76. Quitting Corporate for a Creative Career w/ Michelle Varghese (Build a Wealthy Spirit)

I share my story on the Everyday FI Podcast with my friend Meghan Combs. I touch on things like: Growing up in an immigrant household in UK Growing up with the Migrant Mindset and Frugality My journey from London, UK to the Philippines Geoarbitrage in South East Asia and Costs of Living My Why behind FI and Life Design My Life Design Principles My Sabbatical stories and the power of them Alternative FI Milestones (FU Money, Coast FI, Barista FI)

Scott joins us again to talk about his journey to creating more time freedom through part time consulting, where he works only part of the year. This frees him up to work on things that are meaningful to him, like more time with his partner, passion projects, travel and of course writing. Scott is based in Melbourne Australia, he left full time work and a six figure salary in 2023 to work part of the year and he runs the Scott on Fire blog where he writes about his FI philosophy and how to live a good life. Things you’ll learn: About his part time consulting work The Melbourne local FIRE community His FIRE Goal: to make work optional by 40 His investment portfolio and his fun money The 4 ETFs he’s investing in The debt recycling strategy (in Australia) His investing journey from 2018 His 50% savings rate for 7 years How he was able to save 75% in one year His career journey from 2018: Studied accounting His first job: data entry as payroll officer On never getting promotions, just positive ‘side steps’ How he got into consulting Quitting full time work in 2023 The challenges of having freedom Quick-fire round questions at the end: Something he wished they done 10 years ago His daily habits that helped him in life His most important lesson in life His book recommendations 1-2 small things listeners can do this week to get started Scott on Fire Links: Website & Blog: https://scottonfire.com/ X: https://x.com/ScottOnFire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottOnFireDotCom Substack: https://scottonfire.substack.com/

Have you ever thought about living between two countries to avoid the cold winters? Thats exactly how Bex Thomas and her husband are living their life now. They designed a life they love which involves living in Sydney Australia for part of the year and Brittany in France the rest of the year to avoid the colder winters. Bex is the awesome host of the Sabbatical Stories podcast and is a career break and career transition coach. Things you’ll learn: Current living situation: Between Australia and France The hardships of renovating a 15th Century barn in France What a typical years looks like between the two countries Her backstory from growing up in UK to moving to Australia First sabbatical before moving to Australia Her first 5 years living in Sydney Her promotion to Director level and it being an anti-climax Second sabbatical (8 months): Soul searching and life design Their 3 themes of life design: sunshine, freedom and people Exiting full time corporate in 2022 How she got into coaching Passion projects she experimented with Finding her Ikigai Finding life balance over 365 days not just per day On coaching people to take leaps into the unknown Values misalignment: Main issue for students Crossroads Program: outline of 6 sessions Purposeful Pause Program: outline of 6 sessions Advice she gives for people post sabbatical About her monthly tech free ‘Joy Day’ How they set up finances to fund their transition Quick-fire round questions at the end: Something she wished they done 10 years ago Her daily habits that helped her on journey Her most important lesson in life Her book recommendations 1-2 small things listeners can do this week to get started Bex Thomas (Links): Website: https://bexthomas.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bexthomas/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bexthomascoaching/ Sabbatical Stories Podcast: Link

FIRE SPARK Retreat Teaser: The Retreat will be held in August 2026 on the Gold Coast of Australia. It's a weekend getaway for the FI Community to make new friends, learn from the community and get inspired on their journey to FI. On this special episode I’m joined by the founder Brenda James who will tell us a bit more about the retreat and what to expect (in case anyone is interested to join, links to registration are below). I’ll also be joined by Scott of the Scott on Fire Blog who’ll be speaking at the event. Brenda will then switch into interviewing mode and will be asking Scott and I some questions about our journey and our thoughts on the retreat.

Meghan quit her high paying corporate tech job and downshifted to Barista FI and now works part time as an actual Barista in a coffee shop. She now has a less stressful job and has time to explore other hobbies like book writing and spending more time with her hubby. Meghan is the host of the awesome Everyday FI Podcast where she explores the lives of everyday people on their financial independence journey and she's based out in North Carolina, US. Things you’ll learn: About her part time Barista job Her FI Progress and Investing Strategy Household income with husband Savings rate after transitioning to Barista FI Net worth and portfolio split How she’s enjoying the journey now before getting to FI Where she heard about FIRE Career pivot from art historian to tech Art historian salary v her tech salary How she went from 55k to 150k in salary Being a couple on the FI journey How therapy was one of the best decisions for her Why and how she quit her high paying tech job Dealing with toxic bosses Writing a post on Linkedin about quitting Getting depressed after not working What she does now outside of part time work Perks of working in a coffee shop as a barista Quick-fire round questions at the end: Something she wished she done 10 years ago Her daily habits that helped her in life Her most important lesson in life Her podcast recommendations 1-2 small things listeners can do this week to get started Meghan Combs (Links): Website: https://everyday-fi.com/ Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everydayfi/id1747124228 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0FihxuhxKG9j4xBChlsLtj?si=dd017fcee8bb412c Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EverydayFIpodcast Freedom Before FI Links: Free Guides: Download the free ‘Freedom Ideas’ Cheat Sheet and the free ‘Find Your Purpose’ worksheet at: https://freedombeforefi.com/free-guides/ Website: Check out our resources and services at www.freedombeforefi.com Email: If you want to connect, send me a note at [email protected] Instagram: or send a DM at Instagram Link Linktree (all links): https://linktr.ee/freedombeforefi Related Episodes: Ep. 88: Test Driving Retirement by Slow Travel (w/ Not Your Ordinary Plan) Link Ep. 77: The 5 Tools For Designing Your Life (If You’re Feeling Stuck) - Link Ep. 74: Crafting Your Best Life Now Before FI w/ Justin Peters of the FI Minded Podcast - Link Listen to FBF on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/freedom-before-fi-life-design-purpose-sabbaticals-coast/id1740083285 Listen to FBF on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0XxPgEeuGayTqaEwUE19mk?si=cc8639ad8c28474e