Why FI? (Financial Independence, that is)

Why FI (Financial Independence)? People have different reasons for seeking financial independence. For some, it’s to buy big houses and fancy cars and live a life of luxury. For others, it may be to travel the world. Still for others, it may be to dedicate their time to a cause they feel passionate about. So … Read more

How Much Do Uber/Lyft Drivers Make?

If you’ve ever contemplated the idea of becoming an Uber and/or Lyft driver, I’m about to give you a realistic look at how much you can expect to earn (figures are from the D.C. Metro area). As a side hustle / learning experience, I signed up to be an Uber and Lyft driver in the Northern … Read more

The Costco Effect: Are You Really Saving Money at Costco?

Don’t get me wrong, I love Costco. But today, I want to pose the following question to you: Are you really saving money at Costco? If your experience is similar to what mine is usually like, then the answer is probably not. Here’s how it usually goes. We drive over to Costco planning to get a … Read more

Goal Progress: Update #1, March 2016

Last month, we set a goal of paying off the mortgage by 2020 and to have a net worth of at least $1M by 2025. Each month, I’ll be posting an update on the progress of the goal. Mortgage progress: Over the first month, we were able to pay down $4,824 towards the mortgage, which … Read more

I’ve Given 50+ Rides as an Uber Driver. Here’s How It Went.

I’ve now given 51 rides as an Uber driver and about 9 as a Lyft driver. Let’s do an analysis on my Uber earnings to see what you could expect to earn as a driver in the DC metro area (specifically Fairfax, VA, a suburb of DC). Total earnings: $559.04 Earnings from driving: $409.04 Total hours online: 21.6 … Read more

Minimalism, Decluttering, and Personal Finance

“Contentment comes not so much from great wealth as from few wants.” – Epictetus Lately, I’ve been exploring and practicing minimalism, and I realized how much it goes hand in hand with improving personal finances. What is minimalism? Here’s how The Minimalists define it: Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of … Read more

The Strategy and The Current State of Affairs

If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans. – Woody Allen In my previous post, I mentioned my goal of achieving financial independence (FI) by 2025, but I truly believe that, ultimately, my plans are in God’s hands. With that being said, I also believe that if we are good stewards … Read more

The Starting Point

I just turned 30 a few months ago, and my son (below) just turned 1 a few days ago. Both of these milestones made me reflect on my life and my family’s future. I decided to change the path we are taking and blog about it. What is this blog about? I’ll be writing about personal finance, financial … Read more