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085R | Catch up with Alan and Tallis as they zero in on the key elements of a successful pitch, and the importance of uncomfortable silence, as well as a home improvement update from Jonathan and review of Monday's episode with author M.K. Williams. What you'll hear in this episode: Jonathan reports a wallpaper challenge/ DIY fail in his kitchen. Recommendation: use drywall mud to fix blemishes in drywall after removing wall paper. What home-improvement projects are worth hiring out? MK, from Monday's episode, noticed that through persistence she has not only produced more content, and that with each release, her previous work sells even better. Check out Episode 59 about persistence. How to build your personal brand and get start building your sidehustle and/or passion? Sidehustle Coaching episodes so far: Episode 30: Introduction to Alan Donegan Episode 56: Part 1 – meet Tallis and hear about her new business idea Episode 77: Part 2 – check in about Tallis' progress and initial feedback Update since the previous episode: Chris, from the fundraising department at the Northwestern Hospital, is interested in hearing Tallis' pitch. If you can't sell your business, you don't get any customers, and therefore you don't get any money. "Sales" is the process finding someone with a problem you can solve and explaining that you can fix that problem. Why did Alan struggle to sell his own business at the start? What is the problem that Tallis' business is solving? How has Tallis clarified her business' goal? The triad: include three points when you make your pitch. How do people accidentally overwhelm listeners during their pitch? What's the best way to start a pitch? Never end your pitch with Q&A. How can you set up a strong close if you have to include Q&A? At the close, it's important to actually ask the potential customer to buy the product. "If you don't ask, you don't get." What does Tallis want to ask at the close of her pitch to Northwestern? How did Alan help a group of students pitch for an advertisement with a really strong open? How to deliver a strong pitch on the phone? Your moments of impact as a speaker are actually when the audience is thinking. How does Alan get someone's attention at the start of his pitch conversation? Creative intro Confirm he's talking to the right person Tallis' product isn't right for everyone. It's important to ask questions to determine whether her product meets the need of a potential client. How and when does Alan suggest delivering the price? What part does the uncomfortable pause play in selling a product? Why doesn't lowering prices always equate to increased sales? Tallis sets a measurable goal for number of pitches and sales. Want a copy of MK's book? Leave a review! Links: DIY to FI My $3,500 Tiny House Explained Caboose Rental ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

085 | Science-fiction author M.K. Williams talks about her journey toward financial independence, the decisions she's made along the way, and self-publishing her first three novels. For more information, visit the show notes at https://ChooseFI.com/085 ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

084R | The essential steps to a FI mindset, travel rewards updates from Brad, voicemails from the community, and highlights from Monday's episode with Jillian with Montana Money Matters. —————— Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!" —————— For more information, visit the show notes at https://ChooseFI.com/084R

084 | Jillian, from Montana Money Adventures, talks about simplifying her life while raising five children, valuing grit and resilience, taking risk, and the value of financial independence. What you'll hear in today's episode: What does Jillian mean by "big family minimalism", and why did she consider it a survival tool? How did Jillian decide to adopt several children? What role do grit resilience play in her story, and how does that play out in her life? How does Jillian manage the chaos that she invited into her live? What is a "Quit List"? What is the process for deciding what things to quit? How does Jillian pursue minimalism with children? What does life minimalism look like to Jillian? How much involvement do Jillian's children have in the decision-making process? What does the ideal day look like to Jillian's family? How does good conversation become a part of Jillian's life? What did Jillian's combined income look like during their journey toward financial independence? What was Jillian's "flash point"? How did her childhood experiences impact the way she approached life and finances as a young adult? What are the highlights of Jillian's journey toward financial independence? How did Jillian and her husband get to the point of purchasing a house with cash? What did friends and family think of Jillian's $50k home purchase? How does Jillian teach people to lean into discomfort and own their choices? What does Jillian think about a culture that values comfort and safety? How many things can go wrong before someone will walk away from a pursuit? When did Jillian start to plan her life? Best way to connect with Jillian: email list. How is Jillian learning to be more generous? Links: Montana Money Adventures Big Family Minimalism Sportive Cyclist Essentialism, by James Latham The One Thing, by Gary Keller

083R | A checklist to optimize your hobbies, a highlight on the San Diego local group, and messages from the ChooseFI community: All of this while we recap Monday's episode with Cody Berman. For more information, visit the show notes at https://ChooseFI.com/083R

083 | 22-year-old recent college graduate and second generation FI, Cody Berman, talks about embracing frugality, saving and investing in his youth, optimizing a path through college, and getting his Disc Golf business off the ground. ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

082R | Discussion of Brad and Jonathan's purchasing habits, messages from the ChooseFI community, benefits and drawbacks of roboadviors, and a summary of capital gains harvesting. Jonathan gives a review of some travel hacks on a recent trip to Chattanooga, TN. Capital One Venture Card allows users to redeem miles for nearly any travel cost. PSA: bring a copy of your child's birth certificate if you're traveling. Review of Monday's episode with Dani and Laura, Jonathan and Brad's wife. Jonathan is excited about the way Brad and Laura cut down on choices, purchases and decisions for themselves and their children. Brad aims to keep his life simple, particularly in regard to purchases. Enjoying the journey is crucial; obsessing over small purchases probably takes away from someone's enjoyment of life. During your pursuit of FI, it's important to remember your "why". Laura shops for the future, by purchasing clothes, presents, etc., way before they're necessary, often finding items for a fraction of the normal cost. Batch processing: blocking your time off to maximize efficiency. Facebook Message from Jimmy: met a friend on airplane, introduced him to ChooseFI, and that friend reduced expenses and put himself on the path to FI in less than a month. There are options for almost every financial position, to get yourself moving in the direction of FI. Jeff, on Facebook, reports that he's paid off $105k of student loans. ChooseFI San Diego has a real estate meeting recently – informing people about real estate options and discussing rent vs buy, among other topics of conversation. ChooseFI local groups will be as good as the participants want them to be. Voicemail from Ryan: question about using roboadvisors? Fees matter: managing accounts directly saves money. Benefits of a roboadvisor – automated services can help with some calculations that it's difficult to do yourself, and it sometimes make investing more accessible Jonathan prefers and recommends M1 Finance. Voicemail from Bonnie: selling used items through the online Varagesale platform helps her bring in a little extra income as a stay-at-home mom. Voicemail from Anthony with questions about increasing your capital gains basis. Capital gains are typically taxes, but if you're in a low tax bracket, long-term capital gains are not taxed. Previous episode about capital gains harvesting in episode 18 and 18R. Links: The Paradox of Choice Betterment Wealthfront The Simple Path to Wealth Design Your Future Freelance to Freedom _______________________________________ For more information, visit the show notes at https://ChooseFI.com/082R

082 | Brad and Jonathan's wives, Laura and Dani (respectively), talk about their introduction to FI, combining finances, budgeting with children, and maintaining balance. How did Dani and Laura approach saving before meeting Jonathan? How did Laura's parents change careers to improve their financial status? How was growing up in Zimbabwe different from a typical American upbringing? What did saving money mean to Dani when she started working? How did Dani respond to Jonathan's initial proposal to combine finances? When and how did Brad and Laura merge finances? What does a typical day in Dani and Laura's lives look like? How does "busy" look different from when Dani and Laura were working full-time jobs? Are kids expensive? How do Laura and Dani budget with the extra and unexpected costs of children? What is a "Buy Nothing" group? How does Laura advance purchase things for her children? Do Brad and Laura give their children many choices? How do Brad and Laura create space in their lives to not be consumed by FI? By saving money on unnecessary expenses, Brad and Laura can be generous and unconcerned with some of the smaller expenses that come up in life. How does the 72-hour-rule, introduced by the Frugalwoods, make a difference for Dani and Jonathan? How did Laura and Dani respond when Brad and Jonathan decided to leave their jobs and start ChooseFI? Does the pursuit of FI ever get too intense? How do Dani and Laura plan their meals and prepare ahead of time? Links: Stay at Home Chef Smitten Kitchen Kitchn Why (and how) I Became a Work-At-Home Mom – The Frugalwoods A letter to my 22-year-old self – Joel from FI 180

081R | Strategies for decluttering and living with less (reflecting on Cait Flander's interview with us on Monday), life hacks from the community, and a winner for the free ticket to CampFI in Joshua Tree! The ChooseFI community is growing and gaining national attention. How This Couple Saved $1 Million in 11 Years and Became Financially Independent Before 40 Nine Money Podcasts You Should Be Listening To Local Groups are really effective in some parts of the ChooseFI community. Jonathan joined some members of the Richmond local group to purchase a mosquito fogger to share between them. What else could be a shared purchase? Cait Flanders, from Monday's episode, talked about taking control of your life, and decluttering her whole life. How do you take control of your life? Could you live with less? Why doesn't Brad use a budget, and how does he still manage his finances well? Why does Brad hope his daughter reads Harry Potter? Voicemail from Kristyn, from fortheloveoftidy.com and the Spark Joy podcast, talks about her FI progress, and tips for decluttering: Map out your ideal living environment; think about how your clutter fits into that. Ask yourself tough questions about the clutter in your life. What is tough about decluttering for Jonathan? How does Kristyn keep track of her "bit-sized wins"? Why did Jonathan finally get rid of his grad-school notes? Voicemail with a suggestion based on advice from The White Coat Investor, to employ children as models for his website, to add legitimate money to his kids' retirement accounts. Facebook post from Heather about how her son found a job without a car. Message from Louima, who was inspired by Cait's Monday episode, and is contemplating a reduction of her FI number. Email from Mark with some FI hacks: Food: Choose smaller dishes Put chips, pretzels, etc., in a dish, don't eat directly from the bag Don't eat alone: Why Eating Alone May Be Bad for You Don't eat while watching TV: The Danger of Eating in Front of the TV Finances: Use credit cards for travel rewards Shopping portals – some opportunities to earn 4-10x more points Earny: a price drop protection app Feex.com: finds hidden fees in your investment accounts Update: Brad is working to establish a scholarship for a Treehouse student to learn coding, in partnership with Every Child's Hope. Winner of the ticket to CampFI in Joshua Tree: Danielle! Links: The Simple Path to Wealth Design Your Future Freelance to Freedom

081 | Cait Flanders, author of "The Year of Less", talks about building $30k of consumer debt, challenging herself to go two years without shopping, and learning how to be comfortable in her own skin without the distractions of consumerism. For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/081

080R | Conversation about teaching your children to save and invest, healthcare options, and an argument in favor of home gardening and composting. Brad contemplates applying for "Survivor". Review of Monday's episode with Khai from AlabaMalaysia. How does Jonathan use the idea of "anchoring" in his own life: setting big goals so that even if he misses, good things still happen? Brad and Jonathan talk about how they would set little, achievable goals, to reach a larger, long-term goal. Jonathan talks about answering the question "What do you do?", with comments from the Facebook group. How does Brad have bank account and investment accounts set up for his children? Is there a better way to have those accounts set up? Blain, from the Facebook group, wonders whether his son should start investing with a Vanguard account, or an M1 account? Contributions made to a Roth can be withdrawn penalty free. What are the best ways to support your children and help them save money, as 2nd generation FI? Voicemail from Jacqueline asking about financial education apps for youth. "7 Fun Money Apps for Kids" from U.S. News PiggyBot FamZoo How important is it to teach your children about not only budgeting to save money, but to be generous? What is Brad considering in regards to his family's health insurance: HSA, health share, or considering health insurance for a small business? What are some complications with a health share? Email from Karen, about the value of gardening and composting. Gardening Tips from Karen Is composting addicting? Jonathan tries to convince Brad that gardening and compositing is simple enough to start now. Leave a ChooseFI review to enter the drawing for a ticket to CampFI in Joshua Tree, or to receive a book. Links: The Simple Path to Wealth Design Your Future Freelance to Freedom

080 | Khai Shing, a former contestant on The Amazing Race, and blogger at ALABA+MA+LAYSIA, talks about balancing her pursuit of FI while finding ways to travel, worldwide, at discount prices. Did Khai start with global travel, or with The Amazing Race? Took about 3 months from applying to The Amazing Race with her twin brother, to being selected for the show - traveling all over China. Khai grew up in Malaysia, and plans to return there for retirement, once she achieves FI. How did Khai and her brother set themselves up to be selected from their video application? What was the highlight of The Amazing Race for Khai? Is it easier to achieve FI living in Malaysia versus living in the US? When Khai calculates her FI number, does she base her living expenses off US expenses, or the expected cost of living in Malaysia? Why does Khai use 35x as her multiplier for calculating a FI number? How long is Khai's FI path? How does world travel fit into Khai's lifestyle and financial plan during the next 8 years of her path? How and when did Khai and her husband embrace the FI mentality? How does budgeting and saving work for Khai's family? How do Khai and her husband manage travel with family and work? How does Khai travel the world for $1,600? A layover is less than 24 hours, but a stop over a has much more relaxed time frame. United Airlines had an "excursionist" perk - a free stopover in a city within the same region: Excursionist Perks. Where will Khai go next? What perks still exist with Alaska Air? What does Khai like to see and do when she travels to a new country? Why does Khai like to document her trips on her blog? What are Khai's favorite experiences from her travels? Khai met her husband during an exchange program to the US. What advice does Khai have with regard to keeping life balanced? Gratitude: "when we focus on appreciating and being content with what we have in life, it helps us to focus on what's truly important." "The fact that we can even dream about FI, and a good chance to make it a reality is a great privilege that we should be thankful for." Links: MadFIentist The Lifetime Table For more, go to http://ChooseFI.com/080

079R | Highlights of Monday's episode with Tim & Amy Rutherford, discussion about healthcare, additional podcast recommendations, and voicemails from the ChooseFI community. For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/079R

079 | Tim & Amy Rutherford talk about early retirement, living with lower expenses and a busier schedule of fun, free activities, and what life changes they made to get there. How did Amy and Tim meet and what were their spending habits at the time? What did "frugal" look like for Amy and Tim initially? With enough money in the bank, cutting their spending gave them an opportunity to retire almost as soon as they became aware of financial independence. Managing spending is equally as important as replacing income when it comes to reaching financial independence. Optimizing life is one of the most enjoyable things Amy & Tim ever did. What factors did Tim & Amy consider prior to leaving the workforce? Physical health Mental health How did a chart help Amy get excited about saving? "What's tracked and measured can be improved." There are fun, free activities in every part of the world. How do Tim & Amy fill up their days now that they're retired? Walking Inviting friends for dinner Finding local activities Who are Tim & Amy's "tribe" and how do they find them in new cities? What does it look like for Tim & Amy to be house sitters? They watch houses and pets, for free, with a place to stay for free. How much are Tim & Amy spending now, and how did they get there from $115k? Tim & Amy are actually living below their current budget – they aren't missing out on things they wish they weren't. "I want to walk the world while I still can." How do Tim & Amy describe their retirement? Would Tim & Amy consider selling their house and traveling full time? How would people get started with house sitting? House Sitting Magazine House Sitting World Tim & Amy buy experiences instead of things. For the links to resources mentioned in this episode, go to http://ChooseFI.com/079

078R | Lots going on in this episode with a recap of Episode 78 with Travis Hornsby about Student Loan Debt Repayment Options. But also, Brad sold his house and Jonathan has become a "rockstar" at selling things on Craigslist. For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/078R

078 | Travis Hornsby, founder of StudentLoanPlanner.com, talks early retirement, traveling Europe, and developing a passion for helping people crawl out of student loan debt. What you'll hear on today's show: Why did Travis attempt retirement at 25? If you're unhappy before reaching FI, will you be happy afterward? Where did Travis' frugal tendencies come from? How did Travis get paid to go to college? Do many universities offer full scholarships, and where should students find that information? Does attending an Ivy League university make a difference? Travis retired with $230,000 saved, with a plan to spend just 20k a year. Did Travis have a long-term plan for his retirement? Living expenses in the United States are high relative to many other places in the world if you're an adventurous person. Why did Travis' job performance improve after he decided to quit his job? If you're on the path to FI but haven't made it yet: develop a product or service that you're passionate about and give yourself a year or two of buffer during which you don't depend on income from your venture. How did Travis commit himself to helping people with student loan debt, having never been in debt himself? How much research did Travis have to do in order to ensure his student loan spreadsheets were accurate? Why didn't Travis' father-in-law give his initial blessing to Travis marrying his daughter? How did the Student Loan business grow? If you have less than 100k of student debt, your best option is likely to refinance for the lowest possible interest rate and pay it back as quickly as possible? If you owe less than double your salary and you're not working at a not-for-profit or for the government, you should probably refinance. If owe more than twice your income with federal loans, there are loan forgiveness options, depending on your type of work. Is loan forgiveness guaranteed, and who can qualify? Adjustment to loan forgiveness policies will impact students taking loans beginning in July 2019. How do Travis' suggestions change if someone has private loans? Federal loans provide the most flexibility for repayment or forgiveness. Two recommended choices: Pay back loans as aggressively as possible Pay minimums, maximize forgiveness Resources mentioned: Student Loan Planner [email protected] Physician on Fire Mr. Money Mustache: From Zero to Hero For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/078

077R | An second part to the conversation between ChooseFi community member Tallis, who teaches dance classes in retirement facilities, and Pop-Up Business School founder Alan Donegan, to help get Tallis' side hustle off the ground. Precursors to this episode: Episode 30 and Episode 56. Tallis gives an update on her side hustle to-do list. Client feedback: the questions you ask impact the results you'll get. What is the best way to sell Tallis' dance classes to the retirement facilities. Tallis continues to wonder how to best monetize her service? Tallis hopes to facilitate workshops to train dance-class teachers. Alan and Tallis previously discussed securing sponsorship, potentially from pharmaceutical companies. Currently, Tallis' dance class is endorsed (and paid for) by the American Parkinson's Disease Association, so classes are free for participants. Could Tallis collect a fee from participants? Most important considerations right now: how is going to pay, and how much to charge? Different payment models can impact clients' commitment to the classes. Training an organization to facilitate its own courses will pay significantly more than providing courses directly to individuals. How can Tallis decide on a price for her workshops? People equate cost to value: if you charge too little, they'll think the product isn't valuable. Alan recommending contacting potential clients (retirement communities) that are well outside her target geographical location in order to practice her pitch and get feedback on potential pricing. Pricing has a lot to do with confidence. Successful business models have repeatability. Marketing is rarely starting from the ground up: find other businesses in a similar space, or businesses that are doing something that you think would be really effective the space you're targeting and start there. Pitch tip: don't allow your voice pitch to go up when giving your price. Use a statement tone that sounds confident – even from beginning to end of your sentence. What's up next: get feedback from local contact about other offerings. Go big! Don't offer your service to just a few potential clients. Expect that it'll take 1-5 months to get the program from start to point of sale. The only way to know if your business will be successful is to ask people to buy; before that moment, feedback is hypothetical. Tallis is part of the Des Moines ChooseFI local group – contact her there.

077 | Experienced travel hacker and world traveler Marla Taner shares story of reaching financial independence, and her best tips for getting to Hawaii, Costa Rica and the Caribbean with minimal expenses, using credit cards points and air miles. ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

076R | Brad and Jonathan brainstorm ways to implement local adventure into their own lives and the lives of the ChooseFI community. Also, achat about high school reunions, local libraries, and a few clarifications about 401k contributions. Jonathan's 26-year-old sister just hit an 85% savings rate. Living at home can be super helpful to the recent college graduate, or young person entering the workforce. Getting to $100k net worth is the hardest part: after that, compounded interest starts working for you. Brad signed up his daughter for www.code.org, a website that teaches coding paired with Minecraft. Review of Monday's episode with Mrs. Adventure Rich. Getting the right mindset is the most important part of getting on the path to financial independence. How does Brad feel about not having a FI number or date? Is the pursuit of financial independence a race or a journey? What was positive about the way Mrs. Adventure Rich's coworker introduced her to FI. How has Mrs. AR lowered the barrier of entry for local adventures? How can local ChooseFI groups apply these ideas to exploring their own cities? How does the idea of exploring your own city connect with the idea of intentionally creating memorable moments, as introduced by Chris in ChooseFI episode 71. Adventure is anything that makes you feel like, "Hey, this is really living." Have we traded adventure for convenience? How can someone plan for those things that truly bring value to their life? Check out ChooseFI episode 37, with Scott, talking about rolling out the red carpet for the valuable things in your life. Follow up from Robert, from The College Investor: how much student loan debt has the ChooseFI community paid off? Voicemail from Suzanne: in addition to physical books, her local library often provides access to online newspapers, to online language programs, STEM programs for students, as well as actual after-school programs for students from the public schools. Voicemail from the Peerless Money Mentor : the local library in Baton Rouge, LA, provides some access to Treehouse coding courses. How would Brad or Jonathan describe their lives at a high school reunion? Once you have all your financial needs taken care of, what do you want to do? What's your purpose? Email from Danny: how do employer contributions impact a 401k? Employer matched contributions do not count toward the $18,500 yearly limit for your 401k. There are some additional ways to maximize full contributions to your 401k, up to $55k a year. Additional links: The Reluctant Frugalist

076 | Mrs. Adventure Rich talks about making the choice to live an adventurous life, her family's pursuit of financial independence, and finding a balance between maximizing financial opportunities and living a happy, fulfilling, high quality of life. ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!" ——————- There are a lot more details over at http://ChooseFI.com/076

075R | "Personal finance is becoming financial independence." Financial independence doesn't necessarily mean retiring early; it means allocating your resources in the way you see fit. This is just a taste of what we discuss in this recap from Monday's interview with Brian Feroldi from The Motley Fool. Jonathan talks about blowing his budget on breakfast at the cold bar in Wegman's, while Brad thinks that grocery shopping at Wegman's is the same cost as Walmart. Brad talks about meeting strangers who also in the FI community. Brad and Jonathan wonder if financial independence is on the edge of mainstream adoption? "Personal finance is becoming financial independence." Financial independence doesn't necessarily mean retiring early; it means allocating your resources in the way you see fit. Review of Monday's episode with Brian Feroldi, about individual stock investment. Do Brad and Jonathan own individual stocks? What are the challenges to getting started with individual stocks? Are individual stocks better as a hobby? What are the strengths of the way Brian described investing in individual stocks? A comment from Ray, in the ChooseFI community, that individual stocks requires too much individual management. Cody wonders whether the current bull market might be playing in favor of individual investors, without having yet felt the consequence of the inherent risk? How does Jackie, another ChooseFI community member, evaluate investment opportunities, and how did she get comfortable making investment decisions? Tim reiterates the value of the Motley Fool, and the recommendations they make. Frank, another community member, is concerned about a new investor's learning curve: the time and money it takes to learn enough about individual investing to find success. Is it possible to recognize large-scale Enron-type fraud by looking at investment research? If you hold stocks from companies in similar fields, would it be better to simply hold a sector index stock? Mr. 1500, Karl, worries about long-term investing with individual stocks. Knowing when to sell individual stocks is an almost impossible task. How are Brad and Brian getting their children started with investing? How much did the ChooseFI community respond to the Treehouse scholarship proposal? How can ChooseFI potentially connect students to mentors? For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/075R

075 | Brian Feroldi talks through the advantages and disadvantages of individual investing, the realistic expectations for performance, and his strategies for beating Wall Street. Professional money managers operate under different parameters and mindsets than an individual investor Stockbrokers must make decisions based on short-term returns What other disadvantages do professional money managers face, in contrast to individual investors? How do professional money managers truly spend their time and earn their money? ...and more at https://ChooseFI.com/075 ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

074R | An update the community on recent activities, discussion about the opportunity cost of college and potential alternatives, a ChooseFI scholarship announcement, and a few voicemails from the ChooseFI community. Brad recaps his trip to the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha, and a visit with the ChooseFI local group in Omaha Jonathan shares how he recently cut his grocery costs by nearly $700 ...and more can be found at http://ChooseFI.com/074R ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

074 | Ryan Carson's tech-education company, Treehouse, teaches computer coding as a trade skill, giving students an opportunity to enter the work force, or change careers in nine months, at a fraction of the cost of a four-year degree. Ryan considers coding a trade skill, rather than profession that requires a four-year degree. Ryan founded Treehouse to help people avoid student debt, get a job sooner and start saving for their 401k sooner. There will be 1.4 million new jobs in tech, and only 400,000 will be filled by college graduates. A trade job is composed of acquired skills, or "stackable skills", like a mechanic or electrician. Will the future be primarily trade jobs? How is Treehouse different from other coding schools? How does apprenticeship work in the tech industry? What is TalentPath, and how does it help develop young coders? For a skilled job, such as coding, landing a job is more dependent on a portfolio than a degree. How does apprenticeship impact a person's retirement savings, compared to earning a college degree? Are there any degrees that are more valuable to a new professional than a year of on-the-job experience? An apprentice has four more years of experience than a college graduate. How can companies create talent, rather than hire talent, in order to compete with big tech companies like Apple, Facebook, Google, etc.? How do employers measure a coder's skill? What development language is most in demand? Trying out a school – traditional four-year university, or trade school, or treehouse – is important. How does TreeHouse allow students to do that? Ryan started a company that facilitated large-file sending, but ultimately decided to pursue business that he felt contributed more on a human level. TreeHouse originated from a desire to make coding education available and financially accessible to more people. Students can trial for free. Basic treehouse course is $25 a month. Full coding school is $200 a month. Success in life is mostly related to the ability to keep going when something is hard. Most people are going to quit something because their internal "why" isn't strong enough. Coding is hard; it's like going to the gym. Pursuing coding will require a certain amount of grit – but once you find your "why", the grit comes. Links to resources: Treehouse TalentPath How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life Basecamp Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance How to Win Friends and Influence People Wait But Why SpaceX's Big Freaking Rocket – The Full Story Large Rubber Duck ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

073 | How do you make money online? We discuss the 7 most common ways to make money online, plus a review of Monday's interview with Jamila Souffrant from Journey To Launch. We dive deep into making money with: Membership sites Digital courses Create a product or service Advertising Sponsorships Listener/Reader supported Affiliate marketing ...and (BONUS) grow your brand and watch what opens up to you. For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/073R ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

073 | Jamila Souffrant tells us about college internships, buying real estate right out of college, a few failed business ventures, and her decision to pursue FI, starting by saving $85,000 in the first year. We talk to Jamila about: How Jamila and her husband saved $85,000 in 2016 As the child of an immigrant single-mother, how did Jamila's childhood experiences impact her college and early professional career? Jamila shares what wealth means to her now Failing Forward: the idea that progress is made, even if when things don't see to have worked out ...and more at https://ChooseFI.com/073 ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

072R | Lively discussion about cryptocurrencies as investments, review of last week's MidAtlantic Camp FI, and several exciting contributions and questions from the ChooseFI community. What you'll hear in today's roundup: Brad's brother is visiting from Santiago, Chile – how is he managing his path to financial independence as an international teacher? Review of Monday's episode discussing Bitcoin with Myles Wakeham What are drawbacks of cryptocurrency? Is Bitcoin a good investment, or is it just a gamble? How much energy is expended in the global mining of Bitcoin? Michelle, from the ChooseFi community, wonders if Bitcoin's apparently lax regulations (compared to companies like PayPal) opens it up to be used for terrorism and other illegal activities? William suggests to Jonathan that regulation of Bitcoin is nearly inevitable, exposing investors to potentially difficult scenarios in regards to both taxes, and simply converting money back into tangible currency. Brad and Jonathan attended the MidAtlantic CampFI event last week. Tickets for SouthWest and South region CampFIs are still available here: CampFI Steve tells listeners how he nearly eliminated a $1,900 tax bill by contributing to his Health Savings Account, prior to the April 17 deadline. Brad talks about Camel Camel Camel, an Amazon product price tracker. Brad is shocked about how much prices fluctuate on Amazon.com. From Kelly: What 5 bullet points would ChooseFi give to college-bound students? Save at least 50% of your income (avoid large housing and auto payments). Consider "opportunity costs": Every dollar you earn in your teens and 20s is worth more than later in life. Long-term, low-cost investing: ride the market through decades. Your career is a tool to get you to financial independence, but don't just rely on your career as a sole source of income. Think about life a little bit differently: think at things through the lens of FI Voicemail from Jim listing two careers that provide a great path to financial independence Firefighting – government pension, two 24-hr shifts a week Emergency room nurse – takes local "travel" assignments for double pay with 3 shifts a week Jonathan is excited about the Giant Ocean Clean Up Machine, which will soon set sail to begin collecting plastic from the ocean, and is expected to collect 5,000kgs per month. Links from things mentioned in the show: It's Like Summer Camp for Money Nerds: My CampFI Review The Revolutionary Giant Ocean Cleanup Machine Is About To Set Sail The Simple Path to Wealth Design Your Future Freelance to Freedom

072 | Bitcoin, should you Buy it? Myles Wakeham tells us how he discovered Bitcoin, how and why cryptocurrencies have to value, and gives us a nuanced perspective of where cryptocurrency might go in the future. How did Myles, a software developer, come to invest in Bitcoin? Myles spent years figuring ways to pay his Bangladeshi software developer, until mid 2011, when his contractor discovered Bitcoin as a more effective method of payment. There's much more to this story - and to learn about cryptocurrencies, so check out the extensive list of notes at http://ChooseFI.com/072

071R | Brad and Jonathan compare their college experiences to Chris Hutchins' from the Monday episode, they discuss the importance of owning your own FI decisions, and we get updates from several members of the ChooseFI community. Brad considers starting a blog for his daughter as second-generation FI. Review of Chris Hutchins' episode last Monday. Brad compares his experience of packing meals ahead for vacation to Chris' grandparents growing up. What is value of cultivating relationships, and how did Brad find success in that? What would Jonathan do differently if he was going to redo college? How can students optimize the expense of college? What was the benefit of Jonathan attending community college for two years prior to completing his degree at Virginia Tech? Take an inventory of your all your skills, to market yourself for future opportunities. Chris got his early start(s) because he made a significant effort to stand out among his peers. How can you stand out when looking for opportunities? How do Brad and Jonathan explain their somewhat abnormal financial choices, in pursuit of financial independence? Don't be ashamed of your decisions – you need to feel comfortable with your choices. Scott, a writer at Simply Finance, emails to say that listening to the ChooseFI podcast helped him clarify his beliefs and decisions about personal finance. What is the worldview that matches up with pursuit of financial independence? How are Brad and Jonathan processing Chris' idea of creating memorable moments? What problems did Chris seek to solve with his Grove financial planning business? Jared, blogger at Fifth Wheel Physical Therapy, introduced Jonathan to M1 Finance. What is M1 Finance, and what does it offer its customers? M1 Finance allows customers to purchase fractional shares, and at a certain point offers loans backed by your own investments. Voicemail from Tim, who is chipping away at his student debt, working toward his family's FI number, and shares a little about his investment habits. People get to "enough" long before they get to "rich". Another voicemail from a 29-year-old military man named Luke, who asked for house-hacking ideas a few months back via the ChooseFI Facebook, and reports back now that he opted to live in a renovated, vintage camper trailer. An encouraging review from Arthur, who is making life changes in pursuit of FI. Links: Bigger Pockets Scott's Blog: Simpli [FI] nances Fifth Wheel Physical Therapist M1 Finance The Simple Path to Wealth Design Your Future Freelance to Freedom ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

071 | Chris Hutchins, founder/CEO of Grove, a new, optimized financial planning company based in San Francisco, talks about how a life and career of entrepreneurship led him to the FI community, and his current business venture. And, how his new company meets the needs of the average person better than a traditional financial planner. What you'll hear in this episode: Is Chris a risk taker or financial conservative? How did Chris find his way into the financial planning and optimization world? Was Chris an entrepreneur growing up? Chris got his career started through relationships built in college – how can building relationships help open doors? Passion for entrepreneurship led Chris to make a move from New York to Silicon Valley. Although most people in the Silicon Valley have tech-related qualifications, Chris found his foothold in business development. How did Chris land his first job in the Silicon Valley? What steps did Chris take to earn an income after he was laid off in 2008? Did Chris' wife buy into his ideas of financial optimization, and how has that developed within their relationship? What are the drawbacks or negative sides of frugal and financial optimization in a high-cost environment? How does Chris create a "memorable moment" each month? Chris found himself as a source of financial consultation for his friends, and his current business idea grew from there. The world of financial planning, in its current state, is focused on the already wealthy, and the exchange of information between planners and customers is both inefficient and confusing. How does Grove change the process of financial planning, and how does the software help Grove work more efficiently? Grove costs $600 a year – significantly less than a traditional financial planner. What services does Grove provide its customers? Financial goals are really just sums of money that someone wants to set aside, no matter the purpose. Why should someone in the FI community consider using Grove's services? How do Grove advisors function a bit like personal trainers? On a personal level, how is Grove a different venture for Chris, different from some of his previous companies? Would Chris take an offer to buy Grove? Resources mentioned in this episode: Grove Mr Money Mustache Mad Fientist Memeorandum Chris Hutchins: What Credit Card Should Be in Your Wallet

070R | Updates from Brad and Jonathan, review of Vickie Robin's episode, discussion of how ChooseFI aims to handle politics, and more updates from the ChooseFI community. Highlights: Brad is moving houses, making good community a priority in his family's life CampFi MidAtlantic this weekend is Virginia this weekend, but there's two more this year: Aug. 3-6 in Joshua Tree, Calif., Sept 7-10 in Little Rock, Ark. More info here: CampFi Jonathan started Skinny Waste, Fat Wallet. First episode is up on YouTube at www.choosefi.tv Review of Vickie Robin's episode ...and more can be found at https://ChooseFI.com/070R ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

070 | Author and FI pioneer Vicki Robin discusses the cultural development of overconsumption, how much is enough, and what else, besides good investments, contributes to successful financial independence? Vicki's story began when she invested in long-term bonds at a young age, achieving modest financial independence very quickly Vicki and her partner, Joe Dominguez, hosted seminars about financial independence beginning in the 1980s, donating the proceeds. What is the difference between making a living, and making a "dime"? How did the culture of over-consumption develop during the past century? Once the average person spends 20 years preparing for adulthood, and another third of your life sleeping, how much time do we really have for living? What is the idea of the Real Hourly Wage, and how could it impact the way we spend money? Why might we need to be "deprogrammed" from consumption? What is the Fulfillment Curve and what is the difference between a "cheap thrill" and real satisfaction? How does consumerism develop throughout life, and does it stem from dissatisfaction? How much is enough? Once people have "enough", happiness actually comes from giving, not getting. How is Real Hourly Wage calculated? What needs and identities are neglected when we overspend our hours and consciousness on our jobs? How do people confuse work, jobs, and income? Finding passive income helps to separate jobs from income. What does Vicki enjoy about finding community with the world of FI? Community is currency – money isn't the only element of becoming independent. How do meaningful relationships developing into situations of Mutual Aid, and how does that impact a person's living costs? As a leader in the FI community for about 30 years, what does Vicki think it will take to create lasting, cultural changes? In order to change the way the world consumes, personal change is necessary, but not sufficient. How does universal health care impact FI in the US? Will FI become mainstream? Talking about our relationship with money in a first step toward creating lasting change Sharing: Half the cost and twice the fun. Links to things mentioned in the show: Book on Amazon: Your Money or Your Life Book on Amazon: Dying for a Paycheck Website: Millennial Money

069R | We discuss why and how of starting a blog or website. What you'll hear on today's show: Review of Monday's episode How Michelle lives her lifestyle by choice Why it's a great idea to start a blog The key when creating content Why now is the best time to get started How affiliate marketing works The 4 things you need to start your blog The total cost of starting up Why it takes years to be successful How building this skill set opens doors iTunes and book giveaway Links from the show: Hosting platforms: Bigscoots, Siteground Themes: Generate Press, Elementor Email list providers: Mailchimp, ConvertKit ChooseFI Youtube Channel ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

069 | Michelle has a very successful blog, Making Sense of Cents. She shares her lifestyle as a digital nomad and how she currently manages not just her blog, but her whole life living full-time in an RV. What you'll hear on today's show: Interview with Michelle from Making Sense of Cents Michelle's backstory The success of her personal finance blog How long it took for her blog to take off How she got involved in the community When she first started making money and how Why she feels she attracts an audience Her secret sauce to blogging Her content strategy The different inflection points along her blogging journey Different blogging goals What inspired her to become a digital nomad Tips for people who want to get started with RVing How she deals with her work life balance Using Pinterest as a marketing vehicle The different social media platforms she's tried out Her personal FI journey Her course: Make Sense of Affiliate Marketing Hotseat questions Links from the show: Michelle's blog: Making Sense of Cents App: Gasbuddy Heath and Alyssa RV Mobile Internet Michelle's course: Make Sense of Affiliate Marketing Think Save Retire Cait Flanders Our Next Life Financial.com Why Would You Make $100,000+ a Month and Live in an RV? ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

068R | The next steps after Dave Ramsey's Peace University, the importance of being present and food budget hacks. What you'll hear on today's show: Review of Monday's episode Brad's life improvement thanks to FI How to use Dave Ramsey's lessons Question from Chris about Dave Ramsey What the next steps after the Peace University look like Why and how credit cards can be useful Jill talks about being nervous going back to credit cards Michelle says the episode 68 is great to send to Dave Ramsey fans The great advantages of working on a budget as a couple Comment from Nick about paying off a mortgage How FI is not about deprivation The importance of being present Voicemail from Louisa on a food budget hack The video series on different food hacks Voicemail from Ashley on her frugal win of the year College hack on graduate assistantships An article on the dangers of robo advisers Voicemail from Jesse about optimizing cashbacks iTunes and book giveaway Links from the show: Dave Ramsey's Peace University ChooseFI travel reward credit cards Blog: Reaching for Balance Food hack video series Beware of Robo Advisors Bearing Low Fees ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

068 | Bringing your spouse on with FI, the benefits of paying off your mortgage early and how to follow Dave Ramsey's steps Highlights from the show include: Andy's blog and podcast How he brought his wife on board with FI The monthly budget party Benefits of paying off a mortgage early Following Dave Ramsey's steps ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

067R | Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, hacks to save money on everyday electronics and using donor advised funds to optimize tax payments. What you'll hear on today's show: Jonathan optimizing his house insurance Comment from Katie on using diamonds on engagement rings Examples of velvet ropes The importance of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable Sara shares a DIY success Voicemail from Daniel about saving money on everyday electronics Jaclyn share's her success from a salary decrease Voicemail from Steven on using donor advised funds to avoid capital gains tax Alan saves money by timing the cash flows Kevin talks about creating a better version of health insurance iTunes review and book giveaway Links from the show: Book: Predictably Irrational How we make meaningful and tax efficient charitable donations by The Frugalwoods The donor advised fund: A smarter way to give by Physician on FIRE ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

067 | David and Helene talk about consumerism, getting out of one's comfort zone and the importance of simplicity. What you'll hear on today's show: Discussion with David and Helene How consumerism makes us buy more Controlling impulses How Helene constantly gets out of her comfort zone Mental hacks for self control Hedonic adaptation Complexity vs simplicity David's thoughts after blogging for 9 years The importance of focusing on what lights you up Hotseat questions Links from the show: David's blog: Raptitude Helene's blog: Free to Pursue Helene's blog post: Diamonds - Nothing but a Brilliant Illusion JL Collins David blog posts: The Art of the Hard Part Go Deeper not Wider The Frugal Fringe Humans are not Broken Seth Godin 10 Reasons You Should Never Get a Job Happy Money by Elizabeth Dunn David on Twitter Helene on Twitter ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

066R | Understanding emergency funds, investing in your house and some college and library hacks. What you'll hear on today's show: Review of Monday's episode Different scenarios for using emergency funds Where to put your emergency fund Jennifer asks a question about needing the fund in 2-3 years The different options to optimize your emergency fund Voicemail from Paul on whether a house is an investment Voicemail from Melissa on Mrs Frugalwoods' journey with make-up Voicemail from Captain DIY on college hacking with trade schools Chris pays off $100,000 in debt Jessie has a great library hack iTunes review and book giveaway Links from the show: ChooseFI events Paul's podcast series: Your Home is NOT an Investment! Unless... Captain DIY articles ChooseFI debt month ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

066 | Big Ern reveals his identity, explains the different risks when retiring and why a home is a good investment. Highlights from the show include: Big Ern's identity reveal His blog on retirement The anxieties of retiring early Emergency funds The benefits of home ownership ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

065R | College hacks, a great credit card debt hack and the importance of not wasting your privileges. What you'll hear in today's show: Voicemail from Chris about replacing broken items Review of Monday's episode with Mrs Frugalwoods Why you shouldn't waste your advantages Voicemail from Steve about educational programs The student debt loan movement happening in March Voicemail from Noah about a college hack Voicemail from Millionaire Educator on another college hack Nicholas' hack on optimizing credit card debt Voicemail from Kelly about tax liability vs withholding Apple Podcasts review and book giveaway Links from the show Contact ChooseFI: [email protected] The College Investor March Student Debt Challenge The Millionaire Educator ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

065 | Mrs Frugalwoods talks on her book and blog, frugality as a lifestyle and the great benefits of being frugal. Highlights from the show include: Mrs Frugalwoods' book and blog Her relationship with money Changing her lifestyle to frugality The benefits of living frugal The amazing influence of frugality on her family For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/065

064R | Chautauqua plans, board game recommendations and a discussion on optimizing travel rewards Highlights from the show include: Warren Buffett's Annual Letter to Shareholders takeaways Chautauqua plans Board game recommendations Travel rewards discussion Crowdsourcing geo-arbitrage ——————- For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/064R

064 | Chautauqua organizers join us on a call to share what the event is about, the great community that attend Chautauqua, and plans for its future. Highlights from the show include: How Chautauqua got started The structure of the event and what a typical day looks like The amazing community Examples of the exceptional people who attend What the future plans look like For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/064

063R | How to create your own luck, the glidepath to success and some life lessons from Brad. Highlights from the show include: What luck and opportunity really mean Having high expectations from life Brad's definition of creating luck Life lessons from Brad to his daughters For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/063R

063 | An interview with Scott Trench from Bigger Pockets on the creation of good luck, his background and journey to FI and using house hacks to reach wealth. This episode covers: 1) Scott's book and background 2) His definition of luck 3) The stages of wealth creation with real estate 4) Becoming a life long learner 5) The core message of FI and the community ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

062R | We review Monday's episode with Travis on the Playing with FIRE documentary, a voicemail about the new tax law and a discussion about tracking business expenses. On today's show we cover: Documentary Playing with FIRE Some great ways to practice gratitude with children How film is a great way to market an idea How the community of FI can change the world Review of Monday's episode with Travis How Scott and Travis met Voicemail from Scott on scrutinizing his own choices and how he's grateful to have the FI community Voicemail from Terry on starting up a local FI group in his town Jonathan asks Brad how to track business expenses Detailed voicemail from Shane on the new tax law iTunes reviews Links from the show: Buy nothing Facebook Groups Playing with FIRE documentary Episode 37 with Scott Episode 62 with Travis Chautauqua tickets To start up a local group email: [email protected] The ChooseFI local groups Shane Mason For more information, visit the show notes at http://ChooseFI.com/062R

062 | Travis Shakespeare is creating the Playing with FIRE documentary. He talks about discovering FI, how FI has the power to change the world, and how one misinterpretation caused him to reach FI much sooner than he should have. On today's show we cover: Interview with Travis Shakespeare His approach to creating the Playing with FIRE documentary What drew him to the media industry The power of story How he wants to the documentary to create a call to action How he discovered FI The FI community as a subculture and how it's like an experiment Why the documentary will get FI closer to a mainstream audience How FI has the power to change the world How Travis came about creating the documentary Hotseat questions Links from the show: Playing with FIRE documentary Mr Money Mustache Get Rich Slowly Early Retirement Extreme book Millionaire Next Door Episode 57: Playing with FIRE Documentary Rockstar Finance Eater Blog The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement Sealfit Yoga ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

061R | We recap Monday's episode with Cory Mascara about mindfulness with FI, a voicemail about a medical tourism hack and a method to teach your kids money management at a young age. This episode covers: An episode soon to come with Danielle and Laura Review of Monday's episode The importance of controlling only what you can control A voicemail about second generation FIRE A voicemail about a medical tourism hack ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"

061 | Mindfulness Coach Cory Muscara shares his background as a monk, how mindfulness links with FI and the process of meditation. This episode covers: Cory's background meditating for 6 months How he got through with it and the lessons learnt How he discovered FI and how it links to mindfulness Figuring out what comes after FI How people can get started with meditation ——————- Thank you for being a part of the ChooseFI community! 🙂 If you want to support us, here are some easy ways: 1) Leave an iTunes review: http://www.choosefi.com/itunes 2) Use our page to sign up for travel credit cards Note: We may receive a commission if you are approved for cards on this page 3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place) As Jonathan would say, "The FIRE is spreading my friends!"