

EverydayFI
Meghan Combs
Welcome to the EverydayFI podcast, the show that explores the lives and stories of everyday people in the financial independence community. I’m your host Meghan Combs, a personal finance junkie who learned from all of life’s money mistakes. Come with me as I talk to people on the path to financial freedom and the ultimate luxury: never having to work again.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 28, 2025 • 42min
52. Darren & Jolene - Part 2: "We don’t want to leave life un-lived."
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Welcome to EverydayFI, the show that explores the lives and stories of everyday people in the financial independence community. Today we’re back with part 2 of Darren and Jolene’s story. Hopefully everyone having fun over in Spain has met them and been lucky enough to enjoy their company! In today’s episode we get to explore Darren and Jolene’s post-FI life, specifically their semi-nomadic lifestyle and all the different types of adventures they go on. Many of these include hiking incredible trails like the Camino in Spain. Episode Links: Dare to Draw Down - Darren and Jolene’s blog Wild by Cheryl Strayed Cicerone travel books Camino Ways Macs Adventures Rick Steves Die With Zero, by Bill Perkins The Retirement and IRA Show, Jim Saulnier The Retirement Answer Man, Roger Whitney Vancouver Carpenter on YouTube CampFI Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show

Apr 21, 2025 • 42min
51. Darren & Jolene - Part 1: Accidentally FI
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Welcome to EverydayFI, the show that explores the lives and stories of everyday people in the financial independence community. This episode is part 1 with my new friends Darren and Jolene, and today we talk a lot about how they used an alternative method to accomplish FIRE in their mid-late 40s, their upbringing and how that shaped the way they look at money today, plus the idea of spending time vs. spending money. Darren and Jolene recount their stories of leaving corporate jobs after long careers and becoming semi-nomadic, traveling half the year and maintaining a home base in Kansas. They elaborate on the challenges and benefits of early retirement, adjusting to their new lives, and the significance of exploring the 'second half of life' beyond traditional work. Episode Links: Dare to Draw Down - Darren and Jolene’s blog Personal Capital (now Empower) Boldin net worth tracking FBLA Physician on FIRE HerMoney “The Next 50” episode Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show

Apr 14, 2025 • 43min
50. Mitch & Meg's Money Musings: Hold onto your butts! The market crash this week.
CHECK THE EPISODE OUT ON YOUTUBE IF YOU WANT TO SEE OUR FACES! Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Welcome to the EverydayFI podcast, the show that explores the lives and stories of everyday people on the path to financial independence. Welcome to another edition of Mitch & Meg’s Money Musings. Today Mitch and I talk about the latest market dip, which has a lot of people freaked out, understandably so. We discuss our initial feelings about the drastic dip, what some of the public’s reactions were, and our plans to keep our cool and even see this in a positive light. Tune in to hear our thoughts and hopefully we can help ease your mind. Episode Links: The Positive Energy Guy, Brandon Johnson Tori Dunlap, Her First 100k Scott Trench, CEO of Bigger Pockets The Mad Fientist JL Collins’s market crashing guided meditation Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here

Apr 7, 2025 • 36min
49. Julie R. - Part 2: "I'm a quitter and I'm proud of it."
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Welcome to EverydayFI, the show that explores the lives and stories of everyday people in the financial independence community. Today’s episode is part two with my friend Julie. We chat about her journey to financial independence. Post layoff, Julie became passionate about managing her finances and soon delved into the FIRE community, finding inspiration in books like 'A Simple Path to Wealth' and 'Die With Zero'. She shares her experiences of becoming 'barista FIRE', where she balances minimal part-time work planning group travel excursions with her investment income to sustain a flexible lifestyle. Julie also explores the struggle against hustle culture and the importance of drawing boundaries to maintain mental well-being. We recorded this back in November so some of the content about her group travel may be different than her website, so make sure to check it out in the show notes. Episode Links: The Simple Path to Wealth, by J.L. Collins Die With Zero, by Bill Perkins Julie’s website and blog Julie’s Instagram Julie’s YouTube channel Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show

Mar 31, 2025 • 47min
48. Julie R. - Part 1: "Do not underestimate the power of radical change."
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Welcome to EverydayFI, the show that explores the lives and stories of everyday people in the financial independence community. In today’s episode I get to chat with Julie, who shares her journey from a conventional lifestyle to a full time nomadic one. We talk about her dissatisfaction with day-to-day life that prompted her to sell all her possessions and travel the world with only a $500K net worth. We also touch on the strategies she took to take this leap, such as refinancing her mortgage and side hustling. Julie emphasizes the importance of intentional living and making financial decisions that align with your values. We also discuss the societal norms around money, her family's financial background, and how she learned to prioritize spending on meaningful experiences rather than material possessions. Tune in to hear part one of our conversation. Episode Links: EverydayFI Episode 12 - Christina G. Part 1 EverydayFI Episode 13 - Christina G. Part 2 Julie’s website and blog Julie’s Instagram Julie’s YouTube channel Paula Pant, Afford Anything Mr. Money Mustache Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show

Mar 24, 2025 • 30min
47. Meghan's Money Musings: Life Finds a Way - My IVF Journey
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. This episode includes discussions about infertility, IVF, periods, and other reproductive health topics. Listener discretion is advised. Please take care of yourself and feel free to skip or pause if needed. Thanks for listening to the EverydayFI podcast, the show that explores the lives and stories of everyday people on the path to financial independence. In today’s Meghan’s Money Musings episode I’ll be talking about when life happens. I spent the past 9 years building up an HSA account. I took to heart the adage “begin with the end in mind” and planned to use this money as part of the bridge between early retirement and traditional retirement (along with a Roth Ladder of course). However, life happened and I had to use that money. This is my story and a reminder to be okay if the end you had in mind changes. Episode Links: IRS’s qualified medical expenses What is POI? Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here

Mar 17, 2025 • 47min
46. David R: Mr. Quit Your Job
David R, known as "Mr. Quit Your Job," shares his compelling journey towards financial independence shaped by his experiences in the military. He opens up about mental health struggles and the supportive role of the FIRE community. Discover how early financial lessons and overcoming debt led him to pursue financial coaching, empowering service members with money management skills. David also candidly discusses the challenges of self-worth in his new career and the importance of building real connections in the financial landscape.

Mar 10, 2025 • 38min
45. David R: Silent Struggle - Mental Health Challenges in Military Service
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Welcome to EverydayFI, the show that explores the lives and stories of everyday people in the financial independence community. Today I’m chatting with my friend David Before the episode, I want to let you know that Our conversation touches on sensitive topics, including discussions about suicide and mental health struggles. I understand that these subjects can be challenging, so if this is something that might be difficult for you, please feel free to take a break from the show and return when you’re ready. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or struggling with their mental health, please know that support is available. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988, or visit their website at www.988lifeline.org, which I will include in the show notes. Take care of yourself, and please listen at your own pace. Episode Links: www.988lifeline.org VA Mental Health Services FI Freedom Retreat EverydayFI episode 34: Doug N. Part 1 EverydayFI episode 35: Doug N. Part 2 EverydayFI episode 23: Devon S. Mr. Money Mustache: The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show

Mar 3, 2025 • 1h 3min
44. Mitch & Meg's Money Musings: Combining Finances
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Thanks for listening to the EverydayFI podcast, the show that explores the lives and stories of everyday people on the path to financial independence. Welcome to another edition of Mitch & Meg’s Money Musings. Today Mitch and I talk about couple’s combining expenses. Whether you’re getting married or just moving in together, it’s smart to start these discussions as early as possible. Mitch and I share what we did and some things to watch out for. Tune in to hear more! Episode Links: BiggerPockets Ramit Sethi’s Money for Couples book 1Password Monarch Money The Neuron Harvey AI - AI for legalese ChooseFI: Love, Loss, and Money: The Shocking Financial Aftermath of a FI Spouse’s Death | Amy Freewill Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here

Feb 24, 2025 • 42min
43. Bill Y. - Part 2: "Get to know your future self."
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Welcome to EverydayFI, the podcast that explores the lives and stories of everyday people in the financial independence community. We’re back with part 2 of Bill’s story we embarked on last week. In today’s episode we get into Bill’s money origin story, which leads us to talking about financial literacy in general — the good, the bad, and what we can do at home about it. We also dive into Bill’s journey to finding the FI community and his “why of FI” as someone who is a late comer to the movement. Towards the end of the episode Bill shares his current challenges and wins in life, plus we wax poetic about the parallels between health and personal finances. Episode Links: EverydayFI episode 34: Doug N, Part 1 EverydayFI episode 35: Doug N, Part 2 William Bernstein, The Intelligent Asset Allocator Next Gen Personal Finance Catching Up to FI episode 72: Celebrating Financial Literacy Month with Next Gen Personal Finance White Coat Investor Jack Bogle and the Bogleheads FinCon CampFI ChooseFI The Travel Penguin Dr. Karan Explores podcast Catching Up To FI Facebook Group Catching Up to FI Support the Show: Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show