I’m in this strange in-between stage right now, somewhere between Coast FI and Full FI. And I often feel pulled back and forth between spender and saver, current me and future me, speeding up and slowing down. It’s a little exhausting, I have to admit.

A few years ago, things felt simpler because I was in full accumulation mode. Most of my decisions came down to one thing: delay spending so I could save and invest more. Looking back, maybe I would’ve splurged a little on experiences or time-saving purchases, but honestly, I don’t regret much.

These days, though, I’m learning to focus more on my current self. I’m loosening up, spending a bit more, and not being so uptight about every dollar. Talking with friends further along in the FI journey, I’ve realized this shift is pretty natural, and perhaps you’re experiencing it too.

It’s not always easy, which is why I wanted to talk it through with a friend and frequent guest, Jesse Cramer. Jesse’s navigating the same changes himself, and as a financial advisor, he also brings perspective from helping clients through similar situations.

In this episode, we dive into the balance of spending on your current self while still enjoying the growth of your investments. We talk about how we’ve loosened up around money habits like budgeting, and why we’re not stressing about hitting our exact FIRE numbers anymore.

I always enjoy my conversations with Jesse, and if any of this resonates with you, I think you’ll get a lot out of this one too.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with the host of The Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors Podcast… Jesse Cramer.

Key Takeaways:

• Shift from always accumulating to finding balance and enjoying life now.
• Redefine “pay yourself first” to include meaningful spending today.
• Build a portfolio that grows in bull markets and feels safe in bear markets.
• Loosen up on strict budgeting without losing financial control.
• Let your spending evolve to reflect your values and priorities.
• Don’t let your FIRE number dictate every life decision.
• Factor in Social Security - you may be further ahead than you think.
• Learn from retirees: smooth transitions come from people and purpose.
• Take smart risks that push you beyond your comfort zone.

More of Jesse:

Check out Jesse’s podcast: https://bestinterest.blog/personal-finance-for-long-term-investors/

More of FI Minded:

Email Justin at Justin@FIMinded.com

Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

I was reviewing my spending for the first half of 2025 and noticed something interesting: excluding routine bills, groceries, and experiences, I only bought 25 new things this year, totaling about $1,400. For six months, that felt pretty solid. But it also got me wondering… could I go even further?

That curiosity came to a head when the nozzle on my garden hose started leaking. My first instinct was to hop on Amazon and buy a new one. It was only $20. But then I paused. I looked up what might cause the leak and found out it’s usually a worn-out rubber washer. I took the thing apart, and sure enough, that was it. I hopped back on Amazon to order a new washer…until I remembered I had another broken nozzle in the garage. I swear I have the worst luck with these—but this one wasn’t leaking. I had just dropped it and snapped the trigger handle. I took the rubber washer from that one and used it to fix the current nozzle.

And it worked! No money spent. Nothing added to a landfill. And honestly, I felt proud of myself.

I share that story because it’s easy to assume we’re already frugal or intentional enough—especially in the FI community. But that moment made me realize how often I default to “buy new” without even questioning it. And I want to become more intentional, especially when it comes to physical things.

That’s why I invited Ashlee Piper on the show today. Ashlee is a sustainability expert and author of the new book No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity. She’s also the creator of the #NoNewThings Challenge, which she personally followed for two years, which is just insanely impressive.

In this conversation, we dig into how to creatively meet your needs without always reaching for your wallet. Ashlee shares her SUPER system for thoughtfully navigating purchases, and we run through a few real-life scenarios like getting ready for a wedding or gearing up for Halloween.

If you want to bring more intentionality into how you consume, this episode will leave you feeling inspired.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with the always resourceful, wildly entertaining, and sustainability-driven…Ashlee Piper.

Key Takeaways:

• How to skip buying new without giving up what you love
• A system to make smarter, more intentional buying choices
• Find practical ways to fix, borrow, or swap before buying something new
• How consumer culture encourages excess (and how to resist it)
• Balancing intentional spending and restriction

More of Ashlee:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleepiper/

Newsletter: https://substack.com/@theethicaledit

More of FI Minded:

Email Justin at Justin@FIMinded.com

Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/

We’re all waiting for the day we hit financial independence. That’s when we’ll finally quit our jobs and have time to learn a new hobby, start that house project, take longer vacations, or prioritize our health.

You probably have a list of things you’re saving for after FI—but what if you don’t want to wait another decade to start? Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. The challenge is that your career eats up most of your time and energy, and since you’re not financially independent yet, walking away isn’t an option.

But what if you didn’t have to choose between all work now and all freedom later? What if you could work for a few years, take a break, then return to work—and repeat that cycle? Instead of one long career followed by one long retirement, what if you took mini-retirements along the way?

It’s not just a theory—today’s guest has done it. Jillian Johnsrud has taken over a dozen mini-retirements throughout her life and now helps others do the same.

In this episode, Jillian shares how to organize your time off, why some employers actually say yes to these breaks, and how a mini-retirement might even improve your career. She also provides examples of how mini-retirements speed up, rather than slow down, people’s path to FI.

Mini-retirements are one of my favorite concepts—I’ve taken one myself, and I always encourage my friends to consider them too.

So today, I’m making the case to you: maybe it’s better to retire often than to retire once.

Key Takeaways:

• What a Mini-Retirement Actually Looks Like
• How to Plan a Mini-Retirement with Purpose
• A framework for organizing your mini-retirement using Jillian’s “Dream To-Do List”
• Signs It’s Time to Step Away
• How to Talk to Your Employer About Taking Time Off
• Why some employers say yes to mini-retirements—and how to make your case
• Tips for framing the request in a way that shows mutual benefit
• Making the Financial Trade-Off Worth It
• Surprising ways mini-retirements can actually improve your career or lead to new income opportunities.
• Why “Retire Often” Might Be Better Than “Retire Once”

More of Jillian:

Read Retire Often: https://lnk.to/retireoften

More of FI Minded:

Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/