I believe that a satisfying life is built on living true to my values and I’ve known for a long time that I value simplicity, security, and freedom. These values are likely why I am so strongly drawn to the idea of financial independence. I’ve been consciously and deliberately saving toward my goal of financial independence and early retirement (FIRE) for more than 4 years now, and along the way…

Sometimes owning a house is a real hassle. Actually, let me clarify that and say, sometimes owning a house while holding a full-time job can be a real hassle. If you’re a homeowner you know that there’s an endless stream of maintenance issues always coming at you that will either cost you time or money. If you’re frugal and a little bit handy, you may also have the urge to DIY as many of those maintenance issues as you can, adding to the complexity…

My dad retired a few days ago on April 1st at the age of 65. I am extremely happy that my parents are in a secure enough position that he can choose to retire on social security at the “normal” retirement age, and I am hopeful that he will really be able to enjoy his retired life. His retirement is a milestone that causes me to reflect on all the…

Seedlings Sprouting! I am starting to get a bit of spring fever, helped by the incredibly nice weather we’ve had recently, and the sprouting seedlings in my basement. I am really looking forward to getting outside to plant my garden and soak up that wonderful spring sunshine. My compost heap is begging to be turned over, and there should be a rich layer of fresh compost waiting and ready to…

A few weeks ago my girlfriend and I visited San José Costa Rica. We were inspired to take a vacation there for a number of reasons, including the really cheap airfare; it proved to be a great trip! We drove a rental car all over the place (an adventure on it’s own), hiked in the rainforest, ziplined, toured a coffee plantation, visited the beach, and attempted to absorb as much…

This year I had a good haul of extra income in side hustles – I focused a lot more energy than I have in the past on credit card bonuses (particularly miles) and checking account bonuses. I’ve tried to summarize everything I earned in side gigs below. Credit card rewards, checking account bonuses, etc…

For the past few years, I’ve done a sober January challenge. Every year people give me a hard time about it and ask me why I’m doing it; basically, I do it as a personal challenge, so I don’t get soft. I want to challenge myself to be a bit healthier, and to challenge the (bad) habit of having drinks every weekend. It’s also a good reset after a holiday season of excess…