This story is about a part of my life I'm not very proud of. Severe financial stress once made me look for unwise ways to make money, fast. I genuinely hope you've never been there, but this is how I landed up in a downwards gambling spiral, and how I eventually got out.

Do you also think back with nostalgia on your first teenage job? I certainly do, had fun and made many friends. I also found that it taught me many critical soft skills that have compounded throughout my career. Does this resonate? Read all about it in my latest story!

Can you imagine having more zeros in your bank account than most people have in their phone number? I once had an accidental dinner with one of those fortunate people, and walked away with a simple yet powerful lesson about success and humility.

Building wealth is great, there's no doubt about that. But if it comes at the expense of enjoying certain parts of life, you're probably just another kind of broke. I had to find this one out the hard way myself, by saying no to fun and deeply regretting it after.

I want my stories to stand the test of time, which is why they're being improved and refined even after publication. The first story, one that means a lot to me, has been rewritten to better tell the full story. What financial example did your parents set?

Have you ever wanted to be in a position where a speeding ticket is a mild irritation instead of an impactful event that ripples through your entire budget? I once observed one up close, in the back of a Porsche, and it taught me a great lesson on financial freedom.

Ever had one of those moments where you didn't make an expense, and had massive regret afterwards? I once prioritized building wealth over fun with my own friends, and it cost me. New story out now:

Gotta love Google Analytics, and how cool is this? Barely two and a half months in, and the audience of the blog is already worldwide!

Ever had a speeding ticket that disrupted your monthly budget? I once sat in the back of a Porsche, speeding on the highway, without the owner remotely caring about one. I condone breaking traffic laws, but I certainly got a masterclass in financial freedom that day:

Ever had a tequila shot with a scorpion in it at breakfast? Probably not, but it accidentally happened to me simply because I prioritize experiences over stuff. This post from last week explores how my preference for experiences over material possessions gradually emerged:

What inspired creating my blog? A simple conversation with a friend, actually. When the blog finally reached a stable state, I immediately wrote down how it started. Nice to reread for myself of course, but there are also some great product-building lessons in it for you:

My social background heavily shapes what I write about money, so you deserve a clear picture to help you understand where it comes from. This post on privilege (a topic most finance content ignores) does exactly that, and has become one of my top 3 most read stories:

Did your toys always end up in the corner of the room as well, to never be played with again? I realized it was the start of a gradual transition towards prioritizing spending on stuff that really matters: Experiences, and the stories they give me. New story out now:

The Fillennial is live for less than two months, and the numbers have blown me away: 300+ visitors from all over the world (US, Europe, China, New Zealand, and more) 75-80% engagement rate on the stories, meaning you're actually taking time to read them From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Ever checked your portfolio obsessively when you started investing? Even when markets were closed? Then this one's for you. Turned out my first year wasn't about making money. It was about staying consistent despite the emotions that came with volatility.

My very first sports bet was a reckless multi-game combo, and it hit. My stake multiplied sevenfold. It should've felt like a genius move. Instead, it felt like throwing a dart blindfolded, hitting bullseye, and hearing someone say: "Great! Now do it again."

Have you ever achieved a financial milestone and felt severely underwhelmed after? Then this one might actually be for you. I woke up in a hotel and found out my net worth had crossed €100K. I'd expected champagne and euphoria, got something completely different...

The Dutch word 'vermogen' means both 'wealth' and 'ability.' That's not trivia. That's the point. Wealth isn't what you own. It's what you can do. The ability to say yes. The ability to say no. The ability to walk away. And the ability not to worry about it afterwards, regardless of the outcome.

Years ago I obsessively checked betting odds during dinners with friends. My savings had hit zero, I was experiencing extreme financial stress and I'd convinced myself gambling would fix it. My first sports bet hit 7x, but the stress wasn't gone. New story out now: thefillennial.com/09-gambling/

When studying, a €150 speeding ticket would've wrecked my month. My ex's uncle in his Porsche going 160 km/h? He casually said "A fine doesn't matter." That's when I realized: financial freedom isn't the car. It's less worries. When did you realize money buys peace of mind, not just stuff?

Because I had been writing a blogpost about it not too long ago, I recently started a new campaign in my favorite video game of all time: Fable II. And yes, the timeless investing lessons I got from it still hold up!

I'm genuinely amazed to see that people find their way to all my previous blogposts as well. The first post on my blog is still the most-read today, with an engagement score of over 90 percent (!). I cannot be grateful enough for these saving lessons taught by my parents.

If you agree preparation pays off in your career, personal finances and other aspects of life, I think last week's article might really resonate with you! Readership on the blog has been steadily increasing since starting it last month, I'm grateful for your enthusiasm!

No blogpost promoting this weekend, since a new one has just dropped last Tuesday. This time a question, and hopefully some discussion: How did you feel the first time your investments went red, and what helped you stick with it? Find my answer below!

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” - Seneca A new post has dropped about how trying to be prepared has impacted my income and career growth. Crafted with care, I hope you can take something valuable from it! #personalfinance

My social media strategy to spark new financial thoughts, conversations, perspectives and behavior? Exclusive presence on Bluesky, core focus on engaging with people I can actually learn something from, and limit pushing my own content to three meaningful posts a week.

Some of the ultra wealthy seem to be in the news quite a lot lately. I once had dinner with one of them, and he was totally not how I expected: extraordinarily ordinary.

Not every post needs to be about money, and this one is very dear to me. It was created immediately after my blog went live, to explain why I'm doing what I'm doing. Thanks for being here!

Don't forget to read the new article that went live last week! Making my first €100k didn't make me euphoric like I thought it would. Instead, it was a very small, light feeling of satisfaction and calm that went away just as quickly as it came. Full story here:

No link to a post today, since a new a new one dropped earlier this week. Just a question, and maybe a good conversation: What's been a money mistake you regret, and what did you learn from it? Find mine below: 1/2

A new post went live yesterday on The Fillennial! I woke up in a five star hotel and found out my net worth had crossed €100k. My reaction to it was, well... not quite what I expected. Written with care, hoping it sparks something for you.

A Dutch journalist once wrote a book about the seven traits common among the cultural and financial elite in the country. I'll admit: I've got all of them, and it has certainly given me a head start in life. But it doesn't automatically guarantee success. More here:

It's often said that temperament matters more than intelligence in investing. I learned that firsthand when starting my investment journey in the 2022 bear market: red numbers, emotional dips, and late-night portfolio checks. It was mentally tough, but the lessons stayed:

Sometimes the smallest and most unexpected moments change your perspective on money and financial independence. That’s what once happened to me, while speeding on the highway in the back of a Porsche:

This story about one of the best parenting lessons I ever received when growing up, saving and spending thoughtfully, has sparked some of the best money conversations in my own social circles. Maybe it will for you too:

Here's a gift for the weekend, I hope you enjoy it! Money lessons can come from everywhere. My favourite video game of all time taught me more about the fundamentals of investing and passive income than a finance textbook ever will:

Most personal finance content I see online looks kind of the same: !! 5 WAYS OR STEPS TO EARN/SAVE/INVEST/SPEND YOUR MONEY !! The advice isn't always bad, mainly because money basics most of the time aren’t rocket science. But here’s the thing… 1/6

Today marks the beginning of The Fillennial, my personal finance blog. Every two weeks I share personal stories to spark your financial thoughts. Already there for you: meeting a billionaire, investing in a bear market, and graduating debt-free. Exclusively here on Bluesky and thefillennial.com