Lessons from my First 30 Days as a Podcaster and Blogger

In this episode I talk through two of my recent blog posts and spend some time reflecting on my first 30 days writing my blog and hosting my podcast. The posts from this week discuss the impact of managing your expenses when it comes to hitting your FI savings target. I also walk through the reasons I'm pursuing FI and how I'm ultimately searching for the best version of me.

Shout out to three websites who featured my content this week:

• https://www.campfirefinance.com/
• https://personalfinanceblogs.com/
• https://www.frugalityandfreedom.com/australian-fi-weekly-36-with-highway-to-retirement/

My recent blog posts:

• Revealing my WhyFI password
• Four Steps to FI – Part 3: Attack your Expenses
• Both found at https://fiafter40.com/

Why having low expenses sets you up for success

• Establish good habits for your future
• Identify your FI goal with 4% rule
• Work backwards to calculate required annual and monthly savings
• Lower expenses helps in two ways
• Increases cash flow to save
• Target number is lower
• Example: two guys making $75k, 35 years old, zero saved (8% return)
• Guy 1: $4k expenses will take 39 years
• Guy 2: $3k expenses will 21 years
• Lower expenses gets you to FI faster and provides options
• Run your own numbers, educate yourself

Why am I pursuing FI?

• My kids
• To afford dream scenario stuff, like a lake house
• Turned 40 and woke up
• My parents retired
• To find the best version of me

One month of blogging/podcasting

• Glad I finally started
• Learned a lot about layout, formatting, page design
• Reconnected me with social media
• Bringing me back to my Comm major roots
• Made a lot of amazing connections with the FI community