Fire Drill

Here in the FIRE community we save a lot of money. What if one day it all disappeared because of a... security breach?

There's nothing worse than being hacked and having issues with your accounts because of a security issue - and losing all that money you need to reach FI! Today we talk with David, a security expert who used to work for NASA and who now works for a computer company. He tells us the steps we need to take to keep all of our money safe and not have to worry about security breaches.

You'll love this story.

We also chat about...

What you need to know about security

How to figure out the best passwords

SIM hacking

How to move away from phone numbers

VPNs and buying stuff online

David's personal FI journey

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-to-keep-your-money-safe-and-secure-david

Christmas is here! How are you celebrating the holidays this year? 

In this episode Gwen and J give an update on their lives and receive some comments and thoughts from different listeners on giving gifts at Christmas. We hear gift ideas to reduce consumerism, bring more experiences, recycle old gifts and save money when buying.

You'll love the amazing ideas some people send us.

We also chat about...

Gwen getting a job in Washington and moving

J's 3 life updates

Gift ideas to give more experiences than things

How to recycle old gifts

Hacking the holiday work schedule

Saving money on presents

For show notes and takeaways: https://www,firedrillpodcast.com/awesome-gift-giving-ideas-from-the-fire-community

Christmas is here! How are you celebrating the holidays this year? 

In this episode Gwen and J give an update on their lives and receive some comments and thoughts from different listeners on giving gifts at Christmas. We hear gift ideas to reduce consumerism, bring more experiences, recycle old gifts and save money when buying.

You'll love the amazing ideas some people send us.

We also chat about...

Gwen getting a job in Washington and moving

J's 3 life updates

Gift ideas to give more experiences than things

How to recycle old gifts

Hacking the holiday work schedule

Saving money on presents

For show notes and takeaways: https://www,firedrillpodcast.com/awesome-gift-giving-ideas-from-the-fire-community

Ever met someone who was in the FIRE community but didn't know it? 

Kelsey and her husband started off like many others: a college degree, a job, a house, and so on. But then, Kelsey decided she wanted to try something else and so they went to Seattle, where she started her own digital marketing company and her husband went into carpentry. They then decided to go travelling, starting with New Zealand and then South America, where Kelsey was still working on her business and her husband got started with white water kayaking. A real FIRE adventure!

You'll love their inspiring story.

We also chat about...

Kelsey's journey to entrepreneurshipHow she started her businessHow they survived the first few months without moneyTravelling and living abroadHer long term goals

Enjoy this chat with Kelsey, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Show notes and links from today's episode

Kelsey's business: Davies and DixonKelsey on LinkedIn and Instagram

Key takeaways from our chat with Kelsey

1 - Exciting things happen when you leave your comfort zone

Kelsey wouldn't have been able to do all she did if she hadn't left her comfort zone and gone to Seattle. She had a house, a secure job and was married, but they still decided to change their lives completely and pursue their dreams. Kelsey's husband went into carpentry, and she pursued her dream of building a business with her co-founder. Thanks to this, they were then able to live abroad and travel.

2 - Going online can help your business

In order to work on her business while travelling, Kelsey had to move everything online. This meant giving some people in the business senior management positions, making systems more automated and mostly working with online clients. Kelsey says this definitely helped her business grow and helped define the roles between the co-founders. By hiring people who are smarter than her, she was able to separate herself from the business and help it grow.

3 - The power of mentorship

Kelsey attributes a lot of her success to having the right mentors, the right people with good advice. She finds people that empower and encourage her, and from the entire spectrum of advice, she takes the best parts and  and works with them. Gwen and J talk about the different mentors they encounter at events they go to - a great opportunity to meet interesting people.

Questions? Like or dislike? Leave us a comment!

Want to support the podcast? Here are three things you can do.

1. Start tracking your net worth with Personal Capital using our link. It's free.

2. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and get one extra LIVE episode from us per week.

3. Join our Facebook group and connect with other members of the FI community.

Ever met someone who was in the FIRE community but didn't know it? 

Kelsey and her husband started off like many others: a college degree, a job, a house, and so on. But then, Kelsey decided she wanted to try something else and so they went to Seattle, where she started her own digital marketing company and her husband went into carpentry. They then decided to go travelling, starting with New Zealand and then South America, where Kelsey was still working on her business and her husband got started with white water kayaking. A real FIRE adventure!

You'll love their inspiring story.

We also chat about...

Kelsey's journey to entrepreneurshipHow she started her businessHow they survived the first few months without moneyTravelling and living abroadHer long term goals

Enjoy this chat with Kelsey, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Show notes and links from today's episode

Kelsey's business: Davies and DixonKelsey on LinkedIn and Instagram

Key takeaways from our chat with Kelsey

1 - Exciting things happen when you leave your comfort zone

Kelsey wouldn't have been able to do all she did if she hadn't left her comfort zone and gone to Seattle. She had a house, a secure job and was married, but they still decided to change their lives completely and pursue their dreams. Kelsey's husband went into carpentry, and she pursued her dream of building a business with her co-founder. Thanks to this, they were then able to live abroad and travel.

2 - Going online can help your business

In order to work on her business while travelling, Kelsey had to move everything online. This meant giving some people in the business senior management positions, making systems more automated and mostly working with online clients. Kelsey says this definitely helped her business grow and helped define the roles between the co-founders. By hiring people who are smarter than her, she was able to separate herself from the business and help it grow.

3 - The power of mentorship

Kelsey attributes a lot of her success to having the right mentors, the right people with good advice. She finds people that empower and encourage her, and from the entire spectrum of advice, she takes the best parts and  and works with them. Gwen and J talk about the different mentors they encounter at events they go to - a great opportunity to meet interesting people.

Questions? Like or dislike? Leave us a comment!

Want to support the podcast? Here are three things you can do.

1. Start tracking your net worth with Personal Capital using our link. It's free.

2. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and get one extra LIVE episode from us per week.

3. Join our Facebook group and connect with other members of the FI community.

Tired of spending money on rent? How about living in an RV!

Joe and his wife have lived in an RV for over 4 years now and are loving every minute of it.  They have also been working towards their path to FI, continuously accumulating FU money and allowing them to go travelling, to survive a lay off and for Joe's wife to start her own business.

You'll love how inspiring his story is.

We also chat about...

Building FU moneyLiving in an RV for over 4 yearsJoe's layoffHis future FI goalsThe struggle of not knowing when to quit

Enjoy this chat with Joe, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Show notes and links from today's episode

OnTrajectory toolJoe on Instagram and TwitterBook: The Girl of the Sea of CortezBook: Stuck on an island Book: Sailing the Golden Sea 

Key takeaways from our chat with Joe

1 - The path to FI has its advantages

Thanks to having FU money, Joe was able to survive his lay off even though his wife's business wasn't really making an income yet. He took advantage of his time off to go travelling and help his wife with her business. They had been saving for a few years and this allowed Joe to have more options - even though the lay off came as a surprise! This goes to show how FI is really not just about the number, but really about the journey.

2 - It's all about having your finances in order

Joe tells us that companies need to make a profit, and sometimes that means letting employees go - there's not much you can do about it. The only thing you can do is have your finances in order and be ready if something happens. He says this FI lifestyle will give you the flexibility to do whatever works best for you, without having to depend too much on external circumstances.

3 - The 'one more year' struggle

Joe could quit his job now if he wanted to and would essentially be Lean FIRE. However, he explains that he is comfortable at his job and is enjoying what he's doing at the moment, and so would rather continue working and accumulate more money just. He talks about how difficult it is leave your comfort zone and quit your job. All this into account, his job gives him a lot of flexibility and allows him to travel and achieve his dreams of hiking and exploring. Once again, if you're enjoying the journey, there's no rush to reach FI sooner 😉

Questions? Like or dislike? Leave us a comment!

Want to support the podcast? Here are three things you can do.

1. Start tracking your net worth with Personal Capital using our link. It's free.

2. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and get one extra LIVE episode from us per week.

3. Join our Facebook group and connect with other members of the FI community.

Tired of spending money on rent? How about living in an RV!

Joe and his wife have lived in an RV for over 4 years now and are loving every minute of it.  They have also been working towards their path to FI, continuously accumulating FU money and allowing them to go travelling, to survive a lay off and for Joe's wife to start her own business.

You'll love how inspiring his story is.

We also chat about...

Building FU moneyLiving in an RV for over 4 yearsJoe's layoffHis future FI goalsThe struggle of not knowing when to quit

Enjoy this chat with Joe, and please subscribe to us in iTunes if you enjoyed it!

Show notes and links from today's episode

OnTrajectory toolJoe on Instagram and TwitterBook: The Girl of the Sea of CortezBook: Stuck on an island Book: Sailing the Golden Sea 

Key takeaways from our chat with Joe

1 - The path to FI has its advantages

Thanks to having FU money, Joe was able to survive his lay off even though his wife's business wasn't really making an income yet. He took advantage of his time off to go travelling and help his wife with her business. They had been saving for a few years and this allowed Joe to have more options - even though the lay off came as a surprise! This goes to show how FI is really not just about the number, but really about the journey.

2 - It's all about having your finances in order

Joe tells us that companies need to make a profit, and sometimes that means letting employees go - there's not much you can do about it. The only thing you can do is have your finances in order and be ready if something happens. He says this FI lifestyle will give you the flexibility to do whatever works best for you, without having to depend too much on external circumstances.

3 - The 'one more year' struggle

Joe could quit his job now if he wanted to and would essentially be Lean FIRE. However, he explains that he is comfortable at his job and is enjoying what he's doing at the moment, and so would rather continue working and accumulate more money just. He talks about how difficult it is leave your comfort zone and quit your job. All this into account, his job gives him a lot of flexibility and allows him to travel and achieve his dreams of hiking and exploring. Once again, if you're enjoying the journey, there's no rush to reach FI sooner

One of the keys to reaching financial independence is having certainty. 

Tyson created the amazing retirement tool called OnTrajectory, that helps people measure and plan for FI. It's a combination of the complicated financial calculations used by financial advisors with some great analytical visuals. Tyson also tells us his personal FI story and how came to creating such an amazing tool.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How he started programming at 13

The start of his money journey

Certainty and electric shocks

How he changed his mentality when he had to go to a combat zone

The money dummy with OnTrajectory

His personal FI story

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-he-built-the-personal-finance-tool-that-grows-with-you-tyson

One of the keys to reaching financial independence is having certainty. 

Tyson created the amazing retirement tool called OnTrajectory, that helps people measure and plan for FI. It's a combination of the complicated financial calculations used by financial advisors with some great analytical visuals. Tyson also tells us his personal FI story and how came to creating such an amazing tool.

You'll love his story.

We also chat about...

How he started programming at 13

The start of his money journey

Certainty and electric shocks

How he changed his mentality when he had to go to a combat zone

The money dummy with OnTrajectory

His personal FI story

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/how-he-built-the-personal-finance-tool-that-grows-with-you-tyson

Have you ever thought of building a business around travel?

Andy Steves started his travel business in 2010, giving student tours to exchange students all around Europe. At first he was doing all the manual work himself (tours, guides, etc) but eventually learnt how to scale and grow his business. He currently lives in Medellin, Colombia.

You'll love how inspiring his story is.

We also chat about...

Growing up with a travel lifestyle

How he scaled his business

His business and personal goals

How do find off-the-beaten-path places as a tourist

The emotional perspective of working and travelling.

For show notes and takeaways: https://www.firedrillpodcast.com/building-a-travel-business-while-on-the-road-andy-steves