082 | Brad and Jonathan’s wives, Laura and Dani (respectively), talk about their introduction to FI, combining finances, budgeting with children, and maintaining balance.

• How did Dani and Laura approach saving before meeting Jonathan?
• How did Laura’s parents change careers to improve their financial status?
• How was growing up in Zimbabwe different from a typical American upbringing?
• What did saving money mean to Dani when she started working?
• How did Dani respond to Jonathan’s initial proposal to combine finances?
• When and how did Brad and Laura merge finances?
• What does a typical day in Dani and Laura’s lives look like?
• How does “busy” look different from when Dani and Laura were working full-time jobs?
• Are kids expensive?
• How do Laura and Dani budget with the extra and unexpected costs of children?
• What is a “Buy Nothing” group?
• How does Laura advance purchase things for her children?
• Do Brad and Laura give their children many choices?
• How do Brad and Laura create space in their lives to not be consumed by FI?
• By saving money on unnecessary expenses, Brad and Laura can be generous and unconcerned with some of the smaller expenses that come up in life.
• How does the 72-hour-rule, introduced by the Frugalwoods, make a difference for Dani and Jonathan?
• How did Laura and Dani respond when Brad and Jonathan decided to leave their jobs and start ChooseFI?
• Does the pursuit of FI ever get too intense?
• How do Dani and Laura plan their meals and prepare ahead of time?

 

Links:

Stay at Home Chef

Smitten Kitchen

Kitchn

Why (and how) I Became a Work-At-Home Mom – The Frugalwoods

A letter to my 22-year-old self – Joel from FI 180