• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Our YouTube Channel
  • Mile High FI Podcast
  • About Me
  • I ♥ Longmont
    • Cowork In Longmont
    • Live In Longmont
  • Stuff We Like
    • Tesla In Ten Years
  • Best Credit Card Offers
  • Contact
    • Media
    • Guest Post

1500 Days to Freedom

Think different and escape the rat race.

1500 Days to Freedom
  • My Investments! (REAL TIME!)
  • Bucket List
    • Anti Bucket List
  • All Posts
  • Best Posts
  • Guest Post Policy
  • 10 Questions
  • Tesla In Ten Years

The Real You, Mile High FI, Orlando, And Dinosaurs

September 5, 2022 by Mr. 1500 Days 9 Comments

Hey, I’ll be in Orlando this week! Perhaps I’ll see you there? Read on!

I started writing this blog to amuse myself. I never thought anyone would read it. I also didn’t care. I liked to write and this exercise would be a way to work through my thoughts on the journey to financial independence.

It took me a while to find my voice. You know when you’re at a party with strangers and you become a different person because you don’t want to come off as weird? That’s how I was. But then, I discovered it was much more fun to act like my silly self. On how many other blogs can you see stupid sh*t like this?:

Just another day in the 1500 household

Or this:

Photo: Owen W Brown/Flickr

It’s a lot more fun to be you. Would you rather have someone like the person you pretend to be or actual you? The best person you can be is yourself.

To my surprise, people started reading this blog. That was strange. Even weirder was when we got some love from the media:

But the best part of the whole deal is when people reach out and thank me. Every once in a while, I’ll get an email or comment telling me that my silly words caused them to change the way they think about money. It’s fun to know that my experiment has changed a life here and there. And if you’re just here for the dinosaurs, that’s alright too. Thanks for stopping by.

Mile High FI Podcast

I’ve been putting out a podcast with Doug Cunnington for almost a year and a half. Similar to this blog, I went in with few expectations. My main goal was to improve my verbal communication skills. I tend to talk fast and not enunciate. I thought that a podcast would be a great way to improve my speech while having a little fun.

I don’t like to toot my own horn, but if you haven’t checked it out yet, here are some of my favorite recordings:

  • Sabbaticals vs. Early Retirement: In this one, Doug and guest host Carla debate the pros and cons of an all-or-nothing approach to retirement or taking it a little slower. (YouTube)
  • JL Collins live at MMM HQ: Sometimes life is so good that I have to pinch myself to make sure it’s real. In this episode, I interviewed JL Collins at MMM HQ in front of a live audience. What did I do to deserve this?!?? (YouTube)
  • FI, Real Estate, & Fitness with Jake Simon: Jake is a good friend, FI fan, fitness freak, and all-around outstanding human. (YouTube)
  • Live Q&A with Diania Merriam and Maggie Tucker: In a live interview from Camp FI, the discussion touches on living mindfully, getting a spouse onboard the FIRE Train, and much more. (YouTube)
  • Live Q&A with Mr. Money Mustache and Alan Donegan: In another live interview from HQ, Pete (MMM!), Alan, and Carl talk about the MMM phenomenon, morning routines, if making money is still motivational, and much more. (YouTube)

Click here for a full list of episodes. Also, be sure to check out the other podcasts on the Mile High FI network, Pennies and Popcorn, and the Rebel Entrepreneur Podcast.

Doug, me, and JD Roth recording episode 29 live from FinCon

Orlando

FinCon is happening this week. This is an event where content creators in the money space get together to learn, hang out, and have stupid amounts of fun. Mindy, Doug, and I will be in Orlando for the big event. If you happen to be going or are in the area, stop by and say “Hi!”

The Mad Fientist interviews Mrs. 1500 and me on stage at FinCon. Yet another recording of myself that I’ll never listen to.

More 1500 Days!!!

You can also find me (and the dinosaurs) at:

Mile High FI podcast:

  • Listen on Apple, Google, YouTube, and Spotify

Also here:

  • Facebook: Facebook group and page
  • YouTube: My channel is mostly devoted to home improvement, but I have some other material coming up soon too.
  • Instagram: Pretty pictures of dinosaurs, sunsets, and nail guns!
  • Twitter: Spontaneous, often insane, ramblings
  • Coworking space: On the surface, MMM HQ is a coworking space. Look a little deeper and you’ll see that we’re really building community. The members of MMM HQ are some of the finest people I know.

Join the 10s who have signed up already!

Subscribing will improve your life in incredible ways*.

*Only if your life is pretty bad to begin with.

Thank you!! Please check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

Filed Under: Mile High FI

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Evan S says

    September 5, 2022 at 6:40 pm

    I didn’t realize FinCon was in Orlando this week since I’ll actually be in Orlando for a board game convention.. There are some good breweries in the area. I personally like Crooked Can, Motorworks and Hourglass.

    Reply
    • Mr. 1500 Days says

      September 6, 2022 at 7:08 am

      Thanks for the recommendations!

      Reply
  2. Chris says

    September 5, 2022 at 9:12 pm

    I didn’t realize this blog was about personal finance, I thought it was all about the dinosaurs, LOL.

    The best content comes when you are passionate about the subject and learning, not just writing for the views.

    Reply
  3. J. Money says

    September 6, 2022 at 4:21 am

    See you soon, brother!

    Reply
    • Mr. 1500 Days says

      September 6, 2022 at 7:07 am

      Can’t wait!

      Reply
  4. Adam says

    September 6, 2022 at 11:39 am

    Your last photo caption hits close to home — I still have the VHS tape of my 2001 senior recital to cap off my music degree sitting by itself in the case, and neither a device to play it nor a desire to watch it.

    I’m psyched you’ve found your people and happy to be among them!

    Reply
    • Mr. 1500 Days says

      September 6, 2022 at 3:41 pm

      Right on friend!

      Reply
  5. Corwin says

    September 6, 2022 at 3:12 pm

    Hi Carl, long time follower. My wife and I will be in Orlando as well, second FinCon for us. Really looking forward to it. Last year we got super lucky for our first FinCon, as we live 20 min from downtown Austin.

    Would love to meet you and Mindy and buy you a beer at some point. And Doug as well, I’ve really enjoyed y’all’s podcast.

    Reply
    • Mr. 1500 Days says

      September 6, 2022 at 3:41 pm

      Yeah, let’s talk! Email incoming!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on RSSFollow Us on Instagram

Freedom!

My goal was to build a portfolio of $1,000,000 by February of 2017; 1500 days from the birth of this blog (January 1, 2013). And hey look, I’ve since retired!

Investments only (primary home excluded)
1/1/13 (The Start): $586,043
1/1/14 (1 Yr Later): $869,635
1/1/15 (2 Yrs Later): $987,351
1/1/16 (3 Yrs Later): $1,057,961
1/1/17 (4 Yrs Later): $1,257,128
1/1/18 (5 Yrs Later): $1,527,701
1/1/19 (6 Yrs Later): $1,549,440
1/1/20 (7 Yrs Later): $2,035,040*
1/1/21 (8 Yrs Later): $3,379,746**
1/1/22 (9 Yrs Later): $4,762,642
1/1/23 (10 Yrs Later): $3,112,821

2023: Investments only
1/1: $3,112,821

Overall
2023 investment gains: $0
Investment gains since 1/1/2013: $2,526,778
Net worth***: $3,342,821

* The big jump between 2019 and 2020 was partly because we bought another home, but kept the previous (much more expensive) one as a rental. We have since sold it.

** Tesla.

*** Includes our primary home equity in addition to our investment portfolio.

Finally, we still have about $290,000 in mortgage debt (which I love!). No regrets about the debts!

Featured in

Smiley face

Disclaimer

Investing is risky business. The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only. As with all matters financial, proceed with caution. Do your research and seek professional advice.

Get my annoying emails!

Join 1500 Days! (now 27% less annoying)

Subscribe to get great good pretty ok content by email.

Thanks so much! Check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

All Posts

Read all the posts ever published to 1500 Days of Freedom.

© 2023 1500 Days to Freedom · Privacy Policy · Contact