When I was younger, my mom once asked me a question that really helps you understand yourself a bit better, and what your values are.

Although it may not seem so blatant and in-your-face, money is the currency of the experiences and material goods that we assign value to.

She asked me if I had a million dollars (yeah yeah, a cool million isn’t that much nowadays–can’t even buy a detached house in Vancouver for that, really), what would I spend it on?  Let’s play ‘pretend’ for a bit.

If you had a million dollars and could only concentrate it on ONE area below, what would you spend it on? (the other areas in your life would be lacklustre to say the least)

The options are:

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2009 is coming to an end.  I can’t believe it’s been a year already… I can’t believe we’re heading into 2010!

(Vancouver is going to be a gong show in 2010, by the way with the Olympics.  I just know it.)

Here’s an update on my financial status:

Total Net Worth: $79,300

Here’s the breakdown:

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Rich Dad Poor Dad

By: Robert Kiyosaki

Rich Dad Poor Dad is the “quintessential” book for every person interested in personal finance, it seems.  Everyone has heard of it.  If you haven’t, you’ve probably been living under a rock.  I have read a few financial books and have always wanted to read Rich Dad Poor Dad, especially since I see their free conventions/ seminars being hosted here so often (haven’t gone to one, but I hear they are ploy to make you buy their merchandise and classes…)

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Okay, so I’m entering the blogging world.  And am here to talk about money.  And saving.  And I am young.  Hence the title of my website “Young and Thrifty”… kinda like “the young and the restless”.  Catchy huh?  Thought you’d like that.

So, it seems like the average “Generation Y” guy or gal doesn’t know what an RRSP is.

Most of my friends tell me “it’s a mutual fund”.  So that’s why i am here.  To try and explain that it is not a mutual fund, but it can hold a mutual fund.  And explain much much more about that elusive and tangible thing, money (and how to save it)!

One of the other reasons I decided to make this website is that my sisters (er… they are 21 and 23 respectively, and yes, they are a bit sheltered), didn’t know the difference between a debit and credit card.

Yes, I know that is a bit extreme, but I plan to write about the very basics to the higher level in terms of saving, investing, etc. etc.  because we didn’t get taught about money in school.  And our parents (bless their baby boomer hearts) worked so hard so that we could live in excess and take everything for granted and not work a day in our lives and not know “what the value of a dollar” is.