EverydayFI

Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content Buy some merch - get t-shirts, mugs, stickers, totes, the works! Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.  Today is another bonus episode, and if you aren't already signed up for everyday five plus, you will only be hearing the first 15 to 20 minutes of this teaser. If you want to hear the entire episode, check out my Patreon at patreon.com/everydayfipodcast where you can sign up for EverydayFI+ and get ad free and bonus episodes. Today's bonus is another episode with David Robinson and we're going to talk about all things Roth. I know we're big proponents of Roth accounts in this community, but sometimes we can go a little too hard on the Roth to go out of our way to avoid paying taxes. First we'll focus on some average retirees, i.e. people who retire around the age of 65. Later in the episode, we'll tie it back to why not going all in on Roth matters for early retirement as well. Tune in! Episode links: TROSA Uniform life table from IRS.gov

Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content Buy some merch - get t-shirts, mugs, stickers, totes, the works! Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. If you'd like to support the show check out my Patreon at patreon.com/everydayfi podcast for ad free and bonus content. Today is EverydayFI's 100th episode!! Did you ever think we'd get here? Sometimes I didn't… There are so many things to reflect on, the stories we've heard, the evolution of the show, etc. Hear all this and plus what's changes are coming up next for the show. Tune in!

Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content Buy some merch - get t-shirts, mugs, stickers, totes, the works! Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. If you'd like to support the show check out my Patreon at patreon.com/everydayfi podcast for ad free and bonus content. In today's episode I get to chat with Jaylynn about his journey to FI… That ended up being a complete surprise to him! Tune in to hear his full story. Episode Links: The Simple Path to Wealth, J.L. Collins Budgets Are Sexy Jill Schlesinger Retirement Answer Man Stacking Benjamins Afford Anything BiggerPocketsMoney ChooseFI

Support the Show: Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content Buy some merch - get t-shirts, mugs, stickers, totes, the works! Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. If you'd like to support the show check out my Patreon at patreon.com/everydayfi podcast for ad free and bonus content. In today's episode I'm back with Kathleen and we talk about her battle with breast cancer and how that changed her FI journey. We talk about health, resilience, and continuing to build wealth in the face of financial and medical trauma. Tune in to hear the inspiring end of Kathleen's story. Episode Links: Projection Lab Ramit Sethi Kathleen's podcast: The Reframe

Support the Show: Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content Buy some merch - get t-shirts, mugs, stickers, totes, the works! Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. If you'd like to support the show check out my Patreon at patreon.com/everydayfi podcast for ad free and bonus content. In today's episode, I speak with Kathleen, a DC lawyer who explains how she shifted from intending to pursue government policy work to staying in private practice for intellectual challenge and financial security, including after having children. Kathleen also shares early money memories—her mom's handwritten budget, tight but transparent finances, giving, and saving a small allowance—which shaped her emphasis on responsibility, hard work, and avoiding debt. Tune in to hear the first part of Kathleen's story. Episode Links: ChooseFI Die With Zero book

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content Buy some merch - get t-shirts, mugs, stickers, totes, the works! Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. Today is a teaser for one of my EverydayFI+ bonus episodes where I talk about why I quit my corporate job and how it's going. This teaser is the first 10-15 minutes of the episode. If you want to hear the whole story, sign up for EverydayFI+ on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/EverydayFIPodcast/membership. You'll also enjoy ad free content!

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content! Buy some merch - t-shirts, stickers, mugs, tote bags, all the things! Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. If you'd like to support the show check out my Patreon at patreon.com/everydayfi podcast for ad free and bonus content. Today world traveler Julie Rose is back on the show and we reminisce about the trip she planned where we traversed Egypt! You'll hear all about the amazing monuments we saw, the incredible food we ate, the interesting group dynamics, annnddd a couple instances of "type 2" fun. Tune in to hear the full tale! Episode Links: Julie's website and blog Julie's Instagram Julie's YouTube channel EverydayFI Episodes with Julie: Episode 48 Episode 49 Julie's article on transformative travel

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership for ad free and bonus content! Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. If you'd like to support the show check out my Patreon at patreon.com/everydayfi podcast for ad free and bonus content. Today is part 2 with "Tex", the anonymous guest who previously spoke about his struggle and his triumph over addiction. In this episode, Tex shares his journey towards financial independence and how various influences like Bogleheads, Mr. Money Mustache, and Clark Howard shaped his philosophy. Struggling with how to spend money wisely and balancing life priorities, Tex discusses how he used methods like careful car shopping and thoughtful school selection for his children. Despite his family's generational wealth, Tex's aim is to decelerate his career, appreciate the present, and make prudent decisions without succumbing to societal pressures. By aligning vision with execution, Tex focuses on practical steps that enhance his family life and financial stability. Tune in the hear the rest of Tex's story. Episode Links: Bogleheads Mr. Money Mustache New Yorker article Clark Howard Money With Katie SchoolDigger White Coat Investor Jill on Money

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership for ad free and bonus content! Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. If you'd like to support the show check out my Patreon at patreon.com/everydayfi podcast for ad free and bonus content. Before we get started, I want to let you know that this conversation touches on the sensitive topic of sobriety and addiction. I understand these subjects can be challenging, so if this is something that might be difficult for you, please feel free to take a break from this episode and return when you're ready. In today's episode, I speak with an anonymous guest, Tex, who shares his deeply personal journey of overcoming challenges and building a financially responsible life. Tex discusses constantly moving around in his childhood, coping with bullying as the always "new kid", and dealing with family trauma leading to his addiction. The turning point came when Tex, at age 29, sought help through a 12-step program. This episode explores how recovery and vulnerability transformed Tex's life, leading to healthier relationships, financial independence, and a strong sense of self-worth. This conversation shows that true financial success starts with inner emotional and psychological health. Episode Links: ChooseFI

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content! Buy some merch - t-shirts, stickers, mugs, tote bags, all the things! Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.  In today's Mitch and Meg episode, we talk about balancing the FI lifestyle when one spouse decides to step away from paid work. Episode Links: Jillian Johnsrud Ramit Sethi Joe Saul-Sehy

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content Buy some merch - get t-shirts, mugs, stickers, totes, the works! Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! Today's episode is a teaser for the new bonus content I'll be putting up on Patreon starting in February. In this episode I bring back my friend David Robinson, aspiring CFP, and we dive into the 4 different ways you can access your retirement money before age 59 1/2. To hear the full episode, sign up for EverydayFI+ on Patreon (you'll also get to skip the ads)!

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon for ad free and bonus content Buy some merch Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. Sam and I kick off part 2 of his story talking about the moments that led him to the financial independence community. Sam shares how the realization of student loan debt initially propelled him towards FI, but the intense focus on hitting a high savings rate created tensions in his marriage and personal life as he struggled to find balance. The second half of Sam's story promises an insightful look into balancing life's demands while pursuing financial goals and explores actionable advice for better financial planning and personal fulfillment. Tune in to hear the rest of Sam's journey. Episode Links: Physician on Fire ChooseFI Two Sides of FI The Money Guy Show Erin Talks Money Furnished Finder

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content! Buy some merch - t-shirts, stickers, mugs, tote bags, all the things! Sign up to be on the show here It's official!! I've promised in several episodes that I'd be providing ad free and bonus content... Well, it's coming!! The first ad-free episode will drop Monday, February 2nd (you'll see the countdown in my Patreon posts) and the first BONUS episode will drop Friday, February 6th! So how do you access this content? It's super easy! I've created three tiers here in Patreon: Supporter, Ad Free, and EverydayFI+ Supporter Tier: if you don't mind listening to ads, but you'd like to support the show anyway this is a great, low cost option Ad-Free Tier: if you're sick of ads interrupting your listening experience, this tier let's you listen to all new* episodes ad free! EverydayFI+: this is the juiciest tier (yum). You not only get to listen ad free to new episodes, but you also get access to exclusive bonus content. You'll enjoy chats with experts, Meghan spilling the tea on her journey to early retirement (because some things you can only say behind a paywall), and things outside financial independence like podcast and book reviews, Meghan's fertility journey updates, and more. You'll also get an EverydayFI podcast sticker for your water bottle or laptop. This is hands down the best tier for the money. You can find all tiers and prices here. Once you sign up, you can listen to ad free and/or bonus content in the Patreon app using your custom feed, or check out this article to listen in your favorite podcast player. Make sure to subscribe to EverydayFI so you know when new content drops! *Episodes prior to February 1, 2026 will still had ads due to the nature of EverydayFI's current hosting platform.

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership (bonus content coming in 2026!!) Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. In today's episode, we delve into Sam's multifaceted career journey, from engineer to stay-at-home dad and finally pilot for a major airline. Sam candidly shares his challenges with financial dependence during his marriage, how a painful divorce led to his financial awakening, and his transition into the world of aviation. Sam also enlightens us about the cost differences and timelines between pursuing a medical degree and becoming a pilot. By sharing his story, Sam illuminates the financial vulnerability and lack of preparedness many face in adulthood. Despite life's unexpected turns, Sam shows us that financial independence is achievable with the right mindset and perseverance. Tune in to hear part one of Sam's story. Episode Links: Mr. Money Mustache The White Coat Investor

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership for $5/mo (premium content coming in 2026!!) Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. Today I'm diving into the life of full-time world traveler Julie, who you might remember from episodes 48 and 49. We'll discuss the trials and tribulations of maintaining relationships while living a nomadic lifestyle, including Julie's recent heartbreak and how she balances romantic and other relationships on the road. Stay tuned for some heartfelt insights and personal stories that you won't want to miss. Episode Links: EverydayFI episodes with Julie: Episode 48 Episode 49 EverydayFI episode 25 with Anonymous ("J") on life after divorce Julie's blog post: "Truth Bombs I'm Dropping after the Implosion of My Most Recent Serious Relationship" Julie's blog post: "The Hardest Lesson I've Ever Learned: A Breakup Post-Mortem and the Cost of Ignoring My Intuition" Want to travel with Julie on a mini sabbatical? Go here!

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership for $5/mo (bonus content coming in 2026!!) Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. Today is part two with my friend Eric and in this episode we chat about his journey to financial independence after retiring from the Marine Corps at 45. Eric shares how he found the FIRE movement, his experience learning about stocks, and his success investing in oil stocks before the 2008 financial crisis. Eric opens up about the struggles of finding a new identity and purpose post-retirement and the value of having multiple communities or 'tribes' to nurture different aspects of life. Eric also celebrates his recent accomplishment of completing his first fiction novel, emphasizing the importance of creativity and personal growth. Tune in to hear the second half of Eric's story after a word from some advertisers, who I do not choose and do not condone. Episode Links: Eric's links: YouTube Channel Website Instagram LinkedIn EverydayFI episode 45 with David Robinson ChooseFI FI Service Corps Friends on FIRE

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership for $5/mo (bonus content coming in 2026!!) Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. Today is part one with my friend Eric, whom I met at Camp FI Spain. You'll get to hear gripping tales of his time in the military as a United States Marine Corps combat helicopter pilot, including his special ops missions and deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. We also talk about the challenges of his late wife's battle with cancer, and how that led him to meet his new wife, Alise. Eric talks about how early retirement has opened a new chapter for him and Alise with travel and a focus on a peaceful life over the hustle and bustle. He also reflects on his family's approach to finances, the lessons he learned from his parents about money, and how his own financial journey evolved over time. Tune in to hear more of Eric's story! Episode Links: Eric's links: YouTube Channel Website Instagram LinkedIn Motley Fool Econome Conference

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership for $5/mo Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here   Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host Meghan Combs and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.  In today's Mitch and Meg episode, we talk about leaving things behind: careers, places, people… even the financial independence community. Tune in to hear what Mitch and I are leaving behind this year and make sure to listen til the end for a surprise from Meg... Episode Links: EverydayFI episode 61: Mitch Interviews Meg HerMoney Diabolical Lies Maintenance Phase Dr. Karan Explores Money With Katie Science Vs Sound Investing Money for Couples with Ramit Sethi ChooseFI Afford Anything Mad FIentist music

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership for $5/mo (premium content coming in 2026!!) Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here Please note, this conversation touches on the sensitive topics of sobriety and suicide. These subjects can be challenging, so if this is something that might be difficult for you, please feel free to take a break from this episode and return when you're ready. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or struggling with substance abuse, support is available. You can reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, or visit their website at www.988lifeline.org. Take care of yourself, and please listen at your own pace. ---------------------------- Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you that you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way. In this episode, I talk with my new friend, Zack, who shares his compelling story of growing up in Maine, struggling with alcoholism, and eventually finding his path to financial independence. Zack recounts how his college experiences led him to struggle with sobriety, but how his brother's death convinced him to seek rehab. We explore his career as a truck driver, his efforts in diversifying his skills, and his passion for learning to fly. Zack is newer to the FI space and discusses how he found the community, plus a current struggle he's dealing with now about selling his family home. Tune in to hear Zack's story! Episode Links: EverydayFI Episode 45: Silent Struggle - Mental Health Challenges in Military Service, Part 1 with David Robinson A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel Catching Up To FI podcast ChooseFI The Stacking Benjamins Show Afford Anything Monarch Money Empower

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership (bonus content coming in 2026!) Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.   Today on the show I wanted to deviate from my typical interview setup to talk about an urgent matter coming at the end of the year. If you're not aware, the ACA (ie the Affordable Care Act) enhanced tax credits are going away December 31st 2025, which will impact millions of Americans and raise costs of healthcare pretty much immediately. I've brought on Sam Ferguson, a FIRE community member who knows quite a lot about the ACA and knows all the details on what's going on, and David Robinson, my go to aspiring-CFP friend who'll give us strategies on what to do when the enhanced tax credits disappear at the end of the year. Episode links: This link will take you to the savings page on Healthcare.gov that can show you what you'd pay based on income and state, how to save on healthcare costs, and cost-sharing reductions