#159: Is a 401k Worth It Without an Employer Match? How to Prepare for FIREd Retirement

The “Is a 401k worth it” question often arises, especially when employers don’t offer matching contributions.

You have options, so why choose a 401k over anything else? You might also have other priorities beyond investing.

Sometimes investing feels like an endless Tetris pit. Money is going somewhere, but is it landing where it needs to?

After all, you want to ensure your hard-earned money works for you. The world of investing isn’t exactly warm and fuzzy. There’s lots of great data, but sometimes it’s too much.

I don’t pretend to have the secret to supercharge your investing game, but I know the value of understanding your options.

In this article, we’ll explore the “Is a 401k worth it” question, especially as it relates to employer matches. We’ll also discuss the various strategies you can use to prepare for early retirement via the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) method.

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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.

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If you’re looking for time management tips to support your journey to financial freedom, you’ve come to the right place!

Time management can make all the difference when it comes to achieving your most ambitious goals, especially when you have many competing priorities.

As a busy mom of two, I balanced a full-time career alongside my family duties, hobbies, and multiple side hustles, focusing my time and energy where needed most.

Despite many competing priorities, I built a successful career while managing a chronic illness, made a massive career pivot, self-published my first novel in 2017, paid off $85K of student debt in 18 months, turned one of my side gigs into a full-time career, and began a journey to a FIRE lifestyle.

And yes, I still have a life. I go on family trips and have hobbies that include yoga, running, reading, writing, and video games.

It’s safe to say I’ve learned a thing or two about time management, but this article isn’t about what I’ve achieved – it’s about how YOU can achieve what matters most to you, especially regarding financial freedom.

Your time can be your most valuable asset, but as a high-achiever, it can be hard to balance everything.

Mastering the following time management tips will allow you to maximize your productivity, increase your earning potential, and ultimately, achieve your financial goals faster.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about time management to support your FIRE (financial independence, retire early) or financial freedom journey.

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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.

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A growth mindset is a powerful tool that can propel you towards your goals. 

This mindset provides you with the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. 

By cultivating a growth mindset, you can overcome challenges, embrace failures as learning opportunities, and achieve remarkable success.  

In previous articles, I’ve discussed how a growth mindset can support your goals for the upcoming year. We’ve also explored how your money mindset can shape your financial freedom journey. Last but certainly not least, we’ve explored how to cultivate a mindset for financial freedom.

But how do you cultivate a growth mindset that will allow you to achieve your most ambitious goals day by day?

Like your physical health, a growth mindset needs to be exercised routinely. In this article, I’ll tell you exactly how to “exercise” and develop a growth mindset to help you achieve your most ambitious goals, day by day, month by month, and year by year.

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The new year is a great time to set ambitious goals, but don’t forget to incorporate tools for success that chart a path to achievement.

Good intentions provide a solid foundation, but to ensure your journey is successful you’ll also need a mindset that is focused, resilient, and driven.

How do you build a mindset for success? With repeated, deliberate action.

Your mindset for success will empower you to achieve your most ambitious goals throughout the next year and beyond. Your tools for success will make them achievable even sooner.

In this article, we’ll explore how a mindset for success can empower your journey, and we’ll explore some valuable tools that will propel your goals forward into the next year, and beyond.

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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.

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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.

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The holiday season is quickly approaching, and while you’re busy buying gifts for loved ones, a holiday guide for FIRE may be a great gift for yourself. Or perhaps it may inspire other gift ideas for your loved ones.

The holidays bring fun and a season of magic, but these times can also be stressful. With frequent activities and a shopping list that seems to never end, you might feel overwhelmed.

If you find yourself frequently feeling overwhelmed this time of year, take time for self-care. Perhaps you want to reassess where you stand on your FIRE goals, or maybe you’d rather relax and enjoy the holiday season with a new FIRE resource.

Regardless of where you stand this holiday season with goals or self-care, this holiday guide for FIRE will give you a list of valuable resources and tools to explore. Use this upcoming holiday guide to help you stay on track with your FIRE journey, or to help a loved one as they begin to explore a similar path.

In this article, I’ll share a list of some of my favorite FIRE tools and resources. This list includes books, courses, software, communities, and other valuable tools to support a FIRE journey.

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While we’re getting ready to kick off the holiday season with Thanksgiving, I thought it fitting to reflect on the many things I’m grateful for.

It’s been a while since I put together a gratitude list, though I’m working to get better at it. After all, there are so many blessings in life, and my mindset is better off when I remember that.

By cultivating a sense of gratitude, you can foster happiness, resilience, and a deeper appreciation for the things that truly matter.

I’ve talked about how your mindset can empower or hinder you on your journey to financial freedom (or when you’re working toward just about any goal).

When you incorporate mindfulness practices like a gratitude list, you can help cultivate a “growth mindset.” A growth mindset can help you achieve your most ambitious goals, FIRE / financial freedom, or anything else.

In this article, I’ll share my gratitude list for 2024. Perhaps it will inspire you as you reflect on your journey to achieve your most ambitious goals – with FIRE, in your career, for your lifestyle, or otherwise.

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