1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,759 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. I'm Joel and I'm Matt, 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: and today we're talking about celebrating diverse views of financial independence. Yeah, Joel, 3 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: this episode is coming out July three. It's almost the 4 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: fourth of July. And I don't know if you remember 5 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: last year we kind of took July four off because 6 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: we did a shortened episode. You know, it's good to 7 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: have a break. This episode isn't going to be shortened 8 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: like that last one, but it is good for us 9 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 1: to talk about financial independence what it means to us 10 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: as individuals. And I'm excited to hear from a lot 11 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: of our listeners as well. Not actually in audio format, 12 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: but we do have a bunch of comments that our 13 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: listeners wrote in on our Facebook group. So if you 14 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: haven't been there to check that out, just go to 15 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: Facebook and search how to Money. We would love for 16 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,279 Speaker 1: you to be part of that group. You know what, 17 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: I would love to be more part of that group. 18 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: You've been slacking a little bit, you know, but that's okay. 19 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:05,559 Speaker 1: We've got a lot going on, a lot on our plate. 20 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: But but you know what the cool thing is, I 21 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,959 Speaker 1: think we've seen we've got what members now and people 22 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 1: I know right, people are helping each other out constantly. 23 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: So I like to be in there as much as possible, 24 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: but just like you like, it's not possible for us 25 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: to be in there even every day. It's just really 26 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: cool that folks are helping each other out. It's not 27 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: us giving all the answers. The show really is about 28 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: the community, and I feel like in the Facebook group 29 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: and in the ask HTM episodes, that's where we really 30 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 1: start to see and feel the community vibe of this show. 31 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: And this episode is going to have some of that 32 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: same stuff too. In our last segment, we are going 33 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: to get to what financial independence means to people that 34 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: actually listen to the show, and there are a lot 35 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 1: of diverse viewpoints. Matt, and I know your view of 36 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: financial independence has changed over time. My view of financial 37 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: independence has changed over time, and so I think it's 38 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 1: a good thing for us to kind of reset and 39 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: talk about, you know, what financial independence means to us, 40 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: because I think if you can just reframe the way 41 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: you view the concept the topic of financial independence, that 42 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,160 Speaker 1: can help you as you're trying to achieve that goal. 43 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,559 Speaker 1: Cool and Joel, I wanted to share a quick story, 44 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: uh Man, my wife and I we've realized one of 45 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 1: our daughters has it seems that she has a slight 46 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: speech impairments, right, she hasn't been developing her a speech 47 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: ability as she's gotten older, maybe quite as much as 48 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 1: her older sister. It's not that severe. That's what we 49 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: learned by going to a uh full cost speech therapist, 50 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: and we realized what it was that she was actually 51 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: doing with her, like the different exercises that she was 52 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: taking our daughter through. She said, this isn't a serious 53 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: speech disorders. She's just delayed slightly. This is something we'll 54 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 1: be able to take care of pretty easily. And so, 55 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: by the way, that one hour session is a forty 56 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: five bucks not cheap, not cheap. Yeah. And then afterwards 57 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: Kate and I we thought, if it is not that expensive, 58 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: I wont if there are some other options, and so 59 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 1: we asked around. A friend of ours had a friend 60 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: who is part of a grad student program at our 61 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: local university, Georgia State downtown Atlanta, and she told us 62 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: about how we could get involved with their speech therapy 63 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: program for a fraction of the price. So I have 64 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: mentioned how that one session with that one professional that 65 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: was recommended by our pediatrician and she was fantastic. Right, 66 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna at all knock the services that she 67 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: was able to provide, But like I said, she cost 68 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,400 Speaker 1: a hundred forty five bucks. That being said, through Georgia State, 69 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: we're getting graduate student level speech therapy out a fraction 70 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: of the cost. I'm talking ten sessions, So ten one 71 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: hour sessions for two hundred bucks. That's a marked difference, 72 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 1: a drastic difference in price. So obviously I'm I love 73 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: it because it's affordable and the quality is actually really 74 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: great too. I just went to the first appointment where 75 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: we all kind of sat in there. We sat behind 76 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: the one way mirror and so you can observe and 77 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: you've got the headphones on and you can hear what 78 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: they're talking about. But at the same time, my daughter 79 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: is not distracted by me and the other girls making 80 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: faces and different things like that. So that's great. And 81 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: there's also something too about being part of the local university, 82 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: knowing that you're helping students further their careers and furthering 83 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: their education, kind of being part of that educational system. 84 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: I think it's cool that we're able to be part 85 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: of something bigger like that. Yeah, you know, what it 86 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: makes me think of Matt Our friend Wiley was a dentist, 87 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 1: went to dental school not too far from here in Augusta, Georgia, 88 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: where you grew up, and people can go to the 89 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: actual school to get dental care, and that dental care 90 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,480 Speaker 1: costs a whole lot less than what you would pay 91 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 1: at a legit fully fledged dentist because you're going to 92 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: students who need to learn, need to practice, but they 93 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 1: have oversight, right, So you're still getting really high quality care, 94 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 1: you're contributing to the growth of someone in their industry, 95 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: and you're saving a whole lot of money in the process. 96 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: And so this is really similar to what you're talking 97 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: about with the speech therapy at our local institution, and 98 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,360 Speaker 1: I think it's something that people should consider that you're 99 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: not cheaping out by going to someone who's in the 100 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: learning phase, right. It's really kind of this win win 101 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: where you're able to help yourself and and help your 102 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: daughter get the speech therapy she needs at a reasonable price, 103 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:54,119 Speaker 1: while at the same time kind of helping this person 104 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: actually graduate and and move on to doing what they 105 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: want to do with their life, which is helping more 106 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 1: kids with their speech issues too. So, I mean, I 107 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: think it's awesome, and I think it's something people should 108 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: consider and look into more. And that takes often a 109 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 1: little bit of research, finding out what your local institution offers, 110 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: searching for schools in whatever service you're looking for. And 111 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: I think it's a way that you can save money 112 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: without being a cheap oh right, yeah, totally, you know, 113 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: And that was one of the things we're worried about initially, 114 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: was that this is gonna be subpar care. But for 115 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: a portion of that session, her instructor actually sat in 116 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: the room with us and was observing, and then for 117 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: a portion of it as well, she went into the 118 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: room and was a part of the instruction as well. 119 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: So that coupled with the fact that knowing that this 120 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: therapist was maybe just a few months away from being 121 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: able to be a part of our practice where she 122 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: was also going to be able to charge forty five 123 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: an hour, realizing that there, yeah, there was very little 124 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: difference in the type of care that we were receiving, 125 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: but again for a fraction of the cost, was made 126 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: us a little yeah, really good. I mean, for years, 127 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 1: my wife has been going to a hair cutting school 128 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: to get her haircuts and their less than half the 129 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: price a normal haircut. But these people need practice, they 130 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: need to cut hair on real life humans in order 131 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: to get better. Had their skis ill And I've been 132 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,720 Speaker 1: going to a Supercut training program to get my haircut 133 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: for free for years and my hair still looks okay. Obviously, 134 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: you want to take more care in a situation where 135 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: we're talking about, you know, your daughter's speech, or you're 136 00:06:12,279 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: talking about dental care, but these are still things worth considering. 137 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: I'm glad we were able to talk about it, and 138 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: I think this might be helpful for some folks. Yeah, 139 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: I think that's gonna be a frugal win for us, 140 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: and hopefully that helps someone to to think outside of 141 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: the box when it comes to saving on some different 142 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: costs like that. And Joe, you recently wrote a fresh 143 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 1: post for the website. You want to fill folks in 144 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: on that one? Sure? Yeah, we're trying to write more 145 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: articles on the website that are helpful supplementary info. And honestly, 146 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 1: there's only uh so much that folks are willing to 147 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: listen to you and me talk right right? Yeah, two 148 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 1: episodes a week might be the max of the attention 149 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 1: span and understandably so. But yeah, so I wrote an 150 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: article about when you should be closing the credit card 151 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: that that's a question that kind of came up in 152 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: our Facebook group and a common question that people have, 153 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: like when should I be closing a credit card? Should I? 154 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: And typically the answer is no, and you can find 155 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,600 Speaker 1: out why in the article. But also there are certain 156 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,119 Speaker 1: circumstances where it's okay, and so I covered those two. 157 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: And I just wanted to mention that we're going to 158 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: try to do a better job of providing supplementary written 159 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: content on our site, how to money dot com, who 160 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: feel free to go check that out. Nice man. I'm 161 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: gonna go ahead and introduce our beer for this July 162 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: three episode. We've got a beer from Edmond's Host Brewing 163 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: and they are out of Charleston, South Carolina. This beer 164 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: is called Order of Magnitude and was donated to us 165 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 1: by Andrew. Andrew actually sending a listener question that we 166 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: featured on the show. His question was about the fitness apps, 167 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 1: like the different running apps. He's he's a runner and 168 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 1: was trying to look for a way to kind of 169 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: make money on the side doing that, which, by the way, 170 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: I had mentioned achievement that seemed like when one of 171 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: the most legitimate ones. And my numbers have tainked since 172 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: school got out because I haven't been riding my bike. Confession. 173 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: I haven't been riding my bike every day, which is 174 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: what I normally do for for exercise, and so I 175 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: kind of feel like crap because I haven't been getting outside. 176 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 1: It's funny, I've been riding it more. Yeah, because you 177 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: haven't had the cargo bikes, so you've been hopping on 178 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: your actual road bike, getting that extra workout in, and 179 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 1: so you're looking you're looking fit. I'm spelt right, feeling 180 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: like a slob these days. But yeah, that was Andrew. 181 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: He was the one that had asked that question, and 182 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: he sent us these beers because he lives right there 183 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: near Charleston. Yeah, and this beer in particular is an 184 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: Imperial sour Ale brewed with lactose and see salt, passion fruit, mango, 185 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: and guava. Can't wait to drink this and then talk 186 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: about anything of the show. I want to talk about 187 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: it now because we've already sipped it, and this beer 188 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: is so freaking good. It's it's it's it's delightful. But 189 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: hold off because this episode, we're talking about financial independence. 190 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: That's right. Yeah, onto our topic of hand, which is 191 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: celebrating the diverse views of financial independence and Matt, we're 192 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:38,839 Speaker 1: going to talk about how our views have changed, and 193 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: then we're gonna incorporate, like we mentioned, some listener comments 194 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: from the Facebook group about what financial independence means to them, 195 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: and I think it's important as we continue along our 196 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 1: personal finance journeys to continue to reassess where we're at 197 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: with our finances and then what we're striving for. We're 198 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: constantly influenced by what we read and listen to and 199 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:58,319 Speaker 1: who we hang out with, and so continually coming back 200 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: to the drawing board can be helpful continuing on to 201 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: achieve what we want, not just the definition of success 202 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: that we see touted in the culture around us. That's 203 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,199 Speaker 1: so true, Joell. You know, the definition of success can 204 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: vary from person to person. But if we're gonna get 205 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: technical about it, there is an actual definition of financial independence, 206 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: and that just means being able to live and subsists 207 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: off of your investments. It means not having to work 208 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: if you don't want to. That is like the nerdy 209 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: technical definition, But like you said, there's varying degrees of 210 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 1: what that could mean for different individuals. Like, yes, there's 211 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: this high, lofty goal of financial independence, but there's so 212 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:34,960 Speaker 1: many sort of steps along the way, and I think 213 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: it's worth kind of touching on some of those and 214 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: what that might be. I mean for some folks, man, Like, 215 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 1: that just might be getting back to zero, right Like, 216 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: that could be a major form of financial independence, even 217 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,199 Speaker 1: if you're at least just taking some of the chains 218 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,679 Speaker 1: off that are currently holding you back. If you're currently 219 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 1: in debt, if you're a consumer debt, maybe you've got 220 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: just a massive car loan and your upside down in 221 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: your car. For those individuals, getting out of that whole, like, 222 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: that's that first step. That's the first stage of achieving 223 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,079 Speaker 1: financial independence, and the that's something that's worth celebrating right there, 224 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 1: right Like, that's something that needs to be recognized. There 225 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: are a lot of wins along the way. Yeah. Man, 226 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 1: If we take just that traditional definition that you mentioned, 227 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 1: which is being able to live solely off of your 228 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: investments and never have to work again if you don't 229 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: want to, well, for most of us, there's a huge 230 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 1: gap between where we are today and that being reality 231 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 1: and and so I think it can become a little 232 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: overwhelming to think of it just in those dark terms, 233 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: and I think thinking of it in stages right where 234 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: you're hitting stage one, stage two, stage three, you're hitting 235 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: different points of different amounts of financial independence in your life, 236 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: can be really really helpful. And so yes, stage one 237 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: getting out of debt, that's huge. We've also talked about 238 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,160 Speaker 1: on the show peace out money, and we talked about 239 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: that in episode forty one. This is kind of another 240 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,599 Speaker 1: form of financial independence. Whereas you begin to pay on 241 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: debt and increase your savings and start investing towards retirement, 242 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: you have more flexibility, more freedom in choosing the work 243 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:51,959 Speaker 1: that you want to do. Even though you're not even 244 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: close to saying I never have to work again, you 245 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: haven't reached that point of financial independence. But when you 246 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 1: have hit the stage of having peace out money, you 247 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: have hit a legitimately and step on the road to 248 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: financial independence. And I think that's another one that's important 249 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: to celebrate too. Yeah, that's right, man. And even beyond that, 250 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 1: I think maybe the next stage would be someone who's 251 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: further down that path towards true financial independence, where they're 252 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: actually able to start living off of some of the 253 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,559 Speaker 1: money that they have invested. They're living off of the dividends, 254 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: whether that's being paid through stocks or whether it's revenue 255 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 1: that's being generated by real estate. That's something that we 256 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:24,559 Speaker 1: talk about a decent bit. You and I like, there 257 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,199 Speaker 1: are just different ways that you can sort of gradually 258 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: transition from working and and having that need to work 259 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 1: in order to survive, to the other end of the 260 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: spectrum where you can completely stop working. Right, what we're 261 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: saying is that there's a lot of steps in between, 262 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: you know, the one extreme and the other, and all 263 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,199 Speaker 1: those steps along the way are we're celebrating, and you know, 264 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: I'm excited to share what financial independence means to us, 265 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,839 Speaker 1: to you and me as individuals. That's changed for us 266 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: some over the years, and I'm looking forward to sharing 267 00:11:51,000 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: that with our listeners right after the break. All right, Matt, 268 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: time to get personal, and I think you should kick 269 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,719 Speaker 1: this off. How are you currently thinking about financial independence 270 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: and how has that changed for you over you know, 271 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: the past decade or so. Yeah, mean, let's let's dive 272 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: into this. So for me, as a photographer years ago, 273 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 1: being financially independent meant that we were making good money 274 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: and that I had the luxury to take on the 275 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: different projects that I wanted to take on. And so 276 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 1: what that means is that I could say no to 277 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: the clients that I didn't think we're you know, a 278 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: great fit for us, and then I could say yes 279 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 1: to the work that I really wanted to take on, 280 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: even if that meant offering discounts, right. And so in 281 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: addition to that, Key and I we were both working 282 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: together on the business. We were working within it. It 283 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: wasn't as much about working less, which is typically the 284 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: standard definition when it comes to financial independence. Yeah, because 285 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,440 Speaker 1: you guys were working together. You out of the same room. 286 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 1: We're doing together, and so there was less pull to 287 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: work less because you were able to be together with 288 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: the first of you love the most exactly. I mean, 289 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 1: we're both stoked. It was a brand new business. We're 290 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: excited to gross something. And so instead, though, what we 291 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: were doing is we were trying to continue to make 292 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,319 Speaker 1: sure that the work was fulfilling from a personal standpoint, 293 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 1: and so it meant having full autonomy over our work, 294 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 1: the type of work that we were doing, in the quality, 295 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,560 Speaker 1: but in the end that the focus was on the 296 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 1: work itself, regardless of how much time that it took um, 297 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: So that was sort of then, right, And now though, 298 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: like you said, with kids at home, and you know, 299 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: I've got a wife now who isn't working directly alongside 300 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: me in the day to day running of the business. 301 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: Actually do want to work less because the focus has 302 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 1: turned from the type of work that I'm doing instead 303 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: towards my family as well as different things like my 304 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,079 Speaker 1: spiritual and my physical health, the different priorities that I've 305 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: identified for myself as being important. And so that actually 306 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: looks like our days and weeks that include the things 307 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: that are the most important to me, with my money 308 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: almost kind of being an afterthought. And and so now 309 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: financial independence means that I can have my days filled 310 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:58,959 Speaker 1: with the important things that I really want to do, 311 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: but also have my money in order and still be 312 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 1: able to reach some financial goals that we set for ourselves. 313 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 1: All Right, dude, you just said you want your money 314 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:09,959 Speaker 1: to be kind of an afterthought, or maybe it is. 315 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: I don't know. Can you explain that a little bit, 316 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: because that kind of caught me off guard. Right, So 317 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: it's less of an afterthought maybe, and it's just more 318 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,560 Speaker 1: of a reorganizing of priorities, So my money, you know, 319 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: my personal finances. It's still very important. It's still really 320 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: important to be prepared and to do smart things with 321 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: my money. It's just not the top concern anymore. It's 322 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 1: not my only focus because before it used to be money, 323 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: and then the fact that I was able to do 324 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: really fulfilling work alongside it while earning that money, that 325 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: was kind of top priority. The focus has now shifted 326 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 1: towards living a life that I feel kind of empowered 327 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: to lead, like one that I feel in charge of, 328 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: and one that aligns with the priorities that I've set 329 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: for myself. And really the only way that you can 330 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: say that is my having handled your money well for 331 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: the past twelve thirteen years since you've had your own 332 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: small business, right, Because I think even you're saying that 333 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: sounds really nice to a lot of people where money 334 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: would be an afterthought, and creating the ideal life that 335 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: you want for your off is it sounds awesome. But 336 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: for a lot of people, because of where they're at 337 00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: with money, that seems like something that's hard to even achieve. 338 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 1: So how would you say you've been able to give 339 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 1: to this point and when did you find it possible 340 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: to even kind of shift your line of thinking towards 341 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: towards towards thinking like this. By the way, I feel 342 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 1: like i'm interviewing you right now a little bit, it 343 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: kind of does. It's it's kind of fun. Well, like 344 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 1: you said, being smart with your money, that's sort of 345 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: a prerequisite in order to get to this point, and 346 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: there's years of that. There are years of spending less 347 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: than we were making and instead taking that additional money 348 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,760 Speaker 1: and saving that and investing and doing wise things with it. However, 349 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: I don't want to make it sound like that I've 350 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:37,920 Speaker 1: totally got this thing figured out right according to my 351 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: own new definition of financial independence, Like I'm not currently 352 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: achieving it. So you've got this idea in mind that 353 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 1: you want to achieve, but you're still not there. Yeah, exactly, 354 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: Like I have deficits on on both of those fronts. Right. 355 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:51,320 Speaker 1: My days don't look exactly how I wish that they 356 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: would look. And I'm actually not reaching some of the 357 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 1: modest financial goals that that we've set together as a family, 358 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: that I've set for myself personally, And that's because your 359 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: prior tizing personal goals a little bit more than money 360 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: goals and monetary goals exactly. Yeah. I am incredibly lucky 361 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: though to be able to spend my time doing the 362 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 1: things that I want to do while making a living. 363 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: But I'm just saying that my sites are set a 364 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: little beyond my reach at the moment. So I had 365 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: these loftier goals, I guess, and I'm still striving after 366 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: similar things that I was before, but it just comes 367 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 1: with a reordering of my priorities. Before it seemed that 368 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: my focus was more on the work and the money 369 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: and the kind of life I was able to live 370 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: as a result of that was just kind of gravy. 371 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: Whereas now with a larger family, like there's more folks 372 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: that I want to spend time with who are not 373 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: involved in my day to day work and who are 374 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: not involved with making money, and especially my wife, like 375 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: she's not working with me doing photography anymore, And so 376 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 1: that has to become a focus now because otherwise I 377 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: know my tendency, which is to kind of work more 378 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: than I think I I should at times, and so 379 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,040 Speaker 1: to identify that these are things that I said as 380 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: my priorities, and I need to make sure that I 381 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: strive after those things and at least for the time 382 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 1: being with a young, growing family, I'm I'm trying to 383 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: do what I can to make sure that money is 384 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:03,359 Speaker 1: a close second to family. Yeah. I appreciate that perspective, 385 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: and I especially appreciate that you have a definition of 386 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: financial independence that kind of works for you and your 387 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: goals and it doesn't look like everyone else's definition or 388 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: what everyone else is striving for, and even though you're 389 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 1: honest about the fact that you're not achieving it in 390 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 1: the ways that you want to be right now, which 391 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: I think is the same for me and the same 392 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: for probably a lot of our listeners. They're not hitting 393 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: on all cylinders. Their goals of what they want their 394 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: life to look like, both monetarily and the way they 395 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: spend their time just aren't quite up to their desired expectations. 396 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:33,960 Speaker 1: But having that at least as a goal, I think 397 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: is so helpful as you do strive to move forward 398 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: and make little changes here and there to get closer 399 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 1: to that ultimate goal, right Yeah, Joel, I mean that's 400 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 1: what we talk about every week on the show, right, Like, 401 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:45,080 Speaker 1: we're talking about these different changes that you can make 402 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: to your life in order to get you closer to 403 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: the life that you do want to lead, And so, Joe, 404 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 1: why don't you share with us what financial independence means 405 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: to you, maybe what it has meant to you in 406 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 1: the past as well. Sure, yeah, you know, I think 407 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: initially when I started my first job, I had the 408 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: idea I'd heard financial experts say to try to get 409 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 1: the four oh one k match or to try to 410 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: save ten percent of your income. So I kind of 411 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: did that as the stock advice and I was like, great, 412 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:12,679 Speaker 1: this has me said on a good financial path, right, 413 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 1: But I just never was challenged to do much more 414 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: than that. My sites were kind of set low. I 415 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: hadn't educated myself a whole lot in regards to the 416 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 1: whole money thing. I was always frugal, but the concept 417 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: of financial independence just hadn't really entered my radar. So 418 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: when I saw other people dedicating more of their resources 419 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: toward investing for the future, and I began to read 420 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:33,199 Speaker 1: more about like real estate investing and simple retirement and 421 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 1: stock investing, I just saw that there was this massive 422 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 1: group of people out there that were dedicating themselves to 423 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 1: doing a whole lot more than just that, like getting 424 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 1: the four oh one k match or saving ten percent 425 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: of their money, and they had these massive goals in 426 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,360 Speaker 1: mind that honestly inspired me to to start to rethink, 427 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:51,399 Speaker 1: you know, where my money was going and what my 428 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 1: ultimate goals in life for. I didn't just want to 429 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: hit a low bar. I wanted to do something bigger, 430 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: and so I had already kind of specifically chosen a 431 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 1: profession based on enjoyment as opposed to pay. I knew 432 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,360 Speaker 1: that my goal wasn't to have like a mega high salary, 433 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: but I also realized that making uh an average salary, 434 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: that I could still sock away lots of money if 435 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: I was wise. And I also kind of came to 436 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: the realization that things can change. I saw co workers 437 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: getting laid off. I had seen, you know, as a child, 438 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: I saw my dad get laid off from a great job. 439 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 1: And so I kind of started to put two and 440 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: two together, and I was like, well, what if I 441 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 1: do want to work less or start my own thing 442 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 1: in the future. What if things change? And things can 443 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 1: always change. Change happens even when we're not looking for it, right, 444 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,199 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a constant in our lives. So I 445 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: realized that that was gonna mean me dedicating more of 446 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:39,439 Speaker 1: my resources towards building wealth for the future, and so like, 447 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:42,399 Speaker 1: after a decade of focusing harder on that, stepping up 448 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: my retirement contributions and buying a handful of rental properties 449 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: in the area, which took a lot of saving, It 450 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: took a lot of intentionality, It took a lot of 451 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:52,479 Speaker 1: foregoing things that might have been nice in order to 452 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: get to, you know, one of these steps on the 453 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 1: ladder towards financial independence that was really important for a 454 00:19:57,119 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: long while. But similar to you, Matt, I'm taking my 455 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:01,920 Speaker 1: foot off the gas a little bit, and I am 456 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: prioritizing more family and community and podcasting, like those are 457 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: the things that are really exciting right now that I'm 458 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: able to spend more time with my family, spend more 459 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: time with friends and in my community, and then also 460 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: work on something that I find the most valuable and 461 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:19,880 Speaker 1: the most rewarding, which is honestly creating this show, which 462 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: has been a lot of fun and I think has 463 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:23,720 Speaker 1: been really meaningful. So I think to a certain degree 464 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: my view has shifted a little bit. But at the 465 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 1: same time, I think you and I are both able 466 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:29,880 Speaker 1: to read some of the rewards of being a little 467 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: bit further along the path towards financial independence, that we 468 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: can actually take a step back and kind of think 469 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:37,239 Speaker 1: like this, Yeah, I mean, I couldn't agree more. You know, 470 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 1: Like something I feel like I heard you say was 471 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: that your early focus around financial independence was maybe more 472 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 1: narrow and on your work. And maybe I'm reading into it, 473 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,160 Speaker 1: but that was totally my case, right, Like I wanted autonomy, 474 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 1: but I only really cared about my autonomy when it 475 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: came to my work. But similar to what you're saying 476 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:54,919 Speaker 1: is that it seems like now we're both sort of 477 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,679 Speaker 1: stepping back and we're looking at the larger picture. And 478 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:00,200 Speaker 1: I don't just want autonomy now over just my work. 479 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,600 Speaker 1: I want autonomy over my entire life. But then, like 480 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: you said even this podcast, this is something that we've 481 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: been working hard at for and over a year and 482 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 1: a half now. And to be able to have that perspective, 483 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: I think, and to pursue the things that we find 484 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 1: meaningful and that brings us the most joy and that 485 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: has the most impact, and for us to have that 486 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: luxury to be able to do those things that to 487 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: me is financial independence, to have those options, I think 488 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:26,639 Speaker 1: it's important to to mention that really that luxury is 489 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,919 Speaker 1: very much a Western modern luxury. It's not something that 490 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: most people can easily achieve, and it's not easy in 491 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,880 Speaker 1: the United States either, but it is something that we 492 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: have the ability to do that a lot of people 493 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:41,840 Speaker 1: around the world couldn't even conceive of, and a lot 494 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: of people in human history never even would have had 495 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:46,920 Speaker 1: access to, never would have dared to dream the thought 496 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:48,640 Speaker 1: that it was possible. And so I just just want 497 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 1: to also say that I think it's important to acknowledge 498 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,120 Speaker 1: the fact that we are in kind of a rare 499 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: time and history and even just the concept of normal, 500 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:59,679 Speaker 1: everyday folks being able to achieve some sort of financial 501 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 1: independ is kind of a modern miracle, and I just 502 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 1: think it's something that is important to point out because 503 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: I want to say that I'm thankful for it. I'm 504 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: thankful that we live in a place where it's possible 505 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: and where we have the freedoms and the independence to 506 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: be able to seek after those things. Right. I mean, 507 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 1: that's we're doing this on the fourth of July, and 508 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,200 Speaker 1: we're we're kind of doing this in conjunction a little 509 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:21,359 Speaker 1: bit with you know, our country's independence to a certain degree, 510 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: but it's a little tongue in cheek. But we are 511 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 1: thankful for that, right that the fact that we have 512 00:22:25,840 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: those luxuries and the ability to think of something that 513 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 1: we want to do and just chase after it worked 514 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: really hard and to potentially, not always, but potentially be 515 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 1: rewarded for that is amazing. I'm incredibly thankful for it. 516 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: Hashtag America. But you're talking about other countries, man. It 517 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: also made me think about how it's just culturally not 518 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 1: something that they do as much, but you know, something 519 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 1: that they are really good at, and that's just working less, 520 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: just all the time completely Like whether that BC says, 521 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: whether that be an entire month off that the country 522 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:55,919 Speaker 1: shuts down. I'm looking at you, France, when we visited 523 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 1: in July and nothing was open or prioritizing family that 524 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: in community. Other cultures do that way better than we, 525 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:03,399 Speaker 1: way better than we do in the US, and for 526 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: whatever reason here in America, like we we tend to 527 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,440 Speaker 1: just work crazy hard for very focused amounts of time, 528 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 1: and it almost requires us at the end of that 529 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 1: to to say, Okay, now I'm going to retire and 530 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:16,160 Speaker 1: not work. But when you think about it, that almost 531 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: doesn't seem like a healthy way to approach things right, 532 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,680 Speaker 1: to work crazy long hours, not see your family, neglect relationships. 533 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: Oh and then at the end of that, you're going 534 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 1: to then be able to do all those things automatically 535 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 1: as if you're doing them all along. Like. It doesn't 536 00:23:27,680 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 1: quite work that way. Relationships don't work that way. And 537 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:32,680 Speaker 1: I think that's one way that a lot of countries, 538 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,880 Speaker 1: especially in Europe, I think they're able to approach that 539 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 1: with a much more balanced mindset. Yeah, no doubt. Okay, 540 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:41,400 Speaker 1: So we've kind of shared our thoughts on financial independence 541 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: and how our thoughts have changed over the years, and 542 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:46,840 Speaker 1: let's get to some thoughts from our listeners on how 543 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:49,359 Speaker 1: they view financial independence. And we'll get to that right 544 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: after the break. All right, Jail, we'll back from the break. 545 00:24:00,359 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: And you know you posted a question in our Facebook group. 546 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: You're asking our listeners what does financial independence means to you? 547 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 1: And here are some of the answers. I'm gonna kick 548 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 1: it off with Tommy. He said to me, it means 549 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: not having unnecessary outstanding debts, at least a six month 550 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:20,640 Speaker 1: emergency fund and affordable housing. It sure relieves a lot 551 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 1: of stress to have the above mentioned items in check, 552 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 1: and man, Tommy I could not agree with you more. 553 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: One of the things that stood out to me that 554 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: you mentioned was having at least six months of an 555 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: emergency fund. Like, that's freaking awesome, right. Anytime you're able 556 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 1: to have that financial margin in your life, uh, you're 557 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 1: able to relieve some of that stress. It just takes 558 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:40,880 Speaker 1: the pressure off, and it just leads to a happier 559 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 1: life and affordable housing. If someone were to ask me, 560 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: what's the number one thing that's contributed to my ability 561 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:49,680 Speaker 1: to save and invest more than your average American, I 562 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 1: would say it has been choosing affordable housing consistently. And 563 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: so yeah, Tommy, I love that you put that up 564 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: as a top item, a top checkmark of getting towards 565 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: financial independence. Devin and the Facebook group mentioned financial independence 566 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 1: is having close to disposable income with no debt whatsoever, 567 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:08,959 Speaker 1: not necessarily retiring early, and I think that's true. I mean, 568 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: I think inside of this conversation about financial independence, the 569 00:25:12,040 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 1: Fire movement has also added these these two letters are 570 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,560 Speaker 1: E retire early and that's not necessarily the goal for 571 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: most people who are seeking to achieve different steps on 572 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 1: the financial independence ladder, and eventually, you know, reach that 573 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 1: last rung of not having to work in order to 574 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: make money because their investments are able to provide everything 575 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 1: they need. And but I love that disposable income. That's 576 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 1: a great goal to have, devon. It takes a long 577 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:37,640 Speaker 1: time to get there, but I love it. That's your goal, Yeah, 578 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,400 Speaker 1: I know that's true. For me. I don't necessarily want 579 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 1: to quit work altogether. I just want to be able 580 00:25:41,359 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: to have a little more control over my work, a 581 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:46,480 Speaker 1: little more control over what my days look like. Next 582 00:25:46,480 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 1: one here is from Tucker who says, financial independence to me, 583 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:52,600 Speaker 1: without putting numbers to it means being able to fulfill 584 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 1: the things you want to do in life without worrying 585 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 1: about how it will be paid for, not having to 586 00:25:57,600 --> 00:25:59,119 Speaker 1: think about where you're going to get money for the 587 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,680 Speaker 1: next month, and just being able to be financially stress free. 588 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 1: And again, this is another one that involves reducing stress, 589 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,200 Speaker 1: and often times I think that can be an incredible motivator. Yeah, Matt, 590 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,680 Speaker 1: we did an episode about escaping that living paycheck to 591 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: paycheck lifestyle, and then I think is actually one of 592 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 1: our most important episodes because there are so many people 593 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: who are living month to month, who can't seem to 594 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: get ahead, who can't seem to break that cycle, and 595 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,400 Speaker 1: it does become a cycle. And so I think Tucker's 596 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: desire to say, you know what, I want to know 597 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:26,920 Speaker 1: that I have the money going into the next month 598 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 1: aheat the time. That is something that a lot of 599 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: people don't have that security of knowing. And that is, 600 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:33,600 Speaker 1: like we've talked about earlier on, that's one of the 601 00:26:33,640 --> 00:26:36,160 Speaker 1: first steps on that financial independence ladder and a worthy 602 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 1: one to consider. Amy wrote, my husband and I have 603 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:42,320 Speaker 1: struggled greatly to have children. To me, financial independence means 604 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: being able to add to our family via adoption when 605 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:47,000 Speaker 1: we want to without fear of not being able to 606 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:50,119 Speaker 1: afford it. In other words, we choose when to have 607 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: more kids, not our budget. Crazy powerful, right. Yeah, thank 608 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:57,239 Speaker 1: you for sharing that struggle. And yeah, it can be 609 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: really expensive to even just have kids, right, not having kids, 610 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:04,479 Speaker 1: that's expensive to raise them, to provide for them, but 611 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: even just to have kids, especially if you struggled with fertility, 612 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 1: and achieving certain levels of financial independence, can help you 613 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 1: have that extra savings or the extra ability to feel 614 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: like you actually can meet those goals and not have 615 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 1: to go into debt to do it. I just want 616 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 1: to recommend an episode that we recorded with our friend Jillian, 617 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: and she's talked about adopting kids from the foster care system, 618 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: and so I recommend you listening to that episode. That's 619 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 1: something to consider if you're considering adoption. Yeah, that episode 620 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:34,720 Speaker 1: was titled Overcoming Poverty, Achieving Financial Independence, and Intentional Living 621 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:37,919 Speaker 1: and that was episode number eighty two. Our next one 622 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:40,399 Speaker 1: here is from Stephen. His was pretty short, but was 623 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: incredibly powerful and to the point he said, it means 624 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:46,040 Speaker 1: being able to retire early so I can take care 625 00:27:46,080 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 1: of my wife who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Man, 626 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:51,399 Speaker 1: that one just hits me like a ton of bricks, right. 627 00:27:51,720 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 1: You know, if you're in good health. A lot of 628 00:27:53,280 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 1: times we take our our health and the health of 629 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,160 Speaker 1: our loved ones for granted. But it only takes one 630 00:27:58,240 --> 00:28:00,440 Speaker 1: visit to the doctor and one scan for for your 631 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 1: life to get turned completely around and to realize that 632 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: the you know, the foreseeable future is gonna look a 633 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 1: heck of a lot different than than you had planned. Yes, Steven, 634 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:10,959 Speaker 1: thanks for sharing that. Man. That is powerful and just 635 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:14,200 Speaker 1: another great reminder of some of the reasons that might 636 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 1: even be unknown for why we're trying to achieve financial independence. 637 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,920 Speaker 1: Another Amy on the Facebook group mentioned having no debt 638 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 1: six months plus savings not being tied to a job. 639 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:25,600 Speaker 1: She says, I would love to do travel nursing when 640 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:28,399 Speaker 1: my kids are older and only take assignments when and 641 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:30,680 Speaker 1: where I want them. If you're a nurse, travel nursing 642 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: sounds like an awesome way to go if if you 643 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,160 Speaker 1: have that kind of flexibility, and I love that desire 644 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 1: to only take assignments when and where you want them, 645 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 1: and I love that. That's what financial independence means. To Amy. 646 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 1: That's really cool and so actually looked up travel nurse. 647 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 1: I googled it because I never heard the term before. 648 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:48,040 Speaker 1: And typically it's like a one to to your stint 649 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: maybe see somewhere else, typically in the US where there's 650 00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 1: a nursing shortage and it's called travel nursing, but it 651 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:56,719 Speaker 1: can apply it to other healthcare professions as well, so 652 00:28:56,760 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: like maybe different therapists and different medical needs like that. 653 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:01,680 Speaker 1: But may it what a cool way to kind of 654 00:29:01,720 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: see different parts of the country and live there and 655 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: get to live life for a while. That's I really 656 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:07,520 Speaker 1: love that. Yeah, I have a couple of friends who 657 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 1: have done it in different stints in different spots, And 658 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 1: my mother in law actually did a stint down in 659 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:15,360 Speaker 1: the US Virgin Island for for like a year. Yeah, 660 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: which was really cool. She got to live the island 661 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 1: life and uh and do some travel nursing, and I 662 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:22,600 Speaker 1: mean that was kind of a win win for her. Yeah, 663 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 1: I'll say, man, that's awesome. Our next one is from Megan, 664 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 1: She said, not being tied to a job. This past year, 665 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: I started a really rough job. We had an emergency 666 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 1: funding place and other savings in the bank, and we're 667 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 1: not living paycheck to paycheck, and we had no debt. 668 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 1: This gave us the flexibility we needed for me to 669 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:40,520 Speaker 1: be able to quit my job and not work for 670 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: a few months while I look for a new job. 671 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:44,880 Speaker 1: We didn't even end up using any of our emergency savings. 672 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: Knowing we had options made all the difference. Man. We've 673 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: already mentioned the peace Out Money episode. Having options, giving 674 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,360 Speaker 1: yourself that financial margin to be able to step back 675 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 1: and look around and just take a breath. Sometimes even 676 00:29:57,520 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: having a month off where you can kind of regroup 677 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 1: and mentally just catch your breath, right, like you're just 678 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 1: kind of getting your thoughts in order to figure out 679 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: what it is that you want to do next. That's 680 00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 1: what you need sometimes in order to make a really 681 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 1: great next step. Yeah, when I think about financial independence, 682 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: I think of two words. I think of the word margin, 683 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: which is kind of that baseline financial independence, which is 684 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:16,880 Speaker 1: your first couple of steps to at least give you 685 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: some breathing room. And then I think of that term 686 00:30:18,400 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: options that Megan just mentioned, having options available to you, 687 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,400 Speaker 1: not having to do something because you need the money, 688 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 1: even if it's just for a temporary period of time. 689 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 1: That's a huge piece of of the heart of financial 690 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 1: independence and what it's all about. Sean wrote in and 691 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: he said to me, it's a balance of living your 692 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 1: best life now and being prepared for the future. Each 693 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 1: day is a gift, and I don't want to take 694 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 1: that for granted ever, but it's important to be prepared. 695 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 1: I love that man, because I don't always think of 696 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 1: every day like that. I want to, but I don't, 697 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 1: and so that's just a call for me to remember 698 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:48,720 Speaker 1: that each day is a gift, and each moment that 699 00:30:48,760 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 1: I'm able to spend in community with family, creating something 700 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:53,760 Speaker 1: that I enjoy, they're all realizations of this goal. And 701 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: I love that Sean is also valuing the journey, which 702 00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 1: I think such a huge part of this as well. 703 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 1: If we only focus on the destination and we can't 704 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 1: enjoy the day to day each day, then it becomes 705 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 1: drudgery to try to achieve this goal as opposed to 706 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:08,360 Speaker 1: a joy to wake up each morning and continue to 707 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: work towards it. And at the same time, though he's 708 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:13,040 Speaker 1: touching on being prepared, I even think back to what 709 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 1: financial independence means to me right now, and I almost 710 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 1: I am a little concerned, like I'm worried, almost that 711 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 1: I'm overly focused on the here now, making sure that 712 00:31:22,240 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: I am living a perfectly designed life that I want 713 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:26,400 Speaker 1: to live right now, making sure my days look exactly 714 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 1: the way I want them to. And that concerns me 715 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: a little bit because I'm thinking to myself, am I 716 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:34,240 Speaker 1: thinking long term enough? But again, this kind of goes 717 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 1: back to finding that balance, and I think knowing myself 718 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 1: and knowing that my natural tendency is to over emphasize 719 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 1: the future and it's to discount the here and now, 720 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:46,160 Speaker 1: and so I think what that means is that I 721 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 1: have to prioritize the here and now to accept every 722 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 1: day as a gift to make sure I'm growing those 723 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 1: relationships with my family, with my friends, and not just 724 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 1: growing but deepening. It's it's so hard because it is 725 00:31:57,440 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 1: a balance. But I think knowing yourself and and knowing 726 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: sort of which side of that spectrum you tend to 727 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: fall on can even help you to focus in on 728 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 1: which part of that you need to pay maybe a 729 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:09,120 Speaker 1: little more attention to. Yeah, so much of it has 730 00:32:09,160 --> 00:32:12,280 Speaker 1: to do with our bent, our personality type, and I 731 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 1: think it's important to recognizing yourself. Angela shared I've started 732 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:18,720 Speaker 1: thinking more about this since watching my mom leave her 733 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,440 Speaker 1: corporate job at age fifty to pursue her passion, and 734 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,160 Speaker 1: now she's about to retire at age sixty three. Financial 735 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:26,000 Speaker 1: independence for me means that I can be a full 736 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:28,520 Speaker 1: time artist. I'm making a side hustle of it now 737 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 1: by teaching and selling my own work. My goal is 738 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: to earn enough to cover half my expenses by age 739 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:35,640 Speaker 1: fifty and reduce my hours at my corporate job to 740 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:38,080 Speaker 1: be part time in the next five years or less. 741 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,520 Speaker 1: I'm also planning to save twelve months of expenses to 742 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 1: cover a long sabbatical so I can try out being 743 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:45,800 Speaker 1: a full time artist for a year, dude. This is options, right. 744 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:49,760 Speaker 1: Angela just spelled out the ways that saving and investing 745 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: and being wise with her money gives her all of 746 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:54,240 Speaker 1: these options, and we were just talking about that. I 747 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:57,480 Speaker 1: love that it's so personal and it's so variable based 748 00:32:57,480 --> 00:32:58,960 Speaker 1: on where she's at and kind of how she wants 749 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:00,320 Speaker 1: to handle things in that current phase of life. I 750 00:33:00,320 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 1: think it's cool. Yeah, And I think what's clutched in 751 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: her situation is that she's identified a specific goal that 752 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: she's working towards. It's not just some sort of lofty 753 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: goal that at some point I'll be able to stop working. Well, 754 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:12,959 Speaker 1: that doesn't sound very fun. What sounds fun to her 755 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:15,600 Speaker 1: is being a full time artist, and she's working towards that. 756 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:18,360 Speaker 1: I love that. Our last one that we're gonna share today, man, 757 00:33:18,520 --> 00:33:21,560 Speaker 1: is from Michelle, and she said that it's not just 758 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,720 Speaker 1: about the amount of money saved and invested. It's also 759 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:27,720 Speaker 1: about finding and practicing a lifestyle that allows you to 760 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 1: balance long term and short term happiness, learn to live 761 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:33,960 Speaker 1: better with less, and Man, I feel like at the 762 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:37,720 Speaker 1: core of this is just balanced and often that's what 763 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:39,680 Speaker 1: you and I come back to. It's a money show. 764 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 1: We talk about money we talked about how to be 765 00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:45,080 Speaker 1: smart with your money, save, invest spend less and spend 766 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:47,240 Speaker 1: less on your cell phone bill whatever, like all sorts 767 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: of those kind of things, right exactly, But there's just 768 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: so much more to it. There's so much more nuanced 769 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 1: than just doing these things to live a happier life. 770 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: We should be making sure that we're focusing on the 771 00:33:55,920 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: things that we need to now to ensure that we're 772 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: living a fulfilling life, but at the same time preparing 773 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:02,000 Speaker 1: for the future. And man, that's the whole reason on 774 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:05,280 Speaker 1: the show that we drink a craft beer, right that 775 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:07,400 Speaker 1: that really is kind of it started out of that. 776 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:09,839 Speaker 1: It was this reflection of doing something that we love 777 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:13,040 Speaker 1: and care about on the show every week to prioritize 778 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:14,840 Speaker 1: the here and now while we're thinking about the future. 779 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:17,239 Speaker 1: It's a little metaphor. Yeah. And so the beer that 780 00:34:17,280 --> 00:34:20,000 Speaker 1: we had on today's show is Edmonds Os Brewing Company 781 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:23,520 Speaker 1: Order of Magnitude, given to us by listener Andrew. And 782 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:25,480 Speaker 1: so before we forget Andrew, I just want to go 783 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 1: ahead and say thank you for donating this beer, because 784 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 1: the rest of the time we're gonna spend talking about 785 00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 1: how amazingly delicious and rapturous. This beer was. Man, they 786 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,600 Speaker 1: just like took me away. It's a far off land 787 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:40,160 Speaker 1: and this is one of the most delicious beers I 788 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:41,560 Speaker 1: think we've had on this show in a while. I 789 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:44,399 Speaker 1: completely agree. I'm gonna gush over this beer. I'm going 790 00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:47,240 Speaker 1: to gush it was so good. This was an Imperial 791 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: sour Ale brute lactose, sea salt, passion fruit, mango and guava, 792 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:55,320 Speaker 1: and to me, it was like eating the perfect mango 793 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: guava hybrid with none of the weird texture that you 794 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:01,960 Speaker 1: get for meeting a mango. I don't like eating mangoes. 795 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:04,399 Speaker 1: I don't like the texture of mangoes, but I love 796 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:07,880 Speaker 1: theme to get stringy. Yeah, but I love the flavor, 797 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:11,840 Speaker 1: and this beer perfectly infused those flavors. I mean, this 798 00:35:11,880 --> 00:35:13,080 Speaker 1: is one of the best beers we've ever had on 799 00:35:13,080 --> 00:35:14,880 Speaker 1: the show. This is up there, top ten, easy, if 800 00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 1: not top five. Definitely, this was great. Yeah, definitely. A 801 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:19,840 Speaker 1: lot of times, I'm not a huge fan of guava 802 00:35:20,320 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: beers that have guava in them because they tend to 803 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 1: be too heavy, it tend to be too kind of 804 00:35:24,719 --> 00:35:27,400 Speaker 1: chloing lee sweet. But this one, with the tartness that 805 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: came with a beer, and I didn't realize that it 806 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:31,319 Speaker 1: had salt in it as well, but it said there's 807 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:34,279 Speaker 1: se salt. That salt nous kind of brings out the 808 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:36,480 Speaker 1: sharpness to the beer. It meant that it didn't have 809 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:39,279 Speaker 1: to be so acidic that it was an assault. So 810 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:42,560 Speaker 1: you like that little little it didn't have to be 811 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:44,839 Speaker 1: an attack on your senses because there is this little 812 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:46,759 Speaker 1: extra edge that the salt was able to bring out 813 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:49,960 Speaker 1: without being too acidic. And the way that this beer 814 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 1: was crafted and blended was just just amazing. Man. I 815 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 1: gotta say, my wife adds a little bit of salt 816 00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:57,279 Speaker 1: to chocolate chip cookies and had the same effect. It's 817 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:00,760 Speaker 1: not just sweet, it gives that like counterbalance of flavor. 818 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:03,360 Speaker 1: And this kind of hit the every note on the 819 00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:06,680 Speaker 1: head perfectly because it was all these flavors working perfectly 820 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:10,120 Speaker 1: in harmony. And so it felt like drinking high definition 821 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: beer almost like it was exactly what they were going for, 822 00:36:13,320 --> 00:36:16,800 Speaker 1: uh and perfectly executed. This was this was great again. 823 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 1: This is a beer from Edmund's past out of Charleston, 824 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:22,080 Speaker 1: South Carolina. If you're ever in that area, you've got 825 00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:24,440 Speaker 1: a swing by there and check them outs. Dude, I know. 826 00:36:24,520 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 1: Next time I'm over there, I'm totally gonna be swinging by. 827 00:36:26,840 --> 00:36:29,040 Speaker 1: You can't miss for me, Now, I can't miss all right, Matt, 828 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 1: let's quickly give our final thoughts. This was kind of 829 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:33,879 Speaker 1: an out of the ordinary episode for us, I think, 830 00:36:34,239 --> 00:36:36,160 Speaker 1: but it was a fun one to do. It got personal, 831 00:36:36,400 --> 00:36:38,800 Speaker 1: It got personal for us, it got personal for our listeners. 832 00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:41,040 Speaker 1: I really enjoyed that. The thought I want to convey 833 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 1: at the end of this episode, though, is to focused 834 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:48,320 Speaker 1: on your next step for financial independence and also remember 835 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:50,440 Speaker 1: to enjoy the good things that are in your life 836 00:36:50,719 --> 00:36:53,360 Speaker 1: right now. I'm not sure where you're at on this path, 837 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 1: whether you're hoping to achieve step one, which is just 838 00:36:57,160 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: to eliminate high interest debts in your life and just 839 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:02,440 Speaker 1: start the ball rolling when it comes to investing, or 840 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:05,040 Speaker 1: if you're further on down the road. But wherever you're at, 841 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 1: just focus on the next step and enjoy the good 842 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:10,560 Speaker 1: things that you have now. Keeping those two things kind 843 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:13,320 Speaker 1: of front and center will help your mindset and also 844 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:17,160 Speaker 1: I think your achievements as you seek to continue your 845 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:19,759 Speaker 1: journey towards financial independence. That's right, Cheel, Yeah, that's the 846 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:21,759 Speaker 1: tactical right like that. The day to day stuff, the 847 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,120 Speaker 1: boots on the ground sort of activity. But make sure 848 00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:26,720 Speaker 1: as well that you are not losing sight of why 849 00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:29,040 Speaker 1: you're doing what you're doing. Make sure that you've identified 850 00:37:29,080 --> 00:37:31,480 Speaker 1: those big goals and the why behind your financial independence, 851 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:33,800 Speaker 1: and make sure that that is informing your next steps 852 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:35,920 Speaker 1: and and why you know why it is that you're 853 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:38,040 Speaker 1: being smart with your money to begin with. I guess 854 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:41,480 Speaker 1: it's a three pronged approach, Joel, I like that. I 855 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:43,279 Speaker 1: like that, all right, So this was fun, Matt. I'm 856 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:45,640 Speaker 1: glad we got to do the show together. And for 857 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:47,239 Speaker 1: folks listening, if they want to check out the show 858 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:48,640 Speaker 1: notes for this episode, they can go to how to 859 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:51,160 Speaker 1: money dot com and don't forget we'll have that article 860 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:53,439 Speaker 1: there about when you should consider closing a credit card. 861 00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:56,200 Speaker 1: And hopefully you found this episode to be helpful and enjoyable. 862 00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:58,319 Speaker 1: A lot of this episode is made possible because of 863 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:00,879 Speaker 1: everyone who is in our Facebook groups, So head over 864 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:03,440 Speaker 1: there search how some Money. Join that group. We'd love 865 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:05,399 Speaker 1: for you to join our community and to be part 866 00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:07,560 Speaker 1: of this sort of bigger discussion that we're having surrounding 867 00:38:07,600 --> 00:38:11,439 Speaker 1: our personal finances. Sweet alright, buddy, until next time, Best 868 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:28,080 Speaker 1: friends out, Best friends out, best friends out. All right, Matt, 869 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:30,359 Speaker 1: let's go watch us some Will Smith Independence Day now 870 00:38:31,719 --> 00:38:32,439 Speaker 1: Welcome to Earth.