Let’s talk about shopping.  There’s either planned need-based shopping or entertainment shopping.  We’ve all done both at many times in our lives.  Of course, we’re supposed to just perform planned/need-based shopping excursions, but that’s no fun.  Let’s talk about discount shopping—with a plan.

Normal shopping has a few pricing models, full-price, sale-price, some other crazy-price.  The goods we purchase come in two states—new or used.

Today I feel the need to talk about used items.  Something that someone wanted to get rid of and allow us to have that those items for less money.  So excellent for the wallet!  There are many used item locations ebay, craigslist, garage sales, neighborhood posting sites, thrift stores, (bulk trash for some), etc.

Let’s talk about Goodwill thrift stores.  Tons of merchandise—some horrible junk, other may be nice finds or “treasures.”

Here’s the best part:  Goodwill stores often have multiple pricing options.  Full priced items, half priced items,  and excellent $1 items.  Many Goodwill stores base the price on how long the item has been for sale in the store.

• Full Price: As items arrive they are priced with the new color tag of the week (e.g. pink) for full price.  I’m not sure, but I believe my store has 5 colors of tags— as an example a store may use Pink, Purple, Green, Blue, and Yellow.
• 50% off: The fifth(?) Friday after arrival, those old pink tags become 50% off their full price to incentivize people to get those items out of the store.  Friday morning can get a little busy in some goodwill stores.  There may also 50% off Saturdays when the entire store is on sale.
• $1 day: Then on the following Thu—end of that color’s 50% off week— all those 50% pink tagged items become $1 to really try and push the items out of the store.  Thursday morning can be even crazier.  Imagine getting jeans or a jacket for $1.

Then the next day (Friday) the discount process starts over with the next (oldest) color, in this example, Purple tags become 50% off their full price.

There are also 50% off Saturdays,  Senior Tuesday, Military day savings

My tip:  Near the end of the year many people donate items for the tax write and in Jan many items are donated because of new year’s ‘cleaning’ resolutions.  So if we can time 5 weeks after these items arrive (mid-Jan – mid/late Feb) you will find a large selection of very discounted stuff.  My local Goodwill’s racks are jam-packed with clothes and shelves are stacked with items.

I’m sorry this post went up at the end of this timeframe, I just realized myself why there was so much stuff at the stores.  Keep a shopping list of items you need/want in your task list.  Set up a calendar reminder for late Jan and Early Feb next year to take advantage of Goodwill Thrift Store donations sales to load up on stuff and save your wallet some serious money…and have hopefully a great entertainment shopping adventure.

FI: Financially Aware, Financially Optimizing; Enjoying Life.  That is the title I wanted to use, but Jonathan and Brad’s ChooseFI podcast deserves the headline.

I’ve now met repeatedly with two local ChooseFI groups and the meetings continue to be some of the most amazing meetings ever.

Gathered around a large table—or in rows of chairs—were over a dozen people who are locked in on the idea of being in Financial Control.  These people have the power over their money and not let money—or worse bills—control them.

The members of the group are so interested—or experienced—in mastering their money, time, and life.  The term “life hacks” is so magically applicable to many repeated examples shared in these meetings.  The brain power and information could be overwhelming in the 3ish hours if we weren’t all totally engrossed in the topics, constantly jumping to new topics or expounding on those in the current discussion.  I NEVER have an attention span over an hour, not with anything, except with the ChooseFI group(s).  To be fair, I understand some significant others have been known to overload and “skip” some of the future meetings, but a huge percentage of the group loves the information, even more so than considering the time just “well-spent-learning-hours.”

The two groups I’m in are full of people so different from the norm.  The entire group is actually quite different from each other.  We differ in age, family size, residence location, careers, experience with finances, wealth, financial sub-interests, etc.  Yet, there is such an open—and actually an excitement—between us.  The FI foundation we all share shows that the structure(s) we build on top can be and look different, but we are all so similar.

How the hell can so many strangers get so excited, raising their voices, and one-upping each other, when the Instant Pot comes up?  Hilariously amazing.

Maybe I’m just communicating the fact that we are ALL working to be better.  Financial freedom takes away a huge burden allowing the best in each of us.  How we choose to give our best back to the world may differ, but it shines through when you’re around the group.

I just wonder, what if the other 9,999 people out of 10,000 could learn 1/3 (1hr per month) of these ideas, skills, hacks?  What would our society, our neighborhoods, our friends and family do with this feeling of control, of power?

On a personal note: I’ve been pushing my FIRE life aggressively for over 12 years (7-10 pre/3+ post FIRE).  I looked 3, 5, 10 years ago to see if there were groups discussing FI for younger, middle-aged people with no luck.  I found the ChooseFI podcast after listening to podcasts for 10+ years and enjoy it along with my other podcasts.  What I do find truly remarkable is the way Brad and Jonathan have grown the FI topic from the typical blogs/podcasts into local meetings.  I’m over the hump and living FIRE on hopefully a LONG, LONG glide path, but I still learn and definitely love to share ideas I learned along the way.  It’s amazing to be with groups of people who are on a similar flight path, just have different takeoff dates and current altitudes.

Try the ChooseFI podcast, try to find a local ChooseFI group (or meetup) even if you’re not a social person like me.  I’ll tell you, it’s easy to be around people like you…actually, it’s awesome.  They’re awesome!

I think I’ve found something sweet in life!

Nearly every morning as I wake up I take a few moments to relax and prepare for the day.  I don’t even have to think about my daily plans (those activities are already in my schetchle but rather think about how amazing life is.

Of course, we all know that each morning we see the sunlight is much better than the other option, but how thankful are we?

I have found that laying in bed, being comfortable, knowing that I’m so lucky to have lived my life in a way so far to allow me to fully own my day as my own, really sets me up for the great day ahead.  There are many wise people that take some time each morning to meditate calming or clearing their mind, so it’s possible I’m doing this in my own way.

The other day I was enjoying the start of my morning, feeling VERY comfortable and content, laying under the fluffy down comforter when I realized that I’m like the frosting on my bed cake.  Yep, sometimes a calm mind comes up with strange things.

So, my bed is the nice soft foundation of the cake and the comforter is the fluffy frosting on the cake.  I was laying there in full comfort right in the middle of the sweet frosting.

Everyone should have the opportunity to take advantage of some of this “frosting” time.  All too often we are jarred awake by an alarm, we pull ourselves out of bed—or delay the inevitable before getting up—and drag ourselves into the day.  If only more of us could find the few minutes to lay in the frosting and enjoy the sweetness of what we have—even if only for 5 minutes.

I have written before how the best time of my day is the 10-15 before I fall asleep. I’m realizing more and more that sleep is where your body recovers, repairs itself, reset itself and realigns to for the upcoming day(s).  It is important to maximize your sleep almost as much as you maximize your day.  Your health may depend on it.

I believe I have always thought about many things differently than others.  My mind is usually a straight-ahead plan, but I also envision random ideas along the way.  I’m not artistic, but I’m possibly mentally creative?  I guess I’m sharing an alternate perspective—maybe one you could try to get a different perspective and outcome for yourself.

There is so much zen about mindset.  I really try to work on zen but it’s not my nature.  Yet I continue to try and find calm.  Finding this frosting time—and naming it—has made it more of a functional time than just being lazy.  I know my days, especially my mornings, have been better because of enjoying the frosting.