Hey Heroes,
What if work became optional? Picture this: sipping coffee on a beach ☕🏖️, no alarm clock, no boss—just freedom. That’s what your financial independence (FI) number unlocks—the amount you need to cover expenses without a paycheck. I’m Brian Waters from Code 3 Invest Real Estate, and today, I’m walking you through how to find your FI number. Let’s dive in! 🚀
What’s a Financial Independence Number? 🌟
Your FI number is the magic figure where you don’t trade time for money—your investments do the work 💸. Think rental properties 🏠, dividends, or anything that passively pays the bills. For me, it’s about time—time to do what I want, when I want, with whom I want ⏳. Time’s our most precious asset. Money doesn’t buy happiness, but it buys food, shelter, vacations… and yeah, those make me happy 😊. Until you start this journey, you’re working for someone else, no end in sight ⛓️.
Step 1: Know Your Expenses 📊
You can’t hit a target you can’t see 🎯. Pull your bank statements or budgeting app and calculate your yearly cost of living—housing, food, transportation, insurance, fun stuff like travel ✈️. Don’t guess; track it for accuracy. My family spends $150,000 a year—$12,500/month after taxes. Twin boys in sports and family trips add up (the food bill’s insane! 🍔⚽). Overestimate here—life throws curveballs ⚾.
- Why It Matters: What if you’re forced to retire early? A pilot with an eye injury can’t fly ✈️❌, or a Firefighter who has a career ending injury, what’s next?. Knowing your budget is peace of mind 🧘♂️.
- Pro Tip: My wife and I did this together—call it “standing on the beach naked” 🏝️😅. It was uncomfortable but great at the same time. It stopped money fights, showed me she’s a budgeting rockstar (mostly spends on the kids 👧👦), and helped her see where every dollar flows. Transparency made us stronger 💪.
Step 2: Define Your “Enough”
FI isn’t about being a billionaire—it’s time freedom ⏰. What’s your ideal life cost? Maybe $100,000/year for simplicity, or $300,000 for luxury 💎. Enough to say, “I’m done working for someone else”—like an Office Space moment, smashing the printer 🖨️💥. Test it: live on your target budget for a few months. Too tight? Adjust up. Plenty? Dial down. I’m a “Ready, Shoot, Aim” guy—start, then tweak 🎯.
- Reality Check: Busy pros miss birthdays 🎂, holidays 🎄, or “me time” 😴. This number buys those back.
- Challenge: Stop living by chance 🎲. An injury could end your career tomorrow. Be accountable—nobody’s doing this for you ✋.
Step 3: Build the Income 🏦
My path? Real estate 🏘️. I went from one rental to 14 in four years—cash flow, appreciation, tax advantages, and principal paydown 📈. The goal: passive income matching your expenses. This hits home for me—I started at the fire department at 32 with little savings 🚒. Full retirement means working to 63, but this job’s rough. I’m on track to retire at 53 instead. That’s the plan ✅.
- Mindset: Kiyosaki calls it leaving the rat race 🐀🏃♂️. Gurus pitch one-year miracles—nah, this is a 10-year plan ⏳. My kids just turned 11; time flies ✈️. Ten years beats 30-45 in the grind.
- Next Steps: Strategy’s coming in future emails 📩. For now, nail your number.
Your Turn: Calculate It 🧮
Grab a calculator. Tally monthly expenses, multiply by 12, tweak for your dreams ✨. My $150K/year lifestyle? That’s my starting point. I bet you’re doing better than you think—if not, it’s a wake-up call ☎️. This isn’t get-rich-quick; it’s a plan to own your time ⏰.
“Invest like your life depends on it—because every dollar’s a lifeline.” 🔥
Reply with your FI number—I’d love to hear it!
More on building income next time.
P.S. If this resonated, forward it to a friend who needs a nudge 😉.
👇 Links Below👇
Crush Real Estate Investing,
Brian Waters
Real Estate Investor/Mentor
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