Pete Adeney, aka Mr. Money Mustache, joins BiggerPockets Money hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench to break down the shockingly simple math behind early retirement. The man who started the FIRE movement and retired at 30 reveals why most people are overcomplicating financial independence—and why your savings rate is literally the only number that determines when you can quit your job.
Pete doesn't just share theory—he walks through the real strategies, investment decisions, and mindset shifts that allowed him to achieve financial freedom in his thirties. Whether you're new to FIRE or looking to optimize your current approach, this episode cuts through the noise to deliver the foundational principles that actually work.
This Episode Covers:
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The one metric that determines your entire FIRE timeline
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Why saving 50% gets you to FI in just 17 years (and the math behind it)
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How Pete retired at 30 and what his portfolio looked like
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The psychology of frugality and why it's actually liberating
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Pete's current thoughts on real estate investing for FIRE
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His take on Bitcoin and alternative assets in a FIRE portfolio
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Common FIRE mistakes that derail people's progress
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Why your income level matters less than you think
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Practical strategies for increasing your savings rate immediately
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The mindset shifts that make extreme saving sustainable
And SO much more!
00:00 The Basics of Early Retirement
01:02 The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement
01:21 Understanding Your Savings Rate
05:41 Pre-Tax Savings and 401k Considerations
11:06 The 4% Safe Withdrawal Rate
13:09 Seven Levels of Safety in Early Retirement
28:44 The $50,000 Earner
31:51 Raising Kids on a Budget
35:17 Health Insurance in Early Retirement
41:39 Real Estate as a Retirement Strategy
46:41 Bitcoin and Speculative Investments
51:19 Connect with Mr. Money Mustache
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