Freedom Before FI | Life Design, Purpose, Sabbaticals, Coast FI & Financial Independence (FIRE)

Choosing which FI milestone to aim for on your journey can be a bit paralysing, especially with so many different milestones and strategies. On this episode we’ll be focusing on two popular milestones, Coast FI (which you reach before you get to FI) and Lean FIRE (which is where you’ve actually reached Financial Independence). Both options lead to early retirement at different times and I discuss the differences and reasons why each path might be suitable for someone.

Freedom Before FI Links:

• Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/
• Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com
• Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected]
• Instagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI 
• Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

How can you get to Lean FIRE faster? One of the best ways to do that is to move to a low cost of living area and usually its somewhere warm with a tropical climate. That’s where Geographic Arbitrage (or Geoarbitrage) comes into play. I talk about how Geoarbitrage can speed up your journey to FI, some cities in the world where you can do this and I also share an example of someone who hit Lean FIRE and relocated to Bali in Indonesia to live a life they love.

Disclaimer: The monthly living costs noted in this episode are only to give listeners an estimate and provided by nomads.com, naturally everyone will have a different level of spending based on their preferences/budget and the costs are only to give a general guide.

Freedom Before FI Links:

• Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/
• Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com
• Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected]
• Instagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI 
• Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

I’ve recently been considering targeting Lean FIRE in the future and today I share 3 compelling benefits I’ve pondered on in favour of Lean FIRE, compared to ‘Traditional FIRE’ and ‘Fat FIRE’. The FI community was more towards Lean FIRE in it’s early days, although recently there has been more of a push towards Chubby FIRE and Fat FIRE. There’s no right or wrong mind you, only what’s right for our own personal situations at specific times in our lives (each to their own as they say!).

Freedom Before FI Links:

• Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/
• Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com
• Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected]
• Instagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI 
• Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

On our journey to FI we may encounter what’s called the ‘boring middle’ or we may have so many things on our endless to-do list we forget to do things that are fun and bring us joy. This little tweak in your calendar can help remedy this issue. 

Freedom Before FI Links:

• Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/
• Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com
• Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected]
• Instagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI 
• Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

Ato Jay is the awesome founder and host behind the Savvy Wallet platform, which he started back in 2020 where he interviews the brightest minds in business & finance. The podcast has now over 200 episodes and around 50,000 subscribers on YouTube. Along his journey, Ato has built a wealth of personal finance knowledge, in particular saving and investing from a UK standpoint. His goal is to become work optional by 45 and today Ato shares his strategy (and numbers) on how he plans to get there. 

Things you’ll learn:

• Ato’s current career in tech (Agile Coach)
• Interests outside of work
• Early money influences from his parents
• Money lessons on his journey
• How he got involved in the finance/business space
• Budgeting advice for others
• How he was able to save for a deposit to buy a house
• His current investments 
• His early side hustles
• Advice for others wanting to start a side hustle
• Freedoms & options unlocked from managing his money better 
• 'Bridge Pot’ early retirement/work optional strategy and numbers
• Step by step advice for others wanting to get to work optional
• Step by step advice to start investing in the stock market
• Challenges of investing in UK
• How the Savvy Wallet platform started and what makes it a success
• His weekly schedule running the Savvy Wallet while in full time work
• His advice on how to survive in todays evolving society

Quick-fire round questions:

1. Something he wished they done 10 years ago
2. His daily habits that helped him in life
3. His most important lesson in life
4. His 2-3 Book recommendations
5. 1-2 small things listeners can do this week to get started 

Ato Jay (Savvy Wallet) Links:

• Linktree: linktr.ee/savvywallet
• Youtube: https://tr.ee/5sEwL93ReV 
• Instagram: https://tr.ee/1RPxildQPp 
• Podcast: https://tr.ee/o72RnPaEvR 

Freedom Before FI Links:

• Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/
• Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com
• Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected]
• Instagram: DM or Follow - Instagram Link 
• Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi 

Listen to FBF on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/freedom-before-fi-life-design-purpose-sabbaticals-coast/id1740083285

Listen to FBF on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0XxPgEeuGayTqaEwUE19mk?si=cc8639ad8c28474e

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

Don’t know what goals to aim for this year? Today I’m giving you a quick refresher on the ‘333’ goal setting method which is good timing as we kick off the new year. This method will help you pinpoint the actual goals that are relevant to you (in case you’re not sure where to start) and it also helps you create a simple plan that will actually help you execute on your goals.

Using the ‘333 method’, I take you through 8 easy steps. At the end of the exercise you will have created a simple 3 month plan to take on the first quarter of the new year. You can do this exercise in your free time in just under one hour.

Freedom Before FI Links:

• Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/
• Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com
• Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected]
• Instagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI 
• Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

As I turn 40 this month, I reflect on some of the life lessons throughout the years that have helped me on my Financial Independence journey so far. Some of these lessons I wish I knew earlier and I hope they can help you on your journey as well. This episode is Part 2 where I share life lessons 7-12.

Freedom Before FI Links:

• Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/
• Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com
• Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected]
• Instagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI 
• Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

As I turn 40 this month, I reflect on some of the life lessons throughout the years that have helped me on my Financial Independence journey so far. Some of these lessons I wish I knew earlier and I hope they can help you on your journey as well. This episode is Part 1 and I discuss six of the twelve life lessons, Part 2 will showcase the remaining six lessons.

Freedom Before FI Links:

• Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/
• Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com
• Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected]
• Instagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI 
• Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

I share some of the things I have let go in life that seemed important at the time (and sometimes immovable), to regain some of my freedom back. Freedom can come in all shapes and sizes like location freedom, freedom from stress, financial freedom, freedom from negative stuff, freedom from unhealthy things and so forth. When you let go of things holding you back, this creates more space and freedom for the positive things you want to bring more in your life. 

Freedom Before FI Links:

• Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/
• Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com
• Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected]
• Instagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI 
• Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

Nicole and Tylor are the awesome writers behind the Not Your Ordinary Plan blog, they are travel and FIRE movement enthusiasts which is what their blog is all about. They have been on their FI journey for a number of years paying off student loan debt initially then building up their nest egg whilst hitting a number of FI milestones on the way. They recently decided to take advantage of the flexibility that FI gives them and have embarked on a long term mini-retirement (or what their calling their retirement ‘test-drive’) by slow travelling around the world - currently around Asia - and have been dong so for over a year so far.

Things you’ll learn:

• Where they are in the world on their current retirement test drive
• How they both met
• How they work as a team on the FI path
• How they paid of 90k of student loans in 2 years
• Their 8 year Financial Independence journey to date
• How their love for travel started
• Hitting Coast FI and taking 3 month sabbatical
• Achieving Lean FIRE
• The car accident that changed their lives
• Their FI number target and how far along they are
• Saving and investing strategy
• Annual expenses and salaries during investment period
• Getting there Masters Degrees
• Their why of FI
• Travel expenses
• Why they decided to go on retirement test-drive
• What they have done so far on retirement test-drive and plan after
• About their Not Your Ordinary Plan blog

Quick-fire round questions at the end:

1. Something they wished they done 10 years ago
2. Their daily habits that helped them in life
3. Their most important lesson in life
4. Their book recommendations
5. 1-2 small things listeners can do this week to get started 

Nicole & Tylor (Links):

• Blog: https://notyourordinaryplan.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyourordinaryplan_/ 

Freedom Before FI Links:

• Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/
• Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com
• Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected]
• Instagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link 
• Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi 

Listen to FBF on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/freedom-before-fi-life-design-purpose-sabbaticals-coast/id1740083285

Listen to FBF on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0XxPgEeuGayTqaEwUE19mk?si=cc8639ad8c28474e

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice