Blog Posts

Why Right Now May Be the Time to Join the FIRE Movement

March 26, 2020 By Jackie 1 Comment

The FIRE movement has its share of haters.

And honestly, I don’t get it. (Much.)

Sure, the biggest objections are understandable:

People don’t want to retire early and sit on their rear doing nothing.
It can seem out of reach for many people.
People don’t want to live waaaaay below their means and never do anything fun.

So let’s tackle those things one at a time. Doing so will help explain why right this very moment — with all the economic upheaval and ongoing problems — might be the exact right time to join the FIRE movement. [Read more…] about Why Right Now May Be the Time to Join the FIRE Movement

Rakuten Review: An Easy Way to Put Money Back in Your Pocket

March 23, 2020 By Josh Patoka Leave a Comment

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Are you looking for an effortless way to make extra money from your daily habits? Rakuten is one of the easiest ways to put some money back into your pocket when shopping online, and this Rakuten review will show you how.

This online shopping tool is free and lets you earn cashback at over 2,500 retailers. You don’t have to spend time answering surveys or possess a unique skill. As long as you can shop online, you can earn cash rewards.

I have personally been using Rakuten (previously known as Ebates) since 2015. It’s my favorite shopping app because it’s easy to use compared to other online shopping apps.

And as of right now, you can get a $10 cash bonus with your first $25+ online purchase by joining Rakuten. [Read more…] about Rakuten Review: An Easy Way to Put Money Back in Your Pocket

Clueless at 40 to Financially Independent by 50

February 2, 2020 By EFI Leave a Comment

Can you go from clueless at 40 to financially independent in less than 10 years? We are. And, we’ll do it as two public educators, not doctors or investment bankers.

We aren’t quite there yet, but here’s how we’ve turned things around and why I’m confident we’ll get there.

If you’ve just started paying attention to your finances in your 30s, 40s, or even 50s it’s not too late. No doubt your situation is different, but you’re aware now and that matters. Ours is just one story – you can write your own!

Our First Twenty Years

We Started Out Broke

We started out as two new teachers, more than $100,000 in debt thanks to student loans and consumer debt from our college years. We then bought a house on a zero down mortgage and jumped into our careers. Living the American dream! [Read more…] about Clueless at 40 to Financially Independent by 50

Travel Hacking for Beginners: How to Get Started Today

January 17, 2020 By Lance Cothern Leave a Comment

Travel hacking is a unique hobby where people use credit card rewards, frequent flier programs and other travel loyalty programs to travel for free or as cheaply as possible.

Some people prefer to get as much value as possible from travel hacking. Others aim to get access to luxurious travel experiences they would not otherwise be able to afford.

Either way, traveling for free is possible with a bit of careful planning. It may seem too good to be true, but it’s not. My family has used credit card rewards to get free flights, hotel stays and cruises on more than one occasion.

I’d say we’ve easily earned over $10,000 worth of credit card rewards and free travel since we got started a few years ago. Here’s what you need to know if you want to start travel hacking as a beginner that has no experience at all. [Read more…] about Travel Hacking for Beginners: How to Get Started Today

Andrew Carnegie’s Cogs and the Path to FIRE

December 19, 2019 By Jesse Cramer 2 Comments

The FIRE movement, at its heart, is about blazing your own trail. Today’s writing will get this point across, and I’ll lead by example–we’re going to explore a bit. This article will be a winding road, but I hope you’ll trust me enough to guide you out to the other side. Grab your walking stick, and let’s set out.

We all know where the traditional life paths lead. It’s 40 years of 9-to-5 and working for the weekends. It’s using our 20s and 30s to bury ourselves in debt, only to use our 40s and 50s to dig ourselves out. And don’t forget about engaging in Cold Wars of one-upmanship with the neighbors and church group and PTA. Who does he think he is, driving a Tesla in this neighborhood?! This is what the Jones’ have done for generations.

The FIRE movement shirks those “traditions.” Vicki Robin—if she’s not an O.G. FIRE founder, I’m not sure who is—reminds us, “Money is something we trade our life energy for…The only real asset you have is time.” There’s an idea worth holding onto. The only real asset you have is time. We’ll come back to this idea. But first, a detour! Let’s go check out the steel mill… [Read more…] about Andrew Carnegie’s Cogs and the Path to FIRE