How to break the cycle of poverty.

In some families poverty has been battering them generation after generation.  When you look behind you and you don't like what you see, its time to be the inspiration for your people. It's time to break the cycle of poverty!
1/ Based on my experience here are the fundamental steps you need to take.

1. Decide that you are meant to be somebody and not just anybody. When one my uncles advised that I drop out of school in S.2 I was already old enough to know it was a bad move.
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How to live in an Apartment Rent Free!

I am always researching financing ways that can make housing more affordable.

The trouble we have is that there are people with capital that don’t find housing a lucrative investment
1/ and on the other hand there are people that end up building quite a distance from where they work because they don’t want to rent.

How do we solve this Puzzle? Let me introduce you to Jeonse!
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You are one Apartment Block away from Securing your retirement!

One of the best strategies for generating income in retirement is to invest in rental properties. A 12 Units Single or Double Bedroom Apartments Complex could easily secure you a decent retirement income.
1/ The advantages of this type of building is that it has optimal landuse especially in places where Land per 100X50ft cost above UGX 50M.
The returns are also worth the bet too.
2/

Closed doors; as they really closed?

More often than not, you will come across closed doors and/or doors that won't open to you. The lesser man uses this as an excuse to say "that is the end of the story, period".
1/ The higher (achiever) man explores ways of how to crack the puzzle. I can't tell how many doors that seemed closed or an impossibility that starred me in the face cracked/opened/happened in the face of constant interrogation.
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The day I took Streetnomics to Harvard Business School: Let's talk strategy.

3 yrs ago I received an interesting invitation to Havard MBA Strategy Class taught by the Dean, Prof.Jan Rivkin. Frankly,  I have not met a more  passionate educator like Prof. Jan.
1/ He was very engaged throughtout and knew his students by name.

It did help that the Havard MBA Class is offered on a Case by Case Basis and it is more about the students reading, researching and coming up to their own conclusions about the subject of the day.
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Long term problems need long term solutions: The School Fees Dilemma.

Most people are aware of the need to build a home and get out of renting as soon as they can. This because we are aware that the lifetime cost of renting is way higher than those of home ownership.
1/ However, the  most expensive item a household will have to contend with, is not even housing, its school fees. And oh boy, its a big one in terms of how long it takes and amount involved. My back hand envelope calculations shows that,
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The Power of Living Below Your Means!

Of all all the lessons I teach in the "Streetnomics Class", the most powerful one is LIVING BELOW WHAT YOU EARN.
1/ "I want to distinguish that there’s a big difference in people’s opportunities worldwide, but if you compare two people with equal opportunities. When it comes to money, it’s delayed gratification that separates them" Ray Dalio
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Why do Investment clubs struggle to invest and what to do about it?

Many people have wondered why savings/Investment clubs can collect millions and yet fail to invest a single coin. Where lies the problem and what can we do to overcome this?
1/ When we come together, we can achieve more in saving but not necessarily true for investing. In Psychology, we learn that the collective intelligence of a group can be lower than its individual sum. Same with risk-taking.
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Don’t make it easier to be scammed.

Nothing breaks my heart like someone I know being scammed of money they can’t afford to lose. So, what can you do to avoid being scammed?
1/ 1. There is nothing like quick money. If you know you will make money in the long run, you will be less likely to listen to broke people showing you a way to get rich.
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Funny meets Serious to discuss Salary Issues.
(@UncleBobUganda
& @MukasaMulya)

What is a Salary?
It is a specific amount of money that an employee is paid for work done usually aftera given period of time. Salary is usually paid in arrears following Calendar Months.
1/ The word "Salary" originates from word "Sal" meaning salt in Latin. See, the Roman Army was sometimes paid with salt instead of money and this was called "Salarium".
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Key Financial Planning Action points by Age Brackets. (Thread).

There is never a better time to calibrate your financial better than starting today. So, let’s look at what this means for you based on your age bracket.
1/ In your 20s.
Aim for consistent income to wean yourself off from the support of others. If you can’t afford to live on your parent’s standard of living, start at a lower level. Think of starting a family. Take some calculated risks.
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Why rentals are a great way to invest money in Uganda.

If you are still trying to multiply your money, stay away from rentals. But if you're starting to generate excess cash flow, I want you to seriously consider investing in rentals. Here are the 5 key areas to consider: 1. Location, Location, Location. A good rental investment starts with a good investment in land. Buy land near a solid economic base & good transport infrastructure and social services. Buy land that is likely to appreciate in the future. Goof up on this & nothing will save you.

What biz can a broke guy easily start? This is off limits to "slayers"!

1. Become a consultant. What do you know that can solve people's problems? Set up social media presence and invite your friends to invite their friends to your channel.
1/ Produce some content with your phone that shows you as a knowledgeable character. Have a well taken photo on your status. Set your price and show what the client is missing if their don't hire you.
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How to save more this year 2023!

One of the most common new year resolutions is to save more money. Whether you have made it or not, here 15 ways of saving more money this year than never before.

1. LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS. If you earn 1M you should aim to spend less than 1M. 2. Plan your purchases ahead of time and never buy things on an empty stomach.
3. Download and use a mobile personal finance app like Isavemoney.
4. Buy used whenever it is an option.
5. Control your cravings for fancy items and food tastes.

A cocktail of trouble.

I have a couple construction sites that require me sometimes to buy different supplies from Nakasero. So yesterday was what I call market day.
As soon as I parked on William Street opposite Church House and I was locking my car, a mad man run to me and
1 started shouting my name and where we met. He jazzed me as you would with someone you have not seen in nearly 30 years. But this as no ordinary mad man. He was my OB at St. Peter's Nsambya. I knew his name and every one on the street was now interested in our interaction.
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Cleaning helped him break the cycle of poverty as it did for me (A thread)

When you ask students in class what they want to become, most would want to be lawyers, journalist, doctors, engineers, pilots etc. No wants to be a cleaner!
1 However, many don't have a clue on what they want to do with their life when they grow up. One such student was Richard. Born into a hard working but poor family, his family lived on the fringes of capitalism doing odd jobs.
2

I love an opportunity to be kind to a fellow human.

In 1993 while comming from school (St. Peter's S.S.S Nsambya) I found a lady with a baby stranded on the gate of Nsambya Hospital. Her problem was that after delivery, she did not have transport to her home in Lungujja.
1 This was before the Boda Bodas invaded Kampala City. Now I was one of the poorest kids in school but on that day I had enough money to give the lady transport to her home even it meant that I risked a night without food.
2

The top 7 principles of running a business.

1. Do not get your business finances confused with your personal finances.
Once you decide to start a business the capital you invest is no longer yours, it belongs to the biz. Don't be a "Seed Eater". 2. Your business needs cash to operate – if as the owner, you decide to take some of the wealth out of the business, only take money out of profits, never out of the business’s operating funds. This helps you to manage cashflow better.

Types of Saving Groups (A thread)

1. Village savings and loans association (VSLA)
VSLA work on the concept of homogenous groups of people self mobilising to save and loan each other money. Usually the ratio of saving among members is 1 to 5 meaning that everyone is required ..
1 every sitting (weekly or bi-weekly) but can't buy beyond 5 share. The loans are also given out at a service fee (interest) of an average of 5% per 30 days and the cycle is is usually 8-12months upon which they share the savings and interest earned and begin afresh.
2

Does your dream scare you? (A thread)

I was working on a complex big idea project and I approached my lawyer for help with the legal technicalities. Before I finished explaining he said " Livingstone, it's always fascinating with the way you come with these big ideas"
1 The human mind tends to favour simplicity & predictability. When you are working on a big dream sometimes you can see where you are going but often it seems you stuck in a maze. It feels more like being trapped in a giant spider web but you nonetheless work hard to break out.
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Is a bird in the hand better than many in the bush? (A thread)

Now I wish the answer was a straight no or yes. Frankly speaking the reply depends on your orientation. If you are of "employee mindset" or a conservative you go with the bird in the hand.
1 If you are like me and you love taking calculated risks you might want to evaluate your options further.

This little adage first put forward by Aesop in 600 B.C. has encouraged many to be contented where they are. In otherwords it is safer to stay put.
2