Heartland on FIRE

Blazing a Trail Towards Financial Independence

Blazing a Trail Towards Financial Independence

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DIY

Our DIY Spare Bathroom Remodel, Part I

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I don’t know about you, but we are addicted to home renovation shows.  One of the shows we particularly like is “Renovation Realities.” Basically, the show’s premise is to follow around people as they take on a renovation project.  Usually, hilarity ensues as the couple struggles through the project.  Wires are shorted, windows broken, spirits (and sometimes fingers) are crushed, and budgets are vaporized.

Well, it’s our turn in the spotlight now.  We’ve just kicked off a renovation of our kiddo’s bathroom.  We are self-performing all of the work.  Keep reading to follow along on our trials, tribulations, victories and setbacks.   [Read more…] about Our DIY Spare Bathroom Remodel, Part I

How FIRE Can Help Mitigate Disaster

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Photo by Dawn Armfield on Unsplash
“Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!”
“Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes…”
“The dead rising from the grave!”
“Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!”
– The Ghostbusters

We all like to think glowingly about our future.  Raising our families, fun vacations, memorable meals, and retirement, of course!  We spend a great deal of time thinking and planning about what fun things we are going to do and how we will go about doing them.  In the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) community, we use high savings rates to reach Financial Independence (FI) much quicker than our non-FIRE peers.

But unfortunately, S^&T happens, and our best-laid plans could go up in smoke.  However, the same skills you use to propel yourself on the path to FI can serve you well when everything that can go wrong, does go wrong.

[Read more…] about How FIRE Can Help Mitigate Disaster

How to Move Up the Credit Score Leaderboard

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Credit cards can be a polarizing topic in the personal finance community.  On one end, you have Dave Ramsey and his cash envelope system which abhors the use of credit cards.  At the opposite end you have the travel hackers, who churn credit cards for travel rewards.  The Heartland on FIRE household has covered the full range of the credit card usage spectrum.  In 2017 we essentially did not use our credit cards.  However, over the past year, we have become big proponents of credit cards.  As such, we have been paying closer attention to our credit score.  Let’s explore whether a credit card is right for you, and if so, the importance of a high credit score.  Also, I’ve thrown in a quick tip to raise your score.

[Read more…] about How to Move Up the Credit Score Leaderboard

5 Keys to Making Restaurant Quality BBQ at Home

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I love Barbecue.  I can’t get enough of it.  The heat of the coals, the wisp of thin white smoke lazily rising from the smoker, the hint of smoke wood-tinged air, and of course the mahogany-colored meat itself! A great a plate of ribs makes Daddy happy!

The problem is, a plate of good “Que”, can stick you with a sizable tab if you always get it at a restaurant.  But it doesn’t have to be that way!

[Read more…] about 5 Keys to Making Restaurant Quality BBQ at Home

Yard Work: 5 Reasons I Do My Own

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“I love yard work!” – said almost nobody ever.

You come home from work, beat from the day, then you gotta run right back out and tackle the yard.  It’s hot, sweaty, dusty, and tiring.  And then you gotta do it every week for months on end.  Who the hell likes that?

***slowly raises my hand*** [Read more…] about Yard Work: 5 Reasons I Do My Own

Making Dough to Save Dough

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A key to living a great life and reaching Financial Independence (FI) is to find the activities that truly make you happy and make them priorities.  The purpose of this article to to focus on one activity that I am passionate about:

Making Pizza

[Read more…] about Making Dough to Save Dough