Right, let me tell you something that's been proper doing my head in lately.

After watching this mental video from Raoul Pal about money printing and basically his advice on how to protect your future, I need to break down what's actually going on – because it's going to affect your future more than you think.

Quick heads up: This isn't your standard "money printer go brrr" explanation.

What I'm about to share comes from proper research, personal experience living across multiple countries, and watching this play out in real-time as an expat in the Middle East. Most importantly, I'll show you exactly what you can do about it.

If you want to learn more about how I'm using Bitcoin specifically as a tool for financial independence, check out my detailed guide on achieving financial independence with Bitcoin.

The System's Proper Mental (But There's a Logic to It)

Look, I used to think governments were just being daft with all this money printing.

Turns out, they're proper trapped in a system they can't escape. Let me break down why, and then we'll get into what it means for your money.

The Perfect Storm That's Already Here

Picture this mental situation:

  • Birth rates falling off a cliff faster than my savings did in London
  • More retirees than workers (for the first time in history)
  • Debt levels higher than the Burj Khalifa
  • Asset prices that need constant propping up just to avoid collapse

The Real Reasons Governments Can't Stop Printing (Raoul's Analysis)

Right, this is where it gets proper interesting.

Raoul breaks this down better than anyone I've seen, and trust me, it's more complex (and mental) than most people realize.

1. The Demographics Timebomb

This isn't just about people getting older. Here's what's actually happening:

Peak Humans is Real

  • Global working population shrinking faster than my motivation on a Monday
  • Birth rates have fallen off a cliff worldwide
  • More retirees than ever in history (and growing)
  • Fewer workers to support an aging population

The Labor Force Crisis

  • Productivity growth? Barely existing
  • GDP growth? Looking proper anemic
  • Wages? Not keeping up with costs
  • Tax base? Shrinking like my first engineering pay packet

2. The 2008 Financial Crisis Hangover (We Never Really Recovered)

This is mental – we never actually fixed 2008, just papered over it. Here's what Raoul points out:

The Real Numbers

  • Industrial production peaked
  • Population growth peaked
  • Everything peaked (Raoul calls it "Peak Fat")
  • We've been on financial life support ever since

The Central Bank Trap

  • Had to lower rates to zero
  • Started buying everything in sight
  • Created this massive bubble
  • Can't stop now without everything collapsing

3. The Debt Spiral (It's Proper Mental)

Right, this is where it gets scary. Raoul shows how it's all connected:

Government Debt Going Parabolic

  • Interest payments bigger than some countries' entire budgets
  • Need to print more just to pay interest
  • Can't raise rates without exploding the debt
  • Stuck in a proper catch-22

Private Sector's Just as Bad

  • Companies addicted to cheap money like I'm addicted to shawarma
  • Zombie companies everywhere (ones that can't even pay their interest)
  • Everything built on this cheap money foundation
  • One proper rate hike away from disaster

4. The Asset Market Dependencies (The Real Reason They Can't Stop)

This is where it gets proper personal for everyone. Here's why they really can't stop printing:

The Pension Problem

  • Boomers sitting on the biggest pile of assets in history (stocks, property, the lot)
  • Their entire retirement depends on these mental high prices
  • One proper crash = entire generation's retirement gone
  • Government's forced to keep the party going (like that one mate who won't let the night end)

The Wealth Effect (It's All Connected)

  • Need to keep asset prices high to keep people spending
  • Economy's addicted to people feeling wealthy
  • Can't let the music stop (proper musical chairs, this)
  • One crash affects everything: spending, jobs, the whole economy

5. The Global Liquidity Issue (The Dollar Problem)

Here's the kicker that most people miss – it's not just about domestic issues:

The Global Dollar Shortage

  • Whole world needs dollars for trade
  • Not enough dollars to go around
  • Fed's forced to provide liquidity
  • Can't stop without breaking global trade

The Market Structure Problem

  • Everything's built on leverage (proper house of cards)
  • Markets expect eternal liquidity
  • One hiccup = potential systemic crisis
  • Forces more printing (rinse and repeat)

These are all problems that need to be addressed some way – maybe it is with a ridiculous amount of money printing (but really how long can that trick continue?)

or, maybe the economic singularity brings with it a solution and then maybe everyone goes onto a universal basic income type model?

who knows but I do know that I want to try and do everything I can to be on the right side of whatever the future holds.

How This Actually Affects Your Future

Right, so what does all this mental stuff mean for you and your money? Let me break it down:

1. Your Savings Are Getting Proper Hammered

  • That money in your savings account? Losing value faster than a used car
  • Fixed income investments? Return-free risk at this point
  • Traditional retirement planning? About as reliable as Dubai traffic estimates
  • Pension funds? Struggling to meet obligations

I explain in more detail in my post on how much your money is really being devalued over time and how this leads to a proper depressing hurdle rate that your investment must meet every year just to stay the same.

2. The Property Trap

Trust me on this one – I couldn't even afford a house deposit after 8 years as an engineer in the UK. Here's why:

  • Property prices kept mental high by all this money printing
  • Wages not keeping up with inflation (not even close)
  • Saving for a deposit? Like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it
  • System designed to keep assets expensive for current owners

3. The Investment Reality

This is why traditional advice isn't working anymore, liquidity is being injected into the economy (see the everything code) and artificially pushing prices up, relative to actual purchasing power:

  • Stock market propped up by printing
  • Bonds paying nothing (or less than nothing after inflation)
  • Cash losing value by the day
  • Traditional 60/40 portfolio? About as useful as a chocolate teapot

What To Actually Do About This Mental Situation

Right, enough doom and gloom. Here's what you can actually do to protect yourself:

1. Understanding Your Options

First up, you need to know what actually works in this environment:

Hard Assets (Things You Can't Print)

  • Physical gold and silver (old school but still works)
  • Bitcoin (the new gold, but proper volatile)
  • Property (if you can afford it)
  • Productive land (if you're into that)

Geographic Arbitrage

This is literally why I'm in Dubai:

  • Tax-free salary (proper game-changer)
  • Higher savings rate
  • Multiple currency exposure
  • Options to pivot when needed

Practical Protection Strategies (What I'm Actually Doing)

Right, let me show you exactly what I'm doing about all this (and no, this isn't financial advice – just my approach to this mental situation).

1. Income Strategies

First up, you need to sort your income situation:

Multiple Income Streams

  • Keep the day job (I'm not daft)
  • Build side hustles (hence this blog)
  • Learn skills that pay globally (I'm learning Python – proper doing my head in)
  • Look for ways to earn in different currencies

Skill Development

  • Learning AI tools (they're not taking my job if I'm controlling them)
  • Getting better at remote work
  • Building online presence
  • Staying ahead of tech trends

2. Investment Approach

Here's how I'm actually investing in this environment:

The Core Strategy

  • Regular Bitcoin buys (small amounts, consistent)
  • Some traditional investments (don't go all mad)
  • Emergency fund (but not too much cash)
  • Always ready for opportunities

For more info check out my blog post on crypto for beginners & my review of the bitcoin standard book.

The Geographic Play

  • Living where income's highest (Middle East tax-free)
  • Investing where opportunities are good
  • Keeping options open for property
  • Building networks globally

Future-Proofing Your Financial Security

This is where it gets interesting. Based on what Raoul's saying (and what I'm seeing), here's how to prepare:

1. The Technology Angle

  • AI's changing everything (already using it in engineering)
  • Need to stay ahead of the curve
  • Focus on skills that AI enhances, not replaces
  • Look for opportunities in the digital economy

2. The Protection Portfolio

Right, here's what a protection-focused approach looks like:

For Younger Folk (Like Me)

  • More exposure to hard assets
  • Heavy on skill development
  • Geographic arbitrage if possible
  • Technology investments

For Those Closer to Retirement

  • More focus on income-producing assets
  • Consider geographic arbitrage for living costs
  • Keep some growth assets
  • Don't go all conservative (inflation will kill you)

Your Action Plan (What To Do Right Now)

Let's get proper practical. Here's what you can start doing today, if its good enough for Michael Saylor maybe it’s also a good strategy for you?:

1. Immediate Steps

  • Audit your currency exposure and consider storing your wealth in sound money
  • Check your savings strategy
  • Review your skill set
  • Look at your location options

2. Medium-Term Moves

  • Learn about alternative assets
  • Build those multiple income streams
  • Consider your location strategy
  • Stay flexible and adaptable

3. Long-Term Positioning

  • Build valuable skills & increase self-sufficiency
  • Create location independence
  • Develop income streams
  • Keep learning and adapting

The Road Ahead (It's Mental But Manageable)

Look, I know this has been a proper heavy read, but here's the thing: understanding what's happening is half the battle. The system's not fixing itself, but that doesn't mean we're stuffed.

What I'm Personally Focused On

  • Building skills that travel
  • Creating location independence
  • Understanding new tech
  • Staying flexible with investments

Final Thoughts

The money printing isn't stopping anytime soon. But unlike most people who don't understand why it's happening, you now know:

  • Why governments are trapped
  • What it means for your future
  • How to actually protect yourself
  • What steps to take right now

What Next?

Would love to hear what you lot think about all this. Are you seeing the effects of money printing in your life? How are you protecting yourself? Drop a comment below.

Remember, this isn't financial advice – just my thoughts on navigating this mental situation we're in. But one thing's certain: doing nothing isn't an option anymore.

PS: If you've made it this far, you're proper serious about understanding this stuff. Drop me a comment below with your thoughts and experiences. I'd especially love to hear from other expats seeing this play out in different parts of the world.

Resources mentioned:

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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