

Mile High FI Podcast
Doug Cunnington & Carl Jensen
Real talk about Financial Independence and life after corporate jobs. Doug Cunnington and Carl Jensen talk about FI, lifestyle, side hustles, health, and anything on their minds. Plus, they interview experts and non-experts interested in the FI lifestyle. It's raw, candid, pretty much like you get to sit in on a private conversation.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 30, 2023 • 1h 10min
Retiree's Guide: Overcoming Frugality & Embracing Spending, Pt 3 | MHFI 163
Doug and Carl talk about the shift from saving to spending in retirement. It’s not always easy to go from being a big saver to a big spender. Or even a little spender.
Budgets in retirement
The importance of experiences
The Splurge Fund
Do you love Mile High FI? Support us over at Buy Me A Coffee. Do you really love Mile High FI? Buy us 500 Coffees! Do you really love us, buy us a helicopter and a couple of flight lessons!
Links
ChatGPT
The Paradox of Choice
NoCo Mustachian Meetup
Carl’s very big purchase
Die With Zero
Doug’s site - Check out the NEW Sleep Post.
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Introduction
1:22 New acquisitions
8:31 How often Carl & Doug review finances
18:38 Doug’s budget & expense tracking
24:53 Buying more time
29:21 Prioritizing experiences, health, quality of life
38:33 Happiness
48:05 Splurging
56:06 Don’t try to optimize
1:01:06 Support the show
1:05:51 Soundcheck - Carl & Mindy’s guest appearance

May 23, 2023 • 57min
Retiree's Guide: Overcoming Frugality & Embracing Spending, Pt 2 | MHFI 162
Doug and Carl talk about the shift from saving to spending in retirement. It’s not always easy to go from being a big save to a big spender. Or even a little spender.
Why do early retirees feel guilty about spending?
Societal expectations
Finding balance
Do you love Mile High FI? Of course you do. Show us the love by supporting us over at Buy Me a Coffee.
Links
Ramit Sethi
Downshift Financial
Doug’s site - Check out the NEW Sleep Post.
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Introduction
1:12 Psychology of frugality & guilt
6:22 Pivoting to spending more
11:04 Tips & strategies for spending
15:30 Spending in retirement
25:12 Happiness & community
30:36 New branded products coming soon
36:22 Financial flexibility
39:28 Creating a retirement budget vs. actual spending
47:32 Questions for listeners/viewers
51:07 Soundcheck - Simple food stories

May 16, 2023 • 1h 6min
Retiree's Guide: Overcoming Frugality & Embracing Spending, Pt 1 | MHFI 161
Doug and Carl talk about the shift from saving to spending in retirement. It’s not always easy to go from being a big save to a big spender. Or even a little spender.
To DIY or not to DIY; Carl’s landscaping adventures
Why it’s difficult to shift from saving to spending
Happiness shouldn’t wait for retirement
Why are we afraid of running out of money?
The 4% Rule. Again.
Do you love Mile High FI? Support us over at Buy Me A Coffee. Do you really love Mile High FI? Buy Us 500 Coffees! Do you really love us, buy us a helicopter and a couple of flight lessons!
Links
Sean Mullany on Mile High FI
EconoMe
Carl’s very big purchase
Die With Zero
Doug’s site - Check out the NEW Sleep Post.
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Intro
3:53 A small correction from a viewer
6:51 We have a book idea!
8:43 Being accustomed to saving
13:12 Carl's purchases and DIY projects
22:11 From saving to spending
32:44 Buying what makes you happy
37:48 Changing habits
38:58 Two things
41:14 Our new product announcement
43:00 Fear of running out of money
56:43 How you can support us
58:56 Developing a healthy relationship with money
1:01:31 Soundcheck

May 9, 2023 • 58min
Why You Need A Will | MHFI 160
Doug and Carl talk to Longmont friend Amy about the death of her husband Phil and the aftermath of dying without a will.
- Phil’s death
- How Colorado treats your estate without a will (intestate succession)
- Specify your beneficiaries. Now!
- Wait, who gets Phil’s money?
- Family fallout
- Actions you need to take
--
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Intro
2:30 Amy's husband's death
10:15 Not having a will in Colorado
16:29 Are parents entitled to the money of a deceased spouse?
25:55 Laws
27:12 Doug's thoughts
27:58 A spouse is our primary person
29:00 Amy's legal process
32:05 Feelings of betrayal
36:11 How to avoid situations like this
38:44 Setting up a trust
41:07 Doug's will
42:00 Why a trust is better than a will
45:15 Losing relationships along the way
49:40 Amy's socials
52:20 Soundcheck

May 2, 2023 • 53min
Mini-Retirements, Travel, & Redefining Success | MHFI 159
Doug and Carl talk to Amy Minkley, founder of FI Freedom Retreats and all around stellar human.
Discovering FIRE
How a chaotic childhood shaped Amy’s money views
Studying History at university
Moving to Asia to teach ESL
Overworking to feel worthy
Job induced depression
The incredible benefits of mini-retirements
Two More Year Syndrome
Traveling with purpose
FartFIRE
Do you think that Mile High FI is a spiffy listen? Don’t lie, we know you do. Why else would you be reading this? Well maybe you’re here to leave a nasty comment. Don’t do it. Be the better person!
Anyway, since you think we’re spiffy, please consider supporting us over at Buy Me A Coffee.
Links
FI Freedom Retreat
Facebook page
Facebook event
Support Mile High FI: Buy Me A Coffee
Amy’s Journey to FI on YouTube
Choose FI
EconoMe
Doug’s site - Check out the NEW Sleep Post.
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Intro
1:03 How Amy discovered FIRE
5:00 Growing up
8:58 University
14:38 Living abroad
17:10 Are gap years mini-retirements?
22:29 Finding community
28:25 Amy's first FI retreat
30:51 The One Year syndrome
36:16 Amy's FI Freedom retreat
38:30 Making friends
40:51 The perfect day
43:58 Where you can find Amy
47:19 Soundcheck

Apr 25, 2023 • 41min
Life Updates & Tech Adventures: Home Improvements, Travel Plans | MHFI 158
Doug and Carl catch up. They chat about the following topics:
Carl’s home improvement adventures
Doug deletes a show
Carl’s travel plans
Doug gets into ChatGPT
Being alone
Links
Support Mile High FI: Buy Me A Coffee
Doug’s site - Check out the NEW Sleep Post.
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Intro
1:33 What's Doug been up to
4:06 Getting creative
6:45 Carl's house updates
12:53 Doug's passion for ChatGPT
21:09 Carl's travel plans
25:50 Doug's home alone (with his dog!)
30:45 Trying to drink less
34:50 Carl's retiring for real
35:53 How you can support us
37:33 Soundcheck

Apr 18, 2023 • 55min
Coast FI, Slow FI, & Pioneering Your Path to Financial Freedom | MHFI 157
Doug and Carl talk about different flavors of FI, traditional, Coast FI, Slow FI, and FartFIRE.
New sponsor! Carl’s Quick Hardening Caulk
Traditional FI
Slow FI
Coast FI
FartFIRE
Do you love Mile High FI? Support us over at Buy Me A Coffee. Do you really love Mile High FI? Buy Us Two Coffees! Do you hate Mile High FI? Carl hates coffee so buy him 10!
Links
Support Mile High FI: Buy Me A Coffee
FIoneers on Mile High FI
Doug’s site - Check out the NEW Sleep Post.
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Intro
5:23 How you can support us
7:03 Different types of FIRE
8:16 Carl's journey from tech to FI
11:50 Doug's journey to FI
15:00 Quiet quitting is real
17:47 Life before and after FIRE
21:25 What is Slow FI?
23:07 What if Carl had done Slow FI?
28:25 Disadvantages of Slow FI
30:16 What is Coast FI?
32:53 Investing into retirement and post-tax accounts
35:48 Pros and cons of Coast FI
39:49 Fart FIRE
46:38 Happiness

Apr 11, 2023 • 1h 10min
Why Do People Do Dumb Things? Part 2 | MHFI 156
Doug and Dusti are back for Part 2 on cognitive biases and how they shape our financial decisions.
How a scarcity mindset can hold you back
Desire to be like everyone else
Decision paralysis
Default bias
Holding onto bad investments
Are we more motivated when we're close to reaching a goal?
Do you love Mile High FI? Support us over at Buy Me A Coffee. Do you really love Mile High FI? Buy Us Two Coffees! and we’ll quit! You win either way!
Links
Connect with Dusti on Instagram
Doug’s site - Check out the NEW Sleep Post.
--
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Intro
2:50 Having a scarcity mindset
8:14 The ''what the hell'' effect
13: 35 Social proof and the desire to be like other people
19:08 The cost of friction and decision paralysis
25:34 Default bias
37:20 Why we hold on to bad investments
45: 18 Getting more motivated at the finish line
55:12 Our favorite desserts

Apr 4, 2023 • 1h 18min
What We Hate About The FIRE Movement | MHFI 155
Doug and Carl talk about the bad parts of the FIRE movement.
Cheap people
Dogmatic approaches
How the mainstream media writes about FIRE
Lack of nuance (must we discuss the fv^%ing 4% Rule again?)
It’s OK to work
From the listeners
Living off $40,000/year isn’t realistic
Credit card hacking isn’t for everyone
Do you love Mile High FI? Support us over at Buy Me A Coffee. Do you really love Mile High FI? Buy Us Two Coffees! and we’ll quit! You win either way!
Links
Support Mile High FI: Buy Me A Coffee
Doug’s site - Check out the NEW Sleep Post.
Carl’s blog: 1500 Days
--
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Intro
4:30 Mr. Mustache HQ - What's new?
7:50 Doug's health updates 10:38
How you can support us
14:25 Carl's number one issue with FIRE
22:31 Applying a dogmatic approach to FI
28:00 Is having a job necessarily bad?
36:20 Paying attention to details
39:04 Portrayal of FIRE in the media
43:20 The 4% rule (again)
50:30 Annoying things FI people do
53:43 Courses
59:04 Can you live on 400k a year?
1:01:09 Credit card rewards
1:02:50 Teaching teenagers a FIRE mindset
1:04:26 Shifting into decumulation
1:07:26 The ''Spending is bad'' mindset

Mar 28, 2023 • 55min
Maximizing Profit & Minimizing Hassle: Real Estate Mailbag | MHFI 154
Doug and Amberly chat about what they've been up to lately and answer some intriguing real estate questions.
Advice for beginners
Creative buying strategies
Managing a property
Responding to inquiries
Should pets be allowed on properties?
Real estate books suggestions
Do you love Mile High FI? Support us over at Buy Me A Coffee. Is “love” too strong of a word? Good news! You can still support us.
Links
Whole Life News (get the back story here: Setting Up Wills and Trusts - MHFI 147
Contributing to a retirement account: MHFI 062
Connect with Amberly Grant!
AmberlyGrant.com
FinTalks
Instagram
Amberly on Facebook
--
Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!
Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shorts & more
**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won't even make such a claim. You shouldn't take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren't certified financial planners or advisors. We're not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**
Brought To You By:
The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles
1500 Days, Carl's Blog about Early Retirement
Email us here: doug@milehighfi.com or carl@milehighfi.com
0:00 Intro
1:30 What's Amberly been up to
10:30 Doug's whole life insurance policy
23:47 Deciding on a number of properties
27:15 Aversions for building up a rental property
30:36 What would Amberly do differently in her real estate journey
33:44 The MOST important advice for beginners
34:04 Where to obtain a rental application
35:05 Creative buying strategies
37:37 Property management
38:54 Maintenance requests
39:53 Should animals be allowed on a property?
41:24 Real estate investing books
41:58 What Amberly is currently investing in