TLDR (Because I Know You're Busy)

Look, I know that was a lot. Let me break this down into the shit that actually matters:

TLDR: Stack Bitcoin before it's late

  1. Introduction: FIRE's dead, here's why
  2. My Journey: Waited, learned, finally got it
  3. Understanding Money: Money printing ruins everything
  4. Economic Singularity: 2030 changes the whole game
  5. Traditional Investments: Everything Code breaks FIRE strategy
  6. Bitcoin & Alternatives: Bitcoin's your lifeboat, don't wait
  7. Practical Steps: Start small, learn, stack sats
  8. Common Concerns: Addressing your Bitcoin doubts first
  9. Conclusion: Time to actually do something

The main point? The financial system is changing faster than most people realize. You still have time to prepare, but that window won't stay open forever.

Remember: This isn't about getting rich quick. It's about not getting poor slowly.

Traditional FIRE Won't Save You – What I Learned About Money That Changed Everything

Look, I need to tell you something that completely changed my life. And no, this isn't some bullshit about getting rich quick or buying lambos.

Here's the thing – I grew up just like most of us, right?

Get good grades, go to Uni, land a decent job, work for 40+ years, then finally retire when you're too old to properly enjoy it. That's just how life works… or so I thought.

Then in 2018, living in the Middle East as an engineer, I stumbled across this thing called the FIRE movement through blogs like Mr. Money Mustache. And holy shit, it was like someone had just shown me a door I never knew existed.

The revelation? Working 40+ years isn't some unchangeable law of nature. It's a fucking choice.

Let that sink in for a minute.

See, what nobody tells you in school is that you actually have options.

You can either save and invest more now to buy your freedom earlier, or save the standard amount and keep grinding away for decades.

When I realized this, it literally blew my mind. Like, why the hell wasn't this covered in any of my classes?

But here's where it gets interesting (and why I'm writing this post).

While discovering FIRE was my first wake-up call, I've since realized that the traditional FIRE approach – you know, the standard stocks and bonds portfolio – might not be enough anymore.

Not with how money's being printed, how inflation's eating away at savings, and how the whole financial system's evolving.

For me, this isn't about getting rich or flexing on Instagram. It's about something way more fundamental: safety and choice. B

ecause let's be real – in today's economy, falling behind financially means watching your options in life slowly disappear and I swear this is getting quicker and quicker every year.

And I don't know about you, but I'm not too keen on spending decades in a soul-sucking job just because I have no other choice.

In this post, I'm going to share:

  • Why I waited until 2023 to really start investing (and what finally changed my mind)
  • The uncomfortable truth about traditional investment advice
  • How I went from skeptic to believer in Bitcoin and alternative investments
  • A systematic approach to building real financial independence

Whether you're just starting your FIRE journey or you're already on the path but wondering if there's a better way, this post might just change how you think about achieving financial independence.

Just like that first FIRE revelation changed everything for me.

The "Perfect Plan" That Wasn't: My Journey From FIRE Enthusiast to Actually Investing

My Early FIRE Obsession (2018)

You know those moments that completely change how you see the world? That's what happened when I stumbled across Mr. Money Mustache's post about the shockingly simple math behind early retirement back in 2018.

Holy shit. It was like finding a secret door in your house that you'd walked past thousands of times without noticing. And once you see it, you can't unsee it.

For the first time in my life, I felt like I had actual hope for the future. The math was simple – save more now, work less later. Finally, a fucking choice about how long I had to work.

The Embarrassing Truth (2018-2023)

Now, here's where it gets a bit embarrassing…

Despite being obsessed with FIRE and preaching about it to anyone who'd listen (sorry to my friends who had to sit through those conversations), I didn't actually invest much of my money.

I know, I know. WTF Adam? Isn't that literally the whole point?

Yeah… but hear me out.

Picture this: I'm sitting on cash for YEARS, convinced I'm the next Warren Buffett, waiting for this perfect market crash moment.

When COVID hit, I thought "This is it!" But within a few months, the market bounced back, and I watched from the sidelines as stocks pretty much doubled.

For fuck's sake.

How Did I Even Get Here?

Let me rewind a bit. Back in 2018, I was working as an engineer and thought it was probably time for me to move back to the UK but couldn’t scrape together enough for a house deposit, even after 8 years of full-time work.

And no, I wasn't blowing it all on avocado toast and holidays (FU boomers).

Life was just expensive, and something had to change. So I did something a bit crazy – took a job on a remote construction site in the Middle East.

Seven years later, I'm still here, but now with a wife, son, and a house. Funny how life works out, eh?

Being an expat finally meant I could earn enough to save seriously (even though my expenses now with a house and kid are doing their best to catch up 😄).

The Moment Everything Changed (2023)

Remember how I said I was embarrassed about not investing? Well, plot twist – I'm actually glad I waited. Here's why.

In 2021, I dipped my toes into crypto, but like many newbies, I got absolutely rekt. Classic mistakes – buying high, selling low, and losing a chunk in the Terra Luna disaster. 2022 was basically a year of licking my wounds and feeling sorry for myself.

Then in 2023, I saw this tweet from Robert Kiyosaki about protecting yourself by buying Bitcoin, gold, and silver. My first thought? "This guy sounds fucking crazy. Who even buys gold and silver anymore? And Bitcoin? Isn't that super risky?"

tweet from (2) Robert Kiyosaki (@theRealKiyosaki) / X

But something made me curious. Why wasn't he talking about stocks? Why these specific assets?

That tweet sent me down what I thought was going to be a weird conspiracy theorist rabbit hole.

My wife still thinks I am turning into a conspiracy theorist but hey…

Instead, it completely changed how I view money, investing, and honestly, the whole financial system.

And that's where things get really interesting…

Links to my other blog posts that you may find useful:

Understanding Money in Today's World – The Foundation of Everything

Let's go deep into something I wish someone had explained to me years ago – what money actually is.

For a more detailed overview to try and understand the modern finance landscape I have summarised the concepts of inflation and money printing in my post here – Why everything keeps getting more expensive.

Not the basic stuff we learn in school, but the real, mind-bending truth about the financial system we're all part of.

What the Hell is Money Anyway?

Here's what blew my mind when I first started researching: money isn't what we think it is. At all.

You know how we're all working our asses off to save money, invest it, grow it?

Most people, myself included thought money was only the fiat money we know today, ye know the dollars, pounds, euros we get paid in –

Well, I discovered something that changed everything – the very nature of money has fundamentally

changed, and most people (including me until recently) have no fucking clue.

We changed from sound money on the gold standard to fiat money. If you are asking WTF are you talking about Adam, check out my other posts on these:

Back in the day, money was actually backed by something real – like gold.

You could literally take your dollars and exchange them for actual gold. But in 1971, that all changed. Now?

Our money is basically just… trust. That's it. Just trust in the government and central banks.

The Hidden Inflation Tax

The scariest part? The money in your bank account, those savings you're carefully stacking up?

They're being silently drained every single day through inflation. And I'm not talking about the official inflation numbers they tell us about.

Here's what I learned:

  • The real inflation rate is way higher than what they report
  • Your savings are literally losing value while you sleep
  • The traditional FIRE calculations don't account for this reality

The Money Printing Machine

Remember during COVID when governments were handing out money like candy? Ever wonder where that money came from?

I'll tell you – and this still fucks with my mind – they literally just created it out of thin air.

Like, pressed some buttons on a computer and poof – new money exists.

And guess what? They're still doing it.

Not as obviously as during COVID, but it's happening every single day.

The more I learned about this, the more I realized why Robert Kiyosaki's tweet about Bitcoin and precious metals wasn't crazy at all – it was actually fucking brilliant.

This Changes Everything About FIRE

Look, I get it. The traditional FIRE movement is beautiful in its simplicity.

Save 25x your annual expenses, invest in a mix of stocks and bonds, follow the 4% rule, and you're set.

Years ago I was a staunch advocate of this simplicity and unfortunately my closed-mindedness to alternaitve assets cost me buying bitcoin at $3,000

Fuck sake, I think about that a lot but nothing I can do about it.

Anyway.

The deeper I went down the rabbit hole an uneasy feeling kept getting bigger for me – I don’t think investing methodology will work moving forward.

In my opinion, all those calculations were based on false assumption or you could say complete disregard for the biggest wealth killer – monetary debasement (AKA money printing).

One where money couldn't just be created out of thin air which effectively reduces the purcahsing power of your money by 8% per year and this isn’t even accounting for inflation yet.

If you're serious about achieving financial independence, I highly reccommend you also going down the rabbit hole and at elast then, armed with more information you can decide for yourself.

In my opinion, your financial future literally depends on it.

In the next section, I'll share what I've learned about protecting yourself from this system through Bitcoin and other hard assets. Trust me, this is where it gets really interesting…

Why Traditional Investments May Not Be Enough Anymore

Let's talk about something that's been bugging me since I learned about it – the investment hurdle rate.

Basically, this is the return you need just to keep up with inflation and taxes. And trust me, once you understand this, you'll never look at traditional investments the same way again.

Investment Hurdle Rate: The Hidden Tax Making You Poorer

The Modern Portfolio Theory Trap

You've probably heard about the magic of diversification – you know, don't put all your eggs in one basket and all that.

This idea comes from Modern Portfolio Theory, created back in 1952 by some smart guy named Harry Markowitz.

The theory says that by mixing stocks and bonds, you can maximize returns while minimizing risk.

Why?

Because traditionally, when stocks go down, bonds go up, and vice versa. Sounds perfect, right?

Here's the kicker – this theory was created in a completely different monetary system.

Back when money was actually backed by gold and inflation wasn't eating away at your wealth like a hungry teenager raiding the fridge.

The Stock-Bond Correlation Mind Fuck

Since 2020, something weird has been happening.

Stocks and bonds have started moving in the same direction – usually down. So much for that perfect hedge, eh?

Think about it:

  • Stocks tank? Your bonds tank too
  • High inflation? Both get hit
  • Rising interest rates? Double whammy

It's like having two different umbrellas in a storm, but they both have holes in them.

The Hurdle Rate Reality Check

Here's the really fucked up part – neither stocks nor bonds are consistently beating the hurdle rate right now. What does this mean in plain English?

You're losing purchasing power. Safely.

Let that sink in. The "safe" traditional portfolio is safely making you poorer over time.

It's like having a slow leak in your bank account that nobody talks about.

How Much Your Money Has Really Devalued

Why Your "Safe" Portfolio Might Be Killing Your Wealth

When you factor in:

  • Real inflation (not the bullshit numbers they tell us)
  • Money printing
  • Taxes
  • Management fees
  • The declining purchasing power of fiat money

Both stocks and bonds are struggling to keep up and don;t bbeat the hurdle rate.

So when your financial advisor tells you you're "safely" invested in a 60/40 portfolio, what they really mean is you're safely losing purchasing power over time.

The Economic Singularity: Why Time Isn't On Our Side

The Economic Singularity: Why 2030 Changes Everything

And here's the real gut punch – we might be running out of time to figure this out.

All signs point to major changes in our financial system by 2030.

The traditional playbook isn't just underperforming – it might become completely obsolete.

This isn't about being dramatic – it's about being realistic. When both your "growth" and your "safety" investments can't beat inflation, you need to start thinking differently.

And that's exactly why we need to talk about hard assets and Bitcoin…

The Everything Code and The Race Against 2030

Let me explain something that completely changed how I view the financial system.

There's this thing called the Everything Code – it's basically the DNA of our current financial markets, and once you understand it, you can't unsee it.

The Everything Code: Understanding How Central Bank Liquidity Drives Modern Markets

How the Everything Code Actually Works

Here's the mind-fuck: every financial market is basically being driven by one thing – central bank liquidity and why they HAVE to keep doing it.

Think of it like a massive pump pushing newly created money into the system. This money has to go somewhere, and it flows into EVERYTHING:

  • Stocks
  • Real estate
  • Bonds
  • You name it

This is why all these assets seem to move together now. They're all riding the same liquidity wave.

Money Printing Explained: What It Means for You and How to Protect Your Financial Future

The Economic Singularity: Why 2030 is Crucial

Now, here's where things get really interesting (and kind of scary). We're heading toward what I call the Economic Singularity. By 2030, we're likely to hit a point where the current system can't continue as it is.

The Economic Singularity: Why 2030 Changes Everything

Why?

Because:

  1. Currency debasement is accelerating
  2. The Everything Code is pushing all asset prices higher
  3. Real inflation is destroying purchasing power faster than most investments can keep up [Internal link: Understanding Inflation: What It Really Is and Why It's Higher Than You Think]

The Investment Hurdle Rate Problem

Here's the real kicker – to preserve your wealth, you need to beat what's called the hurdle rate. T

his isn't just about making gains; it's about outrunning:

  • Real inflation (way higher than reported)
  • Currency debasement
  • Asset price inflation

Most traditional investments simply can't keep up with this hurdle rate anymore. You're literally getting poorer while thinking you're investing "safely."

Investment Hurdle Rate: The Hidden Tax Making You Poorer

Why 2030 Matters for Your Money

Look, I'm not pulling this 2030 date out of my ass.

The math and trends point to this being a critical turning point. By then:

  • The Everything Code will likely reach its limits
  • Currency debasement might hit a breaking point
  • We'll need to be positioned in assets that can actually preserve wealth

This isn't about timing the market perfectly – it's about understanding we have a limited window to position ourselves before major systemic changes.

2030 isn’t a hard and fast number but for one it sounds good and deeper than that I think it underscores the time urgency of the situation – it could be earlier or later than this but what I took from this is that I need to change my investing now not later.

Why You Have Until 2030 to Invest in Crypto Before the Economic Singularity

The Only Solution I Can See

We need to invest in assets that can't be debased – things that exist outside the Everything Code:

  • Bitcoin (fixed supply, can't be printed)
  • Real assets (but choose carefully)
  • Things that benefit from, rather than suffer from, currency debasement

The goal isn't to get rich quick. It's to not get poor slowly as this system approaches its limits.

The deeper I go down the rabbit hole the more I think the only actually solution to fight inflation is to become more sovereign but that’s a bit beyond just bitcoin alone.

From FIRE to SovFIRE: Sovereign FIRE – The New Path to True Financial Independence

Exploring Bitcoin and Alternative Investments: Beyond Traditional FIRE

Right, so after realizing how fucked the traditional investment approach might be, I started seriously looking into Bitcoin and other hard assets.

And no, this isn't going to be some "to the moon" crypto bro shit – let me explain why this matters for your financial independence.

Escape the Rat Race: Investing in Your Future with Alternative Assets

Why Bitcoin Started Making Sense

Remember that Kiyosaki tweet I mentioned?

Initially, I thought he was crazy talking about Bitcoin, gold, and silver. But after understanding how our monetary system works, it clicked: these are assets that can't be printed into oblivion.

Here's what made me take Bitcoin seriously:

  • Fixed supply (only 21 million ever)
  • Can't be inflated away by money printing
  • Works outside the traditional financial system
  • Gives you actual control over your money

My Crypto Journey (Including the Fuck-Ups)

Not Another Crypto Bro – What are you Shilling now Adam?

Let me be real with you – my first dance with crypto was a disaster. I did everything wrong:

  • Bought near the top in 2021
  • Panic sold during crashes
  • Lost money in the Terra Luna collapse
  • Had no clue about market cycles

But here's the thing – those expensive lessons taught me something crucial about investing in Bitcoin and crypto: understanding WHY you're buying is more important than the price you pay.

Understanding Cryptocurrency: A Beginner's Guide

Beyond Just Bitcoin

While Bitcoin is the main player, I've learned there's a whole world of alternative investments that make sense in this environment:

  1. Precious metals (gold/silver)
  2. Commodities
  3. Certain cryptocurrencies (but be fucking careful here)

Building Financial Independence Through Alternative Investments

Hard Assets vs Fiat Investments

Here's what changed my thinking completely – the difference between hard assets and fiat investments:

Hard Assets:

  • Can't be printed
  • Limited supply
  • Outside the traditional system
  • Real, tangible value

Fiat Investments:

  • Subject to money printing
  • Unlimited supply
  • Trapped in the system
  • Value based on trust

This is somethign I think is very improtant for our own personal financial lives but corporations and countries are starting to get on board too – check out Microstrategy and what has been dubbed their infinite money glitch.

Making Alternative Investments Work for FIRE

Now, I'm not saying to dump your entire portfolio into Bitcoin – that would be crazy. But I am suggesting that the traditional FIRE approach might need an update.

Here's how I'm thinking about it:

  • Core position in hard assets (Bitcoin, precious metals)
  • Some traditional investments for stability
  • Focus on assets that can't be inflated away
  • Always maintain control over your own money

Top 10 Ways to Earn Passive Income Crypto in 2024

The 2030 Timeline

Remember what I said about 2030? This isn't just about making better returns. I genuinely believe we're in a race against time to position ourselves before major changes in the financial system.

This isn't about getting rich quick. It's about not getting poor slowly.

Why You Have Until 2030 to Invest in Crypto Before the Economic Singularity

Practical Steps to Get Started – Let's Actually Do This

Right, so you understand the Everything Code and why we might be racing against time.

But what the fuck do you actually DO about it? Let me break down what I've learned (often the hard way) into practical steps.

Understanding Cryptocurrency: A Beginner's Guide

First Things First – Education

Remember how I jumped into crypto in 2021 without understanding shit about fuck? Yeah, don't do that. Here's what I wish I'd done first:

Understand What You're Buying

  • Learn the basics of Bitcoin (not all crypto – just Bitcoin first)
  • Understand why scarcity matters
  • Get clear on why sound money is crucial [Internal link: What is Sound Money]

Learn About Security

  • How to secure your assets
  • The importance of self-custody
  • Basic operational security

Starting Small But Smart

Look, I know there's an urgency with that 2030 timeline, but rushing in is how you get rekt. Here's my approach now:

Regular Buying

  • Set up automatic purchases (like a savings plan but for Bitcoin)
  • Don't try to time the market
  • Focus on accumulating steadily

Position Sizing

  • Only invest what you can afford to lose
  • Start small and increase as you learn
  • Keep some dry powder for opportunities

Top Strategies for Investing for Expats Living Abroad

Security Is No Joke

Remember what I said about Terra Luna? That shit was painful.

Here's how to avoid my mistakes:

Basic Security Steps:

  • Get a hardware wallet (cold wallet)
  • Never share your seed phrase
  • Test small transactions first
  • Keep your holdings private

Advanced Protection:

  • Consider multisig setups
  • Have a proper backup strategy
  • Plan for inheritance

Using Tech to Your Advantage

Being an engineer, I love leveraging technology. Here's what's working for me:

Automation

  • Dollar-cost averaging setups
  • Portfolio tracking tools
  • Security monitoring

Research Tools

  • Market analysis platforms
  • On-chain metrics
  • AI-powered research assistants

How to Use AI to Make Money

Making Income While You Stack

Yes, you can earn yield, but for fuck's sake, be careful. After getting burned, here's what I consider safer:

Conservative Yield Strategies

  • Lending on established platforms
  • Running nodes if you're technical
  • Avoiding anything promising insane returns

Focus on Capital Preservation

  • Don't chase high yields
  • Understand counterparty risks
  • Keep most of your stack in cold storage

Remember: We're not trying to get rich quick here. We're trying to not get poor slowly while positioning ourselves for what's coming.

Top 10 Ways to Earn Passive Income Crypto in 2024

Addressing Common Concerns (Because I Know You're Thinking Them)

Let's talk about the elephant in the room – all the things that are probably making you think "this sounds crazy" right now.

Trust me, I had ALL these thoughts when I first started down this rabbit hole.

"Isn't Bitcoin Too Risky?"

Look, I get it. When I first heard about Bitcoin, I thought it was just magic internet money for criminals.

But here's what I've learned – we need to think about different types of risk:

Volatility Risk

  • Yes, Bitcoin is volatile as fuck
  • But volatility isn't the same as risk
  • Long-term trend is what matters

Systemic Risk

  • Traditional investments are ALL tied to the fiat system
  • When that system has problems, everything has problems
  • Bitcoin operates outside this system

"What If I'm Late?"

I hear this one a lot. "Bitcoin is too expensive now" or "I missed the boat." Let me tell you something – I thought the same thing in 2018… and 2019… and 2020…

Here's what matters:

  • We're still early in the adoption curve
  • Most people still don't understand what's coming
  • The Everything Code is still pumping

"What About Regulation?"

This is actually a good concern to have. But think about it this way:

  • Governments can't ban math
  • Bitcoin is already too big to stop
  • Regulation might actually help adoption

Plus, if you're an expat like me, you've already seen how different jurisdictions handle things differently. It's about being smart and staying informed.

Top Strategies for Investing for Expats Living Abroad

"Is This Just Another Bubble?"

After getting rekt in 2021, I understand this fear deeply. But here's what I've learned:

  • Bitcoin moves in 4-year cycles
  • Each cycle has higher lows
  • Focus on accumulation, not speculation

The key is understanding we're not trying to get rich quick – we're trying to preserve wealth in a system that's designed to take it from us.

"What If You're Wrong About Everything?"

This is actually my favourite question because it shows you're thinking critically. Here's the thing – I could be wrong about:

  • The timeline
  • The specifics of how things play out
  • The best strategies to prepare

But I'm pretty fucking certain about:

  • Money printing won't stop – they can’t let everything crash
  • Real inflation is higher than reported
  • Traditional investments alone won't cut it

The beauty is – if I'm wrong, you still own hard assets that can't be printed away.

If I'm right and you're not prepared… well, that's a much harder position to recover from.

Wrapping This All Up – Here's What Actually Matters

Look, I know this has been a lot to take in. When I first started piecing all this together, it kept me up at night.

But here's the thing – understanding is only half the battle. What you DO with this information is what really matters.

The Key Points You Need to Remember

Let's recap the mind-fucks we've covered:

The Traditional System is Breaking

Time Isn't On Our Side

There Are Solutions

Your Action Plan Starts Now

Here's what I'm doing, and what I suggest you research into more:

Start Learning

  • Understand sound money principles – What is Sound Money
  • Learn about self-custody
  • Study market cycles

Start Stacking

Stay Humble

  • Start small
  • Keep learning
  • Avoid leverage and gambling

Final Thoughts

Remember when I talked about discovering the FIRE movement?

How it felt like opening a door I couldn't close?

This is that moment again. Once you understand what's happening with money, the Everything Code, and where we're headed, you can't unsee it.

But here's the beautiful thing – you're reading this now. You still have time to prepare. Not everyone will understand what's coming. Not everyone will take action. But you can.

This isn't about getting rich quick. It's not about timing markets perfectly. It's about understanding the game has changed and positioning yourself accordingly.

The journey won't be easy. Trust me, I've made plenty of expensive mistakes along the way. But the alternative – doing nothing and hoping the traditional system holds together – that's starting to look like the riskier bet.

Remember: You don't have to go all-in. You don't have to make drastic changes overnight.

But you do need to start. Because while 2030 might not be a hard deadline, the clock is definitely ticking.

The choice is yours. But at least now you know what's at stake.

Adam

I am on a journey to embracing a less stressful, more self sufficient life through my passions for renewable energy, off grid living and financial independence.

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