Several years ago, an American admiral gave an inspiring speech in which he recounted crucial lessons he had learnt during his time in the US Navy.
Admiral William McRaven highlighted one particular lesson that he believed to be of utmost significance: how to make his bed.
“Every morning, we were required to make our bed to perfection,” he said.
“It seemed a little ridiculous the time. But the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over. If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day.”
His audience was a team of Navy Seals, who were preparing and learning to become warriors - and they were baffled by the need to make their beds.
Only later did they realise that it gave them a sense of pride and motivation to accomplish another task. And another.
His message spread like wildfire and it’s something that still resonates with me today.
But how does this relate to wealth? Everyone wants to get their financial house in order and be able to balance spending and saving, while prioritising between needs, wants and savings.
But, like life in general, it’s the small, seemingly insignificant things we do, the things that become almost mundane in routine, that make the world of difference – like making your bed every morning.
While many investors are saving as consistently and systematically as they can, sometimes you can help your journey to a flourishing future by scrutinising your spending.
It’s questioning whether you really need to eat out three times a week, whether you need that new car or that new iPhone.
It’s not a glamorous task at all, but staying on top of your finances is something your future self will thank you for.
Elizabeth Warren, a distinguished bankruptcy expert from Harvard, concurs with this perspective. Additionally, she holds the position of a US Senator representing Massachusetts and has been recognised as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time magazine.
She coined the 50:30:20 rule for spending and saving, which is about allocating your income according to needs (50 per cent), wants (30 per cent) and savings and investments (20 per cent).
So, let’s say your take-home pay is Dh100,000 ($27,230) a month. Using the 50:30:20 rule, you should spend no more than Dh50,000 on your rent or mortgage, car payments, insurance premiums, groceries, and other life necessities; Dh30,000 on “wants” like clothing, eating out, socialising, gym membership and Dh20,000 on savings and investments.
What’s interesting about this practice is that you’ll be able to see where you’re overspending or how you’re prioritising certain financial obligations.
You can use it whether you’re young or old, a high- or middle-income earner, and anywhere in the world.
Of course, life can never be so cut and dry, and rules are flexible. Many of us may need to adjust according to our own lifestyles.
However, when people look to reduce costs, it’s interesting to see many would cut back on the 30 per cent category (wants) or even the 20 per cent (savings and investments), instead of the bigger percentage of “needs”, which goes towards our house and often, car.
Of course, if you’re already putting enough away and have a good amount of disposable income, there’s no reason for you change where you live.
Where we choose to live also has a lot to do with where we work and where our children go to school.
Life is a series of trade-offs. I’ve said this many times before; some of the world’s millionaires are known to live below their means.
Let’s look at cars. The three most popular car brands among American millionaires are Toyota, Honda and Ford.
As for billionaires? As Andrew Hallam explains in his book Balance, nine of the 17 richest people in the world drive cars worth less than $50,000. Amazon's billionaire founder Jeff Bezos drives a Honda Accord.
If they’ve managed to avoid the temptation to overspend, you certainly can, too.
It just takes focus, self-control and support from the right people. It’s about behaving yourself to wealth.
Sam Instone is co-chief executive of wealth management company AES
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5-litre%2C%20twin-turbo%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E410hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E495Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Estarts%20from%20Dh495%2C000%20(Dh610%2C000%20for%20the%20F-Sport%20launch%20edition%20tested)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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