Please support the show if you like it! I play highlights about Die With Zero, specifically about Time Bucketing.

You can donate via Buy Me a Coffee. You get extra content and know that you’re making the show possible.

Mile High FI is listed as one of the TOP Podcast on Careers in Apple Podcasts!

Spotify is 28% of the audience, so that’s grown in 2025 and higher than I said in this episode.

If you extrapolate the Spotify year end review data to the total downloads, here is what you get…

Mile High FI is a:

I don’t have ads anymore so I want to cover production costs. Most of the costs are related to software and tools and hosting. Many other podcasts have sucky ads every 15 minutes. I don’t want to do that.

Producer Chris volunteers to edit and produce the show. We’re not trying to get rich doing the show, but it takes a lot of time, effort, and planning.

You can also check out the affiliate offers here, which are products that I recommend. Mile High FI usually gets a small percentage, say 1% to 15%, depending on the arrangement. It helps, but direct donations are the best.

Doug chats with Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) about various fears that some people have about early retirement.  They explore why some people may be reluctant to retire, despite being financially ready, and specifically how fear of boredom can hold people back.  They discuss “One More Year Syndrome” and the irrational fear of running out of money despite what the math says.

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

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

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

1:51 One More Year Syndrome

5:50 Scared of boredom

10:18 Building social skills

17:22 Boring people are bored

22:03 FI Collective

25:51 Soundcheck – New house

Doug chats with Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) about evolving perspectives within the FIRE movement.  Moving beyond external critiques, they dive into a confessional-style discussion about genuine problems within the community – from the pitfalls of ultra-frugality, over-saving, over-optimizing, and “One More Year Syndrome” to the identity crisis retirees face.  They explore why FIRE isn’t a “gospel” but instead a set of ideas that should be modified in real-time based on what actually works for each individual.

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

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

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

1:16 MMM persona & early FIRE ideas

8:50 Ultra-frugality

18:00 Over-saving & One More Year Syndrome

24:23 Over-optimizing in the FIRE community

29:30 DoorDash spectrum

34:24 Paying for convenience

42:21 Balancing the future & the present

48:09 MMM’s retirement spending strategies

53:49 Retiring to something meaningful

1:02:18 Soundcheck – Casa Bonita

Doug chats with Pete Adeney, Mr. Money Mustache, about whether the FIRE Movement is dead, in response to a variety of online commentary claiming this statement as fact.  Doug & Pete review and critique multiple perspectives, including notable names like Dave Ramsey and Morgan Housel while also addressing misconceptions, highlighting the value of Financial Independence, and acknowledge the movement’s evolution.

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

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

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

6:11 Jared Dillian, “The FIRE Movement”

23:16 Jarrad Morrow, “The FIRE Movement Won’t Work Like It Used To”

25:52 Dave Ramsey, “Why the F.I.R.E. Movement Isn’t Sustainable”

32:01 Ramit Sethi, “The Problem with the “FIRE” Movement”

38:06 Brian Farrell, “What Happened To The FIRE Movement?”

43:07 Morgan Housel, “Is the F.I.R.E. Movement Dead?”

50:40 Gregory Galant, “Mark Cuban on the FIRE Movement”

58:12 Soundcheck – Winter trips

Doug chats with Carl about finding purpose in life.  They discuss the benefits of preparing for retirement by building a rich life outside of work, taking sabbaticals, and conducting small experiments to explore new hobbies and interests.  They also talk about the importance of community, the idea of redefining success, achieving flow state, and finding meaningful ways to spend one’s time while maintaining good mental and physical health.

Note: This is a rebroadcast of MHFI episode 268

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

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

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

5:34 What FIRE life looks like

13:35 Is retirement overrated?

22:09 Relationship with work

28:24 Seeking validation

34:58 Challenging the corporate ladder

40:31 Setting up for a successful retirement

46:57 Redefining success & finding flow

54:41 Leveraging community & taking action

Doug and Producer Chris chat about a very controversial topic in the FIRE community – working with a financial advisor.  They explore the reasons someone might or might not want to work with an advisor, discussing common pitfalls like high fees & hidden motivations, while emphasizing the benefits of getting an outside perspective & professional guidance, especially in areas like decumulation and complex financial situations.

Did this episode motivate you to seek professional financial help?  If so, check out our friends at Nectarine, where you ONLY pay for investing & planning advice.  Advisors don’t manage your money, sell products, or earn commissions.  *Affiliate link below, so if you do work with Nectarine, we might earn a commission.

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

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

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

4:35 Insurance agents

9:24 The problem with fees

15:21 The downsides of DIY

19:57 Identifying blindspots

27:58 Dealing with complex situations

33:20 Actually working with an advisor

38:23 The importance of professional help

43:20 Mindset & spending in retirement

50:03 Soundcheck – Kitchen gadgets

Doug chats with Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache) and Rusty about prominent themes related to Financial Independence found in popular movies & TV shows.  They delve into iconic films such as “The Matrix”, “Office Space”, and “Fight Club”, extracting key FIRE principles such as anti-consumerism, the quest for personal freedom, and breaking away from traditional corporate paths.

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

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

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

3:24 The Matrix

10:44 Office Space

17:50 Parenting & keeping busy in retirement

26:58 Corporate

31:32 Fight Club

36:52 Reacher

42:21 Local Hero

48:33 FIRE backlash (teaser)

54:39 Soundcheck – Early retirement

Doug chats with Rusty about one of their mutual passions: food and cooking.  They each explore their food “origin stories”, discussing childhood memories and the evolution of their culinary interests.  They touch on how food plays a significant role in their lives and walk through various food-related topics including favorite recipes, cooking styles, and essential kitchen equipment.  They also discuss how cooking can be a meditative process, how food can help build community, and how it all relates to FI.

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

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

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

1:31 Gourmet sandwiches & chili

9:13 Food origin stories

18:59 Cost of food vs. FI

25:07 Leftovers & meal-planning

31:03 Community & mindfulness in cooking

41:24 Recipes & exploring YouTube for inspiration

50:28 Essential kitchen equipment

57:36 Experimenting with eating out

1:06:12 Soundcheck – DIY guitar projects

Doug chats with Carl & Rusty about each of their adventures with housing projects and renovations.  Carl details his current project of tearing down a “Frank Lloyd Wrong house” and building one from scratch while sharing insights into his motivations, costs, and specific financing strategies.  Rusty shares his experience renovating two homes and the strategic use of a line of credit.  Additionally, they delve into considerations of downsizing and the potential of owning second homes.

Does “MHFI After Dark” sound intriguing?  Yeah, we thought so.  Come check out exclusive new content here: https://milehighfi.com/onlyfans

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

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

1:31 Carl’s home building journey

8:10 Unique systems & building challenges

15:41 Financing with the Buy, Borrow, Die Strategy

24:09 Rusty’s renovation stories

30:25 Balancing joy & investment

38:58 Downsizing dilemmas

44:03 Different places in different stages of life

51:46 Second homes

59:24 Soundcheck – Taco Bell

Doug chats with Kevin Sebesta, a self-proclaimed “high-achieving slacker”, about lessons learned from 12 years of early retirement.  Kevin discusses the importance of building a supportive community, how living child-free influences lifestyle choices, the concept of a “Fun Bucket” for guilt-free spending, the balance between optimizing finances & enjoying life, and how curiosity drives his fulfilling retirement.

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

Curious to know exactly what products Doug uses?  Check out his Amazon lists below. *Affiliate links below, so if you buy something or spend money, we might earn a commission. That helps the show and doesn’t cost you anything extra. Thank you!

Want to order MHFI stickers/temporary tattoos or create your own custom stickers?  Of course you do!  We ALL do!  Order them here using our affiliate link so that we might earn a commission: https://www.stickermule.com/dougcunnington

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

1:05 Journey to FI & travel adventures

7:28 Building community in retirement

12:30 Finding a FI family

18:02 Child-free lifestyle & estate planning

29:44 The Fun Bucket

36:41 Die With Zero & time bucketing

42:20 You are who you are

50:05 Adjustments in retirement

59:16 Ability of time & curiosity

1:06:40 Optimizing finances in retirement

1:14:06 Soundcheck – Marshall amps