Alas! We have found focus

I have money!

Now when I started this blog a couple months ago I didn’t know exactly what my primary focus would be. I just knew that once upon a time I enjoyed writing and felt like getting into it again. I had some vague ideas about what I would write about… Grenada, my fiancée, Caribbean tech… but I didn’t have a primary focus.

Well I had an epiphany! Although I may still write on the aforementioned topics, my focus will be on my steps to get out of debt and eventually retire as a rich and happy man. As it stands right now I’m far from both goals. But actually having a goal is always the beginning of a success story. Seldom does anything happens by accident. I can’t wait and hope something good comes my way, I have to make it happen. So my blog will document “My Success Story”.

Some may shake their head at another idiot putting way too much private information about himself online for the world to see. But I look from a different angle. Firstly, maybe others will be interested in my story and offer good advice when they see me going wrong. Or some constructive critique when I’m on the right path but may need to straighten up a bit. Another thing is the power of writing something down for all to see. Many people, like myself, hate public failure. Sure, failure is a part of life but it slaps you harder when the world sees it. I can tell myself I am going to stop smoking by December 31st. But there’s no one to hold me accountable but for myself. Public power is powerful. No one wants to make an ass of himself publicly. But on a more profound note, if I write something now, and can come back 6 months later and see it, and see that I have accomplished what I said I would, that personal gratification has no equal. And on the flip side, 6 months later, if I haven’t accomplished what I said I would, for me, personal disappointment has no equal.

And who knows… maybe I might inspire someone…

So what is my next step? My first step is to define my next few steps. That means taking stock of exactly where I stand financially. Taking stock of my incredibly low current income, I need to evaluate my current spending habits, my recurring debts and anticipate future debts. The eventual outcome is a budget. One that allows me to put away something every month while allowing me to live life. I foresee that initially it will be a very tight one.

I have a ’small’ student loan to repay and by the end of this week I would have found a place to rent. I love my family but it’s time for the bird to leave the nest. So now I also have to consider the cost of transportation, food and other necessities. And I have no one to fall back on. Although, mummy can expect to find my hungry mouth at her table on Sundays… This week I will begin keeping track of my spending so I could see exactly where my money goes. I also have to learn and appreciate the meaning of the word frugality.

I won’t be alone on this journey. I have my friend the Internet. I have come across a few good financial blogs related to saving money and getting out of debt. My favourite is Get Rich Slowly. I also subscribe to “I will teach you to be rich”. They both offer very good advice on saving and on frugality. And a lot of this advice applies to someone living here in Grenada as well. And there are tonnes of others.

Anyway, I’m off! Wish me luck! I may fail but that would be only temporary! And by the way, I was only trying make a point with the stop smoking business there….