Meet The Money

Hello! I have absolutely no idea why I decided to use an image of a figurine sitting on a pile of Euro's as the picture for this post - I think I decided that I should just start writing rather than mess around with pictures and the design of the blog etc (that decision was made after about 20 minutes of messing around).

Welcome to my blog Budgetopia, where I (The Budgetopian), am going to help you, incredibly attractive and financially exploratory young (and or old) person, get perfect with your pennies. I'll talk a bit more about myself in a while, but firstly, I think it's important to establish what this blog isn't. This includes but isn't limited to:

Follow my advice and I promise you'll be a millionaire in your thirty's!

Buy my cryptocurrency and ride to the moon with me!

Here's 9000 reasons why you're shit and I'm brilliant and you should do exactly as I do!

Warren Buffet is a greasy nerd, why would you listen to him!

Hilarity aside, this blog is an attempt at something I've been wanting to do for a while but haven't quite managed to get myself to the point of actually sitting down and starting. There have been a few other barely attempted writing endeavours (a children's book about medieval knights, a blog about coffee obsession...), and I have even tried teaching people about money in the form of a conceptual model revolving around finance and mental health. The reason I didn't stick to any of these (although to be fair to myself, the conceptual model is a work in progress) was partly because I overthought them to death before they were barely even workable ideas. The real reason though, I now realise, is this:

People didn't NEED any of that (again, with the potential exception of the finance model)

But they DO need this! And so do you! Right now!

So if for some bizarre reason you've stumbled upon this, which I hope at some point you do, give yourself a chance to win with me and stick around. I've covered what this blog won't be, so what the hell is it, who the hell is it for and who the hell am I?

We're going to talk about, in glorious, nerdy, exciting detail:

• Why understanding and controlling your finances matters more now than ever
• Why you probably suck with money and how to fix it
• Earning
• Saving
• Investing
• Spending

And of course...

BUDGETING!

Although funnily enough despite the name of the blog, this won't actually be the main focus (nevertheless, EXTREMELY important), I just thought the name was quite good. 'Funds and Fun' just didn't have the same quirky ring to it.

I've told you already, you! It's for you! You need it NOW!

Let's be honest with each other. In this age of all consuming content, stagnant wages and overpriced freddo's, everybody needs to be making sure they understand and have control over their money. I've heard one time too many over the last few years from people close to me:

I can't afford to get a drink tonight, sorry. Anyone want a Starbucks?

Premium bonds? Are they for kinky bedroom stuff?

Why am I always broke by payday?! I hate my life. Oh well, I'll just go and pack for my 3rd holiday this year.

If you want to take control, understand your money, make it work for you and be able to afford that freddo without feeling guilty, then this blog is unquestionably for you.

We got there in the end. I'm a fifty year old financial guru with over twenty years of experience in finance. I predicted the global financial crisis in 2008 and I was the first person to ever give Elon Musk a Hot Wheels. I knew Bitcoin was coming before the internet was invented and I own approximately seventeen properties in Dubai.

I'm lying. I won't make it a habit - in fact, that'll be the only time, I just find myself quite funny and sometimes feel the need to indulge the sarcasm-seeking part of my brain.

I'm a twenty seven year old currently studying for a career in health care. I've never earned much more than minimum wage (but I have worked a lot) and I rent in London (in a tiny, extremely expensive flat) with my partner, who I'm proud to say I've also turned into a bit of a Budgetopian (we're making this happen). I finished my undergraduate degree with a maxed out student overdraft facility - just over £4000 in the neg. I'd spent the previous three years drinking too much, eating a diet consisting solely of fried chicken burgers and complaining constantly about how I had no money compared to everyone else. I wasn't wrong, I didn't - but if I'd known what I know now, I might have had the occasional vegetable and been able to leave university without such a massive overdraft to pay off, and without the hopeless feeling of not knowing if I'd ever feel anything other than broke.

I wanted more for myself, so I started reading and I started working. And now, I want to share what I've learned with others. There is no shortage of personal finance related content online, often to the overall detriment of individuals trying to actually sort themselves out due to a huge over-exposure to USA-focussed creators amidst a sea of misinformation, scammers and overcomplicators.

Let's make it happen for you. I'd love to get young people based in the UK interested in their finances and taking control of their futures. Stay tuned and get on the bus to Budgetopia.