Financial Pilgrimage

Helping young families pay down debt and live financially free

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

About me:

- 40 Years Old
- Lives in St. Louis, MO
- Former College Athlete
- Dad of Two Kids (7 and 3)
- Lake House Owner with Family
- Paid ~$200k in Debt in 8 Years
- 9 to 5 Employee (Senior Manager)
- Degrees in Finance and Economics
- Despite Successes, Feels Like Imposter

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@dougboneparth I was able to walk my kids to school most mornings for about 4 years. Memories I’ll cherish forever!

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@jeremyct This is how most assets work though.

Buy any decent real estate, stocks, business, etc and it will be worth multiples more in 18 years.

You have the same opportunity today that your dad did 18 years ago.

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

Daycare is the most expensive part when they are young. Diapers and formula are as well if you go that route. All can be avoidable but for many they are necessary.

Kids really start getting expensive when older. Food costs way more, vacations cost multiples of when traveling alone, insurance is higher, etc. Sure, you can skimp on all of these things but the reality is often different.

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

My last car was a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. I always drove similar cars in the past.

But as my kids have gotten older, safety and reliability are more important than ever.

Bought my first new car a couple of years ago (Tesla Model Y). Perfect for our family and I’m glad I waited until later in life when more financially stable to make a big vehicle purchase.

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@CliftonSellers College

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@LiebermanAustin *don’t travel very much

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@LiebermanAustin Totally agree. Most “travel baseball” teams around here don’t very much anyway. And we’d be spending more money doing other things most weekends anyway.

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

It feels more and more like the future will be the people who own stocks vs the people who don’t. Because if you have equity in these companies you will likely be just fine, but if you don’t… good luck.

[⭕ AI & Design (Marco) @AIandDesign]

I'm not gonna lie, the @Meta layoffs are some of the most dystopian I've ever seen. They got told to work from home, they were sent the emails at 4AM in the morning. Those who weren't impacted have software on their computer that tracks their every move, preparing AI to take their job as well. They're literally training the AI that will eliminate their position as well.

Meanwhile, Meta is raking in RECORD PROFITS.

I am a massive, unapologetic AI enthusiast. Yet, this is NOT the future I had in mind.

I wish for Meta to crash and burn. This is not the way. Literally nobody benefits from this.

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

Why are people just now realizing that making food at home is cheaper than going out or ordering delivery?

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@theficouple Crazy indeed. We spend so much more now than pre-kids. It doesn’t get better as they get older.

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@CLVC98 @theficouple This is the best approach

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@BarbellFi None of these things even matter though?

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@alphafox Rage baiting at its finest

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@KettlebellDan Free hotel breakfast is one of my favorite joys in life. Don’t ruin it for me!

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@GuyTalksFinance I’m glad I lost money investing in individual stocks early in life when the numbers were small. Taught me there had to be a better way.

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

I talk to a lot of people in their 50s and 60s whose biggest regret is not investing more in 401k and IRA accounts.

Yes, there is a very small percentage of people who can take that money and build something big. Maybe you are one of them. But almost everyone else is going to spend that money instead.

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@DadisFIRE @BBGreatMoments @RawlingsSports He’s doing really well. Still loving it and every year he’s plays a bit more than the last. We’re at 12u. It goes by fast! How about your oldest?

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@DadisFIRE @BBGreatMoments @RawlingsSports Play it again sports is great for bats for young kids. Kids barely use them a year and you can get $450 bats in good shape for $50.

My kid is 12u and finally got the expensive bat last Christmas, but he went through a lot of $50 bats that did just fine.

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@joeroganhq Never retire.

But position yourself to do work on your time and schedule.

[Financial Pilgrimage @Financialplgrm]

@SteveOnSpeed Did you end up selling all of yours?