Coast FI and Barista FI are both milestones on the Financial Independence journey. Both have pros and cons and on this episode I discuss some of the differences to think about when choosing which strategy is best for you. I’ll discuss the differences around 4 perspectives consisting of time, financial, work and risk. I also discuss some of the similarities too.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
Barista FI is a milestone you can use along your Financial Independence journey to free up more time earlier on to do the things that you enjoy in life. This is a strategy you can utilise before reaching full FI, and it gives you time freedom and can help reduce your stress. On todays episode I’ll be giving an example of how you can achieve Barista FI with an average salary.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
Continuing the money mistakes theme, I share 3 purchases I’ve made in the past that I’ve kinda regretted and hopefully you can learn from them on your journey to FI, or share them with your younger friends or family members so they’re aware of them too.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
I share 3 money mistakes I made when I was in my 20’s, some of which I’m literally still paying for to this day. Hopefully you can learn from them on your journey to FI or share them with your younger friends or family members so they are aware of them too.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
One of our main aims on the journey to Financial Independence is finding our life purpose. Today we delve into the wrong way to find purpose and an alternative approach that helps you find it the right way. This episode is inspired by the book The Purpose Code by Jordan Grumet.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
We dive into case study stories from amazing early retirees and highlight some of the the key lessons they have learnt in their first few years of early retirement. As this show focuses on enjoying our journey to Financial Independence it's useful for us to be aware of any pitfalls or downsides to FI so we can plan around them in advance.
Case studies on this episode:
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
In part 2, we dive into more case study stories from amazing early retirees and highlight some of the the key lessons they have learnt in their first few years of early retirement. As this show focuses on enjoying our journey to Financial Independence it's useful for us to be aware of any pitfalls or downsides to FI so we can plan around them in advance.
Case studies on this episode:
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
We dive into case study stories from amazing early retirees and highlight some of the the key lessons they have learnt in their first few years of early retirement. As this show focuses on enjoying our journey to Financial Independence it's useful for us to be aware of any pitfalls to FI so we can plan around them in advance.
Case studies mentioned on this episode:
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
If you’re feeling stuck and not sure what path to take in life, having the right tools in your bag might just be the key to getting unstuck. It may be that you’re trying to figure out what career to take, what business to start or what university course to take. Today I’ll be discussing the 5 tools or mindsets that designers use to help them create amazing designs, which we can also use in our lives too.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
Michelle Varghese left her corporate career in tech sales in 2021 to take a sabbatical and pursue her passion projects. What was supposed to be 1 year sabbatical turned into an indefinite one. She started creative projects (like the Build a Wealth Spirit Podcast with her sister Sammie), which led to different work opportunities and collaborations. They worked together on the podcast for 4 years, she’s built a readership of 1,200 on Substack, an engaged audience of over 2,300 on X, has worked with communities like Small Bets, The Pathless Path, Write of Passage. She also created courses and now focus on being a writing coach.
We wanted to get her on the show as she is an inspiring example of how to go about pursuing work that is meaningful to you whilst balancing your finances at the same time.
Watch the full interview on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/3zjkNJdd_8A
The things you’ll learn:
Quick-fire round questions at the end:
Michelle Varghese (Links):
Freedom Before FI Links:
Listen to FBF on Apple Podcasts:
Listen to FBF on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0XxPgEeuGayTqaEwUE19mk?si=cc8639ad8c28474e
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
There are some obvious and common benefits to being on the FI journey, although there are a few little aspects that are not talked about as much when in fact they are superpowers. On this episode I talk about the hidden benefit of saving and investing and how it can significantly help you especially when faced with difficult moments in life.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
Justin Peters the host of the FI Minded Podcast (formerly the Struggle is Real Podcast). Started in 2020 and now has over 175 episodes. FI Minded is for anyone who wants to achieve financial freedom, live life on their own terms, and, most importantly, enjoy the journey along the way! After a 7 month sabbatical in 2020, he got into entrepreneurship after 7 years in corporate and now runs a podcast production company (SimplePod Studios), reducing his 9-5 job to part time. I really wanted to get Justin on the show because we share a similar message, which is about enjoying the journey to FI and taking advantage of the incremental freedoms you unlock on the way. Justin’s reached Coast FI and has unlocked a few of those things on his journey and its what we’ll be talking about today...
The things you’ll learn:
“There are smart managers out there that realise they’d rather get a portion of a very high performing employee than a 100% of an underperforming employee” (Justin on negotiating part time work)
Quick-fire round questions at the end:
Justin Peters (Links):
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
Slow FI (or Slow Financial Independence) is a philosophy coined by the Fioneers that focuses more on intentionally enjoying your journey to FI as oppose to focusing purely on the numbers and speed at which you get to retire early. Its about designing your life intentionally with your values so that you can enjoy the fruits of your hard earned savings now, instead of grinding it out to the finish line. On this episode I talk about 3 ways that I’ve implemented the Slow FI concept in my journey to bring about more happiness and alignment with my values.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
Slow living is about making intentional choices that prioritize your well-being and happiness. It’s about finding balance and being aware that you don’t have to fill every moment with tasks and to-do lists to feel accomplished. By slowing down, you allow yourself to fully experience your life, savoring each moment rather than rushing through it. On this episode I discuss some ways you can incorporate slow living in your Financial Independence journey to bring about more peace and balance.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
Slow FI (or Slow Financial Independence) is a philosophy coined by the Fioneers that focuses more on intentionally enjoying your journey to FI as oppose to focusing purely on the numbers and speed at which you get to retire early. Its about designing your life intentionally with your values so that you can enjoy the fruits of your hard earned savings now, instead of grinding it out to the finish line. If you are regularly feeling burnout on your journey, it may be a sign to adopt a slower approach. On this episode I talk through 5 basic steps to transition over to a more Slow FI lifestyle.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
Brenda is the founder of the Firespark Retreat, a weekend FIRE-focused event held in Victoria, Australia. The weekend is full of workshops and seminars about frugality, purpose, lifestyle design, sharing personal stories and just enjoy the company of like minded FI enthusiasts. Brenda recently moved to Brisbane in Australia from Melbourne and is around two thirds of her way to FI with her partner, however she’s been enjoying the benefits being on the journey has offered, like taking a 12 month sabbatical recently, travelling, building a FIRE community and negotiating work perks like a 4 day condensed work week.
The things you’ll learn:
Quick-fire round questions at the end:
Brenda’s Websites/Socials:
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
Michael’s the host of the Irish FIRE Podcast and also shares his journey to FI through his monthly portfolio updates on his website. He also writes about FI for the Irish Independent. He moved from New Zealand to Ireland and in a short span of 7 years has become Financially Independent with a portfolio consisting of mostly property developments as well as index funds. He built his portfolio from hustling in the tech industry and being self employed. He is now transitioning to Semi-Retirement. Throughout his journey, Michael has realised the importance of lifestyle design and finding out what FI is really about, which is living an extraordinary life on your own terms.
The things you’ll learn:
Quick-fire round questions at the end:
Michael’s Websites/Socials:
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
In your financial freedom journey, one of the debts you may still have is student loan debt from University . Based on where you took your loan and the loan type the interest rate can vary massively. On this episode, I’ll explain from my point of view whether you should pay off all your student loan debt or use that money to invest instead, which is one crossroad you may find yourself in on this FI path. I’ll also share what I’m doing about my student loans.
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
In my first year of running this show I’ve interviewed some amazingly talented individuals and I wanted to package some of their pearls of wisdom in a few short episodes. Today, you will hear the transformational books that have helped them in their journeys. These books are mainly self development and personal finance/financial freedom related. There are also some podcast and YouTube channel recommendations as well.
On this second part you will hear from the following guests:
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice
In my first year of running this show I’ve interviewed some amazingly talented individuals and I wanted to package some of their pearls of wisdom in a few short episodes. Today, you will hear the transformational books that have helped shape their lives. These books are mainly self development and personal finance/financial freedom related. There are also some podcast and YouTube channel recommendations as well.
On this first part you will hear from the following guests:
Freedom Before FI Links:
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice