After braces and upon graduation, my orthodontist gave me two important lessons, one, on the power of your thoughts, and two, in the power of investing. He gave me As a Man Thinketh by James Allen and said that he was a huge fan of his Charles Schwab advisor. (We also had a very long conversation about how it’s never worth buying a new car unless you’re going to drive it for at least 8 years.)

I went out and Charles Schwab’s book and had my first real understanding of the stock market, the history of the stock market, and investing. I was 18 years old and I suddenly had no fear of a market that my mother had likened unto “gambling.” (More on my mother later, she taught me invaluable lessons on “never pay interest” and living below your means.)

So this blog is dedicated to anyone who wants to talk more about money, investing, saving, spending, and the pursuit of a comfortable life. I’ve read just about everything on personal finance and am a bit of a junkie. I love it, so, kick off your shoes, pull up a seat and let’s talk about the thing we need to live our lives, and how to do that without the money-mental-obsession taking over. I practice what I preach, and I’m growing my net worth, slowly but surely, year over year. So come along, share with me how you’re growing yours!

Xo, Trish Munroe