So I figured that now we've started this blog, I wanted to share a little about myself and my own philosophy about what money really is. Bo and I do have some agreements and disagreements about certain things, but one thing we do agree upon is that people always have the excuse of "not having enough money." There's too much misinformation out on the internet. It can often be overwhelming or intimidating to most people. We thought that we would sit down and share our own personal experiences instead, making it more candid so you get the human aspect of saving money. We're not going to scam you into buying anything, and we both feel that information and advice should be free. You are welcome to continue to read our blog, and we will continue to constantly update as much as possible. We will make mistakes, because we're only human, and we will share that. We will also share our successes as well, because we want you, the reader to be successful and smart.
Because money is a very emotional thing, a lot of people get carried away with it. In America at least, it's extremely simple to spend more than you make; saving is harder than spending. The temptation is very high here. However, we've both managed to survive on our own, and through our own means to live comfortably. I can safely say that I'm very comfortable with my life right now, financially, but I was not born rich. My parents told me that after I was born, they drove around in an old Datsun to California with big hopes and dreams for me and themselves and only $25 total in their pocket. They were a little worried about how they were going to continue to raise me with so little, but it did not matter as long as they worked hard and saved money. They are now living very comfortably and own several houses and property in Northern and Southern California. All this success did not come easy though. There's no get rich quick formula they followed.
It was all done by common sense, most of which they had ingrained into me since I was a child. They've made numerous financial mistakes too though, because temptation is very high to get rich quick. They've invested money in stocks, a pyramid scheme, bonds, real estate--you name it, they've done it. And it always came at a price. But with anything, there is a risk if you want some return. You have to give something to get something in return.
A lot of people have told me that it's impossible to save money, living paycheck to paycheck--with many bills racking up it's hard to keep ahead. I've heard that story many, many, many times. I have also experienced it myself. However, I was able to get out of the vicious cycle and learned from my mistakes. I'm not rich; probably far from it. But I can say that I don't live paycheck to paycheck at all. I live a very comfortable life, and I did it all through my own means, but I do give credit to my parents for teaching me the right steps to saving money.
Therefore, this site isn't about making you rich. It's about being financially smart. There's many ways to get rich, and I know not everyone can do it. A lot of people also feel it's based on luck. I can personally say that luck is not the case. You can live comfortably by just following a few simple rules. Bo and I will show you what those rules are as we continue to update the blog. The rules are very simple and are common sense. In fact, you may already know them. It's just that people don't act upon them. If you don't act, you can't get anything done. A building is cannot be built if nobody bothers to pour in the concrete for the foundation. You have to start somewhere. We all start from the bottom--although it's a long way to the top, it's not impossible, and it does not require luck.
We will also answer questions and offer advice based on our postings, so feel free to provide feedback. We are both very passionate about money, but not in the sense of trying to be greedy. We both just want to live a comfortable life, like everyone else. Nobody likes to scrape the bottom of the barrel for pennies or compromise our health because we can't afford good food. That's not the way to live. The way to live is to be smart, and empower yourself with knowledge. That's the key to living a "wealthy" life.
You can have all the money in the world, but still be poor. I've seen it happen too many times, and I'm sure you have too. You read about these rich celebrities with their mansions but they spend more than they can possibly afford and next thing you know, they are declaring bankruptcy. What went wrong? They had all that money, but yet they are worse off than you? It's all about common sense.
Also, we're not experts, but we will offer candid experiences. We will make mistakes. But we will also make smart decisions too. You will learn about them over time, just as we have throughout our entire lives.
My personal philosophy is quite simple. It's the same one used by a lot of the most richest people in the world. It's all about how much you save, and not how much you spend. Anyone can spend money. Tell me someone who can't spend money, because we've been doing it since we were kids--even with fake money. We were programmed to spend. But not many of us know how to save. Saving is a big deal. Even if it's a few cents--it adds up. I have had a lot of friends who shrug if something is an extra $3 or $4, compared to another store. Sure it's not a lot. These same friends are struggling paycheck to paycheck. If you continue with that mentality, you're doomed from the start. I'm not saying you're a failure, you just have to simply change your habits. Change is hard for most people, and not many people want to accept it. But if you are reading this blog, you must embrace it, worship it, live it. You have to change. You have to do something different--in the sense of your spending habits. Spending wisely leads to saving wisely. I know how difficult it is to save for most people. It's easy to tell people that you have to save to make a lot of money, but it's almost impossible for most. If that's the case for you, then the answer is to change your spending habits. Look at all your monthly expenses. See what you really need or don't need to survive. We are creatures of habit. You can change something. Look for cheaper internet alternatives, look for cheaper cable tv, especially if you don't watch it much, or cut it off all together. Change your cellphone plan, etc. Try to spend less on certain indulgences. Every little bit counts. You'll find your life become dramatically better with every little change you make. You'll be surprised.
Finally, there's no fast and easy method to making money, other than playing the lottery. Being "wealthy" takes a lot of hard work, and I will admit that sometimes I am quite lazy. However, when it comes to wanting something out of life and reaching my personal goals, I can't continue to procrastinate. I have to do something about it. I have to get involved, and make smart choices in life. We wont be pitching any get rich quick schemes on here, because we don't believe in those gimmicks. We are realistic people, like you, who just want financial freedom. I will admit that it will take time to reach that goal for most people, but like I said before, it's not impossible, and it doesn't involve luck. If you are serious about wanting to change your lifestyle and your habits, keep reading our blog. We will teach you that. It's all up to you from then on. You don't have to agree to everything we blog about, because we may even disagree among ourselves, but you have the power to change yourself. We can't change you.
Ok, that's all for me, but I hope you find this information useful. Again, I don't claim to be an expert, but from personal experience, I've made many compromises in my life and it has changed for the better. I hope it will for you too.
-Jim
