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Welcome to another #AusFIWeekly with handpicked Financial Independence links and events from Australia and abroad. I’m Michelle, a mid-30s semi-retiree sharing my FI journey at FrugalityandFreedom.com
The seductive siren call of “Black Friday Sales” seemed louder than ever here this year! Amidst the hype, I finally looked into getting an ereader-type device. Because I’m all about #SecondHandFirst while living on the trailing edge of luxury, I soon found a gently-used iPad Mini on Gumtree (like Craigslist), buying for all of $50 (US$36).
I’ve since borrowed a handful of ebooks and audiobooks free from my library via Borrow Box and Libby by Overdrive (highly recommend). With these apps, I’ve also set up “suspended holds”, moving up the wait queue for other digital books, then choosing when to activate and borrow so I avoid being overwhelmed. I occasionally purchase those I want to keep in hardcopy, but I like this “try before you buy” access. Love my library(ies)!
Do you make use of your local library’s digital resources? Or have other favourite cheap entertainment sources? Let me know.
Australian Links
How You Can Live Comfortably While Aiming For LeanFIRE – FIRE Your Own Way
“Aiming for LeanFIRE isn’t about living extremely frugally (although it can be if that’s the flavour of LeanFIRE you want to chase!). It’s not about denying yourself everything beyond the absolute essentials to stay alive. It’s actually about discovering the value of money, and learning not to waste it!”
Optionality Is The New Black (Book) And Other Musings – Keepin’ It Frugal
“Anything used frequently, or that holds huge value in our lives, we don’t spare a cent. Other things however, which are maybe essential but don’t need to be the latest or best thing, we’ll dig for any opportunities to get them free, cheap or borrowed.”
How I Transformed My Limiting Beliefs About Money – Latestarterfire
“In my own journey, I have focused on decreasing my expenses… I am now ready to look at the other part of the equation – it is time I focus on increasing my income. And that is when I hit the BRICK WALL of limiting beliefs so fast that I am bruised all over and covered in bandages.”
The Cost of Retiring Early: A Lost Career of Wages – HisHerMoneyGuide
“People also always talk about the money that’s required to retire early. How much money you’d need to save to invest; what sort of returns you’d need to get your income goals; what steps there are to protect those investments. But people don’t talk about how much money they’re missing out on by stopping work early… So unless you’re Warren Buffet, by stopping work you’re leaving money on the table.”
International Links
What is an Enough List, Anyway? – Melissa Camara Wilkins (USA)
“Every morning, I make a list of the three things that are enough for the day, and that is my Enough List. They don’t have to be life-changing things, they just have to be the things that are most important to me today. When I’ve done those three things, I’ve done enough. Anything else is a bonus.”
Bustin’ a Few Myths About the FIRE Movement – Budgets Are Sexy (USA)
“While some concerns about early retirement might be legitimate, the most common objections I usually hear are myths (or personal limiting beliefs). It’s my opinion that “hate” really just comes from a lack of understanding. So my hope in this post is to explain a bit more about each of these common FIRE movement myths and expand on the reasons why I believe they’re mostly untrue.”
Money Motto – Why You Need One – Handful of Thoughts (Canada)
“Determining your money motto is an easy way to start taking control of your finances. There is no math involved, there is no right answer and it is strictly personal to you… A strong money motto can be motivating and inspiring.”
How “Revenge Bedtime Procrastination” Explains Modern Life – Daphne Lee, Greatist (USA/Taiwan)
“It describes a trend in which modern-day workers resist sleeping early to seize the freedom of the night hours — even if it brings no obvious benefits… Maximizing “me time” by staying up late, I suppose, is an act of resistance. Against my better instincts, I’m stealing time from my sleep to escape the robotic daytime routine.”
Missed one? Read the archives here. Or get in touch if you have any FI content recommendations.
Yours in pursuit of FI,
Michelle @ Frugality and Freedom
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3 comments
Cheers for the inclusion Michelle! Great list you got here 🙂 Hope all is well mate!
You’re very welcome, Joel! Keep up the great work. This was a great post of yours. TBH, I’m jealous I didn’t write it. 😉 Yes, hope you’re doing well too.
Great set of articles Michelle! Love a lot of these blogs and these are so helpful!