Episode 335: How To Coast Your Way To Financial Independence, Save 60% of Income & Reframe What Retirement Means w/ Ada Vargas
Aug 16, 2023
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Ada Vargas, Queer Money Coach, shares their journey to reaching Coast FI and reframing retirement savings. Topics covered include front-loading retirement as a high earner, the 'Four Yous Framework' for financial empowerment, and transitioning to zero-based budgeting and automated investing.
Implementing a zero-based budget and assigning every dollar a job can significantly improve spending habits and increase savings rate.
Actively seeking out higher-paying job opportunities and leveraging skills and experience can accelerate the journey to financial independence.
Investing in index funds and compound interest early and consistently can be a powerful tool in building wealth and achieving financial independence.
Deep dives
Creating Structure to Improve Spending Habits
The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating structure to improve spending habits. By implementing a zero-based budget and assigning every dollar a job, they were able to increase their savings rate from 99% to 60%. This structured approach allowed them to be more aware of their spending and prioritize what brought them value.
Transitioning to a Career with Higher Earning Potential
The speaker shares their experience of transitioning to a higher-paying job in order to reach their financial goals faster. By actively seeking out higher-paying opportunities and leveraging their skills and experience, they were able to increase their income significantly and accelerate their journey to financial independence.
The Power of Investing and Compounding Interest
The speaker highlights the accessibility and simplicity of investing, particularly through index funds and compound interest. They stress that investing can be a powerful tool in building wealth and achieving financial independence. They encourage individuals to start investing early and consistently, emphasizing the potential for exponential growth over time.
Finding Community and Representation in the Queer Financial Space
The speaker discusses the importance of finding community and representation in the queer financial space. They encourage individuals to seek out queer-centered resources, organizations, and social media platforms. By connecting with others who share similar experiences and challenges, individuals can find support, guidance, and empowerment on their financial journeys.
Overcoming Self-Sabotage and Building a Strong Financial Foundation
The speaker addresses the issue of self-sabotage and the fear of success that can hinder financial progress. They share their personal experience of overcoming survivors guilt and resistance to building wealth. By shifting their mindset and beliefs around money, they were able to embrace financial success and create a strong foundation for their future.
Ada Vargas, founder of Queer Money Coach, joins the Journey to Launch podcast to discuss how they were able to reach Coast FI, what led them to full-time entrepreneurship, and why reframing your perception of investing is crucial to financial success.
Ada thought in order to retire you had to literally save millions of dollars. They didn’t know what investing was or about the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) Movement.
We chat about their mission of helping Queer folks thrive in their financial life, the “Four Yous Framework,” and how they went from spending 100% of their income to a savings rate of 60%.
In this episode you’ll learn more about:
Coast FI, front-loading retirement as a high earner, and living off of $20k per year
Leaning into financial empowerment and ease with the “Four Yous Framework”
Reframing retirement savings from a “chore” to a gift you’re giving your future self
The differences and nuances of queer personal finance + why representation matters
Making the transition to zero-based budgeting, automated investmenting, shopping for index funds, and more
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