If you’re serious about following the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early), establishing a robust wealth building strategy is paramount. 

Long-term wealth provides the foundation for living off your investments, granting you the freedom to pursue your passions and retire on your terms. 

Your wealth building strategy is the cornerstone of FIRE, enabling you to achieve financial freedom on your terms, in good economic conditions and bad.  

I discussed in a previous article how you can use wealth to fund early retirement, or to support whatever lifestyle goals matter most to you.

This article will provide a quick overview of how you can develop a long-term wealth building strategy for FIRE to weather the good times and the bad.

Read More

Your emergency fund can make the difference between a bumpy month and a financial disaster, depending on whether or not you’re prepared.

No one wants to need an emergency fund, but it doesn’t change the fact that life has a way of throwing curveballs.

We live in a time of uncertainty and constant change. The economic landscape and our personal finances can shift suddenly and unexpectedly.

Whether it’s a sudden job loss, an unexpected medical expense, or a major car repair, sudden events can derail your financial plans. That’s why building a robust emergency fund is crucial, not just in uncertain times, but always.

Your emergency fund can help you during trying times, turning what could be a major setback into a temporary, potentially frustrating, but resolvable situation.

In this article, I’ll tell you how to build an emergency fund (or emergency savings) to help you weather uncertainty and prepare for financial freedom.

Read More

The FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) is fueled by a core principle: strategic FIRE investment. It’s not just about saving; it’s about making your money work for you so that you can achieve financial freedom sooner.

Your investment strategy should be personal to you, your goals, risk tolerance, and priorities. They may change over time, and that’s ok too.

Your FIRE investment strategy should support your lifestyle goals, allowing you to achieve early retirement (if that’s your priority) in the timeline that you set.

The market fluctuates with time, so your investment strategy should be readied to withstand changing market dynamics. An emergency savings can be valuable to weather such challenges, and it’s something I strongly encourage having.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know to build a personalized FIRE investment strategy that will allow you to build sustainable wealth and achieve early retirement.

Read More

If you’ve thought about boosting your income, you might consider starting one of these easy side hustles.

As the economy gets tougher, side hustles become ever more lucrative. They can be a great way to gain an upper hand when bills are tight and debt is an increasingly painful burden.

Side hustles can be a great way to boost your income and allow you to build a new skillset, meet new people, or explore different work opportunities.

Supplemental income via a side hustle can also accelerate your path toward financial freedom, providing a flexible and rewarding means to earn extra money while you pursue your passion(s).

I personally used a collection of side hustles to boost my income, pay off debt, fuel my journey to financial freedom, explore a new career field, pivot into the said career field, and expand my skill set. I’m an avid fan of side hustles (and passion projects), as they can provide numerous benefits.

Let’s face it, the economy and surrounding marketplace are tough (let’s not even talk about housing, yikes). Anything that can help you gain an edge is probably appealing.

In this article, I’m going to tell you about 10 easy side hustles you can start today to help you gain an upper hand in today’s economy.

Read More

St. Patrick’s Day is a time for celebration, good cheer, and, of course, savings tips to snag the elusive pot of gold! 

While you might not find a literal pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, you can build your own pot of gold by implementing smart savings tips.

Solid savings strategies are critical when it comes to FIRE (financial independence, retire early), or just about any financial goal.

You’ll need to incorporate some other handy strategies along the way, but when you focus on your budget and savings, you’ll be off to a solid start.

In this article, I’ll provide a breakdown of some key savings tips to FIRE your pot of gold all the way to financial freedom.

Read More

Spring break activities can make for memorable moments, offering a chance to unwind and recharge. You might prefer to travel and adventure with your family, though home activities can be just as worthwhile.

With rapidly rising inflation in the last few years, travel costs have been increasingly painful. So perhaps you plan on enjoying your spring break from home.

My family rarely (if ever) travels over spring break, opting instead to travel during less busy times of the year. It’s cheaper to travel in the off-season, plus we’ve never been a huge fan of crowds.

We usually plan on enjoying spring break activities close to home. Though to be truthful, it can be just as challenging to plan home activities, especially when you’re a career parent.

How do you keep the kids busy while enjoying some fun together?

The good news? An unforgettable spring break doesn’t have to break the bank, nor does it have to be challenging to plan.

In this article, I’ll share a series of fun, creative, and budget-friendly spring break activities you can enjoy with the entire family at home.

Read More

Despite the ongoing market volatility, setting clear investing goals is ever important. But how do you set goals when you have no idea when the market will swing?

After all, just one major change can make all the difference. The market can shift based on the results of that election year, because of a mass contagion or because an entire industry bottomed out, among many other factors.

It’s no easy task to set weather-resistant investing goals, but if you dream of achieving FIRE (financial independence, retire early) / financial freedom, or otherwise, investing will probably remain a priority for you.

In which case, it helps to set investing goals. These should be your “barometric pressure sensors” to determine how your investments are performing.

You’ll want to know whether your investments are on track or if you need to make a change, but without clearly defined goals, it’s hard to tell.

How do you ensure that your investing goals are set for success, regardless of which way the market turns? 

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know so that you can set solid investing goals, regardless of what happens in the market.

Read More

Before you know it, holiday activities can fill your calendar for an entire month (or more), but have you considered incorporating some holiday activities to support your financial future?

The holiday season is a magical time filled with joy, cheer, and…opportunities! 

While it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, this festive period can also be a great time to boost your financial well-being. 

You might want to jumpstart your New Year’s resolution planning, reassess your end-of-year budget, or evaluate where you stand with your financial goals for the year.

Or perhaps you prefer to incorporate your financial planning into your celebrations. You can host a potluck, or complete DIY gifts for your friends and family members.

Wherever your holiday plans take you this year, you and your wallet can benefit when you take the time to incorporate your holiday festivities with your finances.

In this article, I’ll give you 10 holiday activities to jumpstart your financial freedom journey.

Read More

The holiday season is a time of joy, cheer, and the busy holiday hustle.

Covering unexpected expenses this holiday season might be challenging, but the holiday hustle doesn’t have to drain your wallet. 

You can enjoy the festivities without compromising your financial goals with a little planning and creativity. 

Ideally, the holiday season is a time for you to enjoy more time with loved ones, the magic of the season, and look forward to a bright new year to come.

It might be a stressful time of year, but there are ways you can strategize and plan to make it a wonderful time of year for yourself and your loved ones.

This article is designed to help you holiday hustle your way to financial success. So if you’re ready, here are 10 tips to support your financial future this holiday season.

Read More

Financial independence is more than just a financial goal; it’s a catalyst for a happier and more fulfilling life. 

By achieving financial independence (or financial freedom), you gain the freedom and flexibility to pursue your passions, reduce stress, and create a life that truly aligns with your values. 

You can spend more time with loved ones, retire early, travel the world, take a sabbatical, start a passion project, or simply spend more time relaxing.

The FIRE movement (financial independence, retire early) provides tools and strategies to help you achieve financial freedom, but more about that later.

Studies show that happiness skyrockets after retirement. Why not seek a happier lifestyle – on your terms – sooner?

In this article, I’ll introduce the FIRE movement and outline ten ways financial independence can lead to a happier lifestyle.

Read More