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The Friday Roundup
Episode 033R

Choose
Posted by Choose FI

Episode Guide

Episode Summary:

The episode dives into the concept of financial independence (FI) and personal development, emphasizing intentionality in life choices. Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett discuss the importance of creating a happiness index to analyze what brings value, exploring ways to minimize life costs while maximizing joy. Listeners learn about mindfulness and intentionality's role in improving health and financial decisions. The episode also features feedback from the community, highlighting how to tackle personal development through financial planning and budgeting. The hosts challenge listeners to engage in small, meaningful changes in their lives every week, encouraging a more fulfilling lifestyle while moving towards FI.

Episode Timestamps

Embrace Intentional Living for Financial Independence

In your journey toward financial independence, embracing intention in every aspect of your life is crucial. It's not just about saving money; it's about living a purposeful life that aligns with your values and goals. By redefining your happiness through thoughtful choices, you can optimize your life and achieve more than just financial freedom. Here are key strategies to take actionable steps toward intentional living and personal growth.

Understanding the Happiness Index

The happiness index is a powerful tool for measuring what truly brings you joy in life. This subjective measure allows you to assess your lifestyle choices in terms of happiness relative to the expenses incurred.

  1. Identify What Makes You Happy: Reflect on your priorities, values, and experiences. What activities or investments contribute positively to your happiness without breaking the bank?

  2. Adjust Your Spending Habits: Once you identify what truly matters, align your spending with it. If you find joy in experiences rather than material possessions, consider allocating resources toward travels, hobbies, or community events instead of consumer goods.

  3. Optimize Your Happiness: Aim to maximize happiness while minimizing costs. By focusing on value rather than quantity, you can improve your happiness index significantly.

The Power of Intentionality

Intentionality is at the heart of financial independence. It involves making conscious choices that lead to a more fulfilling life, rather than simply going through the motions. Here’s how to embrace intentionality:

  1. Evaluate Your Decisions: Before making a choice, consider its long-term implications. Ask yourself if it aligns with your goals and values, whether financial, personal, or relational.

  2. Set Clear Goals: Clear goals give you a target to aim for. Break them down into smaller, actionable steps to stay motivated and accountable.

  3. Be Proactive: Take charge of your life rather than reacting to circumstances. Make a habit of assessing your daily activities and decisions through the lens of intentionality.

Invest in Personal Development

Investing in yourself is essential for both financial independence and overall well-being. Personal development can take many forms, from attending workshops to pursuing new interests. Here’s a framework for your growth:

  1. Set Aside Resources for Growth: Allocate a specific budget for personal development, whether that involves buying books, taking courses, or attending seminars. As Dominick Quartuccio noted, spending on self-improvement can yield transformative results.

  2. Find Your Zen: Consider mindfulness practices, like meditation or yoga, to enhance your mental clarity and focus. Simple practices like deep breathing can help you regain control in stressful situations, allowing for better decision-making.

  3. Formulate Actionable Goals in Personal Development: Identify three specific areas where you’d like to improve. Commit to taking one small step each week toward enhancing your skills or knowledge in that area.

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

Limiting beliefs can undermine your potential. Recognizing and reframing these beliefs is crucial for personal growth and financial independence.

  1. Identify Your Limiting Beliefs: Reflect on statements you frequently make about yourself, such as “I’m not good with finances” or “I can’t lose weight.” Challenge the validity of these beliefs.

  2. Reframe: Transform those beliefs into empowering statements. Instead of believing you’re bad with money, tell yourself, “I’m learning to manage my finances better every day.”

  3. Take Incremental Steps: If your goal is to improve in a specific area, start small. Learn one new financial concept this week or try one healthy recipe. Breaking it down makes tasks manageable and less intimidating.

Engage with Your Community

Building connections and engaging with a like-minded community can significantly enhance your journey toward financial independence.

  1. Join Local Meetups: Connect with others interested in financial independence through local meetups. Sharing experiences, challenges, and insights with fellow participants can provide clarity and new perspectives.

  2. Leverage Online Communities: Engage with online forums or groups dedicated to financial independence. Share your journey and learn from others who are pursuing similar goals.

  3. Accountability Partners: Find someone who can keep you accountable for your goals. This could be a friend, family member, or online peer who shares similar aspirations.

Take Action Today

Implementing these strategies takes a commitment to change. Start by making one impactful change this week:

  • Reflect on your happiness index and adjust your spending accordingly.
  • Set a goal to learn something new about personal finance every week.
  • Engage in a mindfulness practice to enhance your overall well-being.

By weaving intentionality into your daily life, you will unlock the potential for both financial independence and personal fulfillment. Remember, the journey toward the life you desire is about making deliberate choices that align with your values and priorities. Take action today, and watch your life transform over time.


Your best days can indeed be ahead of you. Embrace the process, stay committed to intentional living, and build the framework for a life of happiness and independence.

In today's Friday Roundup we go in-depth on Episode 33 with Dominick Quartuccio including thoughts on self-improvement, meditation and a challenge from Brad. Frugal wins of the week plus three voicemails from the community.

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Podcast Episode Summary

  • Unpacking Episode 33 with Dominick Quartuccio and our takeaways from the episode
  • Intentionality allows you to purchase your freedom, and we want to expand that intentionality beyond just personal finance
  • Our focus on living a happier, more content and optimized life
  • The ultimate luxury is the ‘perpetual money making machine’ to provide time and focus on what matters in life
  • How Dominick spent $28,000 this year on personal development. Have you spent any time or money on your own personal development?
  • Spending on things that you value, and directing money and resources as such
  • How to improve your life for $0 and learn and grow
  • Brad’s challenge: Make one change in your life this week that will make your life better
  • Break some negative habit and disrupt it in your life this week
  • Jonathan’s change this week: Eating carrots and salad without salad dressing
  • Meditation and breathing. Take one deep breath.
  • Brad’s description of his meditation practice
  • What gets you excited or nervous about life coming up in the near future? How are you expanding your horizons?
  • How Jonathan has learned by starting ChooseFI and how it has been the excitement in his life this past year
  • Discussion surrounding guilt over not feeling content with your “perfect” life
  • Limiting beliefs: Don’t let them hold you back and also go back and analyze the beliefs and stories you have been carrying with you your entire life
  • The value of making small changes over time to improve your health
  • Jonathan’s search for better tea
  • Feedback from the audience on Episode 33 with Dominick
  • Frugal Wins of the Week:
    • Holly saved money by not going to the movies and bought the game Outburst
    • Adlay fixed his air conditioner after watching videos on replacing a capacitor on YouTube
  • Quote from Paige how she only has control over her spending and savings rate
  • Discussion about contest with Alan Donegan on building a business
  • Voicemail from Jessica with new segment we’re calling “Highlighting the Hamster Wheel”
  • Voicemail from Royce who used our voiceover guy for his side hustle contest submission
  • Voicemail from Thomas about a side hustle to teach English to Chinese students
  • Itunes reviews

Links from the show: