Hello readers, and welcome to the FIREstarter blog!
I am a 32 year old normal (ish) bloke living in the South of England, and I have a crazy, hare-brained scheme to retire from my corporate job in 5 years, starting from a Net Worth of practically zero.
Think it can’t be done? Check out the Early Retirement (ER for short) superstars over at Early Retirement Extreme and Mr Money Mustache (affectionately known as ERE and MMM*) – plus the hundreds more on their respective forums.
Yea, so I’m obviously not going to bullshit you and pretend I came up with these ideas, but starting my own blog seemed like a good idea for following reasons:
- Following my progress (was going to say “journey” but I bloody hate that word – way too X-Factor for my liking!) might be fun and hopefully enlightening for readers, to show that it can be done. It will also keep me in check and on the right path. No slacking allowed once you’ve put your intentions out into the public domain!
- I live in the UK – I haven’t really found many UK blogs on the subject, especially those attempting getting out in such a short amount of time. There are plenty of great UK based personal finance and investment advice blogs out there already but not so many focused on ER, and they tend to be fairly mundane and are just a bit, well… British I guess 🙂
- I’ve got plenty of fresh ideas to write about the general subject of ER, tips and tricks, money saving ideas, frugal food recipes (I love food!) and to be honest just loads of other random ideas swilling around my brain and I need to get them down on paper! I’ve probably got a years worth of blog ideas already – just need to find the time to write them now!
- Spreading the word! I’ve only recently been shown the light by randomly discovering the MMM website one day and it really has changed my outlook on life, in fact its probably not an overstatement to say it has changed my life full stop. I would like to extend this amazing feeling that you can achieve something seemingly impossible, and this new way of financial and cultural thinking, or as Jacob from ERE befittingly describes it as having taken the red pill from the movie The Matrix, to as many others as I can. There is plenty of room on the Internet left for 1000’s more blogs on the subject, and the more out there, the more people will get the message. I feel like there is a real movement out there and it’s already gathering a head of steam, I’d like to be a part of that movement no matter how small or large this blog becomes.
So then for the uninitiated readers amongst you I guess you are either wondering:
- How the hell am I going to achieve this feat…?!
- Am I really just bat-shit crazy?!
If you want to find out the answer to either of the above questions, or just follow my progress, sign up via email or the RSS link here – my next post will be detailing my “get out of jail” plan – could be interesting as I’ve not finalised everything in my own head yet!
*Important note – that terrible photo of me is a poor attempt at humour – poking a slight bit of fun at MMM’s first post. I do not normally sport a goatee and/or sunglasses when it’s cloudy 😉
Discussion (30) ¬
Good luck, TFS.
It’s fantastic that you’ve started a ER/FI blog based in the UK.
Whilst the US ones are great, they have different challenges to us – house prices, tax system etc.
I have been searching for a site like yours for many months, so I will look forward to reading your blog!
Hi David!
First of congratulations on being my first commenter, and thanks for the words of encouragement.
Yes that is exactly why I thought I’d start something up, there are a few UK based blogs dotted around that kind of skirt around the subject, but none that really confront the whole FIRE thing head on, they are mainly just personal finance blogs I tend to find.
I really would love to see the movement gather some steam over here.
House prices and taxes are something we have harder than our cousins over the pond I feel, I’ll definitely be doing a post on that at some point!
Can I also be rather bold and ask how you found the blog, is the power of google really that good that people are trickling in after just one post? 🙂
Thanks again and hope you stick around.
TFS
Hi there, TFS.
I have been regularly Googling “UK Financial Independence Blog”, and this time around it popped up on the second page of the listings.
Material ahead of it is either not relevant or from other sites which I’ve seen before – good and bad.
However, to find your site again, I typed “Firestarter” initially but couldn’t find it. So, I then typed “Firestarter Financial Independence” et voila! So, you probably have a bit of work to do to get up the listings – both in terms of UK FIRE and your “Firestarter” name.
You might want to do some cross referral activity with some of the other more established blogs to build your following – Monevator and the like.. If you can get mentions on ERE and MMM, then clearly all the Brits lurking there might give you a quick look.
Nice second post, by the way…
D
Thanks for replying, much appreciated.
Thats interesting about being on page two, and promising. I’ll get cracking on writing some more posts!
I chose the firestarter name for the obvious pun on FIRE, plus, well I like the band The Prodigy. I didn’t really consider that people would actually search for “Firestarter” in google to find the blog and would most likely be confronted with lots of videos and pictures of Keith Flint… haha!
I’ve finally just created a Gravatar/Avatar so will also get cracking on some cross referral activity like you say.
Cheers again for the reply and advice!
TFS
Welcome to a wonderful journey! I love that the concept of financial freedom is spreading worldwide! As someone who is pretty close to financial freedom after a lifetime of dumb mistakes, I love seeing someone young making it happen! Good luck and stay in touch!
Thanks again Nick, especially for calling me young… 🙂
Yes… Really hoping I can help to spread the word around the grand old UK and Europe!
Will be dropping by your place again for sure.
Cheers
Andy/TFS
TFS, you are right – there are a ton of US based FI blogs but I found just a few based in other countries. The principles of FI are universal but as always the devil is in the details which, like real estate, are local. Looking forward to read about your road to UK based FI.
Hi ISL, can I call you that? 🙂
Thanks for reading. The devil in the details indeed!
I’ve been a bit slack at posting over the last few weeks but have got lots of articles in draft and nearly ready to go, so watch this space as they say. Cheers
Andy,
I just read this “meet the firestarter” page and I like it so far! You have a very compelling story – I’m excited to hear about your path to leave the corporate world, and I’d love to hear your food ideas!
-Nick
Hey Nick!
I’ve just noticed I never replied to you on your very first comment. How rude!
I’ve really slacked off on the food posts recently but going to make them a regular Frugal Food Friday feature from next week.
Cheers as always for reading and for your excellent blog!
Man, I wish that I would have been thinking like you when I was 32. Although I was a saver, I didn’t consider early retirement until I was in my late 30s. It definitely would have changed some of my decisions.
Thanks for dropping by Mr 1500!
It’s funny… I am finding myself looking at similar blogs written by even younger folk, thinking exactly the same thing as you. I guess somewhere there is always going to be someone who is older, and someone younger, who has caught onto the idea at a particular point in life. Still doesn’t stop those “what if?” thoughts though does it!
Love your blog by the way, I found it a while back but only really just getting round to reading some of your best articles, there are some crackers on there.
Thanks again!
I think this is a great challenge and I hope you succeed!
Thanks Zoe! I hope so too 🙂
Have you passed by this FI blog? http://getintheringwithme.blogspot.co.uk/
Another from the UK…. though just moved to France.
I haven’t no! It looks good, I’ll check it out… thanks for the link!
I have to say it’s really great to see more UK based people showing up on this blog 🙂
Hey TFS
Just found your blog via Monevator, gonna enjoy working my way through your articles.
Good luck with your FI plan!
Welcome to the blog Topher!
Hope you like what you read and stick around for the fun.
All the best to you too sir.
TFS
I found this site today; I’m here through MMM and Simple Life in Suffolk. My own financial planning started at the beginning of 2013, morphed into building in business year plans to the personal finances, which have seen me and the family close our first BY end of March this year and goal set to BY end 2015. By chance, the beginning of Q1 2014 saw me discover MMM. Suddenly the perspective is changing, a door to a new world has swung open. Looking forward to accompanying you forwards from here. ***Inspired*** Keep moving forward, you will make it, for sure.
Thanks for the extremely positive words UAA! Really hope you stick around and let us know how you are getting on further down the road.
Looking forward to reading more of this blog. (By the way, hare-brained, not hair brained!)
Glad to have you on board Andrew! I love a good typo spot, so thanks for that, a very eagle eyed spot if I do say so.
Cheers!
Weirdly I was listening to the biggerpockets podcast (I am trying to become financially independent by 45.. currently 29) and heard the term FIRE although I have heard of FI before… so found you that way.
Signed up to the newsletter so looking forward to keeping updated on your blog…
I agree with some of the earlier commentators, it feels its more difficult to become FI in the UK rather than the US due to house prices and taxes but it doesn’t mean its impossible!
Good luck with your journey mate.
Hi Rishi,
Thanks for taking the time to comment and for signing up, I hope you like what you read and stick around for the long haul.
Yep it’s certainly true, I think the best strategy most folk have in the UK is to aim for an FI like life, where you have more control over your time than the average consumer. However as they say nothing is impossible, and at least we don’t have to worry about health insurance.
Thanks and good luck to you as well… Cheers!
Great intro post, TFS! And I love the MMM photo reference.
Early Retirement Extreme was the first personal finance blog I found that got me to “see the light”. I tried living like Jacob, but it only lasted six months. His methods are a bit too frugal for me. Plus, my wife thought I’d joined a cult when I started shaving my head and eating only oats lol.
I’ve just described to your blog via email and will be digging through your posts.
P.S. I’m also a UK PF blogger and share my journey over at Lemonadebudget.com – if you have the time to check it out.
Speak soon,
Jamie
Jamie recently posted…9 Buy To Let Tips For New Investors
I am reading this post in 2021. So I imagine that by now you have already achieved financial independence. Your blog looks really well established. Congratulations. I am on the same path as you. But I am a newbie blogger 😉
Thank you for the inspiration.
Dalia