A lot has happened since you created this blog post about my dilemma: Should I Take A Mini-Retirement or Stick It Out? A quick update from my side…
Should I Take A Mini-Retirement or Stick It Out? (WITH AN UPDATE!)
How Financial Independence Let Me Leave An Abusive Relationship
“But what do I do about all of my things?” I asked, standing in the hallway with my phone pressed up against my ear. All day I’d been shaking with adrenaline, my fight or flight instinct on high alert. “I remember that one of my biggest worries when I left was my stuff, but I’ll […]
First Month Living Abroad In Amsterdam – An April Recap
I’ve Lived In Amsterdam For One Month It feels unreal that an entire month has already passed. I’m now officially an expatriate with a Dutch bank account, phone number, and residence card. In one month I visited multiple towns, saw some friends old and new, and found a place to call home. I figured it […]
For Sale: Your Attention At A Discount
Can you feel it too? The way the mind splinters, zipping around like a hummingbird with too much sugar in its system? Bzzzzrrrr, flitting from one thing to the next. I wrote that sentence, and then I remembered that I wanted to buy my sister a gift. She had casually mentioned that she wanted a […]
Abolish the Early Retirement Police
The conversation around abolishing the police is one our country should have, but the “police” I am writing about today and the issues surrounding them are admittedly much lower-stakes. While the actual police force has a lot to atone for, the folks I’m talking about do something that’s simply annoying: they crack down on definitions of […]
The Magical Wealth-Building Power of White Privilege
A Tale of Two Travellers Imagine for a moment that you are preparing for a long, multi-day trek. The trail will wind its way through jungle, rainforest, mountains, and deserts. It can be dangerous, so you are assigned a guide. He recognizes you and smiles, handing you some tools: a compass, a map, a flashlight, […]
I Could Retire Next Year At The Age of 28— But I Won’t.
I have a plan. I mapped it out a few years ago and I’ve been sticking to it— save $1,200,000 by the age of 32. It is a cautious plan that assumes I could double my expenses in retirement. It even has a buffer of $200,000 for just-in-case scenarios. Yet recently I’ve been wondering if this […]
Why You Don’t Want Nice Things
We stepped into our grandparents’ new condo, dazzled by the decor. They had just settled into a retirement community and finished furnishing their place. I had never seen a place like it– not because of the space, or the view, or the decoration, but there was something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Of […]
The Cash Machine – A Book Review
The first thing that struck me about The Cash Machine was its cover. Of course it appealed to me—a machine under construction, tools strewn about the floor, and money flying in every direction? Sounds like just the book for ol’ Financial Mechanic over here. The subtitle sealed the deal: A Tale of Passion, Persistence, and Financial Independence. I was sold!
How To Stay Sane Working From Home — An Extrovert’s Guide
Recently news is buzzing about COVID-19 spreading globally, causing campuses to shut down and employers to encourage their workforce to work from home. Lucky for me, I’ve been working remotely now for almost a year.