Robert Brokamp

What do I have to do first?

And that's a good way to frame it too.

And you do that often in your writing.

And that is, if you are spending less to save more, it's not really you're denying yourself.

You're just choosing to buy something else.

You're choosing to buy something, which is your freedom, your independence, your optionality.

This first occurred to me back when I was an elementary school teacher and I was listening to a radio show by a fellow by the name of Rick Edelman.

And he talked about how

He was talking to a woman who spent too much money drinking Diet Coke.

And he said, you're spending your money on a depreciating asset.

Instead, buy Coke stock.

Buy something that appreciates in value.

At some point, you can stop work or take a break, take a sabbatical.

And then, frankly, you'll have enough money to drink as much Diet Coke as you want.

You mentioned Mr. Money Mustache, big figure in the financial independence movement.

People have heard about this maybe several years ago.

It was more FIRE, right?

Financial Independence Retire Early.

And it is now, it seems like FI is the preferred acronym.

And since you've been a part of it all along the way, you're considered the godfather of FI or of FI.