Posts byErin | Reaching for FI

For many people, the end of the year is a time to reflect back on the last twelve months and make resolutions for the …

I’m not used to failing to achieve goals I set out for myself, and I was really upset until I looked back at the past year.

It takes conscious effort to look seriously at things beyond the immediate future. You have to train yourself to start considering the long-term consequences of your daily choices and use them as a pro-and-con with those immediate choices.

It’s about money but it’s also about time. How quickly can you see a return from either cutting back or increasing your income?

Not too many people are talking about this or thinking about this—we just kind of bank on the fact that we’ll be healthy after we stop working at our job. And what happens if you’re not?

We didn’t see the signs of the coming crisis. No one did. We were just a young family, busy living our lives.

Whenever I tell myself ‘I can’t afford this,’ I feel a little sad or frustrated, and so what I want to do is be aware that this is a thought—a Jackal—when actually, there is a choice, right? I’m choosing not to buy something because I want to spend my money on my rent. I don’t want to spend my money on this car because I can get a second-hard car and I prefer to spend the rest of my money on the gym. There is a choice there.

I figured if I’m going to stay doing this kind of low-level job, I’d better try to enhance my wealth, maybe not through W-2 work, but through investing.

If you aren’t buying (figuratively and financially) into this equation, what’s the next step? Redefine it for yourself.

Because I think gift giving ultimately boils down to something really simple: it’s a gesture of kindness, thanks, appreciation, or even love. It doesn’t have to be complicated, social media be damned.

The money he would get for it in town could also serve a valuable function, like maybe feeding his family. His kids can’t eat headlamps.

I believe we are meant to live in community and that means sharing our secrets, heartaches, hopes, dreams, struggles, finances, and goals.

My awareness of and dedication to becoming debt free and financially independent has blossomed over the past year or so, and it’s important to look back and be appreciative of the situations that have allowed me to find success.

You may have heard of the pink tax, but women also face unique financial challenges when it comes to beauty standards, family planning, and …

I’m taking steps today that will let me retire on my own terms, including avoiding these six mistakes that will prevent you from retiring early.