Financial Independence Podcast

I can't believe it… It's been 10 years since I left my job! What a wild ride it's been. I'm more content with my life/finances than I've ever been before, but I'm also more unsure about what the future holds. I explain everything in today's short podcast episode, so hope you enjoy it :) Highlights How AI affects FIRE My thoughts on Lean FIRE vs Fat FIRE How I became okay with waste, inefficiencies, and spending more The benefits of sustainable, asset-based lifestyle inflation Why I'm now choosing simplicity over optimization What I plan to spend my extra money on Why this is the most unnerving period of post-FI life

After decades of saving/investing, it's hard to immediately flip a switch and go into spending mode. Spending is a skill that you should develop on your way to FI, so that you're better at it when the time comes to really do it. Here's what worked for me over the last few years! Highlights How to reframe expenses and recalibrate how you value money (e.g. College Calculation, 0.01% Rule, etc.) Why you should expect inefficiencies/waste as your net worth grows The benefits of splurge accounts and forced annual-spending targets Balancing the idea that "everything is free" with the benefits of incremental improvements The importance of prioritizing "now" over "the future", while still spending/saving for both How to give more while increasing the personal benefits of that giving

In 2021, I decided to stop doing annual updates. At that time, I thought I had FI figured out and was just living a "normal" life (so no need to talk about it anymore). Well, a lot has changed since then. Turns out, I didn't have everything figured out :/ I explain more in today's short podcast episode!

Saving up a bunch of money gives you power - power you can use to make your life better and your journey to financial independence quicker. The only way to take advantage of the power though is to use it. Full Article: https://www.madfientist.com/power-of-quitting/

If you want to use money to make you happier, stop thinking about what you can buy with it. Instead, think about how you can use it to remove the things in your life that make you unhappy. Full Article:  https://www.madfientist.com/happiness-through-subtraction/