The Financial Independence Show

Today's episode is an awesome chat with Jillian from the Everyday Courage Podcast. As a young adult, Jillian had huge goals in life to adopt children, travel the world, and hit financial independence. Then, Jillian hit all these things by the age of 32. While it is amazing to hit goals early, it can leave you devoid of a north star. Now she is helping others through coaching and this podcast to find their own goals and push themselves Especially those parts of our lives where we settle and tell ourselves that 'it's ok" or "it's good enough". "Avoiding the 6's" as she calls it. Listen, learn, and let us know what you think. Episode Summary Jillian's Background Jillian got married at age 19 She saw from an early age that money gave you options They started off their marriage with $55k worth of debt From the start, they always stuck to a goal to save 50% They made some difficult choices like living in a camper or roommates They would end up investing and buying rentals This would lead them to be financially independent at age 32 Their goal was certainly never that early in the beginning Jillian credits her small-town upbringing for her strong work ethic She also notes that hard work gave here control she craved Her home life was rough at times and out of control Everyday Courage Podcast Jillian discusses how we typically see courage as huge events In reality, there are moments every day where we can do courageous things Success is like this too where there are small wins all around us She warns against having peak experiences with unfulfilling large gaps between Then we start talking about success She breaks down how success is so different for everyone Jillian talks about how to keep going once you met all your goals She thought she had a lifetime of goals but hit them by 32 She talks about the amount of reflection that takes Jillian also describes how luxuries become necessities as you grow Now she has big goals that have no time limit She explains the importance of imagining yourself as the person who has met your goals Then think about what gaps exist between that person and who you are now. Avoiding the 6s When we're in a situation that's a 2 out of 10 there's little risk As in, if you quit a job that's a 2, how much worse could the next job be in comparison Then if it's an 8+ it's where we want to be The problem comes in the "good enough" are of the 6 Doesn't everyone struggle with fitness, relationships, work/life balance, etc When pressed on these situations they feel like "it's ok" Jillian urges people to not settle into these 6s She tries to focus in on things that people hesitate around Finding the things in your life that you procrastinate around Then understand where that resistance is coming from Mostly being aware of the resistance and having the curiosity to solve it The layout of the podcast The show is set up in seasons around a theme and interview They are set up to be really short listens There will also be a workbook where people can follow along Episodes are only 6-20 minutes long One episode comes out every week The seasons are wrapped up in two-month chunks   Key Takeaways Courage every day: Jillian's premise is that we all have things in our lives that we can work towards every day that takes a little courage. Define your success: Don't let someone else set your goals for you because even if you meet them you won't be fulfilled. Luxuries to necessities: Jillian explains how coaching or retreats may be luxuries at first but as you continue they can become necessary to your growth Call to Action Find a "6" in your life and push yourself to make progress in that area and not settle. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and...

Today's episode is an awesome chat with Emil from Roofstock. Emil covers why he wanted to get into real estate and what held him back. He knew his area of California was too expensive and discovered the idea of long-distance real estate. Roofstock gave him the tools and confidence to make his real estate dreams a reality. Then a couple of years later he actually joined the company and is here today to walk us all through his journey and what Roofstock could bring to the community. Listen, learn, and let us know what you think. Episode Summary Emil's Background Emil was instilled with values early from his frugal parents In high school, he got interested in stocks and started self investing At the time he was picking individual stocks but doesn't advise that He luckily had a friend who was like a child genius with stocks When heading out for college he needed a car and sold his stocks to purchase one In college, he studied economics His first job would be aggregating data on pharmaceutical companies It's clear Emil gets a ton from his time working across a few startups Emil also stresses the importance of Networking It would ultimately lead to his job at Roofstock   Emil's Journey to Roofstock Emil became a user of Roofstock in 2017 At the time the company wasn't at a point to bring on remote workers He would continue to send marketing materials to Roofstock that he thought the could use Over time Roofstock opened up remote positions and he went to work with them Emil had a strong connection to the company because he always wanted to invest in real estate His dad actually had been investing in real estate for a long time The problem for Emil was the prices that were near him So he got interested in remote real estate That's where Roofstock came in to save the day He now has several properties over multiple states including Florida and Indiana. He bought his first home in 2017 for $84k in Jacksonville with an original rent of $900 The property had a new roof and HVAC so it almost turn-key Today it is renting for $954 He also has never had to change tenants Total cash-flow has been $8,200 Appreciation has also increased the property value by $26k Roofstock Details Roofstock links you up with preferred property managers You're not required to use them but you're not forced to find someone Roofstock makes their money during the sale of the homes It's actually a great deal for both the buyer and seller The seller ends up paying 2.5% vs a standard 6% for the sale Then the buyer pays $500 but gets a ton of support Beyond the property manager help, they also have preferred lenders Emil scans Roofstock to find states with good returns Then he looks for states that have landlord-friendly laws to avoid squatters He also recommends job and population growth Most properties have an inspection report This inspection report also comes with an estimate to get it rent-ready Then you can leverage the property manager to find a trusted contractor Roofstock Guarantees If you're not happy with a purchase, roofstock will help you sell it If it's not sold after 90 days, roofstock actually buys it back They also have a rent guarantee This kicks in if you can't rent a property after 45 days After that point, Roofstock will pay 75% of rent It does require some things on your end You're using a preferred property manager The home is rent ready Rent isn't set at an unreasonable level Free to Sign Up Yep, Roofstock is 100% free to sign up You only need an account for certain functionalities, but still free Currently, they service residential only but up to 4 unit properties   Key Takeaways Everything gets disrupted: It's awesome to see a service like this trying to take something traditional and put a unique twist on it.

Today's episode was recorded live at Camp FI down near Gainesville, Florida. Camp FI is a retreat of 40-60 people at locations across the country filled with people chasing FI and supporting fellow members of the community. This episode highlights people who were convinced to come to CampFI without any background to the FI/RE movement. Two other interviews include a graduate student studying the FI/RE movement and the camp's creator, Stephen. Stephen talks about the origins and future of this camp and the motivations to keep this community growing. Listen, learn, and let us know what you think. Episode Summary Laura Inspired by an interview with Vicki Robbins She was drawn by the way people see the role of work in their lives The community was also very open to being researched She noted how diverse the age and background was of the movement It also came out that most people actually love their jobs The last thing she called out was how intentional and conscious of their decisions You can email her at firestudy@umich.edu if you're interested in being interviewed Mike He never could have imagined being at a conference like this A friend of his recommended that he came He notes how ready he is to take action the minute he gets home Mike really recommends that people give this community a chance Tactically he got an overview on how to get his realtor's license He didn't image the generosity that he found with the community Roople Rupel is a practicing physician She loves the challenge of why you're living life the way you are Rupel calls out the trouble she sees with physician burnout She also noted how easy it was to have deep, personal conversations with this community While at the conference she moved investments away from higher fee options to low-cost index funds She hopes that doctors will dig a little deeper and find why they love doing what they do Refocusing on that and restructuring their life she hopes will alleviate the burnout Since hearing about the movement, she ditched her overpriced apartment and bought a home Creator of CampFI - Stephen Stephen tried to make more of an emphasis on making real connections with the attendees He hopes that people who are looking to get involved with FI/RE community will just jump in Stephen first attended a camp like this in 2016 and knew he had to spread this idea to more people This year they look to have at least nine of these camps all across the country Stephen had no background in event planning and didn't know what to expect Luckily everyone showed up who bought tickets the first year Also worth noting that CampFI is where Cody & Justin met and The FI Show was born   Key Takeaways FI isn't so different: Many of the stories we heard from FI "newbies" during the week mentioned that this community isn't just a bunch of "weirdos" and "money nerds". It's just people making slightly more conscious decisions. So many paths: There was so much diversity: age, gender, profession, and general paths to FI. It showed just how many ways there are. People are good: The American news cycles are often rough and draining. It's nice reminding yourself just how good people really are. Call to Action Start leaning on or creating a community around you that supports your growth as a person and your goals to reaching FI. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android Check out our Sponsors One of the best ways to protect your family is with term life insurance.

In today's episode, you'll hear from Court who writes over at Modern FImily. Court and her wife are (mostly) retiring early in Canada at 32, but will continue work a bit more until their second child is born. They did this with student debt and a priority for living a full life while chasing their dreams. Listen, learn, and let us know what you think. Episode Summary Discovering Financial Independence Court had $70k of student debt after her bachelors and masters degree She'd start her career in 2009 She was focused on getting out of debt Court paid it off in 2.5 years At this point, she looks to buy her first home She then also discovers Mr. Money Mustache Starting a career She had the opportunity to participate in this rotational program It allowed her to rotate three times in six-month time segments across different jobs That gave her a wider view of options and allowed her to choose one right for her Start of  a family She would meet her now wife in 2011 Her wife would also end up with some student debt It was obvious right away that both were frugal and passionate about travel Court drove the spreadsheet part of the relationship but their goals align Looking forward After getting married in 2015 they start designing their future Court's wife was originally from Canada and they set their sites there They would sell their home and all their things in Florida Then they traveled for 6 months before moving up to Calgary Court thought she'd a while to find a job and might travel another 6 months Luckily the job came through sooner Court was frugal but didn't have the investing background until finding the FI community They welcomed their first child in 2018 and are planning for a second Canadian Perks Canada gives 18 months of paid time off for new parents This nets around $25k per year The insurance is incredible She tells a story of going to the emergency room with less than $20 out of pocket The medical bills for the birth of their child were limited to parking at the hospital Court got her citizenship through her dad but could have gotten it through her wife She also still gets U.S. perks like good travel rewards credit cards Canada also gives you around $5k per year for children up to 17 years old Canada will also give you $500 via match into an education saving plan They also have payments to citizens over the age of 65 that's based off income She also says that taxes are actually not that much higher than the USA Looking Forward Court lays out her withdrawal plan for retirement She's moved to 60/40 stocks as she's about to stop working There is a plan to get back to 80/20 after a few years in retirement They plan to try and have a second child Court goes over some of the considerations for a lesbian couple having children They saved and planned for a 4% withdrawal rate They believe they can be happy with closer to a 2% withdrawal rate   Key Takeaways Better than expected: Court talks about how much faster FI came than expected Canada has perks: It's so important to enjoy the journey on your way to retirement Power in learning: Court wasn't from Canada but she's immersed herself to become an expert Call to Action Take a closer look at the fine print of your city/state/country programs and retirement options and consider what moving might look like. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android Check out our Sponsors

In today's episode, you'll hear from just your Hosts! That's right, no guests today, but plenty of voices will be heard. This episode is covering some of the activity that's been going on in our Community Facebook Page In today's episode, the guys share with you the powerful accomplishments The FI Show group is achieving. Also if you join the Community Facebook Page, we're starting a new thread for 2020 goals. Comment with your goals and we'll feature you on an episode coming out later as well as check-in and keep you accountable! As always they'll also be transparent with their own wins. Hopefully, you enjoy this special episode! Listen, learn, and let us know what you think. Episode Summary Wins from various community members Set up a Roth IRA for 18 yr old daughter Visited FI friends in 10 states Wrote a book with their daughter Got to at least one comma in each account Wrote a book 5 figures from a side hustle FIREd at 44 then hit UK Chautaqua, CampFI, and FinCon Reached FI at age 30 Maxed out his and wife's 401k Couple that both FIRE'd before 30 Vacationed and paid off a truck Paid off a mortgage Fired a financial advisor and started to DIY Transitioned to full time selling on Ebay and many more.... One huge transformation Discovered FI on Christmas of last year with only $1,500 in a checking account (plus some mutual funds for retirement) Since then, negotiated a $12k raise Got her company to pay for  PMP Volunteered at a startup to learn new skills to switch to a better-paying industry Moved to another job for ANOTHER $30k raise Automated savings to accumulate a $20k emergency fund Maxed out Roth and HSA for the first time, plus getting a 401k match! Took  time to think about WHY even pursue FI Now in the process of downsizing life and purchasing an RV to travel the country, see the public lands, and spend more time outdoors!  The Hosts Share Too Justin saved 76% and  is 80% of his way to FI He spent $23k while living in Boston With $10k of that going to rent...ouch Full break down of expenses for those curious Bills: $1,133 Travel: $315 Misc: $255 Eating out/drinks: $108 Gas: $61 Groceries: $53 Justin started a new job and upped his earnings Some notable trips to Hawaii, Mexico, Colorado, countless other trips and time with family   Cody spent $28k while also living in Boston Quit his job in January of 2019 Toured the country for 3 months living in a camper for Grant Sabatier's Financial Freedom book tour. Got the Financial Freedom Summit setup for 2020 And took a 3.5 week trip to Peru and Chile in December   Key Takeaway Reflection is Powerful: Both of us and the FI Show community felt so much more motivated to tackle 2020 and just felt so much better about ourselves after we realized how much we all crushed 2019 Call to Action Join the FI Show Community Page! Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android Check out our Sponsors One of the best ways to protect your family is with term life insurance. Even though we don't like to think about it, it's important to have financial protection in case the unexpected happens. Bestow is an awesome and reputable life insurance partner of ours that makes this process simple and easy. They use data to remove the doctor visits and paperwork involved with the traditional life insurance process. And you can apply from anywhere in just minutes. You don’t have to jump through a bunch of hoops to determine yo...

In today's episode, you'll hear from just your Hosts! That's right no guests to save the day. As a reminder, Justin chronicles his life at Saving-Sherpa.com and Cody writes at FlytoFI.com In today's episode, the guys tackle 10 financial tips they always hear and give their take on what's true. Hopefully, you enjoy this special episode! Listen, learn, and let us know what you think. Episode Summary Credit Card Balances We discuss why you should ALWAYS be using a credit card The need for setting up autopay to pay off the full balance Neither of us recommends carrying any balance Some think it helps build their credit In reality, you're just setting yourself up to pay a ton of fees The actual factor that relates to this is credit history which doesn't require a balance Rent vs Buy Justin calls out the importance of keeping in mind closing costs, HOAs, insurance, etc It's much more complicated than comparing a mortgage to just your rent These things are especially true if you're moving every two or three years If you can go beyond and do things like house hacking, then buying is certainly a great option Also, keep in mind the non-money part of the decision Owning a house can be stressful and add in more variables to your life New vs Used Justin recommends buying a car that's 5 years old on a deal Then keep that car for two to three years and try to sell before you hit 100k Justin prefers these cars to be under $10k  Cody discusses depreciation and interest rates Justin then compares buying a car and keeping it for 20 years vs rebuying periodically Good vs Bad Debt Obviously there is some debt that's terrible such as credit cards with 15% interest Then there is a middle ground where it's debt that doesn't earn revenue but allows you to invest more Both felt like anything that 4-5% range in interest should just be paid off as quickly as possible Going to College Going to a community college first isn't a no-brainer Many scholarships that universities offer are only given to incoming freshman Justin would have missed out on 10s of thousands if he went to community college Cody calls out how important it is to just be intentional He also calls out the cool trades and technical skills that don't require a college degree Filling Up Savings Accounts Justin highlights how destructive inflation can be It's also scary to see how many people have avoided investing during the last five years These people are often terrified that we've hit the top Both guys highly recommend buy and hold as well as getting into the market right away Financial Advisors Justin does see value for some to have a tax specialist but doesn't see the need for a financial advisor It may be a good idea to pay a one time fee for an advisor to help set up a plan you're comfortable with That could help you get off the sidelines without being tied down to fees long term These advisors often charge at least 1% which can really add up You can see how much these fees are costing you by using Personal Capital's Fee Analyzer tool. If the only reason you're using an advisor is to give you a scapegoat when things go bad, rethink that To round it out, Justin cautions employees from having too much of their portfolio in their employers stock Whole Life Insurance Justin highlights that no reputable financial independence writer has recommended Whole Life insurance People want to sell you these because the salesman gets a royalty for life Whole Life mixes insurance and investing which means neither is as efficient as it could be This doesn't mean you should necessarily cancel your plan if you're already deep into it If you're really interested in this topic, we covered it previously in-depth You can find that episode with Sa El here Also, don't forget to check out our sponsor Bestow for great insurance quo...

In today's episode, you'll hear from Lauren and Steven who write over at Trip of a Lifestyle. This awesome couple took a six-month honeymoon to Hawaii and that changed everything. They got a taste of traveling on a budget and earning along the way. We can't wait to showcase how they took control of their work-life balance and living life to the fullest. Listen, learn, and let us know what you think. Episode Summary Discovering Financial Independence Lauren started paying attention to income in college She worked her way through college with scholarships and jobs Then when her and Steven moved together to California they started talking to advisors Steven's started getting interested in investing after he started working They ended up getting sold some really bad investments from a bank investor Although it was a bad situation it was a big learning moment They actually came up with this idea of having investments covering your expenses before formally discovering FI It was also really helpful that they started early before they had faced lifestyle inflation The big change for them after finding FI/RE was just saving with more of a purpose They end up moving back to Florida to take advantage of a free master's program for Steven This program was based on a requirement that Steven would teach for a bit in Florida During his teaching commitment, they got married and started brainstorming their honeymoon Long Term Honeymoon They had a goal of really driving down the cost per day for a Hawaii trip Instead of a week or two, they would stay six months They bought a used car, rented an apartment, and worked 10hrs per week When the trip was over, they had broken even and their net-worth actually grew This trip supercharged their will to retire early Lauren & Steven were actually more excited about work because they knew what they wanted now When they returned to Florida they also bought a small condo for cash Even though they owned their house, they brought in roommates to bring in more money Finding Work-Life Balance To enable this type of travel they leveraged their skills to earn money while on the go Steven picked up some private tutoring jobs They both also do photography Lauren negotiated with her employer for a part-time remote job which they agreed When they would go on trips after buying their condo, they'd sign short term tenants Lauren will also help out small business with social media All 61 National parks in seven months After a period of working after returning from the honeymoon, work started taking a toil They felt really burnt out and felt like they should just be doing more of this travel So they came up with this idea of seeing all 61 national parks Total cost of the trip including van depreciation, healthcare, chartering planes etc was $37k That's total for two people and seven months It would have only cost $21k if they skipped a couple of the really remote ones Over that seven month period between side jobs and rent, they earned $37k So their income matched their expenses while taking an incredible trip You can get the full breakdown of this trip here Their Spending They have spent $18k-$27k per year They are comfortable not chasing a specific FI number Lauren & Steven look to continue their side jobs but have no interest in starting a business Key Takeaways Test driving FI/RE: Lauren and Steven talk about how their trips are a test run at what financial independence will look like. Avoid burnout at all cost: It's so important to enjoy the journey on your way to retirement It's ok to not be a boss: I think it was very insightful that Lauren & Steven would rather use businesses than create one Call to Action Take a mini-FI/RE vacation and take some control over your work-life balance. Join the Community

In today's episode, you'll hear from Gina who you can learn more about at Horkey Handbook. Gina grew up poor but graduated college at 19 and began a string of successful careers. After burning out in corporate America, she decided to try her hand at entrepreneurship. Now she is running several successful online businesses aimed at helping others become entrepreneurs themselves. Listen, learn,  and let us know what you think. Episode Summary She grew up poor and money was always a challenge As kids, she'd have to buy her own clothes even in middle school Gina started babysitting at age 11 But Gina was always driven to make something of her self She actually started going to college while she was an 11th / 12th grader This allowed her to graduate college just before she turned 20 The program is a special thing that Minnesota does and is free Then she ended up getting married at 21 and settled down in her hometown After college, she worked for a company helping people reach fitness goals Then she'd transition careers into being a financial advisor Gina was working 60 hour weeks but was learning a ton It's obvious that Gina is an extremely hard worker This means that she thrives in a commission-based jobs Her biggest advice for these type jobs is to sell something you're passionate about She gives some interesting insights into the life of a financial advisor Gina would stay in this career field for 10 years Just before leaving the corporate world they started preparing for a change Her husband quits his job in 2013 to be a stay at home day She knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur and started investigating Gina would start freelancing in several different areas Then she did some virtual assistant working By 2015 she was full-time entrepreneur Her corporate job had been paying about $60k before she left She talks about a lot of the success and benefits One of which is they take a 2-month vacation to the beach in Texas every year They actually unenroll their children from school every year and home school them There were some struggles though She felt guilty being close to her kids but having to work all-day Gina now has a separate location on her property to work in It really helps her separate life and work Gina does struggle with taking on too much work This year she actually stressed herself out so much she grew a dependency on alcohol Luckily she is now been sober for over six months Then Gina goes over some tips for managing stress Her and her husband are both frugal and don't want a lot of flashy things She does, however, believe in investing in herself Gina actually pays $3k per month for a business coach and it's totally paying off Her and her husband also utilize a personal trainer Then Gina goes over a laundry list of businesses she's involved in These include virtual assistant, freelancing, and Pinterest courses Some of these are branching off into niches Such as podcast virtual assistants Key Takeaways Control your income: Gina talks about how a sales-oriented career puts earning power into your own hands Commit Cautiously: Gina put so much into her businesses, but at times pushed herself way too far Branch successes: When Gina finds something is working she doubles down and finds another angle to also go after Call to Action Invest in something that will improve your life. Whether business, fitness, or anything that makes you happy. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes

In today's episode, you'll hear from Lisa who writes over at Mad Money Monster. She started off life poor, had a bad first relationship, then discovered Financial Independence. Lisa was in her 30s and went in full force cutting out all her expenses. It turned out to be too harsh and she shifted her mindset to FI/OR. This is Financial Independence / Optional Retirement and she breaks that down for us. Listen, learn, and let us know what you think. Episode Summary She grew up poor so she was always fascinated with money Once she had her kid she really knew finances were important Then she meets her current husband and they start to close on their big dream home Lisa talks about how the home was way out of their price range Luckily the inspector found black mold in the house This meant the deal fell through and they avoided huge debt Lisa was in her mid-30s in 2015 when all this happened Growing up Poor Then Lisa talks about her upbringing in a 400 sq ft trailer She does note that it was in a great school district Most of her classmates lived in big nice houses Neither of her parents graduated high school Justin and Lisa talk about how to fit in when you don't have money One of the big things was spending a little to get name brand clothes Since they lived in such a small house their family was doing ok They weren't living on super thin margins but they weren't saving anything FI Journey Lisa already had her undergrad, masters, and career started before finding financial independence She had been saving for retirement since day one but no extreme focus Lisa steps back in her story to cover a relationship that fell apart earlier in life She ended up leaving their house with nothing Lisa actually owned a home that she rented to her parents but didn't want to stay there So she ended up renting another apartment Then we step back to what life looked like when she really discovered Financial Independence The day she discovers it, she goes into work and maxes out her 401k contribution Then they started cutting everything No weekly pizza or coffee dates, nothing was off-limits FI/OR - Financial Independence Optional Retirement Lisa goes over the 5 big points of this idea of FI/OR Pressure is off - you don't have to be extreme and retire super early for no reason Makes work more fun - FIRE made work seem daunting, focusing less on it made work fun Scale back / Stop Side Hustles - these are just second jobs and it can grind you down Gives You Options - now you can focus a little more on the things you love vs rapid spending Lisa's original goal was to stop working in 2021 and just do nothing Then she started thinking about kid's college/wedding, vacations, mom's care Now Lisa is rethinking her timeline and moved it to 2025-2030 She and her husband currently have blogs and rental properties She also admits she could never just retire and do nothing Key Takeaways No money? Spend it anyway: Lisa talks about how important having nice clothes was for her self esteem growing up poor It's ok to slow down: Obviously Lisa has pivoted and changed her plans and she sounds so much happier with optional retirement. Pick a Partner: We discuss how being cheap is destructive to relationships and the environment Call to Action Slow down a little, spend some time and money on something you love and avoid deprivation. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android Check out our Sponsors

In today's episode, you'll hear from MK Williams who authors Financial Independence Fiction. She started out chasing a career for money but found herself unsatisfied. MK studied the art of writing and self-publishing. Now she is authoring books and helping other authors as well. Listen and learn all about side hustles and let us know what you think. Episode Summary MK saw her mom put herself through law school and struggle From there she always wanted to hoard money vs spending it She decided to major in economics This decision was largely to earn a higher income She had a passion for writing but didn't feel like she had the skills MK graduated in the middle of the recession so no job was lucrative Her first job would come through a fluke all at USAA She had moved down to Florida to live with her parents Her starting salary was $38k but she didn't love her job While in Tampa she would meet her now-husband Jason Jason actually owned his house and was renting rooms out to people It's very obvious that Jason and MK are completely on the same frugal page We then discuss how they keep finances straight as a couple They actually just use whatever credit card they need for rewards Writing as a business MK had this dream that she would just write a book and a publisher would show up That didn't happen She said it took her three to four years of learning to be ready In the end, she settled on self-publishing MK wasn't driven to write for money at first She then discusses how she grew her brand organically Mk wasn't open to the idea of just paying for tons of ads to grow Then we talk about MK's inspiration for her fictional novels She shares a story of her husband who started selling her families stuff at 12 FI Journey MK got out of debt in 2012 Then they discovered Mr. Money Mustache in 2013 The topic didn't stick at first but then they read Early Retirement Extreme and it stuck this time They had always been good with money but there was no real purpose behind it. Then we swap gears into how she's helping Fiology and ChooseFI with their books MK is now a full-time author and independent publisher by helping others learn how to self-publish She's also taking all these lessons and sharing them via her YouTube Channel MK also shares how authors can still provide physical books without huge upfront costs Key Takeaways Partner in crime: It's so important to get on the same page with your partner, if your not today, just keep working Keep Learning: MK shows how she's continuously learning such as re-reading Harry Potter to understand how a series builds Cheap is harmful: We discuss how being cheap is destructive to relationships and the environment Call to Action Practice your listening skills, We learn from listening not from speaking. Join the Community We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community! Sign up for our exclusive newsletter Join our Facebook Group Leave us a voicemail Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review! The FI show on iTunes The FI show on Android Learn more about MK Via her website 1MKWilliams.com Read her FI-fiction book Learn about self-publishing via her YouTube Channel Learn More About Your Hosts Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog) Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)