Financial Independence Blogs

I originally wrote this in June of 2019 after writing an article for another site, but it’s lived as a draft ever since. Then it felt in poor taste to post this during 2020 while the world was so chaotic. Now, I realize how unrealistic it is that burnout could cease to be an issue while we were collectively confronted by all sorts of insane circumstances. If anything, talking about burnout probably would have made a lot of sense! Regardless, burnout is starting to really resonate again regardless of the pandemic, and maybe even because of it in some ways.

This article was almost titled: Why I HATE Credit Cards… And Why I Still Have One. Obviously a lesson against the Dark Arts makes more sense. #stillwaitingformyHogwartsletter

Credit cards freak me out. They always have. Have you ever heard anyone accuse another person of spending on a credit card, as if it was the most sinister thing they could do? Personal finances are deeply personal, and there are TONS of…

We use this phrase a lot around here: “For all things, there is a season.” In winter, we prioritize resting and hibernating, and planning for the following year. It’s a great time to reflect on the past year, and plan for adjustments or improvements for where we are on our goals. We brainstorm goals for the next year, and put pen to paper to map out options. I love doing this. I love when My Love and I sit on the couch in the back room and plan on the chalkboard, and…

We get it. Loads of people don’t budget. We watch our account balances, and ride somewhere in the middle, and go on to the next thing, rather than sweat tracking each transaction, categorizing it, and measuring the activities against pre-determined goals. I love data. Give me the stats, the figures, the charts, the…

Stretching our grocery dollar budget always seems to be a challenge. I’m all about penny pinching, coupons, sales, buying in bulk and repackaging, and meal planning. When I get the receipt and it shows I’ve saved $20+ at the grocery store, it feels worth it. (Until I wonder how much they artificially inflated prices in order to “save” that much.) But regardless, by only buying…

It is said that understanding begins with a common comprehension of terms. If you have ever experienced an instance of talking past someone in a conversation, you know this to be true. Especially when both parties realize they are using the same term but differing definitions. The longer our FIRE journey is, the more we realize that FIRE has no…

I’ve been repeating this phrase a lot lately: some things are worth beans and rice. What I mean by this, is that some things are worth prioritizing over excessive spending. No, I do not want to only eat beans and rice. Yes, some people have to…

Imagine you are embarking on a great journey. You have prepared, planned, and are now executing. Things are actually going great! You are learning new things, and experiencing things you didn’t expect. The scenery is beautiful, you are able to camp out in amazing places, catch some fish, and the weather, as if conspiring to…

Are you already planning for the upcoming holidays? Good! Next week, 4 Oct 2020, gives you 12 weeks until Christmas to plan and strategize so that gifts, meals, and events are all within budget and leave everyone with memories of joy, and not remorse, come January. If you’re like most folks…

There is a simple saying I find apt within this topic, “don’t recreate the wheel.” But have you ever done the mental gymnastics of imagining someone do it? You come home and see your significant other in the garage…

If you’ve switched from eating food in boxes and packaging, to eating fresh food, especially from your garden, CSA farm box, or farmers market, you might be eating less. No, not just less calories, but less…

Before I begin, I have to admit that we are Dave Ramsey fans. We believe, that at it’s foundation, Ramsey’s financial independence strategy is sound. Not perfect. Not above modifying for your specific financial situation. But it works and we argue that failure within his system is more likely than not, user error…

In early 2006, I was stationed in Alaska. A young paratrooper in the U.S. Army preparing for my first deployment to Iraq. I remember our Brigade had a rigorous pre-deployment training schedule that even the most seasoned leaders found ambitious. We jumped a lot, both from fixed and rotary wing aircraft…

This is where its going to get personal. When I was growing up, I would associate happiness and success with the collection of things…new things. As a child, my father would tell me something I now know was meant to frame my thinking as an adult. “Be careful about…

Awareness of a scheme alone, in my opinion, does not mean you will not fall into the financial trap that has been set for us. It takes will and determination to overcome a personal vice. Please entertain a short tangent. Back in 2003, I found myself preparing for…

It feels good doesn’t it? You are walking through your favorite store, looking at all the things that should rightfully be in your home. Your walk slows, you give each item a long look and a feel. The anticipation builds within you. As if there is some psychic connection between the sensors in your fingers and one of the credit cards in your wallet/handbag, you can almost visualize the…

Some of the trusted authors we follow promote investing in gold and crypto currency as a defense against the collapse of the almighty U.S. dollar…

Did you check out Lamare’s blog about having enough money? It clicked for me that I need to clean up my act.

Like a frog in near-boiling hot water, we may not realize the advertising stew that we find ourselves in on a daily basis. It’s all around us, all the time. Corporations spend millions of dollars on advertising, targeting…

I am a big proponent of owning your position. If we are going to be completely honest with ourselves, we are typically in the position we are in as a result of…

We understand that saving is difficult, not in theory but in practice. We may not realize it but the act of cutting your spending is a lifestyle change. It’s making the conscious decision…

The CARES Act retroactively enabled additional expenses to qualify for Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSA)-reimbursement. Before, you needed a doctor’s prescription for over-the-counter medications to qualify, but now you don’t! Why does this matter? Because this could save you…

Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung, a financial independence/retire early (FIRE) couple, did a great job framing the three basic ways of pursuing FIRE in Quit Like A Millionaire…

Plant something you can eat! Even in a studio apartment, you can grow something. For example, when we were apartment living…

Caution, I am going to rant a bit here. I have noticed a reoccurring trend with…

In my 30-some years of life, I have been fortunate to do some pretty interesting things, work in some really interesting places, and with interesting people. As a Veteran…

The Fourth of July… Independence Day… a day where Americans celebrate our founding fathers’ decision to fight for self-rule…

On April 18th, Garret Gunderson, a contributor for Forbes, authored an opinion piece outlining how paying extra on your mortgage leaves you vulnerable to foreclosure, that it'll…

Plans don't survive first contact. Failing to plan is planning to fail. So... damned if you do, but damned if you don't?