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Share market investing tips

Which Company shall I avoid?

Written by R. A. Stewart

That is a question many investors ask themselves as they read the financial section of their newspaper or on a financial website., It is a fair question.

I am not going to and would never tell people to invest in this or that, but will tell you which sectors I usually give a wide berth to and why. You may think differently and I may be proved wrong. That is the beauty of the world; it is full of opinions and only one opinion turns out to be right.

Micro investing platforms such as sharesies in New Zealand and Robinhood in the USA had made share market investing accessible for the man in the street. Investors are able to purchase shares in individual companies. 

As for choosing which industry to invest in, here are the ones I avoid and for good reason

  1. Airlines/travel

It was around the year 2000 when I bought shares in Air New Zealand. It seemed a good choice because this was a company which has been around for decades. Then the company struck turbulence. The share price slid to as low as 14 cents a share. The government bailed them out, otherwise they would have been insolvent. It was not the only time the government has bailed them out since. The pandemic has shown how vulnerable airlines are. 

  1. Hospitality

Anything to do with hospitality is something I do not get involved in. The industry has been doing it tough since covid. The industry heavily relies on the discretionary dollar and people have become more selective in what they are spending their money on these days.

  1. Satellite TV

This industry is vulnerable to changing trends. People are getting more and more of their information online these days. 

  1. Retail

The retail industry has its challenges with internet shopping being the norm. Adapt or die seems to be the rule. Retail outlets who are in a good location or are in an industry which is considered recession proof are likely to do best. PGG Wrightsons are a company which services the farming industry. They have been around for decades and are likely to, barring unseen circumstances. Farming is considered a recession proof industry, though it is vulnerable to mother nature.

  1. Insurance

This is another industry vulnerable to Mother Nature. We have seen from the Christchurch earthquakes of 2022 and Cyclone Gabrielle which hit the North Island of New Zealand in February 2023 that insurance companies end up paying millions in one event. 

  1. Newspapers and magazines

This is another industry with its own challenges. Declining newspaper sales is likely to continue which makes them a poor investment.

  1. Fossil Fuels

Anything to do with fossil fuels is risky as many governments transition away from industries which are seen to be major polluters. This does not mean that industries which are green are good investments. It is a case of treating each investment on its own merits and not becoming emotionally involved in it.

Important rules to follow

The basic rules of investment need to be followed, they are:

(a) Do not place all of your eggs in one basket; in other words, DIVERSIFY

(b) Establish your own RISK PROFILE for your money. This will be the determining factor in choosing where to invest.

(c) Do not react to dips in the market by selling your shares or changing from growth or balanced funds to conservative funds.

If you have invested according to your risk profile then what the markets are doing should not be a worry to you. When you are deciding where to invest your money, ask the question, “If the markets dropped by 5%, 10%, or 15% how will this affect my lifestyle?”

If you have discretionary money to spare you can use this for speculative investments such as bitcoin. Investing some of your spending money in these types of investments instead of buying stuff, or alcohol, or lottery tickets can pay off. If you lost the money in cryptocurrency which you would have frittered away anyway then it will not affect your lifestyle.

About this article

The content of this article is 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 blog/website or ebook. Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

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Value of New Zealand’s retirement scheme cannot be understated

 

Written by R.. A. Stewart

The Kiwisaver announcements made in New Zealand’s budget on 22 May, 2025 should not affect the retirement plans of the average kiwi.

Prior to the budget, a TV presenter said, “Kiwisaver will be means tested,” without actually giving any details; how are viewers supposed to interpret that statement?

All was revealed on budget day when it was announced that those who have an income of over 180k are no longer entitled to the government incentive. That is fair enough. They hardly need the money!

The second announcement was that the $520 annual kiwisaver incentive was reduced to $260. To receive this amount $1,040 must be deposited into your kiwisaver each year.

Doing the mathematics, this means that you will receive 25% of what you deposit into your kiwisaver for that year. The key is to deposit a minimum of $1,040 into your kiwisaver every year.

The employer contribution  to your Kiwisaver will be raised to 4% of your gross wages.

Some folk might be asking whether it is worthwhile depositing money into kiwisaver due to the reduction in the government incentives.

If the sole reason why you are in kiwisaver is for the government freebies then you are in kiwisaver for the wrong reason. The right reason for joining and contributing to kiwisaver is to save up for your retirement. This will make life easier once you stop working.

It is just a matter of asking yourself, “Will my future self thank me for doing this?”

There will be no one who reaches the age of 65 and then regrets that they contributed to kiwisaver all of their life. The same thing applies to you if you are from a country other than New Zealand. Your retirement scheme will have its own rules, so familiarise yourself with them.

Another Kiwisaver change is that 16 and 17 year olds will be eligible for the $260 Kiwisaver incentive. Previously, the minimum age was 18. The media misreported this saying, “16 and 17 year olds are now eligible for Kiwisaver.”

The truth is that they have always been eligible for Kiwisaver, but previously were not eligible for the government money which is now $260. Those under 16 can still join Kiwisaver. 

To summarise, joining a retirement savings scheme is a mature and responsible thing to do. It is sowing seeds for your future provision which will make life less stressful as far as your future finances are concerned.

About this article

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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The Cost of Financial Illiteracy

Written by R. A. Stewart

There is a cost to financial illiteracy and this cost can be passed down to generations and society. Financial illiteracy leads to poor decision making, debts, and missed opportunity for wealth building. 

  1. Poor choices

Financial illiteracy leads to impulse spending, living beyond one’s means, which leads to financial problems. All of this leads to borrowing which in turn leads to debt. Such people are often vulnerable to loan sharks which leads them to a cycle of debt.

Not surprisingly, these people have no savings, therefore, are caught out when some unexpected bill arrives such as an appliance breaking down, or the car needs fixing.

  1. Increased Debt and Financial Stress

Being unable to pay bills on time will lead to financial stress and mental health issues. It will also lead to relationship issues as lenders are sometimes family members who lend money, often with no interest attached may not see their money again. The borrower will sometimes use the excuse, “I did such and such for you”, in order to squirrel out of repaying the loan. This leads to resentment on the part of family members.

Smart money managers will not borrow for consumable items. “If you don’t have the money, you don’t buy it” is a good rule to live by”.

  1. Missed Investment opportunities

People with no financial literacy will not invest their money and therefore miss out on the opportunities to increase their wealth.  They will leave their money in a personal savings account which pays little interest which does not even cover the cost of inflation. As far as retirement goes, they have little savings to fall back on in later years.

  1. Vulnerability to Scams and Fraud

Financially illiterate are unaware of the red flags which are common in scams, therefore, are vulnerable to be taken in by them.

  1. Higher costs for Financial Services

A financially illiterate person will choose financial services and insurance not applicable to their needs or accept advice which is not compatible with their personal circumstances.

  1. Impact on Future Generations

Parents who are not financially literate may pass on their traits and attitudes to their children, passing on their poor financial skills to the next generation. This could also mean that they are unable to contribute to their children’s education, limiting future opportunities.

  1. Health and Lifestyle Consequences

Poor financial choices can also lead to poor health outcomes. It can also inhibit your ability to purchase a home, start a business, or pursue higher education.

  1. Limited LIfe Choices

Lack of financial skills will inhibit your ability to enjoy a more fruitful life. If you are not living within your means then overseas travel, further education, and starting a business will all be out of reach. Certainly, people who have no savings whatsoever are not fit to be in business because if you cannot even manage your own money then the lack of financial management will mean certain failure for the business.

“Financial literacy is not an expense, it’s an investment in your future.”

About this article

You may use this article as content for your blog/website, or ebook. Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

The content of this article is of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised.

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The Saving Habit

Make Saving a Habit

If there is one financial habit which will get you ahead it is this one…

Saving!

Why you must develop the savings habit

It is not how big your pay packet is, what counts is what you do with the money. Irrespective of your financial situation, it makes economic sense to save a portion of your income regularly. the mains reasons for saving are;

1-For unexpected emergencies such as car expenses, the washing machine breaking down, or dental bills.

2-To put aside money for your retirement.

3-Holidays or wedding expenses.

4-study expenses

5-Home repairs.

6-To save for a deposit for a home.

7-Saving for a car

8-Saving for a business

Consequences of not having any savings

If you do not have any savings of your own then if an unexpected emergency crops up such as the car breaking down then you may have to borrow the money to pay for repairs and every time you borrow money, the interest you pay means that you are always paying a higher price for goods and services bought with borrowed money than someone who always pays in cash.

Saving money requires you to live within your means and to live modestly. Good savers will not purchase items brand new when they can find the same item in a charity shop at a fraction of the price. 

Your choices will make or break you

Every time you make a choice there will be consequences, good or bad. The key is to make enough good choices to succeed and to minimize your bad choices. It is important to keep your eyes and ears open to what is happening around you and listen to wise people who have succeeded in their chosen field. Having said that, you must row your own boat and discover your own calling in life.

Joining your country’s retirement scheme.

Many countries around the world have their own retirement savings scheme where a portion of your gross income is invested in that country’s retirement fund and your money cannot be withdrawn until you reach retirement age which varies between different countries. (In New Zealand it is currently 65)

Accumulate investments.

It is a good idea to not only have a retirement fund but invest in various areas to increase your financial knowledge. The share market, managed trusts, and fixed term investments are all well worth getting into.

Don’t place all your eggs in one basket

Don’t under any circumstances place all of your eggs in one basket. There is no guarantee that a particular company will not go under irrespective of how solid it appears. After all, if a company is in trouble, its directors are hardly going to shout it out from the rooftops are they? During the economic downturn around 2008, many people lost a lot of money in failed finance companies and the tragedy was that many of these folk invested their entire life savings into the one company. In other words they placed all of their eggs into one basket. The number one rule is to spread your risk. Divide your money among several different companies. That way you stand a far better chance of protecting your financial assets.

About this article

You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook. This article is of the writer’s own experience and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances.

Www.robertastewart.com

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7 Differences between a good and bad money manager

7 Differences between a good and bad money manager

Written by R. A. Stewart

The only reason why there are different outcomes in life is because people make different choices.  Therefore if you want to change a particular outcome you need to make different choices. The earlier in life that you start to make good choices the better your life will turn out to be.

Here are seven differences between a good money manager and a bad money manager. 

A good money manager will:

  1. Save something from their pay packet while a bad money manager will spend everything so that they have nothing to show from their labours. Saving a portion of what you make will make your life easier in the long term because you will have something to fall back on when some unexpected bill crops up.
  2. Invest their money while a bad money manager just leaves their money in an ordinary savings account waiting for it to be spent. A good money manager develops their financial literacy by participating in the markets while investing. There is a cost to ignorance and this is true with matters of personal finance.

a bad money manager remains financially dumb because they do not improve their financial literacy by participating in the markets.

  1. Read books on money management and personal finance. A good money manager will improve their financial literacy by reading books on personal finance. A bad money manager remains financially dumb because they do not improve their financial literacy by participating in the markets.
  2. Learn from their mistakes. A good money manager will acknowledge their mistakes and learn from them. A bad money manager will not acknowledge their mistakes and will repeat them over and over again.
  3. Have a vision. Good money managers have a plan for the future. A bad money manager looks no further than the next payday. Having a vision means that you are prepared for unexpected expenses when they crop up. Having a separate account for emergencies is an example of this. This is often referred to as a rainy day fund.
  4. Take responsibility for their decisions and do not blame others for their mistakes.

Some people make it a habit to blame others when things don’t go well for them as is often the case in life. They will ask others for advice and when they follow it there will be someone to blame if an investment does poorly.

  1. Make wise choices.

This is not necessarily in relation to what someone does with their money but major life decisions such as the decision to have kids and how many kids to have and what to spend their money on. Rich people use their discretionary money to build their wealth while poor people fritter their money away on consumables. The only way to build your wealth is to spend less than you earn and invest the surplus. This is a simple formula which has made others wealthy. 

About this article: You may use this article as content for your blog or website. Visit my site www.robertastewart.com for other articles.

If you like this article then maybe you will like this ebook

 

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Book Review: Think and Grow Rich 

Written by R. A. Stewart

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is one of the world’s best selling self help books and has been for over 70 years.

Napoleon Hill had spent twenty years compiling information for the book and during that time he interviewed the most successful men in history to learn how they acquired their fortunes. 

He reveals the one sure way to overcome all obstacles, achieve any ambition, and bring success to any life.

It is all a matter of knowing what you want and having the desire to make your goals come true.

The book is not one that advises you where to invest your money but rather develops the kind of traits which have made others successful.

The subjects covered in this book are:

Thoughts are Things: Using the power of your mind to get whatever you desire.

Desire: Transforming your desire into concrete action

Faith: How you can rise to limitless heights if only you had faith.

Auto Suggestion: Train your mind to get amazing results with the use of auto suggestion

Specialized knowledge: Your education is what you make it, and you can find the knowledge that takes you from where you are to where you want to go. 

Imagination: This is what is required to turn your dreams into reality.

Organized Planning: How to use your master mind for success.

Decision: The ability to make decisions quickly will help you to achieve more.

Persistence: The ability to persevere is important.

Power of the Master Mind: This secret involves choosing mentors who are where you want to be.

Sex Transmutation: How women help men become successful, and how to take advantage of the ancient truth.

The Subconscious Mind: How your subconscious mind waits like a sleeping giant to back up every plan and purpose.

The Brain: How to use your brain more effectively.

The Sixth Sense:  How wisdom opens the door to the road to wealth.

 The Six Ghosts of Fear: Take inventory of yourself, and see if any remnants of fear stand in your way.

Weaknesses

While the book has its merits it also has its weaknesses, and one of these is that it does not take into account the economic landscape of today and the barriers which many people face in their day to day lives.

Conclusion

Think and Grow Rich is a classic for a reason and while it is no magic formula for success the steps to success explained in the book are a starting point for those wanting to learn the mental aspects of success.

Enjoyed reading this article?

Visit my site www.robertastewart.com for more articles.

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My Thoughts about BItcoin

Written by R. A. Stewart

Bitcoin is an alternative investment for those investors who do not mind the roller coaster nature of cryptocurrency. If you have the risk profile to be able to stomach the prospect of losses and are sensible in how you approach this form of investing then you can make money from Bitcoin as others have done.

Here are some things you should keep in mind:

1 Bitcoin has a short history

The disadvantage of a short history is there is less data to work with for making future predictions, but it should be kept in mind that past performance is no predictor of the future. Using the share market as an example, one can find companies that have made it through the 1987 sharemarket crash. This is a sign of resilience. No one knows how a future share market meltdown will affect the price of Bitcoin because it has not had to deal with such an event.

2 Something is only worth what others are prepared to pay

Bitcoin is only worth what others are prepared to pay, in other words, it is demand that determines its price. This rule also applies to other forms of investing such as gold, art, property, and the share market.

3 Only invest discretionary spending money in Bitcoin

Only discretionary spending money should be invested in Bitcoin. This is money you can fully afford to lose. Money in this category is money you spend on entertainment and hobbies. If you can transfer some of this spending money into Bitcoin, you may just make a bit of money. What I am saying is, you should never spend what you cannot afford to lose in Bitcoin. There is a saying,”Scared money rarely wins”.

4 Diversify

It is important to diversify with cryptocurrency investing as it is with investing in the share market, but just how does one do this when Bitcoin is the main player in cryptocurrency with Ethereum coming in a distant second. I am talking about investing with different crypto exchanges such as Coinbase, Blockchain, and Kraken. There  are a lot of others. A few have gone under which have caused investors to lose a lot of money.

5 Don’t get greedy

Greed is the downfall of a lot of investors. It is tempting to think, “If I invest my life savings in Bitcoin, I will make a killing by xxx date. You could also lose it all. Always remember that for every person who made such a killing there are others who lost their shirt. What usually happens is the one who made the killing will usually try the same thing over and over and give back those gains.

6 If there is an opportunity for capital gain

There is also the chance that you may lose. If you expect to never lose any money at some stage then Bitcoin is not for you. Bitcoin investing requires you to have the kind of mindset that can cope with the roller coaster ride which characterizes cryptocurrency otherwise you will panic when things don’t go as expected. Investing requires a cool head at all times, even when the newspaper reports tell you that you have lost your money. The truth of the matter is that newspapers do not always give you the full story.

I remember when the price of Bitcoin peaked in November 2021 then halved a year later. One newspaper article said, “Investors in Bitcoin have lost half their money.”

That is only true if you had invested in Bitcoin at its peak because if I had sold Bitcoin when the paper was saying, “Investors have lost half of their money,” I would still have received more money than my original investment.

About this article

The content in this article is of the writer’s own opinion and experience and may not be applicable to your own 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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6 Benefits of Saving Money

The value of saving money

Written by R. A. Stewart

If there is one habit which will make your life easier it is the habit of saving money from each payday. As a responsible adult this is the mature thing to do. People who just spend all of their money leaving them broke before the next pay day arrives are irresponsible. 

Saving money without an end goal may seem pointless to some people and that is why it is important to have goals so that your money has a purpose. This gives you motivation to save otherwise you will become just like most people and just fritter your money away and when that rainy day comes there will be nothing to fall back on.

Here are reasons why you must save:

  1. Saving helps you to avoid borrowing

People who have no savings often borrow for stuff they need, such as some appliance breaking down or a medical emergency. Borrowing adds to the cost of whatever it is a debtor is paying for. This cost is called interest. Another word for interest is dead money because it gives you nothing tangible for your money. If you have debt then getting rid of it must be your first priority.

  1. Saving helps you to avoid future inconvenience

Imagine having no savings and the car, washing machine, or internet modem, or something else needs fixing and you have no savings. These are items which we take for granted but having no money to repair or replace something which needs replacing will cause you a great deal of inconvenience. Having a rainy day account for emergencies is a good idea.

Having

  1. Saving enables you to build your wealth

Saving money will help you to build your wealth portfolio and you do not need to have a fortune to begin investing but you do need to invest in order to create a fortune. Share market platforms such as Sharesies and Hatch enables anyone to invest on a shoestring. Investing with these platforms helps build your financial literacy.

  1. Saving provides more opportunities 

Saving money creates more future opportunities. It provides opportunities to study, to travel, and to move locations for work. Your future you will thank you for what you have saved today. Will anyone reach the age of 65 and regret having made consistent contributions to kiwisaver? I think not.

  1. Saving provides more peace of mind.

Saving provides a certain amount of peace of mind. When you have something up your sleeve to pay for emergencies when you need it life becomes much less stressful. That is something which should be part of your financial plan.

  1. Saving helps prepare for retirement

Having money behind you helps make your retirement years more comfortable. Whichever country you belong to it is important to join your country’s retirement scheme and take advantage of any tax incentives if any.

About this article: The contents are of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your own personal circumstances. You are advised to seek professional budget advice if necessary. Feel free to print this off for easier reading. You may use this as content for your blog, website, or ebook.

Www.robertastewart.com

 

Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission if you sign up with sharesies. (see below)

 Investing with Sharesies is an accessible and straightforward way to invest in the stock market. By following these steps, you can get started on your investment journey and start building your wealth. However, before making any investment decisions, it is essential to do your research and seek professional advice if necessary.

 Join Sharesies here

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3 Mistakes Investors Make

Avoid these three Financial Mistakes

Written by R. A. Stewart

Building an investment portfolio is similar to building a relationship. It takes time and patience but over caution can be just as costly. A lot of tolerance is required because in finance and in life in general you do not always get your own way. Life has its own ups and it is during the downs that we show our true character. It is when our true colours come to the surface.

Human nature or emotion as it is can interfere with one’s better judgment. This applies to relationships and finance.

Here are the biggest mistakes made by investors.

Mistake number one-Greed

“If something is too good to be true then it almost certainly is,” but many people have fallen into this trap by investing in something which was offering above average returns. In doing so they completely ignored another rule in finance and that is to diversify. During the 2008 Global Financial Crisis many investors lost their entire life savings when various finance companies went under. Several people have their entire life savings invested in one company. Whatever has been reported about these companies it is up to investors to do their own due diligence and invest sensibly. Placing all of your eggs in one basket is certainly not investing sensibly. The key word for sensible investors is “diversify.” This minimizes risk. Two things to bear in mind is that when there is an opportunity for a capital gain as there is with shares, there is also the chance for a capital loss. The other thing to remember is that when you hear stories of someone who made a killing on the share market by placing all of their eggs in one basket, you seldom hear of individuals who tried the same thing and lost their money. Greed will eventually get the better of investors who thought they were smart enough to beat the market.

Mistake number two-Timidity

Playing it safe is risky. Being overcautious will mean that you miss out on opportunities which risk takers take advantage of. There is no suggestion that you should be reckless and ignore common sense precautions but in relationships you need to risk getting hurt in order to discover what you are looking for. As far as financial matters are concerned, you have to accept some level of risk but this is manageable by diversifying your portfolio. Managed Funds or Mutual Funds as they are also called is an excellent way for ordinary investors to get involved in the share market. In New Zealand, Kiwisaver, Sharesies, Kernel Wealth, Hatch, and Investnow are excellent platforms for ordinary investors to get involved in shares. If you are from the US you may want to look at Robinhood which operates in much the same way as Sharesies.

Mistake number three-Impatience

“It is time and not timing which is important in the share market,” is a cliche which is worth keeping in mind. Patience is a virtue and this is applicable to relationships and finances. Some people lack patience that they invest their money in abc shares then when their portfolio is stagnant they sell those and invest in something else and sod’s law, the shares they sold at a lower price suddenly rises meaning they have missed out on any gains which would have recovered their losses. The share market is a long term gain. If you require the money in the short term then investing in shares may not be the right option. Bank deposit probably is but you have got to do your homework. 

It is all about understanding the risks and whether you have the mindset to handle the ups and downs of the money markets.

It really is up to your own risk profile.

About this article

You may use this article as content for your blog/website and as content for your ebook. Feel free to share this article with others.

The information here is of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances.

Invest in sharesies here:

Sharesies makes it possible for anyone to get into buying and selling shares. It is an online share market platform where you have the option of purchasing shares in individual companies or in various funds (managed/mutual funds). You can even start with $5. This is a no brainer because it gives investors young and not so young the chance to improve their financial literacy. There is certainly no substitute for experience when it comes to learning and this is applicable to everything else, not just investing.

Join sharesies here: https://sharesies.nz/r/377DFM

Disclaimer: I may receive a small sign up bonus if you join sharesies.

www.robertastewart.com

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Prioritizing your spending

Prioritizing your spending

Written by R. A. Stewart

Life is all about making priorities and it is not all about money and how you prioritize your spending but about what you do with your time. We have different financial commitments and different levels of income but when it comes to time, we all have an allotted 24 hours in the day, no more and no less but our income and how we earn our income will have an effect on how much time we have to devote to the important things in our life.

Many people sacrifice their time for money by spending all of their time working leaving little time for anything else. They are out of balance.

If you have a specific goal in mind such as saving for a house deposit then the sacrifices may be worth it in the long term. Maybe because only you will know whether the long days were truly worth it. It all depends on what your priorities are.

What factors should you consider when setting priorities?

Here are several to consider:

Your commitments

Your debt levels

Your age

Your family circumstances

Your health

Your career

Your pets

It is important that you base your priorities on what is important to you and that you do not try to copy someone else’s figures. There is no one size that fits everyone; it is your own needs and wants which determine how you are going to prioritise your spending.

Everyone has different levels of commitments; these have to be managed as best as you can. Commitments can be financial such as a mortgage or other debt or something more personal such as a relationship. 

Your age is another factor; you are not going to take out a 30 year mortgage when you are 60. If you are in your twenties you will have different priorities. As a young investor you can take more risks with your investing strategy because you have more time to recover from a financial meltdown.

That does not mean being reckless with your investing but rather; taking calculated risks.

Your family circumstances are another factor to weigh up. If you have kids then you will have less disposable cash to play around with than if you are single. The flip side is that if you are in a relationship then you have the advantage of having two incomes which will make it easier to save for major life events such as having kids. It is a good idea to put aside money for this purpose.

Then there is your health to think about. If you are fit and healthy then that is great but as we all know, Father Time catches up on us sooner or later. If you have health issues which lessens your chances of reaching the retirement age then your priorities need to be different from those who are healthy.

Then your career or job is a priority. It has to be your top priority because it pays the bills. It is where you spend so much of your time so a carefully chosen career will help make your life more meaningful. Adding different strings to your bow will give you more options. Learning does not end once you leave school is a lifelong project.

Your pets can bring enjoyment to your life but they can also become a burden to your finances as a lot of people have found during the cost of living crisis. The SPCA were swamped with cats and dogs because people could not afford to keep them. When deciding whether to get a dog or a cat it is important to work out how much this is going to cost you. It is also important to consider the fact that keeping pets fits the discretionary spending category and that money spent on them will be better off going towards the mortgage if you have one or towards your retirement fund. 

As far as pets are concerned, many people let their hearts rule their heads; I mean honestly, why else would one spend a grand on a vet bill for a cat or even more than that on a dog when it would be cheaper just to have the animal put down?

 

This article is 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 ebook, website, or blog. Feel free to share this article.

 

www.robertastewart.com