Interview with Flexo of Consumerism Commentary Blog

This is the 18th in a series of interviews HelpYourMoney.com is doing of other personal finance bloggers.

An Interview with Flexo of the Consumerism Commentary Blog:

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

In the personal finance world, I call myself Flexo. I started my personal finance blog to keep myself accountable for my own financial progress and to learn more about maintaining a healthy financial lifestyle.

When I started Consumerism Commentary, there were only a couple of similar blogs out there, so there was no “community” to speak of. I had been blogging elsewhere for a long time, and I created this a separate blog so I wouldn’t have to expose my friends and other readers of my regular blog to my boring thoughts about money. I try not to preach nor do I give advice; I just write about my thoughts and experiences.

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

Blogging about personal finance has certainly helped me keep myself focused. I’m not a big fan of specific financial goals. I’m aiming for just enough money so it’s not something I have to worry about as I continue to grow my life. I do set up small milestones, and so far I’ve passed them earlier than I’ve expected.

I post very detailed information about my personal finances online in order to keep myself accountable. This is why I use a pseudonym. While I don’t mind if readers find out who I am, but I don’t want people researching my real identity — say, a potential employer, for example — to find this type of information.

3. Do you work in the financial industry?

I work for a financial services company, but that was never part of my plan.

In college, I studied music education and music business, fully intending for teaching music and being involved with arts organizations. I did that for a while, but I eventually finding myself needed to make a living, thus I changed paths. I just finished my master’s degree (in business), and I’m doing what I can to be involved with all the things that interest me.

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

Until I had a blog, I never read financial related books. For Consumerism Commentary, I’ve reviewed several and even sort of liked a few. The truth is, I find them generally dry. When they’re not dry, they’re written for an audience with the intellectual level of a fourth-grader.

I guess my favorite so far has been The Number, by Lee Eisenberg. The author managed to assume his readers are intelligent, and the book wasn’t full of throw-away one-liners and over-generalizations typical of those “authors” who are more interested in selling their image and their seminars. Yes, I guess you could say I’m fairly “anti-guru.” I don’t like motivators or writers who focus on “inspiration.” I need substance.

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

I like Money Magazine. It’s a good mix of investing and regular personal finance articles, and generally contains what I would consider sound advice. I had a subscription for a year, but I canceled when it was time to renew. Many of their articles are online and available for free on CNN Money, anyway.

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?

As I just mentioned, I like CNN Money (http://money.cnn.com/). Before I started Consumerism Commentary, I really liked The Motley Fool. Since then, that site, while still containing good advice, has shifted too far towards selling their subscription services.

On the other hand, I’ve been enjoying Yahoo Finance, as it gives me a lot of fodder for writing. Read the good columnists, not the bad ones.

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

It’s not a decision, just a lack of action. For a long time, I had no idea I was spending more than I was earning — not due to extravagance, just due to a really low-paying non-profit job and an expensive commute and high living expenses. I got a shot in the arm and realized that I needed to make some changes in my life.

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

Deciding to keep track of my finances, first with Microsoft Money and now Quicken, has been one of the best financial related decisions I’ve made. Finally, I saw up close where my money was going. Starting the blog was a great decision, too. Being part of a wonderful community of mostly like-minded people has been inspiring.

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

I don’t trade, but I have done a little bit of stock picking with a very small amount of money. In fact, most of it was “free money” thanks to brokerage bonuses. About a month ago, I picked up $70 of MSFT and a few weeks ago, I added about $70 of AKAM. I don’t study stocks enough to have favorite picks.

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

Consider the source of any “advice” you receive, and if you want real financial advice, seek a professional and not a blog. People love doling out generalized advice on blogs as if there are universal rules and what works for one person works for everyone. You have to educate yourself and don’t blindly follow advice you find online without due diligence… including this “tip.”

11. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I’m very happy to be part of a strong community. I’ve learned more from people who comment on Consumerism Commentary than from the books and articles I’ve read, and I’m very thankful for that. Come visit and join in the discussions!

>> Visit Flexo’s Consumerism Commentary Blog.