Fire Drill

Email me at j@firedrillpodcast.com

My name is Rachel Teodoro and I am a mom of three kids living in the greater Seattle area with my husband Mike, who is a mechanical engineer. We met while attending Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. I am a lover of all things thrifty and can be found trolling for garage sales nearly every weekend. I like to craft, create and decorate my home with my thrifty finds. I am always happy to share my tips and tricks for living well on less.
From Rachel's website - https://www.rachelteodoro.com/
In this episode we discuss paying off her mortgage and paying for her three kids' college tuition.

We are Ali and Alison Walker, and we used to call Seattle, Washington our home. We met in 2004, married in 2006, and retired in 2018. After reaching Financial Independence we wanted a complete and total change from our career-focused lives. We decided that meant leaving our Seattle life behind and making travel our new lifestyle. By November of 2018 we had sold our home and car, let go of 99% of our belongings, and left Seattle to travel the world indefinitely.

From their blog, All Options Considered

https://alloptionsconsidered.com

An important discussion about the Baby Boomer generation and healthcare in the US with Medicare insurance expert Danielle Kunkle.

Nancy's freebie on the decision making process: http://bit.ly/3aoJItS

Her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/drnancyli

Releasing last week's episode with Dave again. You'll love the tip on mortgage rebates - who knew?!

https://firedrillpodcast.com/mortgage-rebate/

Today's episode is with Sasha of Your Frugal Friend blog and Etsy shop. Sasha is a thirty-something mother of two and accountant who makes incredible budgeting spreadsheets and sells them on Etsy. She has paid off over $60,000 of debt to date and is on the path to financial independence in Austin, Texas.

Blog: https://yourfrugalfriendblog.com

Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/yourfrugalfriend

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSdYcA05sGe2WkzlvQ00CwA

Etsy Printables Course: https://firedrillpodcast.com/etsyprintables

Podcast Facebook Group for Live Episodes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/firedrillpodcast/

Managing your own Etsy store is a great way to get some sweet monthly passive income. We talk to Amy, who manages her Etsy shop full time and has scaled her shop to both wholesale and retail clients.

Amy fell in love with design and opened her Etsy shop the minute she graduated. From there she started off with vintage clipart, and the moved towards printables in the wanderlust and travel niche, selling to both wholesale and retail clients. She manages her Etsy shop full time and prints her designs on everything from mugs to pillows. 

You'll love her story!

We also chat about...

How she got started with Etsy
How to know when it's time to pivot
The importance of communicating with the customer
How to shop and select a printer
Using a dropship manufacturer
Good Etsy conferences to go to
Selling wholesale and retail

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-to-grow-your-etsy-shop-to-a-full-time-business-paper-finch-designs

New Year, New Financial Goals!

In this episode Gwen and J receive voice messages and emails from people in the community talking about their financial goals for 2019. We also hear Gwen's achievements and goals for the year coming, as well as J's exciting news about her house and her financial plans.

You'll love this little chat.

We also chat about...

2018 side hustle recap
The comfort of having a paycheck
Voicemails from other bloggers
Gwen and J's financial goals
Up and coming for 2019

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/your-2019-financial-goals

Here in the FIRE community we save a lot of money. What if one day it all disappeared because of a... security breach?

There's nothing worse than being hacked and having issues with your accounts because of a security issue - and losing all that money you need to reach FI! Today we talk with David, a security expert who used to work for NASA and who now works for a computer company. He tells us the steps we need to take to keep all of our money safe and not have to worry about security breaches.

You'll love this story.

We also chat about...

What you need to know about security
How to figure out the best passwords
SIM hacking
How to move away from phone numbers
VPNs and buying stuff online
David's personal FI journey

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-to-keep-your-money-safe-and-secure-david

Christmas is here! How are you celebrating the holidays this year? 

In this episode Gwen and J give an update on their lives and receive some comments and thoughts from different listeners on giving gifts at Christmas. We hear gift ideas to reduce consumerism, bring more experiences, recycle old gifts and save money when buying.

You'll love the amazing ideas some people send us.

We also chat about...

Gwen getting a job in Washington and moving
J's 3 life updates
Gift ideas to give more experiences than things
How to recycle old gifts
Hacking the holiday work schedule
Saving money on presents

For show notes and takeaways: https://www,firedrillpodcast.com/awesome-gift-giving-ideas-from-the-fire-community

Ever met someone who was in the FIRE community but didn't know it? 



Kelsey and her husband started off like many others: a college degree, a job, a house, and so on. But then, Kelsey decided she wanted to try something else and so they went to Seattle, where she started her own digital marketing company and her husband went into carpentry. They then decided to go travelling, starting with New Zealand and then South America, where Kelsey was still working on her business and her husband got started with white water kayaking. A real FIRE adventure!



You'll love their inspiring story.



We also chat about...



Kelsey's journey to entrepreneurshipHow she started her businessHow they survived the first few months without moneyTravelling and living abroadHer long term goals



Enjoy this chat with Kelsey, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!







Show notes and links from today's episode



Kelsey's business: Davies and DixonKelsey on LinkedIn and Instagram



Key takeaways from our chat with Kelsey



1 - Exciting things happen when you leave your comfort zone



Kelsey wouldn't have been able to do all she did if she hadn't left her comfort zone and gone to Seattle. She had a house, a secure job and was married, but they still decided to change their lives completely and pursue their dreams. Kelsey's husband went into carpentry, and she pursued her dream of building a business with her co-founder. Thanks to this, they were then able to live abroad and travel.



2 - Going online can help your business



In order to work on her business while travelling, Kelsey had to move everything online. This meant giving some people in the business senior management positions, making systems more automated and mostly working with online clients. Kelsey says this definitely helped her business grow and helped define the roles between the co-founders. By hiring people who are smarter than her, she was able to separate herself from the business and help it grow.



3 - The power of mentorship



Kelsey attributes a lot of her success to having the right mentors, the right people with good advice. She finds people that empower and encourage her, and from the entire spectrum of advice, she takes the best parts and  and works with them. Gwen and J talk about the different mentors they encounter at events they go to - a great opportunity to meet interesting people.



Questions? Like or dislike? Leave us a comment!



Want to support the podcast? Here are three things you can do.



1. Start tracking your net worth with Personal Capital using our link. It's free.



2. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and get one extra LIVE episode from us per week.



3. Join our Facebook group and connect with other members of the FI community.

Tired of spending money on rent? How about living in an RV!



Joe and his wife have lived in an RV for over 4 years now and are loving every minute of it.  They have also been working towards their path to FI, continuously accumulating FU money and allowing them to go travelling, to survive a lay off and for Joe's wife to start her own business.



You'll love how inspiring his story is.



We also chat about...



Building FU moneyLiving in an RV for over 4 yearsJoe's layoffHis future FI goalsThe struggle of not knowing when to quit



Enjoy this chat with Joe, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!







Show notes and links from today's episode



OnTrajectory toolJoe on Instagram and TwitterBook: The Girl of the Sea of CortezBook: Stuck on an island Book: Sailing the Golden Sea 



Key takeaways from our chat with Joe



1 - The path to FI has its advantages



Thanks to having FU money, Joe was able to survive his lay off even though his wife's business wasn't really making an income yet. He took advantage of his time off to go travelling and help his wife with her business. They had been saving for a few years and this allowed Joe to have more options - even though the lay off came as a surprise! This goes to show how FI is really not just about the number, but really about the journey.



2 - It's all about having your finances in order



Joe tells us that companies need to make a profit, and sometimes that means letting employees go - there's not much you can do about it. The only thing you can do is have your finances in order and be ready if something happens. He says this FI lifestyle will give you the flexibility to do whatever works best for you, without having to depend too much on external circumstances.



3 - The 'one more year' struggle



Joe could quit his job now if he wanted to and would essentially be Lean FIRE. However, he explains that he is comfortable at his job and is enjoying what he's doing at the moment, and so would rather continue working and accumulate more money just. He talks about how difficult it is leave your comfort zone and quit your job. All this into account, his job gives him a lot of flexibility and allows him to travel and achieve his dreams of hiking and exploring. Once again, if you're enjoying the journey, there's no rush to reach FI sooner 😉



Questions? Like or dislike? Leave us a comment!



Want to support the podcast? Here are three things you can do.



1. Start tracking your net worth with Personal Capital using our link. It's free.



2. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and get one extra LIVE episode from us per week.



3. Join our Facebook group and connect with other members of the FI community.

One of the keys to reaching financial independence is having certainty. 

Tyson created the amazing retirement tool called OnTrajectory, that helps people measure and plan for FI. It's a combination of the complicated financial calculations used by financial advisors with some great analytical visuals. Tyson also tells us his personal FI story and how came to creating such an amazing tool.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How he started programming at 13
The start of his money journey
Certainty and electric shocks
How he changed his mentality when he had to go to a combat zone
The money dummy with OnTrajectory
His personal FI story

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-he-built-the-personal-finance-tool-that-grows-with-you-tyson

Have you ever thought of building a business around travel?

Andy Steves started his travel business in 2010, giving student tours to exchange students all around Europe. At first he was doing all the manual work himself (tours, guides, etc) but eventually learnt how to scale and grow his business. He currently lives in Medellin, Colombia.

You'll love how inspiring his story is.

We also chat about...

Growing up with a travel lifestyle
How he scaled his business
His business and personal goals
How do find off-the-beaten-path places as a tourist
The emotional perspective of working and travelling.

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/building-a-travel-business-while-on-the-road-andy-steves

Is exploring the US by RV one of your dreams?

Steve and Courtney retired in their thirties and are now travelling the US with an Airstream. They are both technologists and quit their jobs when they realised the better option was total freedom. They also travel with their two dogs and manage to do some hiking in the most beautiful places in the US.

You'll love how inspiring their story is.

We also chat about...

Reaching FI
Their definition of FI
Their Airstream
Types of US travels
Travelling with dogs

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/exploring-the-us-with-an-airstream-think-save-retire

What are you planning to retire to?

Bob has been semi-retired for two decades, and tells us his story of working his tail off and retiring at the age of 42 and immersing himself in art. We talk about how he feels watching his co-workers becoming successful, the importance of giving meaning to your life and market volatility.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How Bob reached FI
Doing sculpture once he retired
Watching your coworkers be retired
The underlying need to make a difference
What he feels about the market

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/semi-retired-for-2-decades-bob-clyatt

Have you ever considered living abroad for a year?

Ellen and Michael have lived in Mexico, Ecuador and are now planning to spend a year in Costa Rica. They reached FI at the age of 36 and have two children - who are now bilingual. But they're thinking of starting to work again once their children get older and continue having a flexible lifestyle.

You'll love their story!

We also chat about...

The Cost Rica trip
Why Cost Rica
Travelling while being vegan
Their personal money journey
Negotiating with your company
How they manage healthcare

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/living-in-costa-rica-for-a-year-uncommon-dream

What are some FIRE horrors and treats you've been experiencing lately?

Today we have a special Halloween episode where Gwen and J discuss Gwen's Halloween Heartbreak and some rough times for Gwen as she moves out of Minneapolis and gets back into the corporate world. We also hear some people's FIRE Halloween Horrors and some pretty sweet treats!

You'll love the spooky stories!

We also chat about...

FIRE Breakups
Experimenting with freelancing
Facebook Live in November
Halloween horrors and treats

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/halloween-horrors-with-gwen-j

Plan A is life. Financial independence in plan B. Do you agree with this statement?

Today we have Doc G - a physician who reached FI before realising what he'd done. He then discovered the FI community and now focuses on the philosophical aspect of FI: finding your purpose, the importance of being employed and fulfilling your identity.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

The emotional aspect of FI
How he reached FI and discovered the community
His blogging journey
The amazing influence of the community
Why he loves what he's currently working on

Enjoy this chat with Doc G, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!
 
Show notes and links from today's episode

Doc G's blog: DiverseFI
Doc G on Facebook and Twitter
Episode: White Coat Investor

Key takeaways from our chat with Doc G
1 - FI is a huge part of our identity
Doc G explains how he felt when he realised he had reached FI: depressed for several months. This was because he realised that he no longer enjoyed his job, and quitting and being FI meant losing that identity as a physician. When you spend years working in one job, of course it becomes part of your identity. Reaching FI and quitting means you lose that identity - which can be very hard to accept.

Doc G also explains how FI in itself can also become a huge part of your identity; you can get so involved in the goal that you forget that FI is 'supposed to be a plan B'.
2 - Life is Plan A, FI is Plan B
What does Doc G mean when he says this? Basically he means that best case scenario you get a job that you love and want to dedicate your life to. This is what you want to be aiming for. Plan B is FI - if you get a job you dislike and don't want to do forever, then FI is your 'escape hatch'.

This is what Doc G is doing now (also called FIOR, Financial Independence Optional Retirement), where he works 10-15 hours a week and devotes all his free time to his passion of writing, communicating and speaking.
3 - The FI community is life changing
Anyone who's part of the FI community know how amazingly supportive it is. Doc G and Gwen talk about how they felt always out of place in school, work, college, etc. The FI community is a place where everyone is welcome and extremely supportive, and where people keep pushing you to become a better person, improve your life and lifestyle. As Doc G says, FI is irrelevant if you always know how to make money, what makes the difference is the community.
Questions? Like or dislike? Leave us a comment!
Want to support the podcast? Here are three things you can do.
1. Start tracking your net worth with Personal Capital using our link. It's free.
2. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and get one extra LIVE episode from us per week.
3. Join our Facebook group and connect with other members of the FI community.

Have you ever thought of taking the leap to becoming an entrepreneur?

Today we talk to PT Money, a well known in figure in the personal finance community. He manages his own blog as well as organises FinCon, the amazing annual personal finance event. He tells us how he got started as an entrepreneur, his plans for the future and his real estate experience.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How PT Money got started with entrepreneurship
How he got his wife on board with quitting his job
How the FIRE movement has developed
His future plans
Lessons learnt in real estate

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/from-cpa-to-entrepreneur-pt-money

How do you and your partner discuss money? Do you have a monthly budget meetup? Or is only one in charge of the money?

Kine Corder is a financial planning couple coach. She set up Prosperity Club, where she helps couples talk about their ideas of prosperity, their financial goals and how to find the best connection for them. This episode is packed with a ton of actionable advice!

You'll love how intriguing her story is.

We also chat about...

How Kine got interested in money and relationships
The recurrent and main theme in a relationship with money
How to put her advice into practice
Advice for partners reaching FIRE
Success stories

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/talking-prosperity-and-money-with-your-partner-kine-corder

What if you could retire at 37? That's exactly what Chris Reining did.

Chris Reining retired at the age of 37 after working in cyber security for over 10 years. He slowly increased his savings rate, made sure to keep his expenses low and invest in index funds and a few stocks. Classic FI strategy, and now he gets to do pretty much what he wants.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

The difficulties of quitting your job
The importance of focusing on your income increase
Deciding what's best for health insurance
The misconceptions about FIRE
Chris' last two years as financially independent

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/retiring-at-37-chris-reining

What does your scarcity mindset look like?

Today Gwen interviews JD Roth live at FinCon! JD started blogging over 20 years ago, and started his personal finance blog in 2005. He explains what growing up poor taught him about money and how he manages his temptations nowadays.

You'll love how real his story is.

We also chat about...

How JD discovered FI
Why buying an old house and repairing it is expensive
How he controls his spending habits
His scarcity mindset and what it means for him

For takeaways and show notes: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/managing-the-scarcity-mindset-jd-roth

Another amazing FinCon meetup!

Today we talk a lot about FinCon, the Plutus Awards, an update on our lives and some great community wins and achievements. We also get some calls from guests who were on our show some while back. Some great side-hustle stories and resources shared!

You'll enjoy our little chat. 

We also chat about...

FireDRILL nominations and awards
Life updates on our side hustles
Some amazing wins from the community
Calls from previous guests on the podcast

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/fincon-community-wins-and-firedrill-plans

It's not easy deciding where to put your money as an early retiree... Big Ern tells us where he puts his!

Carston (aka Big Ern) retired this year in June and is currently in his forties. After working in finance and saving up, he has quite a few ideas on where to put his money to keep it safe: real estate, options and of course, index funds. 

You'll love his story and will probably learn an interesting investing strategy!

We also chat about...

How does it feel to be retired
His travels and plans
The 4% rule
His alternative investment strategy
Becoming an accredited investor

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/crowdfunding-real-estate-early-retirement

Everyone glorifies the digital nomad. But what does it really mean to be travelling and working around the world?

Today we interview Sharon, who quit her job and started living the digital nomad life for 2 years. She managed to build a passive income of $4,000/month and explore Europe, Asia and parts of North America. She then decided to go back to the Bay Area and get a job again, so she could focus more on her online businesses

You'll love how refreshing this story is.

We also chat about...

Finding a balance between work and travel
How much it costs to travel
The reality of the digital nomad
The network she made
Her different income streams
Her current focus on future goals

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/digital-nomad-passive-income

Have you ever looked at FI through the lens of the LGBTQ community?

BBR and her partner are part of the community and have some extra hurdles to get through on their journey to FI. We touch on issues such as pregnancy, marriage, healthcare and multi-generational households.

You'll love the angle this story takes.

We also chat about...

How to save up for a pregnancy
The LGBTQ experience with healthcare
Sharing FIRE goals with your partner
Multi-generational households

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/fire-within-lgbtq-community

Have you ever thought about dumpster diving? 

Do you think the only people who dumpster dive are homeless or super poor? Well, there's a whole subculture of people out there who don't fit those stereotypes. They're called "freegans" and want to make the world a more sustainable place. 

Laura is a dumpster diver. In Laura's world, few things go to waste and that's the way she wants it! She dumpster dives for food, goods discarded from local thrift shops and even plants! She then uses the items in the course of her daily life or resells the objects she can't use. 

You'll come away with a whole new opinion on dumpster diving after listening to this episode!

We also chat about...

-how to turn wilted greens into farm fresh eggs
-regenerative practices
-socially responsible investing

Enjoy this chat with Laura, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Would you be able to pay off $200,000 of your mortgage in 5 years?

Julian discovered FIRE in Graduate school, and this is what pushed him and his wife to pay off their debt in such a short time-frame. They are very disciplined, although they always allow space for luxuries. They currently use rental properties and a very high savings rate to reach their FI goal.

You'll love how inspiring that story is.

We also chat about...

Their ideal FIRE journey
Their budget and luxuries they allow
How they use real estate to increase their wealth
How they cook regularly
The obstacles when talking about FIRE within the African American community

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-paid-off-mortgage-5-years

Real estate is the golden key to passive income. How can you use it to reach FI?

Chad Carson got started with real estate right out of college. Him and his business partner started flipping houses and securing good deals on houses. Now he owns 90 properties and does amazing mini-retirements (in Ecuador!) while teaching others about real estate on his blog.

You'll how interesting his story is.

We also chat about...

Why and how you should treat real estate like a business
How Chad picks houses
How he got to FI
What he manages currently
Chad's 17 months in Ecuador
Medical costs overseas

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/reaching-fi-with-real-estate

A myth about the people going after financial independence is that they're all dudes in high paying tech jobs. 

Penny defies all those stereotypes. Her and her husband are teachers on the path to financial independence. It's almost as far from high paid tech bro as you can get! They live simply and cheaply after getting their finances off on the wrong foot. Literally. Penny had a problem buying designer shoes. 

In this episode she covers their shift in mindset about their finances, their debt pay down strategies, how much debt they've paid off so far, and how they're living simply to do so. 

You'll love their story!

We also chat about...

Mindful consumerism
Funny looking veggies
Low cost cell carriers
Penny's timeline to FIRE
Enjoy this chat with Penny, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Kristin decided the rent of her apartment was too high and started living in a car with her partner. They used the gym for showers and wifi and had storage for clothes and food. Now she lives on a sailboat and uses her van to travel all over the US.

A very inspiring story that you'll definitely want to hear more about.

We also chat about...

Kristin's story
Why and how she started living in her car
How she makes money online
Her different income streams including house sitting and freelance writing
Her goals for the future

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/digital-nomading-sailboat-wayward-home

Justin went from hard-working civil engineer to hard-working stay at home dad by the age of 33. 

He had dreams of one day being a lawyer and quickly realized he liked engineering better. While he did like engineering, he also really enjoyed staying home with his growing family. He and his wife did the math and realized they could make it happen in just a few short years. 

The rest, as they say, is history. 

We also chat about...

what the true definition of retirement is
Justin's net worth 
their portfolio allocation
what their kids think of FIRE
Enjoy this chat with Justin, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Did you know doing Facebook ads for other companies is one of the fastest ways to make money freelancing?

Mike built his own $100k company starting with his own fitness business and then as a Facebook ads freelancer. He now manages several businesses and creates courses so others can earn money doing what he does. He is also a stay at home dad and has big dreams to own and live in a winery. 

You'll love how inspiring his hustle story is!

We also chat about...

Mike's background
How he decided to be a stay at home Dad
How he started freelancing
How to get started with Facebook Ads
His thoughts on FIRE as an entrepreneur. 

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/build-freelance-dream-facebook-ads

Alex was stuck.

She hated her job and couldn't stand to be at her cubicle one more second, but she had bills to pay. One day, she realized she could turn her side hustle into her full-time hustle..... and quit the very next day. Her side hustle? Doing paperwork for others like writing press releases through Fiverr!

Since then, she's learned a ton and made more money than she ever could have dreamed of! We welcome her to FIRE Drill Podcast to share her insights on how to hustle on Fiverr.

You'll be inspired by her story!

Enjoy this chat with Alex, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Show notes can be found at https://firedrillpodcast.com/alex-fiverr/

Quitting your day job to start your own business sounds risky... but what if you have a cushion?

Today we interview Chelsea from Mama Fish Saves, an ex-portfolio manager who started in the finance world and now manages her own online business along with raising two kids.

You'll love how inspiring and interesting her story is

We also chat about...

How Chelsea got a job with Goldman Sachs
The difficulty of having kids along with a demanding day job
The identity crisis
The importance of having a cushion
What FIRE looks like to Chelsea

For show notes and takeaways: https://firedrillpodcast.com/mama-fish-saves

Live from Podcast Movement!

We got a chance to chat with Brad & Jonathan of the ChooseFI podcast at Podcast Movement. We got the scoop on big events in their personal lives, updates coming to their podcast, and more! Brad (a former accountant) and Jonathan (a former pharmacist) teamed up last year to create one of the biggest podcasts in the Financial Independence space. They offer actionable tips, interviews with the best and brightest of the FIRE community and more!

You'll have a blast listening!

We also chat about...

-changes coming to ChooseFI podcast coming up
-Brad & Jonathan's life updates
-where they see the FIRE movement in 5 years

Enjoy this chat with Brad & Jonathan, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it! More information can be found at https://firedrillpodcast.com/fdp-choosefi.

Have you ever had to deal with consumer debt? How did you pay it off?

Chris from Popcorn Finance one day realised he had way too much consumer debt. He tells us how he moved back in with his parents, stuck to debit cards and established a strict budget to get rid of it all.

You'll love how inspiring and interesting his story is.

We also chat about...

How he got into debt
How he got a raise
His FI strategy
His failed side-hustles

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/getting-out-consumer-debt-popcorn-finance

Jenny and Jimmy are the All-American couple. He was the hot firefighter that fell in love with the ER nurse. 

Little did they know they were a little too average. Jenny and Jimmy are part of the statistics in America on infertility. They didn't realize how hard it was going to be to conceive. After a long and expensive struggle, they were rewarded with a bouncing baby girl. 

We were lucky enough to have them on the podcast to talk about their experience with IVF. If you or someone you know struggles with infertility, Jenny and Jimmy gave us some great advice on how to cover the cost of IVF. 

We also chat about...

-How they met
-how they paid off $120k in debt
-Jenny's side hustles

Enjoy this chat with Jenny & Jimmy, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

How does a family of 5 sustain their life from full-time flea market flipping?

Rob and Melissa have 3 kids and earn their living buying weird items on the flea market and selling them online. They will buy any kind of item and aren't scared of shipping something huge (a Harley Davidson sign??!), and the profits they make can be pretty sweet.

They have a pretty unusual and interesting story, you'll love hearing how they hustle to make an income.

We also chat about...

A typical day flipping items
How much money they make
Where they buy and sell
Their personal goals
Advice to people thinking of getting started

Full show notes and takeaways can be found here: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-to-earn-full-time-income-flea-market-flipping

We got the chance to sit down with Pauline Paquin for this episode. 

Pauline is a digital nomad - originally from France and now living most of the year in Guatemala. She hustled straight out of the gate in her teenaged years that translated into massive success as an adult. Massive success being a fairly robust nest egg and a healthy passive income stream, of course. She now travels when she wants and get to do only things she wants to do. 

You will love her story!

We also chat about...

-Dog sitting in Guatemala 
-Building a rental property in Colorado

Enjoy this chat with Pauline, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

How do you figure out the right time to have kids? Kids will derail your path to FI, cost you more than you think and are very hard to time.

After leaving his job at the age of 34 and negotiating a very sweet severance package, Sam from Financial Samurai talks to us about financial planning, the cost of having children and why it's better to have children sooner than later.

Sam has a very interesting story and you will love hearing his advice and family planning tips.

We also chat about...

The quick path to FI,
The middle-class families with $300,000 incomes,
His biggest mistakes when family planning,
Why you want a severance package,
How to engineer your layoff,

Full show notes and takeaways can be found here: https://firedrillpodcast.com/when-is-the-right-financial-time-to-have-kids

J & Gwen bring you another special solo episode. It's EXTRA SPECIAL because we recorded LIVE at Podcast Movement 2018 in Philadelphia! 

Don't worry, only one drink apiece was harmed in the recording of this episode. We get deep into who Gwen & J are and how they came to be from some of their earliest memories. We also talk about some of the really cool podcasters we met at PM18 and give an update, or two, on how the rental property business is going for both Gwen & J. 

If you liked what you heard, please subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts!

How are people making less than $50,000 in massive cities working towards FI?

We have Erin from Reaching for FI here to share her story.  She doesn't fit into the stereotypical FIRE mold (male, software engineer) which we say 50 times in the episode - whoops!  Erin is a twenty-something living on a modest non-profit salary in DC.

We chat with Erin about:

Her student loan debt,
Budgeting,
Her hesitance to share her FIRE date,
FIRE dating,
& more!
For show notes and takeaways: https://firedrillpodcast.com/erin-reaching-for-fi

Today's guest is Elaine. She is a blogger and podcaster from Nicaragua. 
Unfortunately, the government of Nicaragua is corrupt and the people are protesting against the government. We talked to Elaine about the current environment, how the people are handling the changes, what the government is trying to do and what normal life looks like in the middle of protests. 

Most of you are US Centric which means we only know what's happening in the US. The mainstream media isn't great about covering news outside the US so we were astonished to hear what all has been happening the last few months. 

Elaine has a very important story and we think this might be one of the most useful episodes we release this year. 

She was an absolute delight to speak with! Enjoy this chat with Elaine, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Jim of Route to Retire is stepping away from his corporate job of 20+ years and is moving with his family to Panama.  He reached a $1MIL net worth which is allowing him to fund his dream lifestyle.  He'll officially early retire at the end of 2018 at the age of 43.

You'll love Jim's story and the knowledge he has to share about planning for expat life in Panama.

We also chat about...

Timing for an early retirement,
Getting credit when you don't have a W2 job,
Why he decided on Panama,
& Health care.
For show notes and takeaways: https://firedrillpodcast.com/route-to-retire-panama-expat-family

Benny worked at his family restaurant and was sick of it. He felt like he was wasting his time doing things he had grown to hate. He wasn't motivated and wasn't inspired. He hit a low point and said, no more. He put in a lot of hard work and dedication into changing his life after that moment. 

He dove head first into making money online - first through apps on the iTunes store, then selling t-shirts, and then selling various products through print on demand services. Now, Benny lives a life that challenges and inspires him to live his best life. We chatted about his life and how he turned it around in this episode!

You will be majorly inspired by his story!

We also chat about...

-app development process
-how to come up with products
-how Facebook ads work

He was an absolute delight to speak with! Enjoy this chat with Benny, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Thinking about joining a startup?  How do you know how much money and equity to ask for?

Erica Amatori has worked for multiple startups (and one traditional Fortune 100 company) and shares all the details on compensation, salary negotiation, and equity.

We also chat about...

Cryptocurrency and Erica's new startup!
Benefits (healthcare & retirement),
Tech accelerators,
Getting involved in the startup community,
& more!
For show notes and takeaways: https://firedrillpodcast.com/startup-cryptocurrency-erica-amatori

Today's episode is sponsored by the EconoMe Conference which is a conference for the financial independence community on Saturday, March 7th, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Fire Drill listeners receive 10% off tickets for this event using the code FIREDRILL. Learn more here: https://economeconference.com

Episode show notes are here:
https://firedrillpodcast.com/2019-review

Have you ever dreamt of pursuing a digital nomad lifestyle?

Eric started his digital nomad journey by joining a work travel program called Remote Year after saving up enough of a cash buffer. His plan is to continue working remotely after Remote Year is over and living a full on digital nomad lifestyle.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Eric's background
What Remote Year is like
How he's planning on making an income
A day in the life of a digital nomad

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-im-transitioning-into-a-digital-nomad-lifestyle-nomad-on-fire

Mystery shopping might be the new travel rewards hack.

Johnny uses travel rewards and mystery shopping to go on holiday for free. Him and his wife are using rental properties to fast track their path to FI, with Johnny's goal is to be able to take summers off by the age of 35.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

How to make the most of travel rewards
Where to get travel reward information
The value of mystery shopping

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/a-new-travel-hack-mystery-shopping-financial-roadways

One of the best ways to increase your income is to do a career transition

Caitlyn changed from sales in the beer industry to working as a software engineer. After an intense 6 months completing a coding bootcamp, she was able to find a higher paying job as a software engineer with a better work life balance and pretty much everything she was looking for in a job.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Caitlyn's early career
How she completed the coding bootcamp
How she got her job as a software engineer
Managing coding interviews
How not to screw up your career transition

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-i-transitioned-my-career-into-tech-with-a-coding-bootcamp-caitlyn

Is property part of your portfolio in order to reach FI?

Maria and her husband own 9 rental properties, and have a net worth of over a million. They're aiming for a net worth of $3 million in order to reach FI, and have some pretty nifty real estate hacks to share with us.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Maria's personal finance journey
Canada's maternity leave
Dealing with tenants
Future FI goals 

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-we-manage-our-9-rental-properties-handful-of-thoughts

Do you include your house and car in your overall net worth?

Rachel and her family are aiming for a FIRE number of $2 million. Her and her husband focus on a high savings rate, prioritising their budget and building a side income to speed up their journey.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Budgeting categories
How they manage big expenses
Their total net worth
How Rachel is participating in GCV's blogging and Etsy course

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/why-we-dont-include-our-house-in-our-net-worth-money-saving-mama

Do you dream of retiring before your 40s?

Amon and Christina retired at age 39 and moved to Portugal with their two daughters. Thanks to their government jobs, they were able to achieve a very high savings rate of 70% and build a nest egg of 25 times their annual expenses in just 8 years. They've now been retired for 3 months and enjoy their time relaxing and spending more time with their girls.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

How they got started on their journey
Their FIRE numbers
Why they got government jobs
Their asset allocation
Dealing with health insurance abroad

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-our-government-jobs-helped-us-reach-fi-our-rich-journey

In what way would a medical disability change the way you approach financial independence?

Zero has had to deal with brain surgery and has had rheumatoid arthritis for a few years. It affects her work situation, her financial situation and her physical health, so she's had to adapt her path to FI with side hustles, passive income and insurance.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Her medical history
Why she's prioritizing her body
Her current financial situation
How she quit her job to pursue her side hustles
Getting married

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/why-im-prioritizing-quality-of-life-zero

Have you ever thought of turning your own community into a 6 figure side hustle?

Melissa started a local community Facebook group to help locals find out what's going on in town, recommend businesses to each other and work on initiatives together. This community group now provides her with a full time income and the flexibility to work when and where she wants.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

How to monetize a Facebook group
What to charge and to whom
The emotional side of being a group admin
The pros and cons of managing a community
How to stay on top of content

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-i-turned-a-facebook-group-into-a-full-time-income-grouptize

What are 10 things you would want your child to know about money?

Chelsea quit her job as a hedge fund manager 2 years ago and decided to pursue entrepreneurship to stay at home with the kids and take care of herself. She's working on building a blogging income and is the organizer behind the Mama Talk Money Summit next week.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Entrepreneurship and work life balance
How she's adjusted her spending habits
Managing maternity leave
The Mama Talk Money Summit

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/entrepreneurship-and-motherhood-smart-money-mamas

Everyone's dream is to earn a healthy passive income every month.

Jennifer and her husband earn 6 figures every year in passive income from their real estate business. The interesting part? They follow a slightly different business model and strategy. They also spend most of their time travelling around the world with their 4 year old child.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

How Jennifer got started with real estate
Her property criteria
How to travel with a 4 year old
The pros and cons of renting out to disabled tenants
Her business helping out other investors

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/a-real-estate-strategy-that-helped-me-build-a-six-figure-passive-income-stream

Imagine travelling the world and only paying for the flights.

Diana is a full time travel blogger. Thanks to her blog she gets to try out hotels, resorts and adventure packages for free in exchange for a review or social media posts. She also makes money blogging and recently released a course to learn how to pitch to companies.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Diana's journey as a travel blogger
Her different travel adventures
How she makes money online
How to get started as a travel blogger
Her future travel plans

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/travelling-for-free-with-my-travel-blog-movement-blog

Have you ever considered travel blogging as a full time hustle?

Emily and Bernie are full time travel bloggers and photographers. They make money blogging, working for clients, selling prints and many other projects that earn them several different income streams, all while travelling and working from home.

You'll love their story.

We also chat about...

How they became travel bloggers
Their blogging niche
How the make money from their blog
Short term and long term financial goals
The factor to blogging success

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-i-earn-a-full-time-income-as-a-travel-blogger-the-mandagies

Have you ever considered quitting your job to start a business?

Emily was working as a journalist, but an 'aha' moment made her realise that she wanted to do more meaningful work, and so she set up a flower company that caters to weddings and private events. She now has 5 employees and her business is growing steadily. 

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Why Emily left her job as a journalist
Why she went into the flower business
The process of starting a business
Her financial situation when transitioning away from her job
Her current business metrics

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/from-journalist-to-owning-a-flower-company-emily

Are introverts more interested in FI than extroverts?

Drew is an introvert on his path to FI, who was able to boost his career, finances and personal relationships by understanding his introversion and optimising his daily schedule.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

What introversion really means
The turning point of his career
Starting his FI journey
His current mindset with regards to FI
How having a child changed his path to FI

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/my-path-to-financial-independence-as-an-introvert-fi-introvert

James and Emily retired from the rat race at the ages of 27 and 28.

Through real estate investing and frugality, they managed to hit their Cashflow FI number in 3 years. Using their Cashflow strategy, they're planning to travel around Europe and continue to manage their properties from abroad.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Their turning point to reach FI
Being Cashflow FI
Their real estate journey
Leaving their jobs and travelling around Europe

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/reaching-cashflow-fi-in-our-late-twenties-rethink-the-rat-race

What is the best place in the world for early retirees to live in?

In today's episode, Julie plays voicemails, reads out tweets and emails from members of the FIRE community on the best places to live as a financially free retiree. We hear about places in the US, South America and everywhere else in the world!

We also chat about...

The best states and cities to live in the US
What's important when considering a new city to live in
Places outside of the US that are great to live in

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/the-top-places-to-live-as-an-early-retiree-community-episode

Ever considered teaching English online as a side hustle? Or even as a full time income?

Rachel and her husband are full time digital nomads that travel the world and make their money teaching English online. They've been digital nomading for over 7 years and are still going strong.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

What it's like to live as a digital nomad
Making money while travelling
What VIPKid is about
Managing a schedule when travelling
Success stories from other teachers
Long term goals

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/earn-money-while-you-travel-with-vipkid-grateful-gypsies

Have you ever considered moving into a van and travelling round the country?

Sydney is 24 and has been on the road for 2 years. She travels with her dog to every corner of the US, and is currently making money online through her websites.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

How to live in a van with a dog
The Van Life community
What it's like to be a female solo traveller
How Sydney got started with the van life
How she makes money through her blog
Her life and financial goals

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-i-solo-van-life-with-my-dog-divine-on-the-road

Did you know what you wanted to do at the age of 18?

Like most of us, Vincent didn't know what he wanted to do, and ended up jumping in and out of college and trying out jobs. He's now been an entrepreneur for 12 years, has published his own book, organises retreats and masterminds and homeschools his kids. 

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How and when Vincent hit rock bottom
How he homeschools his kids
From scarcity to abundance mindset
His journey from sports photographer to entrepreneur
The culture of masterminds and retreats

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/why-and-how-i-homeschool-my-kids-vincent-pugliese

Joanie is a full time food photographer who quit her 9-5 job to follow her creative passion.

She's always loved cooking, and when she started sharing food content online through her blog and started getting hired by restaurants to take photos of their menu, she realised she had an opportunity to pursue this creative outlet full time. Since then, she's started her own Youtube channel, online courses and physical workshops.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

How Joanie got started as a food photographer
Leaving her 9-5 job in 2015
Why her and her husband refinanced their house
The early trade offs when starting a business
Joanie's recipe blog
Yes and No tips to food photography
Her next steps as a photographer

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-im-building-passive-income-as-a-food-photographer-joanie

Kirstin retired from her day job to pursue entrepreneurship and make money blogging.

Once Kirstin realised she could make good money blogging, she set a goal and left her day job once she reached it. Since then, she's set up her own business as a Pinterest VA and now helps others work remotely too.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Her money journey
Tips to make money online blogging
Pinterest design tips
How Kirstin got started as a Pinterest VA
Becoming a Pinterest VA as a side hustle

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/making-money-as-a-pinterest-va-and-blogger-believe-in-a-budget

Courtney is a member of the LGBTQ community who reached FI earlier last year.

Courtney has been on her FI journey for 10 years. She is now married and with one child, and her and her wife have decided to keep working since they are now expecting a second child. She has experience house hacking, paying off student loan debt and reducing her expenses down to $25,000 per year.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Courtney's journey to FI
Her first career and income
House hacking in Canada
Why the 3% or 3.5% withdrawal rate is safer
Making money does not have to be selfish

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/why-cutting-out-lattes-wont-help-you-reach-fi-fire2moms1babe

Joe used to be a professional football player for the NFL.

And although he was earning a very high salary, he was surrounded by people who also had high expenses and were living paycheck to paycheck. He has now reached financial independence and lives the van life while drawing down from his nest egg.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How Joe was inspired to pursue FI
The identity crisis of leaving your job
How he managed his finances while working for the NFL
His plans to work on several source of income
The mindset blocker when it comes to side hustles

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/from-nfl-player-to-van-life-man-van-dog-blog

4 years into your early retirement... what do you see yourself doing?

Kristy and Bryce have been financially independent for 4 years and are busier than ever. They write childrens' books, travel, attend conferences and are now releasing a book. As they say themselves, they are literally living the dream.

You'll love their story.

We also chat about...

Kristy and Bryce's FI story
Why it's important to find your identity after FI
Their current activities
The different Chautauquas
Their 3 month plan
Book release of 'Quite like a Millionaire'

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/what-were-doing-4-years-into-fi-millennial-revolution

Sign up here: https://goldcityventures.com

In this episode, J shares everything you need to know about the side hustle course launching today and brings on current students to share their experiences.

There are three courses: Blogging for Profit, Etsy Printables, and Freelancing. You pick one track up front.

You can sign up starting today, June 27th, through Sunday only.

The price is $197 just for this launch and will increase when the course opens again in future.

Go to https://goldcityventures.com to sign up for the course by Sunday.

Steph used to work at SpaceX and NASA...

It's Steph's 1 year anniversary since she quit her job working as a rocket scientist. She reached FI by building an income through real estate in Greece, and now spends her time organising workshops and helping women with money as a financial coach!

You'll love her story.

We also chat about...

Steph's strategy to reach FI
How she acquired her property in Greece
Getting over the fear of going to Europe
What she currently spends her time on
Her side hustles organising money workshops

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/my-journey-from-space-x-to-financial-coach-money-muse

How about turning something you love into a side hustle?

Brad took a one year sabbatical in 2015 after reaching FI at the age of 35. He owned 5 properties and had a strong work ethic, but decided to take a break when he realised his income wouldn't be increasing much more. He now tours people round Europe, has a blog, a podcast and does some real estate coaching.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How Brad reached FI
His career trajectory
Where he saved his income
His real estate strategy
Making the decision to take a sabbatical
His side hustle touring people through Europe

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/my-side-hustle-tour-guiding-through-europe-man-overseas

Have you ever tried negotiating for more flexibility at the workplace?

That's exactly what Ms Mod did: she presented a proposal for better policies, and was able to negotiate with her employer to work from home for the same pay and benefits. She's also halfway on her path to FI and is mortgage free!

You'll love her story.

We also chat about...

Ms Mod's path to FI
How she got started with her career
Negotiating flexibility
How to present a policy proposal
The Canadian path to FI
Taking out money to pay off a mortgage

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-i-negotiated-my-position-to-work-from-home-modest-millionaires

Ever heard of a teacher version of Etsy?

April Smith makes a full time income from her side hustle selling digital downloads on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace for teachers to buy and sell lesson plans. She talks to us about her side hustle journey, how she got started and how she designs and markets her lesson plans.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

Making the decision to leave a teaching job
April's financial journey from debt to financial freedom
How she got started selling lesson plans
The types of lesson plans she sells
How she decides what to invest back into the business
Marketing and sales strategies
Juggling twins and travel

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/making-a-full-time-income-selling-lesson-plans-april-smith

What is the best way a physician can reach FIRE?

In this episode J talks to Jesse, a physician who is set to FIRE in 10 years. He is currently 43 with 3 children, and talks to us about his different lifestyle changes, his investment strategies and negotiation advice.

You'll love that story.

We also chat about...

His plan and timeline for FI and his children's education
The ethics of retiring early as a physician
How he cut back on hours
His plan on international travel
Rebalancing his portfolio and his investment strategy
How to negotiate from above

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-a-physician-is-planning-on-reaching-fi-doc-of-all-tradez

Today's episode has 3 big announcements! 🎉

In today's episode Gwen and J give us a rundown of their FI journeys and everything they've learnt through this podcast. Gwen loves DC and will soon be changing to a better job, J announces that she's pregnant and due in August! Sadly, Gwen announces that she will be leaving the FIREDrill podcast.

You'll love today's episode.

We also chat about...

How Gwen and J have changed after 155 podcast episodes
Mental health and saving the right amount of money
J's pregnant!
Gwen's life in DC
Gwen's decision to leave the podcast
FIREDrill's accomplishments
J and Cody are launching a course together

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/firedrills-3-big-announcements

Ever considered taking a gap year right in the middle of your career?

That's exactly what Becky and Noah did. We interviewed them before they went off on their 1 year road trip round the United States, and now they tell us how it went, their takeaways and plans for their future.

You'll love their story.

We also chat about...

What surprised them about their trip
Their advice to others who want to take a gap year
Getting back into the workforce after a gap year
Why they didn't try to start any new business ventures
Why they chose California

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/our-fi-gap-year-travelling-across-the-us-money-metagame

Most early retirees will tell you that you'll most likely still make money even after retire.

That's why JT decided he didn't need to reach the full 25 times his annual expense in order to quit his job and enjoy being with his family. Instead he has a runway for several years and is working on land investing to produce his main income.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

Reaching FI with 4 kids
The runway approach to FI
JT's current assets
How paternity leave gave him a taste of FI
Land investing as an income 
His healthcare strategy

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-i-reached-fi-without-saving-25-x-my-annual-expenses-jt

How many times were you in a position to negotiate your salary?

Financial Mechanic is a software engineer at the age of 25. She's negotiated for her salary several times which has boosted her income into the impressive 6 figures. She's now on her track to reach FI at the age of 32.

You'll love her story.

We also chat about...

How to get a job in software engineering
How she applied to jobs
Why she wants to reach FI
Her timeline for the next few years
How negotiating booster her income to 6 figures
Her love for travel

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-negotiating-boosted-my-income-to-a-6-figure-salary-financial-mechanic

One FI strategy is focus hard on your own career to fast track your path to FI.

Robert worked for the same company for 15 years, which allowed him to get multiple promotions, become a leader at a young age and retire early at the age of 36. He worked in sales and thanks to a good boss and network, he was able to move up the corporate ladder to eventually reach FI. 

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How to quit your job
Why working in sales makes promotions easier
Optimising your career to reach FI
Negotiating your promotion
Robert's plans after leaving his job completely

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-to-focus-on-your-career-to-reach-fire-stop-ironing-shirts

Reaching FI and preparing for kids at the same time sometimes doesn't go as planned.

In this episode we hear tips and tricks from our community on planning for children, the different options LGBTQ couples have and advice when it comes to paternity leave.

You'll love this episode.

We also chat about...

Family timing and tips
Why it can be dangerous to wait too long
The different options LGBTQ couples have
Why you should divide your paternity leave
Working as a stay at home Dad

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/planning-for-a-family-and-fire

Imagine making 39,000 sales through your Etsy shop.

That's exactly what Alys Maley has made in total since she started selling digital products through her Etsy shop. She went from a full time job as a designer to working from home and earning even more through her side hustle, allowing her husband to also leave his job.

You'll love her story.

We also chat about...

Her career as a designer
Her initial investments
Her journey getting to 39,000 sales
Advice to those getting started
How to manage clients

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-i-grew-my-etsy-shop-to-39000-sales-paper-lark-designs

Spend based on your values rather than your wants.

This is what Steve does with his money, his values being his wife, happiness, travelling, health and fitness. By focusing his money on the right things he was able to pay off over $100,000 in debt, house hack and reach his own level of freedom before even reaching FI.

You'll love his story

We also chat about...

The moment Steve realised he needed to fix his finances
How him and his wife house hacked their mortgage
Moving from Chicago to Miami
Spending based on values rather than wants
His future FI goals
The FI levers he's taking advantage ofCan everyone achieve FI?

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/using-house-hacking-to-get-out-of-100000-in-debt-even-steven-money

Have you ever felt that pursuing FI affected your mental health negatively?

Today we talk to Hillary, who struggled with anxiety and depression in her younger years and has worked with therapists to improve her mental health. She is also on her journey to FI, but does not sacrifice her mental wellbeing for financial independence.

You'll love her story.

We also chat about...

Hillary's background
Doing therapy online
When is it time to see a therapist?
What to do as a friend
Gwen and J's experiences in mental health
The importance of setting boundaries

What will you with your time once you retire early? 

We know you've wanted to hear more from early retirees, so today we interview Chris, who retired at the age of 41 after working for 15 years as a physical therapist, and now lives in Utah with his wife and daughter.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

His job as a physical therapist
His emotions when leaving his job
Moving from Pennsylvania to Utah
What he's currently doing with his time
Figuring out the healthcare situation
His plans for the future

Do you believe in paying off your mortgage? Or using that money to invest in the stock market? Or a hybrid approach?

In this episode we do a big debate on whether paying off your mortgage really is the right thing to do. We get some interesting voicemails from both sides of the debate, as well as some messages from the community!

You'll love how interesting it gets.

We also chat about...

Updates from Gwen and J
Voicemails for and against paying off your mortgage
Gwen and J's personal take
The hybrid approach
Opinions from the community

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/the-great-mortgage-payoff-debate

Want a career that involves travel?

Teaching offers exactly that.

Sarah was born a traveller and knew she wanted to have a career that took her across the globe ever since she was a kid. She went into teaching and moved to China, where the low cost of living made it easy to save and travel. She then grew her side hustle of freelance writing to her full time gig and moved to the US with her husband and baby boy.

You'll love her story.

We also chat about...

Advice for others interested in teaching overseas
What it was like to give birth overseas
Teaching overseas in China
How she planned moving to the US
How she grew her freelance writing side hustle to her full time job
The importance of setting boundaries
Her current FI goals

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/my-journey-teaching-in-china-to-freelance-writing-in-the-us-sarah-li-cain

Did you know there is a large FI community over in Brazil?

Luiz reached FI after working as pilot both in Brazil and the Middle East. He discovered the FIRE world when he felt burnt out from work and was looking for smart ways to manage his money. His plans now include taking advantage of 90% discounts on airline tickets, travelling the world and moving to Bali, Indonesia.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

Achieving FI in Brazil vs in the US
Why Luiz went to the Middle East
What the FI movement is like in Brazil
The Brazilian FI bloggers
How he's using geoarbitrage
The toll it took on his health

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/achieving-fi-in-brazil-luiz

Ever thought of starting a side hustle selling hair lice removal services?

That's exactly what Timika came up with when she realised she wanted to make more money to retire early and take a sabbatical. She did the research, put up a bit of money and in her first year made 6 figures in sales. In 3 years she hopes to take her first sabbatical.

You'll love her story.

We also chat about...

Timika's money journey
How her divorce affected her finances
Taking sabbaticals
Her entrepreneurship journey starting a lice clinic
Having the confidence in the value of what you're providing
How you can start your own lice clinic business

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-my-side-hustle-with-a-lice-clinic-makes-6-figures-a-year-the-reluctant-frugalist

Sometimes you're better off focusing your energy on getting a promotion at your day job than starting a side hustle. Would you agree?

Tanja appears once again on the podcast! This time, with a new book! Tanja retired at the age of 38 and 2018 was her first year of retirement. She describes it as a year full of travel, family visiting and writing her book. She also describes her interesting after tax saving strategy that separates her pension money from her FI money.

You'll love her story.

We also chat about...

Tanja's first year of early retirement
Her after tax saving strategy
Where the bulk of her savings are
Her fitness side hustle and why dropping it was the best thing she did
Her new book Work Optional, Retire Early

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/work-optional-retire-early-a-2-phase-savings-approach-our-next-life

Ask yourself 'What kind of life do I want to live?' and then 'How much money do I need?'.

Grant reached financial independence at the age of 30. But he was working 80-90 hour work weeks and was focusing more on the spreadsheets than actually enjoy the journey of FI. He's now published his first book and is touring the US to meet other people in the FI community, spreading what he's learnt over the years. His message is that FI is about living life on your own terms, and that you don't always need a million to be there.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

FIRE events 2019
The good and the bad of these FIRE events
How Grant researched his book
Why he decided to write a book
Grant's book tour
His book giveaway

For show notes and takeaways https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/why-fi-is-about-living-life-on-your-own-terms-millennial-money

A Purple Life is retiring next year on a $500,000 FIRE number.

She is currently 29 years old, and living and working in Seattle. She's managed to reduce her expenses to $18,000 per year, and splits costs with her partner. She is also successfully living on a keto diet and is planning on going travelling next year once she hits her FI number.

You'll love her story.

We also chat about...

Moving from New York to Seattle
How she reduced her expenses to $18,000 per year
Why she does not combine finances with her partner
Living a keto diet
How she calculated her FIRE number
Life goals

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-im-retiring-next-year-on-a-500000-nest-egg-a-purple-life

Have you ever renovated a house yourself?

Garrett and Cathy have. In fact, they've renovated 6 properties! Garrett and Cathy came up with the idea of fixing up their own house when Cathy got laid off in 2009. Since then, they've been working hard buying houses, fixing them up and then renting them out to tenants. They are now stay at home parents and live off their rental income as they take care of their 3 kids. Pretty impressive.

You'll love their story.

We also chat about...

When their early retirement started
How they decide which houses to buy
Their strategies to rent and experiences with Airbnb
How they DIY the plumbing and electrical
How they became officially FIRE

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-we-saved-over-87000-by-diying-house-renovations-grit-and-polish