

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

Oct 7, 2024 • 1h 15min
22. Carl & Carla: "Enjoy the journey."
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Dive into the heartwarming journey of Carl and Carla on EverydayFI’s latest podcast episode. Discover a candid conversation on how to talk about money with your family and partner, how Carla’s parents’ divorce and 2008 financial disaster influenced her philosophies as an adult, and how Carl hiked the PCT within the first two months of their marriage. You’ll learn a lot about their journey, like how Carla bought a house while only making $8.50/hour, what they think about moving in with a partner, and how to contend with the numerous options life holds for all of us. Tune it to hear Carl and Carla’s incredible story of love, partnership, and financial independence. Episode Links: Link to episode webpage Appalachian Trail Club Head Start Clark Howard Mr. Money Mustache blog Dave Ramsey’s baby steps ChooseFI podcast Support the Show: Get the “Your Journey to Freedom” workbook here! Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show here

Sep 30, 2024 • 1h 20min
21. Yao T: "There are no losses, only lessons."
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Thank you for listening to another episode of EverydayFI, the show that explores the lives and stories of everyday people in the financial independence community. Today on the show I your host, Meghan Combs, chats with Yao, a remarkably adaptive young man who is finding his way to financial freedom through real estate investing. We explore Yao’s money origin story (which includes ultimate couponing, a side hustle he picked up in his adult life), his first discovery of FI and real estate investing, and why he thinks being a homeowner is actually more flexible than renting. Tune in to hear more! Episode Links: Episode webpage Frugal Fannies Secret Shopper Sniffspot Ramit Sethi “Money for Couples” podcast BiggerPockets “The Money Podcast” Turbotenant Innago Furnished Finder Rocket Money Monarch Money Projection Lab Projection Lab ChooseFI episode Yao’s Instagram: @yao.invests.rei Who, Not How by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz Workforce Management software DISC Personality Test Support the Show: Get the “Your Journey to Freedom” workbook here! Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee Sign up to be on the show

Sep 23, 2024 • 1h 17min
20. Keith N: "You don't have to do it perfect the first time. You just have to get started."
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Welcome to another episode of EverydayFI where I, your host Meghan Combs, get to explore the lives and stories of everyday people in the financial independence community. Today on the show I’m chatting with Keith, a former skydiver for 22 years who retired through his real estate investments and now spends most of his time traveling to see all his FI friends. If you’ve ever been to a CampFI you may recognize his voice from the numerous talks he’s given there. Tune in for Keith’s story! Episode Links: Episode webpage FI Freedom Retreats (including Bali) Econome Conference Camp Mustache EverydayFI episode with Christina G on full time travel FinTalks with Amberly Grant Your Money or Your Life book by Vicki Robin BiggerPockets Podcast Mr. Money Mustache blog CampFI Chautauqua Retreat (no longer happening) EverydayFI episode with Ryan B Atomic Habits by James Clear ChooseFI Podcast The Fun Scale Support the Show: Get the “Your Journey to Freedom” workbook here! Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee

Sep 16, 2024 • 1h 8min
19. Casey J (CJ): Fear is powerful, but so are you
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Let me just say two words: Battle Bots. This episode with CJ is chock full of fun, tips and tricks, actionable steps to start a side hustle, deep discussions on having kids, and the ever present “one more year syndrome” that our community (and anyone wanting to retire) tends to slip into. Tune in for a fascinating dive into CJ’s financial independence journey. Episode Links: Episode webpage MRCA - Midwest Robot Combat Association Robot Smashing League CJ’s boardgame CJ’s Etsy store Fire Drill podcast Gold City Ventures - E-printables Course ChooseFI Retire Often, Jillian Johnsrud Design Your Extraordinary Life, by the Donegans 4 Hour Workweek, Tim Ferris I Will Teach You To Be Rich, Ramit Sethi Furnished Finder Paula Pant, Afford Anything Support the Show: Get the “Your Journey to Freedom” workbook here! Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee

Sep 9, 2024 • 1h 1min
18. Abhishek S: "Adversity is an opportunity"
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Today’s episode follows the journey of Abhishek, an immigrant from India who fell in love with the United States and all the opportunity it provides for him, including financial independence. This episode is all about designing your extraordinary life around health, volunteering, meditation, and deciding deeply about what truly serves you. We also go into depth about how to become a stock picker, if that’s your jam (as long as the bulk of your portfolio is in broad based index funds of course). Tune in to hear Abhishek’s incredible story and what advice he gives to everyone about health and mindfulness. Episode Links: Episode webpage Coffee with Abhishek blog Mr. Money Mustache Eden Savers Program Dakshana Foundation Design Your Extraordinary Life course by the Donegans FIRE in Vegas - Design Your Extraordinary Life podcast episode on ChooseFI — you may hear a familiar voice ;-) Charity Navigator Charity Watch 10x Mindset episode on the All The Hacks podcast Die With Zero, Bill Perkins James Clear Atomic Habits book Inner Engineering Meditation Ramit Sethi, I Will Teach You To Be Rich Support the Show: Get the “Your Journey to Freedom” workbook here! Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee

Sep 2, 2024 • 54min
17. Amanda M: "I no longer do hard things"
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Thanks for coming back to the EverydayFI podcast! Today on the show host Meghan will be chatting with Amanda about her financial independence journey. We talk about everything from burnout in the workplace (and how Amanda became a burnout coach from her experiences), to making crucial decisions about a long distance relationship. Tune in to hear this incredible conversation. Support the Show: Episode webpage Get the “Your Journey to Freedom” workbook here! Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee

Aug 26, 2024 • 1h 6min
16. Carolyn L: Joyfully Frugal
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Tune in to hear my conversation with Carolyn, a college professor who sees her divorce as a silver lining because it led her to the financial independence movement. In this episode we talk about how to become a professor, the challenges of divorce on your finances, sexism in the workplace, and Carolyn’s travel plans. Episode Links: Episode webpage Mr. Money Mustache “The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement” Monarch Money Nomadic Matt Buy Nothing Groups CampFI Support the Show: Get the “Your Journey to Freedom” workbook here! Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee

Aug 19, 2024 • 1h 14min
15. Mitch B: The Ultimate Houdini
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Today on the show I get to interview my buddy Mitch, host of the MyFICapsule podcast. We talk about the happy middle between quitting your job for good and downgrading to a less stressful role that still brings in the cash. We also dive into his plans for a summer sabbatical roadtrip with his family, where he sports his ChooseFI t-shirt to make new FI friends. Plus why he wanted to start his own podcast. Tune in to hear about how the FI life can be lived in all different ways. Episode Links: Episode page MyFICapsule podcast (Apple) MyFICapsule podcast (Spotify) The Office (TV show) Office Space (movie) Bigger Pockets Tim Ferris Podcast —> the Mr. Money Mustache episode Tori Dunlap and Her First $100k Tori’s June 5, 2024 episode on ChooseFI Pat Flynn Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't by James C. Collins and Jim Collins Early Retirement Extreme The Tail End on Wait But Why Die With Zero by Bill Perkins ChooseFI local groups Support the Show: Get the “Your Journey to Freedom” workbook here! Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee

Aug 12, 2024 • 1h 13min
14. Sean & Katie: What's enough?
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Join me in this enlightening episode as I explore the unique journey of Sean and Katie, a married couple with a shared goal of achieving financial independence. Despite their love for their respective jobs, Sean and Katie are committed to creating a life of options for themselves and their daughter. Episode Highlights: Financial advisors will try to sell you anything by connecting with you on a personal level: don’t fall for it! Privilege is a huge factor in financial success. Values-based spending is the key to a rich life. Everything new you buy is a little piece of the Earth and should not only spark joy, but sustain it. Travel vs. focusing on a homestead and how to balance these two passions as a couple. Dive into their retirement strategies including real estate, investing, and the coveted 457 account. Why Priuses are the superior vehicle. Using FI as a way to make the world a better place. Episode Links: Episode webpage Suze Orman Marketplace on NPR The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondō Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin The PATH Method PATH Exercise Playing With Fire documentary The Fioneers CoastFI calculator Top Environmentally Friendly Vehicles — American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) How to make a Prius Plow YouTube video Support the Show: Get the “Your Journey to Freedom” workbook here! Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee

Aug 5, 2024 • 1h 26min
13. Christina G. - Part 2: The FEIE Tax Exclusion (and more)
Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Welcome to the EverydayFI podcast! I’m your host Meghan and in this second episode with Christina we talk about how to take advantage of the FEIE tax exclusion and not be an illegal immigrant in a foreign country. Tune in! Episode Links: Episode webpage - leave a comment! FEIE Tax Exclusion on IRS.gov What is the FEIE? Christina’s website Christina’s Facebook page: A Suitcase and a Smile Christina’s tips YouTube video Christina’s Linktree Support the Show: Get the “Your Journey to Freedom” workbook here! Join my Patreon membership Buy me a coffee