Author Archives: firedupforalliedhealth

Housesitting – How We Stay For Free While Traveling

Note: Affiliate Links are used in this blog post

Whenever people travel, one of the biggest expenses is lodging. Whether you stay at a 5 star resort, or a locally owned motel, the expense can add up with every night. In 2021, the average price of a hotel was $194 a night!¹

So when we tell people about our nomadic lifestyle, we get a lot of questions and unsolicited comments about our lodging:

So are you living the van/RV life?

Or do you just stay hotels/motels every night?

Or are you staying with friends and family the entire time?

Wow, it must be expensive to find a new place to stay in every new city you visit.

No, we are not doing a camper van or RV while we travel. We had considered it, but for someone as active and as sweaty as me, I personally like showering every day. We also weren’t really jazzed about the idea of buying an RV. According to Camper Report², it costs on average $45 a night for an RV campsite. Much cheaper than a hotel at least!

No, we are not staying in hotels/motels every single night. We will stay in hotels/motels on occasion, just a place to sleep before we’re back on the road the next day. But we enjoy cooking too much to live in hotels/motels full time, and not all places take pets (unfortunately).

We plan on spending some time with family and friends, as our main goal of traveling this year is to reconnect with people we haven’t seen since the pandemic began. But we also don’t want to be a burden to them. We understand how lucky we are that most of them are willing to open up their homes to us, and for that we are grateful. Plus, it allows us to spend more quality time with them! But we are not relying on our loved ones the entire time.

So how are we bopping around the country then? How can we decrease our living expenses even further while we travel, without compromising safety and comfort?

Trusted Housesitters

Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects pet owners and sitters around the world. For an annual fee, you can join as a pet owner or a sitter, and have access to the community. You can book as many house sits as you like, wherever is available. Since all of the sitters are background checked and verified, you can trust that you will find someone legit to watch your fur baby. There is no exchange of money or goods between the two parties. Although you aren’t getting paid to watch their pet, you are staying in their home for free. It’s a win-win situation!

Becoming a Pet Sitter

When we signed up to become a pet sitter with Trusted Housesitters, the process was really simple:

Purchase Your Sitter Plan

There are 3 types of plans – basic, standard, and premium. The more you pay, the more benefits come with your plan, such as free communication with veterinarians, sit cancellation insurance, and even global airport lounge passes. We personally chose the standard plan, because we knew we would be housesitting multiple times and we wanted to make sure we had access to veterinarians in case of emergency. We didn’t need premium this year, as we don’t plan to house sit overseas, but in the future we would highly consider upgrading.

Build Your Profile

Once you purchase your plan, you start to build your profile. Make yourself stand out, and show yourself off! Use pictures of yourself with pets, and fill in the About Me sections with as much info as you can to show your personality. Most importantly, get background checked and get as many verifications as possible. Sitter verifications will boost your profile, showing that you are super legit.

You will have to do a background check through Trusted Housesitters. You will also have to provide a government issued form of identification, like your passport or your driver’s license. Then, you can ask for external references to fill out a form voguing for your amazing pet sitter services. We had pet sit for a friend in the past, and they were able to write us a glowing review. But if you haven’t pet sit before, ask a close family member or friend or coworker who can share with Trusted Housesitters how responsible you are and why you’d be a great pet sitter.

Apply For Unlimited Sits

Now you’re ready to start looking for housesits! You can search by date, by region, what type of pets, local attractions, and more. For us as remote workers, we make sure that our housesits have high speed wifi, which is a filter you can use while you search.

The person looking for a pet sitter may have multiple applications, so bear in mind that this is not a guarantee until it has been confirmed. Sometimes it takes a while for them to get back to you, as they are sifting through multiple applications.

You can also save favorite spots, and sign up for emails so that when new postings come live, you can be in the know. And hopefully, be chosen before anyone else applies!

Do The Thing

Now you have been confirmed by the pet’s owner. You have possibly arranged a time to meet them to pick up the keys, or they have given you instructions on how to access their home. Now, it’s time to take care of their fur baby!

Most sits that we have encountered have left us very detailed information on their pet. We also make sure that we know exactly what we are responsible for prior to arriving at the home. Typically the day or two before we arrive, we will read over the welcome guide (that they provide either on Trusted Housesitters, or may send us separately if they already have something created).

Once we arrive to the home, we immediately take a photo of their pet and let them know that we have arrived. During our sit, we take at least 2 photos a days – one in the morning, and one in the evening – to let them know that their fur baby is in good hands.

When we are leaving, we make sure we leave their home in even better condition than we arrived. Unlike a hotel, we are in someone’s home, so we want to make sure they arrive home and not have to worry about who was staying in their home prior. We wash the sheets and the towels, run the dishwasher, and make sure we don’t leave anything behind. Some pet owners have very specific rules for checking out, so make sure that you abide to those requests. If we are not meeting the owners before we leave, we also take one last picture and let them know that we have left their home.

Finding a Pet Sitter

Purchase Your Owner Plan

Similar to the Sitter Plan, there are the 3 memberships – basic, standard, and premium. As an Owner, you now have added protections such as home and contents protection, along with sit cancellation insurance as well.

Create Your Listing

Now it’s time to show off your pet and your home to attract sitters! Create your listing with multiple pictures of your home and pet, so that you can catch the eye of potential pet sitters that are looking to travel to your area. Write a detailed description of your home, amenities, location and neighborhood, to encourage pet sitters to travel to your city. Talk about how awesome your pet is, and make sure to provide details on how to care for them. You can provide more details once you select a sitter, but as a pet sitter, we like to know what exactly we are applying for, so that we can be the best fit for the pet.

Now that your listing is set up, add the dates that you will be away and need a sitter. Once you set up your listing, you add the dates that you know you’ll be out of town. Your listing will not become available until you have at least one set of dates.

Choose A Pet Sitter

You listing is live! You will start to receive applications from pet sitters. Now you can pick and choose who you think would be the best fit for you and your pet. Most owners prefer to have a phone call or video chat prior to confirming the sit. But you will see that all the sitters on Trusted Housesitters are verified. Some may have already completed petsitting jobs and will have reviews that you can look over as well.

Create A Welcome Guide

You picked your trusted housesitter, and you’re getting ready to travel with the peace of mind that your fur baby will be in good hands. In order to make sure your trusted housesitter is ready, you will prepare a welcome guide.

Trusted Housesitters provides a great template for the welcome guide. This is where you can leave check in and check out instructions, medical needs, walking habits, and more. You can also create your own in whatever format you like, and send it to your house sitter as well, if that is easiest for you. Either way, providing a comprehensive guide will help your petsitter be fully knowledgable of their responsibilities.

Enjoy Your Travels

You provided the welcome guide to your trusted housesitter, and now you’re ready to enjoy your travels! At this stage, you have probably exchanged real contact information, such as your phone number and email, in case of emergencies. But you can also contact them through Trusted Housesitters as well. But now, you can sit back, relax, and know that your fur baby is in good hands.

What If I Want To Do Both?

You can purchase a combined plan where you can be a pet sitter, and also look for a pet sitter for your fur baby while your’e traveling! Once we decide we’re ready to settle down and have a permanent residence, we will highly consider the combined plan.

So if you’re looking to travel, love pets, and want to save some money on lodging, I would highly recommend Trusted Housesitters!

If you’re looking for more ways to save money, check out some of my other blog posts:

If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters.

Resources:

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects pet owners and sitters around the world. For an annual fee, you can join as a pet owner or a sitter, and have access to the community. Click here to sign up today!
StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

Semi Sabbatical – Month 2

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Month 2 of our semi sabbatical was eventful, with a big chunk of travel! In just one month, we visited San Diego, California; Phoenix, Arizona; the Bay Area in Northern California; and South Lake Tahoe, right on the border of California and Nevada.

San Diego, CA

San Diego is such a special place for us, because this is where we spent the first 4 years of our career after we graduated from PT school. It is also where we got married, bought (and sold) our first home, and adopted our two sweet senior dogs. So we were happy to have been able to return for a week!

Certain parts of Imperial Beach allow dogs! But Deeks would have rather stayed on the concrete.

We spent a majority of our time in Imperial Beach, the southernmost city of San Diego county. We were fortunate that our friends let us stay in the their home during out stay. Imperial Beach borders Mexico, and you can even see Tijuana in the distance!

Coronado is one of the prettiest beach cities we have every visited in the continental US. Coronado is an island with a military base that is west of Downtown San Diego, and directly north of Imperial Beach. This is a great place to watch the sunset, and the main drive has plenty of restaurants, bars, and cafes to choose from.

Phoenix, AZ

We continued our semi sabbatical into Phoenix, Arizona. We drove 5 hours to Phoenix to celebrate the wedding of our good friend from PT school. Despite the 100 degree desert heat, it was a beautiful wedding. The wedding as at the gorgeous event venue, Villa Siena, located in Gilbert. We stayed at the Cambria hotel in Chandler, and enjoyed spending our down time at the pool soaking up the sun.

In this desert heat, hanging out in the pool is a necessity…even for Hank!

Then, we spent two weeks after the wedding dog sitting for the newlyweds as they enjoyed their honeymoon! They are the proud dog parents of a 2 year old Golden Retriever named Hank, who was so much fun to hang out with while we stayed in their home. He loved jumping in the pool and playing fetch. And he got along with Deeks, which was a relief!

Golfing at the local course just 5 minutes away from our friends’ house

I made my schedule so that I could still enjoy some relaxation time while we were dog sitting. We played a couple rounds of golf, went on some hikes, and even visited Sedona for a quick day trip!

Sedona, AZ

What’s great about our semi sabbatical is the freedom it provides for us to travel. So on a whim, we took a day trip to Sedona! Less than a 2 hour drive north of Phoenix, Sedona is a stunning little town with gorgeous red rock landscape.

Even in the 95 degree heat, still totally worth it!

When we arrived, we did a quick hike to Cathedral Rock, which was a quick but steep incline that definitely required some fun scrambling to get to the top. We had some ice cream, which was much needed after the 95 degree hike.

Sunset at the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout

We watched the sunset from a well known vista point: Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout. Deeks got a lot of attention hanging out in his stroller while we all watched the sunset. The red rock canyons looked stunning in this light, and no pictures can do its beauty justice. We met a lot of people at the lookout, and it was fun to socialize with people from all walks of life.

Lunar Eclipse from Sedona, AZ on Sunday, May 15, 2022

Little did we know, that the lunar eclipse was going to happen that night too! So we ended up staying a little later than planned. It was our first time taking night time pics with the Nikon Z5, so it took many tries to get some quality pics of the moon. Sedona is an official Dark Sky community. This means that the people of the city make a conscious effort to reduce their light pollution and educate others about responsible lighting.¹

Tierrasanta, San Diego, CA

After our friends returned home from their honeymoon, we drove back to San Diego to do a couple housesits we set up from Trusted Housesitters. Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects pet owners and sitters around the world. After you pay an annual fee, you have unlimited access to housesits worldwide. There is no exchange of money or goods between the two parties. Although you aren’t getting paid to watch their pet, you are staying in their home for free. It’s a win-win situation, especially during our semi sabbatical!

Our backyard jungle in Tierrasanta with Micah, the Golden Retriever

We got to care for a fun and happy 1 year old Golden Retriever named Micah in the neighborhood of Tierrasanta! Micah tried to play with Deeks, but Deeks is too old to care about that, so poor Micah was stuck playing with us. He loves belly rubs, and is still learning how to play fetch.

We stayed in a beautiful home tucked away in a peaceful cul de sac. The backyard was green and luscious, and it made me feel like I was in a tropical jungle. We got to meet the neighbor across the street, who also has a Golden Retriever, and was very friendly as well.

Tierrasanta is a neighborhood of the city of San Diego that borders that is unlike most of the city. It is a quieter, older part of San Diego. It is situated amongst many canyons and has multiple trailheads, including ones leading into the popular Mission Trails. We even got to go on a quick hike to one of our favorite peaks, South Fortuna.

La Mesa, CA

After a few nights with Micah, we moved on to our next housesit in the east county city of La Mesa. Zazu is a cuddly and friendly 13 year old cat, who loved ear scratches and snuggling on the couch. He was a super chill pet to take care of, and he got along with Deeks well.

Our stay was in a beautiful new luxury apartment complex, complete with a pool, jacuzzi, and gym. We spent our nights relaxing in the jacuzzi before bed, and worked out in the gym in the mornings to start our day. Great ways to bookend our days during our semi sabbatical!

Downtown La Mesa is up and coming, with a main drive loaded with restaurants, cafes, and thrift stores. As San Diego residents start getting priced out of homes, many people are moving just outside to La Mesa, where you can find more affordable homes. This community is primarily young families, and is growing every year.

Oceanside, CA

As nomads on a semi sabbatical, we learn to expect the unexpected and be prepared for anything. As we were leaving San Diego, my car broke down…right on the 5 north freeway!

I know my car is small, but it looks a lot smaller on a tow truck.

With the help of AAA, NK towing, Oceanside Transmission, and S&S Complete Auto Care, we are able to get my car fixed in 24 hours! We are so lucky that we had friends in south Orange County who let us spend the night at a last minute’s notice. The next day, right at 5 pm when they closed, we were back on the road and ready to say good-bye to Southern California.

Redwood City, CA

Our next housesit was located in Redwood City, just 30ish minutes south of San Francisco. We got to care for a rambunctious, friendly 2 year old corgi named Crouton. Crouton loves playing tug-o-war, and loves to be pet. Deeks and Crouton didn’t get along that well at first, but Deeks held his ground with the active corgi, and soon enough they were able to cohabitate in peace.

Crouton the Corgi makes this view even better!

We stayed in a gorgeous apartment complex right on the bay! The view from the patio is of the marina, and it’s an amazing view to wake up to every morning. Sitting on the patio with a cup of coffee, working and enjoying our semi sabbatical, is so calming and relaxing. There is also a nice nature trail on Bair Island, right next to the building. I didn’t think I would get this much calm nature just outside of San Francisco!

San Francisco, CA

Since we’re so close to the city, we would be amiss if we didn’t stop into San Francisco! Prior to our semi sabbatical, my husband had never been to Chinatown, so of course we had to make a stop there.

We were so hungry after the long drive up, so we enjoyed dim sum from Hang Ah Tea Room, the first dim sum restaurant in the USA. We had all of our favorite classic dim sum: shu mai, har gaw, bbq pork bao, soup dumplings.

So many forture cookies – and they even gave us free samples!

We needed to walk off our first lunch, so we stopped by the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie factory, where we got to watch them being made by hand. You could get all types of fortune cookies – flavored dough, chocolate dipped, and more.

We we’re still a little hungry, so we ate some of our favorite classic chinese food – honey walnut shrimp, salt and pepper calamari, and sticky fried rice.

The rest of weekend we got to catch up with friends and have them meet us all around the Bay Area. As much as we enjoy seeing somewhere new, our favorite part about this semi sabbatical is reconnecting with friends we have made in all walks of our life.

On Saturday, we met up with our friends who we actually spent the last 2 years with in LA! This couple met in college at University of San Francisco, and one of them was born and raised in the Bay Area, so they knew the area pretty well. They recommended a brewery on the southern outskirts of the city to meet, and we enjoyed an oyster and seafood dinner in the ferry building.

On Sunday we drove to Half Moon Bay to hang out with an old friend from PT school. We spent most of our time at Hop Dogma Brewery, where her husband works, and we got to watch the Celtics beat the Heat to make their way to the NBA Finals.

We also were able to grab brunch with another friend from PT school, and my former roommate, on Memorial Day. Her and her fiancee came up to us in Redwood City, and we got to meet their dog. It was a great way to end our stay in the Bay Area!

South Lake Tahoe, CA

After brunch, we made the 4 hour drive to South Lake Tahoe, where we stayed until the end of the May. We spent our first day there hanging out at Regan Beach, where dogs can be off leash. Deeks really enjoyed sniffing around, and the soft sand was comfortable on his paws for him to explore as much as he wanted. For dinner, we enjoyed wood fired pizza and pay-per-ounce beer at Lake Tahoe AleworX.

I hate wearing shoes on the beach, but it was way too cold to go barefoot!

The next day we found a paved nature trail to Nevada Beach, which is a dog friendly beach! It’s just under 4 miles round trip, and it was stunning! The walk to the beach was very woodsy, surrounded by trees and meadows. Once we got to the beach, the water was crystal clear and insanely blue. Although the weather was a bit chilly, the sun was shining bright and there was no cloud in the sky, making it a perfect beach day.

Sunset over Lake Tahoe from the East Shore

We stayed along the east shore of the lake, and stumbled upon Logan Shoals Vista Point. It was a gorgeous view overlooking the whole lake and the mountains in the background. We ended up coming back here to watch the sunset later in the day. There is something so peaceful about watching the sunset on Lake Tahoe. The calmness of the lake water, the peacefulness of the surrounding. I wish we could stay longer, but it’s time to head to Reno, NV!

If you want to follow us on our journey, check out our Instagram!

If you want to travel more, or you want to and you want to learn ways to save your money, check out some of my other blog posts:

If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Resources:

https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/communities/

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

Semi Sabbatical – Month 1

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So my husband and I have finally made the decision to quit our in-person jobs to go on a semi sabbatical!

We call it a “semi” sabbatical because we are still technically working during this time. However, we are only working part time, and we are working remote jobs that allow us flexibility to travel.

But the main reason we are going on a semi sabbatical is to reconnect with each other, our friends and family, and to remember why we love the work that we do.

So on April 1, we said good-bye to our in-person physical therapy jobs, along with the lease on our apartment. It was tough saying good-bye to our patients, but the month of April proved that we made the right call.

Nashville, Tennessee

I actually started my portion of our semi sabbatical a little earlier, with a bachelorette party for one of my good friends in Nashville, Tennessee! The girls and I spent the weekend bar hopping, enjoying live music, and taking in the liveliness of this city. I had never experienced Nashville before, and the music scene here is truly above and beyond anything I would have imagined. Plus, exploring the town with a fun group of ladies made the experience even more enjoyable!

Going on a crisp, cool morning walk in Chatham, NJ

Chatham, New Jersey

The hubby and I met up in New Jersey, where we spent the night in the suburb town of Chatham with our friend’s parents before we caught a red eye the next day to Milan, Italy. Chatham is a beautiful and picturesque east coast town, with gorgeous homes and big lots and trees abundant. Whoever says that New Jersey is the “armpit” of America, clearly has not explored Chatham!

Duomo di Milano, aka the Milan Cathedral

Milan, Italy

Our semi sabbatical started to feel more real once we touched down in Milan, Italy. We got to check out Duomo di Milano, the fifth largest Christian church in the world! Also called the Milan Cathedral, it covers an entire city block and has over 3,000 statues, gargoyles and figures.

We also got to see The Last Supper painting, which was an incredible and powerful sight to see. It is originally a wall painting, and the original church it was painted in was actually bombed during World War II. However, by covering the painting with a wall of sandbags, they were still able to keep it intact!

Bologna, Italy

After a few days in Milan, we continued our semi sabbatical to Bologna, which was a short hour train ride away. Our primary reason for visiting Bologna was to attend the wedding of our two good friends that we knew from our grad school days. Bologna is the 7th most populous city and the food capital of Italy. And after eating all the tortellini and tagliatelle, I can see why!

Crazy that we met these amazing people in PT school back in 2013, and we’re still friends to this day!

The wedding was situated in the hills of Pianoro, at a gorgeous winery overlooking the countryside. This evening really reminded us of why we chose to go on a semi sabbatical. Reconnecting with our friends who we met almost a decade ago, in this beautiful country, filled our hearts.

Portugal

After the wedding, we flew to Lisbon, Portugal. Our semi sabbatical continued with the help of my old coworker and good friend. She is Portuguese and recently moved back to Lisbon last year. She planned out the entire week for us, and I am forever grateful for her as our tour guide. I don’t think we would have seen as much as we would have hoped for if it wasn’t for her!

The OG Portuguese sausage! Hawaii people will understand 😛

Lisbon, Portugal

We spent the first day in the city of Lisbon, eating copious amounts of sausage and pasteis de nata, as we walked on the cobblestone sidewalks on downtown. We walked along the river, and explored Time Out Market, which had so many food options to choose from.

Sintra, Portugal

Then we explored Sintra, a cute tourist town just outside of Lisbon. In this town, we ate travesseiros and drank ginjinha out of chocolate cups. We visited Quinta da Regaleira, a castle/garden that was created by a bored, rich dude who wanted to open a portal to another dimension. I wish I was joking, but I’m serious! He built a bunch of castles and caves surrounding his palace in the lush hillside of Sintra.

Cascais, Portugal

We stopped in Cascais, a coastal beach/cliff town just west of Lisbon. The main attraction is Boca do Inferno, or Hell’s Mouth, which is a cave that is similar to a blow hole. We watched the sunset over the Atlantic here, and it was truly a sight to see. To watch a sunset over the Atlantic was also a first for su!

Came for the views, stayed for the port wine 🙂

Porto, Portugal

We drove to Porto for a day trip, where this city by the river was full of beautiful architecture, many street vendors, and a gratuitous amount of port wine. Port wine is made in the region just east of Porto (hence the name), and all the ones we tried during our tasting and cellar tour were fantastic. We also got to listen to live traditional Portuguese music, watching the sunset on the river, as we enjoyed our port wine, which was such a neat experience.

Hard to believe they have big wave surf competitions here during the winter!

Nazare, Portugal

We did a quick trip to Nazare, where the beach is popular for its massive waves during the winter/spring months. The biggest wave ever surfed in the world was here, measuring at almost 30 meters tall. But when we visited, it was completely flat. It was hard to picture a wave that big here!

This Hawaii girl was in her element in Algarve

Algarve, Portugal

Our last day of our semi sabbatical in Portugal was in the southern coastal beach district of Algarve. It’s typically warmer and sunnier in this region as compared to the west coast, and is a popular tourist destination for Europeans. We were lucky enough to have such warm weather, that we even got to jump in the ocean for a bit!

Back to California

We returned to Los Angeles, where we spent the majority of the last two weeks of April with our good friends who we had gotten closer with during the pandemic. These two were a part of our “quarantine bubble,” and it was nice to be able to spend more time with them before we left Los Angeles.

Mammoth Mountain, California

We drove up to Mammoth during the week to get one last mountain day in for the season. Going on a Wednesday was WAY less crowded than our usual weekend trips. We got a ton of runs in, and we still had time at the end to grab a beer at the local brewery before driving back down to LA.

Central Coast, California

We also did a little impromptu trip to the central coast of California. We spent a few days during the week in Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, and Morro Bay. I was privileged enough to be able to paddle and OC1 during our time in Morro Bay! The bay was calm and quiet, and I hadn’t paddled for years. It felt good to be back in my element, enjoying the peace and serenity of Morro Bay.

Next month, we continue our semi sabbatical in San Diego, followed by Phoenix, then making our way up to Northern California for Memorial Day weekend. Stay tuned!

If you’d like to continue to track our journey across the US and the world, follow us on instagram: @thirddecadenomads

And if you’re looking to find ways to save some money so that you can start planning for a semi sabbatical, check out these other blog posts:

Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you!This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters.

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

Get Hyped for Hypermiling

What is Hypermiling?

Driving is way more fun when you’re being fuel efficient! Photo from stock.adobe.com

Hypermiling is the way you decrease fuel usage for your car while you drive. There are some tactics you can use, other than riding your bicycle or switching to an EV, to maximize your fuel efficiency. Mr. Money Mustache‘s no-nonsense style of writing what a great intro to hypermiling, but here is my summary of his article in a “do and don’t” list version for you:

DO Keep Your MPH Under 65

Anything over 65 MPH and you’re just wasting gas, which leads to you wasting money. Somewhere between 25 and 65 MPH is where your car will drive most fuel efficiently. If you’re doing a super long road trip, it’s not really worth the money you would save to stay below 65 mph if it adds extra time on the road.

When we drive to Mammoth from Southern California, once I hit 395, I crank it up to 75 mph. Because I just want to get to the mountain! But if I’m just driving across town, and I have given myself plenty of time to get to my destination, you’ll find me on the right hand side cruising no higher than 65 mph. Sorry, LA drivers, but this Hawaii girl still drives like she’s back on the island, and saving gas and money while I’m at it.

DON’T Use Your Brake Too Often

Please don’t take this as my way of encouraging speeding. Because that is the opposite of what I’m trying to say. What I’m encouraging is the coasting. According to Mr. Money Mustache:

“When you’re accelerating away from a light, you’re getting about 9MPG and burning fuel at $15 per hour. When you’re coasting, you are getting 60-100 MPG. If you are accelerating half the time, and manage to coast the other half, you’ll still average under 18MPG in this situation. So you need to coast more than half the time.”

This is something I try to do when I know I have a bunch of lights coming my way. If it’s been green for a while, I’ll coast to the best of my ability before putting my brake on. Coasting is a great way to practice hypermiling. This is because the chances of the light turning red is pretty high at this point. By pre-planning when I’ll need to stop, I will purposely coast to a stop. By not pushing on the accelerator, you’re not using gas. Which means you’re saving money!

DO Drive With a Warm Engine

This is important if you live somewhere that can get really cold during the winter months. Running your car on a cold engine, as in right when you turn it on first thing in the morning, is not fuel efficient.

So first thing in the morning, don’t start driving until the temperature gauge gets to the optimal level. Then, if you’re out and about running errands, consolidate them as much as possible to keep the engine warm. Don’t just run one errand, go home for a few hours, and then go do another errand, if you can help it. If you get it all done in one fell swoop, then you can be much more gas AND time efficient while doing this hypermiling hack.

DON’T Run Your Engine When Idle

I’ve met some home health allied health professionals that will park and sit in their car and do their notes and prepare for their session… while the car is still running! This is a HUGE waste of gas, because you’re not even moving.

Mr. Money Mustache points out in his after that “…you are wasting $0.60 to $1.80 in fuel per hour of idling, and you save fuel by shutting off the engine for any event longer than ten seconds.“¹ And this article was written in 2011, so imagine how much you’re actually wasting right now in March 2022!

So if you have to wait longer than 10 seconds, just shut your engine off. This is true especially if you’re waiting for your spouse who ran into the store, or waiting to pick up your kid from soccer practice. If you eat fast food, don’t sit in a drive through lane! Just park the car and go inside to grab your food. And if you are at a traffic light that you know will take forever to turn green, you should probably turn off your engine for that as well.

DO Empty Out Your Car

Are you hauling random stuff around town in your car that could easily be kept in your home, but are too lazy to bring it into the house? The heavier your car, the harder it has to work to get your to your destination. This means you should clean out your car of anything you don’t need on a day to day basis if you wan’t to be the most fuel efficient. Also, if your only using your car for local trips, feel free to take out that heavy spare tire. With cell phones and AAA, why are we still lugging around this extra weight?

Aerodynamics play a roll too, albeit a small one. If you have roof racks, only drive with them if you’re actually using them. According to Mr. Money Mustache, “…a typical rack wastes over $100 per year of fuel.”¹This was a shock for me to read, as I always drive with my roof racks but only use it a handful of times a year.

DON’T Buy A Big Ass Car… Without Doing Your Research

I know I’m gonna get some heat for this, but hear me out. Some people, like my brother who is a carpenter, needs a pickup for work. So you may not be able to avoid this. But do your research! The Ram 1500 Big Horn V8, a pickup, gets 17 mpg overall… but another pick, like the Hyundai Santa Cruz SEL Premium, gets 24 mpg overall!² That is a HUGE difference compared to the reformer, and they both at serve the same purpose of providing you with a pickup truck.

Also, if possible, don’t use a car at all. My husband and I are also fortunate enough to live only 4 miles from his work, so he can ride his bike to the clinic. We planned this strategically so that we can save on gas, and it has really helped us since we moved. Try to run as many errands as you can without using a car. Walking, biking, even riding public transportation can be helpful!

In conclusion, gas prices right now suck. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better anytime soon. The little things you can do every day can help to save you money in the long run. And saving money is always fun 😉

If you’d like to find other ways to save money, check out these other blog posts:

References:

Hypermiling: Expert driving to save 25% on gas by Mr. Money Mustache
Cars, SUVs, and Trucks With the Best Fuel Economy by Consumer Reports

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
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What is a 529 Plan?

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I have two of the greatest nieces on the planet. The oldest is in 8th grade, and the youngest is in 5th grade. I know they’re still pretty young, but recently I started talking to my brother about their future education plans. When I asked him if they had a 529 plan that I could contribute money towards their education, he had no clue what I was talking about.

So even though I don’t have any kids of my own, many allied health professionals are parents and have families of their own. Many employers provide benefits such as health insurance and individual retirement accounts, but 529 plans are often not a part of that package. From the moment our child is conceived, many people are planning how they will pay for their education!

What is a 529 Plan?

What exactly is this magical, mystical plan that can be used for educational purposes? A 529 plan is a state-sponsored education savings plan that can be used toward education expenses for the account beneficiary.¹

So whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, or an aunt/uncle, you can create an account and make the beneficiary for whoever you choose. As the account owner, you control all the investment decisions.

For example, I am the one who created 529 accounts for both of my nieces. I make the decision on how the funds are allocated in the account. If other family members want to contribute, I provide them a gift code that they use to gift money that goes directly into their accounts. But as the account owner, I have the control over the account.

What Counts as Education Expenses?

Qualified expenses are not just for tuition. Beneficiaries can also use money from their 529 plan to go towards books and supplies, computers and internet access, and room and board.²

Money for tuition can also go towards online courses and trade schools as well. But make sure that you are attending an eligible institution for this to count. 529 plan money can cover the costs of mandatory books and supplies. Also, your 529 plan can cover on campus boarding and off campus rent.

Benefits/Limitations of a 529 Plan

529 plans are great because since the money going in it post-tax, the money will continue to grow tax-deferred. Because 529 plans are investments, they won’t lose their value over time, unlike keeping this money in a high yield savings account. Plus, distributions will be tax-free as long as they are used to pay for qualified education expenses.³

There are limits to how much you can contribute. Contribution limits depend on the state’s plan but are typically more than $235,000. The federal gift tax exclusion allows a contributor to give up to $15,000 per year per beneficiary, or $30,000 if you’re giving as a married couple.¹

What if my child does not attend college?

This money is not necessarily only for college. Maybe the beneficiary decides to attend trade school, or do an apprenticeship. They can use this money towards this as well. Or maybe they want to wait a few years before going to college. The money in the 529 plan can wait until they are ready.

If the beneficiary decides not to attend college, you can easily change the beneficiary to their sibling, or another family member who is planning on attending college. They don’t even need to be a child! Anyone, at any age, can be a beneficiary.¹

Conclusion

This blog post is just a brief overview of 529 plans. If you are interested in getting started, I would recommend checking out Saving for College. This website covers 529 plan ratings and rankings, how to save for college, student loans, and more!

If you’re looking for other ways to build your emergency fund and grow your wealth, check out these blog posts:

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
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Side Hustles For The Allied Health Professional

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Are you an allied health professional looking to make some extra money to help pay off student debt? Or are you looking to try out something new but don’t want to give up your allied health profession? Try out a side hustle!

Side hustles are a great way to make income outside of your full time W-2 job. Side hustles allowed me to pay off debt quicker and learn more about other job opportunities. It has allowed me to grow as an allied health professional, as I was able to gain experience in a variety of PT fields outside of pediatrics.

Here are some side hustles you can start ASAP!

Allied Health Per Diem Jobs

Many hospitals or private practices need extra sets of hands outside of the regular workday hours and weekends. One of my first per diem jobs out of PT school was at a pediatric therapy clinic on Saturdays. This not only provided me extra income, but it opened the doors to a full time pediatric PT job just a few months later. If I didn’t have this side hustle, who knows if I would have ended up becoming a pediatric PT!

Dog Walking/Sitting

I was a dog walker during college, and I would love to start doing it again soon! It was a fun and easy way to make money. It also gave me much needed fur therapy. There is something about being with the dogs and walking outside that really helped me to unwind and relax.

You can make your own schedule and pick and choose which clients you’ll take on. You could walk on your days off, or pet-sit for a night or two. This is great practice if you’re considering having a dog on your own.

Apps like Wag and Rover make it easy to start earning money spending time with furry friends. I use Rover personally to find our current dog sitter, and we have been very happy with Rover.

Food Delivery

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I started delivering food when I lost hours at my job. I signed up with UberEats, and was able to make money during the hours I was not at the clinic.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed it more than I thought! I was able to catch up on podcasts and audiobooks while driving. When the weather was cool, my dog happily joined me in the backseat of my car, keeping me company. Plus, I was paid out WEEKLY, which was pretty awesome.

Etsy Digital Downloads

We have a lot of great pictures that we’ve taken over the years from our travels. I now sell these pictures on Etsy as Digital Downloads! It’s great passive income for a busy allied health professional. Once the customer pays for the digital download, it automatically gets sent to them via email, as the file is already uploaded to Etsy. I just receive an email with some money in my account once the purchase has gone through!

It takes work up front, but once you set it up, the passive income will start to flow. I have received emails stating that someone purchased my digital download while I’m on vacation. It’s so fun to get those emails when I’m taking a break from work!

Blogging

As you can see, I have a blog. I enjoy writing, and I have no background in writing whatsoever. When I found that many of my allied health colleagues struggled with personal finances, I knew I had found a niche that I needed to reach out to for this blog.

Through affiliate marketing, advertising, and my mentoring, I have been able to make passive income on the side. It’s a LOT of work up front, but the passive income made from page clicks and affiliates does add up in the long run.

If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
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How to Negotiate For An Increase In Your Salary as an Allied Health Professional

1. Put off taking salary in the early stages

Wait to discuss numbers until they have already given you an offer. You want the company to want YOU as an employee before you start negotiating. Give them a chance to learn more about you and the skills you can offer them, and those skills will help to negotiate the salary.

If they do ask about what salary you are looking for, try to steer clear with a response such as “I need to know more about the responsibilities of the role before I feel comfortable talking salary.”¹ This not only will help to stay away from the topic, but it will also show that you are serious about the job itself.

2. Do your research to know your worth

Understanding how much you are worth will help you feel more confident during the negotiation process. Research what the typical median salary is for your profession with your years of experience in your area. The median salary also varies by state, so someone living in California as an OT will be making much more than an OT in South Dakota.² By doing research beforehand, you will have an idea of what you are looking for, and you can confidently back up your statement with data.

Don’t fall into the trap of undervaluing your skills. As allied health professionals, we tend to get “Imposter Syndrome” and sometimes feel that we are frauds in our own workspace. But even if you are treating another post-op knee replacement for the thousandth time, it is your patient’s FIRST time, so you have a lot more knowledge than you give yourself credit for!

This being said, list out your accomplishments, any extra certificates you earned, any continuing education courses that you have taken, that will make you stand out of the crowd. Then add more to the number you have chosen, because all this extra stuff makes you awesome!

3. Remember that you are not the only one negotiating

The company is looking for someone to fill this role, and the whole hiring process is very time consuming. Or your current company has already invested in your for a number of years, and wants to continue to keep you as a productive member of their team.

You both have similar goals. You want the job, and they want to hire you for the job. Think of negotiation as more of a collaboration!

4. Ask for their number before revealing yours

The Financial Mechanic still suggests that you put off the question of salary for as long as you possibly can. But if you must discuss it, don’t reveal your ideal salary before they do. She mentions a great way to put this on them by saying “Do you have a range in mind for this position?”, as sometimes the range they have in mind may be higher than what you are considering!

5. Negotiating is about more than salary

If you are applying for a W-2 full time position as an allied health professional, the company may also be providing you with multiple benefits, such as a retirement plan, PTO, continuing education allowance, insurance, etc. In your negotiation, think about these benefits as well!

I had a colleague who negotiated and received an extra week of PTO when she started a new job as part of her negotiation process. What a deal!

6. Practice!

Like anything new, your first first trial runs may not go as smoothly as you would hope for. As an allied health professional, this may seem very foreign to you to negotiate for your salary. Take the time to practice how you will approach these negotiations! Run through it with a family member, apply for multiple jobs (even if you aren’t interested in them) to work on your negotiating skills, and remember that this eventually will come easier to you with practice.

7. Accept or reject offers with grace

If you accept an offer, great! Make sure you tell them how much you appreciate this opportunity and taking time out of their busy schedule to consider you for the job.

If you reject the offer, let them down easy. Continue to let them know how much you appreciate them meeting with you and giving you an offer. No need to tell them exactly why you rejected them – you never know if/when you will want to reach out to them in the future.

You chose this allied health profession most likely because you want to help people, and there is nothing wrong with that at all. But just because you entered such a caring profession, does not mean you don’t have the right to negotiate for an increased salary. You are worth it, and you need to remember your worth!

So in conclusion, I would HIGHLY recommend reading the full article from The Financial Mechanic, 7 Tips for Negotiating – How I Doubled My Salary in Two Years. And you can read my blog post on passive income to learn more about another way to increase your income that doesn’t involve negotiating your salary.

So if you want to get started on paying off your debt TODAY, let’s work together to help crush that debt! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Thanks for reading my latest blog post! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

Resources:

Paying Off Debt? Cut Down Expenses in These 4 Areas Starting NOW

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You have made the decision to start aggressively paying off debt – that’s great news! If you continue to only pay the minimum balance every month, you’ll end up paying WAY more in the long run due to interest. Making the decision to aggressively pay off your debt is the first and most important step to taking control of your finances!

Now that you have made that decision, it is time to start with things you can control and that you start implementing into your life TODAY. While larger expenses, such as mortgage/rent and car payments, will ultimately get you to paying off debt faster, it may be tougher to change at this very moment in time. And while increasing income is also a great way to make that extra money you can put towards your debt payoff, you may not have the time to take on a side hustle at this time.

But don’t worry, there are areas in your expenses that you can start chipping away at ASAP to help you reach your goal of paying off debt! Here are 5 areas that you can look at and decrease your spending:

1. Fancy Dine-In Restaurants

When I started working as a PT, and I found myself making a full time living for the first time in my life, I spent that money lavishly on eating out. When I look back at my budgets from my first year as a PT, I was eating out 4 nights a week, buying lunch 2-3 times a week, and going to brunch 1-2 times a week. And holy cow, that added up.

Once I decreased my spending at restaurants, not only did I find myself with a couple hundred dollars every month that I could put towards debt, but I found myself really enjoying cooking. I enjoy getting creative with meals with what I have in my pantry or what is fresh at my local supermarket. My husband and I like to create new recipes together as a date night, instead of spending a ton of money at a restaurant, and we love that we can be in the comfort of our home and still enjoy our time together. I have even gotten to the point where when I eat out (which is rare), I find that I can actually create the dish the same, if not better, at home!

If you can’t quit eating out full turkey (pun somewhat intended), you can try to order things during happy hour, where the prices will be lower. Google other restaurants in your area and compare prices to see what is more affordable. Or instead of eating out for all three meals of the day, make it a goal to only order out for one meal a day.

2. Clothes

If you are trying to crush debt, you don’t need the latest most trendy Lululemon attire. The clothes you have are doing its job, and learn to love the clothes that you already own!

I used to constantly buy new clothes when it was trendy, as I used to feel so compelled to fit in with my peers and how they were dressed. But then I found myself using these articles of clothing only a handful of times, before the trend faded and I ended up either reselling it or donate it.

After some hard work at self-reflecting on what I value, I realized that I don’t care about how I dress and needing to fit in based on my attire. I like my clothes to be comfortable, casual, and last me a long time. I have now grown to love my minimalist closet, am comfortable in every outfit that I own, and find that my style is timeless because it reflects MY style, not what’s the latest fashion trend.

But if you really need a new jacket or a new pair of work pants, as your current one is truly breaking down, try out your local thrift store or resell apps like Mercari, Poshmark, OfferUp, or Facebook Marketplace. You can find quality used clothes that will fit better in your tight budget as you payoff your debt.

3. Books

I love reading, don’t get me wrong! But unless I really enjoy re-reading a book, I never buy it. I check out books at my local library, where I have access to thousands of books. FOR. FREE.

Living in Los Angeles, I’m lucky enough to have access to multiple libraries! I have a LA County Library and a LA Public Library card, which gives me so many options. I can check out hardcovers, paperbacks, eBooks for my Kindle, and Audiobooks as well too. Check out your local library, browse their catalog, and sign up for your free library card today!

However, if you’re dying to get your hands on a book that you want to keep on your bookshelf, try visiting local used bookstores and thrift stores. In some neighborhoods, they have Little Free Libraries, which is the world’s largest book sharing movement. The concept of “Leave a Book, Take a Book,” helps to allow you to read books for free, and to not waste our planet’s valuable resources as many books end up getting thrown away if not donated.

4. Get-Away Vacations

My husband and I love to travel. But, we have learned over the years to do things more frugally. When our finances were tight, we opted out of expensive destination travel, and looked into more local and frugal activities that were just as fun!

So while you are paying off debt, as you start to plan your next get-away, make it a staycation! Go explore a new hiking trail or beach within driving distance. See if you can get a day pass to a local resort’s pool. Book a local campsite and pack the tent and spend the night underneath the stars.

Traveling does not always require expensive plane tickets and fancy hotels. You can still find adventure right in your own home and in your own backyard!

What If I Can’t Decrease My Spending In All These Areas Right Now?

Now, I know that some of this still may seem like a challenge. Don’t feel like you need to make this huge lifestyle change all of a sudden! Taking baby steps is a great way to work your way towards decreasing your spending. And with the goal of paying off debt, you may find yourself more motivated than you think!

Here are other articles I have written that are related to decreasing spending to help you with paying off debt:

So if you want to get started on paying off debt TODAY, let’s work together to help crush that debt! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Thanks for reading my latest blog post! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

3 Cheap and Frugal Self Care Hacks

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We spend our work days as allied health professionals taking care of others. But it’s so important to care for yourself as well! Remember, you need to care for yourself in order to effectively care for others.

But don’t feel like you have to spend hundreds of dollars at expensive spas and with pricey products. There are ways to still care for yourself without throwing down a ton of money!

Go to Groupon for Self-Care Deals

When I was in grad school in New York City, I hated trying to find a salon to get my hair cut, or to find a waxing studio, because every place was so. Damn. Expensive.

New York, I love you, but I also hate how expensive you are.

So I started buying hair cuts and waxes from Groupon. I was able to find Groupons where I could get a haircut, shampoo, and style for as low as $10, and Brazilian waxes for as low as $29! I was saving over 50% of what it normally was priced at, and I was still getting quality haircuts and waxes.

Make sure you use it BEFORE the expiration date! Usually they expire 3 months after you purchase it. Also, read the instructions before you purchase. Some salons have specific days and times that you can go to use the Groupon, or some have restrictions.

Check Out Local Career Colleges

If you’re looking for a full spa and pamper experience, this probably is not be for you. But if you’re not super attached to your hair, or you don’t mind noise in the background of your massage, checking out a local career college or cosmetology school is a great way to save money for self-care.

A local career college near me advertises a basic mani/pedi for $30, eyebrow wax for $10, and a hair trim for $10! And many of these services are supervised, which means the teacher will correct any mistakes that the student may make.

However, if you freak out when your hair is cut 1/2 inch too short, then this may not be for you. Also, they have very odd hours, as they’re typically when the students are in class. Google a local career college near you to find out more.

Do-It-Yourself!

Look around your bathroom, and yes, your kitchen, for ways to get creative with DIY self care! For a homemade facial, grind oatmeal in a blender, add baking soda to the oatmeal with enough water to make a paste¹, and BOOM, you got yourself a facial. You can also soak washcloths in hot water and let them lay on over your face, put your face over boiled water for a facial steam, and cut a couple circles from a cucumber and let it rest on your eyes.

For my nails, I use a Growth Nail Treatment & Strengthener to start, followed by the nail polish of choice (I usually have 2-3 Essie colors on hand), top it with a glitter coat, then finish with a Top Nail Coat. I basically started my own little nail salon at home!

During the pandemic, I trimmed my own hair! I went onto YouTube to find out how to do this, and I was surprised at how easy it was. I also had a coworker trim my hair at work when I messed up one time and needed it fixed…lucky I wear my hair up at work, so it didn’t really matter anyway haha!

There are ways to save money with self-care. Sometimes you just have to get creative. Comment below and share how you take care of yourself, and your ways to save money with self-care!

If you want one-on-one mentoring in your finances, let’s work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.

Thanks for reading my blog! I use affiliate links to keep this blog and its content free for you, so I would be so grateful for your support by clicking below!

StudentLoanAdvice.com was created to help ease your anxiety and take charge of your future by providing answers for optimal student loan management. Click here to reach out today!
Tello is a more affordable cell phone company that can help you create your very own Custom Plan. Combine minutes, texts & 4G data as you want. No contracts or fees, only the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade your plan anytime. Click here to get started with Tello today!

Resources:

https://www.byrdie.com/oatmeal-facial-masks-2442870#:~:text=Grind%20two%20tablespoons%20of%20oatmeal,Leave%20on%20for%2010%20minutes.

4 Blogs That Jumpstarted My FIRE Journey

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Note: I am not an affiliate with any of these blogs…I’m just a huge fan and want to share with you all how much I love their blogs!

When I was working full time in an outpatient ortho clinic in 2020-2021, I would read blog posts during my breaks and my lunch hour. I was never much of a blog reader, but my husband would send me these articles that he found interesting. I would then go down a rabbit hole of all the great information that these bloggers were writing about, which led me to subscribing to their blog, and the rest is history.

I want to share four of my favorite blogs that I started reading when I was at the beginning of my FIRE journey. These bloggers inspired and helped me to spend less, earn more, and invest the rest.

*note: I am not an affiliate with any of these blogs…I’m just a huge fan and want to share with you all how much I love their blogs!*

Mr. Money Mustache

The man, the myth, the legend. The OG FIRE movement blogger. Mr. Money Mustache’s moto “Financial Freedom Through Badassity” already caught my eye when I first got to his home page. He writes about how we can “live a frugal yet Badass life of leisure,” and he was able to achieve FIRE through living a frugal lifestyle that was ~50% less expensive than his peers, invested what he saved in Vanguard index funds, and a couple rental properties. When I found Mr. Money Mustache, we were all about investing in Vanguard index funds, but we were still struggling with saving more. Now that we’re able to prove to ourselves we can achieve >50% savings rate, and we invest primarily in Vanguard index funds, we are starting to learn more about rental property investing. Mr. Money Mustache’s blog posts are a great place to start for those who want to learn more about how to change their lifestyle to achieve financial independence.

I will warn, his writing is not for the easily offended. His matter-of-factual style of writing conveys his opinions very clearly, and his take on living frugally can be quite shocking for the average consumer.

Here are my personal favorite posts from Mr. Money Mustache to help you get started:

Making Sense of Cents

Once I started learning about the FIRE movement, I needed to learn more about HOW to achieve it. This is how I found Making Sense of Cents. Michelle has a TON of posts that talk about how to earn money from various side hustles, rewards credit cards, how to pay off debt, and many more great tips on how to enhance your personal finance life. Her post, What Is A Blog, How Do Blogs Make Money, & More, is what helped me to get started on my own blog. I also started getting into doing online surveys for some extra cash during the pandemic when I read her post, 13 Paid Survey Sites To Make $50+ Per Month.

It may seem intimidating at first when you go to Making Sense of Cents, because she has so many posts on so many different topics. I would recommend subscribing to her email list, as she will email you her latest posts, along with a list of posts she recommends that go along with the current topic. I found this strategy to be most effective for me when sifting through her amazing content.

Here are my personal favorite posts from Making Sense of Cents to help you get started:

Millenial Revolution

If you’re a Millennial like my husband and I, you will find this blog very relatable and helpful. FIRECracker & Wanderer are a FIRE couple who retired at 31 to travel the world. They went against the norm and instead of buying a home, decided to invest instead, and because of that they built a 7 figure portfolio that has given them the freedom to retire from their full time jobs and travel.

I like their writing style because it sounds like they’re sitting right across from me, having a normal discussion as friends. Their posts are easy to read and make seemingly complicated things less intimidating and easier to understand. I also love that they do Reader Cases, where they interview and look at a specific person’s situation and go through what they’re doing to reach FIRE, which makes it more relatable.

Here are my personal favorite posts from Millennial Revolution to help you get started:

Trip Of A Lifestyle

Another FIRE couple, Lauren and Steven, were able to retire from their full time jobs before the age of 30 through some lifestyle tweaks, growing their savings and investments, and focusing more on long-term traveling

What I like about Lauren and Steven is that they are very candid with the fact that it isn’t a one size fits all lifestyle. Like I always say as well, everyone’s situation and personality is different, so find what works best for your. Trip Of A Lifestyle does a great job of challenging their readers to think differently, which was definitely eye opening for me when I started my FIRE journey.

Here are my personal favorite posts from Trip Of A Lifestyle to help you get started:

I hope you find these blogs as awesome and helpful as I have. Happy reading!

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