Freedom Before FI | Life Design, Purpose, Sabbaticals, Coast FI & Financial Independence (FIRE)

Greg, a Life Design and FI Enthusiast
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

The road to Financial Independence (FI) can seem long and out of reach. Luckily, there are ways to get freedom way before reaching FI! Using FI strategies and Life Design, we discuss practical tips to help you buy your time back, so you can start enjoying your journey to FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early), instead of delaying your freedom until you retired. Whether you want to be debt free, quit a job, spend more time with family, start a passion project, change career, take a sabbatical, find purpose, do nomadic travel or even geographic arbitrage, we got you covered. Let's do this!

  1. May 15

    How to Quit a High-Paying Toxic Career for Meaningful Work w/ Ben Fox | Ep. 102

    One of the ways you can enjoy your path to FI is by finding work you enjoy. That might involve quitting a career thats not serving you, or making some changes in your current work place. Today, we’ve got Ben Fox on the show to talk to us about career transitions. Ben is a career coach - based in New York - and his coaching niche is primarily helping senior software engineers break free from the golden handcuffs and into careers they love Things you’ll learn: Quitting his job and going full time as a solopreneurFirst year as a solopreneur and struggles experiencedThe power of joining online community / group programsThe power of having the right people around you when starting businessesHow he niched down to coaching tech professionalsReasons why people go to him for coaching (their initial career struggles)Coaching clients: example case studiesCase study 1: Garth: accountant of 23 years in toxic environmentCase study 2: Mel: mid 30s, 2 kids, 15 years in sales, but does not like itWhy we find it hard to quit jobs we hateAdvice for people struggling to leave the golden handcuffsThe risks of staying in a bad jobHis coaching process outlineCreating healthy boundaries in your current job Quick-fire round questions at the end: Something he wished they done 10 years agoHis daily habits that helped him in lifeHis most important lesson in lifeHis book recommendations1-2 small things listeners can do this week to get started Ben Fox (Links): Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfoxcoaching/Website: https://benfoxcoaching.com/ Reverse Engineering you Job Search Video: https://benfoxcoaching.kit.com/jobsearch Freedom Before FI Links: Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.comEmail: If you want to connect, send me a note at greg@freedombeforefi.comInstagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi Listen to FBF on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/freedom-before-fi-life-design-purpose-sabbaticals-coast/id1740083285 Listen to FBF on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0XxPgEeuGayTqaEwUE19mk?si=cc8639ad8c28474e Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

    59 min

  2. Apr 26

    5 Powerful FI Lessons from 100 Episodes | Ep. 101

    We’ve reached the 100 episode milestone at Freedom Before FI! Over the course of two years I’ve been sharing tips and strategies to help you find your version of freedom before getting to Financial Independence and I’ve also interviewed some amazing guests from different areas of the FI community. In this episode I’ll be sharing some of the biggest takeaways that could help you on your journey to creating and living a life that you love. Related Episodes: Ep. 75 The One Superpower that Saving and Frugality Gives You - LinkEp. 35 How to Find a More Meaningful Career, with Career Coach Lisa Hoashi - Link Ep. 20 Career Change, Purpose, Geoarbitrage, with Kenneth Reyes-Lao - Link Firespark Retreat (Australia): Link below for more info: https://www.facebook.com/FIRESPARKRetreat/ Freedom Before FI Links: Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.comEmail: If you want to connect, send me a note at greg@freedombeforefi.comInstagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

    14 min

  3. Apr 11

    100. The 3 Step Process to Life Design w/ Jess from the Fioneers

    How do you design a life you don’t want to retire from? Jess is one half of the awesome Fioneers platform which started in 2018 with her husband Corey and their aim is to help answer that exact question. On this episode we discuss the step-by-step framework on how to design your life so you can enjoy it before getting to FI.  They coined the term Slow FI and popularised Coast FI. Since starting their blog, they’ve taken sabbaticals, reached Coast FI, quit work to focus on passion projects, renovated a camper van to experiment with van life and they also relocated from to the city to the mountains to be closer to nature.  What I love about what they’ve done is they’ve gradually designed a life they absolutely love while still on their journey to FI. Things you’ll learn: Jess’ FI progress and overall financial strategy (Coast FI journey)Why she hasn’t been tracking her progress to FIWhy Life Design is important for someone on the path to FILessons from early retirees who wished they took a slower pathHer ‘Design a Life You Love’ life design programmeHer life design process (the 3 step framework)How she used the life design process to create her life nowHow life design can be used for other life areas and not just workLife design student case studies and examples of transitionsThe barriers holding people back on taking leaps The power of experiments to reduce fearsHer Slow FI Retreats and what’s involvedHow ‘Aha!’ moments come when off the grid and outside of normal routineThe experience she’s trying to curate for people on retreatsThe importance of finding your tribe on the FI journeyHow the FI journey is better as a ‘team sport’ than a ‘solo sport’Importance of getting inspiration from other unconventional storiesPotential Fioneers book in the futureQuick-fire round questions at the end: Something she wished they done 10 years agoHer daily habits that helped them in lifeHer most important lesson in lifeHer book recommendations1-2 small things listeners can do this week to get started The Fioneers (Links): Blog: https://thefioneers.com/ Design a Life You Love Programme: https://thefioneers.com/waitlist/ Slow FI Retreats: https://thefioneers.com/slow-fi-retreats-2026/ Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Fioneers  Freedom Before FI Links: Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.comEmail: If you want to connect, send me a note at greg@freedombeforefi.comInstagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi  Related Episodes: Ep. 88: Test Driving Retirement by Slow Travel (w/ Not Your Ordinary Plan) LinkEp. 77: The 5 Tools For Designing Your Life (If You’re Feeling Stuck) - LinkEp. 74: Crafting Your Best Life Now Before FI w/ Justin Peters of the FI Minded Podcast - Link Listen to FBF on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/freedom-before-fi-life-design-purpose-sabbaticals-coast/id1740083285 Listen to FBF on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0XxPgEeuGayTqaEwUE19mk?si=cc8639ad8c28474e Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

    1 hr

  4. Apr 2

    99. Should You Take A Sabbatical or Keep Working to FI?

    If you’re unsure wether to take that extended break from work or to continue working until you get to FI, this episode may be for you. On this episode I’ll be looking at 3 popular barriers or concerns that arise when thinking about taking a sabbatical (or career break or mini-retirement). I’ll also provide my views on how to tackle these barriers if a sabbatical is something you’ve been yearning to do for a while now. Related Episodes: Ep. 33 The Power of a Sabbatical - with Sabbatical Coach Lyndall Farley - LinkEp. 40 Transformative Life Breaks & Sabbaticals - with Career break Expert Katrina Mcghee - Link Firespark Retreat (Australia): Link below for more info: https://www.facebook.com/FIRESPARKRetreat/ Freedom Before FI Links: Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.comEmail: If you want to connect, send me a note at greg@freedombeforefi.comInstagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

    13 min

  5. Mar 15

    98. Coast FI or Lean FIRE: 5 Questions to Help You Choose the Path for You

    On this episode we’ll be focusing on two popular milestones, Coast FI (which you reach before you get to FI) and Lean FIRE (which is the earliest of the FIRE milestone and where you’ve actually reached Financial Independence). I’ll be sharing 5 questions you can ask yourself that can help you choose which FIRE milestone to aim for. Related Episodes: Ep. 36 - How to Find Your Purpose - LinkEp. 54 - Reaching Coast FI on a Average Salary - LinkEp. 55 - The Risks of Coast FI and How to Overcome Them - Link Firespark Retreat (Australia): Link below for more info: https://www.facebook.com/FIRESPARKRetreat/ Freedom Before FI Links: Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.comEmail: If you want to connect, send me a note at greg@freedombeforefi.comInstagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

    12 min

  6. Mar 1

    97. Coast FI or Lean FIRE? (Which FI Path to Choose)

    Choosing which FI milestone to aim for on your journey can be a bit paralysing, especially with so many different milestones and strategies. On this episode we’ll be focusing on two popular milestones, Coast FI (which you reach before you get to FI) and Lean FIRE (which is where you’ve actually reached Financial Independence). Both options lead to early retirement at different times and I discuss the differences and reasons why each path might be suitable for someone. Freedom Before FI Links: Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.comEmail: If you want to connect, send me a note at greg@freedombeforefi.comInstagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

    11 min

  7. Feb 17

    96. Lean FIRE Abroad: The Faster Path to FI (Geoarbitrage)

    How can you get to Lean FIRE faster? One of the best ways to do that is to move to a low cost of living area and usually its somewhere warm with a tropical climate. That’s where Geographic Arbitrage (or Geoarbitrage) comes into play. I talk about how Geoarbitrage can speed up your journey to FI, some cities in the world where you can do this and I also share an example of someone who hit Lean FIRE and relocated to Bali in Indonesia to live a life they love. Disclaimer: The monthly living costs noted in this episode are only to give listeners an estimate and provided by nomads.com, naturally everyone will have a different level of spending based on their preferences/budget and the costs are only to give a general guide. Freedom Before FI Links: Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.comEmail: If you want to connect, send me a note at greg@freedombeforefi.comInstagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

    10 min

  8. Feb 9

    95. The Case for Lean FIRE (3 Massive Benefits)

    I’ve recently been considering targeting Lean FIRE in the future and today I share 3 compelling benefits I’ve pondered on in favour of Lean FIRE, compared to ‘Traditional FIRE’ and ‘Fat FIRE’. The FI community was more towards Lean FIRE in it’s early days, although recently there has been more of a push towards Chubby FIRE and Fat FIRE. There’s no right or wrong mind you, only what’s right for our own personal situations at specific times in our lives (each to their own as they say!). Freedom Before FI Links: Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.comEmail: If you want to connect, send me a note at greg@freedombeforefi.comInstagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomBeforeFI Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice

    8 min
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The road to Financial Independence (FI) can seem long and out of reach. Luckily, there are ways to get freedom way before reaching FI! Using FI strategies and Life Design, we discuss practical tips to help you buy your time back, so you can start enjoying your journey to FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early), instead of delaying your freedom until you retired. Whether you want to be debt free, quit a job, spend more time with family, start a passion project, change career, take a sabbatical, find purpose, do nomadic travel or even geographic arbitrage, we got you covered. Let's do this!

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