Ask CosmoLady anything, she has lived on 6 continents!

[Anglo-Celtic]

Have you been in a physical fight? If so, who won?

[CosmoLady]

Have you been in a physical fight? If so, who won?

Yes, I have been in many physical fights, never because of an argument,
always because of a crime in progress against me or my property.

Usually I run away, sometimes after the attacker is hit or down temporarily. Sometimes I chase the attacker away.
So the fight is inconclusive, or I win.
I have never been robbed, hijacked or attacked successfully.
Though I have had many burglaries while I was away from home.

Sometimes I (or my sister or stepbrother or friends) are alone, sometimes we are in a group, so this applies to all of us.

We always use weapons of some kind, legal or not,
because we are not trained in martial arts and our fists/bodies are too small and weak anyway.

We have used pepper spray, collapsible batons, metal water bottles, stun guns,
stun guns disguised as everyday items (such as flashlights),
and real guns, shooting and wounding people before,
at home where it is legal to do so (South Africa and the US).

I always carry multiple weapons that I can use,
some as a very last resort, and some which seem like normal items, not weapons at all.

[Sovanz]

What's your best advice for financial independence?

[Anglo-Celtic]

Yes, I have been in many physical fights, never because of an argument,
always because of a crime in progress against me or my property.

Usually I run away, sometimes after the attacker is hit or down temporarily. Sometimes I chase the attacker away.
So the fight is inconclusive, or I win.
I have never been robbed, hijacked or attacked successfully.
Though I have had many burglaries while I was away from home.

Sometimes I (or my sister or stepbrother or friends) are alone, sometimes we are in a group, so this applies to all of us.

We always use a weapon of some kind, legal or not,
because we are not trained in martial arts and our fists/bodies are too small and weak anyway.

We have used pepper spray, collapsible batons, metal water bottles, stun guns,
stun guns disguised as everyday items (such as flashlights),
and real guns, shooting and wounding people before,
at home where it is legal to do so (South Africa and the US).

I always carry multiple weapons that I can use,
some as a very last resort, and some which seem like normal items, not weapons at all.

I haven't hit anybody outside of a boxing ring or a sparring circle in my adult life. My life seems boring compared to yours! I avoid angry, violent people as much as I can. Hence why I keep my distance from certain cousins.

[calxpal]

LOL, what kind of question is that? No. Would you? Or would you prefer a giant tub of chocolate?

I have not even been to mud baths

Yes although I think a tub of chocolate would be much more soothing and dreamy

[CosmoLady]

What's your best advice for financial independence?

For independence in general, I would say that the practical goal is the ownership of real property, and being free of debt.
This is a good economic investment, AND an investment in yourself.

Real property can be a small condominium, or a small house in the countryside,
or anywhere else you can live that you own, without having to pay rent.
(In the US, most home-buyers cannot afford a home and are in debt to the bank for at least 30 years, this is normal,
but in Mexico maybe the cost of ownership in some parts of the country is much lower compared to salaries.)

I would try to buy an inexpensive condo in Mexico City,
or an inexpensive house in a coastal area of Mexico (or anywhere in Baja California),
and pay off your loan as soon as possible, so you can live there almost for free, for the rest of your life.
I don't know what other inland cities or inland areas of Mexico are good or bad, you know better.
Inheriting property is even better,
so is real estate investment, if you have the opportunity.

How do you get there?

However you make money, concentrate on your goal: home ownership. Pay off your debts as soon as possible if you have them.

Live modestly and inexpensively, do not accumulate debt,
and I would stop smoking cannabis as well, or smoke only weak, natural cannabis.

I think that ideally you should make money in the part of Mexico where salaries are best and the economy is strongest,
and then invest in real estate in a desirable area,
OR invest in real estate in a decent inexpensive area of Mexico,
and live modestly and debt-free,
by owning your own business there or being an investor, able to live and work anywhere with a bank and internet connection.



Being an employee is fine for making money and building your credit.
Ultimately you want to be an investor/owner, or to have your own business, however modest,
because this gives you independence.

What business you want depends on you, and your natural skills and the local opportunities, what the local market needs.

For investing, I don't know what is available in your area,
but private lending (money market) is good in difficult times, pays around 5% in the US.
Ask your bank about this. Private lending will pay a higher rate if inflation goes up.

A stock market index fund (mutual fund, exchange-traded fund, whatever), tied to the S&P 500 for example,
has always been even better, long-term.
I don't know about this because I don't invest in stocks,
but I think that you look for a stock broker or a financial advisor, or maybe your banker.
You are young and you can afford to take some risks with the stock market.
Only know that a big recession like 2008 required several years to recover from;
a massive depression like 1929 with a leftist government and World War 2 required 25 years to recover from.

You can also make money quickly with crypto such as Bitcoin,
but monitor the market closely and pull out whenever you make a good profit,
and then start again when the price is very low.
The crypto business cycle is usually very short, fluctuates rapidly.

[calxpal]

Hi your most recent comment made me curious about something.

I wanted to ask what would you suggest I do if I have a small amount of debt I may not be able to pay off in the near future?

Also I've been told by people that if I need to I should take out loans for a car, do you think this is bad advice? Do you think it would be better to buy an extremely cheap old used car with some mechanical problems?

Also would you recommend that I try to hide my financial problems from years ago personally and when job searching tk avoid stigma and pretentious assumptions? Whenever I've tried to talk to people about my past struggles or shared them they said it was because I was lazy and stupid and not working hard enough or that they didn't believe me, I don't think I met anyone in real life who was understanding. People instead assume I'm behind for my age because I'm immature or avoiding responsibility.

Anyways sorry lol I know this is controversial in nature, but has been a big problem for me. I now purposely don't answer personal questions from people who aren't close to me and I have even purposely lied to avoid being treated poorly and having my past circumstances used against me to make me feel bad.

But I also feel like it is good to be honest. Maybe some people will actually think I worked harder because of it.

Also sorry for grammatical mistakes lol it's hard to type this well on my phone.

[CosmoLady]

Hi your most recent comment made me curious about something.

I wanted to ask what would you suggest I do if I have a small amount of debt I may not be able to pay off in the near future?

Also I've been told by people that if I need to I should take out loans for a car, do you think this is bad advice? Do you think it would be better to buy an extremely cheap old used car with some mechanical problems?

Also would you recommend that I try to hide my financial problems from years ago personally and when job searching tk avoid stigma and pretentious assumptions? Whenever I've tried to talk to people about my past struggles or shared them they said it was because I was lazy and stupid and not working hard enough or that they didn't believe me, I don't think I met anyone in real life who was understanding. People instead assume I'm behind for my age because I'm immature or avoiding responsibility.

Anyways sorry lol I know this is controversial in nature, but has been a big problem for me. I now purposely don't answer personal questions from people who aren't close to me and I have even purposely lied to avoid being treated poorly and having my past circumstances used against me to make me feel bad.

But I also feel like it is good to be honest. Maybe some people will actually think I worked harder because of it.

Also sorry for grammatical mistakes lol it's hard to type this well on my phone.

I would get the least expensive, most reliable, gas-powered, Korean or Japanese car,
such as a Honda Civic or similar, new or used, that does NOT have mechanical problems.
High mileage is OK, proves that the car is not a lemon. I think that Subaru often lasts 200,000 miles or more?
Keep your debt as low as possible, does not have to be zero, but don't add extra stress to your life with a car that has problems.
Keep your interest rate/monthly payment as low as possible.

There is no need to share or advertise your past financial problems to other people or a potential employer.
IF a potential employer asks you during an interview, then be honest about it,
and say that it was a difficult period in your life and a learning experience,
this will generate sympathy.

Just try to pay off your debts as soon as you can, or refinance to a lower rate if possible, even if this keeps you in debt longer.
Keep your interest rate as low as possible, try not to waste money on interest. You can always pay extra if you want to.

If you have debt from the US, such as student loans,
then maybe there is no rush to repay them, unless you are returning to live/work in the US.

[Oghuz]

I hope you are ok, I went through a family death situation so could not reply to you.

[calxpal]

Would you find it annoying and status seeking for someone who hasn't talked to you in 8 years to contact you having no interest in what you say or whats going on in your life, only to go on about how they have gotten married and had a wedding, and then cut the conversation ? Btw to add context I wasn't even invited to their wedding lol.

Am I being to judgy or do I have the right to be extremely disappointed? I feel bad though because they were once really nice and caring towards me...but I kind of wish they never reached out at all now tbh.