This is the first post of my foray into blogging.
Maybe I should first explain why I’ve chosen the title of my site. First of all, I view retirement not so much as an event in life accompanied by a gold watch and a send-off luncheon with co-workers, but as the point when you reach financial independence from the 9-5. When will mine be? I’m not sure, as I’m still fairly young and have a lot of life events ahead of me, but you can count on it that I’ll be working towards my independence all the while. As for the other part of the title…
From Dictionary.com:
re⋅al⋅ize –verb (used with object)
1. to grasp or understand clearly.
2. to make real; give reality to (a hope, fear, plan, etc.).
3. to bring vividly to the mind.
4. to convert into cash or money: to realize securities.
5. to obtain as a profit or income for oneself by trade, labor, or investment.
6. to bring as proceeds, as from a sale: The goods realized $1000.
I chose “Realizing Retirement” not solely for its clever (you be the judge) alliteration, but it’s also a nifty double entendre. I’ll let the definition above speak to that.
Over the last few years since graduating University, I’ve taken more of an interest into personal finances. I’ve been learning a lot through reading a number of fantastic blogs (see my blogroll for a few of my favourites), a few books, and through some of my own experience (trial and error?).
Like many of those on my blogroll, I also believe in low-cost index investing, but I take interest in any and all aspects of finance, and I’ll be blogging on numerous subjects from investing to saving/spending smart to tax planning, and numerous other topics.
I’m at quite an exciting point in my financial life right now. I’m engaged to be married in just over a year, and my finacee and I are also saving to buy a home in the next year or so, so those two things will probably be extensively written about.
Thanks for joining me on my adventure, and letting me join you on yours. Let’s enjoy the ride.
