Trading Time or Buying Freedom

Maybe you have bigger goals. You want to climb mountains, figuratively, or perhaps Kilimanjaro or Everest. I am not talking about the Ford Everest for your car fanatics; I mean genuine mountains 🏔️. There is an assumption that to achieve these, one needs to go big from the word go: 4:30 a.m. starts and military-like training. Perhaps you do, but I have climbed those figurative mountains through consistency.

Intermittent fasting, discipline, and modern privilege

As I write this, I am on 20:4 intermittent fasting. They call it the warrior fast. It sounds like a modernized name for my childhood lifestyle; I used to eat only dinner on some days and didn’t think of it as fasting then. It shows how privileged I am now compared to my old self. Talk about hedonic adaptation.

I signed up because I am sick of visceral fat, the scientific name for a fat tummy, umkaba in isiZulu. It is funny how one reasons that they could get results in a few days. Forget it. Consistency is the key. Maybe next time you see me at the summer pool party, I will be shirtless with a ripped six-pack. Don’t envy me; it’s hard work.

Why consistency matters more than motivation?

Consistency means doing something even if you do not see results or feel like it. You cannot wait until you feel like investing for retirement; that day will never come. I never feel like saving money. In fact, I feel like spending money before I even earn it. That is the default path for most people if they are being honest.

Consistency in real life: reflections from the poolside

I am writing this at the poolside at the Capital Zimbali. It is my wife’s birthday, and we’ve been waiting for lunch for two hours. The restaurant is busy, but lucky me, it just prolonged my fast. I can feel ketones being released in my brain. I feel sharp, so I decided to write this article.

I am reflecting on my belly fat. I am pretty fit, but I have this niggly tummy that arrives before me. That is one of my mountains for the next six months or a year.

Visceral fat vs. financial debt: the hidden costs we ignore

Most people struggle with visceral fat around the waistline. It is hard to kill. No wonder you need bigger-size clothes every time. I use the word “kill” intentionally; I promote intentional living. No fluffing around. Visceral fat sounds like debt, something that gives you sleepless nights, but you still ignore. Like misusing alcohol most days of the week, you probably have to hit rock bottom to Google the nearest AA. The more you ignore the debt monster, the more it keeps growing, by the way.

Breaking the cycle of bank account embarrassment

Maybe you do not have major debt, but your bank balance is dismal. Ever visited your bank to get help with your banking account, but felt embarrassed when the personnel accessed your account? That is me sometimes. Perhaps you have R0.15 in your account while earning a decent salary. This is not acceptable. It is time to kill the visceral fat and conquer the mountain.

Financial freedom is built on base camps

Victory does not come in one day. I saw one pack on my tummy when I pulled it in today. I smiled. We are at the first base camp. Financial freedom is a mountain that very few people are willing to climb. Some call it the road less travelled. That’s so true. I don’t know many people excited about ETFs or calculating net worths as a hobby.

It is like a six-pack: only a few attempts it, and even fewer achieve it. Please do not wait. Name your mountain today and pick your hiking shoes; don’t forget the safety rope, as per your budget. It takes three months of consistency to see genuine changes. Three consecutive gym sessions are not enough. This is a very tall mountain.

Incremental wins: how small habits build wealth

Consistency is like a baby learning to walk. They stand, fall, stand, fall, and repeat until walking is naturalised in the brain. Do the same with your savings. The peak is exciting, but at every base camp, some freedom comes with it.

R20,000 in an emergency fund is more freeing than a bank account with zero. That R20k started as R100. If you save R100 per day, in one year you will have over R36k. If you save R200 per week, you will have R10,400. Not a bad amount to be your bonus in December.

Why you should never rely on bonuses or salary increases

Forget about the employer bonus. I did not receive one in 2025, the first time in my current job in six years. That is how fast things can change. Business sales are not coming through. Tough times. Never budget for bonuses or increases. Things can turn sour at any moment. It is better to save and invest something than to do nothing at all. Consistency beats speed any day, and soon you and I will be on the mountain peak. Your CV can read mountain climber if you are consistent enough.