RESOURCES
Useful Articlesand Resources
FILE: Financial Independence, Live Early – A New Approach to Retirement for the Childfree
By Jay Zigmont | May 20, 2024
FILE stands for "Financial Independence, Live Early," and it’s a twist on the popular FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. Instead of quitting work altogether at a young age, FILErs achieve financial independence and use their newfound freedom to live life on their own terms.
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What Is an Emergency Fund?
By Jay Zigmont | Feb 13, 2024
A financial rainy day is an unexpected expense you didn't budget for, and the way you meet those surprise bills is with an emergency fund. Let’s take a look at the finer points of emergency funds.
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Opportunity Costs and Die With Zero
By Childfree Wealth® team | Jan 4, 2023
I was somewhere between Washington DC and Seattle when the concept of opportunity costs smacked me in the face (versus the more subtle way it typically appears in my life on a daily basis – sneaking into my decision-making on a just-barely-conscious level). I was sitting in an aisle seat of a Boeing jet, headed […]
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A portrait of Childfree Freedom – Amelia and Matt
By Jay Zigmont | Nov 15, 2022
Amelia 29, Female, Married, Colorado Bachelor’s in Sustainable Business Sustainability Manager Matt 33, Male, Married, Colorado Automation Design This portrait is one of 26 real life stories presented in the book, Portraits of Childfree Wealth. You can download a free copy here. Amelia and Matt have been married for nine years and are living their best lives […]
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FILE vs FIRE – Finding what is right for you.
By Jay Zigmont | Aug 28, 2022
It used to be that the goal was to retire and ‘get the watch.’ People would work 25 years at one company, pay their bills, and then retire (often with a pension). Those days are gone. Retirement is no longer ‘guaranteed’ for anyone and may not even be a choice for many. Even for those […]
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Jesse – A Childfree Portrait of Intentional Balance
By Jay Zigmont | Aug 28, 2022
This portrait is one of 26 presented in my new book, Portraits of Childfree Wealth, available for ordering now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and everywhere books are sold. Jesse 35 years old, Male, Married Colorado Bachelor’s in Education Indie Video Game Designer Jesse and his wife live in an RV in Colorado. He is a self-employed video game […]
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Alison – A Portrait of Freedom
By Jay Zigmont | Aug 28, 2022
This Portrait of Childfree Freedom is one of 26 in our new book, “Portraits of Childfree Wealth.” The book is currently available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo, and everywhere books are sold. Alison 22, Female, Single, Missouri Bachelor’s in Creative Writing Semi Truck Driver Alison was on the road in Illinois headed to Texas when I spoke […]
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Ryan A – A Portrait of Freedom and No Regrets
By Jay Zigmont | Aug 28, 2022
There are many ways to achieve financial independence, but then what? Ryan and his wife are living the FILE life and have no regrets. This story is one of 26 portraits in my book “Portraits of Childfree Wealth”. Ryan shares about how retirement did not really fit, how he adjusted his life, and what happens when your spouse changes […]
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The Sabbatical – A tool to recenter and find yourself.
By Jay Zigmont | Aug 28, 2022
The bonus of being Childfree is that may have the time, money, and freedom to do what we want to do. The challenge is in knowing what we want to do. We may have too many options and may get stuck in analysis paralysis. Taking a sabbatical, a 3-6 month break from work, may be just the […]
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Choosing the FILE Lifestyle – Financial Independence, Live Early
By Jay Zigmont | Aug 28, 2022
If the days of working 25 years to ‘get the watch’ and retire are gone, why are we still setting retirement as our goal? Living a life of Childfree Wealth means you have the time, money, and freedom to do what you want. Do you want to work for most of your life to retire? […]
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