FIRE retirement is something that really only became important to me after my kids were born.

In the past, I was blindly ambitious. I dreamed of climbing high up the corporate ladder and achieving remarkable milestones throughout my career.

I could have easily continued on that path, had I decided it was right for me, but thanks to my children, I quickly determined it wasn’t.

That doesn’t mean I don’t respect those that have continued on that path. It’s a tough journey forward, and I applaud anyone for going after their dreams, regardless of what they are.

A FIRE retirement became important to me because I started dreaming of spending more time with my children. I don’t ever see myself giving up ambition, or my career entirely, but I’d like to have more flexibility to choose how I work, when, and how much.

Over the years, I’ve been able to become far more financially free than I ever was, though I’m still working to achieve a FIRE retirement. My partner and I have made remarkable progress on our journey, and we can live off of just one of our incomes today if we choose.

In this article, I’ll share the methods we used to become more financially free, and I’ll tell you what I’d like to achieve with a FIRE retirement.

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My journey to FIRE (financial independence, retire early) began years ago, but I still dream of becoming a “mad fientist.” Or in other words, someone that achieves financial freedom and FIRE retirement.

It’s motivating to imagine what kind of lifestyle is possible with FIRE. I envision spending more time with family, enjoying the beach, traveling, playing with my kids, enjoying yoga, and other self-care activities.

You may also dream of achieving FIRE retirement, and if so, you may want to consider activities you’ll pursue when you reach your goals.

I’ll be honest, I hadn’t considered what I would do when I became a mad fientist, at least not until the last year or so.

It’s hard to envision the possibilities when you’re neck deep in a busy career, especially when you have little kids that rely heavily on you.

Even so, it’s important to put thought into your dreams for the future and to reflect on why pursuing a FIRE lifestyle matters to you. It isn’t an easy journey, but it can be worth it, especially when you spend time reflecting on what you’ll do when you achieve your FIRE goals.

In this article, I’m going to share 10 activities I plan on enjoying when I become a mad fientist.

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As I sat down in our tax accountant’s office, I looked down at the piece of paper I was holding in my hands. It was an important document that reflected what I’d paid in interest toward my student debt that year. 

I couldn’t believe the figure in front of my face, yet it was right there. 

In just one year, I’d paid roughly $3,000 of interest into my student loans. And that was only the interest for one year. It didn’t account for the amount I’d paid into the principal balances, or what my husband had paid into his student loans either. 

That $3,000 was all I was allowed to write off on our taxes.

I had just paid what accounted for a nice cruise vacation into my student debt interest, and it didn’t even help lower the balance. I would have rathered spent the money on that vacation instead, but here I was, holding the piece of paper that proved I’d done otherwise. 

That money was gone, wasted.

I shook my head before I handed the document over to the accountant.

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Being a mom is a full-time job (and beyond) all on its own, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an online side hustle. In fact, a side hustle or passion project can be a great way to make some extra money, have some fun, and expand your skills.

If you’re a mom looking for a new passion project, there are a number of online side hustles that can be a great fit. 

In this article, I’m going to give you the top 5 online side hustles that make money, plus 6 tips to help you on your journey to passion project success.

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If you’re a mom-to-be, let me first wish you congratulations!

Motherhood has its ups and downs, but few things (in my opinion) are more rewarding than welcoming a new life into your world. 

It’s a major life event to welcome a new baby, and it’s important to be financially prepared for the inevitable life changes.

This is especially true for career-driven moms, who may need to take time off work or change work arrangements to care for a new child.

In this article, I’m going to give you 14 tips to help you financially prepare for a baby.

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It’s tough to be a career mom, and at some point in time, you may need to make a career shift to achieve a more optimal work-life balance.

Let’s be honest, being a mom is a demanding job all on its own, but a career only adds to the complexity and challenge. 

Not all careers and workplaces are family-friendly. It can be a tough realization, especially if you’re in a career you once loved, but if you find yourself feeling burned out and exhausted, then it may be time to make a career change.

Some workplaces are family-friendly. From providing flexibility to on-site childcare, paid maternity leave, and other great family benefits, some organizations know exactly what moms need and want, and they’re willing to provide you with support that can add substantial value.

I decided to make a career shift after becoming a mom myself, and while it was challenging to make the change, it was 100% the right decision for me and my family.

If you’re wondering how a career shift can benefit you, then read on because I’m going to share 4 ways a career shift can improve your work-life balance, 7 key benefits of making a career change, and 8 tips to help you on your journey to find a fulfilling new career. 

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If you’ve already started a passion project, or even if you’re thinking of getting something new started, you’ll want to consider some passion project reflection questions to ensure your project is properly serving you.

As a mom, you’re constantly giving of yourself. You’re there for your kids, your partner, your job, and your community. You’re a caregiver, a chauffeur, a teacher, a cook, and a maid, among everything else to your family, right? 

It can be easy to lose sight of your own passions and dreams. But it’s important to make time for the things that make you happy, even if it’s just a little bit each day.

That’s where passion projects and side hustles can come in. You might choose to work on anything from writing to painting or volunteering. You may also decide to start your own business or do something else entirely different. 

A passion project is something that you do for yourself, either as a way to make extra money or simply because you enjoy it. 

In this article, I’m going to share some passion project reflection questions to ask yourself, which will serve you whether you’re considering starting a new project or simply reflecting on the one you’re already working on.

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It’s tough to be a career-driven mom, but it can also be incredibly valuable.

As a career-driven mom, you have to balance your career with family life, but a healthy balance between the two can also make life more rewarding. The balancing act alone can also be incredibly inspiring to your children.

It might be hard to find a job in a career that you’re passionate about, but if your priorities include a career and a healthy balance with family life, then you’ll need a job that fits your lifestyle and goals.

As a mom, some of your goals might include a career with reasonable flexibility, perhaps even part-time options, good benefits, a solid salary, and growth potential, among a number of other benefits. You might also care about contributing to a cause in an industry that you find appealing.

Regardless of your priorities between your career and family, there is undoubtedly a good fit for you somewhere.

In this article, I’m going to share some key ways you can find a job that you’ll find fulfilling, plus I’ll give you 5 tips to help you on your journey to build a healthy balance between your family life and career.

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It’s hard work being a mom, but maybe you’re ready to consider some new passion project ideas. 

I know what you’re thinking. You’re busy enough; how could you possibly consider starting a new project? While you may be plenty busy already, that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve some you-time, and a new passion project might just be the perfect outlet.

In fact, having a passion project can be a great way to relieve stress, and boost your mood and creativity. Having an activity to focus on besides motherhood can also be a great way to connect with other people. 

In this article, I’m going to give you 6 ideas to consider for your next passion project, a few tips to support your journey, plus 6 important questions you can ask yourself to make sure you’re set for success.

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As a busy mom myself, I know that there are a lot of things to worry about, and the last thing on your mind is probably building a successful investment strategy. 

Undoubtedly, your kids come first (and rightly so), but it is still important to consider the health of your finances and the goals you have for your financial future.

Perhaps your goals include achieving a FIRE lifestyle, as in financial independence, retire early. Or maybe you want to simply save for your children’s education.

In any case, you’ll want to build an investment strategy to support your financial goals, and in this article, I’m going to give you 5 simple tips that you can immediately use to support a healthy financial future for yourself and your family.

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