On Sunday, I wrote about the FIRE movement, and the importance of your savings rate. And over the last 48 hours, I've spent a great deal of time thinking about how the audience of my tiny little blog here might react to it. Would the lessons of compounding interest, increased savings rates, and refined budgeting shine through? Would people think about their own circumstance, and develop new-found investing habits?
I stopped for a second and realized that although these lessons are the foundation for the path to financial independence, that specific destination may not be the end goal for all of those reading. The thing about personal finance, is that its first and foremost, personal. We all have our own unique set of circumstances, filled with different relationships, careers, financial goals, and dreams. I've spent a great deal of time since graduating college thinking about my own, and focusing on the path to achieve them. However, I realize that these goals may differ greatly to that of my friends, family, and you, the reader of this blog.
I wanted to write this post to call this reflection out directly. I started the Bonker Beat, with the hopes that I could chase my passion for personal finance and investing, while also sharing the power of what financial literacy can provide to people. I dream of having the opportunity of spending my time, which I believe to be my most valuable asset, as I choose. I dream of not needing to rely on a job in order to provide me with income to support my lifestyle. I want to achieve financial independence, and spend my time with those I love, doing the things that bring me joy and happiness. And in order to achieve these dreams, I must focus on the fundamentals of personal finance and investing. I need to educate myself on the power of compounding interest, high savings rates, Roth IRAs, or "diversified portfolio mixes." These are the types of topics and lessons that I want to share with my audience, as I believe they are massively important in allowing to achieve financial independence.
But your goal doesn't have to be achieving early financial independence. You may enjoy spending your money on things like take-out or dining at restaurants because you don't like cooking. You might love buying new clothes, because they get to express your interests or your passions. You may have always dreamed of wanting to buy a car that costs more money than I'd feel comfortable spending. You may genuinely love your career, and retirement is something that scares you, because you won't know what to do with your time after a life of working on something you were so passionate about. At the end of the day, we have one life to live, and we are the ones who will choose how we live it. It shouldn't be anyone else who tells you how to live it. Not me, not your parents, not your friends or colleagues, just you.
I want to make it clear that I am not telling you how to spend your money or what to do with it. I want to better educate you on the options that exist to better your path to financial freedom. I want more people to see the potential of what these opportunities and small steps can lead to, and the results they can yield. What you choose to do with that information once I've shared it, is entirely up to you.
Something I learned about myself from an early age is I love people. I love to talk to people, I love to be around people, and I genuinely love building meaningful relationships with people. As I began to form this passion around personal finance and investing, I began to see how it can benefit people if they were made aware of it. I believe this to be a large reason as to why I am so excited to see where this journey takes me writing the Bonker Beat. I want to connect to people, and learn more about them and their goals. I hope I can make a positive impact on them, no matter how small it may be. Even if it's just one beat at time.
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