Our experience in Sedona over the last four years has been focused in a few key areas; working, hiking, and early retirement planning. Also sprinkled in for fun is visiting with family when they are in town, about 6 months of the year. We realize that it is important to make more connections with neighbors […]
Spending
Simplicity: Considerations for downsizing our home
We have spent extensive time and energy considering downsizing from our current home in Sedona to a smaller townhome located less than a mile away. My in-laws currently own a townhome in Sedona, rented to tenants on a month-to-month basis. We are considering purchasing that townhome from my wife’s parents once we are able to […]
The future is uncertain: Save every penny
In a recent blog entry, I wrote about living for today, since you only live once (YOLO). I touched upon why today might be the day to start living your life fully. It is important not to put off to tomorrow those things that are important to us today because, the truth is, none of […]
Financial Considerations for downsizing our home
We have spent much time and energy considering downsizing from our current home in Sedona to a smaller townhouse located less than a mile away. My in-laws own the townhouse, currently rented on a month-to-month basis. The downsizing subject is an ongoing discussion over coffee in the morning or sipping a glass of wine while […]
Marriage: A father’s letter to his daughter
Our daughter is getting married in a couple days and I thought it might be good to put my thoughts down in a father’s letter to his daughter. I do not believe she is aware of this website or blog, but will certainly find it at some point. Sweetie, I hope someday you enjoy my […]
Jet-setting Frugal Style to Las Vegas
As I’ve mentioned, working at home has its challenges. Having little direct interaction with people, other than back-to-back phone meetings, can get lonely. This is one of the reasons I occasionally visit the local coffee shop. I also go out for lunch a few times a month. I have to tell you about my recent […]
A Tale of Two Employees’ Finances: “Boot”
Worldwide, there is panic over the recent, drastic stock market decline. Fear seems to be in the air. Who knows how far the market will fall? What will the short- and long-term effects be on the economy? I thought that this period of uncertainty might be an excellent time to reflect on those of us […]
4 Significant Lifestyle Changes in the Past 40 Years
We all know that time keeps moving on and waits for no one. It is amazing to reflect on the advances in technology many of us have witnessed in our lifetimes. The rise of personal computers, cell phones, the Internet, and instant communication is unprecedented. Could you imagine trying to predict and explain this to […]
YOLO: You Only Live Once
I imagine you have heard the term “YOLO.” It is common to see articles or personal finance books that explore this concept. YOLO is an acronym for You Only Live Once. The basic premise of YOLO is we’d better live for today, since tomorrow may never come. “Memento mori” – A Latin phrase which translates […]
Step 3: Take Into Account Replacement Costs for Big-ticket Items
This article is the third in a series of seven that will discuss our approach to reaching financial independence, and determining key criteria for success. If you have not already read the second step covering passive income, please take a minute to visit that post. This article will discuss why you should calculate replacement and […]