Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice

The Mad Fientist shares what he calls the hierarchy of financial needs. This is Part 1 of 2. Episode 501: Hierarchy of Financial Needs (and the Meaning of Life) - Part 1 by The Mad Fientist (Save Thousands & FIRE). The Mad Fientist analyzes the tax code and looks at personal finance through the lens of early financial independence to develop strategies and tactics to help you retire even earlier....

Elissa Bass with Get Rich Slowly shares the high cost of working sick. Episode 500: The High Cost of Working Sick by Elissa Bass with Get Rich Slowly (Frugality & Energy Jobs). J.D. Roth has been reading and writing about personal finance for a decade. Today he’s financially independent, but ten years ago, his money life was a disaster, with over $35,000 in consumer debt. He started turning everyt...

Todd R. Tresidder with Budgets Are Sexy shares how he lost a fortune getting out of debt. Episode 499: How I Lost a Fortune Getting Out of Debt by Todd R. Tresidder with Budgets Are Sexy (Real Estate Investing). J. Money is a 6’1, hyperactive, rock a ‘hawk who loves drinking beer, blaring hip-hop, talking about money, and now playing with his two adorable baby boys. He tracked his expenses for 3 m...

Marie Hickman with Money Mini Blog shares cheap ways to keep your new year's resolutions. Episode 498: The Top 9 New Year's Resolutions and Cheap Ways to Keep Them by Marie Hickman with Money Mini Blog (Frugality). Kalen Bruce is the founder of MoneyMiniBlog. His story is simple… he and his wife were $24,000 in debt and became a student of finances to get out. They are now debt-free and building w...

Mr. Money Mustache shares his opinion about Bitcoin. This is Part 2 of 2. Episode 497: Why Bitcoin is Stupid - 2 by Mr. Money Mustache (Cryptocurreny & Financial Advice). Mr. Money Mustache is a thirty-something retiree who now writes about how we can all live a frugal, yet awesome, life of leisure. He and his wife studied engineering and computer science in Canada, then worked in standard tech-in...

Mr. Money Mustache shares his opinion about Bitcoin. This is Part 1 of 2. Episode 496: Why Bitcoin is Stupid - Part 1 by Mr. Money Mustache (Bitcoin Crypto & Financial Independence). Mr. Money Mustache is a thirty-something retiree who now writes about how we can all live a frugal, yet awesome, life of leisure. He and his wife studied engineering and computer science in Canada, then worked in stan...

Sam of Financial Samurai shares the three levels of financial independence. This is Part 2 of 2. Episode 495: The Three Levels of Financial Independence: Because Money is Only Part of the Equation - Pt 2 by Sam - Financial Samurai. Sam Dogen's net worth took a beating in 2009 as the world was falling apart. He thought it would be a good idea to start a personal finance site to help himself and oth...

Sam of Financial Samurai shares the three levels of financial independence. This is Part 1 of 2. Episode 494: The Three Levels of Financial Independence: Because Money is Only Part of the Equation - Pt 1 by Sam - Financial Samurai. Sam Dogen's net worth took a beating in 2009 as the world was falling apart. He thought it would be a good idea to start a personal finance site to help himself and oth...

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents asks why talking about money is taboo. Episode 493: Why Is Talking About Money More Taboo Than Sex by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents (Learning). Michelle Schroeder-Gardner created Making Sense of Cents in order to help improve her own finances. With diligence, she was able to pay off $38,000 in student debt in 7 months, kept...

Kristin Wong shares how she has dealt with money regret. Episode 492: How to Deal with Money Regret by Kristin Wong of The Wild Wong (Money Challenges & Credit Score). Kristin Wong is a freelance writer and journalist who writes for Lifehacker, Mentalfloss, and New York Magazine. She frequently covers travel, personal finance, and human behavior. Kristin launched her own blog, www.thewildwong.com,...

Cait Flanders shares her best financial tip. Can you guess what it is? Episode 491: Big Surprise! My Best Financial Tip Is.. by Cait Flanders (Extra Money & Frugal Living). Cait Flanders started her site to document her debt repayment journey. After paying it off, she adopted a minimalist lifestyle, tossed 75% of her stuff, and is currently doing a two-year shopping ban. She shares stories and les...

Chris Reining answers a reader's question about early retirement. Episode 490: Can We Retire in our 40s by Chris Reining (Financial Independence & How to Retire Early). Chris Reining is a thirty-something guy who provides resources to help manage your money and career to become financially free. His own path to financial freedom has had ups and downs, which is what he writes about on his site. He'...

Colin Schipper with PT Money shares which debt you should pay down first. Episode 489: Which Debt Do You Pay Down First by Colin Schipper with PT Money (The Debt Avalanche Method - To Become Debt Free). PTMoney.com is about helping you make extra money, save more money, and spend your money wisely--all in an effort to help you fix your finances so you can build the life you want. It was started by...

Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich shares what bull markets and bear markets mean. Episode 488: Bull vs. Bear Markets: What Do They Mean by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to be Rich (Personal Finance for Beginners). Ramit wants to use money to say YES. He knew there was a better way to live a rich life—if we could use psychology to focus on what actually works. Not just for personal finan...

J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly shares how to calculate your net worth and what to do with it. Episode 487: How to Calculate Your Net Worth (And What To Do With It) by J.D. Roth of Get Rich Slowly (Tracking Your Money). J.D. Roth has been reading and writing about personal finance for a decade. Today he’s financially independent, but ten years ago, his money life was a disaster, with over $35,000 in...

Joshua Becker shares different ways of measuring success. Episode 486: 20 New Ways to Measure Success by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist (The Definition of Success Isn't Money). Joshua Becker and his family decided to live with fewer possessions after a conversation with his neighbor in 2008. As a result, they found a better way to live, centered on more important pursuits. Their story has be...

J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy shares the millionaire next door strategy of being stealthy with your wealthy. Episode 485: How Are You Stealthy With Your Wealthy by J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy (Modest Millionaire). J. Money is a 6’1, hyperactive, rock a ‘hawk who loves drinking beer, blaring hip-hop, talking about money, and now playing with his two adorable baby boys. He tracked his expenses for 3...

Mr. Money Mustache shares the easy answer to: how much do I need for retirement? This is Part 2 of 2. Episode 484: The 4% Rule: The Easy Answer to How Much Do I Need for Retirement - Part 2 by Mr. Money Mustache (FIRE). Mr. Money Mustache is a thirty-something retiree who now writes about how we can all live a frugal, yet awesome, life of leisure. He and his wife studied engineering and computer s...

Mr. Money Mustache shares the easy answer to: how much do I need for retirement? This is Part 1 of 2. Episode 483: The 4% Rule: The Easy Answer to How Much Do I Need for Retirement - Part 1 by Mr. Money Mustache (How to Retire Early). Mr. Money Mustache is a thirty-something retiree who now writes about how we can all live a frugal, yet awesome, life of leisure. He and his wife studied engineering...

Kalen Bruce of Money Mini Blog answers the question: should 18-year-olds get life insurance? Episode 482: Should 18-Year-Olds Get Life Insurance by Kalen Bruce - Money Mini Blog (Hack Your Finances). Kalen Bruce is the founder of MoneyMiniBlog. His story is simple… he and his wife were $24,000 in debt and became a student of finances to get out. They are now debt-free and building wealth. Kalen sh...

Cait Flanders shares why she finally hopped on the rewards credit card train. Episode 481: I'm Finally on the Rewards Credit Card Train by Cait Flanders (Debt & Travelling). Cait Flanders started her site to document her debt repayment journey. After paying it off, she adopted a minimalist lifestyle, tossed 75% of her stuff, and is currently doing a two-year shopping ban. She shares stories and le...

Sam of Financial Samurai shares how to invest in speculative investments like Bitcoin. This is Part 2 of 2. Episode 480: How to Invest in Speculative Investments Like Bitcoin Without Losing Your Shirt - Part 2 by Sam of Financial Samurai. Sam Dogen's net worth took a beating in 2009 as the world was falling apart. He thought it would be a good idea to start a personal finance site to help himself...

Sam of Financial Samurai shares how to invest in speculative investments like Bitcoin. This is Part 1 of 2. Episode 479: How to Invest in Speculative Investments Like Bitcoin Without Losing Your Shirt - Part 1 by Sam of Financial Samurai. Sam Dogen's net worth took a beating in 2009 as the world was falling apart. He thought it would be a good idea to start a personal finance site to help himself...

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents busts some early retirement myths. Episode 478: Early Retirement Myths Busted by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents (Financial Independence). Michelle Schroeder-Gardner created Making Sense of Cents in order to help improve her own finances. With diligence, she was able to pay off $38,000 in student debt in 7 months, kept track o...

Does spending money on time buy you happiness? Kristin Wong shares the latest research. Episode 477: Money Buys Happiness When You Spend It on Time by Kristin Wong (Outsourcing Your Household Chores & Business Tasks). Kristin Wong is a freelance writer and journalist who writes for Lifehacker, Mentalfloss, and New York Magazine. She frequently covers travel, personal finance, and human behavior. K...