FI Minded: Achieve Financial Independence & Have Fun Doing It

• Is the Next Step in Your FI Journey Buying Less? | E178 Ashlee Piper

  I was reviewing my spending for the first half of 2025 and noticed something interesting: excluding routine bills, groceries, and experiences, I only bought 25 new things this year, totaling about $1,400. For six months, that felt pretty solid. But it also got me wondering… could I go even further?That curiosity came to a head when the nozzle on my garden hose started leaking. My first instinct was to hop on Amazon and buy a new one. It was only $20. But then I paused. I looked up what might cause the leak and found out it’s usually a worn-out rubber washer. I took the thing apart, and sure enough, that was it. I hopped back on Amazon to order a new washer…until I remembered I had another broken nozzle in the garage. I swear I have the worst luck with these—but this one wasn’t leaking. I had just dropped it and snapped the trigger handle. I took the rubber washer from that one and used it to fix the current nozzle.And it worked! No money spent. Nothing added to a landfill. And honestly, I felt proud of myself.I share that story because it’s easy to assume we’re already frugal or intentional enough—especially in the FI community. But that moment made me realize how often I default to “buy new” without even questioning it. And I want to become more intentional, especially when it comes to physical things.That’s why I invited Ashlee Piper on the show today. Ashlee is a sustainability expert and author of the new book No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity. She’s also the creator of the #NoNewThings Challenge, which she personally followed for two years, which is just insanely impressive.In this conversation, we dig into how to creatively meet your needs without always reaching for your wallet. Ashlee shares her SUPER system for thoughtfully navigating purchases, and we run through a few real-life scenarios like getting ready for a wedding or gearing up for Halloween.If you want to bring more intentionality into how you consume, this episode will leave you feeling inspired.I hope you enjoy my conversation with the always resourceful, wildly entertaining, and sustainability-driven…Ashlee Piper.Key Takeaways:How to skip buying new without giving up what you loveA system to make smarter, more intentional buying choicesFind practical ways to fix, borrow, or swap before buying something newHow consumer culture encourages excess (and how to resist it)Balancing intentional spending and restrictionMore of Ashlee:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleepiper/Newsletter: https://substack.com/@theethicaleditMore of FI Minded:Email Justin at [email protected] with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

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• Mini-Retirements: Instead of Retiring Early, Why Not Retire Often? | E177 Jillian Johnsrud

  We’re all waiting for the day we hit financial independence. That’s when we’ll finally quit our jobs and have time to learn a new hobby, start that house project, take longer vacations, or prioritize our health.You probably have a list of things you’re saving for after FI—but what if you don’t want to wait another decade to start? Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. The challenge is that your career eats up most of your time and energy, and since you’re not financially independent yet, walking away isn’t an option.But what if you didn’t have to choose between all work now and all freedom later? What if you could work for a few years, take a break, then return to work—and repeat that cycle? Instead of one long career followed by one long retirement, what if you took mini-retirements along the way?It’s not just a theory—today’s guest has done it. Jillian Johnsrud has taken over a dozen mini-retirements throughout her life and now helps others do the same.In this episode, Jillian shares how to organize your time off, why some employers actually say yes to these breaks, and how a mini-retirement might even improve your career. She also provides examples of how mini-retirements speed up, rather than slow down, people’s path to FI.Mini-retirements are one of my favorite concepts—I’ve taken one myself, and I always encourage my friends to consider them too.So today, I’m making the case to you: maybe it’s better to retire often than to retire once.Key Takeaways:What a Mini-Retirement Actually Looks LikeHow to Plan a Mini-Retirement with PurposeA framework for organizing your mini-retirement using Jillian’s “Dream To-Do List”Signs It’s Time to Step AwayHow to Talk to Your Employer About Taking Time OffWhy some employers say yes to mini-retirements—and how to make your caseTips for framing the request in a way that shows mutual benefitMaking the Financial Trade-Off Worth ItSurprising ways mini-retirements can actually improve your career or lead to new income opportunities.Why “Retire Often” Might Be Better Than “Retire Once”More of Jillian:Read Retire Often: https://lnk.to/retireoftenMore of FI Minded:Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

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• How to Save Thousands on Groceries (Without Giving Anything Up) | E176 Bryan Suddith

  If you're on the path to financial independence, you know every dollar adds up. An extra $1,000 a year might not sound like much, but early in your FI journey, that kind of savings can seriously accelerate your timeline. And if you’re already FI, trimming $1,000 in expenses lowers your FIRE number and helps your nest egg last longer.The best part? I’m not asking you to start a side hustle or cut out your favorite purchases.Instead, we’re talking about saving money by wasting less, specifically, food waste.Yes, that’s right. The average American throws out over 200 pounds of food a year. For a family of four, that’s about $3,200 straight into the trash. Think wilted spinach, moldy bread, and forgotten leftovers. Any of this sound familiar?Here’s the good news: with a little planning and a few habit shifts, you can cut that waste dramatically and keep more money in your pocket without sacrificing lifestyle.Today’s guest, Bryan Suddith, took this challenge seriously. Over the last five years, he’s tracked every bit of food that ended up in his trash. And the total? Less than $100. For a family of four.We’ll share practical tips for meal planning, a framework for eating through your groceries, his favorite go-to food-waste saving meal (which surprised me), and even how to avoid food waste after hosting a party.If you’re ready to trim your grocery bill and stretch your FI dollars further without really sacrificing anything, then you’re going to like this episode.Key Takeaways:The impact of tracking your food wasteHow to avoid aspirational grocery purchasesWhich groceries to prioritize eating firstCreative ways to turn soon-to-expire food into tasty mealsA go-to food-waste-saving meal everyone will enjoyHow to cut down on food waste after hosting a partyWhat to know about food waste legislationMore of Bryan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryansuddith/More of FI Minded:Email Justin at [email protected] with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

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• Shifting Away from a “Save-Only” Mindset | E175 Matt & Yana - CoastFI Couple

  Today, we dive into some of the biggest questions our community has about money, relationships, and raising kids on the path to financial independence.Matt and Yana from CoastFI Couple share their honest experience with shifting from a strict save-only mindset to learning how to enjoy their money after reaching Coast FI.We talk about how even couples who agree on big-picture goals can still face daily money disagreements — and the tools and conversations that help keep things on track.Plus, we explore how to teach kids healthy money values without passing on anxiety or scarcity.Whether you’re struggling to spend guilt-free or want to raise money-smart kids, this episode offers practical insights and encouragement.If you have a question you'd like me to answer on a future episode, just shoot me an email at [email protected] Takeaways:It’s totally normal to struggle with spending after years of saving.Start with small upgrades to ease into enjoying your money.You and your partner can be aligned overall and still clash on daily spending.Using tools and talking openly can help you avoid constant money arguments.You can teach your kids to be smart with money without making them anxious.Modeling a balanced approach helps your kids build confidence around money.More of Matt & Yana:YouTube: ​​https://www.youtube.com/@CoastFICoupleQube Money: https://qubemoney.com/ (Use code COAST for a free trial)More of FI Minded:Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

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• How to Get the Courage to Travel More Adventurously | E174 Jon Otero

  My first big trip abroad was in 2015. I had just graduated from college the week before and wanted to do something fun. So my girlfriend and I flew to Europe and visited Prague, Paris, and Barcelona. It was a blast, and it left a lasting impression. Since then, I’ve traveled to 10 more countries.Lately, I’ve been getting more comfortable with international travel, and I’m starting to feel the itch to push beyond my comfort zone. Up to this point, most of my trips have been to first-world countries, major metropolitan cities, and usually with a group of friends or my partner.But I’ll be honest, I’m a little nervous to push the boundary. That’s why I invited Jon Otero on the podcast to help me break through those fears and build the confidence to travel more adventurously.Jon is the definition of an adventurous traveler. He has visited 35 countries and all 50 U.S. states, and he has done some incredible things, such as riding a camel in Egypt, scuba diving to sunken ships, and paratriking in Peru. His fearless approach to travel is seriously so inspiring, and I’m hoping to tap into a little of that mindset myself.In this episode, we talk about everything from navigating language barriers and understanding cultural differences to safety tips, solo travel, and ideas for your next adventure.Before we jump in, I want to say this: adventurous travel is defined by you. If you’ve never left the country before, going anywhere new might feel like a big leap, and that’s awesome. Even exploring a new part of the U.S. can feel adventurous if you’ve never been out of your home state. Don’t let social media or someone else’s definition shape what a great trip looks like. Go at your own pace, and most importantly, have fun.Let’s get into it. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the adventurous traveler and host of The Globetrotters Podcast…Jon Otero.Key Takeaways:How to navigate language barriers when you don’t speak the local languageTips for learning cultural customs before your tripStaying aware without being overly paranoid while travelingMaking solo travel fun (and not lonely)How to pick your next travel destinationUnderrated countries that deserve a spot on your listMore of Jon:Listen to the Globetrotters Podcast: https://www.gtspodcast.com/More of FI Minded:Email Justin at [email protected] with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

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