€5 for Advice, €50,000 in Savings — The Smartest Investment You’ll Make

Building Trusted Networks That Save You Time, Money & Stress

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed, it really does means a lot to me. This morning, as I sat on the terrace here in Torre Salsa sipping my coffee (coconut milk & cinnamon today, highly recommended), I thought to myself: I really should’ve started this Substack ages ago. Then that calm inner voice that I nurture reminded me that I have been trying to remove the word “should” from my vocabulary lately. Some days I do, some days I don’t :)

Yesterday, I had one of those small but significant moments. A new subscriber asked a question in the chat section about Sicily and I was able to immediately help. It made me genuinely happy. I must admit that I was a bit lost yesterday when I launched this page feeling like I was driving a new car but as I started to create my own lane it dawned on me what value I can bring to you all. I have lived in Sicily for nearly five years now. In that time I have renovated homes, navigated bureaucracy, and made some major mistakes and I have learned a great deal a long the way. Most importantly, I’ve built a trusted network of locals and expats who are generous with their time, wisdom, and knowledge. So that is the value I want to bring here, not just my own experience, but the strength of the community I’ve been fortunate enough to become a part of.

So... where does the €5 come in?

That small amount, the price of a coffee and a pastry gives you direct access to ask me to ask questions through Substack’s Chat feature and also a monthly Zoom call where we can all connect and share experiences and resources. There are some simple tips that I can offer you based on my own experiences. Take the example for instance of the €1 house that I purchased in 2019. It was in pristine condition when the keys were handed over to me. Sadly though, during the pandemic no one looked after the neighbouring houses, which were also €1 homes. Over time, the gutters filled with leaves, and when the rain came it poured straight into my house. Water damage, mould, repairs and expensive bills! I learned a lesson I wish someone had told me sooner which is to check the condition of the houses next door because in the long run they may cause a great deal of damage to your house.

That’s just one example and yesterday I realised that I will be able to answer all sorts of questions for you and if I don’t have the immediate answer I will know who to ask So yes just call me the Sicilian Ask Jeeves! (whatever happened to Jeeves, anyway?) Feel free to ask me anything about Sicily from where to eat to creating the perfect travel itinerary. I’ll be checking in on the Chat most days and if I don’t get back to you immediately it is probably because I am having a digital detox! I highly recommend this by the way, a chance to rest, reset and recharge :)

Thank you again for being here. I’m glad that we are on this journey together.

Sending much love from Sicily.

Danny