Why is the website named README.money?
If you've ever worked with source code, you probably know that the README file is often the only useful documentation available to orient yourself to a project or codebase.
I like to think of this website as a README file for personal finance — concise and practical information that orients tech workers to a subject that is not usually their area of focus.
Also, the domain name was available and I think it really rolls off the tongue. Try saying it out loud: "Read me money" (the dot is silent).
Who needs this website?
Tech workers who aren't confident in how they are managing their money.
In particular, if you don't learn the basics, you might be screwing up your finances (and your future plans). Educate yourself!
Some indicators this website might be useful to you:
- You're not sure if you've set up your 401k, IRAs, or insurance policies correctly
- You're nervous about the current stock market conditions
- You're skeptical of your financial advisor's advice or of how much you're paying them
- You haven't given much thought to your savings rate, investments or asset allocation
Does this information apply to people who don't work in tech?
Yes, the principles described on this website apply to virtually all American workers. As long as non-techies can sit through the constant references to software engineers and Silicon Valley, and ignore details that aren't relevant to them, the information will still be applicable.
That said, the information and its presentation were optimized for tech workers. It will be most useful to younger workers who are well-paid, have good job mobility, and good benefits packages (often including bonuses and stock grants).
That description might not fit you perfectly, but if you’re a tech worker, you’re probably closer to it than you are to the average American. If you're not a tech worker, you'll still learn a lot.
How does this website compare to other financial blogs?
This site was designed specifically for tech workers, by a tech worker like you.
Most financial information is written for a general audience. As a software engineer, I have spent a lot of time wading through this advice, figuring out which portions applied to me, and filling in the gaps when it didn't.
Frankly, tech workers are in different circumstances than the average person. Learning about personal finance from a website targeted at tech workers makes it faster and easier to get up to speed.
Who are you?
I'm a thirty-something software engineer currently working at a big tech (FAANG) company. I'm not yet financially independent, but should be within the next ten years based on my own estimates.
I can relate to a lot of different tech workers due to my experience — I've been in tech for more than ten years in different job functions; have worked on both the east and west coasts for companies big and small; have managed and mentored tech workers; and have helped friends and colleagues with their career and financial planning.
I prefer not to use my name or specific details on this site to avoid my full-time work world colliding with my free-time personal finance world.
Why should I trust you?
First, I want to be clear that I'm not a financial/tax advisor or finance professional of any kind. I don't hold any certification and I don't know you or your personal situation.
That said, I became fascinated by personal finance in 2015 when making some changes to my 401k, and have been researching the subject ever since. I have spent hundreds of hours reading books, taking courses, reading blogs and forums, playing with spreadsheets, and talking to friends and family about it (sometimes to their chagrin ;).
Think of me like a colleague who spends his free time nerding out on some subject you don't know much about. Learn from me and consider my ideas, but don't just blindly trust me.
Can you give me personal advice?
No. Personal finance is personal. I don't know you, and given my full-time job, I don't have time to get to know you. I'm also not a financial advisor and don't hold any relevant professional certification. See the disclaimer in the footer.
That said, if you're struggling to grasp a personal finance concept or have a question that you feel isn't covered on the website, feel free to drop me a line at faq@readmemoney.com.
I'll do my best to help!
How does this website make money?
It doesn't. I don’t make a cent from this website and I pay the costs myself.
I am curious about eventually finding some way to generate revenue from the site to allow myself to spend even more time thinking about personal finance. But honestly, I make a good living as a software engineer and don't need to post gimmicky ads or something like that.
I'll update this FAQ if I ever do add some revenue-generating feature to the site.
How can I give my feedback about this site?
I'm interested in hearing your thoughts, regardless of whether they are positive, negative or just small corrections. Please be respectful though :)
How did you make this website?
I try to focus on the content for this site more than the technology. But as a software engineer, I feel like I'd be breaking some kind of unwritten law if I didn't share the tech stack:
- Posts are written in Markdown
- The graphs are created with Chartjs and some custom javascript
- The site is generated with Pelican and the theme CSS is forked from Bootswatch
- The site is hosted on Netlify