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    Mr. Money Mustache

  • Frugal Man Buys $52,000 Car – Why??
    As I type this, I’m jumping through the various hoops involved in buying a 2023 Tesla Model Y, a spectacularly expensive, large luxury “crossover” that is absolutely loaded to the gills with excess: all wheel drive, faster acceleration than a Lamborghini, enough space for seven people and enough computer gadgetry... Read more »
  • Less Cars, More Money: My Visit to the City of the Future
    In my role as Mr. Money Mustache, I do my best to be your one-stop-shop for Lifestyle Guru ideas. So over the years we’ve covered not just the Money side of life, but also the even more important stuff like health and fitness and the psychology of better, happier living. ... Read more »
  • VideoHow to Build a Kitchen (and Why)
    Well, looks like it has happened again.  Since the last time we spoke, I got sucked into building my 17th(?) kitchen, and I have finally emerged from its messy yet addictive grasp as I stand here at the new breakfast bar, typing this report to you. Why am I so... Read more »
  • The California Effect
    One of the reasons I don’t write as often these days is that my life has gradually evolved into a Personal Finance Bubble.  The people around me have learned to be purposeful with their money, which means they now have plenty of savings and never have to stress about the... Read more »
  • VideoLessons From the Badass Muscular Neurobiologist
    Have you ever noticed that as a whole, our society has its daily habits almost completely backwards? We’re generally so “busy” that we don’t have time to get much exercise. And then we spend countless sedentary hours sitting in our cars each week because we think that car driving saves... Read more »
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    Financial Independence / Retire Early

  • 37/M/Married - Year 0 of an immigrant chasing my version of the American Dream
    **Background:** 37 M, based out of the Northeast, USA. I chanced upon this sub just about 1-2 years ago and found myself reading it more and more often. Due to recent life events, I’ve finally decided to well and truly commit to pursuing FIRE. I’ll make a yearly update post... Read more »
  • Daily FI discussion thread - Monday, May 29, 2023
    Please use this thread to have discussions which you don't feel warrant a new post to the sub. While the Rules for posting questions on the basics of personal finance/investing topics are relaxed a little bit here, the rules against memes/spam/self-promotion/excessive rudeness/politics still apply! Have a look at the FAQ... Read more »
  • Does it make sense to utilize a 529 prior to maxing all retirement accounts?
    I have a 2 year old and am considering opening a 529 account. Currently my spouse and I max out one 401k and 2 backdoor roths. We have enough additional income to partially fund the other 401k or a 529 but not both. The other 401k is a solo 401k... Read more »
  • Lack of motivation after FIRE. Is this common?
    I'm 40 and have enough to FIRE. Got 2 young kids and still in a job. However these days I don't feel like doing anything. Making any more money has become meaningless. After spending 20 years of hard work trying to get here, I suddenly feel no purpose or motivation... Read more »
  • How am I doing
    This is a throwaway account. I have been reading the FI subreddit for some time but first time posting 38 years old, married with 2 kids, single income Current expenditure after tax is between 90-100k p.a. of which 29k is housing related. split 50:50 between interest payment and amortisation on... Read more »
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    Early Retirement Extreme

  • Envelope recycling
    Here is a chance to take advantage of some economic inefficiency: Recycle your envelopes. DW and I used to sell used books and recycling the padded envelopes which I got from buying other used books is really a no-brainer when padded envelopes easily cost north of $0.75. Some used book... Read more »
  • Utopia
    In our brave new world, progress is the process of inventing and creating products and services that can be sold at a profit to the consumer. Here, profit takes precedence over all other values, and so marketability is the primary form of aesthetic value. Thus, the product that sells the... Read more »
  • Pilaf: To really slash your grocery budget
    I read once in Luxury Fever that it’s quite possible to get used to eating the same meal three times a day, day in and day out. As long as a diet is well-balanced, there’s no harm in repetition. I bet the reason that people are told to eat a... Read more »
  • Who needs a college degree anyway?
    I think that in many cases a college degree is a waste of money! I do believe that university educations should only be for a select few. In particular I do not believe that sending everybody to college will make us collectively smarter. Consequently, I do not believe that college... Read more »
  • Pandora and the box of unknown wants
    If you have a high speed (DSL or faster) internet connection and you like music but find yourself frustrated with radio stations playing the same music over and over again head over to Pandora. Pandora has a team of musicians analyzing songs for tone, sound, tonality, etc. I believe they... Read more »
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    Go Curry Cracker!

  • Go Curry Cracker 2022 Taxes
    2022 was our first full year back in the United States, which means we were fully in the crosshairs of the 3 US tax systems: Federal, State, and ACA. One might think this would result in a large tax burden. But no. Although the incentives have certainly changed. The Go... Read more »
  • Reflections of 2022 – Adjusting to Life in the US
    Every year I write a summary of our life and expenses, with the exception of last year / 2021 (because apparently I forgot.) 2022 was our 10th full year of unconventional living – we traveled some (Hawaii, California coast, Yosemite, Tahoe Thanksgiving, Disneyland), Winnie grew a ton of food and... Read more »
  • VideoGo Curry Cracker TedX Speech is Live
    On January 21, 2023, at a regional TedX event, I discussed the simple and repeatable steps we took to enable our early retirement. That short speech is now live on the TedX Talks YouTube channel, linked below for easy viewing. If you enjoy it, please share and like/comment on the... Read more »
  • Retiring from Retirement (April Fools)
    “Hi Jeremy, you haven’t posted anything for awhile, everything OK? How’s the family?” We are good! Wow, time flies by… I guess it has been awhile since I have been on the computer. Holy cow it is April! We have been really busy… because I am Retiring from Retirement. Retiring... Read more »
  • Resort Report: Point Grace Resort, Turks & Caicos
    Advertiser Disclosure: This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CardRatings.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions, reviews,... Read more »
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    1500 Days to Freedom

  • What If You Run Out Of Life?
    Mindy and I recently recorded with Ramit Sethi. Talking to Ramit was hard. He isn’t afraid to ask difficult questions. It was a therapy session and after it was done (3+ hours!), I felt like I had been run over by a steam roller. However, just because it was difficult... Read more »
  • Berkshire Hathaway 2023
    Mindy and I just got back from attending the Berkshire Hathaway (BH) meeting with a couple of friends. BH is the conglomerate famously run by Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. The meeting consists of a 30 minute movie followed by a question and answer session. The event is quite the... Read more »
  • March Performance And The Bidet Face Spray
    My main goal* was to build an investment and cash portfolio of $1,120,000* ($1,000,000 to retire on and $120,000 to pay off the house) in 1500 days**, starting from 1/1/2013 and ending in February of 2017. I made my goal in 2016, my 1500 Days are over, and I’ve left my job. In the interest of... Read more »
  • I Bought A Chevy Bolt!: The Good, The Bad, And The Laggy
    I drove an electric vehicle (EV) for the first time way back in 2015. It was a Tesla Model S, P85D: Vomit inducing acceleration! It was an epiphany. The Tesla was smooth, quiet, and crazy fast. After driving it very aggressively on an autocross course, I almost barfed. And I... Read more »
  • Tuesday Rant: Two Numbers
    So I used to write a Rant series on this blog where I’d talk about things that annoy me. Example. In an effort to be more positive, I cut it out. However, sometimes I just can’t help myself. I came across two ridiculous numbers recently… Everyday Nonsense*: $550 Clothespin Have... Read more »
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    Millennial Revolution

  • Let’s Go Exploring: Cusco and the Lost City of Macchu Picchu
    “Holy…crap…how…much…further?” I panted. I was carrying a 10L jug of filtered water from the supermarket to our AirBnb. What’s normally a common and uneventful task in South America turned into an unexpected slog because of one major thing you have to watch out for if you ever visit Cusco, Peru:... Read more »
  • Why HomeExchange Beats Airbnb
    So after the worst travel day ever and just barely making it to Australia, we thought we’d be on easy street. Nothing but blue clouds, rainbows, and unicorns from here on out right? Wrong. Turns out, we weren’t done with jumping through hoops to be in Australia yet. We had... Read more »
  • Reader Case: Can I Move to Spain?
    When we first left Canada in 2015, we thought travelling internationally was a luxury that we could only afford to do for a short time. Little did we know that it would become our unfair FIRE advantage since it can be used to control your living expenses using geographic arbitrage... Read more »
  • Let’s Go Exploring! Da Nang, Vietnam: The Next Digital Nomad Paradise?
    The last time we were in Vietnam was 2016. Things were simpler back then. No one knew what a pandemic was, ChatGPT wasn’t threatening to replace jobs, our parents were all healthy, and the only thing we worried about was how badly we were going to get scammed. We’d read... Read more »
  • Big Tech Is Laying Off Workers: Is Your Job Next?
    For most of the FIRE movement’s existence, the single largest career type that made up the movement was engineers: specifically, software engineers. The reason for this is that the modern FIRE movement’s explosion in popularity happened to coincide with a similar explosion of growth in the tech sector. From early... Read more »
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    Can I Retire Yet?

  • Investment Risks: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You
    I’ve noticed a couple common threads in investment planning conversations across investors of various experience levels and account balances. So let’s take a look at the different risks that any investment portfolio should address, how different assets address and expose you to different risks, and unique risks we face as... Read more »
  • Reader Story: How We Live a Nomadic Life in Retirement
    I recently made a call for readers to share their stories to supplement posts by Darrow and me. First up is Margot who shares her and her husband Nick’s story. Their path to and through retirement includes overcoming adversity in their personal and financial lives, challenging our notions about how... Read more »
  • Early Retirement Resources 5/8/2023
    I’m going to start with a brief update on major events in my personal life and lessons I’ve learned that can help you. Then, I address a few major challenges we all do, or will, face as investors: I close out with an article about changing attitudes and actions around... Read more »
  • Why One of Us is Taking Social Security Now
    As an early retiree in my 50s, I tried to factor Social Security into my financial planning. But with more than a decade to go before claiming benefits, the huge social program remained a mythical proposition. The government was going to deposit money in my checking account every month because... Read more »
  • Financial Decisions After the Death of Your Spouse
    Last fall I listened to Mike Piper discuss his then new book After the Death of Your Spouse: Next Financial Steps for Surviving Spouses on the Bogleheads on Investing Podcast. Immediately after listening, I placed an order for the book. The book arrived a few days later. I promptly placed... Read more »
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    Root of Good

  • April 2023 Early Retirement Update – Party Edition
    Welcome back to another monthly update from Root of Good. We had another busy month in April here at home in Raleigh. Between hosting Easter and a birthday party at our house, and a few appliances breaking, we were glad to be early retired. No time for work!  As this... Read more »
  • March 2023 Early Retirement Update – Springtime Edition
    Welcome back to another monthly update from Root of Good. We spent the whole month of March at home in Raleigh. Along with relaxing in some nice springtime weather throughout the month, we also celebrated the 18th birthday of our daughter. We officially have an adult kid now!  Looking ahead,... Read more »
  • February 2023 Early Retirement Update
    Welcome back to another update from Root of Good. We are slowly easing into spring. Or so we thought, until we got a brief snow blizzard over the weekend. It was above freezing the whole time, but it's still neat to see snow in March in North Carolina.  We spent... Read more »
  • January 2023 Early Retirement Update
    Welcome back to the life and times of the Root of Good household. We had another busy month during January. Mrs. Root of Good and I went on a ten night cruise out of Charleston, South Carolina. During the cruise we visited five Caribbean islands and enjoyed a brief respite... Read more »
  • Portugal Trip Recap Plus December 2022 Early Retirement Update
    Hey folks, it's 2023! I hope everyone had a great time with friends and family over the holidays, and rang in the New Year in style!  We had a very busy December. We were vacationing in Portugal during the first week of December, and then sailed from Lisbon to the... Read more »
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    Frugalwoods

  • We’ll Grow All Of Our Food! And Other Misconceptions I Had About Rural Life
    One of the driving forces behind the birth of Frugalwoods was our desire to leave the city and buy a homestead in the woods. That happened in May 2016 and let me tell you, we had A LOT of preconceived notions about what it would be like to live rurally,... Read more »
  • Reader Case Study: What Should We Do In The Last Decade Before Retirement?
    Jane and her husband Joe live in the midwest with their two teenaged children and one parrot. Recently, Jane retired from her 24-year-long career as a college professor and loves the new lifestyle she’s carving out for herself. Joe works from home and the family enjoys spending a lot of... Read more »
  • A Used Guitar And Other April 2023 Expenses
    My husband and I are committed to learning new things. It’s a goal of ours to consistently make ourselves beginners in different capacities. Putting ourselves in a beginner mindset enables us to keep our brains limber, opens us up to creativity and new experiences, keeps us humble and models lifelong... Read more »
  • An Update On How Postpartum Depression Changed My Life
    May is Mental Health Awareness Month May happens to be Mental Health Awareness month and April marked the ninth anniversary of Frugalwoods! Given that confluence, it seems like the perfect time to reflect on my 2018 post, “How A Diagnosis Of Postpartum Depression Changed My Life.” This one struck a... Read more »
  • Reader Case Study: Veterinarian and Physician Seek Their Next Home
    Johanna is a veterinarian, her husband Matt is a physician, and they live with their two young children on a small island off the coast of the Northeastern United States. The couple previously lived on the Navajo Nation Reservation and greatly enjoyed the close-knit community they had there. While the... Read more »
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    JLCollinsnh

  • JL Talks at Google: The Simple Path to Wealth
    In 2018, JL was invited to bring his no-nonsense financial independence wisdom to Google for their series titled "Talks at Google." This talk has been viewed more 1.5 million times and is Google's #1 financial-related talk. Watch it today! The post JL Talks at Google: The Simple Path to Wealth... Read more »
  • Why your house is a terrible investment
    Intro by JL’s Team   “Is now the time to buy a house?” As national mortgage interest rates hit +7% and housing prices fall across the country, many people are asking themselves this very question. But like the stock market, “investing” in a home isn’t a question of timing. In... Read more »
  • Things important, and unimportant
    Photo by Megan Ruth on Unsplash Important: Investing for the long-term. Think decades. My holding period for VTSAX is forever, other than maybe selling a few shares while living on my portfolio. I am investing for generations. Unimportant: Market Crashes. These are an expected part of the process, like blizzards... Read more »
  • Develop Your Skills and Talents
    By Shawn Jenkins and Jonathan Mendonsa Shawn Have you ever considered your career to be like a brokerage account for financial freedom? You want to make the most of what’s in your account—or career—but you also want to do things to grow the account. In terms of a career, that... Read more »
  • When Your Country Becomes a Global Outcast
    Last time I shared with you a story from my new book Pathfinders from a reader in Ukraine, Roman Koshovskyi, titled Staying the Course in War-Time. Today we hear from Artem Voronov, a reader in central Russia, on what staying the course looks like when your country has become a... Read more »
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    Mr. Free At 33

  • Undervalued Dividend Growth Stock Of The Week
    Every Sunday, I uncover a high-quality dividend growth stock that appears to be undervalued. These pieces are published at Daily Trade Alert, which is a site that focuses on dividend growth investing, stocks, and unique investment opportunities. I’ve been writing for them for years now, and they’re just great over... Read more »
  • These 5 Dividend Growth Stocks Have Pulled Back 20% Or More
    Like lower prices? How about lower prices on dividend growth stocks – stocks which now offer higher yields? Want to know about stocks that have totally cratered and are now way cheaper? Then you have to check out today’s video. For more on five dividend growth stocks that have dropped... Read more »
  • It’s A Great Time To Buy This Dividend Stock
    Interested in profiting from the ongoing digital transformation? Want a market-beating yield and a double-digit dividend growth rate? Would you like to scoop up a high-quality dividend growth stock while it’s on sale? Then you have to check out today’s video. For more on a high-quality dividend growth stock that... Read more »
  • Undervalued Dividend Growth Stock Of The Week
    Every Sunday, I uncover a high-quality dividend growth stock that appears to be undervalued. These pieces are published at Daily Trade Alert, which is a site that focuses on dividend growth investing, stocks, and unique investment opportunities. I’ve been writing for them for years now, and they’re just great over... Read more »
  • These 6 Stocks Are Relentless Dividend Growers!
    What’s better than dividends? How about bigger dividends? Want to know about six stocks that are relentless dividend growers? Then you have to check out today’s video. For more on six relentless dividend growers, check out our latest video HERE. What do you think? Did you enjoy this video? Looking... Read more »



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    Early Retirement Extreme Forums

  • ERE Journals • Re: AE's Journal Round 5 - Finding Freedom To
    That's for the feedback everyone. After thinking about it for a few days, this is what I've decided.I still think moving is the right choice for me. This has been a decision I've been sitting on since before COVID happened that got pushed aside due to other circumstances in my... Read more »
  • Work & Education • Re: Is CFA worth it?
    Also, what @unemployable hinted at, there is an overlap between CFA and actuarial exams and a CFA charter holder may be exempt from up to 8 actuarial exams within the UK Institute and Faculty for Actuaries. For comparison (since you are India based), doing a BSc in Actuarial Science and... Read more »
  • ERE Journals • Re: Frita’s journal
    This IS an oddly transitional time of life. The identities and roles that we assume, that of being a child or a parent, remained unchanged for decades, to the extent that they seem static. Only one day it becomes clear that we have been ascending an intergenerational escalator all along... Read more »
  • ERE Journals • Re: A Journey of Mindfulness--the Remaking of Life in Midstream.
    Well, damn! Congratulations on taking such proactive steps and keeping it up! Especially the weight loss -- 37 pounds down is huge!Statistics: Posted by llorona — Mon May 29, 2023 3:41 pm... Read more »
  • Mastermind Groups • Re: Ecology- MMG
    I wonder what's the hawk's experience, to be triggering the alarm wherever there are other birds in the vicinity.Reminds me of the truck driver who was in fact a rain god in the Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy book series. Wherever he went, rain followed him. No wonder he thought... Read more »
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    Jillian Johnsrud

  • 5 Different Options
    “Should I take this new job offer, or should I stay at this job I don’t like?” my client was stuck in a mental holding pattern between these two options. And no matter how much she mulled over the choice, clarity was elusive.  It’s a common challenge I see with... Read more »
  • Financial Independence Happiness Chart
    The post Financial Independence Happiness Chart appeared first on Jillian Johnsrud.... Read more »
  • Prepare for the Unexpected Mini-Retirement
    In my 20’s, I was let go from a job. Kinda. Or I… a little bit left. My position was being combined with another position, one I had no interest in nor the skill set to tackle. Either way, I was unexpectedly unemployed. It’s a situation most people find themselves... Read more »
  • In the Waiting
    I have a theory that people mostly buy lottery tickets for the waiting. That’s where the magic really is. From the time to buy your ticket until the numbers are drawn, you wait. You dream about what you might do or change if you are suddenly a billionaire. The buying... Read more »
  • Five Big Reasons to Retire Often
    My family and I are a month into an 8-month-long road trip. While logging a lot of steps, a lot of drive time, and watching my kids play in the ocean, I’ve been thinking about all the amazing benefits of taking a mini-retirement. Here are five of the big reasons... Read more »
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    Done by Forty

  • VideoHoops for the Poor
    It's tax time. That means it's time to wait anxiously for the mail each day, hoping that final W2 or 1099 will show up, and we finance weirdos can start in on the fun of entering figures into our favorite tax software.I know I'm not the only one who enjoys... Read more »
  • Solar Panels or an Electric Vehicle?
    SourceLast week we noodled over which electric vehicle might replace one of the two gas burning cars in our garage right now. But I was underwhelmed by how little cost or even environmental savings would be gained from most of the options. The new EVs wouldn't break on costs for hundreds... Read more »
  • VideoNoodling Electric Vehicles
    SourceI'm in the middle of Wallet Activism right now and it's changing the way I think about things. How we spend our money, sure. But also how we think about things. How do we make decisions, even with things that are free (or "free"). When I click on the free shipping... Read more »
  • VideoWay Too Transparent: All the Money We've Made (2022 update)
    Source.Another year in the books, another year of the pandemic to endure. Welcome to 2022, what promises to be the longest seventy three months in memory. Supply chains are stretched, we've collectively stopped trying to avoid giving each other COVID, inflation is rampant, and Tom Brady will win another Super Bowl... Read more »
  • Mediocre Advice for Dads Who Somehow Know Less Than Me
    When I first left work, I imagined I'd be writing multiple posts a week again like I did in the early years of the blog. Without the forty hours and ongoing stress of corporate employment, I'd be able to write a post on Monday and another mid-week, for sure.As usual,... Read more »
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    The Golden Albatross

  • VideoFIRE in New Zealand: One Thing a Pension Cannot Buy
    I'm mourning the death of my defined benefit pension-enabled Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) in New Zealand lifestyle. The post FIRE in New Zealand: One Thing a Pension Cannot Buy appeared first on The Golden Albatross.... Read more »
  • This Is Your Pension On Inflation
    Even in the scenario with the largest pension, once Don's pension starts, it goes from covering all the family's retirement spending to roughly one-third by the 49th year. That's a giant swing downward due to inflation! The post This Is Your Pension On Inflation appeared first on The Golden Albatross.... Read more »
  • The Pension Couch: Replacing Pension Income
    If I leave now, how much would I have to save each month for the next six years to replace the difference I am losing? The post The Pension Couch: Replacing Pension Income appeared first on The Golden Albatross.... Read more »
  • The Pension Series (Part 31): Grumpus Maximization
    Pension Maximization Part Deux This post is a direct continuation of Pension Series Part 30. In that article, I introduced my general framework for maximizing your defined benefit (DB) pension, which I call Grumpus Maximization. I also walked through the first two steps of Grumpus Maximization, which were (1) setting... Read more »
  • The Pension Series (Part 30): Pension Maximization
    Pension maximization ensures your pension's positive impact in retirement is as significant as possible. You maximize your pension by taking active steps during your pensionable career. The post The Pension Series (Part 30): Pension Maximization appeared first on The Golden Albatross.... Read more »
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    ChooseFI

  • mp3439 | Adjusting to Life After FI (Before You Get There) | Chris Terrell
    In this episode: success after FI, finding purpose, owning your time, investing in health, and spiritual pursuits. While reaching your FI number and subsequently retiring is an amazing achievement in itself, what are you supposed to do with yourself after getting there? Well, figuring that out is also a big... Read more »
  • mp3438 | Dollars and Sense | Clint Murphy & Ginger
    In this episode: the pain of paying, anchoring, relative value, sunk costs, response to stimulus, and opportunity cost. On this installment of the Book Club, we are joined by Clint Murphy and Ginger to discuss some of our favorite takeaways from Dan Ariely and Jeff Kreisler's "Dollars and Sense: How... Read more »
  • mp3437 | Student Loan Forgiveness: Essential Update | Travis Hornsby
    This week we are re-joined by friend of the podcast, Travis Hornsby, to discuss some critical updates and deadlines pertaining to student loan forgiveness. While the thought of paying off student loans can feel daunting, there may actually be some ways to mitigate the stress entirely! Though this episode may... Read more »
  • mp3436 | From Vision Board to Action: A FI Success Story | Rakesh
    In this episode: getting comfortable investing, the vision boards, salary negotiations, and the skill of spending Whether it's wanting to pay off your debts or get yourself set up for your future, there are many motivations for wanting to begin the path towards FI. This week we are joined by... Read more »
  • mp3435 | Tipped Finance | Barbara Sloan
    Oftentimes on our show, we talk to people on the FI journey with “regular” 9-5 jobs, and other times we talk to those who have achieved their FI goal and are able to retire from their careers. However, we rarely talk about money management and FI when it comes to... Read more »



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    The Frugal Vagabond

  • What to Expect When You’re Expecting… to Retire Abroad But Cancer Happens
    Worrying that a life-threatening illness will kill you for lack of access to care, or that it will ruin you financially, is a uniquely American condition among citizens of developed nations. It’s also one that we tend to carry far… The post What to Expect When You’re Expecting… to Retire... Read more »
  • Retire Early in France – Without All The Tax
    We recently declared ourselves Financially Independent, which is definitely a weird and uncertain feeling. We'll likely wait a couple more years to retire early, add to our FIREhouse (ha!) savings, and augment our early retirement travel budget a bit. Even though RE is a still a little ways out, we've... Read more »
  • Getting a Spanish Driver’s License
    Getting a Spanish Driver's License is intimidating. I'll break down each step of the process and help you get on the road with your very own EU license. The post Getting a Spanish Driver’s License appeared first on The Frugal Vagabond.... Read more »
  • Living Abroad: Five Essential Survival Skills
    Living abroad is as alluring as it is polarizing. Five skills that will make your life abroad a success. The post Living Abroad: Five Essential Survival Skills appeared first on The Frugal Vagabond.... Read more »
  • Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa Renewal
    Spain can get under your skin. In the course of living here for the full first year of our non-lucrative visa, we’ve come to love our home, our city, Spanish food and culture, and most of all, the close friends… The post Spanish Non-Lucrative Visa Renewal appeared first on The... Read more »
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    Financial Samurai

  • Active Funds: Why Wealthy People Continue To Invest In Them
    Have you ever wondered why wealthy people are more willing to invest in hedge funds, venture capital, venture debt, private equity, and specialty funds? These are all actively-run funds that mostly have a history of underperforming the S&P 500. Yet, billions of dollars still pour in each year. Some of... Read more »
  • Paying Off Your Home May Not Provide The Joy You Expect
    Thanks to reader feedback, I realized one financial move that was not included in my top financial moves to relieve stress list, was paying off your home. Even though I thought long and hard about what to put on the list, paying off your home didn't get a dedicated bullet... Read more »
  • Retire In A Cabin In The Woods: Living A Simple And Peaceful Life
    Have you ever wondered what it would be like to retire in a cabin in the woods? My dad did it, and I'm here to share some fascinating insights on his experience and how he ended up there. Who knows, if you prescribe to Lean FIRE, it might be just... Read more »
  • Debt Ceiling Debacle: Why Not Just Spend More Responsibly?
    Not raising the debt ceiling could cause another sell-off in the stock market. If so, history has shown it is worth buying the dip as politicians eventually agree to raise the debt ceiling limit and curb some spending. However, have you ever wondered why the government doesn't spend more responsibly?... Read more »
  • How I’d Invest One Million Dollars Today For A Better Tomorrow
    We've gone through exercises on how I'd invest $100,000 and $250,000. Now let's go through an exercise on how I'd invest a million dollars today. Investing a million dollars is slightly different from investing $100,000 and $250,000. You can more easily afford to lose $100,000 – $250,000. But if you... Read more »
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    Afford Anything

  • mp3#442: Ask Paula: I Tripled My Income. Now What?
    An anonymous caller is struggling with a tempting offer from her family to buy her first house. Tyson is wondering if it's a good time to convert his bonds into treasuries. “Jaula” wants to know if she should count her side hustle income as part of her retirement money. Chris... Read more »
  • mp3Video#441: How to Invest in a Volatile Market, with JD Stein
    It’s GRADUATION WEEK! For those of you who’ve been following along this past year, you know that I’ve been completing the Knight - Bagehot Fellowship at Columbia University. This week, my family and I are celebrating the countless hours of studying, all-nighters and eye opening experiences, so here at Afford... Read more »
  • mp3#440: Ask Paula: Am I Saving Enough For Retirement?
    “Barbara,” an anonymous caller from Episode 422, is struggling with a scarcity mindset. How does she stop worrying about the future and build the confidence to enjoy life now? Samantha and her partner have lived out of their truck for 20 years. They sorta-kinda feel ready to buy a house... Read more »
  • mp3#439: Banks Collapsing?! What’s Next? – Plus ENCORE episode with Financial Advisor Michael Kitces
    There are massive rapid changes unfurling in the financial world. This week’s biggest news: First Republic Bank collapsed; JP Morgan Chase acquired it. (As it happens, I was one of 12 people who was lucky enough to have dinner with Chase CEO Jamie Dimon exactly one week ago – just... Read more »
  • mp3#438: Life in Five Senses, with Gretchen Rubin
    “Do you want to save money? Or do you want to enjoy your life?” That’s a common question, but it’s strange. It assumes these ideas are opposites: frugality is synonymous with deprivation; spending is a proxy for enjoyment. That premise is wrong. Let’s stop conflating spending with happiness. Let’s stop... Read more »
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    Side Hustle Nation

  • 18 Real Ways to Get Paid for Your Data: Up to $500 a Year
    One of the easiest side hustles to get started with is getting paid to share your data. Big data is big business, generating an estimated $270 billion by 2026. And as individuals, we create a lot of data every day. Every Internet search we make, every location we visit, every... Read more »
  • mp323 Real Ways to Make Money on Amazon: $1000+ Per Month
    With a ton of ways for people to make money, there's no wonder why Amazon is at at the center of so many side hustles these days. The innovative--if not controversial--Seattle company still has its core retail business, but has expanded in many different directions. For entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and... Read more »
  • The 21 Best Side Hustles for Engineers: $1,000 a Month or More
    Engineering is a highly-skilled and in-demand profession, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t have a side hustle to make extra money. The good news is your skills and training as an engineer lend themselves nicely to many different side hustles. In this article, I’ll share my top side hustle... Read more »
  • mp327 Creative Ways to Use AI in Your Business to Work Smarter and Earn More
    AI is rapidly revolutionizing the business landscape, offering a wide range of benefits from task automation to better customer service. Despite concerns about job displacement and ethical considerations, I’m curious to learn what tools are out there and how we can best use them to work smarter and drive better... Read more »
  • The 21 Best Side Hustles for Medical Students: How to Make Money in Med School
    What are the best side hustles for medical students? With med school so expensive — $40,000 to $65,000 a year! — it's only natural to look for ways to make money that fit with your classes and other obligations. As a future doctor, you've got a pretty clear career path... Read more »
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    Accidental Fire

  • Don’t Let Money Be Your God
    I’ve written about the almost comical mess of afflictions I had as a kid.  I was fat, pigeon toed, buck toothed, pimple-faced, and had a crippling stutter.  And that’s just a partial list.  But even after I overcame many of... The post Don’t Let Money Be Your God appeared first... Read more »
  • T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 95
    Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #95! Here are some things I really like and that you might too.   Financial Independence/Retirement Articles Why One of Us is Taking Social Security Now (Can I Retire Yet) – “... The post T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 95 appeared first on Accidental... Read more »
  • I’m Lazy With My Money And Sometimes That Costs Me
    I achieved financial independence accidentally in my mid-40’s, thus my blog name.  By nature I’m pretty frugal and a saver.  The money I saved went into mutual funds for the most part, and the bulk of that was index funds. ... The post I’m Lazy With My Money And Sometimes That... Read more »
  • T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 94
    Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #94! Here are some things I really like and that you might too.   Financial Independence/Retirement Articles Recent banking crises are rooted in a system that rewards excessive risk-taking – as First... The post T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 94 appeared first on Accidental... Read more »
  • Striving For Financial Independence? Find Your Tribe
    I track my annual cycling, running, hiking, and paddling miles on the right rail of this blog.  A significant portion of my readership comes to my blog for content related to health and fitness and my goal in showing my... The post Striving For Financial Independence? Find Your Tribe appeared... Read more »
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    Independently Financed

  • Inverted yield curves, rate expectations, and floating-rate certificates
    As in my wont, I was browsing through depositaccounts.com to see if anything interesting was happening in the world of consumer-facing interest rates. I was surprised to see a few new borrowers at the top of the interest rate league table, with Merchants Bank of Indiana and Workers Credit Union... Read more »
  • What are the most lucrative things you can do with free transportation?
    Become a Patron!A few years back I wrote a goofy post trying to look at car ownership not as a personal consumption expenditure, but as a productive input; as a profit center, not a cost center. For the last few months I’ve been fooling around with our local “micromobility” services,... Read more »
  • Free and discounted “micromobility” services
    Become a Patron!One of the most bizarre things to emerge from the era of free money were the so-called “micromobility” companies, which have littered the streets and sidewalks of major American cities with their cumbersome scooters and e-bikes. On the one hand, these companies have not and will not ever... Read more »
  • How to think about stockpiling Series I savings bonds
    Become a Patron!A reader whose financial savvy I highly value surprised me the other day by saying that he’d been maximizing his Series I Savings Bond purchases for many years. This surprised me since the “fixed” portion of the semi-annual composite interest rate had hovered between 0% and 0.5% APY... Read more »
  • Preserving your eligibility for paid family and medical leave
    Become a Patron!I’ve covered extensively my experience using the District of Columbia’s paid family and medical leave program to take time off to care for a family member. Since I began that series, the program has been reinforced even further, with the addition of 2 weeks of paid prenatal leave... Read more »
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    Mr Crazy Kicks

  • I’m Going on Shark Tank!
    When I left my job nearly 6 years ago, I didn’t have any concrete plans except to pursue hobbies that I’m passionate about regardless of whether they make any money. A couple of years ago, this simple lifestyle led to … Continue reading → The post I’m Going on Shark... Read more »
  • We Made a New Haircut Tool: The HairFin!
    As a kid, my mom cut my hair with her trusty clippers. In college, I picked up a pair of clippers and learned to cut my own hair. Soon I found myself cutting friends’ hair in the dorms. Clippers made … Continue reading → The post We Made a New... Read more »
  • How Much Can a Greenhouse Extend the Growing Season?
    Last year I designed and built a hoop house for around $650 in materials. I didn’t want to waste money heating the thing, so the plan was to keep it passive. Since I never worked with an unheated greenhouse before, … Continue reading → The post How Much Can a... Read more »
  • Should I Pay Off My Mortgage?
    Having a paid off house has always been a goal. Living mortgage-free sounds awesome, but it can also put the brakes on financial growth. Any money put toward home equity is robbing investment accounts of hard working capital. After years … Continue reading → The post Should I Pay Off... Read more »
  • How to Get Started Hunting Mushrooms
    I love hiking in the woods, racing to the top of a mountain to take in a satisfying view. Lately however, I’m less interested in flying up rocks and roots to see the world from afar. I’ve found an even … Continue reading → The post How to Get Started... Read more »
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    The Happy Philosopher

  • How to Prepare for Life After Residency
    Burnout and Finance I was recently asked to speak to a bunch of medical residents about my story of burnout and my general philosophy on finance and life. I declined for a variety of reasons, but upon reflection I realized that this was a topic I had not addressed. This... Read more »
  • A Podcast, Guest Post, and Random Musings
    Hey philosophers, just wanted to let you know about a couple of small projects I participated in recently. I haven’t had much time or motivation to write these last couple of weeks. I have been paying the work price for my two week vacation to Alaska. Flexibility to take a... Read more »
  • Running, Purpose, and Bears (Oh, my!)
    As my feet rhythmically hit the belt of the treadmill, it briefly occurred to me this was perhaps the weirdest time to start my journey back to some sort or reasonable physical fitness. The treadmill was gently rocking side to side and I was looking out at an endless expanse... Read more »
  • Why A Physician Should Work Full-Time
    As an evangelist of part-time work for physicians, I occasionally get an e-mail from a physician reader asking if cutting back on work is the right move for them. Often times they are early in their training, and I’m not sure how to respond. I feel conflicted. I know what... Read more »
  • The Government Doesn’t Want you to Work (Too Much)
    A feeling of dread suddenly came over me. The numbers just didn’t add up, yet I could not figure out where I went wrong. Maybe I typed something in wrong or missed a section, but everything looked more or less complete. Maybe I’m just getting too old for this and... Read more »





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    Slowly Sipping Coffee

  • Friends, Fun, and Fowling
    A couple of weekends ago I was able to attend the Econome conference in Cincinnati, and readers, it was the refresh I needed. I wouldn’t have attended this conference had it not been for Military Dollar suggesting I should attend and she was super supportive throughout the process because let... Read more »
  • Embracing Life
    This time last year, I was talking about trying to get on board with the MFLC and figure life out from there. I had some things I was working on and damn if I haven’t gotten any to fruition. It seems frustrating and it can be, but if you remember... Read more »
  • Life Can Be SO “Overwhelming”: How I Tame It
    Now that I’m back to just having a single source of income, my adjunct position, I immediately have a crazy sense of pressure to “get back earning”, and “get a job” or “create a job” or “hit it big with day trading”, as soon as I study up a little... Read more »
  • Do You Take Payment in Soul Currency?
    Last week at some point, Angela from Tread LIghtly Retire Early tweeted about giving time versus money and it reminded me of what I did with my time when I wasn’t working. I found my time that I give is rewarded so much more in “soul currency” than money. If... Read more »
  • What to Do, What to Do?
    With all of this change that’s come about in the past couple of years, I figured I should revisit the “plan” since my retirement and savings got halved. I can’t say there are many complaints, considering how much we’d saved, so my half is a nice chunk of change. I... Read more »
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    zen habits

  • Embarrassment is an Integral Part of the Growth Process
    By Leo Babauta A well-known climbing coach said that the biggest obstacle in the way of people’s growth as climbers is, basically, fear of embarrassment. When people want to get better at climbing, they try to do it privately, so that no one can see them doing things badly. They’ll... Read more »
  • Lessons from the Fearless Retreat
    I’m creating a new Fearless Retreat in October that will be a part of my Fearless Mastery program … and it has me reflecting on the most recent retreat I led in Costa Rica in March. I’m moved to share with you the lessons I learned from the March retreat, because I... Read more »
  • Be All In: Unlock Your Full Power
    By Leo Babauta One of the things that really humbled me in recent years is the realization that I am often only halfway in on anything I do. I’m rarely ever really all in. For example, I might join a coaching program with the idea of trying it out, but... Read more »
  • Turn Struggle into Creativity
    By Leo Babauta Most people think that if they’re struggling, that means something is wrong. If you’re struggling to write, to meditate, to eat healthily, to be focused and productive … or struggling in a relationship or job … that means something is wrong with you, or you need to... Read more »
  • Simplify Habits: Get to the True Heart of Change
    By Leo Babauta Creating a new habit like meditation, journaling or exercise isn’t incredibly complicated — at the most basic level, you tie the habit to a trigger that’s already in your life, start small, and find ways to encourage yourself to remember it and actually do it. But it... Read more »
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    Financial 180

  • The Cheat Codes of FI
    For those of you following along, you know I've been a bit busy lately. In addition to my own music, podcast, and software projects, I've also been popping up on other people's podcasts. A few weeks back I sang a few bars of Michael Bublé on The FI Show with... Read more »
  • FI Without RE
    Back in November of 2017, a tired, burned out version of myself was pushed past his breaking point. After months of mandatory unpaid overtime, morning self pep-talks, stress-eating, and yelling at coworkers, the old Joel finally had enough. He walked up to his boss, and with a surprising, zen-like calm,... Read more »
  • VideoSo Much Time & So Little To Do!
    Wait a minute. Strike that – reverse it! I know, I know, I haven't updated this blog in months. What gives?! If things get any more sporadic around here I'll be on the Miss Mazuma publishing schedule! 😉 Maybe I should adopt the slogan of Wait, Buy Why and claim that I'll have... Read more »
  • Reaching for the Moon(shot)!
    This week, I'm thrilled to be featured on Coryn Quester's “Discover What's Possible” Podcast! In the interview, we talk about everything from the ‘Why' of FI,  to the most challenging aspects of financial independence for those just starting out. But one of the more interesting questions she posed really got... Read more »
  • Misconceptions of FI
    This past weekend The Wife and I went to see Crazy Rich Asians, and really enjoyed it! (Featured image credit: Entertainment Weekly) Having been on the FIRE journey for a few years now, it was fun taking in all the over-the-top luxury on the screen. Of course, this wasn't the... Read more »
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    DiverseFI

  • Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor’s Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life
    Today I am announcing preorders of my book Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor’s Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life. This is a moment of great pride for me as... The post Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor’s Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a... Read more »
  • We’re Moving! New Website!
    All new episodes and content can be found at earnandinvest.com. See you there! The post We’re Moving! New Website! appeared first on DiverseFI.... Read more »
  • 128. You Can Destroy Student Loan Debt
    Earn & Invest I am proud to release episode 128 of The Earn & Invest Podcast.  This podcast is an exploration of personal finance, financial independence, and taking the conversation to the next level.... The post 128. You Can Destroy Student Loan Debt appeared first on DiverseFI.... Read more »
  • Video127. Why Now Is The Time To Start Your Business
    Earn & Invest I am proud to release episode 127 of The Earn & Invest Podcast.  This podcast is an exploration of personal finance, financial independence, and taking the conversation to the next level.... The post 127. Why Now Is The Time To Start Your Business appeared first on DiverseFI.... Read more »
  • 126: How To Align Your Passion and Talent
    Earn & Invest I am proud to release episode 126 of The Earn & Invest Podcast.  This podcast is an exploration of personal finance, financial independence, and taking the conversation to the next level.... The post 126: How To Align Your Passion and Talent appeared first on DiverseFI.... Read more »
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    Vital Dollar

  • How to Build Wealth in Your 40s
    Building wealth in your 40s is possible but requires discipline. Here are the keys to a financial plan and everything you need to know about building wealth. The post How to Build Wealth in Your 40s appeared first on Vital Dollar.... Read more »
  • Best Sites and Apps Like OfferUp to Buy and Sell (Offerup Alternatives)
    These sites and apps like OfferUp allow you to buy and sell used items through an online marketplace. Use these OfferUp alternatives to declutter and make money. The post Best Sites and Apps Like OfferUp to Buy and Sell (Offerup Alternatives) appeared first on Vital Dollar.... Read more »
  • 13 Easy Ways to Get Free Starbucks Gift Cards and Coffee
    What's better than Starbucks coffee? Free Starbucks coffee! Check out this list of ways to get free Starbucks gift cards, and don't miss #3! The post 13 Easy Ways to Get Free Starbucks Gift Cards and Coffee appeared first on Vital Dollar.... Read more »
  • 11 Ways to Get Free Nintendo eShop Codes and Gift Cards
    Get free Nintendo eShop codes and gift cards with these sites & apps. Earn free Nintendo Switch games in your spare time by completing small tasks. The post 11 Ways to Get Free Nintendo eShop Codes and Gift Cards appeared first on Vital Dollar.... Read more »
  • Phone Flipping 101: How to Make Money Flipping Phones for Profit
    Learn how to make extra money flipping phones. Phone flipping involves buying and reselling smartphones and cellphones, and it's a realistic side hustle. The post Phone Flipping 101: How to Make Money Flipping Phones for Profit appeared first on Vital Dollar.... Read more »