Fatigue is the enemy

Thank goodness the election is over! Like many people, I’m looking forward to year-end celebrations and a decent break. Those Christmas carols can’t come soon enough!

What’s more, I think we’re all a lot more tired than normal. It’s been an incredibly testing year, and I’ve never seen so many worn-out people (including myself). On reflection, those winter getaways were important for recharging batteries – and we’ve all missed out this year.

So I hope you’ve made the most of the Labour Weekend break. It’s important, because tiredness is the enemy of good decisions.

When we’re tired we don’t plan properly.

When our batteries are low we often default to short-term thinking. We don’t have the energy to think through the implications of what we’re doing. We live day to day.

This can seriously affect our wellbeing – and our wealth.

In my 30-plus years in finance I’ve seen redundancies hit in the run-up to Christmas. People can also be left in a financial mess due to poor planning and festive overspending. We are currently in the early stages of a major recession. Yes, the property market is booming, but there will be many people facing a financially strained future.

That’s why it’s important to plan your Christmas spending, and don't let fatigue lead to poor decisions. Look for bargains in advance rather than giving the credit card a last-minute workout. Don’t get yourself into a situation where you’ll need to refinance your loan next year. Spend mindfully, and enjoy your time off. 

Sad news about Dom.

When I was putting the finishing touches to this newsletter, I found out that my dear friend Dom Davis had passed away. Dom had myelodysplasia, which led to a bone marrow transplant in June. He was doing well but sadly lost the battle a couple of weeks back.

For those lucky enough to have had Dom as a mortgage adviser, you’ll know how much you meant to him. We will all miss him dreadfully, as will Kerry, Mick, Charlotte and Dom’s entire extended family.

Below is a picture from happier times. Rest in peace, Dom.