When Life Calls for Simplicity:
How Financial Freedom & Lifestyle Design Creates Space for What Really MattersThe content on Surprising Wealth reflects my own experiences and opinions. It is not intended as financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult a professional for advice tailored to your situation.
When Challenges Arise: How Simplicity and Time Freedom Can Transform Your Life
What happens when you face the unexpected? Learn how a focus on simplicity, lifestyle design, and financial independence can provide you the freedom to slow down and take care of yourself when it matters most.
Simplicity, Choice, and Time Freedom in the Midst of Life’s Challenges
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Let’s get curious….
When life feels overwhelming, where do you find yourself dreaming of escaping to? Is it a place of simplicity, peace, or freedom? What might that reveal about what you truly need in your life right now?
Think about a time when you felt truly free: whether it was on a trip, during a break, or simply in a moment of quiet. What elements of that experience could you incorporate into your daily life to cultivate a deeper sense of peace?
When faced with unexpected changes or challenges, how does your lifestyle design allow you to respond? How might you adjust your life now to build more flexibility and resilience for future moments of uncertainty?
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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.
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Discover the power of small actions and big dreams with Surprising Wealth. Through a blend of personal anecdotes, case studies, and actionable tips, we’ll show you how we’re navigating the complexities of money management, investment strategies, and lifestyle choices to achieve true financial freedom and fulfillment.
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70 months to FI! When you’re far from Financial Independence, you optimize for growth. When you’re closer, you begin optimizing for simplicity. This month’s decision to sell a long-held rental property marks a quiet but meaningful shift in how we’re preparing for the next chapter. As we approach FI, we’re realizing that what once energized us is now beginning to exhausts us. Sometimes the bravest financial decision is letting go of something that once made perfect sense.
Self-Employed Health Insurance: 12% premium increase for 2025
Our 2025 health insurance premium increased by 12%. Healthcare is now our second-largest expense as a self-employed couple. And unlike groceries or travel, this isn’t an area where we can optimize much further. High deductible. No subsidies. Shopping the marketplace every year. As we plan for early retirement, we’re treating healthcare differently than other spending categories.
2025 Great Life Goals: Year End Review
In 2025, my Great Life Goals told a story I didn’t fully expect. More time with aging parents. Fewer ocean days than I craved. Travel shaped more by service than adventure. This year, I tracked days with family, visits with friends, travel, ocean time, and walking habits. But what I really measured was alignment. 2025 became a year of proximity to the people who matter most, releasing pressure in hard seasons, and noticing where my spending isn’t yet representing my values. Here’s what my goals revealed about the life I’m building.
Tracking Our Lifetime Wealth Ratio: 2025 Update
For every $1.00 we’ve earned as income in our lifetime, we’ve built $0.93 of net worth, not by saving every dollar, but by investing regularly and letting time + compounding do the work to grow our wealth. Ever wondered how effectively you’re turning income into wealth? We’ve been tracking our progress for the last 5 years using the Lifetime Wealth Ratio.