it all into action is another. Reading books and investing some of your discretionary dollars is a starting point. It has never been easier for the person with limited means to invest in the share market with so many online investing plat forms. It is just a matter of having goals which align with your values. Having something to save for is what provides the motivation to save.

About this article

You may use this article as content for your website, blog, or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

Working in your chosen field

If you enjoyed this article then this ebook may interest you:

How to Enjoy Your Job

June 14, 2026June 14, 2026

Career: Looking at the big picture

Written by R. A. Stewart

If you are young and have your whole life in front of you then no doubt you will have given some thought as to what you would like to do in the future and the best time to start thinking about that is the present. I have some questions which will help clarify your thinking as you consider all of your options.

What action can I take today which my future self will thank me for?
Do I spend my spare time doing things which add value to my life?
Do I have a good attitude to whatever task I am assigned?
Do I manage my money wisely?
Am I living my own life?
Am I aiming too low?
Are my goals too vague?

What action can I take which my future self will thank me for.

There are some things which you can do today which your future self will thank you for. One of these is to join a retirement scheme and contribute to it all of your life. No one is going to reach the retirement age and regret contributing to a retirement scheme all of their lives.

Giving up current pleasures for the benefit of the future of tomorrow will pay dividends.

Always look at the big picture.

Do I spend time doing things which add value to my life?

Think of how you spend your time and ask yourself “Does this add value to my life?”

It will be a good idea to list all of the things you have done today and replace some of the time wasting activities doing something useful.

Do I have a good attitude to whatever task I am assigned?

You may be in a job which you consider is beneath you, but even so, it is your responsibility to perform tasks which are assigned to you. That is what you are paid to do. A bad attitude tends to follow people around from one job to another.

Do I manage my money wisely?

Too many people have the attitude of “You can’t take it all with you”, then when some major life event comes along such as a job loss, marriage, or kids they have nothing to fall back on. It is all about being responsible with your money. Saving and investing money require vision because you are making provision for something which has not occurred in your life yet.

Am I living my own life?

Your goals should be your own and not something which others have told you that you should be doing. Don’t just decide to take up a particular career just because your peers are doing it. You must look to your own skills and talents and use that as a springboard to your career.

Am I aiming too low?

Nothing kills off ambition like getting into a rut and being comfortable there. Starting from the bottom to earn some money is one thing but you don’t have to park your car there for life. It is always a good idea to take some courses in your spare time in order to improve yourself. It is bad enough that others may put limitations on you, but don’t sell yourself short as a result.

Are my Goals too Vague?

It is important to have goals which are measurable and meaningful. Just saying “I want to find a job” is too vague. A goal needs to be specific. Once you have decided on your goal it then becomes a matter of how you are going to achieve it.

Whatever you are going to do, always look at the big picture and think “How will this benefit my future? It takes vision to plan for your future and making preparations for what may come will put you in a better position to deal with curveballs which life may bring.

About this article

You may use this article as content for your website/blog or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

Working in your chosen field

If you enjoyed this article then this ebook may interest you:

How to Enjoy Your Job

June 7, 2026

The Benefits of Investing from a Young Age

Written by R. A. Stewart

To start your journey on to financial prosperity it is crucial that you start young if you want to get the full benefits of time. Here are three benefits of investing while you are young. This does not mean that investing when you are older will not have its own benefits. Investing money at any age will be beneficial and is better than having no savings whatsoever.

Here are the main benefits of investing from a young age.

Time is your Friend

When you are young you are able to make time work for you. Money invested in the correct funds will multiply and increase its value. This is called compounding and it can really increase your wealth. Not only will your original investment keep producing a profit for you but the profits whether, that is from interest or dividends will be added to your original deposit and it too, will produce a profit for you.

More Time to recover from financial setbacks

The markets can be volatile with shares going up and down like a yoyo, but with the benefit of time, young people have time on their side to ride out the storm. That does not mean that people who are just retired should not invest in the share market but rather they need to ask themselves this question, “How will the loss of this money affect my lifestyle?”.

It also does not mean that young people should invest all of their money in the share market. It all depends on what the money is going to be used for. If you need the money in the short term then you need to be a little bit more conservative with your investing.

The case I am making for the young ones to be a little more aggressive with their investing is that they may not be retiring for another forty years, therefore, taking advantage of capital gains which the share market offers can pay off.

3.It is better to make your mistakes early in life

People tend to make most of their mistakes early in life. That is no surprise since lack of experience often leads to errors of judgement, but as far as investing money goes, there are advantages in making your mistakes early in life. One is that you have fewer commitments, therefore, a mistake which can result in an investment going down the gurgler will not affect your lifestyle as much as it would for a person who has a family. Investing mistakes made early in life can be used to make better judgments in future.

Investing early in life will enhance your financial literacy and will put your whole life ahead of you. There are opportunities to grow your wealth so grab it with both arms.

More disposable income

As a young one you are likely to have more disposable income than someone who is older and with more commitments. If you are sensible, then investing your money will help grow your wealth. You are also likely to be in a position to take more risks with how you are investing your money, but that does not necessarily mean speculating on something which is a bit dodgy, but rather, taking some calculated risks.

Habits formed early will make and break you

Developing habits which add value to your life and others will make and break you. One of these habits is the habit of saving and investing. These days it is easy to start a financial portfolio with so many investing apps available. It is just a matter of choosing one which is the right fit for your investing objectives. It is also important to set goals which align with your values and not be influenced by what your colleagues at work or your family say. It is your life and you are the one who has to live with your decisions so use the brain which God gave you and you will be better off in the long run. By all means, take note of financial advice as you will find in the business section of the newspapers but learn to develop the ability to discern whether advice is good or bad. Associate with people who have common sense. As the proverb says, “He who walks with wise men shall become wise, but a companion of fools will be destroyed.”

About this article

The contents of this article are of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your website/blog, or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

June 1, 2026

Late Life Relationships: Financial Risks

Late life love: Things to consider

Written by R. A. Stewart

Getting involved with someone new late in life may sound like a good idea but there are financial considerations to consider not for yourself and your own family.

If you are receiving government support then you will be on the married rate whatever that is. It is your obligation to notice them of your new relationship status. Failure to do so may result in legal hassles later on.

Your will is something which needs to be changed when a new relationship starts. This will have serious implications for your children or whoever you intended to leave your assets to when you pass on. Your new spouse or partner will be entitled to everything irrespective of any promises made prior to entering into a new relationship.

There could be a situation whereby your family’s assets will be transferred to your spouse’s family should you pass on first.

Men in particular have to be wary of gold diggers and scammers.

There are people out there who prey on the emotions of others. Stories appear on the news occasionally of men who fell victim to romance scams.

As for gold diggers, some women are more interested in what’s in your wallet than what’s in your heart. Someone with discernment and common sense will know the motives of potential partners.

There are some things which you need to consider when entering into a relationship late in life.

Has this person got a good credit rating?

This may seem an unromantic question but if you are dating someone with a poor credit rating then you expose yourself to their debts. It could alter your estate planning as your spouse’s creditors could take a chunk off your estate.

It can be difficult to change one’s existing lifestyle to accommodate someone else’s wants.
Marriage may change your tax status, therefore it will pay to get advice on this.
Marrying someone who has dependent children will make you equally responsible for child maintenance if your new spouse has children from a previous relationship.
Estate planning needs to be carefully considered because the new relationship status will change who gets what if one person passes on. Clear communication with family members is essential. It is also important to get legal advice. This needs to be done prior to entering into a new relationship.
Consider a prenuptial agreement in the event that the relationship turns sour.
Placing your assets in a trust may be right for you if your desire is to leave your assets to your own family.

It is worth noting that as far as retirement savings go. Any contributions made to your kiwisaver during a relationship are considered matrimony assets, but only contributions made during the term of the relationship. The rules may be different in your own country regarding pensions.

About this article

The contents in this article are of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your website/blog or ebook.

Read my other articles on \www.robertastewart.com

May 29, 2026

Streamlining the Modern Journey: The Practical Benefits of Booking with Expedia

Travel planning is inherently exciting, but the logistics of piecing together a trip can quickly turn overwhelming. Managing separate browser tabs for flights, accommodations, and car rentals often leads to choice paralysis and scheduling friction. For decades, online travel agencies (OTAs) have aimed to solve this headache, with Expedia standing out as one of the most reliable and comprehensive platforms on the market. Whether you are arranging a quick weekend getaway or a complex, multi-leg international itinerary, utilizing Expedia offers several distinct advantages that streamline the entire process.

Visit Expedia Here

1. The Convenience of One-Stop Bundling

The most immediate benefit of Expedia is its ability to centralize your travel logistics. Instead of navigating multiple individual airline and hotel websites—each requiring unique account creations, passwords, and data entry—Expedia allows you to search, compare, and secure everything in a single checkout.

This centralization is highly practical when utilizing Expedia’s bundling features. Combining a flight, hotel stay, and car rental into a vacation package frequently unlocks steep, negotiated wholesale discounts that are completely unavailable when booking the components separately.

2. Unmatched Inventory and Transparent Comparison

Expedia offers a massive global footprint, providing access to hundreds of airlines and over an expansive inventory of properties worldwide. This sheer volume gives travelers aggregate market visibility. In a single search window, you can filter results by:

Budget and Real-Time Pricing: Instantly compare baseline fares side-by-side.
Granular Filters: Sort by neighborhood proximity, guest ratings, specific amenities (like free Wi-Fi or pools), and flexible cancellation policies.
Verified Reviews: Because Expedia allows reviews exclusively from guests with confirmed bookings, travelers can read authentic feedback, avoiding the skewed or fraudulent commentary often found on open-source review platforms.

Visit Expedia Here

3. Financial Safeguards and Price Matching

Booking travel always carries a slight anxiety regarding fluctuating prices. Expedia directly mitigates this with clear, consumer-friendly policies. Members frequently get access to an automated Best Price Guarantee. If a traveler books a flight or hotel and discovers a cheaper identical rate online within 24 hours, Expedia will match the price or refund the difference. This takes the guesswork and continuous monitoring out of securing a fair market deal.

┌───────────────────────────────────┐

│ Expedia One-Stop Booking │

└─────────────────┬─────────────────┘

│

┌──────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────┐

▼ ▼ ▼

┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐

│ Flight Tracking │ │ Verified Hotels │ │ Rental Cars & │

│ & Bundled Fees │ │ & Reviews │ │ Local Activity │

└─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘

4. Rewarding Loyalty with Expedia Rewards

Frequent travelers benefit significantly from the built-in loyalty program. Every booking—regardless of whether it is a boutique hotel, a major airline, or a local excursion—earns points. These points accumulate rapidly and can be applied directly as cash discounts on subsequent trips.

Furthermore, as users climb the membership tiers (gaining Silver or Gold status), they unlock premium, on-property perks. These include complimentary room upgrades, late check-outs, and dedicated customer service pipelines that bypass standard wait times.

Visit Expedia Here

5. Consolidated Data Security and Organization

In an era of rising digital vulnerabilities, entering credit card information and personal identifiers into dozens of disparate websites introduces unnecessary security risks. Expedia requires you to store your payment and personal data securely in just one location.

Once booked, your entire itinerary is neatly organized inside a single, intuitive mobile application. This app provides real-time gate changes, flight delays, and check-in reminders, serving as a digital travel assistant right in your pocket.

The Takeaway: Ultimately, Expedia transforms travel from a chaotic logistical chore into a simplified, secure, and cost-effective experience. By prioritizing convenience, massive selection, and financial protection, it allows travelers to spend less time managing browser tabs and more time focusing on the journey itself.

Visit Expedia Here

May 24, 2026

If its too Good to be True…

it almost certainly is.

Written by R. A. Stewart

From time to time you may have come across adverts from gurus offering an opportunity which seems too good to be true. I have, and have investigated the schemes. Here I am going to write about those schemes which fall under the description of network marketing.

The word “Network Marketing” has been used to describe some schemes which are for all intents and purposes pyramid schemes.

The difference between a legitimate network marketing company and a pyramid scheme is that one sells products, the other does not. Any scheme which requires you to add your name to a sheet of paper in order for the scheme to work is a pyramid scheme. This is illegal in most countries and should not be touched with a barge pole.

A network marketing company may be legit but some of the tactics used to promote them are questionable.

The first thing which has to be talked about are the earnings potential of participants.

This is all very fine but…

But the question should be asked, “How much does the average participant make?”

You may hear stories of extraordinary amounts of money made by the top participants in these networking marketing companies but you do not know what they had done to achieve their status or how much money they have poured into the scheme.

There is no such thing as something for nothing, well not unless you win the lottery, and we all know that the odds are stacked against you.

There are some questions which you need to ask before joining these schemes. That is after you have eliminated those which are pyramid schemes promoted as a network marketing business.

Do you have the communication skills to promote the products?
Do you normally purchase these products?
Can you afford to purchase the products?

Promoting the business side of these schemes requires you to be self-confident and outgoing, something which a lot of people lack, plus it requires a lot of cash to make the scheme work properly. If you are prepared to fork out a bit of money to participate in these companies and think you can find others to do likewise then good luck to you.

The best known network marketing companies are Amway, Herbalife, and Melaleuca.

Some companies require participants to purchase a certain amount of stock every month whether you need anything or not.

In the UK there is a company called “Kleeneze” which involves leaving colourful brochures in letter boxes then going back a few days later to collect the catalogues, hopefully with an order inside them. This is the same type of model used by Homecare in Australasia, except that with Kleeneze you can increase your earnings potential by recruiting or as they say in this business sponsoring others into the business. As with other companies, finding others to join is very difficult.

In a nutshell before proceeding with any of these businesses you need to ask yourself, “Have I got what it takes to make it work?”

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