My Two Dollars
By: Joe Taylor | January 22, 2009
What My Two Dollars is all about
(bettertrades) - Because of the often cut-throat nature of Wall Street, investors are often looking to take a break from the high octane world of trading. Every now and again, traders need to be reminded that there is a world outside of Wall Street.
My-two-dollars is a personal finance blog, placing special emphasis on living within your means. My-two-dollars is a narrative of personal stories from a common investor who lets a fund manager do his investing. The readership at my two dollars consists of people who can relate to a rejection of a consumer driven society.
My two dollars is a personal narrative, revealing the day-to-day goings-on of someone trying to live in an increasingly consumer-driven society.
The author of my-two-dollars chooses not to invest, instead leaving it to professionals. He used to be a 9-5 corporate guy but found that he, much like many others, found the blogging medium a more personal and fulfilling venture to engage in. Now, David offers ways to be smart about your money. There are a multitude of ways to save money that people don't know about; David wants you to realize that it doesn't take a professional to realize there are simple things everyone can do to make life a little easier.
Better Trades Interview
How long have you been blogging?
I started My Two Dollars in November of 2006, but I have been blogging/writing online for about a year longer than that on other sites.
What got your started blogging?
To be honest, I was bored at work and wanted something to do - and it turned into a business. I have always enjoyed writing, and finding my voice (and an audience) in the blogging world has been a dream come true.
What is the focus of your blog, i.e. how does it set you apart from the other bloggers out there?
I focus a lot on living a reasonable life; one filled with many things more than just trying to be rich or one up your neighbors. One big thing that I think sets me apart from some other bloggers is that I tell personal stories; there aren't a lot of us that get into the nitty gritty of where we came from, what we did to fix it, and where we are headed. Plus, I have very strong opinions and I don't really mind sharing them.
What is it you hope a reader will come away with when they visit your blog?
A sense of "Hey, I am not alone in feeling this way". I want my readers to realize that they can do whatever they want in life, and not to worry about what everyone else might think of them or their purpose.
Do you like to be edgy in your posts and try and stir up some controversy?
Yes and no. I do talk some politics and I do have strong opinions, but sometimes I get comments back that are a bit harsh about my family and such. So yes, I do try to be a little edgy, but I have toned it back a little to spare my family.
If yes?Do you think it being edgy gives you a boost in subscribers?
Well, I would like to think so. Honestly, if all I wanted was general news, I could just watch the news. I like blogs with opinion and stories to share; it makes them more interesting and worthwhile of spending time reading.
About the Author
What would you like our readers to know about you?
That I am a guy who used to work the corporate 9-5 gig and got out; anyone can do it with the right amount of work and a little luck. And now I work harder running all my web properties than I did before I did this full time - nights, weekends, vacations, while traveling, while out to dinner. My wife sometimes gets tired of me not being without my iPhone, but being my own boss and making my own hours gives us a lot of flexibility that we both appreciate. I am an easy-going, outdoorsy guy who loves to get his hands dirty. Life to me is worth much more than a paycheck or how much I have in the bank.
It's your blog and you've invested so much time into it. Is there a personal connection in your writing to your end users, or do you strictly write what interests you?
I write for both myself and my readers, depending on the topic. Writing also reminds me of things I need to do, and putting them on "paper" forces me to get certain things done or face looking like a hypocrit. I also try to find topics that will interest my readers. The longer I write the site the more I get to know what my readers are looking for through their comments and emails. Also, the thank you's I get once in a while keep me going too.
Do you trade the markets? If so, when did you start to trade?
I don't. I am a set it and forget it guy. I am not after the biggest return or the largest stockpile, so I do my retirement accounts and mutual fund investing automatically through TRowePrice. When I was younger I got involved in buying and selling stocks, and only made money on one buy/sell. I think that told me I should leave the investing to the pros.
If a turnaround, when do you see that happening?
I don't see 2009 being a turnaround year as I think it will take longer than that. I believe people will hold on to their money tightly through the year, and maybe, just maybe, they might think about this downturn in the future when things are good again. We could not have continued on our spending spree (both public and private) the way we had been and it was bound to come crashing down eventually. Hopefully some of us will learn a little from this economic slump. But I won't hold my breath. One can dream...
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