Words From a College Student
I’ve seen many complaints on other blogs about how qualified a blogger is to write about finances. Most people who write about finances, as far as I’ve seen, are not professionals in regards to finances. I’ve seen people who are writers, engineers, and other. No matter your occupation, finances are important for helping plan your future.
Why then, should you listen to what a student has to say? Second (or third, or more) opinions on a subject are always healthy. As a college student, I can relate to many different types of people - other students, younger people who are not students, people without jobs, and people with low incomes. Much of what I read on financial forums doesn’t pertain to me; I don’t have thousands of dollars to invest. I don’t have expendable income. I am a poor college student squeaking by on a 30-hour-a-week job at minimum wage. Because of that, and because I’m still managing to not only stay afloat but also improve my financial situation, I think it’s easier for those people in situations like me to relate. Sure, I’ll talk about things that the middle and upper classes can endulge themselves in that I cannot; but I will also relate it to how those of us with less income can get ahead. Too long have low-income families and students gone unnoticed in the financial world. People tell me it’s nearly impossible to save for retirement making less than $20K a year; I’ll use my experiences to show you how I am saving for the future and hopefully you can take something out of that.
As always, take anything you read with a grain of salt. I’m not perfect. I will make mistakes on here. If I do, just kindly correct me; it’s not the end of the world. You will make mistakes, too. To quote Batman Begins: “Why do we fall down? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” Let’s learn.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I was reading that your long term goal is to retire at the age of 45. I am also a college student, I saw a link to your blog from thesimpledollar. I was just wondering why you want retire so early?
Do you have other passions you would like to pursue after you reach financial security. I don’t think being old and rich in and of itself is that fulfilling. Have you ever thought about finding something you want to do for the rest of your life, well past 45, and pursue that and somehow make your living from that passion.
Just a couple thoughts. I am trying to figure these things out for myself as well.
February 4th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Garrett -
Thanks for taking the time to read MTC.
To put it simply, retirement from work marks the start of truly living for me. I love to travel and actually really enjoy to teach, too. My main incentive to retire at such an early age is to be able to do the things I won’t be able to do when I am working.
When I retire at 45, I hope to travel around the States and speak at universities and other institutions about entrepreneurship and investing, things like that.
I agree that being old and rich in and of itself isn’t all that appealing. Being financially free at that young of an age, however, is quite appealing. I’d also like to be able to spend much of my time with family and friends; not having to worry about a 9-5 job would allow me time to do that.
Thanks again!
- Dave