FI Minded: Achieve Financial Independence & Have Fun Doing It

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 was to hop on Amazon and buy a new on...

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 up most of your time and energy, and...

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 out your favorite purchases.

Instead,...

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 daily money disagreements — and the ...

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 to push beyond my comfort zone. Up...

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 mistake
• Sean Mullaney (FI Tax Guy) on when Traditional 401(k) contributions might not be the best choice
• Jeremy Schneider (Personal Finan...

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 churning
• Jesse Cramer (Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors) on re...

We’re great savers. Probably good earners, too. But what about givers?

The FI community excels at building wealth, but often, we’re laser-focused on accumulating it for ourselves. Is that fair? Does that make us selfish?

I’m not sure. On one hand, taking care of yourself should be step one - like the old adage goes: “Put on your own oxygen mask before helping others.” And I think there is a lot of validity to that.

But here’s the thin...

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 sacrifices now, hoping it’ll give us mor...

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 financial independence. I also share a...

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 pillows.

Financial independence has ...

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 life.

But how do you find the right...

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 hidden cost to my time, energy, or well-...

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. Instead, it lingers, making you quest...

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. Since then, I’ve switched jobs, n...

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 giving up the things you love.

Each epi...

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 steady cash flow, diversification, an...

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 frustration over “wasting” or “hoarding” mon...

In today’s conversation, we will learn how to 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. As you’ll learn in t...