Kinda CoastFIRE

This month I’m doing the opposite of cutting my grocery spending. 🙃

How much did I spend on a 10-day trip to the UK (split with a partner)? How much did I spend in February? Am I still spending an average of $2300/month? (No.) Am I alive? (Yes.)

QUICK UPDATE—miss y’all.

I’ve been unlucky enough to live with two exes. 🫠 Here are some break-up tips from a seasoned veteran. 🫡

Appreciating things other people have without needing those things! Sort of a continuation to last week’s episode but it’s not a prerequisite. (Why aren’t you obsessed with me?)

I’ve got some tips to finding cheap makeup if you too like switching up your lewk. I also go on a rant about why “keeping up with the Joneses” really misses the mark.

The past couple months have me wondering how one weighs the options of spending less or earning more. I kind of want to earn more! Am I going to do anything about it?

December 2023 was a high spend month. Here’s how much and why! I’m not doing resolutions for 2024 but I’m planning some changes for January.

Here’s what I think about the pet peeves you wrote in, and which crimes I’m complicit in. 🤡 Tried to make this fun but not mean spirited!

Routines are nice for self-care/relaxation. But also I don’t need them as much because I’m less stressed. Oh and getting through the holidays without talking about work is my new full-time job.

I talk about some of the stuff I miss about working full-time. (It’s worth it.) Hopefully this helps you consider whether working less is right for you, if you’re considering stepping back.

I’m looking for a budgeting app now that Mint is transitioning to Credit Karma. And here’s how I invest in the absolute laziest way possible.

Here’s how my mental and physical health have improved as a direct result of halving my hours! It’s pretty remarkable what 2 months of less stress will do.

Hobby follow-up! I talk about how I’ve been using my extra hours per week and whether that matches up with what I wanted to do.

About 5 years ago, I significantly reduced my expenses while increasing my income *a little bit*. You could totally increase your income instead. This is why I didn’t.

I’m in a mood in the beginning but I get over it. I’m comparing how I used to define success vs. how I define it now, after years of working on my need for external validation.

I made a 401k oopsie. I’m looking for some paid work but mostly learning new skills. Working less has made me hate texting and other realizations.

There’s a lot of discussion about whether renting or owning is better for FIRE. I think the answer is… both! But I currently rent and here’s why. Oh and my apartment is cute but creepy.

My life is not nearly as glamorous as I wanted it to be 10 years ago. Also, I totally confirmed I spent more in 2013 than I do today! As proof, here’s a comparison between my September 2013 budget and my September 2023 budget, including my overall spend.

How I calculate my CoastFIRE number while spending as little time as possible doing math. I also hate budgeting but I’m not as bad at it as I used to be. New bio soft launch: Still fucking up but not as bad. 😇

Quick check-in on how I worked 4 hours today and that’s gonna be my life for the foreseeable future. I didn’t die! I did nap.

I’ve got some anxieties leading up to next Tuesday, when I’m officially working only 20 hours every week, but I’m focusing on the positive this week and sharing what I’m planning on doing with my extra time. Spoiler: They’re all practically free.

I talk about my experience using healthcare.gov, along with how I’m planning on approaching my medical expenses without an employer-sponsored plan.

A little about me and my decision to live off a part-time income. Podcast test! No editing!