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<h2 id="heading-what-im-reading-watching-playing" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:24px; font-weight:600; margin:0 0 16px; color:#000; text-align:center">What I\u2019m Reading, Watching, Playing</h2>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5"><strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">Reading</strong>: I\u2019ve been in a bit of a rough patch with reading lately and have mostly been juggling a few non-fiction books for long-term health optimization like \u2018The End of Alzheimer\u2019s\u2019 by Dale Bredesen, MD and \u2018Genius Foods\u2019 by Max Lugavere (both highly recommended by the way!).</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">I was recently reminded of the wonderful article \u2018<a href="https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/12/the-tail-end.html" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-weight:500; color:#1c7ff2; text-decoration:none; border-bottom:2px solid #1c7ff2; padding-bottom:2px">The Tail End\u2019 on the Wait But Why</a> blog and this helped put reading in perspective for me a bit:</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">If I\u2019m incredibly lucky, I have 50 more years on this planet.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">I\u2019ve sadly been reading fewer than 20 books a year recently, so, at that rate, I have 1,000 books left to read in my life.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">And that\u2019s assuming 50 years and 20 books per year, so it could be far fewer.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">With that in mind, I\u2019m doing something fun now: I\u2019m reading the books my daughters are assigned in class at the same time as them, and we\u2019re now able to discuss them in a book club fashion.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">This gets me more quality time with them and helps me read some new books. That looks like \u2018Sarah\u2019s Key\u2019 by Tatiana de Rosnay and \u20181984\u2019 by George Orwell at the moment.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5"><strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">Watching</strong>: My favorite show of all-time is \u2018The West Wing.\u2019 Erin didn\u2019t watch it back when it came out, so over the past few months we\u2019ve made our way all the way to the final season and only have a few episodes left.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">It\u2019s really a beautiful show and the cast of characters is as good as any I\u2019ve ever seen on a TV show.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">If you\u2019re looking for an uplifting look at the world and government, it\u2019s hard to go wrong with this show.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5"><strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">Playing</strong>: I played a few games recently at Camp FI, including \u2018Skull King\u2019 which is a trick-taking game I mentioned in this newsletter last year.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">Recently we\u2019ve reintroduced an all-time classic back into our game rotation: Monopoly Deal.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">This might be my favorite go-to game for 10 minutes of fun and strategy.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">In more real-world \u2018playing,\u2019 we\u2019ve also started playing ping pong at our gym, and it reminded me just how much I enjoyed playing that game when I was a kid.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">It\u2019s fun, fast-paced, requires a tremendous amount of hand-eye coordination, etc.</p>\n<hr style="border:0; border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6; margin:24px 0"></div> \n \n\n \n \n
<h2 id="heading-expense-audit-and-money-challenge" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:24px; font-weight:600; margin:0 0 16px; color:#000; text-align:center">Expense Audit and Money Challenge</h2>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">Episode 586 came out yesterday and Jonathan and I spent the time talking about an \u2018Expense Audit\u2019 and how we think this is an essential tool for financial independence, no matter how long you\u2019ve been in this community.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">We also discussed a \u201cmoney challenge\u201d for you to opt into where you undertake this expense audit and track your spending and look for areas where you can realistically save 10% without hurting your quality of life.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">If you\u2019re interested in commenting on Ep 586, downloading the expense audit spreadsheet or joining the money challenge, you <a href="https://local.choosefi.com/member/episode/586" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-weight:500; color:#1c7ff2; text-decoration:none; border-bottom:2px solid #1c7ff2; padding-bottom:2px">can find all three by clicking this link</a>.</p>\n<hr style="border:0; border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6; margin:24px 0"></div> \n \n\n \n \n
<h2 id="heading-free-annual-credit-report" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:24px; font-weight:600; margin:0 0 16px; color:#000; text-align:center">Free Annual Credit Report</h2>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">Cody Garrett published a helpful post on Twitter a while back that I wanted to pass along:</p>\n<blockquote class="m-0 px-4 py-6 mb-4 text-base-content shadow-md border-0 border-primary border-l-4 rounded-lg bg-base-300 border-l-[#2563EB] not-italic text-lg font-semibold [&>p]:text-base font-normal m-0 [&>strong]:text-primary [&>a]:text-primary [&>a:hover]:text-primary/75 [&>code]:text-primary [&>h1], [&>h2], [&>h3], [&>h4]:text-primary text-xl font-semibold m-0 mb-2 [&>h4>a]:hidden [&>li]:text-sm" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; border-left:4px solid #1c7ff2; padding:0 15px; color:#666; line-height:1.5">\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">\u201cTime to check the annual credit reports from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax!</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">Review your contact information, payment history, account numbers, responsible debtors, opening and closing dates, credit limits, and highest balances.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">Free at AnnualCreditReport.com\u201d</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">This is <strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">entirely free</strong> and this is different from just checking your credit score. Each of the 3 main credit bureaus have a file on you and you should periodically check it for accuracy.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">Since each bureau is mandated to offer this free service <strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">annually</strong>, you may as well give it a quick glance at the beginning of every year.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5"><strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">Pro Tip</strong>: If you really want to stay on top of things, you can log in every four months and just pull <strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">one</strong> report from <strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">one</strong> credit bureau each time. If you do it this way, you\u2019re getting an updated credit report every 4 months (let\u2019s say January, May and September), and you\u2019ll just cycle through the 3 bureaus each year.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5"><strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">Note</strong>: The Annual Credit Report home page now says, \u201cFree weekly online credit reports are available from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.\u201d But it goes on to say, \u201cGet a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit reporting company.\u201d so it\u2019s unclear precisely how often you can get these reports!</p>\n<hr style="border:0; border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6; margin:24px 0"></div> \n \n\n \n \n
<h2 id="heading-choosefi-updates" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:24px; font-weight:600; margin:0 0 16px; color:#000; text-align:center">ChooseFI Updates:</h2>\n<ul class="list-disc pl-3" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; margin:0 0 16px; padding-left:20px">\n<li style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; margin-bottom:8px">\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5"><strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">ChooseFI Local Group Events: Email Notification</strong>: Take <strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">30 seconds</strong> and <a href="https://local.choosefi.com/groups" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-weight:500; color:#1c7ff2; text-decoration:none; border-bottom:2px solid #1c7ff2; padding-bottom:2px">sign up for your local group here</a>. Select your local group and then sit back and get email notifications of the local events in your area.</p>\n</li>\n<li style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; margin-bottom:8px">\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5"><strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">Travel Rewards Credit Cards</strong>: I keep my <a href="https://choosefi.com/top-recommended-travel-cards" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-weight:500; color:#1c7ff2; text-decoration:none; border-bottom:2px solid #1c7ff2; padding-bottom:2px">Top Ten Recommended Cards page</a> constantly updated, so it should always be your first source for travel rewards cards. <strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">Update</strong>: The #4 card in my list just increased the bonus offer! This is a fantastic option if you're looking for points that are transferable or can be used in a flexible manner to reimburse travel expenses.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">(<strong style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#000; font-weight:bold">Note</strong>: We earn a commission if you sign up for credit cards through our site. I don\u2019t advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter. Your support using these card links makes that possible. Thank you!)</p>\n<hr style="border:0; border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6; margin:24px 0">\n<h2 id="heading-choosefi-community-taking-action-this-week" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:24px; font-weight:600; margin:0 0 16px; color:#000; text-align:center">ChooseFI Community Taking Action This Week</h2></div> \n \n\n \n \n
<blockquote style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; border-left:4px solid #1c7ff2; padding:0 15px; color:#666; line-height:1.5;">\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">I learned late about the energy tax credits expiring end of 2025.\nI just amended my 2024 return because last year I put in skylights, a heat pump (mini split), new windows and insulation when finishing my attic into a new bedroom. I just received a refund of $2300! :)</p>\n\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5;">\u2014 Lisa</p>\n </blockquote></div> \n \n\n \n \n
<blockquote style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; border-left:4px solid #1c7ff2; padding:0 15px; color:#666; line-height:1.5;">\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">I work for a municipality and am a member of the defined benefit pension program. My employer also gives us access to a 457b plan with reasonable, low cost index funds as options for self-directed or assisted investment (along with target date funds).</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">Since the municipality contributes to our pension, employer contributions to the 457b plan are uncommon. Through my role with the organization and with my penchant for personal finance, I got the Town to sponsor a $200 contribution to anybody with a 457b plan as of October 1.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">We did a "lunch and learn" to get more people signed up and in my little town of 40 employees, we went from 12 participants to 17! I will forever be a 457b evangelist and seeing the real time impact of my policy decisions has been awesome.</p>\n\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5;">\u2014 Jeremy</p>\n </blockquote></div> \n \n\n \n \n
<blockquote style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; border-left:4px solid #1c7ff2; padding:0 15px; color:#666; line-height:1.5;">\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">I just finished '<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tax-Planning-Through-Early-Retirement/dp/B0FNNVXY16" style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; font-weight:500; color:#1c7ff2; text-decoration:none; border-bottom:2px solid #1c7ff2; padding-bottom:2px">Tax Planning to and Through Early Retirement</a>' by Cody and Sean. What an excellent read and I was able to take the info and create a Gap Years Roadmap spreadsheet that addressed withdrawal locations, tax implications, adding Roth conversions to the mix, and navigating health insurance costs and the ACA premium tax credit.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">I feel like our household is so much more prepared to navigate pre age 59 1/2 withdrawals AND pay for health insurance in the most efficient way possible. Thank You so much for this excellent resource!</p>\n\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5;">\u2014 Jill</p>\n </blockquote></div> \n \n\n \n \n
<blockquote style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; border-left:4px solid #1c7ff2; padding:0 15px; color:#666; line-height:1.5;">\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">Wow!! Just paid off $32,000 of consumer credit card debt in 20 months!!! It feels FANTASTIC!!! A friend shared ChooseFI with me in March of 2024 and I\u2019ve been binge listening ever since.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">Can\u2019t wait to plan with my husband what we tackle next!!!!</p>\n\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5;">\u2014 Stephanie</p>\n </blockquote></div> \n \n\n \n \n
<blockquote style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; border-left:4px solid #1c7ff2; padding:0 15px; color:#666; line-height:1.5;">\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">I called my insurance company after seeing my renewal was an extra $200 per year on my car. I wanted to see if I could lower the cost and he asked which university I went to.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">I said the one I went to didn\u2019t count in their system but casually mentioned my wife went to another school. Turns out that school was covered and with the discount we were able to take $300 off of the annual premium of my car and another $300 off of the house. So this ended up saving us $600/year ($50/month) just for one quick chat with support. That\u2019s $18k lower to our FI number and more we can save. Going to see which other services I can do this with.</p>\n\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5;">\u2014 Dylan</p>\n </blockquote></div> \n \n\n \n \n
<blockquote style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; border-left:4px solid #1c7ff2; padding:0 15px; color:#666; line-height:1.5;">\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">Last year, I went through my credit card statements to see what I spent money on that I could have avoided had I just learned a skill. I purchased an industrial sewing machine and learned how to make cushions, hem pants, repair backpacks, and so on thanks to a little time spent on YouTube.</p>\n<p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5">I also purchased a hair cutting kit on Amazon and, again with a little help from YouTube, I now cut my son and husband\u2019s hair instead of booking appointments at a salon. I\u2019ve saved money and am also more skilled.</p>\n\n <p style="font-family:-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, sans-serif; font-size:16px; color:#3d3d3d; font-weight:400; line-height:1.5;">\u2014 Chelsea</p>\n </blockquote></div> \n \n</div>\n</div></td></tr></tbody></table>"