LETTERS IN FINANCE

Hello, beautiful person! My name is Rutendo. Welcome to my blog. It’s NFP Friday, and I’m feeling nostalgic about the early days of my trading journey. I vividly remember the first time I traded on a Friday—an NFP (Non-Farm Payrolls) Friday, and completely blew my account without understanding what had happened. But let’s rewind a bit and start from the beginning. How It All Began   Fresh out of college with a degree in Financial Engineering, I thought to myself, “Why not try trading?” After all, I had taken courses like International Finance and had plenty of time on my hands since I hadn’t yet landed a job. With zero capital but lots of curiosity, I decided to dive into the world of trading. I opened an account with XM because of its low $5 minimum deposit. My first account grew to $8, then $40—only to crash on that infamous NFP Friday. Looking back, it was all beginner's luck. I knew nothing about NFP or its market impact until I lost that $40. My heart was broken, but honestly...

  Dear Gentle Reader, This was supposed to be my first video for 2025, but with work becoming a little hectic, I decided to share my thoughts in the form of a letter instead. I’m super excited to share with you my 2024 Finance favourites—a curated list of inspiring YouTubers, insightful podcasts, must-read books, and innovative finance apps that shaped my financial journey last year. Let’s dive in! Favourite YouTubers Zoe Pritchard — Her monthly reset videos and intentional approach to managing finances are incredibly inspiring. Her candid discussions about the emotional side of money motivated me to plan a Christmas fund for next year—no more last-minute budget stress! And cash-stuffing videos? I find then relaxing and oddly satisfying. Zviko from KaBlazKeFinance — His short, sharp insights on investing in Zimbabwean stocks are invaluable. Demi Zhuang, Cara Nicole, and Nischa — These creators also deserve a shout-out for their amazing financial content. Favourite Podcasts Money...

As the clock strikes midnight on December 31, 2024, a new year begins 2025. The countdown may feel momentary, but its implications are profound. A year isn’t just a block of time; it’s a series of moments, choices, and actions that collectively define where you’ll stand when the year ends. Let’s break it down: • 1 Year equals 12 Months. • 12 Months equals 52 Weeks. • 52 Weeks equals 365 Days. And every single one of those days is built from just 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, and 86,400 seconds. Each day counts. Each moment matters. If you don’t prioritize how you spend your time, energy, and resources, you might find yourself in the exact same place when 2025 comes to a close. Time moves relentlessly forward it doesn’t wait for anyone. The question isn’t whether time will pass, but whether you’ll make it count. To ensure that you’re in a better place financially, professionally, and personally by the end of 2025, consider these actionable steps to transform your life, one day at a time. 1. ...

I’ve realized I’m very emotional when it comes to money, and in 2025, I want to work on improving the bad traits that come along with it. That’s why my first read for 2025 will be The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.   Why am I sharing this? Because I want you to think about one area where you might be struggling with your finances. Is there something you need to get right?   Invest in a book—just one is enough—that can help you understand or navigate that part of your financial life. When setting financial goals, remember: that you don’t need to overwhelm yourself with too many. Focus on one transformative goal.  For example, if you’ve struggled with sticking to a financial plan or budget because of a lack of discipline, make financial discipline your primary goal. To support that goal, find a book that offers practical guidance, like The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, which lays out actionable steps to eliminate debt, build an emergency fund, and ...

In 2021, I created a video about Bitcoin. You can watch the video here because my sentiments have remained unchanged. Recently, Bitcoin has been setting new records, and as of now, it's trading at $86,723 (00:24 CAT, 12/11/2024).( Google Finance ) A LinkedIn post I saw yesterday mentioned that 14 years ago, Bitcoin was worth only $0.50. This made me reflect on how things have evolved. Back then, I was in high school and had never heard of Bitcoin. Even if older people knew about it, the idea of investing in such a risky and complicated asset was likely daunting. In high school, $0.50 was just pocket money for snacks, but who knew that small amount could become so valuable? Today, Bitcoin's worth far exceeds $0.50, showcasing its growth over the years. In this letter, I won't dwell too much on Bitcoin itself. Instead, I urge you to wa...

Money etiquette is an essential conversation because a lack of it can lead to misunderstandings and broken relationships. Growing up, my mother had strict rules about money. She’d give us a stern look if we asked visitors for money or anything they had. These side eyes were more effective than any punishment. I appreciate her lessons about respecting money because they play as a foundation to how l see and respect money. Self-Respect In 2018, I went to town in Zvishavane to withdraw $200. On my way back, some scammers targeted me. They dropped a pile of money with a large figure written on top. A man suggested we split the money since we both saw it. Due to my upbringing, I knew money doesn’t come from nowhere. That lesson saved me from losing my $200. I remember another time in primary school when I saw $10 on the road and didn’t pick it up. Reflecting on these incidents, I’m proud of my restraint. It taught me that nothing is free and the love of mo...