My name is Richard Edwards. I’m from California.
Let me talk about my financial story from zero.
I was born and live in a family who isn’t rich but the average. I studied some things in my life which helped me to create my wealth.
Don’t me wrong; I am not super rich nor is it my aim. I am just happy I have learned some things, which makes me more joyful.
You can contact me anytime at richard at smartmoneyspending dot com 🙂
How was my early life?
I had very strict parents about money. They planned their money quite well.
We didn’t have Coca-cola, MacDonalds, etc. But I had mountain bike when I was 8. We had everything we needed but not over of it. Priorities.
If I got 7, I got obsessed with go-carts when I first tried it. There were also training, which costs 20% of my father’s salary, so he told me that it’s unthinkable that I attend the training.
Now it’s the part where I realized that there should be something which I could do differently.
Many years later, I got the chance to join carting course.
And you know what?
It turned out that I was talented. I won almost every competition which we had. No matter what, on dry or wet asphalt. My trainer adviced my father to enroll me into state championchip, but we still had same problem which was money.
My father couldn’t get sponsors to lend him money at least boys, with“rich parents,” like I always thought got the change. I was pissed for years and realized that it can’t be all right. They weren’t right, they know much more about money.
I then realized that if you need something, you must go for it by yourself! It turned also out that I am talented in photography. I collected money when I was 15. Over 1.5 years. And I bought myself a camera.
If I look back, it gave me so much motivation for the future. It was a relief. I wanted to go further. I wanted to achieve more to get emotions, which will make me a better person.
I was hungry.
What happened between?
I thought a lot of money. Thanks to different situations. Several of them which were army, college, working from 7 to 22 taught me good points. I started to think about money and my future life.
I got a clear vision; I got smarter about money. I stated to myself that I don’t need money to buy things but need money to do things which I love the most. I wanted emotions. I wanted to give back.
Don’t get me wrong; I won’t tell you what or what not to do. I don’t tell my secrets because there aren’t any secrets. It is in you!
But what I will do is that I hope I will change your mindset about money. That’s the first thing you need to achieve for a better future.
View life as a continuous learning process
I got a loan after I finished high school.
I started to import cars. Drive them and sell with profit. After three years I realized that I need lots of more resource than I did have. Both time and money. I took experiences which I gained and moved on. I sold it. I got knowledge!
What I learned from there about finance?
– How to starts with business
– How business works
– Taxations, knowledge of book-keeping
– Primary knowing of marketing
– How to do a homepage
– How to optimize a web page (if you’re here, then I’m good at it)
Also, a crucial thing I learned is that everything is for a reason! Every person. If I look back, there are so many individuals who had Great power in my life. And some of them even don’t-know it.
Every person in your life is there for a reason!
So, everything you do, you should take as a new experience.
And then
I started to work for a digital agency. Yes, back to 9-5. To get knowledge. But these experiences I gained were priceless. I soon got a better position. I got many offers from competitors. And I chose to get the knowledge.
I started to save money. I made strict rules which was that 30% of debt which I got from the business. 30% I saved and invested.
After three years there, I was in very high position.
And I quit the job.
Why?
Because I had gained very good knowledge. And it was time to start using it on my projects. And I did.
I knew my strengths; I made businesses which added value. And I sold them for money to start even bigger with the other companies.
I also begun to coach, because I had knowledge of what to give to others .I participated in one school and then suddenly I started to visit schools to talk about my life. Even now, several years later, I get thank-you letters.
I started to grow my future.
What to learn?
View life as a continuous experience. Learn from everywhere. Keep your eyes open. There are so many hints to learn. I am very thankful I had right people in my life, and I’m sure that everyone of your life has.
I’ve had awful slumps. Something which is hard to know, what’s they were good. But I’ve managed to get over those. And appreciate more the good times.
Believe me; it is something to want. Let’s start educating ourselves about the future.
I’ve always thought that you don’t need to see the final point, but you need to know the direction. And you must keep your eyes and minds open. Always!
Money doesn’t buy happiness. But you know, if you have money you’ll get the feeling that you don’t live for the money, that’s something great. So it is good to start investing money and time. It’s important to start thinking about your money habits today!
I don’t look for others as a millionaire. I drive an ordinary car and have an average cozy house and a real estate and Stocks. And from outside, I am just another personality; but the much happier because I got smart about money. I can be angel investor to achieve dreams to others. These projects need money, but Smart Money Spending doesn’t.
And it’s all about happiness.
Why this site?
I’ve always been thankful even if I don’t always say it, but I am. I appreciate the different situations in my life. I learned from those.
I have had three random people in my life who lead me to where I am here. One has thought me to respect the nature, second the finance and third freedom. I’ve mixed those to achieve my happiness.
I want to give back. I believe in karma also by the way.
If I can make people happier reading things and helping to make right financial decisions, I’ve done right again.
If you want to find your financial happiness, let go ahead.
Thank you for reading here, you’re in a right way.
Richard
BIO:
Richard is a middle-aged angel, stock, and real-estate investor. Started his financial life from zero, learning from different situations and people in life. Now he is a mentor to others and analyzes different financial things in SmartMoneySpending.com
Contact me on richard (a) smartmoneyspending (dot) com
Where now? Let’s go for investing