What if Your Dream Life Is Already Within Reach?

Embrace the Power of Simple, Purposeful Living

FI-Friendly Weekend Recap: It’s not about how much you save, it’s how you choose to spend your time, money, and energy.

This past weekend was another reminder of what financial independence is really about: not just money, but crafting a life that’s rich in experiences, connections, and personal growth. Our journey continues to be about living purposefully and finding joy in the simple, meaningful things—like DIY projects, great conversations with friends, and indulging in favorite small pleasures. Our financial independence journey is not just about building wealth but about crafting a life rich in experiences, meaningful connections, and personal growth. We’re learning that by spending our time and money generously on what we love, while cutting ruthlessly on things that don’t bring true value, we’re building a life that feels intentional and full.

It started with a little homeownership headache. My partner and a close friend teamed up to temporarily repair some water-damaged exterior siding we discovered on the house. (Ah, adulting at its finest—those unexpected moments when homeownership isn’t all it’s cracked up to be! 😬) But hey, when you have a few skills and contractor friends, you can tackle these issues without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, this was a great reminder that building a network of talented people is key in this journey, and how investing in relationships brings value well beyond what money can buy.

In the midst of that project, I requested a little side quest: using scrap pieces from the repair to make a custom kitty toy. Our cat’s favorite “toy” had been this huge box that she loved to rub her face on, but it was taking up way too much floor space. So we colaboratively designed a stand that holds a smaller piece of cardboard—about 1/5 the size of her beloved box—and guess what? She’s equally thrilled. (Small wins, right?!) 🐾

Instead of going out, we hosted friends for a cozy night in for drinks, snacks, and some laid-back conversations about life, money, and relationships. We splurged a bit on decadent dessert. It wasn’t an extravagant night out, but it was perfect. What could be better for an introvert (me) than staying comfortable at home, enjoying deeper connections with trusted friends, and talking about what really matters?

We also spent a morning working on our self-employed businesses. That’s one of the tradeoffs when you work for yourself—sometimes weekends include a bit of work. But we’re okay with that because it’s part of building the life we want, where we control our time and our efforts go directly into growing something meaningful.

The weekend ended with a long-standing tradition: Sunday Funday tacos at a friend’s house. There’s something so satisfying about rituals like this—sharing simple, delicious food with the people you care about.

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Principles in Action: Building Your Surprising Wealth Dream Life

This weekend wasn’t about extravagant spending or major accomplishments. It was about practicing the principles that define our approach to building wealth and a fulfilling life.  It was about living in alignment with our values, choosing to spend time and money generously on things that bring joy, and not wasting either on things that don’t.

• Embrace the SlowFI Journey with Consistent Actions: Whether it was tackling a home repair or growing our self-employed business, we took small, purposeful steps that align with our long-term goals, keeping us on the path to continuously build our “dream life”.
• Value Experiences Over Status and Things: For us, it’s more about the company than the location or the activity. We didn’t need spendy outings or expensive entertainment as a reason to socalize. Instead, we prioritized connection, conversation, and comfort with our close friends.
• Invest in Relationships: From collaborating with our friends on DIY projects to Sunday Funday tacos, we made time for the people who matter most.
• Practice Mindful Spending: By staying in, using what we had, and focusing on the experiences that bring us joy, we had a fulfilling weekend while intentionally not spending extra on things we wouldn’t truely value.
• Set Flexible Goals: We adapted our plans when needed—whether it was creatively solving a problem with a custom kitty toy or balancing work and leisure on our own terms.

Our journey to financial independence isn’t just about money—it’s about building a life we love, filled with meaningful connections, joyful experiences, and personal growth. What’s one thing you can do this week to take a step toward your own version of a dream life?

#FinancialIndependence #FIRE #SlowFI #DIYProjects #BuildingCommunity #SkillBuilding #SurprisingWealth #DreamLife #SaveMoney #PersonalGrowth

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Let’s get curious….

Imagine a weekend where every moment feels purposeful. What small, intentional changes could you make to create that for yourself?

Are you crafting your life to enjoy the journey, or are you chasing a future destination while discounting your day to day experience in the present?

Picture yourself cutting out the things that don’t bring joy. What would your life look like if you only invested time and money in what truly matters?

If you could design your perfect day, who would you spend it with? How can you start investing in those relationships today?

What creative solutions can you dream up for life’s challenges that allow you to stay true to your values?

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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.