Two lifelong friends document and share their personal journey as they seek to become financially independent and retire early (FIRE). One achieves his FIRE goal in 2020 during a global pandemic, inspiring the other to play catch-up. Whether you are new to the FIRE movement, already on your FIRE journey, or have retired early, there’s something here for you. Go beyond the numbers and get the personal stories as experienced by Eric and Jason.
Episodes
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
Sunday Dec 03, 2023
What happens if all the travel you want to do after retiring would break the budget? In this episode, Eric and Jason talk about the importance of travel to their early retirement plans. Topics discussed include financial concerns, disagreeing with your spouse, the value of planning by age range, and much more.
Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/travel
Sunday Nov 19, 2023
Sunday Nov 19, 2023
How does it feel when you haven't yet found your purpose after retiring early? In this episode, Jason talks with Eric about his three year journey exploring his post-FIRE purpose. In this episode, they discuss the phases of retirement, seeking out meaningful projects, lessons learned along the way, and much more.
Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/purpose
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
Sunday Nov 05, 2023
If you're not giving mental and physical health the same level of attention as your financial health, you're playing with fire. In this episode, Jason talks with Eric about what steps he's taking to prioritize his own wellness in early retirement, including a frank conversation about mental health. Here they discuss steps to promote wellness, the distinct challenges of retirement, and much more. Don't miss the show notes as they include a link to Jason's latest blog post on the topic of mental health.
Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/wellness
Sunday Oct 22, 2023
Sunday Oct 22, 2023
Can you imagine changing your mind about retiring early just as the finish line comes into view? What factors could cause someone to consider working one more year? In this episode, Eric talks with Jason about the idea to delay his retirement. Topics covered include why he's considering it, getting agreement with your spouse, how others reacted to the idea, and much more.
Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/OMY
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Sunday Oct 08, 2023
Would you spend $1000 on dinner for a special occasion - or more? Eric and Jason recently enjoyed a milestone birthday celebration with their spouses + friends at a world famous restaurant. The total cost may shock you. In this episode, they talk about the experience, spending decisions pre- vs, post-financial independence, and whether it was actually worth it.
Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/frenchlaundry
Sunday Sep 24, 2023
Sunday Sep 24, 2023
How would your spouse feel if you retired early while they kept working? In this episode, Eric + Jason talk with our friend Erik, who recently left the workplace while his wife continues to work. How does this arrangement work for them, and why is a coastFIRE path their choice? Topics discussed include being thrown into retirement, finding purpose, talking about FIRE, and much more.
Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/erik
Sunday Aug 20, 2023
Sunday Aug 20, 2023
Can you shorten the time to achieve financial independence (FI)? In this episode, Eric talks with Jason about his journey to FI and the steps he took to reach FI faster and retire before 50. Topics discussed include risks taken + sacrifices made, how Eric's path differed, why early retirement is so attractive, and much more.
Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/fasterFI
Sunday Jul 23, 2023
Sunday Jul 23, 2023
How can you accelerate the boring middle on the path to reaching your financial independence goals? Online FIRE communities are full of posts talking about the challenges of "the messy middle" and, "the long boring middle." Eric and Jason discuss the topic from their pre- and post-FI viewpoints, sharing their own experiences.
Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/messymiddle
Monday Jul 03, 2023
Monday Jul 03, 2023
Are you on the FIRE path or interested in learning more about early retirement? Three years ago I retired from my career at age 47 after reaching financial independence the prior year. This video is from a livestream where community members had the opportunity to ask me questions about what my experience has been like. Thanks to all who joined! Don't miss the extensive show notes, which list all the episodes and resources discussed in the episode:
Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/AMA
Sunday May 21, 2023
Sunday May 21, 2023
Questioning their roles, priorities, and the uncertain future of Two Sides of FI, Jason and Eric unveil hidden tensions arising from the pursuit and realization of financial independence. Will they find common ground and keep the project alive?
Show notes: https://twosidesoffi.com/fightclub