“What motivates you to save?,” I asked my husband last night at the dinner table. “Is pride your motivating factor?” “Insurance,” he told me quite matter of factly, “I want to know money is there in case I need it.” “What about you?,” he asked. “I save out of fear,” I told him. “That’s a …
Imagine you are waiting at the starting line of a race. Picture yourself stretching, tightening your shoelaces and quietly taking deep relaxing breaths. There is no doubt you are ready. You spent months training for this particular event. You step into position and brace for the sound of the starting gun. Then suddenly bang! You’re …
How do you measure success? Is it a large house surrounded by a white picket fence and a lush green lawn? How about a high-paying career that includes yearly bonuses and a fancy title? In my eyes these were the epitome of the American Dream and I desperately wanted both. To achieve these goals my …
Do you discuss the highlights on your journey to Financial Independence or FIRE? I’ve been blogging about money for over fourteen years, but I am still hesitant to write and talk about the big, bold moments of my financial quest. Looking back I think I’ve been too modest about my financial success. Leaving Out the …
If I had to sum up the #1 rule for personal finance it would be this: “Think about the stuff you buy.” I mean seriously stop, pause, take a deep breath, count to ten, slow your heart rate down and then think carefully about whatever it is you want to spend your hard earned money …
I wish I could say I was one of those philanthropic folks who always used her powers to better humanity. But nope, in my twenties and thirties, that would not have been an accurate assessment. In high school, I volunteered for all sorts of community efforts. I cleaned up streams, rallied for causes, volunteered at …
Life experiences can have a profoundly positive or negative impact on the way we think about money. When good things happen we view the world through rose colored glasses. When bad things occur we squint through shards of glass. How does your past impact your feelings about money? Do you face financial matters from a …
There are twenty-four hours available in any given day. Is it just me or do those hours seem to pass in the blink of an eye? One minute you are rising out of bed and the next you are climbing back into it. Math has a funny way of playing tricks on our minds. Twenty-four …
Many members of the FIRE community set dates for retirement. I constantly read things like I plan to retire in 5 years. I want to retire at age 40. I will no longer be working by age 45. I understand the premise behind these dates. If you set a specific goal you are more likely …
When you save money do you save with a specific goal in mind? Do you set aside cash with the intention of buying one particular thing? It may sound strange but I’ve never done this. I didn’t purposefully set aside money for my car, my house or my rental property. I just put money in …