ChooseFI T-Shirts Are Back!
We're bringing back ChooseFI t-shirts for a limited time—now available twice a year! The store is open through Friday, June 13, and shirts will be printed and shipped after it closes.
I've partnered with a great company that handles everything— they open a temporary store, collect all orders during that time, and only start printing and shipping once a minimum number of shirts have been sold.
This round includes fun new light blue options along with both our original and current logos. I’ve chosen high-quality shirts and lowered the price to keep it near break-even—this is about community, not profit.
👉 Shop the ChooseFI T-Shirt Store (via Forever Fierce)
A few notes:
- Shipping and processing is going to be roughly ~$9— I lowered the price of the actual shirt as much as possible, which is the part within my control.
- Orders will only process and ship after June 13 due to the batching process, so expect them to take a few weeks from the time you order.
- Thanks for being part of the ChooseFI community, and I hope you love the shirts!
AI Resources I'm Loving
Whether we’re ready or not, AI is evolving fast — and it’s something we in the FI Community should be paying attention to. It’s already making life easier for entrepreneurs and professionals, and now the tools are becoming quite useful for regular people like us (there are, of course, some real risks as well both in the macro and micro).
I’ve been trying to keep up, but often it feels like luck stumbling across new tools or insights.
📩 Resource 1: Superhuman AI Newsletter
This changed when I found the Superhuman AI Newsletter — hands down the best AI resource I’ve come across. It’s perfect for getting a quick sense of what’s out there.
Their daily “5 AI Tools to Supercharge Your Productivity” is a must-read, and the “prompt of the day” has completely changed how I think about crafting prompts. I realized mine were way too basic — just seeing what’s possible has leveled up how I use AI.
Note: This isn’t a paid promo or affiliate link. Superhuman AI doesn’t know I exist — I just think it’s a fantastic resource for all of us.
🎙 Resource 2: Wispr Flow (Voice-to-Text Tool)
This tool has been a game-changer for me. Wispr Flow is an advanced voice-to-text app that works in any text box on your computer — email, social media, docs, Excel, whatever.
I’m actually using it right now to “write” this newsletter just by speaking. It’s fast (3–5x faster than typing), smart, and accurate — no constant editing required.
You can use it free for up to 2,000 words/week. After that, it’s $12/month for their unlimited ‘Flow Pro’ account — and I recently saw a referral link in my account that gives you $15 in credit (and gives me the same) after your first 2,000 words.
Again, not an affiliate link — I’m just genuinely excited to share this. Wispr Flow has no idea I exist and I have no relationship with them.
Local Group Case Study Template
A big thanks to the Cincinnati Local Group—and especially Diania Merriam—for kicking off our Local Group Case Studies!
In these sessions, a volunteer shares their personal financial details with the group to get valuable feedback, insights, and advice from fellow members. They’ve quickly become a core part of ChooseFI Local Group events around the world.
To support these efforts, Jackie Cummings Koski has created an updated Case Study Template. You can save a copy [Click ‘file’ and then ‘make a copy’] and fill it out, whether or not you plan to present—it’s a great tool for gaining clarity on your FI journey.
How you can help:
- Start a Case Study in your group. If your local group hasn’t done one yet, talk to your admin and consider volunteering to present.
- Join the new ChooseFI Local member site. Encourage others from your local group to sign up too. You’ll get email updates about events—no more relying on Facebook’s algorithm—and can RSVP directly from your inbox.
ChooseFI Community Taking Action This Week
My 1% better is using the power of financial independence to know my worth. I quit my full-time job a year ago and after a mini-retirement am now starting working as an independent part-time consultant. A former colleague reached out to offer me a consulting contract and proposed a daily rate which was not in line with my expectations. I gave it 5 minutes of thought, and then simply indicated I'd expect a daily rate that was 20% higher. They accepted without hesitation. Without FU money and a mindset of financial independence, including knowing how you want to spend your energy and what each hour is worth giving up, I probably would have needed to accept the lower rate.
- Liz
Our 1% better is leveraging the power of not inflating our lifestyle. My wife went back to work a little while ago, but with the birth of our newest child, we just couldn't see sending her to childcare. My wife was able to leave her job. With some minor adjustments to spending, we are comfortably living on one salary and still saving. Sometimes you don't need to be FI to have FU money. It can just be the power of having low expenses.
- Clay
Last week, I paid off my mortgage. I have had the money to do it for some time now but kept hearing the voice in my head that I could make more in investments. However, I knew that for me, the security of having it paid would be priceless. I waited until I had plenty of surplus in savings and paid it off for my 58th birthday. Happy birthday to me! I am hoping to retire early within the next few years and this was just one more "to-do" on my list that felt great to cross off.
- Alison
As the possibility of FIRE gets closer and closer, I have been pursuing new hobbies in the hope of finding more interests to retire to (rather than simply retiring from work). To that end, I have been exploring tabletop wargaming. (To the uninitiated, this is like a very involved board game where you first have to build your pieces and paint them.) I enjoyed this immensely, but I was constantly aware that it is NOT a frugal hobby to get into. I have the funds to devote to hobbies, but the shift to a spending mindset can be a challenge after years of saving. About two months ago, I noticed that my local store had a posting for an on call role that would cover the shop when the manager needed a PTO day. I engaged with the shop's manager and learned that the role comes with a big discount on product. The optimizer in me was intrigued...while the hourly rate is lower than my "day job", the discount would allow me to pursue this hobby with less concern on the spending involved. I applied and was hired!! In addition to the discount provided, being in the store more often has introduced me to more of the regulars. This is truly a friendly group of hobbyists who love to paint, play, and discuss the game together. This has caused me to learn more and find more opportunities to play.
- Nick
My 1% better was taking a list of asthma meds to my specialist to ask which could be substituted for the $250 a month inhaler. He told me that the medical center which I visited had the meds I needed for $5 a month! Plus, I can receive them by mail as I live several hours away. That's $60 vs $3,000 a year for one medication. Win!
- Gretchen
My 1%+ better was my daughter getting her first career job, off the payroll, and having the 401k discussion with her starting at 15%. She graduated with an industrial engineering degree from Mississippi State with no debt due to amazing scholarships they offered and had the advantage of not work during the school year but had internships each summer. She got a great job through networking with the Society of Women Engineers. 1 down, 1 to go!
- Greg