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Welcome to another edition of #AusFIWeekly. It’s Michelle here from FrugalityandFreedom.com, bringing you this regular selection of great financial independence links, news, and events from Australia and beyond.
Recently at Frugality and Freedom… Travel Edition!
- NEW POST: Travel Hacking with Credit Cards in Australia – It’s possible! I’ve redeemed signup bonuses for four international flights in recent years.
- PODCAST: Traveling 6 Months A Year in Semi-Retirement – My first ever podcast interview aired this month on Find Your Freedom. (So, that’s what I sound like!)
- POPULAR POST: 70 Frugal Hacks I use to Travel on $55 a day – I use these tips regularly, including on NZ weekend breaks while currently based in Auckland.
Australian Links
9 Surprising Lifestyle Benefits from Following the FIRE Lifestyle – Keepin It Frugal
“One thing we’ve realised is just how much our lifestyle has changed since diving deeper into our FIRE journey over time. These lifestyle benefits that have become part of us, are almost like our Guiding Principles going forward… The best thing is how they all start to intertwine.”
Retiring to a Better Life – Adventures With Poopsie
“I really liked my job so I didn’t think about early retirement as retiring from something. Conceptually, I liked the idea of not working anymore but more than that, I liked the idea of having my finances sorted out and having the freedom to do what I wanted. However, over the years, that has certainly changed. While it’s hard to know exactly the cause and effect, the more I learned about early retirement, the more I seemed to hate my job.”
Money Day: Do this once a year, it should save you $500+ per month – Sufficient Fundz
“Spending just one day a year focused solely on your money basics will get you on track, could easily save you $500 per month and clear your head of all that worry… It’s not much time out to sit down, become aware, negotiate some savings and make some money. It creates higher consciousness around your spending, lower monthly bills and faster debt repayments.”
How to work with your partner towards financial unity – A Family On FIRE
“It’s important to understand that transforming one’s beliefs and attitudes that they’ve had since childhood can be difficult and uncomfortable. Be kind to each other during this process, and keep an open mind. Financial independence is a big goal; financial unity is a lot more achievable. Focus on small improvements first, and the rest should come naturally later.”
Australian Events
Brisbane: Mustachians Australia – South Brisbane March MMM Meet Up – Sat 21 Mar 1pm, Holland Park
Perth: Choose FI Perth – March Meetup – Sun 8 Mar 11am, Kings Park
International Links
FIRE. RIP. 2014-2018 – Tawcan (Canada)
“Unfortunately, almost all of these articles only focus on the early retirement aspect and provide a false image of relaxed and luxurious life in retirement… It is a lie, because no matter where you go, you will always bring yourself. So if you are not in a happy place while pursuing FIRE, you sure won’t be happy once you reach it… Instead of using FIRE as an excuse not to work on these problems right now, start taking steps to resolve these problems. Stop ignoring problems in your life thinking they will disappear once you are financially independent or retired.”
Working One Day a Week Can Be Worth $100,000 – Four Pillar Freedom (US)
“By giving yourself the option of working even a little bit after “retirement” you can potentially quit your day job far sooner than you thought. Instead of spending three years saving an extra $100k you could just work once a week at a job you love. The end goal of F.I.R.E. is to live a good life, not to avoid working entirely.”
The 5 Building Blocks of Mindful Financial Independence – Emily Guy Burken (US)
“Mindful financial independence is about ensuring that your finances do not impede your life satisfaction. You can achieve mindful financial independence even if you continue to work, because you will be free of the financial stress, headaches, and constraints that are put on you by others… That is not to say that mindful financial independence will end your money worries forever—any more than typical financial independence would. But declaring independence from external and unnecessary financial pressures will allow you to feel a greater freedom and satisfaction in your life, no matter your current savings level, net worth, or distance to retirement.”
Frugality and FIRE – The Ultimate Abundance Mindset – The Frugal Physician (US)
“On the surface, the term frugality may look like a scarcity mindset. People in the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) believe in being frugal and saving a significant percent of their income, so some may akin that to fear based living. But, in fact, frugal living is the essence of the abundance mentality as described by Stephen Covey… The FIRE community is a group of people focused on the ultimate abundance – the concept that we CAN have a happy life, wealth, and early financial independence.”
Want to be a guest curator? Got other Australian events or favourite blogs to include? Get in touch.
Yours in pursuit of FI,
Michelle @ Frugality and Freedom
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