monthly reset vol 18: investing mistakes beginners make (and how to avoid them)

“The best investment you can make is in yourself” - Warren Buffett

August feels like an overdue reminder to pause, reflect, and reset for the rest of the year.

It’s the final month of winter here in Perth, and I’m counting down the days until warmer weather returns. If you’ve never experienced a Perth winter, it’s not exactly the most vibrant season. The days are shorter, the weather is cooler, and the city really comes alive during the warmer months when everyone heads outdoors to make the most of the beaches, coastal walks, and outdoor activities.

But there’s also something comforting about this slower season. The colder months have encouraged me to spend more time at home, reconnect with hobbies that don’t involve spending money, and create space for side projects I’ve been wanting to work on.

I’ve shared more about what I’ve been up to in July, along with the books, media, and things that have been inspiring me lately, in my upcoming newsletter next Monday (view here).

For this month’s question of the week, I’ll be answering: “What are some mistakes you’ve made or see first-time investors make?”— and as always, you’re welcome to send in your own questions here.

Alongside that, I’ve put together my usual collection of things to inspire and comfort you this month: books to get lost in, films to unwind with, gentle reminders, and small reflections to carry with you into the weeks ahead.

As always, if you’ve missed any of my past monthly reset posts, you can catch up here.

In case you missed out….

Resources

• The shopping wishlist tracker that’s saving me money and time

• Best-selling Fujifilm photo preset

• My favourite reading and book tracker template

• Save time and stress planning your trip to Japan with my 3 Week Japan Itinerary

Instagram

• unconventional things I’ve done in my twenties that have paid off

• 4 places in Japan that exceeded my expectations

• free resources you should know about that make learning and reading feel easier

• articles worth your attention this week

• what you see vs what you don’t see

• popular advice I was given in my 20s versus what I did instead

Long-form content

• what no one tells you about picking stocks

• Why are people abandoning social media?

• you don’t need to spend more money to enjoy your twenties

• 10 Autumn Romance Books to Cosy Up With This Season

• How to make life your own by creating more and consuming less

• Best areas to stay in Kyoto, Japan

• Day trips in Japan you NEED to know about

• You’re probably more addicted to your phone than you think

The rest of this post is for paid subscribers, and here’s what you can expect:

• 5 articles YOU should read this week

• +5 videos YOU should watch this week

• 31 Journal prompts for August

• List of books, TV shows or movies I’m excited about in August

• Question of the week submitted by this community: What are some mistakes you’ve made or see first-time investors make?

• Access to my full archive of previous pay-walled content.

  • How to start investing with a small amount of money

  • What are some lifestyle shifts you should make in your twenties to prepare for your thirties?

  • Could you share more about your investment journey (how to start) and your financial goals?

  • What career mistakes should you avoid in your twenties?

  • I’d love to learn more about ways to make money while travelling, if you wish to remain anonymous online. What do you recommend?

It’s $7 for the month (the price of a cup of coffee), but the knowledge you might learn might change your career, productivity and life in between for the better, just like it did for me!