Interview with the family finance blog, Tired But Happy

This is the 17th in a series of interviews HelpYourMoney.com is doing of other personal finance bloggers.

An Interview with TiredButHappy of the Tired But Happy Blog:

1. First, can you please introduce yourself and tell us why your started your personal finance blog?

I started frequenting personal finance sites on the internet a few years ago when I got my first professional job and realized I needed to learn more to plan adequately for retirement.

I quickly found that many of my interests were not covered by mainstream personal finance columnists on msn.com and other big corporate sites. That’s when I discovered personal finance bloggers. I was inspired by a lot of the stories, but I still felt that some of my specific concerns needed more coverage, such as finance decisions for unmarried partners, people who work in non-profits, socially responsible investors, etc. That’s when I decided to join the discussion.

2. Do you feel you are on the right track to reaching your financial goals and what are they?

I have most of the usual financial goals: A secure and enjoyable retirement. An education for my son. A life free from debt and undue financial pressure.

I think I’m on track for all of these goals. However, I’d also like to move to a more expensive area than the one I live in now, and I’d like to go back to school. These dreams still seem a little out of reach.

3. Do you work in the financial industry?
No. I work in higher education.

4. If you had to recommend just one financial related book, what would it be?

I don’t know. I’ve read a few finance books but I don’t have a favorite.

5. If you had to recommend just one financial related magazine, what would it be?

Money Magazine. I also read Kiplinger’s, but that’s too focused on investment products for my taste. Money Mag is very readable and I always learn something new. It’s great bathtub reading.

6. If you had to recommend just one or two financial related websites (besides your own and that is not a blog), what would it be?

I’m no Microsoft fan, but I do enjoy MSN Money. They have some really excellent columnists. My favorites are Liz Pulliam Weston, M.P. Dunleavey, and for tax issues, Jeff Schnepper.

I also use sites like bankrate.com to shop for savings vehicles, and dinkytown.net for planning.

Other good sites? Evreward.com, to look for the best cashback rebate when shopping online. And I like to hang out on a few forums, especially savingadvice.com. I like the discussions on Kiplinger’s financial forum, too, but they’ve got it so buried in their site (hidden behind all their content that is for sale) that it doesn’t get much traffic so the discussions sometimes lag.

I also spend time on Prosper.com, where I dabble in person-to-person lending, and I like to use networthiq.com to benchmark myself against others who are demographically similar to me.

Whoops. You said only one or two sites. Guess I got carried away.

7. What is one of the WORST financial related decisions you ever made?

I got a very impractical undergrad degree (in literature), and didn’t have any work experience when I graduated.

If I had it to do over again, I’d go to a less isolated school than the small rural college I picked, and I’d get a degree in journalism or communications. I’d do lots of internships and work part time through school so when I graduated I’d actually have something to put on my resume. By the time I got to grad school, I had learned my lesson and made better use of my time and resources while in school.

8. What is one of the BEST financial related decisions you ever made?

Even though I was making very little money, I did open a Roth IRA the same year I graduated from college. I have rarely been able to max it out, but I have never stopped trickling money into it over the years.

9. Do You Trade Individual Stocks and If so recommend your favorite 3 to 5 picks?

I did trade individual stocks many years ago against the advice of more experienced investors. My portfolio was (and still is) really too small to allow for enough diversity in individual stocks. I sold all my tech stocks this year because they still hadn’t regained their 1998 purchase price, and I’ve sworn off individual stocks at least until my portfolio tops six figures.

10. If you could give our readers just one financial related tip, what would it be?

Once you get the basics in place (living within your means, not accumulating debt, saving 15% of your gross income for retirement), try to stop obsessing about money and enjoy your health and your free time with your friends and your family. Money is a lonely hobby and doesn’t deserve to take over your life.

11. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Nope. That’s it. Thank you so much for including me in your interview series.

>> Visit TiredButHappy’s Tired But Happy Blog.