We Can Afford a House, So Why Do We Choose to Rent?
A reader recently sent me this question: “I feel very swept up by the rhetoric around the need to provide a lot more housing for my children. How on Earth do you both resist that urge? And considering that you can afford it?” It’s a good question, especially now that our portfolio has grown to the point where we could even afford a house in Vancouver. And yet, we still choose to rent. Since becoming a parent, I’ve noticed something strange about how society treats spending. When we spend money on ourselves, it’s frivolous. But when we spend money on […]
The Unexpected Freedom of Being a Nobody
I don’t usually pay attention to celebrity feuds, but this latest one regarding Kelly Clarkson and a $15,000 automaton bird caught my eye because of the sheer ridiculousness of this story. Basically, Kelly Clarkson walked into a Brooklyn curiosity shop called “Art of Play” and tried to buy a $15,000 mechanical bird that was mounted on its wall. Kelly alleged that the salesperson treated her like she couldn’t afford the bird and offered her a $2000 alternative. This inhumane treatment then caused her to unleash the equivalent of a social media nuclear bomb by venting to her 8 million followers […]
Trump Accounts: Are They a Scam?
When I first heard about the Trump accounts, my first questions were: Is this a trick? Is this a scam? Is this thing designed to steal people’s money and put it into TrumpCoin? And apparently, I wasn’t alone. According to a survey by BuildCommonWealth.org, since Trump accounts became available to the public this summer, only 5% of eligible parents in that survey had opened one. The top concerns parents had were: All valid concerns. Clearly, the branding on the Trump account hasn’t been great. However, I think that judging an account purely based on the name is a mistake. If […]
What if the Good Life Requires Giving Up Some Freedom?
For most of my adult life, I thought freedom meant depending on no one. That’s why I choose to quit my stressful job and travel the world in my 30s. Obsessively saving and investing was the key to finally not have to answer to anyone. I had no boss, no commute, and no home. I had zero obligations. Having grown up with little control over my life, this was a huge relief. I’d spent most of my childhood, trying to meet other people’s expectations, and much of my career doing things I disliked for money. When I finally escaped, autonomy […]
Reader Case: From Cancer Survivor to FIRE
It’s been a while since I’ve done a reader case, so I thought I’d grab one from the ol’ inbox. So here we go! Dear Kristy & Bryce, Firstly- thank you so much for all you do! I have been reading your blog, then book for years and have been quietly inspired. So my story is a little unusual, and I’d love your thoughts (I know, not advice!)… I started on the FI/RE pathway 10 years ago, as a Kiwi living in London who stumbled upon The School of Life (who knew it was a real place? Opened by philosophers […]
