Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.

Support the Show:

• Join my Patreon membership for ad free and bonus content!
• Sign up to be on the show here

Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.

If you'd like to support the show check out my Patreon at patreon.com/everydayfi podcast for ad free and bonus content.

Today is part 2 with "Tex", the anonymous guest who previously spoke about his struggle and his triumph over addiction. In this episode, Tex shares his journey towards financial independence and how various influences like Bogleheads, Mr. Money Mustache, and Clark Howard shaped his philosophy. Struggling with how to spend money wisely and balancing life priorities, Tex discusses how he used methods like careful car shopping and thoughtful school selection for his children. Despite his family's generational wealth, Tex's aim is to decelerate his career, appreciate the present, and make prudent decisions without succumbing to societal pressures. By aligning vision with execution, Tex focuses on practical steps that enhance his family life and financial stability. Tune in the hear the rest of Tex's story.

Episode Links:

• Bogleheads
• Mr. Money Mustache New Yorker article
• Clark Howard
• Money With Katie
• SchoolDigger
• White Coat Investor
• Jill on Money

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.

Support the Show:

• Join my Patreon membership for ad free and bonus content!
• Sign up to be on the show here

Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.

If you'd like to support the show check out my Patreon at patreon.com/everydayfi podcast for ad free and bonus content.

Before we get started, I want to let you know that this conversation touches on the sensitive topic of sobriety and addiction. I understand these subjects can be challenging, so if this is something that might be difficult for you, please feel free to take a break from this episode and return when you're ready.

In today's episode, I speak with an anonymous guest, Tex, who shares his deeply personal journey of overcoming challenges and building a financially responsible life. Tex discusses constantly moving around in his childhood, coping with bullying as the always "new kid", and dealing with family trauma leading to his addiction. The turning point came when Tex, at age 29, sought help through a 12-step program. This episode explores how recovery and vulnerability transformed Tex's life, leading to healthier relationships, financial independence, and a strong sense of self-worth. This conversation shows that true financial success starts with inner emotional and psychological health.

Episode Links:

• ChooseFI

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.

Support the Show:

• Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content!
• Buy some merch - t-shirts, stickers, mugs, tote bags, all the things!
• Sign up to be on the show here

Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.

In today's Mitch and Meg episode, we talk about balancing the FI lifestyle when one spouse decides to step away from paid work.

Episode Links:

• Jillian Johnsrud
• Ramit Sethi
• Joe Saul-Sehy

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.

Support the Show:

• Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content
• Buy some merch - get t-shirts, mugs, stickers, totes, the works!
• Sign up to be on the show here

Welcome to EverydayFI! Today's episode is a teaser for the new bonus content I'll be putting up on Patreon starting in February. In this episode I bring back my friend David Robinson, aspiring CFP, and we dive into the 4 different ways you can access your retirement money before age 59 1/2. To hear the full episode, sign up for EverydayFI+ on Patreon (you'll also get to skip the ads)!

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.

Support the Show:

• Join my Patreon for ad free and bonus content
• Buy some merch
• Sign up to be on the show here

Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.

Sam and I kick off part 2 of his story talking about the moments that led him to the financial independence community. Sam shares how the realization of student loan debt initially propelled him towards FI, but the intense focus on hitting a high savings rate created tensions in his marriage and personal life as he struggled to find balance. The second half of Sam's story promises an insightful look into balancing life's demands while pursuing financial goals and explores actionable advice for better financial planning and personal fulfillment. Tune in to hear the rest of Sam's journey.

Episode Links:

• Physician on Fire
• ChooseFI
• Two Sides of FI
• The Money Guy Show
• Erin Talks Money
• Furnished Finder

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.

Support the Show:

• Join my Patreon for ad free and exclusive bonus content!
• Buy some merch - t-shirts, stickers, mugs, tote bags, all the things!
• Sign up to be on the show here

It's official!! I've promised in several episodes that I'd be providing ad free and bonus content... Well, it's coming!! The first ad-free episode will drop Monday, February 2nd (you'll see the countdown in my Patreon posts) and the first BONUS episode will drop Friday, February 6th!

So how do you access this content? It's super easy! I've created three tiers here in Patreon: Supporter, Ad Free, and EverydayFI+

• Supporter Tier: if you don't mind listening to ads, but you'd like to support the show anyway this is a great, low cost option
• Ad-Free Tier: if you're sick of ads interrupting your listening experience, this tier let's you listen to all new* episodes ad free!
• EverydayFI+: this is the juiciest tier (yum). You not only get to listen ad free to new episodes, but you also get access to exclusive bonus content. You'll enjoy chats with experts, Meghan spilling the tea on her journey to early retirement (because some things you can only say behind a paywall), and things outside financial independence like podcast and book reviews, Meghan's fertility journey updates, and more. You'll also get an EverydayFI podcast sticker for your water bottle or laptop. This is hands down the best tier for the money.

You can find all tiers and prices here. Once you sign up, you can listen to ad free and/or bonus content in the Patreon app using your custom feed, or check out this article to listen in your favorite podcast player. Make sure to subscribe to EverydayFI so you know when new content drops!

*Episodes prior to February 1, 2026 will still had ads due to the nature of EverydayFI's current hosting platform.

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.

Support the Show:

• Join my Patreon membership (bonus content coming in 2026!!)
• Buy me a coffee
• Sign up to be on the show here

Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.

In today's episode, we delve into Sam's multifaceted career journey, from engineer to stay-at-home dad and finally pilot for a major airline. Sam candidly shares his challenges with financial dependence during his marriage, how a painful divorce led to his financial awakening, and his transition into the world of aviation. Sam also enlightens us about the cost differences and timelines between pursuing a medical degree and becoming a pilot. By sharing his story, Sam illuminates the financial vulnerability and lack of preparedness many face in adulthood. Despite life's unexpected turns, Sam shows us that financial independence is achievable with the right mindset and perseverance. Tune in to hear part one of Sam's story.

Episode Links:

• Mr. Money Mustache
• The White Coat Investor

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.

Support the Show:

• Join my Patreon membership for $5/mo (premium content coming in 2026!!)
• Buy me a coffee
• Sign up to be on the show here

Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.

Today I'm diving into the life of full-time world traveler Julie, who you might remember from episodes 48 and 49. We'll discuss the trials and tribulations of maintaining relationships while living a nomadic lifestyle, including Julie's recent heartbreak and how she balances romantic and other relationships on the road. Stay tuned for some heartfelt insights and personal stories that you won't want to miss.

Episode Links:

• EverydayFI episodes with Julie:
  • Episode 48
  • Episode 49
• EverydayFI episode 25 with Anonymous ("J") on life after divorce
• Julie's blog post: "Truth Bombs I'm Dropping after the Implosion of My Most Recent Serious Relationship"
• Julie's blog post: "The Hardest Lesson I've Ever Learned: A Breakup Post-Mortem and the Cost of Ignoring My Intuition"
• Want to travel with Julie on a mini sabbatical? Go here!

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.

Support the Show:

• Join my Patreon membership for $5/mo (bonus content coming in 2026!!)
• Buy me a coffee
• Sign up to be on the show here

Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.

Today is part two with my friend Eric and in this episode we chat about his journey to financial independence after retiring from the Marine Corps at 45. Eric shares how he found the FIRE movement, his experience learning about stocks, and his success investing in oil stocks before the 2008 financial crisis. Eric opens up about the struggles of finding a new identity and purpose post-retirement and the value of having multiple communities or 'tribes' to nurture different aspects of life. Eric also celebrates his recent accomplishment of completing his first fiction novel, emphasizing the importance of creativity and personal growth. Tune in to hear the second half of Eric's story after a word from some advertisers, who I do not choose and do not condone.

Episode Links:

• Eric's links:
  • YouTube Channel
  • Website
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
• EverydayFI episode 45 with David Robinson
• ChooseFI
• FI Service Corps
• Friends on FIRE

Subscribe on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify.

Support the Show:

• Join my Patreon membership for $5/mo (bonus content coming in 2026!!)
• Buy me a coffee
• Sign up to be on the show here

Welcome to EverydayFI! I'm your host, Meghan Combs, and I'm here to say you don't need a million dollar book deal or famous blog to reach financial independence. By exploring the lives of everyday people pursuing FI I'll show you how to forge your own path to financial freedom, the everyday way.

Today is part one with my friend Eric, whom I met at Camp FI Spain. You'll get to hear gripping tales of his time in the military as a United States Marine Corps combat helicopter pilot, including his special ops missions and deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. We also talk about the challenges of his late wife's battle with cancer, and how that led him to meet his new wife, Alise. Eric talks about how early retirement has opened a new chapter for him and Alise with travel and a focus on a peaceful life over the hustle and bustle. He also reflects on his family's approach to finances, the lessons he learned from his parents about money, and how his own financial journey evolved over time. Tune in to hear more of Eric's story!

Episode Links:

• Eric's links:
  • YouTube Channel
  • Website
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
• Motley Fool
• Econome Conference