In our brand new interview series, we are interviewing various individuals from across the web. This interview series focuses on how they are living a better life. They can be living a better life by pursuing financial independence, minimalism, simplicity, and many more aspects. Are you interested in being interviewed? Continue reading!
Want to be interviewed?
If you want to be interviewed about how you are living a better life. Contact us at TimLifeForTheBetter@gmail.com and tell us why you’d be a great candidate!
Give us your best elevator speech!
Hi! I’m G or Ms. FOGA, and I blog at From One Geek to Another. I’m a 28-year-old Floridian, and my goal is to be financially independent.
I started blogging in 2018 when I discovered the concept of financial independence and started FOGA to document my family’s journey towards FIRE. Since I started FOGA, we (my husband & I) have paid off all of our debt (except our mortgage) and maxed out both our IRAs for the first time.
I’ve only recently started this FIRE journey and am still figuring things out.
How are you living a better life than you were last year? 5 years ago? 10?
Ten Years ago, I was in my freshman year of college, and I had no clue what I wanted to do. It’s a lot to ask an 18-year-old to plan out their entire life, and I put a lot of pressure on myself to try to make it perfect. Ended up majoring in Management even though it wasn’t really what I wanted. It made sense and seemed more logical than Linguistics & Classics, which is what I would have liked to major in. I caved to family pressure.
Five years ago, I was 24, and I hated my life. I worked in retail as a manager, and it was a toxic environment. Sales were king, and if your numbers weren’t up, you were out within 20-60 days. My wake-up call happened when I was driving to work one day, and I nearly got hit by another car. I got so pissed. Not because that person nearly hit me, but because they missed. If they had hit my car, I wouldn’t have had to go to work. After that, I started looking for another job.
Since then, I started working in real estate, became debt free, bought a car, got married, bought a house, and paid off all our debt (except the mortgage). Now, my life is the best it’s ever been, and I am incredibly grateful for that.
What would you tell your younger self?
Two things.
One: Stop trying to be perfect. It’s impossible, and therefore you will always fall short. It’s the unwinnable goal. If you keep trying to be perfect at everything, you’re just asking to be disappointed in yourself. Do the best you can do, and you’ll have no regrets.
Two: It’s okay not to know. You’ll figure it out in time. No one has everything in their lives all figured out by the time they’re 21. They figure it out as they go. You are no different, and that’s okay.
What made you want to change the way you were living?
Does financial independence play a role? If so, how?
One hundred percent. Thankfully, I was always good with money. After watching my mom go through a shopping addiction, declaring bankruptcy, and suffering from 100% rent increases during the Great Recession, I learned how to save money. I also learned about credit and pros having no debt. Beyond that, I had no clue. Without learning about FI, I would more than likely be having a serious lifestyle creep instead of getting the freedom that I want.
Financial Independence gave me a plan and a goal to reach the point where I work because I want to and no because I need to.
What advice do you have for others in living a better life?
Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Yes, someone may be further along on their path than you, but that’s okay. Everyone is working hard towards their goal, and everyone has different factors to consider to get there. Their success is not your failure. You will make it to where you want to be in your own time.
What books/podcasts/blogs have you consumed that lead you to this point?
I don’t listen to any podcasts currently, but I do/have read books and blogs. The books gave me the framework. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People & The Subtle Art of not giving a F*ck.
The blogs gave me the plan and motivation. When I first started reading blogs, I read a lot of Think Save Retire, Making Sense of Cents, and The Money Habit.
Now, I have added the following blogs to my weekly reading list:
What’s one area in your life you still struggle with?
I fixate on the bad things and completely forget the good stuff. I have a plan, and I am working toward it. I am even ahead of schedule, but I have a tendency to think that we are not doing enough (even if we cannot do more). This has led me to make unrealistic goals in the hopes of getting to where I want to be faster.
I had to learn to take a step back and breathe. It also helps to look at everything we have been able to do before I jump in and say that we got nothing done. It’s also why I write the monthly goals updates. I can see what actually got done and remember that I am on the right track. It has helped immensely.
If you had to give just 1 tip that you’ve learned along your journey, what would it be and why?
Where can readers get in touch with you?
You can find me at From One Geek To Another or by email at fromonegeektoanother@gmail.com.
I am also on Twitter and Pinterest. 😊
Check out other interviews here!
Follow Our Journey At
We use Personal Capital to track our net worth. We simply connect our assets and it tracks everything for us! Our net worth, cash flow, budget, investment fees, retirement planner, and more are tracked through this site. It’s completely free too! Sign up for free and receive $20 when you open an account!
