10 Questions With Financially Fit Kid

One of my favorite parts of blogging is meeting new and interesting people. I’m so fortunate to live in Longmont Colorado which may be the mecca for financial independence:

A couple of weeks ago, Mrs. Financially Fit Kid and a friend came through town. We hung out at HQ, rode bikes, had good conversation, and late one night, dined on Grape Apes. On top of all of that, I now know how to properly pronounce “Boise:”

Why did you start your blog?

I came across the idea of FI when I was 31.  I had started to get my life in order by that point, but that included the brilliant idea that I could retire when I was 50 because, you know, I’d be eligible.  As I was FI-lightened and realized how much earlier I could escape the cubicle, my first wish was that I had realized this earlier in life.  Once I stopped swimming in the formidable pool of regret, I started thinking of how I could help my daughter (and later step kids) understand this was an option they had for their lives.  I went crazy with all kinds of different financial related ideas, some worked and some didn’t and most everyone thought I was crazy.  BUT, every now and then, one of the kids would make a comment that made me realize they heard what I was saying and it was those tiny comments among the hundreds (thousands?) of eye rolls that kept me going.  Combine that with a lost enjoyment of writing for a mental release and I figured why not join the cool kids? 

What is part of your blog that you wish you could do better?

The technology.  I’m good with my writing.  Some will enjoy it and some won’t but I don’t pretend to be some top-notch educated writer and I’m not interested in putting time into learning proper writing etiquette.  I do try and proofread what I’ve written once or twice before I hit publish, but for the most part, you get it the way it sounds in my mind (with lots of parenthesis (parenthesi? parentheseis’s?) which are like the pop-up video’s of my brain).  But the actual website part is way over my head.  I’ve never been much of a technology person so even with all the templates and tools and handholding that’s provided, I don’t know how to make the appearance look more like someone who knows what they are doing.  I wing it and try things and read the tips and tricks articles that are sent, but I wish I could make it look more appealing.   Maybe someday it will be a fancy looking as 1500days.  🙂

Is there anything else you’d like to promote?

Smoothies.  I like my vegetables as much as the average person (not much) and can put down a decent amount when there is a good-tasting dip to drown them in, but I’ve learned smoothies are the way to go to get a solid 4-6 servings every day.  Just beware, with daily intake, spinach and beets can have some interesting effects…

Where do you live? Do you love it, hate it or just meh.

I live in Boise, ID and I love it.  You can drive anywhere in the city within 30 minutes and can be surrounded by your choice of mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, or desert in no more than an hour.  There is a 30-mile greenbelt that runs along the river and through the middle of the city and combined with the bike path’s and ever-growing bike lanes, it’s possible to safely bike nearly anywhere.  There is everything here – winter sports, rafting, rock climbing, hiking, biking of all varieties (mountain, road, cyclocross, BMX, other kinds that exist), some of the greatest wineries and breweries in the country, theater, a huge music scene, artists….seriously, everything.  If I had one complaint, it’s that it’s so amazing it’s growing like crazy and more people keep piling in.

Are you leanFIRE or fatFIRE or fartFIRE?

I am fartFIRE all the way.   I’m lucky in that I enjoy my job, I have an amazing boss, and I have more flexibility in my schedule and work location (home and office) than most corporate people could ask for.  I’m unlucky in that I have the 40-hour learned mindset so even when I get my work done in 30 hours, I have a stabbing pain to hang out in front of my computer and pretend to work for another 10 instead of pretending to be FI.  It’s silly and a mindset change I’m working on as I continue to work toward the ultimate goal of FI by the time I am 40.  This gives me about two and a half years.  I think I can pull it off but then there are a few lingering decisions to make if I put in another year or two (especially if I still enjoy my work) to build an extra cushion for some lifestyle factors outside of my control. 

What is the best thing you ever bought? The worst?

I started riding a bike to work in 2010.  This was before I had FI in my sights, it just seemed fun.  At the time I was riding a Huffy bike I had found at a yard sale, but mostly just around my neighborhood and to the parks with my daughter in the little child seat behind me.  When I started riding the 8ish miles to work, I noticed when I would be pedaling uphill with a little more force, the handlebars would turn.  I’d be riding forward, but my handlebars would literally by facing square left!  It was a crazy feeling (but I refused to get off in the middle of a hill to fix them).  A couple of weeks in, I bought a Diamondback Hybrid bike.  It was on the lower end of nicer bikes and was even a size too small for me, but as my first bike that didn’t come from a store that also sold milk and bread, it was like riding a unicorn!  I kept that bike for 8 years!

Do you track your spending? If so, how?

Yes, to the cent.  I am an excel geek and not afraid to claim it.

What is your worst money mistake?

Credit cards as a teenager. Check out my Journey to Parenthood if you want more details on that

What is one unique thing you’re doing to raise your kids to be financially smart?

The myriad of articles at financiallyfitkid.com answers this more fully, but the foundation most things revolve around is providing a salary with financial responsibilities

If you have a magical power that allowed you to change one set of beliefs in others, what would you choose?

Just be nice.  You don’t have to beat others down to get ahead, you don’t have to make fun of others shortcomings to appear better, and it’s ok to provide something you have to someone else even if they are your competition.  I think if we were all just a little nicer to each other and tried to help one another reach our goals or find our dreams, the whole world would spin a little smoother.     

If you were a dinosaur, what kind would you be and why?

Pterodactyl without a doubt.  Because that is what the “What Dinosaur are you?” quiz told me and those don’t lie!

Favorite beer? Favorite pizza place? (this is a throwback to the original series)

Old Rasputin, preferably on draft, with bubbles (not nitro).  I have only ever found this at one location and while that happens to be a good pizza place (Messenger Pizza in Nampa, ID), my favorite pizza is Lucky 13; right on the greenbelt on the way to (and from) the lake!

Thank you so much Mrs. Financially Fit Kid! I hope that our paths cross again soon!