Why I Created This Website

I November of 2021 I discovered the FIRE movement and I was immediately drawn to the idea of financial independence.

I did not want to retire from my job. But I was hungry for more freedom. More independence. I wasn’t looking forward to working the next many years with only a few weeks of vacation.

The ideas stuck with me and I started savings seriously that same month. I started tracking my expenses and did so on-and-off for more than two years.

One thing that really struck me was how clueless I had been about money before all of this. Sure, I never built up massive debt or anything like that. But I just didn’t know that money was a tool to help me become more free. Instead money was something to spend on stuff.

I don’t know where I would be if I did not stumble upon this topic randomly online. I’d probably be fine - most likely I would have a lot more stuff! But damn I’m so glad I discovered it. It’s only been a few years and I have already built up more freedom than I knew possible.

That is why I created this website. Because I want more people to be exposed to the same ideas I was exposed to that fateful November fall. Maybe you don’t like the ideas. Maybe they aren’t for you. Fine. But at least I want you to have the chance.

My financial freedom so far

I’m currently 88% towards my early financial freedom goal: (Fall 2024)

Roughly, this goal will allow me to take 2-3 months unpaid leave a year. I don’t know if I’ll use this freedom or continue investing more of my money (or use the money on something else entirely). But having the freedom feels absolutely amazing.

I could work 9 months a year and take off 3 every year from now on and be supported by my portfolio to do that. Pretty neat to have a 3 month summer break every year, right? For sure a lot better than a bunch of stuff.

More income (!?)

Building up financial freedom by saving can at times feel slow. Looking back now I’m amazed at my progress (and I could have done better!). But in the moment, it sometimes feels like saving just isn’t enough.

It is so tempting to imagine what a bit more income would do. The big lesson is of course to realize it would not make life any better at all. But that is a hard lesson to learn. Especially in our consumer culture.

I’ve been down this road a few times and it hasn’t worked out that well. Sometime early 2023 I started building websites with the idea of making money from them. At first it was very exciting and fun. But that quickly faded.

I have tried creating websites/starting a solo business/selling products a few times before and so far it has never caught momentum. My current thesis is that entrepreneurship just isn’t for me. Creating something people want to pay for is hard!

It has been fun creating and building stuff but I can do that without needing to make money. What hasn’t been fun is the anxiety, stress, and way too many hours spent in front of the computer.

We have already seen that starting a business is a risky bet with a likely outcome of zero. Saving more of your income has lower upside, but the likely outcome is much better.

I’m so glad I have learned this lesson.

There are lots of good reasons to start businesses - and for some people it is absolutely the right thing to do. But for me it isn’t. At least that is my feeling right now. I feel immensely grateful I have found another path.

I don’t need to start a business to become independent. I can save and invest in businesses instead. And I absolutely love that.