My name is Jacqueline – but my friends and family call me Jacq – if you’re here, that means you’re my cyber acquaintance, so you can call me whatever you want since I have a pretty thick skin.
I’m 46 years old and have two great boys who are 24 and 11. They are as different as chalk and cheese. The oldest is unflappable and unmaterialistic, the youngest is a super-saver salesperson. I call the oldest The Buddha and the youngest The Dumpster Diver. One keeps me thinking, the other keeps me laughing (and negotiating).
I also have two one fur kids – a 4 year old golden retriever and an octogenarian cat with attitude (don’t they all?) (Fluffy got cancer at 18 and I had to put him to sleep – hardest thing I’ve ever done). I’m a lone woman in a sea of testosterone – except the pets are neutered.
I’m trained as an accountant but spent years trying not to be an accountant because I’ve always had a huge number of interests and a desire to escape from the 9-5 life. This led to years of underearning, financial and mental struggle. It wasn’t until my late 30′s that I embraced my inner geek-accountant, embraced the idea of financial independence and realized that it was okay to be great at something that didn’t change the world and definitely wasn’t glamorous. It was only then that my career took off and I started saving like gang busters.
Fortunately, my hobbies and interests aren’t very expensive (except the skiing) – lots and lots of reading, investing, blogging (of course), hiking, a bit of travel in the RV, time with pets and kids.
My goals for the next year or so are completely up in the air.
Above all, what financial independence has bought me has been the ability to have choices. To work because I want to work, not because I have to. To not have to put up with any B.S. when I do choose to work. To take time off and travel just because I want to. To have enough money to not worry about any curve balls the future may bring. That’s what I wish for all of you too.
