For my inaugural post to Queercents I’d just like to introduce myself. I’m a thirtysomething single guy living in Atlanta. I’m not a native southerner but I’ve lived here long enough to say ‘œy’all’ in casual conversation.

My interest in personal finance came as a result of many mistakes and poor discipline. Credit card offers are a rite of passage for college freshmen and it didn’t take me long to begin wracking up debt. I didn’t hold a job and frequently spent any money that I was going to receive before I even got it. My life was a mess and the only thing that made me feel better was shopping.

Although having nice clothes and new stuff did cheer me up’”the happiness was not long lasting and eventually went sour. I didn’t even take care of the things I had’”my floor was covered in a thick carpet of designer apparel. Eventually I realized that even if I could buy anything I wanted it wouldn’t fix the underlying problem’”that I was confusing acquisition with fulfillment.

I’ve turned that around in the last ten years but it took a lot of hard work.

I see a lot of people, especially in the gay community, gladly spending money on unnecessary or overpriced merchandise without any thought to whether they need it or if it improves their lives. I know people who literally can’t move forward in their life because they own too much stuff and their living spaces are packed with clutter. And I know people who constantly feel like they have to make more money because they spend it on expensive status symbols.

For me, personal finance means freedom. It means having enough saved to be able to quit work if I like. It means managing my money intelligently so I can afford to do what I want within the paycheck I have. It means being free from worries and able to handle surprise expenses.

The money itself is not as important as the commitment to yourself to live a life that is meaningful, healthy and fulfilling. Which is why I have the utmost respect for someone who manages their assets wisely.

When I first discovered the personal finance community, I was really excited and energized by the discussions going on. Here was a group of people working to improve their lives and what’s more I could share the minutia of my daily expenses and’¦ they weren’t bored to death! (Some of you might remember a tiny blog called the Useless Tree)

My old blog may have had to be shelved but I’m glad to be back and writing about money. In the coming weeks I look forward to opening up my ledger and sharing some of my tips, experiences and opinions on all matters financial.

I know we’ve only ‘œjust met’ but feel free to email me with your questions, opinions or ideas. mike@queercents.com