Lifestyle Improvement

Over 50% of Americans Don’t Use Their Vacation. Don’t be one of them!

October 25, 2018 by Mr. Heartland on FIRE

***Extremely Mickey Mouse voice*** – Hi Kids! Today’s Mousekatool is Paid Vacation

I am fresh off of our first full week vacation in 2 years. While we’ve taken a few long weekend trips, we haven’t had a full week off during this time. We took our daughters to Disney World (geez… could you tell?) and we all had a great time and created many memories that won’t soon be forgotten.

My wife and I have already started discussing our next vacation! I think we can all get behind more vacation, right?

Well, the answer is apparently a big fat NO.

As I have been reflecting on the week gone by, I recalled an article I had read that stated that roughly 52% of Americans don’t use their paid vacation.

Let that sink in.

Your boss is willing to pay you money… to not show up for work. And we say, “No Thanks” more than half the time!

Seeing the Opportunity in Adversity

September 20, 2018 by Mr. Heartland on FIRE

“When one door closes,another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” – Alexander Graham Bell

When you are on the path to Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) you need to be looking for every edge. This way of thinking allows FIRE seekers to uncover opportunities for savings and growth in everyday activities. Whether it be house or travel hacking, biking over driving, or making delicious home-cooked meals for pennies on the dollar, the FIRE lifestyle is centered around creative thinking for everyday issues. Housing, transportation and food are predictable everyday facts of life.

However, one facet of everyday life is not so predictable:

Adversity

How can FIRE thinking take advantage of that?

Escape the 9-5 Faster with the Boost-Glide Path to Financial Independence

September 13, 2018 by Mr. Heartland on FIRE

Can you take cues from a rocket launch to enjoy the benefits of F.I.R.E. on an accelerated timeline? [Read more…] about Escape the 9-5 Faster with the Boost-Glide Path to Financial Independence

5 Keys to Making Restaurant Quality BBQ at Home

August 16, 2018 by Mr. Heartland on FIRE

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!

Keeping Up With the Anti-Joneses

August 9, 2018 by Mr. Heartland on FIRE

We’ve all heard the phrase “Keeping up with the Joneses”. That is the arms race of measuring one’s worth by comparing one’s possessions and status with one’s peers. It means acquiring the biggest, the best, the newest, and the most expensive things. You look down the street and see the family with the new car and you set your sights to figuring out how you can buy one yourself. A friend gets a new job or promotion and you feel the pressure to improve your own career standing. You have to be the first among your friends to buy the newest iPhone model. It is an insatiable pursuit of more and better. If you look around, it appears that we are surrounded by the Joneses. Do we have to keep up with the Joneses? Is there another way?

Our Salaries: What Are They Really Worth?

July 26, 2018 by Mr. Heartland on FIRE

A couple weeks back I posted about how to determine your actual hourly wage to factor in the various benefits, costs, and actual time associated with your job. So this week I thought it would be worthwhile to show how we ran the numbers for our own income. [Read more…] about Our Salaries: What Are They Really Worth?