From Paychecks to Purpose

Had a bit of a crazy week this week, so in lieu of a regular episode, enjoy this backlog episode I recorded a few months back about food, diet, & more. I follow a gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free diet and am a big fan of foods from all over the world. Listen along to learn about my favorite foods from childhood to now, and evolution in my diet/thoughts about food throughout the years. TW:...

Join me this week to review my 2025 annual spend and what was expected vs. what was surprising. You'll learn how I categorize my expenses, how this year's spend compares to previous years, and how I am thinking through my future expenses and how those translate to future Phase 3 jobs or FIRE timelines. Engaging Data FIRE Calculator: https://engaging-data.com/fire-calculator/ Katie's Tr...

Join me and Green this week for a wide-ranging conversation about holiday break topics - from food gifts and white elephants to our upcoming move and moving tips, de-cluttering desires, and more. For media this week, we discussed Gala Studio and other shows Green likes to watch on Sunday mornings, as well as a video we watched recently on expats living in Europe for cost of living reasons. Gala St...

Join me this week for a high-level reflection on 2025, and what I'm looking forward to in 2026. I had a good year with ups and downs, but overall, there are so many things to be grateful for. And I am looking forward to changes coming in 2026! Culture Study Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0IamzExQzBpjDhTMwrb1OO?si=ISA9Cf9VRMWpr3-kZLD5qg Paula Pant's Afford Anything: https://open....

In this week's From Paychecks to Purpose episode, I reflected on 2025 Goals that I set at the beginning of the year. Tune in to hear how I did with the goals below: 1. Explore CoastFI Jobs! 2. Prioritize Relaxation 3. Thoughtful Buying 4. Find Adventure 5. Experiment with +/- Media: Rosie Maio (has the best summer vacations with her family in Italy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIioLuSU7q8&amp...

This week, I discuss holiday traditions, decorations, gifts, and more! Specifically, I discuss an Apple TV I got as an service award from my company and my first impressions of it, my holiday decorations and why I am getting a bigger tree this year, holiday traditions I want to build in my adult life, and my Black Friday purchases (or lack thereof). For media I highlight the Sound of Music (one of...

Hello all! In this week's episode I talk about how I planned my wedding and kept things affordable while still doing everything we wanted to do. I also highlight the Cottage Fairy, one of my favorite simple living creators, as well as a podcast episode covering Katie Gatti Tassin (of Money with Katie fame) and her career journey. My Substack Article (has more details): https://open.substack.co...

In this week's episode, I go through some highlights (and lowlights) from September and October's monthly spend. I also go through some of my favorite things to buy at Costco! P.S. It's Grillo's Pickles - that is how that product is spelled :) For my media segment, I covered the Money with Katie podcast and the Green brothers (Hank and John Green). Katie, Hank, and John are all rol...

I had a busy weekend - so enjoy a backlog episode I recorded a few weeks back instead! In this episode, I discuss the evolution in my thoughts on work over the years, as well as how I am thinking about jobs for different phases of my life. I also highlight guitarist Lau Noah and discuss the podcast Money Feels and The Reframe's recent episode on how we may already be living our dream lives. The Re...

In this week's episode, I discuss my opinions on housing, including a recent fascination with tiny homes. I cover what I love about tiny homes in detail, as well as some cons to look out for if it is a path that interests you. For media, I cover a responsive parenting book by Gwenna Laithland, and recent live FIRE coaching sessions recorded by the EverydayFI podcast. Momma Cusses - A Field Gui...

In this limited series, I talk with people from the FIRE community about their journeys from paychecks to purpose, not only in their careers, but also outside of work (how do they define & live a good life?). In this episode, I talk to Aubrey Williams, who quit his corporate job 5 months ago and now runs his own business as a advice-only, fee-only, fiduciary at all times, hourly financial advi...

In this limited series, I talk with people from the FIRE community about their journeys from paychecks to purpose, not only in their careers, but also outside of work (how do they define & live a good life?). In this episode, I talk to Aubrey Williams, who quit his corporate job 5 months ago and now runs his own business as a advice-only, fee-only, fiduciary at all times, hourly financial advi...

In this episode, I talk about what I got out of CampFI (a weekend event for people interested in FIRE). For this week's media, I discuss The Reframe's latest episode about establishing good work-life boundaries in a high stress corporate job, and Technology Connections, which is a YouTube channel where the hosts deep dives on different technologies - from EVs to dishwashers and tells you w...

In this week's episode, I discuss my history of travel, which I deeply value, from childhood to now. I also discuss lessons learned from my adult trips to Europe, and I discuss booking flights for a trip to Japan and Korea next year! I also highlight new FIRE podcast 9 to FI, a recent episode of Not For Everyone where Caroline Winkler tried a dumb phone to great success, and Somebody Feed Phil, on...

In this episode I discuss my hobbies and what I have added and subtracted to get to a sweet spot where I am getting purpose, satisfaction, and community from my hobbies. For media, I highlight Yun Chan Lim's amazing piano performance (linked below) and the Inside Out Money podcast's episode on the good life. Yun Chan Lim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvKQKnIVy1I&list=RDGvKQKnIVy1I&a...

This week's episode I discuss my husband and I's monthly spend for August and review two things: The Adventure Zone podcast and an episode of the What We Spend podcast that covers a new college grad's struggles in finding a job after earning a computer science degree. The Adventure Zone: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OoAQesdLgYBOyfx8ji0bZ?si=tpHionuxRbq-eCWhbXRBSA&nd=1&dlsi=c2...

In this episode, my husband and I discuss our meal prepping journey and the strategies that have worked best for us. I also review Rich Girl Nation by Katie Gatti Tassin and Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (an D&D inspired anime that values simple/slow living). Frieren: Beyond Journey's End: https://www.netflix.com/title/81726714 Rich Girl Nation: https://moneywithkatie.com/rich-girl-nat...

In this episode I discuss home decorating ideas that have worked for me, as well as the concept of simple/slow living and how I bring that into my life. I also highlight multiple content creators in the home decorating and simple/slow living spaces. Caroline Winkler: https://www.youtube.com/@Caroline_Winkler Tori Phantom: https://www.instagram.com/tori.phantom/ Maigomika: https://www.youtube.com/@...

In this episode I discuss sleep tips and exercise tips that have helped improve my life. I also introduce a segment where I review media - this week I reviewed a recent podcast episode from The Reframe on the value of time, and the popular K Pop Demon Hunters. Links: The Reframe: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4GUPd9H3OT3Bu38X0gbl0K?si=tsW6YS3TRLmVDlqHsFLXDQ Liz Gets Loaded: https://open.spotify...

This episode covers how much money you need to save for retirement. This is a part of a limited series of educational deep dives I made on personal finance topics. It's a rare chance to hear me in scripted format. Disclaimer: I am not a personal finance expert. This content is for entertainment purposes only. It is not professional finance advice. Links: IRS Quick Calculator for Social Securit...

This episode covers how to save money on travel - from Google Flights to credit card points. This is a part of a limited series of educational deep dives I made on personal finance topics. It's a rare chance to hear me in scripted format. Disclaimer: I am not a personal finance expert. This content is for entertainment purposes only. It is not professional finance advice. Links: Instagram: htt...

This episode is an overview of how to earn/spend/save money strategically in order to build your best life. This is a part of a limited series of educational deep dives I made on personal finance topics. It's a rare chance to hear me in scripted format. Disclaimer: I am not a personal finance expert. This content is for entertainment purposes only. It is not professional finance advice. Links:...

This episode covers how to save for retirement and why to do so early. This is a part of a limited series of educational deep dives I made on personal finance topics. It's a rare chance to hear me in scripted format. Disclaimer: I am not a personal finance expert. This content is for entertainment purposes only. It is not professional finance advice. Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com...

In this episode, I discuss my backstory and cover my first topic - which is explaining FIRE to a newbie in a non-intimidating way. Disclaimer: I am not a financial expert. This content is for entertainment purposes only. It is not professional financial advice. Links: CoastFIRE Calculator: https://walletburst.com/tools/coast-fire-calc/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frompaycheckstopurpose/