It wasn’t until I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad that I started to believe in the possibility of a FIRE lifestyle (financial independence, retire early).

It was as if a whole new world of possibility had suddenly opened itself up, though I was certainly skeptical of it, at least initially.

Like many others, I’d always believed that a fulfilling life meant a regular 9-5 job, a house with a white picket fence, and a herd of children. It didn’t occur to me before then that there were other ways to live. I’d always believed you had to work hard to earn a reasonable income.

It wouldn’t be until years later that I would begin pursuing a FIRE lifestyle. I wouldn’t even hear “FIRE” spoken as a financial freedom phrase until nearly a decade after I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

In this article, I’ll tell you how I began my journey to a FIRE lifestyle, some key lessons I learned along the way, and where the rest of my journey is headed.

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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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Investing 101 Introduction: A Pathway to Financial Freedom

It’s tough to balance a chronic illness with life demands, but somehow life finds a way.

(I know, I know. That was a terrible place for a classic Jurassic Park quote, but somehow it’s still fitting.)

In reality, you’re a warrior: a chronic illness warrior. Somehow, you do it all, and you and I know that life is tough even WITHOUT having to balance a chronic illness.

I get it, the last thing on your mind is probably your investing strategy. You have 1,000 doctor’s appointments, and you can’t quite remember when you last took your meds…

Speaking of which, I forgot to take mine. Hang on…

Where were we? Ah, yeah…

Your chronic illness takes a beating on you, and sometimes it’s incessant and unending. Sometimes your dreams feel impossible, especially when simply getting out of bed feels like you completed a marathon.

Yes, there are days when it’s a struggle, and there will be days when you feel like giving up. It’s totally understandable, and you absolutely deserve grace. 

You also deserve success, and success doesn’t get handed to any of us. You have to fight for it.

What does this have to do with investing 101, you might wonder? Keep reading on and you’ll find out.

In this investing 101 article, I’m going to provide you with 5 tips you can use to build a successful investing strategy, even as you balance the demands of your chronic illness.

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It can be a challenge to build wealth, but it can be especially difficult if you have a chronic illness. 

As a chronic illness warrior, it may be harder to work, earn money, and save for the future. Between the medical bills and chronic fatigue, among various other life challenges, it might feel impossible to get ahead.

If life was a video game, it would be like constantly playing on hard mode. The game might be harder, but it’s not impossible to beat.

With careful planning and execution, you can still build wealth and achieve your financial goals.

In this article, you’ll get 5 simple steps you can take to start a successful wealth-building journey. I’ll also share key investment strategies you can use to build a solid investment portfolio.

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Would you like to become financially free, but worry that your chronic illness may be holding you back?

If so, I completely understand how you feel, as I had the exact same concerns.

Living with a chronic illness can be challenging, both physically and financially (and mentally, spiritually, and so on, but I digress). Between the constant medical bills and physical symptoms, it can feel impossible to get ahead at times.

And let’s face it, at times an achievement for the day might simply be getting out of bed. When you live with a chronic illness, you constantly battle the demands of your illness and your dreams for the future. It isn’t easy, but somehow you find a way.

If your dreams include becoming financially free, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading on for 10 steps you can use to build your financial future.

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Financial freedom may seem like a lofty goal, especially for a chronic illness warrior (i.e. someone that lives with a chronic illness). However, gaining financial freedom via the FIRE method holds immense and rising appeal.

After all, why wouldn’t you want to spend more time doing the things that bring you joy? You could spend more of your time enjoying the company of your loved ones, choose to work (or not) and live a more stress-free life.

It can be a financial challenge to live with a chronic illness. Between the cost of medical care, medications, and related fees, the expenses can rise rapidly. This can make it difficult to save for retirement or achieve other financial goals.

While it can be a challenge, there are ways to prepare for financial freedom, chronic illness or not. The FIRE method (Financial Independence, Retire Early) can provide structure and a plan to help you achieve your most ambitious financial goals, even if your income is limited.

In this article, I’ll provide a brief introduction to how you can start following the FIRE method, and I’ll give you 10 key tips you can use on your journey to financial success as a chronic illness warrior.

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Living with a chronic illness can be expensive, and it can be hard to save for your medical needs. 

Between the cost of medications, doctor’s visits, and other medical expenses, the cost of living with a chronic illness can add up quickly. If you’re not careful, you could find yourself in financial trouble.

That’s why it’s important to build a solid savings that can help cover the cost of your medical needs. 

In this article, I’ll share 15 tips you can use to fuel your saving goals to cover your medical needs and other personal living expenses.

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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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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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