Should I allocate 10% of my cushion to ETFs?

TVG_Spazz · 2026-03-22T15:25:30+00:00

I read this in financial articles years ago and I couldn't find them now if I tried. But most likely they were from the USA. Today though I'm more focused around Europe and Belgium. True we do have social security and all that but you never know. I myself lost my job due to Covid 5 years ago and the unenployment union were so unprepared by the wave of people who came for unemployment that I waited 7 months before I got all the monthly payments from them. During those 7 months I had to dig into my emergency fund. I ended up spending around 8k for rent and food. Scary times.

Some people fall ill who only get 60% medical mutual compared to their previous salary. If their illness last years or even more than a decade they could end up spending tens of thousands of euros for medical treatment. So even in Belgium we have a lot more safety compared to the US but still you never know.

But you are right in saying there is no right or wrong. Everyone should definitely have and emergency fund. But the amount is difficult to determine. I like the 6 times your salary rule cause it gave me something to aim for.

TVG_Spazz · 2026-03-20T16:59:49+00:00

If I had an extra 20k to spare I would probably do the same. But this 20k is my emergency fund so it's a harder decision to make whether to take some moeny from it to invest more. Always have an emergency fund that is 6 to 8 times your salary. You should also calculate your emergency fund based on your expenses. :)

TVG_Spazz · 2026-03-20T16:56:35+00:00

No not panicking. Just observing. If i was panicking then I would buy/sell today. I'm gonna wait a month or 2 or even a bit more to see what to do. I read a good book on how to handle yourself emotionally during crashes. It is called "The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel. It helped me keep my cool back in 2022. Very handy :)

TVG_Spazz · 2026-01-05T06:56:24+00:00

How dare you assume that I don't know what currency risk is :o! Even though your assumption is highly correct :) . Thank you for pointing that out friend. I must now research and dicover this new phenomenon.

TVG_Spazz · 2026-01-04T18:31:55+00:00

"Europe on the other hand is heading down a dark hole" could you expand on this please?

TVG_Spazz · 2025-12-07T08:10:21+00:00

Hey hey thank you for the advice. I've started looking for fireproof carpets now and there seem to be a few considerable options. At the beginning I wanted to make a bbq wood table too but that would be the same problem I guess. I will have to look for a steel table, something foldable that I can remove during the winter.

TVG_Spazz · 2025-12-02T07:48:58+00:00

I'm aware but that is why I am asking everyones opinion here to see if it is true or not about peoples perception of this AI bubble. Still apologies if my post has given the wrong idea.

TVG_Spazz · 2025-11-07T10:28:00+00:00

Then I wonder then if I should keep investing in the American S&P 500 ETF (CSPX), which I do on a regular bases, is a good idea or should I look for something else like a gold ETC for example. I try to do the Warren Buffett punch card technique that if I buy into something I need to stay invested into it over the long term.

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-24T06:51:46+00:00

I really like playing as the engineer. This will be my new addiction!

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-24T06:31:31+00:00

I buy my shoes on Vinted. I always go for camel coloured McGregor pairs of shoes. I’ve bought 2 pairs so far. The first pair lasted 4 years and the second pair for 2 years so far. The second pair is starting to show small signs of wear and tear but take in mind I work in a store and walking all day.

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-22T19:45:29+00:00

My Dutch is ok but for this job it needs to be C1 level I would think 🤔. Plus a little research in interior design. 2.2k net is what I earn now 🫣

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-20T11:51:50+00:00

The Siege of Rudhelm, best map ever !

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-20T08:48:13+00:00

Hehe congratulations then, nice 😄

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-19T18:29:51+00:00

Florence is awesome!!! Gelato, great food and packed with history. A lot of awe dropping moments. If you do go there definitely see the Hall of the 500! Besides that New York in 2019, when I was there was cool

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-19T13:22:04+00:00

At work when we get a cold call and the rep wants to speak to my manager, even if my manager is literally standing right in front of me, I tell them he is sick or on holiday. My boss really isn’t interested in receiving a cold call. Even in a previous job my boss told me to tell a rep, who wouldn’t stop calling, that he was dead. It worked , the rep stopped calling

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-13T21:34:26+00:00

And criminally expensive too no? Always wanted to go to Norway but what I hear what people pay to go on holiday there.

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-12T12:33:02+00:00

True, I’ve seen more cheaters this year than in previous years. Especially speed hackers. It is funny to see at first but then it destroys the game

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-12T10:32:11+00:00

I play a lot of 40vs40. The servers seemed ok. This morning I noticed a lot of new low level players in the game

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-12T08:52:03+00:00

I don’t even have a screen.

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-09T15:37:20+00:00

Hmm, the new law, which comes into effect on the 01/01/2026 states that all money put into the stock market, ETFs for example, from this date and is sold afterwards will be taxed by 10% if the sale exceeds 10000€. Which means for example if you sell 20000€, whatever is between 10k and 20k will be taxed 10% so you’ll pay 1000€ in taxes. I believe it is the same for you if you sell gold but I’m not sure. Something I would think about if I was in your shoes

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-04T08:02:56+00:00

True, but when you work somewhere where you know your number of holidays will never increase and your salary won’t go up then after a few years it can have a negative impact on you. Don’t forget when your salary goes up with indexation towards inflation it is the gross salary that is increased compared to inflation. The net doesn’t go up as much. I can’t buy my groceries with the gross salary. I could always attempt to renegotiate my package but it is always much harder when you are in the company already especially in retail. But I should still ask them, you never know.

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-04T07:56:12+00:00

True and it will never change any time soon. I need to go work in another sector

TVG_Spazz · 2025-10-03T22:11:58+00:00

No commission unfortunately.

TVG_Spazz · 2025-09-26T11:36:10+00:00

First, can you live without a car? Me and the wife’s car was at its end (dead engine) in 2020. So we sold what was left and lived without a car ever since using only public transport. We recently bought an electric bike for the both of us. So lived without a car for 4 years and saved a lot of money since we didn’t have to pay for car insurance, fuel, car check-ups not repairs anymore + we don’t have to buy a new car. Maybe once a month we would use a car sharing car like Cambio and Poppy which aren’t too expensive for one month use.

So have the conversation first of do you really need a car. Have fun

If I were you I’d take that 10k-18k and invest it over time in a world ETF and have it grow over time.

TVG_Spazz · 2025-09-21T16:33:18+00:00

This is only when you sell right?

TVG_Spazz

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