Well, It has been a few days since opening up and building the actual blog so I figured it was time to say hello to any of you who may be reading. Reader-ship is small right now, but maybe that is an opportunity for me to practice my blogging skills. Hopefully though, it won't be too long until I get a few commenters stirring up discussion!
I am the infamous Dividend Kid. As my description states, I am a 21 year old kid who seeks to create a life of financial independence via passive income. The accumulation and growth of quality dividend yielding stocks will be the main source of income and this is my journey. But thats kinda boring isn't it? While for the purposes of this blog, my name shall remain "Dividend Kid" thats not to say my life is shrouded in secrecy.
I am a full time student who is studying Business Marketing and Business Management at Arizona State University. I love school. It is such a great opportunity to not only to learn about yourself, but to invest in yourself in more ways that you could imagine. I am a member of more than a few clubs on campus and couldn't be happier entering into my 3rd year of schooling. Club involvement is a large part of my life. I believe very strongly that college is a time to accrue experiences. So far this has been a very large part of my time at ASU and will continue to be in the near future.
I am an athlete (or so I would like to think). Multiple years of soccer, basketball, football, track, crew rowing, and sand volleyball litter my athletic record. After leaving for school I found maintaining my active lifestyle was an absolute necessity to staying on track. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, and some truly aggressive games of ultimate frisbee are enjoyed during my free time. It wouldn't be college if you didn't enjoy yourself, hell if you don't enjoy it, you are doing it wrong! A few of these things such as hiking, are completely free. A word you will come to love as someone living frugally.
I am fortunate. First and foremost I will say that I would not be where I am today without the help of my parents and grandparents. The value of a dollar was taught to me by my grandfather in my early childhood. Many years ago, around the age of 6 or so, I was paid twenty whole dollars to stack a load of firewood. I have been told I was quite exited to spend that money on candy or the like but was promptly dissuaded. My Papa (grandfather) told me that if I leave the money with him in the old ash tray it would grow. He did not know it, but right then my grandfather had created a financially responsible 6 year old. Just like that I had made my first twenty dollars and learned about compounding interest. When I returned my grandparents had "deposited" their left over change in my "account". I was ecstatic. All I had to do was wait a little and 'BOOM' more money. I did not do anything to earn that extra money (does this sound like a dividend yet?). That first twenty dollars is my earliest memory of earning money and I would like to think that has helped me get to where I am today just as my family has.
I am frugal. A cheap ass as many of my friends would say, but I disagree. Whereas many of my peers have no problem spending $100 on a night out I just can not waste money in such irresponsible ways. In a normal work day of eight hours at a wage of $12.5/hr you make $100. Was that night partying worth a full day of work? These are questions you have to ask yourself when you make decisions. Is that new toy I want worth 'X' hours of my life? Thats the question that normally gets me. Every purchase in life is a decision. Do you need it? YES/NO, often times being frugal and saving money is that simple. This though, as you might imagine is often times at odds with the idea of accruing experiences as experiences often times cost money. I will definitely go into this topic more in a future article though so don't worry if you want to hear more.
But you call yourself the Dividend Kid, what about all the dividends?
The Dividends are coming, you'll just have to check in next week.
I am a 21 year old kid who seeks to create a life of financial independence via passive income. The accumulation and growth of quality dividend yielding stocks will be the main source of income and this is my journey
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