Jim - Route to Retire
@routetoretire.bsky.social
Self-made #millionaire who retired in 2018 at age 43. Lived in #Panama 🇵🇦 from 2019-2022. #RVLife from 2023-2024. Life is good! #financialfreedom
Pinned
How Our 38-Day Europe Trip Took an Unexpected Turn (And Why It Was the Best Part) - Route to Retire
We knocked out a bunch of touristy stuff for this big 38-day Europe trip, but once we pivoted a little, the trip became worlds better...
www.routetoretire.com
"Nothing’s ever perfect, but this trip was pretty darn close, and it checked all the boxes of a fantastic experience for our first time on the continent."
#vacation #europe #europetrip #cruise #italy #greece #spain #sicily #livingthedream #mediterranean
www.routetoretire.com/europe-trip-...
#vacation #europe #europetrip #cruise #italy #greece #spain #sicily #livingthedream #mediterranean
www.routetoretire.com/europe-trip-...
"I’m now 99.9999999999999% sure I’ll never run out of money, and most of those extra 9’s were just added recently. On the flip side I still want to avoid just exuberant spending on extra stuff, especially stuff I don’t really need." -via @Accidental Fire
accidentalfire.com/2026/02/06/h...
accidentalfire.com/2026/02/06/h...
How Much Did I Spend In 2025? - Accidental Fire
I'm learning to spend more and have arguably become a rapacious and drunk baller with a credit card problem. How much did I spend in 2025?
accidentalfire.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:37 PM
"I’m now 99.9999999999999% sure I’ll never run out of money, and most of those extra 9’s were just added recently. On the flip side I still want to avoid just exuberant spending on extra stuff, especially stuff I don’t really need." -via @Accidental Fire
accidentalfire.com/2026/02/06/h...
accidentalfire.com/2026/02/06/h...
"Automation isn’t just convenient. It protects me from myself." -via The Retirement Manifesto
www.theretirementmanifesto.com/from-concept...
www.theretirementmanifesto.com/from-concept...
From Concept to Practice: What an All-Weather Plan Looks Like for Me - The Retirement Manifesto
Today, I'm putting theory into practice as I share how I managed my All-Weather Plan to maximize automation, while accepting some trade-offs.
www.theretirementmanifesto.com
February 5, 2026 at 2:36 PM
"Automation isn’t just convenient. It protects me from myself." -via The Retirement Manifesto
www.theretirementmanifesto.com/from-concept...
www.theretirementmanifesto.com/from-concept...
"When asked by work colleagues why I was retiring, and what I was going to do with my time, my reply was I had to figure it out eventually, so I might as well do it while still relatively young and healthy." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/retirement-i...
esimoney.com/retirement-i...
Retirement Interview 60 - ESI Money
Here’s our latest interview with a retiree as we seek to learn from those who have actually taken the retirement plunge. If you’d like to be considered for an interview, drop me a note and we can chat...
esimoney.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:07 PM
"When asked by work colleagues why I was retiring, and what I was going to do with my time, my reply was I had to figure it out eventually, so I might as well do it while still relatively young and healthy." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/retirement-i...
esimoney.com/retirement-i...
"When that emergency fund is fully set, get into the market. It’s ok to get help, but make it a point to learn because paying fees eats into your savings." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
Millionaire Interview 457 - ESI Money
Here’s our latest interview with a millionaire as we seek to learn from those who have grown their wealth to high heights. If you’d like to be considered for an interview, drop me a note and we can ch...
esimoney.com
January 26, 2026 at 2:15 PM
"When that emergency fund is fully set, get into the market. It’s ok to get help, but make it a point to learn because paying fees eats into your savings." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
"I have met my net worth goals three different times and lost most of it two times. To save your first million is absolutely the most challenging." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
Millionaire Wisdom: How to Grow Net Worth, Part 10 - ESI Money
Through the years, I have interviewed hundreds of millionaires with the goal of learning from their experiences and knowledge. I’ve published these as Millionaire Interviews, featuring my specific que...
esimoney.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:16 PM
"I have met my net worth goals three different times and lost most of it two times. To save your first million is absolutely the most challenging." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
"So if I were trying to make a living with my business I would have been officially below the poverty line. Thank you financial independence." -via Accidental Fire
accidentalfire.com/2026/01/21/h...
accidentalfire.com/2026/01/21/h...
How Much Did I Make Creating And Selling Graphic Designs in 2025? - Accidental Fire
Another year of creating and selling graphic designs is in the books! How much did I make in my awesome business in 2025?
accidentalfire.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:24 PM
"So if I were trying to make a living with my business I would have been officially below the poverty line. Thank you financial independence." -via Accidental Fire
accidentalfire.com/2026/01/21/h...
accidentalfire.com/2026/01/21/h...
"On the personal finance side, we had a good year. The stock market performed very well and propelled our net worth to a new high." -via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/2025-fire-wr...
retireby40.org/2025-fire-wr...
2025 FIRE Wrap Up
The RB40 household had a rocky 2025, but we made the best of it. #FIRE
retireby40.org
January 19, 2026 at 8:18 PM
"On the personal finance side, we had a good year. The stock market performed very well and propelled our net worth to a new high." -via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/2025-fire-wr...
retireby40.org/2025-fire-wr...
"We usually try to live off half of our take-home salary, but I think it is about 60% in reality. We max all the pre-tax accounts like 401ks, HSAs, and then automatically invest about 40% the take-home pay." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
Millionaire Interview Update 74 - ESI Money
Today I have an update for you from a previous millionaire interview. I’m letting three years pass from the initial interviews to the updates, so if you’ve been interviewed, I’ll be in touch. 😉 This u...
esimoney.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:14 PM
"We usually try to live off half of our take-home salary, but I think it is about 60% in reality. We max all the pre-tax accounts like 401ks, HSAs, and then automatically invest about 40% the take-home pay." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
"2025 was a great year for us. We spent about 4 months on the water on various cruises all over the world: Mexico, Caribbean, Alaska, and six weeks around northern Europe." -via Root of Good
rootofgood.com/december-202...
rootofgood.com/december-202...
December 2025 Early Retirement Update - Year End Edition - Root of Good
Welcome back to another monthly update from Root of Good! Happy belated New Years to all of you! We had a great 2025 and we're looking forward to another great year in 2026. During December, we stayed...
rootofgood.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:19 PM
"2025 was a great year for us. We spent about 4 months on the water on various cruises all over the world: Mexico, Caribbean, Alaska, and six weeks around northern Europe." -via Root of Good
rootofgood.com/december-202...
rootofgood.com/december-202...
"Not every change is going to be a homerun for sure, but if you stack the deck in your favor, you’re sure to have a much better shot at being one lucky guy or gal!"
#makeyourownluck #luck #financialindependence #freedom #travel
www.routetoretire.com/being-lucky/
#makeyourownluck #luck #financialindependence #freedom #travel
www.routetoretire.com/being-lucky/
Being Lucky Has Little to Do with Luck - Route to Retire
How do you go from being unlucky to being lucky in life? It ain't banking on chance if that's what you think! Here's the secret...
www.routetoretire.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:05 PM
"Not every change is going to be a homerun for sure, but if you stack the deck in your favor, you’re sure to have a much better shot at being one lucky guy or gal!"
#makeyourownluck #luck #financialindependence #freedom #travel
www.routetoretire.com/being-lucky/
#makeyourownluck #luck #financialindependence #freedom #travel
www.routetoretire.com/being-lucky/
"Saving is a powerful lever, but it is finite. You can only cut your expenses to zero. Your income, on the other hand, has a virtually unlimited ceiling." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
Millionaire Interview 456 - ESI Money
Here’s our latest interview with a millionaire as we seek to learn from those who have grown their wealth to high heights. If you’d like to be considered for an interview, drop me a note and we can ch...
esimoney.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:56 PM
"Saving is a powerful lever, but it is finite. You can only cut your expenses to zero. Your income, on the other hand, has a virtually unlimited ceiling." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
"The way I accumulated my net worth is living on less than I earned and consistent saving and investing. I didn’t make a 6 figure income, but managed the money I made pretty well." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
Millionaire Wisdom: How to Grow Net Worth, Part 8 - ESI Money
Through the years, I have interviewed hundreds of millionaires with the goal of learning from their experiences and knowledge. I’ve published these as Millionaire Interviews, featuring my specific que...
esimoney.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:03 PM
"The way I accumulated my net worth is living on less than I earned and consistent saving and investing. I didn’t make a 6 figure income, but managed the money I made pretty well." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
"This year, I plan to retire more and work less. This means less blogging and delivery driving." -via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/2026-new-yea...
retireby40.org/2026-new-yea...
2026 New Year Goals
Happy New Year!!! Set some goals and you'll have a roadmap for 2026. Good luck!
retireby40.org
January 5, 2026 at 2:57 PM
"This year, I plan to retire more and work less. This means less blogging and delivery driving." -via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/2026-new-yea...
retireby40.org/2026-new-yea...
"What’s your best tip for saving money?
My color on this tip: programmatically increase one’s savings rate to the point of marginal discomfort. This is the household savings equivalent of resistance training in the gym." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
My color on this tip: programmatically increase one’s savings rate to the point of marginal discomfort. This is the household savings equivalent of resistance training in the gym." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
Millionaire Interview 455 - ESI Money
Here’s our latest interview with a millionaire as we seek to learn from those who have grown their wealth to high heights. If you’d like to be considered for an interview, drop me a note and we can ch...
esimoney.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:34 PM
"What’s your best tip for saving money?
My color on this tip: programmatically increase one’s savings rate to the point of marginal discomfort. This is the household savings equivalent of resistance training in the gym." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
My color on this tip: programmatically increase one’s savings rate to the point of marginal discomfort. This is the household savings equivalent of resistance training in the gym." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
"I’m a prime example of 'slow and steady' winning the race. I invest on a regular basis, keep my costs low, rebalance annually and go about my day." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
Millionaire Wisdom: How to Grow Net Worth, Part 7 - ESI Money
Through the years, I have interviewed hundreds of millionaires with the goal of learning from their experiences and knowledge. I’ve published these as Millionaire Interviews, featuring my specific que...
esimoney.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:39 PM
"I’m a prime example of 'slow and steady' winning the race. I invest on a regular basis, keep my costs low, rebalance annually and go about my day." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
"All our money’s been made the slow way – one penny at a time. It’s really just been a matter of living modestly and saving more than we earn." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
Millionaire Wisdom: How to Grow Net Worth, Part 6 - ESI Money
Through the years, I have interviewed hundreds of millionaires with the goal of learning from their experiences and knowledge. I’ve published these as Millionaire Interviews, featuring my specific que...
esimoney.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
"All our money’s been made the slow way – one penny at a time. It’s really just been a matter of living modestly and saving more than we earn." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
"Beyond the one you love, also seek to develop a core group of high-quality relationships, the kind of friends you could call in the middle of the night if something goes wrong." -via @The Retirement Manifesto
www.theretirementmanifesto.com/9-proven-way...
www.theretirementmanifesto.com/9-proven-way...
9 Proven Ways To Boost Your Happiness in Retirement - The Retirement Manifesto
If you're looking to boost your happiness in retirement, you're in luck. Today, 9 proven ways to boost your happiness, from a recent study.
www.theretirementmanifesto.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:12 PM
"Beyond the one you love, also seek to develop a core group of high-quality relationships, the kind of friends you could call in the middle of the night if something goes wrong." -via @The Retirement Manifesto
www.theretirementmanifesto.com/9-proven-way...
www.theretirementmanifesto.com/9-proven-way...
"After almost ten years of traveling the world with everything we needed on our backs, we are doing something that will change our lives yet again:
We are hanging up the backpacks and getting a home address."
-via 43BlueDoors
43bluedoors.com/2025/12/05/n...
We are hanging up the backpacks and getting a home address."
-via 43BlueDoors
43bluedoors.com/2025/12/05/n...
Finding a Home After a Decade of Nomadic Travel - 43BlueDoors
Can minimalists settle down after 10 years of travel? Our first weeks reveal the messy, meaningful start of creating a home again.
43bluedoors.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:25 PM
"After almost ten years of traveling the world with everything we needed on our backs, we are doing something that will change our lives yet again:
We are hanging up the backpacks and getting a home address."
-via 43BlueDoors
43bluedoors.com/2025/12/05/n...
We are hanging up the backpacks and getting a home address."
-via 43BlueDoors
43bluedoors.com/2025/12/05/n...
"The easiest way to reduce your tax liability is to contribute to your tax-advantaged retirement plans." -via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/end-of-2025-...
retireby40.org/end-of-2025-...
End of 2025 Tax Optimization
End of 2025 Tax Optimization. A few things we can do to optimize taxes before the year is over. #FIRE
retireby40.org
December 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
"The easiest way to reduce your tax liability is to contribute to your tax-advantaged retirement plans." -via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/end-of-2025-...
retireby40.org/end-of-2025-...
"We both enjoy going to auctions and thrift stores, and have had to implement a rule that in order to buy more stuff, we need to sell or donate other things to make room." -via ESIMoneyBlog
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
Millionaire Interview 454 - ESI Money
Here’s our latest interview with a millionaire as we seek to learn from those who have grown their wealth to high heights. If you’d like to be considered for an interview, drop me a note and we can ch...
esimoney.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:14 PM
"We both enjoy going to auctions and thrift stores, and have had to implement a rule that in order to buy more stuff, we need to sell or donate other things to make room." -via ESIMoneyBlog
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
"Nothing’s ever perfect, but this trip was pretty darn close, and it checked all the boxes of a fantastic experience for our first time on the continent."
#vacation #europe #europetrip #cruise #italy #greece #spain #sicily #livingthedream #mediterranean
www.routetoretire.com/europe-trip-...
#vacation #europe #europetrip #cruise #italy #greece #spain #sicily #livingthedream #mediterranean
www.routetoretire.com/europe-trip-...
How Our 38-Day Europe Trip Took an Unexpected Turn (And Why It Was the Best Part) - Route to Retire
We knocked out a bunch of touristy stuff for this big 38-day Europe trip, but once we pivoted a little, the trip became worlds better...
www.routetoretire.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
"Nothing’s ever perfect, but this trip was pretty darn close, and it checked all the boxes of a fantastic experience for our first time on the continent."
#vacation #europe #europetrip #cruise #italy #greece #spain #sicily #livingthedream #mediterranean
www.routetoretire.com/europe-trip-...
#vacation #europe #europetrip #cruise #italy #greece #spain #sicily #livingthedream #mediterranean
www.routetoretire.com/europe-trip-...
"I’ve been tracking our net worth since 2006. It is very motivating to see our progress. The power of compounding is incredible. Our investment gains far outpace our earned income last year."
-via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/november-202...
-via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/november-202...
November 2025 FIRE Update
We had a nice November. Everything was running smoothly with no big problems surfacing. Did you have a good month? #FIRE
retireby40.org
December 8, 2025 at 2:17 PM
"I’ve been tracking our net worth since 2006. It is very motivating to see our progress. The power of compounding is incredible. Our investment gains far outpace our earned income last year."
-via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/november-202...
-via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/november-202...
"[I]nvest in yourself by learning a skill, getting more education, and then parlay that into some networking and relationship building to findsomeone or some entity who wants to pay you for that skill or knowledge." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
Millionaire Interview 453 - ESI Money
Here’s our latest interview with a millionaire as we seek to learn from those who have grown their wealth to high heights. If you’d like to be considered for an interview, drop me a note and we can ch...
esimoney.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:09 PM
"[I]nvest in yourself by learning a skill, getting more education, and then parlay that into some networking and relationship building to findsomeone or some entity who wants to pay you for that skill or knowledge." -via ESI Money
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
esimoney.com/millionaire-...
"[While] working, you are trading time for money, and that is the way it should be. And it is a necessary trade, but unless you just have a passion for what you are getting paid to do, just remember it’s a job, you give them time and they give you money." via ESI Money
esimoney.com/retirement-i...
esimoney.com/retirement-i...
Retirement Interview 59 - ESI Money
Here’s our latest interview with a retiree as we seek to learn from those who have actually taken the retirement plunge. If you’d like to be considered for an interview, drop me a note and we can chat...
esimoney.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:56 PM
"[While] working, you are trading time for money, and that is the way it should be. And it is a necessary trade, but unless you just have a passion for what you are getting paid to do, just remember it’s a job, you give them time and they give you money." via ESI Money
esimoney.com/retirement-i...
esimoney.com/retirement-i...
"I want to let it ride, but I want to cash out some chips too. Is it time to start converting some of that paper gains to tangible assets?" -via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/should-i-con...
retireby40.org/should-i-con...
Should I convert paper gains to real assets?
Is it time to take some chips off the table and buy some real assets? The AI bubble will pop at some point. #invest
retireby40.org
October 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
"I want to let it ride, but I want to cash out some chips too. Is it time to start converting some of that paper gains to tangible assets?" -via Retire by 40
retireby40.org/should-i-con...
retireby40.org/should-i-con...