T.G.I.F. Friday: Volume 148
Welcome to “Thank God I’m FI” Friday, Volume #148!
Here are some things I really like and that you might too.
Financial Independence/Work Life/Retirement Articles & Content
The Question No One Asks (1500 Days) “The FI crowd has a hard time giving up old habits. Optimizing for hardcore saving and investing will get you to the Promised Land of FI. But it will hold you back once you’ve arrived.“
In The Line Of Fire With Escaping Avalon (Catching Up To FI Podcast)
Video
The years seem to go by quickly. Watch this cool video of a year going by in a Norwegian forest in 40 seconds. It really highlights that the forest is alive.
What I’m Grateful For
That piece of carrot cake from a coffee shop while on a 112 mile ride last week near Shenandoah National Park. It’s the little things 🙂
Lyrically Speaking
Well I saved my pennies and I saved my dimes (giddy up, giddy up 409)
For I knew there would be a time (giddy up, giddy up 409)
When I would buy a brand new 409 (409, 409)
From “409” by The Beach Boys.
Look at you fooling you
The deeper in debt, the harder you bet
From “Runnin’ Away” by Sly & The Family Stone
The world lost two music titans since my last T.G.I.F. Friday post. Brian Wilson of the the Beach Boys and Sylvester Stewart, better know by his stage name “Sly Stone” and of Sly & The Family Stone fame both died recently. They were both 82. Since I will not do them justice I’m going to post a great Stereogum article that details the magnitude and influence these two musicians had on pop culture and the world. Music today would not be the same without them, plain and simple. R.I.P. Brian and Sly and thanks for the amazing art and soundscapes you created.
As for the lyrics above, like the Beach Boys in 1962 many of you are saving for a shiny & expensive new car. You’ll get to financial independence much much faster with a used one. And the Sly & The Family Stone song says all you need to know about the malicious and dangerous world of gambling. Just don’t do it.
Miscellaneous
Stroke breakthrough takes aim at the gut – “What does gut fermentation and stroke-induced brain inflammation have in common? Potentially a lot, according to new research.
Toddler Stumbles on 3,800-Year-Old Amulet During Family Hike – “The small object she found is an ancient scarab amulet dating back to the Middle Bronze Age.”
US solar keeps surging, generating more power than hydro in 2025 – “Continued rising demand still outpacing growth of renewables in the US.”
regarding carl’s article about loosening up the purse strings once you have enough money, we kept out same house and 10+ year old cars but changed our travel somewhat. we went to nola in april and could have stayed all 4 nights at a friend’s place. he would not have minded but we sprung for a couple of hotel nights in da quarter. we also quit booking early morning flights to where you have to get up at 4am to save 100 bucks total. we travel like this infrequently and the lost “savings” are totally worth it once or twice a year.
oh, and we adopted a puppy and named him junior: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10162298159547420&set=pcb.10162298159647420
I’ve been loosening up lately too, quite a bit. The realities of age keep creeping in and showing their ugliness and it’s prompting me to spend more with the knowledge that I’m gonna be an old man sooner than I want. I’m trying to spend on experiences and not accumulate more stuff, but my problem is the experiences I like to engage in require some stuff. And awesome puppy, one day I might get one!
Well in 1500days case he stumbled into several millions through consistency and the explosion of the Mag7 leading much of his buckets of cash, a far greater mountain of financial flexibility than us mere mortals lol.
Most of us have done well but I just can’t wrap my head around feeding the consumerism machine. I’m glad that he didn’t make it an article about lifestyle inflation and clearly spelled that out, focus on efficiencies not wasteful senseless spending. I’ve gravitated back to the ERE forums the last half year over the MMM forums as I appreciate optimization and sensible frugality more than enabling the next justification on spending money for no reason.
100% mid-ride bakeries are the lifeline for mojo and energy on big rides, killer distance and well done!
Yeah Carl played the individual stock-picking game and won. I hung out with him at both FINCONs I went to back in the day and he couldn’t be a nicer or more humble guy, I really like him. Like you I too try not to keep buying stuff I don’t need, but also like you I thrive on outdoor sports because they keep me mentally and physically healthy. And those require some stuff. I’ve been getting rid of older amping gear and paddling gear recently, and I’m trying to keep things in check as I upgrade to newer/lighter/safer gear. Last year I gave 2 perfectly fine tents away to homeless guys who camp along the Potomac River, and that felt good, although it’d be better to get them out of that situation. Lastly I’ve also been revisiting the ERE blog (haven’t tried the forums) and last TGIF I posted an amazing piece from Jacob. He’s a damn good writer and for my money still one of the best thinkers in the FI space. Thanks as always for stopping by Chris!
Cheers Dave, like you I do make the best ROI spending I can on my bikes and backpacking gear. It is 100% investment into myself like you state. Very kind of you to pass along your old tents like that.
Thanks again, Dave, for such an interesting and diverse range of articles. The 1500 Days post describes this common issue well. Having always been an average saver who was never prepared to allow work to interfere with life too much, I am now enjoying the fruits of my mediocrity…… I have ‘enough’, have done a lot, seen a lot, travelled widely and have no problem spending down as needed 😆
Knowing when you have enough = far more than mediocrity. Enjoy it Linda!