Yay, 2020 is over! We could all use a break from the drama. And the virus. But here in Colorado, life is still pretty good and I have much to look forward to in the new year. But, I’ll save that for another time. First, we must discuss 2020. Money This is supposed to be […]
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December Performance Update, Day 2921: Up $156,573
My main goal* was to build an investment and cash portfolio of $1,120,000* ($1,000,000 to retire on and $120,000 to pay off the house) in 1500 days**, starting from 1/1/2013 and ending in February of 2017. I made my goal in 2016, my 1500 Days are over, and I’ve left my job. In the interest of openness, I’ll continue to share […]
November Performance Update, Day 2890: Up $284,823 (Short-Term Silliness)
My main goal* was to build an investment and cash portfolio of $1,120,000* ($1,000,000 to retire on and $120,000 to pay off the house) in 1500 days**, starting from 1/1/2013 and ending in February of 2017. I made my goal in 2016, my 1500 Days are over, and I’ve left my job. In the interest of openness, I’ll continue to share […]
Bad Bosses, Conniving Coworkers, And Team Buiding Terror
My career as a software developer lasted from 1998 to 2017. I enjoyed the part of my job where I wrote software. Solving problems with computer code was a rewarding challenge. However, I didn’t like all of the crap that went along with it including: Bad bosses. One was a scheming, paranoid, racist, control-freak of […]
The Joy Of Moving Rocks
I recently ordered 15 tons of rocks to spread over the yard. We have grass now, but it doesn’t do well in the high desert of our part of Colorado. It drives me nuts knowing that I’m wasting a valuable resource (freshwater) on a plant that shouldn’t be in my yard. So, my plan is […]
October Performance Update, Day 2860: Down $33,522
My main goal* was to build an investment and cash portfolio of $1,120,000* ($1,000,000 to retire on and $120,000 to pay off the house) in 1500 days**, starting from 1/1/2013 and ending in February of 2017. I made my goal in 2016, my 1500 Days are over, and I’ve left my job. In the interest of openness, I’ll continue to share […]
Is Early Retirement Selfish?
When you tell other humans that you’re going to retire early, you’ll get all sorts of pushback: What if you run out of money? You’ll be bored! Are you nuts?!?? One of the strange arguments that comes up every once in a while is this: Early retirement is selfish. I don’t think so… I’m A […]
Is Retirement Expensive?
The people over at TicTocLife tweeted this yesterday: In what ways do hedonic adaptation (and the hedonic treadmill) affect your path to financial independence? Is there a particular area of your spending that seems more vulnerable to it? I know ours is in foreign experiences as we crave increasingly niche travel. pic.twitter.com/wAKgUkRjZl — TicTocLife (@TicTocLifeStory) […]
September Performance, Day 2829: Down $140,847
My main goal* was to build an investment and cash portfolio of $1,120,000* ($1,000,000 to retire on and $120,000 to pay off the house) in 1500 days**, starting from 1/1/2013 and ending in February of 2017. I made my goal in 2016, my 1500 Days are over, and I’ve left my job. In the interest of openness, I’ll continue to share […]
When leanFIRE Goes To fatFIRE: Lifestyles Of The Dirty And Smelly
Let’s begin with some definitions: leanFIRE: Retiring on just enough to exist. You may have to: eat dog food live in a musty basement keep the thermostat at 55 in the dead of winter But you don’t have to work. fatFIRE: Retiring with way more than you need. You can: go to Taco Bell every […]
Demand The Best For Yourself
How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself? -Epictetus I’ve had a project idea for a couple of years now. It has loads of potential but I just haven’t been able to muster up the motivation to execute. I wondered why for a long time and realized that much […]
What is Your Money Moment?
Hi there, Mrs. 1500 today. (Boy, it’s been a while.) I interviewed Chelsea Brennan on my podcast a few weeks ago, and the show airs today. (Check it out at www.biggerpockets.com/moneyshow145 or download Episode 145 of The BiggerPockets Money Podcast on your favorite podcast app.) In the episode, we talk about Chelsea’s money story. (The […]
COVID Life, Fire, And Ice
I have a feeling that the world will shut down again soon, so we’ve been battening down the hatches. We bought extra computers and set up the girls with desks in their bedrooms. I’ve also been trying to complete remodeling projects at warp speed in case Longmont stops building inspections. I’ve had little time to […]
Withdrawal Strategies Part 2: Roth Conversions, Health Care, And College
Yesterday, I wrote a post about my withdrawal strategies and there were some comments about Roth IRA conversions that have me reconsidering my strategy: The Physician on FIRE and Done by Forty echo this strategy: I had mentioned that one of my goals was to draw down 401(k) accounts before age 72 to reduce the […]
Money Withdrawal Strategies (Keeping The Tax Man Away)
Money is a precious resource that must not be wasted. It isn’t easy to collect those dollars, so they should be saved, invested, and spent with maximum efficiency and thoughtfulness. Between investing and spending comes withdrawals. Since most of us have money tied up in multiple accounts, it makes sense to take money out strategically […]
10 Questions With Best Interest
Today’s edition of 10 Questions features Jesse from Best Interest. Jesse is a pretty interesting person. He lives on Hoth (almost) and has a pretty cool job. Regarding the latter, he’s a space engineer and I’m extremely biased in favor of all things related to starts, rockets, telescopes, etc. Take it away Jesse! Hello! I’m […]