Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice

Leo Babauta of Zen Habits shares a bunch of ways to have cheap, but great dates. Episode 301: Cheap But Great Dates by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits (Saving Money on a First Date But Still Being Romantic - Being Frugal). Leo Babauta created Zen Habits, which is about finding simplicity and mindfulness in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what’s important,...

Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists share how to achieve financial freedom once and for all. Episode 300: Financial Freedom by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists Podcast (Financial Minimalism). Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus write about living a meaningful life with less stuff for 4 million readers. As featured on: ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC, TODAY...

J.D. Roth shares his take on historical and current stock market returns. Episode 299: How Much Does the Stock Market Return by J.D. Roth (Investing Success & Index Investing). 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...

Guest author Caleb McElveen with Money Mini Blog shares how to ride the emotional roller coaster that is budgeting. Episode 298: Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster of Budgeting by Caleb McElveen with Money Mini Blog (Debt & Habits). 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-...

Jason Price with PTMoney shares some traps that will rob you of your financial peace. Episode 297: 5 Traps That Will Rob You of Your Financial Peace by Jason Price with PT Money (Financial Freedom). 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 Phi...

Chris Reining talks about the cost of gadget envy and what you can do about it. Episode 296: The Cost of Gadget Envy by Chris Reining (Save Thousands & 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's...

Sometimes financial independence blogs can make it sound like laziness works. Mr. Money Mustache addresses this issue. This is Part 2 of 2. Episode 295: Get Rich With: Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work - Part 2 by Mr. Money Mustache (Investing Success). 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 studi...

Sometimes financial independence blogs can make it sound like laziness works. Mr. Money Mustache addresses this issue. This is Part 1 of 2. Episode 294: Get Rich With: Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work - Part 1 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 engineerin...

Hear Paula Pant take on the Earn More vs. Save More debate and how simple it is to retire early. Episode 293: Why Earn More vs. Save More is the Wrong Debate by Paula Pant of Afford Anything (How to Retire Early). Paula Pant is the founder of the award-winning website AffordAnything.com and a writer and speaker specializing in money, business, and real estate investing. She is a real estate invest...

Sam of Financial Samurai wonders: should I ask someone for their credit score during courtship? Episode 292: Should I Ask Someone for Their Credit Score Before Getting Into a Serious Relationship by Sam Dogen 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 and othe...

J. Money found some depressing statistics, but has some important takeaways that you should consider. Episode 291: Could You Come Up with $2,000 in an Emergency by J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy (Personal Finance Blogs Read to You). 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 h...

Ramit Sethi breaks down stocks vs. bonds--who should invest in what and why! Episode 290: All About Stocks and Bonds by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich (Index Fund Investing). Instead of saying “no” to spending on everything, 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 pe...

Can you enjoy life now but still prepare for the future? Leo Babauta of Zen Habits says yes! Episode 289: Enjoy Life Now, And Save for Later; or, Why Delayed Gratification is a False Dichotomy by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits (Cash). Leo Babauta created Zen Habits, which is about finding simplicity and mindfulness in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what...

J.D. Roth shares what it takes and the fundamentals to keep your financial ship resilient. Episode 288: Developing Financial Resilience by J.D. Roth of Money Boss (Personal Finance Habits). 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 t...

Shopping at a dollar store can save you if you purchase the right things! Hear examples from Kalen Bruce of MoneyMiniBlog. Episode 287: 15 Things You Should Buy From the Dollar Store by Kalen Bruce (Saving Money). 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 we...

Philip Taylor of PTMoney answers the common question: what debts should I pay off first? Episode 286: What Debts Should You Pay Off First When You Get Extra Money by Philip Taylor of PT Money (How to Get Rid of Your Debt). 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 wan...

Mr. Money Mustache shares his opinions and strategies for investing short-term cash. Episode 285: Where Should I Invest My Short-Term 'Stash by Mr. Money Mustache (Portfolio Investing). 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 s...

Mr. Money Mustache investigates historical returns of the stock market and gives some practical advice. Episode 284: Dude, Where's My 7% Investment Return by Mr. Money Mustache (Historical Stock Market Investing & S&P 500 Information). 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 engineerin...

Hear Paula Pant's most crucial money lesson in three words. Episode 283: The Most Crucial Money Lesson, in Three Words: Mind the Gap by Paula Pant of Afford Anything (How to Retire Early). Paula Pant is the founder of the award-winning website AffordAnything.com and a writer and speaker specializing in money, business, and real estate investing. She is a real estate investor, as the owner of seven...

What do you do when your car is dying? Fix or buy a new car? Hear Sam's take. Episode 282: My Car is Dying, What To Do by Sam Dogen of Financial Samurai (Car Insurance & Debt). 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 others make sense of chaos. After all, he had spent 10 yea...

2 posts from J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy--both relating to minimalism and money. Episode 281: 8 Ways to More Minimalist Money And A Minimalist and Money by J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy (A Minimalism Poem). 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 months...

Hear Part 3 of Ramit Sethi's financial makeover series - exact steps to invest properly! Episode 280: 2006 Makeover, Step 3: Thinking About Investing by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to be Rich (FIRE). Instead of saying “no” to spending on everything, 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...

Hear Part 2 of Ramit Sethi's financial makeover series - exact steps to budget and save properly! Episode 279: Your Financial Makeover, Step 2: Budgeting & Saving by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich (Investing). Instead of saying “no” to spending on everything, 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 w...

Hear Part 1 of Ramit Sethi's financial makeover series - exact steps to get your accounts in order! Episode 278: 2006 Makeover, Step 1: Get Your Accounts in Order by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich (Improve Habits). Instead of saying “no” to spending on everything, 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...

Kristin Wong talks about her struggle with negotiating her salary in the past and what she's learned. Episode 277: The Single Hardest Thing About Negotiating by Kristin Wong (Something You Should Know About Negotiation & Salary). Kristin Wong of TheWildWong.com was laid off in 2013. She took on some freelancing gigs to earn extra cash while she searched for a new, full-time job and over time, her...