Building A Great Life: September Update

 

Tracking how often I live my values has been so rewarding. I dream of more family time, hosting friends, ocean visits, more trips, and moving my body outdoors. Setting goals has helped me stay mindful and make active choices to pursue my Great Life values.

 

 

 

Family/Travel/Ocean:

This month I spent a travel weekend with my mom in Florida, walking on beach, browsing bookstores, visiting with extended family, and celebrating my cousins wedding. This trip hit multiple Good Life goals: travel, time near the ocean, and seeing family!

 

Friends:

This month has been rich in quality time with friends, so much that I had to double-check the count! Setting a “Visits with Friends” goal has motivated me to organize more get-togethers. We hosted an intimate birthday celebration for a friend with key lime cheesecake, drinks + snacks. We chatted about life, relationships, money and FI, while completing home repair projects with friends. We made new FI Friends by attending a FI focused weekend event. And we ate tacos with friends who are like family. I’m loving the “Memory Dividends” from tracking these gathering and documenting with photos of all these great moments.

 

Walks:

Since my partner and I are self-employed, we have used that flexibility to take off early on several (slower) days to hike together on local trails. We have kept up our habit of walking after dinner, which has lead to a number of short unplanned conversations with friendly neighbors. Just last night we met a couple who just moved into the neighborhood, and they asked us to call if we ever want company on our evening walks. If that works out, we might need to up our Visits with Friends goal soon.

 

By setting and tracking these Great Life Goals, I’m not only enjoying more of what I love but also building a life that truly reflects my values.

Let’s get curious….

What small adventures or trips could you plan that hit multiple personal goals, like spending time with family, being near nature, or exploring new places?

How can you incorporate more meaningful conversations into your gatherings with friends and family? What topics would enrich those moments together?

Have you considered setting simple, intentional goals for physical activity or social connections? What could you track this month to enhance your sense of fulfillment?

By exploring these questions, you can gain deeper insights into your financial journey and identify actionable steps to move closer to your goals. Financial independence is a personal and unique journey for everyone, and we hope these questions inspire you to take meaningful steps towards your own financial freedom.

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A Bit About Us

Our journey began with humble beginnings. We’ve navigated through the challenges of creating a life and a living we love, while earing low to median incomes. What started as a modest dream of being able to retire someday has turned into a concrete plan. We’ve been on the SlowFI path, consistently saving and investing for 20+ years. Our income over time has stayed roughly in the 50th percentile, so we are truely everyday Americans. We’ve achieved remarkable results through living below our means and consistently investing the difference. Now in our mid-40s, we are in the top 20% for U.S. household wealth for our age group. This has been possible through conscious spending, consistent saving, strategic investing, and a commitment to lifestyle design where we spend generously on things that bring us value and contentment, while cuting back on things we are ambivalent about. It can be daunting when you hear the stories of tech workers or doctors or other people with large income shovels. We want to share how an everyday couple with median US income has built wealth for the future, while also creating a life we love today.

Why Financial Independence?

Financial Independence means having the freedom to make choices that aren’t dictated only by the need for a paycheck. It’s about gaining control over your time and energy, and being able to pursue what truly matters to you. For us, it’s about creating time for friend & family, travel, and the experiences that bring joy and fulfillment.

Join Us on the Journey

In January 2021, I ran some calculations, projected our investment growth, and analyzed our current spending levels. After adjusting our spending assumptions for future inflation, I realized we could replace our earned income (trading time for money) with investment income (our money making money for us) in approximately 10 years. With 90 months left to go, we’re solidly on that path and we want you to join us. Whether you’re just starting out or well on your way to financial independence, Surprising Wealth is here to support and inspire you. Together, we can make every month count and turn dreams into reality.

Thank you for being a part of our community. Let’s embark on this journey to financial independence together!

Disclaimer: All the tips and stories here are from my own journey toward financial independence. Remember, what worked for me might not work for everyone. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, legal, or tax advice. Always consult with a professional before making any significant financial decisions.