Is a FIRE Lifestyle Right for You?
Queer people were born to deviate from the norm. The FIRE community is also non-conformist and uses their money to achieve financial independence, retire early and have fun doing what they want, when they want. How to achieve your FIRE lifestyle.
Hear 7 ways to start your FIRE lifestyle:
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Court is one third of Modern FiImily, a financially independent lesbian family with a mission to help others achieve financial freedom. Court and her partner Nic increased their net worth from $110,000 to $1 million in nine years and achieved financial independence in 2018. Today, Nic stays home with her daughter full-time and Court works part-time, and they hope their shared life experiences will inspire others to join the FI/RE community.
In this episode of Queer money® Court talks to us about how she approaches finance like a game and shares her very simple (but super effective) method for tracking expenses. She explains how she was introduced to the FI/RE community and describes how she and Nic spend according to their values and get the most bang for their buck by doing the things they love. Listen to Court’s insights on how being LGBTQ impacts her FI/RE journey and learn how YOU can use your life as a non-conformist to improve your financial life!
“Crazy people are good. You don’t want to just fit in with people. If you fail, you'll be 65 and out of money.” -CourtClick to tweet
Topics covered on the Living FIRE journey
How Court became interested in personal finance
- Always organized and tidy, of course, to expand $
- Started recording expenses and income in Excel in 2009
The court’s gamification approach to finance
- Student Loan Crushing Mission ($70,000 in <3 years)
- House hack to pay off a mortgage in 2½ years
How Court became part of the FI/RE community
- Basic principles already practiced
- Introduced to Mr. Money Mustache by a colleague
How Court and her partner Nic “cut out the nonsense”
- Spend money on things that align with values
- You don’t need cable or the latest phone to be happy
Court’s response to the idea that she’s missing out
- I still travel around the world and attend music festivals
- Do your research to get the most bang for your buck (ex: volunteer)
Have the freedom to spend time how you want
- Court and Nic value time with their daughter as a family
- You don’t have to do what society thinks is important
How being LGBTQ impacts Court’s FI/RE journey
- Parallels to coming out different
- More convenient to deviate from the norm
Stimulate the queer community’s interest in financial freedom
- Literally BORN to deviate from the norm
- Can be maladjusted with money + live a great life
Council of the Court for the LGBTQ Community
I need to start talking about money more
Show that we are different and successful
Connect with Court
Resources for a FIRE Lifestyle