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079 | Embracing Retirement | Amy And Tim Rutherford

Tim & Amy Rutherford talk about early retirement, living with lower expenses and a busier schedule of fun, free activities, and what life changes they made to get there.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

  • How did Amy and Tim meet and what were their spending habits at the time?
  • What did “frugal” look like for Amy and Tim initially?
  • With enough money in the bank, cutting their spending gave them an opportunity to retire almost as soon as they became aware of financial independence.
  • Managing spending is equally as important as replacing income when it comes to reaching financial independence.
  • Optimizing life is one of the most enjoyable things Amy & Tim ever did.
  • What factors did Tim & Amy consider prior to leaving the workforce?
    • Physical health
    • Mental health
  • How did a chart help Amy get excited about saving?
  • “What’s tracked and measured can be improved.”
  • There are fun, free activities in every part of the world.
  • How do Tim & Amy fill up their days now that they’re retired?
    • Walking
    • Inviting friends for dinner
    • Finding local activities
  • Who are Tim & Amy’s “tribe” and how do they find them in new cities?
  • What does it look like for Tim & Amy to be house sitters?
    • They watch houses and pets, for free, with a place to stay for free.
  • How much are Tim & Amy spending now, and how did they get there from $115k?
  • Tim & Amy are actually living below their current budget – they aren’t missing out on things they wish they weren’t.
  • “I want to walk the world while I still can.”
  • How do Tim & Amy describe their retirement?
  • Would Tim & Amy consider selling their house and traveling full time?
  • How would people get started with house sitting?
    • House Sitting Magazine
    • House Sitting World
  • Tim & Amy buy experiences instead of things.

Listen to Brad and Jonathan’s thoughts about this episode here.

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

Mr. Money Mustache

Trustedhousesitters.com

Gowithless.com

Tim & Amy’s YouTube Channel

Mr. Money Mustache: What Does Your Work Truck Say About You?

Mad Fientist: Retire Even Earlier With Earning More or Spending Less

——————-

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3) Most importantly, find your friends, coworkers, and family members who may be open to this message and tell them about the podcast! (Episode 21 is a great starting place)

As Jonathan would say, “The FIRE is spreading my friends!”

 

Embracing Retirement | Amy and Tim Rutherford

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