I saved £785, earned £80, and still bought Bitcoin this week...

Welcome back to the Money Growth newsletter—I'm really glad you're here.

Each week, I share real, practical strategies I’m using to grow my wealth who’s learning this all by doing. No jargon. No hype. Just honest, tested steps toward financial freedom.

We focus on five key areas that I believe build long-term money confidence:
💸 Money Basics | 📈 Growing | 💡 Saving Hacks | 🚀 Side Hustles | 🧠 Mindset

Hi friends,

Some weeks feel like a grind. Others feel like a groove. This week? It was a weird mix of both.

But here’s the upside: when life feels messy, money systems matter even more. I leaned on mine heavily this week—and they held up. That’s what this newsletter is about: putting steady blocks in place so when things wobble, you don’t.

Let’s dive in.

Let’s Talk Pensions

Pensions used to feel like something to worry about in my 50s.
Now I treat them as one of the smartest, quietest wealth-building tools I have.

Here’s how I’m currently approaching it:

1️⃣ Workplace Pension

This is my base layer. I contribute 5% of my salary, and my employer adds another 3%.
It’s essentially free money, so if you’re not contributing at least enough to get your full employer match, you’re leaving cash on the table.

But beyond the match, here’s why I value this:

• It comes out before tax, which reduces my taxable income

• It’s automatic—I don’t think about it, and that’s the magic

• It’s invested, so it grows over time (my provider lets me pick global equity funds, which I prefer)

2️⃣ SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension)

This is where I add a bit more control, and more tax efficiency.

Each month I contribute £100 to my SIPP. The platform automatically adds 20% tax relief, so my £100 becomes £125 instantly. And because I pay higher-rate tax, I claim another £25 back through my self-assessment, meaning my £100 actually costs me just £75 for £125 of investment.

That’s a 66% return before the money even hits the markets.

This is where tax planning gets exciting:

• If I keep doing this consistently, that’s £1,500/year invested for £900 out of pocket

• Over 20 years at 7% growth, that could become £65,000+

Types of Pensions You Should Know:

✅ Workplace Pension (Auto-Enrolment):
Employer contributions. Tax efficient. Easy to set up.
💡 Tip: Ask HR if you can increase your contribution above the default—you might be able to unlock more employer match.

✅ SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension):
Full control over where your money goes. Great for freelancers, side hustlers, or those wanting to top up.
💡 Tip: Don’t forget to claim additional tax relief through your self-assessment if you’re a higher or additional rate taxpayer.

✅ State Pension:
Based on National Insurance contributions. You need 35 qualifying years to get the full amount (currently £11,502/year).
💡 Tip: You can check your forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension

✅ LISA (Lifetime ISA):
Not technically a pension, but can be used for retirement too.
You can contribute up to £4,000/year and get a 25% bonus (£1,000). Funds are locked until age 60 unless used for your first home.
💡 Tip: Use this instead of a SIPP if you’re a basic rate taxpayer without a workplace pension—it can be more efficient.

I don’t think about retirement as a distant finish line.
I think of it as a future version of me that deserves options.

Every pension contribution, whether big or small, is buying that future version of me more time, more freedom, and fewer compromises.

Let it compound. Let it build. And start now, even if it’s just £50/month.

Crypto

Why I’m Doubling Down on Bitcoin, Ethereum & XRP (And Still Sleeping at Night)

Let’s be honest, crypto is not for the faint-hearted.

It’s volatile. It's emotional. It’s filled with hype, fear, and drama.
But it’s also one of the few asset classes where asymmetric upside still exists—if you’re intentional.

I’m not here to convince anyone to jump in. But I want to be transparent about what I’m doing:

My Current Crypto Stack

• Bitcoin (BTC) – My digital gold. Long-term store of value. I’m increasing my position steadily.

• Ethereum (ETH) – The tech layer. I believe in the ecosystem. I’m holding and staking a portion.

• XRP – Controversial, yes—but I’m betting on utility, regulatory clarity, and long-term adoption.

💡 Note: This is high-risk. I treat it separately from my ISA or pension, and I size it accordingly.

My Strategy

I’m not trying to time the market. I’m doing what works for my personality and cash flow:

• Monthly DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging):
  I split a fixed amount each month across BTC, ETH, and XRP—roughly 50/30/20.

• Cold storage for long-term holdings:
  Most of my crypto lives off exchanges. I’m not trading it. I’m holding it.

• Revisit quarterly:
  I reassess my allocation every 3 months. If something’s up 3–5x, I take some profit and rebalance.

This isn’t gambling. It’s calculated exposure. My total crypto portfolio is around 15% of my net worth, enough to move the needle, not enough to wreck me.

Why I’m Doubling Down Now

• Regulatory momentum is shifting – Spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Ethereum are already opening up institutional demand

• The halving effect is still unfolding – Historically, Bitcoin performs strongly in the 12–18 months post-halving

• Sideways is good – Crypto’s gone quiet again. That’s when conviction gets rewarded.

I’m not betting the farm.
But I am betting that in 5–10 years, I’ll be glad I didn’t sit on the sidelines.

I Cut £785 Off My Energy Bill—and I’m Not Done Yet

Energy bills don’t shout. They just quietly eat away at your budget every single month. After mortgage, rent, or loan payments, they’re one of the biggest regular expenses—usually 10–20% of total outgoings.

This year, I took it seriously—and the savings have been massive.

The Switch That Made the Difference:

I moved to Octopus Energy, and that one decision is saving me £785+ per year. But the real value came after the switch:

• ✅ I had a smart meter installed, which now gives me near real-time analytics. I can finally see what’s driving cost—and tweak things properly.

• ✅ I installed Hive smart heating a month ago—and honestly, it’s been a game changer. I’ve set intelligent schedules, created zones, and now heat the house only when we actually need it.

• ✅ The Octopus portal is clean, intuitive, and transparent. No confusing bills or hidden fees—just visibility and control.

It’s not just the £785 saved. It’s the sense that my energy bill is no longer this mysterious, unchangeable number.
I’m in control—and saving more each month because of it.

Want to Do the Same?

If you’re thinking of switching, here’s a free £50 credit that’ll help you get started and save straight away:

👉 [Join Now]

Most switches take minutes online. No need to change pipes or wait weeks. Just better value, and more tools to manage your usage.

A Few Quick Wins You Can Still Stack:

• Reduce your heating schedule by just 30 mins/day = £10–£15/month

• Use appliances during off-peak hours (if you’re on a time-of-use tariff)

• Replace high-usage bulbs/appliances with energy-efficient versions

• Don’t heat unused rooms—Hive zoning is your friend here

• Track patterns weekly, not monthly—small patterns reveal big waste

I’m not turning into an energy miser.
But I am refusing to waste money on stuff I don’t feel the benefit of.

The difference between a good setup and a passive one?
Hundreds of pounds per year—and that’s money I’d rather see compounding in my ISA.

Want help getting set up with Hive or breaking down your bill? Reply and I’ll share what worked for me.

How I’m Earning Money Through Beehiiv Boosts (Without Selling a Thing)

Let’s talk about a side hustle that’s quietly bringing in money—without creating a product, running ads, or building something new from scratch.

It’s called Boosts by Beehiiv, and it’s one of the most overlooked income streams for newsletter writers right now.

What It Is:

Boosts is Beehiiv’s built-in partner marketplace.
You promote other high-quality newsletters directly within your own—and when someone subscribes through your link, you get paid.

No hard sell. No weird affiliate tricks. Just a short “You might like this too” box at the end of your newsletter with other curated content. And the best part?
You choose who you promote. So you only recommend what aligns with your audience.

How It Works for Me:

• I add a Boost slot to the end of each newsletter (you might’ve seen it below)

• Readers click and subscribe to other valuable newsletters

• I earn between $1.50–$4.00 per subscriber, depending on the offer

• Payments are automatic and monthly—no chasing or invoicing needed

It doesn’t sound like much, but here’s how it adds up:

• In a typical week, 10–15 people click through

• 2–5 convert

• That’s £8–£20/week from one passive block of content

Multiply that by 4 issues/month, and I’m bringing in £40–£80/month just by having Boosts switched on.

Why It’s Worth It:

✅ No product required
✅ Completely passive once set up
✅ Supports other great creators in the ecosystem
✅ No cost to the reader—it’s a win-win

If you’re writing a newsletter—even with a small list—this is one of the easiest ways to monetise without diluting your content.

💡 Pro tip: Choose Boosts that are actually good. I skip the ones that feel spammy or off-brand. Relevance drives trust—and higher conversions.

This won’t make you rich overnight.
But it’s one of those systems that quietly builds up—especially if you’re playing the long game with content.

And if you’re not on Beehiiv yet and want to try this yourself, here’s a 20% discount on your plan (and yes, I earn from this too, but I use it daily and would recommend it either way):

You Don’t Need More Discipline—You Need a New Money Identity

Here’s something I’ve realised lately:
Every time I’ve made lasting progress with money, it wasn’t because I downloaded a new app or read another book. It was because I started to see myself differently.

Not just someone who’s trying to invest, but someone who invests.
Not trying to get better with money, but a person who handles money well.

That identity shift changes everything.

Example?

I used to treat saving like something I had to remember to do—like a chore.
Now it’s automatic. Not just because I automated the payments, but because I no longer question whether saving is “the right move.” It’s just what I do. It’s who I am.

Same with investing.
I don’t ask “Should I top up my ISA this month?” I already know the answer.
I’ve made being an investor part of my identity, not some temporary effort I might drop if things get tight.

How You Can Shift Your Money Identity:

✅ Step 1: Decide who you want to be
Not rich. Not perfect. Just clearer.
e.g. “I’m someone who builds long-term wealth through small, consistent actions.”

✅ Step 2: Build tiny actions that prove it

• Set a £50 auto-transfer to a SIPP

• Read one money newsletter per week

• Track your net worth monthly

  These are identity reinforcers, not goals.

✅ Step 3: Repeat. Relentlessly.
Every time you follow through, you’re casting a vote for that identity.
Even if it’s small. Especially if it’s small.

You don’t need a perfect spreadsheet.
You need a set of habits that match the kind of person you want to become.

Start there. Keep showing up.
Before long, you’re not trying to be good with money. You already are.

Thanks for reading

Disclaimer:
This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. I’m sharing my personal journey, not offering financial advice. Always do your own research and speak to a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions or taking financial action.