#170 How to Use the Debt Snowball to Eliminate Debt

#170: How to Use the Debt Snowball to Eliminate Debt –

The debt snowball can offer an impactful path towards financial freedom, providing a simple but motivating method to pay off debt. 

If you’re overwhelmed by debt, the debt snowball can help you generate quick (and long-term) wins that motivate and inspire you as you work toward your financial goals.

You might have also heard of its cousin, the debt avalanche. Although the principle of paying off debt is the same between the two, the methods are entirely different.

With the debt snowball, you focus on paying off the lowest balance debt using a strategy to create quick wins that build momentum over time. Conversely, the debt avalanche focuses on paying off the highest interest debt, regardless of the balance.

There are benefits of both, naturally, but in this article, we’ll talk about how you can use the debt snowball to eliminate debt and generate long-term wealth as you work toward financial freedom.

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#169 Unlock Family Happiness The Power of Freedom to Retire

#169: Unlock Family Happiness: The Power of Freedom to Retire –

The pursuit of financial independence and the freedom to retire early isn’t just about individual liberation; it holds a profound power to positively impact your family life. 

Imagine a life where time is less dictated by work obligations and more by the precious moments you share with loved ones. This freedom to retire (early or otherwise) can be a catalyst for deeper connections, shared experiences, and lasting happiness within your family.

What might that look like in your life? It can mean more time to focus on your values and spend your energy and efforts where they matter most. This can create a ripple effect for your family and others around you, but more about that soon.

In this article, we’ll explore how the freedom to retire (early or not) with FIRE can have a deep, profound impact on family happiness.

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#168 How to Build a Long-Term Wealth Building Strategy for FIRE

#168: How to Build a Long-Term Wealth Building Strategy for FIRE –

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.

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#166 How to Grow Your Career During Uncertain Times

#166: How to Grow Your Career During Uncertain Times –

We might live in a time of uncertainty, but your goals and priorities still matter, including what you aim to do as you grow your career.

We live in a world of constant flux. Tariffs, political shifts, a volatile stock market – these factors and more can create a sense of unease about the future of your career, or anything else for that matter. 

It’s understandable if you feel apprehensive, but it’s crucial to remember that even amidst uncertainty, you can continue to grow your career and build a secure future.

When you plan carefully and position yourself for growth, you’ll stand out from your peers, and be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities now and in the future.

In this article, I’ll cover key ways you can proactively grow your career, and I’ll share some key strategies to help you successfully navigate an uncertain future.

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#165 Top Growing Job Fields A Path to Career Growth

#165: Top Growing Job Fields: A Path to Career Growth –

Have you heard about the key growing job fields?

The market around us is constantly changing, so is the job market. As fast as the world around us changes, it can be hard to keep track of what is on trend and what is on the decline, especially when it comes to job prospects.

Regardless, your career success might hinge on developing your skills in a career field with solid growth.

When you take the time to understand the trends and opportunities, you can prepare your career journey for long-term growth and fulfillment.

In this article, we’ll review 10 of the growing job fields so that you can build a career plan to build your expertise and take advantage of the growing opportunities.

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#164 FIRE Investment Building Wealth for Early Retirement

#164: FIRE Investment: Building Wealth for Early Retirement –

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.

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#162 Easy Side Hustles A Pathway to Financial Freedom

#162: Easy Side Hustles: A Pathway to Financial Freedom –

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.

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#160 FIRE Your Pot of Gold St. Patrick's Day Savings Tips

#160: FIRE Your Pot of Gold Savings Tips –

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.

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

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

#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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#157 Disabled Employment How to Balance WorkLife and Health Demands

#157: Disabled Employment: How to Balance Work/Life and Health Demands –

Disabled employment can be difficult to navigate, but for some, it is worthwhile, meaningful, and sometimes necessary.

With employment, you gain access to benefits including a salary, health insurance, vacation time, and more. A career can also provide you with purpose and life satisfaction.

Since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990, disabled Americans have had better access to employment opportunities. If you live outside the US, there are similar laws in countries including Australia, Canada, and the UK.

Although there has been a lot of progress since before these laws were passed, much of the world is still figuring out how to navigate the complexities alongside disabled employment, and disabled living for that matter.

In this article, we’ll discuss the complexities of disabled employment, exploring the ways to successfully balance work/life, and challenging health demands.

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