Why did I get started on this blog ?

Multiple reasons, but the trigger, if you will, was not value investing related (at least directly) but was in fact a comment made to me a few days ago by one of my colleagues at work.

During a conversation about stuff outside of work, she told me that, at the end of the month, the balance on her bank account barely reached 0.

She and I work in an industry that pays farely well, and we are both quite specialised in our activity so that people in our line of work generally command salaries which, at worst, are not too bad. Having a bit less seniority than I have, she probably makes a bit less than I do, but her husband is a partner in a successful lawfirm, so that should already help quite a lot.

But what struck me the most, was the difference with my own situation. My wife is a civil servant and her remuneration in no way compares to that of my colleague (I would believe) and I think I haven't made bad career choices up to now, but I'm clearly not a hot shot partner raking in the dough.

At the end of the month, though, month in month out, my wife and I can save on average 4.000 euros (which we invest in a value investing kinda way, subject of most of this blog). I have to add immediately that we don't feel deprived of anything and can buy more or less whatever we need or even want. We pour significantly too much into our house. All in all, I can't complain with the quality of life we have and - psychologically - when talking with my colleague, I really had the impression my life was 'nicer to have'.

So, what does starting a blog have anything to do with this ?

Well, if I had told my colleague directly what I've written above, I don't think I would immediately have had an impact. She could have argued her way out because of her special/different situation, etc. I don't think talking about this stuff is easy, especially if you're the one not saving anything. And giving lessons is not my type, I'd rather 'lead by example', write something down, to be read by someone later on, who would perhaps find something interesting in there and make use of it.

The reason why I'll focus on value investing is that it's value investing which essentially taught me that saving was essential. But once you learn to save, value investing is like engaging warp drive financially.

Hope someone, somewhere, finds some of this useful 'cause I'm about to get naked with my savings, process, ideas, and the like !