A Healthy Obsession with Money
By Retire Before Dad
I’m obsessed with money.
I think about earning, saving, and growing money most of the day. I’ve written about money for more than seven years. Saying someone is obsessed with money might conjure to mind words like greed, fame, power, influence, and opulence. Picture a celebrity flashing fancy clothes and jewelry on Instagram and their millions of envious followers. Or a hedge fund manager posing in front of a Hamptons mansion for a Fortune Magazine feature. How much is enough?
Money and politics? Barf. But money is a powerful tool for good. Sites like GoFundMe help us support families in our communities when they suffer a trauma. International charities such as Doctors Without Borders and World Central Kitchen can’t operate without generous financial donations.
The pursuit of money for abuse of power or to oppress others is a stain on humanity. But a healthy obsession with money, for individuals, leads to smarter money decisions. Years of making smart money decisions will eventually lead to personal wealth. Wealth provides financial security, the ability to purchase useful things and meaningful experiences, and the opportunity to give to others — all of which make our lives better. But the reason I’m obsessed with money is that it gives me options.
Options When Unemployed
In late summer 2017, I learned that the project paying for my employment would endure deep funding cuts. Management had to reduce staff. I was particularly vulnerable as a subcontractor. Though my experience and tenure might have been enough to carry me through the cuts, I asked the project managers to let me go. They dropped me, forcing my employer to lay me off (I wasn’t happy with my employer, but that’s a different story).
It all happened within a few days. I didn’t have a new job to fall back on. I wanted to leverage my expertise to build on my career, finding a better employer with excellent benefits and growth opportunities. That kind of job wasn’t immediately available. I had to wait for it. We had about $19,000 in emergency savings and $1,000+ of monthly income from investments and a rental property.
Instead of heading to the unemployment office, I focused on my side business to earn supplemental income. Sufficient emergency savings, investment income, and side income gave me the option to be patient during a potentially precarious situation.
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Now What?
Notes From the Field By James Hockman (Simon Black / Sovereign Man) November 5, 2026
Let’s take a deep breath think clearly for a bit.
My mind usually tracks to history and seeking wisdom from the past. But we don’t have to go back very far to see a pattern.
It was only six years ago that the entire world was in the throes of the Covid insanity. In the US, lockdowns, media hysteria, mask mandates, business closures, etc. had everyone stressed to the max.
Banks, Bonds & Markets Face A Dangerous Reckoning | Alasdair Macleod
Liberty and Finance: 11-5-2026
Alasdair Macleod warns that the recent gold and silver selloff is masking a much deeper crisis: the accelerating collapse of fiat currencies.
He argues that rising energy costs, higher bond yields, and weakening consumer demand could trigger a serious economic slump, putting banks, private equity, insurance companies, and equity markets under mounting pressure.
Echo X: The New Financial System is Already Being Built
11-5-2026
THE ELECTION DOESN’T STOP WHAT’S ALREADY IN MOTION.
But understand something…
THE NEW FINANCIAL SYSTEM IS ALREADY BEING BUILT.
How To Protect Your Money From Rising Inflation
Esther Shaw Wed, October 21, 2026 a
Inflation is picking up pace once again.
Not only does this spell bad news for the cost of living, but rising prices can also have a detrimental effect on almost all areas of your finances: from your mortgage and savings to your pension.
In September, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation rose to 3.5pc, up from 3.1pc the month before, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The main factor causing the rise was cost increases to motor fuels.
Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,
GLOBAL MONETARY RESET WATCH: BANK OF ENGLAND RAISES RATES TO 4% AS IRAN WAR FUELS INFLATION
The Bank of England has raised interest rates for the first time in more than three years, warning that prolonged conflict in the Middle East could keep energy prices and inflation elevated well into 2027.
Coffee with MarkZ, joined by Dr. Scott Young. 11/05/2026
MarkZ Disclaimer: Please consider everything on this call as my opinion. Be sure to consult a professional for any financial decisions
MZ: White Papers" return to the headlines, Dr. Scott will join us after a short news update.
THE CONTENT IN THIS PODCAST IS FOR GENERAL & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY&NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY PROFESSIONAL, FINANCIAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSIDER EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IN MARKZ’S OPINION ONLY
Ariel: Iraq is the First Domino, the Timeline for the Next 60 Days
11-5-2026
IRAQ — THE FIRST DOMINO
Iraq’s parliament is submitting their federal budget this Saturday November 7, 2026 ahead of the November 15 deadline imposed by the IMF standby arrangement. The budget contains a redenomination provision for the Iraqi dinar. This has been in negotiation for 18 months. The holdup was never political disagreement inside Iraq’s Council of Representatives.
Reset Intelligence: Treasury Flags Iran’s Money Men in Iraq
By Reset Intelligence | @EXIT_FIAT
The day after America voted, the US Treasury added a secondary-sanctions warning to Iraqis already blacklisted for moving Iran’s money. Any bank, anywhere, that still deals with them now risks its own access to US dollars.
America is still counting. Congress changed hands on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning Washington tightened Iraq’s money rails anyway.
Oil prices fall for fourth day after US elections
2026-11-05 Shafaq News Oil prices fell for a fourth day on Thursday on expectations the losses US President Donald Trump's Republican Party suffered in Congressional elections this week may reduce the risk of further escalation of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Brent futures fell 80 cents, or 0.85% to $93.82 a barrel as of 0426 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $1.2, or 1.36%, to $86.92. Both benchmarks tumbled by more than 8% in the previous session to settle at their lowest since August 31.
Good Morning Dinar Recaps,
GLOBAL DEBT RESET WATCH: U.S. TREASURY SIGNALS POSSIBLE CHANGES TO HOW IT FINANCES AMERICA’S GROWING DEBT
The U.S. Treasury is keeping current bond auction sizes steady for now, but a change in its guidance has opened the door to adjustments in how the government borrows money during 2027.
TNT:
Tishwash: 100 trillion dinars are circulating outside banks, and Iraqis continue to prefer cash.
Indicators from the Central Bank of Iraq showed a continued rise in the volume of currency circulating outside the banking system, reaching about 100.183 trillion dinars at the end of August 2026, despite recording a decline compared to the previous month.
According to data seen by Shafaq News Agency, the currency outside banks decreased from 100.792 trillion dinars at the end of last July to 100.183 trillion dinars at the end of August, a decrease of 609 billion dinars.
The data indicated that the total currency issued amounted to 107.998 trillion dinars at the end of August, while the currency held by banks amounted to 7.815 trillion dinars, with funds circulating outside banks constituting about 92.8% of the total currency issued.
KTFA
Wednesday Night Video
FRANK26….11-4-26…..11%
This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only
Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie and Omar in Iraq and guests
Playback Number: 605-313-5163 PIN: 156996#
Amarah Station Starts 3,000-Bpd Trial Oil Production
2026-11-04 Shafaq News- Baghdad Iraq’s state-owned Maysan Oil Company has begun trial production at the Amarah Gas Separation Station at an initial rate of 3,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), the Oil Ministry said on Wednesday. Company Director General Hussein Kadhim Luaibi said output would gradually rise to the station’s planned capacity of 8,000 bpd in the coming days, while improvements to production facilities and infrastructure would help sustain operations.
Billions On Paper. How Are Billionaires' Fortunes Measured And Why Are They Evaporated In Days?
Money and business Economy News - When headlines make headlines about Elon Musk losing $57 billion in a week, or the fortune of Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin falling by about $56 billion combined in a few days, it seems like billions of dollars suddenly disappeared from their bank accounts.
In the world of great wealth, “loss” does not necessarily mean cash out, but often reflects a change in the market value of the assets they own.
MP Reveals Error In Calculating Dollar Exchange Rate In Budget Draft
Information/Baghdad... Member of Parliament Mohammed Araboud revealed on Thursday a major error in the calculation of the dollar exchange rate in the draft federal budget law, stressing that the issue of oil revenues and the fate of those funds represents a “perennial problem” that has yet to be resolved.