FIRE Takes

Gwen and Tim chat our recent and future planned travel including Fintalks cruise and Gwen's return to Camp Mustache. https://www.amberlygrant.com/cruise https://fifriendstravel.com/

Gwen and Tim hop on to give some life updates and talk about upcoming FI events for the month of May. However, with everything going on not a lot of time and energy for the internet's money stories. I hope you still enjoy our banter and we hope we get to see some of you this month. Join our conversation at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2053112265134418

Recast of The Lion, the Witch, and the Audacity Tim and Gwen dig into three Reddit "Am I the Asshole?" posts that share a common theme: people demanding money they have no right to ask for — and the financial boundary-setting required to say no. Story 1 — A self-made tech worker who clawed his way out of poverty is covering his fiancée's last two semesters of tuition. His sister find...

Tim and Gwen return to Reddit to break down three stories of relationship drama and financial friction. They start with a celebration of Gwen's recent disc golf athletic triumph and Tim’s brutal 12-hour workday. In this episode: The Rental Trap: A low-income mother covers all household bills while her boyfriend hoards his higher salary in a "shared" savings account she can't acce...

We recorded Monday in the EconoMe afterglow to get all our thoughts down and to get out all the great recordings we got from You on your thoughts on EconoMe. We share stories from this year and EconoMes past and we hope you learn something if you have been on the outside looking in. https://economeconference.com/ What’s your post-conference ritual? Let us know if you’re team "Nap for 3 Days&q...

We explore yet another source of retirement anxiety! This week, Tim and Gwen dive into the "social microscope" of early retirement. Inspired by a recent article from Jordan Grumet, the duo moves past the math to discuss the heavy psychological burden of external judgment. In this episode, we discuss: The Engineer Identity: Tim opens up about his personal anxiety regarding how his family...

In this episode of the Fire Takes podcast, Tim and Gwen dive into the heavy, often messy world of estates and what happens to our money when we’re gone. From Reddit drama to personal planning, they explore why inheritance brings out the best—and sometimes the absolute worst—in people. The Secret Settlement: A father stands by a promise to his late wife to protect their son’s inheritance, but his c...

In this episode, Tim and Gwen dive into the messy intersection of family, fraud, and financial independence. They break down a "panicked" Reddit post about parents potentially being defrauded by a shady financial advisor and discuss the ethics of children seeking power of attorney to protect their inheritance. Then, they pivot to a story Gwen calls "juicy": a welder who discove...

In this episode, Tim and Gwen dive into the murky waters of money secrets and the psychological "cheat codes" people use to hide financial failure. We explore how "announcing hearts while losing lives" can lead to a total relationship Game Over. The YNAB Faker: We discuss a shocking case of financial betrayal where a partner faked entries in a shared budget to hide $15,000 in s...

In this episode, Tim and Gwen (the "Fiery Millennial") return to the namesake of the podcast to dive deep into the emotional and psychological complexities of the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement. Shifting away from their usual focus on couples and money, the duo reacts to a series of Reddit posts that highlight the "on the nose" struggles of those pursuing...

In this episode of the Fire Takes podcast, Tim is joined by Barb Fallon , a former forensic scientist turned financial planner, to fill in for Gwen. They dive into the psychology of money, toxic work environments, and a shocking discovery in a new marriage. Barb's Interview on the Healthy Love and Money podcast.

Welcome to the Fire Takes Podcast! Join Tim and Gwen, the Fiery Millennial (and Bartholomew the kitten co-host ), as they give hot takes on the most interesting and wildest "Am I the Asshole" Reddit stories and updates from the internet. From deadbeat ex-husbands and child support drama to houseguests with shedding dogs and husbands who lose their identity with their dream truck, we unpa...

Tim and Gwen dive into a wild episode covering financial disconnect, deep-seated money trauma, and the complex challenge of balancing career ambition with family life. note : We talk a bit about comments and a poll and don't mention where. Spotify is our primary host and the best place to comment and only place to find the polls. Pyramid Scheme Trap: A husband is working full-time and paying a...

Tim and Gwen tackle three wild internet stories that perfectly illustrate how financial conflict and audacity can push relationships past the breaking point. First, Alimony Bitterness explodes when an ex-husband sends a final, spiteful check, leading his adult children to rally around their mother. Next, they discuss the wild audacity of a friend who demands $50,000 after crashing his car in a flo...

When does financial honesty cross the line into exploitation? Tim and Gwen tackle three messy money dramas. First, a single dad is forced to ask his new girlfriend to pay for dates and groceries because his ex-wife refuses to contribute to their kids' expenses. Is he the asshole, or is he just a victim of a bad divorce? Next, a financially organized woman is dating a younger partner who keeps...

Tim and Gwen dive into the weird world where money meets relationships . They tackle the petty (but powerful) drama of the "Costco Mooch" —a newly married wife who forces her husband to boot his ex-wife from a membership that was a decade-long logistical link. The conversation quickly escalates to the truly dire: a husband's desperate plea for advice on exposing his wife's out-of...

Gwen and Tim are broadcasting live from FinCon, where we've been enjoying presentations and reconnecting with friends. We provide our takes on a Reddit story from a woman who refuses to co-sign a $55,000 truck loan for her husband, especially because he still owes her $8,000 from an inheritance she used to pay off his credit card debt . We assert that the wife is underreacting and that the husband...

Just popping in for proof of life. Fun new content coming soon! If you haven't followed us on Instagram now is your chance to see our smiling faces! @firetakespod

Tim and Gwen dive into three juicy stories — starting with a debate in the FIRE community about whether financial independence has shifted from resourcefulness to relying on high incomes. Then, they react to a wild family drama where a sister-in-law questions if a wife “deserves” to be on the house deed. Finally, they tackle a student’s shock when wealthy parents reveal they won’t pay for college...

Just Tim here popping on the mike for 2 minutes to say what's up and direct you to listen to our interview of Doc G on his Earn and Invest podcast. https://www.earnandinvest.com/episodes-77/ask-me-anything-criticism Spotify Apple

Gwen and Tim are back with hot takes and hotter coffee shop drama. First, they unpack a barista’s $800 tip jar full of romantic delusion and boundary issues—was it generosity or manipulation in disguise? Then it’s onto scratched pans, emotional growth, and a marriage under stress when one partner turns down the “dream job.” Finally, a FIRE couple questions whether they’re saving too much and livin...

We have been hit with the dog days of summer so on this episode I've located some stories that a lot of you have missed from our less downloaded episodes I thought were pretty good. We'll be back with all new stuff in 2 weeks! 👫 1. Split Finances with a Lean FIRE Partner A woman moved in with her long-term partner, who has lean-fired on $35k/year in a high-cost-of-living area. Now earning $80k he...

Welcome back to Fire Takes ! In this episode, Gwen and Tim dig into three hot stories that explore the emotional and financial tensions of modern life. First, we discuss a post from someone who finally hit six figures but feels more broke than ever—why does more money sometimes bring more anxiety? We break down the psychological weight of lifestyle inflation, middle-class expectations, and that co...

In this episode of Fire Takes , Tim and Gwen dive into a trio of Reddit stories that are as bizarre as they are juicy. First up, a man pays his girlfriend 56% of his salary to be a live-in “employee” — and now that they’ve broken up, he wonders if he still owes her severance. Next, a delayed inheritance sparks a family feud over inflation, fairness, and entitlement. Finally, a woman selling her ho...

Separate bank accounts in marriage: dealbreaker or smart strategy? What happens when a million-dollar FIRE plan goes up in smoke? And how do you shake the financial anxieties of a tough childhood? Tim and Gwen dissect these burning internet finance questions with their unfiltered opinions. Also, since we couldn't stop talking about Monarch and they didn't pay us at least use this link if you are g...