1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: Welcome to Out of Money. I'm Joel and I am Matt, 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: and today we're declaring that financial independence exists on a spectrum. 3 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. I like that you said declaring because it makes 4 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 2: me think of the Declaration of Independence as well, because 5 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 2: what was supposed to make you think of. Of course, 6 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,480 Speaker 2: this is the fourth of July week. Happy belated fourth 7 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 2: of July. Fourth of July was yesterday. Hopefully you were 8 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 2: able to take some time off celebrate the fact that 9 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 2: we no longer have to pay taxes without representation. Instead 10 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 2: we pay taxes with representation. 11 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:57,279 Speaker 1: But yes, help everyone more like some swimwear that had 12 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: the United States flag on it, set out some fireworks, 13 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: drank a really chrommy beer. 14 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 2: That's the only day that it's really acceptable. But this 15 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 2: also anytime we get we start getting close to the 16 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 2: fourth of July towards Independence Day, it does make us 17 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: think about financial independence. And today we're going to talk 18 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 2: about some of the I think some different levels of 19 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 2: financial independence that we think are going to be helpful. 20 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 2: We're not talking about like Barista fire that kind of thing, 21 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 2: but some more practical levels of five that we think 22 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 2: are going to be incredibly helpful. As you are on 23 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,279 Speaker 2: your path towards some sense of financial freedom. 24 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, like the stepping stones along the way. And when 25 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: you can identify those stepping stones, it makes a big 26 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: difference in how you perceive moving along that path. And 27 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: not only that, not only in like the psychological run, 28 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: but it makes a difference in the actions you can 29 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: take along the way too. 30 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 2: Totally. Yeah. Should we have called it the stepping stones 31 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 2: of financial independence then a little more, a little more tame, 32 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 2: but okay, So last week we had an ask how 33 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: to money question that we answered and a listener was 34 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 2: asking about how he can negotiate some medical bills, and 35 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 2: we physifically mentioned Healthcare blue Book. How it's the site 36 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: that you can go check out compare the prices of 37 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,919 Speaker 2: some different procedures. Well, listener Kayla, she actually talked about 38 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:11,919 Speaker 2: how she was able to use this other website it's 39 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: called md save. Yeah. 40 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: She sent us an email, by the way, and anytime, 41 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: yeah got crackerjack information on the personal finance front, she 42 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: just an email. 43 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 2: I had a money pop wemail dot com. A. We 44 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: just love knowing what's out there, but mostly because so 45 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 2: that we can turn around and share it with you, 46 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 2: all of our listeners out there, but she said she 47 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: was able to pay three times less for an MRI 48 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 2: than basically what the average rate of that procedure was 49 00:02:35,360 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 2: going to cost there where she lives. So it's amazing, 50 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 2: a massive win. It's hard but not impossible to comparison 51 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: shop healthcare procedures, and so I love that another website 52 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 2: is out there trying to make this opaque area a 53 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 2: little bit easier. So big props, big thanks to listener 54 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 2: Kayla for mentioning this, and hopefully everybody else can find 55 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 2: mdsave dot com a helpful resource. We'll link to it 56 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 2: in our show notes for this episode. 57 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: But man, it's one of those things where I wish 58 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: it were simpler. I wish it was like Google Shopper 59 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: kind of thing for healthcare, but they kind of MD 60 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 1: save is kind of like they kind of make it 61 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: like that exactly, so over time as more folks know 62 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: about it, Like that's what makes Google Shop or Amazon 63 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: so ubiquitous, is the fact that so many people use it, 64 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: And it's just the fact that not a lot of 65 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: people know about some of these different websites. 66 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 2: So again, mdsave dot com, Healthcare blue Book. Check them out, 67 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 2: especially if you have a non life threatening emergency a 68 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: procedure that you have to get done. But Joel, let's 69 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 2: introduce our beer. Call nine one one. 70 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: Are go directly to the hospital if you know something 71 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: like threatening is happening. Yeah, you don't want to be cheap, right, 72 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: But if it's one of those things where we're like, 73 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: I got to do this sometime in the next three 74 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: six months, then you have time to shop. 75 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 2: You got time to be frugal. Our beer this episode 76 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 2: is by Big Ditch Brewing Company and it's called Hey Burner. 77 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 2: It is an American IPA. Looking forward to sharing this one. 78 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, listeners, Liz and Tyler actually sent this one our way. 79 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 2: That's right. 80 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: They're Buffalo Bills fans apparently, so I don't really care 81 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: much about the NFL these days, but I hear the 82 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: Bills are good, so are they. I'm happy for Liz 83 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: and Tyler. Good for them, and maybe I'll root for 84 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: them because the Falcains are always bad. But let's move on, Matt, 85 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: let's get to the subject at hand. We're talking about 86 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 1: financial independence and how it exists on a spectrum, the 87 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: stepping stones really of financial independence, and it makes me 88 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: think speaking of sports, talking about football, this topic made 89 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: me think about the home run obsession of nineteen ninety 90 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: eight that took over the whole country. You were alive then, 91 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: we were like fourteen years old or over that. Wow, No, 92 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 1: you were older than that. You were probably sixteen. I 93 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: was fourteen ninety eight. 94 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 2: Yep. 95 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, well but Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire, those are 96 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: the two eyeballs on those two guys more than anybody else. 97 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: And granted, yes, it was all fueled by steroids and 98 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: corked baths and stuff like that. 99 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 2: But home runs, well, we didn't know it at the time, 100 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 2: and you're like ruining all the fun. 101 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: So we all thought it was great and it was good, 102 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: wholesome fun when't really not quite. But yeah, home runs 103 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,960 Speaker 1: kind of became the only meaningful metric in the sport 104 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: of baseball, which in my mind, actually made it a 105 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: whole lot more boring. A lot of people were super 106 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: into it. I thought the opposite was true, because doubles, 107 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: stolen bases, shoe string catches, that to me is the 108 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: fun stuff about baseball. The four hundred and fifty foot bomb, though, 109 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: especially when it's done on repeat, it gets boring after 110 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: a while. I get that it's you know, it's like okay, 111 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,919 Speaker 1: because we'll sit there and watch the Daytona five hundred. 112 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: Speaking of Americans, Yeah, it's the same thing happening over 113 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: and that's why Formula one is more interesting than Nascar. 114 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: I agree, don't shoot the messenger, but the home run 115 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 1: really is an all or nothing approach. And some folks 116 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: they take that same approach to financial independence. They come 117 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: up with a fine number right in amount they need 118 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: to save up in order to bag work completely. But 119 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: the truth is, financial independence exist on more of a spectrum. 120 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: It is not an all or nothing thing, and we 121 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: believe that thinking about it in that way is going 122 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: to help you from a mental and from a financial perspective. 123 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 2: Totally. Yeah. Plus, nothing is more American than talking about baseball. 124 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: Forget the Formula one comment, everybody out there's a good 125 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 2: example here with the baseball analogy. And actually, we just 126 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 2: went to our our first Braise game of the year 127 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 2: the other nights. We had a great time. Speaking of 128 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 2: home runs, and Bray's been hit and a lot of 129 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 2: home runs lately. Yeah, they had an insane number of 130 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: them last month. Right, But go big or go home, like, 131 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 2: it's got a certain ring to it, right, like a 132 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 2: nice rallying cry, but it's also not really all that practical. 133 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: And one of the problems with that go big or 134 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: go home approach is that it can make when it 135 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 2: comes to money and we're talking about financial independence here, 136 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 2: is that it can make financial independence seem unattainable, that 137 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,799 Speaker 2: it is just out of reach of the typical American. 138 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 2: It's all or nothing, and because of that, you're going 139 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 2: to have to put your nose to the grindstone for 140 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 2: a long stinking time before you can accomplish that goal 141 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 2: or if something like Another problem too is like if 142 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 2: something is unattainable and you just feel or believe that 143 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 2: you can't do it, what do you do? Typically you 144 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 2: give up? Right, It's kind of the other side of 145 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 2: the coin here, but it can be I think, just 146 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 2: as disheartening. But what if you thought about financial independence 147 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 2: as a spectrum instead something that you are gradually achieving 148 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 2: more of. We think that that is a healthy approach 149 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 2: that is also going to accelerate your progress. 150 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: Yes, and I think it deserves a brief mention here 151 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: real quick math that money is not the only kind 152 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: of wealth. That is this is how to money. We 153 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 1: talked about money a lot. 154 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 2: But this is like the disclaimer before we launch into 155 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 2: credit card benefits their credit. 156 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: Card rewards exactly. Yeah, and obviously that's what we focus 157 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: on the show. But wealth is really I guess if 158 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: you're going to give it, it's the most basic definition 159 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: would be something like an abundance of resources. And that 160 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: doesn't specifically have to mean US dollars, right, I mean, 161 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: it can mean a whole lot of things. And even 162 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 1: though we want How to Money listeners to become wealthy 163 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: from a money perspective, building up savings and investments, we 164 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: also want you to enjoy wealth and abundance in all 165 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: those sectors. 166 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 2: Of your life that matter. 167 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: And so the truth is focusing intently on money as 168 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: the only source of wealth that you care about that 169 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: will likely prevent you from attaining wealth in other important areas. 170 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: So there's this recent Schwab survey Matt about how people 171 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: perceive wealth and if they found that the wealth looks 172 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: a lot more like not having to stress over money 173 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 1: than having a lot of money, which I think speaks 174 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: exactly to what we're talking about here. A Scrooge McDuck 175 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: esque amount of money so that you can swim in 176 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,119 Speaker 1: it is not really what people are after. Most people 177 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: are after not stressing about money, and that is the 178 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,240 Speaker 1: cool thing I think about this spectrum is that it 179 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: destresses you and how you relate to your finances more 180 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: and more over time. And so that's a better way 181 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: of thinking about growing your wealth than amassing the biggest 182 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: number possible. 183 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 2: Totally. Yeah. And even outside of the arena of money, though, like, 184 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: there are other aspects of life that we think that 185 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 2: are important to focus on. Like recently, I think we've 186 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,560 Speaker 2: talked about the different arenas of life, and actually even 187 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 2: more recently, I've come across this framework or this approach 188 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 2: to life. It's called the spire approach. I have you 189 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 2: ever heard of that it stands for, and it's again 190 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 2: it kind of divides your life into different sectors whatever 191 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 2: it talks about, like the spiritual, the physical, the intellectual, relationships, emotional. 192 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 2: We want to find health in all of these areas 193 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 2: in life and what And this was based on research 194 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 2: done somewhat recently. But what was interesting about it is 195 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:07,839 Speaker 2: that there are lots of different folks who have thought 196 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 2: hard and done research into this, and they all kind 197 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: of come back to these same things. And so it's 198 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: not like this some new fad or something like that. 199 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 2: This is something that rings true I think for all 200 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 2: of us. And what was really interesting though, is that 201 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 2: money was very much absent from that lineup. And so 202 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 2: does that mean we're going to stop talking about money 203 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 2: here on the show. No, of course not, because obviously 204 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,079 Speaker 2: being financially secure allows you to achieve health in a 205 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 2: lot of these different areas in life. It's a tool, 206 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: but oftentimes it can become the focus. You know, it's 207 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 2: a tool that we think is the end all be all, 208 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 2: as opposed to a means to an end. And so 209 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 2: it's worth pointing out that though overall on the show 210 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 2: here at How to Money we talk about personal finances, 211 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 2: ultimately what we are pushing you to do is to 212 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 2: focus on some of these other areas in life that 213 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 2: ring true to you, because they're going to be more 214 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 2: that are more important to you than the next guy. 215 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: And that's where this step stone approach makes a whole 216 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 1: lot of sense, because instead of viewing it as I 217 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: gotta have mass one point seven million dollars to actually 218 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: be financially independent, you're focus then is probably too much 219 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: on money, money, money, And if you can see it 220 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 1: on the stepping stone. Oh, I just made more perker, 221 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: so I got a little more further thrown this distrection off. 222 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: I'm achieving more financial independence. It can allow you to 223 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 1: be less focused on money overall, which I think is 224 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: a good thing. 225 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 2: It's not just and it shouldn't be that you're just 226 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 2: working your butt off until you can finally retire, right 227 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 2: potentially when you're far less able to actually enjoy the 228 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 2: fruits of your labor, because there are other aspects of 229 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,199 Speaker 2: health that you have neglected. Specifically, I'm referring to physical 230 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 2: health in this case, your nose of the grindstone. Working 231 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 2: sixty hours a week, you're missing out on the relational 232 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 2: and then the relationship. Yeah, exactly, Yeah, there's all of 233 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 2: those areas of life within that spire framework can suffer. 234 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 2: If you are overly focused on your net worth. 235 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,839 Speaker 1: It might have more money, but you're probably less happy, 236 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: less successful. Yeah, and you are from an overall perspective. 237 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,839 Speaker 1: You're richer financially, but you're poor in all of the 238 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: areas that matter much more. And the truth is, when 239 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: it comes to viewing money or financial independence specifically on 240 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: a spectrum, your options, they grow with each step that 241 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: you take with every additional dollar that you are able 242 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: to bank. Well, it's also important to mention the goal 243 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: of financial independence isn't just to be able to consume 244 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: more than you can now. I think some people think that, yeah, 245 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: more money means who I'm just delaying consumption and where 246 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: I can go on wild right? Yeah, And it's not 247 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 1: about being able to afford more filetmian. 248 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 2: Yeah. 249 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 1: And instead of just the plain old cheap chicken thighs 250 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: or something like that, don't you not chicken thighs. They're great, 251 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: It makes the best fried chicken. I know, they're actually 252 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: they're actually cheap but tasty. But even as your level 253 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: of financial independence grows, it is nice to have more 254 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 1: choice from a consumer standpoint, I'll admit to that. But 255 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: the true goal of having more money in the bank 256 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 1: is more about being able to choose the life you want, 257 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: choosing the life you want to live, what you do 258 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: with your time, and thinking about financial independence on this 259 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: spectrum that we're going to kind of. 260 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 2: Lay out here. 261 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,719 Speaker 1: It makes it easier to adjust your goals as your 262 00:11:58,720 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: life changes. 263 00:11:59,320 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 2: Too. 264 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: For instans like having kids, it might mean you want 265 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: to work less, and if you have gotten a couple 266 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,320 Speaker 1: more steps down the road on that path to financial independence. 267 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 1: You can make that choice, and that is something you 268 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: can do in your thirties, as opposed to saying thinking 269 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: of financial independence, just as this long distance destination that 270 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 1: you're working towards makes me think Matt of that old 271 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: parable of the fishermen, right, and oh, yes, he's enjoyed 272 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: fishing all day, sells a few of the fish, cracks 273 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: a beer up on with his buddies, and someone comes 274 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: along and says, you could start a business out of 275 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: this if we These fish that you catch are phenomenal. Yeah, 276 00:12:34,679 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: gotta expand yeah, And then he's like, ultimately, the goal 277 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: is to get back to the exact life he's living now, right, 278 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: which is fishing for a few hours, selling the fish, 279 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 1: having beers with his friends, enjoying his community and his family. 280 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: And so I think that can put it in perspective too. 281 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: I think that parable is really indicative of what a 282 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 1: lot of people are after they're working their butt off 283 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 1: and they're wasting actually some of these precious years they're 284 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: working too hard for money and hopes that they can 285 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: have some sort of leisurely retirement as opposed to incorporating 286 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: some of that leisure, some of that joy now exactly. Yeah, 287 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: So let's talk about the nuts and bolts here for 288 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:09,280 Speaker 1: a second. Because the way it works, you move up 289 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 1: the financial independent spectrum by doing a few different things simultaneously. Right, 290 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: It takes pay down debt, it takes saving your money, 291 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 1: and then beyond that, it takes investing your money. And 292 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 1: if you're plugging away at all three things simultaneously, which 293 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: most of us are, well, you're going to be increasing 294 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: your net worth, you're going to be increasing your liquidity 295 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 1: over time, and you're eliminating more of these ongoing monthly obligations. 296 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 1: But clearly your money metrics are improving over the months 297 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: and over the years of doing the right thing, and 298 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 1: that should mean that you get to experience higher levels 299 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: of freedom and autonomy along the way. It shouldn't just 300 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: be reserved for quitting work altogether and waiting and only 301 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 1: realizing that the at the end of the road that 302 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,319 Speaker 1: there's some sort of prize, some sort of metal that 303 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 1: you're going to be able to attain. Yeah, there is 304 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: no metal for a financial I know from what I've seen. 305 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: I haven't seen anyone get a metal. If I do, 306 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: I'll let you know, but there's no trophies or anything 307 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: like that, and so really it is all about your 308 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: mindset and your approach. And I think, unfortunately, Matt, most 309 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: people when they think about financial independence, they associated with 310 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 1: a go big or go home mindset. They is associated 311 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 1: with that all or nothing mentality, the home run or 312 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: nothing right or a strikeout, which is what actually makes 313 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: baseball more boring these days. Although it is quicker, the 314 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: games were quicker, like the one we went to two 315 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: and a half hours. That was nice just because of 316 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: that pitchclock. Man, I know, I think the thing is, 317 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: it's not that crushing a homer isn't a bad thing, right, 318 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: and makes me think of this old true Braves player 319 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: Rafael Billyard. I think he played for like sixteen years 320 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: and he literally hit two home runs in his entire career. 321 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: I'm sure he's glad that he hit a couple homers 322 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 1: and like didn't never hit one right the entire time 323 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: he was in the league. Dude, he was like so 324 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: small and he choked up on the bat and so 325 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: he was like a slap single kind of hitter. But 326 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: he was quick and he was good on defense. So 327 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: it's not that we're against your ability to make big strides, right, sure, 328 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: And I think getting to the point where you can 329 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: actually quit work altogether and completely living off your nest egg. 330 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: I mean, for that is part of the spectrum that 331 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 1: is the home run. Yes, yeah, but usually you're gonna 332 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 1: get there through a You're going to round the bases 333 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: through a single, a stolen base, and then the RBI 334 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: hit to get you in, right, So it's gonna. 335 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 2: And that's what most guys do. Like that's what they 336 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 2: call it, manufacturing runs. Yeah, that's that's like the majority 337 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:18,800 Speaker 2: of baseball is that. And like we were lucky enough 338 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 2: to see a couple of homers the other night as well, 339 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 2: And it's it is a ton of fun. You just 340 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 2: want you just want a little bit of everything. Yeah, 341 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 2: it's it's a it's a ton of fun. But at 342 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 2: the same time, if that is all that you were 343 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 2: going for, it would make for honestly just a boring 344 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 2: sport to watch, Yes, it would. Yeah. 345 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:35,200 Speaker 1: We think if that's the only thing you're focused on, 346 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 1: the home run or the ultimate number, you're missing out 347 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: on a whole lot in between. So that's why we 348 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: think it is worth laying out all of these different 349 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: stages along the way on your on your way to 350 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: ultimate financial independence. We will delineate, we will lay out 351 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: that spectrum how that should impact your savings and investing habits, 352 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: and we'll get to all that right after this. 353 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 2: All right, we are back and we're probably done with 354 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 2: all of the baseball now, actually we're probably not. We're 355 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 2: refer to it again. 356 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 1: Probably people out there listening and they're like, I could care, 357 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: Like I. 358 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 2: Thought magical, we're like soccer guys. Hey, we are still 359 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 2: soccer guys, but we just it was fun to go 360 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 2: to a base I had like, that was literally my 361 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 2: first game that I had been to at the at 362 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 2: truest part. Oh, I didn't know that was your first. Yes, 363 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,360 Speaker 2: I've been outside it before, like K and I the battery. 364 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 2: There's like restaurants and stuff that. So we've done date 365 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 2: nights there before, but we've never I've never actually been 366 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 2: to a game there. I almost said match, never a 367 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 2: match there. Yeah, but let's go ahead now discuss some 368 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 2: of these different levels of financial independence, the ones that 369 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 2: we think are important to identify. 370 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: And by the way, these are proprietary terms we've come up. Yeah, 371 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: nobody influenced us. We came up with with these This 372 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: is the spectrum that had money guys have to have outlined, 373 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: that's right. 374 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 2: And at the very bottom of the spectrum is what 375 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 2: we're gonna call No. Five. This means that you're likely 376 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 2: living paycheck to paycheck. You literally zero financial freedom, and 377 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:06,159 Speaker 2: you are completely dependent on your job, your job, the 378 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 2: whims of your employer. And this is actually a big 379 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,160 Speaker 2: chunk of Americans, as we all know too well. This 380 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 2: is the forty plus percent of folks who can't afford 381 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 2: a four hundred dollars unexpected expense. 382 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: We see that number come out every year, it gets updated, 383 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: and it's always right in that vicinity. 384 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 2: And here's the thing, though, like, this is where everyone 385 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 2: starts unless maybe like your trust fund baby, trust fund baby, 386 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:31,880 Speaker 2: if you were born with a silver spin in your mouth. 387 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,159 Speaker 2: But given honestly, like, given the cold reality of student 388 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 2: loan debt in our country, a giant swath of young 389 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,040 Speaker 2: folks out there are starting out just in a bigger 390 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 2: hole than just no FI. Right, It's not that they're 391 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 2: starting at zero, they're actually starting off with that negative 392 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 2: net worth. Yeah, but when you are no FI, well, 393 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 2: you don't have any options available to you. Because you 394 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 2: got to keep working for that next paycheck. No work 395 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,159 Speaker 2: means no money. You don't have the options, and you 396 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 2: literally have no financial independence. And you said this where 397 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 2: people start, and there's nothing wrong with that. There's no 398 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 2: shame in that game. This is the reality for most 399 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 2: people as they're beginning out. No shame. 400 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 1: I wish I look back to my early years. I'm like, 401 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: I was no five for a while, man. 402 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 2: Like we should maybe we should have come up with 403 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 2: like beyond that, like negative five or something like, because 404 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 2: that's technically folks who are coming out of its probably 405 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 2: well with loans. Yes, if only I think a lot 406 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 2: of folks are probably thinking that if only I could 407 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 2: have graduated and had a net worth of zero, But 408 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 2: in fact I had a negative networth. I have twenty 409 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 2: six thousand dollars or forty six whatever it is, So 410 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:31,399 Speaker 2: we get it. 411 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: Just trying to get back to zero is that in 412 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 1: and of itself a difficult thing, And that is part 413 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: of the stepping stone is saying, like, listen, I got 414 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 1: to get beyond I got to get beyond here. And 415 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 1: so the next step, the next place you're gonna want 416 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 1: to venture on your five spectrum journey is you want 417 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 1: to get the credit card five. That's what we're calling it, 418 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 1: you know, because really, how long you end up hanging 419 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: out at each of these stages of financial independence is 420 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 1: kind of up to you. It's up to your actions. 421 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 1: It's how up to how quickly you're able to pay 422 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 1: off debt to save more. It's up to how quickly 423 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 1: you're able to increase your income, right. And so do 424 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: you fall into a rut of living paycheck to paycheck, 425 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: staying there for longer than you otherwise should, or are 426 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:11,679 Speaker 1: you immediately trying to create some margin in order to 427 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:14,639 Speaker 1: advance to the next stage of financial independence, which is 428 00:19:14,640 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 1: this credit card five? Right? 429 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 2: Right? That's how you get from no FI to credit 430 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 2: card for yes, you got it, I said, fry five. Yeah. 431 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,959 Speaker 1: Well, it involves habits, right, and it involves making changes, 432 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: it little tweaks to each one of these these each 433 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: one of these things. And so this is this is 434 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: when you still don't have much credit card FI, but 435 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: you've amassed enough to give yourself some basic breathing room, right, 436 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 1: and most importantly, you're no longer dependent on your credit 437 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: cards when unexpected expenses crop up. And there's a reason 438 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:44,159 Speaker 1: Matt that our first money gear is to have a 439 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 1: basic emergency fund set aside, where you have two thousand, 440 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: four hundred and sixty seven dollars in the bank at 441 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: your disposal. And you know, we're all for using credit 442 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 1: cards wisely, you and me, that's what we recommend, but 443 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:57,399 Speaker 1: we don't want them to become a crutch something you 444 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 1: have to rely on when a few unexpected expenses pop 445 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:01,679 Speaker 1: up in your life. 446 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:04,879 Speaker 2: That's right, yeah, And once you've got that basic emergency 447 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,439 Speaker 2: fund on hand, it's going to feel like you're finally 448 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 2: able to take a time out where you can get 449 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 2: a sip of water in a quick rest after having 450 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 2: around the basketball corps for most of the first half 451 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:18,360 Speaker 2: more sports references. We're switching it up at you. It's 452 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 2: not ideal, right, like you still want to have maybe 453 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:24,159 Speaker 2: a longer rest at halftime, but at least it's something 454 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:27,359 Speaker 2: that's where the stage of financial independence gets you. It's 455 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,159 Speaker 2: a it's a fairly low bar, but considering where so 456 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,720 Speaker 2: many Americans are with their finances, it's what a lot 457 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 2: of folks need to be aiming for, right, Like, just 458 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 2: getting to this point it can relieve a lot of stress. 459 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 2: And we're not just talking about folks who are making 460 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 2: minimum wage. We're talking about high wage earners as well. 461 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 2: I think, like the it's a majority of folks who 462 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,959 Speaker 2: make more than one hundred thousand dollars are living paycheck 463 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:49,919 Speaker 2: to paycheck. It's like fifty one percent or something like that. 464 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,640 Speaker 2: And so we're not just picking on folks who are 465 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 2: maybe either just starting out in their career or folks 466 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 2: who have a job where hey, man, I'm just not 467 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 2: going to make a ton of money here. 468 00:20:58,119 --> 00:20:58,159 Speaker 1: No. 469 00:20:58,119 --> 00:21:00,800 Speaker 2: No, we're talking to folks who make good money, but 470 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 2: even still they are making the same mistakes with. 471 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 1: Their with their financi Yeah, they're outspending their paycheck even 472 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: though that paycheck is relatively large. The next step along 473 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: the way is achieving what we call layoff I and 474 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: this is the next level to shoot for on the 475 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: how to money financial independent spectrum because it's when you 476 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: not only have that base amount of twenty four hundred 477 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: and sixty seven dollars saved up, it's when you have 478 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:26,439 Speaker 1: a fully funded emergency fund. And so yeah, this is 479 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 1: basically when you have three to six months worth of 480 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 1: expenses on hand in that savings account, you know whether 481 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: you should have the leaner three months or the fat 482 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: or six months. That really depends on a number of things, 483 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: one of which is do you live in a two 484 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: income household or not. I think if if that's the case, yeah, 485 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:45,920 Speaker 1: you can have a little bit less stocked away in 486 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: savings if you are. 487 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 2: Do you have tenure at the university where you teach, right, 488 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 2: maybe it'll be okay. 489 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 1: It's like now I could literally punch the dean in 490 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: the face and I would still retain my job. You 491 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: might not need to have quite as much on hand. 492 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,640 Speaker 1: It depends on your risk tolerance, right, like how comfortable 493 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: you are with your your income dropping or if you 494 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 1: are willing or capable honestly of cutting back on your 495 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: within your expenses, were you to earn less money, and 496 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: that there's so many different things you have to take 497 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 1: into account because that is something that you may have 498 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: been more willing to do or more capable of doing 499 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:20,880 Speaker 1: back before you had kids, But now you have kids, 500 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:24,479 Speaker 1: and man, there are certain expenses that are necessary for 501 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: me to go work, like childcare that's not that we 502 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 1: got to pay for or yeah, all important things to 503 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: keep in money exactly. I think that's a great point, 504 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: and we're calling this layoff five because that bare bonesy 505 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: fund that's not going to get you very far if 506 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: you lose your job. Yeah, right, but beyond that initial 507 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 1: savings threshold that we want you to achieve, having layoff 508 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: five money on hand, you know, in your bank account, 509 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: that'll smooth out some of those bigger bumps in life, 510 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:49,399 Speaker 1: like getting fired. Right if you do punch someone in 511 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: the face of your job or hopefully just laid off, 512 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: hopefully there's no violence involved. We're also not advocating for violence, right, 513 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: don't punch anybody, don't do that. But yeah, unless you are, Yeah, 514 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: Elon Muska or I haven't talked about that, you're on 515 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: the show yet. But if then, when that does happen, 516 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: we're there for it. I'll be watching the most unentertaining 517 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:11,920 Speaker 1: actual fight, but the build up in human history, right, Well, 518 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: I mean this is yeah, hopefully you're not getting fired, 519 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:16,160 Speaker 1: you're just getting laid off. And even then we obviously 520 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,439 Speaker 1: don't want that. But you want to be prepared for 521 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 1: the potential of a layoff because they happen. 522 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 2: Right. 523 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 1: An unexpected layoff is one of those things that can 524 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:26,720 Speaker 1: set you back in your financial progress meaningfully, and a 525 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:28,640 Speaker 1: few months of not being at a job can make 526 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 1: it can make it feel like it sets you back 527 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: years in your finances. By the way, Matt, I know 528 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 1: this from personal experience, not from my own layoff, but 529 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 1: from my dad being laid off when we were kids. 530 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: That was a tough thing to come back from and 531 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,280 Speaker 1: it really really can. It can derail a career. And 532 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: so you just having that layoff five money doesn't make 533 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: it easy to get that news, but it does make 534 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:51,359 Speaker 1: it less financially obtrusive. And so if you haven't socked 535 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: away a big savings nest egg, it's a precarious feeling 536 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: to get laid off. That's what we want people to have, 537 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: is like more money on hand to then be able 538 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:00,639 Speaker 1: to endure the bigger roadbumps throws at you. 539 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, it doesn't feel good living on the edge like that, 540 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 2: and largely because those bigger there's more jarring events like 541 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 2: a layoff would throw you into an adverse financial state 542 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:12,880 Speaker 2: pretty quickly. But having this much on hand, it also 543 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 2: ensures that you can take a little more time before 544 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:18,600 Speaker 2: you have to commit to a new job. And so 545 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 2: whether that means just maybe getting a little bit of rest, 546 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 2: you know, taking a couple of weeks off or just 547 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 2: allowing you to turn down a job that's not necessarily 548 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,840 Speaker 2: ideal because you have some savings to back you up. 549 00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:32,879 Speaker 2: You know, you've got that fully funded emergency fund of 550 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 2: three to six months of living expenses set aside having 551 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 2: achieved layoff. I this is a clutch stage as you 552 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:44,000 Speaker 2: are ratcheting, as you're moving along that financial independence spectrum. Yeah. 553 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,040 Speaker 1: I had a friend who lost his job a couple 554 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: of years ago, and I just remember being so bummed 555 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,680 Speaker 1: that he didn't have like layoff five status because he 556 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,440 Speaker 1: had to take the first job that came along and 557 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 1: it paid less than the one he had just lost. 558 00:24:57,119 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 1: And that's a tough spot to be in. If you 559 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 1: have extra month's worth of expenses, you can be a 560 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 1: little pick here, and I think that can that can 561 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: ultimately help you rebound and ensure that your career stays intact. 562 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: And the financial independence and where you're at on your journey, 563 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: the financial independence makes a big difference in the choices 564 00:25:16,840 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: you can make or that you're forced. 565 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,240 Speaker 2: To make in the moment. Absolutely all right. 566 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: Next on the spectrum is peace out FI. That's what 567 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 1: we're calling it. We've talked about peace out money before 568 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: that's some people call it fu money, but we're more 569 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,359 Speaker 1: tactful than those people, Matt, And so yeah, I think 570 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:35,520 Speaker 1: this is really when someone has saved beyond six months 571 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: of living expenses. So maybe that is layoff I is 572 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: up to six months, and then beyond that is like okay, 573 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: your peace out fi And instead of just being prepared 574 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: for a layoff, now you can even engineer your own 575 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: layoff that's what you want to do, and still best 576 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 1: to give two weeks of notice. You don't want to 577 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: intentionally burn bridges. And that's why we don't call it 578 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:54,120 Speaker 1: fu money, because peace out money just sounds like you're 579 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:57,520 Speaker 1: doing it in a peaceful, joyous way, as opposed to 580 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: throwing a molotop cocktail through the door, taking it to 581 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:02,880 Speaker 1: the main as you leave, right Yeah, and so yeah 582 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:05,439 Speaker 1: you can though, and you should feel the freedom to 583 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: step away from a job for things like health health reasons, 584 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: or to take care of an ailing parent or a spouse. 585 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,359 Speaker 1: Rather than taking a more passive role in your employment 586 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: and hoping that you're not next on the chopping block, 587 00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 1: you're actively steering the car of your own life towards 588 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:22,880 Speaker 1: what others might see as a financial Cliff. But they 589 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: don't know that you've achieved peace out five. They don't 590 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: know that you've got the financial wherewithal and the dollars 591 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,000 Speaker 1: in the bank account to back you up. Even if 592 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 1: you're like you know, it makes me think of even 593 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: being able to negotiate your own layoff, Matt. We talked 594 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:40,119 Speaker 1: about that with Sam Dogan, the financial Samurai at one point. 595 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:42,359 Speaker 1: And if you've got cash in the bank and you 596 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,959 Speaker 1: see riding on the wall, things aren't good at your employer. Hey, 597 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 1: you know what you could volunteer is tribute negotiate a 598 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:51,879 Speaker 1: pretty sweet severance package, and that, combined with the amount 599 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: of money you've been able to save, you can piece out. 600 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:56,760 Speaker 2: For a while. Yeah, that gives you even more runway 601 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:58,240 Speaker 2: to make the decisions that you think are going to 602 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 2: be best not only for you and your life, but 603 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 2: for your family and ultimately well yeah I should have 604 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 2: said ultimately your family, but but I was gonna say 605 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 2: your career as well, and kind of what direction you 606 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 2: want to go in. But this, this level of financial independence, 607 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 2: this level of five, also comes with more power to 608 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:15,080 Speaker 2: push back and you know, going back to avoiding the 609 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,200 Speaker 2: all or nothing mindset, you also don't have to completely 610 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:21,160 Speaker 2: quit when something is going on at work, when something 611 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,880 Speaker 2: happens that you're not a fan of, but you can 612 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 2: if you just can't stomach your boss, or if you 613 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 2: can't handle the insufferable hours anymore. 614 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:30,199 Speaker 1: It's like Office Space, I'm gonna need you to come 615 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 1: in on It's like if you don't bother coming on Saturday, 616 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 1: don't come in on Sunday. Yeah, And that's a at 617 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 1: that point when you're peace, how high you can be 618 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 1: like Okay, now that's too much, I'm gone. 619 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 2: You really can at that point. Yeah. But like what 620 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 2: we're talking about here though, is just the ability, like 621 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 2: the confidence that you might have to start having some 622 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:49,200 Speaker 2: conversations because this level of financial freedom can just help 623 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:51,639 Speaker 2: you to negotiate for the things that you really want. 624 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:54,680 Speaker 2: And it's going to be easier to negotiate successfully when 625 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:57,800 Speaker 2: you really can walk away if in case they call 626 00:27:57,840 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 2: your bluff and they're like, no, I'm sorry, that's not 627 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 2: going to work, and you can say, all right, well 628 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 2: then this isn't gonna work out for memore, you can 629 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 2: kind of really exhibit that Peter and Office bade Space 630 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:13,920 Speaker 2: degree of apathy. You know, that cool con collected. Okay, cool, 631 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 2: let it roll off your back like a duck when 632 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 2: you when you're piece out five, you really can just 633 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:20,400 Speaker 2: be like, okay, that's great, no worries, but you don't 634 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 2: necessarily work for me now. You don't have to smash 635 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,199 Speaker 2: up any equipment now, but you have the ability, like 636 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:28,199 Speaker 2: you said to on this one again too, Sorry about that. 637 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 2: That's the whole office space thing. Let's talk about the 638 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,120 Speaker 2: next stage of five, which is sabbatical FI. It's sort 639 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 2: of like a peace out FI, but on steroids. So 640 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 2: this means you can take an extended absence from work 641 00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 2: and be just fine. It means that if you quit, 642 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 2: you're not immediately looking for a new gig like you 643 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,239 Speaker 2: would with with peace Off five. Typically, with peace hop 644 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:52,200 Speaker 2: five you are walked peacefully walking away from that job. 645 00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 2: You're saying peace out. But typically it means you're like, 646 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 2: all right, maybe i'll sit low, you know, kind of 647 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 2: chill out for a little bit, but I'm gonna start 648 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:01,480 Speaker 2: looking from a next job. Yeah. Not so. With sabbatical fire, 649 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 2: you're actually able to enjoy a lengthy period of rest 650 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 2: and you might even have enough on hand to completely 651 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,160 Speaker 2: change what it is that your your life and your 652 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 2: career looks like so like we're not really talking about 653 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 2: it like a simple extended vacation that your employer might offer, 654 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:18,840 Speaker 2: you know, like they might call taking four weeks off 655 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 2: a sabbatical, and that's not really the definition that we're 656 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:24,280 Speaker 2: going after here, Like what's out the heart of what 657 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:29,520 Speaker 2: we're calling sabbatical FI is the ability almost to reinvent yourself. 658 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 2: This is when you have the freedom to change course 659 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,160 Speaker 2: in your career. Like, it's when you can fulfill a 660 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 2: desire to go back to school and to learn something new. 661 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 2: It's it's when you have the confidence to start a 662 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 2: new business. These are all bigger things than just being 663 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 2: able to say, peace out, I'm going to go find 664 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 2: another job. Sabbatical FI is like who am I? It's 665 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 2: not sitting on the curb moment and you're asking God 666 00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 2: what it is that you should do next? 667 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:56,160 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, and yeah, four weeks What a pitiful sabbatical? People, 668 00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 1: that's really eight weeks is like the minimum of sabbaticals 669 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: should be. In my opinion, I was glad. I don't 670 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 1: know how I came across this website. I think it 671 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 1: was called Sabbatical Guide and popped up when I was 672 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 1: researching sabbatical and evidently according to folks who are there 673 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: on his website that interact and stuff, the average length 674 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 1: of sabbat time for sabbatical was eight months, okayow, which 675 00:30:17,200 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 1: I was really happy to see. Very impressive at. 676 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,600 Speaker 2: Least the folks who are looking trying to find sabbatical guidance, 677 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 2: that's what that's average for them. So I was happy 678 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,200 Speaker 2: to And that's if you were speaking to is the 679 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 2: fact that there is a way this isn't just taking 680 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,680 Speaker 2: a long leave of absence from your work, but sort 681 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 2: of like what's the next stage of my career, like 682 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 2: what attend I want to do? 683 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: That happens for people because they're burned out, and this 684 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 1: should not This should be more proactive, right, It should 685 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:42,880 Speaker 1: be more like I'm choosing this as opposed to I 686 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 1: can't take it anymore, right, And it. 687 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 2: Doesn't necessarily have to be exclusive, you know, like, because 688 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:49,400 Speaker 2: you might find yourself in that situation as well, all 689 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:50,200 Speaker 2: different flavors. 690 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:53,120 Speaker 1: Sure well, And okay, so the sabbatical five makes me 691 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 1: think of our friend Chad Carson in front of the show. 692 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 1: We've had him on before, We're gonna have him on again. 693 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 1: Actually soon, because he's written a new book about real estate, 694 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 1: and he's done multiple year long stints, sabbaticals essentially with 695 00:31:05,360 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: his family. He's still working a little doing his small 696 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 1: business thing, which he can do from anywhere in the 697 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,719 Speaker 1: world that he wants. And I think that sort of 698 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:17,160 Speaker 1: choice it sounds impossible for most folks, But if you 699 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: have handled your finance as well, if you've kept your 700 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:22,920 Speaker 1: expenses low, if you've been saving it a high clip, 701 00:31:22,960 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: and you've got enough cash or passive income in the 702 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:28,760 Speaker 1: case of Chad who's invested in real estate, you can 703 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:31,360 Speaker 1: really make this a reality. He takes the opportunity to 704 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 1: go to a different country when he does this, and 705 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:35,720 Speaker 1: the first time he did it was South America. This 706 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:38,200 Speaker 1: time around, it was a year in Spain, and so 707 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:42,160 Speaker 1: it creates a cultural experience for his kids and for 708 00:31:42,240 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 1: him too, like living in a walkable city that he 709 00:31:44,640 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 1: never you know, he might have got to visit for 710 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:47,760 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks, but he got a whole year there, 711 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: maybe got to develop a community. I can't wait to 712 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:51,160 Speaker 1: talk to him about it. I know, I'm so excited 713 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 1: to just really hear about all the details. But this 714 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:56,760 Speaker 1: is the kind of thing where sabbatical FI can really 715 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 1: if you hit this point, he gives you the option 716 00:31:59,560 --> 00:32:01,560 Speaker 1: to do something and crazy that most of your friends 717 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 1: would be like, how in the world are you even 718 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:05,400 Speaker 1: able to do that? And so much of it it 719 00:32:05,640 --> 00:32:08,440 Speaker 1: becomes possible from one a mindset change to thinking, oh, 720 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:11,920 Speaker 1: I can get there, but also through handling your finances 721 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,520 Speaker 1: in such a way that you have enough money to 722 00:32:14,640 --> 00:32:17,400 Speaker 1: really make this possible without freaking out right, that's right. 723 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:19,520 Speaker 1: But okay, this brings up the question, Matt, of saving 724 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 1: versus investing, because we've talked a lot about cash in 725 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: the bank, and that is certainly part of it. Some 726 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 1: of it has to be liquid, but in order to 727 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:32,440 Speaker 1: grow your wealth for ultimate financial independence, you got to 728 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 1: invest it too. So we're going to talk about the 729 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:37,600 Speaker 1: dichotomy of that and explain our last steps and really 730 00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:39,400 Speaker 1: how to think about financial independence. We'll get to all 731 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: that right after this. 732 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:52,640 Speaker 2: All right, let's continue our journey along the spectrum of 733 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:56,240 Speaker 2: financial independence. And you kind of you know, you mentioned 734 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 2: this right before the break, but like all of the 735 00:32:58,040 --> 00:33:00,320 Speaker 2: levels that we've talked about up until now, all the 736 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 2: different levels of FI, they basically require having cash in 737 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 2: the bank, Like you need to be able to tap 738 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 2: those reserves basically if something happens, because honestly, a lot 739 00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:14,080 Speaker 2: of the things that we discussed, you are reacting to something, right, 740 00:33:14,120 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 2: like whether it's an emergency that pops up, whether it 741 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 2: is oh Man, conditions at work just got pretty terrible. 742 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:21,840 Speaker 2: Like I think maybe the sabbatical FI is one of 743 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:23,720 Speaker 2: the ones that you can plan for, maybe a little 744 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:24,560 Speaker 2: bit further in advance. 745 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 1: It makes me thinking about my last job. Some sort 746 00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:29,640 Speaker 1: of ruthless private equity firm bought out the radio station 747 00:33:29,680 --> 00:33:31,840 Speaker 1: that worked for and it changed the entire dynamic of 748 00:33:31,880 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 1: working there. And so people were like, if you had 749 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 1: the financial ability, you might have been looking for something 750 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 1: else whereas you might have been stuck in place. And 751 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:42,800 Speaker 1: this is why too, You're right, You're what you're speaking 752 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:46,040 Speaker 1: to is four one K money doesn't help you nearly 753 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:48,920 Speaker 1: as much in that situation as liquid cash. 754 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:51,080 Speaker 2: So it's I mean, there's a catch twenty two, right, 755 00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:52,760 Speaker 2: because you need to have that cash on hand in 756 00:33:52,840 --> 00:33:55,440 Speaker 2: order to achieve some of these different levels of FI 757 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 2: that we've talked about. But if you aren't investing for 758 00:33:58,360 --> 00:34:00,200 Speaker 2: the long haul, well how are you going to who 759 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:01,960 Speaker 2: actually retire? How are you going to be able to 760 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:06,360 Speaker 2: reach that ultimate level of financial independence. We're all about 761 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 2: those tax advanage retirement accounts, but you can't access those 762 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 2: until you reach the ripal age of fifty nine and 763 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 2: a half. So if you sock everything away into those accounts, 764 00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:16,799 Speaker 2: despite your growing network, you are going to be less 765 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:19,880 Speaker 2: likely to feel like that you're moving along the financial 766 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 2: independence spectrum because you are. It's almost a problem that 767 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 2: these different financial products that they have created, right, because 768 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,239 Speaker 2: they are created in such a way that there is 769 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 2: a finish line, there is this goal, this award that 770 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:36,560 Speaker 2: you receive, which is the quote unquote retirement that so 771 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:38,600 Speaker 2: many folks are used to the ability to draw down 772 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:40,840 Speaker 2: on those funds exactly. And so there's this structure in 773 00:34:40,880 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 2: place that encourages us to think about financial independence in 774 00:34:44,239 --> 00:34:46,880 Speaker 2: this way. So, honestly, it's no wonder that this is 775 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:49,320 Speaker 2: a something that we're talking about because we think is important. 776 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:51,239 Speaker 2: But the reason we're talking about it is because we 777 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:53,080 Speaker 2: think it's a problem that the that there are so 778 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 2: many folks who think that the only way to consider 779 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:59,080 Speaker 2: themselves financially independent is if they have enough in the 780 00:34:59,080 --> 00:35:01,040 Speaker 2: bank to actually retire. Yeah, and that's why it takes 781 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:04,160 Speaker 2: more than just tax advantage retirement accounts to get you 782 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:07,840 Speaker 2: further along this five spectrum. And so I think really 783 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:10,520 Speaker 2: the right way to think about the saving verse investing 784 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:15,759 Speaker 2: conundrum in the financial independence spectrum it is to take 785 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:18,840 Speaker 2: the both and approach and yeah, yeah, is to remove 786 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:22,480 Speaker 2: the dichotomy. It's not like whatever versus whatever. It's like 787 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:25,800 Speaker 2: and yes, it's more like improv yeah exactly, Yeah, the 788 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:28,479 Speaker 2: yes and approach and as opposed to like it being 789 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 2: this this battle. Yeah, sort of like not to your 790 00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:33,960 Speaker 2: off course. But it's how we talk about roth versus tradition. 791 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:36,680 Speaker 2: I thought you're going back to baseball, No, no, going 792 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:39,800 Speaker 2: to boxing now it's it's it's how we talk about 793 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:43,480 Speaker 2: roth versus traditional accounts. It's like, well, if you at 794 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:46,080 Speaker 2: a certain point, yes, consider both, because the ability to 795 00:35:46,120 --> 00:35:49,440 Speaker 2: diversify your tax liability down the road, that's huge. Yeah. 796 00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:51,800 Speaker 1: And on the boxing note, like a butterfly sting that 797 00:35:51,800 --> 00:35:54,120 Speaker 1: could be I think that's maybe the saving and investing. Yeah, 798 00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:57,000 Speaker 1: it's you need both, right, that's Somehamed Ali approach. It 799 00:35:57,120 --> 00:36:01,280 Speaker 1: like yes, right, but you know, I think liquid savings matters, 800 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:03,600 Speaker 1: but don't shoot for eighteen months worth of savings before 801 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 1: you invest your first time. That would not be the 802 00:36:05,520 --> 00:36:06,640 Speaker 1: approach we would advise. 803 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:08,480 Speaker 2: It would be a touch on near sided. Yeah, exactly. 804 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:11,120 Speaker 1: We actually want you investing as soon as you hit 805 00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:13,120 Speaker 1: credit card five, right, which is early on in that 806 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:16,520 Speaker 1: financial independence spectrum. Once you've got a basic stash of 807 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:19,399 Speaker 1: twenty four hundred and sixty seven dollars, you do want 808 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:22,040 Speaker 1: to start funneling money towards investments. You do want to 809 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:24,400 Speaker 1: make sure you're at minimum getting the match on that 810 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 1: four to roh one k before you start saving more, right, 811 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:30,000 Speaker 1: Because savings alone isn't going to get you to the 812 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:32,799 Speaker 1: ultimate stop to on your destination, right, You've got to 813 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 1: experience compounding returns over a longer period of time if 814 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:39,320 Speaker 1: you want to achieve full financial independence, which is ultimately 815 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:41,399 Speaker 1: where we want you to end up, even though you're 816 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:44,520 Speaker 1: hitting those sweet spots along the way and enjoying greater 817 00:36:44,640 --> 00:36:46,920 Speaker 1: levels of financial independence over the years. 818 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:50,799 Speaker 2: That's right, man. Yeah, So the last stop on the 819 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:54,560 Speaker 2: financial independence spectrum is when you can achieve full and 820 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:57,239 Speaker 2: ultimate financial independence. We didn't really come up with the 821 00:36:57,520 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 2: acute a short Q see full monty financial independent, Like, 822 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:03,200 Speaker 2: we didn't come up with anything like that. But if 823 00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:06,720 Speaker 2: that is you, congrats, because at this point the world 824 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:09,399 Speaker 2: is your oyster. You never have to work again if 825 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:12,840 Speaker 2: you don't want to. Interestingly enough, there lets most folks do, 826 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:16,360 Speaker 2: especially if they are still young. They do want to 827 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 2: do some sort of work, but they just might want 828 00:37:18,719 --> 00:37:20,719 Speaker 2: to do less of it, and they might want to 829 00:37:20,840 --> 00:37:23,799 Speaker 2: enjoy whatever it is that they do a little bit more. 830 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:25,759 Speaker 2: They might want to have a little more flexibility to 831 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:28,879 Speaker 2: truly say, yeah, no, thank you, I'm going to work 832 00:37:28,920 --> 00:37:30,759 Speaker 2: the hours I want to work. Does that work for you? 833 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 2: If not, then I'm gonna have to bounce. Yeah. And 834 00:37:34,080 --> 00:37:36,040 Speaker 2: even once you've achieved this level, you might still want 835 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,200 Speaker 2: to find ways to grow your net worth because maybe 836 00:37:38,239 --> 00:37:40,880 Speaker 2: you've got goals of generational wealth. Maybe you want to 837 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:44,160 Speaker 2: be super philanthropic. These are all other things to keep 838 00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:46,759 Speaker 2: in mind as well. It doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't 839 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:50,200 Speaker 2: mean you have to retire and you know, sit lemonade 840 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:52,399 Speaker 2: or sweet tea on the front porch while you watch 841 00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:55,160 Speaker 2: all the young UN's out there play that sound nice though, yeah, 842 00:37:55,239 --> 00:37:58,279 Speaker 2: sound sorry at least occasionally, right, So I want to 843 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:01,280 Speaker 2: be active and doing stuff, But I agree, Yeah, financial 844 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:04,040 Speaker 2: independence it means maybe at like three o'clock after you've 845 00:38:04,040 --> 00:38:06,640 Speaker 2: worked a nice solid five hours. Yeah, you know, like 846 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:08,919 Speaker 2: you can still work. You can still have your sweet 847 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:11,480 Speaker 2: tea in the rocking chair on the porch. Yeah, cracker 848 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 2: barrel style, that's you. That's what you want, Joel. I 849 00:38:14,200 --> 00:38:16,839 Speaker 2: just want the giant checkers mat. That's what I want. Well. 850 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,719 Speaker 1: I think the point you're making here is that work 851 00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:22,520 Speaker 1: still holds value even if you don't do it and 852 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:24,680 Speaker 1: you don't need it for the money, because there are 853 00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:27,480 Speaker 1: other goals you can have saving up more and some 854 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:29,880 Speaker 1: of that might be just the impact that you're having 855 00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:32,480 Speaker 1: based on the work that you're doing, or you might 856 00:38:32,520 --> 00:38:35,839 Speaker 1: want to yet do volunteer work instead. I mean, there's 857 00:38:35,880 --> 00:38:38,040 Speaker 1: all sorts of options when you get to this point 858 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:40,239 Speaker 1: of like full and complete five whatever we're calling it. 859 00:38:40,320 --> 00:38:41,600 Speaker 1: We really should have come up with a better name 860 00:38:41,640 --> 00:38:45,480 Speaker 1: on this one, but last we got lazy fully five, 861 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:46,200 Speaker 1: that's what we'll call it. 862 00:38:46,200 --> 00:38:47,640 Speaker 2: Fully fine. Yeah, I got the role with that. 863 00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:49,279 Speaker 1: Okay, So let's talk about this as we're kind of 864 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:51,919 Speaker 1: like starting around this episode out and finishing up here. 865 00:38:52,360 --> 00:38:56,000 Speaker 1: I think it's important to mention that because financial independence 866 00:38:56,080 --> 00:38:58,240 Speaker 1: is on a spectrum, we want you to find ways 867 00:38:58,239 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 1: to exploit where you are on that road to financial independence. 868 00:39:02,719 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 1: Right as you continue to gain and accrue more of it, 869 00:39:05,719 --> 00:39:07,960 Speaker 1: start to ask questions like what do you want your 870 00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:09,799 Speaker 1: days to look like? What do you want your weeks 871 00:39:09,840 --> 00:39:12,879 Speaker 1: to look like? Because we would suggest that you really 872 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:16,480 Speaker 1: are able to morph and change your life more than 873 00:39:16,480 --> 00:39:19,160 Speaker 1: you think along the way, that this is the real 874 00:39:19,239 --> 00:39:22,640 Speaker 1: power behind realizing that financial independence is a spectrum because 875 00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:25,400 Speaker 1: you can take advantage of the progress you've made with 876 00:39:25,440 --> 00:39:27,719 Speaker 1: each step that you take. The ultimate goal is not 877 00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:29,360 Speaker 1: dying with millions in the bank, and in fact, I 878 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:32,319 Speaker 1: would suggest that is a rather pitiful goal to have. 879 00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:35,240 Speaker 1: So don't be afraid to lean into your financial independence 880 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:39,040 Speaker 1: level and enjoy the benefits of it, saying if you 881 00:39:39,120 --> 00:39:41,400 Speaker 1: continue to think of it as this all or nothing equation, 882 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:44,360 Speaker 1: you probably won't find and you won't be able to 883 00:39:44,400 --> 00:39:46,400 Speaker 1: appreciate the progress that you're making. 884 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:47,800 Speaker 2: Along the way. You know, maybe we should this is 885 00:39:47,840 --> 00:39:49,879 Speaker 2: not an honor off switch. It's a dimmer switch. Maybe 886 00:39:49,920 --> 00:39:54,480 Speaker 2: we should call financial independence is a dimmer switch. It's 887 00:39:54,520 --> 00:39:57,600 Speaker 2: even more milk toast than stepping stones. Right, But there's 888 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:01,879 Speaker 2: a fine line between lifestyle and what essentially what we're 889 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:04,560 Speaker 2: saying here, which is realizing your wealth, right, Because on one, 890 00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 2: on one hand, you are just being kind of carried 891 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:11,040 Speaker 2: away by the culture, the currents of culture, right, And 892 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:14,080 Speaker 2: maybe you start you're thinking about buying something like you're 893 00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:17,359 Speaker 2: thinking about buying a new suv because that's what all 894 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:20,200 Speaker 2: the neighbors are doing. Or oh, maybe it's because I 895 00:40:20,239 --> 00:40:23,280 Speaker 2: care about what it is that the other parents at carpool, 896 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:25,520 Speaker 2: what it is that they think, And so it's worth 897 00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:27,960 Speaker 2: thinking through like why am I actually doing this? Like 898 00:40:27,960 --> 00:40:30,040 Speaker 2: should I care what it is that they think? Or 899 00:40:30,120 --> 00:40:32,720 Speaker 2: maybe I should care about the things that are truly 900 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:34,759 Speaker 2: important to me. It's like, again going back to that 901 00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:38,919 Speaker 2: spire framework, how can I spend some of my wealth? 902 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:41,960 Speaker 2: How can I exercise some of my financial independence in 903 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:43,759 Speaker 2: a way that's going to lead to more health in 904 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:47,239 Speaker 2: those other areas in life? A very simple example could 905 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:49,920 Speaker 2: be getting your yard cut by like a lawn service 906 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:51,640 Speaker 2: or something, right, Like you could do that maybe because 907 00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:53,040 Speaker 2: well that's what all the other guys are doing, and 908 00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:54,799 Speaker 2: this guy's really good, so maybe I'll just do that. 909 00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:57,920 Speaker 2: In my mind, that's like an unhealthy approach that to 910 00:40:57,960 --> 00:41:01,000 Speaker 2: me feels more like lifestyle creep versus maybe you're doing 911 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:04,040 Speaker 2: it yourself and you think, man, like my saturdays are 912 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:07,440 Speaker 2: completely taken up by yard work, and I am not 913 00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:09,239 Speaker 2: able to spend as much time as I wish I 914 00:41:09,239 --> 00:41:12,200 Speaker 2: could with my kids, and my kids are very important 915 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:14,799 Speaker 2: to me. That's that relationship part of that spire framework, Right, 916 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:18,240 Speaker 2: So that to me feels more like a healthy reason 917 00:41:18,320 --> 00:41:19,880 Speaker 2: to spend some of your money in a way that's 918 00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:21,160 Speaker 2: going to move the needle for you or. 919 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:23,000 Speaker 1: I think the reason why, the why behind that choice 920 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:23,880 Speaker 1: makes a big difference. 921 00:41:23,920 --> 00:41:26,120 Speaker 2: It's all about the intention. Yeah, it's all about the intention. So, 922 00:41:26,120 --> 00:41:27,680 Speaker 2: for instance, like it makes me think about like an 923 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:32,719 Speaker 2: unhealthy work environment, Well, maybe it's worth considering pushing back 924 00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:35,200 Speaker 2: on something because you're realizing that, hey, this is taking 925 00:41:35,239 --> 00:41:37,600 Speaker 2: a toll on my body, Like I am not getting 926 00:41:37,680 --> 00:41:40,239 Speaker 2: enough sleep, I am working way too much. Is it 927 00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:43,440 Speaker 2: worth you stepping back a little bit, potentially giving up 928 00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:46,719 Speaker 2: future raises or a promotion, some of these different things 929 00:41:46,760 --> 00:41:49,239 Speaker 2: that would lead to more money, But that's not what 930 00:41:49,280 --> 00:41:51,960 Speaker 2: you've identified that you're after anymore. You have the money, 931 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:55,080 Speaker 2: how is it that you're able to exercise or realize 932 00:41:55,120 --> 00:41:55,759 Speaker 2: your wealth? Yeah? 933 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:57,879 Speaker 1: All right, so you mentioned the carpool example, it made 934 00:41:57,880 --> 00:41:59,680 Speaker 1: me think that, you know, what's going to impress them 935 00:41:59,680 --> 00:42:02,279 Speaker 1: more inviting them over and providing all the craft beer 936 00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:04,879 Speaker 1: for them, and they're gonna be like, Oh, this person's cool. 937 00:42:04,920 --> 00:42:06,560 Speaker 1: Who cares if they drive a Jelapi, you know. I 938 00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:08,719 Speaker 1: just I think the things that we think impress other 939 00:42:08,719 --> 00:42:11,040 Speaker 1: people don't impress them as much as we think. And 940 00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:13,640 Speaker 1: so yeah, maybe you're like, oh, they noticed that they're 941 00:42:13,680 --> 00:42:15,440 Speaker 1: checking me out in my sweet can you tell your ride? 942 00:42:15,440 --> 00:42:18,560 Speaker 1: Which those are good looking SUVs? But I drive a 943 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:23,319 Speaker 1: incredibly old and incredibly cheap vehicle and I don't. And 944 00:42:23,360 --> 00:42:25,560 Speaker 1: maybe I'm completely wrong and I'm just not reading the 945 00:42:25,640 --> 00:42:28,440 Speaker 1: room right. I don't think people think less of me 946 00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:31,000 Speaker 1: for doing so. And in fact, the ways in which 947 00:42:31,000 --> 00:42:35,000 Speaker 1: you can foster friendship are less about signaling who you are. 948 00:42:35,360 --> 00:42:38,120 Speaker 1: Status symbols by the things that you buy and the 949 00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:40,439 Speaker 1: things that you own, and it's more about the way 950 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:42,040 Speaker 1: in which you relate to and care for other people. 951 00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:44,440 Speaker 1: But Matt, I think part of the spectrum thing. One 952 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:46,080 Speaker 1: of the other things we want to encourage people to 953 00:42:46,120 --> 00:42:48,560 Speaker 1: do is to figure out where they are along this 954 00:42:48,719 --> 00:42:52,080 Speaker 1: spectrum of financial independence that we've kind of outlined here today, 955 00:42:52,280 --> 00:42:56,160 Speaker 1: start taking the next steps towards the next level. Right, 956 00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:58,759 Speaker 1: so you might say, okay, cool, I am layoff by 957 00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:00,799 Speaker 1: and I want to get to peace out. That's my 958 00:43:00,840 --> 00:43:02,920 Speaker 1: next goal, right Yeah, And so just kind of like 959 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:05,640 Speaker 1: go through these again. We'll list them all out in 960 00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:07,120 Speaker 1: the show notes for the episode. 961 00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:09,080 Speaker 2: And figure out where you are. 962 00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:11,560 Speaker 1: Because once you know where you are, then it's easier 963 00:43:11,600 --> 00:43:13,600 Speaker 1: to figure out the path to where you want to 964 00:43:13,640 --> 00:43:16,080 Speaker 1: get to, where you can make uh to where you 965 00:43:16,120 --> 00:43:18,280 Speaker 1: can go next. And so I think when when financial 966 00:43:18,280 --> 00:43:22,239 Speaker 1: independence feels like a series of smaller steps versus like, 967 00:43:22,280 --> 00:43:23,960 Speaker 1: I don't know, Matt, you do CrossFit like a big 968 00:43:23,960 --> 00:43:25,360 Speaker 1: box jump, which you are actually really good at. 969 00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:27,879 Speaker 2: That's your thing. I do like box. I can jump 970 00:43:28,000 --> 00:43:30,200 Speaker 2: up onto this table right now. Blow your mind. 971 00:43:30,239 --> 00:43:32,600 Speaker 1: I'm sure you could. But that's the kind of thing 972 00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:34,640 Speaker 1: where Yes, got to talk about crossfits today. 973 00:43:35,719 --> 00:43:37,440 Speaker 2: I know that, Yeah, you can check off your box. 974 00:43:37,520 --> 00:43:40,120 Speaker 2: Always an achievement, It's always something I'm tell me. Do 975 00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:43,120 Speaker 2: you feel like I bring it up to often? Thank you? Yeah? Good? 976 00:43:43,200 --> 00:43:45,800 Speaker 1: Some people do, though, That's like the first role CrossFit 977 00:43:45,840 --> 00:43:46,560 Speaker 1: is tell all your neighbors. 978 00:43:46,680 --> 00:43:48,279 Speaker 2: I try to intentionally not talk about it, I know 979 00:43:48,320 --> 00:43:49,600 Speaker 2: because of the stereotype. 980 00:43:49,680 --> 00:43:52,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, okay, but back to that small steps versus 981 00:43:52,719 --> 00:43:54,960 Speaker 1: box chump. I think people can can see that viscerally 982 00:43:55,239 --> 00:43:57,440 Speaker 1: that that the step up the stairs makes you. 983 00:43:57,440 --> 00:43:59,120 Speaker 2: Picking up some steps is going to be a lot 984 00:43:59,160 --> 00:44:02,200 Speaker 2: easier than like throwing your entire body up onto a 985 00:44:02,200 --> 00:44:03,160 Speaker 2: thirty inch Yeah. 986 00:44:02,960 --> 00:44:07,120 Speaker 1: It's more practical, more attainable, And so you aren't not 987 00:44:07,200 --> 00:44:10,520 Speaker 1: to demoralize you. You're not going to achieve financial independence overnight, 988 00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:12,799 Speaker 1: and you don't need to. You can achieve more and 989 00:44:12,840 --> 00:44:14,719 Speaker 1: more of it by doing the right things with your money, 990 00:44:14,719 --> 00:44:17,160 Speaker 1: by saving, by investing more of it, while paying off 991 00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:20,960 Speaker 1: debts steadily along the way each and every month like clockwork. 992 00:44:21,239 --> 00:44:24,279 Speaker 1: But if you can pinpoint your exact location, that can 993 00:44:24,320 --> 00:44:26,279 Speaker 1: help you get excited about the next goal. And I 994 00:44:26,320 --> 00:44:31,600 Speaker 1: think you can actually incentivize progress versus demoralizing you that 995 00:44:31,719 --> 00:44:33,879 Speaker 1: you're not going to be able to do it in one, 996 00:44:34,120 --> 00:44:36,520 Speaker 1: three or five years. Like it's like, no, I'm just 997 00:44:36,520 --> 00:44:39,560 Speaker 1: going to continue to experience greater levels of this financial 998 00:44:39,600 --> 00:44:41,640 Speaker 1: freedom and I'm going to enjoy it as I make 999 00:44:41,640 --> 00:44:42,200 Speaker 1: that progress. 1000 00:44:42,280 --> 00:44:44,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's all about breaking it down and just doing 1001 00:44:45,040 --> 00:44:47,560 Speaker 2: the next right thing, which I'm pretty sure there's a 1002 00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:50,400 Speaker 2: Frozen two song about that. But it makes me think, 1003 00:44:50,480 --> 00:44:52,319 Speaker 2: like you recently talked about the couch to five k 1004 00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:55,239 Speaker 2: app and what makes that so successful is that it's 1005 00:44:55,560 --> 00:44:58,440 Speaker 2: they make it attainable. There are these doable steps, and 1006 00:44:58,640 --> 00:45:01,120 Speaker 2: you know what, there's actually like couch to ten k, 1007 00:45:01,200 --> 00:45:04,719 Speaker 2: there's couch to marathon programs as well, because that's like 1008 00:45:04,880 --> 00:45:06,799 Speaker 2: you can achieve that. And that's what we're talking about 1009 00:45:06,800 --> 00:45:09,400 Speaker 2: here with financial independence. We're not stopping at five k 1010 00:45:09,600 --> 00:45:11,520 Speaker 2: like we're going all the way to like ultra marathon. 1011 00:45:12,280 --> 00:45:14,200 Speaker 2: That's the level that we're going to. And this also 1012 00:45:14,239 --> 00:45:16,800 Speaker 2: makes me think about when Kate and I went hiking 1013 00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:20,640 Speaker 2: last year at Old Rag Mountain. It was a beauty, 1014 00:45:20,640 --> 00:45:23,320 Speaker 2: you know, it was snowy, says, We're walking through the woods. 1015 00:45:23,320 --> 00:45:25,120 Speaker 2: It's great, and then we get to a section of 1016 00:45:25,120 --> 00:45:27,360 Speaker 2: the trail where we get up onto this ridge and 1017 00:45:27,400 --> 00:45:29,360 Speaker 2: you look up and you can kind of see the 1018 00:45:29,480 --> 00:45:33,000 Speaker 2: rockier section, and Kate kind of freaked out a little 1019 00:45:33,000 --> 00:45:35,840 Speaker 2: bit because she was looking at this entire difficult section 1020 00:45:35,920 --> 00:45:38,040 Speaker 2: that we were going to scale, that we're going to 1021 00:45:38,120 --> 00:45:41,040 Speaker 2: like climb, slash hike over the next hour or two, 1022 00:45:41,160 --> 00:45:44,279 Speaker 2: all at once. That can be incredibly intimidating. And that's 1023 00:45:44,280 --> 00:45:46,319 Speaker 2: what it's like when you say, oh, yeah, you need 1024 00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:49,160 Speaker 2: two point eight million dollars in order to retire, which 1025 00:45:49,160 --> 00:45:52,160 Speaker 2: is whatever the recent number is that different news outlets 1026 00:45:52,160 --> 00:45:56,720 Speaker 2: we'll throw out there. That's demoralizing, as opposed to saying, hey, babe, 1027 00:45:56,840 --> 00:45:59,240 Speaker 2: I know that that looks intimidating and kind of scary, 1028 00:45:59,239 --> 00:46:01,279 Speaker 2: but let's we're going to take get thirty feet at 1029 00:46:01,280 --> 00:46:04,160 Speaker 2: a time. We're gonna look at the boulder or whatever 1030 00:46:04,440 --> 00:46:05,880 Speaker 2: portion of the trail out's in front of us, and 1031 00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:07,640 Speaker 2: we're gonna conquer that. And then once you do that, 1032 00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:10,239 Speaker 2: you look uphead, you look up ahead, and you realize, oh, well, 1033 00:46:10,280 --> 00:46:11,880 Speaker 2: I can do the next thirty feet. I can do 1034 00:46:11,920 --> 00:46:14,640 Speaker 2: the next fifty feet. That's what it's like when it 1035 00:46:14,680 --> 00:46:17,719 Speaker 2: comes to achieving that final or what do we call it, 1036 00:46:17,800 --> 00:46:21,719 Speaker 2: fully financial fi fully five full five. Yeah, that is 1037 00:46:21,760 --> 00:46:23,960 Speaker 2: the overall view when you're looking back at the big 1038 00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:26,920 Speaker 2: thing and you're thinking, wait, we're gonna get up to there, like, 1039 00:46:27,120 --> 00:46:30,600 Speaker 2: we're gonna achieve that. It's important to have that goal 1040 00:46:30,719 --> 00:46:32,880 Speaker 2: in mind, But does that help you in the day 1041 00:46:32,920 --> 00:46:35,200 Speaker 2: to day with the small movements. No, that's why we 1042 00:46:35,239 --> 00:46:38,759 Speaker 2: wanted to break this down into some of these manageable stages, 1043 00:46:38,880 --> 00:46:41,239 Speaker 2: these more attainable stages of five that we think can 1044 00:46:41,280 --> 00:46:42,759 Speaker 2: help you to get there more successfully. 1045 00:46:42,800 --> 00:46:46,000 Speaker 1: I think the other important thing about the stage viewpoint, 1046 00:46:46,040 --> 00:46:48,279 Speaker 1: like thinking of it this way, is that who really 1047 00:46:48,360 --> 00:46:50,759 Speaker 1: wants to delay all the best experiences that money can 1048 00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:52,359 Speaker 1: buy until they hit full retirement age? 1049 00:46:52,400 --> 00:46:52,560 Speaker 2: Yeah? 1050 00:46:52,680 --> 00:46:55,839 Speaker 1: Right, you often can't enjoy them quite as fully at 1051 00:46:55,840 --> 00:46:57,400 Speaker 1: that point in time. And so, going back to the 1052 00:46:57,400 --> 00:47:00,000 Speaker 1: Fisherman example, that chill existence in the community of fans 1053 00:47:00,239 --> 00:47:03,239 Speaker 1: and friends, right, Owning more of your time in the 1054 00:47:03,280 --> 00:47:06,160 Speaker 1: here and now, Well, that'll make you happier than copious 1055 00:47:06,160 --> 00:47:09,080 Speaker 1: possessions in a much bigger house. And I think it'll 1056 00:47:09,120 --> 00:47:12,080 Speaker 1: be he got to enjoy it along the way, as 1057 00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:15,960 Speaker 1: opposed to shooting for it as a goal of just 1058 00:47:16,400 --> 00:47:18,719 Speaker 1: what he can do during those retirement years, during the 1059 00:47:18,719 --> 00:47:21,400 Speaker 1: golden after forty years of hard labor, where. 1060 00:47:21,360 --> 00:47:23,959 Speaker 2: You neglect all of those other aspects of life. Yeah, 1061 00:47:24,000 --> 00:47:26,080 Speaker 2: that's when I'll want to do all those things. But 1062 00:47:26,120 --> 00:47:27,920 Speaker 2: will my health be there, will my friends be there? 1063 00:47:27,960 --> 00:47:30,680 Speaker 2: Will I be in a state of mind to actually 1064 00:47:30,680 --> 00:47:33,520 Speaker 2: be able to enjoy it? I would We're arguing that no, 1065 00:47:33,600 --> 00:47:35,920 Speaker 2: you will not right if you don't practice along the way. 1066 00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:38,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so freedom, we think is the best thing 1067 00:47:38,239 --> 00:47:39,960 Speaker 1: that money can buy because it means you get to 1068 00:47:40,000 --> 00:47:41,799 Speaker 1: call the shots more and more about how you spend 1069 00:47:41,840 --> 00:47:44,000 Speaker 1: your time. And we think that you're more rich when 1070 00:47:44,040 --> 00:47:45,560 Speaker 1: you can go on a hike or a bike ride, 1071 00:47:45,640 --> 00:47:47,840 Speaker 1: or have a long lunch with your spouse on a weekday, 1072 00:47:47,920 --> 00:47:49,680 Speaker 1: a random weekday, just at the. 1073 00:47:49,640 --> 00:47:51,480 Speaker 2: Drop of a hat. That's how to money rich, right. 1074 00:47:51,640 --> 00:47:53,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, then if you can afford a yacht, but then 1075 00:47:53,719 --> 00:47:55,319 Speaker 1: you have to work eighty plus hours a week in 1076 00:47:55,400 --> 00:47:58,200 Speaker 1: order to keep it like that is not financial in 1077 00:47:58,239 --> 00:47:59,840 Speaker 1: the minutes, that is not a goal worth shooting for 1078 00:48:00,080 --> 00:48:02,000 Speaker 1: or for most people, right, that is not the kind 1079 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:05,200 Speaker 1: of lifestyle they want to lead. And so yeah, just 1080 00:48:05,960 --> 00:48:09,960 Speaker 1: these stages of financial independence will let you enjoy allow you, 1081 00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:12,160 Speaker 1: i think, to enjoy your life more and more along 1082 00:48:12,200 --> 00:48:14,600 Speaker 1: the way along the journey, as opposed to feeling like 1083 00:48:14,640 --> 00:48:16,560 Speaker 1: you can't come up for air until you hit that 1084 00:48:16,960 --> 00:48:20,880 Speaker 1: gargantuan retirement a number that's like decade or two off 1085 00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:21,239 Speaker 1: in the. 1086 00:48:21,160 --> 00:48:23,200 Speaker 2: Future or even more. Yeah, if you are if you've 1087 00:48:23,200 --> 00:48:26,359 Speaker 2: got your first job and you're realizing oh man, not 1088 00:48:26,400 --> 00:48:28,120 Speaker 2: only do I have to pay off again all of 1089 00:48:28,160 --> 00:48:30,080 Speaker 2: this debt that I've got, but then beyond that, I've 1090 00:48:30,080 --> 00:48:33,440 Speaker 2: got to suck aside, set aside this much money that is, 1091 00:48:34,280 --> 00:48:37,879 Speaker 2: or it can be overwhelming and demoralizing. But uh, all right, 1092 00:48:38,160 --> 00:48:40,520 Speaker 2: let's uh shift gears. Let's get back to the beer 1093 00:48:40,600 --> 00:48:42,400 Speaker 2: Joel that you and I enjoyed again. This one was 1094 00:48:42,440 --> 00:48:45,720 Speaker 2: from Liz and Tyler. Thank y'all so much for sending 1095 00:48:45,760 --> 00:48:48,040 Speaker 2: this one our away. But this is a hey burner 1096 00:48:48,080 --> 00:48:50,480 Speaker 2: an American, I PA, what were your thoughts, buddy? 1097 00:48:50,640 --> 00:48:53,040 Speaker 1: This one was more in the citrus direction. 1098 00:48:53,239 --> 00:48:55,319 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, yeah, and this would remind me a lot 1099 00:48:55,320 --> 00:48:58,880 Speaker 2: of trap. Oh you just like really juicy and wet 1100 00:48:58,960 --> 00:48:59,880 Speaker 2: and citrusy. 1101 00:49:00,040 --> 00:49:02,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, which is like, honestly the best ipa coming out 1102 00:49:02,840 --> 00:49:04,640 Speaker 1: of the state of Georgia. That's like mass produced, right, 1103 00:49:05,080 --> 00:49:06,919 Speaker 1: that you can always get in a six or twelve pack, 1104 00:49:07,000 --> 00:49:08,799 Speaker 1: that is like the go to. It's a good one 1105 00:49:08,840 --> 00:49:10,440 Speaker 1: for so many people still, and I agree. I think 1106 00:49:10,440 --> 00:49:12,560 Speaker 1: it takes a lot like that one. And if I 1107 00:49:12,840 --> 00:49:15,440 Speaker 1: lived in New York, this might be a go to 1108 00:49:15,560 --> 00:49:16,160 Speaker 1: in my fridge. 1109 00:49:16,320 --> 00:49:17,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. It feels like the kind of beer that you 1110 00:49:17,680 --> 00:49:20,439 Speaker 2: always have on hand. That way you can be able 1111 00:49:20,440 --> 00:49:22,759 Speaker 2: to offer something to your guests, because that's the kind 1112 00:49:22,760 --> 00:49:24,800 Speaker 2: of lifestyle, that's the kind of wealth I want to 1113 00:49:24,840 --> 00:49:27,600 Speaker 2: be able to live, right versus having like, was it 1114 00:49:27,600 --> 00:49:29,799 Speaker 2: a tell you ride? That's your your vehicle of choice? 1115 00:49:29,840 --> 00:49:31,799 Speaker 2: Now it's not that ex what happened to the You 1116 00:49:31,800 --> 00:49:35,320 Speaker 2: still want a Rivian right someday when they're used in 1117 00:49:35,480 --> 00:49:38,640 Speaker 2: some way cheaper, some far off day. Yeah, but uh yeah, 1118 00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:40,520 Speaker 2: that's gonna be it for this episode. You can find 1119 00:49:40,520 --> 00:49:43,200 Speaker 2: our show notes up on the website at howtomoney dot com. 1120 00:49:43,239 --> 00:49:46,520 Speaker 2: And that's also where you can find our credit card tool, 1121 00:49:46,840 --> 00:49:49,640 Speaker 2: which is the easiest way to find a credit card 1122 00:49:49,640 --> 00:49:52,400 Speaker 2: that's offering the benefits that you're looking for, and you 1123 00:49:52,440 --> 00:49:55,320 Speaker 2: can find that they're at the top bar on our website. 1124 00:49:55,320 --> 00:49:57,160 Speaker 2: But dude, that's going to be it for this one. 1125 00:49:57,239 --> 00:50:02,200 Speaker 2: Until next time, Best Friends Out, best Friends the