The Irish FIRE Podcast

What if retirement wasn’t the goal, and the focus was instead on building a life where work fits around what matters most? In this episode, Michael welcomes Brian Herriot, author of Time Freedom, to explore a different way of thinking about work, money and freedom.

Brian’s book explores how people can shape their work and finances around the life they want to live, creating more flexibility and choice along the way. Rather than waiting for retirement to enjoy life, the conversation considers what it means to make work part of a fulfilling life today, on their own terms.

Having enjoyed an advance copy of the book, Michael brings his own perspective as he prepares to take the leap into early retirement. Together, they explore how time freedom might change the way people think about financial independence and what comes next.

Show Notes:

Buy the book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.ie/Time-Freedom-Rethink-Money-Create/dp/1774587122/

Visit Brian's website:
https://timefreedom.life

Subscribe to the Newsletter:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter

This episode is supported by Moneycube, one of the sponsors of the Irish FIRE Podcast. Moneycube is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Could becoming a contractor help you earn more, gain flexibility and build towards financial independence? In this episode, Michael is joined by Sarah Flynn from Fenero to discuss contracting in Ireland and the reasons you might consider making the move from permanent employment.

They explore how tax works for contractors, the expenses you may be able to claim and why understanding the rules matters when working for yourself. Whether you’re considering your first contract or already self-employed, this conversation will help you think about the bigger financial picture.

They also discuss retirement planning and the tax reliefs that may be available to eligible business owners when selling or winding down their business. If early retirement is your goal, understanding these options and their qualifying conditions could be an important part of your plan.

Show Notes

Follow Sarah on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahflynnireland/

Follow Sarah on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahflynn_ie/

Visit Fenero:
https://www.fenero.ie

Join the newsletter:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter

This episode has been sponsored by KennCo Insurance. KennCo Underwriting Ltd T/A KennCo Insurance is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland.

In this episode, Anders Skagerberg returns to the show three and a half years after his first appearance as “The Coast FI Guy”. Back then, Anders was embracing Coast FI while Michael was still firmly in the accumulation and grinding phase of his own financial independence journey.

This time, the roles have almost reversed. Anders is no longer coasting. After upgrading his lifestyle, returning to full-time work and increasing his income again, he discovered that going back to the grind wasn’t necessarily the answer either.

The conversation explores the balance between coasting and grinding, frugality and deliberate lifestyle inflation, and the constant tension between building more wealth and actually enjoying the life that wealth is supposed to create.

It’s a thoughtful discussion about how financial independence can evolve over time, why “enough” is rarely a fixed number, and how the real goal may simply be creating the freedom to choose how much - or how little - you want to work.

Show Notes:

Anders original interview:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/coast-fi-with-anders

Contact Anders on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anders-skagerberg-cfp%C2%AE-ea-631089158/

Coast FI Guy on Substack:
https://andersskagerberg.substack.com

Subscribe to the Irish FIRE Newsletter:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter

This episode has been sponsored by Martina Murphy Solicitor. Legal services with a personal touch.

After a recent radio interview left very little time to explain the realities of financial independence and early retirement, Michael Houghton takes a deeper look at some of the questions people most often ask about FIRE.

Does retiring early mean never working again? Where does fulfillment come from without a traditional job? And how is it possible to build enough wealth to step away from full-time work in less than a decade? Michael discusses the intense saving years behind his family's journey, the role of investing and property, and how compound growth eventually began doing more of the work.

He also looks at the idea of "enough" - why building a larger portfolio is not necessarily better if it comes at the cost of another decade of work, and why the real goal of financial independence has always been greater control over time.

Finally, Michael explains why budgeting will remain part of life in retirement and why FIRE, for his family, has never really been about becoming rich. It has been about building enough wealth to have the freedom to choose how they spend their time.

Show Notes:

The FYI - Top 10 FIRE Podcasts:
https://the-fyi.com/money/podcasts-for-the-fire-community/

Original interview on Claire Bryne:
https://www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/how-would-like-to-retire-early-YTYzZTQ0NTBlZGYwOTM3ZWU3MmM2YzNmNDAxOTQ1ZmY= 

View our monthly FI progress:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/progress

Subscribe to the Newsletter:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter

This episode is supported by Moneycube, one of the sponsors of the Irish FIRE Podcast. Moneycube is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

In this episode of The Irish FIRE Podcast, Michael is joined by Karena Duane, founder of Money, Just For Her.

Karena has spent more than 25 years working in Irish financial services and now focuses on helping women build greater confidence and understanding around money.

They talk about budgeting, spending habits and our relationship with money, as well as the gender pay gap and the longer-term impact this can have on women’s finances.

They also discuss money within relationships, including what happens when couples have very different attitudes towards saving and spending, and why these conversations can be so important.

Karena also shares the story behind Money, Just For Her, why she created it, and some of the financial challenges women can face at different stages of life.

Show Notes:

You can find out more about Karena and Money, Just For Her here:
https://moneyjustforher.com

Subscribe to the Irish FIRE Newsletter:
https://www.firepodcast.ie/newsletter

This episode has been sponsored by Martina Murphy Solicitor. Legal services with a personal touch.