Category: community

community62 Comments

Financial Independence, Fight Club and the Mindless Consumer Zombie Narrative

Ms. ONL

I know you’ve heard this one before: the narrative of “working a job you hate to buy things you don’t need to impress people you don’t like.” It’s what I’ve come to call the Fight Club narrative, a distinct strand of the FI movement that posits consumerism as public enemy number 1. And while it’s a compelling narrative, here’s my case for why it’s harmful, and what we should be talking about instead. Continue reading Financial Independence, Fight Club and the Mindless Consumer Zombie Narrative

community71 Comments

What If Everyone Wanted to Retire Early? A Thought Exercise on Market Valuations

Ms. ONL

Index investing, early retirement and financial independence in their most commonly discussed forms all rely on one simple principle: They only work if most people don’t do them. (Don’t believe me on indexing? Read on for plenty of evidence.) Let’s dig into this idea, specifically the thought exercise on what a universal aspiration for early retirement would mean for market valuations, and talk about what would make early retirement more accessible to more people. Continue reading What If Everyone Wanted to Retire Early? A Thought Exercise on Market Valuations

community157 Comments

The Final Early Retirement To Do List // What Are We Forgetting?

Ms. ONL

We’re getting into the home stretch! With only about three months left to work — forever! — we’re feeling good about all that we’ve checked off our to do list. But we also wonder, what are we forgetting? And that’s where you come in. We’d love your help to tell us what else belongs on our final pre-retirement to do list. Come chime in! Continue reading The Final Early Retirement To Do List // What Are We Forgetting?

community75 Comments
How to Use Your FI Freedom to Agitate for Others at Work | financial independence, early retirement

How to Use Your FI Freedom to Agitate for Others at Work

Ms. ONL

Those of us on the FI path who are still working have an incredible freedom that most of the working world doesn’t enjoy: the freedom to push for the change in our companies or industries that others might get penalized for pushing for. Better pay, more empowering conditions, parity, diversity, you name it. If we get labeled difficult or squeaky wheels, it doesn’t matter, because we’re on our way out. Here’s how — and why! — to use that power, both for the greater good and for your own legacy. Continue reading How to Use Your FI Freedom to Agitate for Others at Work

community80 Comments
Results are in from the Our Next Life reader survey! What we now know about FIRE blog readers. Personal finance blogs, early retirement blogs, financial independence blogs, FIRE blogs, FIRE bloggers, FIRE blog readers, who reads FI blogs

The Survey Results Are In! All About Our Next Life (and FIRE Blog) Readers

Ms. ONL

A few weeks back, we asked you guys to complete a reader survey — and now we’re back with those results! Best of all, there are definitely some big picture conclusions that apply to all FI bloggers. Whether you blog or not, come check out what we learned about you guys. (Bonus: more charts and pictures than ever before!) Continue reading The Survey Results Are In! All About Our Next Life (and FIRE Blog) Readers

community88 Comments
OurNextLife.com // Is it a win or a fail to die with money leftover? "You can't take it with you" vs. leaving a legacy // financial planning, charitable bequest, charitable giving, retirement planning, legacy

Is It a Win or Fail to Die With Money? “You Can’t Take It With You” Vs. Leaving a Legacy

Ms. ONL

Lately we’ve been mulling over a question: Is it a win or a fail to die with money leftover? Of course we can’t know how long we have, but if we could, would we prefer to spend our assets down before we die, or to be able to leave a big legacy behind? There’s a lot behind this question, and today we dig into all of it! Continue reading Is It a Win or Fail to Die With Money? “You Can’t Take It With You” Vs. Leaving a Legacy

community99 Comments
Are some people predisposed to embrace the FI mindset? Financial independence, money mindset

Are Some People Predisposed to Embrace the FI Mindset?

Ms. ONL

Today we’re exploring a single question — Are some people predisposed to embrace the FI mindset? — through some personal stories, including a spending confession so out there I almost couldn’t hit publish. But most of all, we want to hear from you guys on this one — what do you think all FIers have in common, and can anyone become an FIer? Come weigh in! Continue reading Are Some People Predisposed to Embrace the FI Mindset?