On Getting Rich

My whole life I wanted to be rich. I know, this puts me in a small subset of the population called “everybody,” but I always knew I was different. I was different for two reasons: 1) Even at a young age I was already trying to get rich, starting “businesses” and taking steps to put… Continue reading On Getting Rich

2021 Goals Review

Here we are at the end of 2021 and boy has this been a slow year. Between the never ending backyard renovation, a major work project, and my kids making each day feel like a week, I feel like I’ve aged five years this year. So I’d like to take this opportunity to look back… Continue reading 2021 Goals Review

Why I Won’t Celebrate Reaching the Paper Millionaire Milestone

What is a “paper millionaire?” As defined by Investopedia: “A paper millionaire is an individual who has achieved a high net worth as a result of the large total market value of the assets they own.” For many people that religiously track their net worth, this is a big milestone. The r/financialindependence subreddit is awash… Continue reading Why I Won’t Celebrate Reaching the Paper Millionaire Milestone

Paying for Your Phone in Installments Should be Embarrassing

I have been fortunate enough to have my primary cell phone provided by my company for fifteen years. When I have had to pay for my device, it’s usually heavily subsidized. For instance, today I could buy a brand new iPhone 13 Pro MAX for $400. I simply provide my credit card information and the… Continue reading Paying for Your Phone in Installments Should be Embarrassing

I Would Have No Idea What to do with the Money

People come to me for advice, or simply to have money conversations, because they say I’m good with money. The truth is, I’m actually good without money, and dangerous with money. Over the past decade or so I’ve trained myself to stop being the guy who picks up the tab saying “I’ll pay for it… Continue reading I Would Have No Idea What to do with the Money

Renovations Suck!

I am in the third year of renovating my house, and frankly I’m sick of it. So what business does a blog about financial independence have writing about renovations? Hear me out. Until about four years ago, my quest for financial independence was a fairly typical slow burn. I was paying off debts as fast… Continue reading Renovations Suck!

“It was the only way…”

In the past I’ve talked about what wonderfully bad financial role models my parents have been. This is something I’ve tried for years to make peace with. Unfortunately every time I think things have settled down and cant get any worse, they find a new way to surprise me. For the record, whatever my parents… Continue reading “It was the only way…”

“Final” Refi Complete

In my Goals for 2021 post I mentioned that I would consider refinancing again if the conditions were right. I looked at this from a lot of different angles, including riding out the mortgage I’d signed in 2019, sending one or more lump sum payments, overpaying the existing mortgage monthly, and refinancing. In the end,… Continue reading “Final” Refi Complete

Why I Decided to Refinance Again

As a homeowner, 2020 provided some interesting opportunities. Home prices in the suburbs surrounding major metro areas have gone up considerably, while interest rates have plummeted. This has fueled a wave of refinancing (both for good and bad reasons). At the end of 2019, before anyone even knew what COVID-19 was, I refinanced my mortgage,… Continue reading Why I Decided to Refinance Again