I am embarrassed.

For both myself, and also for our country. I endured a fairly normal education: I graduated from high school, went to a 2 year college, and then on to a university to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

So I was a little startled when, after starting my first career-related job after college, I was presented with something I knew absolutely nothing about: a 401(k). Now that I’m well into my career, and have accumulated enough personal finance know-how to understand the difference between a 401(k) and an IRA, I’m embarrassed. I’m embarrassed because our education system has failed me in a very important way: I graduated with a 4 year degree, basically financially illiterate. Through most of college, I managed my money the only way I knew how: by the seat of my pants. For the past several years I’ve done a little better because I make more money, but when I realized that it is now 2008, and I’ve been out of college for a decade now, I decided that enough is enough. I’m ready to do what it takes to be responsible with my money. I’m ready to be humble and learn what needs to be learned, and do what I can to try and ensure I can retire with some comfort. In short, I’m ready to make up for what I didn’t learn in college or high school.

So, I guess this means I won’t be purchasing that HDTV before the Superbowl this year. Bummer.

I’ve been reading a few books, and am ready to put good advice into practice. I intend to use this blog to document my progress – to let the world know how I’m doing, whether good, bad, or otherwise.