FI Minded - Financial Independence Without the Extremes
FI Minded is a podcast about pursuing financial independence without extreme sacrifice. It discusses topics like Coast FI, Slow FI, lifestyle design, career transitions, healthcare, and self-employment. The show aims to help listeners think like someone who is already financially independent, making smarter decisions about work, spending, and living. It features interviews with guests and explores the tradeoffs of big money decisions while encouraging a balanced approach to life.
Episodes
Fast-Track Your Way to Financial Independence With This Plan | E203 Cody Berman
The Slow FI movement has changed the way many of us think about financial independence. Instead of rushing to the finish line, more people are prioritizing balance, flexibility, and enjoying life along the way.But what if you're in a season where you actually want to accelerate?Maybe you're motivated to leave a stressful job, create more options for your family, or simply reach financial independe
How Many Years of Freedom Does Your Car Cost? | E202 Hanna Horvath
Most people can quickly tell you what they love spending money on: travel, concerts, hobbies, or trying new restaurants.But almost no one gets excited about paying for their car.Yet transportation is one of the biggest expenses most households have. Between car payments, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and depreciation, the average American spends more than $11,000 each year to own and operate a veh
How to Reach Financial Independence in 10 Years | E201 Chris Luger
Most people want to reach financial independence faster.We talk about enjoying the journey, and that matters, but if there’s a way to get there in 10 or 15 years instead of 25, it’s hard to ignore.The question is: what actually moves the needle?In this episode, I sit down with Chris Luger from Heavy Metal Money, who reached financial independence in a decade. But what makes Chris’s story compellin
What 200 Episodes Taught Me About Financial Independence | E200 Joe Saul-Sehy
Six years. 200 episodes. And a lot has changed along the way.After years of working, saving, and building toward financial independence, this milestone episode comes at a meaningful moment — just weeks after stepping away from corporate work. What once felt like a distant goal is now something much more real and a lot more nuanced than expected.Looking back on the journey from Episode 100 to now,
When Productivity Becomes the Problem | E199 Doug Cunnington
For years, productivity felt like a superpower.It helped you earn more, save more, and move faster toward financial independence. It becomes part of your identity. The reason you feel like you’re “on track.”But what happens when that same skill starts working against you?As you get closer to FI, it becomes harder to tell the difference between productive effort and unnecessary optimization. And fo
What to Do in Your Final Year Before Retirement | E198 Fritz Gilbert
Retirement can feel like a finish line, but when it gets close, it often feels more like a transition you’re not fully prepared for.After years of saving, planning, and imagining what life could look like, the final year of work is when things start to get real. And that’s when a lot of people realize: dreaming about retirement is very different from actually stepping into it.Drawing from ideas in
What Our Wedding Taught Us About Money | E197 Gaby Deimeke
Weddings are one of the most emotionally charged financial decisions you’ll ever make.You’re spending a large amount of money in a short period of time, making dozens of decisions — all while balancing your own priorities, your partner’s preferences, and outside expectations.And after getting married in February, I realized something:This wasn’t just a wedding…it was a real-life experiment in how
Retiring Before 50? Here’s What You Need to Know | E196 Jesse Cramer
If you’re planning to retire early, there’s something most people don’t realize:Early retirement isn’t just “normal retirement…earlier.”Most financial advice is built around retiring at 65 with a 25–30 year time horizon, Medicare coverage, and limited tax planning flexibility.But if you’re aiming to retire in your 40s or 50s, the rules change.Your retirement could last 40–50+ years. You’ll need to
You’re FI, But Still Obsessed with Making More Money | E195 Justin David Carl
If you’ve been pursuing financial independence for a while, there’s a good chance you’ve built your identity around progress — earning more, saving more, optimizing everything.That mindset is what gets you to FI.But what happens when you get close…or even cross the finish line?For a lot of high achievers, they don’t slow down. They keep chasing. They move the goalposts. They look for the next numb
Tiny Quits That Build Toward Full FI | E194 Jess, The Fioneers
Financial independence doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing leap — it’s a spectrum, and you can start practicing freedom now. In this episode, I continue the conversation with Jess from The Fioneers, exploring “tiny quits” — low-risk experiments you can take to reclaim time, protect your energy, and build confidence without derailing your FI plan.We discuss practical ways to negotiate your work, c
The Emotional Cost of Ignoring Burnout While Pursuing FI | E193 Jess, The Fioneers
For many people pursuing financial independence, discovering compounding interest is the moment everything clicks.You start earning more, saving aggressively, and letting your investments grow. The math works, the plan is clear, and the finish line feels achievable.But wealth isn’t the only thing that compounds. Burnout does too.And if you ignore it long enough, it eventually catches up to you.In
Fridays: The Best Place to Begin Practicing Financial Freedom | E192
As I got closer to financial independence, I realized something strange: I had more financial freedom than ever, but I still wasn’t using my time any differently.It forced me to ask a bigger question: if the goal of FI is freedom with your time, why was I still waiting to start living that way?In this solo episode, I share why Fridays might be the best place to begin practicing financial independe
Why Roth Contributions Are Overrated for Financial Independence | E191 Cody Garrett
For years, I assumed Roth contributions were the smarter move. Pay the taxes now, enjoy tax-free growth later, and never worry about future tax hikes. It felt simple and responsible. But during my highest-earning years, that mindset was quietly slowing down my progress toward financial independence.Financial planner and tax expert Cody Garrett explains why Traditional contributions often outperfor
The Hardest Skill in FI: Knowing When to Stop | E190 Joel Larsgaard
The FI community is incredibly good at effort, optimization, and doing hard things for a long time. But somewhere along the way, many of us forget how to stop. Even after gaining more control over our time, we fill it back up with projects, commitments, and expectations, leaving us busy, tired, and quietly stretched thin.Joel Larsgaard shares what it looked like to recognize that “doing it all” wa
Divorce Lawyer Reveals the Reasons Marriages Fail (and How to Prevent Them) | E189 Aaron Thomas
Most people enter marriage with optimism and good intentions, but very few understand what actually causes relationships to fall apart over time. After spending 15 years inside divorce courtrooms and watching more than a thousand marriages unravel, today’s guest reached a blunt conclusion that challenges everything we’re taught about marriage and money.Aaron Thomas, divorce lawyer, Harvard Law gra
4 Rules That Will Help You Spend Money Without Stress & Regret | E188
If you’re great at saving money but feel anxious, guilty, or uncomfortable spending it, I want to share 4 spending principles that have helped me.Many people pursuing financial independence don’t struggle with discipline. They struggle with permission. We have endless advice on saving and investing, but far less guidance on how to actually enjoy the money we’re working so hard to build.In this epi
How to Create a 3-Day Workweek (Before You Reach FI) | E187 Andy Hill
Everyone only gets 168 hours each week, and work quietly consumes the best of them. When careers sprawl into nights and weekends, health, relationships, and joy are usually the first things sacrificed. This conversation is about reclaiming time before burnout forces the decision for you, and proving that you don’t need full financial independence to start living with more freedom right now.Andy Hi
What’s on Your FI Bucket List? | E186
If you’ve ever felt stuck somewhere between the excitement of starting your FI journey and the reality that the finish line is still years away, this episode will give you a practical way to stay motivated. You’ll learn how a FI Bucket List can immediately add meaning, momentum, and enjoyment to the process—no matter where you are on the path. This isn’t about spending more money; it’s about inten
End-of-Life & Estate Planning With Your Parents (In A Compassionate Way) | E185 Tess Waresmith
Talking about end-of-life planning is one of the hardest conversations we’ll ever have, but also one of the most important. Whether you’re pursuing financial independence or already work-optional, someone in your life will eventually rely on you to make decisions on their behalf. And without clarity, that responsibility becomes emotionally heavy, financially stressful, and often filled with guessw
50/30/20 Budget: Does This Popular Guideline Actually Work for FI Seekers? | E184
Are FI seekers supposed to follow the 50/30/20 budget guideline — or is it completely irrelevant when you’re pursuing financial independence? In this solo episode, Justin walks through five years of his own spending data to find out how closely his real-life budget aligned with this popular personal finance rule of thumb.You’ll learn what the 50/30/20 rule was originally designed for, where it bre
Smart Frugality: The Frugal Mindset That Actually Feels Good | E183 JC Rodriguez
Cutting costs can help you reach financial independence faster, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of your happiness. The real key is smart frugality: spending intentionally on what adds value and confidently cutting what doesn’t.In this episode, I’m joined by JC Rodriguez, financial coach and creator of The Frugal Rich, to explore how to build a values-based spending system that feels good, las
3 Hidden Traps That Make FIRE Feel Empty | E182 Jordan Grumet
FIRE was never meant to be the finish line. It was supposed to be the launchpad. But somewhere along the way, we started chasing optimization instead of meaning.In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Grumet (Doc G), author of The Purpose Code and host of the Earn & Invest Podcast, to explore how the FIRE movement can sometimes turn from a tool for freedom into a trap that leaves people feelin
How to Find a Side Hustle You’ll Love (and Stick With) | E181 Nick Loper
Everyone talks about starting a side hustle, but few talk about how to pick the right one. The one that fits your skills, your lifestyle, and your FI goals.Nick Loper, host of The Side Hustle Show, joins me again to share smart ways to find a side hustle that actually fits your life, skills, and Financial Independence goals.We explore creative frameworks like “Rip, Pivot, and Jam,” “Intersection,”
Optimal Tax Strategies for Your Early Retirement | E180 Cody Garrett & Sean Mullaney
It might have been monsters under the bed, shadows in the corner, or creepy dementors from Harry Potter. We all had irrational fears growing up.Mine was creepy dolls. After watching a movie called Teacher’s Pet, I became so terrified of dolls that my dad had my sister box up hers and store them in the basement.I’ll be honest, I’m still not a huge fan of dolls, but I’ve mostly outgrown that fear. A
Is Saving Too Much Holding You Back? | E179 Jesse Cramer
I’m in this strange in-between stage right now, somewhere between Coast FI and Full FI. And I often feel pulled back and forth between spender and saver, current me and future me, speeding up and slowing down. It’s a little exhausting, I have to admit.A few years ago, things felt simpler because I was in full accumulation mode. Most of my decisions came down to one thing: delay spending so I could
Why Buying Less Might Be the Next Step in Your FI Journey | E178 Ashlee Piper
I was reviewing my spending for the first half of 2025 and noticed something interesting: excluding routine bills, groceries, and experiences, I only bought 25 new things this year, totaling about $1,400. For six months, that felt pretty solid. But it also got me wondering… could I go even further?That curiosity came to a head when the nozzle on my garden hose started leaking. My first instinct wa
Mini-Retirements: Retire Often, Not Just Early | E177 Jillian Johnsrud
We’re all waiting for the day we hit financial independence. That’s when we’ll finally quit our jobs and have time to learn a new hobby, start that house project, take longer vacations, or prioritize our health.You probably have a list of things you’re saving for after FI—but what if you don’t want to wait another decade to start? Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. The challenge is that your career eats u
How to Save Thousands on Groceries (Without Giving Anything Up) | E176 Bryan Suddith
If you're on the path to financial independence, you know every dollar adds up. An extra $1,000 a year might not sound like much, but early in your FI journey, that kind of savings can seriously accelerate your timeline. And if you’re already FI, trimming $1,000 in expenses lowers your FIRE number and helps your nest egg last longer.The best part? I’m not asking you to start a side hustle or cut o
Shifting Away from a “Save-Only” Mindset | E175 Matt & Yana - CoastFI Couple
Today, we dive into some of the biggest questions our community has about money, relationships, and raising kids on the path to financial independence.Matt and Yana from CoastFI Couple share their honest experience with shifting from a strict save-only mindset to learning how to enjoy their money after reaching Coast FI.We talk about how even couples who agree on big-picture goals can still face d
How to Get the Courage to Travel More Adventurously | E174 Jon Otero
My first big trip abroad was in 2015. I had just graduated from college the week before and wanted to do something fun. So my girlfriend and I flew to Europe and visited Prague, Paris, and Barcelona. It was a blast, and it left a lasting impression. Since then, I’ve traveled to 10 more countries.Lately, I’ve been getting more comfortable with international travel, and I’m starting to feel the itch
Money Moves That Sound Smart…But Aren’t (Part 2) | E173
Some money moves sound smart…until you actually try them.This is Part 2 of our special series where six personal finance experts share strategies that sound smart but rarely are. In this episode, you’ll hear from:Larry McMahon (Uncontrollable Me) on why doing everything yourself can be a costly mistakeSean Mullaney (FI Tax Guy) on when Traditional 401(k) contributions might not be the best choiceJ
Money Moves That Sound Smart…But Aren’t (Part 1) | E172
Some financial strategies sound really smart…until they aren’t.In part one of this special two-part series, we’re diving into real stories from personal finance pros who once made money moves that seemed like great ideas... but turned out to be anything but.You’ll hear honest reflections from:Diana Merriam (EconoMe) on the allure, and pitfalls, of credit card churningJesse Cramer (Personal Finance
You’re Great at Saving. Here’s How to Get Great at Giving (FI Style) | E171 Spencer Reese
The Financial Independence community is great at saving and investing — but what about giving?In this episode, I talk with Spencer Reese from Military Money Manual about how to make generosity part of your FI plan without derailing your financial goals. We explore how charitable giving can reduce your taxes, align with your values, and help you overcome money scarcity by building an abundance mind
How to Live a FI Life Without the FI Bank Account | E170 Jess from Fioneers
Why are you chasing financial independence?It could be living a more adventurous life filled with travel or doing work you love, regardless of the pay. Whatever your dream looks like, it probably comes down to two things: freedom and flexibility.We want to be in the driver’s seat of our lives. And we know money is one of the biggest obstacles standing in the way. So we save, invest, and make sacri
What If You Had the Opportunity to Reinvent Yourself? | E169
What would you do if you had to start over, completely from scratch?In this episode, I share the wild true story of Audrey, a woman who vanished in 1962 and was just found alive, 63 years later. Her story sparked a thought experiment: if you had to reinvent yourself, new city, new career, new hobbies, what path would you choose?We’ll explore what reinvention could look like through the lens of fin
Travel Hacks to Upgrade Your Next Vacation (Without Spending More) | E168 Chris Hutchins
I get why some people aren’t into traveling. Long flights crammed in a middle seat, overpriced hotels that smell like smoke, and being miles away from the city center - none of that screams “dream vacation.”Now, I’m past the days of budget airlines and sketchy motels but I’m also not flying first class with lay-down seats or staying in luxury hotels in the city center that leave chocolates on the
How to Start a Side Hustle in One Month | E167 Nick Loper
For most of us pursuing financial independence, the math is pretty straightforward: earn more, spend less, and invest the difference. But what if you could speed things up and discover a new passion along the way?That’s where side hustles come in. Not only can they give your FI plan a serious income boost, but they also let you explore projects that could become meaningful ventures in your post-FI
The Tariffs You Should Really Be Paying Attention To | E166
Tariffs aren’t just for global trade - you can apply the concept to your personal life to protect your time, energy, and values.As we gain more financial freedom, how we spend and make money should evolve too. In this short and reflective episode, I explore the idea of personal tariffs and how I have applied this to things that may seem like a good deal on the surface, but actually come at a hidde
You’re Financially Free But It Doesn’t Feel Like It | E165 Shannah Game
You’ve run the numbers a hundred times. You’ve built the spreadsheets, projected the growth, and calculated your safe withdrawal rate down to the decimal. On paper, money isn’t an issue. You should feel secure.But you don’t.Because even though the math checks out, the feeling doesn’t. The scarcity mindset, the one that pushed you to save relentlessly, doesn’t just disappear when you achieve FI. In
How to DOUBLE Your Income in One Year | E164 Andrew Giancola
In my mid-20s, I was making $50,000. Between San Diego’s high housing costs, dating, a car payment, and other expenses, I barely had anything left to put toward financial independence - let alone fast-track it.I was cutting costs everywhere - negotiating bills, rarely eating out, even walking instead of driving. Frugality was helping but man, the real game-changer was focusing on growing my income
Welcome to FI Minded (Podcast Rebrand Announcement)
Want to achieve financial independence without missing out on the fun?FI Minded is for anyone who wants to achieve financial freedom, live life on their own terms, and, most importantly, enjoy the journey along the way!Whether you’re just starting to think about financial independence or already deep into the process, FI Minded gives you the tools and inspiration to make FI a reality - without giv
Is Real Estate the Best Path to Financial Independence? | E163 Chad Carson
Is Real Estate the Best Path to Financial Independence?As a die-hard index fund investor, I used to have a clear answer. But after researching Chad Carson’s “small but mighty” real estate philosophy, I’m starting to see the potential.While I still prefer the hands-off nature of index funds, especially as I focus on growing my income - I can see real estate playing a role in my future. It offers st
When You and Your Partner See Money Differently | E162 Brian Page
Love and money - a perfect match, right?If only it were that simple. Money is personal for everyone. We grow up with different values, learn different money habits from our parents, and develop our own financial preferences.So when two people with unique money mindsets come together, disagreements are bound to happen. Maybe one of you is a saver while the other loves to spend, leading to frustrati
How to Negotiate Your Medical Bills | E161 Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington
You can save thousands if you negotiate your medical bills. Wait, you can do that?Yeah, this was new to me too. Maybe it was the confusing medical jargon or the assumption that hospitals charge fair prices, but negotiating never crossed my mind…and you know I love to negotiate just about everything.Not only should you be negotiating your medical bills, you should be scrutinizing them for errors. A
Spending Experiments: Learn What Purchases Make You Happy | E160 Carl Jensen
Struggling to spend money? Same here. Honestly, I never thought this would be a problem as I got closer to financial independence. I mean, isn’t the goal to save up enough so we can finally spend on the things we want?Turns out, after 15 years of working hard to build wealth, it’s not so easy to let go. Add in some good old financial insecurities, and suddenly, I’ve got money, but I’m too nervous
Fast-Track Your 2025 Money Goals Using These Strategies | E159 Justin Brown-Woods
It’s the start of a new year, and you’ve set some financial goals like paying off student loans, saving for a down payment, or maxing out your IRA. Whatever your goal, how awesome would it feel if you could fast-track your progress? It’ll take focus and dedication, but with the right strategies, you can turbocharge your cash flow and get there faster.Today, we’re joined by Justin Brown-Woods, Fina
What Happens After I Reach FIRE? Withdrawal Strategy, Spending Changes, & Finding Meaning | E158 Jeremy Schneider
Since discovering financial independence, I have focused on wealth-building: choosing the right accounts, investing wisely, and cutting expenses to save more. But now that I’m approaching my FIRE number, a new question has emerged—what happens after I reach financial independence?On one hand, there’s the technical side: What’s the best way to withdraw from my nest egg? This is something I hadn’t g
Find Purpose Beyond Financial Independence | E157 Jordan Grumet (Doc G)
Why save and invest? It’s a rhetorical question, but let’s think it through.When you save and invest, you’re sharing financial resources with your future self. This means your future self won’t have to worry about earning money. With that financial freedom, you gain time—the time you would’ve spent working. And with more time, you have more freedom to choose how to you spend your time.You might as
Creative Frugality: How to Do A Lot With A Little | E156 Jill Sirianni
Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? With a little bit of creative frugality, I think it is possible to live below your means and buy the things that bring you joy.What do I mean by creative frugality? It is a two-part process. Number 1, identify the things you value and stop spending money on the things you don’t. That is what today’s guest calls value-based spending. Number 2, get c
Is Couponing Worth it, Using Your Old Student ID for Discounts, Weirdest Way You’ve Made Money, and More | E155 Joel Larsgaard, Jackie Cummings Koski, Justin Brown Woods
Okay, this episode was so much fun to create. This is outside my normal format but equally as informative and probably more entertaining.In October, I attended FinCon, a conference for personal finance content creators. I know it is super nerdy of me but here you are listening to a personal finance podcast so you have no room to judge me.This was my fourth time attending and my favorite part is al
10 Golden Rules of Personal Finance | E154 Jesse Cramer
There are so many rules in the personal finance space. Some are helpful, others not so much.Let's set aside the bad ones for a minute (for example, stop buying avocado toast) and discuss the helpful ones. What comes to mind? I went through this practice and wrote down a bunch in preparation for an episode with Jesse Cramer on The Best Interest.I realized many would only be helpful for a certain gr
You Can Afford to Leave Your Job But You’re Afraid to Quit | E153 Tess Waresmith & Nicole Franklin
There will be a point in your FI journey when a stable salary will become less important to you. You’ve built up your savings and investments to a place where you are comfortable. The freedom and flexibility over your time are more valuable than that regular paycheck.The thought of leaving your job has you nervous though. Even after running the numbers and knowing you have enough, there are still
Ignoring the Rules and Paving Your Own Path to FIRE | E152 Diania Merriam
I love FI because it allows me to break the rules and live outside the norm. Like, no one has time for 40 years of traditional employment. But little did I realize I left one set of rules only to get caught up in another - the rules of personal finance.For example, let's look at one popular idea, “spend less than you earn and invest the difference.” My friend Jeremy Schneider says this all the tim
When Your Spouse Makes More Than You | E151 Ed Coambs
While we still have a lot of work to do, I’m really glad we’ve made strides in closing the gender pay gap. Women's increased incomes have led to significant changes in household dynamics. More women are becoming the primary or even sole breadwinner for their family.This change is great and has led to many positives for both men and women. However, our culture is still caught up in traditional gend
Roth vs Traditional: Which is Right For You If You’re Pursuing FIRE? | E150 Rachael Camp
It’s one of the most hotly debated topics in personal finance…Roth or Traditional?Some argue that the national debt almost guarantees higher taxes in the future and that you should choose Roth and pay your taxes now. Others argue that flexibility and low-earning retirement years should lead you to choose traditional. And of course, some “professionals” highlight that retirement accounts are a scam
Is the US Stock Market Too Reliant on a Few Large Companies? | E149 Erik Baskin
Over the last couple of years, a key group of companies known as The Magnificent Seven has emerged. This group of high-performing and influential companies includes Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Tesla. These companies are at the forefront of sectors such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, cloud computing, and digital services.They have also been positively impac
Reverse Budgeting: Low-Stress Way to Spend Guilt-Free and Keep Your Finances Healthy | E148 Peter Lazaroff
Things can get complicated quickly in the world of personal finance. From investing and budgeting to estate planning and insurance, there are multiple ways to accomplish what you need to get done.Let’s take investing for example. There are different strategies including but not limited to passive index investing, value buying, the 3-fund portfolio, rental real estate, stock picking, target date fu
How to Fight About Money Without Ruining a Relationship | E147 Allie Volpe
There are going to be differences. And these differences are what lead to disagreements.Imagine a scenario where you and your friends are booking an Airbnb for an upcoming trip. The group isn’t progressing, and you can tell by the tone people are getting frustrated. Half of the group wants a cheap option while the other half wants a nice place closer to the city center.This kind of situation happe
5 Secrets to Make Your FIRE Journey Fun | E146 Jackie Cummings Koski
Yes, your path to financial independence is going to take work and sacrifice but it shouldn’t be miserable. Financial independence is not worth it if it means being unhappy for decades of your life. There should be lots of moments of fun because life is precious both before and after you reach FI.So in today’s episode, Jackie Cummings Koski is back on the podcast to discuss five of her secrets for
Use Flow State to Achieve More and Accelerate Your Financial Goals | E145 Justine Elizabeth
Whether you consider yourself a writer or not, you’ve been asked to write before. This could be an essay for school, an email at work, or a caption for a post. Sometimes when we are writing, we have a complete brain fart. No matter how hard we try, the words aren’t coming out. We write a sentence and delete it. We start writing another sentence, get halfway through it, and give up entirely.T
Why Are We So Weird When It Comes to Money | E144 Paco de Leon
Humans are weird whenever it comes to money. We drive five miles out of the way to save a few cents on gas. We buy things we don’t need because they’re on sale. We don’t ask for a raise although we’ve been working hard at the same place for years.We all have irrational behaviors when it comes to money and a lot of this has to do with psychology. Common biases impact our ability to make logical dec
Work Optionality: A Different Way to Imagine at FIRE | E143 Rachael Camp
Work optionality is the idea that you work because you want to, not because you have to. As you’re listening to this in your 20s, this concept might seem like a pipe dream. That’s truly fair. Most of us don’t have this luxury. We are building wealth, along with just paying our bills, and it takes income to do that.But this idea might not be as far away as you think. Regardless of your timeline, as
Embracing Mini-Retirements: How to Take Breaks on Your Path to FI | E142 Jillian Johnsrud
Let’s not sugarcoat it, the path to financial independence is a grind. Even with an aggressive savings rate and an extended bull market run, you’re going to be at it for a while.Setting the hard work aside, we also have to ask ourselves, what are we racing towards? Yes, of course, financial independence and freedom, but what would you do with that newfound free time?This is where I’d like to inser
Retiring Early? How to Withdrawal Money from Your 401(k)Without a Penalty | E141 Sean Mullaney
We always hear the importance of taking advantage of our 401K and IRA accounts. The tax advantages and employer match are too good to pass up on. But is this true for early retirees? If I’m planning on retiring in my 40s, should I be locking my money away in these accounts? How do I bridge the gap between early retirement and 59.5 - the age at which I can withdraw from these accounts penalty-free?
Does My FIRE Number Account for Inflation? | E140 Jesse Cramer
I love playing with compound interest calculators and one equation I’m routinely calculating is the number of years until I reach financial independence. Using the 4% rule, I multiply my living expenses by 25 to get my FIRE number. I use that, my current net worth and various contribution rates to predict when I’ll reach FI.But then I started thinking about this equation. Instead of using my curre
6 Essential Skills to Have a Successful Career (and Make More Money) | E139 Dave Lamont
As someone pursuing early financial independence, it is almost guaranteed that over time, a lot of your wealth will come from investment growth but as we all know, it takes money to make money.The first $100,000 of your net worth is a lot of hard work: you need to make income, live below your means, and aggressively save. And through all of this, your career will be the backbone of this process.Im
How to Fire Your Financial Advisor (for Those Who Don’t Like Confrontation) | E138 Tess Waresmith
You’ve been pouring into your personal finance education and you’re starting to feel more empowered to manage your investments. You might have even played around with online calculators and realized how much that 1% advisor fee is really costing you. But years ago, when you were less confident and didn’t know better, you hired someone to help you with this. They grew into someone you call a friend
5 Affordable Yet Fun Date Ideas | E137 Samantha Vigneau
Dating is expensive. There is no way to sugarcoat it. Between dinner, drinks, parking, entertainment, and more…the costs quickly add up. I was reading an article and they surveyed 2,000 Americans to find out the average person has spent $3,025 over the last year on dating. That’s a little more than $250 a month and it didn’t include indirect costs like new clothes, make-up, and haircuts.Even as so
First Time Real Estate Investor? Don’t Make These 3 Mistakes | E136 Dustin Heiner
If you’re interested in early retirement, you have to consider how you will afford life when a paycheck isn’t hitting your bank account every other Friday. Of course, my favorite method is investing in the stock market. This provides dividend income and the ability to sell your stocks when you need to but there is another obvious method out there - real estate.I don’t know how we’ve gone 135 episo
Learn to Improve Your Commitment and Follow-Through | E135 Matt Worthington
Even with an aggressive savings rate, reaching financial independence will take 10 to 15 years assuming the market plays nice with you. Stack on paying off debts and saving for large purchases like a wedding, a new car, or your first home, we can see how this is going to be an extended journey.Throughout that journey, how do we stay committed and follow through with our goals?This is not an easy a
This is the REAL Meaning of Being Frugal (and It’s Not Depriving Yourself) l E134 Joel Larsgaard How to Money
When I say the word frugal, what comes to mind?Do you think of your penny-pitching sibling? Or your coupon-clipping aunt? Your co-worker that always brings their lunch? The reality is, frugal means something different to everyone.Frugality is a spectrum, and I believe it can be extremely beneficial to live your 20s with a healthy amount of frugality. Split rent with roommates. Shop at value-based
How to Ask for a Raise: Step-By-Step Process to Make the Ask & Actually Get It | E133 Andrew Giancola
You’re a top performer at work. Your manager routinely praises you and you’ve been taking on more responsibilities as your team and your company grows. With all of these positive indicators, a thought has been in the back of your mind - “I deserve a raise.” Those 2 to 3% increases you’ve received the last couple of years aren’t making a major difference to your financial situation let alone keepin
How to Launch a Side Hustle While Working Full-Time | E132 Genuinely Genesis
One of the keys to building wealth is increasing your income. Most 20-somethings don’t have a savings problem, they have an income problem.You’re trying to pay off student loans, graduate from a college lifestyle, and invest for their future all while working with an entry-level salary. While I believe the fastest way to increase your income is focusing on your primary source of income, aka being
Using Geo Arbitrage to Save a Ton of Money and Reach FI/RE Sooner | E131 Rachel Covert
It’s hard living a frugal life. I’m constantly questioning myself whenever I do things like taking leftovers from a free corporate lunch or doing date night at 4pm so we can get happy hour pricing.Although these frugal practices are simply a journey all 20-somethings need to live through, it’s not what I want to be doing forever. But what if I told you you could live it up now while also accomplis
Former Inmate on Believing in Yourself, Creating Your Comeback, and Proving Them Wrong | E130 Nate Dukes
For today’s episode, we are going to pause our money content to share a powerful story. With 2024 quickly approaching, I’m sure you’re giving thought to some changes you’d love to make in your life. It could be that you want to eat healthier, repair a relationship, feel more confident, tap into your true potential, or anything of the sort.But maybe those ideas come with some discouragement. If it
4 Realistic New Year’s Resolutions that Will Set You Up for Financial Success in 2024 (and beyond) | E129
I’ve noticed that New Year’s resolutions have been taking some heat lately. I get it, it is totally illogical that a single predetermined day is chosen for everyone to start a major life change and by February, most of us have given up on our grand changes and retreated back to our normal lives.But there is something about a fresh calendar year that gives me hope and naturally makes me prioritize
Realistically, How Much Does It Cost to Have Kids? | E128 Maya Corbic
I’ve always dreamt about becoming a dad. I know little moments like teaching them the ABCs, running them to soccer practice, or helping them pick out their prom outfits are going to bring me a lot of joy. I’m even ready for the challenging moments like sleepless nights, pre-teen outbursts, and difficult “growing up” conversations.One thing that I’m not sure I’m ready for is the cost of children. I
Did You Forget These 4 Financial News Headlines From 2023? | E127
We are closing up on 2023 and I thought it would make for a fun episode to recap some of the top financial news headlines from the year.Being a fellow money nerd, this year provided many interesting headlines that were fun to follow and watch play out. And looking back at it all, these stories reminded me of an important lesson that I’ll share at the end of this episode.Key Takeaways:The Federal R
Avoiding the Comparison Trap: 5 Powerful Ideas to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others | E126 Hayley Dawson
Today we dive deep into a universal struggle that affects us all: the comparison trap. In a world fueled by social media highlights and curated success stories, it's easy to find ourselves measuring our worth against others.This happens to me all of the time. I see someone else’s life: the promotion, the new house, a fancy vacation, their business success…and start frantically wondering why I don’
Your Year-End Financial Checklist: 8 To-Dos to Complete by December 31st | E125
The holiday season is in full swing and I’m so excited to spend the next month celebrating with friends and family. With all of the parties and get-togethers, it will be 2024 before we know it. But before we say goodbye to 2023, I have a few things I want you to check off your to-do list.In today’s episode, I’m going to give you a financial checklist of 8 tasks you may want to consider doing by De
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