My Financial Awakening at a Dive Bar in Chicago
Look, I’m gonna be honest with you. I used to be that guy. The one who’d walk into a bank, smile at the teller, and say, “Just tell me what to do.” I trusted these people. I mean, they had degrees, right? They wore suits. They smelled nice. Who was I to argue?
Then, about three months ago, I was at this dive bar in Chicago—let’s call it O’Malley’s, though that’s not its real name—having a drink with an old college buddy named Marcus. He’s a software engineer, basically a genius with numbers. We’re talking over beers, and he says to me, “You know, Dave, you’re smarter than your financial advisor.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
I mean, honestly, it’s not like I was losing money or anything. But I wasn’t gaining it either. My committment to financial literacy was, well, nonexistent. I was just kinda floating along, hoping for the best. And that’s not how life works, folks. You gotta take control.
Why I Decided to DIY My Finances
So, I started reading. A lot. I read books, blogs, forums—anything I could get my hands on. I learned about investing, about budgeting, about the importance of an emergency fund. And you know what? It wasn’t that hard. It was just… yeah. It was a lot of information, but it was all out there, waiting for me to find it.
And let me tell you, the more I learned, the more I realized how much of a scam the “expert” thing is. I’m not saying all financial advisors are bad people. But I am saying that you shouldn’t just hand over your life savings to someone because they have a fancy title. You gotta be involved. You gotta care.
The Time I Almost Bought a Cryptocurrency I Knew Nothing About
Speaking of caring, let me tell you about the time I almost made a huge mistake. It was last Tuesday, and I was scrolling through my Twitter feed—don’t judge me—when I saw this tweet about some new cryptocurrency. The tweet said it was gonna be the next big thing, that it was gonna make early investors millionaires. And I was like, “Oh, hell yeah. I’m in.”
But then I stopped. I thought about it. I thought about how I knew nothing about this cryptocurrency. I thought about how I’d just read an article on trending topics popular discussions about how people were getting scammed left and right in the crypto world. And I thought, “Nah. I’m not falling for that.”
So, I didn’t buy it. And you know what? I’m glad I didn’t. Because two days later, that cryptocurrency was exposed as a complete scam. People lost millions. But not me. I was safe.
My Financial Routine Now
These days, I have a routine. Every Sunday, I sit down with my laptop and I go over my finances. I check my investments, I look at my budget, I make sure I’m on track. It’s not glamorous, but it’s necessary. And it’s empowering, honestly. I feel like I’m in control of my life, you know?
And I’m not saying you should do exactly what I do. Everyone’s situation is different. But I am saying that you should take the time to learn about your money. You should take the time to understand it. Because it’s your money, after all. It’s your future.
A Quick Note on Banking
Oh, and banks? Yeah, they’re not your friends. They’re businesses. They’re there to make money, not to help you. So, don’t be afraid to shop around. Don’t be afraid to switch banks if you find a better deal. And don’t be afraid to ask questions. Lots of them.
I remember when I first started asking questions, I felt kinda stupid. I mean, these were basic things, right? But the more I asked, the more I realized that no question is a stupid question. And the more I asked, the more I learned.
Why I’m Writing This
So, why am I telling you all this? Well, I guess it’s because I’m tired of seeing people get taken advantage of. I’m tired of seeing people hand over their hard-earned money to people who don’t care about them. I’m tired of seeing people live in fear of their finances.
It doesn’t have to be that way. You can take control. You can learn. You can succeed. You just have to be willing to put in the work. And honestly, it’s not that hard. It’s just… yeah. It’s a lot of reading, a lot of learning, a lot of trial and error. But it’s worth it. It’s so worth it.
So, do yourself a favor. Start learning. Start caring. Start taking control. Your future self will thank you.
About the Author
John “Johnny” Thompson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years, with a focus on personal finance and investing. When he’s not writing, he’s probably arguing about baseball or trying to convince his wife to adopt another cat. He lives in Chicago with his family and way too many pets.
