Kim – Blogger for The Frugal Engineers with a guide to college planning and early retirement. Kim shares how she and her husband have transformed their careers in a way where they can work from home using geo-arbitrage, simply moving to a lower cost of living area, she can be a stay-at-home mom, how they have learned from financial mistakes, supplemental incomes, and how they are preparing for their daughter’s education.

Post-Interview Analysis 

• Key Lessons Learned: 

Increase happiness by removing negatives instead of adding more positives. Take your time when making an emergency financial decision.  

Episode Highlights:

• Schedule a video chat with Neil Henderson at roadtofamilyfreedom.com/contact
• What is the ‘a-ha moment’ when Kim learned about early retirement and financial freedom? 
• What does Kim mean by graduating from the ‘Dave Ramsey School of Thought?”
• Kim discusses her and her husband’s F.I.R.E. (financial independence, retire early) status. 
• Kim feels her retirement began when she was able to start working from home.     
• How did Kim and her husband figure out their spending habits?  
• What is the ‘4% Rule’ and ‘The Trinity Study?’
• What did their student loan debt look like? 
• Kim talks about her biggest financial mistakes.  
• When did they sell their second house?   
• Having supplemental income sources if needed are important to figure out as back-ups.  
• So many people’s identities are tied to what they do. 
• You connect with people much more when you talk with people about what they like to do instead of what they have to do. 
• What are some of the challenges of retiring early or being a stay-at-home mom?    
• What does Kim feel the irony of Silicon Valley is?  
• Working from home does present isolation issues. 
• Where your money goes makes a big difference.  
• How do Wyoming scholarships work? 
• Kim talks about how she is planning for her daughter’s college education. 

Books and Resources Mentioned:

• The Road to Family Freedom: