Doug chats with Jess and Corey from The Fioneers about their unique paths to Financial Independence, the Slow FI and Coast FI concepts, how their views on spending have evolved over the years, content creation, and balancing work with building a fulfilling life.  The group provides thoughts and advice in response to a listener email about reaching Financial Independence, potentially achieving Fat FI, helping family, and exploring content creation as a new career path.   Jess and Corey also discuss their Coast FI calculator tool and upcoming Slow FI retreats.

Follow the link for more details including the original email from listener “Carl”: https://milehighfi.com/coast-fi-question-265/

Win a ticket to CampFI Rocky Mountain – Week 1 Ticket (2025)

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Links

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Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

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**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

1:09 Inspirations for slowing down

5:13 Listener email & initial thoughts

12:36 Champagne lifestyle and spending

19:56 Balancing family support with FI

27:09 Job satisfaction

34:08 Sleeping in a camper van

39:10 Content creation

46:22 Strategies & recommendations for “Carl”

52:27 Future plans for the Fioneers

58:22 Soundcheck – Van Life

JT and Doug talk about reading and books…

Win a ticket to CampFI Rocky Mountain – Week 1 Ticket (2025)

Support the Show (and get exclusive content!)

Check out the Mile High FI Store…

Outro music is a bastardization of Cry, Moan, & Wail by Marc Ford. Super cool blues chord progression…

Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!

[email protected]

00:00 Intro

13:07 Discussing Tim Ferriss’s Massive Books

14:34 Approaching Nonfiction Reading

18:25 Fiction vs. Nonfiction Preferences

19:51 The Role of Podcasts in Book Promotion

27:34 Using AI for Book Recommendations

29:20 Balancing Multiple Books at Once

31:57 Book Recommendations and Final Thoughts

36:19 Running and Fitness Goals

Doug chats with David & Jill at the EconoMe Conference about their pursuit of Financial Independence.   David shares his background growing up with a scarcity mindset, the accidental path to FI, his recent mini-retirement, experience quitting alcohol, and a newfound passion for stand-up comedy.  Jill discusses her middle-class upbringing, balancing her full-time job and schooling, and frugality.  Together they discuss lifestyle changes, managing finances as a couple, and the importance of clear communication in a relationship.

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Links

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Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

4:21 Discovering FIRE & frugal habits

9:41 David & Jill’s FI journey

17:17 Overcoming the fear of boredom

26:44 Reflecting on sobriety

32:05 Stand up comedy

39:47 Balancing finances as a couple

45:10 Mini retirement plans

50:53 Importance of communication

58:08 Soundcheck – EconoMe Experience

Doug chats with Producer Chris about a variety of topics including irrational money fears, why people commonly talk about their work in social settings, and what their day-to-day lives look like in early retirement. They explore common financial anxieties such as the fear of running out of money and how past experiences shape these fears. They share strategies for steering conversations away from work and towards more engaging subjects like travel and hobbies. Finally, they provide a glimpse into their daily routines, highlighting the freedom and fulfillment that early retirement and semi-retirement offers.

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Links

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Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

1:26 Fear of running out of money

8:56 Reacting to stock market volatility

15:01 Sequence of Returns Risk & flexibility

24:43 Why people talk about work

28:49 What else to talk about & complaining

33:27 Chris’s typical day

41:21 Doug’s typical day

49:12 Open time & Parkinson’s Law

56:27 Soundcheck – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Doug and Carl chat about some questions that listener Austin submitted regarding early retirement and withdrawal strategies.  They explore the nuances of early retirement, discussing happiness, daily life, and responsible financial drawdowns.   They also address withdrawal strategies, including rental properties, index funds, automated transfers, tax optimization, health insurance, and how to handle Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).

Note: This is a rebroadcast of MHFI episode 190

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Links

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Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

9:23 Post-FI life

18:58 What does FI look like?

27:05 Shifting interests

32:33 Passive income & rental properties

38:20 Index fund withdrawal strategy

45:30 Withdrawal amount

53:09 RMDs and tax strategies

1:03:51 Professional financial advice

1:13:01 Soundcheck – Paper notebooks

Doug and Mark Trautman discuss a listener question regarding whether it’s better to pay off a low-interest mortgage (2.5%) or invest the money instead.  They explore various strategies, including the psychological benefits of paying off a mortgage, the financial returns of investing, and a hybrid approach to manage risks.  They also delve into the historical behavior of the stock market and emphasize the importance of aligning investments with personal goals.

Follow the link for more details including the original listener question and Doug’s Gemini Calculations: https://milehighfi.com/should-you-pay-off-your-mortgage-early/

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Links

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Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

2:02 Laying out the financial details

8:14 Mark’s approach – The money tree

13:57 Downsides of Mark’s strategy

18:37 Doug’s approach & Gemini calculations

24:42 Eliminating downside & lowering uncertainty

31:14 Market volatility & historical context

38:23 Not always about maximizing returns

44:54 Soundcheck – Cleaning

Doug chats with Mark Trautman about non-frugal habits and some recent “fancy” spending that both of them have indulged in.  They delve into the concept of easing away from frugality, the ‘fun bucket’ for guilt-free spending, and psychological tricks to spend more comfortably while also touching upon practical tips for managing money and making thoughtful spending decisions.

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Links

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Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

2:06 The Fun Bucket

9:26 Upgraded dining

12:35 Cruising in style

18:56 Managing long trips

25:59 Higher-end music equipment

31:40 Flying in comfort

37:12 Travel hacking

43:46 Buying a new car

48:47 House purchase/swap

54:52 Mark’s Money Mind

58:22 Soundcheck – Landscaping & HOAs

Doug and Kristen continue their conversation about travel hacking (picking up from MHFI 258), this time moving on to more advanced techniques & tips.  They discuss credit card referral bonuses, maximizing redemptions, airline alliances, the intricacies of business credit cards, and the Chase 5/24 rule.  Kristen also emphasizes the value of using tools & apps for tracking and optimizing points.

You can check out all of Kristen’s notes here: https://milehighfi.com/travelhacking/

Kristen’s credit card referral links – she gets points if you use any of the links and it’s a great way to say thanks!

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Links

—

Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

7:54 Understanding referrals

15:01 Points redemption

23:41 Airline alliances

29:20 Business cards & Chase 5/24 rule

36:35 Creative spending & signup bonuses

43:48 P2 strategies & Companion Pass

50:37 Travel hacking community

53:55 FI Friends Travel

58:02 Soundcheck – The long journey home

Doug chats with Kristen Knapp about the world of travel hacking, beginning with the basic principles and strategies for earning and maximizing points & miles.  Kristen shares her personal experience with travel hacking, highlights key rules and tips for getting started, offers practical advice on how to choose the right credit cards, the importance of being organized, and tips for utilizing various travel apps.

You can check out all of Kristen’s notes here: https://milehighfi.com/travelhacking/

Kristen’s credit card referral links – she gets points if you use any of the links and it’s a great way to say thanks!

Do you like the podcast and want to support the show?  Follow the link to find out how: https://milehighfi.com/support/

Links

(*Some affiliate links so we might earn a commission if you buy something)

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Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s the email list!

Get MHFi Merch – It helps support the show. Get t-shirts & more

**Disclaimer: The podcast is for informational purposes. Maybe entertainment but we won’t even make such a claim. You shouldn’t take the info as financial, legal, or tax advice. We aren’t certified financial planners or advisors. We’re not qualified for much. So get advice from professionals.**

Brought To You By:

The Doug Show, aka Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles

Email the show: [email protected]

0:00 Introduction

12:17 Travel hacking basics

19:02 Maximizing points & miles

26:57 Credit card perks & annual fees

34:37 Understanding transferable points

43:07 Evaluating cards & opening strategies

50:04 Managing cards

56:52 Tracking credit card information

1:02:54 FI Friends Travel

1:10:45 Soundcheck – Home ownership struggles

This is a Bonus episode with producer Chris!

We talk about:

Happiness Study Links:

High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being – 2010 Study by Kahneman and Deaton

Income and emotional well-being: A conflict resolved – 2022 Study by Killingsworth and Kahneman and Mellers

Check out Producer Chris’s blog: Epic Financial Journey

Join the Mile High FI Club – It’s our email list!

MHFI Facebook group

Help Doug publish more shows by supporting at Buy Me A Coffee.

See other sponsors and affiliate partners, like Mint, Trust&Will, and Nectarine.

Email the show: [email protected]

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Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:55 Meet Producer Chris

03:07 Happiness and Income Studies

10:16 Inflection Points in Life

18:51 Toys and Spending

24:17 Guitar Trading and Financial Insights

25:27 Shifting Focus to Experiences

26:47 Balancing Material and Emotional Investments

28:53 Band Aspirations and Musical Gear

30:11 Reflections on Early Retirement

41:37 Frugal Habits and Financial Quirks