Podcasts about houseoffi

Wendy and Curtis Mays from Hou$e Of Fi are on the show today. They’re a married duo whose mission is to help your family pay off debt, budget better, save more money and increase your income. Wendy is a retired lawyer and Curtis is a high school teacher and Football Coach. Their journey into the personal finance space started back in 2008-2009 during The Great Recession, when they lost 2 homes. Along their personal finance journey, they’ve also overcome a period of time where they were drowning in six-figure college loan debt, consumer debt and living paycheck to paycheck, all while making six figures in income! This didn’t add up and they knew something had to change. Wendy and Curtis were scared for their financial future and worried about not being able to help their kids with college. Since 2016 they’ve gotten rid of over 650K of debt. At House Of FI they share their money story, open up their toolbox and share their tools so that you can embark on your own financial independence journey and live a joy-filled life.   Wendy and Curtis offer a FREE course called “7-Step Money Foundations” aimed at educating people about their personal finances. They also host the House Of FI podcast where they interview experts in the personal finance space and discuss topics such as: F.I.R.E, marriage and money, budgeting, investing, side-hustles, debt payment plans, strategies for paying off student loans and other relative money topics. In today’s episode you’ll hear Wendy and Curtis’s money story, their money roles in their relationship, how they budget and prep for the future with six kids, and the steps they took to get out of debt.   What To Listen For Why married couples must determine what kind of lifestyle they want to live The cost of having flighty dreams Sacrificing things in the short term, to achieve long term goals How income and gender roles can affect your marriage – Who is the “breadwinner”? Trying to shakeoff living with a crisis mindset after a traumatic money event has taken place The importance of additional income streams Why you need a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C for your money and career How Wendy and Curtis learned from losing 2 homes in The Great Recession How to discuss money, budgeting and investing with reluctant spouses – Accepting them where they are in their money journey The financial impact of having a big family The importance of leaving a legacy for your children Dealing with lifestyle creep The debt-avalanche vs. debt-snowball payment methods   Key Takeaway: Learn from your financial mistakes and plan for your future. Get educated about what you can do to budget better, pay off debt and increase your income through side-hustling.   Paychecks & Balances Website: https://paychecksandbalances.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/paybalances Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paybalances Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paychecksandbalances Twitter: https://twitter.com/paybalances?lang=en   House of FI Website: https://houseoffi.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/houseoffi1 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJsy-xKYKq0P5IYDTbHBIrA?view_as=subscriber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/house_of_fi/ Podcast: https://houseoffi.com/podcast-3/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Houseoffi/          

This week on the show we speak with Lacey Langford. She is the founder of LaceyLangford.com a personal finance blog and a boutique financial coaching practice specializing in the unique world of the United States military. Lacey is also the founder and host of The Military Money Show, a podcast all about money and military. She's a U.S. Air Force Veteran, Milspouse, financial coach, speaker, and writer who changes people’s lives from being fearful of money to having control and confidence with it.  In today's episode, we wanted to focus on some of the common missteps she sees with young people entering the military and how she helps set them us for a secure financial future.  The most common mistakes she sees with young military personnel - lifestyle creep and overspending.  As well as not saving their money. She says - Cars are kryptonite!  We absolutely agree.  A major pitfall for young service members is getting into a car purchase right away.  Getting a vehicle with money that is not “cemented.” In spite of high interest rates and high payments.  Then, when they are no longer deployed they can no longer afford the payments.  It's a common problem and when she advises young services members avoid at all costs.  When Lacey is counseling military service members for the first time there are a few critical steps she discusses first.  She recommends: Create a  Financial Layout - know exactly how much money you have coming in (pay and allowances) and what is going out.  It’s simple but keeping it simple is the best way to go. That is the basic foundation of your financial success. You can then adjust from there. Create boundaries. You cannot have a blank check for everything. You don’t have to keep up with other people. You have to save your money and spend less than you earn.  You are saving for your current self and your 80-year-old self.   ____   Tips for young people wanting to enlist:   Score as high as possible on the ASVAB - it will create more job opportunities for you.  Have your job choice solidified before you enter.    ____ Some of the great resources available to service members:  Retirement benefits: Not only a pension after 20 years but a TSP (like a 401K) with up to a 5% match.   The benefit of contributing to TSP - get the match.  That is a 50% ROI right off the top. If you separate from the military, you can roll over the TSP account as a civilian. On deployment utilize the Savings Deposit Program - available after 30 days “n country/in theater” and will pay 10% Use all the services available: free trees, lending closets, taxes free, free financial counselors, Military One Source - they will find you free counselors in your area Take your installation tour! Valuable Intel.  They are pointing out where all of these resources are. ------ Lacey on the Final Questions: One money lesson from childhood = debt takes away your freedom One Lesson She Wants to Pass on To Her Children: Spend less than you make, but don't forget to invest it.  Sometimes in Life - You Have to Do Things Scared!    Where to Find Lacey:  Laceylangford.com    Favorite Read:  Take the Stairs - by Rory Vaden   WE NEED YOUR HELP! Plutus Nominations -  To nominate our show for the Best New Podcast of the Year, click here and enter “Houseoffi.com” in the Best New Podcast of the Year category. Click here: https://www.plutusawards.com/nominate/?new-postcast=houseoffi.com   HAVE YOU JOINED OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP YET?  Join our Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/261017321186778/

If you knew you could earn between $75 to $200 for an hour or less of work, would you want to know how?  Well, that's exactly what we are going to be talking about today on a SPECIAL Side-Hustle Spotlight.  What began as a side-hustle late last year, for Enrique Castro or Go Notary, has turned in to a full-time business that has replaced his income.  He is now able to not only earn an incredible living, but he has the freedom and flexibility of business ownership - as well as unlimited income potential.  That is the stuff we like to hear!  We think this business is a great option for some of you.  But with that in mind, here are some of the pros and cons we think you should consider.  Some of the Pros and Cons:  PROS:  easy entry  small start-up costs $75-$200 per signing low over-head flexibility  unlimited income potential  CONS this is a business! you are in charge of getting the business fees associated with getting your notary  fees associated with fingerprint clearance wear and tear on your car  housing market fluctuations If you are interested in checking out Mark Wills Loan Signing System course, you can check that out HERE.  We hope you have enjoyed another special Side-Hustle Spotlight Episode.  If you have a side-hustle you want to spotlight, leave us a voicemail at: houseoffi.com  **If our website is down due to migrating to a new host, you can also find us on Facebook at:  https://www.facebook.com/Houseoffi/

Popcorn and Finance I guess you could call me boring, but my favorite type of popcorn is totally movie butter with salt!  Why am I telling you all this? Well, today’s House of FI guest is Chris Browning of the awesome show Popcorn Finance!  The theme of his show is discussing finance in about the time it takes to make a bag of popcorn. The show is quick and you can get through a bunch of episodes on a commute to work, which makes it a nice choice to add to your rotation.     Today in the episode we talked to the man behind the mic, Chris Browning, a finance and accounting professional that loved educating others about money.  Some interesting facts about Chris include that he started college as an Art Major due to his love of Dragon Ball-Z as a child.  When Chris made it to college, things changed.  For a few reasons, he decided not to stick with Art as a major, but his art skills continued to develop.    This is a concept that I talk about often in my posts and discussions on the Talent Stack, so it was awesome to see it clearly in his experience.  So, how does Talent Stacking play a roll in Chris' podcasting business?  Well, he designs the graphics and website for much if not all of Popcorn Finance!  He is awesome at design and it shows.   The takeaway for YOU, House of FI, is definitely to use the talent stack you have cultivated to this point to pursue the stuff you love.  Combining his art skills with his finance degree has led to a very successful and fun themed podcast.  What could your talent stack lead to for you? Sign up for the 50 Side Hustle Idea Guide here if you are looking to put your own talents to work!  Chris' Big Personal Finance Mistake So, when you major in finance, you never make personal finance mistakes, right?  Not so fast - we have heard it time and again that people in accounting, finance, banking, the credit industry, fall into the same financial traps as everyone else because of the lack of financial education. Chris was no exception.   We take a deep dive into the stressful pressure Chris felt with he realized the true weight of the debt he and his wife found themselves under.   Listen to find out how they got rid of the debt, AND the method they use to this day that KEEPS THEM OUT OF THE DEBT.   College For Free!?! It's arguably the Holy Grail of the FI world:  Going to college without student loan debt!  We all know the story of how Wendy and I took on major student loan debt in order to secure our employment in Law, Nursing and Accounting.  If you don't remember our stories, you can hear Wendy's here and mine here.  What a different time we would have right now had we avoided the 6 figures in student loan debt?  Well, Chris was smart and or lucky enough to do just that.  Listen to his episode to find out how he made his way through undergrad without student loan debt to speak of by listening to his episode.     Chris Browning on the Final Questions: Buy something that is more quality than cheap so that it lasts.  His most recent purchase - mobile podcast gear such as zoom h6 - can record on a sd card but can add 6 mics.   It’s your money, you don’t have to impress everyone.  Nice cars, fancy restaurants, big house - you don’t have to impress anyone - you are both ending up outspending each other to impress each other - endless cycle. Live within your means, at the end of the day you will have what’s in your bank account. The BEST way to find Chris?  popcornfinance.com     Stay Tuned For Our Next Episode…   What is something you learned about developing a talent stack like Chris’ today? Let us know in the comment section below or continue the discussion in Our Facebook Group! Please take a moment to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or Stitcher so you don’t miss the next episode! While you’re at it, give us a 5-star rating and share the podcast to your friends.   If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please contact us on HouseOfFi.com

Household Repair Woes Two years ago, our dryer started to make a strange sound.  The repetitive squeak that began as a soft, distant sound, suddenly became a constant nuisance.  We knew something was amiss, and began to research just how much a modern washer/dryer set cost these days.  We were astounded by the number of choices, and the accompanying price tags. I began to think a little deeper.  I googled it. The completed google search described the sound and included the dryer model number.  After sorting through the responses and forums, we realized what the problem might be.  It turns out that the drum that spins within the dryer component has a belt that was likely loose or broken. The part cost around $30 with shipping, the cost of a repairman was $90/hr and the cost of a new dryer ranged from $349 - $1129.   We ordered the part.  We figured we would order the part and attempt the repair ourselves, using the YouTube videos we found.  If the repair proved itself to be too difficult, we planned to call the repairman. The last and final option was a new or used dryer for the family! It took two people, but in the end, we were able to fix our dryer for $30.  We are still using Old Odin (dryer’s name) to this day. DIY to FI In this episode we talked to Tinian Crawford of the blog DIY To FI. This DIYer and electrician spends his time installing and repair electrical wires, but he began flexing his DIY muscles while learning carpentry with his dad starting at a very young age.   Tinian found the FIRE community a couple of years ago, but he has also recognized the huge cost savings that can be had when you are able to use even basic tools to DIY your projects.  Captain DIY, as he calls himself, is on a hero sized mission to teach others within the FI community the powers one can garner from learning to do for themselves.   DIY knowledge, according to Captain DIY, is a Pillar of FI.  Visit his website to learn tools, tips and tricks that can help you learn the skills and growth mindset needed to build DIY confidence! Health’s Financial Impact Good health is a blessing.  From the common cold, to major life altering surgery, the impact of sickness and health on our day to day lives is well known to many.  For most, we can recover our health after normal healing and rest. But learn how a dangerous slip on the ice threatened to unravel Tinian’s financial world.  Did he find opportunity within the adversity? Financial Makeover Living in a home with a frugal wife meant that Tinian was on a good path prior to finding FI, but when his wife took a nasty fall he realized how much more he could do to protect his family.   When the time came to expand their family, Tinian’s wife set a huge savings goal for the baby’s nest egg.  This was to mitigate the expensive costs of daycare, diapers, food, and to start the growing family out on the right footing.   How much do you think is enough to save before having a baby?  Listen in to find out what Mrs. Captain DIY chose as an amount. The Truth About Trade School We were able to talk about all the trade school topics you could think of.  Here are some of the topics: Do you have to be young to attend trade school?   What ages were the people in Tinian’s graduating class of Electrician School? What’s the highest paid trade? What affects how much you can make when you open your own trade based service business or side hustle? What are some of the trades that a person could pursue if they are looking to make a career change? Why is there a shortage of Tradespeople right now? A Starting Point for DIY The more time you spend with a tool in your hand, the more comfortable you will become at using them. Then you can begin to stack your skills! After years of talent stacking, Tinian was able to work on a truly complex and memorable DIY project with his dad.  It is an experience he will never forget. But starting with the basic skills outlined in his blog posts is the best way to start building up to these types of memorable projects.  Projects that can pass through generations, creating a legacy item for a family.   Good Projects to Start With: Light fixture Painting Rooms Simple and small flooring projects Hanging pictures YouTube is your best friend for tackling new projects. Home Depot also has workshops that can teach basic skills. Taking Care of Your Body as a Tradesperson With the repetitive use of the body in each of The Trades, it’s important to plan for and combat potential health challenges.  For instance, with electricians, some complain of hip problems because of the impact of the heavy tool belts. For nurses back sprains can be an issue.  For hair stylists wrist and foot issues can happen. A good health and exercise routine is important in combating these issues.     Captain DIY on the Final Questions: Captain DIY has opened a bank of mom and dad in order to teach his kids more about money at a younger age. Money as an intermediary - money represents choice.  You can buy cool stuff with it or you can buy freedom.  Appreciate the level of privilege from whence you came.  We are much better off than we might realize - we have no needs that go unmet. Daycare is a HUGE expense for those working 9-5 jobs, especially when you have two kids. Utilize dependent care assistance program - tax free bucket for daycare. What is the best way for people to find you?  If you have any questions about entering the trades, contact Captain DIY at his blog DIY2FI.  If you are looking for some extra reading, check out his old blog lifeoutsidethebox.me Stay Tuned For Our Next Episode… Join us in the next episode when we talk to Chris Browning of the Popcorn Finance Podcast.  Chris Browning has a background in Finance, but recognizes the difference between his Finance training and the field of Personal Finance.   Listen in with us as we talk to him about his debt payoff story, and the actions he must continue to take to stay on track with his budget.    What DIY project will you tackle after hearing from Captain DIY today? Let us know in the comment section below or continue the discussion in Our Facebook Group! Please take a moment to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or Stitcher so you don’t miss the next episode! While you’re at it, give us a 5-star rating and share the podcast to your friends. If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please contact us on HouseOfFi.com

Single Travel There I was, slowly sipping coffee on a Saturday morning, talking to my sister about her recent trip to Joshua Tree, when my mind drifted back to memories of my recent trips.  Italy, Greece, Bermuda, Barbados, there were so many things to think about. The warmth of the sun, the delicious foods, the changes in cultures.  It’s so easy to catch the travel bug, but things change once you have a family... Or do they? Family Travel In this episode, we talked with Amon and Christina, husband and wife vloggers on the YouTube Channel Our Rich Journey.  The Our Rich Journey couple openly talks about their journey towards financial independence while living and working abroad.  Amon and Christina get into all the details from start to finish.   This story is different, and you need to hear the full details, House of Fi Family.     Amon and Christina don’t share the normal story of a nomad family living in a sailboat, or slow traveling from airbnb to airbnb. The Browning family choose to move and work abroad, full-time and with full benefits!  This is the episode that re-ignited Wendy’s desire to move her family across the ocean.   So, what exactly did we cover in our episode? Who Are Amon and Christina Browning Who doesn’t get the fuzzies when they talk to a funny, loving couple with a beautiful family?  Amon and Christina are that couple, making it easy to talk to them about the benefits of living abroad.  This vlogging couple has lived in Hayama Japan for the past two years, and they brought their two daughters (ages 10 and 11) along for their rich journey.  They are approximately three years away from financial independence and early retirement. Their vlog is their way to document their financial independence journey, and they share rich content about living abroad, travel hacks, and ways they make money, save money, and invest money.   Who Teaches the Kids We learned about some of the amazing educational options and benefits for the kids of families that live abroad.  Did you know that there are usually stipends for private school that can sometimes top $50,000 per year! There is a serious emphasis on education and children are given cognitively demanding work in their foreign schools! Watch this money lesson taught by one of their cute daughters! Finding The Courage to Leap? This wasn’t the first time this couple made a trek across the water? When they were a new couple, they moved abroad to explore the travel - working life.  Living in Spain was awesome, and after spending some time, they came back to the states. Christina was able to pursue her law degree while back in the US, but traveling abroad and immersing themselves into a new culture was something she never forgot.  It was thrilling and memorable, and before long they knew they needed to move once again.    How to Find Jobs Abroad Amon and Christina work as an Urban Planner and a Lawyer.  With these jobs, they were able to easily find jobs at the same company abroad.  In fact, the companies prefer couples or families that are on the same page. Having both spouses on board with the idea of moving abroad likely indicates that the transition will be much more seamless. Christina says you can find jobs at by searching in multiple places: USA Jobs - You can search this platform by occupation or by city, state or country!  There are numerous jobs listed.  Check out this simple search we did for jobs in Japan. Private Company Job Postings - You can search within a particular companies job board by location, and can often choose international locations within your search parameters.  Samsung, Uber, Netflix and Google are some companies to explore.   What About Health Care Abroad If you are living abroad without an employer, things can be a little bit trickier to manage.  It is likely that you will have to choose to pay for your medical expenses out of pocket, or will need to buy a travel insurance* plan of some type that will cover you during your travels.  The thing that makes the payment out of pocket option a little less anxiety producing is that in many other countries health care only costs a fraction of the amount that it costs in the United States! *We are not a sponsor of this company and have not used it personally.  Please thoroughly research plans and companies to find the insurance that fits your needs   How to Set a FI Number if You Live Abroad Guess how many FI numbers Amon and Christina Browning have calculated for themselves?  Three! There are some interesting reasons why, listen to our episode to find those reasons out!   Travel Hacking Tips Amon is a whiz at travel hacking and he give a lot of tips on how he manages all of the cards he opened, and the accumulation of the best sign up bonuses.  He uses an 8 step process to get started.   Where is The Best Country to Move to in Retirement? There is one place that is willing to pay you to retire in their country.  Listen to our episode to find out exactly where that is!   Amon and Christina Browning on the Final Questions: Christina Browning - Our Rich Journey : You can’t just save, you must invest as well.  This gives you the rapid pace you need to grow your money quickly. Amon Browning - Our Rich Journey : We all have financial challenges and roadblocks.  There is always a way to go around, over and through these money challenges. Be UNORTHODOX and CREATIVE Life Hacks for a High Cost of Living Area : Amon and Christina downsized homes, rented out extra rooms and used AirBnb to rent the home out for short time frames.  They used AirBnB sporadically in order to supplement their Bay Area housing cost. Use Turo to rent our your car daily it is just sitting idle while you are away at work.   Be Open to new ideas! Find Amon and Christina Browning on their YouTube Channel Our Rich Journey.  They release videos twice a week.     Stay Tuned For Our Next Episode… Join us in the next episode when we talk to the one and only Captain DIY, Tinian Crawford of the DIY2FI blog.  Tinian and his wife became more serious about their money when they decided it was almost time to have a child.  Growing your family can scare any budget conscious person into action, and in this case Tinian’s wife made $20,000 the nest egg goal for their new baby chick.  Listen in to find out the most financially savvy way to pursue a trade degree, and the reason Tinian chooses to stay at his day job even though he could easily make more by going into business on his own!       What was one thing you learned by listening to Amon and Christina today? Let us know in the comment section below or continue the discussion in Our Facebook Group! Please take a moment to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or Stitcher so you don’t miss the next episode! While you’re at it, give us a 5-star rating and Tweet the podcast to your friends. If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please contact us on HouseOfFi.com

Military FI Today on the podcast we spoke to Grumpus Maximus, a blogger and active member of the Financial Independence community, who takes a special interest in teaching his followers about pensions and retirement accounts.  The thing about today’s episode that was so striking, was that we spent a good portion of it talking about the psychological difficulties of staying at work when you are no longer interested or it is affecting your mental health.  Have you ever felt this way? Stuck in a job where everyday feels like a repeat of the day before? Both Wendy and I have had moments in our careers where we’ve felt the urge to break free of a job that weighed on us.  Grumpus has felt this way too, but there is added pressure from his job because unfortunately (fortunately?) he is inches away from crossing a Military Pension finish line!     Today we learned so much more about Grumpus’ interesting back story, and we discovered tips that will help us to more deeply assess our retirement planning options. Who Is Grumpus Maximus Grumpus is a natural storyteller.  He took us back through his life, highlighting the major financial turning points along the way.  We were able to fully explore each windfall and/or decision, and gathered some great tips for parents or individuals that find themselves in similar situations today.   Timeline: The Financial History of Grumpus Financial “Windfall” at an early age (but at a major cost) Entering the military as a Master’s Degree Level Officer The Mental Breakdown that changed everything The Birth of Grumpus Maximus and The Golden Albatross Blog The Grumpus Approach to Retirement Accounts Military members have so much to consider when maneuvering their way through their financial benefits, and much of the time they are not provided with adequate personal finance education.  This is something many non military members can also relate to. In both instances we are faced with making potentially life altering money decisions from a place quite close to ignorance. Grumpus defined the “High Three Pension Benefit” open to military members before a certain date, and he also defined various retirement accounts for us.  He talked a little about 403bs, 457s, federal/state and military pensions, defined contribution pension, and other accounts. Grumpus also discussed the key steps a person needs to take to figure out what accounts they have access to within their jobs, and also, how to value a pension!  In order to know whether or not you should  walk away from a job or stay is to see exactly what you are walking away from.  Figuring out the true value of the pension is part of that decision making process.   The true definition of a pension   defined benefit pension (paid in perpetuity) declining in the private sector (under 8%), more in the union benefits.  Become more powerful when connected with life insurance, health care benefits, cola adjustments. Defined contribution pension plans (public schools, etc) - access to a 403b and 457 plan usually the case as well. These come with some perks as well, such as being able to access the money prior to normal retirement dates. Thrift savings program - savings vehicle within the military. New development is a potential for a match, but this is a new blended program. The previous plan was the High 3s plan.  There are trade offs, including the reduction of the multiplier from 2.5 to 1.5, but there is not a match component.  Your contributions are matched by the federal government to a certain percentage. This means that if you don’t make it to 20 years, which represents the majority of military members,  you will at least leave the military with the matched contributions! This is a huge change, and will serve as a benefit for most. Roth options vs. Traditional options generally affect taxes. Health Savings accounts can act like a retirement vehicle the way they are currently written. The Grumpus Approach to Gutting It Out Grumpus talked openly about the juxtaposition of mental health vs staying in a career. In fact, he wrote an awesome post about “gutting it out”.  After reading the post, I wrote a direct response blog.  It was a fun exercise because it showed that there are things within our control that we can do to make the best of the work situations that we find ourselves in.   It is key to note, if you are truly feeling depressed within your current situation, you may need to speak with a mental health professional to tease out whether you are just going through an emotional lull or if you are facing real depression.  True depression requires additional support and possibly a change of environment. Please find professional help if you feel that you are in need of professional support. Military Benefits Let’s talk about Military Benefits.  Did you know about the GI Bill? Did you know that you can “give” your Gi Bill proceeds to a dependent or spouse?  Did you know that you can split the GI bill between multiple dependents? Did you know that as soon as you decide to pass the GI bill along, you should sign the paperwork?!  This is important because once you sign you incur a 4 year commitment starting on that day. Listen to find out the mistake that Grumpus made related to this GI Bill assignment! Also, check out the Yellow Ribbon Program to figure out which schools will cover educational costs above and beyond the GI Bill Maximums. There are other benefits too!  COLA, or cost of living adjustments are baked into the military pensions.  Health care access is extensive and healthcare coverage is one of the biggest FI issues facing those that want to retire early.  In America, health care coverage is tightly linked to work. You work, you get coverage. You don’t work and coverage is expensive to obtain.   Knowing the value of your benefits are the very first step to figuring out if you should stay or you should go.   Topic Overview For This Episode Grumpus Maximus about pensions and the military Where the name Grumpus Maximus comes from The Golden Albatross Grumpus Maximus’ backstory How he discovered the FI movement How he wanted to quit the military but would then lose all the benefits His relationship with Mrs Grumpus about money How to manage finances as a couple the non Grumpus way What FI looks like now for Grumpus How Grumpus got through the mental breakdown His top resources for learning about FI How to understand the pension How the military retirement system is changing for the younger generation Grumpus presented FI to his colleagues in the military Grumpus on the Final Questions: Learn to live within your means, Learn to save money, and the earlier the better!  Grow and compound your savings before you potentially hit that “Golden Albatross Moment”  High Cost of Living Area Hacks - Menu planning is a huge benefit for their family.  Mrs. Grumpus is buying meals with a specific intent, thereby saving their family thousands of dollars over time.  They also use the big box stores like Costco and Sam’s Club - but you must “do it right” so as to not overspend. Shop from your pantry first, and then meal plan.  Find Grumpus at www.grumpusmaximus.com , via email at grumpusmaximus@grumpusmaximus.com or on twitter @maximusgrumpus.  Join Grumpus’ facebook group to grump about any topic related to retirement!   Stay Tuned For Our Next Episode… Join us in the next episode when we talk to the most fun couple, Amon and Christina Browning of the Youtube Channel Our Rich Journey!  This family of four travels to foreign places to work, and they share their experience of traveling with a family. This episode with Amon and Christina was SO GOOD that Wendy is now secretly plotting out ways to convince her hubby to move abroad!   What was one thing you learned by listening to Grumpus? Let us know in the comment section below or continue the discussion in Our Facebook Group! Please take a moment to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or Stitcher so you don’t miss the next episode! While you’re at it, give us a rating and Tweet the podcast to your friends. We are having a Free 4 week Money Bootcamp aimed at helping you get control of your finances, save more and spend less.  Space is limited, so send us a message via Facebook or through our website contact form today. If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please contact us on HouseOfFi.com

Co-hosts of House of FI podcast join us to explore a simpler path to wealth, shifting our awareness and mindfulness from the pursuit of more stuff to the pursuit of financial freedom. There’s one thing we know for sure. We put our time, energy, and our money towards the things that we value. But what happens when our values are incongruent with our consumption behaviors, placing us in danger of missing out on the freedom associated with living the life of our dreams? Here to help us explore the intersection between the KonMari Lifestyle and Financial Independence are co-hosts of the House of FI podcast - Wendy and Timika. House of FI helps families who dream of retiring early, but are unsure how to do so AND raise a family, figure out a plan. Their guests share their journey to financial independence, early retirement, and debt freedom. We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: - The true definition of Financial Independence (FI) or Financial Independence Retirement (FIRE) - What led Wendy and Timika to start down the path to FI - Common myths and misconceptions associated with FI - Timika's marathon KonMari tidying experience with Kristyn and how it relates to her financial journey - The "eels" that attach to us, as mentioned on John Roderick's podcast - The end goal: How do you know when you've reached FI? - How influencers such as Mr. Money Mustache or The Dough Roller have calculated fees associated with actively managed retire accounts - How to the get over the getting started hurdle when it comes to FI - The importance of using a tool like Personal Capital to track and manage your net worth - How the FI community handles healthcare coverage - The importance of taking and celebrating the small steps - Podcast's that House of FI recommended to extend your FI community: Journey to Launch and ChooseFI Wendy's favorite FI tip: Tracking your fixed and discretionary expenses Timika's favorite FI tip: Wendy's meal planning tips; Refinance your mortgage to a lower rate when appropriate to free up money for debt pay off; Get a roommate, move from a single family home to a multi to generate rental income, or buy a car that's not brand new. Use travel credit cards to generate reward points. What sparks joy for Wendy: Launching House of FI! What sparks joy for Wendy: Launching House of FI!! To hear more from House of Fi, check out their podcast via houseoffi.com or connect with them on Facebook. After catching up on their latest episodes, leave a review of House of FI on iTunes for a chance to win a copy of Kids Money Habits by Amy Koit. Gems: - "...essentially, setting yourself up so you're in a position to have choices." - "People are also beginning to think more about how to optimize their lives so they can do more things that bring them joy on a regular basis." - "The idea that you have to be extremely frugal to the point of deprivation is one myth." - "When you add it all up, you see the huge mound of money that's exiting your bank account; just like I saw the huge mound of clothes that my three year old climbed on top of when we put it all in one place and went through it one by one." - "What is it that you're doing this for? What are you going to retire to? What does financial independence look like?" - "It's really being more intentional about our money...the balancing of each financial decision..really sticking to the goal." - "Don't be an island. Make sure that you're connected with other people and a community." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy Special Guest: House of FI.

Couples and Finances   It’s not always easy to get two people on the same financial page. Timika and I can attest, with our own husbands it took a significant amount of time leading by example before getting each of them to come around and see the "FI light".   Each couple has their own unique set of challenges to work through when it comes to finances, but when the work is done, the rewards can be magnificent. Knowing the unique challenges of marital finances, we just had to find an expert to speak to our House of FI family.  We found the information you need in our interview with Ericka Young. Who is Ericka Young When Ericka Young and her husband began their marital journey, they blindly followed the usual path through college debt, first jobs and new home purchases.  This faulty path led them to a place where they were feeling overburdened by their debt and completely out of control in their spending. With some prodding from her husband, Ericka decided enough was enough, and she got to work learning all that she could about personal finance.  She soon realized she had found her calling, and she became a Certified Financial Coach.     Today, Ericka is a speaker, an author, a business owner, a financial coach and a mother!  She has blessed us with so much information aimed at helping us tackle the areas of budgeting, side hustling, kids, college and working together as a family to reach financial independence.   It’s not often that a person with such success and expertise is willing to openly share the information so candidly.   Topics We Talked About Ericka’s New Book Naked and Unashamed is Ericka’s informative book that leads couples through forming budgets and overhauling their financial situations. Ericka hired a writing coach to help her overcome her hesitations about writing this book, and the results are well worth the leap of faith.  In the book Ericka moves through various stages of financial development, and leads readers on a journey that includes an exploration of their money past, and their money future.   Ericka’s Thoughts on Starting a business   When is the best time to start a side hustle?  Ericka says “right now!” We were able to go over some of the interesting ways that Ericka was able to start her own business without spending much money at all.     Ericka’s College Hacks   We are all wondering how we will overcome college costs when the time comes, so we were excited to speak with Ericka about her daughter’s recent departure to college.  Ericka and her husband were able to talk their daughter through the process of making a wise financial choice for her Undergraduate University. Ericka talks to us about college costs, and various life hacks that she was able to capitalize on in order to help her daughter secure a full scholarship!!  You HAVE to listen to this cool tip!   Ericka’s Answers to Our Final Questions Money Lessons   Always have cash on hand (thanks to her grandfather’s teachings).  The cash will keep you out of the debt that will rob you of your financial future. Life Hacks for Parents With the high price of college, and with spending money on our kids for 18 years, college has to be something that we approach with wisdom and forethought.  You do not have to pay for college, especially if you still have debt and still need to save for your own future. Sharing a nanny  is another way to cut the high cost of child care, one client is saving $400 per month by doing this! To put this savings amount into perspective, $400 could fund $4800 of an IRA! Find Ericka   Ericka offers many services including coaching calls in 30 minutes increments,  a free download ebook called “Tailor Made Teens” that’s ready for you to download and read, and she has her book, Naked and Unashamed.  You can also contact her directly at ericka@tailormadebudgets.com   Stay Tuned For Our Next Episode…   Join us in the next episode when Grumpus Maximus of the GrumpusMaximus blog shares his in depth knowledge about pensions, military benefits.  We also dive deep into steps to staying at a job even when you don’t want to!  This is a show you want to listen to - Grumpus shared from the heart!   What was one thing you learned by listening to Ericka? Let us know in the comment section below or continue the discussion in Our Facebook Group!   Please take a moment to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or Stitcher so you don’t miss the next episode! While you’re at it, give us a rating and Tweet the podcast to your friends. If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please contact us on HouseOfFi.com

Welcome Back House of FI Family! Jamila shares her incredible FI Journey today.  What's so amazing about her story is that it began as a little girl immigrating to the United States with her mom, who was a single mother.  She learned valuable lessons from her mom and grandmother that later translated into becoming a life-long learner.  Out of college Jamila bought her first house at age 22, still one of the best financial decisions she's ever made.  Later she found the Financial Independence movement, which opened up to her a Whole New World of possibilities.  This new knowledge of what was possible, sparked in her a desire to cut spending and save like never before.  In just two years she and her Husband were able to save over $168,000.00 by diligently using pre-tax investment vehicles and low cost index funds. As she chronicled her journey - her passion project became a side-hustle that has grown into the widely successful podcast, Journey to Launch.  Jamila's story is simply inspiring and full of examples you can implement in your own journey!  Some of the resources Jamila used along the way include:  Mr. Money Mustache The Mad Fientist Personal Capital  Mint  If you liked this episode, please leave us an iTunes review.  Once you have done so, you will be be given a chance to win Amy Koit's new book, Kid's Money Habits.   To be considered, simply shoot us a message with your screen name after you have left your review.  You can message us on Facebook here:  https://www.facebook.com/Houseoffi/ or email us at:  https://houseoffi.com/ Thank you for joining us!  We are glad you were here.