Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice

Chris Reining answers a reader's question about paying off debt vs. investing. Episode 1675: Should I Pay Off Debt or Invest by Chris Reining on Paying Off a House Early & Cost of College 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 abo...

Ryan H. Law shares two short posts covering how to pay yourself first and how to automate your finances Episode 1674: How to Pay Yourself First AND Automate Your Finances by Ryan H Law on Setting Up Systems for Financial Success Ryan's goal is to teach financial planners, coaches, and counselors how to use simple, evidence-based action steps to provide outstanding client care.  He received his bac...

J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy talks about the realities of saving Episode 1673: Save $50 a Day & Feel No Pain? Hmm I Dunno About That by J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy 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, made a budget, read some books, and stum...

Renee Benes of The Fun Sized Life shares money-saving hacks for people who aren't cheapskates Episode 1672: Money Saving Hacks for Non Cheapskates by Renee Benes of The Fun Sized Life on Creating Goals and working Backwards Renee is a minimalist mom, blogger, & coach. She and her husband downsized their house, paid off debt, started making money online, and now travel part-time with their kids. He...

ESI of ESI Money talks about how to fuel your net worth with investing Episode 1671: Invest Overview - Fueling Your Net Worth by ESI Money on The Keys and Stages To Investment Success ESI Money is written by "ESI", a 50-something retiree. The site is basically a list of what's allowed him to become financially independent and how you can implement those successes in your life. His philosophy is si...

Kevin of Financial Panther talks about diversifying your emergency fund Episode 1670: Diversifying Your Emergency Fund by Kevin of Financial Panther on Creating Good Financial Principles Kevin is an attorney, writer, gig economy expert, side hustler, and the blogger behind Financial Panther. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer...

Alacias Enger discusses how having a budget is the ultimate life design tool Episode 1669: The Budget - The Ultimate Life Design Tool by Alacias Enger of My Sense With Cents on Personal Finance Olympics Sense with Cents chronicles Alacias' journey using Law of Attraction while pursuing Financial Independence, and the belief that everyone can win with money. She believes that mindset, emotion, and...

Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist demystifies finance-related stress Episode 1668: Demystifying Financial Related Stress by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist on Financial Anxiety 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...

Mike Ballew of Egg Stack breaks down the best way to collect lottery winnings or large inheritances Episode 1667: Lottery Lump Sum Versus Annuity by Mike Ballew of Egg Stack on Analyzing Your Financial Situation Mike Ballew is a 56-year-old engineer turned blogger who reached a point in life where he sees things more clearly than ever before. He faced financial challenges and overcame them through...

Jacob Lund Fisker of Early Retirement Extreme compares American consumption to a wooden ship. Episode 1666: Your Budget is Like a Leaking Ship by Jacob Lund Fisker of Early Retirement Extreme on Debt & Investing Success Jacob Lund Fisker was a nuclear astrophysicist who retired at 33 with what he believes to be enough savings to last the rest of his life — even if he never works again. His "claim...

Darrow Kirkpatrick shares income strategies for when you're running low in retirement. This is part 2 of 2. Episode 1665: [Part 2] Running Low in Retirement - Income Strategies by Darrow Kirkpatrick of Can I Retire Yet Darrow Kirkpatrick is the founder of CanIRetireYet.com. He began serious investing in his mid-30s and retired at age 50. He's not a dot com millionaire and didn't become financially...

Darrow Kirkpatrick shares income strategies for when you're running low in retirement. This is part 1 of 2. Episode 1664: [Part 1] Running Low in Retirement - Income Strategies by Darrow Kirkpatrick of Can I Retire Yet Darrow Kirkpatrick is the founder of CanIRetireYet.com. He began serious investing in his mid-30s and retired at age 50. He's not a dot com millionaire and didn't become financially...

Kalen Bruce of Money Mini Blog shares ways to budget after bankruptcy Episode 1663: How To Budget After Bankruptcy by Kalen Bruce of Money Mini Blog on Rebuilding Financial Sustainability 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 shares everyth...

Tania Brown with Financial Finesse tells you how to put your finances on autopilot Episode 1662: How To Put Your Finances On Auto-Pilot by Tania Brown with Financial Finesse on Simplifying Your Finances After years in the financial services industry, Liz Davidson became disgusted with how many people were being sold financial products and services that were not in their best interest. She decided...

Andy with Jen Hayes.me shares 11 ways to save money Episode 1661: 11 Ways to Save Money by Andy with JenHayes.me on Ways to Be Frugal and Live A Debt Free Life A few years ago, Jen and her husband were buried in $117,000 of student loan debt. Now, they've paid off over $100k of debt, and they're on track to have the rest paid off by the end of this year. Join their email list to get exclusive tips...

Jackie Beck explains what a debt management plan is and how it works Episode 1660: What Is a Debt Management Plan and How Does It Work by Jackie Beck on Help For Your Financial Life Jackie and her husband paid off over $147,000 in debt, including their house! She’s walked the walk to become completely debt free, and she wants to help you do the same with her award-winning Pay Off Debt by Jackie Be...

Honey Smith with Get Rich Slowly talks about personal finance and the long game Episode 1659: Personal Finance and The Long Game by Honey Smith with Get Rich Slowly on Thinking Long Term 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 turn...

Chris of Keep Thrifty talks about how to beat inflation if you want to retire early Episode 1658: Want to Retire Early - Beat Inflation With a One Two Punch by Chris of Keep Thrifty on Improving Your Finances Chris and Jaime live in the suburbs of Madison, WI with their three daughters. While living the typical suburban life, they are challenging the norms by living outside the box and creating th...

Laura of Rich and Resilient Living talks about her triple bottom line path to financial independence so far Episode 1657: My Triple Bottom Line Path to Financial Independence So Far by Laura of Rich And Resilient Living A Purple Life was started by an anonymous writer in 2015. They hatched a plan to retire in 10 years at 35, and with the help of decreased spending, increased wages, and geoarbitrag...

Travis Hornsby of Student Loan Planner compares tradition IRAs to Roth IRAs for those with student debt Episode 1656: Roth or Traditional When You Have Student Debt by Travis Hornsby of Student Loan Planner on Retirement Savings Student Loan Planner has the country's top experts in figuring out exactly what to do with monster student loan debt. If you owe $20,000 to $1 million in student loans, th...

Kalen Bruce of Freedom Sprout shares 3 simple questions that will help you spend intentionally and upgrade your finances Episode 1655: Intentional Spending - 3 Simple Questions That Will Upgrade Your Finances by Kalen Bruce of Freedom Sprout Kalen Bruce created Freedom Sprout to fill a void. He heard too many conversations about how "they don't teach finance in schools." It took years for him to s...

Andrea Joy of Saving Joyfully talks about the stages of financial management. This is part 2 of 2. Episode 1654: [Part 2] The Stages Of Financial Management by Andrea Joy of Saving Joyfully on Personal Finance Decisions Andrea Joy is the creator of Saving Joyfully, a personal finance and frugality blog emphasizing joyful living. On her website, savingjoyfully.com, she offers inspiration and resour...

Andrea Joy of Saving Joyfully talks about the stages of financial management. This is part 1 of 2. Episode 1653: [Part 1] The Stages Of Financial Management by Andrea Joy of Saving Joyfully on Personal Finance Decisions Andrea Joy is the creator of Saving Joyfully, a personal finance and frugality blog emphasizing joyful living. On her website, savingjoyfully.com, she offers inspiration and resour...

A Purple Life insists that FIRE is for wimps Episode 1652: FIRE Is For Wimps by A Purple Life on How To Baby Step Your Way Into A FIRE Life A Purple Life was started by an anonymous writer in 2015. They hatched a plan to retire in 10 years at 35, and with the help of decreased spending, increased wages, and geoarbitrage, they reached their goal in half the time and retired in 2020 at age 30. A Pur...

Dawn Starks of Simple Money Pro talks about the value of goal setting Episode 1651: Goal Setting for the Win by Dawn Starks of Simple Money Pro on Concrete Habits for Daily Savings Goals Dawn Starks has been a financial planner for over twenty years. Her aim with financial planning work has always been to simplify things for clients. Making concepts easier to grasp and less scary is the goal. Dawn...