Field Notes #1 — Why this section exists
I’m 35, on a normal European salary, and I don’t want to wait until 70 to live the way I want. First entry of the section where this site’s frameworks meet my real life.
FreedomFireHub
How Compound Interest Works (And Why Starting Early Changes Everything)
Compound interest is the mechanism that makes early retirement mathematically possible. Learn how the math works, what waiting actually costs in dollars and years, and use the FIRE Calculator to run your own numbers.
How to Choose a Brokerage Account (for FIRE Investors)
Most brokerage comparisons rank platforms on features designed for active traders. This guide filters the decision for a passive, long-term index investor pursuing FIRE, and recommends the two brokers worth opening.
FIRE for Couples: How to Calculate a Joint FIRE Number and Plan Together
How to calculate a joint FIRE number, structure your finances as a couple, handle misaligned retirement timelines, and plan the one-retires-first scenario that solo guides skip entirely.
Best Barista FIRE Jobs: How to Choose Flexible Work After Corporate
Compare the best Barista FIRE jobs for semi-retirement after corporate. Learn how to choose flexible work based on pay, benefits, stress, and your monthly income gap.
How to Track Your Net Worth (And Measure Your FIRE Progress)
Track your net worth the right way for FIRE: learn the difference between total and investable net worth, calculate your FIRE progress percentage, and set up a simple monthly tracking system
How to Build Passive Income: A Realistic Guide for FIRE Pursuers
A research-backed guide to the most realistic passive income streams for FIRE pursuers: dividend investing, index funds, REITs, digital products, and rental income — with a comparison framework, realistic timelines, and a worked example showing how passive income changes your path to financial independence.
How to Start Freelancing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Your First Client (and Beyond)
A practical, FIRE-focused guide to getting started as a freelancer from scratch: how to identify a marketable skill, price yourself, find clients without platforms, build a repeatable income stream, and protect your primary job in the process.
The Best FIRE Books: 14 Reads That Actually Move the Needle
A curated reading list for every stage of the FIRE journey: 14 books organized by what they actually do, who they’re for, and when to read them — so you spend less time searching and more time building.
Best Budgeting Apps for 2026: YNAB, Monarch, Empower, and Copilot Compared
A research-based comparison of the four most recommended budgeting apps for FIRE pursuers: YNAB, Monarch Money, Empower Personal Dashboard, and Copilot. Features, pricing, honest trade-offs, and a clear recommendation framework to help you pick without the noise.