Hello,
Welcome to Mailbox Moneyman. A financial independence blog with a focus on financial education. I’m passionate (and a little obsessive) about finance. I learn from the biggest and best minds in finance via books, blogs, and pods. And then I analyze and document that information to build and compound my financial education. I am very ACTIVE in my learning but PASSIVE in my investing. My blog posts are a reference for myself, and other like-minded readers and “financial contrarians”.

About Mailbox Moneyman

I’m Mailbox Moneyman (Or MM for short). Let me tell you about myself.

As a lifelong financial failure with a young family and deep in debt, I was made redundant 3 times in 2 years and I was in serious financial trouble. I had a “Financial Awakening” and crawled out of the wreckage. I learned about personal finance, gained a financial education, and turned my life around to accumulate 7 figures in assets.

In the movies, that is what they call the hero’s journey. Unfortunately, I’m not a hero, and the journey doesn’t end there. I’m still learning, writing and evolving and that is why I started this blog.

Financial Education to Achieve Financial Independence

My personal goal is to Build a “Financial Brain Snowball” and invest in myself to compound my knowledge, experience, ideas and effort by 1% a day. I want to achieve the Australian dream. To become mortgage-free, Financially Independent, and build generational wealth for my family using three simple strategies.

• Save more money
• Make more money
• Learn about money

And I believe that through the power of financial education, anyone can achieve financial Independence. My sincere hope is that you will be able to learn from my journey and my blog.

On the blog, I write about new and interesting things I have learned in the world of finance. I love writing about personal finance apps, investments, entrepreneurship, and side hustles. As my financial education has evolved, I also delve into macroeconomics. And I enjoy learning and reporting on financial contrarians with different views. Also, my latest obsession is commodities like gold and silver. I compound my knowledge, learn more to earn more, and follow the advice of this guy…

What is Mailbox Money?

Mailbox money is the idea of getting money in your mailbox with little or no work. In the “old days”, this meant getting checks in the mail and it is still used by Country musicians and comic artists. It refers to royalties for books or big hits or songs used in car commercials. In Financial Independence terms, it means passive income that hits your account without much effort.

Mailbox Money is the system that will help me achieve the dream of becoming mortgage-free, and financially independent while building generational wealth for my family. Passive income is the perfect way to get rich slowly. But I am also very active in learning, to turbocharge my wealth via other investments, my career, and other entrepreneurial adventures.

Why Use the Name Mailbox Moneyman

I write the blog using “Mailbox Moneyman” so that I can post anonymously on the internet for now. I am not a financial advisor or qualified to advise anyone about anything. So please read my analysis as reporting on what I have read or learned. But let me tell you about my experience in finance and data analysis, which feeds into my blog.

In my professional career, I was a successful data analyst for 5 years. I analyzed complex data sets and created insights for ASX-listed companies. Then I moved into the technology side of data and I built Global data and analytics products for 10 years. I also worked for various financial tech start-ups and consulting agencies for 4 years, focusing on payments, banking, and finance. At the moment, I’m a Product Manager and build products for a large Australian digital corporation.

Part of my professional job is to make complicated products simple to use and understand for customers of all ages. And I use that same approach when writing the blog. Hopefully, it provides a new angle to make it interesting, amusing, and insightful.    

The Origin Story

Growing up without a lot of money and with no real financial education, I was terrible at saving and great at spending money. I racked up various debts and used credit cards to go to the pub. And I would buy so many video games and always thought “That’s ok, I can afford it”. I was very stupid for most of my life. This terrible behavior continued well into my 30’s with a wife, two kids, a mortgage, and a mountain of credit card debt. I was living large until I lost my job three times in two years. Then I was forked.

My life completely changed when I read The Barefoot Investor, and that was it. I was inspired to learn from all my money mistakes and I never wanted to worry about money again. I followed the barefoot steps and got myself on track but it wasn’t enough. Then I discovered Financial Independence and I became obsessive about saving money, investing in shares, side hustles and self-development. These thoughts swirled around in my head through the lens of my career goals, financial goals and ultimately, Mailbox Money.

My Financial Goals

My financial goals are very simple, and I’m aligned with most Australians in my age group with a family (I’m 45). I set an ambitious plan to pay off my mortgage by the time I’m 50. Once that mortgage is gone, I will officially be financially free. And I can focus on my other investments.

However, this will be difficult with a family and three children all at school. And at the ripe old age of forty-something, I can’t just wait for my passive investments to grow. My knowledge, my income and side hustles need to grow, so that I can achieve my ambitious goal. At the moment I have investments in shares, property, physical commodities and collectibles. I also have some entrepreneurial projects, my professional career and side hustles.

BTW, I’m not a FIRE guy. I love Ramit Sethi’s definition of “how to live a rich life”, and I’m designing my life so that I can enjoy it with my family. This means going on holidays, buying things and living a Rich Life without going bananas.

Now What?

Thanks for reading this far. I know I’m late in joining the conga line of Australian financial Independence bloggers. The difference is I’m special. Honest. Feel free to drop me a line via my Contact Page or leave a comment.