ChooseFI | Financial Independence Podcast

Most people offering free classes assume their work will stay uncompensated forever. Talas discovered that dance therapy for Parkinson's patients isn't just healing — it's a viable business. This episode of the side hustle coaching series follows Talas and coach Alan Donegan as she transitions her dance therapy workshops from concept to reality at local retirement facilities. Participant surveys r...

Your sister hit an 85% savings rate by living at home after college — proof that unconventional housing choices can supercharge your path to financial independence. This mashup episode revisits the Adventure Rich interview and tackles listener questions on everything from library hacks to house hacking strategies. Jonathan and Brad dig into practical ways to build wealth through local adventures,...

Most people in the financial independence community swear by index funds—but what if picking individual stocks isn't the foolish gamble it's often made out to be? Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett tackle this tension head-on, revisiting their conversation with Brian Feraldi on the unique advantages individual investors can have. While the hosts remain index fund advocates, they use listener feedb...

Most investors assume professionals have the edge—bigger budgets, better information, faster execution. But what if the opposite were true? Jonathan and Brad examine why individual investors can outperform professional money managers, sparked by an email from Brian Feroldi that challenges conventional wisdom about investing. Brian shares his journey into financial independence and breaks down how...

Todd's monthly budget? $300. His secret? Living in a trailer and using community food banks while others debate six-figure college degrees. Jonathan and Brad tackle listener voicemails covering everything from ultra-frugal living strategies to property investment leverage to getting a skeptical spouse on board with financial independence. Ryan Carson from Treehouse weighs in on whether coding boot...

Most people wait until they've "made it" before making big life changes — but what if that's the exact wrong approach? Jonathan and Brad break down Jameela Saffron's decision to pursue a fully funded lifestyle change before hitting financial independence, exploring the mindset shift that makes this possible. They then dig into concrete monetization strategies for anyone looking to build online inc...

One woman saved $85,000 in a single year while working full-time and raising kids—without a six-figure salary. Jamila Souffrant, first-generation immigrant from Jamaica and host of the Journey to Launch podcast, cracked the code on financial independence by doing what most people overlook: optimizing what she already had. Growing up in the U.S. without financial literacy, she understood hard work...

A common assumption is that you need a big paycheck to build wealth—but what if the secret isn't earning more, but protecting what you already make? Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett tackle this in a mashup covering Bitcoin's real-world usability, HSA tax hacks, and the 50% savings rule for college students. Bitcoin: Investment or Speculation? Bitcoin's volatility and limited use in everyday tran...

A high-income dental specialist boosted his savings rate from 60% to 70% — not by slashing spending, but by questioning a single housing decision. This episode stitches together listener stories that prove financial independence isn't about having the biggest shovel; it's about knowing where to dig. Jonathan and Brad unpack voicemails from Tim, who earns well but wrestles with lifestyle creep, and...

Most people miscalculate what an hour of their work is actually worth — and it's costing them years of their life. This mashup episode unpacks listener reactions to Vicki Robin's interview, tackling the concept of "true hourly wage" (which accounts for commute time, work-related expenses, and recovery hours) and why buying beyond your "enough point" only generates clutter, not happiness. Brad and...

Your Money or Your Life argues that most people are "making a dying, not a living"—commuting to jobs that drain them, earning money to buy things they don't need, and never questioning whether any of it leads to actual happiness. Author Vicki Robin sits down to unpack this premise, explaining why consumer culture thrives on the myth that "more is better" and how recalibrating your definition of "e...

Michelle's RV lifestyle proves you can achieve financial freedom on far less than you think—without sacrificing experiences or happiness. Jonathan and Brad unpack the Monday episode with Michelle from Making Sense of Sense, then share the complete technical roadmap for launching your own blog. Whether you're building skills for career growth or exploring a passion project, they cover domain regist...

Your local grocery store might be costing you thousands—but one listener just unlocked a solution hiding in plain sight at Costco. Louisa and Ashley share their hard-won strategies for cutting costs without cutting quality, while Jason reveals how to get a graduate degree without the debt anchor. Jonathan and Brad unpack where Dave Ramsey's advice ends and the Financial Independence playbook begin...

Most financial couples talk past each other — one sees budgets as control, the other as freedom. Andy Hill paid off his mortgage in under four years by flipping that dynamic: he stopped pitching line items and started selling his wife on the life their money could buy. Brad and Jonathan sit down with Andy from MarriageKidsAndMoney.com to unpack his journey from debt to alignment with his wife Nico...

Most homeowners accept yearly insurance rate hikes without question — but Jonathan just proved that passivity costs real money. After his homeowner's insurance crept up to $90/month, he took action and discovered a local option that delivered significant savings. This Friday roundup unpacks community wins like Jonathan's insurance breakthrough, listener Sarah's DIY triumph, and Stephen's strategy...

Should you hold a fully funded emergency fund if it's costing you thousands in lost investment returns? One listener reconsiders the dogma after running the numbers on his own cash drag—and what he found challenges the advice most financial gurus preach. Brad and Jonathan tackle this question, along with a listener's story of eliminating $100,000 in student loans since January, the surprising weal...

Most early retirees assume they need an emergency fund—but what if your investment portfolio is already your safety net? Big Earn, a prominent figure in the FI community, reveals his upcoming retirement plans and explains why he's ditching conventional wisdom. This conversation explores sequence of return risk, the psychological hurdles of leaving a stable paycheck, and the role of flexibility in...

Most people think getting a big tax refund means they're doing something right — but what if it actually means you've been giving the government an interest-free loan all year? This listener-packed roundup tackles everything from optimizing your W-4 withholding to creative college funding strategies that could save tens of thousands of dollars. Tax Withholding vs. Tax Liability [00:00:00] Understa...

Most people dream about quitting their jobs to pursue a simpler life—Elizabeth Thames actually did it, documenting every step on her way to financial independence in rural Vermont. In this episode, Elizabeth returns to share the story behind her newly published book, Meet the Frugalwoods: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living. She discusses how the Frugalwoods blog evolved from a...

That $12.99 subscription you forgot about? By the time you remember it exists, you've already funded someone's monthly coffee budget. Hosts Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett field listener feedback on everything from sneaky recurring charges to maximizing travel rewards, proving that financial independence isn't built on one big decision—it's built on dozens of small ones you actually notice. Key...

Most people think luck is something that happens to you — but Scott Trench argues you manufacture it through systematic preparation and calculated bets. This Friday Roundup dissects Scott's journey to financial independence and the tactical philosophy behind "creating your own luck." Scott's perspective is that luck sits at the intersection of preparation and opportunity — not random chance. He sh...

Scott Trench's book Set for Life makes one radical claim: you don't need to wait until 65 to stop worrying about money. The vice president of operations at BiggerPockets graduated debt-free, saved aggressively, and used house hacking to eliminate his largest expense—all before his late twenties. His journey from a Fortune 500 cubicle to financial freedom illustrates how a 50% savings rate, strateg...

What if your neighbors became your economic lifeline—without spending a dollar? Jonathan's wife discovered this through Buy Nothing groups, where she routinely receives free items from strangers down the street. The experience didn't just save money; it rewired her family's relationship with gratitude and connection. This episode examines how community initiatives reshape the financial independenc...

You're leaving money on the table every time you treat a partner's passion like a hobby instead of a business. Jonathan discovered this when he converted a spare closet into his wife's professional voiceover studio — but it took meeting with a voice coach to unlock what financial independence really enables: the freedom to pursue meaningful work without the pressure of immediate profit. This Frida...

What would your life look like if you reclaimed two focused hours every morning? Jonathan tested this by escaping to the library before his day officially began—and the results speak for themselves. Jonathan and Brad explore how a structured morning routine can amplify productivity and why the library might be your secret weapon for distraction-free work. The conversation shifts to the "Skinny Wai...