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Tag: Leavenworth

Posted on June 28, 2019June 28, 2019 by Tread Lightly, Retire Early · 18 Comments

Friday’s Frugal Five (2019 – Week 25)

We had plans fall through at the last minute last week, so we decided to go to Leavenworth again for just Saturday night. We haven't been for a little while, but it's one of our favorite places to visit for a weekend. There's always something fun to do, be it the Accordion Festival like last…

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Oh hey I’m in Forbes today! The 9 FIRE Blogs You Should Read - and no. 7 is me! 🤩 I’m in good company with @our_nextlife @richandregular and @liz_chiefmomofficer 😍 #financialindependence #financialindependenceretireearly #choosefi #debtfreecommunity #womenspersonalfinance #debtfree #financialfreedom #fire #fireblogger #forbes #forbeswomen #workoptional The husband and I got engaged 10 years ago today 💍 I looked (okay was) so young when we got engaged that I wanted a ring that clearly showed I was married, but I wanted a small one. We went in to look at rings together and the salespeople kept trying to convince us to look at bigger ones. They told us technically this was a “promise ring” and not an “engagement ring” because it was too small. It was small, and it was cheap. We paid $500 for all three rings (my engagement ring and band + my husband’s band). Even that much felt like a lot for us at that point, but we had no interest in financing something more expensive. Plus, I worked outdoors as a naturalist and had no need for a big ring. I’ve occasionally been asked if I plan to upgrade it to something larger now that we’re financially in a better place / to celebrate a decade of marriage. But I’m not upgrading. I don’t expect I ever will. I like my ring. It’s small, and simple, and just a symbol of marriage anyway. Life hasn’t changed so much that I feel differently about it. Instead, we’ll spend the money on a trip to Iceland (though still well less than a fancy new ring). As usual, we would rather spend our money on experiences not things. Ten years may have passed, but some things never change. #tenyearstogether #engagementring #frugal #financialindependence #debtfreecommunity #experiencesnotthings #choosefi #fire #financialindependenceretireearly #marriedyoung No filter, it really is that gorgeous there. Flashback to a year ago to one of my favorite places with my favorite people a year ago. This is up in the mountains above Leavenworth, and we’ve seen some of the most beautiful sunsets of my life there. There is no cell reception, and you can only make it up the forest roads with a sturdy vehicle. Even in the summer months, we rarely see more than the occasional car driving by the “main” road (and I’ve never seen anyone outside of our party at this lookout spot). As much as I clearly love the connection and community here online, I also dearly love the long weekends off the grid. There’s something about being completely cut off from the outside world that can be so relaxing and free. Camping is dirty, dusty, wonderful, quiet, peaceful, and one of our favorite things to do as a family. It’s been too long since we’ve been out to this spot, and too long since we’ve been out where the internet doesn’t reach. And this place delivers that serenity every time. If you recognize this photo, it’s because it was used in my Business Insider feature last fall (if you want to read it, go to the “Where Else To Find Me” tab on my blog). . . . #fbf #nofilter #pnwonderland #campingwithkids #frugaltravel #gooutside #financialindependence #leavenworth #entiatvalley #camping #truckcamping #offgrid #travelwithkids #upperleftusa #choosefi #forestroads #themountainsarecalling #washingtonstate Last November, I attended the inaugural Cents Positive event, a financial independence retreat just for women. It was the first time I’d gone anywhere overnight completely by myself since the kiddo was born, but the premise seemed too good to miss out. Little did I know, it would be even better than that. I spent three days surrounded by eighty-odd women talking about finances, relationships, life goals, struggles, successes. It was amazing and wonderful and a completely incredible experience past my wildest dreams. I got to see some of my favorite people again in person and met many others I had only known online. And I made yet more friends that I’d never known before that weekend. The women at that event have stayed in my home, played with my son, handed me down their clothes, and supported me through good times and bad in the eight months since that last event. So I was THRILLED to see a Pacific Northwest event set for this October - just on the other side of the lake from me. Some of my favorites are attending again, plus new women I’ve met online (and others I can’t wait to meet for the first time). This note on the window epitomizes the kind of weekend it was - one of uplifting, supportive women with diverse hopes and dreams and lives but with a common thread of decency and support. Sunday afternoon I flew home with my ears ringing and my heart full. Oh, and I got a ride home from the airport by one of those newfound friends. The cost ($275) feels like a lot for a weekend, but I remind myself that there are so few things that I do *just for me* and I will choose days surrounded by women who care about money and me every single time. Registration is open now - join me?? (No affiliate link or anything. Just know how incredible last year was and expect nothing less this time around.) *Stickers courtesy of Military Dollar* @our_nextlife @webravelygo . . . #centspositive #womenspersonalfinance #financialindependence #financialindependenceforwomen #financialindependenceretireearly #workoptional #debtfreecommunity #financialfreedom #womenandmoney #womencareaboutfinancestoo #choosefi #fire On the path to financial independence and early retirement, we hear again and again about the focus it takes to get there. That growing your income is a huge deal. And that you have to keep pushing and increasing that gap between income and expenses. While I can get behind that idea to a certain degree – you do have to make a decent income to have a gap to save in the first place – I think the financial independence community often takes this too far. It’s so easy to get focused on continually shortening our timeline to financial independence without taking into account what’s best for our lives. Once you make enough to cover your expenses comfortably with room to save a little, I would argue that it’s then time to slow down and take stock of what earning that next dollar looks like. Instead of constantly looking to increase income after hitting that comfort stage, that’s the time to make decisions based on current happiness and life fulfillment. 3.5 years ago, I was faced with that decision of how to increase my happiness NOW, and I made the leap to working part time. Today I’m sharing more of my thoughts on this on the blog (and then continued as a guest post on @thefioneers). As much as I love the idea of full financial independence someday, I want to make sure we’re also living our best possible lives now and not waiting for that someday. *link in bio* . . . . . #financialindependence #financialindependenceretireearly #choosefi #slowdowntofi #debtfreecommunity #financialfreedom #savemoney #momlife #careerwoman #daveramsey #fire #parttime #livefornow #womenspersonalfinance #workoptional #debtfreejourney #debtfree “Huckleberries!” We’ve been taking our son for walks in the woods and teaching him about the edible and medicinal plants in our area since we was a baby. In fact, he actually went with me a few times to my park ranger shifts before I finally let that second job go. Before he could even walk or talk, I was teaching him the names and uses for the plants and berries we see in our backyard and on our local trails. Salmonberry season is now over, but huckleberries are in full swing. Trailing blackberries are ripening, and the Himalayan blackberries that everyone is familiar with are another month or so behind. He can point out sword ferns and Stinky Bob, but his very favorites are these little red berries he can reach and pop into his mouth all by himself. And then sometimes I wonder if we should set up a mom and son Airbnb experience nature walk. Because what’s more fun than learning about native plants with a four year old? #huckleberries #pnw #backyardtrails #ethnobotany #wildedibles #redhuckleberry #hikewithkids #frugalliving #parkranger #parkrangerlife #sidehustle #financialindependence #financialfreedom #choosefi #debtfreecommunity

Tread Lightly, Retire Early

Tread Lightly, Retire Early

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