Personal Finance · With a Twist
And I have the financial independence community to thank for that. They shared resources, experiences, and ideas so willingly and I want to do the same. This site is my way of paying it forward.
Show me the good stuff
Hi, I'm Liz
Growing up, my mom wove money into the rhythms of daily life — mutual funds at the dinner table, credit cards explained before I ever had one, the quiet lesson that we didn't need to buy everything we wanted. Money was spoken about openly in our home, which I now know is rare. I had a head start most people don't get.
But even with that foundation, I never thought I'd have enough to get ahead. Living in Manhattan meant roommates, a walk-up, and a very modest salary I stretched as far as it would go. The finish line felt like it was built for someone else.
Then I found a movement called FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and one article stopped me in my tracks. It reframed everything: savings not as a dollar amount, but as a percentage of your take-home pay. Suddenly the future felt like mine to influence.
I've been sharing these ideas ever since: in the workplace, at local meetups, in late-night emails to family and friends. This site aims to collect the best of it. No ads, no affiliate links, no catches — just content I genuinely believe in.
Did you know that early in your journey, saving just 5% more per year could shave 14 years off your working career?Sometimes all it takes is one new idea. See my favorite article of all time to learn more
I'm not a financial advisor — just someone who has absorbed years of community wisdom and loves paying it forward. Please do your own research and consult a professional for decisions specific to your situation.
The good stuff
I've been sharing these links for nearly a decade — here are the ones I come back to most.
The article that changed how I think about saving entirely. Forget a target dollar amount — it's about your savings rate. This is where every conversation I have begins.
Read the article 02 PrinciplesJL Collins wrote this for his daughter, which is exactly why it works. Nine simple rules for building wealth, no finance degree required. He later wrote a whole book on this, but honestly? You can start right here and have everything you need.
Read the article 03 ReframeI never looked at money the same way after reading this. Every dollar you earn isn't really a full dollar — and this article explains why, and what to do about it.
Read the article 04 MindsetMoney isn't really about money — it's about frame of mind. This piece captures something the spreadsheets can't: the mental foundation underneath everything else. When MMM himself replied to my comment, it was genuinely one of my favorite moments in this community.
Read the articleAlso worth your time
Dense but worth every minute. A genuinely honest look at the rent vs. buy decision that challenges nearly everything most of us were told growing up.
Read the article Tax strategyNo loopholes — just perfectly legal ways to make your dollar go further by capturing what the tax code already offers. A great companion to the Mad Fientist piece above.
Read the articleThe FIRE community isn't just online — and it isn't just in big cities. ChooseFI local groups meet across the globe, and I've been lucky enough to attend several throughout the Northeast. There's something genuinely awe-inspiring about a room full of people determined to pay it forward. If you go, I think you'll feel it too.
Learning on the go
Podcasts are one of my favorite ways to learn — you could be out on a run, driving, or even doing the dishes simultaneously. I've devoured most episodes of these shows. Here are the ones I'd start with.
The Mad Fientist Podcast
Two of my top four article authors in one conversation. JL Collins has a calming, measured voice and the Mad Fientist asks all the right questions. This episode covers everything. Start here if you listen to nothing else.
Worth a listen 02 Introduction to FIREThe Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss covers a wide range of topics with world-class guests — financial independence being just one of them. Watching him engage with these ideas as a curious outsider makes this one of the most accessible entry points into the conversation I've found.
Worth a listen 03 IncomeChooseFI Podcast
The other side of the equation: earning more. Negotiating your salary is one of the highest-leverage things you can do, and Tori Dunlap makes it approachable and actionable. Financial independence isn't only about cutting back.
Worth a listen 04 Big pictureAll the Hacks with Chris Hutchins
A refreshing reminder that financial independence isn't reserved for high earners. Chris Hutchins and ChooseFI co-founder Brad Barrett break down the fundamentals in a way that's energizing rather than overwhelming.
Worth a listenExtra credit
"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."
James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, has thought more carefully than almost anyone about how real change actually happens. How we handle money is typically interwoven with our habits — and that overlap is impossible to ignore. His conversation with Tim Ferriss (Episode 648) is one I keep recommending. Give it a listen if you have a moment.
Five Minute Finance Fridays
After watching a colleague get brushed off over cupcakes in the break room when she didn't know what an IRA was, I quietly decided to do something about it. Five Minute Finance Fridays was born — a few minutes carved out each week so my team knew they could ask me anything, without fear of judgment.
Let's keep the conversation going
Have a question? Want me to go deeper on a topic?
Send me a note: LizWithLime@Gmail.com