A few years out of college I had my mind made up that I would buy an SUV. Not that I needed an SUV, as I had smooth-paved roads where I lived, plus I didn't need any hauling capacity. I just thought SUVs were cool. Let's … [Read more...] about Big Cars vs Small Cars: Why Small Cars Are Better
Credit Cards 101: Free Travel With Reward Points
Avoiding big expenses and unnecessary upgrades, like fancy cars and large homes, is key for gaining the freedom to choose your field of work or even retire early. But sometimes big expenses are hard to avoid. What if there … [Read more...] about Credit Cards 101: Free Travel With Reward Points
5 Top Budget Hacks, Just in Time for the Holidays
Saving up for early retirement requires a good amount of effort earning extra money, while also reducing expenses. Some figure that latter part is a real drag. In truth, there’s no real sacrifice at all in terms of impact to … [Read more...] about 5 Top Budget Hacks, Just in Time for the Holidays
Can I Retire Early Earning Less Than Six Figures?
Most of the advice you’ll find on blogs like this one comes from authors who have achieved higher than average incomes. In many cases, incomes before retirement are in the six figures (or more) and both partners are high … [Read more...] about Can I Retire Early Earning Less Than Six Figures?
Early Retirement Due to Stress: Freedom From the Grind
The pursuit of early retirement due to stress is a topic near and dear to me. Why? Stress. Stress is a constant companion that even "happy" people suffer from. It can emerge from a variety of sources, including … [Read more...] about Early Retirement Due to Stress: Freedom From the Grind
Save Big Bucks With DIY Plumbing Skills
A big chunk of our hard-earned money ends up in the greasy, grimy hands of plumbers, electricians, heating and air conditioning technicians, etc. Owning a house comes with maintenance (e.g., plumbing!) costs that can amount … [Read more...] about Save Big Bucks With DIY Plumbing Skills
My First Day of Retirement: How to Make It Fulfilling
If early retirement is your goal, it’s awfully easy to get caught up in the journey and the anticipation of escaping a dreaded day job. Still, with an eye on both the present and future, there's nothing wrong with daydreaming … [Read more...] about My First Day of Retirement: How to Make It Fulfilling
Why Date Nights Are Important for Frugal Couples
So how do you keep a marriage strong while weathering the ups and downs of parenthood? I'm no expert, but I can tell you what we've learned over the last few years of raising our little tykes. Why date nights are important … [Read more...] about Why Date Nights Are Important for Frugal Couples
Small House vs Big House: Why Smaller Wins
Back in the late fall of 2012, we learned we would become parents of boy/girl twins. Exhilarating days for us. Magical. We were far from thinking about the advantages of downsizing back then... Small House vs Big … [Read more...] about Small House vs Big House: Why Smaller Wins
How to Achieve a Zero Hour Work Week
Are you curious about how to achieve a zero-hour work week? Those of us aspiring to retire early are sometimes characterized as "cheap", "tightwads", and even flat-out crazy. If you're familiar with the Four-hour Work Week, … [Read more...] about How to Achieve a Zero Hour Work Week