FI Minded - Financial Independence Without the Extremes

If you’ve been pursuing financial independence for a while, there’s a good chance you’ve built your identity around progress — earning more, saving more, optimizing everything. That mindset is what gets you to FI. But what happens when you get close…or even cross the finish line? For a lot of high achievers, they don’t slow down. They keep chasing. They move the goalposts. They look for the next number to hit. Not because they need more money, but because they don’t know what replaces the pursuit. In this episode, I sit down with Justin David Carl from Fit Rich Life to talk about what happens when money is no longer the main constraint in your life. After walking away from a high-paying sales career, Justin was forced to confront a deeper question: Who am I if I’m no longer making a ton of money? We unpack what it looks like to shift from optimizing net worth to optimizing net life, how to navigate identity after FI, and why high achievers often struggle to stop playing a game they’ve already won. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: Fridays: The Best Place to Begin Practicing Financial Freedom | E192 The Hardest Skill in FI: Knowing When to Stop | E190 Joel Larsgaard How to Create a 3-Day Workweek (Before You Reach FI) | E187 Andy Hill Guest Summary: Justin David Carl is a fitness and money coach who helps high achievers build a “fit, rich life” — one that prioritizes health, freedom, and fulfillment alongside financial success. After leaving a high-income sales career, he now focuses on helping others shift from chasing more money to optimizing their time, energy, and overall quality of life. Check out more at Fit Rich Life. Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Financial independence doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing leap — it’s a spectrum, and you can start practicing freedom now. In this episode, I continue the conversation with Jess from The Fioneers, exploring “tiny quits” — low-risk experiments you can take to reclaim time, protect your energy, and build confidence without derailing your FI plan. We discuss practical ways to negotiate your work, control your calendar, and even step back from the chase for maximum income, all in service of a more balanced, intentional path toward FI. If you’ve been feeling the pressure of burnout or stuck waiting until some future number to enjoy freedom, this conversation is full of actionable strategies to start practicing it today. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: The Hardest Skill in FI: Knowing When to Stop | E190 Joel Larsgaard How to Create a 3-Day Workweek (Before You Reach FI) | E187 Andy Hill Mini-Retirements: Retire Often, Not Just Early | E177 Jillian Johnsrud Guest Summary: Jess is the co-founder of The Fioneers, a platform dedicated to helping people pursue financial independence while building a life they enjoy along the way. Through their writing, courses, and YouTube channel, Jess and her partner Corey help people explore ideas like SlowFI, intentional living, and designing a flexible lifestyle before reaching full financial independence. The Fioneers Website Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

For many people pursuing financial independence, discovering compounding interest is the moment everything clicks. You start earning more, saving aggressively, and letting your investments grow. The math works, the plan is clear, and the finish line feels achievable. But wealth isn’t the only thing that compounds. Burnout does too. And if you ignore it long enough, it eventually catches up to you. In this episode, I speak with Jess from The Fioneers to talk about the hidden cost of pushing too hard on the path to FI. Jess shares her experience hitting a wall before stepping away from work, the warning signs she ignored, and what she learned from slowing down. Together, they explore why many high achievers in the FI community overestimate the financial risks of slowing down while underestimating the emotional cost of waiting too long. You’ll also hear why the SlowFI philosophy resonates with so many people pursuing financial independence, and how it can help you design a life that balances progress toward FI with enjoying your time today. If you’ve been pushing hard toward your FI number but feeling the weight of burnout creeping in, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at how to recalibrate before you’re forced to. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: The Hardest Skill in FI: Knowing When to Stop | E190 Joel Larsgaard How to Create a 3-Day Workweek (Before You Reach FI) | E187 Andy Hill 3 Hidden Traps That Make FIRE Feel Empty | E182 Jordan Grumet Guest Summary: Jess is the co-founder of The Fioneers, a platform dedicated to helping people pursue financial independence while building a life they enjoy along the way. Through their writing, courses, and YouTube channel, Jess and her partner Corey help people explore ideas like SlowFI, intentional living, and designing a flexible lifestyle before reaching full financial independence. The Fioneers Website Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

As I got closer to financial independence, I realized something strange: I had more financial freedom than ever, but I still wasn’t using my time any differently. It forced me to ask a bigger question: if the goal of FI is freedom with your time, why was I still waiting to start living that way? In this solo episode, I share why Fridays might be the best place to begin practicing financial independence before you reach your FI number. After years of working full-time while also running my business, I started experimenting with taking Fridays off, and eventually Mondays too, and discovered that freedom is something you can practice in small doses. You’ll learn why Fridays are the perfect low-risk “tiny quit,” how reclaiming just one day can help you escape the weekend crunch, and why experimenting with flexibility now can build confidence in your FI plan long before you hit your number. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: The Hardest Skill in FI: Knowing When to Stop | E190 Joel Larsgaard How to Create a 3-Day Workweek (Before You Reach FI) | E187 Andy Hill What’s on Your FI Bucket List? | E186 Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

For years, I assumed Roth contributions were the smarter move. Pay the taxes now, enjoy tax-free growth later, and never worry about future tax hikes. It felt simple and responsible. But during my highest-earning years, that mindset was quietly slowing down my progress toward financial independence. Financial planner and tax expert Cody Garrett explains why Traditional contributions often outperform Roth for people pursuing FI. The key insight: during retirement, it’s not your income that drives taxes, it’s your spending. That shift changes everything about how tax planning should work for early retirees and those working toward financial independence. In this conversation, we break down the three major reasons Traditional contributions often win, why retirees benefit from a surprisingly friendly tax code, and how locking yourself into Roth contributions too early can limit your future flexibility. You’ll also learn how strategic tax planning can help you reach your FI number faster and create more options once you stop working. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: 50/30/20 Budget: Does This Popular Guideline Actually Work for FI Seekers? | E184 3 Hidden Traps That Make FIRE Feel Empty | E182 Jordan Grumet Optimal Tax Strategies for Your Early Retirement | E180 Cody Garrett & Sean Mullaney Guest Summary: Cody Garrett is a financial planner, tax specialist, and the founder of Measure Twice Financial. A former professional musician turned financial advisor, Cody specializes in tax planning strategies for people pursuing financial independence and early retirement. His work focuses on helping high earners optimize tax strategies during their working years while creating flexible withdrawal strategies for retirement. Book: Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement Website Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

The FI community is incredibly good at effort, optimization, and doing hard things for a long time. But somewhere along the way, many of us forget how to stop. Even after gaining more control over our time, we fill it back up with projects, commitments, and expectations, leaving us busy, tired, and quietly stretched thin. Joel Larsgaard shares what it looked like to recognize that “doing it all” was no longer sustainable, even when the work was meaningful. After front-loading years of effort through saving, investing, and building How to Money, Joel began intentionally pulling back: working fewer hours, prioritizing family and health, and even taking a six-week sabbatical. This conversation explores why doing less isn’t laziness, but a necessary evolution after years of striving. You’ll hear how financial independence can be used as a tool for time, not just wealth, along with practical ways to say no, resist constant expansion, and create space without losing ambition. If you’ve reached a point where more effort isn’t improving your life the way it used to, this episode offers a healthier path forward - one built on balance, presence, and intentional choices. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: 4 Rules That Will Help You Spend Money Without Stress & Regret | E188 How to Create a 3-Day Workweek (Before You Reach FI) | E187 Andy Hill 3 Hidden Traps That Make FIRE Feel Empty | E182 Jordan Grumet Guest Summary: Joel Larsgaard is the co-host of How to Money, one of the most popular personal finance podcasts, where he helps listeners build wealth while living well. Through his own FI journey, Joel has shifted from relentless optimization toward a more intentional, balanced life—focusing on family, health, and long-term sustainability without abandoning ambition. Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Most people enter marriage with optimism and good intentions, but very few understand what actually causes relationships to fall apart over time. After spending 15 years inside divorce courtrooms and watching more than a thousand marriages unravel, today’s guest reached a blunt conclusion that challenges everything we’re taught about marriage and money. Aaron Thomas, divorce lawyer, Harvard Law graduate, and founder of Prenups.com, shares what he learned from seeing marriages fail up close, and how those lessons completely reshaped how he approached his own relationship. Instead of ignoring the risks, Aaron reverse-engineered the most common emotional and financial breakdowns couples face and built systems to prevent them before they ever show up. This conversation explores practical tools couples can use to strengthen trust, reduce money-related conflict, and stay aligned on big goals like financial independence, early retirement, and lifestyle design. You’ll learn how to run a marriage check-in that actually works, why prenups can be healthy (not hostile), and how clear financial agreements can protect both your relationship and your FI journey. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: How to Have End-of-Life Conversations with the People You Love | E185 Tess Waresmith When You and Your Partner See Money Differently | E162 Brian Page When Your Spouse Makes More Than You | E151 Ed Coambs Guest Summary: Aaron Thomas is a divorce lawyer, Harvard Law graduate, and founder of Prenups.com. After representing hundreds of couples through emotionally and financially costly divorces, Aaron became passionate about helping couples proactively design healthier relationships. His work focuses on clear communication, financial transparency, and practical systems that reduce conflict and support long-term partnerships, especially for high-achieving couples pursuing financial independence. Aaron’s website: https://prenups.com/ Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

If you’re great at saving money but feel anxious, guilty, or uncomfortable spending it, I want to share 4 spending principles that have helped me. Many people pursuing financial independence don’t struggle with discipline. They struggle with permission. We have endless advice on saving and investing, but far less guidance on how to actually enjoy the money we’re working so hard to build. In this episode, I’ll share my personal Spending Playbook: four spending principles I use as a super saver to spend confidently, reduce stress, and still stay on track toward financial independence. These principles are designed to help me enjoy my money without sabotaging my long-term goals. This isn’t about spending more; it’s about spending intentionally, so saving stops feeling like a sacrifice. The 4 Spending Principles Covered 1. The Fun Fund A simple way to give a portion of your money one clear job: enjoyment — without competing with your investing goals. 2. The Oops Budget A no-questions-asked buffer for unplanned, non-fun expenses so money doesn’t add stress during already stressful moments. 3. The “Moments That Matter” List A short list of life events and experiences where you pre-decide money won’t have an outsized influence on your choice. 4. Guilt-Free Spending Categories A few high-impact categories where spending creates outsized happiness — and where under-spending isn’t necessarily a win. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: Smart Frugality: The Frugal Mindset That Actually Feels Good | E183 JC Rodriguez Is Saving Too Much Holding You Back? | E179 Jesse Cramer You’re Financially Free, But It Doesn’t Feel Like It | E165 Shannah Game Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Everyone only gets 168 hours each week, and work quietly consumes the best of them. When careers sprawl into nights and weekends, health, relationships, and joy are usually the first things sacrificed. This conversation is about reclaiming time before burnout forces the decision for you, and proving that you don’t need full financial independence to start living with more freedom right now. Andy Hill shares how he and his wife redesigned their lives to work just 20–25 hours per week while still supporting their lifestyle and long-term goals. Through practical examples and mindset shifts, Andy breaks down what it really takes to transition away from a traditional five-day workweek without feeling reckless or irresponsible. The focus isn’t on escaping work. It’s on intentionally designing it. You’ll learn how CoastFI, part-time work, and solopreneur models can create flexibility long before you reach your FI number. This episode explores how to test reduced hours safely, set boundaries with employers or clients, and identify the moment when “more money” stops being the thing worth optimizing. If you’re craving more time but don’t want to derail your financial future, this is your blueprint. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: Is Saving Too Much Holding You Back? | E179 Jesse Cramer Mini-Retirements: Retire Often, Not Just Early | E177 Jillian Johnsrud How to Live a FI Life Without the FI Bank Account | E170 Jess from Fioneers Guest Summary: Andy Hill is the creator of Marriage, Kids, and Money and the author of Own Your Time. After years of juggling a full-time job and a side hustle, Andy designed a solopreneur lifestyle that prioritizes time freedom while maintaining financial security. His work focuses on helping families align money with what matters most: time, flexibility, and intentional living. Check out Andy’s new book: Own Your Time Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

If you’ve ever felt stuck somewhere between the excitement of starting your FI journey and the reality that the finish line is still years away, this episode will give you a practical way to stay motivated. You’ll learn how a FI Bucket List can immediately add meaning, momentum, and enjoyment to the process—no matter where you are on the path. This isn’t about spending more money; it’s about intentionally creating experiences that keep you energized instead of burned out. You’ll also hear how shifting from a “save now, live later” mindset to a “design a meaningful life today” approach can completely change the way your journey feels. We break down how to choose bucket-list items that fit your values, your current season of life, and your budget. You’ll walk away with clear steps for creating your own version, whether you want more adventure, more connection, or simply more joy in your week. Finally, the conversation highlights what the FI Bucket List reveals about the bigger purpose behind financial independence: freedom, flexibility, and the chance to build a life you actually want to live. If you’ve been feeling behind, bored, or disconnected from your "why," this episode will help you reconnect with the possibility, purpose, and excitement that originally drew you to FI. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: Is Saving Too Much Holding You Back? | E179 Jesse Cramer Mini-Retirements: Retire Often, Not Just Early | E177 Jillian Johnsrud How to Get the Courage to Travel More Adventurously | E174 Jon Otero Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Talking about end-of-life planning is one of the hardest conversations we’ll ever have, but also one of the most important. Whether you’re pursuing financial independence or already work-optional, someone in your life will eventually rely on you to make decisions on their behalf. And without clarity, that responsibility becomes emotionally heavy, financially stressful, and often filled with guesswork. In this episode, Financial Educator Tess Waresmith (Wealth With Tess) walks us through how to approach these conversations with compassion and confidence. Tess has navigated caregiving and loss firsthand, including the passing of her stepfather and aunt. She brings a personal and practical approach to preparing families for the future. You’ll learn how to make these conversations feel less overwhelming, how to use Tess’s 3-Layer Talk Framework to guide your discussion, and which estate-planning essentials every FI-minded person should have squared away. More than anything, this episode will help you strengthen connections, reduce uncertainty, and create peace of mind for yourself and the people you love. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: 3 Hidden Traps That Make FIRE Feel Empty | E182 Jordan Grumet How to Negotiate Your Medical Bills | E161 Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington Does My FIRE Number Account for Inflation? | E140 Jesse Cramer Guest Summary: Tess Waresmith is a financial educator, speaker, and the creator of Wealth With Tess, where she teaches women how to build confidence with money and investing. Through her workshops, courses, and content, she shares clear, compassionate financial guidance to help women reduce stress and prioritize what truly matters. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wealthwithtess/ Talking About Death: https://www.moneyconfidentclub.com/talkdeath Deathly Yours Workbook ($60 off with code FIMINDED): https://www.moneyconfidentclub.com/offers/BkfzyzKV?coupon_code=FIMINDED Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Are FI seekers supposed to follow the 50/30/20 budget guideline — or is it completely irrelevant when you’re pursuing financial independence? In this solo episode, Justin walks through five years of his own spending data to find out how closely his real-life budget aligned with this popular personal finance rule of thumb. You’ll learn what the 50/30/20 rule was originally designed for, where it breaks down for people on the path to FI, and how your own needs, wants, and savings ratios might shift as you move closer to financial independence. Justin also shares his FI-friendly version of the guideline that better supports intentional spending, lifestyle design, and long-term financial freedom. Whether you’re in your first year of the FI journey or optimizing for Coast FI, this episode will help you rethink your spending percentages, understand your true savings rate, and build a budgeting approach that matches your work-optional goals. Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: Smart Frugality: The Frugal Mindset That Actually Feels Good | E183 JC Rodriguez How to Save Thousands on Groceries (Without Giving Anything Up) | E176 Bryan Suddith Money Moves That Sound Smart…But Aren’t (Part 1) | E172 Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Cutting costs can help you reach financial independence faster, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of your happiness. The real key is smart frugality: spending intentionally on what adds value and confidently cutting what doesn’t. In this episode, I’m joined by JC Rodriguez, financial coach and creator of The Frugal Rich, to explore how to build a values-based spending system that feels good, lasts long term, and supports your FI goals. We’ll unpack practical hacks from grocery savings to “buy for life” strategies and talk about how to balance conscious spending, frugality with purpose, and joy along the journey to financial freedom. If you’ve ever wondered whether saving money is helping or hurting your quality of life, this one’s for you. Key Takeaways: Guest Summary: JC Rodriguez is a financial coach and creator of The Frugal Rich, a community of over 1.5 million people learning how to live better with less. His work helps people embrace frugality with purpose, adopt sustainable money habits, and build long-term financial freedom without sacrificing happiness. Check out JC on: YouTube Facebook Group Connect With Justin Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

FIRE was never meant to be the finish line. It was supposed to be the launchpad. But somewhere along the way, we started chasing optimization instead of meaning. In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Grumet (Doc G), author of The Purpose Code and host of the Earn & Invest Podcast, to explore how the FIRE movement can sometimes turn from a tool for freedom into a trap that leaves people feeling empty. We unpack three hidden pitfalls that can derail your FIRE journey and how to realign money, purpose, and meaning once you’ve “made it.” Jordan has been a longtime voice in the Financial Independence movement, through his blog, DiverseFI, his book, The Purpose Code, and his podcast, Earn & Invest. But after a decade in the movement, he started asking some deeper questions: Key Takeaways: Other Episodes You’ll Love: Is Saving Too Much Holding You Back? | E179 Jesse Cramer How to Live a FI Life Without the FI Bank Account | E170 Jess from Fioneers Find Purpose Beyond Financial Independence | E157 Jordan Grumet Guest Summary: Jordan Grumet (Doc G) is a physician turned writer, speaker, and host of the Earn & Invest Podcast. His books, Taking Stock and The Purpose Code, explore how to align money, meaning, and legacy. Jordan has been part of the FIRE community since 2014, helping thousands rethink what financial independence really means. Connect with Jordan: The Purpose Code Connect with Justin: Email me at Justin@FIMinded.com or connect with me on LinkedIn. Support FI Minded: Want to hear more? Follow FI Minded on your favorite podcast player. Like this episode? Share it with a friend pursuing financial independence. Love the show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Everyone talks about starting a side hustle, but few talk about how to pick the right one. The one that fits your skills, your lifestyle, and your FI goals. Nick Loper, host of The Side Hustle Show, joins me again to share smart ways to find a side hustle that actually fits your life, skills, and Financial Independence goals. We explore creative frameworks like “Rip, Pivot, and Jam,” “Intersection,” and “Shovels in the Gold Rush,” and how to use AI tools like ChatGPT to uncover ideas faster than ever. Nick also shares how to narrow your list to just one idea you’ll be excited to work on for years to come. If you’ve been overthinking your next move or waiting for the “perfect” side hustle, this episode will help you find clarity, confidence, and direction. Key Takeaways: Rip, Pivot, and JamShovels in the Gold Rush Other Episodes You’ll Love: How to Start a Side Hustle in One Month | E167 Nick Loper How to DOUBLE Your Income in One Year | E164 Andrew Giancola How to Launch a Side Hustle While Working Full-Time | E132 Genuinely Genesis More of Nick: The Side Hustle Show More of FI Minded: Email Justin at Justin@FIMinded.com Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

It might have been monsters under the bed, shadows in the corner, or creepy dementors from Harry Potter. We all had irrational fears growing up. Mine was creepy dolls. After watching a movie called Teacher’s Pet, I became so terrified of dolls that my dad had my sister box up hers and store them in the basement. I’ll be honest, I’m still not a huge fan of dolls, but I’ve mostly outgrown that fear. Along the way, though, I’ve picked up some new ones like running out of money, being left without health insurance, and probably the biggest of all… taxes. I’ve been saving and investing with the fear that Uncle Sam will take a huge chunk of my money. That mindset has me padding my investment accounts and inflating my FI number. But after reading Sean Mullaney and Cody Garrett’s book, Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement, I’m starting to rethink that - and I think you should too. To help us all navigate this, I invited Sean and Cody to walk us through strategies to optimize taxes before and during early retirement. We’ll cover things like which accounts to deplete first, how to control your taxable income through strategic selling, ways to minimize sequence-of-return risk, and even how you could pay almost nothing in taxes some years without cutting expenses. If you want practical strategies for optimizing taxes on your path to early retirement, this episode is for you. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Mr. Measure Twice and the FITaxGuy…Cody Garrett and Sean Mullaney. Key Takeaways: Mentions: Selling Specific Lots in Fidelity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cft7dLLP7_U&feature=youtu.be More of Sean & Cody: Check out the book “Tax Planning To and Through Early Retirement”:: https://www.measuretwicemoney.com/book Cody’s website: https://measuretwicefinancial.com/ Sean’s website: https://fitaxguy.com/ More of FI Minded: Email Justin at Justin@FIMinded.com Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/ The discussion is intended to be for general educational purposes and is not tax, legal, or investment advice for any individual. Justin and the FI Minded podcast do not endorse Sean Mullaney, Mullaney Financial & Tax, Inc. and their services.

I’m in this strange in-between stage right now, somewhere between Coast FI and Full FI. And I often feel pulled back and forth between spender and saver, current me and future me, speeding up and slowing down. It’s a little exhausting, I have to admit. A few years ago, things felt simpler because I was in full accumulation mode. Most of my decisions came down to one thing: delay spending so I could save and invest more. Looking back, maybe I would’ve splurged a little on experiences or time-saving purchases, but honestly, I don’t regret much. These days, though, I’m learning to focus more on my current self. I’m loosening up, spending a bit more, and not being so uptight about every dollar. Talking with friends further along in the FI journey, I’ve realized this shift is pretty natural, and perhaps you’re experiencing it too. It’s not always easy, which is why I wanted to talk it through with a friend and frequent guest, Jesse Cramer. Jesse’s navigating the same changes himself, and as a financial advisor, he also brings perspective from helping clients through similar situations. In this episode, we dive into the balance of spending on your current self while still enjoying the growth of your investments. We talk about how we’ve loosened up around money habits like budgeting, and why we’re not stressing about hitting our exact FIRE numbers anymore. I always enjoy my conversations with Jesse, and if any of this resonates with you, I think you’ll get a lot out of this one too. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the host of The Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors Podcast… Jesse Cramer. Key Takeaways: More of Jesse: Check out Jesse’s podcast: https://bestinterest.blog/personal-finance-for-long-term-investors/ More of FI Minded: Email Justin at Justin@FIMinded.com Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

I was reviewing my spending for the first half of 2025 and noticed something interesting: excluding routine bills, groceries, and experiences, I only bought 25 new things this year, totaling about $1,400. For six months, that felt pretty solid. But it also got me wondering… could I go even further? That curiosity came to a head when the nozzle on my garden hose started leaking. My first instinct was to hop on Amazon and buy a new one. It was only $20. But then I paused. I looked up what might cause the leak and found out it’s usually a worn-out rubber washer. I took the thing apart, and sure enough, that was it. I hopped back on Amazon to order a new washer…until I remembered I had another broken nozzle in the garage. I swear I have the worst luck with these—but this one wasn’t leaking. I had just dropped it and snapped the trigger handle. I took the rubber washer from that one and used it to fix the current nozzle. And it worked! No money spent. Nothing added to a landfill. And honestly, I felt proud of myself. I share that story because it’s easy to assume we’re already frugal or intentional enough—especially in the FI community. But that moment made me realize how often I default to “buy new” without even questioning it. And I want to become more intentional, especially when it comes to physical things. That’s why I invited Ashlee Piper on the show today. Ashlee is a sustainability expert and author of the new book No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity. She’s also the creator of the #NoNewThings Challenge, which she personally followed for two years, which is just insanely impressive. In this conversation, we dig into how to creatively meet your needs without always reaching for your wallet. Ashlee shares her SUPER system for thoughtfully navigating purchases, and we run through a few real-life scenarios like getting ready for a wedding or gearing up for Halloween. If you want to bring more intentionality into how you consume, this episode will leave you feeling inspired. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the always resourceful, wildly entertaining, and sustainability-driven…Ashlee Piper. Key Takeaways: More of Ashlee: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleepiper/ Newsletter: https://substack.com/@theethicaledit More of FI Minded: Email Justin at Justin@FIMinded.com Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

We’re all waiting for the day we hit financial independence. That’s when we’ll finally quit our jobs and have time to learn a new hobby, start that house project, take longer vacations, or prioritize our health. You probably have a list of things you’re saving for after FI—but what if you don’t want to wait another decade to start? Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. The challenge is that your career eats up most of your time and energy, and since you’re not financially independent yet, walking away isn’t an option. But what if you didn’t have to choose between all work now and all freedom later? What if you could work for a few years, take a break, then return to work—and repeat that cycle? Instead of one long career followed by one long retirement, what if you took mini-retirements along the way? It’s not just a theory—today’s guest has done it. Jillian Johnsrud has taken over a dozen mini-retirements throughout her life and now helps others do the same. In this episode, Jillian shares how to organize your time off, why some employers actually say yes to these breaks, and how a mini-retirement might even improve your career. She also provides examples of how mini-retirements speed up, rather than slow down, people’s path to FI. Mini-retirements are one of my favorite concepts—I’ve taken one myself, and I always encourage my friends to consider them too. So today, I’m making the case to you: maybe it’s better to retire often than to retire once. Key Takeaways: More of Jillian: Read Retire Often: https://lnk.to/retireoften More of FI Minded: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

If you're on the path to financial independence, you know every dollar adds up. An extra $1,000 a year might not sound like much, but early in your FI journey, that kind of savings can seriously accelerate your timeline. And if you’re already FI, trimming $1,000 in expenses lowers your FIRE number and helps your nest egg last longer. The best part? I’m not asking you to start a side hustle or cut out your favorite purchases. Instead, we’re talking about saving money by wasting less, specifically, food waste. Yes, that’s right. The average American throws out over 200 pounds of food a year. For a family of four, that’s about $3,200 straight into the trash. Think wilted spinach, moldy bread, and forgotten leftovers. Any of this sound familiar? Here’s the good news: with a little planning and a few habit shifts, you can cut that waste dramatically and keep more money in your pocket without sacrificing lifestyle. Today’s guest, Bryan Suddith, took this challenge seriously. Over the last five years, he’s tracked every bit of food that ended up in his trash. And the total? Less than $100. For a family of four. We’ll share practical tips for meal planning, a framework for eating through your groceries, his favorite go-to food-waste saving meal (which surprised me), and even how to avoid food waste after hosting a party. If you’re ready to trim your grocery bill and stretch your FI dollars further without really sacrificing anything, then you’re going to like this episode. Key Takeaways: More of Bryan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryansuddith/ More of FI Minded: Email Justin at Justin@FIMinded.com Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/