Day 19: Financial Success Story: J Money from Budgets Are Sexy

Happy Friday guys! Today I have a special treat — a short interview with the full time blogger J.Money of Budgets are Sexy on his financial success. I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful Friday!

Where do you live?
Washington DC Area

When did you first get interested in your finances?
Hmmm… Well, I’ve always been fascinated by money since I was a kid, but I didn’t really start *paying attention* much until right around my mid-20s (I’m 32 now). We had bought a house at the peak of the housing market without a budget or any money down or anything (it was a total whim!), and 6 months later I realized we needed to be doing better with our money ;) So I started hanging out on a lot of other personal finance blogs out there and got so addicted I started my own! And now, 4 and 1/2 years later, I think and blog about money almost every single day. It never gets old ;)

What is the biggest spending temptation for you?
Really anything that’s spur of the moment. Some days it could be as simple and small as lottery tickets, while others it’s as large (and expensive!) as old coins or antiques. I have a hard time figuring out what a *need* and a *want* is when I’m staring at something I really want bad on the spot. I’d say 75% of the time I’m pretty good about backing away and at least thinking about it overnight, but in times when it’s “now or never” (like at yard sales/auctions/etc) I just have to wing it and hope I don’t get myself into something crazy ;) And luckily I know myself well enough to keep a hoard of cash savings around in case I DO go down the deep end one day!

If you had $100 right now, what would you spend it on?
Probably something coin-related! Haha… like a few American Eagle 1 oz. silver rounds or something ;) Allowing me to both have fun AND invest at the same time! Silver’s $35/oz and who knows how far (or not) it’s gonna go down the road? Whatever else I’d have bought for $100 would more than likely just depreciate (though I will say some nice beer or wine may convince me to halt on the coinage too ;)). I’m a firm believer that whenever anyone gives you money you weren’t counting on, you should totally do something nice for yourself or others with it. We spend too much time keeping track and budgeting all our “regular” money as it is, so this is the one time we can not feel guilty about splurging!

What would you say is your biggest success / accomplishment in your finances?
Probably making enough money to work for myself full-time and get rid of my old 9-5. I didn’t think it was ever possible when starting my blog so many years ago (I didn’t even know what a blog was??), but as time went on I got hungrier and hungrier and decided that being a full-time blogger was my #1 mission in the end – even if I had to work 16+ hour days to get there. And now here we are answering really fun interview questions while at home in my boxers ;) Haha… just kidding, just kidding. I’m actually naked.

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Tie between Mint Chocolate Chip and Rocky Road!

Thanks, for sharing J.Money! If you want to check out more of his financial opinions, visit his blog at Budgets Are Sexy. Have a great Friday everyone!

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This is day 19 of a 31 day series on Financial Freedom. Click here for more posts! Thanks for reading – have a great weekend!