Running Europe and not much else

Hmmmm....imagine running through Europe with not much else but a bag pack with change of clothes and dependent on the kindness of people for a bed at night(i saw this Blog "Ryan runs Europe"). That is an interesting proposition but not one many people would make if they have bills to pay and moreso if they are married and with children.

I fall in the latter and having recently lost my job(as in today)and with bills to pay etc it is not especially appealing, although with some financial restructuring the possibility to undertake the above is well within reach if i wanted it badly enough but that's just the financial aspect....

So with no job and little else to do I am in a position to create one for myself and see what the possibilities are. Today is a new beginning for me. When you are forced into a position, you find yourself with little else to do but explore the options available. I am actually excited and looking forward to doing that......

So, now I am in the planning stage.

Time to get to work.

Fear

Well, from what I have been reading so far, it seems my trouble is fear. Fear is the only thing you really have to be afraid of. It stops you from doing what you want to do and that in itself is paralysing and then you would look back and wonder what if.....

I think by starting this blog i have overcome part of my fear at least of going out on a limb.

How do you decide what you really want to do with your life. It's difficult when you come at a crossroads like this and you start questioning things that you do and have taken for granted.

I think I will start at the beginning. I know i want to be financially independent and find ways of investing and being resourceful in a way where i am not entirely dependent on a job where i am employed by another. This will take some doing but that is my goal and I will get there.

I've found a couple blogs regarding Finance. One in particular is "Million Dollar Journey" written by a Canadian I believe.It's based on Canadian information mostly but applicable to others Internationally. There are some interesting articles(older articles) that I read and I believe I will keep up with his writing.

I liked the article on investing in stocks and how to. He explained some of the terminology and that helped alot. Investopedia is a great place for information as well.

Some of my main concerns is tertiary education for the little people and how to start that. I will be exploring those areas but saving towards it in the meantime. Better than doing nothing i suppose.

Entrepreneurs,Investors,Budgeting......

I have a toddler starting pre-school in September and one starting a new nursery in July. These are huge changes for them in their little world and in mine too.

The good thing about the little people, they adapt faster and easier to a new environment(hopefully positive environments) but us older folks have a hard time with changes and new environments(a lot of that going around these days i am sure).

What the above means is a change in budgeting requirements. New Nursery and preschool means change in fees and different demands from these establishments(donation sheets,school fund raisers and activities for preschoolers mostly).

Also, there is the uncertainty of jobs for myself and dad as well. You know, the truth is there is always that uncertainty but more so with a Recession in play. However, as it turns out it is always beneficial if we can be proactive and decide to ensure a second income. This can be in several ways: start a business(this is scariest for most people,myself included),invest(stocks etc) or do a second job(one that does not encroach on your current job of course).

My reason for starting this blog is really to air my thoughts and hopefully come up with a way to start my own business. I read a few books on these and I have friends who have already started their own and those are encouragements to me. I am mostly a cautious person but I am sure at some point I will do it and finding others doing the same or coming to those crossroads in their life would help in gaining new insight.

Added to that I have worked and work with people who have that entrepreneurial spirit and unknown to them it has given me that spur and so my research and push in that direction I will have to credit them for.

All in all i think i am hearing a call for Entrepreneurship and i feel the need to do that and I would also want to pass it on to my kids. Really and truly we need to pass on to our kids money management and skills for budgeting. How much of us really do that? My Mom taught me to save and the value of saving towards something I wanted. In turn I will teach my kids the same but i will extend even further with investing,being an entrepreneur and managing their funds.I still have a lot to learn in that department as well. Already, I am teaching my kids about grocery shopping :).....

Finance

Well, in these crazy times where job losses and potential job losses have everyone nervous and checking their spending actually contributes to the recession.

To explain: If I stopped frequenting the bookstore every month because I don't think i can afford the luxury any more and several other customers decide the same, it affects the bookstore's income. By everybody collectively having that effect on the bookstore's income. Makes sense? Then the bookstore realises sales are falling and they decide cutbacks here and there and may include sending people home or not ordering magazines from a particular source and so the cycle continues.

On the other hand a recession is part of the cycle in economic terms. I believe it goes through, a Boom,Slow Down,Recession and then Recovery. The time frame can vary in these stages and overall.

What does all this mean? Well, when you understand these and the impact it has on your choices, it can make you a better investor,consumer and perhaps even entrepreneur.

In fact a lot of people have used the recession as an opportunity to start their own business(perhaps retrenchment and no other option available). The housing market slump in the US would mean those who were saving and waiting for the market prices to fall are now poised to take full advantage of an opportunity to buy a home at a reasonable price.Then there is the Investor who can now purchase stocks in this Bear Market(everybody selling) by looking at companies that can make the long haul and are selling at below their best price.

Interesting times we live in. The opportunities are there. When one door closes another opens. It seems hopeless especially those who may have lost their way of living for how many years but that's how we evolve and dig deep down and come up with something that works for us.