Flannel Guy ROI

Early Retirement and Financial Independence

by Flannel Guy ROIPublished December 31, 2020Last Updated July 21, 2023

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s talk about some of the core concepts of early retirement and financial independence (FIRE). First, a loose definition:

Financial independence – you no longer need an active income because you have enough passive income to sustainably provide for yourself through the future.
Early retirement – you are financially independent (no longer need to work), and you decided to pursue a new kind of life in the wake of said financial independence.

Okay, sounds great, but is the view worth the climb? I was skeptical when I first heard about early retirement… Don’t the sacrifices required to retire early outweigh the benefits? After thinking about it, doing some research, and trying the shoe on for size, I can emphatically say, NO! My life is much better now and continues to improve as we make progress towards our goals. We trimmed a lot of waste from our life, getting rid of distractions, and focusing on sustainable sources of happiness.

Building Vs. Buying a Home

by Flannel Guy ROIPublished December 31, 2020Last Updated July 20, 2023

Abstract

Buying an existing 1,000-square-foot home saves $17,500 over the first ten years of ownership compared to building a new one.

Intro

I’ve often wondered: would the energy and maintenance savings on new home be worth the added construction costs versus buying an existing house? Financially speaking, the answer turns out to be no. On average, a 1000 square foot new home will cost $17,500 more over the first ten years of ownership than an existing home of the same size.

Of course, housing is usually a bad investment, and thinking of a home as an investment rather than an expense might not be the way to go. We eat more than just rice and beans at my house because food isn’t strictly a financial decision. It is more complex, just like housing (how to put a value on that new ~~car~~ house smell).

All You Need to Know About the Best Budget Toilet of 2021

by Flannel Guy ROIPublished November 24, 2020Last Updated December 30, 2020

***This post contains affiliate links.***

We all want to own the best toilet.

And yet, we often overlook this area of our household and end up installing some sub-standard products.

But that should not be you because you can find plenty of modern with little research and care.

So, what should you do to get the best budget toilet for your bathroom?

We have a review that looks at the 7 leading units for 2021, and you can find one costing under $150.

All You Need to Know About the Best Budget Tool Chest of 2021

by Flannel Guy ROIPublished November 20, 2020Last Updated December 30, 2020

***This post contains affiliate links.***

We can all agree that a craftsman requires a place to keep all the handy tools needed for the tasks – so is a hobbyist.

One great thing to have is a tool chest since it helps to save time and hassle of carrying and accessing these gears.

But how can you ensure you get the best budget tool chest for your needs?

You are in luck because this article looks at the top seven budget tool chest for 2021.

The Best Budget Self Propelled Lawn Mower You Can Find In 2021 (Top 7 Reviews)

by Flannel Guy ROIPublished November 20, 2020Last Updated December 30, 2020

***This post contains affiliate links.***

Any proud homeowner wants to own a well-kept green lawn, and you can agree we all want such a yard.

But maintaining a garden requires you to do several things like constant weeding, mowing, and more.

Don’t fret out; there is a solution to these issues: the best budget self propelled lawn mower.

The machine can make your lawn mowing easy and save you time.

So, how do you choose the best model for your needs?

Keep reading this article to find more about budget self-propelled lawn mowers.

The Best Budget Pool Cleaner You Can Find in 2021 (Best 7 Reviews)

by Flannel Guy ROIPublished November 20, 2020Last Updated December 30, 2020

***This post contains affiliate links.***

I think you’ll agree that cleaning a pool by hand can be hard work.

If you are tired of manually cleaning your pool, a pool cleaner might just be what you need. An affordable pool cleaner working effectively is always ideal for all of us.

In this post, we will consider the 7 best budget pool cleaners that could adapt to your needs on the market today.

The Best Budget Above Ground Pool – Best 7 Reviews

by Flannel Guy ROIPublished November 20, 2020Last Updated December 30, 2020

***This post contains affiliate links.***

No one can deny the fact that having a traditional swimming pool really takes a lot of space and finance.

However, buying an above ground pool in the garden can be the best for you, especially if you have a family, a low budget, and small garden space.

So, what’s the best budget above ground pools you can get without spending out of the ordinary?

In this post, you’ll find out the best budget aboveground pools that will meet your family needs.

The Trimurti of Household Budgeting

by Flannel Guy ROIPublished November 18, 2020Last Updated July 23, 2023

Personal finance types, myself included, often recommend making small lifestyle changes to save more money for retirement. A prominent example is the latte effect, which holds that cutting out a daily cup of coffee can theoretically save 1,000’s of dollars (it can). This kind of advice, however, really gets under some people’s skin.

Take Annie Lowrey for example, one of my favorite economic reporters from the NY Times, now working at NY Magazine alongside another of my favorites (on the political side), Jonathan Chait. Lowrey recently had a feature on Mr. Money Mustache, but before that she published a short critique of the latte effect advice typically dished out by personal finance gurus.

Car Commuting: A Bad Proposition – Part 1

by Flannel Guy ROIPublished November 18, 2020Last Updated July 20, 2023

Without a doubt, car commuting is the Enemy of the early retiree. Using a car regularly is costing you BIG dollars and keeping you on the financial treadmill longer than necessary. Not that I don’t understand the allure of car ownership. The car lifestyle is extremely convenient and enjoyable, but it is very clear to me now that it just isn’t worth the cost.

This is an important topic, so I plan to cover it in two parts. This is the first part and looks at how much money you would save by getting rid of your car completely in favor of other modes of transportation. The second part will be a similar exercise, but less severe since it assumes you keep your car and just use it less frequently. The idea is that a 2+ person household could more easily eliminate one of 2+ cars while a single person household is more likely to simply use a car less.

How to Succeed at Budgets Without Really Trying

by Flannel Guy ROIPublished November 18, 2020Last Updated July 22, 2023

While a few people in the personal finance blogosphere might truly believe that budgets are sexy, most people probably think of budgets as a pain in the ass, and I would tend to agree. The thing is, however, if you have ambitious savings goals, you probably really need a budget to help you stay on track.

Budgeting depletes your willpower by pitting long term goals against immediate satisfaction, causing psychological and emotional pain and sometimes even aggravating otherwise healthy relationships. But, hey, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and we would have a lot more 40-year-old millionaires.