July 2022 FIRE Update

Hey everyone! We are back in Portland after 8 weeks of traveling. Whew, I am worn out. I think we are done with backpacking. Packing up and moving every few days isn’t as fun as it used to be. We had fun, but this trip just took a lot out …

March FIRE Update

Hey, everyone. Q1 is over! Boy, what an exciting year 2022 has been, so far. Well, exciting isn’t quite the right word. The world seems to be spinning out of control, but we have to figure out what we can and can’t control. I can’t do anything about inflation, the …

There’s No Place Like Home

Hey everyone! I’m home after 3 months in Thailand. I had a great time there, but wow, it is so nice to be back. There really is no place like home. Unfortunately, Japan Airlines’ “Chewing” millet pasta gave me food poisoning (stomach cramps and diarrhea). I was in pain for …

Why I Love Doing Our Taxes

I know, I know. You’re probably thinking – Joe has gone too far this time. However, this isn’t as uncommon as you’d think. According to a Pew Research survey, about a third of Americans like or even love doing their taxes. Most of these people said they like doing taxes …

February 2022 FIRE Update

Hey, everyone! Sheesh, what a crazy month. Russia invaded Ukraine and the stock market threw a fit. I’d invest more if I was at home, but it’s very difficult to react that quickly while I’m in Thailand. Vanguard won’t let me log in. I have to call them to make …

2022 Passive Income Update

Whew, the first half of 2022 is over. It’s been a tough year for investors. The stock market is officially in a bear market and a recession is looming. Along with the stock market, our net worth decreased by the largest dollar amount ever (15%). However, our passive income is …

May 2022 FIRE Update

Hey, everyone. Did you have a good month? May was uneventful for us. Life just went on as usual. Now, we are just waiting for RB40Jr to finish school. Once he’s done, we’ll go on a long summer vacation. On the personal finance side, May was an anomaly. We spent …