Challenges

Well although the caravan has provided a fantastic insight into living with less, I must admit it can be difficult sometimes when you are working 12-hour days and leaving when it's dark and returning in the dark. Sometimes you just want a familiar environment to come home to when you're tired and exhausted. It certainly has given me more motivation to continue with our quest for the 4-hr work week, as we are currently a long way from that yet!

Having said that, Mr Smith and I spent our first weekend together at the Caravan Park and with no housework or tidying up to do, it allowed me to truly relax, go for a swim at the beach, read my book and watch the goings on at the park.

Bring on work efficiency and time reclamation!

Cashing up!

Well Mrs Smith and I have decided to buy an appartment. We figure that it will be great investment. We are really enjoying our new found liquidity as our current lifestyle means our outgoings are very small. No credit card debt means there is cash burning a whole in my pocket and it is an amazing feeling.

We will buy something in the back half of the year when the first home buyers grant disappears. My preferred option is in Freshwater Beach in Sydney - we can stay there for a bit and then move out and positively gear it. As part of our 4 hour work week challenge, this will become one of our passive income streams.

Until then we will continue house sitting which I am really beginning to enjoy. It takes a little organisation to begin with but once you are set up it rolls very well. Onward and upwards!

Aloha!

Well we've just booked a trip to Hawaii for 2 weeks with Jetstar for $1300 return for 2 x adults (incl. taxes!). The beauty of being transient is knowing that your accommodation is essentially your rent/mortgage for 2 weeks.

The caravan is going well and we survived a significant rain storm. It will definitely give me an appreciation for smaller spaces, which we'll need when purchasing our properties at the end of this year.

I have also realised that I don't need to live with as much stuff as once had. My wardrobe has been halved again with the majority of my clothes/shoes now in storage. It challenges your creativity with outfits but makes decision making that much easier!

Outsourcing and caravan parks

Well, a lot has happened in the last little while. First of all we moved into Narrabeen Lakes Caravan Park and I have to say it is excellent. Walked across the road and had a surf on Saturday and Sunday morning (no shark sightings) and the weather was awesome. With 5 weeks to go - it looks like it will be a lot of fun. Too early to say if we will get sick of it but so far so good - that represents the elimination section of our 4 Hour Work Week challenge.

The second great result has been the initial response from my outsourced work to India from my previous post. The quality has been excellent and I am very impressed! I will be definitely using them again. For those of you who are interested their website is http://www.brickworkindia.com/

Signing off in the annex :)