10 Questions with Marcia from Proceed Until Apprehended

Today is the 9th edition of our new periodic guest post series called 10 Questions. We have a list of 17 NEW questions we pose to fellow financial bloggers, and they are free to pick and choose 10 or answer all of them. Let us know if you would like to be featured in a future edition of 10 Questions. (If you have already answered the first set of 10 questions, please feel free to answer these new ones.)

Today’s post features Marcia from Proceed Until Apprehended. I don’t even know where to begin with this one. Marcia went a bit nuts and created all of her own questions. I thought this was quite awesome, especially the Harry Potter one.

Marcia is not only skilled with the words, but has some great stories to tell. She has experienced heart breaking tragedy, but has kept her head up and has forged ahead.

So, your blog – what’s up with that?

Good question, I mean really – is there a need for more voices in the blogosphere? I asked myself that same question when I started writing earlier this year, and I’d have to say yes. Because the voice that I’m not hearing much from is my voice – a middle-aged woman in transition, trying to reinvent herself after life threw her some serious curves. And where else can you read about wealth creation, how your stuff traps you, and speed dating all on one site?

So, how does that relate to early retirement?

That’s one of the goals I’m working towards, and planning on in the next couple of years. Some of what I write deals with planning out your lifetime of income, and how to make that happen for yourself. But the financial aspect is just one of several you need to consider. Figuring out to do with the decades in front of you is one, determining how many earthly goods you want to put up with is another. And there’s the whole relationship piece as well. I am enjoying tackling those subjects as I go along and weaving them together into a coherent narrative about navigating midlife.

Why is your blog different from so many others in the financial blogger world?

So much of what’s out there (that I personally spend tons of enjoyable reading time on, mind you) is written by younger people in their 30s and 40s. And mostly men at that. One of my favorites, MrMoneyMustache, launched his blog in 2011…the year I turned 50.

Want to reveal some personal money facts about yourself?

Sure, why not. Here are some personal triumphs that I am really smug about (friends might use words like “insufferable” and “endlessly repetitive”) – a huge thrill for me is that I’ll be finishing off my mortgage this year. Another is that I haven’t had consumer debt ever in life, nor do I ever intend to have any. And I managed to put my child through four years of college without either of us incurring any debt. I think that’s pretty damn good!

So, what exactly do you do for a living anyway?

I help business owners run strong profitable businesses, and help wannabe business owners plan and launch their dream businesses. I run a Small Business Development Center in Oregon; it’s great work.

What’s your very favorite money-related thing to read and write about?

People’s relationship to money. It’s endlessly fascinating. I’ve been a personal finance junkie for decades. And the piece of it that I can’t get enough of is the person-to-concept issue, because who we are and where we’ve been influences our decisions around money. And money decisions have long-lasting ramifications. Getting your shit together now will make or break your later years. And the folks in midlife have fewer years to make up for past mistakes.

Do men and women handle money issues differently?

I think they do, because men and women approach life differently. That’s not a value judgement of better/worse, it’s just an observation of what I’ve seen (remember, I’ve been around for over a half century!). One of my concerns for women is that they take care of everyone else first, and when they finally get around to thinking about themselves they’ve lost the benefit of time. Time for compounding. Time to make up for poor decisions. Their time is running out.

Do you have a favorite money-related resource out there?

I love the calculators on BankRate.com. First, they’re free (it’s a great price!). And there are lots of them (mortgage, savings, investment, etc.), and many of them deal with stuff you didn’t know a calculator could be used for (estimating your FICO score? How much insurance do I need?). Very fun to spend some time on this site.

 What’s your number one financial tip?

Pay attention. Anything you are directing your attention towards get noticed, analyzed, dreamt about, measured…basically this means that you are awake to something. You can’t afford not to be fully awake towards your finances (especially at midlife!), so sit up straight and look them in the eye. Right now. And I’m talking to you.

You love the Harry Potter books, right? If you were a student at Hogwarts – which house would you have been sorted into?

Most probably Hufflepuff. I know that all the cool and brave people are Gryffindors, but sadly I’m not one of them. Here’s what the sorting hat has to say about people like me: “You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true, And unafraid of toil.” Pretty much sums it up.

Thanks Marcia for your submission today! Do look me up if you ever make it to Colorado. I’d love to chat about paying off mortgages, compound interest, and above all, Harry Potter.