Reminder

Just wanted to remind all of you who are still subscribed/reading this blog, I've moved to Saving For Serenity.

Please update your RSS feeds and readers. Direct them to: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/SavingForSerenity

Thanks!

Saving For Serenity - New Site, Same Direction

A few days ago my website, Saving For Serenity, launched.

Saving For Serenity is the extension of what I have been writing about here, on blog.alan.schram. It is a personal finance blog where I attempt to help you establish financial freedom, something that I've been writing about. The word "serenity" means an absence of mental stress or anxiety. In this case, it means bringing one's finances to a point where it is not causing mental stress or anxiety. It's the goal, the ethos, the direction of Saving For Serenity.

I've written more about what Saving For Serenity is all about here. So if you're interested in finding a peace, or a state of serenity with your finances, please follow along as I attempt to achieve it for myself.

Also, don't forget to update your bookmarks, RSS feeds, links, and all that other interweb goodness that comes with a new site.

See you over there.

For those of you that don't understand what this post is about, it means that yes, I am using Saving For Serenity as my new blog, and will not be posting on this one anymore. Just for you, Tony.

Weekend Respite

In the month of March, I posted at least 5 times a week, at or around 6AM everyday. So far this month, that has not been the case. Here's why.

In the last week, I have had a computer die, got a temporary old laptop from Jordan Shaw, ordered a new macbook, got the new macbook, and started the process of launching a new website (or two). Oh, and I'm also trying to move in the next two weeks.

That's right, the personal finance blog is going to its own domain, and its own host, very soon. I just need the weekend (of which I have four days) to finalize some technical stuff, and then I'll link to it from here. I'm very excited to start a year long project into the world of personal finance blogging. It's going to be great.

I apologize for not posting regularly. It shall resume next week.

Illusion of Security

My day job requires me to enter into a lot of people's yards. Recently, we've reached a part of Vancouver where the houses are bigger, the dogs are meaner, and almost every house has a gate and a fence. These aren't the normal gates though, the nice ones where you walk up to, open the gate, and walk in. Oh no, these gates are the ones that require you to buzz an electronic system (with camera and speakerphone) in order to gain access. These people have built their fortresses for security, but a lot of the time, it is merely an illusion.

For example, a lot of people will have two gates, one of which is locked, the other is wide open. What purpose does the locked gate serve? Does it keep me out of your yard? Would it prevent a burgler? Other gates are locked, but the fence stops three feet short of the gate, allowing access. Some people have incredible security on the front of their houses, but not the back, signs warning against dogs, but no dogs, and alarm company logos next to doors that are propped open or unlocked.

I've decided that for the most part, people are seeking the illusion of security as much as they are seeking actual security. It is merely the sense of feeling safe that we as humans so desperately desire. It doesn't matter if the fence will actually keep out someone intending to rob us, because in actuality, not even a six foot fence would stop a determined man. But just knowing that it is there, and that it might deter someone, even if just for awhile, is worth it.

I think a lot of us wish that we had more financial security. So we build up an illusion of security around us, by ignoring our debts, or by pretending our credit limit is high enough to handle emergencies. Maybe we have a small emergency fund set aside, but no plan for a job loss or retirement. Financially, there are a lot of things that we could, and perhaps should be worried about, but we think we're okay as long as at least one of our gates are locked.

Where are the unlocked gates in your life? Do you feel secure? Are you one paycheck away from being broke? Do you want a sense of security, a sense of serenity? I know I do.