The 5 Reasons behind TGFG

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.

Every year, I tell myself things are going to get financially better. The first two months I will sacrifice it all to start saving, paying debts and even stop hanging out with friends outside of my home. There will be that one thing, something that I don’t even need, that will make me drop out of my progress and back to my old spending habits.

My intention for writing this post is to share the 5 reasons behind this blog and show you what motivates me.

MY KIDS

The spending care-free lifestyle was somewhat over for me when I welcomed my first child, my daughter. I reduced some of my bad spending habits and picked up some others along the way, will explain shortly.  

Five and half years later, I welcomed my son, that’s when all my priorities changed. The stuff that were important to me before his arrival is no longer

I still drive the same cars I had 7 years ago, same Playstation 4 console that now I have passed to my son, I no longer fall trap buying worthless things for myself as they all become liabilities.

Now, seeing them grow I will be doomed for not giving them a head start in life especially with all this personal finance information we have at our disposal. This is why I started a fund for each. I’m not a big fan of the 529 fund for many reasons but I consistently fund their custodial investment accounts with hope they will continue investing for their future and the generation after. 

THE CHALLENGES

We cannot grow as an individual without knowing what we are capable of. Every goal has its own challenges no matter if it is personal or financial. When I challenge myself I always feel there’s a purpose. If I can sacrifice something to reach a goal, I’m capable of solving any issues I may encounter.

I remember in 2016, I started a personal blog, two years later I lost the domain name due to the fact I didn’t like writing. That same year, I created another one – got discouraged and lost it the same way. I had the motivation but my niche focus wasn’t there.

In addition, I’m a photographer by trade, I don’t like simply taking pictures just to take pictures. For me there should be a reason and a story-telling behind my pictures. As a result, I study the work of those I connect with visually and artistically.

This is a way to tell you I don’t get much satisfaction out of tasks without some degree of challenge. This is why I started the 52-Week Challenge (2x) as my first TGFG challenge.

THE FLEXIBILITY

I want to be able to do as I please. Wake up and work anywhere I chose to without being committed and rely on an employer until I retire at age 65.

Let us say, it’s not always about the money for me, it’s the peace of mind. I’ve learned not to get attached to anything in life. I was willing to leave a high paid job in the city to relocate in the suburbs to avoid the commute stress and the “never have time to myself” life.

Now, I can spend more time with my family, workout more, do stuff I was never capable of doing like assisting my daughter play music at school events, dance ballet at The Egg and play in a basketball club.

THE LEARNING PHASE

All of us want to live comfortably financially. The only way for this to happen is to learn and understand how money works, how to manage debts, establish financial goals and stick to a budget.

No matter the learning path, learn from those that have done it before you. For instance, I’ve read many financial books and articles but I learn better as a visual person. I usually allocate some time in the day to watch a few youtube videos to learn about a specific subject.

In a way to show you there are many ways to learn. There should be no excuses for not educating yourself.

DOCUMENT MY JOURNEY

I’ve come to the conclusion it is all because I don’t hold myself accountable. I tend to respect my words if I tell a peer. This is why I chose to document my path and share with like-minded people seeking financial independence. It opens the door to a community. 

By documenting my journey, I want to be able to look back to my archives and reflect on my progression and how I was able to overcome them. The good and bad choices I’ve made along the way and maybe you can avoid them. As the saying goes, the best way to learn is to teach.

Also, it gives me a sense of creativity when I’m writing. Like there’s a purpose and continuous need for valuable content.

CONCLUSION

There’s at least a reason behind every goal. No matter the reason keep pushing. Understand, the ultimate here goal is to be in alignment with your life objective and hold yourself accountable. Knowing this, I will naturally be forced to be more disciplined in my journey.

**Valuable Resources I Use Daily:

Empower offers a free account to assist you in managing your net worth and investment portfolio. Your asset allocation and portfolio performance are so obvious and easy to grasp that I can't get enough of them. It's an excellent tool for anyone keeping track of their investments.

Robinhood is a platform that does not charge commissions. You can start investing with as little as $1 in stocks, ETFs, and REITs. It's simple to operate and navigate. Sign up now to receive a free stock.