We got to change our backyard whenever we wanted. We scooted around the United States with our home in-tow and all of our material possessions, sampled the local food (and drink!), hiked amazing trails and took in as much as we could of this unique and sometimes-quirky country of ours. While the freedom to travel was amazing, you might be surprised at how expensive it can be to travel the country full-time. Strangely enough, it’s not always cheaper than just staying put in a traditional house. As usual, the devil is in the details.   Granted, we aren’t #VanLife-ers. We don’t hunker down in a ..read more

If you’re trying to retire by age 40 like I am, you need to be doing a lot of planning now. Early retirement is exciting and challenging at once, similar to the feelings I had when paying off $15,000 in student loans within 9 months of graduating college. But that wasn’t all, I managed my money well and I was also able to afford two European vacations and a trip to New York City. I crave a challenge, but I want it to be meaningful and helpful in my life. Retiring early is a difficult feat, but the process reminds me of the same feelings and motivation I did when I was trying to pay off my st ..read more

Husband, dad, and IT professional by trade, Brian started Debt Discipline in 2013 along with his journey to recover from years of unintentionally reckless spending. After self-educating and gaining inspiration from other personal finance bloggers, he wanted to share his story to help others. This also eventually led him to do more than just document his debt comeback on his blog. Now, Brian has found ways to get this information in front of people before they know they need it. In the six years since he started, Brian and his family have experienced: Coming to terms with more than $100,000 in ..read more

Early retirement can be the greatest gift you can give yourself. Yes, you have to work for it. Yes, the rest of the world would like to withhold it from you as long as possible. But ultimately your hard-earned freedom is better than a million spa days or cold beers. Reaching financial independence is one of the best feelings in the world. And that feeling is yours to grasp. That said, many people on the path to early retirement, the goals of financial independence become a daily source of stress. Anxieties about the future cast a dark shadow over decisions in the present. It’s not unusual to ..read more

According to this report, Americans will spend up to $730.7 billion during this year's holiday shopping, an increase of 4.2% compared to their spending in 2018. Unfortunately, what ends up happening after all the fun and merriment that goes on around Christmas is that people become saddled with debt as they enter the new year. Here are some eight strategies I have used over the years to save for the holidays and remain debt-free. 1. Stick to your budget and savings plan The starting point for your holiday planning is to create a budget. List your essential monthly expenses (needs) and income t ..read more

Today, we're bringing in Earl from Early Retirement Earl to talk about blogging and how he's managed to keep everything straight as a personal finance blogger. 1. In at least 100 words, describe the target audience of your blog. In other words, who are you writing for? The target audience for Early Retirement Earl is anyone who has been under educated or uneducated about personal finance. That was me and as I continue to learn and grow, I like to share my experiences. I like to think I write for everyone but in the end the truth is, I write for me. Writing my blog accomplishes two goals, it he ..read more

The economy won’t always be this way, and those of us who will emerge with a solid foundation once the economy finally recovers will be those of us who know how to save our money. We all know how to spend. Most of us are experts. But when it comes to saving, it’s not as fun. But, here’s the deal: Saving money is what makes us adults. It’s also what saves us from losing our shirts (or our homes) because we over-spent one too many times. But setting money aside doesn’t need to be difficult. In 2020, it’s prime time for saving your dough. Why? Because the economy’s been great for far too long ..read more

I always look for ways to live a healthier life. In the sense of mental and physical health, but also in the sense of making sustainable choices for the planet. You’ll often catch me walking to my neighborhood farmer’s market with an armful of reusable bags, and I’m the self-appointed recycling queen of my neighborhood… But what does this have to do with retiring by 40? It turns out, studies have found that early retirement is good for you and good for the planet. Retiring early helps you live longer You heard that right! Multiple studies have shown that retiring early can actually extend you ..read more

Before I get started, some financial advice from yours truly: if you find a good deal on something you’ve had your eye on, buy it! The key to financial freedom isn’t hoarding all of your money and never enjoying anything ever, it’s choosing to spend your money wisely. Getting something you’ve been saving for when it’s on sale is good money management. Just make sure you don’t go wild and start buying every sale item you see! Personally, shopping all day isn’t my idea of a post-Thanksgiving good time. I don’t like crowds or the endless pressure to buy buy buy. I tend to stay away from retail sp ..read more

Living frugally to reach your retirement goals has been tough so far, but it’s been working. You’ve built sizable savings in your 30s. You’re on track to retire by 40. But then something comes along. Something expensive. An opportunity or something you have always really, really, really wanted. Maybe it’s the house you’ve always pictured yourself living in, or the vintage Aston Martin you’ve always fantasized about. Maybe it’s a trip you’re finding it hard to say no to. Your best friend is getting married in Tokyo—and she’s making it a week-long celebration. Or perhaps it’s something you did ..read more